bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health systems in the COVID‐19 crises: Comparative patterns of NHS satisfaction and preferences for public health action in Scotland and England
Authors: Deeming Christopher 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIt is often claimed Scotland is more social democratic in outlook compared to England, if this is the case then we might expect to find differences in public attitudes towards health and social justice, reflecting the growing health policy divergence between the two nations. Comparative attitudes towards healthcare in Scotland and England are worthy of close scrutiny here, given the different reform trajectories, with the running of the Scottish NHS based on professionalism and the English NHS structure built on market‐based principles. The Scottish Government also implemented stricter lockdown restrictions compared to the UK Government in England. However, the extent to which the policy responses to the pandemic reflect different attitudes towards collective public health action in the two countries remains under‐researched. In this article, public attitudes towards health in Scotland are compared with those in England. The comparative analysis relies primarily on survey data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) module on health and healthcare. This survey was fielded in Scotland and England in the autumn of 2021, during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Overall, Scotland is more solidaristic or ‘social democratic’ than England on key issues relating to public health action and social justice. The findings reveal some commonalities between the nations, confidence in the NHS during the pandemic, and a willingness to improve the health service via higher taxes for example, but also important differences in attitudes and preferences for state action exist that help set the scene for greater policy divergence in the UK.
Desafios na aplicabilidade dos modelos ontológicos de competências gerenciais em saúde: uma scoping review
Authors: Borges Fogliatto Danielle , Peres Aida Maris , Marli Aparecida Rocha de Souza  , Leticia Mara Peres  , Lapierre Judith 
Published: March 2024

Objective: Identify challenges in the applicability of ontological models that represent relationships and elements of health management competencies. Methods: Scoping Review, according to Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and the guiding question: “What are the challenges in the applicability of ontological models that represent the health management competencies described in health in the literature?”. Included national and international studies, English, Portuguese and Spanish, in the time span of 2015 to 2020. Results: The search strategy was applied in eight databases; 2024 articles were found and eight were selected as the final sample. The studies highlighted the following difficulties in this theoretical framework: interpretation of complex, heterogeneous and dispersed data by health managers, lack of automation in patient monitoring, lack of training of health managers, inadequate task distribution and workload of the nursing team and also, deficiency in decision-making shared between health professionals and the patient. Conclusions: The application of ontological models in health management systems resulted in time optimization, data integration and better management decision-making in order to positively help the work of health professionals and managers.
Economía del cuidado en la lactancia materna exclusiva: una valoración del trabajo requerido, Colombia 2023.
Authors: Forero Ballesteros Luis Carlos , Forero Torres Ana Yibby 
Published: March 2024

Introducción: La economía del cuidado hace referencia al trabajo no remunerado, relacionado con mantenimiento de la vivienda o los cuidados de otras personas del hogar. Dentro de estas actividades no remuneradas se puede incluir la lactancia materna como práctica de cuidado que genera bienestar. Objetivo: El propósito del presente análisis es calcular el costo del trabajo no remunerado de las mujeres, asociado al ejercicio de la lactancia materna durante los primeros seis meses de vida de los lactantes. Metodología: Se realizó un análisis descriptivo del costo de la lactancia materna exclusiva, con estimaciones a partir del método de costo de oportunidad, que le atribuye un valor salarial al tiempo que se tarda en hacerlo. Resultados: Se estimó que durante los primeros seis meses (lactancia exclusiva) el costo del tiempo dedicado a la lactancia materna fue en promedio de $3 430 270 pesos (797,68 USD), con un rango según los escenarios propuestos entre $3 018 149 pesos (701,85 USD) y $4 209 826 pesos (978,96 USD), la diferencia más alta entre los valores se encontró en el segundo y tercer mes de lactancia (21,53 %) y la menor diferencia del tercer al cuarto mes (10,94 %). Conclusiones: Los resultados permitieron otorgan un valor al tiempo dedicado a la lactancia que represento entre tres y cuatro veces el Salario Mínimo Mensual Legal Vigente en Colombia y aunque la práctica de la lactancia Materna es un proceso en el que se pretende la participación de la familia, es biológicamente ejercida por la mujer.
Hierarchical Lateral Planning With Minimum Curvature Peak for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Shan Zitong , Zhao Jian , Zhao Yang , Ge Linhe , Zhong Shouren , Zhu Bing 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This study focuses on the lateral safety of autonomous vehicles. The aim is to provide greater safety margins for the motion controller under hazardous conditions by improving the planning methods. The proposed lateral planning method employs a hierarchical structure. First, a graph search method that considers road curvature is presented. This method benefits from the design of jump nodes and can generate a safe corridor in real-time by backtracking. Next, a concise and effective optimization problem is constructed in the Frenet frame. It is designed to optimize the path by incorporating the peak, integral, and differential of curvature into the objective function. By solving this problem using CasADi, the path within the safe corridor is obtained. Finally, the proposed planning method is combined with a model predictive motion controller and tested through simulation and experimentation on a real vehicle platform. This planning method has good scalability, adaptability, and real-time performance. Simulation and experimental results show that this method can help avoid exceeding lateral limits of road surface friction, improve path-following accuracy, and enhance the safety of autonomous vehicles in dangerous conditions.
Experimental and Numerical Evaluations of Dynamic Transfer Matrix for a Three-Dimensional Centrifugal Impeller Based on Unsteady Energy Conservation
Authors: Kambayashi Izuru , Dou Chengye , Kang Donghyuk 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Under unsteady operating conditions in turbomachinery, the performance is unable to respond rapidly enough to follow characteristic curves for the steady condition. To design a reliable turbomachinery under unexpected unsteady conditions, we evaluated the dynamic transfer matrix of a three-dimensional centrifugal impeller. The working fluid is incompressible air. To make the current results more applicable in a broader sense such as pumps, all parameters and results were normalized. The experimental results showed a more significant negative slope in the unsteady performance curve compared to that in the steady performance curve. This was mainly caused by the phase delay of the pressure rise to the pulsating flowrate. We clarified the changes in gain and phase delay under unsteady conditions by conducting numerical simulations. The numerical results showed that the unsteady pressure rise was primarily generated by inertia and power terms in the unsteady energy conservation equation. The power term was predominantly influenced by the angular momentum flowrate difference and the change rate of angular momentum. Each term was quantitatively evaluated, and its contribution to the unsteady pressure rise was discussed. Within the range of frequencies tested in this study, the transfer matrix for the three-dimensional centrifugal impeller could be effectively approximated through a first-order lag approximation considering a series-connected derivative system. We believe that our findings can be extended to centrifugal pumps when disregarding the compressibility effects such as cavitation.
Automated Wall Thickness Evaluation for Turbine Blades Using Robot-Guided Ultrasonic Array Imaging
Authors: Hassenstein Christian , Heckel Thomas , Tomasson Ingimar , Vöhringer Daniel , Berendt Torsten , Wassermann Jonas , Prager Jens 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Nondestructive testing has become an essential part of the maintenance of modern gas turbine blades and vanes since it provides an increase in both safety against critical failure and efficiency of operation. Targeted repairs of the blade's airfoil require localized wall thickness information. This information, however, is hard to obtain by nondestructive testing due to the complex shapes of surfaces, cavities, and material characteristics. To address this problem, we introduce an automated nondestructive testing system that scans the part using an immersed ultrasonic array probe guided by a robot arm. For imaging, we adopt a two-step, surface-adaptive Total Focusing Method (TFM) approach. For each test position, the TFM allows us to identify the outer surface, followed by calculating an adaptive image of the interior of the part, where the inner surface's position and shape are obtained. To handle the large volumes of data, the surface features are automatically extracted from the TFM images using specialized image processing algorithms. Subsequently, the collection of 2D extracted surface data is merged and smoothed in 3D space to form the outer and inner surfaces, facilitating wall thickness evaluation. With this approach, representative zones on two gas turbine vanes were tested, and the reconstructed wall thickness values were evaluated via comparison with reference data from an optical scan. For the test zones on two turbine vanes, average errors ranging from 0.05 mm to 0.1 mm were identified, with a standard deviation of 0.06–0.16 mm.
Accounting for the microbial assembly of each process in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs): study of four WWTPs receiving similar influent streams
Authors: Cheng Hong , Monjed Mohammad K. , Myshkevych Yevhen , Wang Tiannyu , Hong Pei-Ying 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

We evaluated a unique model in which four full-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with the same treatment schematic and fed with similar influent wastewater were tracked over an 8-month period to determine whether the community assembly would differ in the activated sludge (AS) and sand filtration (SF) stages. For each WWTP, AS and SF achieved an average of 1-log
10
(90%) and <0.02-log
10
(5%) reduction of total cells, respectively. Despite the removal of cells, both AS and SF had a higher alpha and beta diversity compared to the influent microbial community. Using the Sloan neutral model, it was observed that AS and SF were individually dominated by different assembly processes. Specifically, microorganisms from influent to AS were predominantly determined by the selective niche process for all WWTPs, while the microbial community in the SF was relatively favored by a stochastic, random migration process, except two WWTPs. AS also contributed more to the final effluent microbial community compared with the SF. Given that each WWTP operates the AS independently and that there is a niche selection process driven mainly by the chemical oxygen demand concentration, operational taxonomic units unique to each of the WWTPs were also identified. The findings from this study indicate that each WWTP has its distinct microbial signature and could be used for source-tracking purposes.

IMPORTANCE
This study provided a novel concept that microorganisms follow a niche assembly in the activated sludge (AS) tank and that the AS contributed more than the sand filtration process toward the final microbial signature that is unique to each treatment plant. This observation highlights the importance of understanding the microbial community selected by the AS stage, which could contribute toward source-tracking the effluent from different wastewater treatment plants.
Cellulolytic
Bacillus cereus
produces a variety of short-chain fatty acids and has potential as a probiotic
Authors: Liao Yixiao , Wu Shihui , Zhou Guixian , Mei Shihui , Yang Zemin , Li Shuang , Jin Zhengyu , Deng Yongjun , Wen Ming , Yang Ying 
Published: March 2024

ABSTRACT

Cellulolytic bacteria ferment dietary fiber into short-chain fatty acids, which play an important role in improving fiber utilization and maintaining intestinal health. Safe and effective cellulolytic bacteria are highly promising probiotic candidates. In this study, we isolated three strains of
Bacillus cereus,
which exhibited cellulolytic properties, from Kele pig feces. To assess the genetic basis of cellulose degradation by the isolates, whole-genome sequencing was used to detect functional genes associated with cellulose metabolism. Subsequently, we identified that the
B. cereus
CL2 strain was safe in mice by monitoring body weight changes, performing histopathologic evaluations, and determining routine blood indices. We next evaluated the biological characteristics of the CL2 strain in terms of its growth, tolerance, and antibiotic susceptibility, with a focus on its ability to produce short-chain fatty acids. Finally, the intestinal flora structure of the experimental animals was analyzed to assess the intestinal environment compatibility of the CL2 strain. In this study, we isolated a cellulolytic
B. cereus
CL2, which has multiple cellulolytic functional genes and favorable biological characteristics, from the feces of Kele pigs. Moreover, CL2 could produce a variety of short-chain fatty acids and does not significantly affect the diversity of the intestinal flora. In summary, the cellulolytic bacterium
B. cereus
CL2 is a promising strain for use as a commercial probiotic or in feed supplement.

IMPORTANCE

Short-chain fatty acids are crucial constituents of the intestinal tract, playing an important and beneficial role in preserving the functional integrity of the intestinal barrier and modulating both immune responses and the structure of the intestinal flora. In the intestine, short-chain fatty acids are mainly produced by bacterial fermentation of cellulose. Therefore, we believe that safe and efficient cellulolytic bacteria have the potential to be novel probiotics. In this study, we systematically evaluated the safety and biological characteristics of the cellulolytic bacterium
B. cereus
CL2 and provide evidence for its use as a probiotic.
MicroRNA-5010-5p ameliorates high-glucose induced inflammation in renal tubular epithelial cells by modulating the expression of PPP2R2D
Authors: Choi Sunghee , Sarker Mithun Kumer , Yu Mi Ra , Lee Haekyung , Kwon Soon Hyo , Jeon Jin Seok , Noh Hyunjin , Kim Hyoungnae 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionWe previously reported the significant upregulation of eight circulating exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, their specific roles and molecular mechanisms in the kidney remain unknown. Among the eight miRNAs, we evaluated the effects of miR-5010-5p on renal tubular epithelial cells under diabetic conditions in this study.Research design and methodsWe transfected the renal tubular epithelial cell line, HK-2, with an miR-5010-5p mimic using recombinant plasmids. The target gene of hsa-miR-5010-5p was identified using a dual-luciferase assay. Cell viability was assessed via the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Moreover, mRNA and protein expression levels were determined via real-time PCR and western blotting, respectively.ResultsHigh glucose levels did not significantly affect the intracellular expression of miR-5010-5p in HK-2 cells. Transfection of the miR-5010-5p mimic caused no change in cell viability. However, miR-5010-5p-transfected HK-2 cells exhibited significantly decreased expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as the monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-ɑ, under high-glucose conditions. These changes were accompanied by the restored expression of phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and decreased phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B. Dual-luciferase assay revealed that miR-5010-5p targeted the gene, protein phosphatase 2 regulatory subunit B delta (PPP2R2D), a subunit of protein phosphatase 2A, which modulates AMPK phosphorylation.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that increased miR-5010-5p expression reduces high glucose-induced inflammatory responses in renal tubular epithelial cells via the regulation of the target gene, PPP2R2D, which modulates AMPK phosphorylation. Therefore, miR-5010-5p may be a promising therapeutic target for DKD.
Effectiveness of mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours on work-related productivity and performance: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Miki Takako , Nohara Michiko , Nomura Kyoko 
Published: March 2024

IntroductionTechnologies such as health and fitness applications (apps) and wearable activity trackers have recently gained popularity and may play a key role in promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviours. Although several systematic reviews have investigated their efficacy in physical activity and sedentary behaviours, few studies have focused on their impact on work-related outcomes among workers. Here, to explore the effects of mHealth interventions designed to encourage physical activity and decrease sedentary behaviours on work-related outcomes, including absenteeism, presenteeism, productivity, work performance and workability among workers, we will conduct a systematic review based on recent articles and an extensive literature search.Methods and analysisThe literature search will be performed using PubMed, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library and the Japan Medical Abstracts Society from inception to 23 September 2023. We will select studies that (1) investigated the impact of mHealth interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviours on work-related outcomes such as absenteeism, presenteeism, productivity, work performance and workability; (2) were designed as a randomised controlled trial (RCT) or non-randomised study of interventions (NRSI); (3) were conducted among workers and (4) were published as full-text original articles in Japanese or English. We will assess the review quality with the AMSTAR 2 tool. The risk of bias will be assessed with the RoB tool 2.0 and ROBINS-I.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is unnecessary as the study will rely solely on previously published articles. The research results will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.Trial registration numberThe study protocol has been registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (ID=UMIN000052290).
Joint effects of heat-humidity compound events on drowning mortality in Southern China
Authors: Jiang Zhiying , Lin Ziqiang , Li Zhixing , Yu Min , He Guanhao , Hu Jianxiong , Meng Ruilin , Hou Zhulin , Zhu Sui , Zhou Chunliang , Xiao Yize , Huang Biao , Xu Xiaojun , Jin Donghui , Qin Mingfang , Xu Yiqing , Liu Tao , Ma Wenjun 
Published: March 2024

BackgroundSeveral previous studies have examined the association of ambient temperature with drowning. However, no study has investigated the effects of heat-humidity compound events on drowning mortality.MethodsThe drowning mortality data and meteorological data during the five hottest months (May to September) were collected from 46 cities in Southern China (2013–2018 in Guangdong, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces). Distributed lag non-linear model was first conducted to examine the association between heat-humidity compound events and drowning mortality at city level. Then, meta-analysis was employed to pool the city-specific exposure-response associations. Finally, we analysed the additive interaction of heat and humidity on drowning mortality.ResultsCompared with wet-non-hot days, dry-hot days had greater effects (excess rate (ER)=32.34%, 95% CI: 24.64 to 40.50) on drowning mortality than wet-hot days (ER=14.38%, 95%CI: 6.80 to 22.50). During dry-hot days, males (ER=42.40%, 95% CI: 31.92 to 53.72), adolescents aged 0–14 years (ER=45.00%, 95% CI: 21.98 to 72.35) and urban city (ER=36.91%, 95% CI: 23.87 to 51.32) showed higher drowning mortality risk than their counterparts. For wet-hot days, males, adolescents and urban city had higher ERs than their counterparts. Attributable fraction (AF) of drowning attributed to dry-hot days was 23.83% (95% CI: 21.67 to 26.99) which was significantly higher than that for wet-hot days (11.32%, 95% CI: 9.64 to 13.48%). We also observed that high temperature and low humidity had an additive interaction on drowning mortality.ConclusionWe found that dry-hot days had greater drowning mortality risk and burden than wet-hot days, and high temperature and low humidity might have synergy on drowning mortality.
NASP
gene contributes to autism by epigenetic dysregulation of neural and immune pathways
Authors: Zhang Sipeng , Yang Jie , Ji Dandan , Meng Xinyi , Zhu Chonggui , Zheng Gang , Glessner Joseph , Qu Hui-Qi , Cui Yuechen , Liu Yichuan , Wang Wei , Li Xiumei , Zhang Hao , Xiu Zhanjie , Sun Yan , Sun Ling , Li Jie , Hakonarson Hakon , Li Jin , Xia Qianghua 
Published: March 2024

Background
Epigenetics makes substantial contribution to the aetiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and may harbour a unique opportunity to prevent the development of ASD. We aimed to identify novel epigenetic genes involved in ASD aetiology.

Methods
Trio-based whole exome sequencing was conducted on ASD families. Genome editing technique was used to knock out the candidate causal gene in a relevant cell line. ATAC-seq, ChIP-seq and RNA-seq were performed to investigate the functional impact of knockout (KO) or mutation in the candidate gene.

Results

We identified a novel candidate gene
NASP
(nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein) for epigenetic dysregulation in ASD in a Chinese nuclear family including one proband with autism and comorbid atopic disease. The de novo likely gene disruptive variant t
NASP
(Q289X) subjects the expression of t
NASP
to nonsense-mediated decay. t
NASP
KO increases chromatin accessibility, promotes the active promoter state of genes enriched in synaptic signalling and leads to upregulated expression of genes in the neural signalling and immune signalling pathways. Compared with wild-type t
NASP
, t
NASP
(Q289X) enhances chromatin accessibility of the genes with enriched expression in the brain. RNA-seq revealed that genes involved in neural and immune signalling are affected by the t
NASP
mutation, consistent with the phenotypic impact and molecular effects of nasp-1 mutations in
Caenorhabditis elegans
. Two additional patients with ASD were found carrying deletion or deleterious mutation in the
NASP
gene.

Conclusion

We identified novel epigenetic mechanisms mediated by t
NASP
which may contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD and its immune comorbidity.