bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Local and Global Public Health Consequences of Emissions from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations in the US: A Scoping Review
Authors: Pohl Elise , Lee Sang Ryong 
Published: June 2024

More than 400 million tons of livestock waste are generated annually by approximately 25,000 concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) located in the United States (US). These operations give rise to externalities, including adverse local and global health impacts from CAFO waste emissions, which can potentially outweigh their economic viability. However, a shortage of evidence synthesis research on US-based CAFO emissions may hinder effective policy development. This scoping review (ScR) study, conducted following guidance from the Joanna Briggs Institute, searched databases including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Embase in May 2020, yielding ten publications meeting inclusion criteria. Results suggest possible CAFO worker exposures to multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MDRSA), campylobacteriosis and cryptosporidiosis. Communities near CAFOs experienced higher rates of adverse health impacts compared to those in non-CAFO areas, with patterns suggesting proximity may correlate with increased odds of detrimental health effects. Implicit global health threats include Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MDRSA, campylobacteriosis, tuberculosis, and cryptosporidiosis. These studies provide foundational insights into CAFO proximity, density patterns, and adverse public health effects, indicating a need for evidence-informed environmental health policies to minimize local and global risks.
Substrate transport and drug interaction of human thiamine transporters SLC19A2/A3
Authors: Qu Qianhui , Li Peipei , Zhu Zhini , Wang Yong , Zhang Xuyuan , Zhou Zixuan , Zhu Yalan , Chao Yulin , Long Yonghui , Liu Songqing , Zhang Liguo , Gao Pu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Thiamine and pyridoxine are essential B vitamins that serve as enzymatic cofactors in energy metabolism, protein and nucleic acid biosynthesis, and neurotransmitter production. In humans, thiamine transporters SLC19A2 and SLC19A3 primarily regulate cellular uptake of both vitamins. Genetic mutations in these transporters, which cause thiamine and pyridoxine deficiency, have been implicated in severe neurometabolic diseases. Additionally, various prescribed medicines, including metformin and fedratinib, manipulate thiamine transporters, complicating the therapeutic effect. Despite their physiological and pharmacological significance, the molecular underpinnings of substrate and drug recognition remain unknown. Here we present ten cryo-EM structures of human thiamine transporters SLC19A3 and SLC19A2 in outward- and inward-facing conformations, complexed with thiamine, pyridoxine, metformin, fedratinib, and amprolium. These structural insights, combined with functional characterizations, illuminate the translocation mechanism of diverse chemical entities, and enhance our understanding drug-nutrient interactions mediated by thiamine transporters.
Border destination residents' perceptions towards tourism development: the case of Lujiang, China
Authors: Tan Yuelin 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Destination residents are important stakeholders in tourism development, and understanding residents' perceptions of tourism is the key factor in developing successful management of sustainable tourism development. However, current studies on residents' perceptions mainly focus on ecotourism or rural tourism with quantitative methods and pay little attention to residents who are living in border destinations. This paper explores residents' perceptions of tourism development in Lujiang, a small Chinese village on the border between China and North Korea. A survey of 30 semistructured interviews was conducted to examine how various factors influence residents' perceptions of the impacts of tourism. The Zaltman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET) was used to construct a map of perceived consensus, from which researchers identified 4 themes related to residents' perceptions of tourism. Moreover, this paper provides a new method for analyzing residents' perceptions of tourism development. ZMET might be a better way to obtain metaphorical information or more information from participants.
Public attitudes and participation in green cultural heritage conservation: An application of the extended theory of planned behavior
Authors: Xie Jing , Li Hongyu , Furuya Katsunori , Chen Jie , Luo Shixian 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Cultural heritage is an important contributor to sustainable urban development, and its conservation is considered a global task. Previous research has primarily focused on the conservation of heritage buildings within architectural contexts and world heritage sites within geographical contexts. However, there is a notable gap in conservation of green cultural heritage (GCH) within a landscape-based framework. This study used the extended theory of planned behavior to explore the factors and pathways that influence the public's behavioral intentions toward GCH conservation. Based on 1075 questionnaires collected in Tokyo, Japan, the hypotheses of the newly constructed theoretical model were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that perceived behavioral control has the greatest positive influence on citizens' GCH conservation intentions and behaviors, while social norms do not influence people's willingness to conserve. In the extended factors, the environmental awareness which including heritage awareness and cultural attachment, significantly influences the range of public attitudes towards conservation, while environmental perception, including perceived usefulness and perceived quality, significantly affects the public's conservation intentions and behaviors, respectively. Our findings have implications for local governments and policymakers to enhance public participation in GCH, as well as some several new theoretical interests for further studies.
Association of BMI mediated atherogenic index of plasma with periodontitis: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Gu Xuanyan , Luo Shiyi , Sun Jiangling , Jin Fuqian , Song Jukun , Chen Zhu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
A relationship between BMI (BMI ≥ 25) and periodontitis has been demonstrated in earlier research. There is an association between numerous metabolic diseases and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP). Nevertheless, there is currently not enough data to clarify the connection between AIP and periodontitis. Analyzing the connection between AIP and periodontitis in adult US participants was the main goal of this study; its additional objective was to see if BMI (BMI ≥ 25) could mediate this relationship.
Methods
The study encompassed 3402 adults (age ≥ 30 years) diagnosed with periodontitis, treating it as a continuous factor, while distinguishing AIP as a binary variable. A variety of covariate sets were used, that include age, sex, number of flossing, and so forth. The data in this study were analyzed using a range of statistical methods, including multivariate logistic regression, subgroup analyses, and mediation effects analysis, using Empower Stats version 4.1.
Results
By using fully adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis, a significant positive correlation between AIP and periodontitis was identified with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.12 and a 95% confidence interval (CI) of (1.01, 1.25). AIP and periodontitis were observed to be associated with a 14.78% mediating effect of BMI (BMI ≥ 25) according to mediation analysis.
Conclusion
This study indicates that a higher risk of developing periodontitis is associated with raised levels of AIP, and that BMI (BMI ≥ 25) acts as a mediating element in this connection. These results offer a fresh viewpoint on clinical strategies for managing and preventing periodontitis.
Pilot study of humanized glypican-3-targeted zirconium-89 immuno-positron emission tomography for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Dickerson Lindsay K. , Lehnert Adrienne L. , Hamlin Donald K. , Labadie Kevin P. , Goodsell Kristin E. , Liu Yongjun , Li Yawen , Wilbur D. Scott , Miyaoka Robert , Park James O. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Purpose: Glypican-3 (GPC3)-targeted radioisotope immuno-positron emission tomography (immunoPET) may lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), thus facilitating curative treatment, decreasing early recurrence, and enhancing patient survival. We previously demonstrated reliable HCC detection using a zirconium-89-labeled murine anti-GPC3 antibody (89Zr-αGPC3M) for immunoPET. This study evaluated the efficacy of the humanized antibody successor (αGPC3H) to further clinical translation of a GPC3-based theranostic for HCC. Methods:In vitro αGPC3 binding to HepG2 cells was assessed by flow cytometry. In vivo 89Zr-αGPC3H and 89Zr-αGPC3M tumor uptake was evaluated by PET/CT and biodistribution studies in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model of HCC. Results: αGPC3H maintained binding to GPC3 in vitro and 89Zr-αGPC3H immunoPET identified liver tumors in vivo. PET/CT and biodistribution analyses demonstrated high 89Zr-αGPC3H tumor uptake and tumor-to-liver ratios, with no difference between groups. Conclusion: Humanized αGPC3 successfully targeted GPC3 in vitro and in vivo. 89Zr-αGPC3H immunoPET had comparable tumor detection to 89Zr-αGPC3M, with highly specific tumor uptake, making it a promising strategy to improve HCC detection.
'Which treatment do you believe you received?' A randomised blinding feasibility trial of spinal manual therapy
Authors: Laguna Javier Muñoz , Kurmann Astrid , Hofstetter Léonie , Nyantakyi Emanuela , Braun Julia , Clack Lauren , Bang Heejung , Farshad Mazda , Foster Nadine E. , Puhan Milo A. , Hincapié Cesar A. , Group SALuBRITY Blinding Clinician 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Blinding is essential for mitigating biases in clinical trials. Our main objectives were to assess the feasibility of blinding: (1) participants randomly allocated to active or placebo-control spinal manual therapy (SMT) interventions, and (2) outcome assessors. We also explored blinding by levels of SMT experience and low back pain, and factors contributing to beliefs about assigned intervention.
Methods:A two-parallel-arm, single-centre, placebo-controlled, blinding feasibility trial. In April 2023, we randomised 81 adults with or without SMT experience or low back pain to either active (n = 40) or placebo-control SMT (n = 41). The primary outcome was participant blinding (beliefs about assigned intervention) using the Bang blinding index (BI) at two study visits. The Bang BI is chance-corrected and ranges from –1 (all incorrect beliefs) to 1 (all correct beliefs), with 0 indicating equal proportions of correct and incorrect beliefs. Secondary outcomes were blinding using an alternative BI, outcome assessor blinding, treatment credibility/expectancy, and factors contributing to beliefs about assigned intervention.
Results: Of 85 adults screened, 81 participants were randomised and 80 (99%) completed follow-up. At study visit 1, 50% of participants in the active (Bang BI: 0.50 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.26 to 0.74]) and 37% in the placebo-control arm (0.37 [95% CI, 0.10 to 0.63]) had a correct belief about their assigned intervention, beyond chance. At study visit 2, BIs were 0.36 (0.08 to 0.64) and 0.29 (0.01 to 0.57) for participants in the active and placebo-control arms. BIs among outcome assessors suggested adequate blinding at both study visits (Active: 0.08 [-0.05 to 0.20] and 0.03 [-0.11 to 0.16]; Placebo-control: -0.12 [-0.24 to -0.00] and -0.07 [-0.21 to 0.07]). BIs varied by participant levels of SMT experience, and low back pain. Participants and outcome assessors described different factors contributing to their beliefs.
Conclusions: Adequate blinding of participants assigned to active SMT may not be feasible with the intervention protocol studied, whereas blinding of participants in the placebo-control arm may be feasible at the end of the study period. Blinding of outcome assessors seemed adequate. Further methodological work on blinding of SMT interventions is needed.
Trial registration number: NCT05778396
Misconceptions about Oral Health and Dentistry: Attitude of Clients at Yazd Dental School in 2023
Authors: Tabatabaei Seyed Hosein , Koshkeno Shahab Al-din Aboutalebi , sabaghzadegan farinaz 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: There are various beliefs concerning oral and dental health among people, some of which do not have any scientific basis, thereby hindering the achievement of an optimal level of health in the community. This study explored attitude of clients presenting to School of Dentistry in Yazd, Iran, concerning some wrong beliefs towards oral health and dentistry in 2023.
Methods: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, 300 clients who referred to Yazd Dental School in 2023 were selected by convenient sampling method. Data were collected using a valid and reliable questionnaire, imported into SPSS25, and analyzed using t-test, ANOVA, and linear regression.
Results: A total of 227 women and 73 men with a mean age of 31.45±12.17 years participated in this study. In terms of severity, the mean score of wrong attitude in the studied community was 44.83±6.03 in the average range. In terms of extent, 46.3 % of people had an wrong attitude on average. There was no statistically significant difference between the mean score of wrong attitude according to gender, types of age groups, types of occupations and media used in each of the subgroups. Yet, the difference between the mean score of wrong attitude of participants according to education level was significant. Linear regression suggested that none of the studied variables could significantly predict participants' wrong attitude towards dental treatments.
Conclusions: Based on the results of the present study, the amount of wrong beliefs about dentistry in the studied community was moderate in terms of severity and extent. Firstly, face-to-face advice is more powerful in strengthening people's attitude towards oral and dental health compared to technology; secondly, oral and dental health practitioners do not properly use the high capacity of media and especially social networks to inform the community. In the long term, the negative impact of wrong beliefs on the oral and dental health of the community can be gradually corrected with proper education at different levels, especially during education and at family level, and improve the health beliefs of the community. In the short and medium term, dentists can use the opportunity of mass media to increase awareness and improve the health beliefs of the community.
Splicing Factor 3b Subunit 4 (SF3B4) Promotes Proliferation of Gastric Cancer through Regulation of VDAC1
Authors: Li Dehong , Lu Yan , Yan Li , Yang Xingwen , Zhao Fenghui , Yang Xiaoyan , Yuan Xiumei , Lin Fugui , Yang Kehu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

SF3B4 is a novel tumor related gene which is aberrantly expression in some malignant tumors. However, the role and mechanisms of SF3B4 in gastric cancer have not been explored. In this study, TMT-based quantitative proteomics and high content screening (HCS) revealed SF3B4 was strongly associated with GC. Immunohistochemistry revealed SF3B4 was upregulated in human gastric cancer tissues, and high SF3B4 expression was associated with shortened progression-free survival of patients. Further investigations indicated that the knockdown of SF3B4 could inhibit the proliferation and colony formation of GC cells while promoting cell apoptosis. Furthermore, knocking down SF3B4 could also inhibit the tumorigenicity of GC cells in vivo. RNA-sequencing followed by IPA was used to explore downstream of SF3B4 and identified VDAC1 as the potential target. Moreover, our study revealed that VDAC1 overexpression could alleviate the SF3B4 knockdown-induced inhibition of GC. Remarkably, we found for the first time that SF3B4 potentially facilitates the development of gastric cancer by exerting VDAC1-mediated effects on autophagy. SF3B4 promotes GC cell proliferation through regulate VDAC1 and may be a novel therapeutic target for GC.
Safflower CtFT Genes Orchestrating Flowering Time and Flavonoid Biosynthesis
Authors: Li Zhiling , Yu Lili , Umar Abdul Wakeel , Wang Jiaruo , Wang Nan , Zhang Min , Yao Na , Ahmad Naveed , Liu Xiuming 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Safflower thrives in dry environments but faces difficulties with flowering in wet and rainy summers. Flavonoids play a role in flower development and can potentially alleviate these challenges. Furthermore, the FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) family of phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein (PEBP) genes play a crucial role in the photoperiodic flowering pathway. However, their direct impact on flowering and flavonoid biosynthesis under different light duration is elusive.
Results: Utilizing the genome sequencing of Safflower (Jihong NO.1), the current study identifies three specific genes (CtFT1, CtFT2, and CtFT3) that exhibit upregulation in response to long-day conditions. The overexpression of CtFT2, displayed an early, whereas CtFT1 and CtFT3 late flowering phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana. Interestingly, the transient overexpression of CtFT1 in safflower leaves caused early flowering, while overexpressing CtFT2 and CtFT3 led to late flowering. Additionally, overexpressing CtFT3 in Arabidopsis and CtFT1, CtFT2, and CtFT3 in safflower leaves, significantly increased flavonoid synthesis.
Conclusions: These findings showed that overexpression of CtFT genes could affect the flowering time and significantly increase the flavonoid content of safflower. The function of CtFT gene is different in safflower and Arabidopsis. This study provides valuable insights into the role of CtFT genes in flower formation and flavonoid synthesis in safflower, which may help in improving safflower breeding quality and its adaptability to diverse environmental conditions.
Towards Heterogeneous Agent Cooperation in Decentralized Multi-Agent Systems
Authors: Monon Jahir Sadik , Barua Deeparghya Dutta , Khan Md. Mosaddek 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning (MARL) is gaining significance as a key framework for various sequential decision-making and control tasks. Unlike their single-agent counterparts, multi-agent systems necessitate successful cooperation among the agents. The deployment of these systems in real-world scenarios often requires decentralized training, heterogeneous agents, and learning from sparse environmental rewards. These challenges are more acute under partial observability and the lack of prior knowledge about agent heterogeneity. While notable studies use intrinsic motivation (IM) to address reward sparsity in decentralized settings, those dealing with heterogeneity typically assume centralized training, parameter sharing, and agent indexing. To address these issues, we propose the CoHet algorithm, which utilizes a novel Graph Neural Network (GNN) based intrinsic motivation to facilitate the learning of heterogeneous agent policies in decentralized settings under conditions of partial observability and reward sparsity. Evaluation of CoHet in the Multi-agent Particle Environment (MPE) and Vectorized Multi-Agent Simulator (VMAS) benchmarks demonstrates that it outperforms the state-of-the-art in a wide range of cooperative multi-agent scenarios. Our research is supplemented by an analysis of the impact of our agent dynamics model on the intrinsic motivation module, how the different variants of CoHet perform, and its robustness to an increasing number of heterogeneous agents.
Engagement with and impact of a mobile health app for childhood obesity prevention and management: a mixed methods study protocol
Authors: Milne-Ives Madison , Ananthakrishnan Ananya , Homer Sophie , Andrade Jackie , Meinert Edward 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Childhood obesity is a serious global health concern that affects around 20% of children worldwide. Digital health behaviour change interventions have the potential to improve behaviours that can contribute to childhood obesity, such as diet and physical activity, but often lack sufficient user engagement to achieve significant impact. The aim of this project is to develop evidence to better understand how users engage with digital interventions and how Behaviour Change Techniques can be leveraged to support engagement. Specifically, the study will examine the impact of a family-focused app for childhood obesity prevention on health behaviours, health outcomes, and communication between families and healthcare professionals.
Methods: A pre-post, mixed-methods evaluation will examine the impact of the NoObesity app on families’ physical activity and dietary behaviours and on healthcare professionals’ self-efficacy at communicating with families about childhood obesity. Secondary outcomes will include well-being, usability, and users’ engagement with and perceptions of the intervention. An initial sample of 1000 families (children and young people and their parents) and 180 healthcare professionals will be recruited to participate in the study, a subset of whom will be invited to qualitative semi-structured interviews. The study implementation and follow-up period will last for 6 months, with the outcomes measured at baseline and 3- and 6-months post-baseline. Quantitative outcomes will be compared over time using repeated-measures ANOVA and qualitative data will be analysed thematically and triangulated with app use data.
Discussion: Ethical approval was received from Newcastle University Faculty of Medical Science Ethics Committee (2688/41816) on 22 March, 2024. Recruitment and data collection are expected to begin in August 2024. The project’s key contributions will be to generate evidence of potential for a family-based digital intervention to support families’ health behaviour change and healthcare professionals’ confidence in their ability to support them and to improve our understanding of how particular Behaviour Change Techniques can be used to support engagement with the intervention and its target behaviours.
IoT Enabled Sustainable Health Monitoring System using Scheduling Approach and Priority Validation for Smart Healthcare Enhancement
Authors: Upadhyay Shrikant , Kumar Mohit , Upadhyay Aditi , Verma Sahil , . Kavita , Khurma Ruba Abu , Mallik Saurav , Shah Mohd Asif 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In this article, we propose a health tracking system designed to aid patients and doctors within a hospital campus. We primarily focus on efficiency, trust ability and scalability of the healthcare system. In previous studies, scheduling methods such as shortest task first and first-come, first-served have been commonly assumed for IoT-dependent healthcare systems. However, these approaches have limitations when it comes to accommodating a wide range of requests and efficiently handling high-demand situations. Specifically, the inclusion of short procedures in such scheduling methods can result in prolonged task completion durations and poor performance in overloaded scenarios. To deal with such challenges we proposed an analytical framework of scheduling that offers service differentiation concerning delay-sensitive, tolerant packets and packet length for a short packet being transferred before long packets. The performance of the prioritized method has been compared with the existing scheduling approaches in terms of packet loss, latency tolerance, packet threshold, mean turndown etc. to analyze its sustainability. Also, the proposed model is analyzed using two existing protocols with different simulation parameters to aiming to identify the most suitable protocol for better management of the health monitoring system.