bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of genomic preselection on subsequent genetic evaluations with ssGBLUP using real data from pigs
Authors: Jibrila Ibrahim , Vandenplas Jeremie , ten Napel Jan , Bergsma Rob , Veerkamp Roel F. , Calus Mario P. L. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundEmpirically assessing the impact of preselection on genetic evaluation of preselected animals requires comparing scenarios that take different approaches into account, including scenarios without preselection. However, preselection is almost always performed in animal breeding programs, so it is difficult to have a dataset without preselection. Hence, most studies on preselection have used simulated datasets, and have concluded that genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) from subsequent single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) evaluations are unbiased. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of genomic preselection (GPS) on accuracy and bias in subsequent ssGBLUP evaluations, using data from a commercial pig breeding program.MethodsWe used data on average daily gain during performance testing, average daily gain throughout life, backfat thickness, and loin depth from one sire line and one dam line of pigs. As these traits have different weights in the breeding goals of the two lines, we analyzed the lines separately. For each line, we implemented a reference GPS scenario that kept all available data, against which the next two scenarios were compared. We then implemented two other scenarios with additional layers of GPS by removing all animals without progeny either (i) only in the validation generation, or (ii) in all generations. We conducted subsequent ssGBLUP evaluations for each GPS scenario, using all the data remaining after implementing the GPS scenario. Accuracy and bias were computed by comparing GEBV against progeny yield deviations of validation animals.ResultsResults for all traits and in both lines showed a marginal loss in accuracy due to the additional layers of GPS. Average accuracies across all GPS scenarios in the two lines were 0.39, 0.47, 0.56, and 0.60, for average daily gain during performance testing and throughout life, backfat thickness, and loin depth, respectively. Biases were largely absent, and when present, did not differ greatly between the GPS scenarios.ConclusionsWe conclude that the impact of preselection on accuracy and bias in subsequent ssGBLUP evaluations of selection candidates in pigs is generally minimal. We expect this conclusion to apply for other animal breeding programs as well, since preselection of any type or intensity generally has the same effect in animal breeding programs.
Along the Bos taurus genome, uncover candidate imprinting control regions
Authors: Wyss Phillip , Song Carol , Bina Minou 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
In mammals, Imprinting Control Regions (ICRs) regulate a subset of genes in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. In both human and mouse, previous studies identified a set of CpG-rich motifs occurring as clusters in ICRs and germline Differentially Methylated Regions (gDMRs). These motifs consist of the ZFP57 binding site (ZFBS) overlapping a subset of MLL binding units known as MLL morphemes. MLL or MLL1 (Mixed Lineage Leukemia 1) is a relatively large multidomain protein that plays a central role in the regulation of transcription. The structures of both MLL1 and MLL2 include a domain (MT) that binds CpG-rich DNA and a conserved domain (SET) that methylates lysine 4 in histone H3 producing H3K4me3 marks in chromatin.

Results
Since genomic imprinting impacts many developmental and key physiological processes, we followed a previous bioinformatics strategy to pinpoint ICR positions in the Bos taurus genome. Initial genome-wide analyses involved finding the positions of ZFP57 binding sites, and the CpG-rich motifs (ZFBS-morph overlaps) along cattle chromosomal DNA. By creating plots displaying the density of ZFBS-morph overlaps, we removed background noise and thus improved signal detection. With the density-plots, we could view the positions of peaks locating known and candidate ICRs in cattle DNA. Our evaluations revealed the correspondence of peaks in plots to reported known and inferred ICRs/DMRs in cattle. Beside peaks pinpointing such ICRs, the density-plots also revealed additional peaks. Since evaluations validated the robustness of our approach, we inferred that the additional peaks may correspond to candidate ICRs for imprinted gene expression.

Conclusion
Our bioinformatics strategy offers the first genome-wide approach for systematically localizing candidate ICRs. Furthermore, we have tailored our datasets for upload onto the UCSC genome browser so that researchers could find known and candidate ICRs with respect to a wide variety of annotations at all scales: from the positions of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs), to positions of genes, transcripts, and repeated DNA elements. Furthermore, the UCSC genome browser offers tools to produce enlarged views: to uncover the genes in the vicinity of candidate ICRs and thus discover potential imprinted genes for experimental validations.
Analysis of 4 cases of children with false-positive results of novel coronavirus-specific antibody
Authors: Dai Shuzhi , Li Jingjing , Li Jing , Li Long , Shi Lin , Cao Ling , Zhong Xuemei , Liu Weijie , Wang Ying , Ma Lijuan 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
This study attempts to explore the influencing factors and solutions of the colloidal gold method for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV)-specific IgM/IgG antibody detection, summarize the clinical experience and perfect the examination process, improving the application value of antibody detection in COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods
A total of 13,329 peripheral whole blood/plasma/serum samples were obtained for COVID-19 screening from children who visited the Children's Hospital of the Capital Institute of Pediatrics outpatient clinic from April 22, 2020, to November 30, 2020. The colloidal gold method was adopted for 2019-nCoV-specific IgM/IgG antibody detection. The virus nucleic acid test results, clinical records, and serum protein fingerprint results of antibody-positive patients were collected.

Results
All samples were examined using the colloidal gold method with two 2019-nCoV-specific IgM/IgG antibody detection kits. Four patients were tested single antibody-positive using both kits. The details were as follows: two cases of IgM ( +) and IgG (-) using plasma and serum separately, two cases of IgM (-) and IgG ( +) using serum and whole blood. The protein fingerprinting results and nucleic acid tests of 2019-nCoV antibodies were negative in the 4 cases. Considering the epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, and test results, these 4 children were ruled out for 2019-nCoV infection.

Conclusions
When the colloidal gold method was used to detect 2019-nCoV-specific IgM/IgG antibodies, it was important to ascertain the test results as precisely as possible. Specimen type and patient history may interfere with the diagnosis.
Breastfeeding initiation and duration and acute otitis media among children less than two years of age in Jordan: results from a case–control study
Authors: AL-Nawaiseh Furat K. , Al-Jaghbir Madi T. , AL-Assaf Mohammad S. , AL-Nawaiseh Hala K. , Alzoubi Majdi. M. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infectious diseases that affects children. Breastfeeding has been linked to a lower risk of AOM in the first three years of childhood. The aim of this study was to identify the association between exclusive breastfeeding and the development of acute otitis media (AOM) and investigate the influence of breastfeeding duration on the presence of AOM.

Methods
In a retrospective case–control study, a sample of 98 children (cases) who were diagnosed with AOM and 98 children (controls) who were not diagnosed with AOM and were younger than two years old were selected from the Jordan University Hospital. Medical records were used to identify children with AOM. For both the case and control groups, the children’s mothers completed a self-administered questionnaire about factors linked to the incidence of AOM.The type of feeding and the duration of breastfeeding were assessed using a validated questionnaire.

Results
The data indicated that among children who developed AOM, 23.5%were artificiallyfed, while 22.4% and 13.3% were exclusively breastfed for 3 months and 6 months, respectively. Approximately 70.7% of the children without AOM were exclusively breastfed for 6 months, compared with only 29.3% of the children without AOM who were exclusively breastfed for 3 months.Logistic regression revealed that nonexclusive breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for 3 months, and exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months were protective factors against AOM (OR = 0.23, 0.18, and 0.25, respectively; P < 0.05). A short duration of exclusive breastfeeding was considered a risk factor for the development of AOM (OR = 1.7, P < 0.05).

Conclusions
The escalation of AOM is tightly connected to the early introduction of formula feeding in the first six months of life. Breastfeeding had a protective impact on the occurrence of AOM. Understanding factors that are associated with the occurrence of AOM in children may support the role of public health institutions and primary health care in the prevention and reduction of AOM episodes and the need for national health strategies to promote breastfeeding.
Rapid systematic review to identify key barriers to access, linkage, and use of local authority administrative data for population health research, practice, and policy in the United Kingdom
Authors: Moorthie Sowmiya , Hayat Shabina , Zhang Yi , Parkin Katherine , Philips Veronica , Bale Amber , Duschinsky Robbie , Ford Tamsin , Moore Anna 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
Improving data access, sharing, and linkage across local authorities and other agencies can contribute to improvements in population health. Whilst progress is being made to achieve linkage and integration of health and social care data, issues still exist in creating such a system. As part of wider work to create the Cambridge Child Health Informatics and Linked Data (Cam-CHILD) database, we wanted to examine barriers to the access, linkage, and use of local authority data.

Methods
A systematic literature search was conducted of scientific databases and the grey literature. Any publications reporting original research related to barriers or enablers of data linkage of or with local authority data in the United Kingdom were included. Barriers relating to the following issues were extracted from each paper: funding, fragmentation, legal and ethical frameworks, cultural issues, geographical boundaries, technical capability, capacity, data quality, security, and patient and public trust.

Results
Twenty eight articles were identified for inclusion in this review. Issues relating to technical capacity and data quality were cited most often. This was followed by those relating to legal and ethical frameworks. Issue relating to public and patient trust were cited the least, however, there is considerable overlap between this topic and issues relating to legal and ethical frameworks.

Conclusions
This rapid review is the first step to an in-depth exploration of the barriers to data access, linkage and use; a better understanding of which can aid in creating and implementing effective solutions. These barriers are not novel although they pose specific challenges in the context of local authority data.
Providing an interactive undergraduate elective on safety culture online – concept and evaluation
Authors: Müller Angelina , Sawicki Olga A. , Pommee Marina , Blazejewski Tatjana , Schneider Kyra , Ullmann-Moskovits Judith , Petersen Juliana J. , Müller Beate S. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has made it more difficult to maintain high quality in medical education. As online formats are often considered unsuitable, interactive workshops and seminars have particularly often been postponed or cancelled. To meet the challenge, we converted an existing interactive undergraduate elective on safety culture into an online event. In this article, we describe the conceptualization and evaluation of the elective.

Methods
The learning objectives of the safety culture elective remained unchanged, but the teaching methods were thoroughly revised and adapted to suit an online setting. The online elective was offered as a synchronous two-day course in winter semester 2020/21 during the “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. At the end of each day, participating students evaluated the elective by completing an online survey. Items were rated on a six-point Likert scale. We used SPSS for data analysis.

Results
Twenty medical undergraduates completed the elective and rated it extremely positively (1.1 ± 0.2). Students regard safety culture as very important and felt the learning objectives had been achieved. Moreover, they were very satisfied with the design and content of the elective, and especially with interactive elements like role-play. Around 55% of participants would recommend continuing to offer the online elective after the pandemic.

Conclusions
It makes sense to offer undergraduate medical students online elective courses on safety culture, especially during a pandemic. The elective described here can serve as a best practice example of how to teach safety culture to undergraduates, especially when physical presence is unfeasible. Electives requiring a high degree of interaction can also function well online.
Exploring developmental assignments shaping experience-driven acquisition of leadership competencies in young clinicians
Authors: Sabqat Mashaal , Khan Rehan Ahmed , Yasmin Raheela , Mahboob Usman 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundExperiential leadership development is well documented in the corporate sector, but those models cannot be applied as is, in the healthcare domain. The current study proposes a framework for the healthcare sector to enable experiential leadership development for young clinicians. The authors identify developmental assignments (DAs) and explore those characteristics [developmental assignment characteristics; DACs] therein that help develop leadership competencies in young clinicians.MethodsAs part of a qualitative exploratory study in Pakistan, the authors conducted 16 semi-structured interviews with senior clinicians in leadership positions with post-graduate residents under their supervision from different medical specialties. The participants were selected through purposive sampling, ensuring a maximum variation sample. Focusing on participants’ experiences and perspectives related to experience-driven leadership development, the authors used a multi-level theoretical framework for analysis.ResultsThe thematic analysis resulted in 19 subthemes with four overarching themes for both objectives. The authors categorized the developmental assignments (DAs) into clinical, academic, and administrative assignments. These assignments can be utilized for leadership development by ensuring that they have the requisite characteristics built into their context and structure. These developmental assignment characteristics (DACs) can range from learner-driven to supervisor-driven. The learner-driven characteristics include autonomy, high levels of responsibilities, unfamiliar assignments, working across boundaries, managing diversity, making a commitment, and creating change. The supervisor-driven characteristics include briefing, debriefing, accountability, and learner-assignment matching. The authors also developed a learner-assignment matching (LAM) framework to guide supervisors in customizing and adjusting the level of each DAC in a DA.ConclusionA modern healthcare educational system can utilize studies like this to enable supervisors to develop required leadership skills in young clinicians along with clinical skills.
Adapting teaching and learning in times of COVID-19: a comparative assessment among higher education institutions in a global health network in 2020
Authors: Puradiredja Dewi Ismajani , Kintu-Sempa Linda , Eyber Carola , Weigel Ralf , Broucker Bruno , Lindkvist Marie , Casamitjana Nuria , Reynolds Rodney , Klinkel Hans-Friedemann , Matteelli Alberto , Froeschl Guenter 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
This research examines the ways in which higher education institutions (HEIs) across the tropEd Network for Education in International Health (tropEd) began to adapt their teaching and learning approaches in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Already during this early phase of the pandemic HEIs’ responses demonstrate global health approaches emphasising cooperation and communication, rather than national health driven strategies that emphasise quarantine and control. Key lessons learnt for multiple dimensions of teaching and learning in global health are thus identified, and challenges and opportunities discussed.

Methods
Data collection includes a cross-sectional online survey among tropEd member institutions (n = 19) in mid-2020, and a complementary set of open-ended questions generating free-text responses (n = 9). Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, textual data were analysed using a Framework Analysis approach.

Results
While early on in the pandemic the focus was on a quick emergency switch to online teaching formats to ensure short-term continuity, and developing the administrative and didactic competence and confidence in digital teaching, there is already recognition among HEIs of the necessity for more fundamental quality and longer-term reforms in higher education in global health. Alongside practical concerns about the limitations of digital teaching, and declines in student numbers, there is a growing awareness of opportunities in terms of inclusivity, the necessity of cross-border cooperation, and a global health approach. The extent to which the lack of physical mobility impacts HEI programmes in global health is debated.

Conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about preventive measures that have had a considerable impact on various dimensions of academic teaching in global health. Going forward, international HEIs’ experiences and response strategies can help generate important lessons for academic institutions across different settings worldwide.
Factors related to help-seeking for cancer medical care among people living in rural areas: a scoping review
Authors: Oshiro Mariko , Kamizato Midori , Jahana Sayuri 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDespite the importance of timely diagnosis and access to treatment, previous studies have not adequately explored help-seeking behavior in cancer treatment among rural and remote residents. The barriers preventing help-seeking behavior also remain unclear. To address this research gap, this study conducted a scoping review to suggest a framework for eliminating barriers and facilitating help-seeking for cancer treatment among rural and remote residents. To conduct the scoping review, three English medical databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL) were examined for the keywords “rural,” “remote,” “cancer,” and “help-seeking.” The research objectives and study designs, participants, and excerpts describing help-seeking of the selected papers were recorded in a data charting form. Descriptions of help-seeking behavior were organized and summarized according to their meaning and integrated into factors using thematic analysis. All extracted factors related to help-seeking were sorted into four main themes according to the Ecological Model of Health Behavior, the theoretical lens for this scoping review: (1) Intrapersonal; (2) Interpersonal; (3) Groups, culture, and organizations; and (4) Policy/environment. Factors were categorized as barriers and facilitators of help-seeking. A total of 13 papers were analyzed. Intrapersonal factors such as self-reliance, symptom appraisal, and fatalism, were identified as barriers to help-seeking, whereas presentation of abnormal and serious symptoms facilitated help-seeking. Interpersonal factors such as lack of understanding of family members, influence of surrounding people, role obligations, and lack of trust in experts hindered help-seeking, whereas understanding from surrounding people such as family and friends, promoted help-seeking. Groups, cultural, and organizational factors such as prejudice, social stigma, shame, lack of anonymity, and social norms acted as barriers to help-seeking. Policy-related barriers to help-seeking included lack of medical services and physical distance from medical institutions, leading to a time burden. The study discussed the identified factors from a rural context. Future studies should consider the identified barriers and facilitators according to the four main themes in rural areas when formulating interventions to promote help-seeking. Our findings can offer a theoretical foundation to develop actionable policies, preventive strategies, and relevant interventional tools that may facilitate oncological service utilization in rural areas.
Advances in biomarkers and techniques for pancreatic cancer diagnosis
Authors: Wu Haotian , Ou Suwen , Zhang Hongli , Huang Rui , Yu Shan , Zhao Ming , Tai Sheng 
Published: June 2022

AbstractPancreatic cancer is the most lethal type of malignancy and is characterized by high invasiveness without severe symptoms. It is difficult to detect PC at an early stage because of the low diagnostic accuracy of existing routine methods, such as abdominal ultrasound, CT, MRI, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS). Therefore, it is of value to develop new diagnostic techniques for early detection with high accuracy. In this review, we aim to highlight research progress on novel biomarkers, artificial intelligence, and nanomaterial applications on the diagnostic accuracy of pancreatic cancer.
Prenatal diagnosis of anomalous left brachiocephalic vein courses using high-definition flow render mode and spatiotemporal image correlation
Authors: Li Tian-gang , Ma Bin , Qi Ping-an 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
This study aimed to examine the clinical value of high-definition (HD) flow render mode and spatiotemporal image correlation (STIC) to diagnose anomalous left brachiocephalic vein (LBCV) courses in fetuses.

Methods and results
Seventeen cases of anomalous LBCV courses were diagnosed using two-dimensional (2D), HD-flow, and HD-flow combined with STIC images and retrospectively analyzed to examine the significance of using HD-flow combined with STIC technology in the diagnosis of anomalous LBCV courses.

Conclusions
HD-flow combined with STIC technology can help in the diagnosis of anomalous fetal LBCV courses, and this technique has important clinical value.
Pancreatic islet organoids-on-a-chip: how far have we gone?
Authors: Yin Jiaxiang , Meng Hao , Lin Jingfang , Ji Wei , Xu Tao , Liu Huisheng 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDiabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease caused by dysfunction or disruption of pancreatic islets. The advent and development of microfluidic organoids-on-a-chip platforms have facilitated reproduce of complex and dynamic environment for tissue or organ development and complex disease processes. For the research and treatment of DM, the platforms have been widely used to investigate the physiology and pathophysiology of islets. In this review, we first highlight how pancreatic islet organoids-on-a-chip have improved the reproducibility of stem cell differentiation and organoid culture. We further discuss the efficiency of microfluidics in the functional evaluation of pancreatic islet organoids, such as single-islet-sensitivity detection, long-term real-time monitoring, and automatic glucose adjustment to provide relevant stimulation. Then, we present the applications of islet-on-a-chip technology in disease modeling, drug screening and cell replacement therapy. Finally, we summarize the development and challenges of islet-on-a-chip and discuss the prospects of future research.
Graphical Abstract