bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of toileting behavior on daytime non-sedentary behavior in nursing home residents
Authors: Nakano Yuri , Kubota Satoshi , Furudate Takuya 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Nursing home residents engage in lower levels of physical activity, primarily remaining seated or lying down, except for routine activities of daily living (ADLs). Since ADLs, particularly toileting, require effort. This study investigated the relationship between physical activity and toileting activity during the daytime among elderly nursing home residents.
The study involved 30 participants, including a group of healthy community-dwelling elderly individuals and two groups of nursing home residents with independent and non-independent toileting behavior, respectively. The physical activity of participants was measured with an accelerometer, and estimated metabolic equivalents, duration, and amount of physical activity were calculated.
The amount of physical activity associated with toileting was significantly higher in the independent and non-independent groups than in the community group. Moreover, the amount of non-sedentary physical activity associated with toileting positively affected the amount of non-sedentary physical activity during the daytime. These findings suggest that toileting activity can contribute significantly to the physical activity of elderly nursing home residents.
Interventions focusing on improving toileting behavior among nursing home residents may positively impact overall physical activity and functional abilities.
Electric transmission value and its drivers in United States power markets
Authors: Kemp Julie , Millstein Dev , Gorman Will , Jeong Seongeun , Wiser Ryan 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Electric transmission infrastructure serves a critical role during extreme weather and supply disruptions and can enable low-cost, low-carbon electricity systems. This paper contributes to a more complete understanding of transmission’s value, cost-effectiveness, and market barriers. By studying wholesale energy market prices in the United States during 2012-2022, we find that additional transfer capacity between regions was especially valuable (median of $116M/GW-year) and directionally balanced. Transmission’s market value was highly influenced by a small fraction of time: 5% of hours typically capture at least 45% of value. These peak periods were driven primarily by unforeseen changes in conditions within one day of operations. Transmission infrastructure cost estimates were less than market values for most studied locations, including all links crossing regional seams where value-to-cost ratios were frequently above 4, suggesting barriers to the development of valuable infrastructure. These results complement forward-looking modeling studies and aid efforts to improve modeling practices.
Global projection of terrestrial vertebrate food webs under future climate and land-use changes
Authors: Yan Chuan , Hao Xiyang , Holyoak Marcel , Zhang Zhicheng 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Food webs represent an important nexus between biodiversity, ecological communities and ecosystem functioning, and they could be radically changed by anthropogenic climate change and habitat loss. Considering changes in food webs around the world has been limited by data availability, we systematically amassed information about species’ diet, traits, distributions, habitat use, and phylogenetics and used machine learning to predict changes in global and local meta-food webs of terrestrial vertebrates. Terrestrial vertebrate food webs are expected to be greatly changed by the end of this century. Future food webs will be smaller and more densely connected, with systematic declines in predator generality and diversity across trophic groups. Decreases in food-web modularity and connectance will make terrestrial vertebrate communities vulnerable to the propagation of extinctions. Increased species' dispersal could ameliorate these trends. Overall, terrestrial food webs will face increased risks of collapse from climate and land-use change, posing significant challenges to biodiversity conservation.
Streptococcus strain D19 T antibacterial protein reverses the inflammatory damage of respiratory cells induced by Acinetobacter baumannii through ferroptosis
Authors: sun ye , Li Shuyin , Che Yuchen , Liang Hao , Guo Yi , Xiao Chunling 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
Microecological equilibrium is essential for human health. Previous research has demonstrated that Streptococcus strain A, the main bacterial group in the respiratory tract, can suppress harmful microbes and protect the body. In this study, Streptococcus strain D19T was isolated from the oral and pharyngeal cavities of healthy children. Its antibacterial mechanism against Acinetobacter baumannii was examined, as well as its potential to prevent inflammatory damage to cells. We evaluated the effect of the fermentation conditions of D19T on inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii growth; Isolation and purification of antibacterial active components of strain D19T and molecular mechanism of inhibition of Acinetobacter baumannii; Molecular mechanism of D19T bacteriostatic protein reversing cellular inflammatory injury induced by Acinetobacter baumannii.
Results
The supernatant of fermentation broth of Streptococcus D19T was the active component against Acinetobacter baumannii, but the bacteria had no antibacterial activity. The supernatant of D19T fermentation broth was precipitated by (NH4)2SO4 solution, and the protein was the active antibacterial component. After gel filtration chromatography and anion gel filtration chromatography, the molecular weight of antibacterial protein was 53kD. D19T antibacterial protein can improve cell membrane permeability, limit extracellular soluble protein release, inhibit Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation, and prevent Acinetobacter baumannii adhesion. Acinetobacter baumannii induces inflammatory damage to respiratory cells via ferroptosis, and the D19T antibacterial protein can counteract this damage, protecting the respiratory tract.
Conclusion
Streptococcus strain D19T, as a potential probiotic, inhibits the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii and the inflammatory damage of respiratory cells, playing a protective role in human respiratory health.
Subsurface Flow Pathway and Hydrochemistry of a Geographically Isolated Depression Wetland in the Serra Geral Diabase Formation, São Paulo State, Brazil
Authors: Franco Isabella , Sardinha Diego Souza , Furlan Lucas Moreira , Casagrande Matheus Felipe Stanfoca , Moreira César Augusto , Rosolen Vania 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Connectivity among water bodies is a key of important hydrological and ecological processes and fundamental to water management. Hydrochemistry and potentiometric studies applied on an isolated wetland allow to assess the landscape influence in water, flow pathways, and subsurface connection. This study focus on an isolated wetland developed over diabase on a topographic depression with no visible connection with river and aims to determine the influence of rainfall and landscape on its water composition and to investigate the existence of subsurface flow toward the Santa Gertrudes stream. Water level was monitored, and water samples were collected in the four wells during the wet and dry seasons. Physical and chemical water parameters were measured, and it was determined the concentration of ions of interest. Pearson’s correlations were applied to understand the codependence between physical and chemical parameters and ions and Piper’s diagram allowed to classify the water composition. Six potentiometric maps were generated based on hydraulic loads interpolation derived from each monitoring event. The findings indicate that water levels fluctuate between rainy and dry periods, suggesting direct rainwater influence on water availability. The water composition was categorized as Sodium Bicarbonate, exhibiting seasonal concentration variations. The strong positive correlation between sodium, bicarbonate and carbonate, and sulfate with the electrical conductivity (Ce) and among themselves suggests that these ions are being released simultaneously into water due to the alteration of the rock and soil minerals. Potentiometric data reinforce the hypothesis of a subsurface connection between the studied area and the Santa Gertrudes stream.
Geographic inequalities, and social-demographic determinants of reproductive, maternal and child health at sub-national levels in Kenya.
Authors: Karimi Janette , Cherono Anitah , Alegana Victor , Mutua Martin , Kiarie Hellen , Muthee Rose , Temmerman Marleen , Gichangi Peter 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Global initiatives have emphasized tracking indicators to monitor progress, particularly in countries with the highest maternal and child mortality. Routine data can be used to monitor indicators for improved targeting. Our objective was to assess the geographic inequalities in estimates of reproductive, maternal and child health indicators from routine data at the subnational level in Kenya.
Methods
Monthly data from 47 counties clustered in 8 regions, from January 2018 to December 2021 were assembled from the District Health Information Software version 2 (DHIS2) in Kenya. This included women of reproductive age receiving family planning commodities, pregnant women completing four antenatal care visits, deliveries conducted by skilled birth attendants, fully immunized children at 1 year and number of maternal deaths at health facilities, from which five indicators were constructed with denominators. A hierarchical Bayesian model was used to generate estimates of the five indicators the at sub-national levels(counties and sub counties), adjusting for four determinants of health. A reproductive, maternal, and child health (RMCH) index was generated from the 5 indicators to compare overall performance across the continuum of care in reproductive, maternal and child health across the different counties.
Results
The DHIS2 data quality for the selected 5 indicators was acceptable with detection of less than 3% outliers for the FMMR and less than 1% for the other indicators. Overall, counties in the north-eastern, eastern and coastal regions had the lowest RMCH index due to low service coverage and high facility maternal mortality. Full immunization coverage at 1 year (FIC) had the highest estimate (79.3% BCI: 77.8–80.5%), while Women of Reproductive age receiving FP commodities had the lowest estimate (38.6% BCI: 38.2–38.9%). Health facility density was an important determinant in estimating all five indicators. Maternal education was positively correlated with higher FIC coverage, while wealthier sub counties had higher FMMR.
Conclusions
Tracking of RMCH indicators revealed geographical inequalities at the County and subcounty level, often masked by national-level estimates. These findings underscore the value of routine monitoring indicators as a potential for evidence-based sub-national planning and precision targeting of interventions to marginalized populations.
A CMOS-integrated terahertz near-field sensor based on an ultra-strongly coupled meta-atom
Authors: Chernyadiev Alexander , But Dmytro , Ivonyak Yurii , Ikamas Kęstutis , Lisauskas Alvydas 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Recently, plasmonic-based sensors operating in the terahertz frequency range have emerged as perspective tools for rapid and efficient label-free biosensing applications. In this work, we present a fully electronic approach allowing us to achieve state-of-the-art sensitivity by utilizing a near-field-coupled electronic sensor. We demonstrate that the proposed concept enables the efficient implementation and probing of a so-called ultra-strongly coupled sub-wavelength meta-atom as well as a single resonant circuit, allowing to limit the volume of material under test down to a few picoliter range. The sensor has been monolithically integrated into a cost-efficient silicon-based CMOS technology. Our findings are supported by both numerical and analytical models and validated through experiments. They lay the groundwork for near-future developments, outlining the perspectives for a terahertz microfluidic lab-on-chip dielectric spectroscopy sensor.
Clinical subtypes of older adults starting long-term care in Japan and their association with prognoses: a data-driven cluster analysis
Authors: Ito Yuji , Iwagami Masao , Komiyama Jun , Hamasaki Yoko , Kuroda Naoaki , Suzuki Ai , Ito Tomoko , Goto Tadahiro , Wan Eric Y F , Lai Francisco T T , Tamiya Nanako 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
We aimed to identify the clinical subtypes in individuals starting long-term care in Japan and examined their association with prognoses. Using linked medical insurance claims data and survey data for care-need certification in a large city, we identified participants who started long-term care. Grouping them based on 22 diseases recorded in the past 6 months using fuzzy c-means clustering, we examined the longitudinal association between clusters and death or care-need level deterioration within 2 years. We analyzed 4,648 participants (median age 83 [interquartile range 78–88] years, female 60.4%) between October 2014 and March 2019 and categorized them into (i) musculoskeletal and sensory, (ii) cardiac, (iii) neurological, (iv) respiratory and cancer, (v) insulin-dependent diabetes, and (vi) unspecified subtypes. The results of clustering were replicated in another city. Compared with the musculoskeletal and sensory subtype, the adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for death was 1.22 (1.05–1.42), 1.81 (1.54–2.13), and 1.21 (1.00–1.46) for the cardiac, respiratory and cancer, and insulin-dependent diabetes subtypes, respectively. The care-need levels more likely worsened in the cardiac, respiratory and cancer, and unspecified subtypes than in the musculoskeletal and sensory subtype. In conclusion, distinct clinical subtypes exist among individuals initiating long-term care.
DAF-16/FOXO and HLH-30/TFEB comprise a cooperative regulatory axis controlling tubular lysosome induction in C. elegans
Authors: Ricaurte-Perez Cristian , Wall P. , Dubuisson Olga , Bohnert K. , Johnson Alyssa E. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Although life expectancy has increased, longer lifespans do not always align with prolonged healthspans and, as a result, the occurrence of age-related degenerative diseases continues to increase. Thus, biomedical research has been shifting focus to strategies that enhance both lifespan and healthspan concurrently. Two major transcription factors that have been heavily studied in the context of aging and longevity are DAF-16/FOXO and HLH-30/TFEB; however, how these two factors coordinate to promote longevity is still not fully understood. In this study, we reveal a new facet of their cooperation that supports healthier aging in C. elegans. Namely, we demonstrate that the combinatorial effect of daf-16 and hlh-30 is required to trigger robust lysosomal tubulation, which contributes to systemic health benefits in late age by enhancing cross-tissue proteostasis mechanisms. Remarkably, this change in lysosomal morphology can be artificially induced via overexpression of SVIP, a previously characterized tubular lysosome stimulator, even when one of the key transcription factors, DAF-16, is absent. This adds to growing evidence that SVIP could be utilized to employ tubular lysosome activity in adverse conditions or disease states. Mechanistically, intestinal overexpression of SVIP leads to nuclear accumulation of HLH-30 in gut and non-gut tissues and triggers global gene expression changes that promotes systemic health benefits. Collectively, our work reveals a new cellular process that is under the control of DAF-16 and HLH-30 and provides further insight into how these two transcription factors may be exerting their pro-health effects.
Chromium supplementation and type 2 diabetes mellitus: An extensive systematic review
Authors: Georgaki Maria-Nefeli , Tsokkou Sophia , Keramas Antonios , Papamitsou Theodora , Karachrysafi Sofia , Kazakis Nerantzis 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Diabetes is a global public health concern with increasing prevalence worldwide. Chromium (Cr), a trace element found in soil, water, and food, has been proposed to have a possible positive effect in glucose metabolism and diabetes mellitus prevention. However, the relationship between trivalent chromium (Cr (III)) exposure, mainly through the consumption of diet supplements, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial. An extensive systematic review of the current literature on randomized controlled studies (RCTs) was conducted, using the databases, PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Cochrane, with specific keywords and inclusion as well as exclusion criteria. After close screening of the research studies retrieved from the mentioned websites was conducted, the most related studies were included in the final systematic review. The studies were evaluated for the degree og relevance, quality, and risk bias, using appropriate quality assessment tools. Several of the included RCT studies reported possible benefits of Cr (III) supplementation, mainly in the form of chromium picolinate (CrPic), chromium yeast (CY), chromium chloride (CrCl3), and chromium nicotinate (CrN). The dosage of chromium was between 50 and 1000 μg/day and it was consumed from 2 to 6 months. Glycemic control markers, including FPG, insulin, HbA1C, and HOMA-IR levels, significantly decrease following chromium supplementation, mainly in studies with a longer intervention period. Supplementing with chromium (Cr) indicated that could significantly improve lipid profile by raising high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and lowering triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) while having little effect on low-density lipoprotein (LDL). However, most research findings include significant limitations, such as inconsistent dosage and type of chromium, formulation of supplements, and study duration. Further well-designed and high-quality research is needed to fully understand the role of chromium dietary supplementation and the potential risks related to its mechanisms of action, type, and dose, in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Exploring the Influence of Urbanization on Gut Mycobiota through Dietary Changes in Burkina Faso
Authors: Renzi Sonia , Meriggi Niccolò , Paola Monica Di , Bacci Giovanni , Cerasuolo Benedetta , Gori Agnese , Casari Silene , Banci Elena , de Blasi Alessia , Diallo Salou , Kaborè Berenger , Derra Karim , Tinto Halidou , Filippo Carlotta , De Mast Quirijn , Lionetti Paolo , Cavalieri Duccio 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
How the evolution of dietary habits has impacted the yeasts associated with our gut is largely unknown. The impact of urbanization and globalization on human nutrition and the composition of gut microbial communities are considered driving forces behind the rise in non-communicable diseases. While previous studies in developing countries have investigated changes in the bacterial component of the gut microbiota during the transition from rural to urban areas, the modifications in the intestinal fungal communities are completely unexplored. In this study, we examined the impact of urbanization and dietary shifts on the composition of the gut mycobiota in families residing in rural, semi-urbanized, and urban areas in Burkina Faso. We compared these findings with families living in the urban area of Florence (Italy) as a reference for a globalized lifestyle.
Results
Our research revealed a significant reduction in the alpha diversity of the intestinal mycobiota as individuals transitioned from rural to urban areas. Members of rural households exhibited greater fungal richness and biodiversity compared to those in urban households, including affluent families in the capital city, Ouagadougou. We observed that the fungal diversity varied in households as a function of the rural-to-urban transition gradient, and we identified 33 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), including 12 fungal species, as associated with distinct areas with specific lifestyle and dietary patterns as indicators of the rural-to-urban transition.
Conclusion
The household-level survey of rural and urban communities in Burkina Faso highlighted the effect of urbanization on the lifestyle and subsequent composition of the participants' intestinal mycobiota. A greater diversity of fungal taxa emerged in the rural cohort, along with the presence of distinct species with potential pathogenic traits. This finding suggests that the continuous exposure to pathogenic fungi and the ensuing interaction with the immune system may contribute to the maintenance of lower incidence and severity of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in non-globalized communities. In agreement with the “hygiene hypothesis”, the lack of yeast diversity could provide a potential explanation for the higher prevalence of inflammatory and immune-related disorders in urbanized regions across the world.
Directional selection, not the direction of selection, affects telomere length and copy number at ribosomal RNA loci
Authors: Sadler Daniel , Watts Phillip C. , Uusi-Heikkilä Silva 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Many fisheries exert directional selection on traits such as body size and growth rate. Whether directional selection impacts regions of the genome associated with traits related to growth is unknown. To address this issue, we characterised copy number variation in three regions of the genome associated with cell division, (1) telomeric DNA, (2) loci transcribed as ribosomal RNA (rDNA), and (3) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), in three selection lines of zebrafish reared at three temperatures (22°C, 28°C, and 34°C). Selection lines differed in (1) the direction of selection (two lines experienced directional selection for large or small body size) and (2) whether they experienced any directional selection itself. Lines that had experienced directional selection were smaller, had lower growth rate, shorter telomeres, and lower rDNA copy number than the line that experiencing no directional selection. Neither telomere length nor rDNA copy number were affected by temperature. In contrast, mtDNA content increased at elevated temperature but did not differ among selection lines. Though directional selection impacts rDNA and telomere length, direction of such selection did not matter, whereas mtDNA acts as a stress marker for temperature. Future work should examine the consequences of these genomic changes in natural fish stocks.
A Cross-cultural Comparative Study between Chinese and Japanese Preschool Educators’ Use of Mental State Language in Interactions With Children
Authors: Li Hongxin , Lu Zhongjie , Liu Yelin , Han Feifei , Hu Jiangbo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Mental state language (MSL) is a language used to describe individual internal states including one’s desire, emotion, perception and cognition. This study compared Chinese and Japanese preschool educators’ use of MSL in interactions with preschool children. Based on ecological systems of educator-child interactions, it analyzed 12 Chinese and 12 Japanese native preschool educators’ use of MSL in interactions with children considering the contextual factors (e.g. educator-child ratio and activity settings). The corpus analysis involved 8453 clauses from spontaneous 30-mintute spontaneous interactions during free play. The findings reveled that Japanese educators used a significantly higher proportion MSL compared to the Chinese educators. Among the four types of MSL, the Chinese educators uttered Cognition with higher frequency and more diverse cognitive terms, while the Japanese cohort used more Desire and Emotion with abundant emotional expressions. Child age is identified as a significant factor influencing educators’ use of MSL. The study discussed how Japanese and Chinese preschool educators provide distinct language experiences for children in different cultural-linguistic contexts, which has implications for worldwide preschool education in multicultural contexts.