bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
When belief becomes research: conspiracist communities on the social web
Authors: Greer Katie , Beene Stephanie
Published: February 2024

Introduction

This article explores two QAnon subgroups that were not active during the initial phase of the movement but now epitomize how QAnon has capitalized on social media to reach more people. We examine these smaller communities through the lens of information literacy and other literacies to identify opportunities for librarians and educators.

Results

The communities of conspiracy theorists explored here exhibit information behaviors distinct from the initial QAnon community, presenting opportunities for information professionals to employ new models of information literacy, metaliteracy, and other literacies to combat conspiracy ideation. Notable themes evidenced in both samples include an increasing religiosity affiliated with QAnon, affective states that promote conspiracy ideation, faulty hermeneutics and epistemologies, and specific literacy gaps.

Methods and discussion

We must update our understanding of QAnon and its adherents' shifting priorities and behaviors. Through investigating these smaller subgroups, researchers and educators can address the evolution of the QAnon movement by teaching to literacy gaps and logical fallacies, and acknowledging the troubling emotions that undergird broader belief systems.
Effects of different traditional Chinese exercise in the treatment of essential hypertension: a systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Qingyuan , Xu Xiaogang , Wu Qianyan , Zhang Jingwen , Huang Shenghe , Wu Lin , Tian Minping , Zhang Delin
Published: February 2024

Background

As a therapy to prevent and treat essential hypertension (EH), traditional Chinese exercises (TCEs) were widely used in clinical practice. However, there is a lack of strictly comparison of the antihypertensive efficacy of different TCEs, which not conducive to the selection of the best and most optimal treatment. This study aimed to perform a network meta-analysis to objectively evaluate which TCE has the best effects in assisting with lowering blood pressure.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP, SinoMed and Wanfang Data were searched for all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on TCEs for the treatment of EH published up to July 10, 2023. RoB2.0 tool was utilized to evaluate the quality of the RCTs. The network meta-analysis was performed by R 4.1.2 and Stata 17.0. Weighted mean difference (WMD) was calculated for continuous outcomes.

Results

A total of 29 studies, including 2,268 patients were included to analyze 6 different interventions. The network meta-analysis results presented that in comparison with control group, Tai Chi + antihypertensive medication [WMD = −10.18, 95% CI, (−14.94, −5.44)] is the most effective intervention for lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP), and Wuqinxi + antihypertensive medication [WMD = −10.36, 95% CI (−18.98, −1.66)] is the most effective intervention for lowering diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Conclusion

TCEs combined with antihypertensive medication may be able to achieve more prominent antihypertensive effects with Tai Chi and Wuqinxi potentially being the higher-priority options. However, well-designed randomized studies are warranted to further verify currently conclusion.
Prediction of water inflow and analysis of surrounding rock stability in unfavorable geological mountain tunnel
Authors: Chen Yunjuan , Liu Mengyue , Su Mengzhen , Ding Mingxu , Li Haolin , Jing Yi
Published: February 2024

During the construction of a mountain tunnel, water inflow and rock instability are common occurrences due to unfavorable geological conditions, posing serious threats to construction safety. This study focuses on a proposed mountain tunnel and employs multiple formulas to predict potential water inflow during excavation. Based on the amount of water inflow and deformation of surrounding rocks, comprehensive determinations are made for the thickness of grouting rings and permeability coefficients. The results demonstrate that: 1) Different formulas yield slightly varied outcomes but overall trends remain consistent; considering various calculations, the normal water inflow for this tunnel is approximately 115.5908×103 m3/d with a maximum at 210.9100×103 m3/d 2) Increasing grouting ring thickness or decreasing permeability coefficient can effectively reduce water inflow, but the reduction range is gradually narrowed. 3) Pre-grouting curtains have an evident effect in enhancing stability; however, their effectiveness decreases with increased thickness. 4) Taking into account both safety and economic factors, it is recommended that the grouting ring thickness be set at 8 m with a permeability coefficient equaling one 100th that of surrounding rocks for this tunnel project.
Having it both ways: learning communication skills in face-to-face and online environments
Authors: Eklund Marja , Isotalus Pekka
Published: February 2024

In early 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced educators to transition to online teaching almost overnight. This paper focuses on students’ perceptions of communication skills in a practice course in the spring of 2020. The beginning of the course was held face-to-face and conducted online at the end. We sought information regarding students’ experiences of online course in a skill-based course. Relying on knowledge about online communication, we selected three areas to focus on in online course. First, feedback is essential in the process of learning communication skills and is included in the course learning objectives. Second involves eliciting conversations in an online environment. The third area is the connection between the audience and the speaker in public speaking. Our goal was to develop the course according to student’s perceptions. At the end of the course, 26 students answered open-ended questions about the two forms of implementation. Using thematic analysis, five different themes were constructed: (1) positive perceptions of the course, (2) neutral perceptions of online course, (3) perceptions of the challenges in online course, (4) perceptions of public speaking, and (5) perceptions of feedback. During the course, the students learned much-appreciated computer-mediated communication. They believed that the good learning results were due to careful organization and connection to other students. While uncommon, few students perceived online course as neither good nor bad, just neutral. Nevertheless, online course was not without challenges; students identified several problems concerning, for example, conversations and non-verbal communication. Furthermore, students considered feedback to be successful; however, online public speaking was perceived as different from speaking to a physical audience. The results of this study indicate that in a skill-based course, the online format can be just as effective as the face-to-face format. However, especially because public speaking was regarded as different and participants appreciated practicing communication in the online setting, we suggest that students should have the opportunity to practice communication skills both online and face-to-face. Additionally, although conversations received special attention, it caused the most significant challenges in the online environment; therefore, we propose that solutions to address this problem must be investigated further.
ChatGPT in Brazilian K-12 science education
Authors: Monteiro Fábio Ferreira , Souza Paulo Victor Santos , da Silva Marcelo Castanheira , Maia José Robson , da Silva Wagner Ferreira , Girardi Daniel
Published: February 2024

This study investigates the perceptions of K-12 science teachers regarding the implications of ChatGPT on school assessments and the quality of students’ education. A questionnaire was administered to K-12 science teachers from public and private schools across the five regions of Brazil: North, Northeast, South, Southeast, and Midwest. More than 400 teachers responded to the questionnaire. The conclusions regarding the opinions of the teachers who responded to the questionnaire were based on the Likert-type scale. The investigation covered various aspects, including the types and frequency of assessment methods used with their students. Additionally, the research delved into their opinions on whether ChatGPT would impact the quality of education and assessment methods, as well as their views on whether ChatGPT use should be deemed plagiarism or a similar infraction. The potential benefits of its use, as well as the challenges arising from it, are discussed in the context of the evolution of teaching and learning. As one of the results, it was found that among K-12 science teachers, there remains some skepticism regarding whether ChatGPT will enhance the quality of students’ education and whether its use constitutes plagiarism or a similar infraction.
Predictive model and risk analysis for peripheral vascular disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients using machine learning and shapley additive explanation
Authors: Liu Lianhua , Bi Bo , Cao Li , Gui Mei , Ju Feng
Published: February 2024

Background

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a common complication in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Early detection or prediction the risk of developing PVD is important for clinical decision-making.

Purpose

This study aims to establish and validate PVD risk prediction models and perform risk factor analysis for PVD in patients with T2DM using machine learning and Shapley Additive Explanation(SHAP) based on electronic health records.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the data from 4,372 inpatients with diabetes in a hospital between January 1, 2021, and March 28, 2023. The data comprised demographic characteristics, discharge diagnoses and biochemical index test results. After data preprocessing and feature selection using Recursive Feature Elimination(RFE), the dataset was split into training and testing sets at a ratio of 8:2, with the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique(SMOTE) employed to balance the training set. Six machine learning(ML) algorithms, including decision tree (DT), logistic regression (LR), random forest (RF), support vector machine(SVM),extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and Adaptive Boosting(AdaBoost) were applied to construct PVD prediction models. A grid search with 10-fold cross-validation was conducted to optimize the hyperparameters. Metrics such as accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, G-mean, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) assessed the models’ effectiveness. The SHAP method interpreted the best-performing model.

Results

RFE identified the optimal 12 predictors. The XGBoost model outperformed other five ML models, with an AUC of 0.945, G-mean of 0.843, accuracy of 0.890, precision of 0.930, recall of 0.927, and F1-score of 0.928. The feature importance of ML models and SHAP results indicated that Hemoglobin (Hb), age, total bile acids (TBA) and lipoprotein(a)(LP-a) are the top four important risk factors for PVD in T2DM.

Conclusion

The machine learning approach successfully developed a PVD risk prediction model with good performance. The model identified the factors associated with PVD and offered physicians an intuitive understanding on the impact of key features in the model.
Perspective and review: how to develop our understanding of temporal changes in the relationship between people and the landscape under societal and climate change in Northeast Asia?
Authors: Shin Nagai , Saitoh Taku M. , Kotani Ayumi , Miura Tomoaki , Nakagawa Hiromi , Katsumata Chifuyu , Morimoto Hiroshi , Onishi Hideyuki
Published: February 2024

The relationship between people and the landscape consists of multi-layer components such as the atmosphere, water, living things, nutrients, livelihood, society, and information. To clarify temporal changes in this relationship, previous studies have used conventional approaches based on field work and satellite observation. However, interpretations based on these conventional two approaches are subject to temporal, spatial, representative, and interpretability gaps. In this perspective and review paper, we propose three approaches to bridge these gaps: (1) text mining of historical documents and data (mining for handwritten or printed old documents, books, diaries, field notes, and statistics), (2) video mining (mining for descriptions, interviews, narrations, and background of photos/video), and (3) social sensing (observing real-world events by using digital communication tools such as social networking services, YouTube, and Google Trends). We discuss the utility, limitation, and perspective of each of these proposed approaches by presenting case examples of their application from Northeast Asia. We found that (1) the text mining approach can be useful to remove the temporal, representative, and interpretability gaps but requires immense amounts of time and labor; (2) the video mining approach can be useful to remove the temporal, representative, and interpretability gaps, but uncertainties remain and there are usage limitations with video materials; and (3) the social sensing approach can be useful to reduce the spatial, representative, and interpretability gaps, but it requires careful consideration in terms of data quality and ethical issues. To deepen our understanding of the relationship between people and the landscape during periods of social and climate change on a scale of seasons to centuries from the viewpoint of personal attributes and traits, we conclude that an integrated analysis that combines the conventional approaches such as field work and satellite observation and the proposed approaches should be further developed. Through the development of our proposed integrated analytical approaches, we expect to establish a new transdisciplinary study that integrates anthropology, sociology, informatics, history, and natural sciences.
Immunogenicity of chimeric hemagglutinins delivered by an orf virus vector platform against swine influenza virus
Authors: do Nascimento Gabriela Mansano , de Oliveira Pablo Sebastian Britto , Butt Salman Latif , Diel Diego G.
Published: February 2024

Orf virus (ORFV) is a large DNA virus that can harbor and efficiently deliver viral antigens in swine. Here we used ORFV as a vector platform to deliver chimeric hemagglutinins (HA) of Influenza A virus of swine (IAV-S). Vaccine development against IAV-S faces limitations posed by strain-specific immunity and the antigenic diversity of the IAV-S strains circulating in the field. A promising alternative aiming at re-directing immune responses on conserved epitopes of the stalk segment of the hemagglutinin (HA2) has recently emerged. Sequential immunization with chimeric HAs comprising the same stalk but distinct exotic head domains can potentially induce cross-reactive immune responses against conserved epitopes of the HA2 while breaking the immunodominance of the head domain (HA1). Here, we generated two recombinant ORFVs expressing chimeric HAs encoding the stalk region of a contemporary H1N1 IAV-S strain and exotic heads derived from either H6 or H8 subtypes, ORFVΔ121cH6/1 and ORFVΔ121cH8/1, respectively. The resulting recombinant viruses were able to express the heterologous protein in vitro. Further, the immunogenicity and cross-protection of these vaccine candidates were assessed in swine after sequential intramuscular immunization with OV-cH6/1 and OV-cH8/1, and subsequent challenge with divergent IAV-S strains. Humoral responses showed that vaccinated piglets presented increasing IgG responses in sera. Additionally, cross-reactive IgG and IgA antibody responses elicited by immunization were detected in sera and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), respectively, by ELISA against different viral clades and a diverse range of contemporary H1N1 IAV-S strains, indicating induction of humoral and mucosal immunity in vaccinated animals. Importantly, viral shedding was reduced in nasal swabs from vaccinated piglets after intranasal challenge with either Oh07 (gamma clade) or Ca09 (npdm clade) IAV-S strains. ﻿These results demonstrated the efficiency of ORFV-based vectors in delivering chimeric IAV-S HA-based vaccine candidates and underline the potential use of chimeric-HAs for prevention and control of influenza in swine.
How do sphingosine-1-phosphate affect immune cells to resolve inflammation?
Authors: Sun Gehui , Wang Bin , Wu Xiaoyu , Cheng Jiangfeng , Ye Junming , Wang Chunli , Zhu Hongquan , Liu Xiaofeng
Published: February 2024

Inflammation is an important immune response of the body. It is a physiological process of self-repair and defense against pathogens taken up by biological tissues when stimulated by damage factors such as trauma and infection. Inflammation is the main cause of high morbidity and mortality in most diseases and is the physiological basis of the disease. Targeted therapeutic strategies can achieve efficient toxicity clearance at the inflammatory site, reduce complications, and reduce mortality. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid signaling molecule, is involved in immune cell transport by binding to S1P receptors (S1PRs). It plays a key role in innate and adaptive immune responses and is closely related to inflammation. In homeostasis, lymphocytes follow an S1P concentration gradient from the tissues into circulation. One widely accepted mechanism is that during the inflammatory immune response, the S1P gradient is altered, and lymphocytes are blocked from entering the circulation and are, therefore, unable to reach the inflammatory site. However, the full mechanism of its involvement in inflammation is not fully understood. This review focuses on bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune diseases, and immunological aspects of the Sphks/S1P/S1PRs signaling pathway, highlighting their role in promoting intradial-adaptive immune interactions. How S1P signaling is regulated in inflammation and how S1P shapes immune responses through immune cells are explained in detail. We teased apart the immune cell composition of S1P signaling and the critical role of S1P pathway modulators in the host inflammatory immune system. By understanding the role of S1P in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, we linked the genomic studies of S1P-targeted drugs in inflammatory diseases to provide a basis for targeted drug development.
New insights into the role of mast cells as a therapeutic target in cancer through the blockade of immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Ribatti Domenico
Published: February 2024

Mast cells release different anti-and pro-inflammatory agents changing their role from protective to pro-inflammatory cells involved in the progression of different pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases and tumors. Different mediators released by mast cells are involved in their biological activities which may be anti-tumorigenic and/or pro-tumorigenic. For these reasons, tumor mast cells have been considered a novel therapeutic target to prevent tumor progression and metastatic process. Many different agents have been suggested and used in the past pre-clinical and clinical settings. Among the novel immunotherapeutic approaches to cancer treatment, different immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting PD-1/PDL-1 have been used in the treatment of many human tumors improving overall survival. In this context, inhibition of mast cell activity may be considered a novel strategy to improve the efficacy of anti-PD-1/PDL-1 therapy. The blockade of the PD-1/PD-L1 interaction may be suggested as a useful and novel therapeutic approach in the treatment of tumors in which mast cells are involved.
Urbanization-induced soil organic carbon loss and microbial-enzymatic drivers: insights from aggregate size classes in Nanchang city, China
Authors: Zhang Foyi , Zhong Jialin , Zhao Yuquan , Cai Changyongming , Liu Wei , Wang Qiong , Wang Wenjie , Wang Huimei , Jiang Xueru , Yuan Renqiang
Published: February 2024

Soil microorganisms and enzymes play crucial roles in soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration by promoting soil aggregate formation and stability and by participating in SOC cycling and accumulation. However, the effects by which soil microorganisms and enzymes act as mediators driving dynamic changes in SOC during rapid urbanization remain unclear. Therefore, this study selected the built-up area of Nanchang City, China (505 km2), as the study area. Sampling surveys were conducted using 184 sample plots stratified based on the proportion of impermeable surface area to distinguish different urbanization levels. The driving factors of dynamic changes in SOC of different aggregates during the process of urbanization were analyzed using the soil microbial community and enzyme activities. The results demonstrated that with an increase in urbanization intensity, both SOC content and stock exhibited a significant decline (p < 0.05). The highest SOC stock and contribution rate were observed in the 0.25–1 mm aggregates, and they were significantly influenced by urbanization (p < 0.05). In addition, the biomass of gram-positive bacteria (G+) and actinomycetota, and the activities of N-acetylglucosaminidase and acid phosphatase (AP) were significantly higher in low-urbanization areas than in high-urbanization areas (p < 0.05). SOC of each aggregate was positively correlated with fungi, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, G+, gram-negative bacteria, actinomycetota, protozoa, β-1,4-glucosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, AP, urease, and catalase. Compared to soil enzymes, soil microorganisms exhibited a greater role in SOC sequestration (22.7%). Additionally, a structural equation model indicated that urbanization can directly or indirectly lead to a decrease in SOC of aggregates by altering soil physicochemical properties and affecting microbial and enzyme dynamics. However, the larger vegetation characteristics index mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization on SOC. Overall, urbanization had a negative impact on soil carbon storage. In the future, it is important to consider strategies that focus on improving soil nutrients, maintaining soil structure, protecting existing urban trees, and enhancing plant diversity during the urbanization process. These measures can help increase soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity, thereby improving soil and aggregate-related SOC content. The study could contribute to enhancing carbon sequestration in urban greenspaces.
Distinguishing two distinct types of salivary extracellular vesicles: a potential tool for understanding their pathophysiological roles
Authors: Ogawa Yuko , Miura Yuri , Ikemoto Mamoru , Ohnishi Atsushi , Goto Yoshikuni , Aoki Kazuma , Motokurumada Yuki , Akimoto Yoshihiro , Endo Tamao , Tsujimoto Masafumi , Yanoshita Ryohei
Published: February 2024

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are found in almost all cells and human body fluids, are currently being studied as a source of pathophysiological information. Previously, we demonstrated that at least two types of EVs can be isolated from human whole saliva (WS) using enzymatic activity of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV) as a marker for differentiating the EV subsets. In the present study, EV fractions, termed EV-I 20 k-ppt and EV-II 100 k-ppt, were prepared by a combination of size-exclusion chromatography of improved condition and sequential centrifugation. The EV-I 20 k-ppt fraction contained medium/large EVs with a diameter of 100–1,000 nm, including aminopeptidase N (APN), mucin 1, ezrin, and Annexin A1. EV-II 100 k-ppt contained small EVs with a diameter of 20–70 nm, with DPP IV and CD9, programmed cell death 6-interacting protein, and tumor susceptibility gene 101 as characteristic proteins. Proteomic analyses also revealed distinctive repertoires of constituent proteins. Immunoprecipitation of several membrane proteins of the EVs with respective antibodies suggested their differential local membrane environment between the two types of salivary vesicles. Thus, we identified two distinctive types of EVs, one is APN/MUC1- rich EVs (EV-I, large/medium EVs) and the other is DPP IV/CD9-rich EVs (EV-II, small EVs). Furthermore, analysis of the binding of the EVs to coronavirus spike proteins showed that EV-II 100 k-ppt, but not EV-I 20 k-ppt, significantly bound to the spike protein of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Finally, we developed a simple method to prepare two distinctive EVs from only 1 mL of human WS using sequential immunoprecipitation. Elucidating the features and functions of these two types of salivary EVs may help us understand their pathophysiological roles in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract.
Anterograde trans-neuronal labeling of striatal interneurons in relation to dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta
Authors: Karube Fuyuki , Yang Yang , Kobayashi Kenta , Fujiyama Fumino
Published: February 2024

Recent advances in neural tracing have unveiled numerous neural circuits characterized by brain region and cell type specificity, illuminating the underpinnings of specific functions and behaviors. Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the midbrain are highly heterogeneous in terms of gene and protein expression and axonal projections. Different cell types within the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) tend to project to the striatum in a cell-type-dependent manner characterized by specific topography. Given the wide and dense distribution of DA axons, coupled with a combination of synaptic and volume transmission, it remains unclear how DA release is spatially and temporally regulated, to appropriately achieve specific behaviors and functions. Our hypothesis posits that hidden rules governing synapse formation between pre-synaptic DA neuron types and striatal neuron types may modulate the effect of DA at a single-cell level. To address this conjecture, we employed adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) to visualize the neural circuitry of DA neurons. AAV1 has emerged as a potent anatomical instrument capable of labeling and visualizing pre- and post-synaptic neurons simultaneously through anterograde trans-synaptic labeling. First, AAV1-Cre was injected into the SNc, resulting in Cre expression in both medium spiny neurons and interneurons in the striatum. Due to the potential occurrence of the retrograde transfer of AAV1, only striatal interneurons were considered for trans-synaptic or trans-neuronal labeling. Interneuron types expressing parvalbumin, choline acetyltransferase, somatostatin, or nitrogen oxide synthase exhibited Cre expression. Using a combination of AAV1-Cre and Cre-driven fluorophore expressing AAVs, striatal interneurons and the axons originating from the SNc were visualized in distinct colors. Using immunofluorescence against neurotransmitter transporters, almost all axons in the striatum visualized using this approach were confirmed to be dopaminergic. Moreover, individual DA axons established multiple appositions on the somata and proximal dendrites of interneurons. This finding suggests that irrespective of the extensive and widespread axonal arborization of DA neurons, a particular DA neuron may exert a significant influence on specific interneurons. Thus, AAV1-based labeling of the DA system can be a valuable tool to uncover the concealed rules governing these intricate relationships.
Adult supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma with cerebrospinal fluid dissemination metastases: a case report
Authors: Zhang Daojin , Liu Hongbing , Zhang Maosong , Cao Jun
Published: February 2024

Background

Ependymomas mostly locate in the infratentorial region and often occur in children. Anaplastic ependymomas account for 45–47% of supratentorial and 15–17% of infratentorial ependymomas, also known as malignant ependymomas. Adult supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma (SEAE) is rare in clinical practice, and only a few cases have been reported so far, and there is no clinical study with large sample size. We report a case of adult supratentorial extraventricular anaplastic ependymoma in the occipital lobe with cerebrospinal fluid dissemination metastases.

Case description

A 58-year-old female patient presented with unexplained pain in multiple parts of the body for the past half a year, mainly manifested as pain in the head, abdomen and chest. On August, 2022, Head MRI of the patient showed abnormal signal shadow in the left occipital lobe, which was considered a malignant lesion. The patient underwent tumor resection under general anesthesia on September 3, 2022. Postoperative pathological examination showed anaplastic ependymoma. The postoperative follow-up head MRI showed multiple cerebrospinal fluid dissemination metastases in the brain.

Conclusion

Adult SEAE is a rare tumor with high malignancy and have a tendency to disseminate into the CSF, resulting in drop metastases. Immunohistochemistry is very important for the diagnosis of SEAE. It is recommended to administer adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy appropriately after surgery, based on the tumor being completely resected as much as possible.
Prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia: a national-based systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tadesse Gebresilassie , Tinsae Techilo , Nakie Girum , Rtbey Gidey , Andualem Fantahun , Tadesse Asnake , Melkam Mamaru , Takelle Girmaw Medfu , Fentahun Setegn
Published: February 2024

Background

Depression is a major public health problem and negatively affects the quality of life of patients with epilepsy. Despite multiple studies investigating the magnitude and predictors, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia.

Methods

The primary articles were searched using databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, SCOPUS, EMBASE, and African Journal Online. A total of 10 primary articles that assessed the prevalence and factors associated with depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy in Ethiopia were included. A Microsoft Excel spreadsheet was used to extract the data, which was then exported to Stata version 14 for further analysis. The statistical heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 test. Due to heterogeneity, a random effect meta-analysis model was employed. Publication bias was checked through Egger’s weighted regression test and funnel plot.

Results

A total of 10 primary studies with 3,532 participants were included. The pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms among patients with epilepsy was found to be 41.69% (95% CI, 37.70, 45.68). The pooled prevalence of depressive symptoms was 48.61, 42.98, 40.68, 38.27, and 34.80% in Oromia, SNNPs, Amhara, Addis Ababa, and Tigray, respectively, based on a sub-group analysis per regional state. Perceived stigma (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 1.40, 7.80), seizure frequency (AOR = 3.81, 95% CI: 1.03, 14.09), and perceived stress (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 1.05, 20.06) were factors associated with depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

We found that depressive symptoms affects at least four out of ten patients with epilepsy, indicating an immense burden. Depressive symptoms were extremely prevalent in those who had high levels of stigma, a monthly seizure frequency of once or more, and perceived stress. Therefore, physicians should take extra precautions when treating patients with epilepsy who have certain conditions.

Systematic review registration

This study was registered according to The International Prospective Register of Systemic Review (PROSPERO) with the registration ID (CRD42023484308).
The silence of the neurons: an application to enhance performance and energy efficiency
Authors: Heidarpur Moslem , Ahmadi Arash , Ahmadi Majid
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Simulation of biological neural networks is a computationally intensive task due to the number of neurons, various communication pathways, and non-linear terms in the differential equations of the neuron.

Method

This study proposes an original modification to optimize performance and power consumption in systems, simulating or implementing spiking neural networks. First, the proposed modified models were simulated for validation. Furthermore, digital hardware was designed, and both the original and proposed models were implemented on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

Results and discussion

Moreover, the impact of the proposed modification on performance metrics was studied. The implementation results confirmed that the proposed models are considerably faster and require less energy to generate a spike compared with unmodified neurons.
Atypical clinical variants of Alzheimer’s disease: are they really atypical?
Authors: Whitwell Jennifer L.
Published: February 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neuropathological disorder defined by the deposition of the proteins, tau and β-amyloid. Alzheimer’s disease is commonly thought of as a disease of the elderly that is associated with episodic memory loss. However, the very first patient described with AD was in her 50’s with impairments in multiple cognitive domains. It is now clear that AD can present with multiple different non-amnestic clinical variants which have been labeled as atypical variants of AD. Instead of these variants of AD being considered “atypical,” I propose that they provide an excellent disease model of AD and reflect the true clinical heterogeneity of AD. The atypical variants of AD usually have a relatively young age at onset, and they show striking cortical tau deposition on molecular PET imaging which relates strongly with patterns of neurodegeneration and clinical outcomes. In contrast, elderly patients with AD show less tau deposition on PET, and neuroimaging and clinical outcomes are confounded by other age-related pathologies, including TDP-43 and vascular pathology. There is also considerable clinical and anatomical heterogeneity across atypical and young-onset amnestic variants of AD which reflects the fact that AD is a disease that causes impairments in multiple cognitive domains. Future studies should focus on careful characterization of cognitive impairment in AD and consider the full clinical spectrum of AD, including atypical AD, in the design of research studies investigating disease mechanisms in AD and clinical treatment trials, particularly with therapeutics targeting tau.
The promising role of miRNAs in radioresistance and chemoresistance of nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Xu Haoyuan , Li Wanpeng , Wang Dehui
Published: February 2024

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a malignant epithelial tumor that develops in the nasopharynx. It has a distinct ethnic and geographical distribution, and emerging evidence suggests that it is an ecological disease. Most patients respond well to radiation combined with chemotherapy as the primary treatment for NPC. However, some patients will eventually develop radio resistance and chemoresistance, resulting in recurrence and metastasis, which is a primary cause of poor prognosis. The processes underlying radio resistance and chemoresistance in NPC are complex and unknown. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenic non-coding RNA molecules. They play a role in a variety of cell functions as well as development of disease such as cancer. There has been considerable data demonstrating the existence of numerous aberrant miRNAs in cancer tissues, cells, and biofluids, which indicates the importance of studying the influence of miRNAs on NPC. Therefore, this review comprehensively analyzes the elaborate mechanisms of miRNAs affecting the radio resistance and chemoresistance of NPC. Multiple tumor-specific miRNAs can be employed as therapeutic and prognostic biological indicators.
Optimizing linear energy transfer distribution in intensity-modulated proton therapy using the alternating direction method of multipliers
Authors: Fan Qingkun , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Dao Riao , Qian Yujia , Zhao Lewei , Li Xiaoqiang , Ding Xuanfeng , Liu Gang , Dai Shuyang
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study develop a novel linear energy transfer (LET) optimization method for intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) with minimum monitor unit (MMU) constraint using the alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM).

Material and methods

The novel LET optimization method (ADMM-LET) was proposed with (1) the dose objective and the LET objective as the optimization objective and (2) the non-convex MMU threshold as a constraint condition. ADMM was used to solve the optimization problem. In the ADMM-LET framework, the optimization process entails iteratively solving the dose sub-problem and the LET sub-problem, simultaneously ensuring compliance with the MMU constraint. Three representative cases, including brain, liver, and prostate cancer, were utilized to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The dose and LET distributions from ADMM-LET were compared to those obtained using the published iterative convex relaxation (ICR-LET) method.

Results

The results demonstrate the superiority of ADMM-LET over ICR-LET in terms of LET distribution while achieving a comparable dose distribution. More specifically, for the brain case, the maximum LET (unit: keV/µm) at the optic nerve decreased from 5.45 (ICR-LET) to 1.97 (ADMM-LET). For the liver case, the mean LET (unit: keV/µm) at the clinical target volume increased from 4.98 (ICR-LET) to 5.50 (ADMM-LET). For the prostate case, the mean LET (unit: keV/µm) at the rectum decreased from 2.65 (ICR-LET) to 2.14 (ADMM-LET).

Conclusion

This study establishes ADMM-LET as a new approach for LET optimization with the MMU constraint in IMPT, offering potential improvements in treatment outcomes and biological effects.
Antiparasitic activity of the iron-containing milk protein lactoferrin and its potential derivatives against human intestinal and blood parasites
Authors: Anand Namrata
Published: February 2024

An iron-containing milk protein named lactoferrin (Lf) has demonstrated antiparasitic and immunomodulatory properties against a variety of human parasites. This protein has shown its capability to bind and transport iron molecules in the vicinity of the host–pathogen environment. The ability of parasites to sequester the iron molecule and to increase their pathogenicity and survival depends on the availability of iron sources. Lf protein has suggested a iron chelating effect on parasites iron and, hence, has shown its antiparasitic effect. Since the parasites have a complex life cycle and have developed drug resistance, vaccines and other treatments are a handful. Therefore, therapeutic research focusing on natural treatment regimens that target the parasite and are non-toxic to host cells is urgently needed. The antiparasitic efficacy of Lf protein has been extensively studied over the past 40 years using both in vitro and in vivo studies. This review article highlighted past important studies on Lf protein that revealed its potential antiparasitic activity against various intracellular and extracellular intestinal or blood-borne human parasites. This review article structures the role of Lf protein in its various forms, such as native, peptide, and nanoformulation, laying the groundwork for its function as an antiparasitic agent and its possible known mechanisms of action.
Fault diagnosis method using MVMD signal reconstruction and MMDE-GNDO feature extraction and MPA-SVM
Authors: Mao Min , Zhou Chengjiang , Xu Bingwei , Liao Dongjin , Yang Jingzong , Liu Shuangyao , Li Yiqing , Tang Tong
Published: February 2024

To achieve a comprehensive and accurate diagnosis of faults in rolling bearings, a method for diagnosing rolling bearing faults has been proposed. This method is based on Multivariate Variational Mode Decomposition (MVMD) signal reconstruction, Multivariate Multiscale Dispersion Entropy (MMDE)-Generalized Normal Distribution Optimization (GNDO), and Marine predators’ algorithm-based optimization support vector machine (MPA-SVM). Firstly, by using a joint evaluation function (energy*|correlation coefficient|), the multi-channel vibration signals of rolling bearings after MVMD decomposition are denoised and reconstructed. Afterward, MMDE is applied to fuse the information from the reconstructed signal and construct a high-dimensional fault feature set. Following that, GNDO is used to select features and extract a subset of low-dimensional features that are sensitive and easy to classify. Finally, MPA is used to realize the adaptive selection of important parameters in the SVM classifier. Fault diagnosis experiments are carried out using datasets provided by the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) and Paderborn University (PU). The MVMD signal reconstruction method can effectively filter out the noise components of each channel. MMDE-GNDO can availably mine multi-channel fault features and eliminate redundant (or interference) items. The MPA-SVM classifier can identify faults in different working conditions with an average accuracy of 99.72% and 100%, respectively. The results demonstrate the accuracy, efficiency, and stability of the proposed method.
Examination of basic motor skills in children and adolescents
Authors: Karadeniz Soner , Suveren Ceren , Arslan Yasin , Ayyıldız Durhan Tebessüm , Ceylan Tülay , Albay Faruk , Küçük Hamza , Ceylan Levent
Published: February 2024

Aim of the study: The aim of this study was the investigation of basic motor skills in 5–14-year-old boys and girls.

Materials and Methods: A total of 842 primary school children, 421 boys and 421 girls, participated in the study. 13.3% of the participants were 5–6 years old, 29.5% were 7–8 years old, 21.5% were 9–10 years old, 16.4% were 11–12, and 19.4% were 13–14 years old. The balance skills of the participants were measured with the (Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder) KTK test.

Findings: When the classification of children according to KTK defining classes is examined, 40.7% are very good. When the children’s KTK Backward Balancing scores were examined, a statistically significant difference was found between gender and age groups (p < 0.05). Girls between the ages of 5–6 and 7–8 years had a higher score for KTK backward balance. KTK Total scores were examined according to the Body Mass Index groups, when the total scores of KTK were compared, the lowest scores were in the obese group.

Conclusion: According to the study results, age is an essential factor for balance skills. As the age increased, the overall scores of the KTK increased. It was determined that girls’ KTK backward balancing scores were higher than boys. According to BMI results, the balance performances of obese children were found to be lower than the other groups. This difference can be explained by the negative effect of obesity in this age group. According to these results, it may be recommended to observe and improve the balance performances of obese children.
TRP channels: a provocative rationalization for local Ca2+ control in arterial tone development
Authors: El-Lakany Mohammed A. , Welsh Donald G.
Published: February 2024

Arterial networks are controlled by the consolidated output of stimuli that set “how much” (magnitude) and “where” (distribution) blood flow is delivered. While notable changes in magnitude are tied to network wide responses, altered distribution often arises from focal changes in tone, whose mechanistic foundation remains unclear. We propose herein a framework of focal vasomotor contractility being controlled by pharmacomechanical coupling and the generation of Ca2+ waves via the sarcoplasmic reticulum. We argue the latter is sustained by receptor operated, transient receptor potential (TRP) channels through direct extracellular Ca2+ influx or indirect Na+ influx, reversing the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. We view this focal regulatory mechanism as complementary, but not redundant with, electromechanical coupling in the precision tuning of blood flow delivery.
Precipitation variation: a key factor regulating plant diversity in semi-arid livestock grazing lands
Authors: Wu Yantao , Li Hao , Cui Jiahe , Han Ying , Li Hangyu , Miao Bailing , Tang Yongkang , Li Zhiyong , Zhang Jinghui , Wang Lixin , Liang Cunzhu
Published: February 2024

Livestock presence impacts plant biodiversity (species richness) in grassland ecosystems, yet extent and direction of grazing impacts on biodiversity vary greatly across inter-annual periods. In this study, an 8-year (2014-2021) grazing gradient experiment with sheep was conducted in a semi-arid grassland to investigate the impact of grazing under different precipitation variability on biodiversity. The results suggest no direct impact of grazing on species richness in semi-arid Stipa grassland. However, increased grazing indirectly enhanced species richness by elevating community dominance (increasing the sheltering effect of Stipa grass). Importantly, intensified grazing also regulates excessive community biomass resulting from increased inter-annual wetness (SPEI), amplifying the positive influence of annual humidity index on species richness. Lastly, we emphasize that, in water-constrained grassland ecosystems, intra-annual precipitation variability (PCI) was the most crucial factor driving species richness. Therefore, the water-heat synchrony during the growing season may alleviate physiological constraints on plants, significantly enhancing species richness as a result of multifactorial interactions. Our study provides strong evidence for how to regulate grazing intensity to increase biodiversity under future variable climate patterns. We suggest adapting grazing intensity according to local climate variability to achieve grassland biodiversity conservation.
Identification of pleiotropic loci mediating structural and non-structural carbohydrate accumulation within the sorghum bioenergy association panel using high-throughput markers
Authors: Kumar Neeraj , Boatwright J. Lucas , Boyles Richard E. , Brenton Zachary W. , Kresovich Stephen
Published: February 2024

Molecular characterization of diverse germplasm can contribute to breeding programs by increasing genetic gain for sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] improvement. Identifying novel marker-trait associations and candidate genes enriches the existing genomic resources and can improve bioenergy-related traits using genomic-assisted breeding. In the current scenario, identifying the genetic loci underlying biomass and carbon partitioning is vital for ongoing efforts to maximize each carbon sink’s yield for bioenergy production. Here, we have processed a high-density genomic marker (22 466 550) data based on whole-genome sequencing (WGS) using a set of 365 accessions from the bioenergy association panel (BAP), which includes ~19.7 million (19 744 726) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) and 2.7 million (~2 721 824) insertion deletions (indels). A set of high-quality filtered SNP (~5.48 million) derived markers facilitated the assessment of population structure, genetic diversity, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for various traits related to biomass and its composition using the BAP. The phenotypic traits for GWAS included seed color (SC), plant height (PH), days to harvest (DTH), fresh weight (FW), dry weight (DW), brix content % (BRX), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), non-fibrous carbohydrate (NFC), and lignin content. Several novel loci and candidate genes were identified for bioenergy-related traits, and some well-characterized genes for plant height (Dw1 and Dw2) and the YELLOW SEED1 locus (Y1) were validated. We further performed a multi-variate adaptive shrinkage analysis to identify pleiotropic QTL, which resulted in several shared marker-trait associations among bioenergy and compositional traits. Significant marker-trait associations with pleiotropic effects can be used to develop molecular markers for trait improvement using a marker-assisted breeding approach. Significant nucleotide diversity and heterozygosity were observed between photoperiod-sensitive and insensitive individuals of the panel. This diverse bioenergy panel with genomic resources will provide an excellent opportunity for further genetic studies, including selecting parental lines for superior hybrid development to improve biomass-related traits in sorghum.