bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
How did the dietary habits of patients with chronic medical conditions change during COVID-19?
Authors: Patel Sahil K. , Gupta Adarsh 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Context
Previous studies have examined the changes in the dietary habits of general populations during the COVID-19 pandemic but have not focused on specific populations such as those with chronic medical conditions (CMCs). Prior to major vaccination efforts, 96.1% of deaths were attributed to patients with preexisting CMCs, thus it is important to examine how this population has endured changes.

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to identify differences in dietary habits, lifestyle habits, and food attitudes between those with CMCs compared to the populations without chronic medical conditions (non-CMCs) since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods
An online cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to July 2021. Participants (n=299) responded to a 58-item questionnaire regarding demographics (n=9), health information (n=8), lifestyle habits (n=7), dietary habits (n=28), and food attitudes (n=6). Frequency counts and percentages were tabulated, and t-test sampling and ANOVA testing were conducted to examine the associations utilizing SPSS V28 at a statistical significance level of p<0.05.

Results
When compared to non-CMC participants, with CMCs had a less frequent change in their diet and had better food attitudes when it came to consumption habits. Non-CMC and CMC participants had no statistically significant differences in overall dietary habits; however, an examination of specific food items reviews significant findings. Compared to non-CMC participants, those with CMCs reported significantly decreased consumption of energy-dense food such as French fries, white pasta, sweets, and salty snacks, with notable exceptions in increased consumption of energy-dense foods, starchy veggies, and vegetable/tomato juice.

Conclusions
These findings indicate that participants with CMCs indicated that fewer changes occurred in participants with a CMC; however, when these participants made changes, they were beneficial to their consumption habits. Future studies should aim to develop interventions for the demographics with poor dietary habits so that those that are most vulnerable may have their needs met.
Genetic analysis of failed male puberty using whole exome sequencing
Authors: Akram Maleeha , Handelsman David J. , Qayyum Mazhar , Kennerson Marina , Rauf Sania , Ahmed Shahid , Ishtiaq Osama , Ismail Muhammad , Mansoor Qaisar , Naseem Afzaal Ahmed , Rizvi Syed Shakeel Raza 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Objectives
Although at least 598 genes are involved in the development of the hypothalamo–pituitary–testicular (HPT) axis, mutations in only 75 genes have so far been shown to cause delayed puberty.

Methods
Six male patients with failed puberty, manifested as absence of pubertal changes by 18 years of age, underwent whole exome sequencing of genomic DNA with subsequent bioinformatics analysis and confirmation of selected variants by Sanger sequencing. Genes having plausibly pathogenic non-synonymous variants were characterized as group A (previously reported to cause delayed puberty), group B (expressed in the HPT-axis but no mutations therein were reported to cause delayed puberty) or group C (not reported previously to be connected with HPT-axis).

Results
We identified variants in genes involved in GnRH neuron differentiation (2 in group A, 1 in group C), GnRH neuron migration (2 each in groups A and C), development of GnRH neural connections with supra-hypothalamic and hypothalamic neurons (2 each in groups A and C), neuron homeostasis (1 in group C), molecules regulating GnRH neuron activity (2 each in groups B and C), receptors/proteins expressed on GnRH neurons (1 in group B), signaling molecules (3 in group C), GnRH synthesis (1 in group B), gonadotropins production and release (1 each in groups A, B, and C) and action of the steroid hormone (1 in group A).

Conclusions
Non-synonymous variants were identified in 16 genes of the HPT-axis, which comprised 4 in group A that contains genes previously reported to cause delayed puberty, 4 in group B that are expressed along HPT-axis but no mutations therein were reported previously to cause delayed puberty and 8 in group C that contains novel candidate genes, suggesting wider genetic causes of failed male puberty.
Optimization of PID controller for water level control of the nuclear steam generator using PSO and GA
Authors: Safarzadeh Omid , Tizdast Amir 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The water level control system implicated in the nuclear steam generator has played an essential role in unexpected shutdowns of the power plant. According to reports, about 25% of the emergency power blackouts are caused by improper level control systems. The effectiveness of optimization methods in designing a controller is currently proved in different disciplines. The novelty of this paper is the proportional integral derivative (PID) controller tuning of nuclear steam generator by particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA) for the lowest steady-state error, overshoot, undershoot, and settling time. Different types of the cost function are employed to obtain the controller gains. The integral of the absolute error (IAE), square error (ISE), time-weighted average error (ITAE), time-weighted square error (ITSE), and a weighted function based on overshoot, undershoot, and settling time are used. The gain scheduling of optimized PIDs is used to have an entire operating range control system. The desired load-following and stability of the optimized PID controller are investigated under both time and frequency domains using trajectory tracking, disturbance rejection, and Nichols chart criterion.
Black voices and thoughts in general and special education: introducing the special issue
Authors: Gibson Lenwood 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
At this current time in history, many Black people in the United States are in perilous positions. Moreover, Black students find themselves in similar situations in regards to their education. Over the past two years, the effects of the global Covid-19 pandemic and on-going police violence against Black people have created an atmosphere that is suffocating and demoralizing. Strong and continued discourse is needed to provide solutions to on-going social and educational inequities that our students face. These inequities have only been further exacerbated by the pandemic and turbulent political atmosphere. This introduction to the special issue provides the context for why the voices and thoughts of Black scholars matter so much at this time. As it appears, it is wise too not stand idly by when the future of Black students is at stake. Scholars in this special issue are standing up to represent at a time when freedom seems to be in danger at all levels.
Proteomics research of SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease
Authors: Zhang Nan , Wang Siyuan , Wong Catherine C.L. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Currently, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still spreading in a global scale, exerting a massive health and socioeconomic crisis. Deep insights into the molecular functions of the viral proteins and the pathogenesis of this infectious disease are urgently needed. In this review, we comprehensively describe the proteome of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and summarize their protein interaction map with host cells. In the protein interaction network between the virus and the host, a total of 787 host prey proteins that appeared in at least two studies or were verified by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Together with 29 viral proteins, a network of 1762 proximal interactions were observed. We also review the proteomics results of COVID-19 patients and proved that SARS-CoV-2 hijacked the host’s translation system, post-translation modification system, and energy supply system via viral proteins, resulting in various immune disorders, multiple cardiomyopathies, and cholesterol metabolism diseases.
Mu opioid receptor-mediated release of endolysosome iron increases levels of mitochondrial iron, reactive oxygen species, and cell death
Authors: Halcrow Peter W. , Kumar Nirmal , Hao Emily , Khan Nabab , Meucci Olimpia , Geiger Jonathan D. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectivesOpioids including morphine and DAMGO activate mu-opioid receptors (MOR), increase intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and induce cell death. Ferrous iron (Fe2+) through Fenton-like chemistry increases ROS levels and endolysosomes are “master regulators of iron metabolism” and contain readily-releasable Fe2+stores. However, mechanisms underlying opioid-induced changes in endolysosome iron homeostasis and downstream-signaling events remain unclear.MethodsWe used SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, flow cytometry, and confocal microscopy to measure Fe2+and ROS levels and cell death.ResultsMorphine and DAMGO de-acidified endolysosomes, decreased endolysosome Fe2+levels, increased cytosol and mitochondria Fe2+and ROS levels, depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential, and induced cell death; effects blocked by the nonselective MOR antagonist naloxone and the selective MOR antagonist β-funaltrexamine (β-FNA). Deferoxamine, an endolysosome-iron chelator, inhibited opioid agonist-induced increases in cytosolic and mitochondrial Fe2+and ROS. Opioid-induced efflux of endolysosome Fe2+and subsequent Fe2+accumulation in mitochondria were blocked by the endolysosome-resident two-pore channel inhibitor NED-19 and the mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitor TRO.ConclusionsOpioid agonist-induced increases in cytosolic and mitochondrial Fe2+and ROS as well as cell death appear downstream of endolysosome de-acidification and Fe2+efflux from the endolysosome iron pool that is sufficient to affect other organelles.
Finance, Investment and Decolonisation in Nigeria
Authors: Lukasiewicz Mariusz 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Given the relative scarcity of capital and the small volume of savings in most African economies at independence, the establishment of stock exchanges and their regulation showed that several countries considered them as strategic financial intermediaries for channelling capital to their national, and even regional, economies. This article examines the Lagos Stock Exchange’s formative years as a political process of Nigeria’s decolonisation and the First Republic. Originally incorporated as a private limited liability company on 15 September 1960, and as the first stock exchange in West Africa and the region’s largest economy, the new financial intermediary defined the relationship between the post-independence state and the growing capital market during a period of considerable political and economic changes. The role of the post-independence state and state-owned enterprises in facilitating the trade on the Lagos Stock Exchange broadens the analytical scope of this investigation to identify the sources of Nigeria’s development finance. While significant efforts were taken to grow private individual participation in the share trade and ownership, the early years of the Lagos Stock Exchange were ultimately marked by the dominance of institutional investors such as state-owned enterprises and private commercial banks.
Construction and Evaluation of the Brucella Double Gene Knock-out Vaccine Strain MB6 Δbp26ΔwboA (RM6)
Authors: Shi Bochang , Li Xinyu , Li Bo , Zheng Naxin , Li Min , Liu Yuan , Li Chunhe , Yan Fang , He Wei , Zhao Liyan , Li Huabin , Tian Chongyu , Zheng Yuanqiang , Zhao Zhongpeng 
Published: September 2022

Objective:
Brucellosis is a serious zoonotic infection worldwide. To date, vaccination is the most effective measure against brucellosis. This study was aimed at obtaining a vaccine strain that has high protective efficacy and low toxicity, and allows vaccination to be differentiated from infection.

Methods:
Using homologous recombination, we constructed a double gene-deletion Brucella strain MB6 Δbp26ΔwboA (RM6) and evaluated its characteristics, safety and efficacy.

Results:
The RM6 strain had good proliferative ability and stable biological characteristics in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, it had a favorable safety profile and elicited specific immune responses in mice and sheep.

Conclusion:
The RM6 strain may have substantial practical application value.
Nephrotoxic Exposures and Acute Kidney Injury in Noncritically Ill Children Stratified by Service
Authors: Holsteen Page E. , Gist Katja M. , Brinton John T. , Hebert Maxwell , Iwanowski Melissa , Kim Abby , Leath Alexandra , Shah Ananya , Soranno Danielle E. , Marschner Magda N. 
Published: September 2022

OBJECTIVE
The Nephrotoxic Injury Negated by Just-in-Time Action (NINJA) program is a multicenter, quality improvement initiative that identifies patients at risk for nephrotoxic medication-associated acute kidney injury (NTMx-AKI). The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the prevalence and types of NTMx exposures and (2) determine the prevalence of NTMx-AKI categorized by service. Exploratory analysis evaluated potential associations between hospital measures and NTMx-AKI.

METHODS
This is a single-center, retrospective chart review of NTMx exposures from January 2019 to June 2020 in noncritically ill children. High NTMx exposures were defined as ≥3 simultaneous nephrotoxins or ≥3 days of either intravenous vancomycin or aminoglycoside. Prevalence of high NTMx and NTMx-AKI rate were normalized to 1000 patient days. A retrospective case-control analysis assessed for potential associations with development of NTMx-AKI.

RESULTS
There were 609 NTMx exposures in 565 patients and 44 (7.2%) episodes of NTMx-AKI. The NTMx prevalence rate per 1000 patient days was highest among liver, neurosurgery, and gastroenterology services. The most commonly used NTMx were vancomycin, intravenous contrast, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs. The NTMx-AKI rate in exposed patients ranged from 0% to 14% across service lines. AKI was most often attributable to vancomycin. Univariable analyses suggest type and duration of NTMx exposure are associated with development of NTMx-AKI but not with severity.

CONCLUSIONS
NTMx exposures and NTMx-AKI are variable across services. Partnerships with antimicrobial stewardship and multicenter studies are needed to modify NTMx-AKI risk. Ongoing surveillance is needed in patients who do not have normalization of creatinine before discharge.
Gender, Parenting Status, and the Academic Productivity of Pediatricians During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Sharp Eleanor A. , Pelletier Jonathan H. , Friehling Erika , Muzumdar Hiren , Miller Benjamin , Kazmerski Traci M. 
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND
During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, many women physicians experienced increased caregiver responsibilities, potentially leading to worsened gender inequities.

METHODS
We surveyed faculty and trainees at a quaternary-care children’s hospital regarding work environment, household obligations, and academic productivity to examine differential effects on productivity by gender and parenting status. We used descriptive statistics for demographics and analyzed Likert-scale responses with χ2 or Fisher’s exact tests. We performed multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with self-reported academic productivity. We analyzed free-response comments using thematic analysis.

RESULTS
The August 2021 survey was completed by 366 respondents (65% women; 46% response rate). Women were significantly more likely to report decreased academic productivity than men (66% [146/222] vs 30% [38/129], P &lt;.001). Nearly one-half (49%) were parents with 80% utilizing childcare. Of these, 61% experienced unreliable childcare during the pandemic. Parents with unreliable childcare reported significantly decreased academic productivity compared with those with reliable childcare (76% [64/84] vs 36% [19/53], P &lt;.001), and, among those with unreliable childcare, women disproportionally reported decreased academic productivity compared with men (88.5% [54/61] vs 43.5% [10/23], P &lt;.001). After multivariable adjustment, women physicians with children were significantly more likely to report decreased academic productivity than men with children (adjusted odds ratio: 10.19, 95% confidence interval: 4.68–22.23).

CONCLUSIONS
The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has differentially impacted men and women physicians, with women physician parents more likely to report decreased academic productivity than men with children. Unreliable childcare was a significant contributor to this disparity. Institutions must prioritize initiatives to improve gender equity in medicine.
Bridges between individuals and communities: dialogic participation fueling meaningful social engagement
Authors: Tellado Itxaso 
Published: September 2022

This article presents the narratives of non-academic women who have made essential contributions to their community, and their own lives as well, drawing on their involvement in an adult school. We discuss how dialogic participation in lifelong learning activities may (or may not) prompt people to become active social agents in their communities. Through dialogic participation ordinary individuals whose voices have been always silenced, become active stakeholders in the community they belong to, making relevant contributions, which improve their own lives and the community as well. Drawing on personal narratives we re-construct the trajectories of these women as active social agents in their communities, looking on them through the lenses of their participation in lifelong learning activities. This evidence illustrates how dialogic adult education may become a way for undeserved groups to become empowered and make real changes in our society.
Efficacy of boric acid therapy in a pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced chronic otitis media model in rats
Authors: ŞAHİN Abdulkadir , KARS Ayhan , KILIÇ Korhan , SAKAT Muhammed Sedat , KÖYCEĞİZ Sinan , YİLDİRİM Serkan 
Published: September 2022

Purpose: Chronic otitis media (COM) is one of the common infectious diseases of the middle ear caused by bacterial or viral pathogens. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the efficacy of boric acid (BA) in the treatment of COM by comparing topical 4% and 8% BA applications with systemic ciprofloxacin in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) inoculation-induced model of COM in rats.
Materials and Methods: Forty-two Sprague Dawley rats were divided into seven equal groups. The COM model was created with P. aeruginosa. Clinical, histopathological and, immunohistochemical comparisons were performed between the control, COM, topical 4% and 8% BA treatment, a systemic ciprofloxacin treatment, and topical 4% and 8% BA contact groups.
Results: In the COM model, moderate edema, inflammation, degeneration and moderate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression were detected with the application of 4% BA. Mild edema, inflammation, degeneration, and mild TNF-α expression were detected with 8% BA application.
Conclusion: Both 4% and 8% BA treatment provided significant clinical, histopathological and immunohistochemical improvement. The application of 8% BA was found to exhibit greater therapeutic efficacy, with no harmful effect on the middle ear mucosa.
Fault Orientation and Relocated Seismicity Associated with the 12 December 2018 Mw 4.4 Decatur, Tennessee, Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Daniels Clara , Peng Zhigang 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSmall-to-moderate size earthquakes have occurred along the Eastern Tennessee Seismic Zone (ETSZ) for decades, resulting in the second highest seismicity rate in Central and Eastern United States following the New Madrid Seismic Zone. However, the underlying tectonic setting of seismicity in the ETSZ remains unclear. The recent December 2018 Mw 4.4 earthquake near Decatur, Tennessee, provides an opportunity to study one of the largest recent events in this region, after the 2003 Mw 4.6 Fort Payne, Alabama, earthquake. Here, we use a matched filter technique to detect additional microearthquakes around the Mw 4.4 mainshock. We create templates from 967 cataloged earthquakes spanning over 15 yr (January 2005–July 2020) in the ETSZ. These templates are used to detect missing events four weeks before to four weeks after the mainshock. We calculate the magnitudes of new events using principle component fitting between templates and newly detected events. Two relocation algorithms, XCORLOC and hypoDD, are used comparatively to relocate detected events. We construct focal mechanism solutions for earthquakes around the mainshock using HASHpy, and refine the focal mechanism and depth solution of the mainshock using the cut-and-paste method. The mainshock appears to have occurred at a depth of approximately 5–6 km, which is deeper than the decollement (4–5 km) that separates the Grenville-age basement rock and the Paleozoic sedimentary rock. In addition, the mainshock appears to rupture bilaterally along an east–northeast-trending strike-slip fault, which is consistent with the relocated aftershock locations and one of the nodal planes of the mainshock. The occurrence of the 2018 Mw 4.4 mainshock at a relatively shallow depth and its close proximity to the Watts Bar Nuclear Power Plant highlight the need to reevaluate seismic hazard associated with moderate-size earthquakes along the ETSZ.
Clinicopathological profile of salivary gland lesions: a prospective study on parotid gland tumors in Kashmir
Authors: Hafiz Aamir , Showkat Showkat A. , Bashir Seerat 
Published: September 2022

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> The parotid gland and the other salivary glands provide a crucial role in the oral cavity by secreting saliva that makes eating, swallowing, speaking, and digesting easier. In order to explore the prevalence of parotid gland tumours by age and gender, clinical modes of presentation, surgical treatments, histological pattern of parotid gland tumours, assess treatment success, and assess consequences, a prospective clinicopathological research was conducted.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was conducted among patients who presented in the outpatient department of ear, nose and throat (ENT) and head and neck surgery (HNS), Government Medical College (GMC), Srinagar with lesions of the salivary glands. The present study was an observational study conducted over a period of 18 months w.e.f. May 2020 up to October 2021. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> A total of 220 subjects were enrolled in the present study. More than half of patients were males. The participants were (33.89±15.7) years old on an average. Males predominated over females among the recruited individuals (59% versus 41%). Sub-mandibular gland lesions were most common in the patients (50.4%), followed by parotid gland lesions (38.6%), minor salivary gland lesions (6%) and sub-lingual gland lesions (5%). Pleomorphic adenoma was the most prevalent neoplastic lesion (29.4%). The most prevalent non-neoplastic lesion was parotitis (21.1%).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> More often than malignant tumours, benign parotid tumours are more common. Malignant parotid tumours usually present at a later clinical stage and begin to develop at a younger age than other tumour types. Accurate clinical diagnosis, with the use of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and imaging as needed, is essential for effective therapy. The primary therapeutic option is a safe operation called a parotidectomy.</p>