bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular identification and genetic characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Enterocytozoon bieneusi in human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients in Shanghai, China
Authors: Jiang Yanyan , Liu Li , Yuan Zhongying , Liu Aiqin , Cao Jianping , Shen Yujuan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundOpportunistic infections are a ubiquitous complication in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients.Cryptosporidiumspp.,Giardia duodenalis, andEnterocytozoon bieneusiare common opportunistic intestinal pathogens in humans. In China, despite the number of HIV/AIDS patients being extremely large, only a few studies have investigated opportunistic infections caused by intestinal pathogens in this patient population. The aims of this study were to elucidate the occurrence and genetic characteristics ofCryptosporidiumspp.,G. duodenalis, andE. bieneusiin HIV/AIDS patients.MethodsWe collected fecal specimens from 155 HIV/AIDS patients (one from each patient). All of the specimens were examined for the presence of the pathogens by genotyping using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the small subunit ribosomal RNA gene forCryptosporidiumspp.; the triosephosphate isomerase, β-giardin and glutamate dehydrogenase genes forG. duodenalis; and the internal transcribed spacer region of the rRNA gene forE. bieneusi. TheCryptosporidium-positive specimens were further subtyped by polymerase chain reacion and sequencing of the 60-kDa glycoprotein gene.ResultsSix (3.9%), three (1.9%), and eight (5.2%) HIV/AIDS patients were positive forCryptosporidiumspp.,G. duodenalis, andE. bieneusi, respectively. No statistical differences were observed in occurrence rate between the groups by gender, clinical symptom (diarrhea), and CD4+cell count. FourCryptosporidiumspecies were identified:Cryptosporidium hominis(n = 2),Cryptosporidium parvum(n = 1),Cryptosporidium meleagridis(n = 1), andCryptosporidium andersoni(n = 2). Furthermore, twoC. hominissubtypes (IeA12G3T3 and IaA28R4) were detected. ThreeG. duodenalis-positive specimens were successfully amplified and sequenced at the triosephosphate isomerase and β-giardin loci, which led to the identification of assemblages C and B, respectively. Seven genotypes (D, Type IV, EbpC, Peru11, EbpD, A, and I) were identified inE. bieneusi-positive specimens.ConclusionsOur findings should increase awareness of AIDS-related opportunistic intestinal pathogens, and indicate the need for routine examination in clinical practice for the detection ofCryptosporidiumspp.,G. duodenalis, andE. bieneusi. Homology analyses of the three intestinal pathogens at the nucleotide and/or amino acid levels indicated their zoonotic potential.Graphical Abstract
The impact of spatial correlation on methylation entropy with application to mouse brain methylome
Authors: Wu Xiaowei , Choi Joung Min 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundWith the advance of bisulfite sequencing technologies, massive amount of methylation data have been generated, which provide unprecedented opportunities to study the epigenetic mechanism and its relationship to other biological processes. A commonly seen feature of the methylation data is the correlation between nearby CpG sites. Although such a spatial correlation was utilized in several epigenetic studies, its interaction to other characteristics of the methylation data has not been fully investigated.ResultsWe filled this research gap from an information theoretic perspective, by exploring the impact of the spatial correlation on the methylation entropy (ME). With the spatial correlation taken into account, we derived the analytical relation between the ME and another key parameter, the methylation probability. By comparing it to the empirical relation between the two corresponding statistics, the observed ME and the mean methylation level, genomic loci under strong epigenetic control can be identified, which may serve as potential markers for cell-type specific methylation. The proposed method was validated by simulation studies, and applied to analyze a published dataset of mouse brain methylome.ConclusionsCompared to other sophisticated methods developed in literature, the proposed method provides a simple but effective way to detect CpG segments under strong epigenetic control (e.g., with bipolar methylation pattern). Findings from this study shed light on the identification of cell-type specific genes/pathways based on methylation data from a mixed cell population.
Validity of using perceived exertion to assess muscle fatigue during back squat exercise
Authors: Zhao Hanye , Seo Dasom , Okada Junichi 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scale has been found to reflect physiological responses, and this study aimed to assess the validity of using the Borg CR-10 scale and velocity loss to evaluate muscle fatigue quantified by surface electromyography during back squat (BS) exercise. A total of 15 collegiate male athletes underwent three non-explosive BS tasks comprising low, medium, and high volumes at 65% of their one-repetition maximum. RPEs, spectral fatigue index (SFI), and velocity loss during BS exercise were assessed throughout the trials. Significant differences in overall RPE (p < 0.001) and average SFI (p < 0.05) were observed between the conditions, whereas no significant difference was observed in average velocity loss. Significant increases in RPE and SFI (p < 0.001) were observed within the exercise process, whereas a significant increase in velocity loss was not observed. Correlation analyses indicated a significant correlation between RPE and SFI obtained during exercise (r = 0.573, p < 0.001). However, no significant correlation was observed between velocity loss and SFI. These results demonstrated that RPE could be used as a muscle fatigue predictor in BS exercise, but that velocity loss may not reflect muscle fatigue correctly when participants cannot and/or are not required to perform BS explosively. Furthermore, practitioners should not use velocity loss as a muscle fatigue indicator in some resistance exercise situations, such as rehabilitation, beginner, and hypertrophy programs.
The first genetically authenticated case of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy in Sri Lanka: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Gunawardena Kawmadi , Dissanayake Vajira H. W. , Chang Thashi 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Introduction
Leber hereditary optic neuropathy is a genetic disease of mitochondrial inheritance characterized by bilateral irreversible vision loss, predominantly affecting males. We report the first genetically authenticated Sri Lankan case of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, illustrating its characteristic features of male predominance and variable penetrance.

Case presentation
A 15-year-old previously healthy Sri Lankan boy presented with painless progressive vision loss in his right eye, followed by vision loss in his left eye within 3 months. There was no history of drug or toxin exposure, or a family history of vision loss. His parents were nonconsanguineous. On examination, he could only perceive light. Funduscopy revealed bilateral optic atrophy. Routine hematological and biochemical blood tests, including inflammatory markers, were normal. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging was unremarkable. Optical coherence tomography, and the clinical presentation, suggested a diagnosis of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, which was confirmed by detection of m.14484T > C pathogenic variant in the MT-ND6 gene through targeted genetic analysis for the three common pathogenic variants in mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid. He was homoplasmic for the variant, and his asymptomatic mother and two female siblings were also found to be harboring the variant with homoplasmy.

Conclusions
This case report is intended to increase awareness of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, and highlights the need to consider this rare diagnosis in the appropriate clinical context. It also illustrates the phenomena of incomplete penetrance and male predominance, and suggests the possibility of an X-linked gene governing Leber hereditary optic neuropathy disease expression, which warrants further investigation.
Ang-(1–7)/MasR axis promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury by regulating microglia/macrophage polarization
Authors: Gu Guangjin , Zhu Bin , Ren Jie , Song Xiaomeng , Fan Baoyou , Ding Han , Shang Jun , Wu Heng , Li Junjin , Wang Hongda , Li Jinze , Wei Zhijian , Feng Shiqing 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Inflammatory response is an essential part of secondary injury after spinal cord injury (SCI). During this period, the injury may be exacerbated through the release of a large number of inflammatory factors and the polarization of infiltrating macrophages and microglia towards M1. Ang-(1–7), mainly generated by Ang II via angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), can specifically bind to the G protein-coupled receptor Mas (MasR) and plays an important role in regulating inflammation and alleviating oxidative stress.

Methods
We aimed to investigate whether activating the Ang-(1–7)/MasR axis in rats after SCI can regulate local neuroinflammation to achieve functional recovery and obtain its potential mechanism. MasR expression of bone marrow-derived macrophages was determined by Western blot. Immunofluorescence, Western blot, Flow cytometry, and RT-qPCR were applied to evaluate the polarization of Ang-(1–7) on macrophages and the regulation of inflammatory cytokines. Previous evaluation of the spinal cord and bladder after SCI was conducted by hematoxylin–eosin staining, Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) score, inclined plate test, electrophysiology, and catwalk were used to evaluate the functional recovery of rats.

Results
MasR expression increased in macrophages under inflammatory conditions and further elevated after Ang-(1–7) treatment. Both in vivo and in vitro results confirmed that Ang-(1–7) could regulate the expression of inflammatory cytokines by down-regulating proinflammatory cytokines and up-regulating anti-inflammatory cytokines, and bias the polarization direction of microglia/macrophages to M2 phenotypic. After SCI, Ang-(1–7) administration in situ led to better histological and functional recovery in rats, and this recovery at least partly involved the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Conclusion
As shown in our data, activating Ang-(1–7)/MasR axis can effectively improve the inflammatory microenvironment after spinal cord injury, promote the polarization of microglia/macrophages towards the M2 phenotype, and finally support the recovery of motor function. Therefore, we suggest using Ang-(1–7) as a feasible treatment strategy for spinal cord injury to minimize the negative consequences of the inflammatory microenvironment after spinal cord injury.
Modulating phenylalanine metabolism by L. acidophilus alleviates alcohol-related liver disease through enhancing intestinal barrier function
Authors: Chen Liuying , Yang Pengcheng , Hu Lilin , Yang Ling , Chu Huikuan , Hou Xiaohua 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Impaired metabolic functions of gut microbiota have been demonstrated in alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), but little is known about changes in phenylalanine metabolism.

Methods
Bacterial genomics and fecal metabolomics analysis were used to recognize the changes of phenylalanine metabolism and its relationship with intestinal flora. Intestinal barrier function was detected by intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity, levels of tight junction protein expression, colonic inflammation and levels of serum LPS. Lactobacillus acidophilus was chosen to correct phenylalanine metabolism of ALD mice by redundancy analysis and Pearson correlation analysis.

Results
Using 16S rRNA sequencing and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) methods, we identified elevated levels of phenylalanine and its’ metabolites in the gut of alcohol-fed mice compared to control mice and were negatively correlated with the abundance of Lactobacillus, which mainly metabolized phenylalanine. The intestinal phenylalanine level was positively correlated with the colon inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6, and negatively correlated with ZO-1 and Occludin. While intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) activity was negatively correlated with the colon inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1, and positively correlated with ZO-1 and Occludin. Increased phenylalanine inhibited IAP activity, blocked LPS dephosphorylation, increased colonic inflammation and bacterial translocation. Phenylalanine supplementation aggravated alcohol-induced liver injury and intestinal barrier dysfunction. Among the 37 Lactobacillus species, the abundance of Lactobacillus acidophilus was most significantly decreased in ALD mice. Supplementation with L. acidophilus recovered phenylalanine metabolism and protected mice from alcohol-induced steatohepatitis.

Conclusions
Recovery of phenylalanine metabolism through the oral supplementation of L. acidophilus boosted intestinal barrier integrity and ameliorated experimental ALD.
QoS prediction in intelligent edge computing based on feature learning
Authors: Zhang Hongxia , Wang Dengyue , Zhang Wei , Tan Lizhuang , Kibalya Godfrey , Zhang Peiying , Igorevich Kostromitin Konstantin 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWith the development of 5G and 6G, more computing and network resources on edge nodes are deployed close to the terminal. Meanwhile, the number of smart devices and intelligent services has grown significantly, which makes it difficult for users to choose a suitable service. The rich contextual information plays an important role in the prediction of service quality. In this paper, we propose a quality of service(QoS) prediction approach based on feature learning, the contextual information represented as the explicit features and underlying relationship hidden in the implicit features are fully considered. Then, the multi-head self-attention mechanism is used in the interacting layer to determine which features should be combined to form meaningful high-order features interaction. We have implemented our proposed approach with experiments based on real-world datasets. Experimental results show that our approach achieved a better performance of service QoS prediction in an intelligent edge computing environment for future communication.
Socioeconomic disparities in health outcomes in the United States in the late 2010s: results from four national population-based studies
Authors: Kim Yeonwoo , Vazquez Christian , Cubbin Catherine 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Despite the importance of monitoring health disparities by multiple socioeconomic categories, there have been no recent updates on the prevalence of general health indicators by socioeconomic categories. The present study aims to update the prevalence estimates of health indicators by education and income categories across three age groups (children, young and middle-aged adults, and older adults) in the late 2010s by using four nationally representative data sources. We also examine socioeconomic differences in health by race/ethnicity subgroups.

Methods
Data were obtained from four nationally representative data sources from the U.S.: The National Health Interview Survey (2015–2018); the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, NHANES (2017–2020); the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2016–2020); and the Health & Retirement Study (2016). Respondent-rated health and obesity were selected as the health indicators of interest. Socioeconomic factors included percentages of the federal poverty level and years of educational attainment. We conducted logistic regression analyses to calculate adjusted prevalence rates of respondent-rated (or measured, in the case of obesity in NHANES) poor health and obesity by income and education categories after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. The complex sampling designs were accounted for in all analyses.

Results
Prevalence rates across racial/ethnic groups and age groups demonstrated clear and consistent socioeconomic gradients in respondent-rated poor health, with the highest rates among those in the lowest income and education categories, and decreased rates as income and education levels increased. On the other hand, there were less evident socioeconomic differences in obesity rates across all data sources, racial/ethnic groups, and age groups.

Conclusions
Our results confirmed earlier, persistent evidence indicating socioeconomic disparities in respondent-rated poor health across all age and race/ethnicity groups by using four nationally representative datasets. In comparison to a decade earlier, socioeconomic disparities in poor health appeared to shrink while they emerged or increased for obesity. The results suggest an urgent need for action to alleviate pervasive health disparities by socioeconomic status. Further research is needed to investigate potentially modifiable factors underlying socioeconomic disparities in health, which may help design targeted health promotion programs.
Medications for opioid use disorder during incarceration and post-release outcomes
Authors: Cates Lara , Brown Aaron R. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Continuation or initiation of MOUDs during incarceration could improve post-release outcomes by preventing return to opioid use and reducing risk of overdose. People with OUD involved in the criminal legal system are a vulnerable population, yet little research has comprehensively examined post-release outcomes associated with receiving MOUDs in jail and prison settings.

Methods
The authors conducted a review of published peer-reviewed literature on post-release outcomes associated with the use of MOUDs in correctional settings to determine implications for further research and policy.

Results
Results showed compelling evidence supporting the use of MOUDs for currently incarcerated populations, with almost all studies showing that MOUDs provided during incarceration increased community-based treatment engagement post-release. There is also evidence that initiating or continuing MOUDs during incarceration is associated with decreased opioid use and overdoses post-release, without increasing criminal involvement.

Conclusions
Findings indicate that forcing tapering and withdrawal during incarceration can have dire consequences upon release into the community. Initiating or continuing MOUDs during incarceration reduces the risk for opioid use and overdose upon release by maintaining opioid tolerance and increasing community treatment engagement.
Factors associated with anxiety and depression in patients with erectile dysfunction: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Xiao Yang , Xie Tongjin , Peng Jingxuan , Zhou Xun , Long Jinsong , Yang Mohan , Zhu Haiyan , Yang Jianfu 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Few studies have investigated factors associated with anxiety and depression among patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). This study aimed to investigate associated factors and the prevalence of anxiety and depression in this special group in China.

Methods
Data from 511 patients with ED aged 18–60 years were collected between July 2021 and April 2022. The 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS) were used to evaluate erectile function, anxiety and depression, respectively. Univariate analysis and multivariate linear regression analyses were used to explore the associated factors of depression and anxiety.

Results
The prevalence of anxiety and depression among ED patients was 38.16% and 64.97%, respectively. The mean anxiety index score was 47.37 ± 6.69 points, and the mean depression index was 54.72 ± 9.10 points. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that worse ED, low education level, and smoking were positively associated with increased risk of anxiety and depression. In addition, younger age, longer onset time, and irregular sleep were positively associated with high risk of anxiety, and irregular exercise was associated with severe depression.

Conclusions
The prevalence of depression and anxiety in ED patients is high, and the severity of ED, age, education level, smoking, onset time, regular sleep, and exercise were associated with anxiety or depression. Reversible risk factors should be avoided and individualized psychological support services are necessary for ED patients.
Self-assembled, hemin-functionalized peptide nanotubes: an innovative strategy for detecting glutathione and glucose molecules with peroxidase-like activity
Authors: Xiang Song , Long Xincheng , Tu Qiuxia , Feng Jian , Zhang Xiaohe , Feng Guangwei , Lei Li 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAccurately detecting dynamic changes in bioactive small molecules in real-time is very challenging. In this study, a hemin-based peptide assembly was rationally designed for the colorimetric detection of active small molecules. Hemin-functionalized peptide nanotubes were obtained through the direct incubation of hemin (hemin@PNTs) and peptide nanotubes (PNTs) or were coassembled with the heptapeptide Ac-KLVFFAL-NH2 via electrostatic, π–π stacking, and hydrophobic interactions (hemin-PNTs). This new substance is significant because it exhibits the benefits of both hemin and PNTs as well as some special qualities. First, hemin-PNTs exhibited higher intrinsic peroxidase-like activity, which, in the presence of H2O2, could catalyze the oxidation of the substrate 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) to yield a typical blue solution after 10 min at 25 ℃. Second, hemin-PNTs showed significantly higher activity than that of hemin, PNTs alone, or hemin@PNTs. Hemin-PNTs with a 20.0% hemin content may cooperate to improve catalytic activity. The catalytic activity was dependent on the reaction temperature, pH, reaction time, and H2O2 concentration. The nature of the TMB-catalyzed reaction may arise from the production of hydroxyl radicals. Fluorescence analysis was used to demonstrate the catalytic mechanism. According to this investigation, a new highly selective and sensitive colorimetric technique for detecting glutathione (GSH), L-cysteine, and glucose was established. The strategy demonstrated excellent sensitivity for GSH in the range of 1 to 30 μM with a 0.51 μM detection limit. Importantly, this glucose detection technique, which employs glucose oxidase and hemin-PNTs, is simple and inexpensive, with a 0.1 μM to 1.0 mM linear range and a 15.2 μM detection limit. Because of their low cost and high catalytic activity, hemin-PNTs are an excellent choice for biocatalysts in a diverse range of potential applications, including applications in clinical diagnostics, environmental chemistry, and biotechnology.