bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges and solutions in developing an objective and structured clinical examination for complementary and integrative medicine: a qualitative study
Authors: Jeong Aram , Lee Hye-Yoon , Shin Sangwoo , Im Sunju
Published: July 2023

Background
The growing prevalence of chronic diseases emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary and integrative medical care, which considers various factors in the diagnosis and treatment processes. Therefore, training and evaluation on information gathering, physical examination, and patient education for ideal integrative medical care are necessary. An objective and structured clinical examination (OSCE) is widely used in medical education as a tool for evaluating overall clinical performance. This study developed OSCE modules for ideal complementary and integrative medical care practice in Korea. We report the problems and solutions that occurred during this process, as well as future tasks.
Methods
A total of 21 OSCE modules were developed according to 3 different diseases for each of the 7 clinical presentations (CP). Seven clinical experts developed the OSCE modules in each specialized field. Quality control was conducted through repeated feedback from two medical education experts and a standardized patient educator (SP educator). Analysis of the contents of each feedback, a survey of the 7 clinical experts, weekly meetings, and a focus group interview (FGI) was conducted to derive the challenges and possible solutions. Self-evaluation of OSCE development competency and importance-performance analysis (IPA) were conducted for the 7 experts after the main development process.
Results
Seven main themes and 18 subcategories were extracted. The main challenges of developers were categorized into “case,” “test situation,” “post-encounter note,” “checklist,” “scenario,” “format,” and “pattern identification.” During module development, they solved these challenges through discussions among developers and medical education experts. All solutions were categorized into 33 codes. Our survey found their competency in all items to be better than before development, and that they considered pattern identification (PI) the greatest challenge due to its ambiguity.
Conclusion
We found that the more OSCE modules the developers worked on, the more their competency was improved. However, they faced many challenges when developing the modules, which they resolved through discussions on the project. For further effective OSCE module development, we note that social and college-level support should be provided in the form of standardized schemas and human and spatial resources.
Implementation of new technologies designed to improve cervical cancer screening and completion of care in low-resource settings: A case study from the Proyecto Precancer
Authors: Gilman Sarah D. , Gravitt Patti E. , Paz-Soldán Valerie A. , Group Proyecto Precancer Study
Published: July 2023

Background
This case study details the experience of the Proyecto Precancer in applying the Integrative Systems Praxis for Implementation Research (INSPIRE) research methodology to guide the co-development, planning, implementation, adoption, and sustainment of new technologies and screening practices in a cervical cancer screening and management program in the Peruvian Amazon. We briefly describe the theoretical grounding of the INSPIRE framework, the phases of the INSPIRE process, the activities within each phase, and the RE-AIM outcomes used to evaluate program outcomes.
Methods
Proyecto Precancer iteratively engaged over 90 stakeholders in the Micro Red Iquitos Sur (MRIS) health network in the Amazonian region of Loreto, Perú through the INSPIRE phases. INSPIRE is an integrative research methodology grounded in systems thinking, participatory action research, and implementation science frameworks such as the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. An interrupted time-series design with a mixed-methods RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) evaluation framework was used to examine the adoption of molecular-based primary cervical cancer screening using HPV-testing (including self-sampling), with direct treatment after visual inspection with portable thermal ablation at the primary level.
Results
The participatory and system-thinking-oriented approach led to rapid adoption and successful implementation of the new cervical cancer screening and management program within 6 months, using an HPV-based screen-and-treat strategy across 17 health facilities in one of the largest public health networks of the Peruvian Amazon. Monitoring and evaluation data revealed that, within 6 months, the MRIS had surpassed their monthly screening goals, tripling their original screening rate, with approximately 70% of HPV-positive women reaching a completion of care endpoint, compared with around 30% prior to the new CCSM strategy.
Conclusions
Proyecto Precancer facilitated the adoption and sustainment of molecular-based primary cervical cancer screening using HPV-testing (including self-sampling), with direct treatment after visual inspection with portable thermal ablation at the primary level and the de-implementation of existing visual inspection-based screening strategies and colposcopy for routine precancer triage at the hospital level. This case study shows how PP used implementation science approaches to guide the adoption of a new screen-and-treat strategy in the Peruvian Amazon, while facilitating de-implementation of older screening practices.
Functioning of a canopy-dominated intertidal community during emersion: highly productive but heterotrophic at the annual scale.
Authors: Golléty Claire , Yearsley Jon , Migné Aline , Davoult Dominique
Published: July 2023

In order to address lack of data regarding coastal carbon budgets, we estimated the annual metabolic carbon budget of an intertidal rocky reef macroalgal community during emersion. This budget is based on direct in situ measurements during emersion and establishes the seasonal variations of the photosynthetic parameters of such a community. CO2 fluxes were measured hourly to study the response of community gross primary productivity (GPP) to irradiance and the variation of GPP and community respiration (CR) over the emersion period at different times of the year. These were combined together with existing monthly measures of GPP and CR hourly rates to model the variations of these fluxes as a function of irradiance and the tidal cycle throughout an entire calendar year. Daily, monthly and annual values of GPP, CR and net primary productivity (NPP) were calculated with a relatively low sensitivity to any of the parameters used. While GPP fluxes show comparable orders of magnitude to those measured in other systems, higher CR fluxes lead to a heterotrophic system during emersion, both under measured (NPP = -299 gC m-2 yr-1) and theoretical irradiances (NPP = -119 gC m-2 yr-1). This heterotrophy is directly linked to the light availability, varying according to combined daily, tidal and seasonal cycles, and to temperature at the seasonal scale. Measurements performed in situ at the community scale integrated interactions that are otherwise absent at the individual scale. This gives access to aspects of the functioning that cannot be otherwise identified.
Ibulocydine inhibits migration and invasion of TNBC cells via MMP-9 regulation
Authors: Kwon Mi Ri , Park Ji Soo , Ko Eun Jung , Park Jin , Ju Eun Jin , Shin Seol Hwa , Son Ga Won , Lee Hye Won , Park Hee Hyun , Park Yun-Yong , Kang Myoung-Hee , Kim Yeon Joo , Kim Byeong Moon , Lee Hee Jin , Song Si Yeol , Park Seok Soon , Jeong Seong-Yun , Choi Eun Kyung
Published: July 2023

Background
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for approximately 15–20% of all breast cancer types, indicating poor survival prognosis with more aggressive biology of rapidly progressive growth, metastasis to the lung, and short response duration to available therapies. TNBC is characterized by the negative expression of three hormone receptors. Therefore, compared to other breast cancers, TNBC is difficult to treat using hormone inhibitors and is resistant to chemotherapy. Additionally, the lack of effective targets limits the development of therapeutics. Ibulocydine (IB) is a novel (cyclin-dependent kinase) CDK7/9 inhibitor prodrug displaying potent anti-cancer effects against various cancer cell types. We performed the following experiments to determine whether IB inhibits metastasis and eventually overcomes the poor drug response in TNBC.
Methods
Colony-forming, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8), wound healing, trans-well assays, and western blotting were performed in vitro. An experimental metastasis model was developed via intravenous injection of MDA-MB-231-Luc cells in vivo, and tumor growth was monitored using an In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS) spectrum.
Results
The result showed that IB reduced the viability of various TNBC cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Pretreatment with z-VAD effectively blocked IB-induced cell death and cleavage of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in TNBC cells. A reduction in the migration and invasion abilities of TNBC cell lines was observed following IB treatment in migration and invasion assays. We determined the expression levels of metastasis-related markers using western blotting and found that the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) decreased in an IB dose-dependent manner. In addition, IB-induced inhibition of migration and invasion was blocked in MMP9-overexpressing MDA-MB-231-Luc cells. Results of in vivo experiments using the metastasis model showed that metastasis of MDA-MB-231-Luc cells to the lung was inhibited by IB.
Conclusions
Collectively, these results showed that IB inhibited the growth of TNBC cells by inducing caspase-mediated apoptosis and blocking metastasis by reducing MMP-9 expression, suggesting a novel therapeutic agent for metastatic TNBC.
Numerical Simulation of the Indian Monsoon Climate using the WRF Regional Climate Model
Authors: MadhuSai Singuru , Panda Roshmitha , Sivaramakrishna Surireddi Satya Venkata
Published: July 2023

Climate studies are essential in understanding the Earth's climate system and its dynamics. Numerical models play a significant role in these studies by simulating the behaviour of the atmosphere and providing insights into future climate scenarios. In the recent years, the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model has emerged as a widely used tool for studying climate on regional scales. In the present study, we simulated the mean features of the Indian summer monsoon (June through September) climate using the WRF regional climate model. The WRF model with a horizontal resolution of 25 km is driven by the Community Climate System Model version4 (CCSM4) for the period 2006-2021 which is a part of the fifth generation of Coupled Model Inter comparison Project (CMIP5) using the Representative Concentration Pathway 6.0 (RCP6.0) over the South Asia Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment (SA-CORDEX) domain. The model is simulated on a continuous mode throughout its annual cycle for the period of integration. But for the presentation of results, the summer monsoon months of JJAS for the period 2007 to 2021 are only analysed. The performance of the model was assessed through the study of the spatial distribution of Air temperature (2m), Winds, Pressure, Rainfall, and the Vertical Integrated Moisture flux convergence (VIMFC). The simulated parameters were compared to those in ERA5 reanalysis and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) gridded rainfall. The performance of the WRF model was evaluated for simulating the regional scale precipitation over 5 homogenous rainfall zones of India. The WRF model accurately reproduces the Tropospheric Temperature Gradient (TTG) between the southern and northern regions. The sub-regional scale analysis of the simulated 2m temperature and precipitation for 30 meteorological subdivisions of India reveals that the WRF model performs better than the CCSM4 model. Results indicate that the model is able to capture the mean climatological features of the monsoon viz. monsoon onset, low-level Jet and the upper-level tropical easterly jet.
Comparison of the efficacy and safety of icotinib monotherapy and combined therapy of icotinib and vinorelbine as first-line treatment for advanced lung adenocarcinoma in patients with sensitive EGFR mutations: A retrospective study
Authors: zhang Jing , Hu Huihua , Yu Jian , Lin Dong , Xu Haipeng
Published: July 2023

This investigation compares the safety and therapeutic efficiency of icotinib monotherapy and icotinib + vinorelbine combination therapy against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR gene mutation.
Methods: Data was acquired from105 patients who enrolled in the Fujian Medical University Cancer Hospital between October 2018 and December 2021, including individuals with NSCLC-EGFR mutations who underwent first-line icotinib therapy with or without vinorelbine. Of these 105 cases, 75 patients received icotinib monotherapy (IM), and 35 received icotinib + vinorelbine combination therapy (I+V) and were grouped accordingly. Progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse effects were compared in the two cohorts. Furthermore, the mechanism of drug resistance in the combinational therapy group was also determined.
Results: PFS was notably prolonged in the I+V group (12 months vs. 9.3 months, HR=0.501, 95%CI 0.34-0.75, P<0.01). The mechanism of drug resistance was not affected by I+V therapy. Both the disease control and objective response rates in the I+V group were comparable to the IM group. Moreover, increased gastrointestinal reactions were observed in the I+V group thanin the IM group.
Conclusions: This study provides information about the effects of combined icotinib and vinorelbine therapy as a first-line strategy for advanced NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations. However, further verification via a prospective phase 3 clinical trialis required.
Construction of a multi-tissue cell atlas reveals cell-type-specific regulation of molecular and complex phenotypes in pigs
Authors: Yi Guoqiang , Chen Lijuan , Li Houcheng , Teng Jinyan , Wang Zhen , Qu Xiaolu , Chen Zhe , Cai Xiaodian , Zeng Haonan , Bai Zhonghao , Li Jinghui , Pan Xiangcun , Yan Leyan , Wang Fei , Lin Lin , Luo Yonglun , Sahana Goutam , Lund Mogens , Ballester Maria , Crespo-Piazuelo Daniel , Karlskov-Mortensen Peter , Fredholm Merete , Clop Alex , Amills Marcel , Loving Crystal , Tuggle Christopher , Madsen Ole , Li Jiaqi , Zhang Zhe , Liu George , Jiang Jicai , Fang Lingzhao
Published: July 2023

The systematic characterization of cellular heterogeneity among tissues and cell-type-specific regulation underlying complex phenotypes remains elusive in pigs. Within the Pig Genotype-Tissue Expression (PigGTEx) project, we present a single-cell transcriptome atlas of adult pigs encompassing 229,268 high-quality nuclei from 19 tissues, annotated to 67 major cell types. Besides cellular heterogeneity within and across tissues, we further characterize prominent tissue-specific features and functions of muscle, epithelial, and immune cells. Through deconvoluting 3,921 bulk RNA-seq samples from 17 matching tissues, we dissect thousands of genetic variants with cell-type interaction effects on gene expression (ieQTL). By colocalizing these ieQTL with variants associated with 268 complex traits, we provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms behind these traits. Moreover, we highlight that orthologous genes with cell-type-specific regulation in pigs exhibit significant heritability enrichment for some human complex phenotypes. Altogether, our work provides a valuable resource and highlights novel insights in cellular regulation of complex traits for accelerating pig precision breeding and human biomedical research.
Hepatitis C survey among the prison community in the Triângulo Mineiro region, Minas Gerais, Brazil: revealing an invisible population.
Authors: Gomide Geisa Perez Medina , Teixeira Mariana dos Santos , Pereira Guilherme Andrade , Camargo Fernanda Carolina , Pastori Beatriz Guerta , Dias Felipe Ferreira , Ferreira Júlio Cesar do Carmo , Silva Nathan Castro , Neta Otilia Silva de Carvalho , Meireles Pedro Teixeira , de Lima Vanessa Guizolfe Sales , Cunha Rejane Andrea de Paulo , Abdalla Douglas Reis , de Oliveira Cristina da Cunha Hueb Barata
Published: July 2023

Background
Hepatitis C is a health problem in penitentiaries and its elimination must be strengthened. The study describes socio-epidemiological aspects of a hepatitis C investigation in a penitentiary in the region of Triângulo Mineiro in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Methods
It is a cross-sectional and epidemiological survey, with an exploratory, observational, quantitative element. It was carried out in a state penitentiary with 1564 inmates. A semi-structured individual interview and anti-HCV testing were carried out between December 2019 and March 2020, in a simple random sample of 240 prisoners.
Results
The prevalence for HCV was 2.1% (anti-HCV test). Most participants were men (76.6%), with a mean age of 33.8 years, with incomplete high school educational level (80.5%). 93.8% self-reported heterosexuality, multiple sexual partners (mean of 6.5 partners/year) and inconsistent condom use. 54.2% had undergone a previous surgical procedure. Regarding alcohol use, 72.9% reported some consumption, at an average amount of 188.5 grams/day. Non-injecting drug use was reported by 70% of participants and cigarette by 56.3%. Other aspects were the recurrence of imprisonment (70.4%) and having the tattoos (75.8%).
Conclusion
The study supports the organization of epidemiological survey protocols, the construction of intersectoral health projects and the description of the prison population's vulnerabilities.
Influence of isotretinoin on orthodontic tooth movement in rats: microtomographic and histomorphometric analysis
Authors: Ferreira Mayra Fernanda , Silva Cristina Antoniali , Ervolino Edilson , Costa Luy de Abreu , Santos José Ricardo Prando dos , Delbem Alberto Carlos Botazzo , de Mendonça Marcos Rogério
Published: July 2023

Objective
Isotretinoin, also known as 13-cis-retinoic acid, is an isomer of tretinoin, the oxidized form of Vitamin A. Orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) is the result of a cascade of inflammatory responses stimulated by a physical element that is the force generated by orthodontic appliances. Isotretinoin is mainly used among adolescents and young adults, and coincidentally it is this age group that also undergoes orthodontic treatment.
Materials and Methods
Thirty-five animals were used, and they were randomly divided into 7 groups, containing 5 animals in each group. Group 1: Control; Group 2: OTM for 7 days; Group 3: OTM for 14 days; Group 4: Treated with isotretinoin for 14 days; Group 5: Treated with isotretinoin for 21 days; Group 6: Treated with isotretinoin for 14 days and undergoing OTM for 7 days; Group 7: Treated with isotretinoin for 21 days and undergoing OTM for 14 days. In Groups 6 and 7, the animals were treated with isotretinoin at a dosage of 1.0mg/kg/day for 7 days before OTM and maintained during the movement period in the respective groups.
Results
There was no significant difference on microtomographic parameters [Trabecular Volume (BV/TV), Trabecular Thickness (Tb.Th), Number of Trabeculae (Tb.N) and Trabecular Separation (Tb.Sp)] and tooth displacement between groups.
Conclusion
Isotretinoin did not cause a reduction in tooth displacement during OTM when administered at a dose of 1.0mg/kg/day and isotretinoin did not change the microtomographic parameters of animals treated with isotretinoin + OTM.
Association between sFer Levels in Early Pregnancy and Thyroid Function in Chinese Population
Authors: Li Xing , Zhang Zhuyuan , Cai Wen , Zhou Xuexin , Zhang Yan , Wu Cailiang , Xu Xianming , Wu Hao
Published: July 2023

Backgrounds:
The relationship of Iron deficiency and thyroid hormone have been researched a lot among pregnant or other healthy population. However, invisible iron deficiency, namely shortage of sFer level, has been barely investigated among Chinese pregnant women. This study aimed to explore the effects of sFer status on thyroid function in a population-based upper first-class hospital.
Methods
A total of 781 singleton pregnant women of gestation in Shanghai General Hospital took part in this retrospective cohort study. The participants were divided into four groups by quartiles of serum ferritin levels (Q1–4). Binary logistic regressions were used to examine the strength of association between the different traits and the serum ferrin (sFer) quartiles separately, where Q1 (lowest ferritin quartile) was taken as the base reference. One-way ANOVA was adopted to compare the averages of the different variables across Sfer quartiles. Categorical measures were compared by Fisher exact test or chi-square test.
Results
As the sFer concentration rises, incidence of premature birth (15.8%vs 12.3% vs 9.20% vs 6.20% p = 0.016) as well as threatened miscarriage (14.8% vs 7.2% vs 8.70% vs 6.70% p = 0.021)presented a downward trend. Compared with the other sFer group, subjects of the low sFer group were older, were more often found to have lower serum γT3 and FT4 levels in early pregnancy but not in middle pregnancy.
Conclusions
The correction of invisible iron deficiency with inadequate sFer status prior to pregnancy or during early pregnancy is imperative, not only to prevent anemia, but also for maintaining optimum thyroid function and normal fetal development. For clinicians, sFer status of pregnant women should be attached great importance apart from attention to iron level.
North cotton growing zone of India witnessed another whitefly outbreak within a decade
Authors: Kumar Rishi , Sain S. K. , Singh Satnam , Pandher Suneet , Singh Roop , Jakhar Anil , Kaur Jasjinder , Paul Debashis , Prakash A. H. , Prasad Y. G.
Published: July 2023

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius), is a polyphagous and important pest of cotton worldwide. Both adults and nymphs of B. tabaci affect the crop by causing direct and indirect damage. A severe outbreak of whitefly was experienced during 2015 in North India on cotton followed by the outbreak during 2022 cotton season. During 2015, whitefly crossed and persisted above ETL (Economic Threshold Level is 18adults/ 3 leaves) between 28th - 35th SMW but during 2022 stayed above ETL between 27th - 36th SMW and peak incidence noticed during 31st and 29th SMW , respectively. So in 2022, early pest buid up in the form of ETL as well as peak activity indicating longer persistence (≥10 weeks ) of whitefly and high severity in terms of average whitefly population during season resulted in more damage to cotton crop. Additionally , farmers’ field survey data during 2022, showed whitefly population crossed ETL at 585 out of 1317 locations (44.42 percent) and during 2015, 620 out of 1089 locations (57 per cent ) were recorded above ETL indicating that unlike 2015; 2022 outbreak was not uniform in the entire zone wherein only few blocks of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan recorded severe infestations of whitefly.
IKGM: A novel method for identifying key genes in macroevolution based on deep learning with attention mechanism
Authors: Mao Jiawei , Cao Yong , Zhang Yan , Huang Biaosheng , Zhao Youjie
Published: July 2023

Macroevolution of most organisms is generally the result of synergistic action of multiple key genes in evolutionary biology. Unfortunately, the weights of these key genes in macroevolution are difficult to assess. In this study, we designed various word embedding libraries of natural language processing (NLP) considering the multiple mechanisms of evolutionary genomics. A novel method (IKGM) based on three types of attention mechanisms (domain attention, kmer attention and fused attention) were proposed to calculate the weights of different genes in macroevolution. Taking 34 species of diurnal butterflies and nocturnal moths in Lepidoptera as an example, we identified a few of key genes with high weights, which annotated to the functions of circadian rhythms, sensory organs, as well as behavioral habits etc. This study not only provides a novel method to identify the key genes of macroevolution at the genomic level, but also helps us to understand the microevolution mechanisms of diurnal butterflies and nocturnal moths in Lepidoptera.
Infrared study of semimetal LaSb: coexistence of ultrahigh- and moderate-mobility carriers
Authors: Kim HyunDon , Yu Kwangnam , Kim Jiho , Shon Wonhyuk , Lim Hyeongjoon , Moon Seongphill , Rhyee Jong-Soo , Kwon Yong Seung , Smirnov Dmitry , Choi E. J.
Published: July 2023

We performed optical reflectivity measurements on the cubic pnictide semimetal LaSb. The optical conductivity, calculated from the reflectivity, shows that two Drude carriers with drastically different scattering rates coexist: one carrier (D1) with moderate scattering rate γ1 (= 130 cm−1) and the other (D2) with very low scattering rate γ2 (= 0.116 cm−1). The ratio between these two scattering rates is as large as γ1/γ2 = 1120, which stands in sharp contrast to other semimetals such as Bismuth (Bi), where γ1/γ2 = 2.9. The coexistence of two carriers, D1 and D2, with such drastically different scattering rates demonstrates that LaSb is an unconventional semimetal. To investigate the origins of the two carriers, D1 and D2, we calculate their optical spectral weights and compare them with those of the existing carriers in LaSb, namely, bulk electron, bulk hole, linear-dispersing band electron, and Dirac-like surface carrier. This quantitative analysis suggests that D1 arises from the semimetal band electron, while D2 originates from the semimetal band hole, respectively. The coexistence of the ultra-high mobility and moderate mobility carriers provides new insights on the electrical transport of this material including, importantly, the mechanism behind the extreme magneto resistance effect of LaSb.
Scalable quasi-static self-modeling for physical legged locomotion
Authors: Hu Yuhang , Kwiatkowski Robert , Chen Boyuan , Wyder Philippe , Lipson Hod
Published: July 2023

Self-modeling refers to an agent's ability to learn a predictive model of its own behavior. A continuously adapted self-model can serve as an internal simulator, enabling the agent to plan and assess various potential behaviors internally, reducing the need for expensive physical experimentation. Self-models are especially important in legged locomotion, where manual modeling is difficult, reinforcement learning is slow, and physical experimentation is risky. Here, we propose a Quasi-static Self-Modeling framework that focuses on learning a predictive model only of high-level quasi-static dynamics, rather than a continuous model. Experimental results on a 12-degree-of-freedom-legged robot demonstrate improvements over model-free and traditional model-based continuous approaches. Using 80 diverse robot morphologies, we confirm a correlation of R2=0.94 between the improvements rendered by our method and the DoF of the robot, suggesting that as future robots increase in complexity, this approach will become more valuable.
Goursat Lemma on groups with operators
Authors: Pankiti Pascal , Jugnia Célestin Nkuimi
Published: July 2023

In this paper the usual Goursat lemma, which describes subgroups of the directproduct of two groups and finite number of groups, is generalized to describingsubgroups of two groups with operators and direct product of a finite number ofgroups with operators. Other possible generalizations are discussed and applications characterizing commutative group with operators of the direct product of twogroups with operators are given. Most of these applications are some characterization of commutative sub-group with operators of the direct product of two groupswith operators. Other we give a characterization of subgroups of a direct productwhich are inner semi-direct products. The applications of the Goursat lemma ongroups with operators are also found in the modules. For two modules A and Bon a ring R, we use easily Goursat lemma for groups with operators to characterize the sub-modules of the direct product A × B which are finitely generated,noetherian sub-modules of A × B their divisible and torsion sub-modules.
AMS subject classification: 06F07, 18D10
Central activation of the fatty acid sensor GPR120 suppresses microglia reactivity and alleviates sickness-and anxiety-like behaviors
Authors: Nakajima Shingo , Demers Geneviève , Machuca-Parra Arturo Israel , Pour Zahra Dashtehei , Bairamian Diane , Bouyakdan Khalil , Fisette Alexandre , Kabahizi Anita , Robb Josephine , Rodaros Demetra , Laurent Cyril , Ferreira Guillaume , Arbour Nathalie , Alquier Thierry , Fulton Stephanie
Published: July 2023

G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120, Frar4) is a sensor for long-chain fatty acids including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) known for beneficial effects on inflammation, metabolism, and mood. GPR120 mediates the anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects of n-3 PUFAs in peripheral tissues. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of GPR120 stimulation on microglial reactivity, neuroinflammation and sickness- and anxiety-like behaviors by acute pro-inflammatory insults. We found higher GPR120 mRNA expression in microglia as compared to neurons and astrocytes in both murine and human isolated neural cells, and in situhybridization revealed GPR120 expression in microglia in mouse brain. In a manner similar to or exceeding n-3 PUFAs, GPR120 agonism (Compound A, CpdA) strongly attenuated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced proinflammatory marker expression in primary mouse microglia, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1b (IL-1b), and inhibited nuclear factor-ĸB translocation to the nucleus. Central administration of CpdA to adult mice blunted LPS-induced hypolocomotion and anxiety-like behavior and reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and IBA-1 (microglia marker) mRNA in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), a brain region modulating anxiety and motivation and implicated in neuroinflammation-induced mood deficits. GPR120 agonist pre-treatment attenuated NAc microglia reactivity and alleviated sickness-like behaviors elicited by central injection TNF-α and IL-1b. These findings suggest that microglial GPR120 contributes to neuroimmune regulation and behavioral changes in response to acute infection and elevated brain cytokines. GPR120 may participate in the protective action of n-3 PUFAs at the neural and behavioral level and offers potential as treatment target for neuroinflammatory conditions.
The Impact of a Seven-Week Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback Protocol on Skin Severity, Quality of Life, and Mental Health in a Proof-of-Concept Clinical Case Series of Individuals with Psoriasis
Authors: Park Sarah JaeHwa , Fox Devon J. , Young Lee H. , Roth Maya , Khamba Baljit
Published: July 2023

Background
Psoriasis is a common psychocutaneous disorder, frequently associated with reduced quality of life (QoL) and psychiatric comorbidities, including anxiety and mood disorders. Although pharmacological interventions and phototherapy may provide effective, albeit temporary, relief in the skin, they frequently fail to address the psychological impact of the disease. Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRVB) is a specific mind-body therapy that provides real-time visual feedback on an individual’s autonomic functioning in order to modify their physiological stress response through diaphragmatic, paced breathing.
Objective
To explore the impact of a seven-week HRVB protocol on skin severity (SS), QoL, and mental health (MH) in individuals with psoriasis and to determine whether the effects, if any, can be maintained after the intervention has concluded.
Methods
This was a single-arm, proof-of-concept clinical case series conducted at Bastyr University Clinic in San Diego, California. Five participants were recruited through flyers and referrals and were screened for eligibility prior to undergoing a seven-week HRVB protocol. SS was assessed by both the participant and clinician using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI-P and PASI-C), QoL was assessed using the Cardiff Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI), and MH was measured using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). These outcomes were collected at baseline (T1), post-protocol (T2), and follow-up (T3) between June 2022 to December 2022.
Results
There were significant differences in scores between T1 and T2 for PASI-P, DLQI, and GAD-7. There was also a significant difference between T1 and T3 for GAD-7. PASI-C and PHQ-9 had no significant difference between any time points. All scales were non-significant for T2 and T3. PASI-P, PASI-C, DLQI, and PHQ-9 were non-significant between T1 to T3. Linear regressions for each participant showed a majority decreasing rate of change.
Conclusion
In this real-life setting, HRVB was associated with significant improvements in participant perception of SS, QoL, and anxiety over a seven-week period. Future studies should include a larger cohort with more variation in SS, QoL, and MH scores at T1 and compare the HRVB protocol against a control group. NCT05506644, retrospectively registered on 16 August 2022.
Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov
The Willingness and Influencing Factors to Choose Institutional Elder Care Among Rural Elderly: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Survey Data of Shandong Province
Authors: Xu Xinglong , Li Peiyao , Ampon-Wireko Sabina
Published: July 2023

Background: The ageing of the population has become an escalating problem in China, which has led to an increasing demand for healthcare throughout society. The care services of elderly institutions, as a more mature way of aging, can alleviate various social problems brought about by ageing to a certain extent. The aim of this paper is to explore the degree of acceptance of institutional care by rural elderly people in Shandong Province and the factors that influence whether rural elderly people accept institutional care services.
Methodology: Based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory, this paper constructs an analytical framework that influences rural elderly people's willingness to accept institutional care. Using survey data from 192 older people in rural Shandong province, descriptive statistics, binary logistic regression and heterogeneity analysis were conducted to analyse the willingness of rural older people to age in an elderly care institution and the factors influencing them.
Results: Only 17.71% of the respondents were willing to accept the services of an aged-care institution. Among them, literacy, annual household income, trust in elderly care institutions and children's support had a significant positive influence on whether rural elderly people accepted services in elderly care institutions; physical condition, marital status, number of children and knowledge of elderly care institutions had a significant negative influence on whether rural elderly people accepted care services in elderly care institutions.
Conclusion: The non-acceptance of institutional care by rural older people is a general phenomenon rather than a sample characteristic, thus justifying the supplementary status of institutional care services. Social circumstances such as lifestyle and ideology in particular constrain the willingness of rural older people to age in institutions. The state should strengthen public opinion guidance and education on the ageing situation to alleviate the constraints imposed by solidified traditional ideology on the willingness of rural older people to diversify their old age; encouraging older people to save and building warm and comfortable old age institutions can help to increase the willingness of rural older people to age in institutions.
Viral mimic polyinosine-polycytidylic acid promotes renal endothelial cell injury via HMGB1 acetylation in trichloroethylene-sensitized mice
Authors: Wang Feng , Hong Yi-Ting , Zang Dan-Dan , Cheng Rui-Xuan , Gao Ji-Hong , Chen Mu-Yue , Zhu Qixing
Published: July 2023

Viral infection or reactivation seems to be critical in trichloroethylene hypersensitivity syndrome (THS), which is also called occupational medicamentosa-like dermatitis (OMDT) in China. Our previous studies reported that polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) amplified hepatitis in TCE-sensitized mice. However, whether poly I:C plays a role in TCE-induced renal damage remains to be clarified. To this end, a TCE-sensitized mouse model was established. Renal damage, especially renal endothelial cell dysfunction, was assessed. The activation of high mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) was further detected to elucidate the possible role of poly I:C in TCE sensitization-induced renal damage. Our results showed that poly I:C pretreatment aggravated the renal histological changes and dysfunction in TCE-sensitized mice. Renal endothelial cell injuries might be a key driver of kidney damage, in which poly I:C pretreatment acted as an amplifier in TCE sensitization. In addition, poly I:C, combined with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3, promotes the acetylation and release of HMGB1 from renal endothelial cells. Taken together, our findings highlighted a novel role of poly I:C pretreatment in TCE sensitization-induced renal endothelial cell injuries.
A Deep Attentive Network for Music Emotion Recognition using the chorus part of the music
Authors: Talaghat Mohammad Ali , Parvinnia Elham , Boostani Reza , Mehrabi Mehdi
Published: July 2023

In the domain of music information retrieval, music emotion recognition (MER) is an active area of research. The chorus part of the music is the most critical and emotional section. In this paper, we proposed an MER approach that combines Convolutional Neural Networks with Long Short-Term Memory to extract emotional features from the log-mel spectrogram of the music chorus part. Then, the features feed into an attention mechanism block to enhance helpful information. Also, we introduce a new dataset for the MER task that consists of 10,438 samples with valence/arousal labels. The results show that using chorus parts of music can improve the deep models' performance. Also, experiments show our proposed method achieves 15% and 40% relative improvement of valence and arousal, respectively, on the R2 score compared to the state-of-the-art and baseline models.
A qualitative exploration of the determinants of youth violence using participatory action research: a Sri Lankan study
Authors: Rathnayake Nadeeka , Abhayasinghe Kalpani , De Silva Jayamal , Guruge G. N. Duminda
Published: July 2023

Background
Youth violence is a significant health issue mainly in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Violence is growing among Sri Lankan youth, yet research addressing it has been almost non-existent. Various personal and environmental factors place youth at risk of violence. The present study aimed to identify the determinants of youth violence from the perspectives of students and key informants of a Sri Lankan technical college.
Methods
The current study used the participatory action research (PAR) approach. The study was conducted at a technical college in Matale district, Sri Lanka with a sample of 74 students. Participants were involved in developing the focus group discussion (FGD) guide and key informant interview (KII) guide, which were the methods of data collection. Four FGDs and seven KIIs were conducted until data saturation was achieved. Thematic analysis was used in the data analysis. Participants were engaged and involved in the data collection and analysis where necessary in line with the PAR principles.
Results
The determinants of youth violence identified in the current study are presented under five themes: 1. individual-level determinants, 2. family-level determinants, 3. school-level determinants, 4. determinants specific to the technical college, and 5. societal-level determinants. Individual-level determinants reported by participants included poor awareness, inability to bear being defeated, frequent victimization, unemployment, psychological stress, and substance abuse. Family-level determinants reported were poor parental affection, guidance and parenting skills, distorted family connections and family disruption, pressure on education, witnessing domestic violence as a child, and discrimination within the family. School-level determinants included school dropouts, peer influences, discrimination at school, and the competitive education system. Furthermore, participants described subculture and diversity among students as determinants specific to the technical college. Societal-level determinants identified by participants included social discrimination, disadvantage, disparity and inequity, increase in the requirements and change in the goals of youth, justification, glamorization and normalization of violence, gaps in law enforcement, socio-political instabilities and the rise of inflation.
Conclusions
The PAR approach facilitated the identification of a variety of individual, family, school, and societal-level determinants of youth violence which may contribute to addressing violence in tertiary education institutes in Sri Lanka and other LMICs.
Uncovering the genomic regions associated with yield maintenance in rice under drought stress using an integrated meta-analysis approach
Authors: Daryani Parisa , Ramandi Hadi Darzi , Amirbakhtiar Nazanin , Soorni Jahad , Loni Fatemeh , Shobbar Zahra-Sadat
Published: July 2023

The complex trait of yield is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Considering the global water deficit problem, rice varieties that are suitable for non-flooded cultivation are of great importance in breeding programs. The powerful approach of Meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis can be used for the genetic dissection of complicated quantitative traits. A comprehensive MQTL analysis was done to detect consistent QTL regions associated with drought tolerance and yield-related traits under water deficit conditions in rice. Totally, 1087 QTLs from 134 rice populations published from 2000 to 2021 were utilized in the analysis. Distinct MQTL analysis of the related traits led to the identification of 213 stable MQTLs. The confidence interval (CI) of the detected MQTLs was between 0.12 and 19.66 cM. In comparison with the CI mean of the initial QTLs, the CI mean of the identified MQTLs (4.68 cM) was 2.74 times narrower. Remarkably, 63 MQTLs overlapped with SNP peak positions detected by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for yield and drought tolerance-associated traits under water deficit conditions in rice. Considering the genes located both in the SNP peak positions and QTL-overview peaks, 19 genes were introduced as novel candidate genes, which are associated with drought response index, plant height, panicle number, biomass, and grain yield. On the other hand, an inclusive MQTL analysis was performed on all the traits to obtain “Breeding MQTLs”. Performing inclusive MQTL analysis on all the traits resulted in the identification of 96 MQTLs with a CI ranging from 0.01 to 9 cM. The CI mean of the obtained MQTLs was 2.33 cM, which was 4.66 times narrower than the CI mean of the initial QTLs. Thirteen MQTLs having more than 10 initial QTLs, CI < 1 cM, and a PVE mean of the initial QTLs > 10 were identified as “Breeding MQTLs”. We hope that the obtained results can help breeders to enhance rice yield under drought stress conditions.
Generation climate crisis, COVID-19, and Russia-Ukraine- War– Global crises and mental health in adolescents
Authors: Lass-Hennemann Johanna , Sopp M. Roxanne , Ruf Norma , Equit Monika , Schäfer Sarah K. , Wirth Benedikt E. , Michael Tanja
Published: July 2023

Climate change, Covid-19, and the Russia-Ukraine war are some of the great challenges of our time. These global crises affect young people in a particularly vulnerable phase of their lives. The current study aimed to assess the impact of these crises on mental health (depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life) in secondary school students in Germany. Furthermore, we assessed known predictors of mental health, such as socio-economic factors, individual life stressors, and resilience factors (self-efficacy, expressive flexibility) as covariates. In our sample of 4001 pupils, pandemic- and climate-related distress were linked to greater depression and anxiety and reduced health-related quality of life. War-related distress was associated with greater anxiety. Critically, these associations remained significant after controlling for all covariates, supporting incremental predictive value of the crises measures. The study reveals a significant impact of the crises on mental health of the current generation of adolescents. As such it suggests that mental health policies should include interventions that help youth to cope with the stress caused by the crises.
Has the educational progress in China exacerbated the deviation of fertility intention from fertility behavior?
Authors: Zhang Chong , Jiang Shilin , Li Muzhi , Shi Xiaoyang
Published: July 2023

The discrepancy between fertility intentions and fertility behavior has been a common occurrence, yet there is no consensus regarding the impact of education on fertility deviations and the underlying mechanisms. Drawing on data from the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) conducted in 2017, this study examines the influence of education on fertility deviations and investigates the mediating mechanisms through which education affects such deviations. The findings reveal that the relationship between education and fertility deviation is not simply linear.The individuals with both lower and higher levels of education are prone to deviate from their intended fertility, but in contrasting ways. Those with lower level of education tend to exhibit lower fertility intentions compared to their actual fertility behavior, whereas the reverse is observed among individuals with higher education levels. As educational attainment increases, the phenomenon of fertility intentions surpassing actual behavior becomes more pronounced. The stepwise regression analysis of the mediating effect and the results of the KHB decomposition demonstrate that personal income and age of first marriage serve as mediators in the educational influence on fertility deviation, with the latter playing a particularly significant role. Based on these findings, the following recommendations are proposed: shortening the duration of compulsory education and lower the legal age of marriage; redefine the concept of educational involution and decrease the financial burden of children's education; promote balanced development of basic education and bridge the educational disparities between urban and rural areas.