bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maize plant architecture trait QTL mapping and candidate gene identification based on multiple environments and double populations
Authors: Fei Jianbo , Lu Jianyu , Jiang Qingping , Liu Zhibo , Yao Dan , Qu Jing , Liu Siyan , Guan Shuyan , Ma Yiyong 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
The plant architecture traits of maize determine the yield. Plant height, ear position, leaf angle above the primary ear and internode length above the primary ear together determine the canopy structure and photosynthetic efficiency of maize and at the same time affect lodging and disease resistance. A flat and tall plant architecture confers an obvious advantage in the yield of a single plant but is not conducive to dense planting and results in high rates of lodging; thus, it has been gradually eliminated in production. Although using plants that are too compact, short and density tolerant can increase the yield per unit area to a certain extent, the photosynthetic efficiency of such plants is low, ultimately limiting yield increases. Genetic mapping is an effective method for the improvement of plant architecture to identify candidate genes for regulating plant architecture traits.

Results
To find the best balance between the yield per plant and the yield per unit area of maize, in this study, the F2:3 pedigree population and a RIL population with the same male parent were used to identify QTL for plant height (PH), ear height (EH), leaf angle and internode length above the primary ear (LAE and ILE) in Changchun and Gongzhuling for 5 consecutive years (2016–2020). A total of 11, 13, 23 and 13 QTL were identified for PH, EH, LAE, and ILE, respectively. A pleiotropic consistent QTL for PH overlapped with that for EH on chromosome 3, with a phenotypic variation explanation rate from 6.809% to 21.96%. In addition, there were major consistent QTL for LAE and ILE, and the maximum phenotypic contribution rates were 24.226% and 30.748%, respectively. Three candidate genes were mined from the three consistent QTL regions and were involved in the gibberellin-activated signal pathway, brassinolide signal transduction pathway and auxin-activated signal pathway, respectively. Analysis of the expression levels of the three genes showed that they were actively expressed during the jointing stage of vigorous maize growth.

Conclusions
In this study, three consistent major QTL related to plant type traits were identified and three candidate genes were screened. These results lay a foundation for the cloning of related functional genes and marker-assisted breeding of related functional genes.
Increased blastomere number is associated with higher live birth rate in day 3 embryo transfer
Authors: Tian Lifeng , Xia Leizhen , Liu Hongbo , Kou Yan , Huang Zhihui , Wu Xingwu , Fan Lu , Huang Jialyu , Wu Qiongfang 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Purpose
To study the relationship between blastomere number and pregnancy outcomes of day 3 embryo transfers.

Methods
This retrospective cohort study included 2237 fresh single day 3 embryo transfer cycles from October 2013 to November 2020. Patients were divided into six groups according to the blastomere number on day 3: ≤ 6-cell (n = 100), 7-cell (n = 207), 8-cell (n = 1522), 9-cell (n = 187), 10-cell (n = 91) and ≥ 11-cell (n = 130). Generalized estimating equation analysis based on multivariate logistic regression model was performed to adjust for potential confounders.

Results
The live birth rate (LBR) was 19.0%, 27.1%, 38.9%, 32.1%, 44.0% and 53.8% for the ≤ 6-cell, 7-cell, 8-cell, 9-cell, 10-cell and ≥ 11-cell groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Specifically, the ≤ 6-cell group was associated with reduced LBR compared with the 8-cell group (aOR 0.50, 95% CI 0.29–0.86; P = 0.013). Conversely, the odds of live birth were significantly increased in patients transferred with 10-cell embryos (aOR 1.62, 95% CI 1.03–2.53; P = 0.035) and ≥ 11-cell embryos (aOR 2.14, 95% CI 1.47–3.11; P < 0.001) when using the 8-cell embryo group as reference. Similar trends were also observed in the rates of positive hCG test and clinical pregnancy, while no significant differences were detected in miscarriage risk.

Conclusion
Increased blastomere number was associated with higher LBR in fresh single day 3 embryo transfer cycles. This finding questions the consensus on the reduced developmental potential of fast-cleaving embryos. Further large prospective studies are warranted for confirmation.
Development and validation of a gradient boosting machine to predict prognosis after liver resection for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Ji Gu-Wei , Jiao Chen-Yu , Xu Zheng-Gang , Li Xiang-Cheng , Wang Ke , Wang Xue-Hao 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Accurate prognosis assessment is essential for surgically resected intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) while published prognostic tools are limited by modest performance. We therefore aimed to establish a novel model to predict survival in resected ICC based on readily-available clinical parameters using machine learning technique.

Methods
A gradient boosting machine (GBM) was trained and validated to predict the likelihood of cancer-specific survival (CSS) on data from a Chinese hospital-based database using nested cross-validation, and then tested on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The performance of GBM model was compared with that of proposed prognostic score and staging system.

Results
A total of 1050 ICC patients (401 from China and 649 from SEER) treated with resection were included. Seven covariates were identified and entered into the GBM model: age, tumor size, tumor number, vascular invasion, number of regional lymph node metastasis, histological grade, and type of surgery. The GBM model predicted CSS with C-Statistics ≥ 0.72 and outperformed proposed prognostic score or system across study cohorts, even in sub-cohort with missing data. Calibration plots of predicted probabilities against observed survival rates indicated excellent concordance. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the model had high clinical utility. The GBM model was able to stratify 5-year CSS ranging from over 54% in low-risk subset to 0% in high-risk subset.

Conclusions
We trained and validated a GBM model that allows a more accurate estimation of patient survival after resection compared with other prognostic indices. Such a model is readily integrated into a decision-support electronic health record system, and may improve therapeutic strategies for patients with resected ICC.
A study of SARS-COV-2 outbreaks in US federal prisons: the linkage between staff, incarcerated populations, and community transmission
Authors: Towers Sherry , Wallace Danielle , Walker Jason , Eason John M. , Nelson Jake R. , Grubesic Tony H. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Since the novel coronavirus SARS-COV-2 was first identified to be circulating in the US on January 20, 2020, some of the worst outbreaks have occurred within state and federal prisons. The vulnerability of incarcerated populations, and the additional threats posed to the health of prison staff and the people they contact in surrounding communities underline the need to better understand the dynamics of transmission in the inter-linked incarcerated population/staff/community sub-populations to better inform optimal control of SARS-COV-2.

Methods
We examined SARS-CoV-2 case data from 101 non-administrative federal prisons between 5/18/2020 to 01/31/2021 and examined the per capita size of outbreaks in staff and the incarcerated population compared to outbreaks in the communities in the counties surrounding the prisons during the summer and winter waves of the SARS-COV-2 pandemic. We also examined the impact of decarceration on per capita rates in the staff/incarcerated/community populations.

Results
For both the summer and winter waves we found significant inter-correlations between per capita rates in the outbreaks among the incarcerated population, staff, and the community.
Over-all during the pandemic, per capita rates were significantly higher in the incarcerated population than in both the staff and community (paired Student’s t-test p = 0.03 and p < 0.001, respectively). Average per capita rates of incarcerated population outbreaks were significantly associated with prison security level, ranked from lowest per capita rate to highest: High, Minimum, Medium, and Low security.
Federal prisons decreased the incarcerated population by a relative factor of 96% comparing the winter to summer wave (one SD range [90%,102%]). We found no significant impact of decarceration on per capita rates of SARS-COV-2 infection in the staff community populations, but decarceration was significantly associated with a decrease in incarcerated per capita rates during the winter wave (Negative Binomial regression p = 0.015).

Conclusions
We found significant evidence of community/staff/incarcerated population inter-linkage of SARS-COV-2 transmission. Further study is warranted to determine which control measures aimed at the incarcerated population and/or staff are most efficacious at preventing or controlling outbreaks.
The development and validation of the ‘Good Life in the Community Scale’ (GLiCS): a validation study with women migrants living in high income countries
Authors: Van der Boor C. F. , Christiansen P. , Anand P. , White R. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundTo date, few assessment instruments have been developed to quantitatively measure the mental health status of migrant populations specifically. This paper describes the development and preliminary assessment of the ‘Good Life in the Community Scale’ (GLiCS). GLiCS is a wellbeing measure for migrant women in high-income settings that was coproduced with experts by experience across two phases.MethodsThe study used a mixed-methods approach and was composed of two phases.Phase I:88 initial items generated using qualitative data collected in a previous study were reduced to 42 through consultation with expert advisory panels, based on whether each item was considered understandable and relevantPhase II:these 42 items were piloted with a sample of migrant women (N = 109). A preliminary exploratory factor analysis was conducted using Oblique rotation. Internal consistency was measured using McDonald’s ω. Convergent validity was tested by correlating the GLiCS with the Oxford Capabilities Questionnaire Mental Health (OxCAP-MH), WHO-5 wellbeing index and Objective Social Outcomes Index (SIX). Incremental validity was tested using hierarchical regression analysis to ascertain the effect on the WHO-5 wellbeing index of: age, migration status, SIX, OxCAP-MH and GLiCS. Known groups validity, the ability a measure has to discriminate between groups likely to differ on the variables of interest, was tested between the different migrant categories using a simple between subjects ANOVA.ResultsExploratory factor analysis confirmed a 17-item (three-factor: (i) access to resources, (ii) belonging and contributing, (iii) independence) scale with high internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = 0.91). Convergent and incremental validity were also evidenced.ConclusionThe GLiCS has demonstrable good internal consistency and construct validity, and it presents a promising wellbeing measure for better understanding the experience of migrant women.
Prevalence and associated factors for stunting, underweight and wasting among children under 6 years of age in rural Hunan Province, China: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Huixia , Yuan Shan , Fang Hualing , Huang Guangwen , Huang Qun , Wang Hua , Wang Aihua 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe existing epidemiological data cannot represent the situation of undernutrition among Chinese children, particularly those in rural China. Hence, in this community-based cross-sectional study, the prevalence and associated factors of stunting, underweight and wasting among children (age < 6 years) from rural Hunan Province were analyzed.MethodsTotally 5529 children aged 0 to 71 months and their caregivers were randomly chosen by multistage stratified cluster sampling from 72 villages from rural Hunan, which were distributed in 24 towns of 12 counties. Data about the children and their mothers, caregivers and family conditions was acquired using unified questionnaire, and the length/height and weight of each child were measured using unified instruments. The prevalence of undernutrition among children was evaluated using the length/height for age, weight for age, weight for length/height, and body mass index for age z scores, which were computed according to the 2006 and 2007 WHO Child Growth Standards.ResultsThe prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting among the 5529 children were 4.4% (241), 3.9% (217), and 4.0% (221), respectively. The significant associated factors on higher risks of undernutrition in the children were low birth weight, maternal gestational weight gain <10 kg (stunting); low birth weight, maternal gestational weight gain <10 kg, ethnicity of caregivers being minority, large family size (underweight); low birth weight, ethnicity of caregivers being minority, large family size (wasting). High education level of caregivers and high family food expenditure were common protective factors for all three types of undernutrition, except that high family food expenditure was not protective against wasting.ConclusionsThe prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting is low among rural children under age of 6 years in Hunan. As for the measures, the gestational care and reasonable diet of mothers should be strengthened, and nutritional deficiency during pregnancy be avoided, which will prevent low birth weight. The local economic development and the education level of caregivers need to be further improved, especially for minorities.
Does COVID-19 threat increase xenophobia? The roles of protection efficacy and support seeking
Authors: She Zhuang , Zhou Ningning , Li Dan , Ren Shengtao , Ji Weidong , Xi Juzhe 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, people in many countries have shown xenophobia toward China, where the pandemic began. Within China, xenophobia has also been observed toward the people of Wuhan, the city where the first cases were identified. The relationship between disease threat and xenophobia is well established, but the reasons for this relationship are unclear. This study investigated the mediation role of perceived protection efficacy and moderation role of support seeking in the relationship between perceived COVID-19 risk and xenophobia within China.

Methods
An online survey was administered to a nationally representative sample (N = 1103; 51.7% women; ages 18 to 88) of Chinese adults during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants completed questionnaires about their perceived COVID-19 risk, perceived protection efficacy in reducing risk, support seeking, and xenophobic attitudes toward people of the Wuhan area.

Results
Regression based analyses showed that the perceived COVID-19 risk positively predicted xenophobia. Low perceived protection efficacy partly mediated the relationship between perceived COVID-19 risk and xenophobic attitudes, and this indirect effect was moderated by support seeking. Specifically, the indirect effect was weaker among individuals who sought more social support.

Conclusions
Under disease threat, xenophobia can appear within a country that otherwise seems culturally homogeneous. This study extends the extant research by identifying a possible psychological mechanism by which individuals’ perception of disease threat elicits xenophobia, and by addressing the question of why this response is stronger among some people than others. Increasing the public’s perceived efficacy in protecting themselves from infection, and encouraging support seeking, could reduce xenophobic attitudes.
Interaction between trouble sleeping and depression on hypertension in the NHANES 2005–2018
Authors: Cai Yingjie , Chen Manshuang , Zhai Weixia , Wang Chunhui 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Hypertension, trouble sleeping and depression, as three major public health problems, were closely related. This study evaluated the independent association of trouble sleeping and depression with hypertension and interaction effect between trouble sleeping and depression on hypertension in Americans.

Method
The data of this cross-sectional study was from the 2005–2018 National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (NHANES) with hypertension, depression, trouble sleeping and confounding factor information. Multivariate logistic regression model and subgroup analyses of depression severity were conducted to assess the relationship between trouble sleeping and depression on hypertension. Relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion of interaction (AP) and synergy index (S) were utilized to assess the additive interaction.

Results
A total of 30,434 participants (weighted n = 185,309,883) were examined with 16,304 (49.37%) known hypertensive subjects. Compared with participants without trouble sleeping, those with trouble sleeping had a higher risk of hypertension [OR = 1.359 (95% CI: 1.229–1.503)]. We also found the significant association of depression with an increased risk of hypertension [OR = 1.276 (95% CI: 1.114–1.462)], compared with those without depression. Moreover, there was a significant interaction between trouble sleeping and depression on hypertension risk [RERI = 0.528 (95% CI: 0.182–0.873), AP = 0.302 (95% CI: 0.140–0.465), S = 3.413 (95% CI: 1.301–8.951)].

Conclusion
There was a synergistic interaction between trouble sleeping and depression on hypertension, especially the significant synergistic effect between moderate depression and trouble sleeping on hypertension. The results suggested that improving the psychological status and trouble sleeping of patients may be beneficial to the prevention and treatment of hypertension.
Strategies aimed at preventing long-term opioid use in trauma and orthopaedic surgery: a scoping review
Authors: Côté C. , Bérubé M. , Moore L. , Lauzier F. , Tremblay L. , Belzile E. , Martel M-O , Pagé G. , Beaulieu Y. , Pinard A. M. , Perreault K. , Sirois C. , Grzelak S. , Turgeon A. F. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Long-term opioid use, which may have significant individual and societal impacts, has been documented in up to 20% of patients after trauma or orthopaedic surgery. The objectives of this scoping review were to systematically map the research on strategies aiming to prevent chronic opioid use in these populations and to identify knowledge gaps in this area.

Methods
This scoping review is reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) Checklist. We searched seven databases and websites of relevant organizations. Selected studies and guidelines were published between January 2008 and September 2021. Preventive strategies were categorized as: system-based, pharmacological, educational, multimodal, and others. We summarized findings using measures of central tendency and frequency along with p-values. We also reported the level of evidence and the strength of recommendations presented in clinical guidelines.

Results
A total of 391 studies met the inclusion criteria after initial screening from which 66 studies and 20 guidelines were selected. Studies mainly focused on orthopaedic surgery (62,1%), trauma (30.3%) and spine surgery (7.6%). Among system-based strategies, hospital-based individualized opioid tapering protocols, and regulation initiatives limiting the prescription of opioids were associated with statistically significant decreases in morphine equivalent doses (MEDs) at 1 to 3 months following trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Among pharmacological strategies, only the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and beta blockers led to a significant reduction in MEDs up to 12 months after orthopaedic surgery. Most studies on educational strategies, multimodal strategies and psychological strategies were associated with significant reductions in MEDs beyond 1 month. The majority of recommendations from clinical practice guidelines were of low level of evidence.

Conclusions
This scoping review advances knowledge on existing strategies to prevent long-term opioid use in trauma and orthopaedic surgery patients. We observed that system-based, educational, multimodal and psychological strategies are the most promising. Future research should focus on determining which strategies should be implemented particularly in trauma patients at high risk for long-term use, testing those that can promote a judicious prescription of opioids while preventing an illicit use, and evaluating their effects on relevant patient-reported and social outcomes.
Antimicrobial potential of four mica drugs and their chemical and mineralogical properties
Authors: Wijenayake Apsara , Abayasekara Charmalie , Pitawala Amarasooriya , Bandara B. M. Ratnayake 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Mica drugs, a group of herbo-metallic traditional preparations comprising biotite mica as the major mineral ingredient, are prescribed for skin disorders and respiratory ailments and other chronic conditions in South Asian countries, particularly India and Sri Lanka. Mica-based drugs (Abhrak drugs) are subjected to unique and varied preparation procedures and the bioactivity of the drugs can be affected by drug-processing conditions, the ingredients used and the mica composition. The current study aimed to evaluate and compare, on the basis of their physical and chemical characteristics, the antimicrobial potential of two commercial mica drugs AbBb (Abhrak bhashma) and AbCh (Abhrak Chenhuram) and two mica drugs ABL1 (Abhrak Bhasma Laboratory Prepared 1) and ABL2 (Abhrak Bhasma Laboratory Prepared 2) prepared in the laboratory under different conditions.

Methods
Antimicrobial activity of all four drugs was assessed at 10 mg/ml concentration against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherischia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and Candida albicans using well diffusion assay, agar dilution assay and Miles and Misra method. Major and trace metal constituents of the drug samples were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. Mineralogical properties, bacteria-mineral interactions, morphological changes in microbes and the surface characteristics of the drugs were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Results
The drugs ABL1, ABL2 and AbBh exhibited antimicrobial activity against only Gram-positive organisms (S. aureus and MRSA) when tested with Miles and Misra method (broth method). Mineralogical studies (XRD) revealed that biotite mica was altered into secondary clay minerals and iron oxides in the commercial drug AbCh while the other three drugs had altered mica and iron oxide phases. The essential elements (Na, K, Ca and Mg) required for microbial functions were present in varying extents in all four drugs while they were present in exceedingly high amounts in AbCh having comparatively high cation-exchange capacity, consistent with the observation that AbCh was inactive against all the microbes tested. The three drugs (ABL1, ABL2 and AbBh) showing antimicrobial activity contained comparatively high amounts of Fe, Zn and Cu that are known to display antimicrobial properties at high concentrations. SEM studies revealed that the drug particles adhered and entrapped the bacterial species, presumably modifying the physiochemical characteristics of the bacteria and eventually causing lethality.

Conclusion
Three of the four mica drugs inhibited the tested Gram-negative bacteria and the antibacterial activity of the mica drugs depends on their constituents and the methods of preparation.