bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Meal replacement as a weight loss strategy for night shift workers with obesity: a protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sooriyaarachchi Piumika , Jayawardena Ranil , Pavey Toby , King Neil A. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Shift work is considered a risk factor for a number of chronic health conditions including obesity. Weight reduction in obese patients lowers the risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and mortality. Achieving a negative energy balance by providing low-calorie meal replacements is widely used for weight management. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a low-calorie “meal-replacement” on the weight and metabolic parameters of shift workers with obesity.

Methods
This trial will be conducted in a parallel, randomized controlled design for a period of 8 weeks. A total of 44 shift workers with body mass index over 25 kg/m2 will be recruited after assessing eligibility. Participants will be randomly assigned to the test and control groups on a 1:1 ratio. The intervention group (N = 22) will be provided with a low-calorie (~200 kcal) meal replacement shake as dinner, and the control group (N = 22) will continue their habitual diets. The visits and the evaluations will be done as follows: screening (visit 0), 4 weeks (visit 1), and 8 weeks (visit 2). Anthropometric measurements will be taken at 0, 4, and 8 weeks. Body composition, biochemical parameters, dietary intake, and physical activity will be assessed during the first and the last visit.

Outcomes
The primary outcome will be the proportion of participants that had a 5% body weight loss from baseline. The secondary outcomes will be post-intervention changes in other metabolic parameters.

Discussion
To our knowledge, this is one of the first randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of a meal replacement as the night meal for weight loss in shift workers with obesity. Moreover, improvement of metabolic parameters in shift workers will be an added benefit to this high-risk group.

Trial registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12622000231741. Registered on 09 February 2022.
Functional mining of novel terpene synthases from metagenomes
Authors: Kwak Suryang , Crook Nathan , Yoneda Aki , Ahn Naomi , Ning Jie , Cheng Jiye , Dantas Gautam 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Terpenes are one of the most diverse and abundant classes of natural biomolecules, collectively enabling a variety of therapeutic, energy, and cosmetic applications. Recent genomics investigations have predicted a large untapped reservoir of bacterial terpene synthases residing in the genomes of uncultivated organisms living in the soil, indicating a vast array of putative terpenoids waiting to be discovered.

Results
We aimed to develop a high-throughput functional metagenomic screening system for identifying novel terpene synthases from bacterial metagenomes by relieving the toxicity of terpene biosynthesis precursors to the Escherichia coli host. The precursor toxicity was achieved using an inducible operon encoding the prenyl pyrophosphate synthetic pathway and supplementation of the mevalonate precursor. Host strain and screening procedures were finely optimized to minimize false positives arising from spontaneous mutations, which avoid the precursor toxicity. Our functional metagenomic screening of human fecal metagenomes yielded a novel β-farnesene synthase, which does not show amino acid sequence similarity to known β-farnesene synthases. Engineered S. cerevisiae expressing the screened β-farnesene synthase produced 120 mg/L β-farnesene from glucose (2.86 mg/g glucose) with a productivity of 0.721 g/L∙h.

Conclusions
A unique functional metagenomic screening procedure was established for screening terpene synthases from metagenomic libraries. This research proves the potential of functional metagenomics as a sequence-independent avenue for isolating targeted enzymes from uncultivated organisms in various environmental habitats.
A general modeling framework for exploring the impact of individual concern and personal protection on vector-borne disease dynamics
Authors: Roosa Kimberlyn , Fefferman Nina H. 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
As climate variability and extreme weather events associated with climate change become more prevalent, public health authorities can expect to face an expanding spectrum of vector-borne diseases with increasing incidence and geographical spread. Common interventions include the use of larvicides and adulticides, as well as targeted communications to increase public awareness regarding the need for personal protective measures, such as mosquito repellant, protective clothing, and mosquito nets. Here, we propose a simplified compartmental model of mosquito-borne disease dynamics that incorporates the use of personal protection against mosquito bites influenced by two key individual-level behavioral drivers—concern for being bitten by mosquitos as a nuisance and concern for mosquito-borne disease transmission.

Methods
We propose a modified compartmental model that describes the dynamics of vector-borne disease spread in a naïve population while considering the public demand for community-level control and, importantly, the effects of personal-level protection on population-level outbreak dynamics. We consider scenarios at low, medium, and high levels of community-level vector control, and at each level, we consider combinations of low, medium, and high levels of motivation to use personal protection, namely concern for disease transmission and concern for being bitten in general.

Results
When there is very little community-level vector control, nearly the entire population is quickly infected, regardless of personal protection use. When vector control is at an intermediate level, both concerns that motivate the use of personal protection play an important role in reducing disease burden. When authorities have the capacity for high-level community vector control through pesticide use, the motivation to use personal protection to reduce disease transmission has little additional effect on the outbreak.

Conclusions
While results show that personal-level protection alone is not enough to significantly impact an outbreak, personal protective measures can significantly reduce the severity of an outbreak in conjunction with community-level control. Furthermore, the model provides insight for targeting public health messaging to increase the use of personal protection based on concerns related to being bitten by mosquitos or vector-borne disease transmission.

Graphical Abstract
Application of deep learning reconstruction of ultra-low-dose abdominal CT in the diagnosis of renal calculi
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxiao , Zhang Gumuyang , Xu Lili , Bai Xin , Zhang Jiahui , Xu Min , Yan Jing , Zhang Daming , Jin Zhengyu , Sun Hao 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Renal calculi are a common and recurrent urological disease and are usually detected by CT. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic capability, image quality, and radiation dose of abdominal ultra-low-dose CT (ULDCT) with deep learning reconstruction (DLR) for detecting renal calculi.

Methods
Sixty patients with suspected renal calculi were prospectively enrolled. Low-dose CT (LDCT) images were reconstructed with hybrid iterative reconstruction (LD-HIR) and was regarded as the standard for stone and lesion detection. ULDCT images were reconstructed with HIR (ULD-HIR) and DLR (ULD-DLR). We then compared stone detection rate, abdominal lesion detection rate, image quality and radiation dose between LDCT and ULDCT.

Results
A total of 130 calculi were observed on LD-HIR images. Stone detection rates of ULD-HIR and ULD-DLR images were 93.1% (121/130) and 95.4% (124/130). A total of 129 lesions were detected on the LD-HIR images. The lesion detection rate on ULD-DLR images was 92.2%, with 10 cysts < 5 mm in diameter missed. The CT values of organs on ULD-DLR were similar to those on LD-HIR and lower than those on ULD-HIR. Signal-to-noise ratio was highest and noise lowest on ULD-DLR. The subjective image quality of ULD-DLR was similar to that of LD-HIR and better than that of ULD-HIR. The effective radiation dose of ULDCT (0.64 ± 0.17 mSv) was 77% lower than that of LDCT (2.75 ± 0.50 mSv).

Conclusion
ULDCT combined with DLR could significantly reduce radiation dose while maintaining suitable image quality and stone detection rate in the diagnosis of renal calculi.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm dispersion by the mouse antimicrobial peptide CRAMP
Authors: Zhang Yang , Cheng Peng , Wang Shiyuan , Li Xiaofen , Peng Lianci , Fang Rendong , Xiong Jing , Li Hui , Mei Cui , Gao Jiye , Song Zhenhui , Xu Dengfeng , Fu Lizhi , Li Chenghong , Wu Xueqing , He Yuzhang , Chen Hongwei 
Published: October 2022

AbstractPseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is a known bacterium that produces biofilms and causes severe infection. Furthermore, P. aeruginosa biofilms are extremely difficult to eradicate, leading to the development of chronic and antibiotic-resistant infections. Our previous study showed that a cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) inhibits the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilms and markedly reduces the biomass of preformed biofilms, while the mechanism of eradicating bacterial biofilms remains elusive. Therefore, in this study, the potential mechanism by which CRAMP eradicates P. aeruginosa biofilms was investigated through an integrative analysis of transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic data. The omics data revealed CRAMP functioned against P. aeruginosa biofilms by different pathways, including the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) system, cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) signalling pathway, and synthesis pathways of exopolysaccharides and rhamnolipid. Moreover, a total of 2914 differential transcripts, 785 differential proteins, and 280 differential metabolites were identified. A series of phenotypic validation tests demonstrated that CRAMP reduced the c-di-GMP level with a decrease in exopolysaccharides, especially alginate, in P. aeruginosa PAO1 biofilm cells, improved bacterial flagellar motility, and increased the rhamnolipid content, contributing to the dispersion of biofilms. Our study provides new insight into the development of CRAMP as a potentially effective antibiofilm dispersant.
Discovery of an autophagy inducer J3 to lower mutant huntingtin and alleviate Huntington’s disease-related phenotype
Authors: Long Jiahui , Luo Xia , Fang Dongmei , Song Haikun , Fang Weibin , Shan Hao , Liu Peiqing , Lu Boxun , Yin Xiao-Ming , Hong Liang , Li Min 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHuntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by aggregation of the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein encoded from extra tracts of CAG repeats in exon 1 of the HTT gene. mHTT proteins are neurotoxic to render the death of neurons and a series of disease-associated phenotypes. The mHTT is degraded through autophagy pathway and ubiquitin–proteasome system (UPS). This study identified a small molecule, J3, as an autophagy inducer by high-content screening. The results revealed that J3 could inhibit mTOR, thus promoting autophagic flux and long-lived protein degradation. Further, J3 selectively lowered the soluble and insoluble mHTT but not wild type HTT levels in cell models. The HdhQ140 mice showed reduced HD-associated activity and loss of motor functions. However, administration of J3 showed increased activity and a slight improvement in the motor function in the open-field test, balance beam test, and rotarod tests. Furthermore, in vivo studies revealed that J3 decreased T-HTT and misfolded protein levels in the striatum and increased the levels of the medium spiny neuron marker DARPP-32. In addition, J3 showed good permeability across the brain-blood barrier efficiently, suggesting that J3 was a promising candidate for the treatment of HD.
Pinus pinea: a natural barrier for the insect vector of the pine wood nematode?
Authors: van Halder Inge , Sacristan Alberto , Martín-García Jorge , Pajares Juan Alberto , Jactel Hervé 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Key message
In mixed stands of Pinus pinaster and Pinus pinea, fewer insect vectors of the pinewood nematode (PWN) were captured than in pure P. pinaster stands. This finding has practical implications for PWN disease management, including the recommendation to improve the diversity of maritime pine plantations and to conserve stone pines in infected areas.

Context
The PWN is an invasive species in European pine forests, being vectored by the longhorn beetle Monochamus galloprovincialis. The presence of less preferred host trees may disrupt the insect vector dispersal and slow the spread of the disease.

Aims
The aim of the study was to compare the abundance of M. galloprovincialis in pure stands of Pinus pinaster, a preferred host tree, pure P. pinea stands, a less preferred host, and mixtures of these two species.

Methods
We selected 20 mature pine stands varying in % P. pinaster and % P. pinea in Spain. In each stand, we installed 3 pheromone traps to catch M. galloprovincialis. We related trap catches to stand and landscape composition.

Results
The level of capture of M. galloprovincialis was highest in pure P. pinaster stands and decreased with increasing proportion of P. pinea.

Conclusions
The presence of stone pine mixed with maritime pine significantly reduces the local abundance of the PWN insect vector. The most plausible mechanism is that P. pinea emits odors that have a repulsive effect on dispersing beetles.
Loss-of-function in GIGANTEA confers resistance to PPO-inhibiting herbicide tiafenacil through transcriptional activation of antioxidant genes in Arabidopsis
Authors: Cha Joon-Yung , Shin Gyeong-Im , Ahn Gyeongik , Jeong Song Yi , Ji Myung Geun , Alimzhan Aliya , Kim Min Gab , Kim Woe-Yeon 
Published: October 2022

AbstractHerbicides play a crucial role in maintaining crop productivity by reducing competition between weeds and crops. Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicides trigger the photooxidative damage that destroys cell membranes. Tiafenacil is a recently developed pyrimidinedione-type PPO-inhibiting herbicide that has low IC50 values in plants and is less toxic in humans compared to other PPO inhibitors. Previous reports confirmed that mutations in Arabidopsis circadian clock-controlled gene GIGANTEA (GI) were insensitive to phytooxidants, including chloroplast biogenesis inhibitors and herbicides. Here, we examined whether GI regulates the resistance to tiafenacil. Both gi mutant alleles, gi-1 and gi-2, were resistant to tiafenacil with survival rates of 97% and 83%, respectively, under 1 µM tiafenacil treatments, while 56% of wild-type and GI-overexpressing plants (GI-OX) survived. Both gi mutants were insensitive to tiafenacil-induced inhibition of photosystem efficiency and alleviated photooxidative damage. The gi mutants showed significant increases in transcriptional expressions and enzyme activities of antioxidants compared to wild-type and GI-OX. Moreover, loss-of-function in GI enhanced resistance to tiafenacil-containing commercial herbicide Terrad’or Plus®. Collectively, based on our results together with previous reports, mutations in GI confer resistance to herbicides with different MoAs and would be a crucial molecular target for non-target-site resistance strategies to develop herbicide-resistant crops.
Decreased influenza vaccination coverage among Chinese healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Ma Libing , Han Xuan , Ma Yuan , Yang Yuan , Xu Yunshao , Liu Di , Yang Weizhong , Feng Luzhao 
Published: October 2022

Abstract
Background
Healthcare workers (HCWs) were the priority group for influenza vaccination, in China during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons. However, vaccination rates in HCWs have always been low. This study investigated influenza vaccination status among Chinese HCWs and analyzed the factors driving vaccination.

Methods
We provided electronic questionnaires to HCWs from January 27, 2022 to February 21, 2022, using the WeChat platform "Breath Circles". HCWs who received the link could also forward it to their colleagues. Binary logistic regression models were used to analyze vaccination-associated factors among HCWs.

Results
Among the 1697 HCWs surveyed, vaccination coverage was 43.7% (741/1697) during the 2020/2021 influenza season, and 35.4% (600/1697) during the 2021/2022 influenza season, as of February 21, 2022. Additionally, 22.7% (385/1697) and 22.1% (358/1697) of HCWs reported that their workplaces implemented a free vaccination policy for all employees during the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 influenza seasons. HCWs who were required to be vaccinated according to hospital regulations, and whose hospitals implemented the free influenza vaccine policy were more likely to be vaccinated (2020/2021 and 2021/2022; P < 0.05). In addition, the economic level of the HCWs' province (2021/2022, P < 0.05) and the HCWs’ knowledge about vaccination and willingness to get vaccinated, such as active learning about vaccines (2020/2021, P < 0.05), supportive attitude toward vaccination for all HCWs (2020/2021 and 2021/2022; P < 0.05), also had an impact on vaccine coverage.

Conclusions
A free influenza vaccination policy and workplace required vaccination are effective in improving influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs. Influenza vaccination coverage of Chinese HCWs remained low and showed a downward trend after the COVID-19 outbreak. Further effective measures, such as advocacy campaigns, free vaccine policies, and on-site vaccination could be implemented to improve influenza vaccination coverage.

Graphical abstract
The emotional-behavioral state of Israeli adolescent and young adult females with anorexia nervosa during the COVID19 pandemic
Authors: Serur Yaffa , Dikstein Hadar , Shilton Tal , Gothelf Doron , Latzer Yael , Lewis Yael , Enoch-Levy Adi , Pessach Itai , Gur Eitan , Stein Daniel 
Published: October 2022

AbstractBackgroundDuring the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, the number of patients with eating disorders (EDs) seeking treatment increased significantly. The present study sought to evaluate whether, during the pandemic (2020–21), patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) would show more ED-related, comorbid, and COVID-19-related symptoms in comparison to a naturalistic control group, and whether differences would be found between adult and adolescent patients with AN. We also examined attitudes to telemedicine use during the pandemic in patients receiving long-distance interventions.MethodsUsing online self-report questionnaires, we assessed general and COVID-19-specific symptoms with a secure digital platform (REDCap®) in 36 female adolescents with AN, 35 female adults with AN, and 25 female controls.ResultsCompared with controls, patients with AN showed more symptoms of EDs, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), elevated suicidal ideation, more COVID-related emotional-behavioral disturbances, and lower resilience. Adult patients with AN fared worse than adolescent patients on most of these measures. Adult patients using telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic showed fewer positive attitudes toward this treatment than adolescents (telemedicine was offered to all, but used by 18/35 adolescents and 21/36 adults with AN). Last, elevated COVID-19-related symptomatology was correlated with more symptoms of ED, anxiety, depression and PTSD, and with lower resilience.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that the emotional-behavioral state of Israeli females with AN, particularly adults, was worse during the COVID-19 pandemic in comparison to controls. Many patients did not use telemedicine for their treatment. Adult patients using telemedicine were less satisfied with it than adolescent patients.
Attachment-based psychosocial programme for under-privileged school children with adverse life experiences in Istanbul, Turkey
Authors: Warfa Nasir , Bademci Özden , Karasar Şahin , White Robert 
Published: October 2022

AbstractChildren experiencing educational neglect are likely to experience the harm associated with adverse life experiences and a range of emotional and psychological challenges. Using attachment theory and psychosocial frameworks, we devised and implemented an intervention designed to ameliorate the deleterious effects of challenging behaviours in an elementary school situated in a deprived neighbourhood of Istanbul, Turkey. For a period of eight months, 160 pupils received a psychosocial intervention once a week. Children’s patterns of behaviour, emotions, movements, interactivity, socialisation and interpersonal communications were observed during this period. Core activities of the intervention included library visits, reading, writing and listening games, maths games, drawing, animal animation, leaf making, ball games, parachuting games, colouring, hula-hoop and driver-car role plays. At the end of the intervention, one group of children made significant improvements in behavioural changes while no improvements were observed for another group. Although further research is required to generalize beyond the reference group, the findings suggest that a robust collaboration between inter-agency community partnership and universities can play a crucial role in responding to the needs of marginalized children with psychological and emotional problems.
The pivotal application of patient-derived organoid biobanks for personalized treatment of gastrointestinal cancers
Authors: Yu Ya-ya , Zhu Yan-juan , Xiao Zhen-zhen , Chen Ya-dong , Chang Xue-song , Liu Yi-hong , Tang Qing , Zhang Hai-bo 
Published: October 2022

AbstractGastrointestinal cancers (GICs) occupy more than 30% of the cancer-related incidence and mortality around the world. Despite advances in the treatment strategies, the long-term overall survival has not been improved for patients with GICs. Recently, the novel patient-derived organoid (PDO) culture technology has become a powerful tool for GICs in a manner that recapitulates the morphology, pathology, genetic, phenotypic, and behavior traits of the original tumors. Excitingly, a number of evidences suggest that the versatile technology has great potential for personalized treatment, suppling the clinical application of molecularly guided personalized treatment. In the paper, we summarize the literature on the topics of establishing organoid biobanks of PDOs, and their application in the personalized treatment allowing for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy selection for GICs. Despite the limitations of current organoid models, high-throughput drug screening of GIC PDO combined with next-generation sequencing technology represents a novel and pivotal preclinical model for precision medicine of tumors and has a great value in promoting the transformation from basic cancer research to clinical application.