bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accumulation of cadmium and lead in macroinvertebrates in relation to sediment concentration and the dynamics of environmental parameters in a tropical estuary of the Colombian Pacific
Authors: Erazo-Enríquez Karen , Duque Guillermo , Cogua Pilar
Published: October 2023

Estuaries provide a wide variety of ecosystem services; therefore, they are densely populated coastal regions with high activity and vulnerable to contaminants from natural and anthropogenic sources. The estuary of Buenaventura Bay is environmentally affected by liquid and solid wastes of anthropogenic origin, which arrive through the discharges of the main rivers of the region, as well as by gold mining and port activities, generating problems of environmental stress and contamination. For this reason, the main objective of the study was to determine how the environmental dynamics of the bay influences the processes of contamination and accumulation of heavy metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), in sediments and in the muscle tissue of macroinvertebrates. For this purpose, macroinvertebrate samples were collected in two areas of Buenaventura Bay during three different climatic periods in 2018. In addition, sediment samples were collected for granulometric and organic matter data, and physicochemical water data were recorded. Cd and Pb concentrations in sediments and muscle tissue of four species were quantified. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the sediments were undetectable and therefore did not exceed the maximum permissible values for marine sediment quality (Cd 0.6 mg/kg and Pb 35 mg/kg, TEL values, threshold effect level). The low levels of Cd and Pb in the sediments are due to their granulometric composition: high content of fine sand and low percentage of silt, clay and organic matter, conditions that do not favor the accumulation of metals in this matrix. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in the muscle of the organisms did not exceed the limit established for organisms for human consumption (crustaceans Cd 0.5 mg/kg and Pb 0.5 mg/kg; cephalopods Cd 1.0 mg/kg and Pb 0.3 mg/kg, fresh weight), indicating the absence of serious contamination by these two metals. It was found that the climatic seasons, as well as the peculiarities of each zone of the estuary and their interaction, influenced the dynamics of the physicochemical variables of the water and sediments of the bay. Climatic seasons also influenced the accumulation of Cd in the muscle of crustacean species, being higher under conditions of lower precipitation (dry and transitional seasons). Spatially, the outer zone of the bay showed a trend of higher Cd concentration in crustacean muscle. The environmental variables that best explained the Cd concentrations in the muscle of the four species were: temperature, salinity, and mean sand.
Nexus Between Green Human Resource Management and Environmental Practices: An Empirical Study Using Structural Equation Modelling
Authors: Nabi Talia , Joshi Astha , Malik Shabir Hussain , Siddiqui Mushtaq A , YETGİN Muhammed Ali
Published: October 2023

This study investigates the correlation between green human resource management (GHRM) and environmental practices (EP), paying attention to the mediating effects of environmental awareness (EA) and participative leadership (PL), drawing upon the Stakeholders Capitalism Theory (SCT) and Social Exchange Theory (SET). The data utilized in this investigation was gathered from a sample of 412 participants by distributing a survey questionnaire. The outcomes of the study revealed a substantial link between green human resource management and Environmental Practices. Furthermore, the outcomes of mediation analysis offer evidence supporting the notion that environmental awareness (EA) and participative leadership (PL) partially mediate the link between green human resource management and environmental practices. The findings presented in the present study provide significant recommendations that are of great value to all parties involved.
Polygenic risk score-based prediction for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Wen Yalu , Zhang Jiayu , Yu Hongmei , Liu Long
Published: October 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with unclear etiology and ineffective treatments. Integrating multimodal data for PD prediction remains challenging. We analyzed data obtained from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative, using polygenic risk scores (PRS) to reflect genetic susceptibility to PD. We compared the prediction accuracy of models with PRS, demographics, clinical assessment, and biomarkers progressively integrated and investigated relationships. The SDPR-based PRS exhibited the highest prediction performance with an AUC of 0.75. Models combining PRS, demographic, and clinical variables achieved an AUC of 0.91, surpassing models without PRS and matching those with biomarkers. PRS correlated with olfactory function and Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), with its influence on PD risk dependent on gender and MDS-UPDRS. Our study illuminates PD etiology and provides a practical risk assessment framework, highlighting its omnigenic architecture, and the potential for accurate prediction using PRS and non-invasive clinical data.
Impact of simulation and reference catalogues on the evaluation of taxonomic profiling pipelines
Authors: Puller Vadim , Oñate Florian Plaza , Prifti Edi , de Lahondès Raynald
Published: October 2023

Microbiome profiling tools rely on reference catalogues, which signifi-cantly affect their performance. Comparing them is however challenging, mainly due to differences in their native catalogues. In this study, we present a novel standardized benchmarking framework that makes such comparisons more accurate. Specifically, we conducted three realistic sim-ulations of gut microbiome samples, each based on a specific taxonomic profiler, and used two taxonomic references to project their results: the Genome Taxonomy Database and the Integrated Gene Catalogue. To demonstrate the importance of using such framework, we evaluated four established profilers along with a novel one, BiomScope. We evaluated the impact of these simulations and that of the common taxonomic references on the perceived performance of these profilers and provide guidelines.
Assessment of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (Kap) Towards Covid-19 in Ethiopia
Authors: Lemma Eshetu , Getachew Theodros , Balay Firehiwot , Menegesha Kirubel , Hurisa Birhanu , Menegesha Abebe , Gebrewold Gashaw , Assefa Zewdu , Abayneh Aschalew , Mindaye Tedla
Published: October 2023

COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease that is caused by a novel coronavirus and was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. As of June 26, 2021, in Ethiopia, the number of cases has reached over 275,769, 4,302 death and 258,203 are recovered. A total of 1023(84.3%) and 191(15.7%) were male and female, respectively. The study revealed that overall mean agreement on covid-19 related knowledge, attitude, practice and psychological score were 43.9% (533/1214), 49.0% (595/1214), 52.6% (639/1214) and 53.8% (653/1214), respectively. There was no significant association between Covid-19 knowledge and education level, gender, age group, marital status; however, a significant association were found individuals who had monthly income below 15,000ETB, being employed and resided in urban. Psychological response of individual was significantly associated with being employed and married. Individual`s covid-19 practice such as regular use of personal protective equipment’s (PPE), washing hand, and not touching contaminated surface were significantly related with psychological response and perceived level of attitude. Interestingly, 88.7% of participants had negative attitude towards existence of Covid-19 in Ethiopia where they didn’t believe on it because they never saw any patient during study period and 88.0% of them were pessimists in doing and follow every preventive instruction against the disease. The study showed that participants had satisfactory knowledge, attitude, practice and psychological towards COVID-19 and the preventive measures. However, during the pandemic they did have negative attitude towards existence of Covid-19 in Ethiopia. Large scare studies with defined social health model may be considered in the future.
Synthesis and Performance Study of Amphoteric Ion Fluid Loss Additive SSS/AM/FA/DMDAAC
Authors: Yang Yaping , Li Ming , Zhang Wei , Jiang Baolin , Xu Wei
Published: October 2023

At high temperatures, the salt resistance of fluid loss agents is poor. In order to achieve the goal of high temperature salt resistance, a zwitterionic fluid loss agent was designed and synthesized.Using sodium p-styrene sulfonate, itaconic acid, acrylamide, and dimethyldiallylammonium chloride as raw materials, a water loss agent SMFD was synthesized through aqueous solution polymerization. The structural characterization of the polymer showed that the molecule contains the designed functional groups, has a moderate molecular weight, and can withstand heat at temperatures above 220 ℃. The microstructure of the polymer solution exhibits a three-dimensional network structure. At 150 ℃, the water loss of 4% fluid loss additive is less than 50mL, and it still performs well in semi saturated saline and saturated saline environments. Additionally, the impact of the fluid loss additive on the strength, rheological properties, settlement stability, and other relevant characteristics of the cement slurry is minimal, thereby satisfying the necessary criteria for successful well cementing. The utilisation of microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and organic carbon adsorption testing techniques revealed that the application of SMFD enhances the characteristics of cement filter cakes. This improvement is attributed to the formation of a polymer network through processes such as ion association, adsorption, and polymer synergy. The polymer network effectively fills the voids between cement particles, resulting in a more compact filter cake structure. Consequently, this leads to a reduction in water loss of the cement slurry.
Expanding the application of an eGFP as a visual reporter for optimizing transformation and assessing pollen-mediated gene flow in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Authors: Gao Yang , Youxin Zhang , Huizhen Wu , Min Xueyang , Zhang Bing , Kim Do-Soon , Xuebing Yan , Zhang Chuan-Jie
Published: October 2023

Efforts are still required for establishing an efficient and standard transformation procedure in alfalfa, an important worldwide forage crop, due to the unstable repeatability of the published genetic transformation. The objectives of this study were to optimize and establish an effective genetic transformation system in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) using eGFP as a visual reporter, and test the feasibility of established procedure in other Medicago species. Comparisons of percent callus induction using three different explants of the four alfalfa cultivars showed that hypocotyl explant had greater callus induction (70-98.6% across four cultivars) than that of cotyledon (17.1%-73.2%) and cotyledonary node (39.7%-70.2%). Explants of ‘Qingshui’ showed the greater mean value of callus induction (80.6%) compared to other cultivars (mean: 46.9-55.5% across three cultivars). Using hypocotyl of ‘Qingshui’, the optimal callus induction and bud differentiation mediums were determined. The established procedure showed the transformation rate of eGFP to ‘Qingshui’ was about 72% with the time taken 85-120 days. Fluorescence and PCR detections evidenced the integration of the eGFP in regenerated plant genome. The procedure also yielded the transformation rate > 64% in M. falcata and M. polymorpha. The eGFP-tagged pollens produced by regenerated alfalfa could be an enabling tool for tracking pollen movement (by wind or insect) to study the pollen distribution patterns and pollinator behavior, thus assess potential risks of transgene flow in genetically modified alfalfa. Additionally, the established procedure would serve a useful approach for introducing agronomically important traits into alfalfa, and thus contribute to breeding program of Medicago species.
Prevalence and Factors Associated with Illicit Drug and High-Risk Alcohol Use among Adolescents Living in Urban Slums of Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Kalungi Hellen , Kamacooko Onesmus , Lunkuse Jane Frances , Namutebi Joy , Naluwooza Rose , Price Matt A. , Ruzagira Eugene , Mayanja Yunia
Published: October 2023

Background; Illicit drug and high risk alcohol use among adolescents leads to poor health outcomes. We enrolled adolescents from urban slums in Kampala, Uganda, to assess baseline prevalence, and factors associated with illicit drug and high-risk alcohol consumption.
Methods; We conducted a cross-sectional study using data collected in a cohort that enrolled 14-19-year-old male and female participants from 25-March-2019 to 30-March 2020. Data was collected on social-demographics, sexual behavior and reproductive health using interviewer administered questionnaires. The main outcomes were illicit drug use and high-risk alcohol use. Data on alcohol use was collected using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT); results were dichotomized. Factors associated with each outcome were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression.
Results; We enrolled 490 participants (60.6% female) with median age 18 (IQR 17-18) years, 91.0% had less than secondary education, 48.4% had their sexual debut before 15years, 47.1% reported paid sex in the past 3 months and 24.7% had a sexually transmitted infection (chlamydia, gonorrhea and/ or active syphilis) at enrolment.
The prevalence of illicit drug use was 34.9% while 16.1% were screened as high-risk alcohol users. Illicit drug use was associated with being male (aOR 9.62; 95% CI 5.74-16.11), being married (aOR 2.24; 95%CI 1.07-4.68) and having ≥10 paying sexual partners in the past 3 months (aOR 3.13; 95%CI 1.40-6.98). High risk alcohol use was associated with reporting sex work as the main job (aOR 3.19; 95%CI 1.02-9.94) and having experienced physical (aOR 1.96 95%CI 1.01-3.81) or emotional violence (aOR 2.08; 95%CI 1.14-3.82) from sexual partners.
Conclusion: Illicit drug and high-risk alcohol use are prevalent among adolescents involved in high risk sexual behavior and living in urban slums of Kampala. Comprehensive interventions that target substance use among this group of young people are needed and should include measures against intimate partner violence.
Quality of life and survival assessments of tissue defect salvage reconstruction with pectoralis major myocutaneous flap following oral-maxillofacial malignancy resection
Authors: Song Peijun , Zhuo Feng , Liang Qiu , Yan Mingming , Li Jiancheng
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality of life and survival of pectoralis major myocutaneous flap (PMMF) in soft tissue defect after resection of oral and maxillofacial malignancies.
Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 56 patients who underwent oral and maxillofacial malignancy removal with tissue defect from 1st January 2015 to 1st January 2018. The Chinese version of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head & Neck scale and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to assess the quality of life and survival rate, respectively.
Results: The grafted PMMFs had a satisfactory survival condition in all 56 cases. Compared with the preoperative period, the questionnaire at 6 months postoperatively showed a remarkable improvement in patients’ physical well-being, social/family well-being, emotional well-being, functional well-being, additional head and neck concerns as well as total score (P < 0.05). Moreover, the 3-year and 5-year survival rates calculated by Kaplan-Meier method were 48.2% and 42.1%, respectively.
Conclusions: Within the restrictions of this study, PMMF is a promising method for
salvage reconstruction of tissue defects after oral-maxillofacial malignancy resection due to it’s constant anatomical structure, abundant tissue volume, high survival rate and effective improvement of patients’ quality of life.
TopoRoot+: Computing Whorl and Soil Line Traits of Maize Roots from CT Imaging
Authors: Ju Yiwen , Liu Alexander E. , Oestreich Kenan , Wang Tina , Topp Christopher N. , Ju Tao
Published: October 2023

Background: The use of 3D imaging techniques, such as X-ray CT, in root phenotyping has become more widespread in recent years. However, due to the complexity of root structure, analyzing the resulting 3D volumes to obtain detailed architectural traits of the root system remains a challenging computational problem. Two types of root features that are notably missing from existing computational image-based phenotyping methods are the whorls of a nodal root system and soil line in an excavated root crown. Knowledge of these features would give biologists deeper insights into the structure of nodal roots and the below- and above-ground root properties.
Results: We developed TopoRoot+, a computational pipeline that computes architectural traits from 3D X-ray CT volumes of excavated maize root crowns. TopoRoot+ builds upon the TopoRoot software [1], which computes a skeleton representation of the root system and produces a suite of fine-grained traits including the number, geometry, connectivity, and hierarchy level of individual roots. TopoRoot+ adds new algorithms on top of TopoRoot to detect whorls, their associated nodal roots, and the soil line location. These algorithms offer a new set of traits related to whorls and soil lines, such as internode distances, root traits at every hierarchy level associated with a whorl, and aggregate root traits above or below the ground. TopoRoot+ is validated on a diverse collection of field-grown maize root crowns consisting of nine genotypes and spanning across three years, and it exhibits reasonable accuracy against manual measurements for both whorl and soil line detection. TopoRoot+ runs in minutes for a typical downsampled volume size of 4003 on a desktop workstation. Our software and test dataset are freely distributed on Github.
Conclusions: TopoRoot+ advances the state-of-the-art in image-based root phenotyping by offering more detailed architectural traits related to whorls and soil lines. The efficiency of TopoRoot+ makes it well-suited for high-throughput image-based root phenotyping.
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 19: a series of patients from Latin America. Phenotypic spectrum from early-onset to late-onset slowly progressive ataxia
Authors: Avila-Jaque Diana , Martin Fernanda , Bustamante M. Leonor , Álvarez Mariana Luna , Fernández José Manuel , de Montellano David José Dávila Ortiz , Pardo Rosa , Varela Diego , C. Marcelo Miranda
Published: October 2023

Spinocerebellar ataxia 19 (SCA19) represents a rare autosomal dominant genetic disorder resulting in progressive ataxia and cerebellar atrophy. It is caused by variants in the KCND3 gene, which encodes a voltage-gated potassium channel subunit, essential for cerebellar Purkinje cell function. We present 6 cases from Chile and México, representing the largest report of SCA19 in Latin America. These cases encompass a range of clinical presentations, highlighting the phenotypic variability within SCA19, from an early-onset more severe disease to a late-onset slowly progressive condition with normal lifespan. While some cases manifest with pure ataxia, others present with cognitive impairment, dystonia and other neurological symptoms. The correlation between specific KCND3 variants and phenotypic outcomes is complex and warrants further investigation. Whole exome sequencing has emerged as a valuable diagnostic tool, aiding in the identification of genetic causes of ataxia. As the genetic landscape of spinocerebellar ataxias evolves, comprehensive genetic testing becomes pivotal in improving diagnosis accuracy. This study contributes to a better understanding of SCA19’s clinical spectrum, for future genotype-phenotype correlations and potential functional studies that could elucidate the underlying pathophysiology of this condition.
H3K36 methyltransferase GhKMT3;1a and GhKMT3;2a promote flowering in upland cotton
Authors: Ju Jisheng , Ling Pingjie , Luo Jin , Wei Wei , Li Ying , Yuan Wenming , Wang Caixiang , Su Junji
Published: October 2023

Background
SET DOMAIN GROUP (SDG) proteins act as histone lysine methyltransferases, which play pivotal roles in a variety of developmental processes, such as flowering determination, by modifying chromatin structure to regulate related gene transcription. Although there is extensive evidence that histone methylation plays a key role in plant growth and development, especially H3K36 methylation in Arabidopsis, little information is available for cotton.
Results
A total of 86 SDG genes were identified through genome-wide analysis of the Gossypium hirsutum genome. Subsequently, we thoroughly studied Arabidopsis, G. arboreum, and G. raimondii homologs and conducted a comprehensive analysis of their gene structure and conserved domain organization. A total of 12 conserved domains were detected in 86 GhSDGs and classified into seven main classes to clarify their evolutionary relationship, which was unevenly distributed across 25 chromosomes of G. hirsutum. Transcriptome data analysis of tissue and developmental stage expression showed that the GhSDG gene was expressed in different tissues, with high expression levels in the flowering stage and floral organs such as stamens and pistils, especially for KMT3 classes involved in activation of flowering, showing dramatically changed expression patterns. Subsequently, we performed reverse transcription-quantitative PCR for 8 KMT3 classes of GhSDGs in eight tissues (root, stem, leaf, sepal, petals, bud, stamens and pistils). In addition, two predicted GhSDG genes (GhKMT3;1a and GhKMT3;2a) were shown to regulate cotton development by virus-induced gene silencing. Budding and flowering were delayed in upland cotton plants with silenced GhKMT3;1a and GhKMT3;2a, and plant height was also lowered. We found that GhKMT3;1a and GhKMT3;2a-mediated H3K36 methylation regulates the expression of flowering-related genes and plays an important role in the flowering of upland cotton.
Conclusion
We comprehensively identified 86 GhSDG genes in upland cotton. Our data indicate that GhKMT3;1a and GhKMT3;2a-mediated H3K36 methylation regulate the expression of flowering-related genes and play an important role in the growth and development of cotton plants. These findings may also lay a foundation for breeding early-maturing cotton varieties in the future.
Measuring the Coverage of the HL7® FHIR® Standard in Supporting Data Acquisition for 3 Public Health Registries
Authors: Bikkanuri Manju , Robins Taiquitha T. , Wong Lori , Seker Emel , Greer Melody L. , Williams Tremaine B. , Garza Maryam Y.
Published: October 2023

With the increasing need for timely submission of data to state and national public health registries, current manual approaches to data acquisition and submission are insufficient. In clinical practice, federal regulations are now mandating the use of data messaging standards, i.e., the Health Level Seven (HL7®) Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR®) standard, to facilitate the electronic exchange of clinical (patient) data. In both research and public health practice, we can also leverage FHIR® ‒ and the infrastructure already in place for supporting exchange of clinical practice data ‒ to enable seamless exchange between the electronic medical record and public health registries. That said, in order to understand the current utility of FHIR® for supporting the public health use case, we must first measure the extent to which the standard resources map to the required registry data elements. Thus, using a systematic mapping approach, we evaluated the level of completeness of the FHIR® standard to support data collection for three public health registries (Trauma, Stroke, and National Surgical Quality Improvement Program). On average, approximately 80% of data elements were available (71%, 77%, and 92%, respectively) in FHIR®. This tells us that there is the potential for significant automation to support EHR-to-Registry data exchange, which will reduce the amount of manual, error-prone processes and ensure higher data quality. Further, identification of the remaining 20% of data elements that are “not mapped” will enable us to improve the standard and develop profiles that will better fit the registry data model.
Multi-element determination in craft chocolate with different cocoa contents using ultrasound-assisted extraction and dilute acid as sample preparation
Authors: Santana Giovana , Rodrigues Romulo , Brandão Geisamanda , Costa Vinicius , Carneiro MARIA T W D
Published: October 2023

This work evaluated the efficiency of an ultrasound-assisted extraction method using diluted acids to determine micronutrients and toxic elements in samples of craft chocolates with different cocoa content. Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P, and Zn were determined through Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and As, Cd, and Pb through Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). For method optimization, the Mixture Plan type simplex-centroid was used, investigating HNO3 (nitric acid), HCl (hydrochloric acid), and CH2O2 (formic acid) in the evaluation of the best extracting solution. The optimal condition indicated the usage of 10 mL of HNO3 (2.0 mol L− 1) for extracting analytes from a mass of 200 mg at 50 ± 5 ºC for 10 minutes of sonication. From the optimized method, limits of quantification vary from 0.030 mg kg− 1 to 15 mg kg− 1 for As and P, respectively, and precision is expressed as relative standard deviation (%RSD) below 10%. Aiming to evaluate the influence of cocoa content and the chocolate production region, the method analyzed 17 samples of craft chocolate from two different suppliers. The results were assessed by principal component analysis and demonstrated a possible influence of cocoa planting location in the presence of micronutrients and product concentrations. The concentration range of analytes found in the samples was compared with the daily recommended ingestion (DRI) values, concluding that this follows the maximum recommended values.
Psychological Capital Factors Play the Multiple Mediation Role between Interpersonal Sensitivity and Depressive Symptoms among College Students
Authors: Xu Haibo , Wang Zhen , Zhang Chaoran , Xu Jingwen , Shen Ziheng , Peng Lixin , Mi Yanyan , Liu Xin
Published: October 2023

Current interpersonal sensitivity among college students is easily linked to mood disorders such as anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. This study aims to examine the mediating role of psychological capital and its dimensions in the relationship between interpersonal sensitivity and depressive symptoms among college students. The cross-sectional survey was conducted across six Chinese universities between November and December 2022. The questionnaire consists of the Interpersonal Sensitivity sub-scale, the Patient Health Questionnaire, the Psychological Capital Questionnaire and the Socio-Demographic Feature Questionnaire. A total of 2580 respondents participated in the survey, with the majority being females (69.73%) and an average age of 19.22 ± 1.28 years. Descriptive and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS v24.0, while direct and indirect effects were analyzed using PROCESS v3.4 macro. The findings revealed that interpersonal sensitivity had a significant direct effect on depression symptoms among college students (β = 0.416, 95% Boot CI [0.380, 0.453], p < 0.001) Additionally, psychological capital and its components were found to be negatively correlated with depression (p < 0.001). Further analysis demonstrated that hope, resilience, and optimism significantly mediated the association between interpersonal sensitivity and depressive symptoms (indirect effect: hope = 0.056, resilience = 0.099, optimism = 0.074; p < 0.001 for all). These results suggest that psychological capital, including its dimensions of hope, resilience and optimism, plays a crucial role in mitigating the negative effects of interpersonal sensitivity on depressive symptoms in college students.
Diagnostic value of urinary routine, renal function, tuberculosis antibody test, and t-cell spot tests for tuberculosis infection in urinary tuberculosis
Authors: li yanyan , Wang yachun , wei lukuan , wang wei
Published: October 2023

Background
To examine the clinical utility of urinary routine and renal function、Tuberculosis antibody test (TB-DOT) or T-cell spot tests for TB infection(T-SPOT.TB) in blood, either separately or in combination, for the diagnosis of urinary tuberculosis (UTB).
Methods
Retrospective analysis of urinary routine, renal function, TB-DOT, and T-SPOT.TB - alone and/or in combination - for the diagnosis of UTB in 95 suspected patients from January 2020 to December 2022 in our institution.
Results
Patients in the UTB group had statistically different white blood cells (WBC), red blood cells (RBC), creatinine (Crea), TB-DOT, and T-SPOT.TB levels or positivity rates compared to those in the non-UTB group (P < 0.05). For individual assays, T-SPOT.TB had the highest specificity and PPV (100.0%, 100.0%); WBC had the highest AUC (0.847) and was significantly higher than Urea (P < 0.05); TB-DOT and RBC had relatively good sensitivity (85.7%, 88.9%). In addition, WBC correlated with both TB-DOT (r = 0.251, P > 0.05) and T-SPOT.TB (r = 0.270, P < 0.05). In the parallel combined WBC, Crea, TB-DOT, and T-SPOT.TB assay, the sensitivity of WBC + TB-DOT + T-SPOT.TB (93.1%) was superior to WBC + TB-DOT (90.3%) and the NPV (87.5%) was higher than WBC + T-SPOT.TB (81.0%), both of which were superior to WBC + Crea + TB-DOT + T-SPOT.TB (35.1%, 40.0%), and its AUC (0.930) were the largest.
Conclusion
In the early identification of UTB, the sensitivity of T-SPOT.TB or TB-DOT tests are higher than that urine routine and renal function tests. The parallel combination of WBC, TB-DOT, and T-SPOT.TB has better diagnostic efficacy for UTB, which is beneficial for rapid clinical diagnosis of UTB.
Circular RNA MTCL1 targets SMAD3 by sponging miR‐145‐5p for regulation of cell proliferation and migration in Hirschsprung’s disease
Authors: Wang Chen , Luo Caiyun , Yang Yang , Hou Xinwei , Li Nan , Yang Jiaming , Yang Huirong , Wu Kai , Yang YangLiucheng
Published: October 2023

Background Hirschsprung’s disease (HSCR) is a congenital disorder due to abnormal development of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Given the complexity of its pathogenesis, it is important to investigate the role of epigenetic inheritance in its development. As Circ-MTCL1 is abundant in brain tissue and colon tissue, whether it has a significant part in the development of ENS is worth exploring. This study clarifies its role in HSCR and determines the specific molecular mechanisms.Methods Diseased and dilated segment colon tissues diagnosed as HSCR were gathered, and the expression level of genes was detected using RT-PCR. EdU and CCK-8 assays were adopted to evaluate cell proliferation, and Transwell assay was adopted to assess cell migration. The interaction between Circ-MTCL1, miR-145-5p and SMAD3 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter gene analysis, RT-PCR and Western blotting.Results The expression of Circ-MTCL1 was down-regulated in HSCR diseased segment colon tissues. The low expression of Circ-MTCL1 caused a reduction in cell migration and proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis and cellular experiments confirmed that its action may be related to the inhibition of miR-145-5p. The expression of miR-145-5p was up-regulated in HSCR diseased segment colon tissues, which was negatively correlated with Circ-MTCL1. The overexpression of miR-145-5p reversed the suppressive effect of Circ-MTCL1 down-regulation on cell migration and proliferation. The overexpression of miR-145-5p eliminated the suppressive effect on cell migration and proliferation. The expression of SMAD3 was inhibited by MiR-145-5p. The overexpression of SMAD3 eliminated the suppressive effect of miR-145-5p on cell migration and proliferation.Conclusions Circ-MTCL1 may function as a miR-145-5p sponge for regulating the expression of SMAD3 and affect cell migration and proliferation to participate in the development of HSCR.
Reliability of left ventricular hemodynamic forces derived from feature-tracking cardiac magnetic resonance.
Authors: Ismailov Temirlan , Khamitova Zaukiya , Jumadilova Dinara , Khissamutdinov Nail , Toktarbay Bauyrzhan , Zholshybek Nurmakhan , Rakhmanov Yeltay , Salustri Alessandro
Published: October 2023

Purpose
Hemodynamic forces (HDF) analysis has been proposed as a method to quantify intraventricular pressure gradients, however data on its reliability are still scanty. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the reliability of HDF parameters derived from cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR).
Methods
CMR studies of 25 athletes were analysed by two independent observers and then re-analysed by the same observer one week apart. Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC [95% CI]) and Bland-Altman plots were used to assess association, agreement, and bias of the longitudinal (A-B) HDF, transverse (L-S) HDF, and Impulse Angle.
Results
In terms of inter-observer variability, there was a good correlation for the A-B and L-S (ICC 0.85[0.67–0.93] and 0.86[0.69–0.94]; p < 0.001 for both, respectively) and a moderate correlation for the Impulse Angle (ICC 0.73[0.39–0.87]; p = 0.001). For intra-observer variability, A-B and L-S showed excellent correlation (ICC 0.91[0.78–0.93] and 0.93[0.83–0.97]; p < 0.001 for both, respectively). Impulse Angle presented good correlation (ICC 0.80[0.56–0.90]; p < 0.001). Frame selection and aortic valve area measurements were the most vulnerable step in terms of reliability of the method.
Conclusion
The results of this study showed a low inter- and intra-observer variability of HDF parameters derived from feature-tracking CMR. This provides the fundamental basis for their use both in research and clinical practice, which could eventually lead to the detection of significant changes at follow-up studies.
Integrating MADM Methods and Genetic Algorithm for Exploring Interior Optimizing Design Strategies to Decrease the Risk of Nosocomial Infection in Dental Clinic
Authors: Wang Ge , Tan Shuting , Cao Yina , Wu Chenyu , Xiong Lei
Published: October 2023

Nosocomial Infections (NIs) are a major global public health problem, and their prevention and control are becoming increasingly challenging as their mechanisms become more complex. With a growing elderly population, an escalating number of patients are becoming vulnerable, and the higher incidence of severe infectious diseases has resulted in a surge in the cost of NI prevention and control. Facing the severity of hospital-acquired infections and preventing the occurrence of other potential widespread public health crises necessitates a complete redesign in our approach to effectively minimise such infections in dental hospitals. Therefore, the primary objective should be to mitigate the incidence of hospital-acquired infections by investigating the best design strategies for the layout of functional areas, the organisation of flow lines, and the decorative aesthetic of the spatial environment of the dental hospital. In this study, we identified spatial planning and design elements aimed at mitigating the risk of nosocomial infections. We constructed a framework for these design elements using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). We validated the complex relationships and priority criteria in the evaluation framework using DANP. Furthermore, we iteratively extrapolated spatial sketches using genetic algorithms, and optimisation was conducted accordingly. The study's key implication is the development of a comprehensive structure that allows decision makers to assess the spatial setting of oral healthcare objectively. They can then map the network of relationships (INRM) based on the results of the performance assessment, assign impact weights (IWs) to each criterion, and optimise spatial scenarios using genetic algorithms. To prevent the wastage of resources resulting from haphazard design, more efficient and scientific resources are invested into the design of dental hospital spaces.
Early Development and Enzyme Activity in Japanese Freshwater Shrimp, Neocaridina denticulata sinensis (Kemp, 1918)
Authors: Pierre Hardin Aaron Jn , Kotani Tomonari , Sasaki Taku , Irabor Arnold Ebuka
Published: October 2023

The present investigation was undertaken with the primary objective of critically evaluating the progression of early developmental stages and concurrent enzymatic activity in the Japanese freshwater shrimp, Neocaridina denticulata sinensis. The scope of the study encompassed a thorough examination of the growth patterns and respective enzyme activity of N. denticulata larvae at distinctive phases, specifically at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after hatching (DAH). This research turned its focus toward three prominent enzymes: amylase, lipase, and protease, and their respective roles and activity levels in the course of the developmental process. Throughout the duration of the empirical experiment, there was a consistent trajectory of growth documented, devoid of any significant abnormalities that might otherwise mar the data. Consequently, this implies a strong adaptability of N. denticulata to the conditions imposed by the experimental setup. Drawing a comparison between the larval and adult stages, the study found noteworthy parallels in both physical attributes and histological characteristics. This fascinating discovery reveals a certain level of developmental uniformity across the lifespan of this species. Interestingly, the enzyme activity demonstrated a trend of increment with the progression of each growth stage. Among the enzymes studied, Protease registered the highest level of activity, emphasizing its potential crucial role in the development and growth of N. denticulata larvae. However, a certain anomaly was observed in the Lipase activity, which exhibited a dip at specific stages of the larval cycle, only to increase as the larvae aged. This intermittent pattern in lipase activity sparks interest and warrants further investigation to comprehend its implications fully. Overall, the N. denticulata demonstrated a robust growth pattern under the experimental conditions imposed, with enzyme activity showcasing a parallel increment in tandem with the age of the larvae. Despite the findings, the current study has opened doors for future explorations, particularly with a focus on enzyme activity associated with the digestive tract development in the early stages of the development of N. denticulata. This particular aspect remains largely uncharted and promises to significantly augment our understanding in this relatively less explored domain.
Integrated Data Governance, Digital Health, and the Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM)
Authors: Hallinan Christine Mary , Ward Roger , Hart Graeme K , Sullivan Clair , Pratt Nicole , Ng Ashley P , Capurro Daniel , Vegt Anton Van Der , Liaw Teng , Daly Oliver , Luxan Blanca Gallego , Bunker David , Boyle Douglas
Published: October 2023

Adoption of the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP-CDM) internationally and in Australia has enabled the conversion of vast amounts of complex, and heterogeneous electronic medical record (EMR) data into a standardised structured data model. This helps simplify governance processes and facilitates rapid, repeatable cross-institution analysis through shared end-to-end analysis packages without the sharing of raw data.
Combined with pseudonymisation and standardised data quality assessments, the OMOP-CDM provides a powerful model to support ethical real-world ‘big’ data research. The continued adoption of OMOP-CDM, ongoing development efforts, and the emphasis on sound governance practices all contribute to the realisation of OMOP’s utility in unlocking valuable EMR data. These factors collectively support a wide range of applications, from health service operational reporting to diverse clinical, epidemiological, and translational research projects.
Unveiling Environmental Governance Dynamics: Evaluating the Impact of Provincial Government Officials' Corporate Backgrounds on Local Carbon Emissions in China
Authors: Hao Wen jie , li Lulin
Published: October 2023

The nexus between the corporate experiences of local officials and their proclivity for fostering economic growth has long been acknowledged. This study delves into a critical inquiry arising from this connection: does the background in enterprise predispose local officials to prioritize economic development at the expense of green initiatives? Leveraging a dataset spanning 1998 to 2019 and encompassing provincial governors and party secretaries across 30 Chinese provinces, we empirically explore the impact of local officials' corporate careers on regional carbon emissions. Our findings underscore a significant association between the antecedent corporate backgrounds of local officials and heightened carbon emissions within their administered regions. The magnitude of this influence varies, contingent on factors such as the nature of their prior corporate affiliations, promotion incentives, interregional transfers, tenure in office, and the energy resources and economic development context of their jurisdictions. Moreover, our analysis reveals a nuanced dynamic: as the top-down "performance orientation" shifts from an exclusive emphasis on economic development to a dual focus on both economic and environmental considerations, local officials' corporate backgrounds emerge as a mitigating factor, reducing the intensity of carbon emissions in their regions. Further mechanism testing discerns a distinct dual impact of local officials with corporate backgrounds. In the realm of environmental performance, there is a marked reduction in environmental investments within their jurisdiction during their tenure. Simultaneously, within the sphere of economic performance, these officials exhibit a significant upswing in the proliferation of "large-scale industrial enterprises, foreign investment, and public expenditure," emblematic of heightened carbon emissions. This research not only provides insights into the persistent challenge of China's historically elevated carbon emissions from the perspective of local officials but also offers valuable references for government governance structures aiming to achieve the objectives of "dual carbon" targets.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Expression of IGFBPs and its Correlation with Prognosis and Immune in Endometrial Cancer
Authors: Jin Yuxi , Qi Meng , Cai Mingbo , Si Lulu , Fu Hanlin , Liu Yana , Guo Ruixia
Published: October 2023

Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common malignant tumors of the female reproductive tract. Insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins (IGFBPs) as regulators of IGF signaling in cancer are of increasing interest. However, the role of the IGFBP family in EC has not been fully explored. The expression of IGFBPs and their association with clinical prognosis, biological function, mutation status, and immune infiltration in EC patients were investigated using the TCGA, STRING, cBioPortal, TIMER and TCIA databases. The protein levels of the IGFBP family in collected patient samples were further identified by immunohistochemical methods. In patients with EC, IGFBP2 was significantly upregulated, while other IGFBPs were downregulated. The expression levels of IGFBP4 and IGFBP7 in EC decreased with increasing tumor grade and low expression of IGFBP4 was correlated with poor overall survival. The co-expression network and enrichment analysis results showed that IGFBP4 was related to microtubule-based movement, collagen-containing extracellular matrix, and vascular smooth muscle contraction. Moreover, IGFBP2/3/4/7 expression was correlated with tumor mutation burden and the levels of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in EC, and IGFBP7 in particular was significantly associated with immunotherapy response. This study revealed the expression of the IGFBP family in EC patients and showed that IGFBP4 could be a valuable prognostic indicator and that IGFBP7 may be a potential immunotherapeutic target for EC.
ACD856, a Novel Positive Allosteric Modulator of Trk-receptors, Single Ascending Doses in Healthy Subjects: Safety and Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Nilsson Boel , Bylund Johan , Halldin Magnus M , Rother Matthias , Rein-Hedin Erik , Önnestam Kristin , Segerdahl Märta
Published: October 2023

AlzeCure Pharma AB is developing novel positive allosteric modulators of Trk-receptors for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease, depression, other psychiatric conditions and other disorders where cognition is impaired. The first candidate drug ACD855 was, in a single ascending dose study, shown to have a too long elimination half-life in humans for further development. To de-risk the development of the follow-up compound ACD856, an intravenous microdose study was conducted to assess the elimination half-life in plasma prior to conducting ascending oral dose studies. Reported within this article are the results of the phase 0 study with a microdose of ACD856 (0.100 mg), conducted in six healthy male subjects, followed by a Phase I single ascending oral dose study (1–150 mg) in 56 healthy subjects. ACD856 was well tolerated with no treatment emergent, or dose related trends observed for adverse events or other safety assessments. In the microdose study, ACD856 exhibited a bi-exponential plasma decline, low distribution volume, low plasma clearance with a half-life of approximately 20 hours. Orally, ACD856 exhibited rapid absorption, approximately 100% bioavailability and a dose proportional increase in exposure. While the Cmax was lowered and delayed by food intake, the effect on plasma half-life and the overall bioavailability was low. No renal elimination of ACD856 was detected. The pharmacokinetics of ACD856 in humans following a microdose was used to de-risk a long elimination half-life as well as predict oral pharmacokinetics. The prediction proved accurate demonstrating the value of conducting a microdose study prior to ascending dose studies. TRN: NCT05783830 March 24, 2023 (microdose study, retrospectively registered) and NCT05077631 October 14, 2021 (Single ascending dose study).
Distraction from long-term memory in visual search: acquired procedural and template-based memory interfere with contextual cueing after target re-location.
Authors: Seitz Werner , Zinchenko Artyom , Müller Hermann J. , Geyer Thomas
Published: October 2023

Participants can learn to detect search-for target items embedded in repeatedly encountered spatial arrangements of distractor items – the ‘contextual-cueing’ (CC) effect. However, cueing is severely compromised following the re-positioning of the target in an otherwise unchanged distractor arrangement. Previous research demonstrated that this target re-location cost is due to persistent contextual (mis-)guidance of search towards the original, but (after the re-positioning) no longer relevant location in the display array. Given that CC reflects top-down guidance for contextual long-term (LT) memory, this misguidance is an instance of a ‘distraction’ effect that operates from acquired memory, rather than being driven by salient but irrelevant stimuli in the display. While traditional accounts of CC emphasize the acquisition of search-guiding LT-memory ‘templates’ that are specific to particular target-distractor contexts, contextual learning also tunes attentional (oculomotor) scanning routines to the prevailing statistical target-distractor regularities in the display arrangement encountered, yielding a context-unspecific LT ‘proceduralization’ of search. Using reaction-time (RTs) and oculomotor-scanning measures, we confirmed both mechanisms to contribute to initial contextual learning as well as the ‘distraction’ effect produced by re-location of the target to the opposite side of repeated-context displays. We suspect that guidance and misguidance of search by repeated contexts involve two complementary LT mechanisms: procedural optimization of broad, i.e., display-generic, oculomotor scanning routines, and learning of where to expect the target to be located in specific repeated-context displays.