bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Novel Blood-Based RNA Profiles can Predict Human Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Authors: Zheng Zhen-zhong , Chen Jia-lin , Xu Jing-hong , Jiang Bin , Dai Yu-liang , Li Lei , Li Ya-wei , Wang Bing 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

BackgroundDegenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is the most common cause of spinal cord injury and factors leading to worse prognosis are a longer symptoms duration and a higher myelopathy severity. However, no studies have identified serological biomarkers for the early diagnosis of patients with DCM.MethodsA total of 46 participants were enrolled in the study, and peripheral blood was collected for subsequent analysis. Further, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in DCM, healthy controls (HCs) and patients with cervical spondylotic radiculopathy (CSR, as DCM mimics) were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed on DEGs. DEGs enriched in neurological disabilities by DisGeNET ontology category were used to diagnosis DCM and predict severity. Proportions of immune cell types were selected to predict injury levels in DCM.ResultsThe results showed that DEGs enriched terms were mainly related to neurological disabilities with 128 genes included, such as muscle weakness, dystonia, myopathy, skeletal muscle atrophy, and peripheral nervous system diseases. LASSO analysis was used for candidate genes selection to construct a multinomial logistic regression model based on the 128 DEGs. A five-gene model was constructed to diagnose DCM from CSR and HC with an accuracy of 93.5%. The model had good specificity and sensitivity with the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of 0.939. As for DCM severity, one gene model was constructed to distinguish mild DCM and severe DCM with 83.3% accuracy (AUC: 0.769) and 76.7% accuracy (AUC: 0.770), respectively. Using the same method of model building, signatures of two immune cell types distinguished single-level and multi-level injury with 80% accuracy (AUC: 0.895). Our results suggest that mRNAs extracted from peripheral blood could serve as biomarkers for the diagnosis of DCM and can predict severity and injury levels in DCM.ConclusionBlood RNA biomarkers could diagnose DCM and predict the severity of DCM as well as the level of injury in DCM. Our results may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of DCM and aid in designing treatment.
Effect of pyrite/sulfur ratio on nitrogen removal in autotrophic denitrification dynamic membrane bioreactor
Authors: Zhang Xue , Jin Chunji , Sun Nan , Ji Junyuan , Zhao Yangguo , Gao Mengchun , Zhang Zhiming , She Zonglian 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
In this study, pyrite and sulfur were used as electron donors to form a pyrite/sulfur autotrophic dynamic membrane bioreactor (SP-DMBR). The effect of pyrite/sulfur (P/S) ratio on pollutant removal and membrane pollution was studied. Our findings showed that 3 was optimal P/S ratio for SP-DMBR. The NH4+-N, COD, and NO3−-N removal efficiencies were 93.81%, 95.85%, and 90.27% respectively, and the NO2−-N accumulation was 0.46 mg/L. However, the production of SO42− was significantly reduced, and the pH was stable at 7.3–7.8. At this ratio, the transmembrane pressure (TMP) increases steadily. Microorganisms associated with nitrogen and sulfur cycle mainly belongs to the Desulfuromusa, Desulillus, Denitratisoma, Ellin6067, Desulfuromusa, Thauera, Desulitalea, Prolixibacteraceae and Caldithrix genera. P/S ratio affected the denitrifying microorganism species and the abundance of desulphurizing microorganisms. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) was used to investigate the significant differences in microbial community structure.
The collagen enhancement by Spirulina extract in intrinsic and extrinsic skin aging in albino rat
Authors: Sharafeldein Khaled , Ayesh Hanan , Salama Safwat , Marei Azza 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The aging of the skin is considered a cumulative process that is classed as intrinsic or extrinsic. Environmental factors like sun exposure and air pollution are considered the main cause of extrinsic aging. Mainly, intrinsic aging reflects the genetic background and depends on time. Spirulina platensis unicellular blue-green algae have a variety of biological and nutritional activities because of their high level of nutrients. The current study aims to investigate the mechanism by which spirulina extract (SE) may act anti-aging in female albino rats. Animals were received SE only, UV radiation only and both. In addition, two intrinsic groups as control old and old rats received SE. Spirulina extract (20mg/mL) was injected subcutaneously before UVA irradiation (2.16 J/cm2), daily for 7 days. The epidermal thickness and the collagen fibers layer were stained utilizing Hematoxylin and Eosin and Masson. There were improvements in the activities of antioxidants including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH), downregulating in expressions of inflammatory cytokines; Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). As well as the recovery of collagen density, and reducing the production of matrix metalloproteinases were presented. The results found that spirulina extract may delay the signs of skin aging by enhancing collagen.
The Impact of Economic Growth, Tourism, Natural Resources, Technological Innovation on Carbon dioxide emission: Evidence from BRICS countries
Authors: Ullah Arif , Raza Kashif , Mehmood Usman 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The main objective of this manuscript was to investigate the relationships among economic development, tourism, the use of natural resources, technical advancement, and carbon dioxide emissions in the BRICS group of nations. Data from the panel was gathered from 1995 to 2018. Modern methodology tools including the CS-ARDL tests, Westerlund cointegration tests, and panel data unit root tests have been used in this study. Results of the models show that all the variables were transformed to first difference to make it stationary. The Westerlund model test results suggest that dependent and independent variables have robust cointegration. Results of the CS-ARDL models reveal that all the variables signed, and significance are aligned with the economic theory. It indicates that except for tourism, the rest of the variables like technical innovation, natural resources, and economic growth have positive and significant effects on carbon dioxide emissions both in the short and long-run. Additionally, a 1% rise in economic growth, technical innovation, and natural resources over the long term would raise carbon dioxide emissions in the BRICS economies by 1.79%, 0.15%, and 0.10%, respectively. However, a 1% increase in tourism would result in a 0.39%decrease in carbon dioxide emissions among the nations in the panel data set. Therefore, the promotion of sustainable tourism and advancement in technological innovation is highly important in these countries, so the high impact of environmental degradation pressure may reduce to some extent.
Association between personality traits and smoking cessation among Chinese adults
Authors: Jin Weiyun , Xian Bensong , Li Changle 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background China is the largest producer and consumer of tobacco worldwide. However, little is known about the association between smoking cessation and personality traits in China. Moreover, although the association between smoking cessation and personality traits has been documented, thus far, only a few studies have analyzed this phenomenon using a nationally representative dataset.
Aim This study aimed to examine the association between successful smoking cessation and personality traits among Chinese adults.
Methods This cross-sectional study used data from the 2018 China Family Panel Studies. Probit regression models were employed to analyze the association between successful smoking cessation and personality traits stratified by sex.
Results Lower scores for neuroticism (Coef.=-0.055, p<0.1), lower scores for extraversion (Coef.=-0.077, p<0.05), and higher scores for openness to experience (Coef.=0.045, p<0.1) predicted being a successful male quitter after adjusting for demographics. Moreover, lower scores for conscientiousness (Coef.=-0.150, p<0.1) predicted being a successful female quitter after adjusting for demographics.
Conclusion The empirical findings suggested that among Chinese men, lower levels of neuroticism, lower levels of extraversion, and higher levels of openness to experience were associated with a higher likelihood of smoking cessation. Moreover, lower levels of conscientiousness were associated with successful smoking cessation among Chinese women. These results showed that personality information should be included in smoking cessation interventions.
How does governance quality affect the shadow economy-sustainable development nexus: New insights from a dynamic threshold analysis
Authors: Assidi Nadia , Nouira Ridha , saafi sami 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

In this paper, we develop a novel and an alternative empirical approach based on the Seo and Shin’s (2016) dynamic FD-GMM panel threshold model to explore whether the impact of the size of the shadow economy on the three key pillars of sustainable development – economic growth, human development, and environmental quality – varies with the level of governance quality. We consider economic, political and institutional dimensions of governance to assess which of them are likely to moderate the shadow economy-sustainable development linkage. Employing panel data for 82 countries over the period 1996–2017, our evidence indicates the presence of a significant threshold, suggesting that the impact of shadow economy on each of the above-mentioned pillars is regime-specific, depending on the countries’ level of governance quality. Moreover, our findings show that the initially detrimental effect of the shadow economy on sustainable development would be attenuated and even turn into a beneficial one if countries reach a certain threshold level of governance quality.This pattern is shown to be robust to various indicators of governance and alternative measures of shadow economy. The findings in this paper therefore suggest that enhancing governance quality can serve as an effective policy tool for abating shadow economy activities and thereby reaping the benefits of economic, social and environmental sustainablility.
JEL classification: C33, E26, Q01, O17, O43
Dialysis flow rate in central venous catheters – A numerical analisys with experimental validation.
Authors: Gonçalves Saulo de Freitas , Costa Matheus Carvalho Barbosa , Silva Mario Luis Ferreira , Lucas Thabata Coaglio , Haniel Jonathas , Huebner Rudolf , Viana Edna 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Despite a great number of studies regarding the favorable correlation between higher dialysis dose and the clinical efficiency of the hemodialysis treatment, the effect dialyses flow rate inside the catheter has been few investigated in the perspective of the hemodynamics modifications in central venous access for hemodialysis. This study proposes the numerical simulation and na in-vitro experimental validation of this model to assess the hemodynamic behavior and the thrombogenic potential in central venous access for hemodialysis, using different flow rates values in the central venous catheter (200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 mL/min). A mathematical model based in the Eulerian formulation was implemented in the solver subroutine to calculate the platelet lysis index (PLI). The pressure drop values obtained by numerical and experimental models were compered in order to validate the numerical model. The maximum percentage difference between those models was less than 13%. The flow rates values of 250, 300 and 350 mL/min resulted in larger recirculation zones in the flow field. It was possible to conclude that, in general, shear stresses and turbulence intensity increased in a quadratic manner with dialysis dose. The platelet lysis index increased with the dialysis flow rate and showed higher values in instants of time associated with major recirculation zones.
The distribution and the influencing factors of the teeth with residual pockets in periodontitis stage III–IV treated by non- surgical periodontal treatment
Authors: Yang Xue , Liu Peicheng , Fan Xiaomiao , Yu Shiwen , Chen Chen , Pan Yaping , Lin Li , Tang Xiaolin , Li Chen 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Periodontitis is a chronic multi-factorial infectious disease, and there is a significant difference in the prognosis of severe periodontitis patients after non-surgical periodontal treatment. Therefore, a retrospective study was conducted to find common and specific factors affecting the prognosis of periodontitis stage III-IV after non-surgical periodontal treatment according to various tooth sites.Methods A total of 977 teeth from 266 patients of periodontitis stage III-IV were enrolled, including 330 anterior teeth, 362 maxillary posterior teeth and 285 mandibular posterior teeth. The enrolled teeth were divided into two groups according to the residual pockets (PD ≥ 5 mm) at 3 months post-treatment. The association of risk factors with the prognosis of periodontitis stage III-IV were analyzed with multivariate analysis. All tests were two-sided and parameters were statistically significant (P < 0.05).Results The PD values of each site and the deepest PD values of each tooth were significantly decreased at 3 months post-treatment, and the residual pockets were mainly distributed in mesio/disto-buccal and mesio/disto-lingual. The multivariate analysis revealed that gender, probing depth (PD), sulcus bleeding index (SBI) and plaque index (PLI) at baseline and crown-root ratio in anterior teeth had significant correlation with periodontitis stage III-IV (P < 0.05). In maxillary posterior teeth the significant factors were smoking, PD, PLI and furcation involvement (FI) at baseline, PLI at 3 months post-treatment, grades of periodontitis and crown-root ratio. And PD, PLI and FI at baseline, PLI at 3 months post-treatment and crown-root were significant in mandibular posterior teeth.Conclusions The mean PD and PLI at baseline and crown-root ratio were common prognostic factors of anterior teeth, maxillary posterior teeth and mandibular posterior teeth. The gender and SBI at baseline were specific prognostic factors of anterior teeth. The common prognostic factors of posterior teeth were FI at baseline and PLI at 3 months post-treatment. While the specific prognostic factors of maxillary posterior teeth were smoking and the grades of periodontitis compared with mandibular posterior teeth .
Mitochondrial UQCC3 controls angiogenesis during embryonic development and tumor growth
Authors: zhang guiming , Yang Yun , Xie Shuo , Chen Lingcheng , luo hui , Zhong Jian , Wei Yinhao , Guo Fengzhu , Gan Jia , Zhu Fan , Xu Lin , li qiqi , liu binrui , shen yuge , Zhang Huajing , Liu Yan , Li Rong , Yang Hanshuo 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Angiogensis during embryonic development and tumor growth requires the crucial involvement of mitochondria, which provide energy for cell proliferation, produce angiogenic signaling molecules, and exhibit a different functional profile in these cells. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the regulatory role of mitochondria in angiogenesis remain elusive and warrant. Here, we reported that a small assembly factor of complex III, ubiquitin-cytochrome c reductase complex assembly factor 3 (UQCC3), is indispensable for angiogenesis during embryonic development and tumor growth. Homozygous deletion of UQCC3 caused early embryonic lethality and impaired vascular development. UQCC3 knockout in tumor cells impaired tumor angiogenesis and inhibits tumor growth. Mechanistically, UQCC3 expression was significantly upregulated in a hypoxic environment, which stabilised hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and provoked a significantly higher expression of VEGF. UQCC3 knockout reduced the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), stabilzed HIF-1α, and VEGF expression, but supplementation of ROS can restore HIF-1α and VEGF levels, and vice versa. Finally, based on the analysis of TCGA database, having high levels of UQCC3 is associated with unfavorable outcomes across various types of tumors, indicating a significant role for UQCC3 in tumor progression.
Multi-country CO2 emission forecasting based on background value optimized Nonlinear Grey Bernoulli and BP neural network combined model
Authors: Wu Sixuan , Zeng Xiangyan , Li Chunming , Cang Haoze , Tan Qiancheng , Xu Dewei 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Under the background of green low-carbon economy, it is of great significance to accurately estimate the future CO2 emissions of countries with large CO2 emissions for the development of the world green economy. A new Nonlinear Grey Bernoulli and BP neural network combined model (BP-ONGBM (1,1) model) has been proposed to study the CO2 emissions of China, the United States, the European Union, India and Japan. Firstly, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is optimized by using the idea of Artificial Fish Swarm Algorithm (AFSA), and then the background value of ONGBM (1,1) model is dynamically optimized. Based on the linearization of the model, the time response function is derived. Then, the ONGBM (1,1) model is combined with the BP neural network model. The combination weight and the background value coefficient are determined by improved PSO algorithm. Finally, according to the observation data from 2010 to 2021 in the Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research 2022, the model is established to calculate the CO2 emissions of the selected countries from 2022 to 2026, and compared with the prediction results provided by multiple competitive models. The empirical application shows that the newly proposed BP-ONGBM (1,1) model is significantly better than other competitive models.
Characterization of different types of anxiety disorders in relation to structural integration of personality and adverse and protective childhood experiences in psychotherapy outpatients – a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nowak Jonathan , Nikendei Christoph , Rollmann Ivo , Orth Maximilian , Friederich Hans-Christoph , Kindermann David 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackground:Current research has emphasized the role of structural integration of personality and childhood experiences for the understanding of anxiety disorders. In this study, we examined the relationship between anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder vs. panic disorder vs. phobic disorders), level of structural integration of personality, and negative and protective childhood experiences. Differences were characterized in comparison to patients with no anxiety disorders.Methods:The sample included a total of 1646 outpatient psychodynamic psychotherapy treatments, of which 695 treatments included the diagnosis of at least one anxiety disorder. Levels of structural integration of personality were assessed according to the Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnosis (OPD-2) system. Self-reported negative and protective childhood experiences were examined by using the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Adverse and Protective Childhood Experiences (APC). Associations were tested using single factor ANOVAs.Results:Patients with anxiety disorders showed lower levels of structural integration of personality and reported more adverse childhood experiences than patients with no anxiety disorders. Regarding the subscales of structural integration of personality, phobic disorders were associated with impaired external communication, whereas for generalized anxiety disorder, an (uncorrected) association with impaired self-regulation was found. Also, generalized anxiety disorder was associated with sexual abuse and other traumatization (accidents etc.) during childhood, while panic disorder and phobic disorders were associated with emotional neglect, abuse, and fewer protective childhood experiences.Conclusions:Our findings emphasize the need of considering structural integration of personality and childhood experiences in order to understand and treat different types of anxiety disorders.
Liver fibrosis quantified by image morphometry predicts clinical outcomes in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Wang Zhengyi , Jeffrey Gary P , Huang Yi , De Boer Bastiaan , Garas George , Wallace Michael , Bertot Luis , Adams Leon A 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background and Aims: Liver fibrosis predicts adverse clinical outcomes such as liver-related death (LRD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to investigate the accuracy of semi-automated quantification of collagen proportionate area (CPA) as an objective new method for predicting clinical outcomes.Method Liver biopsies from patients with NAFLD underwent computerized image morphometry of Sirius Red staining with CPA quantification performed by ImageScope. Clinical outcomes including total mortality, LRD and combined liver outcomes (liver decompensation, HCC or LRD) which were determined by medical records and population-based data-linkage. Accuracy of CPA for predicting outcomes was compared with non-invasive fibrosis tests (Hepascore, FIB-4, APRI).Results A total of 295 patients (mean age 49 years) were followed for a median (range) of 9 (0.2–25) years totalling 3253 person-years. Patients with CPA ≥ 10% had significantly higher risks for total death [hazard ratio (HR): 5.0 (1.9–13.2)], LRD [19.0 (2.0–182.0)], and combined liver outcomes [15.6 (3.1–78.6)]. CPA and pathologist fibrosis staging (FS) showed similar accuracy (AUROC) for the prediction of total death (0.68 vs. 0.70), LRD (0.72 vs. 0.77) and combined liver outcomes (0.75 vs. 0.78). Non-invasive serum markers Hepascore, APRI and FIB-4 reached higher AUROC however they were not statistically significant compared to that of CPA except for Hepascore in predicting total mortality (0.86 vs. 0.68, P = 0.009).Conclusion Liver fibrosis quantified by CPA analysis was significantly associated with worse clinical outcomes including total mortality, LRD and HCC. The CPA achieved similar accuracy in predicting outcomes compared to traditional fibrosis staging and non-invasive serum markers.