bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictive value of peak strain dispersion on left ventricular remolding in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: wang li , Xu Fang , Ren Cheng , Kuang Long , Song Jiaxian , XU Junjie , Qian Xuesong
Published: May 2022

Background: Left ventricular (LV) remolding is associated with a higher rate of heart failure hospitalization in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infraction (STEMI). The aim of the current study was to demonstrate the predictive value of peak strain dispersion (PSD) for LV remodeling.Methods and results: 76 patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI were prospectively included from June 2019 and August 2020. Patients underwent two-dimensional echocardiography within 48h of admission and 6 months after STEMI. LV remodeling was defined as an increase in the LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) ≥ 20% at 6 months after STEMI. According to the echocardiographic criteria used, 13 patients (17.1%) presented with left ventricular remolding after the index event. GLS and myocardial work parameters were similar in patients with left ventricular remolding and those without LV remolding, while patients with left ventricular remolding had a higher PSD than those without remolding (p<0.01).Conclusion: PSD demonstrated incremental value in predicting left ventricular remodeling in STMEI patients undergoing primary PCI.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2 agonist mobilizes endogenous reparative Muse cells that facilitate damaged myocardial tissue repair in rabbit
Authors: Minatoguchi Shingo , Yamada Yoshihisa , Endo Noriko , Kushida Yoshihiro , Wakao Shohei , Kanamori Hiromitsu , Mikami Atsushi , Okura Hiroyuki , Dezawa Mari , Minatoguchi Shinya
Published: May 2022

Muse cells, SSEA-3(+) non-tumorigenic pluripotent stem cells, reside in the bone marrow (BM), peripheral blood and organ connective tissue as cells. Circulating Muse cells, either endogenous or exogenously administered, selectively accumulate to damaged tissue by sensing sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) produced by the damaged tissue, differentiate into tissue-constituent cells including vascular cells, replace apoptotic/damaged cells and repair the tissue. They are expandable to clinical scale and are applied to clinical trials. Acute myocardial infarction model (AMI) model rabbits were subcutaneously injected either with vehicle, S1PR2-agonist, or S1PR2-agonist + S1PR2-antagonist. The S1PR2-agonist group showed the statistically meaningful increase of the endogenous peripheral blood-Muse cell number at 12 h (both p < 0.05), reduction of the infarct size (p < 0.05) and improvement of the left ventricular function (p < 0.05) at 2 weeks compared with the other 2 groups. The increase in peripheral blood-Muse cells positively correlated with LV ejection fraction, and inversely correlated with infarct size in statistical analysis. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-autologous BM-Muse cells were transplanted back into the BM of the same animal, AMI model was made 48 hrs after, and then vehicle or S1PR2 agonist was administered subcutaneously. At 2 weeks, the number of GFP-Muse cells positive for cardiac markers, troponin-I, α-actinin and connexin-43, and those positive for vascular marker CD31, was higher in the border areas in the S1PR2-agonist group compared with that in the vehicle group. Along with administration of exogenous stem cells, the efficient mobilization of endogenous stem cells such as S1PR2-agonist for Muse cells, might be an alternative promising therapeutic approach.
Network analysis of potential targets of miR-449a-5p in axonal reconstruction after spinal cord injury
Authors: Wu Chunyan , Li Na , Sun Jie , Li Jintao , Su Qianqian , Wang Tinghua
Published: May 2022

Objective
To investigate the role of miR-449a-5p overexpressed in rats with spinal cord injury (SCI), and to predict the potential targets of miR-449a-5p by bioinformatic analysis and explore the underlying mechanism of the onset and development of axonal reconstruction in SCI.
Methods
Forty-eight SD female rats were randomly divided into Sham group, SCI group, agonist group (SCI + miR-449a-5p agomir), and agonist control group (SCI + agomir negative control).Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan (BBB) scores were performed after the successful establishment of SCI rat model. The targets of miR-449a-5p was searched in TargetSccan, miRDB, and miRWalk databases, and relevant literatures were retrieved in PubMed and CNKI using ‘miR-449a’ and ‘axonal regeneration’ as keywords, and genes not reported previously were subjected to Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and the hub genes were screened by Cytoscape.
Results
The BBB score results showed that the rats in SCI + miR-449a-5p agomir group exhibited gradual recovery after SCI surgery, with significant improvement compared to the SCI group. A total of 76 target genes of miR-449a-5p were obtained, and the hub genes were CNTN2, ANK3 and CNTNAP1.
Conclusions
The present study suggested that miR-449a-5p may participate in a variety of BP through target genes, and hub genes CNTN2, ANK3, and CNTNAP1 may provide help for the exploration of the mechanism of axonal reconstruction in SCI.
Chronic and episodic loneliness and social isolation: prevalence and sociodemographic analyses from a longitudinal Australian survey
Authors: Lim Michelle H. , Manera Karine E , Owen Katherine B , Phongsavan Philayrath , Smith Ben J
Published: May 2022

Purpose: Loneliness and social isolation, experienced more long-term, has been shown to increase mortality and lead to poorer health outcomes in specific cohorts. However, it is unclear what the prevalence of chronic loneliness and social isolation is, and which demographic groups are most at risk of reporting more chronic forms. Methods: A psychometrically validated classification system was used to identify people who met criteria for episodic and chronic loneliness and social isolation using the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey waves 14-18. Results: The cumulative prevalence over five years of loneliness (overall 34%; 21% episodic, 13% chronic) far exceeded that of social isolation (overall 17%; 13% episodic, 4% chronic). There was consistency in the demographic characteristics (from age, sex, household type, income) of those who experienced loneliness and social isolation. However, people with a long-term health condition had an elevated risk of episodic loneliness (AOR = 1.24, 95%CI = 1.11-1.39) and a markedly higher risk of chronic loneliness (AOR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.76-2.29), compared with those without a long-term health condition. Conclusions: Loneliness, both episodic and chronic subtypes, is more prevalent than social isolation, yet remains neglected and poorly targeted within current practice and policy.
Integrated Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analysis to Characterize Cold Stress Responses in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Li Mengdi , Yang Xiaoxu , Liu Chang , Li Yanmei , Yan Zhishan , Feng Guojun , Liu Dajun
Published: May 2022

Cold temperatures can be detrimental to crop survival and output. Breeding can be improved by understanding the molecular basis of low temperature tolerance. We investigated the key routes and critical metabolites related to low temperature resistance in cold-tolerant and -sensitive common bean cultivars 120 and 093, respectively. Many potential genes and metabolites implicated in major metabolic pathways during the chilling stress response were identified through transcriptomics and metabolomics research. Under chilling stress, the expression of many genes involved in lipid, amino acid, and flavonoid metabolism, as well as metabolite accumulation increased in the two bean types. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was lower in 120 than in 093. Regarding amino acid metabolism, 120 had a higher concentration of acidic amino acids than 093, whereas 093 had a higher concentration of basic amino acids. Methionine accumulation was clearly higher in 120 than in 093. In addition, 120 had a higher concentration of many types of flavonoids than 093. Flavonoids, methionine and malondialdehyde could be used as biomarkers of plant chilling injury. According to the transcriptome analysis of hormone metabolism, the expression of abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellin (GA), and jasmonic acid (JA) was considerably greater in 093 than in 120 during chilling stress, indicating that hormone regulation modes in 093 and 120 were different. Thus, chilling stress tolerance is different between 093 and 120 possibly due to transcriptional and metabolic regulation.
Bioinformatics analysis of KLK gene family in yak
Authors: Zheng Qingbo , Zhang Xiaolan , Bao Pengjia , Ye Na , Wang Fubin , Wu Yi , Chu Min , Guo Xian , Wu Xiaoyun , Pan Heping , Yan Ping
Published: May 2022

Kallikrein-related peptidases (KLK) have 15 members, which are the largest family of human serine proteases known so far, but there is no report about KLK in yak. In this study, Six members of yak KLK gene family were selected as the research objects, including KLK1, KLK4, KLK5, KLK6, KLK7, and KLK15. The functions of yak KLK family members were predicted and analyzed by Expasy, STRING, R language and other software. The molecular weight of KLK proteins in yak ranged from 17276. 46-31884. 23 Da, and grand average of hydropathicity of the KLK proteins is less than 0, which indicated that they all belong to hydrophilic proteins; The phylogenetic tree showed that KLK5 and KLK1 are highly similar to the same family members, while different species of KLK7 differ in motif composition and gene structure. Protein–protein interaction analysis showed that KLK5, KLK6, and KLK7 interacted with serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 5(SPINK5), a serine protease inhibitor, while KLK7 and KLK6 interacted with corneodesmosin (CDSN); Go enrichment analysis showed that the KLK gene family was mainly enriched in the regulation of platelet alpha granules, endopeptidase activity, epidermal development and serine hydrolase activity. And the expression of KLK7 in yak skin was higher than that of KLK5, KLK6 and KLK10. Our results not only enriched the KLK gene family information and obtained the interaction gene enrichment pathway, but also provided a theoretical basis for further transition to in vitro experiments and formulation of experimental schemes.
In vitro evaluation of anti-mycobacterial active plant extracts against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using mycobacterium growth indicator tubes (MGIT-960) BACTEC system
Authors: Tamrakar Vaibhav K , Bhat Jyothi , Parihar Nitish Singh , Rajasubramaniam S , Thakur Hemant
Published: May 2022

The emergence and treatment of Drug resistant Tuberculosis (DRTB) have become a global health issue. Herbal drugs promises other possible options for Tuberculosis treatment.. In the current study, anti-mycobacterial activity of Piper longum, Cressa cretica and Calotropis gigantea extracts were tested. The methanolic extract of these plants was screened against H37Rv strain using MGIT BACTEC 960 system. The extracts showed inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. Piper longum and Cressa cretica showed inhibition at 125µg/mL and Calotropis gigantea at 250µg/mL. However, isoniazid and Rifampicin as standard showed higher inhibitory activity against M. tuberculosis respectively at 0.05µg/mL and 0.12µg/mL when compared to the crude extract. The present study demonstrates the anti-tubercular potential of Piper longum and Cressa cretica as a new anti-mycobacterial agent. Although, the action of these compounds and their active principles require further purification and molecular characterization besides in vivo testing to evaluate their capacity as novel anti-TB agents.
Barriers during Preoperative Informed Consent Process from Patients’ and Health Professionals’ Perspective: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Negash Tadese , Oumer Keder Essa , Lema Diriba , Fanta Efrem , Belete Kumilachew , Fentie Yewulsew , Mekuanint Aderajew , Tesfaw Aragaw , Ayele Tamiru , Fentie Fiseha , Daniel Tinbite
Published: May 2022

Background: Informed consent involves information disclosure, recommendation of a plan of care, patient understanding, informed decision making, and authorization to proceed with the plan of care. Informed consent discussions are individualized not only with regard to the patients’ surgical condition and goals but also their varying information needs, health literacy, and anxiety. Therefore, we try to figured out barriers in the informed consent process from both patient and health proffetionals perspective.Objective: The main objective of this study is to explore patients’ and health professionals’ perceived barriers during informed consent process and identify suggested solutions for improvementMethods: A qualitative research using focused group discussions and in-depth interviews was employed on patients who underwent elective surgery, anesthetists and surgeons at a comprehensive specialized hospital in Ethiopia. Purposive sampling was used to select the study participants. The sample size was determined depending on the theoretical saturation of idea during data collection. Focused group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews data were thematically analyzed using Open Code Version 4.2 software and presented with narrations and quotations. Results: 12 patients were participated for the in-depth interview and 2 FGDs were conducted with surgeons and anesthetists. The main barriers identified by the patients include: inadequate explanation about the intended procedure, family’s influence in the decision making, fear of surgery, fear of light/power interruption, inadequate time for discussion and not letting the family members to attend the discussion. On the other hand, healthcare professionals also identified various barriers during informed consent process. These include: inability of patients to understand the information, limited time to discuss with patients in detail, poorly designed informed consent form, poor awareness of patients/community, fear of patient refusal for surgery if the risks and associated health problems are explained, lack of adequate investigation to confidently explain about the disease, use of medical jargons, poor documentation habit of professionals and lack of legal system regarding ethical dilemmas.Conclusion: Patients and health professionals have identified an avoidable barriers that needs the attention of concerned health professionals, educators and the healthcare delivery system.
Synergistic protective effects of Houttuynia cordata fermented with Aureobasidium pullulans against UVA and H2O2 induced oxidative stress in human skin keratinocytes
Authors: Kwon Nakyoung , Vinayagam Ramachandran , Do Geum Sook , Lee Kyung Eun , Kang Sang Gu
Published: May 2022

The biological activities of Aureobasidium pullulans fermented with a medicinal plant, Houttuynia cordata, was investigated for human skin keratinocytes induced chemical and photo oxidations. In this research, H2O2/UVA-induced HaCaT cell lines were treated with H. cordata water/ethanol extracts (HCW/HCE) and fermented with A. pullulans water/ethanol extracts (HCFW/HCFE). A. pullulans fermented with H. cordata (HCFW) increased in 5.4 folds of total polyphenol (HCFW 46.89 mg GAE/extract g), and 2.3 folds in flavonoids (HCFW 53.80 mg GAE/extract g) compare with water extracts of H. cordata (HCW). Further, no significant cytotoxicity for HaCaT cells showed all the extracts of H. cordata fermented with A. pullulans. HCFW extracts have significantly lowered inflammation factors such as COX-2 and Hsp70 proteins in oxidative stressed HaCaT cells induced by H2O2 and UVA treatments. All H. cordata extracts significantly down-regulated gene expression involved in oxidative stress and inflammation factors, including IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, TNF-α, NF-κB, and MMP-1 in the H2O2/UVA treated HaCaT cells. However, keratin-1 gene expression in the UVA treaed HaCaT cells was increased in two forlds by HCFW extracts. Further, A. pullulans fermentated H. cordata extracts (HCFW/HCFE) reduced effectively the genes involved in oxidative stresses than those of H. cordata extracts only. Overall, the pholyphenol rich extracts of H. cordata fermented with A. pullulans showed synergistic protective effects for human epidermal keratinocytes to prevent photoagaing and intrisinc aging by anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory functions.
Dysregulation of Circulatory Levels of lncRNAs in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Huang Ting , Zhao Jin-Ying , Pan Rong-Rong , Jiang Teng , Fu Xin-Xin , Huang Qing , Wang Xi-xi , Gong Peng-yu , Zhang Ying-Dong , Tian You-Yong
Published: May 2022

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. The emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the pathogenesis of PD. In this study, we used gene expression profiles from GEO database to construct a PD-specific lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network. Functional enrichment analysis suggested that ceRNA network might participate in the development of PD. The PPI network was constructed to identify these interactions between proteins translated by the screened differentially expressed genes, and the ceRNA subnetwork based on five hub genes was set up. In a cohort of 32 PD patients and 31 healthy controls, the expression of 10 DElncRNAs (TTC3-AS1, LINC01259, ZMYND10-AS1, CHRM3-AS1, MYO16-AS1, AGBL5-IT1, HOTAIRM1, RABGAP1L-IT1, HLCS-IT1, and LINC00393) were further verified. Consistent with the microarray data, expression of LINC01259 was lower in total patients compared with total controls (P = 0.008), and other lncRNAs expression levels were not significantly different in the two groups. Intriguingly, such difference was only observed between male patients and male controls when dividing study participants based on their gender (P = 0.016). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that LINC01259 has diagnostic power of 0.694. Moreover, expression of LINC01259 was not correlated with age of patients, disease duration, disease stage, MDS-UPDRS and MMSE. The current study provides further evidence for dysregulation of lncRNAs in the circulation of PD patients and revealed LINC01259 has clinical potential as a biomarker for PD diagnosis.
Three player interactions in urban settings: Design challenges for autonomous vehicles (AVs)
Authors: NATHANAEL Dimitris , Papakostopoulos Vassilis
Published: May 2022

In this study, analysis of crossing episodes between two intersecting vehicles, in which a third road user clearly affected its evolution, was conducted in an attempt to identify (i) recurring patterns of non-regulatory coordination among the road users involved and (ii) traffic situational invariances that eventually can be used by AVs to predict and comply to such patterns. The term BLOCK-EXPLOITING is introduced to describe a driver’s active search to exploit situational opportunities offered to gain priority often contrary to regulatory provisions. Depending on the situation, such behaviour may present advantages in terms of traffic efficiency. Video-data from an urban stop-controlled intersection were collected and analysed using a phenomenological framework developed in this study. Four generic types of BLOCK-EXPLOITING behaviour were identified (i.e. piggybacking, sneaking, covering, ghost-covering). It is advocated that such behaviours can be socially acceptable provided that BLOCK-EXPLOITERs’ actions are timely, inter-predictable and, not endangering to others. Proposed design challenges for AVs in mixed traffic stemming from this study include the ability to (i) distinguish BLOCK-EXPLOITING form errant driving behaviour, (ii) recognise to whom a ‘space-offering’ is addressed, as well as (iii) track the local history among the road users involved in a developing episode for assessing the appropriateness or abusiveness of a BLOCK-EXPLOITING action.
The Use of Waste Ceramic Concrete for a Cleaner and Sustainable Environment - A Comprehensive Study of Mechanical and Microstructural Properties
Authors: Najm Hadee Mohammed , Ahmad Shakeel
Published: May 2022

Increased construction activity combined with a continued reliance on conventional concrete materials resulted in material scarcity and increased construction costs. So, in this study, an attempt has been made to find the optimal use of ceramic powder and ceramic aggregate (both fine and coarse) as a possible replacement for ordinary portland cement (OPC 43 grade) and natural aggregate (fine and coarse), respectively in concrete. The present study aims to investigate the mechanical & microstructural properties of waste ceramic concrete. The performance of this modified concrete was evaluated in terms of Compressive Strength (CS), Tensile Strength (TS), Flexural Strength (FS), and Combined Flexural and Torsional strength (FTS) obtained based on various experimental tests conducted on a total of 192 samples (48 cubes, 48 cylinders, 96 beams). The mechanical analysis of waste ceramic concrete showed that ceramic waste material as a partial replacement for natural aggregate, cement, and fine aggregate provides better performance in terms of CS, TS, and FTS at optimal percentages- 20% ceramic aggregate, 10% ceramic powder, and 10% ceramic fine aggregate (Fineness Modulus 2.2) respectively in M25 grade concrete. Waste ceramic concrete exhibits improved morphological properties as a result of increased pore filling with dense and compact structure, as well as increased C–H crystals and denser structure in pastes as a result of the incorporation of ceramic materials into the concrete mix.The present experimental research shows that the choice of using ceramic waste as a partial replacement to prepare concrete has benefited from the economic, environmental, and technological points of view. Moreover, it offers a possibility for improving the durability of concrete, which has vital importance.
Implementation and outcomes of interprofessional education programme among health care students and practitioners in Ghana
Authors: Dassah Edward T. , Norman Betty R. , Dzomeku Veronica M. , Opare-Addo Mercy N.A. , Asare Ofeibea , Buabeng Kwame O. , Adu-Sarkodie Yaw
Published: May 2022

Background: Interprofessional education (IPE) fosters health care collaboration and improves health outcomes for patients. IPE can be implemented at all training levels, including pre-service trainees, post-licensure interns and practicing health professionals. IPE especially among pre-service health students is novel in Ghana. We describe the implementation and outcomes of an IPE training in HIV care for health students and practitioners in Ghana. Methods: A pre- and post-training survey was conducted among health students and practitioners who participated in a two-day interactive IPE training in HIV care. Differences in pre- and post-test median scores were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank and Kruskal-Wallis tests. P£0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Altogether, 911 health students and professionals were trained, of whom 833 and 728 completed the pre- and post-test training surveys respectively. They comprised, pre-service health students (59.1%), house officers and interns (27.9%) and health practitioners (13.1%). The overall median scores improved significantly from 245 (pre-test) to 265 (post-test) (p<0.001), as were the median scores for each module (p<0.001). The pre- and post-test median scores were significantly different across the professional categories (p<0.001), but did not differ significantly across training levels (p=0.13). The confidence level in carrying out specific module related activities nearly doubled after the training. Almost all the participants were satisfied with the training (>92%) and with the emphasis on interprofessional collaboration (>98%) and quality improvement (>97%). Conclusion: IPE improves health students’ and practitioners’ knowledge and competencies in HIV management. IPE should be incorporated into the pre-service curricula of health students and continuing professional education of health practitioners.
A patient-centered digital cost simulator based on Time-Driven Based-Activity Costing: a proof-of-concept study of knee replacement in two private Portuguese hospitals
Authors: von Hafe Francisco , Azevedo Salomé , Leal João , Etges Ana Paula Beck da Silva , Londral Ana Rita
Published: May 2022

Background
Decision-makers need accurate information on intervention outcomes and costs to manage the healthcare system more efficiently. Literature proposes Time-Driven Based-Activity Costing (TDABC) as a cost measurement model that accounts for care cycle complexity. However, few studies show how to apply the TDABC model in a real context, considering the existing hospitals' information systems (IS). Our primary goal was to design a patient-centered digital cost simulator for assessing the provider's cost of care delivery in knee replacement surgeries. Additionally, to synthesize the learning experience of implementing it.
Methods
The digital cost simulator was designed on a set of spreadsheets, in Portugal based on the TDABC model and implemented in two Portuguese private hospitals located in two cities by two multidisciplinary TDABC operational teams. The cost simulator development and implementation followed the TDABC implementation steps proposed in the literature. Finally, we developed comprehensive dashboards to analyze the costing information by conducting two focus group sessions. Through one unstructured focus group, teams evaluated the implementation and development of the digital cost simulator.
Results
The cost simulator and the data structure for collecting the most relevant cost data were developed and tested. From the analysis of the developed dashboards, one can visualize the duration of the activities, the ones that can take the most time, the costliest activities, and resources, and how costs are distributed before, during, and after the surgery. Costs with Human Resources represent most costs during pre- and post-hospital surgery. However, during surgery, consumables are the costliest resources.
Conclusion
The developed simulator enlightened the healthcare provider's need for future improvements in the IS. From the simulator implementation, we concluded that the patient journey must drive data collection and analyses and breaking the activities into operations helps obtain time estimations and allocate resources better. Additionally, listing of the used resources should follow the financial IS classification. Moreover, Implementing the cost simulator requires the hospitals' IS to collect and interoperate with different data sources along the patient pathway. Finally, everyone agreed that its implementation involves the commitment of the healthcare provider's clinical and non-clinical teams.
Surprising Relationships Between Soil pH and Microbial Biomass and Activity in a Northern Hardwood Forest
Authors: Ontman Renata , Groffman Peter M. , Driscoll Charles T. , Cheng Zhongqi
Published: May 2022

Soil microbes mediate major biogeochemical processes in forest ecosystems. Soil pH is considered a “master variable” controlling these processes and many biogeochemical processes in turn influence pH. Long-term measurements of soil pH, microbial biomass carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content, microbial respiration, potential net N mineralization and nitrification rates, denitrification potential, and soil nitrate (NO3-) and ammonium (NH+ 4) concentrations have occurred since 1994 at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest (HBEF), a northern hardwood forest in New Hampshire, USA. Naturally acidic soils at the HBEF have been further acidified by anthropogenic acid deposition. Soils in a HBEF watershed have been experimentally treated with calcium silicate to ameliorate acid deposition. While we expected to observe strong positive relationships between soil pH and microbial biomass/activity, weak and/or curvilinear relationships between microbial biomass and activity and soil pH were evident, with peaks at unexpectedly low values (~ 4.5) and values decreased at higher pH values, especially in the calcium-treated soils. It is likely that complexities in plant: microbial interactions inhibit and/or mask microbial response to changes in pH in these acidic soils. These results raise fundamental questions about pH as a controller of microbial processes and how ecosystems recover in response to decreases in acid deposition.
Prevalence and clinical outcomes of vitamin D deficiency among Japanese multiple myeloma patients: a single-center observational study
Authors: Isoda Atsushi , Miyazawa Yuri , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Kanaya Shuhei , Nakayama Keita , Mihara Masahiro , Iriuchishima Hirono , Saito Akio , Matsumoto Morio , Sawamura Morio
Published: May 2022

Purpose Vitamin D is a fundamental mediator of skeletal metabolism, but also plays an important role in the pathophysiology of multiple myeloma (MM). Recent studies have shown an association between vitamin D deficiency and racial outcomes in MM patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among Japanese MM patients and the association between vitamin D status and clinical outcomesMethods We tested serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels in 68 MM patients at a single Japanese institution from December 2015 to March 2016.Results Median serum 25(OH)D level was 22 ng/mL, with 32% and 51% of patients showing vitamin D deficiency (<20 ng/mL) and insufficiency (20–29 ng/mL), respectively. The 25(OH)D levels were not associated with sex, age, duration of MM disease, stage, or skeletal morbidity. In 15 patients with suboptimal 25(OH)D levels, supplementation with cholecalciferol (1000 IU/day) significantly increased 25(OH)D levels and decreased parathyroid hormone levels in all patients. Serum total procollagen type 1 N-propeptide levels, but not serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b, were increased in patients who achieved complete remission. Overall survivals from vitamin D measurement and from MM diagnosis were significantly worse in the vitamin D-deficient group than in the vitamin D-deficient/sufficient group. Conclusion Most Japanese MM patients had less-than-sufficient levels of serum vitamin D, with one-third being deficient. Vitamin D deficiency also predicted poor overall survival in Japanese MM patients. Further studies are needed to investigate whether vitamin D supplementation can overcome the poor survival of MM patients.
A New Method for Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebra and Anatomic Orientation of Sacrum that could be applied as a Peroperative Indicator for Lumbosacral Surgery:Anterior Transitional Arch (ATA1) - Anterior Transitional Angle (ATA2)
Authors: ATABEY Cem , GUNAYDIN Ahmet , EROGLU Ahmet , OZDEMİR Meltem , SANLI Ahmet Metin
Published: May 2022

PurposeSacral slope (SS), Lumbar lordosis (LL), Pelvic tilt (PT), Pelvic incidence (PI), Sagittal vertical axis (SVA) measurements regarding anatomical structure and orientation of the lumbosacral region are very important for surgical planning and postoperative follow-up of patients. The lumbosacral transitional vertebra, which is determinant in the formation of these measurements, is effective the sacral vertebra shape and can show various anatomical variations, referred to as "sacralized L5" or "lumbarized S1". MethodsThese variations can significantly alter the sacral surface longitudinally concave on the ventral side and convexity on the dorsal side, which are observed under normal conditions. Therefore, during surgical planning in the spine, the sacrum should be determined radiologically and the vertebrae should be counted correctly. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a practical use for determining the orientation of the sacrum for sagittal balance calculation, and to recognize the sacralized L5 or lumbarized S1 segment as LSTV to avoid incorrect level surgery.ResultsMetrologically, a new index was created using the "Anterior Translational Arch (ATA1)" distance and the "Anterior Translational Angle (ATA2)" angle. 527 cases (83.3%) with anatomically normal sacrum, 35 cases (5.5%) with lumbalization and 71 cases (11.2%) with sacralization were evaluated using this index.ConclusionAs a conclusion, the index calculated in terms of “Anterior Translational Arch (ATA1)” distance and “Anterior Translational Angle (ATA2)” provides a simple measurement to determine the transitional vertebra.
Sodium thiosulfate improves the severity of atopic dermatitis by downregulating IL-4 and IL-13 concentrations
Authors: Zeng Yilan , Yang shengbo , Liu Yuanhong , Tang Ziting , Zong Xiule , Li Xuemei , Wang Dan
Published: May 2022

Background Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease that has a considerable impact on the affected individual’s quality of life. Sodium thiosulfate (STS) is a traditional medicine that seems to improve the severity of lesions and relieve the symptoms of AD through clinical observation. However, the exact efficacy and mechanism of its application with AD are not clear.Patients and Methods This retrospective cohort study included patients hospitalized with moderate or severe atopic dermatitis. Patients who received standard of care (control group) were compared with patients who additionally received STS 0.64 mg once daily (STSQD) and STS 0.64 mg twice daily (STSBID) via intravenous injection. The severity of AD was assessed by the IGA score, EASI score and SCORAD score. Cytokine, eosinophil and total immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels were measured before and after treatment. The efficacy was assessed by EASI50 and EASI75.Results A total of 60 patients were enrolled, 20 patients in each group respectively. There was no significant difference among the three groups in sex, age, or IGA, EASI, or SCORAD score before treatment. Treatment with STS led to greater improvement with higher EASI50 and EASI75 scores on the date of discharge compared to the control group. At the end of treatment, the SCORAD and EASI scores in the STS BID group and the STS QD group decreased much more than that in the control group. Greater reductions in peripheral blood eosinophil counts and IgE, IL-4 and IL-13 concentrations were also observed in the STS treatment group than in the control group.Conclusion STS in combination with standard care improves the signs and symptoms of AD by downregulating concentrations of IgE, eosinophils, and type 2 proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-13. STS is a cheap and reliable medicine for AD.
Detections of Organochlorine Pesticides in Water, Sediment, and Fish Samples in Lake Tana and Lake Hayqe, Ethiopia
Authors: Tibebe Dessie , Fentie Tarekegn , Akele M. L. , Mulugeta Marye , Kokeb Addis , Yenealem Dereje , Kahaliw Asresie , Moges Zerubabel , Kassa Yezbie , Adane Tsegaye
Published: May 2022

The extensive use of pesticides considered as a global threat to the ecological integrity of aquatic ecosystems. Most developing countries including Ethiopia are burdened with these toxic and persistent pesticides due to their wider used for agricultural pest and malaria control. The present study was aimed to investigate the concentration of Organochlorine pesticides water, sediment and fish samples in Lakes Tana and Hayqe. Eight samples of each water and sediment and five fish samples were collected. A laboratory based cross sectional study was conducted from Dec 2020 to March 2021 in Lakes Tana and Hayqe. A more sensitive method for the determination of 18 Organochlorine pesticides in water, sediments, and fish samples were adopted using QuEChERS and the analyses were done using GC-MS. Water samples were processed using a liquid–liquid extraction technique and gas chromatograph equipped with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Dispersive-solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) was used for fish and sediment samples followed by cleanup and gas chromatograph Mass Spectroscopy. In the method validation, Percent of recovery ranged from 88.4-107.6%. From the result lindane (1.11 µg/L) was recorded the lowest concentration of OCPs in water samples and total endosulfan was the highest (14.97µg/L). In sediment samples, deltamethrin (11.21 µg/kg) was the lowest and endrin (70.42 µg/kg) was the highest OCPs. From fish samples, lindane (12.63 µg/kg) was the lowest and total endosulfan (68.78 µg/kg) was the highest concentration. The ANOVA test and t-test also depicted that the levels of most pesticides were significantly varied with different sampling sites and between Lakes.
Water conductance rather than photosynthesis controls water-use efficiency in Europe
Authors: Terán Christian Poppe , Naz Bibi S. , Graf Alexander , Qu Yuquan , Hendricks-Franssen Harrie-Jan , Baatz Roland , Ciais Philippe , Vereecken Harry
Published: May 2022

Water-use efficiency (WUE) is one of the major axes of ecosystem functioning and an indicator for ecosystem health, but its variability due to climate change and droughts has not yet been thoroughly understood. Here, we use remote sensing and reanalysis data to map the trends and responses to droughts of three WUE indices from 1995 – 2018 in Europe. Further, we conduct a causal network discovery analysis to identify drivers of in WUE change. We found an increasing trends of photosynthesis per canopy conductance (IWUE) in forests and grasslands. IWUE also increased during droughts over whole Europe but this was not translated into an increase of photosythesis per water evaporated (i.e. increased EWUE). We highlight that the WUE indices are predominantly explained by ecohydrological variability, which underlines the role of water demand and supply to ecosystem function in Europe.
Sugarcane Water Requirement and Yield Projections in Major Producing Regions of China Under Future Climate Scenarios
Authors: ZHU Xiaochen , DONG Hengxin , LI Qiangyu , QIU Xinfa , Sun Yu
Published: May 2022

Relative soil moisture is of great significance to the growth and yield of sugarcane. In this study, we use the relative soil moisture from the China Meteorological Administration Land Data Assimilation System (CLDAS) to dynamically evaluate the water requirement of sugarcane and its growth adaptability at different growth stages. Based on the data of relative soil moisture, air temperature, precipitation and soil temperature, a sugarcane yield model is established to analyze the projected change trends of sugarcane yield in China from 2020 to 2100 under three future scenarios. Analysis results show that sugarcane requires more water during the elongation stage but less water at the ripening stage. The relative soil moisture from the CLDAS can be used to calculate the proportion of the daily suitable area to the total planting area. The combining of relative soil moisture data and water requirement indicators can better characterize the water requirement during sugarcane growth. Suitable relative soil moisture during the tillering and elongation stages is the most critical factor that directly affects the sugarcane yield. From 2020 to 2100, sugarcane yield will increase first and then decrease sharply. The increase in emissions can lead to an apparent downward trend in sugarcane yield. Based on the CLDAS data and water requirement indicators, a new method for monitoring the sugarcane growth throughout the growth period is proposed in this study. In the SSP370 and SSP460 scenarios, the sugarcane yield showed a downward trend, and there were mutations in 2064 and 2052, respectively. After the mutation, the yield decline trend was more obvious. Under the SSP585 scenario model, the sugarcane production showed an upward trend from 2022 to 2033, and a downward trend after 2033, and a mutation occurred in 2051. After the mutation, the downward trend of sugarcane production was more obvious.
Combination of Immune-Related Network and Subtype-Specific Analysis Define a Three- Gene Panel for Predicting Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Zhang Jinguo , Pan Shuaikang , Jin Hongwei , Sun Qingqing , Han Xinghua
Published: May 2022

Background: Recent breakthroughs in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown promise in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Due to the intrinsic heterogeneity among TNBC, clinical response to ICIs varies greatly among individuals. Thus, discovering rational biomarkers to select susceptible patients for ICIs treatment is warranted.Methods: A total of 422 TNBC patients derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) dataset were included in this study. High immunogenic gene modules were identified using weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). Immune-related genes (IRGs) expression patterns were generated by consensus clustering. We developed a three-gene signature named immune-related gene panel (IRGP) by Cox regression method. Afterward, the associations of IRGP with survival outcomes, infiltration of immune cells, drug sensitivity and the response to ICIs therapy were further explored.Results: We found five high immunogenic gene modules. Two distinct IRGclusters and IRG-related genomic clusters were identified. The IRGP was constructed based on TAPBPL, FBP1, and GPRC5C genes. TNBC patients were subdivided into high- and low-IRGriskscore subgroups. TNBC patients with low IRGriskscore had a better survival outcome, higher infiltration of immune cells, lower TP53 mutation rate and more benefit from ICIs treatment than high IRGriskscore patients.Conclusions: These findings offered novel insights into molecular subtype of TNBC and provided potential indicators for guiding ICIs treatment.
An atypical case of Babesia bigemina parasitising a dogfrom a rural area of eastern Mexico
Authors: Bravo-Ramos José L. ,   Sokani Sánchez-Montes2, Ballados-González Gerardo G. , Romero-Salas Dora , Gamboa-Prieto Jannete , Olivares-Muñoz Angélica
Published: May 2022

One dog that shared habitat with domestic animals in a cattle farm and that was exposed to wildlife was taken to a private practitioner for clinical examination. The analyses conducted on the patient revealed a babesiosis due to Babesia bigemina by a molecular test. Clinical signs of the infection were observed in the patient. The animal was treated with imidocarb dipropionate (two doses each 0.5 ml/10 kg b.w. at an interval of 14 days). On treatment day 7, the clinical signs were mostly reduced. On day 30, PCR was carried out to assess the efficacy of the treatment, with a negative result. This case represents the first report of babesiosis due to B. bigemina in a dog living on a cattle farm in Mexico. It indicates the lower host specify of these pathogens and that dogs can play a role as sentinels of vector-borne parasites in livestock animals.
SVM and Naive Bayes for Sentiment Analysis in Arabic
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed
Published: May 2022

Sentiment analysis has emerged as a powerful method to extract polarization of opinion from text. A vast number of prominent sentiment analysis methods can be categorized into rule-based method, lexicon-based method, machine learning method, and deep learning, and ontology-based method. An increasing interest toward sentiment analysis is motivated, among others, by some successful use cases of sentiment analysis in several domains and availability of enormous data as the result of big data explosion in the past ten years. The objective of this study is to identify some latest study reports that represent various trends of sentiment analysis. We implemented sentiment analysis for Arabic tweets, we applied SVM and Naive Bayes algorithms.
Comparative study of saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers: application to the aquifer of Oued Laou (Morocco)
Authors: Himi Mahjoub , Deidda Gian Piero , Salhi Adil , Stitou-El Messari Jamal Eddin , Sendrós Alex , Rivero Lluís , Lovera Raúl , Casas-Ponsatí Albert
Published: May 2022

Groundwater is a fundamental and strategic resource for water supply of coastal areas, especially in the Mediterranean basin where the irregularity of precipitation, both seasonally and year-on-year, put at risk the availability of surface water in the rivers, which go from being dry for long periods to causing torrential discharges. In particular, if the exploitation of coastal aquifers is not properly managed and the quality of groundwater is not monitored regularly, important sectors of the aquifer may be affected by saltwater intrusion, and cause the abandonment of the wells. Geophysical methods are a very effective complement to provide indirect information on groundwater salinity in areas of the aquifer where wells or piezometers are not available for sampling. This study presents the results obtained from the application of different geophysical methods in the coastal aquifer of Oued Laou (Morocco) as a complement to hydrochemical data. Four geophysical methods, two electrical: vertical electrical sounding and electrical resistivity tomography, and two electromagnetic: frequency domain EM and time domain EM sounding. The comparative analysis of the results obtained by each method has made it possible to assess the coherence and complementarity of each method, as well as their corresponding advantages and limitations in terms of resolution and cost-effectiveness.
Multiscale and multifactor sea-groundwater interactions in southwestern Mauritania
Authors: Salem Mohamed Ahmed , Leduc Christian , Avoulwatt Mohamed
Published: May 2022

Coastal aquifers in semi-arid zones are particularly exposed to environmental changes because of their low annual recharge and the increasing anthropogenic pressure. This is particularly the case in the Trarza phreatic aquifer (SW Mauritania), which is the uppermost northern part of the great Senegalese-Mauritanian sedimentary basin. The interactions between the Atlantic Ocean and the Tertiary-Quaternary aquifer have evolved considerably during the last millennia and these continuous changes concern the nature and location of processes at work, their intensity and their current consequences. In this vast region with a very flat topography, hydrodynamic and geochemical observations are still rare and currently allow only the main features of recent history to be reconstructed. The analysis of old and recent data reveals that eustatic variations and the annual flood of the Senegal River were in the past the most important factors of equilibrium between fresh water and sea water, even very far from the present coastline. Today, anthropization, in particular hydraulic developments and urbanisation, adds to the complexity of the system. At a more local scale, denser  observations in the Nouakchott urban area or in the Diawling natural park provide a better understanding of current dynamics.
Bir Üniversite Hastanesinde COVID-19 Tanısı Alan Sağlık Çalışanlarının Sosyal İlişkilerindeki Dönüşümlerin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: Yapıcı Gülçin , Altınören Evgin İrem , Ertong Attar Günnur , Kurt Ahmet Öner
Published: May 2022

Çalışmanın amacı, bir üniversite hastanesinde COVID-19 tanısı konmuş sağlık çalışanlarının hastalandıktan sonra yaşadıkları damgalanma, aile, iş, sosyal çevre ile ilişkilerinde ve geleceğe bakışlarındaki dönüşümü belirlemektir. Tanımlayıcı tipteki çalışmanın verileri 29 Mart-29 Mayıs 2021 tarihleri arasında bir üniversitesi hastanesinde görev yapan ve COVID-19 tanısı konan 108 sağlık çalışanından elde edildi. Anket formu, Google Forms kullanılarak katılımcılar tarafından çevirim içi olarak dolduruldu. Ankette katılımcıların sosyodemografik özellikleri, COVID-19’a yakalanması sonrasında işyerinde, evde ve sosyal hayatındaki değişimler, mesleğine, çalıştığı kuruma ve yönetime karşı olan duygu ve düşüncelerinin sorgulandığı 57 sorudan oluşmaktadır. Verilerin analizinde Ki kare testi, Student t testi ve Mann-Whitney U testi kullanıldı. p