bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengaruh Promosi dan Harga Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Produk Kosmetik Wardah Pada Mahasiswi Fakultas Humaniora Universitas Sari Mulia
Authors: Normilawati Normilawati , Kusumawati Linda , Rezeki Yuliarti
Published: May 2024

Penampilan adalah hal yang penting, terutama perempuan. Penggunaan kosmetik tidak hanya ketika akan pergi ke acara formal, banyak perempuan terutama kalangan mahasiswi menggunakan kosmetik terlebih sekedar memakai liptint untuk pergi ke kampus. Konsumen biasanya memilih produk yang memiliki kualitas baik, harga terjangkau dan sudah diperiksa oleh Badan Pengawas Obat Dan Makanan (BPOM). Berdasarkan hasil observasi yang dilakukan terhadap  mahasiswi Fakultas Humaniora Universitas Sari Mulia, ditemukan sebagian besar menyatakan menggunakan produk kosmetik Wardah. Berdasarkan latar belakang masalah dan teori yang dikemukan peneliti tertarik untuk meneliti terkait “Pengaruh Promosi Dan Harga Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Produk Kosmetik Wardah Pada Mahasiswi Fakultas Humaniora Universitas Sari Mulia”. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh variabel promosi dan harga secara parsial dan simultan terhadap keputusan pembelian produk kosmetik Wardah. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kuantitatif dengan kousioner yang dibagikan ke Mahasisiwi Fakultas Humaniora Universitas Sari Mulia. Dari hasil pengujian statistik secara parsial dinyatakan bahwa Promosi tidak berpengaruh signifikan secara parsial, sedangkan Harga berpengaruh signifikan. Promosi dan Harga berpengaruh signifikan secara simultan terhadap Keputusan Pembelian. Jadi dapat disimpulkan Promosi tidak berpengaruh secara parsial, sedangkan harga berpengaruh secara parsial terhadap keputusan pembelian. Promosi dan harga berpengaruh secara simultan terhadap keputusan pembelian.
ZARURET DOKTRİNİ ÇERÇEVESİNDE KONKORDATO PROJESİNE TÂBİ BİR BORCUN TASDİK KARARINDAN ÖNCE ÖDENMESİ
Authors: Haşhaş Abdulkadir
Published: May 2024

Yeniden yapılandırma yönteminde, icra takibi ve iflâs tasfiyesinden farklı olarak, esneklik büyük bir öneme sahiptir. Keyfilik anlamına gelmeyen bu esneklik, yeniden yapılandırma yönteminin varoluşu ve başarısı için elzemdir. Yeniden yapılandırmada esneklik ve somut dosyanın ihtiyaçlarına karşılık verebilme kapsamında incelenmesi gereken konulardan bir tanesi de borçlunun konkordato projesine tâbi bir borç için tasdik kararından önce ödeme yapıp yapamayacağı sorusu etrafında şekillenmektedir.
Temel amacı, işletmenin sağlığına kavuşturularak ve faaliyetlerine devam ederek borçlarını ödemesi şeklinde özetlenebilecek konkordato usûlünde, borçlunun iyileştirilmesi sürecinde faaliyetlerin kesintiye uğramaması gerekmektedir. Borçluya mal veya hizmet tedarik eden konkordato alacaklıları, prensipte borçlunun faaliyetlerini kesintiye uğratabilecek baskı gücüne sahiptirler. Konkordato sürecini başarısızlığa sürükleyebilecek bu olumsuz durumun gerçekleşmesini önleme yollarından bir tanesi de “kritik tedarikçilere” ödeme yapılmasına izin verilmesidir.
Bu çalışmada, “kritik tedarikçi” kavramı açıklandıktan sonra, kavramın “zaruret doktrini” çerçevesinde Amerikan İflâs Hukuku’ndaki gelişim süreci ve doktrine yöneltilen eleştiriler incelenmiştir. Çalışmanın son kısmında Türk Konkordato Hukuku’nda projeye tâbi bir borcun tasdikten önce ödenmesine ilişkin görüşler incelendikten sonra sorunla ilgili görüşlerimize yer verilmiştir.
Peningkatan Kompetensi Troubleshooting Mesin Kendaraan Roda 4 pada Para Guru SMK di Kab. Blitar dengan Penguasaan Gas Analyser
Authors: Rahmad Hadi , Wahyu Mujahid
Published: May 2024

Kompetensi troubleshooting mesin kendaraan roda empat merupakan salah satu kompetensi yang harus dikuasai oleh setiap guru kejuruan di SMK. Disebabkan oleh mahalnya peralatan uji mesin otomotif, maka tidak semua guru di SMK mampu menguasai kompetensi troubleshooting mesin dengan menggunakan gas analyser. Tujuan dari program pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah 1). Memahamkan para guru cara melakukan troubleshooting menggunakan gas analyzer. 2) Menerampilkan kemampuan para guru untuk pengoperasikan gas analyzer. Program pengabdian masyarakat ini dilaksanakan terhadap para guru SMK di Kabupaten Blitar yang bertempat di SMKN Udanawu Blitar. Hasil program pengabdian masyarakat ini adalah meningkatnya pemahaman dan keterampilan para peserta untuk melakukan troubleshooting mesin dengan menggunakan gas analyser beserta pengoperasian dari alat uji mesin otomotif tersebut.
Navigating the climate change minefield: the influence of metaphor on climate doomism
Authors: Johnstone Caitlin , Stickles Elise
Published: May 2024

Climate doomism is an increasing concern for climate change communication. In the United States, this opinion regarding anthropogenic climate change is now more prevalent than climate skepticism, and is the primary reason cited for opposition to climate action. Doomism is the belief that catastrophic warming of the planet is now inevitable, and that effective mitigation is impossible. The behaviors resulting from this view are comparable to the result of climate skepticism: doomism produces paralyzing eco-anxiety and subsequently inaction. Prior work has hypothesized that the rise in climate doomism and eco-anxiety is linked to climate change risk communication. This study investigates the possibility that the metaphoric language used to communicate the severity and urgency of climate change could inadvertently promote doomism. We employ a survey model to test the influence of metaphoric language on perception of urgency, feasibility, and individual agency in relation to the climate crisis. American English-speaking participants (N = 1,542) read a paragraph describing climate change either as a “cliff edge” or “minefield,” with human agency manipulated to be present or absent. Responses were considered to be doomist if they reported a high sense of urgency, paired with a low sense of feasibility and/or agency; this indicates they have a high awareness of the risks associated with the climate crisis, but a low belief that it will be addressed, and/or that their actions can produce meaningful change. Use of either metaphor improved perceived feasibility without a reduction in urgency, indicating that metaphor is an effective climate communication strategy for conveying risk without promoting doomism. However, metaphoric presentation is only effective when paired with human agency, suggesting that agency is a necessary component for successful metaphoric climate communication strategies.
Association of urinary bisphenol A levels with heart failure risk in U.S. adults from the NHANES (2003–2016)
Authors: Ma Yuanyuan , Huang Haobin , Qian Haiyun , Wu Yanhu , Gao Zhe
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Although heart failure (HF) has been linked to bisphenol A (BPA), few studies have investigated the cut-off values for the effects of urinary BPA levels on heart failure risk. The association between urinary BPA levels and HF prognosis has not been investigated.

Methods

This study included 11,849 adults over 20 years old using information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), which was conducted from 2003 to 2016. The relationship between urinary BPA levels and the risk of HF was determined via a multivariable logistic regression model, and restricted cubic spline (RCS) methods were used to determine the cut-off for the effect of BPA levels on HF risk. Based on the available NT-proBNP concentration data from the NHANES (2003–2004), multivariable linear regression was applied to determine the linear association between the NT-proBNP concentration and urinary BPA concentration.

Results

The results revealed a positive correlation between a urinary BPA concentration in the fourth quartile and the occurrence of heart failure [OR 1.49, 95% CI (1.09, 2.04), p = 0.012]. A one-unit increase (1 ng/mg creatinine) in the ln-transformed BPA concentration was linked to a 15% increase in the incidence of HF [OR 1.15, 95% CI (1.03, 1.29), p = 0.014]. The cut-off urinary BPA concentration for HF risk was 1.51 ng/mg creatinine. There was a positive correlation between urinary BPA and NT-proBNP concentrations [β = 0.093, 95% CI (0.014, 0.171), p = 0.02] in males, but there was no linear association [β = 0.040, 95% CI (−0.033, 0.113), p = 0.283] in females.

Discussion

Increased urinary BPA levels are linked to an increased risk of heart failure and poor prognosis. There is a significant increase in the risk of heart failure if the urinary concentration of BPA exceeds 1.51 ng/mg creatinine.
Empathy Design Thinking: cultivating creative minds in primary education
Authors: Liu Wei , Huang Ruonan , Wang Jun , Chen Yinghe , Ohashi Takumi , Li Bowen , Liu Yiyang , Qiu Dan , Yu Ruilu , Zhang Jingjing , Al Mahmud Abdullah , Leifer Larry
Published: May 2024

This research explores the application of an Empathy Design Thinking (EDT) curriculum within primary education, guided by the principles of Experience, Empathy, Exploration, and Evaluation, to examine its effect on fostering student creativity in a Chinese context. The curriculum was redesigned into a streamlined, modular format for ease of integration into existing educational frameworks. Findings demonstrate a positive impact on students' creative thinking abilities, particularly in enhancing fluency and flexibility, with notable mentions of empathy's vital role in the educational process. This study aligns with global educational trends emphasizing the need for empathetic and comprehensive learning experiences, offering insights into the potential of EDT to enrich creative education for primary students, educators, curriculum developers, and policymakers.
Increasing PhD student self-awareness and self-confidence through strengths-based professional development
Authors: Ferguson Connor L. , Lockman Julie A.
Published: May 2024

Strengths-based programs have emerged as asset-based approaches to professional development that promote positive student engagement and success. This paper shares the outcomes of a strengths-based professional development program provided to biomedical and health sciences graduate doctoral students within an academic health center. Program outcomes and changes in participants’ perceived confidence when identifying and applying their strengths in different contexts were evaluated through a mixed methods design that included a Likert-based survey and thematic analysis of qualitative responses. Findings strongly suggest that most participants lacked the self-confidence and/or self-awareness to recognize their own strengths prior to the program. Themes that emerged upon implementation of the program point to the following outcomes: participants gained an increased understanding of their strengths, confidence that the knowledge gained about their strengths would help them learn more effectively in laboratory settings, an increased belief that they possess natural talents and skills that make them good scientists and strong members of their research team, and confidence that applying their strengths will help them to overcome both personal and professional challenges. This program shows promise to strengthen graduate student self-awareness and self-confidence. Further studies are needed to understand and measure how asset-based programs such as this can impact graduate student resilience, science identity, and overall student success.
Quantum-inspired deep reinforcement learning for adaptive frequency control of low carbon park island microgrid considering renewable energy sources
Authors: Shen Xin , Tang Jianlin , Pan Feng , Qian Bin , Zhao Yitao
Published: May 2024

The low carbon park islanded microgrid faces operational challenges due to the high variability and uncertainty of distributed renewable energy sources. These sources cause severe random disturbances that impair the frequency control performance and increase the regulation cost of the islanded microgrid, jeopardizing its safety and stability. This paper presents a data-driven intelligent load frequency control (DDI-LFC) method to address this problem. The method replaces the conventional LFC controller with an intelligent agent based on a deep reinforcement learning algorithm. To adapt to the complex islanded microgrid environment and achieve adaptive multi-objective optimal frequency control, this paper proposes the quantum-inspired maximum entropy actor-critic (QIS-MEAC) algorithm, which incorporates the quantum-inspired principle and the maximum entropy exploration strategy into the actor-critic algorithm. The algorithm transforms the experience into a quantum state and leverages the quantum features to improve the deep reinforcement learning’s experience replay mechanism, enhancing the data efficiency and robustness of the algorithm and thus the quality of DDI-LFC. The validation on the Yongxing Island isolated microgrid model of China Southern Grid (CSG) demonstrates that the proposed method utilizes the frequency regulation potential of distributed generation, and reduces the frequency deviation and generation cost.
Decentralized control strategy of thermostatically controlled loads considering the energy efficiency ratio and measurement error correction
Authors: Meng Zijie , Pan Tingzhe , Zhou Wei , Jin Xin , Hou Jue , Cao Wangzhang , Li Ke
Published: May 2024

The elimination of traditional thermal generators and the increase of renewable energy source access reduced the inertia of the power system, and thermostatically controlled loads have the potential to provide ancillary services to the power system. This paper introduces a decentralized control strategy for thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs), which focuses on assisting large-scale TCLs in providing frequency support to power systems while considering energy efficiency ratio and measurement error correction. Initially, the nonlinear relationship between heat flow and TCLs’ power is modeled using a polynomial relationship, and the coefficients are determined through a data-driven method to enhance accuracy in TCLs modeling and assess their regulation potential precisely. Subsequently, a decentralized control strategy tailored for power system frequency regulation is developed. To account for measurement errors in TCLs controllers, a measurement error back-correction method is proposed. Simulation examples demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in achieving accurate modeling and control of TCLs and reducing power system frequency fluctuations.
Material basis and molecular mechanisms of Chaihuang Qingyi Huoxue Granule in the treatment of acute pancreatitis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking-based strategy
Authors: Yang Jia , Jiang Yu-Hong , Zhou Xin , Yao Jia-Qi , Wang Yang-Yang , Liu Jian-Qin , Zhang Peng-Cheng , Tang Wen-Fu , Li Zhi
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to analyze active compounds and signaling pathways of CH applying network pharmacology methods, and to additionally verify the molecular mechanism of CH in treating AP.

Materials and methods

Network pharmacology and molecular docking were firstly used to identify the active components of CH and its potential targets in the treatment of AP. The pancreaticobiliary duct was retrogradely injected with sodium taurocholate (3.5%) to create an acute pancreatitis (AP) model in rats. Histological examination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot and TUNEL staining were used to determine the pathway and mechanism of action of CH in AP.

Results

Network pharmacological analysis identified 168 active compounds and 276 target proteins. In addition, there were 2060 targets associated with AP, and CH had 177 targets in common with AP. These shared targets, including STAT3, IL6, MYC, CDKN1A, AKT1, MAPK1, MAPK3, MAPK14, HSP90AA1, HIF1A, ESR1, TP53, FOS, and RELA, were recognized as core targets. Furthermore, we filtered out 5252 entries from the Gene Ontology(GO) and 186 signaling pathways from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG). Enrichment and network analyses of protein-protein interactions predicted that CH significantly affected the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which played a critical role in programmed cell death. The core components and key targets showed strong binding activity based on molecular docking results. Subsequently, experimental validation demonstrated that CH inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT in pancreatic tissues, promoted the apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells, and further alleviated inflammation and histopathological damage to the pancreas in AP rats.

Conclusion

Apoptosis of pancreatic acinar cells can be enhanced and the inflammatory response can be reduced through the modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, resulting in the amelioration of pancreatic disease.
Interleukin 6 at menstruation promotes the proliferation and self-renewal of endometrial mesenchymal stromal/stem cells through the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Li Tianqi , Li Raymond H. W. , Ng Ernest H. Y. , Yeung William S. B. , Chiu Philip C. N. , Chan Rachel W. S.
Published: May 2024

Background

At menstruation, the functional layer of the human endometrium sheds off due to the trigger of the release of inflammatory factors, including interleukin 6 (IL-6), as a result of a sharp decline in progesterone levels, leading to tissue breakdown and bleeding. The endometrial mesenchymal stem-like cells (CD140b+CD146+ eMSC) located in the basalis are responsible for the cyclical regeneration of the endometrium after menstruation. Endometrial cells from the menstruation phase have been proven to secrete a higher amount of IL-6 and further enhance the self-renewal and clonogenic activity of eMSC. However, the IL-6-responsive mechanism remains unknown. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-6 secreted from niche cells during menstruation regulates the proliferation and self-renewal of eMSC through the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Methods

In this study, the content of IL-6 across the menstrual phases was first evaluated. Coexpression of stem cell markers (CD140b and CD146) with interleukin 6 receptor (IL-6R) was confirmed by immunofluorescent staining. In vitro functional assays were conducted to investigate the effect of IL-6 on the cell activities of eMSC, and the therapeutic role of these IL-6- and WNT5A-pretreated eMSC on the repair of injured endometrium was observed using an established mouse model.

Results

The endometrial cells secrete a high amount of IL-6 under hypoxic conditions, which mimic the physiological microenvironment in the menstruation phase. Also, the expression of IL-6 receptors was confirmed in our eMSC, indicating their capacity to respond to IL-6 in the microenvironment. Exogenous IL-6 can significantly enhance the self-renewal, proliferation, and migrating capacity of eMSC. Activation of the WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway was observed upon IL-6 treatment, while suppression of the WNT/β-catenin signaling impaired the stimulatory role of IL-6 on eMSC activities. IL-6- and WNT5A-pretreated eMSC showed better performance during the regeneration of the injured mouse endometrium.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that the high level of IL-6 produced by endometrial cells at menstruation can induce the stem cells in the human endometrium to proliferate and migrate through the activation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway. Treatment of eMSC with IL-6 and WNT5A might enhance their therapeutic potential in the regeneration of injured endometrium.
Case report: Rapid resolution of grade IV ICANS after first line intrathecal chemotherapy with methotrexate, cytarabine and dexamethasone
Authors: Katsin Mikalai , Shman Tatsiana , Migas Alexandr , Lutskovich Dzmitry , Serada Yuliya , Khalankova Yauheniya , Kostina Yuliya , Dubovik Simon
Published: May 2024

Corticosteroid therapy is the mainstay of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) management, although its use has been associated with worse overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T cell) therapy. Many options are being investigated for prophylaxis and management. Accumulating evidence supports the use of intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy for the management of high-grade ICANS. Here, we describe a case of a patient with stage IV Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) successfully treated with IT methotrexate, cytarabine, and dexamethasone as first-line therapy for CD19 CAR-T cell-associated grade IV ICANS. The stable and rapid resolution of ICANS to grade 0 allowed us to discontinue systemic corticosteroid use, avoiding CAR-T cells ablation and ensuring preservation of CAR-T cell function. The described patient achieved a complete radiologic and clinical response to CD19 CAR-T cell therapy and remains disease-free after 9 months. This case demonstrates a promising example of how IT chemotherapy could be used as first-line treatment for the management of high-grade ICANS.
A murine model of post-acute neurological sequelae following SARS-CoV-2 variant infection
Authors: Singh Ankita , Adam Awadalkareem , Aditi  , Peng Bi-Hung , Yu Xiaoying , Zou Jing , Kulkarni Vikram V. , Kan Peter , Jiang Wei , Shi Pei-Yong , Samir Parimal , Cisneros Irma , Wang Tian
Published: May 2024

Viral variant is one known risk factor associated with post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), yet the pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we studied SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant-induced PASC in K18-hACE2 mice. The virus replicated productively, induced robust inflammatory responses in lung and brain tissues, and caused weight loss and mortality during the acute infection. Longitudinal behavior studies in surviving mice up to 4 months post-acute infection revealed persistent abnormalities in neuropsychiatric state and motor behaviors, while reflex and sensory functions recovered over time. In the brain, no detectable viral RNA and minimal residential immune cell activation was observed in the surviving mice post-acute infection. Transcriptome analysis revealed persistent activation of immune pathways, including humoral responses, complement, and phagocytosis, and gene expression levels associated with ataxia telangiectasia, impaired cognitive function and memory recall, and neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Furthermore, surviving mice maintained potent systemic T helper 1 prone cellular immune responses and strong sera neutralizing antibodies against Delta and Omicron variants months post-acute infection. Overall, our findings suggest that infection in K18-hACE2 mice recapitulates the persistent clinical symptoms reported in long-COVID patients and provides new insights into the role of systemic and brain residential immune factors in PASC pathogenesis.
Serum and urine lipidomic profiles identify biomarkers diagnostic for seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Li Rong , Koh Jung Hee , Park Woo Jung , Choi Yongsoo , Kim Wan-Uk
Published: May 2024

Objective

Seronegative rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is defined as RA without circulating autoantibodies such as rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies; thus, early diagnosis of seronegative RA can be challenging. Here, we aimed to identify diagnostic biomarkers for seronegative RA by performing lipidomic analyses of sera and urine samples from patients with RA.

Methods

We performed untargeted lipidomic analysis of sera and urine samples from 111 RA patients, 45 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and 25 healthy controls (HC). These samples were divided into a discovery cohort (n = 97) and a validation cohort (n = 84). Serum samples from 20 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were also used for validation.

Results

The serum lipidome profile of RA was distinguishable from that of OA and HC. We identified a panel of ten serum lipids and three urine lipids in the discovery cohort that showed the most significant differences. These were deemed potential lipid biomarker candidates for RA. The serum lipid panel was tested using a validation cohort; the results revealed an accuracy of 79%, a sensitivity of 71%, and a specificity of 86%. Both seropositive and seronegative RA patients were differentiated from patients with OA, SLE, and HC. Three urinary lipids showing differential expression between RA from HC were identified with an accuracy of 84%, but they failed to differentiate RA from OA. There were five lipid pathways that differed between seronegative and seropositive RA.

Conclusion

Here, we identified a panel of ten serum lipids as potential biomarkers that can differentiate RA from OA and SLE, regardless of seropositivity. In addition, three urinary lipids had diagnostic utility for differentiating RA from HC.
Effectiveness of a novel compound microbial agent for water quality and the gut microbiota of Micropterus salmoides
Authors: Li Qian , Sun Li-Hui , Yang Bi-Cheng , Jiang Jian-Hu , Chen Jian-Ming , Zheng Gang , Gao Ling-Mei , Peng Jun , Guo Jian-Lin
Published: May 2024

The cultivation of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), a species of significant economic value in aquaculture, has experienced notable growth recently. However, the deterioration of water quality seriously affects the metabolic responses of M. salmoides. While compound microbial agent (CMA) is widely utilized for ecological rehabilitation and water filtration, its application in M. salmoides has not been reported. Here, based on physio-biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequencing, we investigated the effects of CMA (yeast, Bacillus subtilis, and lactic acid bacteria) on the water quality within the recirculating aquaculture system, along with physiological indices and gut microbiota of M. salmoides. Compared to the control and single microbial agent (yeast), CMA treatment improved the water quality by improving the dissolved oxygen and delaying the increase of pH, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrite. The 16s rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the water treated with CMA exhibited elevated levels of chao1, Shannon, Pd, and a larger population of dominant bacterial. Besides, higher values of ACE, chao1, Shannon, and OTU level, and lower Simpson index were found in CMA treated M. salmoides samples, suggesting that CMA treatment enhanced the species richness and diversity of gut microbiota of M. salmoides. Furthermore, CMA treatment hindered the generation and proliferation of harmful bacteria, such as the Mycoplasma mobile 163K species and the Erysipelotrichaceae family, which was associated with enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activity and decreased MDA level in both the serum and liver. These findings shed light on the essential roles of CMA in M. salmoides culturing and introduce an innovative approach to enhance the aquatic environment.
Establishment of a mortality risk nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality of sepsis: cohort study from a Chinese single center
Authors: Wu Hongsheng , Jia Shichao , Liao Biling , Ji Tengfei , Huang Jianbin , Luo Yumei , Cao Tiansheng , Ma Keqiang
Published: May 2024

Objective

To establish a mortality risk nomogram for predicting in-hospital mortality of sepsis patients in the Chinese population.

Methods

Data were obtained from the medical records of sepsis patients enrolled at the Affiliated Huadu Hospital, Southern Medical University, between 2019 and 2021. A total of 696 sepsis patients were initially included in our research, and 582 cases were finally enrolled after screening and divided into the survival group (n = 400) and the non-survival group (n = 182) according to the incidence of mortality during hospitalization. Twenty-eight potential sepsis-related risk factors for mortality were identified. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was used to optimize variable selection by running cyclic coordinate descent with k-fold (tenfold in this case) cross-validation. We used binary logistic regression to build a model for predicting mortality from the variables based on LASSO regression selection. Binary logistic regression was used to establish a nomogram based on independent mortality risk factors. To validate the prediction accuracy of the nomogram, receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, decision curve analysis (DCA) and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis were employed. Eventually, the Hosmer-Lemeshow test and calibration curve were used for nomogram calibration.

Results

LASSO regression identified a total of ten factors, namely, chronic heart disease (CHD), lymphocyte count (LYMP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red blood cell distribution width (RDW), C reactive protein (CRP), Procalcitonin (PCT), lactic acid, prothrombin time (PT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total bilirubin (Tbil), interleukin-6 (IL6), that were incorporated into the multivariable analysis. Finally, a nomogram including CHD, LYMP, NLR, RDW, lactic acid, PT, CRP, PCT, Tbil, ALT, and IL6 was established by multivariable logistic regression. The ROC curves of the nomogram in the training and validation sets were 0.9836 and 0.9502, respectively. DCA showed that the nomogram could be applied clinically if the risk threshold was between 29.52 and 99.61% in the training set and between 31.32 and 98.49% in the testing set. RCS showed that when the value of independent risk factors from the predicted model exceeded the median, the mortality hazard ratio increased sharply. The results of the Hosmer–Lemeshow test (χ2 = 0.1901, df = 2, p = 0.9091) and the calibration curves of the training and validation sets showed good agreement with the actual results, which indicated good stability of the model.

Conclusion

Our nomogram, including CHD, LYMP, NLR, RDW, lactic acid, PT, CRP, PCT, Tbil, ALT, and IL6, exhibits good performance for predicting mortality risk in adult sepsis patients.
Phosphate solubilizing Pseudomonas and Bacillus combined with rock phosphates promoting tomato growth and reducing bacterial canker disease
Authors: Bakki Mohamed , Banane Badra , Marhane Omaima , Esmaeel Qassim , Hatimi Abdelhakim , Barka Essaid Ait , Azim Khalid , Bouizgarne Brahim
Published: May 2024

Nowadays, sustainable agriculture approaches are based on the use of biofertilizers and biopesticides. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicumL.) rhizosphere could provide rhizobacteria with biofertilizing and biopesticide properties. In this study, bacteria from the rhizosphere of tomato were evaluatedin vitrofor plant growth promotion (PGP) properties. FivePseudomonasisolates (PsT-04c, PsT-94s, PsT-116, PsT-124, and PsT-130) and oneBacillusisolate (BaT-68s), with the highest ability to solubilize tricalcium phosphate (TCP) were selected for further molecular identification and characterization. Isolates showed phosphate solubilization up to 195.42 μg mL−1. All isolates showed phosphate solubilization by organic acid production. The six isolates improved seed germination and showed effective root colonization when tomato seeds were coated with isolates at 106cfu g−1in axenic soil conditions. Furthermore, the selected isolates were tested for beneficial effects on tomato growth and nutrient status in greenhouse experiments with natural rock phosphate (RP). The results showed that inoculated tomato plants in the presence of RP have a higher shoot and root lengths and weights compared with the control. After 60 days, significant increases in plant Ca, Na, P, protein, and sugar contents were also observed in inoculated seedlings. In addition, inoculated tomato seedlings showed an increase in foliar chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll, while no significant changes were observed in chlorophyll fluorescence. In greenhouse, twoPseudomonasisolates, PsT-04c and PsT-130, showed ability to trigger induced systemic resistance in inoculated tomato seedlings when subsequently challenged byClavibacter michiganensissubsp.michiganensis, the causal agent of tomato bacterial canker. High protection rate (75%) was concomitant to an increase in the resistance indicators: total soluble phenolic compounds, phenylalanine-ammonia lyase, and H2O2. The results strongly demonstrated the effectiveness of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria adapted to rhizosphere as biofertilizers for tomato crops and biopesticides by inducing systemic resistance to the causal agent of tomato bacterial canker disease.
Effects of the fermentation quality and microbial community of waxy maize mixed with fodder soybean silage
Authors: Yang Mei , Wang Fengdan , Xu Wen , Li Xiaoming , Yin Hang , Tuluhong Muzhapaer , Qiu Rui , Li Bing , Cui Guowen
Published: May 2024

Waxy maize (Zea mays L. sinensis Kulesh) is highly regarded for its high nutritional content and unique taste. Although the stalks and leaves contain high carbohydrate levels after ear harvesting, inadequate crude protein (CP) limits the utilization and promotion of waxy maize silage in animal husbandry. In this study, waxy maize and fodder soybeans were mixed for sowing in different proportions [1:0 (CK), 1:1 (A1), 1:2 (A2), 1:3 (A3), and 1:4 (A4)] to investigate the effects of different mixing ratios on the growth of the waxy maize, the chemical indices, fermentation quality, and the microbial community of the mixed silage after ear harvesting. The mixed planting of waxy maize and fodder soybeans in different proportions had no effect on the yield and quality of the waxy maize ears and increased the aboveground biomass after ear harvesting. After ear harvesting, the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents significantly decreased, and the CP content and relative feeding value (RFV) gradually increased in the mixed silage. The pH of the treatments was lower than 4.2 except for A4, and the lowest ammonia nitrogen (AN) concentration was observed in A3. With increasing proportions of fodder soybeans, the abundance of beneficial bacteria increased and that of harmful bacteria decreased; Firmicutes and Lactobacillus were the dominant phylum and genus, respectively, and both increased gradually. Redundancy analysis (RDA) revealed that the fermentation indices affecting the microbial community composition in the silage were inconsistent among the different mixed sowing combinations. The Mantel test showed that the composition of the microbial communities in the treatments was significantly correlated with the ADF, water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC), and propionic acid (PA) contents. Comprehensive analysis revealed that the optimal mixed sowing ratio of waxy maize to fodder soybeans was 1:3, and waxy maize and fodder soybeans silage can increase the utilization of aboveground biomass and improve the fermentation quality and feeding quality of silage by changing the microbial community. These findings lay a certain theoretical foundation for improving the utilization of waxy maize.
A bibliometric analysis on the health behaviors related to mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Xiao Liping , Zhou Chunyi , Zhang Shibo , Wang Yuncui
Published: May 2024

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is commonly defined as a transitional subclinical state between normal aging and dementia. A growing body of research indicates that health behaviors may play a protective role against cognitive decline and could potentially slow down the progression from MCI to dementia. The aim of this study is to conduct a bibliometric analysis of literature focusing on health behaviors and MCI to summarize the factors and evidence regarding the influence of health behaviors on MCI.

Methods

The study performed a bibliometric analysis by retrieving publications from the Science Citation Index and Social Sciences Citation Index sub-databases within the Web of Science Core Collection. Utilizing VOSviewer and CiteSpace software, a total of 2,843 eligible articles underwent co-citation, co-keywords, and clustering analyses. This methodology aimed to investigate the current status, trends, major research questions, and potential future directions within the research domain.

Results

The bibliometric analysis indicates that research on healthy behaviors in individuals with MCI originated in 2002 and experienced rapid growth in 2014, reflecting the increasing global interest in this area. The United States emerged as the primary contributor, accounting for more than one-third of the total scientific output with 982 articles. Journals that published the most articles on MCI-related health behaviors included “Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease,” “Neurobiology of Aging,” “Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience,” and other geriatrics-related journals. High-impact papers identified by VOSviewer predominantly cover concepts related to MCI, such as diagnostic criteria, assessment, and multifactorial interventions. Co-occurrence keyword analysis highlights five research hotspots in health behavior associated with MCI: exercise, diet, risk factors and preventive measures for dementia, cognitive decline-related biomarkers, and clinical trials.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive review of literature on health behavior in individuals with MCI, emphasizing influential documents and journals. It outlines research trends and key focal points, offering valuable insights for researchers to comprehend significant contributions and steer future studies.
Fine-grained image classification method based on hybrid attention module
Authors: Lu Weixiang , Yang Ying , Yang Lei
Published: May 2024

To efficiently capture feature information in tasks of fine-grained image classification, this study introduces a new network model for fine-grained image classification, which utilizes a hybrid attention approach. The model is built upon a hybrid attention module (MA), and with the assistance of the attention erasure module (EA), it can adaptively enhance the prominent areas in the image and capture more detailed image information. Specifically, for tasks involving fine-grained image classification, this study designs an attention module capable of applying the attention mechanism to both the channel and spatial dimensions. This highlights the important regions and key feature channels in the image, allowing for the extraction of distinct local features. Furthermore, this study presents an attention erasure module (EA) that can remove significant areas in the image based on the features identified; thus, shifting focus to additional feature details within the image and improving the diversity and completeness of the features. Moreover, this study enhances the pooling layer of ResNet50 to augment the perceptual region and the capability to extract features from the network’s less deep layers. For the objective of fine-grained image classification, this study extracts a variety of features and merges them effectively to create the final feature representation. To assess the effectiveness of the proposed model, experiments were conducted on three publicly available fine-grained image classification datasets: Stanford Cars, FGVC-Aircraft, and CUB-200–2011. The method achieved classification accuracies of 92.8, 94.0, and 88.2% on these datasets, respectively. In comparison with existing approaches, the efficiency of this method has significantly improved, demonstrating higher accuracy and robustness.
Three years’ interventional neurology experience in Turkey with the Thrombite thrombectomy device in large vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation: safety, efficacy, and clinical outcome
Authors: Akpınar Çetin Kürşad , Gurkas Erdem , Ozdemir Atilla Ozcan , Doğan Hasan , Önalan Ayşenur , Yıldırım Serhan , Memiş Zülfikar , Aytaç Emrah , Acar Bilgehan Atılgan , Öğün Muhammed Nur , Aykaç Özlem , Uysal Kocabaş Zehra , Acar Türkan , Eryılmaz Halil Alper , Topaktaş Berkhan
Published: May 2024

Introduction

While the Thrombite device differs from the Solitare stent with its Helical open-side structure feature, it shows great similarity with its other features. We assessed the Thrombite device’s effectiveness and safety in this study.

Materials and methods

The study was a retrospective analysis of patients who were included in the Turkish Interventional Neurology database and who had mechanical thrombectomy with the Thrombite device as the first choice between January 2020 and January 2023. The type of study is descriptive research.

Result

Using the Thrombite thrombectomy device, 525 patients received treatment. The median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 13, the median initial Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography (ASPECT) score was 8, and the mean patient age was 68.6+11.7 years. Between the groin puncture and the successful recanalization, the median time was 34 minutes (interquartile range [IQR]: 15–45). 48.2% (modified treatment in cerebral infarction; mTICI) 2b/3% and 33.9% (mTICI 2c/3) were the first-pass recanalization rates. In the end, 87.7% of patients had effective recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction 2b/3). In the “first-pass” subgroup, the favorable functional result (modified Rankin Scale 0–2) was 51.8%, while it was 41.6% for the entire patient population. The rate of embolization into new territory/different territory were 2.1/0.1%. 23 patients (4.5%) had symptomatic hemorrhage.

Conclusion

The Thrombite device showed a good safety profile and high overall successful recanalization rates in our experience.
Evolution of peripheral nerve changes in early multiple sclerosis—a longitudinal MR neurography study
Authors: Foesleitner Olivia , Hayes Jennifer C. , Weiler Markus , Sam Georges , Wildemann Brigitte , Wick Wolfgang , Bendszus Martin , Heiland Sabine , Jäger Laura Bettina
Published: May 2024

Objectives

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system. Increasing evidence indicates additional peripheral nerve involvement in early and chronic disease stages. To investigate the evolution of peripheral nerve changes in patients first diagnosed with MS using quantitative MR neurography.

Materials and methods

This prospective study included 19 patients with newly diagnosed MS according to the revised McDonald criteria (16 female, mean 30.2 ± 7.1 years) and 19 age-/sex-matched healthy volunteers. High-resolution 3 T MR neurography of the sciatic nerve using a quantitative T2-relaxometry sequence was performed, which yielded the biomarkers of T2 relaxation time (T2app) and proton spin density (PSD). Follow-up scans of patients were performed after median of 12 months (range 7–16). Correlation analyses considered clinical symptoms, intrathecal immunoglobulin synthesis, nerve conduction study, and lesion load on brain and spine MRI.

Results

Patients showed increased T2app and decreased PSD compared to healthy controls at initial diagnosis and follow-up (p < 0.001 each). Compared to the initial scan, T2app further increased in patients at follow-up (p = 0.003). PSD further declined by at least 10% in 9/19 patients and remained stable in another 9/19 patients. Correlation analyses did not yield significant results.

Conclusion

Peripheral nerve involvement in MS appears at initial diagnosis and continues to evolve within 1 year follow-up with individual dynamics. Quantitative MRN provides non-invasive biomarkers to detect and monitor peripheral nerve changes in MS.
Acupuncture therapy on myofascial pain syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xiong Jingwen , Zhou Xuancheng , Luo Xiufang , Gong Xiangjin , Jiang Lai , Luo Qiang , Zhang Shengke , Jiang Chenglu , Pu Tong , Liu Jie , Zhang Jun , Li Bo , Chi Hao
Published: May 2024

Purpose

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapies, especially acupuncture, have received increasing attention in the field of pain management. This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome.

Methods

A comprehensive search was conducted across a number of databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, WOS, CNKI, WANFANG, Sinomed, and VIP. Furthermore, articles of studies published from the inception of these databases until November 22, 2023, were examined. This systematic review and meta-analysis encompassed all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on acupuncture for myofascial pain syndromes, without language or date restrictions. Based on the mean difference (MD) of symptom change, we critically assessed the outcomes reported in these trials. The quality of evidence was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The study is registered with PROSPERO under registration number CRD42023484933.

Results

Our analysis included 10 RCTs in which 852 patients were divided into two groups: an acupuncture group (427) and a control group (425). The results of the study showed that acupuncture was significantly more effective than the control group in treating myofascial pain syndromes, which was reflected in a greater decrease in VAS scores (MD = −1.29, 95% [−1.65, −0.94], p < 0.00001). In addition, the improvement in PRI and PPI was more pronounced in the acupuncture group (PRI: MD = −2.04, 95% [−3.76, −0.32], p = 0.02) (PPI: MD = −1.03, 95% [−1.26, −0.79], p < 0.00001) compared to the control group. These results suggest that acupuncture is effective in reducing myofascial pain. It is necessary to further study the optimal acupoints and treatment time to achieve the best therapeutic effect.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42023484933.
Sex-dependent effects of the uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist REL-1017 in G93A-SOD1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mice
Authors: Colognesi Martina , Shkodra Atea , Gabbia Daniela , Kawamata Hibiki , Manfredi Paolo L. , Manfredi Giovanni , De Martin Sara
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by the demise of motor neurons has been linked to excitotoxicity caused by excessive calcium influx via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs), suggesting that uncompetitive NMDAR antagonism could be a strategy to attenuate motor neuron degeneration. REL-1017, the dextro-isomer of racemic methadone, is a low-affinity uncompetitive NMDAR antagonist. Importantly, in humans REL-1017 has shown excellent tolerability in clinical trials for major depression.

Methods

Here, we tested if REL-1017 improves the disease phenotypes in the G93A SOD1 mouse, a well-established model of familial ALS, by examining survival and motor functions, as well as the expression of genes and proteins involved in neuroplasticity.

Results

We found a sex-dependent effect of REL-1017 in G93A SOD1 mice. A delay of ALS symptom onset, assessed as 10%-decrease of body weight (p < 0.01 vs. control untreated mice) and an extension of lifespan (p < 0.001 vs. control untreated mice) was observed in male G93A SOD1 mice. Female G93A SOD1 mice treated with REL-1017 showed an improvement of muscle strength (p < 0.01 vs. control untreated mice). Both males and females treated with REL-1017 showed a decrease in hind limb clasping. Sex-dependent effects of REL-1017 were also detected in molecular markers of neuronal plasticity (PSD95 and SYN1) in the spinal cord and in the GluN1 NMDAR subunit in quadricep muscles.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study provides preclinicalin vivoevidence supporting the clinical evaluation of REL-1017 in ALS.