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  1. Fulltext Reading bots: The implication of deep learning on guided reading
    Huang B, Dou J, Zhao H
    Front Psychol, 2023;14:980523.
    PMID: 36814658 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.980523
    This study introduces the application of deep-learning technologies in automatically generating guidance for independent reading. The study explores and demonstrates how to incorporate the latest advances in deep-learning-based natural language processing technologies in the three reading stages, namely, the pre-reading stage, the while-reading stage, and the post-reading stage. As a result, the novel design and implementation of a prototype system based on deep learning technologies are presented. This system includes connections to prior knowledge with knowledge graphs and summary-based question generation, the breakdown of complex sentences with text simplification, and the auto-grading of readers' writing regarding their comprehension of the reading materials. Experiments on word sense disambiguation, named entity recognition and question generation with real-world materials in the prototype system show that the selected deep learning models on these tasks obtain favorable results, but there are still errors to be overcome before their direct usage in real-world applications. Based on the experiment results and the reported performance of the deep learning models on reading-related tasks, the study reveals the challenges and limitations of deep learning technologies, such as inadequate performance, domain transfer issues, and low explain ability, for future improvement.
  2. Insights into the Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction Mechanism on Two-Dimensional Transition-Metal Carbonitrides (MXene)
    Huang B, Zhou N, Chen X, Ong WJ, Li N
    Chemistry, 2018 Dec 10;24(69):18479-18486.
    PMID: 30381861 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201804686
    Developing highly active, non-noble-metal H2 -evolution catalysts is appealing yet still remains a great challenge in the field of electrocatalytic and photocatalytic H2 production. In this work, high quality transition-metal carbonitrides M3 CN (MXene) are investigated using well-defined density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The structural configurations, H-adsorption free energy (ΔGH ) and charge transfer for bare, surface-terminated and transition-metal (TM)-modified M3 CNO2 are systematically studied. The calculated results indicate that all bare transition metal carbonitrides exhibit strong binding between H atom and catalysts. In addition, only Ti3 CNO2 and Nb3 CNO2 have the potential to be HER active catalysts based on the ΔGH results. In an attempt to overcome poor HER activity limitations, we apply O as well as OH mixed groups and TMs modification on the Ti3 CNO2 surface for tuning HER activity, and a significant improvement of HER activity is observed. Overall, this work presents in-depth investigations for transition-metal carbonitrides (MXene) and opens up new designs for robust metal carbonitrides as noble-metal-free cocatalysts for highly efficient and low-cost MXene-based nanocomposites for water splitting applications.
  3. Perceptions of intimidation and bullying in dental schools: a multi-national study
    Rowland ML, Naidoo S, AbdulKadir R, Moraru R, Huang B, Pau A
    Int Dent J, 2010 Apr;60(2):106-12.
    PMID: 20476716
    OBJECTIVES: To determine first year dental students' perceptions of intimidation by instructors and bullying by fellow students.
    METHODS: Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of first year dental students from seven dental schools representing five countries; one each from Romania, South Africa, Australia and the U.S.A., and three from Malaysia. Self-report questionnaires were administered to participants at least six months after they had commenced their dental degree course during 2005-6.
    RESULTS: Over a third (34.6%) reported that they had been intimidated or badly treated by their tutors/instructors and 17% reported that they had been bullied or badly treated by their fellow students in the recent past. There were statistically significant differences in reports of intimidation by instructors between the different dental schools. Intimidation by instructors was associated with a history of medication use for stress, anxiety and depression, and perceived stress in the past month. There were no statistically significant variations in reports of bullying by fellow students between different dental schools. Bullying by fellow students was associated with dieting to lose weight, self-reported general health and perceived stress.
    CONCLUSIONS: This multi-national study highlights that intimidation and bullying is prevalent within dental teaching and training environments. Future research is needed to explore their impact on students' wellbeing and academic progress as well as on patient care.
    CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Dentists are the best recruiters for the profession. If the dental school experience is a negative one it can have significant impact on the future of the profession
  4. Fulltext Emotional intelligence and perceived stress in dental undergraduates: a multinational survey
    Pau A, Rowland ML, Naidoo S, AbdulKadir R, Makrynika E, Moraru R, et al.
    J Dent Educ, 2007 Feb;71(2):197-204.
    PMID: 17314380
    This multinational survey investigated the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and perceived stress (PS) in seven countries. First-year dental undergraduates attending a dental school in England, Greece, Romania, South Africa, Australia, and the United States and three schools in Malaysia were invited to complete a set of questionnaires on age, gender, academic background, satisfaction with career choice, EI, and PS. Of 860 questionnaires distributed, 596 were fully completed--a response rate of 69.3 percent. Mean EI score was 123.8 (95 percent CI 122.7-124.9), and mean PS score was 19.1 (95 percent CI 18.6-19.7). Significant differences in EI and PS scores were detected between different countries. Females (p<0.05), younger students (p<0.001), those without a previous higher education qualification (p<0.001), and those not satisfied with their decision to study dentistry (p<0.001) were more likely to report PS when compared to their counterparts. A significant inverse relationship (coefficient=-0.29, p=0.001) between EI and PS was detected. Independent significant predictors of PS identified were gender (beta=0.22, t=5.71, p=0.001), previous higher education qualification (beta=-0.14, t=-2.42, p=0.010), satisfaction with decision to study dentistry (beta=-0.20, t=-5.11, p=0.001), and EI (beta=-0.24, t=-6.09, p=0.001), with the latter being relatively the most important predictor. In conclusion, the inverse relationship between EI and PS has been confirmed in this heterogeneous sample representing diverse sociocultural and academic contexts of dental undergraduates.
  5. The status of diabetes control in Asia--a cross-sectional survey of 24 317 patients with diabetes mellitus in 1998
    Chuang LM, Tsai ST, Huang BY, Tai TY, Diabcare-Asia 1998 Study Group
    Diabet Med, 2002 Dec;19(12):978-85.
    PMID: 12647837 DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-5491.2002.00833.x
    AIMS: To establish the status of diabetes control in Asia, the Diabcare-Asia 198 study collected data from 230 diabetes centres in Bangladesh, People's Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam from March to December 1998.

    METHODS: Data were obtained either by patient interview during the enrolment visit or by reviewing medical records for the most recent laboratory assessment and clinical examinations. Blood samples were also collected during patients'. visits for central assessments of HbA1c (normal range 4.7-6.4%).

    RESULTS: The mean of centrally measured HbA1c was 8.6 +/- 2.0% for 18 211 patients (82% of the analysis population). Of the patients with central HbA1c measurements, the majority (55%) had values exceeding 8%, indicative of poor glycaemic control. The prevalence of retinopathy, microalbuminuria and neuropathy was also higher in the group of patients with higher HbA1c. Based on the findings from central HbA1c measurements and reported local HbA1c assessments, it also appears that more patients with poor glycaemic control did not have access to glycated haemoglobin measurements. Mean HbA1c of thediabetic populations in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia and Taiwan were significantly lower (all P = 0.0001, except P = 0.0007 for Malaysia), while that of China, India, Philippines and Vietnam was significantly higher (all P = 0.0001) than the grand mean.

    CONCLUSIONS: In our study population of the Asian diabetes patients treated at diabetes centres, more than half were not well controlled. The prevalence of diabetic microvascular complications was higher in the group of patients with higher HbA1c. Further therapeutic actions to improve glycaemic control are required to prevent chronic diabetic complications.
  6. Fulltext Complete Genome Sequence of a Highly Divergent Dengue Virus Type 2 Strain, Imported into Australia from Sabah, Malaysia
    Pyke AT, Huang B, Warrilow D, Moore PR, McMahon J, Harrower B
    Genome Announc, 2017 Jul 20;5(29).
    PMID: 28729258 DOI: 10.1128/genomeA.00546-17
    In 2015, a female patient returning to Australia from Sabah, Malaysia, was diagnosed with a suspected sylvatic dengue virus type 2 (DENV-2) infection, becoming the second case of imported highly divergent dengue virus infection recorded in Australia. We describe here the complete genome sequencing of the DENV-2 strain isolated from this patient.
  7. The chloroplast-associated protein degradation pathway controls chromoplast development and fruit ripening in tomato
    Ling Q, Sadali NM, Soufi Z, Zhou Y, Huang B, Zeng Y, et al.
    Nat Plants, 2021 05;7(5):655-666.
    PMID: 34007040 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-00916-y
    The maturation of green fleshy fruit to become colourful and flavoursome is an important strategy for plant reproduction and dispersal. In tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and many other species, fruit ripening is intimately linked to the biogenesis of chromoplasts, the plastids that are abundant in ripe fruit and specialized for the accumulation of carotenoid pigments. Chromoplasts develop from pre-existing chloroplasts in the fruit, but the mechanisms underlying this transition are poorly understood. Here, we reveal a role for the chloroplast-associated protein degradation (CHLORAD) proteolytic pathway in chromoplast differentiation. Knockdown of the plastid ubiquitin E3 ligase SP1, or its homologue SPL2, delays tomato fruit ripening, whereas overexpression of SP1 accelerates ripening, as judged by colour changes. We demonstrate that SP1 triggers broader effects on fruit ripening, including fruit softening, and gene expression and metabolism changes, by promoting the chloroplast-to-chromoplast transition. Moreover, we show that tomato SP1 and SPL2 regulate leaf senescence, revealing conserved functions of CHLORAD in plants. We conclude that SP1 homologues control plastid transitions during fruit ripening and leaf senescence by enabling reconfiguration of the plastid protein import machinery to effect proteome reorganization. The work highlights the critical role of chromoplasts in fruit ripening, and provides a theoretical basis for engineering crop improvements.
  8. Fulltext Cross-regional analysis of the association between human mobility and COVID-19 infection in Southeast Asia during the transitional period of "living with COVID-19"
    Luo W, Zhou Y, Liu Z, Kang W, He S, Zhu R, et al.
    Health Place, 2023 Mar 13;81:103000.
    PMID: 37011444 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2023.103000
    BACKGROUND: In response to COVID-19, Southeast Asian (SEA) countries had imposed stringent lockdowns and restrictions to mitigate the pandemic ever since 2019. Because of a gradually boosting vaccination rate along with a strong demand for economic recovery, many governments have shifted the intervention strategy from restrictions to "Living with COVID-19" where people gradually resumed their normal activities since the second half of the year 2021. Noticeably, timelines for enacting the loosened strategy varied across Southeast Asian countries, which resulted in different patterns of human mobility across space and time. This thus presents an opportunity to study the relationship between mobility and the number of infection cases across regions, which could provide support for ongoing interventions in terms of effectiveness.

    OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the association between human mobility and COVID-19 infections across space and time during the transition period of shifting strategies from restrictions to normal living in Southeast Asia. Our research results have significant implications for evidence-based policymaking at the present of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health issues.

    METHODS: We aggregated weekly average human mobility data derived from the Facebook origin and destination Movement dataset. and weekly average new cases of COVID-19 at the district level from 01-Jun-2021 to 26-Dec-2021 (a total of 30 weeks). We mapped the spatiotemporal dynamics of human mobility and COVID-19 cases across countries in SEA. We further adopted the Geographically and Temporally Weighted Regression model to identify the spatiotemporal variations of the association between human mobility and COVID-19 infections over 30 weeks. Our model also controls for socioeconomic status, vaccination, and stringency of intervention to better identify the impact of human mobility on COVID-19 spread.

    RESULTS: The percentage of districts that presented a statistically significant association between human mobility and COVID-19 infections generally decreased from 96.15% in week 1 to 90.38% in week 30, indicating a gradual disconnection between human mobility and COVID-19 spread. Over the study period, the average coefficients in 7 SEA countries increased, decreased, and finally kept stable. The association between human mobility and COVID-19 spread also presents spatial heterogeneity where higher coefficients were mainly concentrated in districts of Indonesia from week 1 to week 10 (ranging from 0.336 to 0.826), while lower coefficients were mainly located in districts of Vietnam (ranging from 0.044 to 0.130). From week 10 to week 25, higher coefficients were mainly observed in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, north Indonesia, and several districts of the Philippines. Despite the association showing a general weakening trend over time, significant positive coefficients were observed in Singapore, Malaysia, western Indonesia, and the Philippines, with the relatively highest coefficients observed in the Philippines in week 30 (ranging from 0.101 to 0.139).

    CONCLUSIONS: The loosening interventions in response to COVID-19 in SEA countries during the second half of 2021 led to diverse changes in human mobility over time, which may result in the COVID-19 infection dynamics. This study investigated the association between mobility and infections at the regional level during the special transitional period. Our study has important implications for public policy interventions, especially at the later stage of a public health crisis.

  9. Publisher Correction: The chloroplast-associated protein degradation pathway controls chromoplast development and fruit ripening in tomato
    Ling Q, Sadali NM, Soufi Z, Zhou Y, Huang B, Zeng Y, et al.
    Nat Plants, 2021 Oct;7(10):1433.
    PMID: 34646008 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-021-01018-5
  10. Insights into sequence characteristics and evolutionary history of DGATs in arthropods
    Wei M, Yi P, Huang B, Naz S, Ge C, Shu-Chien AC, et al.
    Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics, 2024 Mar;49:101195.
    PMID: 38266530 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101195
    Triacylglycerol (TAG) is crucial in animal energy storage and membrane biogenesis. The conversion of diacylglycerol (DAG) to triacylglycerol (TAG) is catalyzed by diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzymes (DGATs), which are encoded by genes belonging to two distinct gene families. Although arthropods are known to possess DGATs activities and utilize the glycerol-3-phosphate pathway and MAG pathway for TAG biosynthesis, the sequence characterization and evolutionary history of DGATs in arthropods remains unclear. This study aimed to comparatively evaluate genomic analyses of DGATs in 13 arthropod species and 14 outgroup species. We found that arthropods lack SOAT2 genes within the DGAT1 family, while DGAT2, MOGAT3, AWAT1, and AWAT2 were absent from in DGAT2 family. Gene structure and phylogenetic analyses revealed that DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes come from different gene families. The expression patterns of these genes were further analyzed in crustaceans, demonstrating the importance of DGAT1 in TAG biosynthesis. Additionally, we identified the DGAT1 gene in Swimming crab (P. trituberculatus) undergoes a mutually exclusive alternative splicing event in the molt stages. Our newly determined DGAT inventory data provide a more complete scenario and insights into the evolutionary dynamics and functional diversification of DGATs in arthropods.
  11. Extracellular vesicle-transmitted miR-671-5p alleviates lung inflammation and injury by regulating the AAK1/NF-κB axis
    Lian J, Zhu X, Du J, Huang B, Zhao F, Ma C, et al.
    Mol Ther, 2023 May 03;31(5):1365-1382.
    PMID: 36733250 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.01.025
    Mesenchymal stem cells regulate remote intercellular signaling communication via their secreted extracellular vesicles. Here, we report that menstrual blood-derived stem cells alleviate acute lung inflammation and injury via their extracellular vesicle-transmitted miR-671-5p. Disruption of this abundantly expressed miR-671-5p dramatically reduced the ameliorative effect of extracellular vesicles released by menstrual blood-derived stem cells on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced pulmonary inflammatory injury. Mechanistically, miR-671-5p directly targets the kinase AAK1 for post-transcriptional degradation. AAK1 is found to positively regulate the activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling by controlling the stability of the inhibitory protein IκBα. This study identifies a potential molecular basis of how extracellular vesicles derived from mesenchymal stem cells improve pulmonary inflammatory injury and highlights the functional importance of the miR-671-5p/AAK1 axis in the progression of pulmonary inflammatory diseases. More importantly, this study provides a promising cell-based approach for the treatment of pulmonary inflammatory disorders through an extracellular vesicle-dependent pathway.
  12. Fulltext Opportunity for marine fisheries reform in China
    Cao L, Chen Y, Dong S, Hanson A, Huang B, Leadbitter D, et al.
    Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A, 2017 01 17;114(3):435-442.
    PMID: 28096504 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1616583114
    China's 13th Five-Year Plan, launched in March 2016, provides a sound policy platform for the protection of marine ecosystems and the restoration of capture fisheries within China's exclusive economic zone. What distinguishes China among many other countries striving for marine fisheries reform is its size-accounting for almost one-fifth of global catch volume-and the unique cultural context of its economic and resource management. In this paper, we trace the history of Chinese government priorities, policies, and outcomes related to marine fisheries since the 1978 Economic Reform, and examine how the current leadership's agenda for "ecological civilization" could successfully transform marine resource management in the coming years. We show how China, like many other countries, has experienced a decline in the average trophic level of its capture fisheries during the past few decades, and how its policy design, implementation, and enforcement have influenced the status of its wild fish stocks. To reverse the trend in declining fish stocks, the government is introducing a series of new programs for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, with greater traceability and accountability in marine resource management and area controls on coastal development. As impressive as these new plans are on paper, we conclude that serious institutional reforms will be needed to achieve a true paradigm shift in marine fisheries management in China. In particular, we recommend new institutions for science-based fisheries management, secure fishing access, policy consistency across provinces, educational programs for fisheries managers, and increasing public access to scientific data.
  13. Fulltext International Consensus for the Dosing of Corticosteroids in Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Proliferative Lupus Nephritis
    Chalhoub NE, Wenderfer SE, Levy DM, Rouster-Stevens K, Aggarwal A, Savani SI, et al.
    Arthritis Rheumatol, 2022 Feb;74(2):263-273.
    PMID: 34279063 DOI: 10.1002/art.41930
    OBJECTIVE: To develop a standardized steroid dosing regimen (SSR) for physicians treating childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) complicated by lupus nephritis (LN), using consensus formation methodology.

    METHODS: Parameters influencing corticosteroid (CS) dosing were identified (step 1). Data from children with proliferative LN were used to generate patient profiles (step 2). Physicians rated changes in renal and extrarenal childhood-onset SLE activity between 2 consecutive visits and proposed CS dosing (step 3). The SSR was developed using patient profile ratings (step 4), with refinements achieved in a physician focus group (step 5). A second type of patient profile describing the course of childhood-onset SLE for ≥4 months since kidney biopsy was rated to validate the SSR-recommended oral and intravenous (IV) CS dosages (step 6). Patient profile adjudication was based on majority ratings for both renal and extrarenal disease courses, and consensus level was set at 80%.

    RESULTS: Degree of proteinuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate, changes in renal and extrarenal disease activity, and time since kidney biopsy influenced CS dosing (steps 1 and 2). Considering these parameters in 5,056 patient profile ratings from 103 raters, and renal and extrarenal course definitions, CS dosing rules of the SSR were developed (steps 3-5). Validation of the SSR for up to 6 months post-kidney biopsy was achieved with 1,838 patient profile ratings from 60 raters who achieved consensus for oral and IV CS dosage in accordance with the SSR (step 6).

    CONCLUSION: The SSR represents an international consensus on CS dosing for use in patients with childhood-onset SLE and proliferative LN. The SSR is anticipated to be used for clinical care and to standardize CS dosage during clinical trials.

  14. Erratum to "The histology of ovarian cancer: Worldwide distribution and implications for international survival comparisons (CONCORD-2)" [Gynecol. Oncol. 144 (2017) 405-413]
    Matz M, Coleman MP, Sant M, Chirlaque MD, Visser O, Gore M, et al.
    Gynecol Oncol, 2017 Jul 05.
    PMID: 28687170 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2017.06.032
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