bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and factors associated with demoralization in palliative care patients: A cross-sectional study from Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Wallace Chi Ho , Yu Clare Tsz Kiu , Kwok Denis Ka Shaw , Wan Jamie Kit Ming 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectivesAlthough demoralization is common among palliative care patients, it has not yet been examined empirically in the Hong Kong Chinese context. This study aims to examine (1) the prevalence of demoralization among community-dwelling palliative care patients in Hong Kong; (2) the percentage of palliative care patients who are demoralized but not depressed and vice versa; and (3) the association of socio-demographic factors, particularly family support, with demoralization.MethodA cross-sectional study targeting community-living palliative care patients in Hong Kong was conducted. A total of 54 patients were recruited by a local hospice and interviewed for completing a questionnaire which included measures of demoralization, depression, perceived family support, and demographic information.ResultsThe prevalence of demoralization was 64.8%. Although there was overlap between demoralization and depression (52.8% meeting the criteria of both), 7.5% of depressed patients were not demoralized, and 13.2% of demoralized patients were not depressed. Participants who were not single and had more depressive symptoms and less family support had a significantly higher demoralization level.Significance of resultsThis is the first study which reports the prevalence of demoralization in Hong Kong. Demoralization was found common in community-living palliative care patients receiving medical social work services in Hong Kong. This study provides evidence of the importance of differentiating the constructs between demoralization and depression. It also provides an implication that those who are married, more depressed, and have the least family support could be the most vulnerable group at risk of demoralization. We recommend that early assessment of demoralization among palliative care patients be considered.
Crop Yield Loss Risk Is Modulated by Anthropogenic Factors
Authors: Kinnunen Pekka , Heino Matias , Sandström Vilma , Taka Maija , Ray Deepak K. , Kummu Matti 
Published: September 2022

AbstractHigh crop yield variation between years—caused by extreme shocks on the food production system such as extreme weather—can have substantial effects on food production. This in turn introduces vulnerabilities into the global food system. To mitigate the effects of these shocks, there is a clear need to understand how different adaptive capacity measures link to crop yield variability. While existing literature provides many local‐scale studies on this linkage, no comprehensive global assessment yet exists. We assessed reported crop yield variation for wheat, maize, soybean, and rice for the time period 1981–2009 by measuring both yield loss risk (variation in negative yield anomalies considering all years) and changes in yields during “dry” shock and “hot” shock years. We used the machine learning algorithm XGBoost to assess the explanatory power of selected gridded indicators of anthropogenic factors globally (i.e., adaptive capacity measures such as the human development index, irrigation infrastructure, and fertilizer use) on yield variation at a 0.5° resolution within climatically similar regions (to rule out the role of average climate conditions). We found that the anthropogenic factors explained 40%–60% of yield loss risk variation across the whole time period, whereas the factors provided noticeably lower (5%–20%) explanatory power during shock years. On a continental scale, especially in Europe and Africa, the factors explained a high proportion of the yield loss risk variation (up to around 80%). Assessing crop production vulnerabilities on global scale provides supporting knowledge to target specific adaptation measures, thus contributing to global food security.
Investigation of Flow Characteristics of Landslide Materials Through Pore Space Topology and Complex Network Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jia , Ma Gang , Yang Zhibing , Ma Qirui , Zhang Wenyu , Zhou Wei 
Published: September 2022

AbstractUnlike embankments, earth dams, and other man‐made structures, most landslide dams are formed by rapid accumulation of rock or debris rather than mechanical compaction; thus, they are loose and pose a great risk of seepage failure. Landslide materials usually have complex pore structures with randomly distributed pores of various sizes, making the flow and transport processes very complex. Aiming at these challenges, we systematically investigated the influences of pore structure on the micro‐and macro‐scale flow characteristics of landslide materials. First, landslide materials are simplified as spherical granular packings with wide grain size distributions. Then, we use the Finite‐difference method Stokes solver to simulate the fluid flow through granular packings and calculate their permeability. We characterize the pore structure using different topological measures, including these borrowed from complex network theory. Among these measures, tortuosity and global efficiency show clear relations with permeability. The pore network modeling indicates that pore size heterogeneity and pore connectivity significantly influence the flow characteristics. The correlation between pore‐scale velocity and throat diameters follows a power‐law scaling with an exponent close to two, suggesting that the Hagen–Poiseuille law would still be valid in complex porous media. The permeability and porosity, throat radius, and tortuosity of pore structure can be related by the equation proposed by Nishiyama and Yokoyama (2017, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JB013793). The complex network analysis reveals that the assortative network is more permeable than the disassortative network. Furthermore, pores with larger closeness centrality have higher flow efficiency, resulting in higher macroscopic permeability.
Neuroimaging in schizophrenia: an overview of findings and their implications for synaptic changes
Authors: Howes Oliver D. , Cummings Connor , Chapman George E. , Shatalina Ekaterina 
Published: September 2022

AbstractOver the last five decades, a large body of evidence has accrued for structural and metabolic brain alterations in schizophrenia. Here we provide an overview of these findings, focusing on measures that have traditionally been thought to reflect synaptic spine density or synaptic activity and that are relevant for understanding if there is lower synaptic density in the disorder. We conducted literature searches to identify meta-analyses or other relevant studies in patients with chronic or first-episode schizophrenia, or in people at high genetic or clinical risk for psychosis. We identified 18 meta-analyses including over 50,000 subjects in total, covering: structural MRI measures of gyrification index, grey matter volume, grey matter density and cortical thickness, neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, PET imaging of regional glucose metabolism and magnetic resonance spectroscopy measures of N-acetylaspartate. We also review preclinical evidence on the relationship between ex vivo synaptic measures and structural MRI imaging, and PET imaging of synaptic protein 2A (SV2A). These studies show that schizophrenia is associated with lower grey matter volumes and cortical thickness, accelerated grey matter loss over time, abnormal gyrification patterns, and lower regional SV2A levels and metabolic markers in comparison to controls (effect sizes from ~ −0.11 to −1.0). Key regions affected include frontal, anterior cingulate and temporal cortices and the hippocampi. We identify several limitations for the interpretation of these findings in terms of understanding synaptic alterations. Nevertheless, taken with post-mortem findings, they suggest that schizophrenia is associated with lower synaptic density in some brain regions. However, there are several gaps in evidence, in particular whether SV2A findings generalise to other cohorts.
Basal forebrain cholinergic signaling in the basolateral amygdala promotes strength and durability of fear memories
Authors: Crimmins Byron E. , Lingawi Nura W. , Chieng Billy C. , Leung Beatrice K. , Maren Stephen , Laurent Vincent 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe basolateral amygdala (BLA) complex receives dense cholinergic projections from the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) and the horizontal limb of the diagonal band of Broca (HDB). The present experiments examined whether these projections regulate the formation, extinction, and renewal of fear memories. This was achieved by employing a Pavlovian fear conditioning protocol and optogenetics in transgenic rats. Silencing NBM projections during fear conditioning weakened the fear memory produced by that conditioning and abolished its renewal after extinction. By contrast, silencing HDB projections during fear conditioning had no effect. Silencing NBM or HDB projections during extinction enhanced the loss of fear produced by extinction, but only HDB silencing prevented renewal. Next, we found that systemic blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors during fear conditioning mimicked the effects produced by silencing NBM projections during fear conditioning. However, this blockade had no effect when given during extinction. These findings indicate that basal forebrain cholinergic signaling in the BLA plays a critical role in fear regulation by promoting strength and durability of fear memories. We concluded that cholinergic compounds may improve treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder by durably stripping fear memories from their fear-eliciting capacity.
IRES-mediated Wnt2 translation in apoptotic neurons triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation
Authors: Fan Hong , Yang Jialei , Zhang Kun , Xing Junling , Guo Baolin , Mao Honghui , Wang Wenting , Hu Yingzhou , Lin Wei , Huang Ying , Ding Jian , Yu Caiyong , Fu Fanfan , Sun Li , Wu Jing , Zhao Youyi , Deng Wenbin , Zhou Chengji , Qiu Mengsheng , Wu Shengxi , Ding Yu-Qiang , Wang Yazhou 
Published: September 2022

AbstractReactive astrogliosis usually bears some properties of neural progenitors. How injury triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation remains largely unclear. Here, we report that ischemia induces rapid up-regulation of Wnt2 protein in apoptotic neurons and activation of canonical Wnt signaling in reactive astrocytes in mice, primates and human. Local delivery of Wnt2 shRNA abolished the dedifferentiation of astrocytes while over-expressing Wnt2 promoted progenitor marker expression and neurogenesis. Both the activation of Wnt signaling and dedifferentiation of astrocytes was compromised in ischemic caspase-3−/− cortex. Over-expressing stabilized β-catenin not only facilitated neurogenesis but also promoted functional recovery in ischemic caspase-3−/− mice. Further analysis showed that apoptotic neurons up-regulated Wnt2 protein via internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation. Knocking down death associated protein 5 (DAP5), a key protein in IRES-mediated protein translation, significantly diminished Wnt activation and astrocyte dedifferentiation. Our data demonstrated an apoptosis-initiated Wnt-activating mechanism which triggers astrocytic dedifferentiation and facilitates neuronal regeneration.
Transplantation of PSC-derived myogenic progenitors counteracts disease phenotypes in FSHD mice
Authors: Azzag Karim , Bosnakovski Darko , Tungtur Sudheer , Salama Peter , Kyba Michael , Perlingeiro Rita C. R. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractFacioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD) is a genetically dominant progressive myopathy caused by improper silencing of the DUX4 gene, leading to fibrosis, muscle atrophy, and fatty replacement. Approaches focused on muscle regeneration through the delivery of stem cells represent an attractive therapeutic option for muscular dystrophies. To investigate the potential for cell transplantation in FSHD, we have used the doxycycline-regulated iDUX4pA-HSA mouse model in which low-level DUX4 can be induced in skeletal muscle. We find that mouse pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived myogenic progenitors engraft in muscle actively undergoing DUX4-mediated degeneration. Donor-derived muscle tissue displayed reduced fibrosis and importantly, engrafted muscles showed improved contractile specific force compared to non-transplanted controls. These data demonstrate the feasibility of replacement of diseased muscle with PSC-derived myogenic progenitors in a mouse model for FSHD, and highlight the potential for the clinical benefit of such a cell therapy approach.
SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-vaccine candidate; COReNAPCIN®, induces robust humoral and cellular immunity in mice and non-human primates
Authors: Alimohammadi Reza , Porgoo Meysam , Eftekhary Mohamad , Kiaie Seyed Hossein , Ansari Dezfouli Ehsan , Dehghani Maryam , Nasrollahi Kaveh , Malekshahabi Talieh , Heidari Maryam , Pouya Sedigheh , Alimohammadi Masoumeh , Sattari Khavas Dorsa , Modaresi Mohammad Sadra , Ghasemi Mohammad Hossein , Ramyar Hamed , Mohammadipour Fatemeh , Hamzelouei Fateme , Mofayezi Ahmadreza , Mottaghi Seyed Saeed , Rahmati Amirhosein , Razzaznian Mohsen , Tirandazi Vista , Tat Mahdi , Borzouee Fatemeh , Sadeghi Hossein , Haji Mohammadi Melika , Rastegar Leila , Safar Sajadi Seyed Milad , Ehsanbakhsh Hossein , Bazmbar Hamed , Baghernejadan Zeinab , Shams Nouraei Maedeh , Pazooki Pouya , Pahlavanneshan Mina , Alishah Khadijeh , Nasiri Fateme , Mokhberian Neda , Mohammadi Seyedeh Shima , Akar Shima , Niknam Hamidreza , Azizi Marzieh , Ajoudanian Mohammad , Moteallehi-Ardakani Mohammad Hossein , Mousavi Shaegh Seyed Ali , Ramezani Reihaneh , Salimi Vahid , Moazzami Reza , Hashemi Seyed Mahmoud , Dehghanizadeh Somaye , Khoddami Vahid 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAt the forefront of biopharmaceutical industry, the messenger RNA (mRNA) technology offers a flexible and scalable platform to address the urgent need for world-wide immunization in pandemic situations. This strategic powerful platform has recently been used to immunize millions of people proving both of safety and highest level of clinical efficacy against infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here we provide preclinical report of COReNAPCIN®; a vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection. COReNAPCIN® is a nucleoside modified mRNA-based vaccine formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for encoding the full-length prefusion stabilized SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein on the cell surface. Vaccination of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice and rhesus macaque with COReNAPCIN® induced strong humoral responses with high titers of virus-binding and neutralizing antibodies. Upon vaccination, a robust SARS-CoV-2 specific cellular immunity was also observed in both mice and non-human primate models. Additionally, vaccination protected rhesus macaques from symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and pathological damage to the lung upon challenging the animals with high viral loads of up to 2 × 108 live viral particles. Overall, our data provide supporting evidence for COReNAPCIN® as a potent vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 infection for clinical studies.
Soft computing and statistical approach for sensitivity analysis of heat transfer through the hybrid nanoliquid film in rotating heat pipe
Authors: Uddin Ziya , Hassan Hamdy , Harmand Souad , Ibrahim Wubshet 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn this paper, the numerical solution for heat transfer through a rotating heat pipe is studied and a sensitivity analysis is presented by using statistical experimental design technique. Graphene oxide-molybdenum disulfide (GO-MoS2) hybrid nanofluid is taken as working fluid inside the pipe. The impact of the heat pipe parameters (rotation speed, initial mass, temperature difference) on the heat transfer and liquid film thickness is investigated. The mathematical model coupling the fluid mass flow rate and liquid film evolution equations in evaporator, adiabatic, and condenser zones of the heat pipe is constructed. The mathematical model is solved by implementation of “Particle Swarm Optimization” along with the finite difference method. The outcomes demonstrate that hybrid nanoparticles help to improve the heat transfer through the heat pipe and reduce liquid film thickness. The heat transfer rises with increasing temperature difference and reducing inlet mass, and it reduces slightly with rising rotation speed. The difference in liquid film thickness between the evaporator and condenser zones increases with increasing temperature difference and decreasing rotation speed. The impact of increasing the volume fraction of GO on the liquid film thickness is higher than that in the case of the MoS2nanoparticles. However, an increase of the heat transfer is noticed in case of increasing the volume fraction of GO relative to increasing MoS2concentration. Statistical analysis of the computed numerical data and the identification of significant parameters for total heat transfer are found using the response surface method. At 95% level of significance, the GO concentration in the hybrid nanofluid, inlet mass of the hybrid nanofluid and the temperature difference inside the evaporator zone of the pipe are found to be significant linear parameters for increasing heat transfer.
Neuromuscular exercise in children with Down Syndrome: a systematic review
Authors: Rodríguez-Grande Eliana-Isabel , Vargas-Pinilla Olga-Cecilia , Torres-Narvaez Martha-Rocio , Rodríguez-Malagón Nelcy 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe effects and the prescription parameters of therapeutic exercise are not clear. For this reason, is needed to determine the effect of neuromuscular exercise on balance, muscle strength and flexibility specifying the parameters and characteristics of effective interventions in children between 6 and 12 years and adolescent between 13 and 18 years with Down Syndrome. The present study is a systematic review of effectiveness outcomes balance, muscle strength and flexibility in this population. The databases of PubMed, PEDro, EMBASE, SCIELO, Lilacs, Cochrane library were searched from May to December 2021. We recruited randomized controlled trials (RCTs) which met the inclusion criteria in our study. Ten studies were included. The interventions included mechanotherapy, vibration, and use of different unstable surfaces. The exercise frequency ranged from 3 to 5 days a week, and the duration of each session was between six and 15 min. The frequency was between two and three times a week for 6 and 12 weeks and the intensity were between 60 and 80% of maximal voluntary contraction. Neuromuscular exercise in different modes of application was associated with increases in chest and lower limb muscle strength mean 8.51, CI [2.35–14.67] kg and (21.54 [1.64, 41.43]) kg. Balance also improved when the mode of application was isokinetic training and core stability exercises (− 0.20 [− 0.29, − 0.12]) evaluated with stability index. Neuromuscular exercise appears to be effective for the improvement of both lower limb and chest muscle strength and balance in children over 8 years. No evidence was found in children under 8 years.
A universal similarity based approach for predictive uncertainty quantification in materials science
Authors: Korolev Vadim , Nevolin Iurii , Protsenko Pavel 
Published: September 2022

AbstractImmense effort has been exerted in the materials informatics community towards enhancing the accuracy of machine learning (ML) models; however, the uncertainty quantification (UQ) of state-of-the-art algorithms also demands further development. Most prominent UQ methods are model-specific or are related to the ensembles of models; therefore, there is a need to develop a universal technique that can be readily applied to a single model from a diverse set of ML algorithms. In this study, we suggest a new UQ measure known as the Δ-metric to address this issue. The presented quantitative criterion was inspired by the k-nearest neighbor approach adopted for applicability domain estimation in chemoinformatics. It surpasses several UQ methods in accurately ranking the predictive errors and could be considered a low-cost option for a more advanced deep ensemble strategy. We also evaluated the performance of the presented UQ measure on various classes of materials, ML algorithms, and types of input features, thus demonstrating its universality.
Tissue-wide metabolomics reveals wide impact of gut microbiota on mice metabolite composition
Authors: Zarei Iman , Koistinen Ville M. , Kokla Marietta , Klåvus Anton , Babu Ambrin Farizah , Lehtonen Marko , Auriola Seppo , Hanhineva Kati 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe essential role of gut microbiota in health and disease is well recognized, but the biochemical details that underlie the beneficial impact remain largely undefined. To maintain its stability, microbiota participates in an interactive host-microbiota metabolic signaling, impacting metabolic phenotypes of the host. Dysbiosis of microbiota results in alteration of certain microbial and host metabolites. Identifying these markers could enhance early detection of certain diseases. We report LC–MS based non-targeted metabolic profiling that demonstrates a large effect of gut microbiota on mammalian tissue metabolites. It was hypothesized that gut microbiota influences the overall biochemistry of host metabolome and this effect is tissue-specific. Thirteen different tissues from germ-free (GF) and conventionally-raised (MPF) C57BL/6NTac mice were selected and their metabolic differences were analyzed. Our study demonstrated a large effect of microbiota on mammalian biochemistry at different tissues and resulted in statistically-significant modulation of metabolites from multiple metabolic pathways (p ≤ 0.05). Hundreds of molecular features were detected exclusively in one mouse group, with the majority of these being unique to specific tissue. A vast metabolic response of host to metabolites generated by the microbiota was observed, suggesting gut microbiota has a direct impact on host metabolism.
Loneliness and its correlates among Bangladeshi older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Mistry Sabuj Kanti , Ali A. R. M. Mehrab , Yadav Uday Narayan , Huda Md. Nazmul , Ghimire Saruna , Saha Manika , Sarwar Sneha , Harris Mark F. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe present study aims to investigate the prevalence of loneliness and its associated factors among older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study was conducted in October 2020 among 1032 older Bangladeshi adults aged 60 years and above through telephone interviews. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on participants’ characteristics and COVID-19-related information. Meanwhile, the level of loneliness was measured using a 3-item UCLA Loneliness scale. More than half (51.5%) of the older adults experienced loneliness. We found that participants formally schooled [adjusted odds ratio (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.43–0.88)] and received COVID-19-related information from health workers (aOR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.22–0.49) had lower odds of being lonely during the pandemic. However, older adults living alone (aOR: 2.57, 95% CI 1.34–4.94), residing distant from a health facility (aOR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.02–2.08) and in rural areas (aOR = 1.53, 95% CI 1.02–2.23) had higher odds of loneliness than their counterparts. Likewise, odds of loneliness were higher among those overwhelmed by COVID-19 (aOR = 1.93, 95% CI 1.29–2.86), who faced difficulty in earning (aOR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.18–2.67) and receiving routine medical care during pandemic (aOR = 2.94, 95% CI 1.78–4.87), and those perceiving requiring additional care during the pandemic (aOR = 6.01, 95% CI 3.80–9.49). The findings suggest that policies and plans should be directed to reduce loneliness among older adults who require additional care.