bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide association screening and verification of potential genes associated with root architectural traits in maize (Zea mays L.) at multiple seedling stages
Authors: Moussa Abdourazak Alio , Mandozai Ajmal , Jin Yukun , Qu Jing , Zhang Qi , Zhao He , Anwari Gulaqa , Khalifa Mohamed Abdelsamiaa Sayed , Lamboro Abraham , Noman Muhammad , Bakasso Yacoubou , Zhang Mo , Guan Shuyan , Wang Piwu 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Breeding for new maize varieties with propitious root systems has tremendous potential in improving water and nutrients use efficiency and plant adaptation under suboptimal conditions. To date, most of the previously detected root-related trait genes in maize were new without functional verification. In this study, seven seedling root architectural traits were examined at three developmental stages in a recombinant inbred line population (RIL) of 179 RILs and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) panel of 80 elite inbred maize lines through quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping and genome-wide association study.

Results
Using inclusive composite interval mapping, 8 QTLs accounting for 6.44–8.83 % of the phenotypic variation in root traits, were detected on chromosomes 1 (qRDWv3-1-1 and qRDW/SDWv3-1-1), 2 (qRBNv1-2-1), 4 (qSUAv1-4-1, qSUAv2-4-1, and qROVv2-4-1), and 10 (qTRLv1-10-1, qRBNv1-10-1). GWAS analysis involved three models (EMMAX, FarmCPU, and MLM) for a set of 1,490,007 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) obtained via whole genome next-generation sequencing (NGS). Overall, 53 significant SNPs with a phenotypic contribution rate ranging from 5.10 to 30.2 % and spread all over the ten maize chromosomes exhibited associations with the seven root traits. 17 SNPs were repeatedly detected from at least two growth stages, with several SNPs associated with multiple traits stably identified at all evaluated stages. Within the average linkage disequilibrium (LD) distance of 5.2 kb for the significant SNPs, 46 candidate genes harboring substantial SNPs were identified. Five potential genes viz. Zm00001d038676, Zm00001d015379, Zm00001d018496, Zm00001d050783, and Zm00001d017751 were verified for expression levels using maize accessions with extreme root branching differences from the GWAS panel and the RIL population. The results showed significantly (P < 0.001) different expression levels between the outer materials in both panels and at all considered growth stages.

Conclusions
This study provides a key reference for uncovering the complex genetic mechanism of root development and genetic enhancement of maize root system architecture, thus supporting the breeding of high-yielding maize varieties with propitious root systems.
First Chinese case report of Helcococcus kunzii in a patient with diabetic foot
Authors: Li Ruiying , Xiang Lei , Lu Jinghui , Chen Linzhen , Cai Xiangsheng 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Infection of Helcococcus kunzii(H. kunzii) from diabetic foot wound is rarely reported. This case report describes the infection of H.kunzii and highlights the therapeutic effect on H.kunzii from a diabetic foot wound.

Case presentation
In this study, one H. kunzii strain was isolated from a patient with diabetic foot, which was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene analysis and MALDI-TOF-MS. It is the first Chinese case of H. kunzii in a patient with diabetic foot. As a result of the lack of antibiotic sensitivity data and multiple comorbidities, antibiotics were used cautiously, and those administered during the first 3 months were ineffective. Then, vacuum sealing drainage (VSD) was applied during hospitalization; no antibiotics were used and the wound healed well.

Conclusions
VSD alone may be more effective in treating diabetic feet infected with H. kunzii, which may provide reference for clinical treatment of H. kunzii infection from diabetic foot.
First report of Kingella kingae diagnosed in pediatric bone and joint infections in Morocco
Authors: Moutaouakkil Kaoutar , Oumokhtar Bouchra , Abdellaoui Hicham , El Fakir Samira , Arhoune Btissam , Mahmoud Mustapha , Atarraf Karima , Afifi Moulay Abderrahmane 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe progress of diagnostic strategies and molecular methods improved the detection ofKingella kingaein bone and joint infections, and now,Kingella kingaeis being increasingly recognized as the most frequent cause of bone and joint infection BJI in early childhood. The main objective of this prospective study is to report the frequency ofKingella Kingaein negative culture bone and joint pediatric infections, and to describe the clinical and biologic features of these children.MethodsFrom December 2016 to June 2019, we selected all hospitalized patients with suspected BJI. When culture was negative on the fifth day, children under 10 years were subsequently included in the study, and PCR assay was performed systematically for researchingK. kingaespecific genecpn60. Microbial culture and identification were made using standard bacteriological methods. The demographics, clinical, laboratory, radiographic and clinical features were reviewed from medical records.ResultsWe enrolled 65 children with culture negative BJI, 46 of them having under 10 years old have been screened for thecpn60gene. Thus, the gene encodingKingella kingaewas positive for 27 BJI cases (58.7%). The mean age of children was 3.02 years, 55.6% were aged 6 months-4 years and 29.6% of them were aged 5–10 years. The male to female ratio was 1.7 and 16 cases (59.26%) occurred during the fall-winter period. The most frequent BJI type was septic arthritis (77.8%) and the most affected sites were knee (51.9%) and hip (37.0%). We recorded a mild clinical picture with normal to mildly raised inflammatory markers. All patients had good clinical and functional outcomes, with no serious orthopedic sequelae..ConclusionK kingaeis an important pathogen of culture-negative BJI in Moroccan children. PCR testing should be performed in culture-negative cases of children not only in the typical age range of 6 months to 4 years. When implemented in the routine clinical microbiology laboratory, a specificK. kingaePCR assay can provide a better diagnostic performance of BJI.
COVID-19 social distancing: negative effects on people with Parkinson disease and their associations with confidence for self-management
Authors: Yogev-Seligmann Galit , Kafri Michal 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The purpose of this study was to describe the effects of COVID-19 social distancing on the function, health, and well-being of people with Parkinson disease (PD), and test the association of these effects with patients’ activation levels, i.e., their skills and confidence in managing their health.

Methods
Community-dwelling individuals with PD answered an anonymous web-based survey. Part 1 included 27 multiple-choice questions regarding changes in function, health, medical care, and well-being. Part 2 consisted of the Patient Activation Measure, which enquired about skills and confidence in managing one’s health.

Results
Respondents (N = 142) reported decreases in various function (24.8%–37.3%), health (33.8%–43%), and well-being (26.1%–47.1%) domains. Rehabilitation ceased for 61.2%. Among those reporting a worsening of health, 67.8% associated this with the cessation of rehabilitative treatments or decrease in physical activity.
Patients’ activation levels were inversely correlated with increased assistance for activities of daily living, increased tiredness, worsening symptoms, and lack of support from family and friends.

Conclusions
Social distancing had a major negative impact on the health and function of people with PD.

Practical implications
Supporting people with PD skills and confidence in managing health may preserve their physical and mental health during this period of dramatic changes in life’s circumstances.
Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and immune microenvironment in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Chao , Gu Liqun , Liu Zelong , Li Jiang , Yao Mianfeng , Fang Changyun 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Immunotherapy is a crucial therapeutic approach in oncology. However, most patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) do not derive benefit from immunotherapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/VEGF Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) signaling pathway is one of the most important pathways regulating angiogenesis in tumor. The combination of immunotherapy and anti-angiogenic therapy is considered to improve efficacy of immunotherapy. The correlation between VEGF signaling pathway and tumor immune microenvironment in HNSCC patients is unclear.

Methods
We utilized RNA sequencing and clinical data of HNSCC patients from the TCGA database to study the correlation between VEGF signaling pathway and tumor immune microenvironment, on aspect of immune cell infiltration, immune-related gene expression profiling and immune-related biological pathways.

Results
We observed that VEGF signaling pathway is positively correlated with immune cell infiltration, immune-related gene expression profiles, and the prognosis of HNSCC patients. The functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes between different VEGF score subtypes detected multiple immune-related biological processes.

Conclusion
Our findings suggested that combining anti-VEGF signaling pathway agents with immunotherapy, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) therapy, may exhibit encouraging benefits in HNSCC.
Weight and waist-to-hip ratio change pattern during the first five years of survival: data from a longitudinal observational Chinese breast cancer cohort
Authors: Lei Yuan-Yuan , Ho Suzanne C. , Kwok Carol , Cheng Ashley , Cheung Ka Li , Lee Roselle , Mo Frankie , Yeo Winnie 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Body weight management was an important component in breast cancer survivorship care. The present study described the change patterns of body weight and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) during the first 5 years of survival, and investigated potential factors associated with very substantial changes.

Patients and methods
Based on a longitudinal cohort with 1462 Chinese women with breast cancer, anthropometric measurements including body weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured by trained interviewers following standard protocol at four time-points: baseline at study entry, 18-, 36- and 60-months follow up assessments (termed as T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively). Body height was measured at baseline and body weight at cancer diagnosis were retrieved from medical record.

Results
Compared to weight at breast cancer diagnosis, the median weight change was − 0.5 kg, 0 kg, + 0.5 kg, and + 1 kg at T0, T1, T2 and T3, respectively. During the first 5 years of survival, the proportion of women who were obese have slightly increased. At 60-months after diagnosis, only 14.3% of women had weight gain by > 5 kg; and the percentage of women who had weight gain by > 10% was 10.7%. Nearly half of patients had abdominal obesity at study entry, and this proportion were gradually increased to nearly 70% at 60-months follow-up. Multivariate analysis indicated that older age, and frequent sports participation during the first 5 years of survival were related to lower risk of very substantial weight gain (> 10%) at 60-month follow-up; patients aged 40–49 years, having ≥2 comorbidities and ER negative were associated with less likelihood of very substantial WHR substantial increase (> 10%) at 60-month follow-up.

Conclusion
Weight gain was modest in Chinese breast cancer survivors during the first 5 years of survival, while central adiposity has become a contemporary public health issue. The incorporation of healthy weight and abdominal circumference patient education and management has a potential to improve cancer survivorship.
Impact of surgical margin width on long-term outcomes for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a multicenter study
Authors: Liu Hongzhi , Lin Lianku , Lin Ziguo , Chen Yifan , Huang Qizhen , Ding Lei , Lou Jianying , Zheng Shuguo , Bi Xinyu , Wang Jianming , Guo Wei , Li Fuyu , Wang Jian , Zheng Yamin , Li Jingdong , Cheng Shi , Zhou Weiping , Cheng Zhangjun , Zeng Yongyi 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
The objective of this study was to investigate the survival outcomes of surgical margin width in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

Methods
Between November 2011 and August 2017, patients who underwent hepatectomy for ICC were collected from 13 major hepatopancreatobiliary centers in China. The survival outcomes for patients who underwent wide margin hepatectomy (WMH) were compared with those who underwent narrow margin hepatectomy (NMH) using the 1:1 propensity score matching (PSM).

Results
Among 478 included patients, 195 (40.8%) underwent WMH whereas 283 (59.2%) underwent NMH. PSM yielded 79 matched patients with similar baseline characteristics. Patients underwent WMH had a significant better OS and DFS compared with those underwent NMH (before PSM: median OS 27 vs 17 months, P < 0.05; median DFS 15 vs 8 months, P = 0.001, after PSM: median OS 41 vs 22 months, p < 0.05; median DFS 16 vs 10 months, p < 0.05). However, subgroup analysis based on the AJCC staging system, WMH could only improve the survival outcomes in AJCC I ICC patients (Stage I: OS, DFS, P<0.05).

Conclusions
Surgeons should strive to achieve a wide surgical margin for patients with AJCC I ICC to optimize the long-term outcome.
A three-arm single blind randomised control trial of naïve medical students performing a shoulder joint clinical examination
Authors: Brewer P. E. , Racy M. , Hampton M. , Mushtaq F. , Tomlinson J. E. , Ali F. M. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background
Technological advances have previously been hailed as a new dawn in Higher Education, with the advent of ‘massive open online courses’ (MOOCs) and online learning. Virtual platforms have potential advantages such as accessibility and availability but simply transferring educational material to the online environment may not ensure high quality learning. Clinical examination is a fundamental principle of medical assessment, and this study aimed to assess the role of technology in teaching these skills.

Aims/objectives
To determine whether three teaching modalities were of equal efficacy in teaching examination of the shoulder joint to naïve medical students.

Methods
Sixty-seven pre-clinical medical students naïve to large joint examination were recruited. Participants completed a learning style questionnaire and were then block randomised to three study: textbook study, face-to-face seminar, or video tutorial via online platform. The same examination technique was taught in all groups, with the intervention being the method of delivery All second year students were eligible for inclusion. The single exclusion criteria was previous exposure to clinical examination teaching. Students were assessed using a standardised scoring system at baseline (pre-intervention), and days 5 and 19 post-intervention (maximum score 30). Assessors were blinded to group allocation. The primary outcome was assessment score at day 5 post intervention.

Results
There was no difference between the three groups at baseline assessment (mean scores 2.4 for textbook, 2.8 for face-to-face, and 3.1 for video; p = 0.267). Mean post-intervention scores were 16.5 textbook, 25.5 face-to-face, and 22.4 video (p < 0.001, η2 = .449). There was no change between day 5 and day 19 post-intervention assessment scores in any group (p = 0.373), Preferred learning style did not affect scores (p = 0.543).

Conclusion
Face-to-face teaching was the most effective method for teaching clinical examination of the shoulder. Technology can potentially increase accessibility and remove geographic barriers, but is not as effective if teaching techniques are simply mirrored in an online format.
Online platforms allow in depth data analysis of how learners interact with educational material and this may have value in improving the design of online educational materials, and is a potential area for further research.
Scarcity of resources and inequity in access are frequently reported ethical issues for physiotherapists internationally: an observational study
Authors: Fryer Caroline , Sturm Andrea , Roth Roswith , Edwards Ian 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about the ethical situations which physiotherapists encounter internationally. This lack of knowledge impedes the ability of the profession to prepare and support physiotherapists in all world regions in their ethical practice. The purpose of the study was to answer the following research questions: What types of ethical issues are experienced by physiotherapists internationally? How frequently are ethical issues experienced by physiotherapists internationally? Can the frequency and type of ethical issue experienced by physiotherapists be predicted by sociodemographic, educational or vocational variables?MethodsAn observational study was conducted in English using an online survey from October 2018 to May 2019. Participants were 1212 physiotherapists and physiotherapy students located internationally which represented less than 1% of estimated number of physiotherapists worldwide at that time. The survey questionnaire contained 13 items requesting demographic detail and knowledge of ethical codes and decision-making, and 46 items asking what frequency participants experienced specific ethical issues in four categories: (A) Physiotherapist and patient interaction (19 items), (B) Physiotherapist and other health professionals including other physiotherapists (10 items), (C) Physiotherapists and the system (5 items) and (D) Professional and economic ethical situations (12 items).ResultsThe two most frequently experienced ethical issues were ‘Scarce resources and time affecting quality of physiotherapy treatment’ and ‘Physiotherapy not accessible to all people in society who need it’. These items were experienced, on average, more often than monthly. Interprofessional practice also presented frequent ethical issues for participants. Ethical issues related to the context of ‘Physiotherapists and the system’ were most frequently experienced for all world regions. Working longer years in physiotherapy and learning about ethics in basic physiotherapy education was associated with participants reporting lower frequencies of ethical issues across all contexts.ConclusionThis study provides the first global profile of ethical issues experienced by physiotherapists. Societal and cultural systems are key influences on physiotherapists’ ethical practice. Physiotherapists globally need support from their work organisations, academic institutions and professional associations, and robust ethical training, to assist them to be active moral agents in their practice.
Exploring polypharmacy with artificial intelligence: data analysis protocol
Authors: Sirois Caroline , Khoury Richard , Durand Audrey , Deziel Pierre-Luc , Bukhtiyarova Olga , Chiu Yohann , Talbot Denis , Bureau Alexandre , Després Philippe , Gagné Christian , Laviolette François , Savard Anne-Marie , Corbeil Jacques , Badard Thierry , Jean Sonia , Simard Marc 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundPolypharmacy is common among older adults and it represents a public health concern, due to the negative health impacts potentially associated with the use of several medications. However, the large number of medication combinations and sequences of use makes it complicated for traditional statistical methods to predict which therapy is genuinely associated with health outcomes. The project aims to use artificial intelligence (AI) to determine the quality of polypharmacy among older adults with chronic diseases in the province of Québec, Canada.MethodsWe will use data from the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System (QICDSS). QICDSS contains information about prescribed medications in older adults in Quebec collected over 20 years. It also includes diagnostic codes and procedures, and sociodemographic data linked through a unique identification number for each individual. Our research will be structured around three interconnected research axes: AI, Health, and Law&Ethics. The AI research axis will develop algorithms for finding frequent patterns of medication use that correlate with health events, considering data locality and temporality (explainable AI or XAI). The Health research axis will translate these patterns into polypharmacy indicators relevant to public health surveillance and clinicians. The Law&Ethics axis will assess the social acceptability of the algorithms developed using AI tools and the indicators developed by the Heath axis and will ensure that the developed indicators neither discriminate against any population group nor increase the disparities already present in the use of medications.DiscussionThe multi-disciplinary research team consists of specialists in AI, health data, statistics, pharmacy, public health, law, and ethics, which will allow investigation of polypharmacy from different points of view and will contribute to a deeper understanding of the clinical, social, and ethical issues surrounding polypharmacy and its surveillance, as well as the use of AI for health record data. The project results will be disseminated to the scientific community, healthcare professionals, and public health decision-makers in peer-reviewed publications, scientific meetings, and reports. The diffusion of the results will ensure the confidentiality of individual data.