bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence of Adenomas, AAs, and CRCs in Colonoscopy Screening Among Average-Risk Individuals in China
Authors: Gong Yan , Zheng Yansong , Wu Rilige , Liu Miao , Li Hong , Zeng Qiang 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: Screening colonoscopy has historically been recommended starting at the age of 50. However, the recommended age for beginning screening has recently been reduced to 45 independent of sex. However, studies on screening colonoscopies of average-risk individuals in China are sparse. This study aimed to determine and compare the prevalence of adenomas, advanced adenomas (AAs), and colorectal cancers (CRCs) and the number of individuals needing screening in an average-risk Chinese population of different ages and sexes.Methods: A total of 53,152 individuals undergoing colonoscopy were included from January 2013 to December 2019. We analysed and compared the prevalence of adenomas, AAs, and CRCs and the number of individuals needing screening in different age groups of men and women.Results: The average age of males was 48.80 years (SD, 8.47 years), that of females was 50.00 years (SD, 9.00 years), and the sex ratio was 66.28% (n=35,226) vs. 33.72% (n=17,926). The prevalence of adenomas, AAs, serrated adenomas and CRCs was 14.51% ([95% CI 14.21–14.81], n=7713), 3.04% ([95% CI 2.90–3.19], n=1617), 1.23% ([95% CI 1.01–1.32], n=653) and 0.59% ([95% CI 0.52–0.65], n=313), respectively. Male sex was significantly associated with a high prevalence of adenomas (17.14% [95% CI 16.74–17.53] vs 9.36% [95% CI 8.94–9.79], P<0.001), AAs (3.67% [95% CI 3.47–3.87] vs 1.81% [95% CI 1.61–2.00], P<0.001) and serrated adenomas (1.56% [95% CI 1.43–1.69] vs. 0.59% [95% CI 0.47–0.70], P<0.001). The prevalence of AAs in 45- to 49-year-old individuals was 3.17% (95% CI 2.80–3.55) in men and 1.49% (95% CI 1.12–1.86) in women. The number of men needing screening(NNS) was 31.55 (95% CI 28.17–35.71), while the number of women was 67.11 (95% CI 53.76–89.29). The prevalence and number of patients needing screening for AAs in men aged 45–49 years were close to those in women aged 65–69 years (31.55 [95% CI, 28.17–35.71] vs. 29.07 [95% CI, 21.05–46.73]).Conclusions: The prevalence of adenomas, AAs, and serrated adenomas increased with age. Males had a higher prevalence rate than females. The prevalence and NNS of AAs in 45- to 49-year-old men were close to those in 65- to 69-year-old women.
Tribo-corrosion Behaviour of Bare and Nano-coated Foils Used on High-speed Air Foil Bearings
Authors: Khoele Khotso , Onoyivwe Monday Ama , Suprakas Ray , Popoola Ambimbola Patricia , Desai David , Delport David Jacobus 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Irrespective of applying lubricants between high-speed machinery’s shafts and Air-foil bearings (AFBs), wear and friction remain troublesome. Hence, the present study sought novel bare foil and equivalent nanocomposites to form a coating system that could mitigatly lower frictional wear between high-speed machinery’s shafts and Air-foil bearings (AFBs). Bare and coated foils were supplied on rectengular dimensions of 15 × 15 × 5mm3. Mechanical properties were characterized by Instron 3384 testing machine. Universal Tribometer s/n : RTEC2441, USA was utilized for tribological measurements at room temperature. Surface morphologies were examined by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Higher hardness and young modulus values were recorded from coated foils. On the other hand, specific wear rates were relatively low from coated foils. Furthermore, abrasive wear index was higher from the F2 coated foil. Friction coeffients were also lower from the coated foils under all engaged tribological conditions. Highly ruptured SEM morphologies were noticed from the bare foil. Nonetheless, mild and negligible aggressions were discovered from the surfaces of nano-coated foils.
The Demographic Characteristics Affecting Fear of Falling Avoidance Behaviors in Older Adults
Authors: Jamaati Sohail , Bakhshi Enayatollah , Haghgoo Hojjat A. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Purpose: Not only falling but also fear of falling deeply affects people's social participation and quality of life. We aimed to investigate the relationship between demographic characteristics and the fear of falling and consequently the life habits and satisfaction in elderly people.Methods: In a cross-sectional study, a total of 203 people aged over 60 years were recruited in Tehran, and assessed using the Fear of Falling Avoidance Behaviors Questionnaire, Falls Efficacy Scale (FES-1), and Life Habits tests (Life-H). Data were used to measure the prevalence of fear of falling and its correlation with life habits.Results:Correlation coefficient of total score of the questionnaire was directly correlated with Fall efficacy scale (p <0.001, r = 0.94), and inversely correlated with Activity (p = 0.004, r = -0.51), and Satisfaction levels (p = 0 (003, r = -0.53) of Life-Habits questionnaire.There were significant correlations between age and FFABQ scores (r=28%, P<0.001), educational level (p<0.000), and also significant relation between gender and fear of falling (p=0.006). The chi-square test showed a significant relationship between the history of falling with fear of falling (p<0.001).Conclusion: fear of falling severely affects life habits and decreases Iranian older people's social activity and participation. It is strongly affected by demographic characteristics such as gender, age, and education.Trial registration number: IR.USWR.REC.1398.093Date of registration: 4th August 2019
Rural-Urban Migration, Childbearing Decision-Making, Fertility and Contraceptive Perspectives of Street Adolescents and Youth in Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Bwambale Mulekya Francis , Moyer Cheryl A , Bukuluki Paul , Borne Bart van den 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
This paper aimed at describing childbearing decision-making, fertility and contraceptive intentions and associated social demographic factors among disadvantaged street adolescents and youth in Kampala, Uganda while considering rural-urban migration aspects as an explanatory factor.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey of 513 adolescents and youth aged 12–24 years self-identifying as street adolescents and youth were interviewed with a structured questionnaire in 2019. Street adolescents and youth who migrated from other rural districts to Kampala were compared with those from the city. Street adolescents and youth who migrated from other rural districts to Kampala were classified as migrants while those without the rural experience were considered non-migrants. Logistic regression was applied to assess associations between independent factors and personal childbearing decision-making, fertility intentions and contraceptive intentions.
Results
Overall, 80.31% of the street adolescents and youth had a rural-urban migration experience. Fifty six percent (56.32%) of the street adolescents and youth made personal childbearing decisions, 94.15% expressed intentions to have children in the future and 42.88% expressed intentions to use contraceptives in the future. Intentions to use contraceptives were significantly higher among males (58.75%) than females (20%). Contraceptive intentions were positively associated with self-perceived permanent residential status (aOR = 10.26, 2.70-39.08), more intra-urban mobility (aOR = 4.99, 95%CI 1.50-16.59) and intentions to migrate to other towns within the country (aOR = 5.33,95%CI 1.59–17.80). Regarding migration aspects, street adolescents and youth who had cyclic movements between the city and district of origin were less likely to make personal childbearing decisions compared to those who never had repeat migration (aOR = 0.23, 95%CI 0.05–0.94). We found no significant association between the social demographic characteristics and fertility intentions.
Conclusions
Street adolescents and youth with a rural-urban migration experience have less control over personal childbearing decision-making and contraceptive intentions than the non-cyclic migrant counterparts. Factors that influence personal childbearing decision-making and contraceptive intentions among street adolescents and young people in Kampala city operate mainly at the interpersonal and local level, with migration and mobility patterns playing a central role in both perspectives. Programmes and services to prevent promote contraceptives and contraceptive use particularly among the vulnerable street adolescents and youth should take into consideration migration patterns of the street children.
A local tumor microenvironment acquired super-enhancer induces an oncogenic driver for efficient growth under oxidative conditions in colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Royce , Xu Jia , Martin Tiphaine , Ozturk Sait , Zachem Alexis , He John , Bansal Ankita , Trotta Andrew , Giotti Bruno , Gryder Berkley , Yao Shen , WU Xuewei , Carcamo Saul , Bosch Kaitlyn , Hopkins Benjamin , Tsankov Alexander , Steinhagen Randolph , Jones Drew , Asara John , Chipuk Jerry , Brody Rachel , Itzkowitz Steven , Chio Christine , Hasson Dan , Bernstein Emily , Parsons Ramon 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Tumors exhibit widespread enhancer landscape reprogramming compared to normal tissue. The etiology is believed to be largely cell-intrinsic in non-hormonal cancers, attributed to such genomic alterations as focal amplification of non-coding regions, aberrant activation of transcription factors, and non-coding mutations creating de novo transcription factor binding sites. Here, using freshly resected primary CRC tumors and patient-matched adjacent normal colon epithelia, we find divergent epigenetic landscapes between primary CRC tumors and CRC cell lines. We identify a unique super-enhancer signature largely absent in cell culture. Intriguingly, this phenomenon extends to highly recurrent aberrant super-enhancers gained in CRC over patient-matched normal epithelium suggesting novel insight into the etiology of enhancer reprogramming in CRC and its downstream relevance to tumor biology. We find one such super-enhancer activated in epithelial cancer cells due to surrounding inflammation in the tumor microenvironment. We restore this super-enhancer and its expressed gene, PDZK1IP1, following treatment with cytokines or xenotransplantation into nude mice, thus demonstrating its etiology via local tumor microenvironment acquisition. Building on its known role in glucose uptake via SGLT receptors, we demonstrate mechanistically that PDZK1IP1 enhances the reductive capacity CRC cancer cells via the pentose phosphate pathway using polar metabolomic profiling. We show this activation enables efficient growth under oxidative conditions both in vitro and in vivo, challenging the previous notion that PDZK1IP1 acts as a tumor suppressor in CRC. Collectively, these observations highlight the biologic significance of epigenomic profiling on patient-matched primary specimens and identify this microenvironment-acquired super-enhancer as an oncogenic driver in the setting of the inflamed tumor.
Genetic and climatic factors in the dispersal of Anatomically Modern Humans Out of Africa
Authors: Tobler Raymond , Souilmi Yassine , Huber Christian , Bean Nigel , Turney Chris , Cooper Alan , Grey Shane 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
The evolutionarily recent dispersal of Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) out of Africa and across Eurasia provides an opportunity to study rapid genetic adaptation to multiple new environments. Genomic analyses of modern human populations have detected limited signals of strong selection such as hard sweeps, but genetic admixture between populations is capable of obscuring these patterns and is well known in recent human history, such as during the Bronze Age4. Here we show that ancient human genomic datasets contain multiple genetic signatures of strong selection including 57 hard sweeps, many with strong associations with cold adaptation. Similar genetic signatures of adaptation are also observed in adaptively-introgressed archaic hominin loci, as well as modern Arctic human groups. Consistent targets include the regulation of fat storage, skin physiology, cilia function and neural development; with multiple associations to modern western diseases. The spatiotemporal patterns of the hard sweeps allow reconstruction of early AMH population dispersals, and reveal a prolonged period of genetic adaptation (~80-50,000 years) following their initial out of Africa movement, before a rapid spread across Eurasia reaching as far as Australia.
CFTR mRNAs with nonsense codons are degraded by the SMG6-mediated endonucleolytic pathway
Authors: Sanderlin Edward , Keenan Melissa , Mense Martin , Revenko Alexey , Monia Brett , Guo Shuling , Huang Lulu 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Cystic fibrosis is caused by loss of function mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene resulting in severe lung disease. Nearly 10% of cystic fibrosis patients have at least one CFTR allele with a nonsense mutation that generates a nonsense codon in the mRNA. Nonsense mutations can result in significant reduction of gene expression partially due to rapid mRNA degradation through the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway. It has not been thoroughly investigated which branch of the NMD pathway governs the decay of CFTR mRNAs containing nonsense codons. Here we utilized antisense oligonucleotides targeting NMD factors to evaluate the regulation of nonsense codon-containing CFTR mRNAs by the NMD pathway. Interestingly, we found that CFTR mRNAs with G542X, R1162X, and W1282X nonsense codons require UPF2, UPF3, and exon junction complex proteins for NMD, whereas CFTR mRNAs with the Y122X nonsense codon do not. Furthermore, we demonstrated that all evaluated CFTR mRNAs harboring nonsense codons were degraded by the SMG6-mediated endonucleolytic pathway rather than the SMG5/SMG7-mediated exonucleolytic pathway. Finally, we found that stabilization of CFTR mRNAs by NMD inhibition alone improved functional W1282X protein production, and improved the efficiency of aminoglycoside translational readthrough of CFTR-Y122X, -G542X, and -R1162X mRNAs.
Assessing the utility of virtual OSCE sessions as an educational tool: a national pilot study
Authors: Grover Sarika , Pandya Maharsh , Ranasinghe Chavini , Ramji Saajan P. , Bola Harroop , Raj Siddarth 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
BackgroundObjective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) are a common form of assessment used across medical schools in the UK to assess clinical competence and practical skills and are traditionally held in an in-person format. In the past, medical students have often prepared for such exams through in-person peer-assisted learning (PAL), however, due to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, many in-person teaching sessions transitioned to online-based formats. There is currently a paucity of research on the utility of virtual PAL OSCE sessions and thus, we carried out a national pilot study to determine the effectiveness of virtual OSCE teaching via feedback from participants and examiners. MethodsA total of 85 students attended from 19 UK-based medical schools with eight students based internationally attended the series of online OSCE workshops delivered via ZoomⓇ. All students and examiners completed a feedback questionnaire at the end of each session regarding parameters, which included questions on pre-and post-workshop confidence in three OSCE domains: history-taking, communication and data interpretation. The five-point Likert scale was used to self-report confidence, and the results were analysed using the Mann-Whitney U test after assessing for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test.Results Results from student feedback showed an increase in confidence for all three OSCE domains after each event (p<0.001) with 69.4% agreeing or strongly agreeing that online OSCE sessions could sufficiently prepare them for in-person exams. Questionnaire feedback revealed that 97.6% of students and 86.7% of examiners agreed that virtual OSCE teaching would be useful for preparing for in-person OSCE examinations after the pandemic. ConclusionThe majority of participants in the virtual OSCE sessions reported an improvement in their confidence in history-taking, communication and data interpretation skills. The majority of participants and examiners also reported that they found virtual OSCE sessions to be as engaging and as interactive as in-person teaching. This study has demonstrated that virtual OSCE workshops can serve as a valuable learning resource for students with the potential to be beneficial beyond the pandemic, however, further studies that directly compare academic outcomes between in-person and virtual OSCE teaching sessions are required.
Lead (Pb) Exposure From Outdoor Air Pollution: A Potential Risk Factor For Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Related To HPV Genotypes
Authors: Zhang Ji , Nazeri Seyed Ali , Sohrabi Amir 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Human papillomavirus genotypes (HPVs) have been confirmed to be the major cause for Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) that remains to be one of the most common women cancer around the world. It seems other risk factors connect to the occurrence of cervical cancer include smoking, dietary pattern, sexual behaviour, ethnicity, epigenetics and environmental hazardous materials. Our study characterized the potential cancerous role of Lead (Pb) as a common toxic environmental pollutant agent on CIN outcomes. The concentration of Pb was quantified using atomic absorption spectrometer in the liquid based cytology specimens of 40 CIN subjects, 50 HPV infected-non cancerous cases and 43 non-HPV infection/non-cancerous women. The Pb concentration was 5.5 (4.7–6.4) µg/dL, 4.7 (4.2–8.7) µg/dL and 4.7 (4.5–5.4) µg/dL in CIN group, control group with HPV infection and non-HPV/non-cancerous group, respectively. The results showed higher Pb concentration is associated with higher risk for cervical malignancy in comparison with non-HPV/non-cancerous subjects, after controlling for age effect (aOR = 4.55, 95% CI: 1.55–15.07, P < 0.01). Our finding suggested a direct significant association between Pb accumulation and CINs existence related to HPV infection. The consequence needs to be further validated by controlling the confounders to better understanding of Pb impact from outdoor air pollution on cervical cancer.
Prenatal Depression Exposure Alters White Matter Integrity and Neurodevelopment in Early Childhood
Authors: Roos Annerine , Wedderburn Catherine J , Fouche Jean-Paul , Joshi Shantanu H , Narr Katherine L , Woods Roger P , Zar Heather J , Stein Dan J , Donald Kirsten A 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Prenatal exposure to maternal depression increases the risk for onset of emotional and behavioral disorders in children. Here, we investigated the effects of exposure to prenatal depression on white matter microstructural integrity at birth and at 2–3 years, and associated neurodevelopment. Diffusion-weighted images were acquired for children of the Drakenstein Child Health Study at 2–4 weeks postpartum (n = 70, 47% boys) and at 2–3 years of age (n = 60, 58% boys). Tract-Based Spatial Statistics was used to compare diffusion tensor metrics across groups defined by presence (> 19 on Beck’s Depression Inventory and/or > 12 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale) or absence (below depression thresholds) of depression, and associations with neurodevelopmental measures at age 2–3 years were determined. We did not detect group differences in white matter integrity at neonatal age in this cohort, but at 2–3 years, children in the exposed group demonstrated higher fractional anisotropy, and lower mean and radial diffusivity in association tracts compared to control children. This was notable in the sagittal stratum (radial diffusivity: p < 0.01). Altered white matter integrity metrics were also observed in projection tracts, including the corona radiata, which associated with cognitive and motor outcomes in exposed 2-3-year-olds (p < 0.05). Our findings of widespread white matter alterations in 2-3-year-old children with prenatal exposure to depression are consistent with previous findings, as well as with neuroimaging findings in adults with major depression. Further, we identified novel associations of altered white matter integrity with cognitive development in depression-exposed children, suggesting that these neuroimaging findings may have early functional impact.
Genome-Wide Analysis of NAC Proteins and Characterization of the ATAF Member RcNAC091 in Rose (Rosa Chinensis)
Authors: Geng Lifang , Su Lin , Fu Lufeng , Lin Shang , Zhang Jianmei , Liu Qinghua , Jiang Xinqiang 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
The NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors (TFs), as plant-specific transcription regulators, play a critical role in various developmental processes and stress responses. However, knowledge of the NAC TFs in rose (Rosa chinensis), one of the most important horticultural crops, is limited. In this study, 116 NAC genes were identified from the rose genome and classified into 16 subfamilies. The RcNACs were unevenly distributed on the chromosomes. Analysis of the stress-related RcNACs based on the transcriptome data showed differences in the expression patterns in different organs and flower developmental stages and during drought and salt stress in rose leaves and roots. Analysis of the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) in the promoter region revealed that stress-related RcNACs possessed three sets of CREs, corresponding to plant growth and development, plant hormonal response, and abiotic and biotic stresses. Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis of 11 representative RcNACs revealed their diverse transcript expression in leaves and roots under abscisic acid (ABA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and sodium chloride (NaCl) treatments. Furthermore, RcNAC091 silencing verified its role in positively regulating the dehydration stress response. Overall, this study provides helpful insight into stress-related RcNACs and paves the way for stress tolerance via breeding in rose.
Implication of Coal Expansion and Regional Energy Trading Center to Climate Goal: Dual Sustainability Analysis
Authors: Udemba Edmund Ntom 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
This current study seeks to investigate the policy implication of Turkey’s recent energy policies on its sustainable development. This study uses Turkey’s country-specific data and series of 1974 to 2018 for effective investigation and justification of the findings of this study with emphasis on both short run and long run implications. Three models were fitted to achieve study objectives to accommodate both environmental sustainability and economic impacts. Ecological footprint was considered better measure and used as proxy for the environment related model. In summary, with environment models, the selected series (per capita GDP, Industrialization, agriculture, coal as a single energy use and mixed energy use) except per capita GDP2 were found positively and significantly related to ecological footprint both in short run and long run which translates to poor performance of Turkey’s environment. Also, using economic growth model, the selected series (Industrialization, energy use and agriculture) were all confirmed positively and significantly related to the economic growth (per capita GDP). Additionally, Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) was established for Turkey’s environment and economic performance. Furthermore, using Granger causality as robust check to these findings, a nexus was found among the series confirming the validity of the cointegration (short and long run policies) estimations and results. In congruence with literature and hypotheses, the results from cointegration estimation shows that the twin polices may be good to the economic performance but will spark off adverse effect on environment.JEL Classification: C1, C32, E6, L7, O4, Q3, Q4, Q5