bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of a postural cueing for head and neck posture on lumbar lordosis angles in healthy young and older adults: a preliminary study
Authors: Zhai Meiling , Huang Yongchao , Zhou Shi , Feng Jiayun , Pei Chaolei , Wen Li 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Postural rehabilitation plays an important role in the treatment of non-specific low back pain. Although pelvic inclination has been widely used to improve lumbar lordosis, the effect of cervical anterior inclination on lumbar lordosis in young and older adults in sitting and standing posture is still unclear. This preliminary study was designed to examine the influence of changing the cervical anterior angle on the lumbar lordosis angle, through alterations of the head position under the natural sitting and standing conditions, aiming to provide a basis for establishing a new postural rehabilitation strategy.

Methods
Thirty-six young (24.0 ± 2.2 years, 14 females and 22 males) and 38 older (68.4 ± 5.9 years, 36 females and 2 males) healthy adults participated in this study. The four spinal regional angles—cervical anterior angle, thoracic kyphosis angle, lumbar lordosis angle, and pelvic forward inclination angle, were measured in standing and relaxed sitting postures to determine the effects of a postural cueing for the head and neck posture, “inclining head backward and performing chin tuck,” on lumbar lordosis angle.

Results
In the standing posture, the pelvic forward inclination angle in the older adult group was significantly smaller (P < 0.001, by ANOVA) than that in the young adult group and increased significantly (P < 0.001) in response to the postural cueing. In addition, the thoracic kyphosis angle in the standing (P = 0.001) and sitting (P = 0.003) positions was significantly reduced in response to the postural cueing. However, the lumbar lordosis angle in response to the postural cueing increased significantly in both the standing position (P < 0.001) and sitting position (P < 0.001).

Conclusion
The results suggest that increasing the cervical anterior angle can increase the lumbar lordosis angle, and the cervical anterior inclination can be used as an alternative to pelvic forward inclination to improve the lumbar lordosis angle. Furthermore, the change in head and neck posture can reduce the thoracic kyphosis angle, making it possible to establish a new noninvasive body posture rehabilitation strategy.
DIVIS: a semantic DIstance to improve the VISualisation of heterogeneous phenotypic datasets
Authors: Eid Rayan , Landès Claudine , Pernet Alix , Benoît Emmanuel , Santagostini Pierre , Ghaziri Angelina El , Bourbeillon Julie 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Thanks to the wider spread of high-throughput experimental techniques, biologists are accumulating large amounts of datasets which often mix quantitative and qualitative variables and are not always complete, in particular when they regard phenotypic traits. In order to get a first insight into these datasets and reduce the data matrices size scientists often rely on multivariate analysis techniques. However such approaches are not always easily practicable in particular when faced with mixed datasets. Moreover displaying large numbers of individuals leads to cluttered visualisations which are difficult to interpret.

Results
We introduced a new methodology to overcome these limits. Its main feature is a new semantic distance tailored for both quantitative and qualitative variables which allows for a realistic representation of the relationships between individuals (phenotypic descriptions in our case). This semantic distance is based on ontologies which are engineered to represent real-life knowledge regarding the underlying variables. For easier handling by biologists, we incorporated its use into a complete tool, from raw data file to visualisation. Following the distance calculation, the next steps performed by the tool consist in (i) grouping similar individuals, (ii) representing each group by emblematic individuals we call archetypes and (iii) building sparse visualisations based on these archetypes. Our approach was implemented as a Python pipeline and applied to a rosebush dataset including passport and phenotypic data.

Conclusions
The introduction of our new semantic distance and of the archetype concept allowed us to build a comprehensive representation of an incomplete dataset characterised by a large proportion of qualitative data. The methodology described here could have wider use beyond information characterizing organisms or species and beyond plant science. Indeed we could apply the same approach to any mixed dataset.
Recruitment of young adult cancer survivors into a randomized controlled trial of an mHealth physical activity intervention
Authors: Valle Carmina G. , Camp Lindsey N. , Diamond Molly , Nezami Brooke T. , LaRose Jessica Gokee , Pinto Bernardine M. , Tate Deborah F. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Few studies have recruited young adult cancer survivors (YACS) from around the USA into remotely-delivered behavioral clinical trials. This study describes recruitment strategies used in the IMproving Physical Activity after Cancer Treatment (IMPACT) study, a 12-month randomized controlled trial of a mobile physical activity intervention for YACS.

Methods
We conducted formative work to guide development of recruitment messages and used a variety of methods and channels to recruit posttreatment YACS (diagnosed ages 18–39, participating in < 150 min/week of moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity). We used targeted social media advertisements, direct mailings, clinical referrals, and phone calls to potentially eligible individuals identified through local tumor registries. We also asked community organizations to share study information and advertized at a national conference for YACS.

Results
The final sample of 280 participants (23% identified as racial/ethnic minority individuals, 18% male, mean 33.4 ± 4.8 years) was recruited over a 14-month period. About 38% of those who completed initial screening online (n = 684) or via telephone (n = 63) were randomized. The top recruitment approach was unpaid social media, primarily via Facebook posts by organizations/friends (45%), while direct mail yielded 40.7% of participants. Other social media (paid advertisements, Twitter), email, clinic referrals, and conference advertisements each yielded 3% or fewer participants. The most cost-effective methods per participant recruited were unpaid social media posts and direct mailings.

Conclusions
The IMPACT trial successfully met enrollment goals using a national strategy to recruit physically inactive YACS. Our approaches can inform recruitment planning for other remotely-delivered intervention trials enrolling YACS.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.govNCT03569605. Registered on 26 June 2018.
The use of standardized Brazilian green propolis extract (EPP-AF) as an adjunct treatment for hospitalized COVID-19 patients (BeeCovid2): a structured summary of a study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Silveira Marcelo Augusto Duarte , de Souza Sergio Pinto , dos Santos Galvão Erica Batista , Teixeira Maurício Brito , Gomes Marcel Miranda Dantas , Damiani Lucas Petri , Bahiense Bruno Andrade , Cabral Julia Barros , De Oliveira Cicero Wandson Luiz Macedo , Mascarenhas Talita Rocha , Pinheiro Priscila Carvalho Guedes , Alves Milena Souza , de Melo Rodrigo Morel Vieira , Berretta Andresa Aparecida , Leite Flávia Mendes , Nonaka Carolina Kymie Vasques , de Freitas Souza Bruno Solano , Mendes Ana Verena Almeida , da Guarda Suzete Farias , da Hora Passos Rogério 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
The 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread and affects large numbers of people with unprecedented impacts. Experimental evidence has already been obtained for use of the standardized extract of Brazilian green propolis (EPP-AF) against viral targets, and clinical rationality has been demonstrated for testing this extract as an adjunct to treatment in patients affected by COVID-19. The BeeCovid2 study aims to assess whether EPP-AF has an impact on the improvement of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 by reducing the length of hospital stay.

Methods
BeeCovid2 is a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical study being conducted in Brazil to provide further evidence on the effectiveness of standardized green propolis extract as an adjunctive treatment for adults hospitalized with COVID-19. Hospitalized patients over 18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and up to 14 days of symptoms were included. Patients under mechanical ventilation at randomization, pregnant women, cancer patients, transplanted or using immunosuppression, HIV patients, patients who used propolis in the last 30 days, bacterial or fungal infection at randomization, impossibility of using medication orally or enterally, and advanced chronic diseases (e.g., advanced heart failure, severe liver disease, and end-stage chronic kidney disease). Enrolled patients are randomized at a 1:1 ratio to receive placebo or standardized propolis extract (900 mg/day) for 10 days. The study treatments are administered in a double-blinded manner, and patients are followed for 28 days. The primary outcome is the difference in length of hospital stay in days between groups. Secondary outcomes include the need for mechanical ventilation, the rate of secondary infection, rate of acute kidney injury, the need for renal replacement therapy, the requirement for vasoactive drugs, the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), and the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).

Discussion
This trial is very useful and will provide more data on the effectiveness of using the standardized Brazilian green propolis extract as an adjunctive treatment in association with standard care in adults hospitalized with moderate to severe acute COVID-19.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04800224. Registered on March 16, 2021.
Regulatory effects of a novel cysteine protease inhibitor in Baylisascaris schroederi migratory larvae on mice immune cells
Authors: Xu Jing-Yun , Gu XiaoBin , Xie Yue , He Ran , Xu Jing , Xiong Lang , Peng XueRong , Yang GuangYou 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is a well-known, rare and endangered species. Baylisascaris schroederi is a pathogenic ascarid. Infection with B. schroederi may cause death in giant pandas. At present, the immune evasion mechanism of B. schroederi is little known. Cysteine protease inhibitors (CPI) play important roles in the regulation of host immune responses against certain nematodes. In this study, we focused on the analysis of the regulation of B. schroederi migratory larvae CPI (rBsCPI-1) on mice immune cells.

Methods
First, the pattern recognition receptors on the surface of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the signal pathways that transduce extracellular signals into the nucleus activated by rBsCPI-1 were identified. Then, the regulatory effects of rBsCPI-1 on PBMCs physiological activities were detected. Finally, the effects of rBsCPI-1 on TLR signaling pathway activation and NF-κB phosphorylation in mice immunized with recombinant protein were analysed.

Results
The results suggested that rBsCPI-1 secreted by B. schroederi migratory larvae is mainly recognized by TLR2 and TLR4 on PBMCs. Extracellular signals are transduced into the nucleus through the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, enhancing the phagocytosis, migration, and apoptosis of PBMCs; meanwhile, rBsCPI-1 induces high expression of NO. Thus, rBsCPI-1 plays a role in immune regulation. In addition, the high expression of negative regulatory factors also ensured that TLR activation is maintained at the optimal level.

Conclusions
rBsCPI-1 can transduce regulatory signals into immune cells by activating the TLR2/4-NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway, having a certain regulatory effect on the physiological activities. Meanwhile, rBsCPI-1 can maintain the immune response in a balance by limiting the over-activation of the TLRs signaling pathway and thus contributes to B. schroederi immune evasion.

Graphical Abstract
Clinical implementation of RNA sequencing for Mendelian disease diagnostics
Authors: Yépez Vicente A. , Gusic Mirjana , Kopajtich Robert , Mertes Christian , Smith Nicholas H. , Alston Charlotte L. , Ban Rui , Beblo Skadi , Berutti Riccardo , Blessing Holger , Ciara Elżbieta , Distelmaier Felix , Freisinger Peter , Häberle Johannes , Hayflick Susan J. , Hempel Maja , Itkis Yulia S. , Kishita Yoshihito , Klopstock Thomas , Krylova Tatiana D. , Lamperti Costanza , Lenz Dominic , Makowski Christine , Mosegaard Signe , Müller Michaela F. , Muñoz-Pujol Gerard , Nadel Agnieszka , Ohtake Akira , Okazaki Yasushi , Procopio Elena , Schwarzmayr Thomas , Smet Joél , Staufner Christian , Stenton Sarah L. , Strom Tim M. , Terrile Caterina , Tort Frederic , Van Coster Rudy , Vanlander Arnaud , Wagner Matias , Xu Manting , Fang Fang , Ghezzi Daniele , Mayr Johannes A. , Piekutowska-Abramczuk Dorota , Ribes Antonia , Rötig Agnès , Taylor Robert W. , Wortmann Saskia B. , Murayama Kei , Meitinger Thomas , Gagneur Julien , Prokisch Holger 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Lack of functional evidence hampers variant interpretation, leaving a large proportion of individuals with a suspected Mendelian disorder without genetic diagnosis after whole genome or whole exome sequencing (WES). Research studies advocate to further sequence transcriptomes to directly and systematically probe gene expression defects. However, collection of additional biopsies and establishment of lab workflows, analytical pipelines, and defined concepts in clinical interpretation of aberrant gene expression are still needed for adopting RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in routine diagnostics.

Methods
We implemented an automated RNA-seq protocol and a computational workflow with which we analyzed skin fibroblasts of 303 individuals with a suspected mitochondrial disease that previously underwent WES. We also assessed through simulations how aberrant expression and mono-allelic expression tests depend on RNA-seq coverage.

Results
We detected on average 12,500 genes per sample including around 60% of all disease genes—a coverage substantially higher than with whole blood, supporting the use of skin biopsies. We prioritized genes demonstrating aberrant expression, aberrant splicing, or mono-allelic expression. The pipeline required less than 1 week from sample preparation to result reporting and provided a median of eight disease-associated genes per patient for inspection. A genetic diagnosis was established for 16% of the 205 WES-inconclusive cases. Detection of aberrant expression was a major contributor to diagnosis including instances of 50% reduction, which, together with mono-allelic expression, allowed for the diagnosis of dominant disorders caused by haploinsufficiency. Moreover, calling aberrant splicing and variants from RNA-seq data enabled detecting and validating splice-disrupting variants, of which the majority fell outside WES-covered regions.

Conclusion
Together, these results show that streamlined experimental and computational processes can accelerate the implementation of RNA-seq in routine diagnostics.
Functional characterization of goose IRF1 in IFN induction and anti-NDV infection
Authors: Lin Zhenyu , Wang Jie , Zhang Nian , Yi Jianshu , Wang Zhaofei , Ma Jingjiao , Wang Hengan , Yan Yaxian , Qian Kun , Sun Jianhe , Cheng Yuqiang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractInterferon regulatory factors (IRFs) play a key role in many aspects of immune response, and IRF1, IRF3, and IRF7 are positive regulators of IFN induction in mammals. However, IRF3, as the most critical regulatory factor in mammals, is naturally absent in birds, which attracts us to study the functions of other members of the avian IRF family. In the present study, we cloned goose IRF1 (GoIRF1) and conducted a series of bioinformatics analyses to compare the protein homology of GoIRF1 with that of IRF1 in other species. The overexpression of GoIRF1 in DF-1 cells induced the activation of IFN-β, and this activation is independent of the dosage of the transfected GoIRF1 plasmids. The overexpression of GoIRF1 in goose embryonic fibroblasts (GEFs) induced the expression of IFNs, proinflammatory cytokines, and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs); it also inhibited the replication of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged Newcastle disease virus (NDV) (NDV-GFP) and GFP-tagged vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) (VSV-GFP). Our results suggest that GoIRF1 is an important regulator of IFNs, proinflammatory cytokines, and ISGs and plays a role in antiviral innate immunity in geese.
The Irish cattle population structured by enterprise type: overview, trade & trends
Authors: Brock Jonas , Lange Martin , Tratalos Jamie A. , Meunier Natascha , Guelbenzu-Gonzalo Maria , More Simon J. , Thulke Hans-Hermann , Graham David A. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
The cattle sector is the most important economic production unit of the Irish farming and agri-food sector. Despite its relevance, there has been limited quantitative information about the structure of differing cattle production types and of the connections between them. This paper addresses this gap by providing, for the first time, an overview of the Irish cattle population structured by enterprise type.

Methods & Results
We collected data from the cattle register for the period 2015 to 2019 and assigned registered herds to one of 18 different herd types using a recently published herd type classification approach. This allows, for the first time, to exploring changes in enterprise types and subtypes over time, and describing the movements between these subtypes and from these subtypes to slaughter.

Conclusions
The overview and associated classification presented in this study will form the basis for a number of future comparative studies, including cross-sectoral assessments of profitability, estimation of the extent of animal health losses on Irish cattle farms or structural analysis of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions across production systems.
Mapping evidence on the risk factors associated with pediatric cancers in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review
Authors: Ndlovu Sehlisiwe , Hlongwa Mbuzeleni , Ginindza Themba 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
The rarity and heterogeneity of pediatric cancers make it difficult to assess risk factors associated with the development of cancer in this group. This also determines the quantity and quality of evidence for etiological factors linked to pediatric cancers. Evidence on the risk factors associated with pediatric cancers is scarce; however, it has been accumulating slowly over the years. As the disease burden shifts from communicable to non-communicable diseases, most of these low- to middle-income countries (LMICs) find themselves overburdened with changing health care priorities and needs. In sub-Saharan Africa, it is of major importance to pay particular attention to risk factors associated with pediatric cancer.

Objective
To map evidence on risk factors associated with pediatric cancers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

Methods
This review was guided by Arksey and O’Malley’s framework for conducting scoping reviews. Four electronic databases were searched in December 2018, and another manual search was conducted in February 2022 to include newly published eligible articles. The databases searched included PubMed and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. We also searched articles from an academic search engine, Google scholar. This review included articles reporting the relevant outcomes of this study and articles reporting cancers in children in the 0–15 years age range. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): checklist and explanation.

Results
We retrieved 7391 articles from the initial database. The final number of studies that were included for data extraction was 15. Evidence from the retrieved studies suggests that most childhood cancers in the SSA region are infection-induced. The type of cancer mostly reported is Burkitt Lymphoma and is diagnosed mostly in the tropical region of SSA. The type of risk factors was divided into three types: infection-induced, genetic, and demographic risk factors. Overall, based on the articles retrieved, there was limited evidence on the risk factors associated with pediatric cancers in SSA.

Conclusion
The limited evidence on the risk factors coupled with the lack of evidence on the true burden of these malignancies in the SSA hampers efforts to set priorities for childhood cancer control. Formulation of effective preventative (where possible) measures and treatment regimens will need proper assessment of risk factors.
On the critical behavior for time-fractional pseudo-parabolic-type equations with combined nonlinearities
Authors: Bin Sultan Areej , Jleli Mohamed , Samet Bessem , Vetro Calogero 
Published: April 2022

AbstractWe are concerned with the existence and nonexistence of global weak solutions for a certain class of time-fractional inhomogeneous pseudo-parabolic-type equations involving a nonlinearity of the form $|u|^{p}+\iota |\nabla u|^{q}$

|
u
|

p

+
ι

|
∇
u
|

q

, where $p,q>1$
p
,
q
>
1
, and $\iota \geq 0$
ι
≥
0
is a constant. The cases $\iota =0$
ι
=
0
and $\iota >0$
ι
>
0
are discussed separately. For each case, the critical exponent in the Fujita sense is obtained. We point out two interesting phenomena. First, the obtained critical exponents are independent of the fractional orders of the time derivative. Secondly, in the case $\iota >0$
ι
>
0
, we show that the gradient term induces a discontinuity phenomenon of the critical exponent.
A hydrotrope pretreatment for stabilized lignin extraction and high titer ethanol production
Authors: Ji Hairui , Wang Le , Tao Furong , Yao Zhipeng , Li Xuezhi , Dong Cuihua , Pang Zhiqiang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe biomass pretreatment strategies using organic acids facilitate lignin removal and enhance the enzymatic digestion of cellulose. However, lignin always suffers a severe and irreversible condensation. The newly generated C–C bonds dramatically affect its further upgrading. In this study, we used a recyclable hydrotrope (p-Toluenessulfonic acid, p-TsOH) to dissolve lignin under mild condition and stabilized lignin with a quenching agent (formaldehyde, FA) during extraction, achieving both value-added lignin extraction and efficient enzymatic saccharification of cellulose. Approximately 63.7% of lignin was dissolved by 80% (wt. %) p-TsOH with 1.5% FA addition at 80 °C, 30 min. The obtained lignin was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, TGA, 2D HSQC NMR spectroscopy, and GPC. The results indicated that the extracted lignin exhibited excellent properties, such as light color, a low molecular weight (Mw, 5371 g/mol), and a narrow polydispersity (Mw/Mn, 1.63). The pretreated substrate was converted to ethanol via a quasi-simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process (Q-SSF). After fermentation of 60 h, the ethanol concentration reached 38.7 ± 3.3 g/L which was equivalent to a theoretical ethanol yield of 82.9 ± 2.2% based on the glucan content, while the residual glucose concentration was only 4.69 ± 1.4 g/L. In short, this pretreatment strategy protected lignin to form new C–C linkages and improved the enzymatic saccharification of glucan for high-titer ethanol production.
Graphical Abstract