bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of foot skeletal structure by 3D foot scanner on smartphone
Authors: Yamashita Tomoko , Yamashita Kazuhiko , Sato Mitsuru , Ryotokuji Takeshi , Kawasumi Masashi , Takase Yoshimasa , Hara Shinsuke
Published: September 2020

Background: The influence of foot skeletal structure on hallux valgus (HV) is poorly understood, so its detailed understanding at an early stage is required for prevention. In this study, a system using a 3D foot scanner on smartphone was developed for the purpose of clarifying relationships between skeletal features and the degree of HV risk.Methods: This system analyzes the foot skeletal structure by sending 2D video images recorded on smartphone to a computer or cloud server, where the 3D foot skeleton model is constructed by the 2D images. This system was developed to identify 10 skeletal features that are expected to be associated with hallux valgus. The participants comprised 419 individuals (40–89 years), and they maintained a standing pose with their toes 12 cm apart and heels 8 cm apart during the video recording. The height and weight were additionally measured to calculate BMI.Results: The study results showed that age-based variations in the foot skeletal features were observed slightly for men whereas distinctively for women. It was observed for women that the great toe-first metatarsal head-heel (GFH) angle increases with age, so it suggests that the increase of the GFH angle characterizes the development of HV. The multiple regression analysis reveals that the features determining the GFH angle are the second toe-heel-navicular angle and the axis of the bone distance among the skeletal features related to the midfoot, and the transverse arch length and height among those related to the forefoot. Their adjusted coefficients of determination were 0.52 and 0.48 for men and women, respectively.Conclusion: Using a 3D foot scanner on smartphone, we developed a simple method to access the skeletal structure of the foot related to HV risk.Trial registration: University hospital Medical Information Network- Clinical Trials (UMIN-CTR) with the number: UMIN 000037694. Registration date: 20/08/2019.
“Symptom Screening is Easier, but You Can Miss…”: Perceptions of Nurse-led Symptom-based Screening to Promote Tuberculosis Preventive Therapy in the Context of a Cluster Randomized Trial in South Africa
Authors: Salazar-Austin Nicole , Milovanovic Minja , West Nora S , Tladi Molefi , Barnes Grace Link , Variava Ebrahim , Martinson Neil , Chaisson Richard E , Kerrigan Deanna
Published: September 2020

Background: Tuberculosis is a top-10 cause of under-5 mortality, despite policies promoting tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT). We previously conducted a cluster randomized trial to evaluate the effectiveness of symptom-based versus tuberculin skin-based screening on child TPT uptake. Symptom-based screening did not improve TPT uptake and nearly two-thirds of child contacts were not identified or not linked to care. Here we qualitatively explored healthcare provider perceptions of factors that impacted TPT uptake among child contacts.Methods: Sixteen in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants including healthcare providers and administrators who participated in the trial in Matlosana, South Africa. The participants’ experience with symptom-based screening, study implementation strategies, and ongoing challenges with child contact identification and linkage to care were explored. Interviews were systematically coded and thematic content analysis was conducted. Results: Participants’ had mixed opinions about symptom-based screening and high acceptability of the study implementation strategies. A key barrier to optimizing child contact screening and evaluation was the supervision and training of community health workers. Conclusions: Symptom screening is a simple and effective strategy to evaluate child contacts, but additional pediatric training is needed to provide comfort with decision making. New clinic-based child contact files were highly valued by providers who continued to use them after trial completion. Future interventions to improve child contact management will need to address how to best utilize community health workers in identifying and linking child contacts to care. Trial Registration: The results presented here were from research related to NCT03074799, retrospectively registered on 9 March 2017.
A Comparative Study of Online Education and Traditional Offline Education During COVID-19
Authors: Hong Yun , Li Xiaolan , Lin Yingwen , Xie Jun , Yan Xutong , Lin Zhengmei
Published: September 2020

Background: In early 2020, a global pandemic (COVID-19) broke out and severely affected the progress of education in various countries’ universities and institutions, which promoted the progress of online courses at the same time. This article aims to conduct a comparative analysis of teacher-student surveys between online live teaching and traditional off-line teaching, and explore the direction of medical education reform in colleges and universities.Methods: Surveys among teachers and students were conducted on live broadcast courses and traditional offline courses by Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. Teachers were investigated from the three aspects including preparation before the class, the experience of teaching during the class, and evaluation after the class, while the students were performed investigations and statistical analysis from the aspects of class experience, learning effect, evaluation of the teachers and curricula.Results: Both teachers and students fully recognized the orderly organization and management of online live-streaming teaching, and that online courses have a positive and powerful role in improving the quality of teaching. However, teachers and students agree that the overall teaching experience and learning effect of online courses are inferior to offline, so the traditional offline courses or the mixation of online and offline modes are tended for teaching.Conclusions: The effective and proper use of online education in stomatology can help improve teaching effect significantly, but it is impossible to replace the traditional classroom. In the future, with the addition of online teaching, stomatological education could adopt a new mode of the combination of online and offline teaching as well as the integration of inside and outside the classroom.
Respectful Delivery Care and Associated Factors Among Mothers Delivered in Debre Berhan Town Public Health Facilities, Ethiopia 
Authors: Wubetu Yonas Azanaw , Sharew Nigussie Tadesse , Mohammed Osman Yimer
Published: September 2020

Background: In Ethiopia despite many interventions, 74% of mothers are delivered outside of health facilities. The gap between institutional delivery (26%) and antenatal care booked women (62%) is huge. Even if, respectful delivery care is the best and key strategy to increase institutional delivery, little is known about the implementation. The objective of this study was to assess the proportion and associated factors of respectful delivery care among mothers delivered in Debre Berhan town public health facilities, Ethiopia, 2019.Methods: Facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 413 consecutively selected mothers delivered in Debre Berhan town public health facilities from November 15 to December 30, 2019. Pretested structured interview-administered questionnaire was used. Respectful delivery care was assessed using twenty dichotomous items. Mothers who were reported yes for all of the items were considered to have received respectful maternity care. Data were entered into Epi-data version 3.1 and bivariable and multivariable logistic analyses were computed by using SPSS version 25 software. The Adjusted Odds ratio along with a 95% confidence interval was used to assess the magnitude and direction of the association. A statistically significant association was declared at a P-value of less than 0.05.Result: The proportion of respectful delivery care in this study was 35.7% (95% CI: 31%, 40.3%). Day time delivery [AOR=2.48; 95% CI (1.55, 3.99)], secondary or more educated mothers [AOR= 3.59; 95% CI (1.53, 8.42)], having a companion during delivery care [AOR=2.45; 95% CI (1.47, 4.07)], and Antenatal care visits [AOR= 2.54; 95% CI (1.60, 4.01)] were the significantly associated factors. Conclusion: The proportion of respectful delivery care in this study is low. Hence, health administrators and health workers should allow mothers to have a companion during delivery care. Furthermore, improve antenatal care visits and education has to be the direction of the health administration and education sectors.
A clearance period after soluble lead nanoparticle inhalation did not ameliorate the negative effects on target tissues due to decreased immune response
Authors: Dumkova Jana , Smutná Tereza , Vrlikova Lucie , Docekal Bohumil , Kristekova Daniela , Vecera Zbynek , Husakova Zuzana , Jakesova Veronika , Jedlickova Adriena , Mikuska Pavel , Capka Lukas , Coufalik Pavel , Tvrdonova Michaela , Krumal Kamil , Vaculovic Tomas , Kanicky Viktor , Hampl Ales , Buchtova Marcela
Published: September 2020

Background: The inhalation of metal (including lead) nanoparticles poses a real health issue to people and animals living in polluted and/or industrial areas. In this study, we exposed mice to lead(II) nitrate nanoparticles [Pb(NO3)2 NPs], which represent a highly soluble form of lead, by inhalation. We aimed to uncover the effects of their exposure on individual target organs and to reveal potential variability in the lead clearance. Mice were exposed to Pb(NO3)2 NPs in whole-body inhalation chambers for up to 11 weeks. We examined (i) lead biodistribution in target organs using laser ablation and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS), (ii) lead effect on histopathological changes and immune cells response in secondary target organs and (iii) the clearance ability of target organs (lung, liver, kidney, spleen, bone and blood). Results: After exposure to Pb(NO3)2 NPs, the lead concentration was the highest in femur at all designated time points with the exception of 3-day inhalation. In contrast to other organs, the ability to clear the lead from the femur was very low. In the lungs, Pb(NO3)2 NP inhalation induced serious structural changes; lung damage was present even after a 5-week clearance period despite the lead being almost completely eliminated from the lung tissue. Furthermore, in secondary target organs (kidney and liver), Pb(NO3)2 NPs induced several morphological defects, with alterations that remained visible after the clearance period even though the tissue lead concentrations decreased to minimal values. The numbers of lung and liver macrophages were significantly decreased after 11-week Pb(NO3)2 NP inhalation; conversely, abundance of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-positive cells, which are responsible for augmented collagen production, was increased in both tissues. Moreover, the expression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and selected cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], transforming growth factor beta 1 [TGFβ1], interleukin 6 [IL-6], IL-1α and IL-1β) displayed a tissue-specific response to lead exposure. Conclusions: Taken together, diminished inflammatory response in lung and liver after Pb(NO3)2 NPs inhalation was associated with prolonged negative effect of lead on tissues, as demonstrated by enhanced pathological changes in target organs, even after a 5-week clearance period.
Influence of Covariates on Involved Lymph Nodes in Primary Breast Cancer Patients: Mixture Distribution Zero-Inflated Modeling Methodological Framework
Authors: Liaqat Madiha , Kamal Shahid , Fischer Florian , Zia Nadeem
Published: September 2020

Background: Involvement of lymph nodes has been an integral part of breast cancer prognosis and survival. This study aimed to explore factors influencing on the number of auxiliary lymph nodes in women diagnosed with primary breast cancer by choosing an efficient model to assess excess of zeros and over-dispersion presented in the study population. Methods: The study is based on a retrospective analysis of hospital records among 5,196 female breast cancer patients in Pakistan. Zero-inflated Poisson and zero-inflated negative binomial modeling techniques are used to assess the association between under-study factors and the number of involved lymph nodes in breast cancer patients. Results: The most common breast cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma (54.5%). Patients median age was 48 years, from which women aged 46 years and above are the majority of the study population (64.8%). Examination of tumors revealed that over 2,662 (51.2%) women were ER-positive, 2,652 (51.0%) PR-positive, and 2,754 (53.0%) were Her2.neu-positive. The mean tumor size was 3.06 cm and histological grade 1 (n=2021, 38.9%) was most common in this sample. The model performance was best in the zero-inflated negative binomial model. Findings indicate that most factors related to breast cancer have a significant impact on the number of involved lymph nodes. Age is not contributed to lymph node status. Women having a larger tumor size suffered from greater number of involved lymph nodes. Tumor grades 11 and 111 contributed to higher numbers of positive lymph node.Conclusions: Zero-inflated models have successfully demonstrated the advantage of fitting count nodal data when both “at-harm” (lymph node involvement) and “not-at-harm” (no lymph node involvement) groups are important in predicting disease on set and disease progression. Our analysis showed that ZINB is the best model for predicting and describing the number of involved nodes in primary breast cancer, when overdispersion arises due to a large number of patients with no lymph node involvement. This is important for accurate prediction both for therapy and prognosis of breast cancer patients.
Dual-comb spectroscopy with spectral acquisition rate surpassing Nyquist-limited trade-off constraint
Authors: Xu Bingxin , Fan Xinyu , Wang Shuai , He Zuyuan
Published: September 2020

Optical frequency comb with evenly spaced lines over a broad bandwidth has revolutionized the fields of optical metrology and spectroscopy. Despite dual-comb spectroscopy (DCS) offers a superb overall performance on spectral resolution, measurement bandwidth and refresh rate, these parameters are still constrained by the Nyquist-limited trade-off. Here, we propose a novel DCS system to overcome this limitation with tens of spectral acquisition rate improvement, which is built with two electro-optic frequency combs seeded by an ultralinearly swept light source. The proposed scheme records a spectrum spanning 304 GHz with a spectral resolution of 10 kHz in 1.6 ms, which achieves a spectral sampling-rate of 1.9×1010 points/s. We also demonstrate the 100-averaged results with 28.9 dB signal-to-noise ratio for high sensitivity measurement. The demonstration shows great prospect for precise measurement with significant performance breakthrough.
Altered ISGylation drives aberrant macrophage-dependent immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Sanyal Sumana , Lee Horace , Munnur Deeksha , Teo Qi , Ho Julian , Ng Wilson , Siu Lewis , Spooner Eric , Ploegh Hidde , Pinto-Fernandez Adan , Damianou Andreas , Kessler Benedikt , Mok Chris
Published: September 2020

Interferon stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) is a ubiquitin like modifier frequently induced during virus infections and involved in versatile host defense mechanisms. Not surprisingly, many viruses including SARS-CoV-2 have evolved de-ISGylating activities to antagonize its effect. In this study we compared ISG15-driven macrophage responses upon infection by influenza, Zika and SARS-CoV-2 viruses. ISG15 and its modifying enzymes were upregulated in human macrophages after infection with all three viruses. While influenza and Zika viruses induced cellular ISGylation, SARS-CoV-2 triggered hydrolysis of ISG15 modifications instead, to generate free, extracellular ISG15 from macrophages and dendritic cells, but not from bronchial epithelial cells. Extracellular ISG15 was released independent of the conventional secretory pathway or cell death, but instead, depended on a non-classical autophagy-related secretory process. Increase of extracellular ISG15 was also reflected in serum samples from COVID-19 patients. The high ratio of free versus conjugated ISG15 in SARS-CoV-2 infected cells triggered macrophage polarization towards a M1 phenotype, increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, e.g. MCP-1 (CCL2), IL-1, TNF and IL-6, and attenuated antigen presentation. Depleting ISG15 conjugating enzymes Ube1L and HERC5 further increased free ISG15 and exacerbated this effect. We could recapitulate this phenomenon by expressing the wild-type but not the catalytically inactive PLpro de-ISGylating enzyme of SARS-CoV-2. Proteomic analyses of the secretome from SARS-CoV-2 infected macrophages revealed that besides ISG15, it displayed significant enrichment in non-classical secretory proteins and inflammatory responses, which was further amplified by free ISG15. Collectively, our results indicate that increased proportions of free ISG15 dramatically alter macrophage responses and is likely a key feature of cytokine storms triggered by highly pathogenic respiratory viruses such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2.
Gender Equity at Last: A National Study of Medical Students Considering a Career in Rural Medicine
Authors: Kim Caleb , Ngo Hanh , Playford Denese
Published: September 2020

Background: The rural medical workforce internationally suffers from a significant gender imbalance. Not only do male doctors outnumber female doctors, but additionally female doctors work fewer hours than their male counterparts. This has health implications for rural communities. In response, In Australia, Rural Clinical Schools (RCSs) are a national training strategy to increase the number of graduates entering the rural medical workforce. It has been observed that RCSs attract a greater number of female students than male students. However, the future work intentions of male versus female RCS students is not known. This paper therefore asked whether male and female RCS students have equivalent intent for future rural practice.Methods: Participants were all students who attended RCSs from 2015-2017, who completed an exit survey that gathered data on demographic, experiential and intentional variables. Univariate analyses examined differences across gender. A multivariate model was constructed to determine the independent predictors for rural intention.Results: There were 2,017 respondents across the three years, of whom 937 were male, and 1,138 female. In univariate analysis, female students had significantly higher rural intention than male students. There were no other gender differences in age, rural background, overall perception of support, and overall excellence of clinical education whilst in RCS. However, in multivariate analysis, gender was not a significant predictor for rural work intention, whereas older age, rural background, and first preference for RCS were all predictive of increased rural intent, as expected from the literature. There were no differences between male and female students in their perceptions of the overall support and the clinical education provided by RCS. Conclusion: We conclude from this national study that gender is not an independent predictor for future rural work intention among RCS students. Considering the disproportionate number of female students entering RCS, this is reassuring for ultimately achieving rural workforce gender equity.
Biomechanical Analysis of Atlantoaxial Dorsal Fixation Using Finite Element Models
Authors: Bae Beomju , Kim Dongwook , Oh Hyejong , Kim Gonhyung
Published: September 2020

Background: Atlantoaxial instability can cause spinal cord compression with clinical signs ranging from cervical pain to tetraplegia and death. Although a variety of dorsal fixation techniques have been described, some of them have been related to the fracture of the dorsal arch of the atlas, leading to surgical failure. We hypothesized that the shape of the dorsal arch of the atlas and types of implants might affect these bone fractures. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze bone stresses through simulations of the dorsal fixation using finite element models.Results: The width between wires and the length of the bone did not affect the maximum stress on the bone. The maximum bone stress increased as the bone got thinner and the angle of the notch got steeper. The bone with band implant had lower maximum bone stress than that with wire implants. When using wire implants, wires applied beyond the notch of the dorsal arch reduced the maximum bone stress more than wires positioned within it.Conclusions: The fracture of the dorsal arch of the atlas was related to the shape of the bone and types of implant applied. Band implant can effectively reduce the fracture of the dorsal arch compared to wire implant in atlantoaxial dorsal fixation. When considering wire implant, it is recommended to apply wires beyond the notch of the atlas.
Preemptive Intravenous Iron Therapy Versus Autologous Whole Blood Therapy for Early Postoperative Hemoglobin Level in Patients Undergoing Bimaxillary Orthognathic Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Noninferiority Trial
Authors: Chae Min Suk , Lee Mihyun , Choi Min Ho , Park Je Uk , Park Misun , Kim Young Hoon , Choi Hoon , Joo Jin , Moon Young Eun
Published: September 2020

Background: Previous studies have reported the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) iron therapy during perioperative period as an alternative and adjunct to allogeneic blood transfusion. Preemptive IV iron therapy provides noninferior hemoglobin levels on postoperative day (POD) 1 compared to autologous whole blood therapy (AWBT) in healthy patients who had undergone bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.Methods: This was a prospective, patient-randomized, noninferiority trial. After excluding 2 patients, 64 patients were divided into two groups: the IV iron therapy group (patients received IV iron infusion 4 weeks before surgery; n = 32) and the AWBT group (2 units of autologous whole blood were collected 4 and 2 weeks before surgery; n = 32). The primary outcome was hemoglobin level on POD 1 and the prespecified noninferiority limit was –1 g/dL.Results: Baseline data were comparable, including hemoglobin and iron levels, between the two groups. Immediately before surgery, the levels of hemoglobin, iron, and ferritin were higher in the IV iron group than in the AWBT group. The mean treatment difference (iron group – whole blood group) in hemoglobin level on POD 1 between the two groups was 0.09 (95% CI = –0.83 to 1.0). As the lower limit of the 95% CI (–0.83) was higher than the prespecified noninferiority margin (δ = –1), noninferiority was established. On POD 2, the hemoglobin level became lower in the iron group, which eventually led to greater requirement of allogeneic blood transfusion compared to the whole blood group. However, the iron group did not require allogeneic blood transfusion during or early after surgery, and the whole blood group showed continuously higher incidence of overt iron deficiency compared to the iron group.Conclusion: As collection of autologous whole blood caused overt iron loss and anemia before surgery and intraoperative transfusion of whole blood was not able to prevent the occurrence of persistent iron deficiency after surgery, IV iron therapy was found to have potential benefits for iron homeostasis and subsequent erythropoiesis in healthy patients early after bimaxillary orthognathic surgery.Trial registration: Clinical Research Information Service, Republic of Korea, approval number: KCT0003680 on March 27, 2019https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/search_result_st01_kren.jsp?seq=15769&sLeft=2<ype=my&rtype=my
Bacteriological Characteristics of COVID-19 Patients Nosocomially Co-infected at a Designated Hospital: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Yu Jing , Nie Lei , Zhou Xia , Wu Dongde , Chen Jian , Yang Zhifeng , Zhang Ling , Wang Kun
Published: September 2020

Background: Bacterial co-infection in patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a critical factor that increases the complexity and treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: We collected the clinical laboratory data of 1799 patients with confirmed COVID-19 who were admitted to Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, China, between January 1 to April 26, 2020. The bacterial co-infection along with disease progression was analyzed. Other inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), white blood cells (WBC), lymphocytes (L), neutrocytes (N), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin (PCT), were assessed to estimate the progression of COVID-19. Results: We found that 191 of the 1799 (10.62%) patients had bacterial co-infection. The most prevalent causative agents for bacterial co-infection were Klebsiella pneumoniae (91 cases, 5.06%) and Acinetobacter baumannii (66 cases, 3.67%). The most patients with bacterial co-infection showed extensive drug-resistance. The outcomes of patients with bacterial co-infection were worse than those of patients without bacterial co-infection.Conclusions: Secondary bacterial pneumonia during virus infection is a major risk factor for high mortality resulting from severe pneumonia caused by COVID-19.
422 Million Q Planar Integrated All-Waveguide Resonator with a 3.4 Billion Absorption Limited Q, Sub-MHz Linewidth and 3005 Finesse
Authors: Puckett Matthew , Liu Kaikai , Chauhan Nitesh , Zhao Qiancheng , Jin Naijun , Cheng Haotian , Wu Jianfeng , Behunin Ryan , Rakich Peter , Nelson Karl , Blumenthal Daniel
Published: September 2020

High Q optical resonators that are a key component for ultra-narrow linewidth lasers, frequency stabilization, precision spectroscopy and quantum applications. Integration of these resonators in a photonic waveguide wafer-scale platform is key to reducing their cost, size and power as well as sensitivity to environmental disturbances. However, to date, the intrinsic Q of integrated all-waveguide resonators has been relegated to below 150 Million for a non-etched waveguide resonator and 230 Million for a waveguide-coupled etched silica microresonator. Here, we report an all-waveguide Si3N4 resonator with an intrinsic Q of 422 Million and a 3.4 Billion absorption loss limited Q. The resonator linewidth measures at 453 kHz intrinsic linewidth, 906 kHz loaded linewidth with finesse of 3005. The corresponding linear loss of 0.060 dB/m is the lowest reported to date for an all-waveguide design with deposited upper cladding oxide. These are the highest intrinsic and absorption loss limited Q factors and lowest linewidth reported to date for a photonic integrated all-waveguide resonator. This level of performance is achieved through a careful reduction of scattering and absorption loss components and redeposition of a thin nitride layer. We quantify, simulate and measure the various loss contributions including scattering and absorption and describe a surface-state dangling bond absorption that we believe is passivated by the redeposited layer. In addition to the ultra-high Q and narrow linewidth, the resonator has a large optical mode area and volume, both critical for ultra-low laser linewidths and ultra-stable, ultra-low frequency noise reference cavities. These results demonstrate the performance of bulk optic and etched resonators can be realized in a photonic integrated solution, paving the way towards photonic integration compatible Billion Q cavities for precision scientific systems and applications such as nonlinear optics, atomic clocks, quantum photonics and high-capacity fiber communications systems on-chip.
Reversible Ir-based multifunctional electrocatalyst for durable water splitting and fuel cell systems
Authors: Lee Woong Hee , Ko Young-Jin , Kim Jung Hwan , Choi Chang Hyuck , Chae Keun Hwa , Kim Hansung , Hwang Yun Jeong , Min Byoung Koun , Strasser Peter , Oh Hyung-Suk
Published: September 2020

The voltage reversal of water electrolyzers and fuel cells induces a large positive potential on the hydrogen electrodes, followed by severe system degradation. Applying a reversible multifunctional electrocatalyst to the hydrogen electrode is a practical solution. Ir exhibits excellent catalytic reactivity for hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), and hydrogen oxidation reactions (HOR) around 0 V/RHE, yet irreversibly converts to amorphous IrOx at potentials > 0.8 V/RHE, which is an excellent catalyst for oxygen evolution reactions (OER), yet a poor HER and HOR catalyst. Harnessing these multifunctional catalytic characteristics, we designed a unique Ir-based electrocatalyst for OER, HER, and HOR. Under OER operation, the crystalline nanoparticle catalyst generates an atomically-thin, highly active IrOx layer, which reversibly transforms into a metallic Ir surface at more cathodic electrode potentials, restoring high catalytic activity for HER and HOR. Our analysis reveals that a metallic Ir subsurface to the thin IrOx surface layer can act as a catalytic substrate for the reduction of the dissolved Ir ion, creating reversibility. Our work not only uncovers new fundamental, uniquely reversible catalytic properties of nanoparticle catalysts, but also offers a practical materials-based solution to catalyst layer degradation of electrochemical energy conversion devices.
Deep learning on image-omics data in identifying prognostic immune biomarkers for ovarian cancer
Authors: Zhu Ying , Ferri-Borgogno Sammy , Sheng Jianting , Yeung Tsz-Lun , Burks Jared , Cappello Paola , Jazaeri Amir , Kim Jae-Hoon , Han Gwan Hee , Birrer Michael , Mok Samuel , Wong Stephen
Published: September 2020

Although stromal and immune cells in the tumor microenvironment have been shown to directly affect tumor growth and chemoresistance, how the interactions among stromal and immune cells and their spatially resolved cell heterogeneity would influence ovarian patients’ survival remains largely unknown. To fill this gap, we developed a new imageomics method that (i) incorporates an artificial intelligence–based analytics pipeline for imaging mass cytometry (IMC) to increase the accuracy of cell segmentation and spatial information extraction in order to identify immune biomarkers and their interactions that can predict overall survival rates in patients with treatment-naïve ovarian cancer, and (ii) integrates quantitated spatial IMC image data with microdissected tumor and stromal transcriptomic data from the same patients as well as single-cell RNA sequencing data to detect genes correlated with the prognostic features and postulate novel mechanisms by which these genes contribute to the prognostic features.
Nickel Ferrocyanide as High-Performance Next Generation Electrocatalyst for Urea Oxidation
Authors: Geng Shi-Kui , Zheng Yao , Li Shan-Qing , Zhao Xu , Hu Jun , Shu Hai-Bo , Jaroniec Mietek , Chen Ping , Liu Qinghua , Qiao Shizhang
Published: September 2020

Urea oxidation, a key process in energy and environmental science, faces challenges because of the insufficient understanding of its mechanism and the lack of efficient catalysts. Here we demonstrate that nickel ferrocyanide (Ni2Fe(CN)6) molecular catalyst supported on Ni form can drive urea oxidation reaction (UOR) with the record electrochemical activity and stability among all supported catalysts reported so far. A combination of kinetics data, in-situ spectroscopic measurements and energy computations suggests a new UOR pathway that delivers such outstanding performance. Different from most studied Ni-based catalysts with NiOOH derivative as a real catalytically active site for UOR, Ni2Fe(CN)6 appears to be a next-generation catalyst able to directly facilitate a two-step reaction pathway involving a critical reaction of intermediate ammonia’s production (on Ni site) and oxidation (on Fe site). Due to the alternative rate-determining step with a more favorable thermal energetics, Ni2Fe(CN)6 broke the limiting activity of the reported so far UOR catalysts. As a result, the UOR process on Ni2Fe(CN)6 can replace conventional water oxidation process in various energy-saving systems for hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide production.
Evaluation of Breast Cancer Videos on Youtube in the Arab World 
Authors: Ayoub Georges , Chalhoub Elie , Sleilaty Ghassan , Kourie Hampig Raphael
Published: September 2020

BackgroundPatients are increasingly using YouTube™ as a source of information on Breast cancer, the most frequent cancer among women. Educating patients is highly important to reduce mortality rates. This study aims to evaluate, for the first time, Breast Cancer Videos on YouTube™ in the Arab world that hosts their highest use.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, the most viewed 60 videos were evaluated for global quality (GQS score), reliability (modified DISCERN score), usefulness (content-specific score), and misleading claims. Videos’ power index, popularity, duration, and viewers' interaction were assessed. Sources (professional/ non-professional) and speakers (physician/ non-physician) were categorized.ResultsThe median Global Quality (3/5), Reliability (2/5), and Usefulness scores (4/11) were overall low. Out of all videos, the speaker was a physician in 32% and misleading information was found in 42%. Although professional source videos (45%) were less viewed, they were less misleading, of higher quality, reliability, and usefulness than non-professional source videos (55%). Source categories did not affect viewers' interaction, video power index, nor duration. While Symptoms (55%) were discussed the most, genetic counseling (13%) and prevention (20%) were scarcely mentioned; professionals were more likely to highlight early diagnosis importance. ConclusionsYouTube™ is poorly informational on breast cancer and may be inaccurate in the Arab world where highly used. Although professional uploaders’ videos tend to be more adequate, they are of lower quantity and popularity. Governments and physicians should upload more intelligibly informational videos, guide the public for accurate sources, and encourage regulations.
Content Analysis of Digital Media Coverage of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine School-Entry Requirement Policy in Puerto Rico
Authors: Colón-López Vivian , Rivera-Figueroa Vilnery , Arroyo-Morales Glizette O , Medina-Laabes Diana T , Soto-Abreu Roxana , Rivera-Encarnación Manuel E , Díaz-Miranda Olga L , Ortiz Ana P , Wells Katelyn B , Vázquez-Otero Coralia , Hull Pamela C
Published: September 2020

BackgroundIn August 2018, Puerto Rico (PR) became the 4th state or territory in the United States to adopt a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine school-entry requirement, for students 11-12 years old. Evidence suggests that the content of media coverage may impact people's perception of HPV vaccine and their willingness to vaccinate. This study aimed to analyze the content of digital news coverage related to the implementation of the policy in PR.MethodsA content review was conducted of digital media published from January 2017 through December 2018. The content reviewed was carried out in two steps: 1) creating a matrix to summarize each article’s content about the policy and 2) qualitative analysis using a grounded theory approach. ResultsThe search resulted in 34 articles in 17 online local and international news outlets that reported on the implementation of the policy. Analyses showed that 61% of the news articles did not mention the number of required doses, and 79% discussed the new policy concerning cancer prevention. In 2017, news coverage focused mostly on describing the policy, while 2018 coverage focused on controversies surrounding the implementation. Negative emergent codes included: 1) infringement to patient and parental autonomy; 2) Hesitancy from the political sector 3) Hesitancy from groups and coalitions. Positive content included: 1) knowledge and acceptance of HPV vaccine for cancer prevention; 2) importance of education and protective sexual behaviors; and 3) new vaccination law proposal. Neutral emergent codes included: 1) Description of the policy; 2) Information about HPV related cancers; and 3) General information about HPV vaccine.ConclusionsMost of the media coverage in PR was neutral and included limited information related to the vaccine, HPV, and HPV-related cancers. Neutral and negative themes could influence public concerns regarding the new policy, as well as HPV vaccination rates in PR.
Inverse Correlation of miR-27a-3p and CDH5 Expression Serves as a Diagnostic Biomarker of Proliferation and Metastasis of Clear Cell Renal Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Yifang , Zhou Xiaohui , Han Peipei , Lu Yunliang , Zhong Xuemin , Yang Yanping , Li Danping , Liu Deling , Li Qiuyun , Pan Nenghui , Mo Yingxi , Luo Wenqi , Li Ping , Zhou Xiaoying , Matskova Liudmila
Published: September 2020

Background: Cadherin-5 (CDH5) is aberrantly expressed in a variety of human cancers and plays an important role in angiogenesis. But its role in renal clear cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains to be understood. Methods: The dysregulation of CDH5 expression in ccRCC and its association with clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed using the TCGA database. A meta-analysis was performed to verify the alteration of CDH5 expression in ccRCC using the GEO database. Quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical staining were applied to assess the transcriptional and protein levels of CDH5. TargetScan and Tarbase were employed to predict the miRNAs with the potential to target mRNA of CDH5.Results: The mRNA level of CDH5 in ccRCC was significantly higher than in normal tissue. CDH5 mRNA expression could therefore serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker for ccRCC (AUC=0.844). However, the reduced CDH5 transcription levels were significantly correlated with patients in the T3-4 stage, lymph node and distant metastasis, as well as with a worse clinical outcome. We further observed that CDH5, at the protein level, was almost absent in ccRCC samples. In addition, a few databases screen showed that mir-27a-3p, is a highly conserved miRNA targeting CDH5. The expression of mir-27a-3p was significantly elevated in ccRCC tissues in contrast to normal tissues. Importantly, it was positively associated with the T3-4 stage and M stage, respectively, suggesting that the expression level of mir-27a-3p could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for ccRCC (AUC=0.775).Conclusion: Our data suggest that the reduced translational levels of CDH5 in ccRCC was related to the overexpression of mir-27a-3p. The higher mir-27a-3p and lower CDH5 expression significantly correlated with advanced clinical stages for ccRCC patients.
Retrospective PET/CT Imaged Based Dosimetry Following Transarterial Radioembolization
Authors: Thompson Briana C. , Dezarn William A.
Published: September 2020

Background: Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE) uses beta particle emitting microspheres, containing Yttrium 90 (90Y), to treat unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors. Current dosimetry models are highly simplistic. 90Y post-TARE PET/CT images are being evaluated for their use in image based dosimetry post treatment allowing for improved treatment efficacy. We sought to provide guidance on reconstruction and dose calculation algorithms that give the most reliable image based dosimetry.Methods: Retrospective image study for 11 patients each having a 90Y PET/CT following TARE SIR-Spheres® treatment. In total, 6 emission images were reconstructed using Ordered Subset Expectation Maximization (OSEM) routines and Bayesian penalized-likelihood reconstruction algorithms (Q. Clear). PET/CT image sets were resampled to 3mm resolution and used to create voxel based dose distributions using our own convolution algorithm (WFBH), SurePlanTM MIRD and SurePlanTM LDM. Additionally, we analyzed the effects of a systematic personalized background subtraction prior to dose distribution creation. Results: Reconstructed activity was highest among Q. Clear β = 350 and 1000 and both OSEM methods. OSEM with 3 iterations and 24 subsets gave comparable dose distributions to Q. Clear β=1000 (max dose ratio of 0.96 ± 0.14). No statistical difference was identified among Q. Clear and OSEM methods comparing dose distributions with and without additional background subtraction post-reconstruction (average local gamma value = 98.01% ± 3.75%). LDM is more sensitive than MIRD to small activity differences between reconstruction methods (p-value= 0.048). LDM calculated max dose values were higher than MIRD. DVH curves showed LDM model potentially underestimates low dose values and overestimates high dose values.Conclusion: Background subtraction is sufficiently addressed in PET image reconstruction. We recommend post-TARE image based dosimetry to be calculated using image series reconstructed with Q. Clear β= 1000 or OSEM 3 iterations 24 subsets and using a convolution voxel based dose algorithm, such as SurePlanTM MIRD. Since more sophisticated corrections are not available at present, the 90Y activity distribution should be scaled by the local clinic’s activity recovery fraction, which also will directly scale the calculated dose distribution.
In vivo activation of pH-responsive oxidase-like graphitic-nanozymes for selective killing of Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Zhang Lufeng , Zhang Liang , Deng Hui , Li Huan , Tang Wentao , Guan Luyao , Qiu Ye , Donovan Michael , Chen Zhuo , Tan Weihong
Published: September 2020

Helicobacter pylori infection is a major etiological factor in various gastric diseases. However, clinical antibiotic triple therapy for H. pylori often encounters such critical problems as continuously decreased therapeutic efficacy and symbiotic bacteria experiencing severe side effects. Herein, we developed an in vivo activatable pH-responsive graphitic nanozyme, PtCo@Graphene (PtCo@G), for the selective treatment of H. pylori infections. Such nanozymes can resist gastric acid corrosion and activate oxidase-like activity to stably generate reactive oxygen species only in the acidic gastric milieu which endows them with superior selective bactericidal property. C18-PEGn-Benzeneboronic acid molecules were further modified on the PtCo@G, improving its targeting capability to H. pylori. Under acidic gastric pH, graphitic nanozymes showed notable bactericidal activity toward H. pylori, while no bacterial killing was observed under the intestinal condition. In the H. pylori-infected mouse model, high antibacterial capability toward H. pylori and negligible side effects toward normal tissues and symbiotic bacteria were also achieved. This graphitic nanozyme performs the desired enzyme-like activity at corresponding physiological sites and may address critical issues in the clinical treatment of H. pylori infections.
Postcranial evidence of late Miocene hominin bipedalism in Chad
Authors: Guy Franck , Daver Guillaume , Mackaye Hassane Taisso , Likius Andossa , Boisserie Jean-Renaud , Moussa Abderamane , Vignaud Patrick , Nekoulnang Clarisse
Published: September 2020

Terrestrial bipedal locomotion is one of the key adaptations defining the hominin clade. Evidences of undisputed bipedalism are known from postcranial remains of late Miocene hominins as soon as 6 Ma in eastern Africa. Bipedality of Sahelanthropus tchadensis was hitherto documented at 7 Ma in central Africa (Chad) by cranial evidence. Here, we present the first postcranial evidence of the locomotor behavior of the Chadian hominin with new insights on bipedalism at the early stage of our evolutionary history. The original material was discovered at locality TM 266 (Toros-Menalla fossiliferous area), and consists in one left femur and two antimeric ulnae. These new findings confirm that hominins were already terrestrial biped relatively soon after the human-chimpanzee divergence but also suggest that careful climbing arboreal behaviors was still a significant part of their locomotor repertoire.
Spatial control of potato tuberisation by the TCP transcription factor BRANCHED1b
Authors: Nicolas Michael , Torres-Perez Rafael , Wahl Vanessa , Rodríguez-Buey María Luisa , Cruz-Oró Eduard , Oliveros Juan , Prat Salomé , Cubas Pilar
Published: September 2020

The control of carbon allocation, storage and usage is critical for plant growth and development and is exploited for both crop food production and CO2 capture. Potato tubers are natural carbon reserves in the form of starch that have evolved to allow propagation and survival over winter. They form from stolons, below ground, where they are protected from cold temperatures and animal foraging. We show that BRANCHED1b (BRC1b) acts as a tuberisation repressor in aerial axillary buds, which prevents buds from competing in sink strength with stolons. BRC1b loss of function leads to ectopic production of aerial tubers and reduced underground tuberisation. In buds, BRC1b promotes dormancy, ABA signalling and downregulation of plasmodesmata gene expression. This limits sucrose unloading and access of the tuberigen factor SP6A to axillary buds. Moreover, BRC1b directly interacts with SP6A and blocks its tuber-forming activity in aerial nodes. Altogether these actions help promote tuberisation underground.
A Retrospective Study on Recovery of Joint Function of Distal Radial Fracture After Treated with Wei’s Traumatology Guidance combined with Limbs Fumigation Fang
Authors: Yan Wei , Kong Bo , Miao Zhengyue , Xi Xibing , Jiang Tao , Wu Changgui , Tian Hao
Published: September 2020

Objective: To explore the clinical effect on recovery of joint function of distal radial fracture after treated with Wei’s Traumatology Guidance combined with Limbs Fumigation Fang.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 84 patients with distal radius fracture. The cases were collected from October 2017 to July 2018 in Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Medical College of Shanghai Jiao tong University. The fractured radius of patients was firstly fixed and then treated with Wei's traumatology guidance combined with Limbs Fumigation Fang. After that, the G-W wrist function, self-rating scale (PRWE) and simplified sf-36 health scale were used to analyze the recovery of joint function of distal radial fracture before and after treatment.Results: There were significant differences in wrist function evaluation, wrist patient self-rating scale (PRWE) and simplified SF-36 health scale before and after treatment (P < 0.05).After treated with Wei’s Traumatology Guidance combined with Limbs Fumigation Fang for 3 weeks, the wrist pain, range of motion, strength and quality of life were improved a lot than before. Conclusion: Wei’s Traumatology Guidance combined with Limbs Fumigation Fang is an ideal way to restore wrist function with definite curative effect and high safety.