bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Helicobacter pylori with trx1 high expression promotes gastric diseases via upregulating the IL23A/NF‐κB/IL8 pathway
Authors: Guan Xin , Ning Jing , Fu Weiwei , Wang Ye , Zhang Jing , Ding Shigang 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundHelicobacter pylori infection is one of the main causes of gastric cancer. thioredoxin‐1 (Trx1) and arginase (RocF) expressed by H. pylori were found to be closely related to its pathogenicity. However, whether Trx1 and RocF can be used in clinical screening of highly pathogenic H. pylori and the pathogenesis of trx1 high expressing H. pylori remain still unknown.Materials and MethodsWe investigated the expression level of H. pylori trx1 and H. pylori rocF in human gastric antrum tissues using reverse transcription and quantitative real‐time PCR (RT‐qPCR) and clarified the clinical application value of trx1 and rocF for screening highly pathogenic H. pylori. The pathogenic mechanism of Trx1 were further explored by RNA‐seq of GES‐1 cells co‐cultured with trx1 high or low expressing H. pylori. Differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways were validated by RT‐qPCR, Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. We also assessed the adherence of trx1 high and low expressing H. pylori to GES‐1 cells.ResultsWe found that H. pylori trx1 and H. pylori rocF were more significantly expressed in the gastric cancer and peptic ulcer group than that in the gastritis group and the parallel diagnosis of H. pylori trx1 and H. pylori rocF had high sensitivity. The trx1 high expressing H. pylori had stronger adhesion ability to GES‐1 cells and upregulated the interleukin (IL) 23A/nuclear factor κappaB (NF‐κB)/IL17A, IL6, IL8 pathway.ConclusionsH. pylori trx1 and H. pylori rocF can be used in clinical screening of highly pathogenic H. pylori and predicting the outcome of H. pylori infection. The trx1 high expressing H. pylori has stronger adhesion capacity and promotes the development of gastric diseases by upregulating the activation of NF‐κB signaling pathway.
Foreign institutional ownership and corporate labor investment
Authors: Do Trung K. , Le Anh‐Tuan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWe examine the impact of foreign institutional ownership on firms' labor investment efficiency. Using a comprehensive global sample of firms across 37 non‐U.S. countries, we find that greater ownership by foreign institutional investors is significantly associated with lower deviations of labor investment from the level justified by economic fundamentals, that is, higher labor investment efficiency. Independent, U.S.‐based and common‐law foreign institutional investors increase labor investment efficiency to a greater extent than their gray, non‐U.S.‐based and civil‐law peers. We further find evidence supporting the value creation of foreign institutions through the improvement in labor investment efficiency. Overall, our results suggest that foreign institutional investors promote good corporate governance practices around the world.
Improving household well‐being through entrepreneurship and inclusive finance in the context of the Next‐11 countries
Authors: Uche Emmanuel , Ngepah Nicholas 
Published: April 2024

AbstractScholarship brainstorming on household welfare enablers abounds in academic literature. Nonetheless, the perspective of entrepreneurship, particularly for the Next‐11 countries, is underreported. Likewise, prior literature failed to investigate the influence of categorical (gender‐specific) entrepreneurship on household welfare. Thus, this investigation covers this lacuna by examining the predictive effects of aggregate, male and female entrepreneurship and financial inclusiveness on household welfare. With panel series spanning 2004–2021, both the Westerlund and Banerjee & Carrion‐i‐Silvestre cointegration procedures confirmed long‐term convergence among the series. The estimates of the augmented mean group (AMG) and the cross‐sectional autoregressive distributed lag (CSARDL) techniques revealed that entrepreneurship enhances household well‐being. This outcome validates the self‐determination theory since entrepreneurial engagements enhance household welfare. By extension, policies targeting entrepreneurship empowerment are critical for economic prosperity in these countries. In terms of gender variations, it is established that female entrepreneurship, much more than male, enhances household well‐being significantly. Furthermore, although automated teller machine availability promotes subjective well‐being, the number of commercial bank branches enhances only objective well‐being. Meanwhile, commercial bank loans failed to enhance both aspects of welfare at all times. Hence, we have provided relevant policy options that would ensure the maximization of households’ well‐being in these countries and other emerging economies.
Adjustments of flower opening time and duration in tropical rice (Oryza sativa ssp. indica) landraces in response to heat stress
Authors: Deb Debal , Paul Ayan , Bhattacharya Sabyasachi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBased on our primary database of the flower opening time (FOT) and flower exposure duration (FED) of 1114 rice (Oryza sativa ssp. indica) landraces, we examined the influences of growing season, sunrise time as well as day maximum and minimum temperatures on the anthesis behaviour of indica rice landraces of South and Southeast Asia, flowering in summer and winter in 3 consecutive years (2020–2022). We also compared the FOT and FED on sunny and cloudy days of a small set of landraces, and also during summer and winter. Our data show that rice florets tend to open later in the morning and lengthen the sunrise‐to‐anthesis duration (SAD) on hotter sunny days during tropical summer than during winter and on cloudy days. These findings contradict the widely held conjecture, based on studies conducted at colder latitudes, that rice flowers open earlier in the morning to avoid heat stress. We propose that indica rice landraces are sufficiently adapted to tropical summer because they were selected and bred over millennia to withstand heat stress during tropical summer, so their FOT and SAD are weakly influenced by high day temperatures. However, the significant reduction in FED of these landraces, whose flowers open later in mid‐day, seems to be an adaptive mechanism to avoid longer exposure to rising air temperature approaching day maximum temperature.
Using fossil records to predict short‐term changes in niche and spatial dynamics in a broadly distributed coral reef: Niche conservatism and adaptation
Authors: de Oliveira Umberto Diego Rodrigues , Dobrovolski Ricardo , Barros Francisco , Pérez Carlos Daniel , Vilela Bruno 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimGiven the rapid pace of climate change and its significant impact on species distribution and survival, understanding the dynamics of ecological niches over time becomes imperative. By employing ecological niche models and species distribution models, alongside analyses of historical occurrence records and palaeoclimatic data, we aimed to assess the extent of changes in the niche of Porites astreoides from the Holocene to the present. Specifically, we quantified the amount of: (1) niche stability, (2) niche expansion, (3) niche decline and (4) niche overlap in both the environmental and geographical space.LocationAtlantic Ocean.TaxonCnidarian, Scleractinia.Materials and MethodsThrough fossil and current records and environmental variables from the same periods, we use two ecological niche modelling approaches (overlap and maximum entropy) to analyse niche dynamics in environmental and geographical space, specifically the degree of expansion, stability and loss of niches over the last ~8000 years. We used a principal component analysis to build the models within two different calibration areas (minimum convex polygon and buffer).ResultsOur results were similar, except for the loss of habitat, across the calibration areas used to build the models. The PCA used to build the models accounts for more than 65% of the variation in the data. Most of the environmental niche remained stable with an increase of almost a third and a negligible loss. Models in geographical space showed that most of the suitable area remained stable, but the species expanded its range from the Caribbean to the coast of Brazil. The analysis also showed a high value of niche overlap in environmental and geographical spaces.Main ConclusionsThe species studied is one of the corals with the greatest capacity to adapt to new environments and locations, but it also has a high tendency to preserve niche traits. These characteristics helped the species to expand its environmental and geographical niche in a period of relative climatic stability. On the other hand, these same characteristics of niche conservatism can lead the species to population decline and habitat loss, if the speed of adaptation is lower than the rapid climate changes predicted for the middle and end of the 21st century.
MFNet: Meta‐learning based on frequency‐space mix for MRI segmentation in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Li Yin , Chen Qi , Li Hao , Wang Song , Chen Nutan , Han Ting , Wang Kai , Yu Qingqing , Cao Zhantao , Tang Jun 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDeep learning techniques have been applied to medical image segmentation and demonstrated expert‐level performance. Due to the poor generalization abilities of the models in the deployment in different centres, common solutions, such as transfer learning and domain adaptation techniques, have been proposed to mitigate this issue. However, these solutions necessitate retraining the models with target domain data and annotations, which limits their deployment in clinical settings in unseen domains. We evaluated the performance of domain generalization methods on the task of MRI segmentation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by collecting a new dataset of 321 patients with manually annotated MRIs from two hospitals. We transformed the modalities of MRI, including T1WI, T2WI and CE‐T1WI, from the spatial domain to the frequency domain using Fourier transform. To address the bottleneck of domain generalization in MRI segmentation of NPC, we propose a meta‐learning approach based on frequency domain feature mixing. We evaluated the performance of MFNet against existing techniques for generalizing NPC segmentation in terms of Dice and MIoU. Our method evidently outperforms the baseline in handling the generalization of NPC segmentation. The MF‐Net clearly demonstrates its effectiveness for generalizing NPC MRI segmentation to unseen domains (Dice = 67.59%, MIoU = 75.74% T1W1). MFNet enhances the model's generalization capabilities by incorporating mixed‐feature meta‐learning. Our approach offers a novel perspective to tackle the domain generalization problem in the field of medical imaging by effectively exploiting the unique characteristics of medical images.
Family dysfunction, stressful life events, and mental health problems across development in the offspring of parents with an affective disorder
Authors: Resendes Tiffany , Ellenbogen Mark A. , Oldehinkel Albertine J. 
Published: April 2024

BackgroundOffspring of parents with affective disorders (OAD) are at risk of developing a wide range of mental disorders. Deficits in the rearing environment and high levels of stress are well‐known risk factors for negative outcomes in OAD. Building on prior research, we aim to examine the longitudinal relationships between family dysfunction, stressful life events, and mental health in OAD and control offspring of parents with no affective disorder. In the present study, we hypothesized that high levels of family dysfunction would be associated with more internalizing and externalizing problems across time in OAD than in controls, and that family dysfunction would mediate the relationship between stressful life events in adolescence and poor mental health in adulthood, particularly in OAD.MethodsAs part of the TRacking Adolescents' Lives Survey (TRAILS), 2230 participants (51% female, Mage = 11.1 years, SD = 0.6, at baseline) and their parents completed measures across six time points, spanning 15 years. Mental health, family dysfunction, and stressful life events were assessed with the Youth and Adult Self‐Report, Family Assessment Device, and an in‐house measure, respectively.ResultsMulti‐group structured equation modeling revealed that family dysfunction was linked to internalizing and externalizing problems in OAD, but not controls, across time. Risk status did not moderate family dysfunction's mediation of the relationship between stressful life events and negative outcomes in adulthood.ConclusionsOAD show high sensitivity to dysfunction in the rearing environment across childhood and adolescence, which supports the use of family based interventions to prevent the development of mental disorders in high‐risk youth.
The effects of fatty acids on psoriasis: A two‐sample mendelian randomization study
Authors: Huang Yuanjie , Chen Zedong , Wu Xuerui , Chen Chen , Cai Limin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundSome studies indicated an association between fatty acids (FA) and psoriasis. While definitive correlation between FA and psoriasis is still unclear. Therefore, our objective is to ascertain whether fatty acid levels are causally related to psoriasis using a Mendelian randomization approach.MethodWe investigated the causal relationship between psoriasis and multiple types of FA by mendelian randomization. All data were acquired from Genome‐Wide Association Study. We also performed additional analysis to assess the validity of the causal connection.ResultsOur mendelian analysis suggests that n‐3 fatty acid levels are associated with a lower risk of psoriasis. [IVW, OR/95% CI: 0.998/(0.997, 0.999), p (2.479 × 10−4)] Complementary analyses returned similar results, indicating consistency in our findings. No horizontal pleiotropy was found in our analysis. There was no indication of causal effects from other varieties of FA on psoriasis.ConclusionOur studies found that n‐3 FA may lower the likelihood of developing psoriasis. We also need well‐designed prospective studies and related large‐scale, multicenter RCTs to confirm our findings.
Revolutionizing thread lifting: Evolution and techniques in facial rejuvenation
Authors: Hong Gi‐Woong , Park Soo Yeon , Yi Kyu‐Ho 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveThis review explores the utilization of thread lifting materials, distinct from traditional sutures, in aesthetic procedures. It aims to elucidate the varied composition, purpose, and performance of these slender materials.MethodsThe article contextualizes thread lifting materials by exploring their literal and material significance. The evolution of these materials is traced, emphasizing the preexistence of cog threads for tissue manipulation before their widespread adoption in plastic surgery.ResultsObservations regarding the efficacy and longevity of absorbable versus non‐absorbable threads are discussed, with a particular emphasis on the efficiency of high‐quality absorbable cog threads.ConclusionThe proliferation of thread lifting materials extends beyond PDO, necessitating consideration of multiple factors beyond duration when selecting threads for lifting procedures. This underscores the importance of comprehensive evaluation in choosing appropriate thread lifting materials.
Development and validation of a scale to measure social isolation in adolescents
Authors: dos Santos Simone José , Soares Fernanda Cunha , Gaoua Nadia , Rangel Junior João F. L. B. , Lima Rodrigo Antunes , de Barros Mauro Virgilio Gomes 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThere is a lack of questionnaires specifically designed to assess social isolation in adolescents. We developed and validated a self‐report measure of social isolation in adolescents, the Social Isolation Questionnaire (QIS). A literature review on social isolation and mental health in adolescents indicated 20 questions to form QIS. Two cross‐sectional surveys with 48 and 1135 adolescents, respectively, evaluated the reproducibility and validity of QIS. The Bland–Altman plot did not indicate a systematic difference between measurements 15 days apart. Bartlett's sphericity test verified a correlation between the questions and the Kaiser‐Meyer‐Olkin test showed good adequacy (.896) to the factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis suggested the exclusion of three questions (loading factors <0.3), and eigenvalues (4.9–0.8) indicated that the questionnaire should be composed of three factors (dimensions). The Cronbach's alpha indicated high internal consistency of the 17 questions (0.850 overall; Dimensions: 0.815 ‘feeling of loneliness’; 0.760 ‘friendship’; and, 0.680 ‘Family support’). The QIS score ranged from 0 to 131 (maximum social isolation score). The correlation between QIS and depressive symptoms (r = .543) indicated the construct validity of QIS. We evaluated QIS in the Portuguese version, thus translation and cultural adaptation are necessary to evaluate the questionnaire in other settings. We constructed and validated the QIS questionnaire, a self‐administered questionnaire to assess social isolation in adolescents, composed of three dimensions; feelings of loneliness, friendship and family support. The QIS questionnaire seems a very promising tool to support practitioners and researchers in assessing social isolation among adolescents.
Effects of yak rumen anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces sp. YF3 fermented on in vitro wheat straw fermentation and microbial communities in dairy goat rumen fluid, with and without fungal flora
Authors: Du Xueer , Zhou Linlin , Li Yong , Zhang Fan , Wang Lamei , Yao Junhu , Chen Xinghua , Liu Shimin , Cao Yangchun 
Published: April 2024

AbstractRumen fungi play an essential role in the breakdown of dietary fibrous components, facilitating the provision of nutrients and energy to the host animals. This study investigated the fermentation characteristics and effects on rumen microbiota of yak rumen anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces sp. YF3 in goat rumen fluid, both with and without fungal flora, utilizing anaerobic fermentation bottles. Crushed and air‐dried wheat straw served as the fermentation substrate, and cycloheximide was used to eradicate microorganisms from the rumen fluid of dairy goats. The experiment compromised four treatment groups (2×2 factorial design): control (C); yak fungus group (CF, Orpinomyces sp. YF3); goat fungi eliminated group (CA, antibiotic: 0.25 mg/mL cycloheximide); goat fungi eliminated+yak fungus group (CAF). Each treatment had six replicates. Fermentation characteristics and microbial composition of the fermentation media were analyzed using one‐way analysis of variance and high‐throughput sequencing technology. The findings revealed that in the Orpinomyces sp. YF3 addition group (CF and CAF groups), there were significant increases in ammonia nitrogen concentration by 70%, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) by 53%, as well as acetate, isobutyrate, and valerate concentrations, and the ratio of acetate to propionate (p < 0.05), while the propionate proportion declined by 13%, alongside a reduction of butyrate concentration (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the CF and CAF groups, there were a notable increase in the relative abundance of Bacteroidota, Synergistota, Desulfobacterota, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteriota, alongside a decrease in the relative abundance of Fibrobacterota and Proteobacteria (p < 0.05). Bacteria exhibiting increased relative abundance were positively correlated with the activity of carboxymethyl cellulase and avicelase, total VFA concentration, and acetate proportion, while showing a negatively correlation with propionate proportion. In conclusion, supplementing rumen fermentation media with yak rumen anaerobic fungus Orpinomyces sp. YF3 led to an increase in bacteria associated with fibre degradation and acetic acid production, a decrease in propionate‐producing bacteria, enhanced the activity of plant cell wall degrading enzymes, and promoted cellulose degradation, ultimately elevating total VAF concentration and acetate proportion. This presents a novel approach to enhance roughage utilization in ruminants.
Crowdsourcing to increase hepatitis B and C testing and reduce hepatitis stigma among medical students in Bangladesh
Authors: Ali Mohammad , Tucker Joseph D. , Kpokiri Eneyi E. , Wu Dan , Rahman M. Anisur , Mia Titu , Chowdhury Md. Shafiqul Alam , Ahmed Faroque , Hakim H. A. Nazmul , Paiker Zunaid Murshed , Nuha Nabila Jashim 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis study addresses the pervasive challenges of low hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) testing rates coupled with the stigma associated with these diseases in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) with a special focus on Bangladesh. This study aims to introduce an innovative crowdsourcing intervention that involves medical students, a crucial cohort with the potential to shape healthcare attitudes. Through a structured crowdsourcing approach, the study designs and implements a digital intervention to counter stigma and promote testing among medical students in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Participants submitted brief videos or texts aiming to encourage hepatitis testing and reduce stigma. The call, advertised through meetings, emails, and social media, welcomed entries in English or Bengali over 3 weeks. A panel of six judges evaluated each entry based on clarity, impact potential, innovation, feasibility, and sustainability, awarding prizes to students behind the highest‐rated submissions. Seventeen videos and four text messages received an average score of 5.5 among 440 surveyed medical students, predominantly 22 years old (16%) and in their fourth year (21%). After viewing, 360 students underwent screening, identifying two previously undiagnosed HBV cases referred for care; no HCV infections were found. Notably, 41% expressed concerns about individuals with HBV working in hospitals or having a doctor living with HBV. In conclusion, this pilot showcases the power of medical students in spearheading campaigns to counter hepatitis stigma and encourage testing. By utilizing crowdsourcing, the study introduces an innovative approach to a persistent issue in LMICs specially in Bangladesh, offering a model that could potentially be adapted by other regions grappling with similar challenges.
Social media effects on well‐being: The hypothesis of addiction of a new variety
Authors: Pugno Maurizio 
Published: April 2024

AbstractRecent evidence shows that social media use has negative effects on well‐being of children and youths. However, the underlying reasons are unclear, as social media are means that can also serve beneficial purposes. We propose the hypothesis that social media induce users to harmful addiction of a new variety because such use is not toxic per se but becomes toxic by crowding out beneficial activities. We identify, in particular, the key mechanism in the change of time preference: While social media induce users to present‐biassed activities, thus encouraged by how platforms are designed, they crowd out activities that develop skills and are forward‐looking, such as education, volunteering and democratic participation. This triggers a vicious circle leading to a long run deterioration of well‐being and skills that would have acted as an antidote to addiction. As implication, policies should address adequate information and education in general, as well as increased competition in the digital platform market. While the available evidence supports our hypothesis in many respects, more empirical research is needed.