bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of psycho-education and mindfulness-based stress reduction on psychological stress of carers of relatives with dementia: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Janghorbani Mohsen , Omranifard Victoria , Mansourzadeh Azam
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives

The intention of this randomized controlled trial was to compare the relative usefulness of psycho-education (PE) and mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training programs on carers of relatives with dementia (RWD).

Materials and Methods

An eight-week, randomized, controlled trial was accomplished from March to December 2020. Ninety carers of RWD were randomly allocated to PE or MBSR-training program. Carers were rated at baseline and at the 8-week after training with the Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Anxiety Inventory, Coping Response Inventory, and the Short Form of Health Survey.

Results

A significant decrease in state anxiety symptoms and gains in problem-focused coping appeared in both groups. In the 45 carers trained by MBSR, the mean (SD) of the anxiety score declined from 37.0 (1.9) to 35.6 (1.7) (P < 0.001). Of the 45 carers trained by PE, the mean (SD) of the anxiety score declined from 36.7 (1.2) to 34.5 (2.9) (P < 0.001). The mean (SD) of problem-focused coping score increased from 15.5 (5.0) to 16.7 (4.8) (P < 0.001) and from 14.7 (5.8) to 15.5 (5.7) (P < 0.05) in the PE and MBSR groups. Carers’ adherence was fine and no unpleasant effects were seen.

Conclusions

Both MBSR and PE significantly reduce state anxiety symptoms and gains in problem-focused coping. MBSR demonstrated no superiority over the PE-training program.

Trial Registration:

irct.ir: IRCT20161010030255N4 registration date 18/12/2020
Increased expression of NLRP3 associate with elevated levels of HMGB1 in children with febrile seizures: a case control study
Authors: Ye Xing-Guang , She Feng-Zhi , Yu Dong-Ni , Wu Li-Qian , Tang Yan , Wu Ben-Ze , Dong Shi-Wei , Dai Jie-Min , Zhou Xing , Liu Zhi-Gang , Qin Zhou-Lian
Published: March 2023

Background
High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) is an endogenous danger signal that mediates activation of the innate immune response including NLR pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine release. Although HMGB1 and NLRP3 have been implicated in the pathophysiology of seizures, the correlation between HMGB1 and NLRP3 has not been determined in children with febrile seizures (FS). To explore the relationship between extra-cellular HMGB1 and NLRP3 in children with FS, we analyzed serum HMGB1, NLRP3, Capase-1, and pro-inflammatory cytokines of patients with FS.
Methods
Thirty FS children and thirty age-matched febrile controls were included in this study. Blood was obtained from the FS children within 1 hour of the time of the seizure; subsequently, the content of HMGB1, NLRP3, Capase-1, interleukin (IL)-1β, interleukin (IL)-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare serum cytokine levels between FS patients and controls. The Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was calculated to detect significant correlations between cytokine levels.
Results
Serum levels of HMGB1, NLRP3, Capase-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α were significantly higher in FS patients than febrile controls (p < 0.05). Serum levels of HMGB1 were significantly correlated with levels of NLRP3 and Capase-1 (both, p < 0.05). Serum levels of Capase-1 were significantly correlated with levels of IL-1β (p < 0.05). Serum levels of IL-1β were significantly correlated with levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
HMGB1 are up-regulated in peripheral serum of FS patients, what may be responsible, at least in part, for the increased expression of NLRP3 and Caspase-1. Increased expression of Capase-1 was significantly associated with elevated serum levels of and IL-1β. Given that activated Caspase-1 directly regulates the expression of mature IL-1β and positively correlates with activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, our data suggest that increased levels of peripheral HMGB1 possibly mediate IL-1β secretion through the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in children with FS. Thus, both HMGB1 and NLRP3 might be the potential target for preventing or limiting FS.
New construction of ternary locally repairable codes that are also LCD codes
Authors: Yang Ruipan , Li Ruihu , Fu Qiang
Published: March 2023

The concept of locally repairable code(LRC) is presented to improve the reliability and efficiency of distributed storage systems. linear complementary dual (LCD) code is proved useful for preventing malicious attacks, and helps to secure the system. In this paper, we put LRC and LCD code together for consideration, to enhance repair efficiency and security. Firstly, a new method of constructing self-orthogonal code from arbitrary ternary linear code is proved. Then a new construction of ternary LRC that is also LCD code with small locality is proposed. As a result, plenty of ternary LCD-LRCs attaining the CM bound are obtained, which shows the effectiveness of our method.
The Relationship between Dental Caries, Bone Mineral Density, and Bone Metabolism among Adolescents
Authors: Ho Teck-Ek , Gu Wen-Jia , Li Fei , Shen Pei , Luo Qing-Qiong , Sun Xu-Zhou , Wu Si-Cheng , Lo Edward Chin Man , Yang Chi , Lu Hai-Xia
Published: March 2023

Background:
Bone development, particularly important during adolescence, can be affected by a variety of factors that can lead to the development of bone diseases such as osteoporosis or fractures. Whether dental caries is related to skeletal status, or whether lack of calcium affects the teeth, is always the question that clinical patients want to have answered. The present study was aimed to compare the bone mineral density and bone metabolism of adolescents with and without dental caries.
Methods:
Adolescents were enrolled in the dental caries and caries-free groups, respectively. A questionnaire and clinical oral examination in terms of DMFT scores were conducted. Bone mineral density (BMD) was tested and peripheral blood was collected for bone metabolism assessment.
Results:
119 and 140 adolescents were included in the dental caries and caries-free groups. The mean BMD and Z-score of the two groups showed no statistically significant difference. Serum concentrations of ALP, bone alkaline phosphatase, N-terminal osteocalcin, peptide of type I procollagen, and β-cross-linked C-telopeptide of type 1 collagen levels in the dental caries group were significantly lower than in the caries-free group (p < 0.05). Serum calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, 25-OH-VitD, and parathyroid hormone were not statistically different between two groups. Multiple factor logistic regression showed that serum calcium concentration in males had an OR of 2.55 for dental caries (p< 0.001).
Conclusions:
BMD and majority of bone metabolism indexes were not related with dental caries among Chinese adolescents. For male adolescents, serum calcium level was associated with higher risk of dental caries.
Prevalence of Adjustment Problem and Associated Factor Among First Year Dilla University Students, Dilla, Southern Ethiopia, 2022
Authors: Sime Yohanes , Shamil Hibtsam , Negash Misrak , Gashaw Anteneh
Published: March 2023

Background

The process of adjusting to new circumstances is known as adjustment. It is a psychological concept that refers to the behavior that permits people to meet the demands of the environment. A university is a new environment that triggers different reactions among first year students. Getting used to university life becomes a challenge. It is required to deal with difficulties, stressful situations, as well as to manage problems and obstacles that arise in regular life.

Objective

To assess the prevalence and associated factors of adjustment problem among first year dilla university students dilla, Southern Ethiopia 2022.

Method and Material

An institutional-based cross-sectional study was used among first year dilla university students. Data was collected by using on self-administered structured questionnaire to assess socio-demographic, personal factor, environmental factor and social factors. A Simple random sampling technique will be employed to get the sample. SACQ was used to assess adjustment problem first year students in university. The collected data was coded and entered into SPSS version 20 for analysis, Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify associated factors of adjustment problem in first year dilla university students. The statistical significance was set at P-value < 0.05.

Result

A total of 406 respondents were involved in the study with response rate of 95.98%. Of respondents 241(59.4%) were male and 165(40.6%) were female. Overall prevalence of adjustment problem was 54.4%. Female students AOR = 3.606 with 95% CI (2.010,6.471), students’ residences were rural AOR = 3.924 with 95% CI (2.254,6.833), Personal factors AOR = 6.963, 95% CI:(3.188, 15.206), social factors AOR = 2.966, 95% CI: (1.503, 5.855 were significantly associated with adjustment problem.

Conclusion and recommendation:

A high prevalence of adjustment problems was discovered. Female students, students that come from rural areas, social factors and personal factors were significantly associated with adjustment problem. Other than academic issues, experienced lecturers provide full orientation about social life, campus environment, and coping mechanisms for these challenges was recommended
Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oil from Leaves of Myrcia splendens against A549 Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Montalvão Monalisa Martins , Batista Franciel Felix , Santos Edmilson William Propheta dos , Santos Jileno Ferreira , Júnior Waldecy Lucca , Farias Atenilton Santos , Ribeiro Adauto Souza , Cavaleiro Carlos , Machado Samísia Maria Fernandes , Scher Ricardo , Corrêa Cristiane Bani
Published: March 2023

Background: Plants of the Myrcia genus have been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. The Myrcia splendens species has a diverse chemical constitution, but the biological activities of its essential oil have not been well investigated.
Objective: To carry out the chemistry characterization and evaluate the in vitroantitumor effect of the essential oil from the leaves of the species Myrcia splendens (MSEO) in different tumor lines.
Methods: The essential oil obtained from M. splendens (MSEO) leaves was analyzed by GC/MS. The cytotoxic activity of the MSEO was evaluated in vitro using the MTT assay. Clonogenic and wound healing assays were used to analyze colony formation and migratory capacity of lung adenocarcinoma cells, respectively. Morphological changes were observed by fluorescence using Phalloidin/FITC and DAPI stains.
Results: Chemical analysis identified 22 compounds, corresponding to 88% of the sample. Major compounds were the sesquiterpenic hydrocarbons bicyclogermacrene (15.4%), germacrene D (8.9%) and E-caryophyllene (10.1%). MSEO was highly cytotoxic in A549, B16-F10 and THP-1 cancer cells. A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cell line was chosen to continue the experiments, due to the high incidence and mortality rates of this type of cancer. MSEO reduced colony formation of at all concentrations and inhibited the migratory capacity of A549 cells at concentrations of 20 and 40 ug/mL. Furthemore, the MSEO induced apoptotic in A549 cells at all concentrations tested.
Conclusion: MSEO may be a promising natural agent in anti-cancer applications.
Fog Computing Network Security Based on Resources Management
Authors: BenDaoud Wided , Othmen Salwa , Hamdi Monia , Khdhir Radhia , Hmam Habib
Published: March 2023

Fog Computing paradigm is designed as an extension of cloud computing due to the need for a supporting platform that is capable to provide the requirements of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, due to its features, fog obviously confronts numerous security and privacy risks, such as huge scale geolocation, heterogeneity, and mobility. Indeed, there are many problems resulting from security violations and breaches. Thus, to exceed these problems, we propose an efficient access control system, ameliorated with appropriate monitoring function and risk estimation. Moreover, a comprehensive resource management mechanism is proposed to ameliorate the system performance and so to maintain low latency. Our aim is to further enhance data security, privacy and resource management for IoT-users. To demonstrate the efficiency, feasibility, and security of our proposed scheme, we perform an extensive simulation using Network Security Simulator (Nessi2).
Patient Satisfaction study in Outpatient Setting in Tertiary Academic Hospital
Authors: Abaalkhayl Mohammed , Abukraym Nader , Al-Najjar Hani
Published: March 2023

Purpose: To analyze and assess of satisfaction to the quality and performance of services provided in the outpatients Clinics of Tertiary Academic Care Hospital, and explore what is the factors affecting on it.
Methods: In a cross-sectional study at university hospitals in the Qassim region of Saudi Arabia, 476 outpatient online surveys were completed. The main content of the study was the basic characteristics of the patients. Statistical description, to identify influencing factors, chi-square analysis was utilized.
Results: The survey found that total outpatient satisfaction was 76.69±25.17, and the higher satisfaction factor scores were hospital facilities, Attitude and corporation of pharmacy staffs, language and communication of the physician, and registration process. The factors with lower scores were ease of finding OPD clinic, ease to find outpatients location, availability of prescribed medication.
Conclusion: For the continuation of the outpatient service process, patients with various educational levels, marital status, and first-time hospital visitors may receive special attention when receiving outpatient care.
Title: Presence of fatty liver disease leads to unusual rise of liver enzymes in patients with common bile duct colic.
Authors: Siriwardana Rohan Chaminda , Ediriweera Deleepa Senajith , Paranaheva Lakmali , Ekanayake Chanaka Sandharuwan , Thilakarathne Suchintha
Published: March 2023

BackgroundAcute common bile duct (CBD) obstruction due to calculi leads to intra ductal hypertension and transient hepato-cellular injury. Fatty liver disease (FLD) has adverse impact on hepatic microcirculation. This study compares liver enzymes, inflammatory markers and bilirubin levels in patients with and without fatty liver disease (FLD) presenting with common bile duct (CBD) obstruction.MethodsCBD colic was diagnosed based on clinical, radiological and biochemical criterion. Patients were divided in to two groups as presence or absence of FLD based on ultra sound scan and the macroscopic appearance of liver during surgery. AST, ALT, bilirubin level and inflammatory markers were prospectively assessed and the peak levels were compared between the two groups.ResultsOut of 42 individuals, there were 22 (52.3%) patients with FLD. Median body mass index was 26.9 (24.1 – 30.8) in fatty liver group compared to 25.7 (23.5 – 26.2) in others. Individuals with FLD showed high AST (558.5 vs. 247.0, p = 0.005), ALT (467 vs. 228.5, p = 0.005) and bilirubin (3.8 vs. 2.2, p = 0.015) levels compared to those without FLD. According to multiple linear regression models, high AST and ALT levels showed significant associations with FLD after adjusting for age, gender, BMI, amylase and CRP levels. The median enzyme level at two weeks did not show a difference.ConclusionsPresence of FLD causes unusual rise of AST and ALT levels in patients with CBD stones. This rise is transient.
Prediction and early warning of daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases based on weighted combination model and CUSUM
Authors: Chen Cong , Qin Jiajie , Deng Yutong , Li Ying , Yang Juan , Jia Wei , Wang Xuying , Guan Jing , Liu Wei
Published: March 2023

Background: Childhood common respiratory diseases are the most common diseases that could cause great harm to children’s health. Constructing a weighted combination and early warning models of the daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases is of great significance in analyzing the trend of the daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases in the future, and providing data support for hospital personnel regulation and resource planning.
Methods: Due to the comprehensive characteristics of the trend, periodicity, autocorrelation and weekday effect of the daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases, a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model was selected to capture the trend, periodicity and autocorrelation and a Holt-Winters model was constructed to consider the weekday effect. In addition, a multivariate long short-term memory (LSTM) model, combined with the lag effects of temperature and pollutant concentration on the daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases, was established.Based on the residual correction, a weighted combination model with the prediction results of the three models was constructed; meanwhile, a cumulative sum (CUSUM) early warning model was built. The mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) was used to evaluate the performance of the models.
Results: The models were applied to forecast and warn the short-termly daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases based on the recent 2 years of daily visit data of a large-scale comprehensive hospital for children in Tianjin.The MAPE of the weighted combination model was 3.01%, which was the smallest overall. At the same time, the early warning situation of the predictive values and the real values were consistent. Both of them indicated that the weighted combination model had good forecasting performance.
Conclusions: The weighted combination and early warning models can accurately predict the daily number of childhood common respiratory diseases, and send out the corresponding early warning signals, which will provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of childhood common respiratory diseases.
Application of real-time data processing system of Internet of Things based on blockchain technology in the financial field of Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration
Authors: Fei Xuanshu
Published: March 2023

After more than 40 years of long-term development, as a pioneer of China's reform and opening up, the Yangtze River Delta region has made tremendous economic progress and strong scientific and technological innovation strength, which has made the economy flourish and scientific and technological innovation strength strong. However, in the process of financial growth in the Yangtze River Delta, there are also financial structures that do not match the optimization of industrial structure, thus hindering the quality and efficiency of industrial structure optimization, thus affecting the strategic function of industrial development. For the development of the financial field, this paper applies the real-time data processing system of the Internet of Things based on blockchain technology to analyze the financial industry of the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. The Internet of Things, based on the technology of real-time data processing system, can store different types of financial assets. These assets are a common component of supporting the application of the Internet of Things. They mix and build a powerful back-end process that can support the data processing application of the Internet of Things. Therefore, the Internet of Things data network and other information are stored in the data structure, so that data analysis and consolidation can be carried out with consensus, Thus, the processing efficiency of relevant financing data in the Yangtze River Delta region has been greatly improved, and the development process of the financial sector in the region has been effectively accelerated. Therefore, the research on this issue will enable the financial industry to give full play to its potential as a major component of national economic development, so as to maximize the improvement of the industrial structure and promote the development of blockchain and Internet of Things technologies.
High Prevalence of Acute Brain Injury on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Huang Merry , Gedansky Aron , Hassett Catherine E. , Shoskes Aaron , Duggal Abhijit , Uchino Ken , Cho Sung-Min , Buletko Andrew Blake
Published: March 2023

Objective: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome(ARDS) is an acute inflammatory respiratory failure condition that may be associated with acute brain injury (ABI). We aimed to describe the prevalence and types of ABI detected by brain MRI among ARDS patients.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed and collected data on ABI as detected by brain MRI during index hospitalization of all ARDS patients at a single tertiary center in the United States from January 2010 to October 2018. ABIs were classified as cerebral ischemia (ischemic infarct and hypoxic ischemic brain injury) or cerebral hemorrhage (intraparenchymal hemorrhage, cerebral microbleeds, subarachnoid hemorrhage, and subdural hematoma). Descriptive statistics were conducted.
Results: Of the 678 ARDS patients, 66 (9.7%) underwent brain MRI during their ARDS illness. The most common indication for brain MRI was encephalopathy (45.4%) and the median time from hospital admission to MRI was 10 days (interquartile range 4-17). Of 66, 29 (44%) had MRI evidence of ABI including cerebral ischemia in 33% (22/66) and cerebral hemorrhage in 21% (14/66). Among those with cerebral ischemia, common findings were bilateral globus pallidus infarcts (n=7, 32%), multifocal infarcts (n=5, 23%), and diffuse hypoxic ischemic brain injury (n=3, 14%). Of those with cerebral hemorrhage, common findings were cerebral microbleeds (n=12, 86%) and intraparenchymal hemorrhage (n=2, 14%). ARDS patients with cerebral hemorrhage had significantly greater use of rescue therapies including prone positioning (28.6% vs 5.8%, p = 0.03), inhaled vasodilator (35.7% vs 11.5%, p = 0.046), and recruitment maneuver (14.3% vs 0%, p = 0.04).
Conclusion: Among selected patients with ARDS who underwent brain MRI, almost a half had ABI most commonly including bilateral globus pallidus infarcts and cerebral microbleeds.
Evaluation of urinary system ultrasonography, uroflowmetry and voiding diary results in children with daytime urinary incontinence
Authors: Yener Sevim , İlçe Zekeriya
Published: March 2023

Purpose
To assess examine the results of urinary system ultrasonography, uroflowmetry and voiding diary for children patients presenting withday time urinary incontinence.
Patients and methods
Patients aged 5-17 years with day time urinary incontinence were retrospectively analyzed. Urinary system ultrasonography, uroflowmetry, complete urinalysis and two-day voiding diary were recorded for all patients. Comorbid diseases and surgeries were determined with a detailed history.
Results
A total of 1805 patients were identified. Abnormal USG findings were detected in 385 (21.3%) patients. The highest bladder capacity detected in the voiding diary was found to be below the expected bladder capacity in 41.2% of the patients, while the bladder capacity measured in the uroflowmeter was low in 65.4% of the patients. Urinary tract infection was detected in 315 patients in the complete urinalysis. Associated disease was seen in 401 patients with a detailed history.
Conclusion
We think that ultrasonographic evaluation in these patients should include the entire urinary system, since upper urinary system anomalies can be seen not only in the bladder but also in the upper urinary tract.
We think that a well-prepared voiding diary provides sufficient data in terms of bladder volume instead of bladder volume measured by bladder ultrasonography and/or uroflowmetry.
Amazon forests a net carbon source during drought and under high rates of human-disturbance
Authors: Rosan Thais , Sitch Stephen , O'Sullivan Michael , Basso Luana , Wilson Chris , Silva Camila V. J. , Gloor Manuel , Fawcett Dominic , Heinrich Viola , de Souza Jefferson Goncalves , Bezerra Francisco , von Randow Celso , Mercado Lina , Gatti Luciana , Wiltshire Andy , Friedlingstein Pierre , Pongratz Julia , Schwingshackl Clemens , Williams Mathew , Smallman Luke , Knauer Jürgen , Arora Vivek , Kennedy Daniel , Tian Hanqin , Wenping Yuan , Jain Atul , Falk Stefanie , Poulder Ben , Arneth Almut , Sun Qing , Zaehle Sönke , Walker Anthony , Kato Etsushi , Yue Xu , Bastos Ana , Ciais Philippe , Wigneron Jean-Pierre , Albergel Clement , Aragão Luiz
Published: March 2023

The Amazon is the largest continuous tropical forest in the world and plays a key role in the global carbon cycle. Human-induced disturbances and climate change have impacted the Amazon carbon balance. Here we conduct a comprehensive analysis of state-of-the-art estimates of the contemporary land carbon fluxes in the Amazon. Over the whole Amazon region bottom-up methodologies suggest a small average carbon sink over 2010-2020, in contrast with a carbon small source simulated by top-down inversions (2010-2018). However, these estimates are not significantly different from one another when accounting for their large individual uncertainties, highlighting remaining knowledge gaps, and urgent need to reduce such uncertainties. Nevertheless, both methodologies agreed on an Amazon net carbon source during recent climate extremes and that south-eastern Amazon was a net land carbon source over the whole study period (2010-2020). Overall, our results point to increasing human-induced disturbances (deforestation and forest degradation by wildfires) and reduction in the old-growth forest sink during drought. If the current trends in deforestation and forest degradation and regional drying continue, it will have negative implications for reducing carbon emissions and maintaining globally important natural carbon stocks, as part of the requirements for achieving the Paris Agreement goals.
Rituximab treatment of adults with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Authors: wang liuwei , yu lu , wang yulin , guo yanhong , zhai zihan , tang lin
Published: March 2023

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab (RTX) in the treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in adults.
Method: The clinical data of patients with primary FSGS who received RTX treatment in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were analyzed retrospectively. The selected patients received RTX twice or four times, with a single dose of 375mg/m2, and the interval between two times of administration of RTX was 2-4 weeks. The treatment target is to achieve the clearance of B cells (peripheral blood B cell count<5/ μ l). The primary outcome measures were remission and recurrence of renal disease, and the secondary outcome measures were adverse events (AEs) and renal outcomes.
Result: A total of 14 FSGS patients were included, including 12 males, 9 with glucocorticoid-dependent or frequently relapsing nephrotic syndrome, and 3 with newly diagnosed nephrotic syndrome. After RTX treatment, 7 patients with glucocorticoid-dependent/recurrent nephrotic syndrome were completely relieved. At 6 months of follow-up, glucocorticoids were discontinued in all patients except 1 patient. The other 5 patients achieved partial remission (PR), of which 1 patient relapsed after PR, and 1 initial patient achieved complete remission (CR). One patient progressed to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) after 4 months of follow-up.
Conclusion: RTX in the treatment of adult glucocorticoid-dependent/relapsing FSGS can reduce the risk of recurrence and help to decline or discontinue the use of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants. Keywords: Rituximab, FSGS, treatment effect, SDNS, FRNS
Glycemic control assessed by continuous glucose monitoring during pregnancy in women with type 1 diabetes and its association with preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, an observational Swedish cohort study
Authors: Ögge Linda Englund , Dotevall Annika , Elfvin Anders , Sandgren Ulrika , Wallstersson Bernadette , Bohlin Linnea , Sjödell Mårten , Augustinsson Jaine , Hagman Anna
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Women with type 1 diabetes type have increased risk of preeclampsia but it is not fully understood if degree of glycemic control is associated with this risk. Aims of this study was to assess associations between glycemic control using CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) and risk of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension.
Material and methods: 120 pregnant Swedish women with type 1 diabetes using CGM were included. Background factors and pregnancy outcomes were collected from medical records. CGM data were collected via the internet based Diasend. Mean glucose, standard deviation (SD), percentage of time within (TIT), below (TBT), and above (TAT) target was presented in each trimester in women with and without preeclampsia. Associations between CGM and preeclampsia and gestational hypertension were analyzed with logistic regression and adjusted for confounders.
Results: 20 women (16.6%) developed preeclampsia. There were no significant differences in maternal characteristics between women with or without preeclampsia except for smoking. Glycemic control improved with each trimester but was not optimal in either group. When analyzing associations between glucose variables and preeclampsia, no significant associations were found after adjustment for confounders. In nulliparous women there was a trend, however not significant, of higher mean glucose, higher SD, less TIT, more TAT and less TBT, in those who developed preeclampsia. We found no significant associations between glycemic control and development of gestational hypertension.
Conclusions: Degree of glycemic control assessed by CGM was not associated with development of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension in women with type 1 diabetes in this study.
Food insecurity and social inequalities in households headed by older people in Brazil: a secondary cross-sectional analysis of a national survey.
Authors: Ribeiro Eloah Costa de Sant Anna , Cherol Camilla Christine de Souza , Salles-Costa Rosana , Junior Paulo Cesar Pereira de Castro , Ferreira Aline Alves
Published: March 2023

Background: The older population in Brazil is associated with the presence of food security. However, there is evidence that some food insecurity persistence in households headed by older people, especially at the most severe levels, and has a possible relationship with social inequality. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and factors associated with moderate/severe food insecurity in households headed by older people.
Methods: A cross-sectional study based on a national representation of older adults aged ≥ 60 years was conducted using data from the 2017/2018 Family Budget Survey. In the study, moderate/severe food insecurity was the dependent variable, with food insecurity measured using the Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale. Prevalence and odds ratio estimates were generated with 99% confidence intervals. Data analysis was performed using STATA software.
Findings: A total of 16,314 households headed by older people were identified. Approximately 10.2% of these households were in the moderate/severe range for food insecurity, with most headed by older people, primarily female (11.9%), self-declared indigenous people (25.5%), lack of schooling (18.3%) and with a per capita income of up to 1/2 minimum wage (29.6%). The analysis model found that color/race, region, schooling, per capita household income, and social benefits received in the household were statistically significant factors (p value <0.01).
Conclusion:Moderate/severe food insecurity in households headed by older people is associated with the marked social inequalities present in Brazil. Intensifying the need for a different view of this age group.
Anatomical morphology of maxillary first premolars in a Chinese population assessed using Cone-beam Computed Tomography
Authors: chen feng , Huang Xinzhao , Liu Qi , Liu Xinyue , Shen Zhe , Li Ru , Zhou Bingxin , Ding Cheng , Zhong Liangjun
Published: March 2023

The aim of this research was to study the anatomical shape of the maxillary first premolars in Chinese people using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The anatomical morphology of root canals and crowns of 637 first premolars from China was observed by CBCT. In this study, 73.3% of the 637 maxillary first premolars were single roots, 26.7% were double roots, and 41.8%(n = 266) of the 637 maxillary first premolars were type IV in the light of Vertucci. The most frequent distance between two root canal orifices was 2-3mm (n = 257, 47.6%). There was a range in distance from the top of the medullary chamber to the central fossa (from 4.25mm to 4.45mm), with a mean distance of 4.35 ± 0.62mm. The incidence of mesial depression was 65.6%, and the mean angle of the mesial depression was 151.8 ± 10.5 degrees. In conclusion, the root canal system and anatomical morphology of the maxillary first premolar in the Chinese population exhibit a wide range of morphologies based on CBCT.
Evaluation of the fungicide treatment with copper oxide and potassium phosphonate solutions for the sustainable management of P. pinaster trees infected with B. xylophilus
Authors: López-Villamor Adrián , Silva Marta Nunes da , Vasconcelos Marta W.
Published: March 2023

Fungicides induce changes in the plants promising to increase tolerance of Pinus pinaster against the pathogenic pinewood nematode (PWN). To test this hypothesis, P. pinaster plants were inoculated with the PWN, treated with copper oxide (CO) or potassium phosphonate (PP), and evaluated post-inoculation for: i) the extent of foliar symptoms; ii) nematode density inside stem tissues; iii) proxies for oxidative damage and antioxidant activity, iv) mineral concentration; and v) bacterial diversity. The mortality of infected plants reached 12.5% regardless of the treatment, but plants treated with fungicides, particularly with PP, had significantly lower PWN density (up to 0.61-fold). Plants treated with PP had substantially higher concentrations of anthocyanins at 14 dai than those treated with CO and non-Treated plants (by 1.47-fold), possibly contributing to the lower PWN colonization and degree of foliar symptoms observed. CO and PP led to increased lipid peroxidation at 28 dai (by 1.84- and 1.77-fold), and PP showed higher flavonoids concentration than CO (by 1.37- and 0.49-fold), corroborating its higher potential in increasing plant antioxidative response during infection. Fungicides also induced significant changes in micronutrient accumulation in plant tissues, resulting in a decrease in Zn and P concentrations in plants treated with either fungicide as compared to infected non-treated plants. Finally, CO treatment increased the diversity of the bacterial communities, while PP decreased microbial biodiversity. Altogether, results suggest that treatment with CO and PP increases tolerance against B. xylophilus by promoting the plant antioxidant system, changing the accumulation of essential minerals, and modulating plant-associated bacterial diversity.
An eConsultant versus a hospital-based outpatient consultation for general (internal) medicine: a costing analysis
Authors: Job Jennifer , Nicholson Caroline , Donald Maria , Jackson Claire , Byrnes Joshua
Published: March 2023

Background
The eConsultant model of care is an outpatient substitution approach which has been evaluated and implemented extensively internationally. It provides an asynchronous, digital, clinician-to-clinician advice service, giving primary care physicians remote access to specialist support for patient care within 3 business days. Results from initial trials of the eConsultant model in Australia support international evidence of reduced wait times and improved access to specialist input, avoidance of face-to-face hospital outpatient visits, and better integrated care. This study compared the cost of delivery of an eConsultant episode of care with that of a hospital-based outpatient appointment.
Methods
A cost analysis, using a decision analytic model, was used to compare the two approaches. eConsultant costs were calculated from specialist reported data (minutes spent preparing the response; the number of patients referred subsequently for a hospital-based outpatient appointment) and administration staff data (time spent recording the occasion-of-service). Outpatient costs were calculated using finance data and information from outpatient clinic managers at the hospital-based outpatient clinic. The primary outcome was incremental cost saving per patient from a health system perspective. Uncertainty was explored using one-way sensitivity analyses and characterised with probabilistic sensitivity analysis using 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations.
Results
The traditional referral pathway cost estimate was $587.20/consult compared to $226.13/consult for an eConsultant episode: an efficiency saving of $361.07 per patient. The incremental difference between eConsultant and traditional care was most sensitive to the cost estimate of an outpatient attendance, the time for a specialist to complete an eConsult, and the probability of a patient requiring a face-to-face hospital-based attendance following an eConsult. However, at the upper bounds of each of these estimates, an eConsult remained the most cost-efficient model. In 96.5% of the Monte Carlo simulations eConsult was found to be more cost efficient than the traditional approach.
Conclusions
The eConsultant model of care was associated with a 61.5% efficiency gain, allowing diversion of support to hospital-based outpatient appointments.
Bifunctional protein ArsRM contributes to arsenite methylation and resistance in Brevundimonas sp. M20
Authors: Li Congcong , Zong Gongli , Gao Wenhui , Chen Xi , Tan Meixia , Fu Jiafang , Zhang Peipei , Wang Bing , Cao Guangxiang
Published: March 2023

Background
Arsenic (As) with various chemical forms is the most prevalent water and environmental toxin. This metalloid occurs worldwide and causes various diseases including cancer, especially arsenite [As(III)]. Organification of arsenite is an effective way for organisms to cope with arsenic toxicity. Microbial communities have been shown to be a vital contributor in the global arsenic biocycle and to be a promising way to reduce arsenite toxicity.
Methods
Brevundimonas sp M20 with arsenite resistance was isolated from aquaculture sewage. arsHRNBC cluster and the metRFHH operon of M20 was identified by sequencing. Gene of ArsR/methyltransferase fusion protein, arsRM, was amplified and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) and resistance to arsenic was determined in present of 0.25–6 mM As(III), As(V), or Rox(V). Methylation and regulatory details of ArsRM were analyzed by Discovery Studio 2.0. Then methyltransferase activity analysis and EMSAs confirmed the functions.
Results
MIC of Brevundimonas sp. M20 to arsenite is 4.5 mM. A 3,011-bp arsenite resistant ars cluster arsHRNBC and a 5649-bp methionine biosynthesis met operon were found on the 3.315-Mb chromosome. Transcriptional regulator/methyltransferase fusion protein ArsRM is a difunctional protein. Expression of ArsRM in E. coli increased arsenite resistant to 1.5 mM. Arsenite methylation and binding to its own promoter region was confirmed by ArsRM. The As(III)-binding site (ABS) and SAM-binding motif provide the difunctional characteristic to ArsRM.
Conclusions
We conclude that ArsRM promotes the arsenite methylation and binding of to its own promoter region. This difunctional characteristic directly connects methionine and arsenic metabolism. Our findings add important knowledge about microbial arsenic resistance and detoxification. Future work should further explore the regulatory mechanism of ArsRM on met operon and ars cluster.
Effect of potting media on plant growth and flower yield in Dendrobium orchid cv. Sonia Red under High-Tech polyhouse
Authors: Kaur Rajveer , Singh Parminder
Published: March 2023

The study was conducted to determine the “Effect of potting media on plant growth and flower yield in Dendrobium orchid cv. Sonia Red” under hi-tech polyhouse at Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab during 2021-22. Tissue cultured plants of Dendrobium orchid were grown in fifteen potting media treatment combinations comprising of Cocopeat, Coco hull, Plywood industry waste, Brick pieces, Maize rind, Vermicompost and Charcoal. Data was recorded at quarterly intervals. Among all the potting media treatments, T10 (Maize rind + Vermicompost + Charcoal - 2:1:1) number of florets per flower stem, spike length, rachis length, longevity of flower stems and vase life of flowers. However,treatment T6 exhibited maximum number of flower stems per plant. Teatments T5 (Plywood industry waste + Vermicompost + Charcoal - 3:1:1) and T4 (Plywood industry waste + Vermicompost + Charcoal - 2:1:1) exhibited minimum number of days for spike initiation, flower bud initiation, bud opening to harvest stage. To conclude potting media T10 was found to be better in terms of floral parameters.
AE analysis of mode II interlaminarfracture toughness of 3D reinforced CFRP
Authors: Oliveira Thiago Luiz Lara , Bortoluzzi Daniel Brighenti , Barbosa Lorena Cristina Miranda , Ancelotti Antônio Carlos
Published: March 2023

The industrial application of composite materials is increasing, showing its viability to replace other materials have been gradually growing. Particularly, composite materials reinforced with carbon fibres have a good ratio of resistance/weight, being an advantage for many applications since Carbon Fibre Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) allows reducing weight and keeping structural resistance. Resistance to delamination damage is a key factor for composite materials, since it deals with material safety during service life. Fibre orientation in composite materials is designed to reinforce resistance in specific directions of severe solicitation. Nonetheless, out-of-plane loadings are inherent solicitations that occurs in service life and fibre orientation are not intended to reinforce thought thickness direction, making out-of-plane loadings a critical factor. Reinforcing composite materials through thickness, or 3D, has the potential to increase the material out-of-plane resistance and thus permitting a higher accuracy levels in terms of structural design. There are different ways to apply 3D reinforcement on composite materials, like Z-pinning, Stitching and Tufting. Non-destructive testing (NDT) are efficient methods of reassuring safety of components, NDT allows detection of damage and flaws in early stages and monitoring of a component. NDT methods are particular useful for composite materials for avoiding parts containing flaws, indicating repairs to increase lifespan and for lifespan estimation. Acoustic emission is one technique of NDT (non-destructive testing) that allows monitoring of damage evolution in real time, since it detects elastic waves emitted by energy release caused by changes in internal structure, for NDT purposes it means damage. This paper monitors and evaluates the signs generated during the mode II interlaminar fracture toughness test, end-notched flexure (ENF), monitored by acoustic emission comparing the effect of different though thickness reinforcements and a non-reinforced sample. The testing procedure and damage development are analysed regarding acoustic emission features and its behaviour. The results show that acoustic emission has a strong relationship with stages of testing, and samples resistance induced by the reinforcement. The data acquired from the ENF tests in synergy with acoustic emission provided damage characterization and differentiation, reaffirmed by fractography analysis, especially in terms of final stage of damage and 3D reinforcement effects on it.
Single Relaxation Time and Multiple Revised Matrix Lattice Boltzmann Simulations of Forced Isotropic Turbulence
Authors: Kareem Waleed Abdel , Izawa Seiichiro , Fukunishi Yu
Published: March 2023

The single relaxation time (SRT) and the revised matrix (RM) lattice Boltzmann models are compared for simulations of three dimensional forced isotropic turbulence with resolutions of 1283 and 2563, respectively. Guo et al.[1] forcing technique with the same forcing parameters and conditions is used to investigate the ability and stability of the two models for simulations of forced turbulence. Some new aspects and results have been confirmed such as the superiority of the MRT model to simulate forced turbulence in comparison with the SRT model. To overcome the stability shortage problem of the lattice Boltzmann models, it is proposed to apply the Courant-Friedichs-Lewy condition (CFL) [2] by multiplying the velocity input with the CFL coefficient which is less than unity and by dividing the output velocity data by the same CFL coeffi-cent. The initial velocity field is chosen as u(x, 0) = 0 and the force is injected at low wave-numbers with a fixed forcing amplitude of 10−4 for all cases. The single relaxation time is set to τ = 0.503 in all SRT simulations. Results show that the obtained turbulent velocity fields yield universal characteristics as proven in previous theoretical, experimental and numerical studies. The Taylor Reynolds number for the simulations are found as : Rλ(SRT) = 62 and Rλ(M RT) = 65 for the resolution of 1283 and Rλ(SRT) = 107 and Rλ(M RT) = 82 for the case of 2563, respectively. To test the weak incompressibility for the SRT model in comparison to the MRT model, the probability distribution function (PDF) of the density ρ is depicted and it is found that ρ is almost unity at all timesteps for the MRT case, while a clear disturbance about unity is observed for the SRT case. Time variation’s statistics such as the Taylor Reynolds number Rλ, the Taylor microscale λ, the Kolmogrov microscale η and energy spectra are calculated and depicted for all cases. One of the disadvantages of the MRT case is the simulations time which is found about twice the SRT simulations time, where about 80 hours are needed for simulating 12000 timesteps in the 2563 case in comparison to 42 hours for the SRT model using the same hardware resources.
SIGAA – SIGnaling Automated Analysis: a new tool for Ca2+ signaling quantification using ratiometric Ca2+ dyes
Authors: Lopes Rafael Faria , Gonçalves-Ribeiro Joana , Sebastião Ana M. , Meneses Carlos , Vaz Sandra H.
Published: March 2023

Astrocytes are non-neural cells, restricted to the brain and spinal cord, whose functions and morphology depend on their location. Astrocyte-astrocyte and astrocyte-neuron interactions occur through cytoplasmic Ca2+ levels changes, that are assessed to determine cell function and response (i.e. drug testing). Evaluation of changes in intracellular Ca2+ levels is mostly centered on fluorescence imaging approaches, performed through video recording of cells incubated with Ca2+-sensitive dyes. By observing ion concentration shifts over time in a delimited region of interest (ROI) comprising a single cell, it is possible to attain conclusions on cell responses to specific stimuli. Our work describes a tool named SIGAA – SIGnaling Automated Analysis, for astrocyte ROI-based fluorescent imaging, which is tailored for two wavelengths dyes by using two inputs of Ca2+ signaling recorded frames/videos and outputs a set of features relevant to the experiment’s conclusions and cell characterization. SIGAA performs automatic drift correction for the two recorded videos with a template matching algorithm, followed by astrocyte identification (ROI) using morphological reconstruction techniques. SIGAA then extracts intracellular Ca2+ evolution functions for all identified ROIs, detects function transients, and estimates a set of features for each signal, which are very similar to the ones obtained by the traditional methods and software used so far. SIGAA is a new fully automated tool, which can speed up hour-long studies and analysis to a few minutes, showing reliable results as the validity tests indicate.