bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic study of Iris plants in China based on chloroplast matK gene and nuclear ITS gene
Authors: Chen Mao-Lin , Feng Yi-Mei , Zhang Xin-Yu , Xu Fan , Kang Qing-Qing , Ning Xin-Jing , Wang Xian-Tong , Xiao Xue , Yang Li-Juan , Yu Xiao-Fang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Using both Neighbor-Joining and Maximum Likelihood algorithms, the ITS and matK sequences of Iris species in China were sequenced to explore the phylogenetic relationships of the six subgenera of Iris in China. After alignment of the ITS and matK sequences, a total of 893 characters were obtained for the ITS sequence, with a length variation range of 704–824 bp and 890 characters for the matK sequence, with a length variation range of 865–887 bp. The clustering analysis results were generally consistent with the subgenus classification of Iris species in China. Results suggested Subgen. Iris has a relatively complex phylogenetic relationship within the genus, and further research is needed to refine the internal classifications. Subgen. Limniris is resolved as polyphyletic and the phylogenetic relationships are quite complex. Subgen. Nepalensis is a relatively natural taxonomic group. Subgen. Crossiris is an unnatural taxonomic group. It is recommended to remove Subgen. Xyridion from the Iris classification system and to redefine the Belamcanda chinensis as a species within Subgen. Pardanthopsis of the Iris genus.
COVID-19 and Virtual Medical Education: A Correlational Study of Attitudes Towards e- learning, Perceived Stress, and Ethics among Faculty Members of Medical Universities in the Southern Region of Iran
Authors: Shadman Mohammad Amin , Kamali Farahnaz , Bagherzadeh Razieh , Pouladi Shahnaz 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid shift to virtual education in medical universities, creating challenges for faculty due to a lack of preparedness, ethical concerns, and increased stress. This study examines the relationship between faculty attitudes toward e-learning, perceived stress, and ethical considerations in virtual medical education at Bushehr University of Medical Sciences in Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-correlational design study with a census sampling was employed to recruit 120 faculty members from Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. The faculty members were selected based on pre-established inclusion criteria and recruited between November and March 2023. The participants were provided with a link to the Google Forms questionnaire via their mobile phones, which they used to complete sections on faculty attitudes towards e-learning, perceived stress according to the Cohen scale, and the application of ethics in virtual education. In all cases, a significance level of less than 0.05 was employed. The data were analyzed using the statistical software package SPSS, version 20.
Results: A positive correlation was identified between attitudes toward e-learning and the ethical application of virtual education among faculty members (β = 0.279, p < 0.05). Nevertheless, no statistically significant correlation was observed between attitudes toward e-learning and its domains and perceived stress among faculty members (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: This study found a positive association between faculty attitudes towards e-learning and their ethical application of virtual education, suggesting that positive views on virtual education may lead to better ethical practices. However, no correlation was found between attitudes toward e-learning and perceived stress levels, indicating that positive attitudes do not necessarily mitigate stress. Further research is needed to explore factors contributing to faculty stress in virtual settings and develop strategies to promote positive attitudes and competencies while addressing stress concerns.
Multi-omics profiling reveals the molecular mechanism of Bifidobacterium animalis BB04 in co-culture with Wickerhamomyces anomalus Y-5 to induce bifidocin A synthesis
Authors: Liu Yangshuo , Nie Rong , Shen Kaisheng , Diao Xinjie , Liu Guorong 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Bacteriocin is a kind of natural substance that can effectively inhibit bacteria, but its production usually limited by environment. Co-culture is a strategy to stimulate bacteriocin production. Bifidocin A produced by Bifidobacterium animalis BB04, is a novel bacteriocin with a broad-spectrum antimicrobial active of foodborne bacteria. In order to enhance bifidocin A production, bacteriocin-inducing strains were screened firstly in co-cultivation. Then, the molecular mechanism of co-cultural induction was investigated by transcriptomic and proteomic analysis. Finally, the key inducing metabolites were identified by using targeted metabolomic technology. The results showed that Wickerhamomyces anomalus Y-5 in co-cultivation could significantly enhance bifidocin A production with 3-fold increase compared with mono-culture. The induction may not depend on direct contact with cells, but on continuous stimulation of inducing substances in a certain concentration. In co-cultivation, W. anomalus Y-5 up-regulated Hxk2 and Tap42 to activate glucose-cAMP and Tor and HOG-MAPK pathway, stimulated the expression of the retrograde gene, produced glutamine and glycerol to maintain activity. During this process, glutamine, inosine, guanosine, adenine, uracil, fumaric acid and pyruvic acid produced by W. anomalus Y-5 could induce the synthesis of bifidocin A. In conclusion, W. anomalus Y-5 in co-cultivation induced the synthesis of bifidocin A by regulating various signaling pathways to produce inducing substances. These findings lay a foundation for bifidocin A high-efficient synthesis and provide a new perspectives on the industrial production of bacteriocin.
Barriers and Facilitators to Nutritional Risk Management in Cancer Patients from the Perspective of Nurses: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Song Jiating , Liao Ruotong , Huang Qihua , Zhang Zhixia , Luo huifang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: The global incidence of cancer is increasing, and in China, about 32% to 43% of cancer patients are at nutritional risk, with less than 25% receiving nutritional risk management. Managing nutritional risk in cancer patients presents significant challenges, making it necessary to understand the factors that facilitate and hinder this process.
Aim: This qualitative study, based on the Self-Disclosure Model and using grounded theory, aims to explore the barriers and facilitators in the nutritional risk management of cancer patients from the perspective of Chinese nurses to improve nutritional risk management in this population.
Methods: In this study, semi-structured interviews were employed. A qualitative interview team was formed, conducting two group interviews and fifteen one-on-one interviews.
Results: The analysis identified several facilitating factors for managing nutritional risk in cancer patients: high motivation for learning among nurses, a sense of achievement from successfully managing patients, and a focus on the construction of nutrition subspecialties in nursing. Five barriers were identified: issues with nutritional risk management tools, lack of knowledge among nurses regarding nutritional risk management, inadequate related management systems within hospitals, non-intelligent information systems, and negative feedback from doctors or patients during the communication process.
Conclusion: While nurses are concerned about nutritional risk management in cancer patients, obstacles remain. Nursing managers can improve the rate of nutritional risk management in cancer patients by focusing on the construction of nutrition nursing specialties, ensuring institutional support, enhancing system intelligence, and expanding the influence of specialized nutrition nurses.
This study was not registered with a research trial registry.
Biomass waste as a raw material for the mesoporous catalyst synthesis and its application in HDO of guaiacol for biofuel production
Authors: Rivoira Lorena P. , Ledesma Brenda C. , Fraire María V. , Valles Verónica A. , Costa Marcos B. Gómez , Beltramone Andrea R. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Platinum-modified activated carbon was synthesized and studied for hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of guaiacol. The activated carbon support was prepared using orange peel from industrial waste. Platinum was added by wetness impregnation. The activity was compared with that of platinum supported on mesoporous silica and commercial activated carbon catalysts. The catalysts prepared were characterized by different techniques: XRD and N2 adsorption isotherms to confirm the mesoporous structure, and XPS, H2-Chemisorption and Boehm titration to determine active sites and acidity. The results showed that high-surface-area active carbon support favors the formation of small platinum metallic particles, highly dispersed over the surface. The catalysts were active for guaiacol HDO performed in the laboratory at 200° C and 12 atm of H2 in a Batch PARR reactor. Carbon was activated using phosphoric acid during the synthesis. The interaction between the peculiar acidity generated on the support by H3PO4, accompanied by the high hydrogenation capacity of the metallic platinum particles, enhanced catalytic activity, and selectivity for deoxygenated products. This research aims at developing an environmentally friendly catalyst to produce biomolecules of high aggregated value.
Unlocking the potential of undervalued forest residues: a comprehensive characterization of eucalypt stumps in the biorefinery context
Authors: Gominho Jorge , Habrant Anouck , Costa Ricardo A. , Chabbert Brigitte , Lourenço Ana 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Eucalyptus globulusstumps were fractionated in three Discs, and their constituent tissues - heartwood, sapwood and bark - subjected to further chemical characterization by summative analysis, evaluation of the phytochemical profile and antioxidants activities, plus GC/MS and analytical pyrolysis. Wood density was similar between tissues and Disc level: values ranging from 0.652 to 0.705 g/cm³ (Disc 1) and 0.605 g/cm³ (Disc 5). Bark had high ash (3.5%), extractives (7.5%) and holocellulose (68.4%) but lower lignin contents (22.0%). Original heartwood contained 0.7% ash, 7.0% extractives, 27.1% lignin, and 67.3% holocellulose. Heartwood showed high extractives (12.1-15.8%), less lignin (23.9-24.5%), and high holocellulose (61.7-64.7%) than sapwood containing 3.9-5.4% extractives, 26.9-27.3% lignin and 68.6-71.5% holocellulose. Water extracts had poor antioxidant activity in contrast to ethanol extracts which activities were the highest in heartwood. All tissues presented GS lignin type with S/G ratios varying from 3.0-3.4 (heartwood), 3.2-3.4 (sapwood), bark (3.5) and 3.8 (original heartwood). In wood, fibers and vessels were highly lignified with SG and G-lignin respectively; while rays had low lignin with G-type. Light and fluorescence macroscopic observation of the tissues in Disc 1 revealed lower proportion and larger vessels in sapwood and high emission fluorescence at 488nm.
Self-Care Practices of Professionals on Residency Programs in the State of Paraíba in Brazil and Their Implications for Primary Health Care
Authors: Machado Ana Paula Ramos , Souza Élida de Fátima Diniz , Oliveira José Danuzio Leite , Oliveira José Olivandro Duarte , Nóbrega Lauradella Geraldinne Sousa , Toscano Maysa Barbosa Rodrigues , Massa Nayara Moreira Lacerda , Olinda Ricardo Alves , Tomaz Alecsandra Ferreira , Medeiros Carla Campos Muniz , Matheson David , Santos Silvana 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study was to examine the self-care skills of residents and preceptors affiliated to the Family and Community Medicine (FCM) and Multiprofessional Family Health Residency (MFHR) programs in the state of Paraíba - Brazil as well as to investigate the association between self-care and the practices of these professionals in Primary Health Care (PHC). FCM residents are doctors in postgraduate training, while MFHR residents are allied healthcare professionals in postgraduate training.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach and a census-type sample of 300 professionals. Data was obtained using an electronic questionnaire applied in the second half of 2023. Descriptive, bivariate (Chi-square and Fisher's exact) and logistic regression analyses were carried out. The grouping variable “self-care” was found to be associated with sociodemographic and work-related variables, physical and mental health conditions and professional practice.
Results
The majority of participants were female (69.3%), had no partner (53.4%) and no children (75.7%). Half of the professionals (54.0%) had self-care skills, which were associated with the perception of their state of health as very good or excellent. Among the doctors, 36.4% and 7.7% declared that they were overweight and obese respectively, and the prevalence rates were similar for multi-professionals. More doctors said they had a mental disorder (46.9%) than did the multiprofessionals (31.5%) (p = 0.022). Professionals who took care of themselves felt “very motivated” to provide guidance on the subject in the service (p = 0.006); they developed more health education projects (p = 0.042) and had more professional experience in the prevention and management of obesity and chronic diseases (p = 0.026) than those who did not take care of themselves or took care of themselves sporadically.
Conclusion
Health professionals' self-care skills in their personal lives were associated with their motivation to provide guidance on self-care to the population that they assisted in PHC. Our findings point to the need for actions and policies that encourage self-care among health professionals, given that this could have a positive impact on their areas of work.
Association Between Leisure-Time Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, and Mortality Risk Among Prostate Cancer Survivors in the United States
Authors: Yu Qiong , Wang Lingyu , Ren Lishen , Shi Guang 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objective
To evaluate the relationship between leisure-time physical activity and daily sitting time with the mortality rate among US after a prostate cancer diagnosis.
Methods:
A prospective cohort of a nationally representative sample of prostate cancer survivors, age 40 years or older(n=617) from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018. Participants were linked to mortality data from their interview and physical examination date through December 31, 2019. Daily sitting time and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) were self-reported using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality associated with physical activity and sedentary behavior, adjusting for potential covariates.
Result
During the follow-up period of up to 7.3 years, after adjusting for covariates, compared with those who sit for less than 8 hours per day, the HR for all-cause mortality among those who sit for 8 or more hours per day were 1.77(95% CI,1.20-2.61) respectively. Furthermore, each additional hour of daily sitting was associated with a 4% increase in the risk of all-cause mortality. Physically active survivors demonstrated a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to inactive survivors (HR=0.56; 95% CI, 0.36-0.87). In combined analyses, prostate cancer survivors who were inactive or insufficiently active and sat for 8 or more hours a day were 3.37 times (95% CI: 1.84–6.16) more likely to die from any cause compared to those who were active and sat for less than 6 hours a day.
Conclusions
An active engagement in LTPA coupled with a decrease in daily sedentary periods is associated with a reduced risk of mortality across the board, with a notable decrease in mortality from non-cancerous conditions. The findings suggest that embracing an active lifestyle could significantly enhance the health outcomes for prostate cancer survivors.
Do executive functions and processing speed mediate the relationship between socioeconomic status and educational achievement? Analysis of an observational birth cohort study
Authors: Mooney Kate E , Cheung Rachael W. , Blower Sarah L. , Allen Richard J. , Waterman Amanda 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
There are large and persistent social inequalities in children’s educational attainment, with children from more socioeconomically disadvantaged families consistently having lower attainment. Despite this being widely reported, the mechanisms underlying the association between socioeconomic disadvantage and educational attainment are not well understood. It is important to understand the potential mechanisms by which socioeconomic disadvantage may impede on educational outcomes, as this knowledge could then be used to help target possible interventions to improve educational outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Children’s executive functions (including working memory and inhibition) and processing speed abilities may underlie these inequalities, however, the previous literature regarding this is limited.
This study examined longitudinal mediating mechanisms between socioeconomic status and educational achievement, using a socioeconomically deprived and ethnically diverse cohort.
Methods
Data from the Born in Bradford longitudinal cohort study was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (n=4201; 28% White British, 56% Pakistani heritage, 16% Other; 54% Female). Socioeconomic Status (SES) was measured before birth, executive functions and processing speed were measured in middle childhood (Mage=8.45 years), and educational achievement was obtained through educational records (Mage=10.85 years). All models adjusted for child gender, age, language ability, ethnicity, and parent immigration status.
Results
Executive functions significantly mediated the association between SES and educational achievement (B=0.109), whilst processing speed did not. Examination of executive function components revealed that working memory significantly mediated the associated between SES and educational achievement (B=.100), whilst inhibition did not. Working memory appeared to account for a large proportion (39%) of the total effect of SES on educational achievement.
Conclusions
These results, and the theoretical mechanisms linking working memory to educational achievement, both indicate the importance of finding ways to support children with working memory difficulties in the classroom. This is an important avenue for future research and may be useful for closing the socioeconomic gap in educational achievement.
Exploring the role of pedological and climatic aspects in the medium-term decline of green roofs hydrological performance: an experimental study in a Mediterranean environment
Authors: D'Ambrosio Roberta , Foresta Vito , Longobardi Antonia , Ferlisi Settimio 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

In the realm of sustainable strategies for urban flooding risk mitigation, green roofs (GRs) emerge as a key solution. The complex relationship between hydrological, pedological, and climatic aspects poses several challenges in the definition of GRs’ medium-term behaviour, emphasizing the imperative for further research. Embedding pedological and climatological evidence, this study focuses on relevant observed changes in the hydrological performance and behaviour of two extensive GR test beds located in southern Italy over a 7-year monitoring period. Experimental rainfall and runoff data, at the event scale, point to a reduction of approximately 12% in the stormwater retention capacity (RC) of monitored GRs. Additionally, a comparative analysis of RC values in two specific time windows revealed how, in an early stage, it was controlled by soil moisture content whereas it is currently (aged state) mainly related to rainfall characteristics. After excluding climate variability as a potential driver for observed RC changes, a pedological experimental campaign highlights variations in the physical and hydraulic parameters of the peat substrate, which, in turn, is addressed to affect the retention and detention capabilities of the GRs.
Trends in Prescription of Stimulants and Narcoleptic Drugs in Switzerland: Longitudinal Health Insurance Claims Analysis for the Years 2014-2021
Authors: Scharf Tamara , Huber Carola A , Näpflin Markus , Zhang Zhongxing , Khatami Ramin 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Stimulants are potent treatments for central hypersomnolence disorders or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders/attention deficit disorders but concerns have been raised about their potential negative consequences and their increasing prescription rates.

Objective
We aimed to describe stimulant prescription trends in Switzerland from 2014 to 2021. Second, we aimed to analyze the characteristics of individuals who received stimulant prescriptions in 2021 and investigate the link between stimulant prescriptions and hospitalization rates in 2021, using hospitalization as a potential indicator of adverse health outcomes.

Methods
Longitudinal and cross-sectional data from a large Swiss health care insurance were analyzed from all insureds older than 6 years. The results were extrapolated to the Swiss general population. We identified prescriptions for methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine, modafinil, and sodium oxybate and calculated prevalences of each drug prescription over the period from 2014 to 2021. For 2021 we provide detailed information on the prescribers and evaluate the association of stimulant prescription and the number and duration of hospitalization using logistic regression models.

Results
We observed increasing prescription rates of all stimulants in all age groups from 2014 to 2021 (0.55% to 0.81%, 43,848 to 66,113 insureds with a prescription). In 2021, 37.1% (28,057 prescriptions) of the medications were prescribed by psychiatrists, followed by 36.1% (n=27,323) prescribed by general practitioners and 1% (n=748) by neurologists. Only sodium oxybate, which is highly specific for narcolepsy treatment, was most frequently prescribed by neurologists (27.8%, 37 prescriptions). Comorbid psychiatric disorders were common in patients receiving stimulants. Patients hospitalized in a psychiatric institution were 5.3 times (odds ratio 5.3, 95% CI 4.63‐6.08, P<.001) more likely to have a stimulant prescription than those without hospitalization. There were no significant associations between stimulant prescription and the total length of inpatient stay (odds ratio 1, 95% CI 1‐1, P=.13).

Conclusions
The prescription of stimulant medication in Switzerland increased slightly but continuously over years, but at lower rates compared to the estimated prevalence of central hypersomnolence disorders and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders/attention deficit disorders. Most stimulants are prescribed by psychiatrists, closely followed by general practitioners. The increased odds for hospitalization to psychiatric institutions for stimulant receivers reflects the severity of disease and the higher psychiatric comorbidities in these patients.