bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing apples with apples: A proposed taxonomy for “Community Health Workers” and other front-line health workers for international comparisons
Authors: Hodgins Stephen , Lehmann Uta , Perry Henry , Leydon Nicholas , Scott Kerry , Agarwal Smisha , Marcus Hannah , Ved Rajani , Olivas Elijah , Ballard Madeleine , Mbewe Dickson , Odera Margaret , Petit Homme Sherlie , Otieno Benard , Wutete Pasipano , Chikumba Angeline , Muyingo Prossy , Kyakuha John , Harcourt Emmanuel , Chowdhury Morseda , Musoke David , Niyoyitungira Thadee , Olaniran Abimbola , Williams John Koku-Awoonor , e Méllo Lívia Milena Barbosa de Deus , dos Santos Romário Correia , Pinto Isabela Cardoso de Matos , Shrestha Ram , Sadruddin Salim , Morrow Melanie , Sarriot Eric , Kok Maryse , Pratap Bhanu
Published: February 2025

This paper proposes a taxonomy for Community Health Workers (CHWs) and others engaged in front-line community health activities, encompassing formally-employed workers extending government primary health care (PHC) service delivery as well as a range of other actors with roles at the nexus of government PHC and communities. The taxonomy is grounded in current definitions from the World Health Organization and the International Labor Organization, and proposes some refinements for future iterations of guidance from these agencies. The designation, “Community Health Worker” is currently used to cover a broad range of roles. Furthermore, there are programs engaging workers or community members in roles closely adjacent to those generally recognized as CHWs that use other designations, not commonly included under the rubric of “CHW”. This potentially confusing range of roles and nomenclature leads at times to over-generalizations, applying insights and principles relevant for one type of worker or community member that are not necessarily relevant for another. It also leads to a failure to consider occupational groups not commonly thought of as CHWs—but engaged in PHC service delivery at the most peripheral level—in community-based-PHC planning and management arrangements. Building on ILO and WHO classifications and standards, a further clarification of terms and a taxonomy is proposed, with the intention of contributing to clearer communication and shared understanding and, ultimately, sounder community health policy, program planning, and implementation; and more substantial progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITN) ownership and utilization patterns among caregivers with children under five years: A community-based cross-sectional study in Battor, North Tongu District, Ghana
Authors: Abu Bonsra Emmanuel , Amankwah Osei Petra , Sekyi Akua Grace , Kyere Gideon Amankwah
Published: February 2025

Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) are essential for malaria prevention, significantly reducing the incidence of malaria, particularly among children under five. However, the utilization of ITNs varies widely due to several factors. This study aimed to assess ITN ownership and utilization patterns among caregivers of children under five years old. A cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a multi-stage sampling to collect quantitative data from 211 caregivers. Data analysis was performed using descriptive and inferential statistics via Stata 17. Of the total respondents (211), 77 (36.5%) own ITNs, while 134 (63.5%) do not own ITNs. Chi-square analysis revealed significant associations between ITN knowledge and factors such as sex (p = 0.025), educational level (p = 0.043), marital status (p < 0.001), religion (p = 0.020), challenges faced in using ITNs (p = 0.012), affordability (p = 0.001), and cultural beliefs (p = 0.003). Binary regression analysis indicated that caregivers facing challenges in using ITNs were 50% less likely to utilize them compared to those without such challenges (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.26–0.96, p = 0.040). Additionally, caregivers who found ITNs inconvenient or hot were 30% less likely to use them compared to those who viewed them as costly (aOR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.43–1.33). To enhance ITN utilization, the Ghana Health Service should tailor interventions to address practical barriers and improve educational outreach, bridging the gap between knowledge and usage.
Stochastic process-based drought monitoring and assessment system: A temporal switched weights approach for accurate and precise drought determination
Authors: Khan Muhammad Asif , Barykin Sergey , Karpov Dmitry , Lukashevich Nikita , Ochilov Akram , Munir Rizwan
Published: February 2025

Drought is a recurring climate phenomenon that naturally occurs in all climate regions and leads to prolonged periods of water scarcity. The primary cause of water shortages is inadequate precipitation, which can be influenced by meteorological factors such as temperature, humidity, and precipitation patterns. Effective drought mitigation policies necessitate the monitoring and prediction of drought. To determine the severity and impacts of droughts accurately and precisely, probabilistic models have been developed. However, erroneous drought detection with probabilistic models is always possible. As a result, a novel system for meteorological, agricultural, and hydrological droughts based on the Stochastic Process (Markov chain (MC)) has been proposed to address this issue. The proposed method incorporates the Multi-Scalar Seasonally Amalgamated Regional Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (MSARSPEI) for timescales 1–48 and employs temporal switched weights. These weights are generated from the Transition Probability Matrix (TPM) of each temporal classification of the drought type in accordance with the MC’s fundamental assumption. The developed system was implemented on nine meteorological stations in Pakistan. By leveraging historical data and information, the system enables the categorization of droughts. The resultant classifications can be incorporated into effective drought monitoring systems, which can help in devising specific policies to alleviate the effects of droughts.
Mapping forest cover change and estimating carbon stock using satellite-derived vegetation indices in Alemsaga forest, Ethiopia
Authors: Tigabu Anbaw , Gessesse Agenagnew A.
Published: February 2025

Deforestation and forest degradation are significant threats, leading to a decline in forest cover change, biomass and carbon storage, a crucial factor in mitigating climate change. Remote sensing techniques using satellite imagery offer a valuable tool for efficiently monitoring forest cover and biomass over different areas. This study aimed to map and quantify the forest cover change, biomass and carbon stored in the Alemsaga forest, Ethiopia. The study employed Landsat satellite images from four different periods (1992, 2003, 2013, and 2022) to track changes in forest cover and construct carbon storage maps for the Alemsaga forest. The findings from this study can be used to develop better forest conservation and management strategies. The study revealed a significant increase in dense forest cover in Alemsaga (35.34%) between 1992 and 2022, now encompassing 48.25% of the total forest area. Notably, satellite-derived vegetation indices (NDVI & DVI) exhibited a strong correlation with ground observations (R2 = 0.80), and statistical analysis confirmed this relation with above-ground carbon levels (R2 = 0.84). This enabled the creation of carbon storage maps, revealing a substantial increase from 159.31 t/ha in 1992 to 323.84 t/ha by 2022. It’s important to acknowledge that while NDVI/DVI proved effective, other factors might influence carbon storage. However, the study clearly shows that satellite imaging has the capacity to map forest cover change, biomass and estimating carbon stock accurately, which is an important first step toward a better understanding of how forests contribute to climate change.
Saturated Transposon Analysis in Yeast as a one-step method to quantify the fitness effects of gene disruptions on a genome-wide scale
Authors: Kingma Enzo , Dolsma Floor , Iñigo de la Cruz Leila , Laan Liedewij
Published: February 2025

Transposon insertion site sequencing (TIS) is a powerful tool that has significantly advanced our knowledge of functional genomics. For example, TIS has been used to identify essential genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, screen for antibiotic resistance genes in Klebsiella pneumoniae and determine the set of genes required for virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While providing valuable insights, these applications of TIS focus on (conditional) gene essentiality and neglect possibly interesting but subtle differences in the importance of genes for fitness. Notably, it has been demonstrated that data obtained from TIS experiments can be used for fitness quantification and the construction of genetic interaction maps, but this potential is only sporadically exploited. Here, we present a method to quantify the fitness of gene disruption mutants using data obtained from a TIS screen developed for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae called SATAY. We show that the mean read count per transposon insertion site provides a metric for fitness that is robust across biological and technical replicate experiments. Importantly, the ability to resolve differences between gene disruption mutants with low fitness depends crucially on the inclusion of insertion sites that are not observed in the sequencing data to estimate the mean. While our method provides reproducible results between replicate SATAY datasets, the obtained fitness distribution differs substantially from those obtained using other techniques. It is currently unclear whether these inconsistencies are due to biological or technical differences between the methods. We end with suggestions for modifications of the SATAY procedure that could improve the resolution of the fitness estimates. Our analysis indicates that increasing the sequencing depth does very little to reduce the uncertainty in the estimates, while replacing the PCR amplification with methods that avoid or reduce the number of amplification cycles will likely be most effective in reducing noise.
The Food Resources and Kitchen Skills intervention: Protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Peña Armando , Dawkins Emily , Adams Mariah , Moser Lyndsi R. , Carter Amy , Rivera Rebecca L. , Reinoso Deanna , Tu Wanzhu , Holden Richard J. , Clark Daniel O.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Individuals with food insecurity are disproportionately burdened by hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes and face greater barriers to self-managing these conditions.

Methods

Food Resources and Kitchen Skills (FoRKS) is an ongoing 2-arm parallel randomized controlled trial (RCT) that will enroll 200 adults (35–75 y) with food insecurity and elevated systolic blood pressure (≥120 mmHg) at a large federally qualified health center (FQHC) network in Central Indiana. Blood pressure is measured using an ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) device. The (FoRKS, N = 100) intervention integrates hypertension self-management education and support (SMES) with a home-delivered ingredient kit and cooking skills program (16 weeks). Enhanced Usual Care (EUC, N = 100) includes usual care services by the FQHC network, SMES classes (separate from FoRKS), and grocery assistance. This paper describes the protocol for this RCT that will: 1) test the efficacy of FoRKS compared to EUC for reducing systolic blood pressure using an intention to treat protocol, 2) identify behavior change levers (e.g., engagement, social support) and their associations with change in food insecurity, diet quality, and systolic blood pressure, 3) examine the maintenance of outcomes, and 4) assess cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions

Establishing that a food insecurity and SMES intervention, compared to usual care services, is feasible in FQHCs and efficacious for improving blood pressure and related outcomes would have important public health implications. Understanding the behavior change levers of FoRKS that are associated with changes in health outcomes, whether these outcomes are maintained, and its cost-effectiveness will inform future efforts to address health disparities.
The dependency structure of international commodity and stock markets after the Russia-Ukraine war
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Liu Shuo , Qin Mimi , Gao Bin
Published: February 2025

In recent years, the international community has witnessed many crisis events, and the Russia-Ukraine war, which broke out on 24th February 2022, has increased international policy uncertainty and impacted the current world commodity and financial markets. Thus, we try to capture how the Russia-Ukraine war has affected the correlation structure of international commodity and stock markets. We study six groups of commodity daily returns and one group of stock daily returns and select the sample from 24th February 2022 to 1st June 2022 as the sample during the Russia-Ukraine war; in addition, we select the sample from 1st December 2019 to 31st December 2020 as the sample during COVID-19 control group, and the sample from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2017 as the non-extreme event control group, to explore the correlation structure of international commodity and stock markets before the war, and to compare and uncover the impact of the uncertain event of the Russia-Ukraine war on the commodity and stock markets. In this paper, the marginal density function of each series is constructed using the ARMA-GARCH-std method, and the R-Vine copula model is built based on the marginal density function to analyze the correlation relationship between each market. From the Tree1 of the Vine copula, it is found that crude oil becomes the core connecting each commodity market and the stock market during the Russia-Ukraine war. The price fluctuations of crude oil may be contagious to agricultural and precious metal markets in the same direction, while the stock market price fluctuations are inversely correlated with commodity markets. Comparison with the selected control group sample reveals that the Russia-Ukraine war increases the correlation between the markets and enhances the possibility of risk transmission. The core of the correlation structure shifts from agricultural commodities and precious metals to crude oil after the Russia-Ukraine war.
The development of Anthropocene Awareness Scale
Authors: Kang Donghun , Choi Moon
Published: February 2025

The political influence of the Anthropocene concept stems from its analytic potential to encompass various disciplines and capture public attention. However, there is a lack of research examining the extent to which the public has adopted the views embodied in the Anthropocene. We developed a scale to measure awareness of the Anthropocene. Based on a thorough review of Anthropocene studies, an initial set of fifteen items was generated to develop the scale. These items were then subjected to an empirical test, using a sample in South Korea (N = 1,668; aged 19 to 90). After a series of reliability and factor analyses, the Anthropocene Awareness Scale was optimized into a unidimensional scale comprising eight items (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.88). Designed to explore individual attitudes, the scale could provide quantitative researchers with an entry point into the Anthropocene discourse and facilitate empirical studies that generate evidence for environmental policies and education in the Anthropocene.
Nutraceutical COMP-4 confers protection against endothelial dysfunction through the eNOS/iNOS-NO-cGMP pathway
Authors: Ferrini Monica G. , Abraham Andrea , Millán Revecca , Graciano Leslie , Eleswarapu Sriram V. , Rajfer Jacob
Published: February 2025

The nutraceutical COMP-4 –consisting of L-citrulline, ginger extract, and herbal components Paullinia cupana and muira puama–has been shown previously to stimulate the production of nitric oxide (NO) in a variety of tissue types. We hypothesized that COMP-4 may have a protective, stimulatory effect on the vascular endothelial cell. Human umbilical arterial endothelial cells were incubated for 24 hours with or without COMP-4 and, to replicate impairment of endothelial function, co-incubated with or without H2O2. NO intracellular content, nitrite formation and cGMP content in culture media, nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and mRNA content, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and PAI-1 expression and activity were measured. COMP-4 increased endothelial cell production of NO and cGMP and the expression of both endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS), in tandem with a reduction in cytokine expression and activity of PAI-1. Co-incubation of COMP-4 with H2O2 reversed detrimental effects of H2O2 on endothelial function, evidenced by improvement in NO availability and abrogation of the pro-inflammatory milieu. These results suggest that COMP-4 exerts a stimulatory effect on endothelial cell eNOS and iNOS to increase NO bioavailability, leading to a reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly the prothrombotic PAI-1.
Synthetic wheat as a new source of flour quality under drought conditions: Associations with solvent retention capacity
Authors: Mokhtari Niloofar , Majidi Mohammad Mahdi , Mirlohi Aghafakhr
Published: February 2025

Synthetic hexaploid lines are proposed as high-potential germplasm for improving bread wheat by introducing new genes (biotic and abiotic stresses) lost during common wheat evolution. A panel of 99 synthetic and common wheat was studied for quality and grain-related traits and drought tolerance under two different moisture conditions (water stress and normal) during two growing seasons. Results indicated different variations for most traits suggesting that the synthetic hexaploid wheat-derived lines (SHW-DL) panel contains valuable genes for drought tolerance improvement of wheat. Drought stress reduced morphological traits and production but increased protein (Pro), rapid mix test (RMT), and solvent retention capacity (SRC) traits. Synthetic wheat lines were superior with higher grain yield, glutenin, damaged starch, available pentosane, overall water holding capacity, and gluten strength (glutenin and gliadin strength) compared to common wheat making them more suitable for bread-baking. The results showed that solvent retention capacity had a strong capacity to differentiate the quality of wheat genotypes. Correlation analysis indicated that genetic improvement for high-yielding varieties can be achieved by producing more damaged starch, higher water absorption, hardness, and lower gluten strength, and zeleny (ZEL). Selection of superior genotypes using univariate and multivariate methods will be discussed.
Cost-effectiveness of Transcendental Meditation (TM) for treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Authors: Groessl Erik J. , Rutledge Thomas R.
Published: February 2025

Objective

A recent trial found that Transcendental Meditation (TM) was an effective non-trauma focused treatment for veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The objective of this analysis was to examine the cost-effectiveness of TM for PTSD based on the trial results.

Methods

Between 2013–2017, 203 veterans with PTSD were randomized to either TM, Prolonged Exposure (PE), or to a PTSD health education (HE) control. Each group received 12 treatment sessions over 12 weeks. Results indicated that TM was non-inferior to PE for improving PTSD outcomes and both TM and PE were superior to HE, as hypothesized. The proportion of participants with a clinically significant improvement on the CAPS (≥10 point reduction) were TM = 61%, PE = 42%, and HE = 32%. A Markov model was developed to estimate the cost-effectiveness of TM, using the trial effectiveness data. Intervention costs, health care costs, and health utility values associated with response and non-response were derived from scientific literature. Costs were viewed from an organizational perspective and a 5-year time horizon (20 3-month cycles). One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

TM was the dominant treatment strategy over both PE and HE in the cost-effectiveness analysis. TM cost an estimated $1504/12 sessions while PE and HE cost $2,822 and $492, respectively. The higher health care costs associated with non-response to therapy offset intervention cost differences. Findings were robust to variability.

Conclusion

In summary, using data from a recent RCT, TM was found to both improve health outcomes and reduce total costs in this analysis. Based on these results, further effectiveness trials and wider adoption of TM should be considered.
High-frequency PCR-testing as a powerful approach for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in the field of critical infrastructure: A longitudinal, retrospective study in a German tertiary care hospital
Authors: Fischer Bastian , Farr Martin , Gummert Jan , Knabbe Cornelius , Vollmer Tanja
Published: February 2025

A high number of SARS-CoV-2 infections are mild, often even asymptomatic. Because of high specificity and sensitivity, RT-PCR is considered the gold-standard for COVID-19 testing. The technology played a key role in detecting sources of infection at an early stage and therefore preventing larger outbreaks. This was especially important in case of critical infrastructure, such as hospitals. Until now, comprehensive studies concerning the impact of high-frequency PCR-testing in German tertiary care hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic are lacking. We therefore analyzed about 285.000 oral swab probes of 3.421 healthcare-workers concerning SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity between November 2020 and February 2023. Our data show that frequent PCR-testing is a useful tool concerning SARS-CoV-2 surveillance. Due to the longitudinal character of the study, we were able to observe SARS-CoV-2 variant-specific differences. For example, the omicron-variant led to high reinfection-rates as well as lower Ct-values. Nevertheless, reinfection rates in our hospital are much lower compared to other analyzed healthcare-worker cohorts described in the literature, which is again attributable to the frequent testing-regime implemented in the early phase of the pandemic. Our data further reveal a longer infection-duration in elderly compared to younger individuals.
Acceptability and feasibility of pre-exposure prophylaxis for bacterial STIs: a systematic review
Authors: Carroll Julie-Anne , Mullens Amy B. , Warzywoda Sarah , Baker Philip R.A. , Stafford Meika , McMillan Faye , Manton Jacintha , Demant Daniel
Published: February 2025

Background

A recent resurgence of bacterial sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is placing a major burden on high-risk populations, physicians, and the healthcare system. Treatment in the form of antibiotic pre-exposure prophylaxis (STI PrEP) is a potential solution. However, little is known about the acceptability and feasibility of this approach in high-risk populations.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was developed and executed in October 2024 across six databases adhering to PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies were all conducted in high-income countries, used various methods, and all focussed on sexual minority men. Findings consistently identified moderate to high levels of acceptability among GBMSM (54.3% - 67.5%). Factors such as engagement in perceived ‘high risk’ sexual encounters, and past diagnosis of STIs strengthened acceptability, while others (e.g., antimicrobial resistance concerns and stigma) act as barriers. Only one study included the perspectives of healthcare workers, indicating a moderate willingness to prescribe, which would increase under governing-body endorsement.

Discussion

Overall, while there is some promise of STI PrEP acceptability among GBMSM, vast gaps in knowledge remain. Knowledge transfer and feasibility and, hence, the sustainability and capacity needed for the success of STI PrEP is yet to be examined and understood. However, for STI PrEP to be successfully adopted, it is essential not only to assess its acceptability and feasibility but also to focus on knowledge transfer. Knowledge transfer is a dynamic and iterative process, involving the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application of knowledge in an ethically sound manner. This process supports the improvement of health outcomes, strengthens healthcare systems, and ensures that healthcare interventions, such as STI PrEP, are effectively understood and implemented by both healthcare providers and at-risk populations. Similarly, the perspectives of populations beyond GBMSM have been omitted, and there is little understanding of the impact of their differing socio-cultural contexts around sex-related behaviour and Western pharmaceutical healthcare interventions on their acceptance and uptake.

Conclusion

Further research into acceptability, feasibility and knowledge transfer among diverse high-risk groups, healthcare professionals, and policymakers is necessary to create a strong foundation for implementing STI PrEP.
Drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis: A disproportionality analysis based on the FAERS database
Authors: Ye Wangyu , Ding Yuan , Li Meng , Tian Zhihua , Wang Shaoli , Liu Zhen
Published: February 2025

Background

Drug-induced autoimmune-like hepatitis (DI-ALH) is a potentially life-threatening condition that can lead to acute liver failure and necessitate liver transplantation. While the association between certain drugs and DI-ALH has been documented, a comprehensive analysis of drug-related signals in a large, real-world pharmacovigilance database is lacking. This study aimed to systematically identify drugs linked to DI-ALH by analyzing adverse event reports from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.

Methods

We searched the FAERS database for the term "autoimmune hepatitis" and extracted DI-ALH reports from the first quarter of 2004 to the first quarter of 2024. Positive signal drugs were identified using Proportional Reporting Ratio (PRR), Reporting Odds Ratio (ROR), Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN), and Empirical Bayesian Geometric Mean (EBGM). To confirm a significant drug-adverse event association, each method had to meet predefined thresholds: for PRR and ROR, values were considered significant if the lower 95% confidence interval (CI) was greater than 1 and at least three reports were identified; for BCPNN, an Information Component (IC025) greater than 0 indicated a signal; for EBGM, a value greater than 2 for the lower 95% confidence interval (EBGM05) was used to denote a positive signal.

Results

A total of 5,723 DI-ALH reports were extracted from the FAERS database. Disproportionality analysis identified 50 drugs with strong associations to DI-ALH, with biologics, statins, antibiotics, and antiviral drugs representing the most common categories. Among these, nitrofurantoin (ROR 94.79, CI 78.53–114.41), minocycline (ROR 77.82, CI 65.09–93.05), and nivolumab (ROR 47.12, CI 15.06–147.39) exhibited the strongest signals. Additionally, several previously unreported drugs, including mesalazine, aldesleukin, onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi, and nefazodone, were identified as having strong associations with DI-ALH. These findings were consistent across all four signal detection methods, further validating the robustness of the associations.

Conclusion

This study provides a comprehensive assessment of drugs associated with DI-ALH through a rigorous analysis of the FAERS database using multiple signal detection methods. By identifying both well-known and previously underreported drugs, this study contributes to a more complete understanding of drug-induced liver injury. The findings have important implications for pharmacovigilance strategies and clinical risk assessment. However, limitations inherent in the FAERS database, such as underreporting and the potential for reporting bias, should be considered. Further clinical validation is warranted to confirm these associations.
Efficacy of probiotic supplements in the treatment of sarcopenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Yi , Lei Ping
Published: February 2025

Although some studies have confirmed the efficacy of probiotics in the treatment of sarcopenia, the intervention of sarcopenia is a comprehensive consideration of many factors, and the efficacy of probiotics is still controversial. Therefore, this study systematically evaluated the efficacy of probiotics in the intervention of sarcopenia via high—quality meta—analysis, providing a basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia. Randomized controlled trials related to probiotics in the treatment of sarcopenia were searched in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science. The search time was from inception to 2024-07-17. Two investigators independently screened the articles, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0 software. A total of 22 eligible studies were included. The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference between probiotics and placebo in improving muscle mass and Lean body mass in sarcopenia patients; MD: 0.66, 95%CI: - 0.01–1.33; Z = 1.93, P > 0.05; MD: - 0.13, 95%CI: -0.81–0.55; Z = 0.38, P = 0.71 > 0.05. However, probiotics were found to significantly improve overall muscle strength compared with the placebo group. MD: 2.99, 95%CI: 2.14–3.85; Z = 6.86, P < 0.001. Probiotics can significantly improve global muscle strength in patients with sarcopenia. It is suggested that probiotics have certain clinical value in the clinical treatment of sarcopenia, but the results may be limited by the number and quality of included studies. The above conclusions need to be verified by more high-quality studies.
Machine learning-based anomaly detection and prediction in commercial aircraft using autonomous surveillance data
Authors: Xia Tian , Zhou Lanju , Ahmad Khalil
Published: February 2025

Regarding the transportation of people, commodities, and other items, aeroplanes are an essential need for society. Despite the generally low danger associated with various modes of transportation, some accidents may occur. The creation of a machine learning model employing data from autonomous-reliant surveillance transmissions is essential for the detection and prediction of commercial aircraft accidents. This research included the development of abnormal categorisation models, assessment of data recognition quality, and detection of anomalies. The research methodology consisted of the following steps: formulation of the problem, selection of data and labelling, construction of the model for prediction, installation, and testing. The data tagging technique was based on the requirements set by the Global Aviation Organisation for business jet-engine aircraft, which expert business pilots then validated. The 93% precision demonstrated an excellent match for the most effective prediction model, linear dipole testing. Furthermore, the "good fit" of the model was verified by its achieved area-under-the-curve ratios of 0.97 for abnormal identification and 0.96 for daily detection.
Diet quality of Chilean schoolchildren: How is it linked to adherence to dietary guidelines?
Authors: Pinheiro Fernandes Anna Christina , Araneda Flores Jacqueline , Quintiliano Scarpelli Dourado Daiana , Pizarro Quevedo Tito , Marques de Oliveira Maria Rita
Published: February 2025

Introduction

In Chile, the prevalence of overweight among schoolchildren over the age of 5 is approximately 50%, one of the highest in the Americas region. This is largely influenced by the presence of inadequate food environments, characterized by limited access to healthy foods and a high availability of highly processed foods (HPF). This study analyzes food consumption in Chilean schoolchildren and the association of this with the Chilean Dietary Guidelines Based on Foods (DGBF) and the HPF consumption.

Material and methods

The sample (1,094 schoolchildren) was obtained from the baseline of the FONDEF IT18I0016 project, in Santiago-Chile. Anthropometry and socioeconomic data were measured. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated semi-quantitative frequency survey featuring images of food groups aligned with DGBF, as well as HPF. All data were collected by trained professional nutritionists. Associations between dependent and independent variables, and potential confounding factors were calculated using logistic regression models with stepwise backward/forward. A p < 0.05 was accepted as significant, using Stata 16.0.

Results

Most of the students (54.1%) were with malnutrition by excess and 20.0% exhibited abdominal obesity. Twenty percent of the students met the recommended intake for DGBF (fruits, vegetables, fish, milk and dairy products, legumes, water) and less than 5% did not consume any HPF. Consuming some sub-groups of HPF in moderate quantities (either no consumption or occasional consumption) increases the likelihood of meeting DGBF: candies and sweets (OR: 0.72; p = 0.04), pies with or without filling (OR: 0.63; p = 0.01), and salted snacks (OR: 0.67; p = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our results contribute to reaffirm the need to enhance healthy food consumption among schoolchildren and to discourage the intake of HPF, particularly focusing on specific sub-groups of HPF that may increase the risk of displacing the consumption of food groups recommended by the DGBF.
SCO6564, a novel 3-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase III, contributes in fatty acid synthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Ma Jian-Rong , Lin Jia-Ying , Zhang Yuan-Yin , Chen Yun , Zhang Wen-Bing , Ni Xian-Pu , Yu Yong-Hong
Published: February 2025

The genus Streptomyces comprises gram-positive bacteria that produce large numbers of secondary metabolites, which have promising commercial applications and deserve extensive study. Most bacteria synthesize fatty acids using a type II fatty acid synthase, with each step catalyzed by a discrete protein. Fatty acid synthesis has been intensively studied in the model strain Streptomyces coelicolor, in which 3-ketoacyl-acyl carrier protein synthase III (KAS III, FabH) is essential for growth and fatty acid biosynthesis. In this study, the FabH homolog SCO6564 (named FabH2) was identified in the S. coelicolor genome by BLAST analysis. The expression of fabH2 restored the growth of Ralstonia solanacearum fabH mutant and made the mutant produce small amounts of branched-chain fatty acids. FabH2 could condense various substrates, including straight-chain and branched-chain acyl-CoAs, with malonyl-acyl carrier protein to initiate fatty acid synthesis in in vitro assays. The fabH2 deletion did not cause significant changes in the growth or fatty acid composition of S. coelicolor, indicating that fabH2 is nonessential for growth or fatty acid synthesis. However, fabH2 overexpression reduced the blue-pigmented actinorhodin production. Phylogenetic analysis of KAS III from different bacteria revealed that FabH2 belongs to a novel group of FabH-type, which is ubiquitous in Streptomyces spp.
Navigating the medical journey: Insights into medical students’ psychological wellbeing, coping, and personality
Authors: Hawsawi Aisha Ali , Nixon Neil , Nixon Elena
Published: February 2025

Background and aims

In recent years, increased awareness of the psychological wellbeing of healthcare professionals and students has become a pressing public health issue affecting care delivery. Medical students undergo rigorous training programs that can affect their psychological wellbeing. Despite increased awareness of mental health issues among medical students, research often focuses on negative aspects, overlooking potential positive contributors to wellbeing. This study aims to explore both negative and positive factors influencing medical students’ psychological wellbeing, considering coping strategies and personality traits to inform targeted support measures for diverse student needs.

Methods

A mixed-methods approach was employed to investigate medical students’ psychological wellbeing, coping strategies, and personality traits. Quantitative data was gathered via self-report questionnaires and analysed using regression models. Additionally, qualitative insights were obtained from semi-structured interviews and analysed thematically to capture students’ perceptions and experiences.

Results

The analysis revealed moderate to high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among medical students, along with decreased life satisfaction. Regression analysis showed that problem-focused coping positively impacted medical students’ psychological wellbeing, whereas emotion-focused and avoidance coping showed less favourable effects. Notably, problem-focused coping partially mediated the relationship between stress and depression. Furthermore, personality traits, particularly agreeableness and conscientiousness, played a pivotal role in shaping medical students’ coping strategies and mental health outcomes. Based on thematic analysis, codes gave rise to three overarching themes and corresponding subthemes.

Conclusions

The study underscores the significance of addressing both positive and negative factors impacting medical students’ wellbeing and highlights the need for tailored support considering individual personality traits that influence coping strategies and mental health. It also identifies challenges within medical education, emphasising the necessity for stress management programs, mental health support, and curricula promoting problem-solving skills. Prioritising medical students’ wellbeing may not only foster good mental health among future professionals but may also enhance future healthcare quality.
Cuproptosis genes in predicting the occurrence of allergic rhinitis and pharmacological treatment
Authors: Yi Ting
Published: February 2025

Background

While drug therapy and allergen immunotherapy are useful for alleviating symptoms of seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR), existing therapeutic options remain limited. Cuproptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death, and its role in allergic rhinitis has not yet been explored. Researching the interaction between cuproptosis and allergic rhinitis will likely pave the way for future treatment of this disease.

Methods

A microarray dataset of AR patients and normal controls (GSE43523) were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database for differential gene analysis. Cuproptosis related genes were extracted from the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) to form the AR/cuprotosis-gene set and analyzed by the GO and KEGG databases. Intersection analysis further defined the AR signature genes (AR-sg). Consensus cluster analyses were used to define the AR/cuprotosis-genes into subsets. Finally, AR signature genes were used as targets for drug prediction and molecular docking to identify candidate drugs that may affect SAR.

Results

Four AR signature genes (MRPS30, CLPX, MRPL13, and MRPL53) were selected by the MCC, EPC, BottleNeck, and Closeness algorithms. Correlation analysis of the AR signature genes and immune genes showed strong interactions; xCell analysis identified multiple immune cell types and supported these cells’ importance in the AR pathogenesis. Finally, drug target analysis suggests that 1,5-isoquinolinediol and gefitinib have the potential to become future AR treatments.

Conclusion

Our study analyzed allergic rhinitis and cuproptosis related genes by the bioinformatics approach and predicted 1,5-isoquinolinediol and gefitinib as potentially useful drugs for treating AR patients in the future.
Acupuncture as an independent or adjuvant therapy to standard management for menopausal insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Xiaoni , Liu Chengyong , Qin Shan , Chen Chaoming , Wang Xiaoqiu , Jiang Yuanyuan , Wu Wenzhong
Published: February 2025

Objective

This systematic review aimed to clarify if acupuncture is more effective for menopausal insomnia compared with sham acupuncture, standard care (sedative hypnotics and/or MHT) or waitlist control.

Methods

Seven literature databases were searched on April 30, 2024, to identify RCTs assessing the effectiveness of acupuncture. The methodological quality was assessed by the Cochrane Collaboration, and meta-analyses were conducted to calculate comparative effects using Rev Man software.

Results

28 RCTs were analyzed. Six sham acupuncture-controlled RCTs were notable because of their high quality, and they showed that acupuncture significantly lowered PSQI scores, increased TST, sleep efficiency, and reduced WASO. The effect of acupuncture was maintained at a 4-week follow-up. Sixteen RCTs compared acupuncture with standard care, which showed acupuncture significantly reduced PSQI scores, KI scores, HAMD and HAMA scores. However, the subgroup analysis showed that there was no obviously difference between acupuncture and western medication in the treatment duration >8 weeks. Five RCTs assessed acupuncture combined with standard care and showed a favorable reduction in the PSQI score than standard care. One RCT showed that acupuncture significantly reduced PSQI and KI scores than a waitlist control. The GRADE assessment demonstrated that the level of evidence was very low to moderate, probably for the poor methodological quality and substantial heterogeneity among studies.

Conclusion

The results showed that acupuncture may play a positive role in patients with menopausal insomnia.
Perinatal intimate partner violence and breastfeeding practices: A systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Azene Zelalem Nigussie , MacPhail Catherine , Smithers Lisa Gaye
Published: February 2025

Background

Intimate partner violence increases the risk of detrimental health, behaviors and psychological issues in mothers, affecting infant nutrition and development. However, the potential effects of maternal exposure to intimate partner violence on breastfeeding practices are understudied, and the results of individual studies are inconsistent and conflicting. The aims of this systematic review and meta-analysis are therefore to 1) estimate the prevalence of perinatal intimate partner violence and, 2) examine the relationship between perinatal intimate partner violence and breastfeeding outcomes.

Methods and analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis will investigate the association between perinatal intimate partner violence and breastfeeding outcomes, including early initiation within 1 hour after giving birth, exclusive breastfeeding under six months, and continued breastfeeding at two years or beyond. Comprehensive searches will be conducted in PsycInfo, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline, Cochrane, JBI EBP, CINAHL, Informit, and PubMed electronic databases. Data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Statistical analysis will be conducted using STATA/SE version 17, employing random-effects models to calculate pooled effect sizes and assess heterogeneity with I2 and Chi-square tests. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression will explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Discussion and conclusion

Evidence suggests that intimate partner violence is linked to poor breastfeeding outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis will update, compile, and critically review the evidence of the role of intimate partner violence on breastfeeding outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis will also inform effective strategies and interventions to support breastfeeding among IPV-affected women, thereby enhancing maternal and child health.

Ethics and dissemination

As this review and meta-analysis involves secondary analysis of existing data, ethical approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and scientific conferences, aiming to inform strategies to support breastfeeding among women affected by intimate partner violence.

Study registration

This protocol is registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), registration number CRD42024555048.
On the interaction between implicit statistical learning and the alternation advantage: Evidence from manual and oculomotor serial reaction time tasks
Authors: Compostella Arianna , Tagliani Marta , Vender Maria , Delfitto Denis
Published: February 2025

In this study, we examine how implicit statistical learning (ISL) interacts with the cognitive bias of the alternation advantage in serial reaction time (SRT) tasks. Our aim was to disentangle perceptual from motor aspects of learning, as well as to shed light on the cognitive sources of this alternation effect. We developed a manual (Study 1) and an oculomotor (Study 2) two-choice SRT task, with visual stimuli following the regularities of two binary artificial grammars (Fibonacci and its modification Skip). While these grammars share some deterministic transitional regularities, they differ in their probabilistic transitional regularities and distributional properties. The pattern of manual RTs in Study 1 provide evidence for ISL, showing that subjects learned the deterministic and probabilistic transitions in the two grammars. We also found a bias toward alternation (vs. repetition) in correspondence to non-deterministic points, regardless of their statistical properties in the grammars. Study 2 provides further evidence for both ISL and the alternation advantage, in terms of shorter manual RTs and higher accuracy rates of anticipatory eye movements. Saccadic responses preceding stimulus onset allow us to argue for the perceptual nature of ISL: participants detected regularities in the string by forming S-S associations based on the sequence of the perceived stimuli. Moreover, we propose that shifts in visuospatial attention preceding oculomotor programming play a role in the occurrence of the alternation advantage, and that such an effect is driven by the spatial location of the stimulus. These findings are also discussed with respect to the presence of two (possibly interacting) parsing strategies: statistical generalizations on the string vs. local hierarchical reconstruction.