bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report: Early detection of pancreatic pre-cancer lesion in multimodal approach with exosome liquid biopsy
Authors: Dhani Harmeet , Hinestrosa Juan Pablo , Izaguirre-Carbonell Jesus , Balcer Heath I. , Kurzrock Razelle , Billings Paul R.
Published: May 2023

Background

The detection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) lesions at pre-cancerous or early-stages is critical to improving patient survival. We have developed a liquid biopsy test (ExoVita®) based on the measurement of protein biomarkers in cancer-derived exosomes. The high sensitivity and specificity of the test for early-stage PDAC has the potential to improve a patient’s diagnostic journey in hopes to impact patient outcomes.

Methods

Exosome isolation was performed using alternating current electric (ACE) field applied to the patient plasma sample. Following a wash to eliminate unbound particles, the exosomes were eluted from the cartridge. A downstream multiplex immunoassay was performed to measure proteins of interest on the exosomes, and a proprietary algorithm provided a score for probability of PDAC.

Results

We describe the case of a 60-year-old healthy non-Hispanic white male with acute pancreatitis who underwent numerous invasive diagnostic procedures that failed to detect radiographic evidence of pancreatic lesions. Following the results of our exosome-based liquid biopsy test showing "High Likelihood of PDAC", in addition to KRAS and TP53 mutations, the patient decided to undergo a robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple) procedure. Surgical pathology confirmed the diagnosis of high-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN), which was consistent with the results of our ExoVita® test. The patient’s post-operative course was unremarkable. At five-month follow-up, the patient continued to recover well without complications, in addition to a repeat ExoVita test which demonstrated “Low Likelihood of PDAC”.

Conclusion

This case report highlights how a novel liquid biopsy diagnostic test based on the detection of exosome protein biomarkers allowed early diagnosis of a high-grade precancerous lesion for PDAC and improved patient outcome.
Estimating antibiotic coverage from linked microbiological and clinical data from the Swiss Paediatric Sepsis Study to support empiric antibiotic regimen selection
Authors: Cook Aislinn , Atkinson Andrew , Kronenberg Andreas , Agyeman Philipp K. A. , Schlapbach Luregn J. ,   Swiss Pediatric Sepsis Study Group, Berger Christoph , Bielicki Julia Anna
Published: May 2023

In light of rising antibiotic resistance, better methods for selection of empiric antibiotic treatment based on clinical and microbiological data are needed. Most guidelines target specific clinical infections, and variably adjust empiric antibiotic selection by certain patient characteristics. Coverage estimates reflect the probability that an antibiotic regimen will be active against the causative pathogen once confirmed and can provide an objective basis for empiric regimen selection. Coverage can be estimated for specific infections using a weighted incidence syndromic combination antibiograms (WISCAs) framework. However, no comprehensive data combining clinical and microbiological data for specific clinical syndromes are available in Switzerland. We therefore describe estimating coverage from semi-deterministically linked routine microbiological and cohort data of hospitalised children with sepsis. Coverage estimates were generated for each hospital and separately pooling data across ten contributing hospitals for five pre-defined patient risk groups. Data from 1,082 patients collected during the Swiss Paediatric Sepsis Study (SPSS) 2011–2015 were included. Preterm neonates were the most commonly represented group, and half of infants and children had a comorbidity. 67% of neonatal sepsis cases were hospital-acquired late-onset whereas in children 76% of infections were community-acquired. Escherichia coli, Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) and Staphylococcus aureus were the most common pathogens. At all hospitals, ceftazidime plus amikacin regimen had the lowest coverage, and coverage of amoxicillin plus gentamicin and meropenem were generally comparable. Coverage was improved when vancomycin was included in the regimen, reflecting uncertainty about the empirically targeted pathogen spectrum. Children with community-acquired infections had high coverage overall. It is feasible to estimate coverage of common empiric antibiotic regimens from linked data. Pooling data by patient risk groups with similar expected pathogen and susceptibility profiles may improve coverage estimate precision, supporting better differentiation of coverage between regimens. Identification of data sources, selection of regimens and consideration of pathogens to target for improved empiric coverage is important.
TRAF-STOP alleviates osteoclastogenesis in periodontitis
Authors: Huang Yaxian , Wu Jinyan , Zhan Chi , Liu Rong , Zhou Zhaocai , Huang Xin , Tian Yaguang , Lin Zhengmei , Song Zhi
Published: May 2023

The enhanced osteoclastogenesis contributes to alveolar bone resorption in periodontitis, which increases the risk of tooth loss. To reduce bone destruction, the inhibition of osteoclast development is proposed as a feasible treatment. CD40L-CD40-TRAF6 signal transduction plays a crucial role in inflammation, but how it regulates osteoclast activity in periodontitis has not been elucidated. In this study, we showed the potential role of CD40L-CD40-TRAF6 signaling in periodontitis. CD40L obviously promoted osteoclast formation and bone resorption capacity in vitro. Mechanistically, we found that osteoclastogenesis was enhanced by the overexpression of NFATc1 and NF-κB activation. Importantly, osteoclast activity was effectively suppressed by TRAF-STOP, a small molecular inhibitor of TRAF6. Furthermore, local injection of TRAF-STOP-loaded injectable PLGA-PEG-PLGA hydrogel could alleviate ligation-induced periodontitis in vivo. Taken together, TRAF-STOP shows promising clinical efficacy in periodontitis through alleviating osteoclastogenesis.
Ferroptosis as an emerging therapeutic target in liver diseases
Authors: Lu Yuzhen , Hu Junjie , Chen Liang , Li Shan , Yuan Ming , Tian Xianxiang , Cao Peng , Qiu Zhenpeng
Published: May 2023

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependently nonapoptotic cell death characterized by excessive accumulation of lipid peroxides and cellular iron metabolism disturbances. Impaired iron homeostasis and dysregulation of metabolic pathways are contributors to ferroptosis. As a major metabolic hub, the liver synthesizes and transports plasma proteins and endogenous fatty acids. Also, it acts as the primary location of iron storage for hepcidin generation and secretion. To date, although the intricate correlation between ferroptosis and liver disorders needs to be better defined, there is no doubt that ferroptosis participates in the pathogenesis of liver diseases. Accordingly, pharmacological induction and inhibition of ferroptosis show significant potential for the treatment of hepatic disorders involved in lipid peroxidation. In this review, we outline the prominent features, molecular mechanisms, and modulatory networks of ferroptosis and its physiopathologic functions in the progression of liver diseases. Further, this review summarizes the underlying mechanisms by which ferroptosis inducers and inhibitors ameliorate liver diseases. It is noteworthy that natural active ingredients show efficacy in preclinical liver disease models by regulating ferroptosis. Finally, we analyze crucial concepts and urgent issues concerning ferroptosis as a novel therapeutic target in the diagnosis and therapy of liver diseases.
Cognitive challenge as a probe to expose sex- and age-related differences during static contractions
Authors: Pereira Hugo M. , Hunter Sandra K.
Published: May 2023

Despite activities of daily living being frequently performed simultaneously with a cognitive task, motor function is often investigated in isolation, which can hinder the applicability of findings. This brief review presents evidence that 1) performing a cognitive challenge simultaneously with a motor task can negatively impact force steadiness and fatigability of limb muscles during a static contraction, 2) the negative impact on old adults (>65 years old), particularly older women is greater than young when a cognitive challenge is simultaneously performed with a static motor task, 3) age-related mechanisms potentially explain impairments in motor performance in the presence of a cognitive challenge, and 4) the mechanisms for the age-related decrements in motor performance can be distinct between men and women. These observations are highly relevant to the older adults, given the increased risk of accidents and injury when a motor task is performed with a high cognitive-demand task, especially in light of the expanding reliance on an aging workforce.
Genome-wide identification of genes encoding SWI/SNF components in soybean and the functional characterization of GmLFR1 in drought-stressed plants
Authors: Chen Qiang , Shi Xiaolei , Ai Lijuan , Tian Xuan , Zhang Hongwei , Tian Jiawang , Wang Qianying , Zhang Mengchen , Cui Sujuan , Yang Chunyan , Zhao Hongtao
Published: May 2023

ATP-dependent SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes (CRCs) are evolutionarily conserved multi-component machines that regulate transcription, replication, and genome stability in eukaryotes. SWI/SNF components play pivotal roles in development and various stress responses in plants. However, the compositions and biological functions of SWI/SNF complex subunits remain poorly understood in soybean. In this study, we used bioinformatics to identify 39 genes encoding SWI/SNF subunit distributed on the 19 chromosomes of soybean. The promoter regions of the genes were enriched with several cis-regulatory elements that are responsive to various hormones and stresses. Digital expression profiling and qRT-PCR revealed that most of the SWI/SNF subunit genes were expressed in multiple tissues of soybean and were sensitive to drought stress. Phenotypical, physiological, and molecular genetic analyses revealed that GmLFR1 (Leaf and Flower-Related1) plays a negative role in drought tolerance in soybean and Arabidopsis thaliana. Together, our findings characterize putative components of soybean SWI/SNF complex and indicate possible roles for GmLFR1 in plants under drought stress. This study offers a foundation for comprehensive analyses of soybean SWI/SNF subunit and provides mechanistic insight into the epigenetic regulation of drought tolerance in soybean.
Work fatigue during COVID-19 lockdown teleworking: the role of psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions
Authors: Weber Clara , Golding Sarah E. , Yarker Joanna , Teoh Kevin , Lewis Rachel , Ratcliffe Eleanor , Munir Fehmidah , Wheele Theresa , Windlinger Lukas
Published: May 2023

Background

During national lockdowns in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, previously office-based workers who transitioned to home-based teleworking faced additional demands (e.g., childcare, inadequate homeworking spaces) likely resulting in poor work privacy fit. Previous office research suggests poor work privacy fit is associated with lower wellbeing and higher work fatigue. Emerging evidence suggests a relationship between childcare duties during pandemic teleworking and work fatigue. In addition to psychosocial working conditions (job demand, job control, and job change management), which are acknowledged predictors of work fatigue, this poses a significant threat to occupational health during pandemic teleworking. However, the relative effects of aspects of the psychosocial environment (job demands and resources), the home office environment (including privacy fit), and the social environment (childcare) on work fatigue as well as their interactions are under-explored.

Objective

This study examined the relationships between the psychosocial, environmental, and social working conditions of teleworking during the first COVID-19 lockdown and work fatigue. Specifically, the study examined teleworkers’ physical work environment (e.g., if and how home office space is shared, crowding, and noise perceptions) as predictors of privacy fit and the relationship between privacy fit, childcare, psychosocial working conditions (job demand, job control, and job change management), and work fatigue. Work privacy fit was hypothesized to mediate the relationship between childcare and work fatigue.

Methods

An online cross-sectional survey was conducted with teleworkers (n = 300) during the first COVID-19 lockdown in April and May 2020; most participants were in Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Results

Path analysis was used to examine the hypothesized relationships. Privacy fit was lower for those reporting greater levels of noise in home-working spaces and those feeling crowded at home. Work fatigue was lower amongst those with greater privacy fit and higher amongst those with high levels of job demand. An indirect relationship was observed between childcare and work fatigue with privacy fit mediating this relationship.

Conclusion

The influence of privacy fit has so far been largely neglected in research on teleworking, especially during the pandemic. However, its contribution to workers’ wellbeing should be acknowledged in occupational health strategies.
Prospective, longitudinal study to isolate the impacts of marijuana use on neurocognitive functioning in adolescents
Authors: Ren Wen , Fishbein Diana
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Policies to legalize possession and use of marijuana have been increasingly supported across the United States. Although there are restrictions on use in minors, many substance abuse scientists anticipate that these policy changes may alter use patterns among adolescents due to its wider availability and a softening of beliefs about its potentially harmful consequences. Despite the possibility that these policies may increase the prevalence of use among adolescents, the effects of marijuana on neurodevelopment remain unclear, clouding arguments in favor of or opposition to these policies.

Methods

The present prospective, longitudinal study was designed to isolate the neurodevelopmental consequences of marijuana use from its precursors during adolescence—a period of heightened vulnerability for both substance use and disrupted development due to environmental insults. Early adolescents who were substance-naïve at baseline (N = 529, aged 10–12) were recruited and tracked into adolescence when a subgroup initiated marijuana use during one of three subsequent waves of data collection, approximately 18 months apart.

Results

Results suggest that marijuana use may be specifically related to a decline in verbal learning ability in the short term and in emotion recognition, attention, and inhibition in the longer-term.

Discussion

These preliminary findings suggest that marijuana use has potential to adversely impact vulnerable neurodevelopmental processes during adolescence. Intensive additional investigation is recommended given that state-level policies regulating marijuana use and possession are rapidly shifting in the absence of good scientific information.
Case report: Co-occurring autism spectrum disorder (Level One) and obsessive-compulsive disorder in a gender-diverse adolescent
Authors: Guastello Andrea D. , Lieneman Corey , Bailey Brittany , Munson Melissa , Barthle-Herrera Megan , Higham Miranda , Druskin Lindsay , McNeil Cheryl B.
Published: May 2023

This fictionalized case report captures the common themes and considerations during the diagnostic assessment and behavioral treatment of adolescents demonstrating symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as gender-diversity concerns. Our patient was a white, non-Hispanic 17-year-old individual who identified as gender-neutral but had been assigned female at birth. Symptoms presented were social withdrawal, rigid rule-following behavior, unusual repetitive behavior, impairments in social communication skills, sensory sensitivity, body dissatisfaction, self-injury, and anxiety related to contamination, perfectionism, and social interactions. These symptoms contributed to functional impairment with school attendance, school achievement, family relationships, and the activities of daily living. This case report summarizes instruments employed for differential diagnosis concerning cognitive functioning, ASD, OCD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, and commonly co-occurring repetitive behavior. This patient was ultimately diagnosed with ASD, level one for both social communication and restricted, repetitive behaviors, without accompanying intellectual or language impairment; OCD with panic attacks; gender dysphoria; major depressive disorder (single episode and moderate); and ADHD. The subsequent 40-session course of cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure and response prevention (CBT/ERP) to treat OCD tailored to an individual with ASD and gender diversity concerns is described in detail. Components of family involvement are highlighted. As a result, significant improvements in school attendance, OCD symptoms, depression, social relationships, and adaptive functioning were measured. Lastly, recommendations for clinicians are summarized.
Dying with behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia in Australian nursing homes: a retrospective case-control study
Authors: Roach Peter , Lovell Melanie R. , Macfarlane Stephen
Published: May 2023

Objectives

To identify predictors of mortality in people with active and challenging behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).

Design

A retrospective case–control study was designed to compare those referred to Dementia Support Australia (DSA) who died in the 12 months to November 2016, with an equal number of controls who did not die. An audit tool was designed after literature review and expert opinion from the service. Odds ratio calculations and the Mann–Whitney U test were used to assess for difference.

Setting

Residents of Australian residential aged care facilities with BPSD referred to the DSA service.

Participants

Of 476 patients referred to DSA during the study period, 44 died. 44 controls were randomly selected from those remaining matched for age and sex.

Results

Significant differences included higher rates of benzodiazepine use, drowsiness, delirium, reduced oral intake and discussions about goals of care in those who died. Those who died were referred to the service for a shorter period and had more frequent contact between DSA and nurses at the nursing homes. Increase in opioid use and loss of skin integrity in those who died approached significance. The overall end of life course demonstrated a complex set of needs with frequent delirium, pain and frailty.

Conclusion

Further study is required to determine the optimal care for those with BPSD at the end of their lives. This study would indicate complex end of life care needs and point to a role for palliative care support.
Non-invasive brain stimulation for treating catatonia: a systematic review
Authors: Xiao Hongqi , Meng Yajing , Liu Shiyu , Cao Yuan , Sun Huan , Deng Gaoju , Wang Mei , Zheng Yaozong , Qiu Changjian
Published: May 2023

Background

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques offer new therapeutic options for modifying pathological neuroplasticity and have been proven to be beneficial in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the role of NIBS in treating catatonia.

Materials and methods

We conducted a systematic search to identify meta-analyses or systematic reviews on electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and studies on the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with catatonia from the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Internet, Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal databases from inception until 31 July 2022. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed with the AMSTAR2 or Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal tools. Paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to compare changes in catatonia symptom scores after rTMS or tDCS.

Results

A total of 13 systematic reviews and one meta-analysis on ECT, two systematic reviews and 12 case reports on rTMS, and seven studies of 14 cases applying tDCS were identified. Systematic reviews of ECT consistently described improvement in catatonia symptoms across catatonia types and patient age groups. After treatment with rTMS (t = 4.489, p = 0.006) and tDCS (z = −3.065, p = 0.002), patients exhibited significant improvement.

Conclusion

ECT, rTMS, and tDCS were effective in treating catatonia. Early intervention with NIBS techniques may help improve catatonia symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. It may be advantageous to use rTMS or tDCS to maintain this improvement. NIBS techniques may thus represent a promising treatment for catatonia, but additional high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed.
Loneliness and social networks of older adults in rural communities: a narrative synthesis systematic review
Authors: Hussain Basharat , Mirza Mahrukh , Baines Rebecca , Burns Lorna , Stevens Sebastian , Asthana Sheena , Chatterjee Arunangsu
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Loneliness has significant impacts on the health of older adults. Social networks help to improve psychosocial and quality of life outcomes among older adults. A fifth of older adults live in rural communities, where geographic isolation poses challenges to health. The dynamics of social networks of older adults in rural communities has not been explored.

Objective

To synthesize the literature related to loneliness and social networks of older adults in rural settings.

Methods

A mixed-methods systematic review was conducted through searching six bibliographic databases to retrieve peer-reviewed literature with no time limits. We performed a methodological assessment of each study using a mixed method quality assessment tool. Findings are synthesized thematically.

Results

A total of 50 studies (32 quantitative, 15 qualitative, and 3 mixed methods) were included in this review. Studies were conducted in 17 different countries, the majority from China (n = 12), the UK (n = 9), and USA (n = 9). Findings revealed that social networks of older adults consist of family, friends and neighbors and continue to be developed through participation in various physical and social activities such as walking groups and participation in religious events. Social networks offer informational, functional, psychological and social support to older adults. Through their social networks, older adults feel socially connected and cared for. Successful interventions to improve social networks and address loneliness were those developed in groups or one-on-one with the older adults. The key ingredient to the positive impact of these interventions on reducing social isolation and loneliness was the formation of a social connection and regular engagement with the older adults. However, the review did not find any explicitly reported theory or model on which these interventions are based.

Conclusion

The prevalence of loneliness among older adults in rural areas needs urgent attention. Social network theory and methods can help in developing interventions to address social isolation and loneliness among older adults in rural communities.
Do the various leisure forms have equal effects on mental health? A longitudinal analysis of self-selected leisure activities
Authors: Bian Junyi , Xiang Zubing
Published: May 2023

The deteriorating trends of unbalanced income, progressive age-related health problems, and loss of traditional ties necessitate ever-flexible interventions that are helpful to overcome a decline in Chinese adults' mental health. This study aimed to test whether engagement in different domains of leisure is associated with a composite index of mental health, both concurrently and subsequently. Longitudinal data including 10,968 participants (females = 5,804) with a mean age of 46.01 years in the Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) were analyzed using generalized estimating equations with a logit link. The results showed that face-to-face experiences, such as sports with all ORs of < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.01 and meeting with all ORs of < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.01 except daily in-person meeting frequency, are important for protecting mental health owing to the increasing social support by building close ties. The results also indicate that online leisure with all ORs < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.01 has positive effects on lowering the odds of depression. In addition, receptive cognitive leisure, such as watching television or movies with all ORs < 1 at the significance level of α = 0.05 level, was not consistently associated with depression. However, active cognitive leisure, such as reading with all ORs of < 1 at a significance level of α = 0.01, was associated with lower odds of depression.
Methodological comparison of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid-based detection of respiratory pathogens in diagnosis of bacterium/fungus-associated pneumonia in critically ill patients
Authors: Zhang Luwen , Lu Fanbo , Wang Yuerong , Ji Juanjuan , Xu Yuanhong , Huang Ying , Zhang Min , Li Moyan , Xia Jinxing , Wang Bo
Published: May 2023

Background

Bacterium/fungus-associated pneumonia (BAP/FAP) is the prominent cause of high mortality and morbidity with important clinical impacts globally. Effective diagnostic methods and proper specimen types hopefully facilitate early diagnosis of pneumonia and prevent spread of drug-resistant bacteria/fungi among critically ill patients.

Methods

In the present study, 342 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) samples were collected from critically ill patients with pulmonary infections between November 2020 and March 2021. The BALF materials were comparatively employed to screen BAP/FAP through microscopy, culture, antigenic marker and PCR-based methods. The limit of detection (LOD) of cultures and PCR for bacteria/fungi was determined by serial dilution assays. Specimen slides were prepared with Gram staining for microscopic examinations. Microbial cultures and identifications underwent routine clinical protocols with the aid of mass spectrometry. (1,3)-β-D-glucan and galactomannan tests with BALF were carried out accordingly. Direct detection of pathogens in BALF was achieved through PCR, followed by sequencing and BLAST in GenBank database for pathogenic identification. The subjects’ demographic and clinical characteristics were well evaluated.

Results

BAP/FAP was identified in approximately 47% of the subjects by the BALF-based PCR. The PCR-based diagnostic methods showed improved detection performance for fungi with good LOD, but performed similarly for bacteria, when compared to the cultures. There was poor agreement among traditional microscopy, culture and PCR assays for bacterial detections (kappa value, 0.184 to 0.277). For overall bacterial/fungal detections, the microscopy showed the lowest detecting rate, followed by the cultures, which displayed a slightly higher sensitivity than the microscopy did. The sensitivity of PCR was much higher than that of the other means of interest. However, the traditional cultures rather than antigenic marker-based approaches were moderately consistent with the PCR-based methods in fungal species identification, particularly for Candida and Aspergillus spp. Our findings further revealed that the age, length of hospital stay, invasive procedures and cerebral diseases were likely considered as main risk factors for BAP/FAP.

Conclusion

Screening for BALF in critically ill patients with suspected pneumonia pertaining high risk factors using combined PCR-based molecular detection strategies would hopefully contribute to early diagnosis of BAP/FAP and improved prognosis of the patients.
Soundscape components inform acoustic index patterns and refine estimates of bird species richness
Authors: Quinn Colin A. , Burns Patrick , Hakkenberg Christopher R. , Salas Leonardo , Pasch Bret , Goetz Scott J. , Clark Matthew L.
Published: May 2023

Ecoacoustic monitoring has proliferated as autonomous recording units (ARU) have become more accessible. ARUs provide a non-invasive, passive method to assess ecosystem dynamics related to vocalizing animal behavior and human activity. With the ever-increasing volume of acoustic data, the field has grappled with summarizing ecologically meaningful patterns in recordings. Almost 70 acoustic indices have been developed that offer summarized measurements of bioacoustic activity and ecosystem conditions. However, their systematic relationships to ecologically meaningful patterns in varying sonic conditions are inconsistent and lead to non-trivial interpretations. We used an acoustic dataset of over 725,000 min of recordings across 1,195 sites in Sonoma County, California, to evaluate the relationship between 15 established acoustic indices and sonic conditions summarized using five soundscape components classified using a convolutional neural network: anthropophony (anthropogenic sounds), biophony (biotic sounds), geophony (wind and rain), quiet (lack of emergent sound), and interference (ARU feedback). We used generalized additive models to assess acoustic indices and biophony as ecoacoustic indicators of avian diversity. Models that included soundscape components explained acoustic indices with varying degrees of performance (avg. adj-R2 = 0.61 ± 0.16; n = 1,195). For example, we found the normalized difference soundscape index was the most sensitive index to biophony while being less influenced by ambient sound. However, all indices were affected by non-biotic sound sources to varying degrees. We found that biophony and acoustic indices combined were highly predictive in modeling bird species richness (deviance = 65.8%; RMSE = 3.9 species; n = 1,185 sites) for targeted, morning-only recording periods. Our analyses demonstrate the confounding effects of non-biotic soundscape components on acoustic indices, and we recommend that applications be based on anticipated sonic environments. For instance, in the presence of extensive rain and wind, we suggest using an index minimally affected by geophony. Furthermore, we provide evidence that a measure of biodiversity (bird species richness) is related to the aggregate biotic acoustic activity (biophony). This established relationship adds to recent work that identifies biophony as a reliable and generalizable ecoacoustic measure of biodiversity.
Comparative study of quality of life 9 months post-COVID-19 infection with SARS-CoV-2 of varying degrees of severity: impact of hospitalization vs. outpatient treatment
Authors: Maslova Olga , Vladimirova Tatiana , Videnin Arseny , Gochhait Saikat , Pyatin Vasily
Published: May 2023

Purpose

This experimental study was conducted during the post-COVID-19 period to investigate the relationship between the quality of life 9 months after and the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection in two scenarios: hospitalization (with/without medical oxygen) and outpatient treatment.

Methods

We employed the EQ-5D-5L Quality of Life tests and the PSQI as a survey to evaluate respondents' quality of life 9 months after a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection of varying severity.

Results

We identified a clear difference in the quality of life of respondents, as measured on the 100-point scale of the EQ-5D-5L test, which was significantly lower 9 months after a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection for Group 1 (n = 14), respondents who had received medical attention for SARS-CoV-2 infection in a hospital with oxygen treatment, compared to those with the SARS-CoV-2 infection who were treated without oxygen treatment (Group 2) (n = 12) and those who were treated on an outpatient basis (Group 3) (n = 13) (H = 7.08 p = 0.029). There were no intergroup differences in quality of life indicators between hospitalized patients (Group 2) and groups 1 and 3. PSQI survey results showed that “mobility,” “self-care,” “daily activities,” “pain/discomfort,” and “anxiety/ depression” did not differ significantly between the groups, indicating that these factors were not associated with the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. On the contrary, the respondents demonstrated significant inter-group differences (H = 7.51 p = 0.023) and the interdependence of respiratory difficulties with the severity of clinically diagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study also demonstrated significant differences in the values of sleep duration, sleep disorders, and daytime sleepiness indicators between the three groups of respondents, which indicate the influence of the severity of the infection. The PSQI test results revealed significant differences in “bedtime” (H = 6.00 p = 0.050) and “wake-up time” (H = 11.17 p = 0.004) between Groups 1 and 3 of respondents. At 9 months after COVID-19, respondents in Group 1 went to bed at a later time (pp = 0.02727) and woke up later (p = 0.003) than the respondents in Group 3.

Conclusion

This study is the first of its kind in the current literature to report on the quality of life of respondents 9 months after being diagnosed with COVID-19 and to draw comparisons between cohorts of hospitalized patients who were treated with medical oxygen vs. the cohorts of outpatient patients. The study's findings regarding post-COVID-19 quality of life indicators and their correlation with the severity of the SARS-CoV-2 infection can be used to categorize patients for targeted post-COVID-19 rehabilitation programs.
Post-operative pulmonary complications after thoracic and upper abdominal procedures at referral hospitals in Amhara region, Ethiopia: a multi-center study
Authors: Admass Biruk Adie , Ego Birhanu Yilma , Tawye Hailu Yimer , Ahmed Seid Adem
Published: May 2023

Background

Thoraco-abdominal surgery cuts through muscle, disrupting the normal structure and function of the respiratory muscles, resulting in lower lung volumes and a higher risk of developing post-operative pulmonary complications (PPC). PPC remains an important cause of post-operative morbidity and mortality and impacts the long-term outcomes of patients after hospital discharge. This study was aimed at determining the incidence and factors associated with postoperative pulmonary complications among patients who underwent thoracic and upper abdominal surgery in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

Methods

A multi-center follow-up study was conducted from April 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022, at comprehensive specialized hospitals in Amhara regional state, northwest Ethiopia. 424 patients were consecutively included in this study, with a response rate of 100%. A chart review and patient interview were used to collect data. A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the strength of the association of independent variables with postoperative pulmonary complications.The crude odds ratio (COR) and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval were computed. Variables with a p-value of <0.05 were considered statistically significant predictors of the outcome variable.

Results

The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complication was 24.5%. Emergency procedures, preoperative SpO2 < 94%, duration of surgery >2 h, patients with a nasogastric tube, intraoperative blood loss >500 ml and post-operative albumin <3.5 g/dl were factors associated with pulmonary complications. The most common complications were pneumonia (9.9%) followed by respiratory infection (4.2%).

Conclusion

The incidence of postoperative pulmonary complication after thoracic and upper abdominal surgery remains high. Preoperative SpO2, duration of surgery, patients having a nasogastric tube, intraoperative blood loss and post-operative albumin were factors associated with post-operative pulmonary complications.
Positive effects of selenized-oligochitosan on zearalenone-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets
Authors: Qin Shunyi , Peng Yukai , She Fuze , Zhang Jianbin , Li Liuan , Chen Fu
Published: May 2023

This paper assessed the positive effects of selenized-oligochitosan (SOC) on zearalenone(ZEN)-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets. Sixty piglets were randomly divided into 4 groups. Group C was fed the basal diet as a control and Group Z was supplemented with 2 μg/g ZEN in the basal diet; Group ZS1 and ZS2 were supplemented with 0.3 or 0.5 μg/g SOC (calculated by selenium), in addition to 2 μg/g ZEN in the basal diet. After 42 days, ileal mucosal structure, digestive enzyme activities, tight junction protein mRNA expressions, plasma D-lactate and D-xylose contents, and plasma diamine oxidase activities were determined. Compare with Group C, ileal villus height, value of villus height/crypt depth, trypsin, lipase and α-amylase activities, occluding, claudin-1 and ZO-1 mRNA expressions, and plasma D-xylose levels were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in piglets of group Z; while compare to Group C, ileal crypt depth, plasma D-lactate contents and diamine oxidase activities were significantly increased in piglets of group Z (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Compare with Group Z, ileal villus height, lipase and α-amylase activities, occluding, claudin-1 and ZO-1 mRNA expressions, and plasma D-xylose levels were significantly elevated in piglets of group ZS1 and ZS2 (p < 0.01); while compare to Group Z, plasma D-lactate and diamine oxidase contents were significantly reduced in piglets of group ZS1 and ZS2 (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). Compare with Group Z, value of villus height/crypt depth and trypsin activity were significantly promoted in piglets of group ZS2 (p < 0.01); whereas ileal crypt depth was significantly reduced in piglets of group ZS2 (p <0.01).Thus, SOC can mitigate ZEN-induced intestinal dysfunction in piglets.
Orifice Flow Dynamics in a Rocket Injector as an Excitation Source of Injector-Driven Combustion Instabilities
Authors: Son Min , Börner Michael , Armbruster Wolfgang , Hardi Justin S.
Published: May 2023

To investigate a hypothesis of the orifice flow-induced instability in rocket engine thrust chambers, a single liquid oxygen (LOX) injector with an optically accessible orifice module was used for experiments, with water as a simulant for LOX. The unsteady pressure downstream of the orifice was measured using high-speed piezoelectric sensors under cavitating and non-cavitating intra-injector flow conditions. The cavitating orifice flows were directly visualized via backlight imaging with a high-speed camera through the optically accessible orifice module. Cavitation initiated at the cavitation number of 2.05, and the downstream bubble cloud formation started below 1.91. The unsteady pressure spectrum arising from cavitation comprises multiple peaks over a broad frequency range, which can cause low- and high-frequency instabilities. The dominant frequencies from cavitation decrease with increasing pressure drop, while the frequencies during non-cavitating flow increase. The non-cavitating orifice flow excites the second longitudinal acoustic mode of the injector tube. The acoustic mode excited by the non-cavitating flow becomes stronger when the pressure peak in the range of whistling phenomenon is close to the first longitudinal acoustic mode. In conclusion, the excitation mechanisms of the orifice-induced instability for the cavitating and non-cavitating flows were well identified, despite the limitations of water as a simulant for LOX.
Exploring Delay Propagation Causality in Various Airport Networks with Attention-Weighted Recurrent Graph Convolution Method
Authors: Kang Jiawei , Yang Shangwen , Shan Xiaoxuan , Bao Jie , Yang Zhao
Published: May 2023

Exploring the delay causality between airports and comparing the delay propagation patterns across different airport networks is critical to better understand delay propagation mechanisms and provide effective delay mitigation strategies. A novel attention-based recurrent graph convolutional neural network is proposed to identify the hidden delay causality relationship among airports in three different airport networks of China. The selected three airport networks show great heterogeneities in topological characteristics, such as average intensity, modularity and eigenvector centrality. The modeling results indicate that the identified delay causality networks of three airport networks are greatly varied in terms of complexity, delay propagation distance and efficiency. Moreover, the delay state of each airport is categorized into three levels, and the delay state transition of the three networks is explored. The results indicate that delay state transition in the North China Control Area exhibits an obvious bidirectional transition form that mainly propagates between the large-degree airports and small-degree airports, while severe delays of some hub airports account for a relatively large proportion in the other two networks. The results of this study could better reveal the delay propagation mechanism among airports and help airport operators develop effective strategies to alleviate flight delays and improve airport operation efficiency.
Critical Assessment of the Bonded Single Lap Joint Exposed to Cyclic Tensile Loading
Authors: Demiral Murat , Abbassi Fethi , Zahedi Abolfazl , Akpinar Salih
Published: May 2023

Single shear or single lap joints are the most prevalent type of adhesive joints used in advanced engineering applications, where they are exposed to fatigue loadings in their services. Although their mechanical performances under static loading have been investigated extensively, the studies related to the fatigue performances were limited. For that purpose, single lap joints’ (SLJs) reaction to fatigue tensile loading was studied by varying the adherend thickness (3 mm to 6 mm) and fatigue load (3250 N to 1500 N). ABAQUS/Standard was used to create its advanced FE model. To represent the progressive damage in the adhesive layer, the fatigue damage model via the Paris Law, which links the rate of the crack expansion to the strain energy release rate (SERR), was integrated into the cohesive zone model with bi-linear traction–separation characteristics. The model was written in a UMAT subroutine. The developed model was validated using experimental data from the literature. The crack initiation cycle (Ni), the failure cycle (Nf), the fatigue load limit, the strain energy release rate, the crack propagation rate, and variation of stress components with their dependency to design parameters were investigated in depth. It was found that the service life of the SLJs with thicker adherends was more responsive to the amount of stress applied. When exposed to lesser loads, the SLJs’ life span changed more noticeably.
The Impact of Human Activities on Zoonotic Infection Transmissions
Authors: Esposito Michelle Marie , Turku Sara , Lehrfield Leora , Shoman Ayat
Published: May 2023

As humans expand their territories across more and more regions of the planet, activities such as deforestation, urbanization, tourism, wildlife exploitation, and climate change can have drastic consequences for animal movements and animal–human interactions. These events, especially climate change, can also affect the arthropod vectors that are associated with the animals in these scenarios. As the COVID-19 pandemic and other various significant outbreaks throughout the centuries have demonstrated, when animal patterns and human interactions change, so does the exposure of humans to zoonotic pathogens potentially carried by wildlife. With approximately 60% of emerging human pathogens and around 75% of all emerging infectious diseases being categorized as zoonotic, it is of great importance to examine the impact of human activities on the prevalence and transmission of these infectious agents. A better understanding of the impact of human-related factors on zoonotic disease transmission and prevalence can help drive the preventative measures and containment policies necessary to improve public health.
A Proposal for the Classification of Temporomandibular Joint Disc Deformity in Hemifacial Microsomia
Authors: Xue Xiaochen , Liu Zhixu , Wei Hongpu , Wang Xudong
Published: May 2023

Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is the second most common congenital craniofacial disease and has a wide spectrum of symptoms. The classic diagnostic criterion for hemifacial microsomia is the OMENS system, which was later refined to the OMENS+ system to include more anomalies. We analyzed the data of 103 HFM patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for temporomandibular joint (TMJ) discs. The TMJ disc classification was defined into four types: D0 for normal disc size and shape; D1 for disc malformation with adequate length to cover the (reconstructed) condyle; D2 for disc malformation with inadequate length to cover the (reconstructed) condyle; and D3 for no obvious presence of a disc. Additionally, this disc classification was positively correlated with the mandible classification (correlation coefficient: 0.614, p < 0.01), ear classification (correlation coefficient: 0.242, p < 0.05), soft tissue classification (correlation coefficient: 0.291, p < 0.01), and facial cleft classification (correlation coefficient: 0.320, p < 0.01). In this study, an OMENS+D diagnostic criterion is proposed, confirming the conjecture that the development of the mandibular ramus, ear, soft tissue, and TMJ disc, as homologous and adjacent tissues, is affected to a similar degree in HFM patients.
Sinapic Acid Attenuate Liver Injury by Modulating Antioxidant Activity and Inflammatory Cytokines in Thioacetamide-Induced Liver Cirrhosis in Rats
Authors: Jabbar Ahmed A. J. , Alamri Zaenah Zuhair , Abdulla Mahmood Ameen , AlRashdi Ahmed S. , Najmaldin Soran Kayfi , Zainel Mustafa AbdulMonam
Published: May 2023

Sinapic acid (SA) is a natural pharmacological active compound found in berries, nuts, and cereals. The current study aimed to investigate the protective effects of SA against thioacetamide (TAA) fibrosis in rats by histopathological and immunohistochemical assays. The albino rats (30) were randomly divided into five groups (G). G1 was injected with distilled water 3 times/week and fed orally daily with 10% Tween 20 for two months. G2–5 were injected with 200 mg/kg TAA three times weekly for two months and fed with 10% Tween 20, 50 mg/kg silymarin, 20, and 40 mg/kg of SA daily for 2 months, respectively. The results showed that rats treated with SA had fewer hepatocyte injuries with lower liver index (serum bilirubin, total protein, albumin, and liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, and AST) and were similar to that of control and silymarin-treated rats. Acute toxicity for 2 and 4 g/kg SA showed to be safe without any toxic signs in treated rats. Macroscopic examination showed that hepatotoxic liver had an irregular, rough surface with micro and macro nodules and histopathology expressed by Hematoxylin and Eosin, and Masson Trichrome revealed severe inflammation and infiltration of focal necrosis, fibrosis, lymphocytes, and proliferation bile duct. In contrast, rats fed with SA had significantly lower TAA toxicity in gross and histology and liver tissues as presented by less liver tissue disruption, lesser fibrosis, and minimum in filtered hepatocytes. Immunohistochemistry of rats receiving SA showed significant up-regulation of HSP 70% and down-regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression compared to positive control rats. The homogenized liver tissues showed a notable rise in the antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) actions with significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to that of the positive control group. Furthermore, the SA-treated rats had significantly lower TNF-a, IL-6, and higher IL-10 levels than the positive control rats. Thus, the findings suggest SA as a hepatoprotective compound due to its inhibitory effects on fibrosis, hepatotoxicity, liver cell proliferation, up-regulation of HSP 70, and downregulation of α-SMA expression, inhibiting lipid peroxidation (MDA), while retaining the liver index and antioxidant enzymes to normal.