bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘I was broken in so many different ways’: The intersection of complex factors impacting homeless and at‐risk African American women's mental health and well‐being
Authors: Graf Maria del Carmen , Dressel Anne , Schmitt Marin , Deal Emily , Pittman Belinda , Lopez Alexa , Kako Penninah , Mkandawire‐Valhmu Lucy
Published: October 2021

African American women are at higher risk of poor mental ill health compared with other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. For low‐income and homeless African American populations, the risk of poor mental ill health is even higher. The purpose of our study was to learn what programmes at a long‐term transitional living centre helped at‐risk and homeless African American mothers to succeed on their own, in accordance with self‐identified goals. We conducted ten focus group interviews with 39 graduates of a long‐term transitional living centre located in a Midwestern city, and an individual interview with the founder of that centre (N = 40). Our study was informed by Black Feminist Thought, Life Course Theory, and an instrumental case study design. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns in the qualitative data collected. Findings pertaining to mental health included impacts of adverse childhood experiences, lack of social networks, child placement in foster care, and implications on self‐esteem and self‐worth. Our findings demonstrate the need for healthcare providers to take into account the intersecting factors facing African American women experiencing homelessness undergirded by systemic racism, which impacts their mental health and well‐being.
Projected shifts in deadwood bryophyte communities under national climate and forestry scenarios benefit large competitors and impair small species
Authors: Löbel Swantje , Schröder Boris , Snäll Tord
Published: October 2021

Aim

Climate change and habitat loss are the main threats to forest biodiversity. Deadwood bryophyte communities are composed of species with different functional traits and are affected by these processes. Grouping species depending on their traits can help to anticipate community responses to global change, and to potential conservation actions.

Location

National scale of Sweden.

Taxon

Deadwood bryophyte species (15 liverworts and 8 mosses).

Methods

Generalized linear mixed‐effects models were applied to test for differences in projected relative changes in habitat suitability (matching species’ requirements) among species with contrasting traits under varying climate and forest scenarios during the years 2020–2100. Projections were based on ensembles of species distribution models (GLM, Poisson point‐process, MaxEnt), climate scenarios and national scenarios of forest management and conservation.

Results

Shoot length was the best predictor of projected future changes in habitat suitability. Habitat suitabilities for small, short‐lived species will decline in a warmer and wetter macroclimate, whereas those for large, perennial species will increase. We expect stronger habitat suitability decreases for obligate than for facultative deadwood species. Increasing the proportion of set‐aside forests from 16% to 32%, and reducing the harvest levels in production forests, mitigated negative habitat trends of several sensitive species. However, the potential benefits of increased conservation were even larger for species with traits favoured by climate change, suggesting that these actions will also enhance the spread of these species.

Main conclusions

Climate change is expected to lead to shifts in boreal bryophyte communities towards large, competitive species and to an overall decrease in diversity. High investment in conservation actions seems necessary to maintain diversity. This should include increasing the area of forest set aside beyond 16%, and reducing harvest levels in production forests. However, whilst these actions may prevent species extinctions, at least in the short term, changes in community structure seem inevitable.
Berberine as a promising natural compound for the treatment of periodontal disease: A focus on anti‐inflammatory properties
Authors: Mohammadian Haftcheshmeh Saeed , Momtazi‐Borojeni Amir Abbas
Published: October 2021

Accumulating evidence during the last two decades has addressed the potential anti‐inflammatory properties of berberine (BBR), a bioactive alkaloid compound isolated from Coptidis rhizoma, in controlling or treating several inflammatory diseases. Periodontitis is one of the most common chronic and serious inflammatory diseases, in which uncontrolled and unabated host immune responses against periodontopathic pathogens play critical and crucial roles in the disease pathogenesis. Hence, regulating inflammatory responses in periodontitis has a valuable approach and holds promise in treating periodontitis. For the first time, this paper reviews the evidence from in vitro and in vivo experimental models to explore the anti‐inflammatory effects of BBR in periodontitis and exhibits that BBR has the high potency to exert anti‐inflammatory effects by reducing expression and secretion of pro‐inflammatory mediators including TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐17, RANKL, MMP‐2, MMP‐9 and MCP‐1. The BBR‐mediated anti‐inflammatory actions could translate into the inhibition of the periodontal tissues and alveolar bone destruction and the control of the disease in vivo. As the second aim of this paper, we also paid attention to the therapeutic potential of BBR in treating human diseases regarding its anti‐inflammatory properties.
The skin redoxome
Authors: Schalka S. , Silva M.S. , Lopes L.F. , de Freitas L.M. , Baptista M.S.
Published: October 2021

Redoxome is the network of redox reactions and redox active species (ReAS) that affect the homeostasis of cells and tissues. Due to the intense and constant interaction with external agents, the human skin has a robust redox signalling framework with specific pathways and magnitudes. The establishment of the skin redoxome concept is key to expanding knowledge of skin disorders and establishing better strategies for their prevention and treatment. This review starts with its definition and progress to propose how the master redox regulators are maintained and activated in the different conditions experienced by the skin and how the lack of redox regulation is involved in the accumulation of several oxidation end products that are correlated with various skin disorders.
Antibacterial treatment of lumpfish (Cyclopterus lumpus) experimentally challenged withVibrio anguillarum, atypicalAeromonas salmonicidaandPasteurella atlantica
Authors: Kverme Karen O. , Kallekleiv Marielle , Larsen Kristina , Rønneseth Anita , Wergeland Heidrun I. , Samuelsen Ole B. , Haugland Gyri T.
Published: October 2021

Lumpfish is a novel farmed species used as cleaner fish for the removal of lice from farmed salmon. As often with new, farmed species, there are challenges with bacterial infections. The frequency of prescription of antibiotic agents to lumpfish is increasing, despite the lack of knowledge about appropriate doses, duration of treatment and application protocols for the various antibacterial agents. In the current study, we have tested the effect of medicated feed with florfenicol (FFC), oxolinic acid (OA) and flumequine (FLU) on lumpfish experimentally challenged withVibrio anguillarum, atypicalAeromonas salmonicidaandPasteurella atlantica. We found that all three antibacterial agents efficiently treated lumpfish with vibriosis using 10 and 20 mg kg−1 day−1of FFC, 25 mg kg−1 day−1of OA and 25 mg kg−1 day−1FLU, whereas only FFC (20 mg kg−1 day−1) had good effect on lumpfish with pasteurellosis. None of the antibacterial agents were efficient to treat lumpfish with atypical furunculosis. FFC 20 mg kg−1 day−1showed promising results in the beginning of the experiment, but the mortality increased rapidly 14 days post‐medication. Efficient treatment is important for the welfare of lumpfish and for reducing the risk of development of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first study to establish protocols for antibacterial treatment of lumpfish.
Interaction between body weight status and spicy food consumption on the risk of rosacea: A multi‐central, hospital‐based, case‐control study
Authors: Wang Ben , Huang Xin , Zhao Zhixiang , Tang Yan , Xie Hongfu , Deng Zhili , Li Ji
Published: October 2021

Background

No researches about the interaction among the risk factors for rosacea were conducted. Some studies prompted obesity and spicy food may have some common pathways.

Aims

To clarify the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and rosacea, and explore the interaction between BMI and spicy food consumption in rosacea.

Methods

This hospital‐based case‐control study enrolled 1347 rosacea patients and 1290 healthy subjects. The demographic data and clinical data were collected. The association between BMI and rosacea, and the relative excess risk due to interaction of BMI and spicy food consumption was calculated.

Results

No interaction was found between underweight, overweight/obesity, and spicy food consumption with regard to the risk of rosacea, mild‐to‐moderate rosacea, papulopustular rosacea (PPR), or phymatous rosacea (PhR). And underweight and overweight/obesity were not significant associated with rosacea, mild‐to‐moderate rosacea, PPR, or PhR (p > 0.05). However, spicy food consumption was significantly interacted with underweight on the risk of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea (ETR), and with overweight/obesity on the risk of severe rosacea. Underweight was associated with increased risk of ETR (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.91, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21, 3.03) among spicy no users, but the association was attenuated into insignificant level when mixed with spicy food factor (p > 0.05). Among moderated spicy food consumers, overweight/obesity was associated with decreased risk of severe rosacea (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI: 0.50, 0.98), but overweight/obesity was insignificant associated with severe rosacea among spicy no users and heavy spicy food consumers (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Body weight status alone was not significantly associated with rosacea, but the interaction between body weight status and spicy food consumption is involved in the rosacea.
Comparison between 308‐nm excimer light alone versus 308‐nm excimer light and platelet‐rich plasma in the treatment for localized vitiligo
Authors: Elsaadany Ahmed Elsaeed , El‐Khalawany Mohamed , Elshahid Ahmed Rashad , Seddeik Abdel‐Hameed Ahmad Kamel
Published: October 2021

Background

Monochromatic excimer light (MEL) is a safe and effective treatment for localized stable vitiligo. Previous reports of the combination of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) with narrowband ultraviolet B (NB‐UVB) or excimer laser yielded conflicting results.

Aims

This prospective, self‐controlled, randomized, comparative study aimed to assess whether the addition of PRP to MEL therapy would be of an additive benefit in the treatment for localized stable vitiligo.

Patients/Methods The current study included 36 patients with at least 2 more or less symmetrical patches of localized stable vitiligo (72 patches). For each patient, each of the 2 vitiligo patches was randomly assigned to receive either MEL therapy (twice weekly) with bi‐weekly intradermal PRP (group A) or MEL therapy alone (group B) for a maximum of 4 months or till complete repigmentation. The degree of repigmentation was categorized as absent (0%), poor (1–25%), moderate (26–50%), good (51–75%), or excellent (>75%). Patients were asked about their level of satisfaction (not satisfied at all, partially satisfied, satisfied, or completely satisfied). Side effects were recorded, and follow‐up for 3 months was done.

Results

No statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 groups regarding the degree of repigmentation, the patients’ level of satisfaction, and the frequency of side effects (p = 0.504, 0.490, and 0.912, respectively). At the end of the follow‐up period, recurrence was observed in only 3 patients.

Conclusions

The current study showed no statistically significant difference between using MEL alone or with intradermal PRP in the treatment for localized stable vitiligo.
Financial development and growth in European regions
Authors: Rossi Paola , Scalise Diego
Published: October 2021

We study the relationship between financial development and economic growth across 110 European regions from 1997 to 2018. We single out two dimensions of financial development in the data capturing the capillarity of bank branches and the agglomeration of the financial industry at large and study their relationship with regional economic growth. To establish a causal nexus, we employ two‐ways fixed effects, instrumental variables, and the Arellano–Bond estimator. Our estimates indicate that what matters the most for regional economic growth is the agglomeration of a complex financial sector rather than the mere presence of bank branches.
Regional borders, local unemployment, and life satisfaction
Authors: Di Paolo Antonio , Ferrer‐i‐Carbonell Ada
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we provide novel evidence on the effect of local unemployment rate on life satisfaction. With this, we contribute to the expanding literature that aims to understand the role of the local labor market's conditions for individual well‐being. This information can be used to only analyze the impact of regional economic policies, as well as to understand individuals' behavior and reactions to policy changes. In concrete, we investigate how changes in local unemployment rate affect subjective well‐being in Germany, allowing for the presence of spatial spillovers and considering the role played by regional borders. The results indicate that higher unemployment in the own local area of residence has a negative effect on satisfaction. Similarly, individuals' happiness negatively correlates with the unemployment rate in contiguous local areas, but only if these areas are located in the same Federal State as the one where the individual lives. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that these negative effects of local unemployment rate are larger for individuals with stronger ties to the job market and less secure jobs.
Walking on eggshells: A life defined by obsessive–compulsive personality disorder
Authors: Grech Paulann , Spiteri Ana
Published: October 2021

Accessible Summary

What is known on the subject?

Obsessive–compulsive personality disorder (OCPD), which is experienced by 2.1–7.9% of the population, is characterized by an excessive need for orderliness, neatness and perfectionism.

What does the paper add to existing knowledge?

Existing studies on OCPD commonly focus on the physiological aspects, treatment and/or comparison of features with other disorders. Studies that explore the personal experiences related to OCPD are lacking and so the human element of this condition is missing. This paper contributes to this gap by presenting a glimpse into life with OCPD. The narrative is provided by the daughter of a person who lived with OCPD and presents the ordeals, victories and aspects of everyday life as framed by the condition. Whilst personality disorders such as OCPD are subjected to a high level of stigma, this relative's story shows that love and compassion can be found even in the darkest corridors that OCPD can take one to. As the story shows, behind every disorder there is a human being and the disorder is not the totality of that being. In this view, the paper sheds light on the human element related to the condition.

What are the implications for practice?

The paper highlights the need for continuous, hands‐on community support to those experiencing OCPD and their significant others. In order to enhance continuity of care, support is ideally centralized and provided by one keyworker who builds a strong therapeutic relationship with the person and their loved ones.
Brain metabolic and microstructural alterations associated with hepatitis C virus infection, autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Reichardt Jan‐Luca , Dirks Meike , Wirries Ann‐Katrin , Pflugrad Henning , Nösel Patrick , Haag Kim , Lanfermann Heinrich , Wedemeyer Heiner , Potthoff Andrej , Weissenborn Karin , Ding Xiao‐Qi
Published: October 2021

Background and Aims

Neuropsychiatric symptoms in hepatitis C (HCV) patients resemble those of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), whilst the mechanisms behind them are unknown. Here we looked for cerebral metabolic and/or microstructural alterations in patients with HCV, AIH or PBC as possible causes behind these symptoms.

Methods

Patients with HCV infection (n = 17), AIH (n = 14) or PBC (n = 11) and age‐adjusted healthy controls (n = 18) underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and psychometric assessment of memory and attention. Brain relative proton density (PD) and T2 relaxation time (T2) were determined in 17 regions of interest (ROIs), as were the concentrations of N‐acetyl‐aspartate, choline, creatine, myo‐inositol and glutamine + glutamate in frontal‐ (fWM) and parietal white matter (pWM). One‐way analysis of variance and Kruskal‐Wallis tests were used for group comparison. Correlations between altered neuropsychological findings and MRI/MRS observations were estimated with the Spearman ρ test.

Results

HCV, AIH and PBC patients revealed similar alterations in brain PD and metabolites compared to controls: significantly decreased PD in 7/17 ROIs in the HCV group, 16/17 ROIs in the PBC group and 14/17 ROIs in the AIH group, significantly increased N‐acetyl‐aspartate in fWM in all patients, significantly increased choline in the PBC group in both fWM and pWM, in the AIH group only in pWM and with a trend in the HCV group in pWM. Correlation analysis did not reveal significant associations between MRI/MRS alterations and neuropsychological dysfunction.

Conclusion

The findings suggest similar pathophysiological mechanisms behind neuropsychiatric symptoms associated with HCV infection, AIH and PBC.
Aurora kinase A regulates liver regeneration through macrophages polarization and Wnt/β‐catenin signalling
Authors: Yin Yanze , Kong Defu , He Kang , Xia Qiang
Published: October 2021

Background and Aims

Liver regeneration is a complex process regulated by a variety of cells, cytokines and biological pathways. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a role in centrosome maturation and spindle formation during the cell division cycle. The purpose of this study was to further explore the mechanism of AURKA on liver regeneration and to identify new possible targets for liver regeneration.

Methods

The effect and mechanism of AURKA on liver regeneration were studied using a 70% hepatectomy model. Human liver organoids were used as an in vitro model to investigate the effect of AURKA on hepatocyte proliferation.

Results

AURKA inhibition significantly reduced the level of β‐catenin protein by reducing the phosphorylation level of glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK‐3β), leading to the inhibition of liver regeneration. Further studies showed that AURKA co‐localized and interacted with GSK‐3β in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. When phosphorylation of GSK‐3β was enhanced, the total GSK‐3β level remained unchanged, while AURKA was not affected, and β‐catenin protein levels were increased. In addition, AURKA inhibition affected the formation and proliferation of human liver organoids. Furthermore, AURKA inhibition led to the polarization of M1 macrophages and the release of interleukin‐6 and Tumour necrosis factor α, which also led to reduced liver regeneration and increased liver injury.

Conclusions

These results provide more details on the mechanism of liver regeneration and suggest that AURKA is an important regulator of this mechanism.
Disentangling the admixed trails of grey wolf evolution
Authors: Pilot Małgorzata
Published: October 2021

The predominant phylogenetic patterns within a genome do not always reflect correctly the history of evolutionary divergence and speciation, and the true phylogenetic signal tends to be concentrated within low‐recombination regions of the genome. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Hennelly et al. show that this is also the case for intraspecific relationships that are characterized by considerable gene flow between lineages. The study reconstructs the phylogenetic relationships of Indian and Tibetan wolves with other grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations worldwide, and demonstrates that these two populations represent phylogenetically distinct lineages. This inference was supported by using low‐recombination regions of autosomal chromosomes and the X chromosome, which proved to be essential for correct inference of the lineage splitting order. Their study illustrates the power of analytical approaches that implement knowledge of genome evolution patterns to reconstruct complex intraspecific evolutionary relationships. The study also provides a compelling example of the application of modern phylogenomic approaches in the identification of evolutionarily significant units for the purpose of species conservation.
Genomic prediction in the wild: A case study in Soay sheep
Authors: Ashraf Bilal , Hunter Darren C. , Bérénos Camillo , Ellis Philip A. , Johnston Susan E. , Pilkington Jill G. , Pemberton Josephine M. , Slate Jon
Published: October 2021

Genomic prediction, the technique whereby an individual's genetic component of their phenotype is estimated from its genome, has revolutionised animal and plant breeding and medical genetics. However, despite being first introduced nearly two decades ago, it has hardly been adopted by the evolutionary genetics community studying wild organisms. Here, genomic prediction is performed on eight traits in a wild population of Soay sheep. The population has been the focus of a >30 year evolutionary ecology study and there is already considerable understanding of the genetic architecture of the focal Mendelian and quantitative traits. We show that the accuracy of genomic prediction is high for all traits, but especially those with loci of large effect segregating. Five different methods are compared, and the two methods that can accommodate zero‐effect and large‐effect loci in the same model tend to perform best. If the accuracy of genomic prediction is similar in other wild populations, then there is a real opportunity for pedigree‐free molecular quantitative genetics research to be enabled in many more wild populations; currently the literature is dominated by studies that have required decades of field data collection to generate sufficiently deep pedigrees. Finally, some of the potential applications of genomic prediction in wild populations are discussed.
Different epitopes of Ralstonia solanacearum effector RipAW are recognized by two Nicotiana species and trigger immune responses
Authors: Niu Yang , Fu Shouyang , Chen Gong , Wang Huijuan , Wang Yisa , Hu JinXue , Jin Xin , Zhang Mancang , Lu Mingxia , He Yizhe , Wang Dongdong , Chen Yue , Zhang Yong , Coll Núria S. , Valls Marc , Zhao Cuizhu , Chen Qin , Lu Haibin
Published: October 2021

Diverse pathogen effectors convergently target conserved components in plant immunity guarded by intracellular nucleotide‐binding domain leucine‐rich repeat receptors (NLRs) and activate effector‐triggered immunity (ETI), often causing cell death. Little is known of the differences underlying ETI in different plants triggered by the same effector. In this study, we demonstrated that effector RipAW triggers ETI on Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum. Both the first 107 amino acids (N1‐107) and RipAW E3‐ligase activity are required but not sufficient for triggering ETI on N. benthamiana. However, on N. tabacum, the N1‐107 fragment is essential and sufficient for inducing cell death. The first 60 amino acids of the protein are not essential for RipAW‐triggered cell death on either N. benthamiana or N. tabacum. Furthermore, simultaneous mutation of both R75 and R78 disrupts RipAW‐triggered ETI on N. tabacum, but not on N. benthamiana. In addition, N. tabacum recognizes more RipAW orthologs than N. benthamiana. These data showcase the commonalities and specificities of RipAW‐activated ETI in two evolutionally related species, suggesting Nicotiana species have acquired different abilities to perceive RipAW and activate plant defences during plant–pathogen co‐evolution.
Attitudes towards older adults (80 years and older): A measurement with the ageing semantic differential ‐ A cross‐sectional study of Austrian students
Authors: Schüttengruber Gerhilde , Stolz Erwin , Lohrmann Christa , Kriebernegg Ulla , Halfens Ruud , Großschädl Franziska
Published: October 2021

Introduction

The aims of the study were to investigate the four‐factor structure of the German version of the Aging Semantic Differential (ASD) and to gain initial insights into the attitudes of nursing, medical and humanities students towards older people in Austria.

Method

A cross‐sectional study design with a convenience sample was chosen.

Results

The ASD was completed by 255 Austrian nursing, medicine, and humanities students, who described their attitudes towards persons who are 80 years of age and older. The applicability of the four‐factor structure (instrumentality, autonomy, acceptability and integrity) of the German version was confirmed by performing a confirmatory factor analysis. The mean age of students in our sample was 23.6 years; 79% of these were female. The sample displayed negative attitudes regarding the factors of autonomy and instrumentality, but more positive attitudes regarding the factors integrity and acceptability. The attitudes of the students in the three study programmes differed, with the medical students displaying the most negative attitudes. Students who displayed positive attitudes had statistically significantly higher levels of knowledge about ageism and better possibilities to hold personal conversations with older people (80+) in the family or circle of friends.

Conclusion

We conclude that having more knowledge about ageism and close personal contacts to older persons can support positive attitudes towards older individuals.
Pyridinium Alkynylanthracenes as Sensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Fudickar Werner , Roder Phillip , Listek Martin , Hanack Katja , Linker Torsten
Published: October 2021

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a mild but effective method to treat certain types of cancer upon irradiation with visible light. Here, three isomeric methylpyridinium alkynylanthracenes 1o─p were evaluated as sensitizers for PDT. Upon irradiation with blue or green light, all three compounds show the ability to initiate strand breaks of plasmid DNA. The mayor species responsible for cleavage is singlet oxygen (1O2) as confirmed by scavenging reagents. Only isomers 1m and 1p can be incorporated into HeLa cells, whereas isomer 1o cannot permeate through the membrane. While isomer 1m targets the cell nucleus, isomer 1p assembles in the cellular cytoplasm and impacts the cellular integrity. This is in accordance with a moderate toxicity of 1p in the dark, whereas 1m exhibits no dark toxicity. Both isomers are suitable as PDT reagents, with a CC50 of 3 μm and 75 nm, for 1p and 1m, respectively. Thus, derivative 1m, which can be easily synthesized, becomes an interesting candidate for cancer therapy.
Evidence, ignorance, and symmetry
Authors: Lando Tamar
Published: October 2021

The Principle of Indifference (POI) is a rule for rationally assigning precise degrees of confidence to possibilities among which we have no reason to discriminate. Despite criticism of the principle stemming from Bertrand's paradox, many have recently come to the defense of POI or adopted some restricted version of that principle, especially in discussions of self‐locating belief. I argue that POI in both unrestricted and restricted forms is untenable, and that arguments for the more restricted principles are hostage to problems similar to those that bedevil arguments for traditional POI.
To Blame is Human: A Quantitative Systematic Review of the Relationship Between Outcome Severity of Large‐Scale Crises and Attributions of Blame
Authors: Gilbert Christine
Published: October 2021

In crisis situations, time is of the essence. Effective messaging to individuals at risk is critical to mitigating the most severe outcomes. Extant crisis communication literature has focused on differentiating crisis types based on perceived blame, particularly in cases of for‐profit company malfeasance, but less work has been done to understand how the public makes these types of attributions. This quantitative systematic review investigates the relationship between severity of a large‐scale crisis outcome and attributions of blame toward relevant entities. Moderators of interest include the attribution term used with participants (e.g., blame, responsibility), the type of crisis event, and the entity presented as at fault. Overall, a small but significant positive relationship is identified in the majority of studies between severity of a large‐scale crisis outcome and attributions of blame. Results suggest that while crisis type and entity to blame are moderators, the attribution term(s) used with participants plays a less significant role. Implications and future directions are considered.
Injuries in elite‐level women’s football—a two‐year prospective study in the Irish Women’s National League
Authors: Horan Dan , Blake Catherine , Hägglund Martin , Kelly Seamus , Roe Mark , Delahunt Eamonn
Published: October 2021

We investigated the pattern of injuries in elite‐level women’s football in Ireland, during a two‐season prospective injury surveillance study in the Women’s National League (WNL). Seven out of the eight clubs (271 players) in the WNL were followed prospectively during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The injury incidence rate in matches (19.2/1000 h) was 7.5 times higher than in training (2.5/1000 h). Players, on average, sustained 0.69 injuries per season (266 injuries/383 player seasons), which equates to 15 time‐loss injuries per season for a squad of 22 players. The majority of the injuries sustained by players were lower extremity injuries (85%), of which, 46% had a non‐contact injury mechanism. Muscle, ligament, and contusion injuries were the most common injury types, while the ankle, knee, and thigh were the most commonly injured body sites. The most common injuries sustained over the two seasons were lateral ankle sprains (13.9%), hamstring strains (12.4%), knee meniscus/cartilage injuries (7.5%), adductor strains (6%), quadriceps strains (4.5%), and ankle contusions (4.5%). The injuries with the highest injury burden were ACL injuries (59 days lost/1000 h), knee meniscus/cartilage injuries (23/1000 h), lateral ankle sprains (21/1000 h), hamstring strains (12/1000 h), MCL sprains (11/1000 h), and quadriceps strains (11/1000 h). There were 8 ACL tears documented over the 2 seasons, which accounted for 28% of all time lost to injury with a mean days lost per injury of 247. We recommend that clubs in the WNL in Ireland should implement injury risk mitigation strategies, with a particular focus on injuries with a high injury burden.
Effects of Variations in Hormonal Treatments Upon In vitro Regeneration Potential in Embryo Explants of Arenga pinnata
Authors: Abdullah Shamsiah , Roslan Siti Nurain
Published: October 2021

One of the challenges related to propagation of Arenga pinnata is its lengthy period of seed dormancy. In this study, in vitro regeneration was carried out to determine the effect of hormonal treatment on the embryo explant of Arenga pinnata. Embryos were surface sterilized and cultured into different media supplemented with various hormones concentrations and combinations. Each treatment contained of Kinetin (KN) hormone (1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 mg/l) and in combination with indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 mg/l. The height of plumule and length of radical was observed and recorded. Treatment 8 (3 mg/ml KN + 0.1 mg/ml IAA) showed 59.09% in plumule height increment while treatment 4 (1 mg/ml KN + 0.3 mg/ml IAA) showed the highest radical increments with 93.62%. The knowledge gained in this study consequently helps us to better understand the role of KN and IAA in the in vitro regeneration protocol. Since in vitro method able to produce higher number of in vitro seedlings at one time, it is important to establish the in vitro regeneration protocol for this plant.
Magnetic Remanence of Stainless Steel and Titanium Alloy Orthopaedic Implants
Authors: Mat Jusoh Norhasiza , Mohd Noor Arif Faddilah , Mohamad Tajudin Suffian , Din Mohd Hadizie , Aziz Mohd Ezane , Kamil Wan Ahmad
Published: October 2021

Stainless steel and titanium alloys are common materials for orthopaedic implants. However there is a lack of information and studies on magnetic remanence of  implants used in clinical practice. The aims of this study are to investigate the composition and the presence of magnetic remanence for these two orthopaedic implant materials. These two factors may cause implant instability and heat problems as well as degradation of the images quality if the patients undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination. The magnetic hysteresis loop and remanence status of stainless steel and titanium alloy orthopaedic implants were investigated with a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Both samples of stainless steel and titanium alloy had been exposed to external magnetic fields up to 1 T (10000 G) and 1.4 T (14000 G), respectively. The compositions of these two orthopaedic implant materials were studied using a scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX). The results of the study demonstrated that ferrous and nickel compositions in stainless steel alloy orthopaedic implants contributed to the residual magnetism, as shown in the hysteresis loop. The titanium alloy orthopaedic implant sample does not contain any ferromagnetic elements. After exposure to a magnetic field, the stainless steel values of retentivity, coercivity and magnetisation are significantly higher compared to those of the titanium alloy. The stainless steel orthopaedic implant sample demonstrates a typical hysteresis loop that suggests the existence of magnetic remanence. In contrast, the titanium alloy orthopaedic implant sample showed no significant remanence phenomenon. By considering the existence of magnetic remanence in the implant is important as potential effect on the MRI image quality.
A Systematic Review of the Statistical Methodology Used in Establishing the Link Between Climate Factors and HFMD Incidence
Authors: Abdul Wahid Nurmarni Athirah , Suhaila Jamaludin , Abd. Rahman Haliza
Published: October 2021

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infectious disease caused by two main viruses, namely Coxsackievirus A16 and Human Enterovirus 71. It has been a significant public health disease and a substantial burden all over the world since 1969. Prior studies have shown that climate factors are significantly associated with HFMD cases by using various statistical methods. Therefore, this study aims to review the scientific studies related to climate and HFMD and hence, address the analytical techniques used. This study only includes quantitative studies from peer-reviewed and original papers published in international and national journals from the years 1957 to 2020. In total, there were 522 articles identified; however, there were only 29 studies that linked climate change and HFMD. Based on the articles reviewed, the modelling analysis technique, which includes the Generalized Linear Model (GLM), the Generalized Additive Model (GAM), and the Generalized Additive Mixed Model (GAMM), represents the most popular analysis in identifying the association between HFMD and climate factors. The temperature and humidity showed the greatest impact on the occurrence of HFMD, and the suitable incubation period for all climatic factors was not more than three weeks.
Forecasting Cyclical and Non-cyclical Stock Prices on the Stock Exchange of Thailand
Authors: Sunthornwat Rapin , Areepong Yupaporn
Published: October 2021

Forecasting is an important role in organizations for decision making and planning. This research is to forecast the cyclical and non-cyclical weekly stock prices on the Stock Exchange of Thailand by using the models of Geometric Brownian motion, Fourier’s series, and Cauchy initial value problem. The accuracy and performance of the models are based on the minimum root mean squared percentage error which is the error between actual and forecasted stock prices. The results showed that Geometric Brownian motion is suitable for forecasting both cyclical and non-cyclical stock prices because of minimum error. Moreover, the confidence intervals of forecasted stock prices are demonstrated. Therefore, Geometric Brownian motion should be selected to describe the movement of stock prices in Thailand.
Acute Interval and Continuous Moderate Intensity Exercise Enhanced Circadian Thermogenic Activity through Browning related Genes in Obese Adolescent Female
Authors: Sugiharto Sugiharto , Merawati Desiana , Pranoto Adi , Rejeki Purwo Sri , Lupita Moch. Nasmay , Adji Banih Sakti , Susanto Hendra , Taufiq Ahmad
Published: October 2021

Thermogenesis is associated with oxidation activity in muscle and fat tissue, the target of non-pharmacological therapy in preventing the increase in obesity. This research was designed to reveal the circadian profile of thermogenic gene expression after the acute interval and continuous moderate-intensity exercise. The subjects were 22 randomly selected obese adolescent females who met the predetermined inclusion criteria. The study subjects were then divided into three groups: control group (CG), acute interval moderate-intensity exercise group (AIMIE), and acute continuous moderate-intensity exercise group (ACMIE). Acute interval and continuous exercise were performed by running on a treadmill for 40-45 minutes, while moderate-intensity was defined as 60%-70% of the maximum heart rate (HRmax). The blood samples were collected initially (pre-exercise), followed by 10 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours post-acute interval and continuous moderate-intensity exercise treatment. Measurement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) and fibronectin type III domain 5 (FNDC-5) expressions in protein level were confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed using one way-ANOVA and two way-ANOVA with a significant level of 5%. The findings suggest a substantial increase in the expression of PGC-1α and FNDC-5 after exercise compared to before the workout. A significant difference in PGC-1α and FNDC-5 expressions between the control group compared to AIMIE and ACMIE (p ≤ 0.05) has been observed. However, there is no significant difference in PGC-1α and FNDC-5 expressions after exercise between AIMIE and ACMIE (p ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, acute interval and continuous moderate-intensity exercise increase the expression of thermogenesis-related genes. Hence, acute interval and continuous moderate-intensity exercise might be potential non-pharmacological therapy to prevent, reduce, and control the increasing prevalence of obesity.
Improved of Forecasting Sea Surface Temperature based on Hybrid ARIMA and Support Vector Machines Models
Authors: Wan Mohamad Nawi Wan Imanul Aisyah , Lola Muhamad Safiih , Zakariya Razak , Zainuddin Nurul Hila , K. Abd Hamid Abd. Aziz , Aruchunan Elayaraja
Published: October 2021

Forecasting is a very effortful task owing to its features which simultaneously contain linear and nonlinear patterns. The Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model has been one the most widely utilized linear model in time series forecasting. Unfortunately, the ARIMA model cannot effortlessly handle nonlinear patterns alone. Thus, Support Vector Machine (SVM) model is introduced to solve nonlinear behavior in the datasets with high variance and uncertainty. The purposes of this study are twofold. First, to propose a hybrid ARIMA models using SVM. Secondly, to test the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model using sea surface temperature (SST) data. Our investigation is based on two well-known real datasets, i.e., SST (modis) and in-situ SST (hycom). Statistical measurement such as MAE, MAPE, MSE, and RMSE are carried out to investigate the efficacy of the proposed models as compared to the previous ARIMA and SVMs models. The empirical results reveal that the proposed models produce lesser MAE, MAPE, MSE, and RMSE values in comparison to the single ARIMA and SVMs models. In additional, ARIMA-SVM are much better than compared to the existing models since the forecasting values are closer to the actual value. Therefore, we conclude that the presented models can be used to generate superior predicting values in time series forecasting with a way higher forecast precision.
Dementia and disadvantage in the USA and England: population-based comparative study
Authors: Arapakis Karolos , Brunner Eric , French Eric , McCauley Jeremy
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To compare dementia prevalence and how it varies by socioeconomic status (SES) across the USA and England.

Design

Population-based comparative study.

Setting

Non-Hispanic whites aged over 70 population in the USA and England.

Participants

Data from the Health and Retirement Study and the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, which are harmonised, nationally representative panel studies. The sample includes 5330 and 3147 individuals in the USA and England, respectively.

Main outcome measures

Between country differences in age-gender standardised dementia prevalence, across the SES gradient. Dementia prevalence was estimated in each country using an algorithm based on an identical battery of demographic, cognitive and functional measures.

Results

Dementia prevalence is higher among the disadvantaged in both countries, with the USA being more unequal according to four measures of SES. Overall prevalence was lower in England at 9.7% (95% CI 8.9% to 10.6%) than the USA at 11.2% (95% CI 10.6% to 11.8%), a difference of 1.4 percentage points (pp) (p=0.0055). Most of the between country difference is driven by the bottom of the SES distribution. In the lowest income decile individuals in the USA had 7.3 pp (p<0.0001) higher prevalence than in England. Once past health factors and education were controlled for, most of the within country inequalities disappeared; however, the cross-country difference in prevalence for those in lowest income decile remained disproportionately high.

Conclusions

There is inequality in dementia prevalence according to income, wealth and education in both the USA and England. England has lower dementia prevalence and a less steep SES gradient. Most of the cross-country difference is concentrated in the lowest SES group, which provides evidence that disadvantage in the USA is a disproportionately high risk factor for dementia.
Associations between urinary cysteine-rich protein 61 excretion and kidney function decline in outpatients with chronic kidney disease: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Lai Chun-Fu , Wang Jian-Jhong , Tu Ya-Chun , Hsu Chia-Yu , Wu Hon-Yen , Fang Cheng-Chung , Chen Yung-Ming , Wu Ming-Shiou , Tsai Tun-Jun
Published: October 2021

Objectives

To examine whether urinary excretion of cysteine-rich protein 61 (Cyr61), an acknowledged proinflammatory factor in kidney pathologies, increases in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with subsequent rapid kidney function decline.

Design

An observational cohort study.

Setting

In the nephrology outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital in Taiwan.

Participants

We enrolled 138 adult CKD outpatients (n=12, 32, 18, 18, 29 and 29 in stages 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4 and 5 CKD, respectively) between February and October 2014 and followed them for 1 year. Their mean age was 60.46±13.16 years, and 51 (37%) of them were women.

Primary outcome measures

Urinary Cyr61 levels were measured by ELISA. Rapid kidney function decline was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline rate ≥ 4 mL/min/1.73 m2/year or developing end-stage renal disease during subsequent 3-month or 1-year follow-up period. Models were adjusted for demographic and clinical variables.

Results

The urine Cyr61-to-creatinine ratio (UCyr61CR) increased significantly in patients with stage 4 or 5 CKD. Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that log(UCyr61CR) was positively correlated with log(urine protein-to-creatinine ratio) (p<0.001) but negatively correlated with baseline eGFR (p<0.001) and hypertension (p=0.007). Complete serum creatinine data during the follow-up were available for 112 patients (81.2%). Among them, multivariable logistic regression identified log(UCyr61CR) was independently associated with rapid kidney function decline (adjusted OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.27 to 4.15) during the subsequent 3 months. UCyr61CR improved the discriminative performance of clinical models to predict 3-month rapid kidney function decline. In contrast, log(UCyr61CR) was not associated with rapid eGFR decline during the entire 1-year follow-up.

Conclusions

Elevated urinary Cyr61 excretion is associated with rapid short-term kidney function deterioration in patients with CKD. Measuring urinary Cyr61 excretion is clinically valuable for monitoring disease trajectory and may guide treatment planning.
Influencing factors of self-directed learning abilities of medical students of mainland China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Yang Chunhui , Zhu Yaxin , Jiang Hongkun , Qu Bo
Published: October 2021

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the level of medical students’ self-directed learning (SDL) ability in mainland China and to identify its modifiable influencing factors for medical educators to take measures to improve medical professionals’ ability in SDL.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January and June 2019.

Setting

This study involved students from five medical colleges located in the cities of Shenyang, Binzhou, Xuzhou, Shanghai and Guangzhou of mainland China.

Participants

Participants included 365 medical students and residents sampled by the stratified clustered random method from five medical colleges.

Methods

The t-test, F-test and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to test the association between personal and contextual factors of medical students and SDL.

Results

The mean total SDL score was 76.12 (SD=10.96), implying that Chinese mainland medical students had moderate SDL ability. A univariate analysis found that the personal characteristics of confidence, students’ enjoyment of their specialty, utilisation of library resources, learning goals and habits and academic performance as well as the contextual factors of age, gender, learning resources, family income and group discussion were significantly associated with the total SDL score (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that academic performance, learning goals, confidence, learning resources, utilisation of library resources, family income and age were significantly associated with the total SDL score (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our study indicated that the contextual factors of learning resources, family income and age as well as the personal factors of academic performance, learning goals, confidence and utilisation of library resources were associated with medical students’ SDL ability in mainland China. It may be advisable to implement appropriate teaching strategies to improve students’ confidence and assist them establish learning goals, as well as to amplify school learning resources and encourage students to use them fully.