bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding COVID-19 infection among chronic disease patients visiting tertiary hospitals of Nepal: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ranabhat Kamal , Bhattarai Anil , Saud Bhuvan , Bhattarai Suraj , Paudel Kiran , Acharya Devaka Kumari , Tripathi Sangita , Shah Sangam , Bhatta Nikita , Das Santa Kumar , Devkota Surya , Marahatta Sujan Babu
Published: May 2022

Aim: To access the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards COVID-19 disease among chronic diseases patients visiting tertiary hospitals of Kathmandu. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among chronic disease patients who visited Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital and Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant Center, Kathmandu. Semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect patients’ socio-demographic data and perspectives on COVID-19. Results: Four hundred chronic disease patients participated in the study, with 53.2% female and 46.8% male, and 56.8% of age ≥50 years. Overall, 55.5% of the participants had good knowledge, 56.2% had good practice, and 30.7% had positive attitude towards COVID-19. Younger patients, 18-34 years, were found to have higher odds of having good knowledge compared to other age groups (aOR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.3-6.0). The patients with less than average family income and those unable to read and write had lower odds of having positive attitude towards COVID-19 (aOR: 0.6; 95% CI: 0.4-0.9 and aOR: 0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.9, respectively). A statistically significant correlation was found between the patients’ knowledge and practice, knowledge and attitude, and attitude and practice (p <0.001). Conclusion: Nearly half of the chronic disease patients in Nepal had poor knowledge and practice whereas more than two-third had negative attitude towards COVID-19 disease. Older age of the patient was significantly associated with poor knowledge and poor practice. These study findings could be helpful for the government and non-government stakeholders while planning COVID-19 awareness campaigns to the targeted patient groups.
Optimizing the design of an estuarine water quality monitoring network by optimal control techniques
Authors: Alvarez-Vazquez Lino J. , Martinez Aurea , Rodriguez Carmen , Vazquez-Mendez Miguel E.
Published: May 2022

In this work we propose a novel methodology in order to automatically optimize the location of the sampling points for a water quality monitoring network in an estuary, in such a way that any unknown pollution source can be identified (both in intensity and location) from the data supplied by those sampling points. In the central part of the article, after a rigorous mathematical formulation of the environmental problem, the full details of its numerical implementation are given. Finally, we present and analyze the results when applying above proposed technique to study a real case in Ria of Vigo (northwestern Spain).
Research on Speckle Classification of Multimode Fiber Based on Inception V3
Authors: Li Zifei , Zhang Zili , Zhang Leihong , Xu Runchu , Zhang Dawei
Published: May 2022

Multimode fibers(MMF) play a crucial role in promoting the miniaturization of endoscopes. With the development of deep learning and machine learning, neural networks can be used to recognize and classify the speckle patterns obtained at the output of optical fibers. Based on the speckle pattern of HERLEV cell images transmitted by multimode fiber, this paper studies the recognition accuracy of support vector machines (SVM), k-nearest neighbors (KNN) and convolutional neural networks (Inception V3) for multiple types of speckle. The experimental results show that Inception V3 has the highest classification accuracy, which is 1.60% and 0.58% higher than the classification accuracy of SVM and KNN algorithms on 7 types of cervical cell data sets respectively, reaches 97.9% accuracy, confirming the effectiveness of Inception V3 algorithm in identifying speckle.
AMPDeep: Hemolytic Activity Prediction of Antimicrobial Peptides using Transfer Learning
Authors: Salem Milad , Arshadi Arash Keshavarzi , Yuan Jiann Shiun
Published: May 2022

Background: Deep learning’s automatic feature extraction has proven to give superior performance in many sequence classification tasks. However, deep learning models generally require a massive amount of data to train, which in the case of Hemolytic Activity Prediction of Antimicrobial Peptides creates a challenge due to the small amount of available data. Results: Three different benchmarks for hemolysis activity prediction of therapeutic and antimicrobial peptides are gathered and the AMPDeep pipeline is implemented for each. The result demonstrate that AMPDeep outperforms the previous works on all three benchmarks, including works that use physicochemical features to represent the peptides or those who solely rely on the sequence and use deep learning to learn representation for the peptides. AMPDeep fine-tunes a large transformer based model on a small amount of peptides and successfully leverages the patterns learned from other protein and peptide databases to assist hemolysis activity prediction modeling. Conclusions: In this work transfer learning is leveraged to overcome the challenge of small data and a deep learning based model is successfully adopted for hemolysis activity classification of antimicrobial peptides. This model is first initialized as a protein language model which is pre-trained on masked amino acid prediction on many unlabeled protein sequences in a self-supervised manner. Having done so, the model is fine-tuned on an aggregated dataset of labeled peptides in a supervised manner to predict secretion. Through transfer learning, hyper-parameter optimization and selective fine-tuning, AMPDeep is able to achieve state-of-the-art performance on three hemolysis benchmarks using only the sequence of the peptides. This work assists the adoption of large sequence-based models for peptide classification and modeling tasks in a practical manner.
Floristic Diversity, Community Structure and Species Richness of Malta (Citrus Sinensis) Based Traditional Homegardens of Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Goswami Suraj , Bijalwan Arvind , Singh Bhupendra , Ahmed Taufiq , Kumar Sandeep
Published: May 2022

Traditional homegardens of Uttarkhand is a multipurpose and diverse farming system. It serves as a significant livelihood strategy for regulating household socioeconomic conditions. The present study aims to determine the floristic diversity, community structure, and species richness of Malta (Citrus sinensis) based traditional homegardens. The present study was conducted at two elevation ranges i.e. 1300-1500 masl and 1500-1700 masl in two blocks (Chamba and Jakhanidhar) of Tehri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. Crop species inventory was prepared by homestead survey and random quadrat sampling method used for phytosociological and other parameters of trees. A total of 46 species were documented during the study, out of which 27 agriculture crops (58 %), 15 fruit crops (33%), and 3 multipurpose trees (6%).Citrus sinensis (density: 106-313 trees/ha; IVI: 128-216) was found to be the most dominating and important species of these homegardens in Garhwal Himalayas followed by Grewia optiva, Citrus limon, Mangifera indica, and Psidium guajava. The results of floristic diversity showed that the highest value of the Shannon and Weiner index (1.88), Simpson diversity index (0.76) and Margalef index (6.16) was recorded. The higher values of all diversity indexes (0.81, 0.47 and 2.24 respectively) were recorded in upper elevation. The value of Jaccard & Sorensen (Similarity) index among all study sites ranged from 23.07 to 27.77 and 33.33 to 42.47 respectively. Diversity and species richness of Malta-based traditional homegarden is high as compared to mono-cropping and provides food, fodder, fruits, and small timber to the farmers of the Tehri Garhwal region.
Investigating chemoreception and behavioural responses of Tetranychus urticae Koch to naturally-based repellents and acaricides
Authors: Gaudet Kayla Hope , Faraone Nicoletta , Hillier Neil Kirk
Published: May 2022

Tetranychus urticae Koch (two-spotted spider mite) is a worldwide multi-host agricultural pest that has rapidly developed resistance to a variety of synthetic chemical pesticides due to its high fecundity and short generation time. Plant essential oils have been recognized as a novel natural source of pest control that have a reduced impact to the environment and human health from synthetic pesticide application, and which may provide a viable alternative for managing this pest. The present study focuses on assessing the potential of plant-derived products as repellents and miticides. A novel electrophysiological approach (electrotarsography) was developed to record olfactory sensitivity of T. urticae . Additionally, a novel two-choice behavioural assay was designed to determine whether T. urticae is attracted or repelled by selected compounds. Using Gas Chromatogram-linked to electrotarsographic detection (GC-ETD), we determined that T. urticae is sensitive to many terpenoids commonly found in essential oil mixtures, such as eucalyptol, thymol, and linalool. In addition, T. urticae was sensitive to carboxylic acids and a series of aldehydes, which are typically detected by ionotropic receptors. In two-choice behavioural assays, T. urticae was repelled by various essential oil mixtures, as well as carboxylic acids and aldehydes. In an effort to further identify compounds of behavioural relevance for T. urticae , collections of volatiles from mites were made using thermal desorption linked with GC-MS analysis. The study provides novel insight to identify behaviourally relevant chemical cues for the development of mite control strategies.
The Semi-Automated Development of Plant Cell Wall Finite Element Models
Authors: Sayad Andrew , Oduntan Yusuf , Bokros Norbert , DeBolt Seth , Benzecry Alice , Robertson Daniel J , Stubbs Christopher J
Published: May 2022

This study presents a methodology for a high-throughput digitization and quantification process of plant cell walls characterization, including the automated development of two-dimensional finite element models. Custom algorithms based on machine learning can also analyze the cellular microstructure for phenotypes such as cell size, cell wall curvature, and cell wall orientation. To demonstrate the utility of these models, a series of compound microscope images of both herbaceous and woody representatives were observed and processed. In addition, parametric analyses were performed on the resulting finite element models. Sensitivity analyses of the structural stiffness of the resulting tissue based on the cell wall elastic modulus and the cell wall thickness; demonstrated that the cell wall thickness has a three-fold larger impact of tissue stiffness than cell wall elastic modulus.
Development and Validation of a Health Information System for Assistance and Research in Gestational Trophoblast Disease
Authors: Martins Jaqueline , Bandiera-Paiva Paulo , Neto Antonio Rodrigues Braga , de Carvalho Lucas Ribeiro Borges , Padrini-Andrade Lucio , Machado Vitor Tonini , Junior Antonio Carlos da Silva , Sun Sue Yazaki
Published: May 2022

Background: The aim of this work was to develop and validate a Health Information System (HIS) composed of a Web interface for the medical team of the Gestational Trophoblastic Disease (GTD) Outpatient Clinic, as well as a MolaApp Application for patients, as it portrays a interaction between two technological devices with simultaneous application to assist in treatment, reducing time, cost and improving the quality of communication between doctors and patients. Regarding gestational trophoblastic disease, it encompasses all pathological forms of placental trophoblastic tissue proliferation. It is recommended that the patient be followed up by specialists who know the dosage of the hCG curve, in order to diagnose early evolution to a Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasm (GTN).Methods: For the development of SIS-Mola, a team was formed with a project manager, a requirements analyst, two programmers and four systems analysts. This is a cross-sectional technological assessment research and the project phases were defined by techniques used by software engineering that covered requirements analysis, programming and development of tools, as well as test and questionnaire applicability. The study was systematized through the intrinsic parameters of care at the GTD Outpatient Clinic.Results: The tests were carried out from November 2021 to February 2022, with an invitation to 28 eligible participants to proceed with usability and functionality assessments, using a questionnaire based on the System Usability Scale - SUS and an occurrence questionnaire. The responses obtained on the Likert scale indicated excellent reliability and credibility to the HIS. In addition, participants reported high intention to use and recommend digital tools to other Reference Centers in Brazil, suggesting additional improvements.Conclusion: The HIS, after the final results, proved to meet the essential activities of the Outpatient Clinic specialized in GTD, in the treatment of the disease, because it is technically adequate, practical and easy to handle the tools between its interfaces, as well as for the efficiency for the organization in the flow of the service, in the quality of the assistance provided and in the creation of a database that will allow accurate studies for continued education, professional and scientific improvement.
Exploring consensus and divergence in different societal groups' preferences for typical urbanized landscapes: Implications for rural planning
Authors: Yang Gaoyuan , Yu Zhaowu , Hu Xinlei , Kristensen Lone Søderkvist
Published: May 2022

Urbanization has brought dramatic landscape changes in rural areas, leading to the emergence of urbanized landscapes (ULs). Despite the extensive preference research on rural landscapes, the ULs has hardly been studied, especially from the outsider’s perspective. In this study, we chose three outsider groups of landscape professionals (PRs), governmental officials (GOs), and city residents (CRs) to explore their preferences towards five typical ULs: hardened water bank (HWB), big pavilion (BPA), big memorial arch (BMA), big ornamental lawn (BOL), and big square (BSQ). Quantitative method of questionnaire survey was used to identify how these ULs and their related landscape characters (LCs) were rated and ranked (N = 780), and qualitative method of semi-structured interview was used to explore a more comprehensive understanding about the outsiders’ view on rural constructions (N = 45). The results revealed 1) Although distinct ratings and rankings, the outsiders had general support for the constructions of ULs, with PRs being the most demanding group. 2) Despite various demographic backgrounds, there is surprisingly broad consensus in two preference themes, i.e. a livable village and a featured village, and it posed a challenge for the landscape designers to balance the relationship between them. 3) All the five ULs being surveyed were considered to be replaceable by other landscape forms, thus it could be unnecessary to decide which specific type to be moved away or kept in rural areas, but the more important is to investigate the site-based LCs. This study provides evidence to better understand public perception on rapid landscape change and rural constructions from the perspectives of different social groups, which has some implications for planners and decision-makers to incorporate the public shared values into planning process.
Spatio-temporal Gait Parameters in Older Patients: Comparaison of a Hospitalized Population of Fallers and Non-fallers
Authors: Bourgarel Emilie , Gaillard Victor , Risser Clémence , Blanc Frédéric , Vogel Thomas , Kaltenbach Georges , Meyer Maxence , Schmitt Elise
Published: May 2022

Background: The prevention of falls is a major public health issue. A fall can have serious consequences in frail patients, as are most patients hospitalized in acute geriatrics department. Gait disorders are predisposing factors for falls. They are accessible to rehabilitation and can be analyzed using tools that collect spatio-temporal parameters of walking, such as the GAITRite® mat. Objective: To find differences between the spatio-temporal gait parameters in patients who fall compared to patients who do not fall in a population of older patients hospitalized in acute geriatrics department. Material and methods: In this retrospective, observational, single-center study, patients over 75 years hospitalized in acute geriatrics department were included. For each patient, spatio-temporal gait parameters were collected using the GAITrite® mat. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether or not they had a history of fall. The spatio-temporal parameters were compared between the two groups and in relation to the general population. Results: 67 patients, with an average age of 85.9 ± 6 years, were included. Seventy percent of patients had cognitive impairment and 66% required technical walking assistance. The mean Charlson score was 7.00 +/- 1.87 and a large majority of patients was polymedicated with a mean of 7.04 +/- 3.25 medications at admission. The mean walking speed was 51.4 ± 19.9 cm/s in non-fallers group, and 47.3 ± 17.7 cm/s in fallers group (p = 0.539), indicating pathological walking in comparison with the general population of the same age (average 100 cm/s). No association was found between the spatio-temporal gait parameters and fall. Conclusion: In our population of hospitalized older adults, the spatio-temporal gait parameters didn’t seem to discriminate anymore a faller from a non-faller, probably linked to many confounding factors such as the pathological gait of the entire study population and their comorbidities.Clinical Trial registration: NCT05152069.
Estimation of genetic parameters and inbreeding depression in Piau breed pigs
Authors: de Oliveira Letícia Fernanda , Lopes Paulo Sávio , Dias Layla Cristien de Cássia Miranda , Silva Leandro Magno Dornelas e , Silva Hugo Teixeira , Guimarães Simone Eliza Facioni , Marques Daniele Botelho Diniz , Silva Delvan Alves da , Veroneze Renata
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters, effective population size, inbreeding, and inbreeding depression for birth weight, weaning weight, and average pre-weaning daily weight gain (ADG) in Piau breed pigs. We used information from 3841 Piau pigs, and four linear models were fitted in single trait analyzes including or excluding maternal genetic effect, common litter effect, or a combination of these. The models’ adjustments were compared by likelihood ratio test, in which the model that presented the best fit for each trait was used to estimate (co)variance components. The inbreeding depression effect was evaluated using a linear model that included the fixed effects of sex, parity order, contemporary group, and inbreeding coefficient as a fixed covariate. Weight at birth and weaning showed low direct heritabilities (0.08 and 0.05, respectively), while ADG showed moderate heritability (0.20). Weight at birth showed high genetic correlations with weight at weaning (0.90) and with ADG (0.82). Weight at weaning and ADG also showed a high genetic correlation (0.99). There was an inbreeding increase over the generations and a reduction of the effective population size. In the last generation evaluated all animals were inbred, the average inbreeding coefficient was 0.07 and the effective population size was 20.8. It was observed a significant inbreeding effect on ADG, wherein an increase of 1% on the inbreeding coefficient resulted in a decrease of 0.005 grams on ADG. Thus, increase effective population size is mandatory for the inbreeding control and to reduce the loss of variability in this Piau population.
Non symmetry of the function ζ(s)/s
Authors: OUKIL Walid
Published: May 2022

We prove that ζ(s)/s ≠ ζ(1−s)/1−s for every ℜ(s) ∈ (0, 1/2) and ℑ(s) > 0 where ζ is the Riemann Zeta function. In the end of the paper, we give a discussion about the Riemann hypothesis.
Comorbidities and perceived health status in persons with history of cancer in the US
Authors: Obeng-Kusi Mavis , Vardy Janette , Bell Melanie , Choi Briana M. , Axon David R.
Published: May 2022

Purpose:
Comorbidities can further challenge prognosis and general wellbeing of cancer patients. This study aimed to assess the association between comorbidities and perceived health status (PHS) of United States persons with cancer.
Methods:
This retrospective study used 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data and included individuals who were alive throughout the year, aged 18 to 84 years, and had diagnosis for cancer. Using adjusted logistic regression models, we estimated the association of comorbidities (no, few[1/2], and more[3 or more] comorbidities) with PHS. Analyses accounted for the complex design of MEPS.
Results:
The dataset included 28,512 participants, 1,739 of which were eligible for the study. Of these, 11.16%(95%CI 9.64,12.59%); 41.73%(95%CI 39.21,43.96%) and 47.10%(95%CI 44.86,49.73%) reported having no, few, and more comorbidities, respectively. While breast(N = 356), prostate(N = 276) and melanoma(N = 273) were the most common cancers, hypertension(88.3%), hypercholesterolemia(49.5%) and arthritis(48%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Adjusted logistic regression showed that, compared with those with no comorbidities, persons with few, and more comorbidities had 1.58(95%CI = 0.79,3.15) and 2.27(95%CI = 1.19,4.32) times greater odds of poor PHS. Younger or male patients, those with less formal education, low-income, pain, functional limitation or poor perception of mental health were more likely to regard their health as poor.
Conclusion:
About 88% of persons with history of cancer in US 18–84 years reported at least one comorbidity. Having more comorbidities, along with several other variables, was associated with poor PHS. Comorbidities management must be given special consideration to improve the prognosis and general wellbeing of persons with cancer.
Syngeneic mammary models of intraductal carcinoma reveal progression to invasiveness in the absence of a non-obligatory in situ stage
Authors: Bernhardt Sarah Margaret , Mitchell Elizabeth , Stamnes Stephanie , Calhoun Andrea , Klug Alex , Russell Tanya , Schedin Pepper
Published: May 2022

Background: The incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), a pre-invasive malignancy of the breast, has increased sharply in the U.S. following routine mammographic screening. Since not all DCIS progress to invasive ductal cancer (IDC), identifying prognostic markers predictive of progression may reduce potential for overtreatment. Mammary myoepithelial cells serve a barrier function in the progression of DCIS to IDC, and associations between myoepithelial cell differentiation status, inflammation, and risk of DCIS progression are reported. However, immune-competent mouse models of DCIS are limited. To address this gap, we interrogated whether orthotopic transplant models using syngeneic cell lines in immune-competent mice recapitulate early breast cancer progression from in situ to invasive disease. Methods: In immune-competent BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice, we used a non-surgical method to deliver six different mouse mammary tumor cell lines (D2.OR, D2A1, 4T1, EMT6, EO771, and Py230) directly into the main lactiferous duct. Mammary glands were dissected 11-35 days later and analyzed for lesion type (DCIS and IDC), myoepithelial cell differentiation state, and immune cell influx. Results: Intraductal injection of murine mammary cancer cell lines resulted in the formation of IDC at the earliest time-points in the absence of DCIS, which associated with immune cell infiltrate and loss of myoepithelial cell differentiation markers p63, SMA, and calponin. In contrast, intraductal delivery of human breast cancer cell lines (HCC70, MCF7) into immunocompromised mice readily formed DCIS-like lesions with intact myoepithelium. Meanwhile, murine mammary tumor cells intraductally injected into immunocompromised mice still failed to develop DCIS, and rapidly progressed to IDC. These data suggest that loss of the myoepithelial barrier function and progression to invasion is not exclusively dependent on an intact immune system. Conclusions: Six different mouse mammary tumor cells lines failed to form DCIS-like lesions after intraductal injection, and instead rapidly progressed to invasive disease, even in immunocompromised hosts. To interrogate the role of the immune system in DCIS progression, improved immune-competent murine models of DCIS are needed. Of potential significance, these isogenic intraductal models may be useful for the study of invasive breast cancers that occur in the absence of a non-obligatory DCIS stage.
“Choroidal nevus through a broader vision: Retinal imaging acquisition captured with Broad Line Fundus Imaging technology.”
Authors: Castilho Gabriel , Marback Eduardo , Novais Eduardo , Guerra Ricardo
Published: May 2022

Purpose: To describe the peculiarities in imaging acquisition of fourteen patients with choroidal nevus using the Broad Line Fundus Imaging (BLFI) technology.Study Design: Single-center, retrospective, cross-sectional analysis.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 14 patients with choroidal nevus. We analyzed the retinal images by deconstructing them into color channels (Red, Green, and Blue) with broad line fundus imaging technology. The lesions were categorized as detectable or undetectable. Detectability was qualitatively characterized as dark or light following assessment by two experienced ophthalmologists.Results: We have found that choroidal nevus is undetectable in the blue channel (BC) (435 - 500 nm) and the green channel (GC) (500-585 nm). The only visible changes are related to the drusen, which appeared in BC and GC as light focal dots, correlated to the yellowish foci in the true-color image. On the red channel (RC) (585-640 nm), all lesions revealed the same pattern: a well-defined dark spot, with enhanced contrast, allowing the better visualization, measuring, and characterization of the nevus when compared with the other color channels, including the true-color imaging.Conclusion: BLFI application in choroidal nevus might be helpful at presentation, refining the diagnostic reliability, and monitoring, as it allows for better detection of alterations in the lesions. The peculiarities of the choroidal nevus are better assessed when using the RC due to its longer wavelength and deeper penetration in the retina and choroid.
Development and validation of a novel 12 to 23 Y-STR multiplex and its forensic casework application
Authors: Navarro-López Belén , Baeta Miriam , Granizo-Rodríguez Eva , Moreno-López Olatz , Kleinbielen Tamara , Ferragut Joana Francesca , Picornell Antònia , de Pancorbo Marian M
Published: May 2022

Y chromosomal short tandem repeats (Y-STRs) are used in forensic investigations as a useful complementary tool to autosomal markers. The ongoing development of new kits with an increasing number of markers makes it necessary to update populations typed in the Y-STR Haplotype Reference Database to reach at least 23 Y-STRs. A novel Y-STR multiplex panel was developed to offer a cost-efficient alternative to update Y-STR haplotypes from 12 to 23 loci. This panel includes the eleven markers, DYS448, DYS456, DYS458, DYS635, Y-GATA H4, DYS576, DYS481, DYS549, DYS533, DYS570 and DYS643, as well as DYS385a/b for traceability purpose. Developmental validation of this panel was conducted following the recommendations of the Scientific Working Group on DNA Analysis Methods (SWGDAM), showing highly sensitivity, tolerance to common inhibitors as well as high species specificity. It was efficient for degraded DNA samples and for detection of male mixtures. When applying it for extending the current data of the Ibiza population, both the discrimination capacity and the haplotype diversity increased from 0.5952 to 0.9048 and from 0.9808 to 0.9977, respectively. Together, the study demonstrates the suitability of this panel in forensic casework.
The secret life of wild animals revealed by accelerometer data: How landscape diversity and seasonality influence the behavioural types of European hares
Authors: ULLMANN WIEBKE , FISCHER CHRISTINA , KRAMER-SCHADT STEPHANIE , PIRHOFER-WALZL KARIN , ECCARD JANA A. , WEVERS PHILIPP , HARDERT ANGELIQUE , SLIWINSKI KATHARINA , CRAWFORD MICHAEL S. , GLEMNITZ MICHAEL , BLAUM NIELS
Published: May 2022

Context: Landscape composition and configuration, as well as seasonal landscape dynamics shape the behaviour, movement and energy expenditure in animals, i.e. foraging, hiding or fleeing, and ultimately survival. Especially in highly modified agricultural systems it is crucial to gain an understanding of how animal behaviour is influenced by landscape composition and configuration to ensure sustainable land management concepts. Objectives: We show how landscape composition and configuration and seasonal dynamics affect animal behavioural types, accounting for the different life-history events in both sexes. Methods: We investigated 34 European hares in two contrasting agricultural landscapes differing in landscape composition and configuration (simple vs. complex) by using tri-axial accelerometer data to classify the animals’ behaviour into five categories: resting, foraging, moving, grooming and standing upright (i.e. vigilance behaviour). We then tested whether the amount of behaviours per category changed with landscape composition and configuration, season and sex. Results: During peak breeding, hares in areas of high habitat diversity rested more, moved less and spent less time searching for resources. In winter, however, hares moved more and rested less in areas of high habitat diversity.Conclusions: High habitat diversity is particularly important during the breeding season, allowing animals to allocate enough energy into reproduction. In winter hares in areas of low habitat diversity may not find enough thermal and anti-predator shelter to move as much as they would need to cover their requirements. Hence, high habitat diversity guarantees species persistence in human-altered agricultural areas throughout the year.
Geomorphology, land-use, and hemeroby of foothills in Colombian Orinoquia: classification and correlation at a regional scale.
Authors: Niño Larry , Jaramillo Alexis , Villamizar Víctor , Rangel Orlando
Published: May 2022

In the management of ecosystem services, it is significant to relate land use with the physical characteristics of the terrain, which allows establishing the conditioning factors of human activities and planning their distribution. These analyzes are based on thematic cartography, usually generated with visual classifications of satellite images. Traditional mapping techniques involve limiting the timely availability of information by taking extended periods for interpretation and integration of multiple data sets. This article presents a methodology to overcome these difficulties, implements big data, machine learning, and cloud computing to generate timely thematic cartography and spatial analysis to support land use planning. The study area was delimited according to altitudinal levels that define braided and anastomosed river systems. Acquisition, processing, and classification of input data for modeling were performed on the Google Earth Engine platform. The spatial correlation between hemeroby and geomorphology was calculated with the odds ratio and its respective confidence interval. Maps of 27 geomorphological units, 11 types of land use, and six hemeroby levels are presented at a scale of 1: 50,000. Confusion matrices of implemented classification models were also reported, allowed evaluating global, user's, and producer's accuracy. Correlations between relict of natural areas with the structural environment and urban infrastructure with alluvial fans stand out. The information generated by these procedures is essential for planning land use and prioritizing the maintenance of ecosystem services.
Evaluating seasonal variation in trace element content of savory
Authors: Miladinović Dragoljub , Dimitrijević Marija , Mrmošanin Jelena , Marković Marija , Pavlović Aleksandra
Published: May 2022

Background and aimsSatureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. (savory) is one of the most popular herbs in Serbia, used as a culinary plant, as well as tea in traditional medicine. The objective of this study was an analysis of seasonal variation in trace element contents in the soil and S. kitaibelii, at the Kravlje village, southeastern Serbia, with emphasis on potential aspects of health promotion.MethodsWe studied the total content of B, Si, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu and Zn in the soil and savory using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The obtained results were analyzed by chemometric methods: hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA).ResultsChemical, statistical and chemometric analysis confirmed a variation in trace element content of studied soil and plant samples. The lowest contents of the studied elements in the soil, except for silicon, were recorded in the vegetative stage. In the plant, the boron content is the highest: 10.5-14.9 mg/kg and the chromium content is the lowest: 0.17-1.2 mg/kg. The highest values of soil-to-plant transfer factor were recorded for five elements (except Si and Cr) in the vegetative stage.ConclusionThe present study revealed that savory from Serbia can be considered an accumulator of boron and a potential source of valuable trace elements. A significant percentage of daily intake of B, Cr and Ni, can be provided with three cups of tea per day of plants collected in the vegetative and flowering stages.
Healthcare, Social and Geographical Factors That Impact Surgical and Survival Outcomes in Penile Cancer
Authors: Angulo-Lozano Juan Carlos , Sanchez-Musi Luisa Fernanda , Garcia-Garcia Jose Antonio
Published: May 2022

Objectives
To analyze the level of access to healthcare, social and geographical factors that could predispose a negative surgical outcome and higher mortality rate in patients with penile cancer.
Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study. The study population (n = 93) are adult male patients with a diagnosis of penile cancer. Fisher’s exact test was performed to determine the association between the level of healthcare, social and geographical factors, and the outcomes for penile cancer.
Results
Patients without primary care access had a higher likeliness of having lymphovascular invasion at the time of diagnosis (OR = 37.5, P < .0001), a higher mortality rate at 24 months after diagnosis (OR = 19.2, P = .005), a lack of high-school diploma or equivalent (OR = 3.8, P = .049) and a higher likelihood of referral from a provincial hospital (OR = 10.1, P < .0001). Patients without a favorable surgical outcome (total resection of the penis) were more likely to have been referred from a provincial hospital (OR = 6.8, P < .0001) and to not have access to a primary care center (OR = 149.5, P < .0001), a tertiary care center (OR = 20.7, P = 0.003), and a high school diploma (OR = 7.9, P = 0.004).
Conclusions
The lack of access to primary care is strongly associated with vascular invasion at diagnosis, lower educational level, a referral from provincial zones, and a higher mortality rate at 24 months. Patients who did not have access to primary and tertiary care, a high school diploma, and were referred from the province were more likely to have a total resection of the penis.
Antagonism of the muscarinic acetylcholine type 1 receptor enhances mitochondrial membrane potential and expression of respiratory chain components via AMPK in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and primary neurons
Authors: Naznin Farhana , Waise T.M. Zaved , Fernyhough Paul
Published: May 2022

Impairments in mitochondrial physiology play a role in the progression of multiple neurodegenerative conditions, including peripheral neuropathy in diabetes. Blockade of muscarinic acetylcholine type 1 receptor (M1R) with specific/selective antagonists prevented mitochondrial dysfunction and reversed nerve degeneration in in vitro and in vivo models of peripheral neuropathy. Specifically, in type 1 and type 2 models of diabetes, inhibition of M1R using pirenzepine or muscarinic toxin 7 (MT7) induced AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and prevented sensory abnormalities and distal nerve fiber loss. The human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line has been extensively used as an in vitro model system to study mechanisms of neurodegeneration in DRG neurons and other neuronal sub-types. Here, we tested the hypothesis that pirenzepine or MT7 enhance AMPK activity and via this pathway augment mitochondrial function in SH-SY5Y cells. M1R expression was confirmed by utilizing a fluorescent dye, ATTO590-labeled MT7, that exhibits great specificity for this receptor. M1R antagonist treatment in SH-SY5Y culture increased AMPK phosphorylation and mitochondrial protein expression (OXPHOS). Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was augmented in pirenzepine and MT7 treated cultured SH-SY5Y cells and DRG neurons. Compound C or AMPK-specific siRNA suppressed pirenzepine or MT7-induced elevation of OXPHOS expression and MMP. Moreover, muscarinic antagonists induced hyperpolarization by activating the M-current and, thus, suppressed neuronal excitability. These results reveal that negative regulation of this M1R-dependent pathway could represent a potential therapeutic target to elevate AMPK activity, enhance mitochondrial function, suppress neuropathic pain and enhance nerve repair in peripheral neuropathy.
Clinical features and outcomes of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: wang ying , Yu Xiaoyang , Xie Xinfang , Li Huixian , Yang Wei , Liang Yu , Lu Wanhong
Published: May 2022

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics, pathological features, and outcomes of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-positive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in northwest China. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of an ANCA-positive SLE cohort from 2012 to 2019. Clinical characteristics, laboratory data, renal histological features, and outcomes were analyzed. Patients diagnosed with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) with renal involvement, excluding those with SLE and ANCA-negative lupus nephritis (LN), were randomly selected as controls.Results: A total of 49 ANCA-positive LN patients were included in this study. The enrolled patients had a significantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) than ANCA-negative LN patients and had a higher eGFR than AAV patients. SLE patients with MPO-ANCA had higher levels of serum creatinine (CREA) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) than those with PR3-ANCA (CREA:156.5 µmol/L vs. 45.5 µmol/L, P = 0.005; BUN: 12.77 µmol/L vs 4.27 µmol/L, P = 0.005, respectively). ANCA titers positively correlated with serum complement levels in patients with SLE. ANCA-positive LN cases had a significantly higher percentage of tubulointerstitial fibrosis (84.6% vs. 14.3%, P < 0.001) and higher median glomerular chronicity index (2.1 vs. 0.9, P = 0.017) than ANCA-negative LN patients. During follow-up, there were significant differences in the proteinuria remission rates between the two matched groups when using propensity scoring (P = 0.008).Conclusion: ANCA-positive SLE patients may have worse baseline renal function (especially those with MPO-ANCA positivity) and lower protein remission rates. During the follow-up period, a decrease in ANCA titer seems to correlate with renal function improvement. ANCA titers should be regularly monitored throughout the follow-up period of SLE patients, especially when there is renal involvement.
Hot Jupiters are not as lonely as we thought
Authors: Wang Songhu , Wu Dong-Hong , Rice Malena
Published: May 2022

The first discovered extrasolar worlds -- giant, ``hot Jupiter'' planets orbiting remarkably close to their parent stars -- came as a surprise to solar-system-centric models of planet formation, prompting the development of new theories to produce these unexpected planets. The striking dearth of observed nearby planetary companions to hot Jupiters (~2%) has been widely quoted as evidence in support of high-eccentricity tidal migration: a framework in which hot Jupiters form further out in their natal protoplanetary disks before being thrown inward, stripping systems of any close-in planetary companions. By contrast, we demonstrate through a search for transit timing variations across the full four-year Kepler dataset that at minimum 13% of hot Jupiters have a nearby planetary companion. This subset of hot Jupiters must have a quiescent formation history such that they were able to retain nearby companions. We also demonstrate a ubiquity of nearby planetary companions to warm Jupiters, indicating that warm Jupiters typically form quiescently. We conclude with a new paradigm for the formation of short-period gas giants that is consistent with all current lines of evidence, in which >13% of hot Jupiters form in situ and the other <87% undergo high-eccentricity migration.
Metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma: a frequent NOTCH1 mutation predictive of response to anti-NOTCH1 treatment
Authors: Bui Thi oanh , Bouchtaoui Morad El , Gapihan Guillaume , Dao Van Tu , Paris Justine , Leboeuf Christophe , Soussan Michael , Villarese Patrick , Ziol Marianne , Glabeke Emmanuel , Le Thi Huong , Feugeas Jean-Paul , Janin Anne , Bousquet Guilhem
Published: May 2022

Background
Despite some improvement in the prognosis of metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the identification of new therapeutic targets is essential. Up to now, only limited genomic data has been obtained from metastatic samples.
Methods
We aimed to characterize metastatic ccRCC by way of whole-genome analyses of metastatic formalin-fixed samples, using OncoScan® technology. We identified a frequent, unexpected pL1575P NOTCH1 mutation which we set out to characterize for translational purposes. We thus implemented patient-derived xenografts from metastatic samples of human ccRCC to explore its clinical significance .
Results
We showed that pL1575P NOTCH1 mutation was an activating mutation, leading to the expression of NOTCH1-intracellular domain-active fragments in both cancer cells and tumor endothelial cells, suggesting a trans-differentiation of cancer cells into tumor micro-vessels. We demonstrated that this mutation could be used as a predictive biomarker of response to CB-103, a specific NOTCH1-ICD inhibitor. One striking result was the considerable anti-angiogenic effect, coherent with the presence of NOTCH1 mutation in tumor micro-vessels.
Conclusions
We identified a frequent, unexpected pL1575P_c4724T_C NOTCH1 mutation as a new biomarker for ccRCC metastases, predictive of response to the CB103 NOTCH1-intracellular domain inhibitor. This opens the way for further clinical trials among patients with metastatic RCCs.
Nestin as a marker of unipotent epithelial progenitor cell differentiation into outer root sheath keratinocytes in embryonic and adult hair follicles
Authors: Baba Yuta , Onishi-Sakamoto Saki , Ide Kaori , Nishifuji Koji
Published: May 2022

Nestin is an intermediate filament protein transiently expressed in neural stem/progenitor cells. We previously demonstrated that outer root sheath (ORS) keratinocytes of adult hair follicles (HFs) in mice descend from nestin-expressing cells, despite being an epithelial cell lineage. This study aimed to define the exact stage when nestin-expressing ORS stem/precursor cells or their descendants appear during HF morphogenesis and in adult HFs. Using Nes-Cre/CAG-CAT-EGFP mice, in which enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) is expressed following Cre-based recombination driven by the nestin promoter, we found that EGFP+ cells appeared in the epithelial layer of embryonic HFs as early as the peg stage. EGFP+ cells in hair pegs were positive for keratin 5, but not vimentin, Sox2, Sox10, or S100 alpha 6. Tracing of tamoxifen-induced EGFP+ cells in postnatal Nes-CreERT2/CAG-CAT-EGFP mice revealed labeling of some isthmus HF epithelial cells in the first anagen stage. EGFP+ cells in adult HFs were not immunolabeled for keratin 15, an HF multipotent stem cell marker. However, when hairs were depilated to induce the anagen stage after tamoxifen injection, the majority of ORS keratinocytes in depilation-induced anagen HFs expressed EGFP. Our findings indicate that nestin-expressing unipotent progenitor cells capable of differentiating into ORS keratinocytes are present in both the HF primordia and adult HFs.
Long noncoding RNA LIPH-4 promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression by regulating the miR-216b/IGF2BP2 axis
Authors: Xiao Yuhang , Tang Jinming , Yang Desong , Zhang Baihua , Wu Jie , Wu Zhining , Liao Qianjin , Wang Hui , Wang Wenxiang , Su Min
Published: May 2022

IntroductionEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) represents a major malignancy with poor clinical outcomes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are known to regulate the development and progression of multiple cancers. However, how lncRNAs are involved in ESCC is currently undefined.MethodsLIPH-4 levels in ESCC tissue specimens and cells were assessed by qRT-PCR. The biological function of LIPH-4 was examined in cell and animal studies, applying CCK-8, EdU, colony formation and flow cytometry assays as well as xenograft model experiments. The underlying mechanisms of action of LIPH-4 were explored through bioinformatics, luciferase reporter assay, RNA-immunoprecipitation assay and immunoblot.ResultsWe identified a novel lncRNA, LIPH-4, which showed elevated amounts in ESCC tissues and positive correlations with increased tumor size and poor prognosis in ESCC patients. Functional studies showed that LIPH-4 promoted the growth, mediated cell cycle progression and inhibited apoptosis in ESCC cells in vitro, and promoted tumor growth in mice. In terms of mechanism, LIPH-4 could bind to miR-216b and act as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to induce the expression of miR-216's target gene IGF2BP2. LIPH-4 played an oncogenic role in ESCC through the miR-216b/IGF2BP2 axis.ConclusionsThis study suggested that LIPH-4 functions as a novel oncogenic lncRNA by acting as a ceRNA for miR-216b to regulate IGF2BP2, indicating LIPH-4 likely constitutes a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ESCC.
Prenatal diagnosis of a rare case report of 45,X/46,X,dic(X) and literature review
Authors: Wang Ting , Lun Miao-Xu , Chen Han-biao , Du Qian-yi , Zheng Lai-ping , Zhong Yin-huan , Lu Jian , Guo Li
Published: May 2022

Objective
We present a prenatal case of 45,X/46,dic(X) with two asymmetric chromosome arms.
Methods
Single nucleotide polymorphism array(SNP-array),fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) and conventional cytogenetic analysis were performed for verification.
Results
The conventional G-banding analysis revealed a mosaic karyotype of mos 45,X/46,X,dic (X;X) (p11.2;q10) and the C-banding analysis showed that the derivative X chromosome had two darkly stained bands near the centromere.Two green signals and single green signal (X chromosome cetromere) were observed simultaneously in the metaphases and interphases FISH confirmation test,which indicated a mosaicism for X chromosome in the uncultured amniocytes.The SNP-array results revealed two copy-number-loss on the X chromosome.One was a 54.3Mb deletion in Xp22.33-p11.22 including 414 genes.Another was a mosaic deletion in Xp11.22-q28.
Conclusion
A combination of molecular and cytogenetic techniques should be employed to provide adequate genetic counseling to mosaic Turner sydrome patients for avoiding misdiagnosis.