bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation insult during COVID‐19 pandemic on the psychological status of medical students
Authors: Faeck Jaafar Israa , Ahmed Mehdi Sahar , M. Fawzi Al‐Hasan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundCOVID‐19 is a newly discovered infectious disease that spread and caused a global health problem. Medical students, especially those in clinical stages are among groups exposed to the disease. The study aimed to show the impact of social distancing on the mental health of Iraqi medical students.MethodA convenient sampling technique involved 105 participants was obtained through a questionnaire. The participants were from all stages of College Of Medicine. Questions were regarding the mental health status of the students, which included sleeping hours, nightmares, eating habits, weight problems, relationship with the family, starting to have bad habits, memory loss, attention problems, irritability, and study rank affect.ResultsOf about 105 participants, 64 (60.9%) of them were females and 41 (39.1%) were males. The mean age of the participants was (21.26 ± 1.065) ranging from 19 to 24 years. Feeling stressful when hearing news about COVID‐19″ found in 82 (78.1%) of the participants. A high statistical significant difference (p = 0.035) among feeling isolated. About 77 (73.3%) of the participants had become easily irritable and angry. About 82 (78.1%) student started for having calculation problems. The stress with sleeping hours (p = 0.019), sleeping disturbance (p = 0.022), eating habit (p = 0.015), weight problems (p = 0.002), fear of familiar places (p = 0.004), recent memory loss (p = 0.034) and being easily irritable or angry (p = 0.0001), revealed a statistical significant association, respectively.ConclusionCOVID‐19 news and social distancing had made medical students more stressed and irritable, affecting their sleeping hours and pattern with a general tendency for weight gain and recent memory loss in stressful students.
Population Pharmacokinetic Modeling Combined With Machine Learning Approach Improved Tacrolimus Trough Concentration Prediction in Chinese Adult Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Li Zi‐ran , Li Rui‐dong , Niu Wan‐jie , Zheng Xin‐yi , Wang Zheng‐xin , Zhong Ming‐kang , Qiu Xiao‐yan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis study aimed to develop and evaluate a population pharmacokinetic (PPK) combined machine learning approach to predict tacrolimus trough concentrations for Chinese adult liver transplant recipients in the early posttransplant period. Tacrolimus trough concentrations were retrospectively collected from routine monitoring records of liver transplant recipients and divided into the training data set (1287 concentrations in 145 recipients) and the test data set (296 concentrations in 36 recipients). A PPK model was first established using NONMEM. Then a machine learning model of Xgboost was adapted to fit the estimated individual pharmacokinetic parameters obtained from the PPK model with Bayesian forecasting. The performance of the final PPK model and Xgboost model was compared in the test data set. In the final PPK model, tacrolimus daily dose, postoperative days, hematocrit, aspartate aminotransferase, and concomitant voriconazole, were identified to significantly influence the clearance. The postoperative days along with hematocrit significantly influence the volume of distribution. In the Xgboost model, the first 5 predictors for predicting the clearance were concomitant with voriconazole, sex, single nucleotide polymorphisms of CYP3A4*1G and CYP3A5*3 in recipients, and tacrolimus daily dose, for the volume of distribution were postoperative days, age, weight, total bilirubin and graft : recipient weight ratio. In the test data set, the Xgboost model showed the minimum median prediction error of tacrolimus concentrations, less than the PPK model with or without Bayesian forecasting. In conclusion, a PPK combined machine learning approach could improve the prediction of tacrolimus concentrations for Chinese adult liver transplant recipients in the early posttransplant period.
Nutrient losses over time via surface runoff and subsurface drainage from an agricultural field in northern Sweden
Authors: Norberg Lisbet , Linefur Helena , Andersson Stefan , Blomberg Maria , Kyllmar Katarina 
Published: September 2022

AbstractNitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) losses, via both surface runoff and subsurface drainage water, were monitored in an agricultural field in northern Sweden for 32 yr. The objective was to determine losses of N and P in a long‐term perspective in relation to meteorological factors and impacts of agricultural land use, with a focus on relative contributions of surface runoff and subsurface drainage water to N and P losses. In order to collect surface runoff water, an embankment was installed on three sides of the field, and the fourth side had an open ditch that drove runoff water to a measuring station. Subsurface water draining from the field was collected in a fishbone‐shaped drainage system that terminated at the measuring station. In 50% of years (16/32), mean annual concentration of total N (TN) was significantly higher in subsurface drainage water than in surface runoff water. An opposing trend was seen for total P (TP), with mean annual concentration being significantly higher in surface runoff water than in subsurface drainage water in all but 3 of the 32 yr monitored. Years with a barley crop had higher TN concentration in subsurface drainage water but no difference in surface runoff compared with years with ley. In contrast, years with barley had lower TN concentration in surface runoff than years with ley, with no difference in TP in subsurface drainage water.
The outbreak of SARS‐CoV‐2 Omicron lineages, immune escape, and vaccine effectivity
Authors: Zhou Yongbing , Zhi Huilin , Teng Yong 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAs of November 2021, several SARS‐CoV‐2 variants appeared and became dominant epidemic strains in many countries, including five variants of concern (VOCs) Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron defined by the World Health Organization during the COVID‐19 pandemic. As of August 2022, Omicron is classified into five main lineages, BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5 and some sublineages (BA.1.1, BA.2.12.1, BA.2.11, BA.2.75, BA.4.6) (https://www.gisaid.org/). Compared to the previous VOCs (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta), all the Omicron lineages have the most highly mutations in the spike protein, and with 50 mutations accumulated throughout the genome. Early data indicated that Omicron BA.2 sublineage had higher infectivity and more immune escape than the early wild‐type (WT) strain, the previous VOCs, and BA.1. Recently, global surveillance data suggest a higher transmissibility of BA.4/BA.5 than BA.1, BA.1.1 and BA.2, and BA.4/BA.5 is becoming dominant strain in many countries globally.
A novel algorithm to reduce bias and improve the quality and diversity of residency interviewees
Authors: Lau Chrystal O. , Johnson Adam B. , Nolder Abby R. , King Deanne , Strub Graham M. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectiveImprove the quality and diversity of candidates invited for the Otolaryngology‐Head and Neck Surgery residency match by reducing geographical and inter‐rater bias with a novel geographic distribution algorithm.MethodsInterview applicants were divided into geographic regions and assigned to reviewers. Each reviewer selected by force‐ranking a pre‐determined number of applicants to invite for interviews based on the percentage of applications received for each region. Our novel geographic distribution algorithm was then applied to maintain the geographic representation and underrepresented minority status of invited applicants to match the applicant pool.ResultsAnalysis of previous interview selection methods demonstrated a statistically significant overrepresentation of local applicants invited for interviews. In 2022, 324 domestic applications were received for the otolaryngology match, which were divided into six geographic regions. There was no significant difference in USMLE scores between regions. The implementation of our distribution algorithm during applicant selection eliminated local overrepresentation in the invited pool of applicants and maintained the representation of underrepresented minority applicants. Following the match, reviewers indicated that implementation of the geographic distribution algorithm was simple and improved the quality and diversity of the group of interviewed applicants.ConclusionTraditional methods of scoring and inviting otolaryngology residency applicants can be confounded by regional and inter‐rater biases. Employing a geographic distribution algorithm improves the quality and diversity of invited applicants, eliminates bias, and maintains the representation of underrepresented minority applicants.
Ergosterol increases 7‐dehydrocholesterol, a cholesterol precursor, and decreases cholesterol in human HepG2 cells
Authors: Kuwabara Naoko , Ohta‐Shimizu Miho , Fuwa Fumiko , Tomitsuka Eriko , Sato Shinji , Nakagawa Saori 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCurrent treatment approaches for hyperlipidemia rely mainly on reducing the cholesterol level by inhibiting 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA reductase (HMGCR), which is involved in the presqualene pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis. Finding a compound that instead targets the postsqualene pathway could aid in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and synergistically reduce the cholesterol level when used in conjunction with HMGCR inhibitors. Ergosterol is a fungal sterol that is converted to brassicasterol by 7‐dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7). DHCR7 is also a cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme, and thus ergosterol may cause the accumulation of 7‐dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of cholesterol and vitamin D3, by a competitive effect. In this study, we examined the effect of ergosterol on the postsqualene pathway by quantifying cholesterol precursors and related sterols using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and by conducting quantitative RT‐PCR and western blot analysis for human HepG2 hepatoma cells. We found that ergosterol is converted into brassicasterol by the action of DHCR7 from HepG2 cells and that it induced the accumulation of cholesterol precursors (lathosterol, 7‐dehydrocholesterol, and desmosterol) and decreased the cholesterol level by altering the mRNA and protein levels of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes (increase of sterol 8,7‐isomerase [EBP] and decrease of DHCR7 and 24‐dehydrocholesterol reductase [DHCR24]). These results demonstrate that ergosterol inhibits the postsqualene pathway and may be useful for the prevention of hyperlipidemia.
Glucocorticoids decrease thermogenic capacity and increase triacylglycerol synthesis by glycerokinase activation in the brown adipose tissue of rats
Authors: Assis Ana Paula , Silva Karine Emanuelle , Lautherbach Natalia , Morgan Henrique Jorge Novaes , Garófalo Maria Antonieta Rissato , Zanon Neusa Maria , Navegantes Luiz Carlos Carvalho , Chaves Valéria Ernestânia , Kettelhut Isis do Carmo 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAlthough it is well established that glucocorticoids inactivate thermogenesis and promote lipid accumulation in interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT), the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We found that dexamethasone treatment (1 mg/kg) for 7 days in rats decreased the IBAT thermogenic activity, evidenced by its lower responsiveness to noradrenaline injection associated with reduced content of mitochondrial proteins, respiratory chain protein complexes, noradrenaline, and the β3‐adrenergic receptor. In parallel, to understand better how dexamethasone increases IBAT lipid content, we also investigated the activity of the ATP citrate lyase (ACL), a key enzyme of de novo fatty acid synthesis, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a rate‐limiting enzyme of the pentose phosphate pathway, and the three glycerol‐3‐P generating pathways: (1) glycolysis, estimated by 2‐deoxyglucose uptake, (2) glyceroneogenesis, evaluated by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity and pyruvate incorporation into triacylglycerol‐glycerol, and (3) direct phosphorylation of glycerol, investigated by the content and activity of glycerokinase. Dexamethasone increased the mass and the lipid content of IBAT as well as plasma levels of glucose, insulin, non‐esterified fatty acid, and glycerol. Furthermore, dexamethasone increased ACL and G6PD activities (79% and 48%, respectively). Despite promoting a decrease in the incorporation of U‐[14C]‐glycerol into triacylglycerol (~54%), dexamethasone increased the content (~55%) and activity (~41%) of glycerokinase without affecting glucose uptake or glyceroneogenesis. Our data suggest that glucocorticoid administration reduces IBAT thermogenesis through sympathetic inactivation and stimulates glycerokinase activity and content, contributing to increased generation of glycerol‐3‐P, which is mostly used to esterify fatty acid and increase triacylglycerol content promoting IBAT whitening.
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network hepatocellular carcinoma classification: Alignment with Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System, current gaps, and future direction
Authors: Kierans Andrea S. , Chernyak Victoria , Mendiratta‐Lala Mishal , Sirlin Claude B. , Hecht Elizabeth M. , Fowler Kathryn J. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) updated its allocation policy for liver transplantation to align with the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LI‐RADS computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging algorithm had achieved congruency with the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) HCC Practice Guidance in 2018, and therefore, alignment of OPTN, LI‐RADS, and AASLD unifies HCC diagnostic approaches. The two changes to the OPTN HCC classification are adoption of LI‐RADS terminology or lexicon for HCC major imaging features as well as the modification of OPTN Class‐5A through the adoption of LI‐RADS‐5 criteria. However, despite this significant milestone, the OPTN allocation policy may benefit from further refinements such as adoption of treatment response assessment criteria after locoregional therapy and categorization criteria for lesions with atypical imaging appearances that are not specific for HCC. In this review, we detail the changes to the OPTN HCC classification to achieve alignment with LI‐RADS, discuss current limitations of the OPTN classification, and explore future directions.
Characterizing renewable energy compound events across Europe using a logistic regression‐based approach
Authors: Otero Noelia , Martius Olivia , Allen Sam , Bloomfield Hannah , Schaefli Bettina 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe transition towards decarbonized power systems requires accounting for the impacts of the climate variability and climate change on renewable energy sources. With the growing share of wind and solar power in the European power system and their strong weather dependence, balancing the energy demand and supply becomes a great challenge. We characterize energy compound events, defined as periods of simultaneous low renewable production of wind and solar power, and high electricity demand. Using a logistic regression approach, we examine the influence of meteorological and atmospheric drivers on energy compound events. Moreover, we assess the spatial coherence of energy compound events that pose a major challenge within an interconnected power grid, as they can affect multiple countries simultaneously. On average, European countries are exposed to winter energy compound events more than twice per year. The combination of extremely low temperatures and low wind speeds is associated with a higher probability of occurrence of energy compound events. Furthermore, we show that blocked weather regimes have a major influence on energy compound events. In particular, Greenland and European blocking lead to widespread energy compound events that affect multiple countries at the same time. Our results highlight the relevance of weather regimes resulting in synchronous spatial energy compound events, which might pose a greater risk within a potential fully interconnected European grid.
DHA and EPA Prevent Seizure and Depression‐Like Behavior by Inhibiting Ferroptosis and Neuroinflammation via Different Mode‐of‐Actions in a Pentylenetetrazole‐Induced Kindling Model in Mice
Authors: Wang Xueyan , Xiao Aiai , Yang Yueqi , Zhao Yingcai , Wang Cheng Cheng , Wang Yuming , Han Jun , Wang Zhengping , Wen Min 
Published: September 2022

ScopeIt has been reported that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have anticonvulsant effects, yet the respective mechanism of EPA and DHA on epilepsy is still unclarified. This study aims to investigate the effect of EPA and DHA on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced seizures and depression.Methods and resultsThe administration of EPA and DHA at a dose of 1% w/w significantly inhibits PTZ‐induced seizures and depressive‐like behavior, whereas EPA outcompetes DHA. Further mechanistic studies reveal that the higher effect of EPA can be partly attributed to the promotion of M2 polarization, inhibition of M1 polarization of microglia, and lower iron content in the brain, resulting from the stronger activation of nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2). This study finds that DHA and EPA comparably inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation but with different mode‐of‐actions: EPA prefers to inhibit the binding of NLRP3 and ASC, while DHA decreases the protein levels of ASC and Caspase‐1.ConclusionsThese results indicate that DHA and EPA can efficaciously alleviate PTZ‐induced seizure and depressive‐like behavior but with different efficiency and molecular mechanisms.
Studies on the EPR parameters and local angular distortion for the tetragonal Cu2+ center in CaWO4 crystal
Authors: Chen Baojin , Yao Linchao , Feng Cuidi , Zhang Huaming , Xiao Wenbo 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) parameters—g factors gi (i = || and ⊥) and hyperfine structure constants Ai (M) and Ai(N), with M and N belonging to isotopes 63Cu2+ and 65Cu2+—and local structure of Cu2+ ion occupying W6+ site in CaWO4 crystal are theoretically studied based on the perturbation formulas of these parameters for a 3d9 ion under tetragonally elongated tetrahedra. In these formulas, the ligand orbital (LO) and spin–orbit coupling (SOC) contributions are included due to the shorter impurity‐ligand distance R (≈1.83 Å) and hence the strong covalency of the studied [CuO4]6− cluster, and the related molecular orbital coefficients are quantitatively determined from the cluster approach in a uniform way; meanwhile, the required crystal field (CF) parameters for the tetragonally distorted tetrahedron (TDT) are estimated from the superposition model and the local structure of the impurity Cu2+ center. According to the calculation, the bond angle θ between the four equivalent Cu2+‐O2− bonds and the C4 axis in the CaWO4:Cu2+ is found to be about 2.1° smaller than that (θ0 ≈ 54.74°) for an ideal tetrahedron due to the Jahn–Teller (JT) effect and the size mismatch. The fitted results agree well with the observed values, and the validity of the present assignment for the local structure of the Cu2+ center is also discussed.
Motion compensated renal diffusion weighted imaging
Authors: McTavish Sean , Van Anh T. , Peeters Johannes M. , Weiss Kilian , Makowski Marcus R. , Braren Rickmer F. , Karampinos Dimitrios C. 
Published: September 2022

PurposeTo assess the effect of respiratory motion and cardiac driven pulsation in renal DWI and to examine asymmetrical velocity‐compensated diffusion encoding waveforms for robust ADC mapping in the kidneys.MethodsThe standard monopolar Stejskal‐Tanner pulsed gradient spin echo (pgse) and the asymmetric bipolar velocity‐compensated (asym‐vc) diffusion encoding waveforms were used for coronal renal DWI at 3T. The robustness of the ADC quantification in the kidneys was tested with the aforementioned waveforms in respiratory‐triggered and breath‐held cardiac‐triggered scans at different trigger delays in 10 healthy subjects.ResultsThe pgse waveform showed higher ADC values in the right kidney at short trigger delays in comparison to longer trigger delays in the respiratory triggered scans when the diffusion gradient was applied in the feet‐head (FH) direction. The coefficient of variation over all respiratory trigger delays, averaged over all subjects was 0.15 for the pgse waveform in the right kidney when diffusion was measured in the FH direction; the corresponding coefficient of variation for the asym‐vc waveform was 0.06. The effect of cardiac driven pulsation was found to be small in comparison to the effect of respiratory motion.ConclusionShort trigger delays in respiratory‐triggered scans can cause higher ADC values in comparison to longer trigger delays in renal DWI, especially in the right kidney when diffusion is measured in the FH direction. The asym‐vc waveform can reduce ADC variation due to respiratory motion in respiratory‐triggered scans at the cost of reduced SNR compared to the pgse waveform.
Navigating the maze of osteoarthritis treatment: A qualitative study exploring the experience of individuals with osteoarthritis in Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Sutton Laura , Jose Kim , Hansen Emily , Laslett Laura , Makin Jennifer , Winzenberg Tania , Balogun Saliu , Aitken Dawn 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectiveUsing a qualitative design this study aimed to (1) explore the experience of people living with osteoarthritis (OA), (2) gain an understanding of their navigation of the health system and, (3) explore their opinions on the role of exercise and joint replacement surgery for the management of OA.MethodsPurposive sampling was used to recruit 26 participants with knee OA, aged 45 years and over, from Tasmania, Australia. Semi‐structured interviews were audio‐recorded, transcribed, coded, and thematically analysed to document participant understanding and experience of OA and their opinions on the role of exercise and surgery in managing OA.ResultsOf the 26 participants, 80% (n = 21) were female with a mean age of 66 years. The main theme identified was that individuals with knee OA were navigating a maze of OA treatments. Three related subthemes were that participants: (i) perceived their general practitioner did not have an ongoing role in their OA care, (ii) self‐directed their management and, (iii) sampled from a ‘smorgasbord’ of treatment options, including low‐value care options. Two other major themes were: the role of exercise for OA management, and surgery as a last resort.ConclusionOur findings suggest that OA patients may not be choosing consistent, high‐value care for their OA. This highlights the importance of an evidence‐based multi‐disciplinary approach to guide patients to self‐manage their OA and support their navigation of the health system. Reducing emphasis on the pathway to surgery and streamlining access to conservative management strategies may assist people to receive high‐value care.