bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of Community Services on Geriatric Depression: A ten-year follow-up study
Authors: Li Xiaowen , Chen Shuhu , Zhang Jun 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background This study explores whether the impact of environmental factors (Community Service) on Geriatric Depression is mediated by Psychological Resilience and moderated by the COMT gene Val158Met polymorphism. Methods Data were obtained from 13,512 Chinese individuals aged 65 and above, comprising a nationally representative sample from the 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2018 waves of the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS). The study employed a Random Intercept Cross-Lagged Panel Model (RI-CLPM) to examine the relationship between community service and geriatric depression, including the mediating effect of psychological resilience and the moderating role of the COMT Val158Met gene polymorphism in this relationship. Results Lower levels of community service at earlier assessments were significantly associated with more severe geriatric depression in subsequent evaluations.Psychological resilience was found to partially mediate the relationship between community service and geriatric depression.Differential impacts were observed among various gene genotypes; specifically, the Val genotype demonstrated a significantly greater influence of community service on subsequent psychological resilience and on subsequent depression compared to the Met genotype. Conclusion Enhancement in Community Service can predict subsequent Geriatric Depression. The influence of community service on depression is partly mediated by its impact on psychological resilience, with genetics modulating the pathway from community service through psychological resilience to depression. Multidisciplinary interventions focused on enhancing community service quality, boosting psychological resilience, and mitigating depression are likely to benefit the elderly's emotional and psychological well-being.
Reed Fiber as a Sustainable Filler for Tuning the Biodegradability of Polylactic acid Composites
Authors: Xu Jia , Li Yuan , Hu Qing , Wang Yingsai , Zhang Zhiqiang , Feng Kunpeng , Xie Jixing 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Reed fiber/polylactic acid (PLA/RF) blends with various proportions were prepared through melt blending, and the corresponding films were prepared by blow molding. The biodegradability of PLA/RF films with varying RF contents was investigated in the presence of proteinase K. The crystallization behavior, surface morphology, and functional group changes of the samples during enzymatic degradation were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Meanwhile, we investigated the influence of reed fiber on the biodegradation behavior of test samples in different environments. The results showed that RF could enhance the degradation of PLA. Additionally, the inclusion of reed fiber significantly improved the hydrophilicity of the composites and reduced the crystallinity of PLA, thereby impacting the degradation rate of the composites. The weight loss rates of PLA/RF10, PLA/RF20, and PLA/RF30 were 12.01%, 14.17%, and 19.92% after 12 months under soil burial degradation conditions. The results of composting degradation also confirmed that reed fiber contributed to the disintegration behavior and biodegradation rate of the materials. The modification of RF and PLA blends to regulate the degradation rate of composites holds great promise for practical application.
The association between cadmium exposure and axonal injury biomarker, serum neurofilament light chain levels in US adults
Authors: Luo Jing , Lin Song 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background and Aims: Cadmium exposure has been shown a toxic effect on the nervous system, but little is known regarding the link between cadmium exposure and axonal injury. Therefore, we aim to investigate whether there is a relationship between blood cadmium and serum neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in the general population.
Methods and Results: In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2014, 1,040 participants with a median (IQR) age of 47 (35–60) years are enrolled. Serum NfL levels are measured using a highly sensitive immunoassay. Whole blood cadmium concentrations are detected using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Linear regression and restricted cubic spline models are used to analyze the strength and shape of the relationship between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels. In full adjusted model, blood cadmium levels are positively associated with serum NfL levels (Q4 vs Q1, β = 3.35, 95%CI: 0.41, 6.30, p for trend = 0.014). A potential linear positive dose-effect relationship is found between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels (p for non-linearity = 0.15), and the potential threshold dose of blood cadmium is 0.7 µg/L. The stratified analysis shows a significant positive relationship between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels is limited to middle-aged and older adults.
Conclusion: The present study suggests a positive association between blood cadmium and serum NfL levels in the general US population. This study is expected to provide new ideas for the primary prevention and mechanism exploration of neurodegenerative diseases.
Quality Evaluation and Health Implications of Natural Spring Water from a District in Outer Himalayas: A Case Study for Murree, Pakistan
Authors: Anjum Mavia , Siddique Naila , Younis Hannan , Faiz Yasir , Shafique Munib Ahmed , Anjum Mahnoor , Abbas Ansar , Younas Muzammil 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Murree is the most visited tourist destination in Pakistan. The rural population of Murree uses natural spring water for drinking, household use, and irrigation. This study assessed the elemental concentration of water from 20 natural springs in Murree using ICP-OES. The mean concentration of these elements varied in the following order: Ca > Na > Mg > Si > K > Se > Sr > Ba > Al > B > Li > Zn > Fe > Ni > Cr. Principal component analysis was used to assess the correlation between the sites. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated to find the correlation among the metals and altitude. To assess the metal pollution levels in Murree’s natural spring water, metal index was calculated for Al, Ba, Cr, Ni, Fe, Zn, Sr, Mg, and Ca, respectively. The metal index revealed that the pollution levels in the natural spring water of Murree are low. The health hazards posed by exposure to these metals were quantified for ingestion and dermal contact. The spatial distribution was assessed using inverse distance weighting interpolation. The average daily dose was calculated for Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Na, Sr, Zn, Li, and Ni exposure for both adults and children. The average daily dose results showed that ingestion is the primary exposure pathway, with children having a higher risk. Ca has the highest ADD via ingestion and dermal contact, while Cr has the lowest for both adults and children. The study quantified potential noncarcinogenic health hazards from metal exposure in Murree spring water by calculating the hazard quotient and hazard index for two pathways. Barium had the highest HQing, HQder, and HI values, while Fe had the lowest. The study assessed the quality of water for irrigation in Murree's natural spring water using the sodium absorption ratio, magnesium absorption ratio, percentage sodium, Kelly's ratio, and salinity hazard. The study concluded that the spring water of Murree has low concentrations of heavy metals; their concentration is dependent upon the geology of the study area and is good for drinking and irrigation.
Impact of a structured training and support program on junior doctors’ participation in clinical audits
Authors: Anderson Joseph , Carton Eleanor , Silva Ana Sergio Da 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the large number of medical graduates who start their career as interns only a few interns are involved in Clinical Audits and quality improvement due to the lack of audit related teaching and a structured program to guide interns through the audit process.CATS Program InitiativeThe clinical audit Training and Support (CATS) Program is an initiative to educate interns and promote their participation in Clinical Audits and quality improvement through the implementation of a learner centred curriculum that values self-directed, experiential and situated learning. The CATS program was to run over a period of 3 months. During that time, the interns enrolled in the program were expected to have successfully completed one PDSA cycle of clinical audit.MethodologyA non-randomized quasi experimental pre-test post-test study was designed to assess the effect of the CATS program in improving the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of the interns towards clinical audits and quality improvement. This was a survey study using questionnaire prior to the initial lecture and 3 weeks later. A voluntary convenient sampling was used as the CATS program was a non-mandatory training initiative for the interns.ResultsThere were 31 and 30 Interns who rotated through various medical and surgical jobs. Following ethical approval, the initial lecture on the audit was delivered on 08.09.22, and the post-test was 2 weeks later. The post-test knowledge score following the initial lecture was significantly higher than the pre-test score. The attitude of interns towards clinical audit and quality improvement were neutral and remained unchanged following the CATS initiative. Higher proportion of interns were actively involved in clinical audits following the CATS initiative.ConclusionAudit-related teaching to junior doctors at the beginning of their career as hospital doctors can help them recall audit-related knowledge and learn local quality improvement policies. Although junior doctors want to be involved in quality improvement initiatives, their attitude towards clinical audits remains neutral due to lack of time, training and support. A structured training and support program for junior doctors promotes their participation in quality improvement initiatives and improves service outcome measures.
Grimoire is All You Need for Enhancing Large Language Models
Authors: Chen Ding , Song Shichao , Yu Qingchen , Li Zhiyu , Wang Wenjin , Xiong Feiyu , Tang Bo 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
In-context Learning (ICL) is one of the key methods for enhancing the performance of large language models on specific tasks by providing a set of few-shot question and answer examples. However, the ICL capability of different types of models shows significant variation due to factors such as model architecture, volume of learning data, and the size of parameters. Generally, the larger the model's parameter size and the more extensive the learning data, the stronger its ICL capability. In this paper, we propose a method SLEICL (Strong LLM Enhanced ICL) that involves learning from examples using strong language models and then summarizing and transferring these learned skills to weak language models for inference and application. This ensures the stability and effectiveness of ICL. Compared to directly enabling weak language models to learn from prompt examples, SLEICL reduces the difficulty of ICL for these models. Our experiments, conducted on up to eight datasets with five language models, demonstrate that weak language models achieve consistent improvement over their own zero-shot or few-shot capabilities using the SLEICL method. Some weak language models even surpass the performance of GPT4-1106-preview (zero-shot) with the aid of SLEICL.
A qualitative study on menstrual health and hygiene management among adolescent schoolgirls in peri-urban Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Sambo Joy , Nyambe Sikopo , Yamauchi Taro 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMenstrual Health and Hygiene (MHH) require adequate sanitary facilities, clean water, product access, privacy and safety, and disposal. MHH can significantly influence girls' health and educational achievements. However, schools in some developing countries lack proper Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) amenities to manage healthy menstruation. Therefore, it is crucial to enhance WASH services to tackle menstrual-related difficulties effectively. Zambian government schools struggle with insufficient WASH infrastructures. Hence, it is imperative to reveal the status of WASH services for policy progress and to promote girls' optimal menstrual health. We conducted observations and a qualitative study to evaluate the school's WASH facilities, investigate the sociocultural factors impacting MHH, and examine coping mechanisms to manage menstruation. Thirty adolescent schoolgirls, aged 14–19, residing in Lusaka peri-urban areas, participated in five focus group discussions. Insufficient school security, inadequate sanitary facilities, absence of clean water, and limited access to menstrual materials presented notable challenges. Culturally, there was an expectation for girls to swiftly embrace womanhood despite being unprepared for the natural biological process it entailed. Girls formulated strategies for managing challenges associated with MHH. The fundamental needs of menstruating girls include a sufficient supply of menstrual materials, improved WASH services, increased safety, and enhanced privacy.
Bile Acid Application in Cell-Targeting for Molecular Receptors in
Relation to Hearing: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Ionescu Corina M. , Jones Melissa A. , Wagle Susbin R. , Kovacevic Bozica , Foster Thomas , Mikov Momir , Mooranian Armin , Al-Salami Hani 
Published: January 2024

Abstract:
Bile acids play important roles in the human body, and changes in their pool can be
used as markers for various liver pathologies. In addition to their functional effects in modulating
inflammatory responses and cellular survivability, the unconjugated or conjugated, secondary, or
primary nature of bile acids accounts for their various ligand effects.

:
The common hydrophilic bile acids have been used successfully as local treatment to resolve
drug-induced cell damage or to ameliorate hearing loss. From various literature references, bile
acids show concentration and tissue-dependent effects. Some hydrophobic bile acids act as ligands
modulating vitamin D receptors, muscarinic receptors, and calcium-activated potassium channels,
important proteins in the inner ear system.

:
Currently, there are limited resources investigating the therapeutic effects of bile acid on hearing
loss and little to no information on detecting bile acids in the remote ear system, let alone baseline
bile acid levels and their prevalence in healthy and disease conditions. This review presents both
hydrophilic and hydrophobic human bile acids and their tissue-specific effects in modulating cellular
integrity, thus considering the possible effects and extended therapeutic applicability of bile
acids to the inner ear tissue.
Design and Synthesis of 6-amido-3-carboxypyridazine Derivatives as Potent T3SS Inhibitors of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Li Zhenyu , Liu Zhiyong , Shen Yuemao , Shen Chengwu 
Published: January 2024

Background:
Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) serovar Typhimurium, an anaerobic
enteric pathogene, could cause human and animal diseases ranging from mild gastroenteritis to
whole body serious infections.

Objective:
The goal of this paper was to synthesize new 6-amido-3-carboxypyridazine derivatives
with different lengths of side chains with the aim of getting potent antibacterial agents.

Methods:
Synthesized compounds were analyzed by analytical techniques, such as 1H NMR, 13C
NMR spectra, and mass spectrometry. We designed a series of novel 6-amido-3-carboxypyridazines
using FA as the lead compound with the scaffold hopping strategy and their inhibitory
activity against the effectors of type III secretion system (T3SS) using SDS-PAGE and western
blot analysis for two rounds. Also, the preliminary mechanism of action of this series of compounds
on T3SS was performed using real-time qPCR.

Results:
Nine 6-amido-3-carboxypyridazines was synthesized. The inhibitory activities evaluated
showed that compound 2i was the most potent T3SS inhibitor, which demonstrated potent inhibitory
activities on the secretion of the T3SS SPI-1 effectors in a dose-dependent manner. The transcription
of SPI-1 may be affected by compound 2i through the SicA/InvF regulatory pathway.

Conclusion:
The novel synthetic 6-amido-3-carboxypyridazines could act as potent leads for the
development of novel antibacterial agents.
Evaluation of the Quality of Water Samples Purified by Compounding
Pharmacies in Brazil
Authors: Prosperi Ferreira Lucas , Martins Rubatino Marcus Vinicius , de Araújo Magali Benjamin , Bonfilio Rudy 
Published: January 2024

Background::
Highly purified water is essential for the production of pharmaceuticals,
directly impacting the quality and safety of the final product.

Methods:
In this work, we studied the physicochemical and microbiological quality of 1477 purified
water samples from 25 compounding pharmacies in Southeast Brazil. To the best of our
knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study on the quality of water purified in Brazil. It was
observed that 47.7% of the samples were purified by reverse osmosis, 39.9% by distillation and
12.4% by deionization. Of the total, 10.63% presented one or more non-compliances. Amongst the
three purification processes, the amount of non-compliance was found to be 8.9% for reverse osmosis,
10.9% for deionization, and 12.4% for distillation.

Results:
It was therefore concluded that reverse osmosis is advantageous. However, even the advantageous
reverse osmosis process showed contamination by viable bacteria, total and faecal coliforms/
E. coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Conclusion::
Quantitative data showed that all purification processes significantly reduced the conductivity
and pH values of the input water. However, conductivity values above the limits and several
other non-compliances were found after purification by all processes, which points to the need
for additional studies on improvements in purification processes adopted by compounding pharmacies
in Brazil.
Human Adipose-derived Stem Cells Upregulate IGF-1 and Alleviate Osteoarthritis in a Two-stage Rabbit Osteoarthritis Model
Authors: Wang Juan , Su Shibo , Dong Chuanming , Fan Qiang , Sun Jishu , Liang Siqiang , Qin Zuhuo , Ma Chuqing , Jin Jianfeng , Zhu Hongwen , Jiang Tongmeng , Xu Jun 
Published: January 2024

Objective:
In recent times, it has been recognized that mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)
possess the capability to address osteoarthritis (OA). The objective of this research was to examine
the impact of injecting human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs) into a novel rabbit osteoarthritis
model with dual damage.

Methods:
The OA model was established surgically first by medial collateral ligament and anterior
cruciate ligament transection and medial meniscectomy, then by articular cartilage full-thickness
defect. Enhanced Green Fluorescence Protein expressing lentivirus FG12 was used to label
hADSCs, which were then injected into the knee joints. Every single rabbit was sacrificed after 4
and 8 weeks following the surgical procedure. Macroscopic examination, immunohistochemistry
staining, magnetic resonance imaging, qRT-PCR, and ELISA analysis were utilized for the assessments.

Results:
After 4 and 8 weeks, the injection of hADSCs resulted in reduced cartilage loss, minimal
fissures and cracks, and a decrease in the volume of joint effusion and cartilage defect as measured
by MRI. Moreover, the application of ELISA and qRT-PCR techniques revealed that the administration
of hADSCs resulted in an elevation in the IGF-1 concentration.

Conclusions:
Based on our findings, it can be inferred that the transplantation of hADSCs facilitates
the healing of articular cartilage in the osteoarthritis model of rabbits with double damage.
The upregulated IGF-1 may play a crucial part in the process of cartilage repair using hADSCs.
The use of hADSC transplantation could potentially be appropriate for clinical implementation in
managing osteoarthritis.
Dexamethasone Suppresses IL-33-exacerbated Malignant Phenotype of U87MG
Glioblastoma Cells via NF-κB and MAPK Signaling Pathways
Authors: Ai Jie , Weng Yinhua , Jiang Liyan , Liu Chao , Liu Hongbo , Chen Huoying 
Published: January 2024

Background:
Interleukin (IL)-33 is highly expressed in glioblastoma (GBM) and promotes tumor
progression. Targeting IL-33 may be an effective strategy for the treatment of GBM. Dexamethasone (DEX) is a
controversial drug routinely used clinically in GBM therapy. Whether DEX has an effect on IL-33 is unknown.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of DEX on IL-33 and the molecular mechanisms involved.

Methods:
U87MG cells were induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α to express IL-33 and then treated with
DEX. The mRNA levels of IL-33, NF-κB p65, ERK1/2, and p38 were determined by real-time quantitative PCR.
The expression of IL-33, IkBα (a specific inhibitor of NF-κB) and MKP-1 (a negative regulator of MAPK), as
well as the phosphorylation of NF-κB, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, were detected by Western blotting. The secretion
of IL-33 was measured by ELISA. The proliferation, migration and invasion of U87MG cells were detected by
CCK8 and transwell assays, respectively.

Results:
DEX significantly reduced TNF-α-induced production of IL-33 in U87MG cells, which was dependent
on inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB, ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways, and was accompanied by
the increased expression of IkBα but not MKP-1. Furthermore, the proliferation, migration and invasion of
U87MG cells exacerbated by IL-33 were suppressed by DEX.

Conclusion:
DEX inhibited the production and tumor-promoting function of IL-33. Whether DEX can benefit
GBM patients remains controversial. Our results suggest that GBM patients with high IL-33 expression may
benefit from DEX treatment and deserve further investigation.