bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ Beliefs and Practice of Interaction Strategies on Students’ Willingness to Communicate
Authors: Abidin Jaenal , Srisudarso Mansyur , Hakim Putri Kamalia 
Published: May 2023

Willingness to Communicate (WTC) has become an important concept in second language (L2) classroom context. WTC is proven as a predictor of classroom participation since students who tend to have high WTC participated more in classroom interaction and they are likely to be ready to get involved in any interactions using their L2 both inside and outside classroom. Given the central role teachers play in pedagogy, who shape the curriculum within the context and content, and shape the decisions of teaching methods and strategy play dynamic role in maintaining students’ willingness to communicate. This study aims: (1) to portray teachers’ beliefs about their role and practice of interaction strategies in maintaining students’ WTC; (2) to find out interaction strategies employed by the teacher in maintaining students’ WTC. Employing narrative inquiry, the two experience English teacher was gathered by means of personal narrative and interview. The findings revealed that teacher plays a very crucial role in students’ WTC. This study also highlight that the use of three interaction strategies such as teacher-front, facilitator-oriented, and learner-oriented strategy can contribute in maintaining students’ WTC, by applying appropriate techniques. This study suggest that teacher should perform various roles to become an ideal guide in shaping students’ WTC. The use of various effective strategies with involving familiar term of topic, and the use of encouragement can be applied in encouraging English interaction. This present study is expected to create awareness on the significance of EFL teachers to share their interaction skills and vary effective interaction strategies improve the quality of English teaching and learning.
The predictive effect of immune therapy and chemotherapy under T cell-related gene prognostic index for Gastric cancer
Authors: Chen Jingyao , Li Xing , Mak Tsz Kin , Wang Xiaoqun , Ren Hui , Wang Kang , Kuo Zi Chong , Wu Wenhui , Li Mingzhe , Hao Tengfei , Zhang Changhua , He Yulong 
Published: May 2023

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies in the human digestive tract. CD4+T cells can eliminate tumor cells directly through the mechanism of cytolysis, they can also indirectly attack tumor cells by regulating the tumor TME. A prognostic model of CD4+T cells is urgently needed to improve treatment strategies and explore the specifics of this interaction between CD4+T cells and gastric cancer cells. Methods: The detailed data of GC samples were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), GSE66229, and GSE84437 datasets. CD4+ T cell-related genes were identified to construct a risk-score model by using the Cox regression method and validated with the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset. In addition, postoperative pathological tissues of 139 gastric cancer patients were randomly selected for immunohistochemical staining, and their prognostic information were collected for external verification. Immune and molecular characteristics of these samples and their predictive efficacy in immunotherapy and chemotherapy were analysed.Results: The training set and validation set had consistent results, with GC patients of high PROC and SERPINE1 expression having poorer prognosis. In order to improve their clinical application value, we constructed a risk scoring model and established a high-precision nomogram. Low-risk patients had a better overall survival (OS) than high-risk patients, consistent with the results from the GEO cohort. Furthermore, the risk-score model can predict infiltration of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment of GC, as well as the response of immunotherapy. Correlations between the abundance of immune cells with PROC and SERPINE1 genes were shown in the prognostic model according to the training cohort. Finally, sensitive drugs were identified for patients in different risk subgroup.Conclusion: The risk model not only provides a basis for better prognosis in GC patients, but also is a potential prognostic indicator to distinguish the molecular and immune characteristics of the tumor, and its response to immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy and chemotherapy.
The need for inclusion of integrated teaching on refugee and asylum seeker health in undergraduate medical curriculum
Authors: Pittala Rajeshwari , Jacob Wright 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionProviding care for refugees and asylum seekers requires special knowledge and training. Refugees and asylum seekers often have unique health needs that require specialized care.PurposeThis research focused on the need and relevance of incorporation of refugee and asylum seekers’ health in undergraduate medical curriculum teaching at King’s College London GKT Medical School.MethodsA mixed method approach was adopted involving review of available literature on refugee health in the medical curriculum, followed by interview and e-survey on the perspectives of tutors and students, respectively.DiscussionThe research points to an overwhelming agreement on the need, learning outcomes and challenges of integrating refugee and asylum seeker health into undergraduate medical and dental education both from the perspectives of clinical teachers and medical students.ConclusionA collaborative approach involving students, teachers and refugee stakeholders will help in developing an effective refugee curriculum to provide equitable healthcare in the UK.
Glycemic variability and the risk of atrial fibrillation: a meta-analysis
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Yang , Zhong Guoqiang 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundGlycemic variability (GV) has been associated with vascular complications in patients with diabetes. However, the relationship between GV and risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) remains not fully determined. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the above association.MethodsMedline, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were searched for longitudinal follow-up studies comparing the incidence of AF between patients with higher versus lower GV. A random-effects model incorporating the potential heterogeneity was used to pool the results.ResultsNine cohort studies with 6,877,661 participants were included, and 36,784 (0.53%) participants developed AF during follow-up. Pooled results showed that a high GV was associated with an increased risk of AF (risk ratio [RR]: 1.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.11 to 1.30, p &lt; 0.001, I2 = 20%). Subgroup analyses suggested consistent association between GV and AF in prospective (RR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.59, p = 0.01) and retrospective studies (RR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.29, p = 0.002), in diabetic (RR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.50, p = 0.03) and non-diabetic subjects (RR: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.00 to 1.28, p = 0.05), in studies with short-term (RR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.11 to 1.40, p &lt; 0.001) and long-term GV (RR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.34, p = 0.006), and in studies with different quality scores (p for subgroup difference all &gt; 0.05).ConclusionA high GV may predict an increased risk of AF in adult population.
Prognostic value of human leukocyte antigen G expression in solid tumors: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bartolome Jorge , Molto Consolacion , Benitez-Fuentes Javier David , Fernandez-Hinojal Gonzalo , Manzano Aranzazu , Perez-Segura Pedro , Mittal Abhenil , Tamimi Faris , Amir Eitan , Ocana Alberto 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionIdentification of modulators of the immune response with inhibitory properties that could be susceptible for therapeutic intervention is a key goal in cancer research. An example is the human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G), a nonclassical major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecule, involved in cancer progression. MethodsIn this article we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis on the association between HLA-G expression and outcome in solid tumors. This study was performed in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and registered in PROSPERO.ResultsA total of 25 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies comprised data from 4871 patients reporting overall survival (OS), and 961 patients, reporting disease free survival (DFS). HLA-G expression was associated with worse OS (HR 2.09, 95% CI = 1.67 to 2.63; P &lt; .001), that was higher in gastric (HR = 3.40; 95% CI = 1.64 to 7.03), pancreatic (HR = 1.72; 95% CI = 0.79 to 3.74) and colorectal (HR = 1.55; 95% CI = 1.16 to 2.07) cancer. No significant differences were observed between the most commonly utilized antibody (4H84) and other methods of detection. HLA-G expression was associated with DFS which approached but did not meet statistical significance. DiscussionIn summary, we describe the first meta-analysis associating HLA-G expression and worse survival in a variety of solid tumors. Systematic Review Registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD42022311973.
Mycobacterial-specific secretion of cytokines and chemokines in healthcare workers with apparent resistance to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Shey Muki Shehu , Balfour Avuyonke , Masina Nomawethu , Bekiswa Abulele , Schutz Charlotte , Goliath Rene , Dielle Rachel , Katoto Patrick DMC. , Wilkinson Katalin Andrea , Lewinsohn David , Lewinsohn Deborah Anne , Meintjes Graeme 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundCurrently, diagnosis of latent TB infection (LTBI) is based on the secretion of IFN-γ in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) antigens, the absence of which is regarded as no infection. Some individuals appear to resist Mtb infection despite sustained exposure (resisters). In this study, we aimed to assess cytokines, chemokines and antibodies that may be associated with resistance to Mtb infection. We hypothesized that there may be an alternative immune response to Mtb exposure in the absence of IFN-γ in resisters.MethodsWe enrolled HIV-uninfected healthcare workers who had worked in high TB-exposure environments for 5 years or longer. We screened them for LTBI using the tuberculin skin test and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus assay. We performed multiplex Luminex to measure concentrations of T cell-associated cytokines and chemokines as well as total antibodies in plasma collected from unstimulated fresh whole blood and supernatants from QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus tubes following incubation of whole blood for 16-24 hours with ESAT6/CFP10 peptides.ResultsSamples from 78 individuals were analyzed: 33 resisters (TST&lt;10mm; IGRA&lt;0.35 IU/mL), 33 with LTBI (TST≥10mm and IGRA≥0.35 IU/mL) and 12 discordant (TST=0mm; IGRA≥1.0 IU/mL). There were no differences in concentrations of cytokines and chemokines in plasma between the different groups. Resisters had significantly lower concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-2, TNF-α, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, ITAC, IL-13 and GM-CSF in supernatants compared with LTBI group. There were no significant differences in the concentrations in supernatants of IL-10, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-23, MIP-3α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, Fractalkine and IL-12p70 between the groups. We observed that resisters had similar concentrations of total antibodies (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4, IgA, and IgM) in plasma and supernatants compared to the LTBI and discordant groups.ConclusionResistance to Mtb infection despite sustained exposure is associated with lower Mtb-specific secretion of Th1-associated cytokines and chemokines. However, resisters showed secreted concentrations after Mtb stimulation of total antibodies and cytokines/chemokines associated with innate and Th17 immune responses similar to those with Mtb infection. This suggests an ability to mount non-IFN-γ immune responses to Mtb in apparent resisters.
No genetic causal association between systemic lupus erythematosus and COVID-19
Authors: Xu Shu-Zhen , Wang Zhi-Xin , Fang Xi , Chen Cong , Yang Xiao-Ke , Shuai Zong-Wen , Tao Sha-Sha 
Published: May 2023

ObjectiveEmerging evidence suggests an increased prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the prototype of autoimmune disease, compared to the general population. However, the conclusions were inconsistent, and the causal relationship between COVID-19 and SLE remains unknown.MethodsIn this study, we aimed to evaluate the bidirectional causal relationship between COVID-19 and SLE using bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, including MR-Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and the inverse variance weighting (IVW) method.ResultsThe results of IVW showed a negative effect of SLE on severe COVID-19 (OR = 0.962, p = 0.040) and COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.988, p = 0.025), which disappeared after Bonferroni correction. No causal effect of SLE on hospitalized COVID-19 was observed (OR = 0.983, p = 0.148). In the reverse analysis, no causal effects of severe COVID-19 infection (OR = 1.045, p = 0.664), hospitalized COVID-19 (OR = 0.872, p = 0.109), and COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.943, p = 0.811) on SLE were found.ConclusionThe findings of our bidirectional causal inference analysis did not support a genetically predicted causal relationship between SLE and COVID-19; thus, their association observed in previous observational studies may have been caused by confounding factors.
Flagellar-based motility accelerates IgA-mediated agglutination of Salmonella Typhimurium at high bacterial cell densities
Authors: Lindberg Samantha K. , Willsey Graham G. , Mantis Nicholas J. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionSecretory IgA (SIgA) protects the intestinal epithelium from enteric pathogens such as Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) through a process known as immune exclusion, where invading bacteria are aggregated via antibody cross-linking, encased in mucus, and then cleared from the intestinal tract via peristalsis. At high cell densities, the STm aggregates form a tightly packed network that is reminiscent of early bacterial biofilms. However, the underlying mechanism of how SIgA mediates this transition from a motile and invasive state to an avirulent sessile state in STm is currently unknown.MethodsIn this report, we developed and validated a methodology known as the “snow globe” assay to enable real-time imaging and quantification of STm agglutination by the mouse monoclonal IgA Sal4.ResultsWe observed that agglutination in the snow globe assay was dose-dependent, antigen-specific, and influenced by antibody isotype. We determined that flagellar-based motility was a prerequisite for rapid onset of agglutination, even at high cell densities where cell-cell contacts are expected to be frequent. We also investigated the roles of individual cyclic-di-GMP metabolizing enzymes previously implicated in motility and biofilm formation in Sal4 IgA-mediated agglutination.DiscussionTaken together, our results demonstrate that IgA-mediated agglutination is a dynamic process influenced by bacterial motility and cell-cell collisions. We conclude that the snow globe assay is a viable platform to further decipher the molecular and genetic determinants that drive this interaction.
Daily timescale dynamics of planktonic foraminifera shell-size distributions
Authors: Chernihovsky Natalie , Torfstein Adi , Almogi-Labin Ahuva 
Published: May 2023

Planktonic foraminifera (PF) shells comprise a significant fraction of the global oceanic carbonate flux and serve as a primary archive of the history of the oceans. Yet, a limited understanding of their life cycles dynamics and biological rhythms, hampers their application as palaeoceanographic proxies. Here, we present the flux of ten PF species and their shell-size distributions at a daily timescale resolution in the Gulf of Aqaba (GOA), northern Red Sea. We report diameter measurements of ~13,500 shells, associated with ten PF species, retrieved using an automated time-series sediment trap deployed at a water depth of ~410 m (seafloor depth 610 m) throughout more than a full annual cycle between 2015 and 2016. Most of the PF species display a wide intraspecific shell-size distribution among adult PF, while six abundant species (G. ruber, G. rubescens + G. tenellus, G. glutinata, G. calida and G. siphonifera) display significantly smaller shell-sizes compared with corresponding specimens from sediment traps and seafloor sediments across other tropical, subtropical and upwelling regions. The results indicate that PF generation cycles can be classified according to three patterns: (1) Quiescent: minimal shell-size and extended life cycles due to unfavorable conditions and food scarcity when the water column is stratified and oligotrophic, (2) Transient: the gradual increase of Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentrations and food availability enhance shorter life-cycles, although PF do not necessarily reach maximal shell-sizes, (3) Successive: PF fluxes and Chl-a concentrations are maximal, the generation time is extended and individuals might display growth to maximal shell-sizes.
Collaborative training of regulators as an approach for strengthening regulatory systems in LMICs: experiences of the WHO and Swissmedic
Authors: Dehaghi Razieh Ostad Ali , Khadem Broojerdi Alireza , Paganini Lodovico , Sillo Hiiti B. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionTraining opportunities for health product regulators are among the critical aspects in the strengthening of regulatory systems across the world. The need for training is reasonably higher among the National Regulatory Agencies (NRAs) in the Low- and Middle-Income countries (LMICs) which are faced with many regulatory challenges mostly rooted in the low availability of resources. The current study aimed at evaluating the suitability, impacts, and challenges related to the training of regulators from LMICs offered by the Swissmedic in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).MethodologyAn exploratory case study design using a qualitative approach was adopted to collect data from a total of 17 NRAs in different WHO regions using in-depth interviews and qualitative questionnaires.ResultsThe participation of the trainees in the training was revealed to be motivated by the need to apply the obtained knowledge in addressing various challenges within their NRAs. Many lessons covering all key areas of health products regulation were reported by the trainees, whereby most of the lessons were already being implemented within their respective NRAs. However, challenges related to human, financial, and infrastructural resources were highlighted to hinder the ongoing efforts in putting the learned aspects into practice. Additionally, areas in which further regulatory assistance and suggestions for improving the training activities were pointed out.ConclusionThe highlighted gains from the WHO-Swissmedic collaborative training program call for other agencies and organizations to join hands in offering much-needed support towards addressing critical challenges facing the regulatory sector in the LMICs.
Aging brain shows joint declines in brain within-network connectivity and between-network connectivity: a large-sample study (N > 6,000)
Authors: Du Yuhui , Guo Yating , Calhoun Vince D. 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionNumerous studies have shown that aging has important effects on specific functional networks of the brain and leads to brain functional connectivity decline. However, no studies have addressed the effect of aging at the whole-brain level by studying both brain functional networks (i.e., within-network connectivity) and their interaction (i.e., between-network connectivity) as well as their joint changes.MethodsIn this work, based on a large sample size of neuroimaging data including 6300 healthy adults aged between 49 and 73 years from the UK Biobank project, we first use our previously proposed priori-driven independent component analysis (ICA) method, called NeuroMark, to extract the whole-brain functional networks (FNs) and the functional network connectivity (FNC) matrix. Next, we perform a two-level statistical analysis method to identify robust aging-related changes in FNs and FNCs, respectively. Finally, we propose a combined approach to explore the synergistic and paradoxical changes between FNs and FNCs.ResultsResults showed that the enhanced FNCs mainly occur between different functional domains, involving the default mode and cognitive control networks, while the reduced FNCs come from not only between different domains but also within the same domain, primarily relating to the visual network, cognitive control network, and cerebellum. Aging also greatly affects the connectivity within FNs, and the increased within-network connectivity along with aging are mainly within the sensorimotor network, while the decreased within-network connectivity significantly involves the default mode network. More importantly, many significant joint changes between FNs and FNCs involve default mode and sub-cortical networks. Furthermore, most synergistic changes are present between the FNCs with reduced amplitude and their linked FNs, and most paradoxical changes are present in the FNCs with enhanced amplitude and their linked FNs.DiscussionIn summary, our study emphasizes the diversity of brain aging and provides new evidence via novel exploratory perspectives for non-pathological aging of the whole brain.
Multiple genetic variants involved in both autoimmunity and autoinflammation detected in Chinese patients with sporadic Meniere's disease: a preliminary study
Authors: Zou Jing , Zhang Guoping , Li Hongbin , Zhao Zikai , Zhang Qing , Pyykkö Ilmari , Mäkitie Antti 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundThe mechanisms of Meniere's disease (MD) remain largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to identify possible genetic variants associated with immune regulation in MD.MethodsThe whole immune genome of 16 Chinese patients diagnosed with sporadic MD was sequenced using next-generation sequencing.ResultsDefinite pathological variants of MEFV (c.1223G&gt;A, c.1105C&gt;T), COL7A1 (c.5287C&gt;T), and ADA (c.445C&gt;T) contributing to the clinical phenotype were found in three patients. Limited and likely pathological variants of TLR3 (c.2228G&gt;A) and RAB27A (c.560G&gt;A) were detected in one patient each. The following definite pathological variants impairing the structure and function of translated proteins were detected in 10 patients, and multigene variants occurred in five patients: PRF1 (c.710C&gt;A), UNC13D (c.1228A&gt;C), COLEC11 (c.169C&gt;T), RAG2 (c.200G&gt;C), BLM (c.1937G&gt;T), RNF31 (c.2533G&gt;A), FAT4 (c.11498A&gt;G), PEPD (c.788A&gt;G), TNFSF12 (c.470G&gt;A), VPS13B (c.11972A&gt;T), TNFRSF13B (c.226G&gt;A), ERCC6L2 (c.4613A&gt;G), TLR3 (c.2228G&gt;A), ADA (c.445C&gt;T), PEPD (c.151G&gt;A), and MOGS (c.2470G&gt;A). The following limited pathological variants impairing the structure and function of translated proteins were detected in five patients, with double gene variants identified in one patient: EXTL3 (c.1396G&gt;A), MTHFD1 (c.2057G&gt;A), FANCA (c.2039T&gt;C), LPIN2 (c.1814C&gt;T), NBAS (c.4049T&gt;C), and FCN3 (c.734G&gt;A).ConclusionPatients with sporadic MD carry multiple genetic variants involved in multiple steps of immune regulation, which might render patients susceptible to developing inflammation via both autoimmune and autoinflammation mechanisms upon internal stress.