bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving self-directed learning ability of medical students using the blended teaching method: a quasi experimental study
Authors: Lu Siying , Ren Xiangpeng , Xu Huang , Han Dong 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

BackgroundSelf-directed learning (SDL) is one of the most important abilities for medical students in terms of their future clinical medical practice. During the blended teaching process, teachers can design a variety of learning activities to cultivate students' SDL abilities. This study aimed to assess the differences between the SDL abilities of medical students using blended and traditional didactic teaching.MethodsThis study included 239 medical students from eight administrative classes. The students were divided into two groups: (1) the experimental group (EG), which included 119 students from four administrative classes, and (2) the control group (CG), which included 120 students from the remaining four classes. From February to July 2022, blended teaching methods were applied to the EG group, and SDL abilities were assessed in comparison to the CG group receiving traditional didactic teaching methods.ResultsAt the end of the semester, significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed between EG and CG in all six SDL ability factors. Furthermore, when k-means cluster analysis was used to analyze the learning behavior of students in the EG after classifying them as comprehensive, interactive, and passive types, significant differences were observed in all six Self-directed learning factors of students with the comprehensive type, whereas significant differences were observed in four factors (setting learning goals and plans, self-monitoring and regulation, information processing, and communication and cooperation) of students with the interactive type. For students with passive type, only one factor of SDL (information processing) showed significant improvement. There were on differences between comprehensive, interactive, and passive types of CG.ConclusionThe blended teaching approach is better than the conventional didactic teaching for cultivating clinical medical students' SDL abilities.
Ecological traits do not predict the uptake of microplastics by fishes in a Neotropical River
Authors: Costa Igor David da , Costa Leonardo Lopes , Cordeiro César Augusto Marcelino Mendes , Zalmon Ilana Rosental 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Pollution by synthetic polymers is even more problematic to the environment when this material is fragmented into small portions, forming microplastics. We analyzed the contamination of ichthyofauna by microplastics in an important river of the Atlantic Rainforest in regard to abundance, diversity of morphotypes, polymers, colors, and sizes of the synthetic particles in 20 species of fish. Fish were collected in November 2019 and in March 2020 in five sites along the Pomba River. Of the 101 fish analyzed, 97 (96%) presented MPs in at least one organ. Of the 20 species of fish collected 13 included individuals with at least one MP in their analyzed organs. The organs, trophic categories and feeding areas did not affect the general abundance of MPs types. Blue MPs were predominant, followed by the colors black, red and white. MP fibers represented 91% of total MPs. Most MPs were between 2 and 3 mm in size. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polyamide (PA), polyvinylidene chloride “Nylon” (PVDC), and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) were detected in the fishes. Considering that 55% of the fish species studied are consumed by humans, it is necessary to study the potential impact of MP ingestion on human health and to understand to what extent we may be consuming both plastic particles and contaminants that are adsorbed to MPs.
TET2 amplifies RIPK3/MLKL necroptosis signal by upregulation of PLK3 to promote UVB-induced skin photodamage
Authors: Wang Dan , Yang Shengbo , Zeng Yilan , Tang Ziting , Liu Yuanhong , Li Xuemei , Zong Xiule 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation causes cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and skin inflammation, which leads to skin photodamage, including skin photoaging, photodermatoses, pigmentary disorders or even skin cancers. However, the mechanism of UVB-induced skin damage remains poorly understood. Here, we find that the expression of ten-eleven translocation 2 (TET2) is upregulated in UVB-irradiated cells and skin tissue. This upregulation leads to increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell death, as well as the release of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6), which accelerates necroinflammation in UVB-irradiated mouse skin. Moreover, the study found that TET2 promotes skin photodamage induced by UVB by upregulating the protein kinase 3 (RIPK3)-mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) related necroptosis. Mechanistically, TET2 interacts with RIPK3 and MLKL via upregulated polo-like kinase 3 (PLK3), which leads to increased activation of the RIPK3/MLKL/necroptosis signal. These findings have important implications for the prevention and treatment of skin diseases caused by UVB irradiation. By better understanding the mechanisms underlying UVB-induced skin damage, researchers and clinicians may be better equipped to develop strategies for protecting against or treating these conditions.
Nitrogen mass balance and uptake velocity for eutrophic reservoirs in the Brazilian semiarid region
Authors: Rocha Maria de Jesus Delmiro , Neto Iran Eduardo Lima 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

The nitrogen (N) cycle from the catchment to the downstream reservoir is complex, particularly the quantification of N losses. However, in order to assess the nitrogen impact in a reservoir ecosystem, simplified models may be applicable regarding the TN load production and the magnitude of lake TN removal. This study presented a methodology to perform and validate a TN mass balance to further calibrate a simplified coefficient for TN losses (vf.) in 29 tropical semiarid reservoirs. The study reservoirs were highly productive ecosystems with an average total nitrogen (TN) concentration, accounting for all measurements in all reservoirs, ranging from 0.59 mg L− 1 to 3.84 mg L− 1. Regarding the production of TN load, the median values ranged from 4.35 to 2,499.43 t yr− 1 with median of 80.34 t yr− 1. The TN loads were estimated through an annual mass balance over a twenty-four-year period. The median of the estimates was compared with reference values obtained by using the export modelling coefficient. The correlation between the median estimated and reference loads resulted in satisfactory agreement (r² 0.88) and reinforced the reliability of the mass balance alternative. From the validated TN loads, the TN uptake velocity (vf) was estimated for all reservoirs (44.9 ± 20.1 m yr− 1) and could be described as a general function of the water residence time. The reservoirs of the study region have demonstrated higher vf than temperate lakes and reservoirs and similar vf with Latin America/Caribbean ones. As expected, reservoirs of warmer climates tend to present intensified N loss processes as compared to lakes and reservoirs of temperate regions. The methodology proposed in the present study can be used to potentially improve water quality management in tropical semiarid reservoirs.
Elevated CSF angiopoietin-2 correlates with blood-brain barrier leakiness and markers of neuronal injury in early Alzheimer’s disease.
Authors: Miners James , Hulle Carol van , Ince Selvi , Jonaitis Erin , Okonkwo OC , Bendlin Barbara , Johnson Sterling , Carlsson Cynthia , Asthana Sanjay , Love Seth , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Breakdown of the neurovascular unit in early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) leads to leakiness of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), contributing to cognitive decline and disease pathology. Vascular stability depends on angiopoietin-1 (ANGPT1) signalling, antagonised by angiopoietin-2 (ANGPT2) upon endothelial injury. We have examined the relationship between CSF ANGPT2 and CSF markers of BBB leakiness and disease pathology, across three independent cohorts: (i) 31 AD patients and 33 healthy controls grouped according to their biomarker profile (i.e., AD cases t-tau > 400 pg/mL, p-tau > 60 pg/mL and Aβ42 < 550 pg/mL); (ii) 121 participants in the Wisconsin Registry for Alzheimer’s Prevention or Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research study (84 participants cognitively unimpaired (CU) enriched for a parental history of AD, 19 participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 21 with AD); (iii) a neurologically normal cohort aged 23–78 years with paired CSF and serum samples. CSF ANGPT2 level was measured by sandwich ELISA. In cohort (i), CSF ANGPT2 was elevated in AD, correlating with CSF t-tau and p-tau181 but not Aβ42. ANGPT2 also correlated positively with CSF sPDGFRβ and fibrinogen – markers of pericyte injury and BBB leakiness. In cohort (ii), CSF ANGPT2 was highest in MCI. CSF ANGT2 correlated with CSF albumin in the CU and MCI cohorts but not in AD. ANGPT2 also correlated with t-tau and p-tau and with markers of neuronal injury (neurogranin and α-synuclein) and neuroinflammation (GFAP and YKL-40). In cohort (iii), CSF ANGPT2 correlated strongly with the CSF:serum albumin ratio. Increased CSF ANGPT2 and the CSF:serum albumin ratio showed non-significant associations with elevated serum ANGPT2 in this small cohort. Together, these data indicate that CSF ANGPT2 is associated with BBB leakiness in early AD and is closely related to tau pathology and neuronal injury. The utility of serum ANGPT2 as a biomarker of BBB damage in AD requires further study.
Plasma ctDNA enhances the tissue-based detection of oncodriver mutations in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Wei , Huang Yisen , Li Hengping , Li Hai , Zhu Jingtao , Wang Tinghao , Yan Linghua , Dai Min , Chen Zhan , You Jun 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Purpose Recently developed circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) technique is convenient and noninvasive for dynamically monitoring cancer genomic information to instruct personalized treatment. We assessed the additional value of plasma ctDNA to routine tissue next generation sequencing (NGS) of therapeutically targetable mutations and tumor mutational burden (TMB) in colorectal cancers (CRC).Methods Tissue and plasma ctDNA sequencing data from 76 colorectal cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed using 556 or 105 cancer-related gene panels. The concordance of plasma-based NGS assays with solid tumor-based NGS assays was compared.Results In total, 26 cancer-related genes were identified. The most common variants in tumor tissues and plasma samples were in APC (57.9% vs 19.7%), TP53 (55.3% vs 22.4%) and KRAS (47.4% vs 43.4%). For the detection of therapeutically targetable mutations, the overall concordance of KRAS, PIK3CA, BRAF, NRAS and ERBB2 between plasma- and tissue-based analyses was 75% (57/76), 90.79% (69/76), 96.05% (73/76), 100% (76/76) and 94.74% (72/76), respectively. Moreover, the positive mutation rate of these genes by plasma plus tissue was significantly higher than that by single assay, both for individual genes and for gene combinations. Similar result was also observed for the detection of TMB-H. The increased positive mutation rate of combined tissue and plasma testing was independent of the clinical characteristics of the patients.Conclusion In conclusion, plasma ctDNA additionally increases the positive detection rate of tissue NGS only. Tissue NGS and plasma ctDNA results should be mutually complementary in clinical detection to comprehensively capture important clinically relevant genomic information for CRCs.
Potential for companion diagnostic use and inter-rater agreement of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) clone 22C3 expression scores in colorectal cancer
Authors: Lea Dordi , Zaharia Claudia , Søreide Kjetil 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Expression of programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) guide use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in several cancers. In colorectal cancer (CRC), ICI is only approved for metastatic CRC, while data suggest high efficacy in operable CRC. The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-rater agreement of PD-L1 as a companion diagnostic marker.Methods Specimen (n = 166 tumors) stained by PD-L1 22C3 clone were scored by pathologists in pairs for tumor proportion score (TPS), combined positive score (CPS) and immune cell score (IC) using 3 different agreement coefficients.Results Raw scores of the two pathologists had ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ correlation. Spearman’s rho for TPS = 0.917 (95%CI 0.839–0.995), for CPS = 0.776 (95%CI 0.726–0.826) and IC = 0.818 (95%CI 0.761–0.875). Kappa (κ)-agreements of ≥ 1% and ≥ 10% cutoffs had excellent correlation for TPS. For CPS ≥ 1% and ≥ 10%, the κ = 0.32 (95%CI 0.12–0.51) and κ = 0.36 (95%CI 0.25–0.48), respectively. For IC ≥ 1% and ≥ 10%, the κ = 0.53 (95%CI 0.18–0.79) and κ = 0.61 (95%CI 0.48–0.73), respectively. Gwen’s agreement coefficient (AC1) showed higher agreement coefficients than κ-values for most, but not all cut-offs.Conclusion Agreement was for PD-L1 was good to excellent for raw scores. Agreement variation suggests need for more robust criteria for PD-L1 as a companion diagnostic marker.
South America Intraseasonal Oscillation: global vs regional indices
Authors: Sapucci Camila , Mayta Victor C. , Dias Pedro Leite da Silva 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

The intraseasonal oscillation is a complex non-linear variability that has a significant impact on precipitation. Regional indices have been developed to accurately represent the modulation of the intraseasonal rainfall variability over South America throughout the year. Four univariate indices are obtained by applying Empirical Orthogonal Functions (EOF) and Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) to Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) and precipitation data from the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for the Global Precipitation Measurement (IMERG). Results demonstrate that the use of regional indices can lead to valuable information concerning the intraseasonal South American rainfall variability, timing, and strength compared to the global indices of the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO). Despite being computed using only the South American domain, the regional indices capture the tropical-tropical MJO teleconnection through the zonal wavenumber-1 structure. The diversity in the amplitude and evolution of precipitation, primarily due to the tropical-extratropical teleconnections through the Rossby wave trains, is more evident when using the non-linear SOM index. The regional indices also accurately measure the impacts of the intraseasonal variability on extreme precipitation events over South America. This is illustrated in case studies, such as the 2013/2014 summer drought episode, where a deficient rainy season severely affected the Southeast Region of Brazil, impacting agricultural production and hydroelectric power generation. During this episode, the regional indices show agreement between drought periods and the suppressed precipitation phases, while the global indices show an inactive MJO phase.
Exploration of appetite regulation in Yangtze sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus) during weaning
Authors: Zhou Bo , Wang Bin , Chen Shuhuang , Liu Youlian , Tang Ni , Chen Defang , Li Zhiqiong , Zhang Xin 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background Yangtze sturgeon is an endangered fish species. After weaning, Yangtze sturgeon fry refuse to consume any food, which causes theirlow survival rate during the artificial breeding period.
Results The body length and body weight of failed weaning Yangtze sturgeons were significantly lower than those of successful weaning sturgeons. Since the brain is the center of appetite regulation, RNA-seq of the brain was employed to analyze the differentially expressed genes and their biological functions in successfully and unsuccessfully weaned fry. After that, 82,151 unigenes and 3222 DEGs were obtained. Based on the results of RNA-seq, appetite factors, including POMC, CART, NPYand AgRP, were cloned, and then a weaning experiment was designed to explore the changes in appetite after feeding a microcapsule diet (weaning group). The results showed that during the weaning period, the expression of CART was increased on the 1st and 3rd days but decreased onthe 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th days. The expression of AgRP was downregulated on the 1st and 3rd daysbut upregulated on the 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th days.
Conclusions These findings indicate that appetite was suppressed in the early and middle periodsbut enhanced in the latter period of weaning and that CART may play animportant role in the appetite-suppressing effect.
Transferability of European-derived cardiometabolic polygenic risk scores in the South Asians and their interplay with family history
Authors: Hassanin Emadeldin , Maj Carlo , Krawitz Peter , May Patrick , Bobbili Dheeraj Reddy 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background & Aims: We aimed to investigate the transferability of European-derived polygenic risk scores (PRSs) for common metabolic diseases such as coronary artery disease (CAD), obesity, and type 2 diabetes (T2D) to South Asian (SAS) individuals in the UK Biobank. Additionally, we studied the interaction between PRS and family history (FH) in the same population.Methods To calculate the PRS, we used a previously published model derived from the EUR population and applied it to the individuals of SAS ancestry from the UKB study. Each PRS was adjusted according to an individual's genotype location in the principal components (PC) space to derive an ancestry adjusted PRS (aPRS). We calculated the percentiles based on aPRS and stratified individuals into three aPRS categories: low, intermediate, and high. Considering the intermediate-aPRS percentile as a reference, we compared the low and high aPRS categories and generated the odds ratio (OR) estimates.Results The risk of developing severe obesity for SAS individuals was more than threefold higher for individuals with high aPRS than for those with intermediate aPRS, with an OR of 3.67 (95% CI = 2.47–5.48, P < 0.01). While the risk of severe obesity was lower in the low-aPRS group (OR = 0.19, CI = 0.05–0.52, P < 0.01). Comparable results were found in the EUR data, where the low-PRS group had an OR of 0.26 (95% CI = 0.24–0.3, P < 0.01) and the high-PRS group had an OR of 3.2 (95% CI = 3.1–3.3, P < 0.01). We observed similar results for CAD and T2D. Further, we show that SAS individuals with a familial history of CAD and T2D with high-aPRS are associated with higher risk to these diseases, thereby implying a greater genetic predisposition to these conditions.Conclusion Our findings suggest that CAD, obesity, and T2D GWAS summary statistics predominantly from the EUR population can be used to derive PC-adjusted PRS in SAS individuals to be used to risk stratification. With future GWAS recruiting more SAS participants and tailoring the PRSs towards SAS ancestry, the predictive power of PRS is likely to improve further.
Algorithms for solving decision-making problems under type-2 Pythagorean fuzzy sets environment
Authors: Roy Bikash K. , Roy Ishani , Kar Samarjit , Bausys Romualdas 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Pythagorean Fuzzy Sets (PyFS), which are used to describe uncertainty, have also been used by some researchers in attempts to solve decision making applications. This
paper introduces PyFS in type-2 Fuzzy Environments as type-2 PyFS (T2PyFS). We define several arithmetic operations and algebraic properties related to it, and proposing
its level sets, we investigate related properties. We also develop the Hamming and Euclidean distance of our T2PyFS, and design three decision making algorithms based
on the level sets, max-min-max composition and distance measure. In the lines of academic performance, we apply the proposed decision making algorithms in professional
course selection.
Knowledge, Attitude and practices of the population in sennar city, sudan , regarding dengue fever and its prevention measures : Community based cross sectional study
Authors: Balla Esraa Mohammed  Ahmed , Elteraifi Aya Mortada  Awadelkarim , Balla Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed , Ahmed Elbasil Nasreldin Yousif , Mohamedelnour Mohamed Elbadawi Elshaikh , Balla Samer Mohammed Ahmed , Diab Dania Abdalla Hassan , Ahmed Fadi M. Toum , Mohammed Ahmed Babiker Eltayp , Saifaldeen Monzer Mohammed Almahdi Ali , Fadallah Khalid Ali Mustafa , Eldai Yasir Ahmed Ismail , Alteib Mogahid Alteib Yousif , Suliman Ahmed Almahi Mohamed 
Published: April 2023

Abstract

Background : Dengue fever (DF) is now widespread throughout tropical and subtropical nations , There have been DF outbreaks during the last few years in Sudan, Up to now there is a lack of information regarding the awareness, attitudes, and practices of the population for DF protection in their settings, the aim of this study is to apply KAP model about DF among adults in sennar state in central sudan as one of the expected risk areas for the DF .
Methods: The cross-sectional study conducted in selected area with high population in sennar city in sudan, from 1st to 15th of jan 2023, We used face-to-face interviews to collect data, The main analytical procedure was descriptive using frequencies.
Results: Even though the majority of respondents (79.4%) had heard about dengue, they still have misconceptions about the breeding grounds for Aedes, more than half of the participants (64.3%) believed incorrectly that Aedes can breed in contaminated water and 21% were aware that Aedes mosquito usually bites around sunrise and sunset. Fever indication was identified by 45% of people which is the most common symptom of dengue .The level of education of the respondents was found to be an independent predictor of both knowledge and awareness of dengue among the socio-demographic factors. Although there was a significant correlation between knowledge and preventative behaviors, the degree of preventive practice was moderately less than the knowledge level ,according to our study, TV and radio are the most effective primary sources of information regarding preventive practices.
Conclusion: in this study most of the participant have a positive background on various aspects of the disease, and apply appropriate preventive practices against DF, Health education via various media should be continued to raise community awareness and dispel misconceptions regarding DF .
Public Risk Perception Explains the Mitigation of COVID-19
Authors: Lai Siyu , Wang Tong , Cao Ziqiang , Cai Mengsi , Tan Suoyi , Liu Jianguo , Lu Xin 
Published: April 2023

AbstractBackgroundPublic awareness of self-protection (PASP) is of vital importance in predicting the spread of infectious diseases. It can change the way people travel and socialize, thereby curbing the spread of the infectious diseases and mitigating its impact. The objective of this study is to explore the impact of PASP on the transmission of COVID-19 and to predict its epidemic trend.MethodsBased on large-scale Weibo and Twitter datasets, we analyzes the temporal patterns of PASP for COVID-19 and develop improved models integrating PASP to predict the spread of COVID-19 in both China and UK. Additionally, we implement the models to evaluate non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies such as travel restrictions.ResultsDuring the first two months of local outbreaks with mitigation actions, the rate of online users with PASP in China and UK increased by 53% and 26%, respectively. And the integrated models yield an improved\({R^2}\)of 96.57% and 95.12% for predicting outbreaks in China and UK.ConclusionsThis study presents a new attempt to quantify PASP and extend it to predict the epidemic trend with massive online social media data. And we demonstrate that measuring public response had instructional significance in epidemiological models and is important in infectious disease prevention and control.