bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PD-L1 signaling on human memory CD4+ T cells induces a regulatory phenotype
Authors: Fanelli Giorgia , Romano Marco , Nova-Lamperti Estefania , Werner Sunderland Mariana , Nerviani Alessandra , Scottà Cristiano , Bombardieri Michele , Quezada Sergio A. , Sacks Steven H. , Noelle Randolph J. , Pitzalis Costantino , Lechler Robert I. , Lombardi Giovanna , Becker Pablo D.
Published: April 2021

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is expressed on T cells upon T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation. PD-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) is expressed in most tumor environments, and its binding to PD-1 on T cells drives them to apoptosis or into a regulatory phenotype. The fact that PD-L1 itself is also expressed on T cells upon activation has been largely neglected. Here, we demonstrate that PD-L1 ligation on human CD25-depleted CD4+T cells, combined with CD3/TCR stimulation, induces their conversion into highly suppressive T cells. Furthermore, this effect was most prominent in memory (CD45RA−CD45RO+) T cells. PD-L1 engagement on T cells resulted in reduced ERK phosphorylation and decreased AKT/mTOR/S6 signaling. Importantly, T cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients exhibited high basal levels of phosphorylated ERK and following PD-L1 cross-linking both ERK signaling and the AKT/mTOR/S6 pathway failed to be down modulated, making them refractory to the acquisition of a regulatory phenotype. Altogether, our results suggest that PD-L1 signaling on memory T cells could play an important role in resolving inflammatory responses; maintaining a tolerogenic environment and its failure could contribute to ongoing autoimmunity.
Efficient population coding depends on stimulus convergence and source of noise
Authors: Röth Kai , Shao Shuai , Gjorgjieva Julijana
Published: April 2021

Sensory organs transmit information to downstream brain circuits using a neural code comprised of spikes from multiple neurons. According to the prominent efficient coding framework, the properties of sensory populations have evolved to encode maximum information about stimuli given biophysical constraints. How information coding depends on the way sensory signals from multiple channels converge downstream is still unknown, especially in the presence of noise which corrupts the signal at different points along the pathway. Here, we calculated the optimal information transfer of a population of nonlinear neurons under two scenarios. First, a lumped-coding channel where the information from different inputs converges to a single channel, thus reducing the number of neurons. Second, an independent-coding channel when different inputs contribute independent information without convergence. In each case, we investigated information loss when the sensory signal was corrupted by two sources of noise. We determined critical noise levels at which the optimal number of distinct thresholds of individual neurons in the population changes. Comparing our system to classical physical systems, these changes correspond to first- or second-order phase transitions for the lumped- or the independent-coding channel, respectively. We relate our theoretical predictions to coding in a population of auditory nerve fibers recorded experimentally, and find signatures of efficient coding. Our results yield important insights into the diverse coding strategies used by neural populations to optimally integrate sensory stimuli in the presence of distinct sources of noise.
Potential for community based surveillance of febrile diseases: Feasibility of self-administered rapid diagnostic tests in Iquitos, Peru and Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Authors: Morrison Amy C. , Schwarz Julia , Mckenney Jennie L. , Cordova Jhonny , Rios Jennifer E. , Quiroz W. Lorena , Vizcarra S. Alfonso , Sopheab Heng , Bauer Karin M. , Chhea Chhorvann , Saphonn Vonthanak , Hontz Robert D. , Gorbach Pamina M. , Paz-Soldan Valerie A.
Published: April 2021

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have the potential to identify infectious diseases quickly, minimize disease transmission, and could complement and improve surveillance and control of infectious and vector-borne diseases during outbreaks. The U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency’s Joint Science and Technology Office (DTRA-JSTO) program set out to develop novel point-of-need RDTs for infectious diseases and deploy them for home use with no training. The aim of this formative study was to address two questions: 1) could community members in Iquitos, Peru and Phnom Penh, Cambodia competently use RDTs of different levels of complexity at home with visually based instructions provided, and 2) if an RDT were provided at no cost, would it be used at home if family members displayed febrile symptoms? Test kits with written and video (Peru only) instructions were provided to community members (Peru [n = 202]; Cambodia [n = 50]) or community health workers (Cambodia [n = 45]), and trained observers evaluated the competency level for each of the several steps required to successfully operate one of two multiplex RDTs on themselves or other consenting participant (i.e., family member). In Iquitos, >80% of residents were able to perform 11/12 steps and 7/15 steps for the two- and five-pathogen test, respectively. Competency in Phnom Penh never reached 80% for any of the 12 or 15 steps for either test; the percentage of participants able to perform a step ranged from 26–76% and 23–72%, for the two- and five-pathogen tests, respectively. Commercially available NS1 dengue rapid tests were distributed, at no cost, to households with confirmed exposure to dengue or Zika virus; of 14 febrile cases reported, six used the provided RDT. Our findings support the need for further implementation research on the appropriate level of instructions or training needed for diverse devices in different settings, as well as how to best integrate RDTs into existing local public health and disease surveillance programs at a large scale.
Tumor microenvironment characterization in cervical cancer identifies prognostic relevant gene signatures
Authors: Peng Linyu , Hayatullah Gati , Zhou Haiyan , Chang Shuzhen , Liu Liya , Qiu Haifeng , Duan Xiaoran , Han Liping
Published: April 2021

Objective

The aim of this study is to systematically analyze the transcriptional sequencing data of cervical cancer (CC) to find an Tumor microenvironment (TME) prognostic marker to predict the survival of CC patients.

Methods

The expression profiles and clinical follow-up information of CC were downloaded from the TCGA and GEO. The RNA-seq data of TCGA-CESC samples were used for CIBERSORT analysis to evaluate the penetration pattern of TME in 285 patients, and construct TMEscore. Other data sets were used to validate and evaluate TMEscore model. Further, survival analysis of TMEscore related DEGs was done to select prognosis genes. Functional enrichment and PPI networks analysis were performed on prognosis genes.

Results

The TMEscore model has relatively good results in TCGA-CESC (HR = 2.47,95% CI = 1.49–4.11), TCGA-CESC HPV infection samples (HR = 2.13,95% CI = 1–4.51), GSE52903 (HR = 2.65, 95% CI = 1.06–6.6), GSE44001 (HR = 2.1, 95% CI = 0.99–4.43). Patients with high/low TMEscore have significant difference in prognosis (log-rank test, P = 0.00025), and the main difference between high TMEscore subtypes and low TMEscore subtypes is immune function-related pathways. Moreover, Kaplan-Meier survival curves found out a list of identified prognosis genes (n = 86) which interestingly show significant enrichment in immune-related functions. Finally, PPI network analysis shows that highly related nodes such as CD3D, CD3E, CD8A, CD27 in the module may become new targets of CC immunotherapy.

Conclusions

TMEscore may become a new prognostic indicator predicting the survival of CC patients. The prognostic genes (n = 86) may help provide new strategies for tumor immunotherapy.
Single-energy versus dual-energy imaging during CT-guided biopsy using dedicated metal artifact reduction algorithm in an in vivo pig model
Authors: Do Thuy Duong , Heim Julia , Skornitzke Stephan , Melzig Claudius , Vollherbst Dominik F. , Faerber Michael , Pereira Philippe L. , Kauczor Hans-Ulrich , Sommer Christof Matthias
Published: April 2021

Purpose

To evaluate dual-energy CT (DE) and dedicated metal artifact reduction algorithms (iMAR) during CT-guided biopsy in comparison to single-energy CT (SE).

Methods

A trocar was placed in the liver of six pigs. CT acquisitions were performed with SE and dose equivalent DE at four dose levels(1.7–13.5mGy). Iterative reconstructions were performed with and without iMAR. ROIs were placed in four positions e.g. at the trocar tip(TROCAR) and liver parenchyma adjacent to the trocar tip(LIVER-1) by two independent observers for quantitative analysis using CT numbers, noise, SNR and CNR. Qualitative image analysis was performed regarding overall image quality and artifacts generated by iMAR.

Results

There were no significant differences in CT numbers between DE and SE at TROCAR and LIVER-1 irrespective of iMAR. iMAR significantly reduced metal artifacts at LIVER-1 for all exposure settings for DE and SE(p = 0.02-0.04), but not at TROCAR. SNR, CNR and noise were comparable for DE and SE. SNR was best for high dose levels of 6.7/13.5mGy. Mean difference in the Blant-Altman analysis was -8.43 to 0.36. Cohen’s kappa for qualitative interreader-agreement was 0.901.

Conclusions

iMAR independently reduced metal artifacts more effectively and efficiently than CT acquisition in DE at any dose setting and its application is feasible during CT-guided liver biopsy.
Validity and reliability of the Spanish version of the “Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire” (W-DEQ-B)
Authors: Roldán-Merino Juan , Ortega-Cejas Celia Maria , Lluch-Canut Teresa , Farres-Tarafa Mariona , Biurrun-Garrido Ainoa , Casas Irma , Castrillo-Pérez Mª Isabel , Vicente-Hernández Mª Mercedes , Jimenez-Barragan Marta , Martínez-Mondejar Raquel , Hurtado-Pardos Barbara , Cabrera-Jaime Sandra
Published: April 2021

The Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W-DEQ-B) is an instrument that allows the experiences around fear of childbirth to be examined after the birth. It is currently the most widely used to measure different aspects related to the fear of childbirth and enables healthcare and additional assistance to women after birth to be adapted according to their needs. The objective of this study was to translate the W-DEQ-B into Spanish and analyse its reliability and validity. The study was carried out in two phases: (1) transcultural adaption of the questionnaire to Spanish and (2) a transversal study in a sample of 190 postpartum women from Sexual and Reproductive Health Clinics in the province of Barcelona (Spain). The psychometric properties were examined in terms of reliability (internal consistency and temporal stability) and construct validity (confirmatory factorial analysis [CFA] and exploratory factorial analysis [EFA]). The results of the CFA did not confirm unidimensionality of the W-DEQ-B questionnaire. The EFA suggested four very similar, but not identical, dimensions to those obtained in other studies in which the W-DEQ-B has been evaluated. Both the Cronbach’s alpha and the omega coefficient were adequate for the total questionnaire and for each of the four dimensions. The results of this study confirm that the W-DEQ-B is multi-dimensional. In the Spanish version of the W-DEQ-B-Sp four dimensions have been identified that allow the experiences around fear of childbirth to be examined after the birth. The Spanish version of the WDEQ-B (WDEQ-B-Sp) is reliable and valid for the measurement of fear of childbirth in clinical practice and for use in future research.
An experimental simulation model to assess wear of the porcine patellofemoral joint
Authors: Cowie Raelene M. , Bowland Philippa , Baji Divya , Fermor Hazel L. , Ingham Eileen , Fisher John , Jennings Louise M.
Published: April 2021

A range of surgical techniques and osteochondral interventions have been developed for early stage chondral/osteochondral repair interventions in the knee however, methods for functional, pre-clinical assessment of these therapies are limited. In this study, a method for simulating physiological loading and motion in the porcine patellofemoral joint was developed using a 6-axis simulator. As an example of how the method can be used, the influence of surgical positioning of osteochondral allografts in the patella on cartilage wear, deformation and damage and graft stability was investigated in this porcine patellofemoral joint model. The functional performance of allografts implanted either optimally (flush with the cartilage surface) or 1 mm proud of the cartilage surface was compared to a positive control (stainless steel pin implanted 1 mm proud of the cartilage surface), a negative control (no intervention) and a defect model. Allografts implanted flush with the surrounding cartilage could restore the articulating surface of the patella resulting in low wear, damage and deformation of the opposing cartilage surface, similar to that of the negative control group. Implanting the graft proud of the patella surface resulted in cartilage lesions on the femoral trochlea (ICRS grade 2) and a cartilage volume difference of 2.0 ± 3.9 mm3; the positive controls resulted in more severe lesions, a higher volume difference (14.2 ± 7.4 mm3) which in some cases exposed subchondral bone (ICRS grade 4). Defects in the patella caused deformation of the opposing cartilage surface. All grafts implanted in the patella subsided over the duration of the study. This study demonstrated a method that can be used to evaluate osteochondral repair strategies in the patellofemoral joint applying physiological loading and motions.
Identification of a novel non-invasive biological marker to overcome the shortcomings of PSA in diagnosis and risk stratification for prostate cancer: Initial prospective study of developmental endothelial locus-1 protein
Authors: Chung Jae-Wook , Kim Hyun Tae , Ha Yun-Sok , Lee Eun Hye , Chun So Young , Lee Chan-Hyeong , Byeon Kyeong Hyeon , Choi Seock Hwan , Lee Jun Nyung , Kim Bum Soo , Kim Tae-Hwan , Yoo Eun Sang , Yoon Ghil Suk , Baek Moon-Chang , Kwon Tae Gyun
Published: April 2021

Objective

This prospective study sought to clarify the developmental endothelial locus-1 (Del-1) protein as values of diagnosis and risk stratification of prostate cancer (PCa).

Design

From February 2017 to December 2019, a total 458 patients who underwent transrectal ultrasound guided prostate biopsy or surgery of benign prostatic hyperplasia agreed to research of Del-1 protein. We prospectively compared and analyzed the Del-1 protein and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in relation to the patients’ demographic and clinicopathological characteristics.

Results

Mean age was 68.86±8.55 years. Mean PSA and Del-1 protein was 21.72±89.37, 0.099±0.145, respectively. Two hundred seventy-six (60.3%) patients were diagnosed as PCa. Among them, 181 patients underwent radical prostatectomy (RP). There were significant differences in Del-1 protein between benign and PCa group (0.066±0.131 vs 0.121±0.149, respectively, p<0.001). When we set the cut-off value of del-1 protein as 0.120, in patients with 3≤PSA≤8, positive predictive value and specificity of Del-1 protein (≥0.120) for predicting PCa were 88.9% (56/63) and 93.5% (101/108), respectively. Among 181 patients who underwent RP, there were significant differences in Del-1 protein according to stage (pT2 vs pT3a vs ≥pT3b) (0.113±0.078, 0.171±0.121, 0.227±0.161, respectively, p<0.001) and to Gleason score (6 (3+3) or 7 (3+4) vs 7 (4+3) or 8 (4+4) vs 9 or 10) (0.134±0.103, 0.150±0.109, 0.212±0.178, respectively, P = 0.044). Multivariate analysis showed that PSA, Del-1 protein and high Gleason score (≥9) were the independent prognostic factors for predicting higher pT stage (≥3b). Furthermore, age, PSA and Del-1 protein were independent prognostic factors for predicting significant PCa.

Conclusion

Patients with PCa showed higher expression of Del-1 protein than benign patients. Del-1 protein increased with the stage and Gleason score of PCa. Collaboration with PSA, Del-1 protein can be a non-invasive useful marker for diagnosis and risk stratification of PCa.
Abnormal serum chloride is associated with increased mortality among unselected cardiac intensive care unit patients
Authors: Breen Thomas J. , Brueske Benjamin , Sidhu Mandeep S. , Kashani Kianoush B. , Anavekar Nandan S. , Barsness Gregory W. , Jentzer Jacob C.
Published: April 2021

Purpose

We sought to describe the association between serum chloride levels and mortality among unselected cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) patients.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively reviewed adult patients admitted to our CICU from 2007 to 2015. The association of dyschloremia and hospital mortality was assessed in a multiple variable model including additional confounders, and the association of dyschloremia and post-discharge mortality were assessed using Cox proportional-hazards analysis.

Results

9,426 patients with a mean age of 67±15 years (37% females) were included. Admission hypochloremia was present in 1,384 (15%) patients, and hyperchloremia was present in 1,606 (17%) patients. There was a U-shaped relationship between admission chloride and unadjusted hospital mortality, with increased hospital mortality among patients with hypochloremia (unadjusted OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.5–3.6, p<0.001) or hyperchloremia (unadjusted OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.6–2.3, p<0.001). After multivariate adjustment, hypochloremia remained associated with higher hospital mortality (adjusted OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.6–2.9, p <0.001). Post-discharge mortality among hospital survivors was higher among patients with admission hypochloremia (adjusted HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.6; p<0.001).

Conclusion

Abnormal serum chloride on admission to the CICU is associated with increased short- and long-term mortality, with hypochloremia being a strong independent predictor.
Self-collected and clinician-collected anal swabs show modest agreement for HPV genotyping
Authors: Dube Mandishora Racheal S. , Rounge Trine B. , Fitzpatrick Megan , Christiansen Irene Kraus , Ambur Ole Herman , Lagström Sonja , Stray-Pedersen Babill , Tommasino Massimo , Palefsky Joel , Chirenje Zvavahera M.
Published: April 2021

Background & aim

Women with HIV/HPV coinfection and cervical lesions are at increased risk of developing HPV related anal cancer. Self-collection of anal swabs may facilitate HPV molecular testing in anal cancer screening, especially in high-risk groups, and yet it is not adequately studied. We evaluated level of agreement between self-collected anal swabs (SCAS) and clinician-collected anal swabs (CCAS) when used for HPV genotyping. We also described the anal HPV genotype distribution and HIV/HPV coinfection.

Methods

We performed a cross sectional study with participants from a visual-inspection-with-acetic-acid and cervicography (VIAC) clinic, in Harare, Zimbabwe. In a clinic setting, the women aged ≥18 years provided anal swabs in duplicate; first CCAS and then SCAS immediately after. HPV detection and genotyping were performed using next generation amplicon sequencing of a 450bp region of the HPV L1 gene. Level of agreement of HPV genotypes between CCAS and SCAS was calculated using the kappa statistic. McNemar tests were used to evaluate agreement in the proportion of genotypes detected by either method.

Results

Three-hundred women provided 600 samples for HPV genotyping. HPV genotypes were detected in 25% of SCAS and in 22% of CCAS. The most common genotypes with CCAS were HPV52, HPV62 and HPV70 and with SCAS were HPV62, HPV44, HPV52, HPV53 and HPV68. Total HPV genotypes detected in CCAS were more than those detected in SCAS, 32 versus 27. The agreement of HPV genotypes between the two methods was 0.55 in kappa value (k). The test of proportions using McNemar gave a Chi-square value of 0.75 (p = 0.39). Multiple HPV infections were detected in 28/75 and 29/67 women for CCAS and SCAS respectively.

Conclusions

SCAS and CCAS anal swabs showed moderate agreement, with no statistically significant difference in the proportion of genotypes detected by either methods. Although the differences between the two methods were not statistically significant, CCAS detected more HPV genotypes than SCAS and more HPV infections were detected in SCAS than in CCAS. Our data suggest that self-collected anal swabs can be used as an alternative to clinician-collected anal swabs for HPV genotyping.
Effect of high-frequency low-intensity pulsed electric field on protecting SH-SY5Y cells against hydrogen peroxide and β-amyloid-induced cell injury via ERK pathway
Authors: Chen Wei-Ting , Lin Guan-Bo , Kuo Yu-Yi , Hsieh Chih-Hsiung , Lu Chueh-Hsuan , Sun Yi-Kun , Chao Chih-Yu
Published: April 2021

As the most common type of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is thought to be caused mainly by the excessive aggregation of β-amyloid protein (Aβ). However, a growing number of studies have found that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a key role in the onset and progression of AD. The present study aimed to probe the neuroprotective effect of high-frequency low-intensity pulsed electric field (H-LIPEF) for SH-SY5Y cells against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Aβ-induced cytotoxicity. By looking in a systematic way into the frequency- and amplitude-dependent neuroprotective effect of pulsed electric field (PEF), the study finds that H-LIPEF at 200 Hz produces the optimal protective effect for SH-SY5Y cells. The underlying mechanisms were confirmed to be due to the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway and the downstream prosurvival and antioxidant proteins. Because the electric field can be modified to focus on specific area in a non-contact manner, the study suggests that H-LIPEF holds great potential for treating NDDs, whose effect can be further augmented with the administering of drugs or natural compounds at the same time.
Insights into the microbial diversity and structure in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant with particular regard to Archaea
Authors: Płaza Grażyna , Jałowiecki Łukasz , Głowacka Dominika , Hubeny Jakub , Harnisz Monika , Korzeniewska Ewa
Published: April 2021

Due to limited description of the role and diversity of archaea in WWTPs, the aim of the study was to analyze microbial community structures and diversities with particular regard to Archaea in the samples taken from different stages of the full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant and effluent receiving water (upstream and downstream discharge point). Our study was focused on showing how the treatment processes influenced the Eubacteria and Archaea composition. Alpha and Beta diversity were used to evaluate the microbial diversity changes in the collected samples. Proteobacteria was the largest fraction ranging from 28% to 67% with 56% relative abundance across all samples. Archaea were present in all stages of WWTP ranged from 1 to 8%. Among the Archaea, two groups of methanogens, acetoclastic (Methanosarcina, Methanosaeta) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (Methanospirillium, Methanoculleus, Methanobrevibacter) were dominant in the technological stages. The obtained results indicate that the treated wastewater did not significantly affect eubacterial and archaeal composition in receiving water. However, differences in richness, diversity and microbial composition of Eubacteria and Archaea between the wastewater samples taken from the primary and secondary treatment were observed.
Bertalanffy-Pütter models for avian growth
Authors: Brunner Norbert , Kühleitner Manfred , Renner-Martin Katharina
Published: April 2021

This paper explores the ratio of the mass in the inflection point over asymptotic mass for 81 nestlings of blue tits and great tits from an urban parkland in Warsaw, Poland (growth data from literature). We computed the ratios using the Bertalanffy-Pütter model, because this model was more flexible with respect to the ratios than the traditional models. For them, there were a-priori restrictions on the possible range of the ratios. (Further, as the Bertalanffy-Pütter model generalizes the traditional models, its fit to the data was necessarily better.) For six birds there was no inflection point (we set the ratio to 0), for 19 birds the ratio was between 0 and 0.368 (lowest ratio attainable for the Richards model), for 48 birds it was above 0.5 (fixed ratio of logistic growth), and for the remaining eight birds it was in between; the maximal observed ratio was 0.835. With these ratios we were able to detect small variations in avian growth due to slight differences in the environment: Our results indicate that blue tits grew more slowly (had a lower ratio) in the presence of light pollution and modified impervious substrate, a finding that would not have been possible had we used traditional growth curve analysis.
Assessment of recipients’ characteristics, transfusion appropriateness, and utilization pattern of blood and blood products in Jimma Medical Center, Jimma, Ethiopia
Authors: Feyisa Tufa , Tesfaye Kiya Girum , Maleko Wondimagegn Adissu
Published: April 2021

Background

As blood transfusion remains life-saving and is being frequently prescribed, a greater number of its practice is unnecessary or inappropriate. This important clinical intervention is reported as one of the five overused medical treatments, with gross over-ordering and whole blood transfusions as the sole component being common in developing countries. Study of recipient’s demographics, clinical conditions, appropriate blood utilization, and continuous clinical audits for quality assurance and service improvement plan are important factors to this practice. This study was designed to assess the recipient’s characteristics, blood type distributions, appropriateness of blood transfusion, and utilization practice of the big medical center.

Methods

Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from February 1 to June 30, 2018. Data were collected using a structured data collection format prepared for this study. All transfusion prescriptions were followed from requisition up to completion. Patient’s age, sex, requesting departments, hemodynamics, number and component of units requested and issued, and units transfused were collected. Transfusion appropriateness was assessed by a criterion-based method while blood utilization was calculated.

Results

A total of 545 units of blood for 425 patients were cross-matched of the 809 units of total blood prescribed. The mean and median age of transfused individuals was found to be 27.47 ±15.28 years and 26 years respectively, and 65.4% females most in reproductive age groups. O and A Rhesus-positive blood types were the two major blood groups observed. Overall 82.1% of transfusions were appropriate; while only 27.8% of patients received appropriate components as 96.5% of individuals received a whole blood transfusion. Significant blood utilization was recorded with a C/T ratio of 1.05, TP% of 100%, and TI of 1.23.

Conclusion

Much of the transfusion recipients were relatively young aged and females, most in the reproductive age group. Although whole blood was used as a sole component, significant blood transfusion utilization and appropriateness were recorded; while appropriate component transfusion was recorded to be significantly low. Local transfusion guidelines and appropriate component preparation and utilization are required to improve the sub-optimal blood component transfusion practice.
Trends and predictors of in-hospital mortality among babies with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ezenwa Beatrice Nkolika , Olorunfemi Gbenga , Fajolu Iretiola , Adeniyi Toyin , Oleolo-Ayodeji Khadijah , Kene-Udemezue Blessing , Olamijulo Joseph A. , Ezeaka Chinyere
Published: April 2021

Background

Globally, approximately 9 million neonates develop perinatal asphyxia annually of which about 1.2 million die. Majority of the morbidity and mortality occur in Low and middle-income countries. However, little is known about the current trend in incidence, and the factors affecting mortality from hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), in Nigeria.

Objective

We assessed the trends in incidence and fatality rates and evaluated the predictors of mortality among babies admitted with HIE over five years at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Methods

A temporal trend analysis and retrospective cohort study of HIE affected babies admitted to the neonatal unit of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital was conducted. The socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the babies and their mothers were extracted from the neonatal unit records. Kaplan-Meir plots and Multivariable Cox proportional hazard ratio was used to evaluate the survival experienced using Stata version 16 (StataCorp USA) statistical software.

Results

The median age of the newborns at admission was 26.5 (10–53.5) hours and the male to female ratio was 2.1:1. About one-fifth (20.8%) and nearly half (47.8%) were admitted within 6 hours and 24 hours of life respectively, while majority (84%) of the infants were out-born. The prevalence and fatality rate of HIE in our study was 7.1% and 25.3% respectively. The annual incidence of HIE among the hospital admissions declined by 1.4% per annum while the annual fatality rate increased by 10.3% per annum from 2015 to 2019. About 15.7% died within 24 hours of admission. The hazard of death was related to the severity of HIE (p = 0.001), antenatal booking status of the mother (p = 0.01) and place of delivery (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

The case fatality rate of HIE is high and increasing at our centre and mainly driven by the pattern of admission of HIE cases among outborn babies. Thus, community level interventions including skilled birth attendants at delivery, newborn resuscitation trainings for healthcare personnel and capacity building for specialized care should be intensified to reduce the burden of HIE.
Gut bacterial communities across 12 Ensifera (Orthoptera) at different feeding habits and its prediction for the insect with contrasting feeding habits
Authors: Zheng Xiang , Zhu Qidi , Zhou Zhijun , Wu Fangtong , Chen Lixuan , Cao Qianrong , Shi Fuming
Published: April 2021

Insect microbial symbioses play a critical role in insect lifecycle, and insect gut microbiome could be influenced by many factors. Studies have shown that host diet and taxonomy have a strong influence on insect gut microbial community. In this study, we performed sequencing of V3-V4 region of 16S rRNA gene to compare the composition and diversity of 12 Ensifera from 6 provinces of China. Moreover, the influences of feeding habits and taxonomic status of insects on their gut bacterial community were evaluated, which might provide reference for further application research. The results showed that Proteobacteria (45.66%), Firmicutes (34.25%) and Cyanobacteria (7.7%) were the predominant bacterial phyla in Ensifera. Moreover, the gut bacterial community composition of samples with different feeding habits was significantly different, which was irrespective of their taxa. The highest diversity of gut bacteria was found in the omnivorous Ensifera. Furthermore, common and unique bacteria with biomarkers were found based on the dietary characteristics of the samples. However, the bacterial community structure of the Ensifera samples was significantly different from that of Caelifera. Therefore, we concluded that feeding habits and taxonomic status jointly affect the gut bacterial community composition of the samples from Orthoptera. However, the influence of feeding habit dominates when taxonomy category below the suborder level. In addition, the dominant, common and unique bacterial community structure could be used to predict the contrastic feeding habits of insects belonging to Ensifera.
Risk factors associated to neural tube defects among mothers who gave birth in North Shoa Zone Hospitals, Amhara Region, Ethiopia 2020: Case control study
Authors: Gashaw Aynalem , Shine Sisay , Yimer Osman , Wodaje Melat
Published: April 2021

Introduction

Neural tube defects affect the brain and the spinal cord of the developing embryo. The defects occur due to incomplete or failure of closure of the neural tube. The condition eventually causes death and lifelong disability. Worldwide, more than 300,000 babies are born with neural tube defects each year. The highest burden is in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, this study aims to identify the risk factors associated with neural tube defects among mothers who gave birth in North Shoa Zone Hospitals.

Methods

A hospital based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 243 (81 cases and 162 controls) study participants in North Shoa Zone Hospitals. The hospitals were selected using simple random sampling and all cases and randomly selected controls in the selected hospitals were included in the study. The data were collected by using pre-tested structured questionnaire.

Results

Different factors were identified to have association with neural tube defect. Family annual cash income less than 24000ETB (AOR: 3.73, 95%CI: 1.35, 10.26), history of still birth (AOR: 3.63, 95%CI: 1.03, 12.2), history of abortion (AOR: 6.15, 95%CI: 2.63, 18.56), preconception tea use (AOR: 2.36, 95%CI: 1.15, 4.86) and pesticides/chemical exposure (AOR: 5.34, 95%CI: 1.77, 16.05) were positively associated factors. In contrast, preconception care (AOR: 0.14, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.39) and taking iron/folic acid/multivitamin during the current pregnancy (AOR: 0.16, 95%CI: 0.07, 0.33) showed a protective effect.

Conclusion

Family annual income less than 24000ETB, history of still birth, history of abortion, preconception tea uses and pesticides/chemical exposure were associated factors of neural tube defects. Preconception counseling and screening should be recommended for women who plan for pregnancy.
The abundance and diversity of fruit flies and their parasitoids change with elevation in guava orchards in a tropical Andean forest of Peru, independent of seasonality
Authors: Salazar-Mendoza Paolo , Peralta-Aragón Ivan , Romero-Rivas Ladislao , Salamanca Jordano , Rodriguez-Saona Cesar
Published: April 2021

Lower elevations are generally thought to contain a greater abundance and diversity of insect communities and their natural enemies than higher elevations. It is less clear, however, how changes in seasons influence this pattern. We conducted a 2-year study (2013‒2014) in guava orchards located in a tropical Andean forest of Peru to investigate differences in fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) and their parasitoid communities at two elevations and over two seasons. Fruit fly traps were installed, monitored, and guava fruits were sampled from eight orchards at low (800–950 m above sea level) and high (1,700–1,900 m above sea level) elevations and during the dry and rainy seasons. At each orchard, adult fruit fly trap captures and emergence of fruit flies and their parasitoids from guava fruit were quantified to determine their abundance and species composition. There was a greater abundance and species richness of fruit flies captured in traps at lower elevations, as well as higher abundance and species evenness of fruit flies that emerged from fruit, indicating that lower elevations are associated with larger fruit fly populations. The abundance, species richness and diversity of parasitoids were also greater at lower elevations. Consequently, guava fruit infestation and fruit fly parasitism rates were also greater at lower elevations. Seasonality also influenced fruit fly populations with a greater number of flies emerging from guava fruit and more fruit infested in the rainy season. However, seasonality had no effect on parasitoid population parameters or rate of parasitism, nor did it interact with elevation as an influence of populations of fruit flies or their parasitoids in guava orchards. This study highlights the importance of examining both elevation and seasonality for a better understanding of the population dynamics of fruit flies and their parasitoids in tropical agroecosystems.
La cognición distribuida en el pensamiento de Ronald Giere
Authors: Casacuberta David , Estany Anna
Published: April 2021

Ronald N. Giere fue uno de los más importantes impulsores del enfoque cognitivo de la filosofía de la ciencia a partir de su obra Explaining Science: A Cognitive Approach (1988), en el marco del programa naturalizador en filosofía. Para Giere adquiere especial relevancia la idea de cognición distribuida del antropólogo cognitivo Edwin Hutchins en Cognition in the Wild (1995). El objetivo de esta aproximación al pensamiento de Giere es abordar algunas de las ideas que están en el trasfondo de las publicaciones cuyo núcleo es la cognición distribuida, como es el caso de cultura epistémica, cognición y mente, agencia, la relación entre lo cognitivo y lo social y computación.
Contribuciones de Giere a la reflexión sobre la educación científica
Authors: Izquierdo Aymerich Mercè , Adúriz-Bravo Agustín
Published: April 2021

Ronald N. Giere, en su larga carrera como filósofo, se interesó por reflexionar sobre la enseñanza de las disciplinas con el auxilio de ideas tales como: reconstrucción modeloteórica, realismo perspectivo, modelos como mapas, hipótesis teóricas y didáctica basada en el agente (cognitivo). Esas reflexiones, en conjunto con su muy influyente “explicación de la ciencia” estructurada en torno a los modelos teóricos y la modelización, nos sirven a didactas y profesorado para diseñar una enseñanza de las ciencias en los distintos niveles educativos que procure pensamiento autónomo y crítico en el estudiantado. Para nosotros, la principal aportación de Giere para pensar la educación científica tiene que ver con darnos insumos para construir un modelo de enseñanza que considera a los estudiantes agentes capaces de pensar con rigor sobre el mundo porque aceptan compartir teorías a las que encuentran significado auténtico en lo que ellos pueden hacer en ese mundo de acuerdo con su propia perspectiva de intervención. El análisis naturalista de Giere, que pretende mostrarnos el trabajo de los científicos tal como se lleva adelante, puede ser transpuesto para caracterizar la ciencia escolar como una forma justificada y autocorrectiva de entender que implica apropiarse de modelos teóricos que son patrimonio colectivo.
Fantasmas de lo escolar. ¿A quién vas a llamar?
Authors: Narodowski Mariano
Published: April 2021

El artículo propone una serie de conceptos teóricos que permiten comprender el pasado y el futuro de las instituciones escolares a partir de una recuperación de la subsistencia de las ideas de J. A. Comenius en el campo de lo escolar, proyectando las líneas más importantes que desembocan en la crisis actual, utilizando un enfoque que combina estudios previos de autores posestructuralistas y aceleracionistas.

En la primera parte, se presenta un diagnóstico que muestra cómo la vieja tecnología escolar resiste la aceleración de las nuevas tecnologías de trasmisión y apropiación de saberes (digital e inteligencia artificial) generando un efecto de nostalgia que tiende a paralizarla y a obturar toda posibilidad de conciliarla con proyectas futuros. A la vez, el estudio pone de manifiesto la nociva recurrencia por parte de la pedagogía a la recuperación de mandatos y consignas que se muestran impotentes frente al desacople tecnológico entre los dispositivos escolares surgidos en el siglo XVII y los que operan en el siglo XXI.

En la segunda parte, el estudio encuentra lo productivo que puede llegar a ser un ejercicio fantasmagórico que propicie  una negociación entre lo viejo y lo nuevo, con la condición de no resignar el ideal pansófico comeniano (todo el saber humano para todos los seres humanos) que originalmente dio sentido a lo escolar como medio para alcanzar ese fin, sino más bien liberándolo de la sujeción a un único formato educativo y, por tanto, proponiendo un horizonte progresista y realizable frente a la crisis actual.
Cultural Wars and Communal Perseverance: Jewish Fundamentalism in Our Time
Authors: Ariel Yaakov
Published: April 2021

The Corona epidemic and the social distancing it required posed serious challenges to Orthodoxy Jewry. Jewish religious prayers demand a quorum of ten men, and the community regularly conducts large celebrations of holidays and rites of passage. Many in the Ultra-Orthodox community had a hard time giving up on what for them was the essence of Jewish life. Modern Orthodox Jews took a different line, following the norms and regulations of the larger civic society. The epidemic crisis highlighted the position of the Orthodox communities within the larger Jewish, and non-Jewish, populations. It inflamed Jewish cultural wars, and the divisions between the ultra-Orthodox and other groups in society, including the other fundamentalist Jewish camp, the Nationalist Orthodox. The article explores the rise of the fundamentalist movements, their developments, beliefs, and characteristics, and places the reaction of the different camps to the pandemic within larger cultural contexts.
Diseño y validación de rúbrica para la evaluación de modelación matemática en alumnos de secundaria
Authors: Acebo-Gutiérrez Claudia Jaqueline , Rodríguez-Gallegos Ruth
Published: April 2021

La modelación matemática ha ganado gran relevancia en el ámbito educativo desde hace más de 40 años. Esta es considerada como una opción para la enseñanza en la que se incorporan problemas de la realidad para relacionarlos con el mundo de las matemáticas, de tal manera que permite a los estudiantes ver el lado práctico de estas. En este artículo se propone una rúbrica validada para evaluar el nivel de modelación matemática de alumnos del último grado de secundaria cuando trabajan en la solución de problemas de manera individual. Se aplicó una prueba con problemas para evaluar cuatro fases de la modelación matemática a 43 alumnos de tercer grado de secundaria. La evaluación de las fases de modelación matemática de la prueba se llevó a cabo con base en una rúbrica diseñada especialmente para esta actividad. Se realizó una validación por jueceo. Los coeficientes de Chronbach y de Kappa permiten concluir que la rúbrica es un instrumento confiable y válido para evaluar fases de la modelación. Este instrumento aporta una guía de evaluación para el docente interesado en promover el aprendizaje de las matemáticas a partir de la estrategia de la modelación.
Las nuevas actitudes de los docentes tras la emergencia sanitaria
Authors: Castrillón Cardona William Fernando , Gallego-Torres Adriana Patricia
Published: April 2021

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ALGORITMA K-NN DENGAN EUCLIDEAN DISTANCE UNTUK PREDIKSI HASIL PENGGERGAJIAN KAYU SENGON
Authors: Yudhana Anton , Sunardi Sunardi , Hartanta Agus Jaka Sri
Published: April 2021

Industri dengan bahan dasar kayu Sengon (Albizia falcataria) banyak diselenggarakan oleh masyarakat Indonesia untuk keperluan furnitur, instrumen desain interior, bahan kayu plywood, pelapis dinding, plafon, dudukan cor, dan bahan baku kertas. Penggergajian merupakan proses pemotongan batang kayu untuk mendapatkan potongan-potongan yang lebih kecil sesuai dengan variasi dimensi yang diinginkan. Perhitungan prediksi secara manual untuk mendapatkan jumlah dan dimensi potongan membutuhkan waktu lama karena harus dilakukan secara berulang untuk setiap batang, terkadang hasilnya tidak optimal sehingga mengakibatkan kerugian. Penelitian ini menerapkan Algoritma k-Nearest Neighbor (k-NN) dengan Euclidean Distance untuk prediksi hasil penggergajian kayu Sengon. Penelitian diawali dengan perhitungan dengan Ms Excel lalu membangun aplikasi Algoritma k-NN menggunakan bahasa pemrograman PHP dengan database MySQL dan framework Laravel. Data training sejumlah 135 dan data testing sejumlah 10. Nilai k yang digunakan adalah 1, 2, 3, 4, dan 5. Penggunaan aplikasi dilakukan dengan memberikan input berupa panjang dan diameter kayu untuk kemudian dilakukan proses perhitungan k-NN hingga mendapatkan hasil prediksi. Penelitian dengan aplikasi didapatkan hasil prediksi 100% sama dengan hasil perhitungan dengan Ms Excel. Hasil prediksi dengan aplikasi mendapatkan akurasi 70% atau error rate sebesar 30% jika dibandingkan dengan hasil riil di lapangan.
„Tęczowa zaraza” a niezależność Kościoła i godność człowieka. Uwagi do wyroku Sądu Okręgowego w Krakowie z 8 grudnia 2020 r., sygn. I C 1357/19
Authors: Borecki Paweł
Published: April 2021

In the judgment of 8 December 2020 (file reference number I C 1357/19), the District Court in Kraków dismissed the action for infringement of personal rights and payment against the Archbishop of Kraków. M. Jędraszewski. The reason was his statement during the homily on August 1, 2019 about the threat of a “rainbow plague”. The court found that the statement did not infringe the personal rights of the petitioner. However, it had an objectively insulting and defamatory nature towards LGBT people. It violated their dignity. The court found that the defendant did not act illegally. He referred to the provisions of the Concordat of July 29, 1993. The action of the Archbishop. M. Jędraszewski exceeded the limits of religious freedom. The statement violated the principles of social coexistence. However, the court did not pay heed to his, nor did it keep an equal distance between the parties in the dispute. It expressed the traditional axiology and vision of social life. The only valid argument for dismissing the claim was that the defendant’s statement was not addressed specifically to the claimant.
A Novel Approach Based Multi Biometric Finger Vein Template Recognition System using HGF
Authors: Dev Rahul , Tripathi Rohit , Khanam Ruqaiya
Published: April 2021

Finger vein(s) based biometrics is another way to deal with individual's distinguishing proof and has recently received much consideration. The strategy in light of low-level components, like the dark surface of finger vein is taken as standard. However, it is typically looked with numerous difficulties that involves affectability to noise and low neighbourhood consistency. Generally finger vein recognition in view of abnormal state highlights the portrayal that has ended up being a promising method to successfully defeat the above restrictions and enhance the framework execution. This research work proposes finger vein-based recognition technique making use of Hybrid BM3D Filter along with grouped sparse representation for image denoising and feature selection (Local Binary Pattern – LBP, Scale Invariant Feature Transform – SIFT) to evaluate features, key-points and perform recognition. The experimental results on two open databases of finger vein,i.e., HKPU and SDU show that the proposed method has enhanced the overall performance of finger vein pattern recognition system compared with other existing methods.
Refining pulp for tensile strength
Authors: Kerekes R. J. , Heymer J. O. , McDonald J. D.
Published: April 2021

Increased tensile strength of paper is a primary objective of low consistency refining. Although refining is typically controlled by Specific Refining Energy and Specific Edge Load, these parameters are not independent because both depend directly on power. To overcome this shortcoming, we derived simplified expressions for the number and intensity of impacts on pulp. The number of impacts reflects the capacity of the refiner to impose loading cycles on pulp. The intensity, combined with a response parameter, reflects the probability of a successful refining event at each impact. Based on these parameters, we employed an equation based on cumulative probability to predict tensile strength of pulp after refining.

Non-linear fits of this equation to data from the literature for a wide range of pulps refined by various refiners gave response parameters that were remarkably similar ranging from1.6–3.3×10−61.6\text{--}3.3\times {10^{-6}} kg/J. The resulting probability of successful refining events at each impact was found to be quite small, about 1–3 %. We postulated that this is likely due to most force being imposed at fibre crossings in the pulp network. Consequently, multiple cycles are required to expose other parts of fibres and new fibres to loadings. In summary, this new approach to characterizing refining reflects the stochastic nature of the process and enables a direct quantitative link between refiner operation and fibre development.