bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring the hygiene of reusable cutlery as an effort to sustainable lifestyle
Authors: Matahari Putri , Maulida Iffana Dani
Published: April 2024

Efforts to live healthy and implement sustainable living can be achieved in many ways, one of which is by using reusable cutlery when eating. Contamination of cutlery can cause disease and poisoning. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of cutlery to be used in terms of hygiene, namely, to see the presence of E. coli and Salmonella bacteria found in cutlery in a canteen in industrial areas. The research method used is qualitative and quantitative analysis using the swab technique. The samples used were 6 samples, consisting of 2 spoons, 2 plates, and 2 glasses. From testing the samples of cutlery in the canteen, all of them showed the presence of E. coli and Salmonella bacteria contamination. Therefore, it can be concluded that all samples of cutlery that can be reused in a canteen do not meet the eligibility requirements as cutlery due to contamination by E. coli and Salmonella bacteria which can pose a risk of disease and even poisoning.
Effect of probiotics addition on artificial feed for catfish growth
Authors: Fitriana Wiwit Denny , Bakri  , Masrur Mukhamad , Qomariana Anna , Anugrah Chandra Sukma
Published: April 2024

The research aimed to investigate the impact of probiotics supplementation in artificial feed on the growth of catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Catfish farming is a vital component of aquaculture, and optimizing feed formulations can enhance both the economic and environmental sustainability of the industry. In this study, probiotics were incorporated into the catfish feed to assess their potential benefits on growth performance. A fully randomized design was employed, encompassing four distinct treatment groups denoted as follows: P0, representing the control group without any treatment; P1, involving the incorporation of 2 cc/kg of probiotic into the feed; P2, entailing the inclusion of 4 cc/kg of probiotic in the feed; and P3, comprising the use of 6 cc/kg of probiotic in the feed. Data analysis was conducted using analysis of variance with a confidence level set at 5%. The growth parameters, including weight gain, length increase, and feed conversion ratio (FCR), were monitored over 2 months. The results revealed a significant improvement in the growth performance of catfish in the probiotics-supplemented group compared to the control group. Catfish fed with probiotics exhibited a higher average weight gain and increased length, indicating better growth.
Analysis of fish consumption patterns in the people of Bekasi Regency, West Java
Authors: Septya Saka Tirta
Published: April 2024

Bekasi people's awareness to consume fish is still very low. Though fish is one of the foods that are cheap, easy to find, and have a high nutritional content. The purpose of this study was to analyze fish consumption patterns. The study was conducted by analyzing primary data on fish consumption patterns influenced by perceptions and preferences for fish products through direct interviews with 110 household members. The methods used in this study are descriptive analysis, logit analysis, quantitative analysis using the Chi-square test. The choice of fish as a source of animal protein consumed shows the consumption pattern of fresh fish both freshwater fish and seawater fish, based on the frequency of consumption patterns included in the large category, namely 70.9% fresh seawater fish and 24.5% fresh freshwater fish.
Study on the use of weed plants as bioherbicides: a review
Authors: Habibi Soraya
Published: April 2024

Weeds are plants that are detrimental to cultivated plants if they live in the same area of life. The losses caused include reducing the production of cultivated plants. One effort to control weeds is the use of synthetic herbicides. However, excessive use of synthetic herbicides can cause problems, including reducing soil fertility, increasing weed resistance to herbicides and leaving residue. If herbicide residues are absorbed by plants and then the plants are eaten by humans, they can settle in the body and cause disease. This has triggered many researchers to look for other alternatives for weed control, namely environmentally friendly control. One of them is the use of bioherbicides. Weeds are one of the plants that have the potential to be used as bioherbicides. The ability of weed allelopathic compounds to inhibit growth has been used as a basis for developing bioherbicides. This article reviews weeds that have potential as bioherbicides, and the mechanisms of inhibition by allelochemical compounds.
Women's empowerment in coastal areas: waste management based on circular economy paradigm (a case study on Pasaran Island, Bandar Lampung)
Authors: Wulandari Ayu , Utoyo Bambang , Caturiani Susana Indriyati
Published: April 2024

Coastal areas have potential resources and are projected as tourist attractions because they are the meeting point between land and sea. However, this potential is threatened by pollution and damage in coastal and marine areas originating from human activities. Marine debris causes marine pollution, damages marine ecosystems and coastal areas, and can even endanger human health. In 2021, approximately 2,864 kg of waste accumulated on Pasaran Island, of which more than 64% was residual and low-value waste. The circular economy is a new paradigm that is widely adopted in sustainability-based waste management in Indonesia. The role of the community in the implementation of the circular economy is very important, one of which is through women's empowerment. This research aims to describe the importance of women's role in waste management through empowerment schemes. This research uses a qualitative approach through observation, interviews, and literature studies to obtain information. The results showed that through the empowerment of women and the implementation of the circular economy in Pasaran Island, more than 29,000 kg of household waste could be reduced, new employment alternatives could be created, and the community in Pasaran Island increased its awareness of managing household waste.
Financial feasibility of business towards application-based business: a case study of Drykeun
Authors: Siregar Salsabila Yunaini
Published: April 2024

Drykeun, an e-commerce startup established in 2022, focuses on the laundry industry in Indonesia. Drykeun aims to become the country's leading laundry service provider by utilizing technology, innovation, and exceptional customer service. Drykeun partners with existing laundries to ensure standardized quality control and deliver top-notch services to households and businesses across the nation. Its mission is to provide reliable, affordable, and high-quality services, making laundry day hassle-free for all people. However, facing low sales in the B2C sector, Drykeun plans to pivot to the B2B target market. To determine the viability of this shift, a feasibility analysis will be conducted. This quantitative study will utilize historical company data, as well as secondary data from literature reviews, journals, and books. The research will also assess the financial feasibility of the company's strategy using measures such as the payback period, net present value, and internal rate of return. The study results indicate that Drykeun is financially feasible with a payback period of 1.6 years, an NPV of Rp. 396,378,216, and an IRR of 82%, which is higher than the Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC) of 5.2%.
Risk handling strategy for vegetable business in P2L Ngongak Tanduran
Authors: Iswari Dian Ardifah , Fauzi Irfan Miftahul , Susila Ihwan , Negara Santosa Pradana Putra Setya , Putri Sherly Octaviana , Anggha Febricha Sang Dwi
Published: April 2024

Sustainable Food Yard is a program from the Madiun Goverment to to improve the post-pandemic community economy. In 2023 P2L will fund their business using its own capital. In the management of a business certainly cannot be separated from the risk. The method to define the strategy was Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Identified risks are caused by five things, namely man, machine, money, material, and method. The highest risk experienced by P2L Ngongak Tanduran is that they do not have contracts with workers, lack of the capital, and unskilled workers. The strategy to minimize the risks are minimizing the risks that occur at P2L Ngongak Tanduran include training for workers, establishing communication with third parties, scheduling, and establishing Standard Operational Processes
Usability testing for learning media application Al-Qur’an Hadith
Authors: Astuti Indah Puji , Nurfitri Khoiru
Published: April 2024

The ever-developing technology has an impact on all aspects of life, including education. One of the innovations in the field of education is the adoption of multimedia concepts in the teaching and learning process. Why multimedia? because with multimedia we can combine several elements at once including text, images, sound, video, and animation. An interactive multimedia-based learning application has been developed for Al-Qur'an Hadith subjects. Applications are made to attract interest in learning and make the learning process of teaching fun. The objective of this study is to get evaluations from users in terms of user satisfaction using the application with a usability test. Usability testing is carried out using the SUS (System Usability Scale) approach. The results of this study show that an interactive multimedia learning media application for learning the Al-Qur'an Hadith based on usability testing by 20 respondents, using the SUS approach, got an SUS Score is 81. The grade scale application is “A” and also application gets “acceptable” in acceptability ranges.
Rutin prevents EqHV-8 induced infection and oxidative stress via Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway
Authors: Chen Li , Li Shuwen , Li Wenjing , Yu Yue , Sun Qi , Chen Wenjing , Zhou Huaqi , Wang Changfa , Li Liangliang , Xu Meng , Khan Muhammad Zahoor , Li Yubao , Wang Tongtong
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) signaling pathway has been extensively studied for its role in regulating antioxidant and antiviral responses. The Equid herpesvirus type 8 (EqHV-8) poses a significant threat to the equine industry, primarily manifesting as respiratory disease, abortions, and neurological disorders in horses and donkeys. Oxidative stress is considered a key factor associated with pathogenesis of EqHV-8 infection. Unfortunately, there is currently a dearth of therapeutic interventions available for the effective control of EqHV-8. Rutin has been well documented for its antioxidant and antiviral potential. In current study we focused on the evaluation of Rutin as a potential therapeutic agent against EqHV-8 infection.

Methods

For this purpose, we encompassed both in-vitro and in-vivo investigations to assess the effectiveness of Rutin in combatting EqHV-8 infection.

Results and Discussion

The results obtained from in vitro experiments demonstrated that Rutin exerted a pronounced inhibitory effect on EqHV-8 at multiple stages of the viral life cycle. Through meticulous experimentation, we elucidated that Rutin’s antiviral action against EqHV-8 is intricately linked to the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway-mediated antioxidant response. Activation of this pathway by Rutin was found to significantly impede EqHV-8 replication, thereby diminishing the viral load. This mechanistic insight not only enhances our understanding of the antiviral potential of Rutin but also highlights the significance of antioxidant stress responses in combating EqHV-8 infection. To complement our in vitro findings, we conducted in vivo studies employing a mouse model. These experiments revealed that Rutin administration resulted in a substantial reduction in EqHV-8 infection within the lungs of the mice, underscoring the compound’s therapeutic promise in vivo.

Conclusion

In summation, our finding showed that Rutin holds promise as a novel and effective therapeutic agent for the prevention and control of EqHV-8 infections.
Formation and evolution of shale overpressure in deep Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation in southern Sichuan basin and its influence on reservoir pore characteristics
Authors: Sun Shasha , Shi Zhensheng , Dong Dazhong , Bai Wenhua , Wei Lin , Yin Jia , Qu Jiajun
Published: April 2024

In the deep Longmaxi Formation shale gas reservoirs of the southern Sichuan Basin, strong overpressure is universally developed to varying degrees. However, there is currently a lack of in-depth research on the formation mechanisms, evolutionary patterns, and the controlling effects on reservoir pore characteristics of strong overpressure. This limitation significantly restricts the evaluation of deep shale gas reservoirs. This study selected typical overpressured shale gas wells in Yongchuan, Luzhou, and Dazu areas as research subjects. Through comprehensive methods such as log analysis, fluid inclusion analysis, and numerical simulation, the dominant mechanisms of strong overpressure formation were determined, and the pressure evolution from early burial to late strong uplift was characterized. Additionally, the impact of varying degrees of overpressure on reservoir pore characteristics was studied using techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, gas adsorption-mercury intrusion, and helium porosity testing. The research findings indicate that hydrocarbon generation expansion is the primary mechanism for strong overpressure formation. The pressure evolution in the early burial phase is controlled by the processes of kerogen oil generation and residual oil cracking into gas. The reservoir experienced three stages: normal pressure (Ordovician to Early Triassic), overpressure (Early Triassic to Early Jurassic), and strong overpressure (Early Jurassic to Late Cretaceous), with pressure coefficients of approximately 1.08, 1.56, and 2.09, respectively. During the late strong uplift phase, the adjustment of early overpressure occurred due to temperature decrease and gas escape, leading to a decrease in formation pressure from 140.55 MPa to 81.63 MPa, while still maintaining a state of strong overpressure. Different degrees of strong overpressure exert a significant control on the physical properties of shale reservoirs and the composition of organic matter pores. Variations exist in the organic matter pore morphology, structure, and connectivity within the deep Wufeng-Longmaxi shale. Higher overpressure favors the preservation of organic large pores and reservoir porosity. Under conditions of strong overpressure development, deep siliceous shales and organically rich clay shales exhibit favorable reservoir properties. By determining the dominant mechanisms of strong overpressure in the Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation and studying pore characteristics, this research not only deepens the understanding of the geological features of deep shale gas reservoirs but also provides a new perspective for understanding the overpressure mechanisms and reservoir properties of deep shale gas reservoirs. Moreover, it is of significant importance for guiding the exploration and development of deep Longmaxi shale and provides valuable references for further research in related fields.
The association between statin use and diabetic nephropathy in US adults: data from NHANES 2005 - 2018
Authors: Guo Jinjing , Jiang Zhibing , Xia Yiping , Wang Hui , Tang Qun , Meng Bin
Published: April 2024

Background

A serious consequence of diabetes is diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is commonly treated by statins. Studies evaluating the effects of statin medication have yielded inconsistent results regarding the potential association with diabetic nephropathy. To manage diabetic nephropathy’s onset and improve the quality of life of patients, it is imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of its contributing factors.

Data and methods

Our study was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) as well as weighted multivariate logistic regression models to determine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for diabetic nephropathy. We conducted stratified analyses to examine the impact of statins and the duration of their usage on diabetic nephropathy in different subgroups. A nomogram model and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were also developed to predict DN risk.

Results

Statin use significantly increased the incidence of DN (OR=1.405, 95%CI (1.199,1.647), p<0.001). Individuals who used statins for 5 to 7 years were more likely to develop diabetic nephropathy (OR=1.472, 95%CI (1.057,2.048), p=0.022) compared to those who used statins for 1-3 years (OR=1.334, 95%CI (1.058,1.682), p=0.015) or <1 year (OR=1.266, 95%CI (1.054,1.522), p = 0.012). Simvastatin has a greater incidence of diabetic nephropathy (OR=1.448, 95%CI(1.177, 1.78), P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Taking statins long-term increases the risk of DN. Statin use is associated with an increased risk of DN. Caution should be exercised when prescribing atorvastatin and simvastatin for long-term statin therapy.
Parenting styles in caregivers of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and effects of service dogs
Authors: Poirier Margot , Grandgeorge Marine , François Nathe , Auffret Florian , Champagne Noël , Legrand Alain , Deschatelets Catherine , Favier-Hannequin Nathalie , Tremblay Aurélie , Kearnan Fanny , Henry Séverine , Plusquellec Pierrich , Dollion Nicolas
Published: April 2024

Objective

Parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have parenting styles that differ from parents of typically developing children. Integration of a service dog (SD) at home has been demonstrated as having multiple effects within families of children with ASD. Our aims were to investigate if (a) specific parenting styles can be identified during parents’ interactions with their child with ASD using ethological methods, and (b) integration of a SD have an effect on these styles.

Methods

Behavioural coding was performed on videos recorded at home by 20 parents of 6-12-years old children with ASD before SD integration. Parents were asked to record themselves and their child while making a puzzle. 14 parents performed a second similar recording 3-6 months after SD integration. Data were analysed using Principal Component Analysis, Hierarchical Cluster Analysis and non-parametric tests.

Results

Three parenting styles emerged: Parents Involved in the Task (PIT), Parents Relaxed in the Interaction (PRI), and Parents Disengaged from the Interaction (PDI). PIT were characterised as more controlling and verbally focused on the activity. PRI were less controlling and talk about things other than the activity. The same applied to PDI, except that they were less warm in their interactions. Analysis performed after SD integration revealed that these groups also diverged in the evolution of certain behaviours.

Conclusion

This study is the first to demonstrate that behavioural observations can highlight different parenting styles in caregivers of children with ASD, and that the integration of a SD has effects on these styles, with variation according to parents’ style prior to SD integration. Indeed, a decrease in activity control behaviours was observed in parents with an initial profile characterise by higher expression of such behaviours (i.e., PIT), while an increase of those behaviours was observed in parents initially with an initial profile characterise by a weaker expression of such behaviours (i.e., PRI). Interestingly, the last profile characterized by less engagement in the interaction and activity (i.e., PDI) did not seem to show significant changes.
Comparative single-cell multiplex immunophenotyping of therapy-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus shed light on disease-specific composition of the peripheral immune system
Authors: Balog József Á. , Zvara Ágnes , Bukovinszki Vivien , Puskás László G. , Balog Attila , Szebeni Gábor J.
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs) are a significant burden on the healthcare system. Understanding the complexity of the peripheral immunophenotype in SADs may facilitate the differential diagnosis and identification of potential therapeutic targets.

Methods

Single-cell mass cytometric immunophenotyping was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy controls (HCs) and therapy-naive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Immunophenotyping was performed on 15,387,165 CD45+ live single cells from 52 participants (13 cases/group), using an antibody panel to detect 34 markers.

Results

Using the t-SNE (t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding) algorithm, the following 17 main immune cell types were determined: CD4+/CD57– T cells, CD4+/CD57+ T cells, CD8+/CD161– T cells, CD8+/CD161+/CD28+ T cells, CD8dim T cells, CD3+/CD4–/CD8– T cells, TCRγ/δ T cells, CD4+ NKT cells, CD8+ NKT cells, classic NK cells, CD56dim/CD98dim cells, B cells, plasmablasts, monocytes, CD11cdim/CD172dim cells, myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs), and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs). Seven of the 17 main cell types exhibited statistically significant frequencies in the investigated groups. The expression levels of the 34 markers in the main populations were compared between HCs and SADs. In summary, 59 scatter plots showed significant differences in the expression intensities between at least two groups. Next, each immune cell population was divided into subpopulations (metaclusters) using the FlowSOM (self-organizing map) algorithm. Finally, 121 metaclusters (MCs) of the 10 main immune cell populations were found to have significant differences to classify diseases. The single-cell T-cell heterogeneity represented 64MCs based on the expression of 34 markers, and the frequency of 23 MCs differed significantly between at least twoconditions. The CD3– non-T-cell compartment contained 57 MCs with 17 MCs differentiating at least two investigated groups. In summary, we are the first to demonstrate the complexity of the immunophenotype of 34 markers over 15 million single cells in HCs vs. therapy-naive patients with RA, SSc, and SLE. Disease specific population frequencies or expression patterns of peripheral immune cells provide a single-cell data resource to the scientific community.
Recent progress in piezoelectric thin films as self-powered devices: material and application
Authors: Song Zhiqiang , Hou Rongxi , Jiang Feng
Published: April 2024

Piezoelectric materials have become a key component in sensors and actuators in many industrial fields, such as energy harvesting devices, self-powered structures, biomedical devices, nondestructive testing, owing to the novel properties including high piezoelectric coefficient and electromechanical coupling factors. Piezoelectric thin films integrated on silicon substrates are widely investigated for their high performance and low manufacturing costs to meet the requirement of sensor networks in internet of things (IoT). The aim of this work is to clarify the application and design structure of various piezoelectric thin films types, synthesis methods, and device processes. Based on latest literature, the process of fabricating thin film sensors is outlined, followed by a concise overview of techniques used in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) processing that can integrate more complex functions to obtain relevant information in surrounding environment. Additionally, by addressing piezoelectric thin films sensors as a cutting-edge technology with the ability to produce self-powered electronic devices, this work delivers incisive conclusions on all aspects of piezoelectric sensor related features. A greater understanding of piezoelectricity is necessary regarding the future development and industry challenges.
Skeletal muscle index based on CT at the 12th thoracic spine level can predict osteoporosis and fracture risk: a propensity score-matched cohort study
Authors: Hu Jia-sen , Jin Ya-ping , Wu Ji-kui , Ni Jian-guang
Published: April 2024

Background

Multiple studies have shown that skeletal muscle index (SMI) measured on abdominal computed tomography (CT) is strongly associated with bone mineral density (BMD) and fracture risk as estimated by the fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX). Although some studies have reported that SMI at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra (T12) measured on chest CT images can be used to diagnose sarcopenia, it is regrettable that no studies have investigated the relationship between SMI at T12 level and BMD or fracture risk. Therefore, we further investigated the relationship between SMI at T12 level and FRAX-estimated BMD and fracture risk in this study.

Methods

A total of 349 subjects were included in this study. After 1∶1 propensity score matching (PSM) on height, weight, hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, body mass index (BMI), age, and gender, 162 subjects were finally included. The SMI, BMD, and FRAX score of the 162 participants were obtained. The correlation between SMI and BMD, as well as SMI and FRAX, was assessed using Spearman rank correlation. Additionally, the effectiveness of each index in predicting osteoporosis was evaluated through the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

Results

The BMD of the lumbar spine (L1-4) demonstrated a strong correlation with SMI (r = 0.416, p < 0.001), while the BMD of the femoral neck (FN) also exhibited a correlation with SMI (r = 0.307, p < 0.001). SMI was significantly correlated with FRAX, both without and with BMD at the FN, for major osteoporotic fractures (r = −0.416, p < 0.001, and r = −0.431, p < 0.001, respectively) and hip fractures (r = −0.357, p < 0.001, and r = −0.311, p < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the SMI of the non-osteoporosis group was significantly higher than that of the osteoporosis group (p < 0.001). SMI effectively predicts osteoporosis, with an area under the curve of 0.834 (95% confidence interval 0.771–0.897, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

SMI based on CT images of the 12th thoracic vertebrae can effectively diagnose osteoporosis and predict fracture risk. Therefore, SMI can make secondary use of chest CT to screen people who are prone to osteoporosis and fracture, and carry out timely medical intervention.
Research hotspots and frontiers of cluster headaches: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Mao Qiangjian , Xu Shiqi , Wang Yuqing , Wu Desheng , Huang Guomin , Li Ziru , Zhang Xiaoming , Chi Zhenhai
Published: April 2024

Background

Extensive research on cluster headaches (CHs) has been conducted worldwide; however, there is currently no bibliometric research on CHs. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the current research hotspots and frontiers of CHs over the past decade.

Methods

Raw data on CHs was obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection database from 2014 to 2023. CiteSpace V6.2 R7 (64 bit) and Microsoft Excel were used to assess the annual publication volume, authors, countries, and references. VOSviewer 1.6.19 software was used to assess the institutions, cited authors, and keywords, and co-occurrence and clustering functions were applied to draw a visual knowledge map.

Results

In the past decade, the overall annual publication volume of articles related to CHs has increased year by year, showing promising development prospects. The total 1909 articles contained six types of literature, among which the proportion of original research articles was the highest (1,270 articles, 66.53%), published in 201 journals. Cephalalgia (439 articles, 23.00%) had the highest publication volume, and the Lancet was the journal with the highest impact factor (IF = 168.9). Furthermore, the United States of America was the country with the most published papers (584 articles, 30.60%), University of London was the research institution with the most published papers (142 articles, 7.44%), and Goodsby, Peter J was found to be the most prolific author (38 articles, 1.99%).

Conclusion

This study may provide some direction for subsequent researcher on CHs. The hotspots and frontiers of future research on CHs are suggested as follows: in basic medicine, more attention should be paid to pathophysiology, especially on increasing research on the pathogenesis mediated by CGRP; in clinical medicine, more attention should be paid to the design of evidence-based medicine methodology, especially the strict design, including double-blind, questionnaire, and follow-up, in randomized controlled trials, using high-quality articles for meta-analyses, and recommending high-level evidence; therapeutic techniques need to be further explored, suggesting the implementation of transcranial magnetic stimulation of the cortex, and stimulation of the sphinopalatine ganglia and occipital nerve to achieve peripheral neuromodulation. Furthermore, chronic migraine and insomnia are inextricably linked to CHs.
RAD51 as an immunohistochemistry-based marker of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor resistance in ovarian cancer
Authors: Kim Yoo-Na , Kim Kyeongmin , Joung Je-Gun , Kim Sang Wun , Kim Sunghoon , Lee Jung-Yun , Park Eunhyang
Published: April 2024

Objective

Effective functional biomarkers that can be readily used in clinical practice to predict poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor (PARPi) sensitivity are lacking. With the widespread adoption of PARPi maintenance therapy in ovarian cancer, particularly in patients with BRCA mutation or HR deficiencies, accurately identifying de novo or acquired resistance to PARPi has become critical in clinical practice. We investigated RAD51 immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a functional biomarker for predicting PARPi sensitivity in ovarian cancer.

Methods

Ovarian cancer patients who had received PARPi and had archival tissue samples prior to PARPi exposure (“pre-PARPi”) and/or after progression on PARPi (“post-PARPi”) were selected. RAD51 IHC expression was semi-quantitatively evaluated using the H-score in geminin (a G2/S phase marker)- and γH2AX (a DNA damage marker)-positive tissues. A RAD51 H-score of 20 was used as the cutoff value.

Results

In total, 72 samples from 56 patients were analyzed. The median RAD51 H-score was 20 (range: 0–90) overall, 10 (0–190) in pre-PARPi samples (n = 34), and 25 (1–170) in post-PARPi samples (n = 19). Among patients with BRCA mutations, RAD51-low patients had better progression-free survival (PFS) after PARPi treatment than RAD51-high patients (P = 0.029). No difference was found in PFS with respect to the genomic scar score (P = 0.930). Analysis of matched pre- and post-PARPi samples collected from 15 patients indicated an increase in the RAD51 H-score upon progression on PARPi, particularly among pre-PARPi low-RAD51-expressing patients.

Conclusion

RAD51 is a potential functional IHC biomarker of de novo and acquired PARPi resistance in BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer and can be used to fine-tune ovarian cancer treatment.
Multiple functions of HMGB1 in cancer
Authors: Lv Guangyao , Yang Menglin , Gai Keke , Jia Qiong , Wang Zhenzhen , Wang Bin , Li Xueying
Published: April 2024

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear DNA-binding protein with a dual role in cancer, acting as an oncogene and a tumor suppressor. This protein regulates nucleosomal structure, DNA damage repair, and genomic stability within the cell, while also playing a role in immune cell functions. This review comprehensively evaluates the biological and clinical significance of HMGB1 in cancer, including its involvement in cell death and survival, its potential as a therapeutic target and cancer biomarker, and as a prosurvival signal for the remaining cells after exposure to cytotoxic anticancer treatments. We highlight the need for a better understanding of the cellular markers and mechanisms involved in the involvement of HMGB1in cancer, and aim to provide a deeper understanding of its role in cancer progression.
Is there a “European Paediatrics”?
Authors: Dornbusch Hans Jürgen , Kurz Ronald , del Torso Stefano , Hadjipanayis Adamos , Tenore Alfred
Published: April 2024

The journey from birth to adulthood is paved with threats to health and wellbeing, rendering this age group with its invaluable future potential particularly vulnerable. Therefore, children and adolescents deserve medical attention of the highest professional level based on solid, well founded training guidelines, the availability of a well-coordinated platform for the continuous acquisition of knowledge, exchange of ideas, and collaboration on research and clinical projects, and comprehensive continuing education. For the European region these crucial specifications are met to varying degrees by three major paediatric organisations: the European Academy of Paediatrics (EAP) with the European Board of Paediatrics (EBP) as the paediatric section of the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS PS), the European Paediatric Association (EPA/UNEPSA) and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians (ECPCP). A major goal of this paper is to call for the closest possible collaboration between these organizations in advocating for the health and rights of European children and adolescents and in effectively fostering the paediatric profession with a strong, unified voice.
Effect of gut hormones on bone metabolism and their possible mechanisms in the treatment of osteoporosis
Authors: Liu Hongyu , Xiao Huimin , Lin Sufen , Zhou Huan , Cheng Yizhao , Xie Baocheng , Xu Daohua
Published: April 2024

Bone is a highly dynamic organ that changes with the daily circadian rhythm. During the day, bone resorption is suppressed due to eating, while it increases at night. This circadian rhythm of the skeleton is regulated by gut hormones. Until now, gut hormones that have been found to affect skeletal homeostasis include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2), glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), and peptide YY (PYY), which exerts its effects by binding to its cognate receptors (GLP-1R, GLP-2R, GIPR, and Y1R). Several studies have shown that GLP-1, GLP-2, and GIP all inhibit bone resorption, while GIP also promotes bone formation. Notably, PYY has a strong bone resorption-promoting effect. In addition, gut microbiota (GM) plays an important role in maintaining bone homeostasis. This review outlines the roles of GLP-1, GLP-2, GIP, and PYY in bone metabolism and discusses the roles of gut hormones and the GM in regulating bone homeostasis and their potential mechanisms.
Tripled likelihood: polypharmacy increases the occurrence of drug therapy problems in hospitalized pediatric patients
Authors: Takele Bereket , Koyra Hailu Chare , Sidamo Temesgen , Lerango Temesgen Leka
Published: April 2024

Background

A drug therapy problem (DTP) is any undesirable event experienced by a patient that accompanies drug therapy, prevents the patient from achieving their desired therapeutic goals, and requires expert judgment to resolve. Pediatric populations are at a higher risk of DTP than adults due to their immature organ systems, including the liver and kidneys, which play crucial roles in drug metabolism and excretion. Most previous studies have focused on only one element of DTP. Therefore, by considering all elements of DTP, we aimed to assess the prevalence of DTP and associated factors among pediatric patients admitted to the Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital.

Methods

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among pediatric patients admitted to Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital from 8 July 2020, to 7 July 2021. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select study participants. Cipolle’s and Strand’s classification method of drug therapy problems was used to identify and categorize DTP. Data were obtained by reviewing the patient’s medical records using a data abstraction checklist, entered into Epi data version 4.6, and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of DTP.

Results

Medical records of 369 pediatric patients were reviewed, and the overall prevalence of DTP was 60.2% (95% CI:55.2%, 65.2%) with a total of 281 identified DTPs. Among them, 164 (74.2%) had only one DTP. Need additional drug therapy was the most common (140 [49.8%]) DTP identified. The number of disease conditions (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI:1.16, 3.92), polypharmacy (AOR = 3.01, 95% CI:1.70, 5.32), and duration of hospital stay (AOR = 1.80, 95% CI:1.04, 3.10) were independent predictors of DTP among admitted pediatric patients.

Conclusion

The prevalence of DTP in pediatric patients in the current setting was high. The number of disease conditions, polypharmacy, and duration of hospital stay were independent predictors of DTP. Enhancements to pharmaceutical care services, optimized dosage practices, improved deprescribing by clinicians, and efficient, comprehensive diagnostic procedures have the potential to significantly reduce specific drug therapy problems in hospitalized pediatrics.
Cold resistance of mammalian hibernators ∼ a matter of ferroptosis?
Authors: Sone Masamitsu , Yamaguchi Yoshifumi
Published: April 2024

Most mammals adapt thermal physiology around 37°C and large deviations from their range, as observed in severe hypothermia and hyperthermia, resulting in organ dysfunction and individual death. A prominent exception is mammalian hibernation. Mammalian hibernators resist the long-term duration of severe low body temperature that is lethal to non-hibernators, including humans and mice. This cold resistance is supported, at least in part, by intrinsic cellular properties, since primary or immortalized cells from several hibernator species can survive longer than those from non-hibernators when cultured at cold temperatures. Recent studies have suggested that cold-induced cell death fulfills the hallmarks of ferroptosis, a type of necrotic cell death that accompanies extensive lipid peroxidation by iron-ion-mediated reactions. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of cold resistance of mammalian hibernators at the cellular and molecular levels to organ and systemic levels and discuss key pathways that confer cold resistance in mammals.
Automatic grading evaluation of winter wheat lodging based on deep learning
Authors: Zang Hecang , Su Xinqi , Wang Yanjing , Li Guoqiang , Zhang Jie , Zheng Guoqing , Hu Weiguo , Shen Hualei
Published: April 2024

Lodging is a crucial factor that limits wheat yield and quality in wheat breeding. Therefore, accurate and timely determination of winter wheat lodging grading is of great practical importance for agricultural insurance companies to assess agricultural losses and good seed selection. However, using artificial fields to investigate the inclination angle and lodging area of winter wheat lodging in actual production is time-consuming, laborious, subjective, and unreliable in measuring results. This study addresses these issues by designing a classification-semantic segmentation multitasking neural network model MLP_U-Net, which can accurately estimate the inclination angle and lodging area of winter wheat lodging. This model can also comprehensively, qualitatively, and quantitatively evaluate the grading of winter wheat lodging. The model is based on U-Net architecture and improves the shift MLP module structure to achieve network refinement and segmentation for complex tasks. The model utilizes a common encoder to enhance its robustness, improve classification accuracy, and strengthen the segmentation network, considering the correlation between lodging degree and lodging area parameters. This study used 82 winter wheat varieties sourced from the regional experiment of national winter wheat in the Huang-Huai-Hai southern area of the water land group at the Henan Modern Agriculture Research and Development Base. The base is located in Xinxiang City, Henan Province. Winter wheat lodging images were collected using the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing platform. Based on these images, winter wheat lodging datasets were created using different time sequences and different UAV flight heights. These datasets aid in segmenting and classifying winter wheat lodging degrees and areas. The results show that MLP_U-Net has demonstrated superior detection performance in a small sample dataset. The accuracies of winter wheat lodging degree and lodging area grading were 96.1% and 92.2%, respectively, when the UAV flight height was 30 m. For a UAV flight height of 50 m, the accuracies of winter wheat lodging degree and lodging area grading were 84.1% and 84.7%, respectively. These findings indicate that MLP_U-Net is highly robust and efficient in accurately completing the winter wheat lodging-grading task. This valuable insight provides technical references for UAV remote sensing of winter wheat disaster severity and the assessment of losses.
Utilizing genomic prediction to boost hybrid performance in a sweet corn breeding program
Authors: Peixoto Marco Antônio , Leach Kristen A. , Jarquin Diego , Flannery Patrick , Zystro Jared , Tracy William F. , Bhering Leonardo , Resende Márcio F. R.
Published: April 2024

Sweet corn breeding programs, like field corn, focus on the development of elite inbred lines to produce commercial hybrids. For this reason, genomic selection models can help the in silico prediction of hybrid crosses from the elite lines, which is hypothesized to improve the test cross scheme, leading to higher genetic gain in a breeding program. This study aimed to explore the potential of implementing genomic selection in a sweet corn breeding program through hybrid prediction in a within-site across-year and across-site framework. A total of 506 hybrids were evaluated in six environments (California, Florida, and Wisconsin, in the years 2020 and 2021). A total of 20 traits from three different groups were measured (plant-, ear-, and flavor-related traits) across the six environments. Eight statistical models were considered for prediction, as the combination of two genomic prediction models (GBLUP and RKHS) with two different kernels (additive and additive + dominance), and in a single- and multi-trait framework. Also, three different cross-validation schemes were tested (CV1, CV0, and CV00). The different models were then compared based on the correlation between the estimated breeding values/total genetic values and phenotypic measurements. Overall, heritabilities and correlations varied among the traits. The models implemented showed good accuracies for trait prediction. The GBLUP implementation outperformed RKHS in all cross-validation schemes and models. Models with additive plus dominance kernels presented a slight improvement over the models with only additive kernels for some of the models examined. In addition, models for within-site across-year and across-site performed better in the CV0 than the CV00 scheme, on average. Hence, GBLUP should be considered as a standard model for sweet corn hybrid prediction. In addition, we found that the implementation of genomic prediction in a sweet corn breeding program presented reliable results, which can improve the testcross stage by identifying the top candidates that will reach advanced field-testing stages.
The application of innovative ecosystems to build resilient communities in response to major public health events
Authors: La Juan Juan , Li Man , Liu Xiaolu
Published: April 2024

In recent years, major public health events have had a significant and far-reaching impact on communities. As a response, there has been an increasing interest in enhancing community resilience through innovative ecosystems that involve diverse stakeholders with varying needs and demands. This study investigates the application of innovative ecosystems to improve community resilience in the face of major public health events by utilizing a sequential game approach to balance the interests of government, community, and residents. Subsequently, a comprehensive questionnaire survey was conducted among key stakeholders to ascertain their objectives, requirements and concerns for the innovation ecosystem based on the analysis results of the game model. The reliability and effectiveness of the proposed research method were verified through the analysis and verification of the sequence game model and questionnaire survey results. Finally, according to our analysis results, we propose countermeasures for promoting innovative ecosystems to improve community resilience. The research results indicate that the successful implementation of innovative ecosystems requires consideration of the different needs of stakeholders such as government officials, community members, and residents. Combining these perspectives can effectively promote such systems while enhancing the community’s resilience to major public health events.
Chinese college students’ mental health during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic: the protective role of family functioning
Authors: Zeng Zihao , Holtmaat Karen , Verdonck-de Leeuw Irma M. , Koole Sander L.
Published: April 2024

Background

Various psychological theories suggest that a supportive family environment protects the mental health of young adults during stressful life events. However, evidence is limited regarding the protective role of family support during a major public health crisis.

Objective

To examine the role of family functioning on mental health among Chinese college students during first stage of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Between January–March 2020, 1,555 college students (44% female, on average 19 years old) from five Chinese universities participated. Participants rated their family functioning on the Family APGAR Index and their mental health on the Psychological Questionnaires for Emergent Events of Public Health, measuring depression, neurasthenia, fear, obsessive-anxiety and hypochondriasis.

Results

Better family functioning was associated with having fewer psychological symptoms. In addition, we identified three mental health profiles related to the severity across the psychological symptoms: Low-level, medium-level and high-level symptom clusters. Latent profile analysis showed that as family function improved, students were, respectively, 16 to 24% more likely to be in the low-level symptom group, compared to being in the medium symptom group or the high-level symptom group.

Conclusion

These results support the notion that family support may act as a psychological buffer for young adults during a large-scale public health crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.