bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Socio-demographic trends in malaria knowledge and implications for behaviour change interventions in Zanzibar
Authors: Abbas Faiza , Kigadye Emmanuel , Mohamed Fauzia , Khamis Mwinyi , Mbaraka John , Serbantez Naomi , Al-Mafazy Abdul-Wahid , Monroe April , Kiware Samson 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Zanzibar is among the few places within East Africa that have documented a significant reduction of malaria morbidity and mortality. Despite tremendous gains over the past decade, malaria transmission still persists in Zanzibar. This study aimed at understanding levels of malaria knowledge to provide recommendations that can be used to reinforce and scale up targeted malaria social and behaviour change interventions.

Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted through an administered questionnaire to 431 households selected randomly. The interviewees were the heads of household or representative adults above 18 years. This study investigated the levels of knowledge about the causes, symptoms, and prevention of malaria in areas with high (> 1.9 per 1000) and low (< 1 per 1000) incidence of local malaria cases. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to compute the composite variable of each category. Descriptive statistics were calculated to understand variables of interest between low and high transmission areas. Multinomial logistic regression model was used to compare knowledge on malaria based on key variables.

Results
A total of 431 heads of households were interviewed. Respondent age, education level, and wealth status were significantly associated with variations in level of malaria knowledge. Old age was found to be significantly associated with low knowledge of malaria (P < 0.001). The majority of study participants who had secondary and higher education levels had good knowledge of malaria (P < 0.006). Participants characterized as middle-income had good knowledge compared to those characterized as low-income (P < 0.001).

Conclusion
The study identified existing gaps in malaria knowledge in low and high transmission areas. Low levels of malaria knowledge were documented among elderly and populations with lower education and income levels. There is a need to extend mobilization, advocacy, and expand channels of communication to reach all community members. The reported gaps in knowledge are important to consider when designing strategies to engage communities in malaria elimination in Zanzibar. Tailored social and behavioural change interventions aiming to increase malaria knowledge could enhance the uptake of malaria prevention services in the community.
PSAT1 positively regulates the osteogenic lineage differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells through the ATF4/PSAT1/Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin axis
Authors: Jia Linglu , Li Dongfang , Wang Ya-Nan , Zhang Dongjiao , Xu Xin 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) are important seed cells for tissue engineering to realize the regeneration of alveolar bone. Understanding the gene regulatory mechanisms of osteogenic lineage differentiation in PDLSCs will facilitate PDLSC-based bone regeneration. However, these regulatory molecular signals have not been clarified.

Methods
To screen potential regulators of osteogenic differentiation, the gene expression profiles of undifferentiated and osteodifferentiated PDLSCs were compared by microarray and bioinformatics methods, and PSAT1 was speculated to be involved in the gene regulation network of osteogenesis in PDLSCs. Lentiviral vectors were used to overexpress or knock down PSAT1 in PDLSCs, and then the proliferation activity, migration ability, and osteogenic differentiation ability of PDLSCs in vitro were analysed. A rat mandibular defect model was built to analyse the regulatory effects of PSAT1 on PDLSC-mediated bone regeneration in vivo. The regulation of PSAT1 on the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signalling axis was analysed using the Akt phosphorylation inhibitor Ly294002 or agonist SC79. The potential sites on the promoter of PSAT1 that could bind to the transcription factor ATF4 were predicted and verified.

Results
The microarray assay showed that the expression levels of 499 genes in PDLSCs were altered significantly after osteogenic induction. Among these genes, the transcription level of PSAT1 in osteodifferentiated PDLSCs was much lower than that in undifferentiated PDLSCs. Overexpressing PSAT1 not only enhanced the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation abilities of PDLSCs in vitro, but also promoted PDLSC-based alveolar bone regeneration in vivo, while knocking down PSAT1 had the opposite effects in PDLSCs. Mechanistic experiments suggested that PSAT1 regulated the osteogenic lineage fate of PDLSCs through the Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signalling axis. PSAT1 expression in PDLSCs during osteogenic differentiation was controlled by transcription factor ATF4, which is realized by the combination of ATF4 and the PSAT1 promoter.

Conclusion
PSAT1 is a potential important regulator of the osteogenic lineage differentiation of PDLSCs through the ATF4/PSAT1/Akt/GSK3β/β-catenin signalling pathway. PSAT1 could be a candidate gene modification target for enhancing PDLSCs-based bone regeneration.
Overview of microbial profiles in human hepatocellular carcinoma and adjacent nontumor tissues
Authors: He Yuting , Zhang Qiyao , Yu Xiao , Zhang Shuijun , Guo Wenzhi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Intratumoral microbial communities have been recently discovered to exist in a variety of cancers and have been found to be intricately involved in tumour progression. Therefore, investigating the profiles and functions of intratumoral microbial distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is imperative.

Methods
To verify the presence of microorganisms in HCC, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using HCC tissues and conducted MiSeq using 99 HCC and paracancerous tissues to identify the key microorganisms and changes in metabolic pathways affecting HCC progression through a variety of bioinformatics methods.

Results
Microbial diversity was significantly higher in HCC tissues than in adjacent tissues. The abundances of microorganisms such as Enterobacteriaceae, Fusobacterium and Neisseria were significantly increased in HCC tissues, while the abundances of certain antitumour bacteria such as Pseudomonas were decreased. Processes such as fatty acid and lipid synthesis were significantly enhanced in the microbiota in HCC tissues, which may be a key factor through which intratumoral microbes influence tumour progression. There were considerable differences in the microbes and their functions within tumour tissue collected from patients with different clinical features.

Conclusion
We comprehensively evaluated the intratumoral microbial atlas of HCC tissue and preliminarily explored the mechanism of the effects of the microbial community involving changes in lipid metabolism and effects on HCC progression, which lays the foundation for further research in this field.
Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying tumor aggravation by the activation of stress-related neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus
Authors: Yoshida Sara , Hamada Yusuke , Narita Michiko , Sato Daisuke , Tanaka Kenichi , Mori Tomohisa , Tezuka Hiroyuki , Suda Yukari , Tamura Hideki , Aoki Kazunori , Kuzumaki Naoko , Narita Minoru 
Published: February 2023

AbstractA growing body of evidence suggests that excess stress could aggravate tumor progression. The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus plays an important role in the adaptation to stress because the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis can be activated by inducing the release of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the PVN. In this study, we used pharmacogenetic techniques to investigate whether concomitant activation of CRHPVN neurons could directly contribute to tumor progression. Tumor growth was significantly promoted by repeated activation of CRHPVN neurons, which was followed by an increase in the plasma levels of corticosterone. Consistent with these results, chronic administration of glucocorticoids induced tumor progression. Under the concomitant activation of CRHPVN neurons, the number of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment was dramatically decreased, and the mRNA expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit α (HIF1α), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and Tsc22d3 were upregulated in inhibitory lymphocytes, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Furthermore, the mRNA levels of various kinds of driver molecules related to tumor progression and tumor metastasis were prominently elevated in cancer cells by concomitant activation of CRHPVN neurons. These findings suggest that repeated activation of the PVN-CRHergic system may aggravate tumor growth through a central–peripheral-associated tumor immune system.
Does tidal volume challenge improve the feasibility of pulse pressure variation in patients mechanically ventilated at low tidal volumes? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Xiaoying , Liu Shuai , Gao Ju , Zhang Yang , Huang Tianfeng 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Pulse pressure variation (PPV) has been widely used in hemodynamic assessment. Nevertheless, PPV is limited in low tidal volume ventilation. We conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether the tidal volume challenge (TVC) could improve the feasibility of PPV in patients ventilated at low tidal volumes.

Methods
PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library inception to October 2022 were screened for diagnostic researches relevant to the predictability of PPV change after TVC in low tidal volume ventilatory patients. Summary receiving operating characteristic curve (SROC), pooled sensitivity and specificity were calculated. Subgroup analyses were conducted for possible influential factors of TVC.

Results
Ten studies with a total of 429 patients and 457 measurements were included for analysis. The predictive performance of PPV was significantly lower than PPV change after TVC in low tidal volume, with mean area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.69 ± 0.13 versus 0.89 ± 0.10. The SROC of PPV change yielded an area under the curve of 0.96 (95% CI 0.94, 0.97), with overall pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.92 (95% CI 0.83, 0.96) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.76, 0.94). Mean and median cutoff value of the absolute change of PPV (△PPV) were 2.4% and 2%, and that of the percentage change of PPV (△PPV%) were 25% and 22.5%. SROC of PPV change in ICU group, supine or semi-recumbent position group, lung compliance less than 30 cm H2O group, moderate positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) group and measurements devices without transpulmonary thermodilution group yielded 0.95 (95%0.93, 0.97), 0.95 (95% CI 0.92, 0.96), 0.96 (95% CI 0.94, 0.97), 0.95 (95% CI 0.93, 0.97) and 0.94 (95% CI 0.92, 0.96) separately. The lowest AUROCs of PPV change were 0.59 (95% CI 0.31, 0.88) in prone position and 0.73 (95% CI 0.60, 0.84) in patients with spontaneous breathing activity.

Conclusions
TVC is capable to help PPV overcome limitations in low tidal volume ventilation, wherever in ICU or surgery. The accuracy of TVC is not influenced by reduced lung compliance, moderate PEEP and measurement tools, but TVC should be cautious applied in prone position and patients with spontaneous breathing activity.
Trial registration PROSPERO (CRD42022368496). Registered on 30 October 2022.
From fox to fork? Toxocara contamination of spinach grown in the south of England, UK
Authors: Healy Sara R. , Morgan Eric R. , Prada Joaquin M. , Betson Martha 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are intestinal parasites of dogs, cats and foxes, with infected animals shedding eggs of the parasite in their faeces. If humans accidentally ingest embryonated Toxocara spp. eggs from the environment, severe clinical consequences, including blindness and brain damage, can occur. Previous work has demonstrated the presence of Toxocara spp. eggs on vegetable produce grown in the UK, but only in small-scale community gardens. The aim of this study was to determine whether Toxocara spp. eggs are also present on vegetables grown on commercial farms in the UK, which supply produce to a greater number of people.

Methods
A total of 120 samples (300 g each) of spinach (Spinacia oleracea) were collected across four farms in the south of England, UK. The samples were processed using a sieving approach followed by multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Results
Overall, 23.0% of samples were positive for T. canis (28/120; 95% confidence interval 16.7–31.7%) and 1.7% for T. cati (2/120; 95% confidence interval 0.5–5.9%). There was a statistically significant difference in the number of positive samples between farms (P = 0.0064). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of Toxocara spp. from vegetables grown on commercial farms in the UK.

Conclusions
The results of this study highlight the requirement for the thorough washing of vegetables prior to their consumption, especially those such as spinach which may be eaten without first peeling or cooking, and effective farm biosecurity measures to minimise access to farmland by definitive host species of Toxocara spp.

Graphical Abstract
Infestation of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings with the pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Steiner and Buhrer (Nickle) through wood sawdust
Authors: Arbuzova Elena N. , Kulinich Oleg A. , Chalkin Andrey A. , Kozyreva Natalia I. , Gorbach Vyacheslav V. , Ryss Alexander Yu. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Key message
There are various pathways for infesting pine trees with the pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. As a result of the experiment, we determined that sawdust infested with the nematode can pose a phytosanitary risk. Nematodes actively moved from infested sawdust into root or stem damaged pine seedlings.

Context
The spread of PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus in pine plantations and forests is caused by beetles of the genus Monochamus, but the nematode can also be introduced via different coniferous commodities.

Aims
The study objective was to assess the possibility that injured roots and stems of Pinus sylvestris seedlings could be infested with PWN through nematode-infested sawdust.

Methods
Experiments of PWN infestation of pines were conducted in a climatic chamber at a temperature of 26 °C and moisture content of 60–70%. After a month in the climatic chamber, the seedlings were exposed to PWN through infested sawdust.

Results
It was determined that PWN actively penetrated seedlings with injured stems when directly exposed to PWN-infested sawdust (83% of seedlings (p < 0.012)). Similar results were obtained in the trial in which during planting, seedlings with damaged roots were exposed to PWN infested sawdust (50% of seedlings (p < 0.008)). The nematodes could not infest seedlings if the sawdust occurred on the soil surface at a distance of 2.5 cm from the seedling stem.

Conclusion
Our results indicate nematode infestation of pine trees can occur through PWN-infested sawdust.
Existence of the positive solutions for boundary value problems of mixed differential equations involving the Caputo and Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives
Authors: Liu Yujing , Yan Chenguang , Jiang Weihua 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWe prove the existence of the solutions for the new mixed differential equations, which is characteristic of the right-sided Caputo and the left-sided Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives. There are four major ingredients. The first is composed of some basic definitions and lemmas. The second is the Green’s function of the new mixed fractional differential equations. We calculate the corresponding Green’s functions as well as their properties. The third, which is the main new ingredient of this paper, is demonstration of the existence of the solutions for fractional equations by the fixed-point theorem in cone expansion and compression of norm type. The fourth, as applications, is the example provided to illustrate our main results.
Lysophospholipids and branched chain amino acids are associated with aging: a metabolomics-based study of Chinese adults
Authors: Pan Yiming , Liu Pan , Li Shijie , Li Bowen , Li Yun , Ma Lina 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Aging is an inevitable process associated with impairments in multiple organ systems, which increases the risk of comorbidity and disability, and reduces the health-span. Metabolomics is a powerful tool in aging research, which can reflect the characteristics of aging at the level of terminal metabolism, and may contribute to the exploration of aging mechanisms and the formulation of anti-aging strategies.

Methods
To identify possible biomarkers and pathways associated with aging using untargeted metabolomics methods, we performed liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based untargeted metabolomics profiling on serum samples from 32 older adults and 32 sex-matched young controls.

Results
Metabolite profiling could distinguish the two groups. Among the 349 metabolites identified, 80—including lysophospholipids whose levels gradually decline—are possible candidate aging biomarkers. Valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation and biosynthesis were important pathways in aging, with reduced levels of l-isoleucine (r = − 0.30, p = 0.017) and l-leucine (r = − 0.32, p = 0.010) observed in older adults.

Conclusions
We preliminarily revealed the metabolite changes associated with aging in Chinese adults. Decreases in mitochondrial membrane-related lysophospholipids and dysfunction of branched-chain amino acid metabolism were determined to be the characteristics and promising research targets for aging.
Architecture for determining the cleanliness in shared vehicles using an integrated machine vision and indoor air quality-monitoring system
Authors: Jayawickrama Nilusha , Ollé Enric Perarnau , Pirhonen Jesse , Ojala Risto , Kivekäs Klaus , Vepsäläinen Jari , Tammi Kari 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn an attempt to mitigate emissions and road traffic, a significant interest has been recently noted in expanding the use of shared vehicles to replace private modes of transport. However, one outstanding issue has been the hesitancy of passengers to use shared vehicles due to the substandard levels of interior cleanliness, as a result of leftover items from previous users. The current research focuses on developing a novel prediction model using computer vision capable of detecting various types of trash and valuables from a vehicle interior in a timely manner to enhance ambience and passenger comfort. The interior state is captured by a stationary wide-angled camera unit located above the seating area. The acquired images are preprocessed to remove unwanted areas and subjected to a convolutional neural network (CNN) capable of predicting the type and location of leftover items. The algorithm was validated using data collected from two research vehicles under varying conditions of light and shadow levels. The experiments yielded an accuracy of 89% over distinct classes of leftover items and an accuracy of 91% among the general classes of trash and valuables. The average execution time was 65 s from image acquisition in the vehicle to displaying the results in a remote server. A custom dataset of 1379 raw images was also made publicly available for future development work. Additionally, an indoor air quality (IAQ) unit capable of detecting specific air pollutants inside the vehicle was implemented. Based on the pilots conducted for air quality monitoring within the vehicle cabin, an IAQ index was derived which corresponded to a 6-level scale in which each level was associated with the explicit state of interior odour. Future work will focus on integrating the two systems (item detection and air quality monitoring) explicitly to produce a discrete level of cleanliness. The current dataset will also be expanded by collecting data from real shared vehicles in operation.
Protective effect of methanolic extract of Areca catechu nut on ethanol withdrawal symptoms in mice
Authors: Pandy Vijayapandi , Challa Haritha , Byram Preethi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
The purpose of the current study was to examine the potential impact of a methanolic extract of Areca catechu nut (MAN) on handling-induced convulsions (HIC), anxiety and anhedonia behaviour of alcohol-withdrawn mice. 30 female Swiss albino mice were divided into 5 groups, each with 6 animals. Group 1 (saline withdrawal) received saline during the 3-day alcohol/saline induction phase, while the other 4 groups (alcohol withdrawal) received 20% v/v ethanol (1.25 ml/100 g body weight, i.p.; 20% v/v ethanol was made from absolute ethanol with 79.9 ml saline + 0.1 ml fomepizole, an alcohol dehydrogenase inhibitor). Day four (test day) involved studying handling-induced convulsions; open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze test (EPM), marble burying test (MBT) for anxiety; 24-h sucrose preference test (SPT) for anhedonia in mice. On the test day, Group I and II (saline withdrawal and alcohol withdrawal) received oral treatments with 1% w/v sodium carboxyl methylcellulose 1 h prior to the behavioural testing. Group III received an injection of diazepam (1 mg/kg, i.p., 30 min prior) and Group IV and V were treated with two different doses of MAN (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) 1 h prior to the behavioural test.

Results
At doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o., the Areca catechu nut methanolic extract significantly reduced handling convulsions and anxiety, and had an anti-anhedonic effect using various evaluation criteria, such as convulsion score (HIC), no. of central and peripheral line crossings (OFT), % entries and time spent in open arms (EPM), no. of marbles buried (MBT), and sucrose intake ratio (SPT) in alcohol-withdrawn mice.

Conclusion
In mice undergoing alcohol withdrawal, Areca catechu nut extract (MAN) greatly lessens handling-induced convulsions, anxiety and depression symptoms.

Graphical Abstract
When the illness speaks
Authors: Greenberg Norman R. 
Published: February 2023

SUMMARYThe nature of culpability and agency in patients with a variety of psychiatric diagnoses is complex. In this article, a psychiatry resident (specialty trainee in psychiatry) reflects on a clinical encounter in medical school to demonstrate some of the benefits (including the removal of stigma) and dangers (including the threat to patients’ agency) of using the medical model to conceptualise psychiatric illness.
Neural correlates of a mindfulness-based intervention in anorexia nervosa
Authors: Noda Tomomi , Isobe Masanori , Mishima Ryo , Tose Keima , Kawabata Michiko , Aso Toshihiko , Tei Shisei , Noma Shun'ichi , Murai Toshiya 
Published: February 2023

Summary
We examined the neural underpinnings of the effects of mindfulness on anxiety in anorexia nervosa using functional magnetic resonance imaging in 21 anorexia patients. We used a functional magnetic resonance imaging task designed to induce weight-related anxiety and asked participants to regulate their anxiety either using or not using an acceptance strategy. Our results showed reduced activity in the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, putamen, caudate, orbital gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus following a mindfulness-based intervention. The present study provides new insight regarding the neural mechanisms underlying the effect of mindfulness-based intervention in ameliorating anorexia nervosa.