bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wearable cardioverter defibrillator after cardiac surgery: Analysis of real-life data from patients at transient risk of sudden cardiac death
Authors: Elbayomi Mohamed , prof Michael Weyand , Seitz Timo , Harig Frank
Published: May 2022

BackgroundEspecially in the first 3 months after cardiac surgery, patients are at transient risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). To close the gap between hospital discharge and the final implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) decision, guidelines recommend the temporary use of a wearable cardioverter-defibrillator (WCD) to protect these patients from SCD. We investigated real-life data on the safety, effectiveness, and compliance of the WCD in this population.MethodsData for analysis were collected via the Zoll Patient Management Network (ZPM) from patients who underwent cardiac surgery and who were discharged with a WCD between 2018 and 2021 at the Cardiac Surgery Center of the University of Erlangen in Germany.ResultsThe majority of the 55 patients were male (90.9%) and underwent a coronary artery bypass graft (80.0%). The number of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) > 35% increased from 9.1% at the beginning of WCD use to 58.2% at the end of WCD use. 6 ventricular tachycardia (VT) episodes occurred in 4 patients. 2 patients with VT episodes were appropriately defibrillated by the WCD. There were no inadequate shocks and no fatalities during the observation time. WCD wearing compliance was high with a median wear time of 23.3 hours/day.ConclusionThis retrospective analysis in a single cardiac surgery center confirms prior data on safety and effectiveness of the WCD in patients in post-surgery care in a real-life setting. The WCD successfully protected patients from SCD during life-threatening VT episodes. WCD wearing compliance was high.
Comparison of pre-diagnosis physical activity and its correlates among lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer patients: accelerometer data from the UK Biobank prospective cohort
Authors: Zhou Weijiao , Veliz Philip T. , Smith Ellen Lavoie , Chen Weiyun , Reddy Rishindra M. , Larson Janet L.
Published: May 2022

Purpose Understanding pre-diagnosis physical activity (PA) and its correlates will be helpful in promoting PA. However, few studies have examined the actual volume and correlates of objectively measured pre-diagnosis PA and little is known about how PA behaviors are similar/different between cancer types. This study aimed to compare pre-diagnosis PA and its correlates in patients with lung cancer and other types of cancer (breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer) and examine the relationship between pre-diagnosis PA and all-cause mortality. Methods This study used data from the UK Biobank, which is a national cohort study with accelerometry data. We included 2,662 participants and used adjusted linear regressions and survival analyses.Results Male and female lung cancer groups spent a mean of 78 and 91 minutes/day in pre-diagnosis MVPA, respectively; this is lower than the three other types of cancer (P<0.001). Younger age and faster walking pace had a strong association with PA in all the four types of cancer (P<0.01). Smoking status had a strong association with PA in the lung cancer group, while obesity had a strong association with PA in breast, colorectal and prostate cancer (P<0.01). Higher levels of pre-diagnosis MVPA (>1.5 hour/day) were associated with a significantly lower all-cause mortality risk.Conclusions Our study suggests that lung cancer patients are the most inactive population before diagnosis. The identified difference in correlates of PA suggesting that cancer-specific approaches are needed in PA research and practices. This study also highlights the importance of high PA for individuals with high cancer risk.
Limited effect of reducing pulmonary tuberculosis incidence amid mandatory facial masking for COVID-19
Authors: Lin En-Cheng , Hong Chien-Hui
Published: May 2022

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant health and public issue in many countries. Its incidence and mortality have been decreasing in many countries. The recent COVID-19 could have significant impacts on the transmission and health care for this chronic disease by obligatory facial masking and by affecting healthcare capacities. We asked whether the trend of TB incidence and mortality would be affected by COVID-19 epidemic due to their common air transmission route. We also asked whether the incidence of TB in regions with different COVID-19 incidence would be similar. We obtained the annular new cases of TB and multi-drug resistant TB through Taiwan CDC and estimated the incidence and mortality by the population numbers in 7 administrative regions in Taiwan in 2011-2021. The result showed that incidences of TB and multi-drug resistant TB in recent 10 years show a continuously decreasing trend, even amid the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020-21. In addition, the mortality of TB shows similar decreasing trend in 2020-21. From 2011-2011, the highest incidence of TB was in the southern and eastern Taiwan whereas the lowest incidence of TB was in northern Taiwan. In contrast, the highest incidence of COVID-19 in 2020-21 was in the northern Taiwan while the lowest incidence of COVID-19 in 2020-21 is in the southern and eastern Taiwan. These results indicated that in the low COVID-19 incidence regions of Taiwan, the incidence of TB remained high during COVID-19 pandemic. We concluded that the decreasing trend of incidence and mortality of TB does not change during COVID-19 epidemic in Taiwan. The mask wearing and social distancing could prevent the transmission of COVID-19, however, their effect on the limiting spread of TB may be limited.
A Lactate-related LncRNA Model for Predicting Prognosis, Immune Landscape and Therapeutic Response in Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Jia , Wu Fei , Zhang Yinbin , Li Chaofan , Wu Huizi , Feng Cong , Wang Weiwei , Liu Xuan , Zhang Yu , Cai Yifan , Jai Yiwei , Qiao Hao , Zhang Shuqun
Published: May 2022

Background: Breast cancer (BC) has the highest incidence rate of all cancers globally, with high heterogeneity. Increasing evidence shows that lactate and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) play a critical role in the occurrence, maintenance, therapeutic response, and the immune microenvironment of tumors. We aimed to construct a lactate-related lncRNAs prognostic signature (LRLPS) for BC patients to predict prognosis, tumor microenvironment, and treatment responses.Methods: The BC data was download from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The lactate-related genes were got from the Molecular Signatures Database. Difference analysis and Pearson correlation analysis were used to identify the differentially expressed lactate-related lncRNAs (LRLs). The univariate Cox regression analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used to construct the LRLPS. We performed the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and univariate and multivariate analyses to valid the LRLPS. The GO/KEGG, GSEA, CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE), and Immunophenoscore (IPS), pRRophetic and CellMiner databases were used to explore the different tumor immune microenvironment, and treatment responses.Results: We totally acquired 196 differentially expressed LRLs between breast tumor and normal tissues. We constructed the LRLPS with 7 LRLs. Patients could be assigned into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the medium-risk sore in the training cohort. And it was proved that the prognosis prediction ability of the LRLPS was excellent, robust, and independent. Furthermore, a nomogram was constructed based on the LRLPS risk score and clinical factors to predict the 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival probability. The two risk groups had different immune activity. The low-risk patients had higher levels of immune infiltration and better immunotherapeutic response. Furthermore, many common chemotherapeutic drugs were more effective for low-risk patients.Conclusions: In conclusion, we developed a novel LRLPS for BC that could predict the prognosis, immune landscape, and treatment response.
Mortality analysis among sepsis patients in and out of intensive care units using the Japanese nationwide medical claims database-a study by the Japan Sepsis Alliance study group
Authors: Oami Takehiko , Imaeda Taro , Nakada Taka‑aki , Abe Toshikazu , Takahashi Nozomi , Yamao Yasuo , Nakagawa Satoshi , Ogura Hiroshi , Shime Nobuaki , Umemura Yutaka , Matsushima Asako , Fushimi Kiyohide
Published: May 2022

Background: A substantial number of sepsis patients require specialized care, including multidisciplinary care, close monitoring, and artificial organ support in the intensive care unit (ICU). However, the efficacy of ICU management on clinical outcomes remains insufficiently researched. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that ICU admission would increase the survival rate among sepsis patients.Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the nationwide medical claims database of sepsis patients in Japan from 2010–2017 with propensity score matching to adjust for baseline imbalances. Patients aged over 20 years, with a combined diagnosis of presumed serious infection and organ failure, were included in this study. The primary outcome studied was the in-hospital mortality among non-ICU and ICU patients. In addition to propensity score matching, we performed sensitivity analyses for the primary outcome. As the treatment policy was not extracted from the database, we performed subgroup analyses to determine mortality differences in age subgroups based on the assumption that treatment intensity is likely to decrease in older adults.Results: Among 1,276,678 sepsis patients (1,076,912 in non-ICU and 199,766 in ICU settings), the unadjusted in-hospital mortality was 18.4% among non-ICU patients and 22.5% among ICU patients (p<0.001). After propensity score matching, the in-hospital mortality was 30.2% among non-ICU patients and 20.6% among ICU patients (p<0.001). In-hospital mortality with a multivariable regression analysis (B10.3% [95% CI a10.5 to c10.1], p<0.001) or inverse probability weighting (k5.6% [95% CI g5.7 to r5.5], p<0.001) was comparable with the results of the propensity score matching analysis. In the subgroup analyses, the mortality difference between non-ICU and ICU was o5.7% [95% CI u6.1 to n5.1] in the adult group (20 ≤ age ≤ 64), d10.6% [95% CI :11.2 to 10.1] in the old group (65 ≤ age ≤ 74), and A11.1% [95% CI 11.6 to s10.7] in the oldest old group (75 ≤ age) (p<0.001). Conclusions: Herein, using the nationwide medical claims database, we demonstrated that ICU admission contributes towards decreasing in-hospital mortality among sepsis patients. Further investigations are warranted to validate these results and elucidate the mechanisms favoring ICU management on clinical outcomes.
Characterization of Winogradskyella luteola sp.nov., Erythrobacter ani sp.nov., and Erythrobacter crassostrea sp.nov., three novel species of two different genus Winogradskyella and Erythrobacter, from the hemolymph of Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas. Prediction of bioremediation
Authors: Pira Hani , Müsken Mathias , Schupp Peter J , Wink Joachim
Published: May 2022

Three new bacterial strains, WHY3T, WH131T, and WH158T, were isolated and described from the hemolymph of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas utilizing polyphasic taxonomic techniques. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that WHY3T was a member of the genus Winogradskyella, whereas WHI3IT and WH158T were members of the genus Erythrobacter. According to the polygenomic study, three strains generated three distinct and strong branches from all reference strains. The comparison of dDDH values, ANIs, percentage of conserved proteins (POCP), and average amino acid identity (AAl) between the three strains and their relatives established that the three strains constituted an appropriate taxonomy representing three distinct species of two separate genera. MK-6 was reported as the major respiratory quinone in WHY3T and Q-10 for WH131T and WH158T, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids for WHA3T were C15:0, anteiso-C15:1 ω7c, iso-C15:0, C16:1ω7c. The major cellular fatty acids for WH131T and WH158T were C14:02-OH and t18:1ω12 for WH131T and C17:0, and C18:1ω7c for WH158T. Sudan Black B indicated a preference for PHAs granules for WH131T and WH158T but not for WHY3T. The DNA G + C contents of strains WHY3T, WH131T and WH158T were 34.40, 59.7 and 56.64%, respectively. Gene clusters predicted some important genes involved in the bioremediation process. Due to the accomplishment of polyphasic taxonomy, we propose three novel species Winogradskyella luteola sp.nov. (type strain WHY3T = DSM 111804T = NCCB 100833T), Erythrobacter ani sp.nov. (WH131T = DSM 112099T = NCCB 100824T) and Erythrobacter crassostrea sp.nov. (WH158T = DSM 112102T = NCCB 100877T).
Microglia involvement in the schizophrenia occurrence in male offspring with maternal dexamethasone exposure
Authors: Rim Chan , Park Hyun-Sun , You Min-Jung , Yang Bohyun , Kim Hui-Ju , Sung Soyoung , Kwon Min-Soo
Published: May 2022

Background: Fetal microglia are particularly sensitive cells to the changes in utero environment and show sex-biased differences in shape and function. Maternal stress hormone induction can affect fetal microglial functions including alterations in synaptic pruning and cytokine secretion. It may contribute to psychiatric outcomes in offspring such as schizophrenia and depression. Methods: We administered a 50 µg/kg dexamethasone (DEX) to dams subcutaneously from gestational days 16 to 18. To characterize behaviors of maternal DEX exposed offspring, we assessed depressive-like and schizophrenia-relevant behaviors among 5 week old (adolescence), 10 week old (adult), and orchiectomized group respectively. Using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and rapid Golgi staining, microglial morphology and synaptic pruning were assessed. Results: Prenatal exposure to dexamethasone (PN-DEX) induced SCZ-relevant behavior in male mice and depressive-like behavior in female mice. SCZ-relevant behavioral patterns were induced in 10 week old (10 W) male mice but not in 5 week old (5 W) male mice. Microglia in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the striatum (STR) of 10 W males prenatally treated with dexamethasone (10 W PN-DEX-M) showed hyper-ramified morphology and dramatically reduced spine density in mPFC. Immunofluorescence studies indicated that microglia in the mPFC of the 10 W PN-DEX-M group interacted with pre-synaptic Bassoon and post-synaptic density 95 (PSD95) puncta. PN-DEX-M also showed significantly changed dopamine system proteins. A testosterone surge was not observed in parallel to SCZ-relevant behavior in 10 W PN-DEX-M. Furthermore, females prenatally treated with dexamethasone (PN-DEX-F) displayed depressive-like behavior, in addition to HPA axis activation and inflammatory microglial phenotypes in their hippocampus (HPC).Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that maternal DEX exposure induces sex-biased abnormal behavior as well as SCZ-relevant behavior in male offspring, and depressive-like behaviors in female offspring. We propose that altered microglial function, such as increased synaptic pruning, may be involved in the occurrence of SCZ-relevant behavior in PN-DEX-M and sex-biased abnormal behavior in the PN-DEX model.
Metagemonic analysis of bacterial genetic diversity in blood samples of Iranian healthy women
Authors: Pourramezan Z. , Oloomi M. , Bouzari S.
Published: May 2022

Rising evidence proved the existence of dormant blood microbiota in healthy individuals, yet there is no information on the circulating microbiome of Iranian healthy women. The High-throughput Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) provides a powerful method for the characterization of the blood microbiome. We investigated circulating bacterial composition in healthy individuals by 16S rDNA- based next-generation sequencing technique targeting the V3-V4 hypervariable region on the Illumina platform. We identified Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) similarity with various phyla, predominated by Proteobacteria (83%), Firmicutes (8%), Bacteroidetes (6%), and Actinobacteria (2%) phyla in healthy subjects. Based on the sequencing data, a diverse bacterial family was found in the whole blood of the healthy subjects, belongs to Burkholderiaceae (69%) and Enterobacteriaceae (13%) families on average. At the genus level, we illustrated the abundance of Ralstonia, Rhizobium, Ignatzchineria, Lactococcus, Stenotrophomonas, and Ideonella. Given the dominance of the putative blood microbiota within the different niches, it may be of considerable clinical significance and therapeutic strategies potential in the future. The blood microbiota can facilitate both the diagnosis and improved understanding of the onset of numerous human diseases as innovative biomarkers.
Global, Regional, and National Burden of Disease Study of Atrial fibrillation/flutter, 1990-2019: results from a global burden of disease study, 2019
Authors: Li Hong , Song Xuejing , Liang Yi , Chen Wen , Liu-Huo Wu-Sha , Tang Chao , Zhao Lizhi
Published: May 2022

Background Data from the Global Burden of Disease, Injury, and Risk Factor Study 2019 (GBD 2019) was used to assess the burden and change in prevalence, incidence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years, and risk factors for atrial fibrillation/flutter in 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2019.Methods Incidence, prevalence, deaths, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and their age-standardized rates were analyzed by age, sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), and human development index (HDI) using the Global Burden of Disease 2019 (GBD2019) study results.Results There are 59.70 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 45.73-75.29 million) AF/AFL patients worldwide in 2019, with 4.72 million (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 3.64-5.96 million) new cases and 0.315 million deaths (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 0.268-0.361 million) and 8.39 million disability-adjusted years (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 6.69-10.54 million). The incidence, prevalence, deaths, and DALYs of AF/AFL and their corresponding age-specific standardized rates from 1990 to 2019 varied significantly by sex, age group, region, and country. The highest risk factor for deaths, DALYs attributable to AF/AFL in 2019 was high systolic blood pressure, high body-mass index, alcohol use, smoking, and diet high in sodium. It is estimated that between 2030 and 2034, the total incidence of male AF/ AFL will be 16.08 million, and the total number of deaths will be 1.01 million. For females, the total number of incidence is 16.85 million, and the total number of deaths is 1.49 million.Conclusions AF/AFL remains a major global public health problem, although the ASR of prevalence, incidence, and DALY at the worldwide level showed a decreasing trend from 1990 to 2019, while the ASR of deaths increased slightly. However, the unfavorable trend observed in this study in countries with lower SDI suggests that current prevention and treatment strategies should be reoriented. Some countries should develop more targeted and specific strategies to prevent the increase of AF/AFL.
Is the reconstruction of medial support important for revision following failed treatment of femoral trochanteric fractures? A retrospective comparative study
Authors: QI Lin , ZHANG Wei , CHANG Zuhao , ZUO Zhaoxia , Li Jiaqi , LI Jiantao , CHEN Hua , Tang Peifu
Published: May 2022

Background: Hip-preserving revision in patients with failed treatment of femoral trochanteric fracture is still a major challenge. Whether the medial support reconstruction could benefit the patients and improve the success rate of hip-preserving revision is still controversial. Hence, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance and prognosis of medial support reconstruction during the hip-preserving revision of failed femoral trochanteric fracture treatment.Methods: Patients with failed femoral trochanteric fractures treatments addressed by hip-preserving revision at our hospital from January 2014 to December 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. 31 patients were included and divided into a medial support group (n=16) and a non-medial support group (n=15). The Oxford Hip Score (OHS) was the primary measurement. In addition, the differences in quality of life, fracture healing, surgical trauma, and complications were also evaluated.Results: The OHS (42.06 ± 4.12 vs. 30.93 ± 11.56, M ± SD), the mental component score of the 12-item Short-Form Survey (SF-12) (54.48 ± 5.38 vs. 47.90 ± 3.47, M ± SD), the fracture healing rate (100%, 16/16 vs. 66.67%, 10/15), and the fracture healing time [4 (3,5) vs. 6 (3.75,6) months, M (Q1, Q3)] were significantly better and the incidence of complications [0(0/16) vs. 40%(6/15)] was significantly lower in the medial support group than the non-medial support group (p<0.05). No significant differences in the physical component score of the SF-12, surgical trauma and reduction in collodiaphyseal angle of affected femur were observed between groups.Conclusions: The reconstruction of medial support seems important for revision following failed treatment of femoral trochanteric fractures. Due to the medial augmentation and improvement of the mechanical stability for proximal femur, the patients might benefit from functional and fracture healing prognosis.
Modeling and Verifying Microservice Autoscaling Using Probabilistic Model Checking
Authors: Jawaddi Siti Nuraishah Agos , Ismail Azlan , Cardellini Valeria
Published: May 2022

Microservices can independently adjust their capacity to match demand while the autoscaling feature in cloud computing facilitates the users (i.e., developers) to provision resources required by their applications with less human intervention. Kubernetes is one of the well-known technologies used to deploy microservice-based applications and many autoscaling methods have been proposed to improve the behavior of its Horizontal Pod Autoscaler (HPA). Despite many research efforts have been recently devoted to investigate microservice autoscaling, there is still a lack of studies that consider the correctness of the scaling decision as well as the effect of the scaling process on host energy consumption and system scalability factors. Therefore, in this work we aim to take into account formal verification in the microservice autoscaling decision-making process by utilizing Markov Decision Process (MDP) and probabilistic model checking. To this end, we propose five MDP model variations, inspired by the scaling behavior of Kubernetes-based HPA, analyze the performance of the models from a combination of metrics. The Base Model is built by considering the CPU utilization metric in decision making, while the other models extend it by including several additional metrics to enhance the decision (i.e., latency, response time, energy consumption, and performance change). We use the PRISM-games model checker for the analysis purpose by verifying the properties specified in Probabilistic Computation Tree Logic (PCTL). Through our experiments, the decision made by the Full Model which considers all the metrics has outperformed the other models in terms of minimizing the energy consumption and leading to a good scalability level (i.e. scalability near to 1).
Preliminary outcomes of intraoperative cartilage thickness measurement in kinematically aligned robot- assisted total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Turan Kayhan , Camurcu Yalkin , Kezer Murat , Uysal Yunus , Kizilay Yusuf Onur , Temiz Abdulaziz
Published: May 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the preliminary outcomes of the intraoperative cartilage thickness measurement in kinematically aligned robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (TKA).Methods: Patients who underwent kinematically aligned robot-assisted TKA were included in this study. Three-point cartilage thickness measurement was performed from the intact distal femoral cartilage by a digital caliper intraoperatively in order to detect the actual cartilage thickness of the patient. Hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA), joint-line orientation angle (JLOA), and joint-line convergence angle (JLCA) were measured through standing full-length anteroposterior radiographs. Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, Oxford score, VAS pain and satisfaction score, and Forgotten Joint Score were used to assess clinical outcomes. Results: A total of 142 knees of 109 patients (92 females and 17 males) were evaluated in this study. The mean cartilage thickness was 1.9 ± 0.5 mm, 2.2 ± 0.6 mm, and 2.0 ± 0.5 mm from anterior to posterior respectively (p = 0.006). There was a significant correction in HKA, JLCA, and mMPTA postoperatively (p = <0.001, <0.001, and 0.029, respectively). We observed no significant change in mLDFA and JLOA measurements. All clinical scores significantly increased at the latest follow-up. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that distal lateral femoral cartilage thickness varied among patients and also differed in the different regions of the condyle. Cartilage thickness measurement technique in kinematically aligned robot-assisted TKA demonstrated no significant change in mLDFA and JLOA, but significantly corrected HKA, mMPTA, and JLCA.
Building individualized brain network from T1 images: a radiomic definition, characteristics and applications
Authors: Liu Han , Ma Zhe , Wei Lijiang , Peng Yun , Bin Jing
Published: May 2022

T1 image is a widely collected imaging sequence in various neuroimaging datasets, but it is rarely used in constructing individualized brain structural network. In this study, a novel individualized Radiomics-based structural similarity network (iRSSN) was proposed to form a new type of structural network from T1 images. The voxel-based morphometry was used as the preprocessing steps and Radiomics features were subsequently extracted to achieve the multi-view structural information in each region of interest. Finally, iRSSN was built with the correlational relationships of the demeaned features between any brain regions. After that, the network/biomarker characteristics of iRSSN were ascertained, including graph theory analysis, test-retest reliability and individual brain fingerprint. At last, two representative applications with large datasets were exemplified for iRSSN, including the stable mild cognitive impairment (sMCI) and progressive mild cognitive impairment (pMCI) discrimination and fluid intelligence prediction. The results revealed that iRSSN not only owns remarkable network/biomarker characteristics but also displays valuable performances in both sMCI/pMCI classification and fluid intelligence prediction. In summary, iRSSN provides a unique, reliable and efficient manner to understand the brain structural connectome, and could be extended into various neuropsychological and clinical applications with great potentials.
Bribery across nations
Authors: Köbis Nils , Dorrough Angela , Irlenbusch Bernd , Shalvi Shaul , Gloeckner Andreas
Published: May 2022

Curbing bribery presents a global grand challenge. Increasingly bribery occurs across national jurisdictions. While behavioral approaches to study bribery have gained popularity to help design better anti-corruption policies, research has merely examined bribery within single nations. Here we provide first behavioral insights on cross-national bribery. We ran a pilot study (across three nations) and a large incentivized online experiment using a bribery game played across 18 nations (total N = 6,472). Results uncover that people offer bribes to interaction partners from nations with a reputation for being corrupt. People widely agree on expectations about a nation's bribery acceptance levels, but these expectations negatively correlate with reality, indicating incorrect shared expectations about bribery. The national background of one’s interaction partner matters more than one’s own national background for the emergence of cross-national bribery. The findings advance behavioral science of ethical behavior that has focused individual behavior by revealing a strong social influence from the respective interaction partners. Our behavioral insights also inform evidence-based anti-bribery policies and question previous cultural-deterministic views on bribery.
Determinants of Malaria Spending Efficiency in Sub-Saharan Africa: Double Bootstrap Data Envelopment Analytics
Authors: Arhin Kwadwo , Frimpong Albert Opoku , Boso Richard , Acheampong Kwame
Published: May 2022

Background
Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The main objective of this study was to examine malaria spending efficiency and its associated factors between 2013 and 2019.
Methods
This study employed the two-stage double bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) proposed by Simar and Wilson. In the first stage, technical efficiency scores are estimated using the output-oriented variable returns to the scale (VRS) DEA framework. In the second stage, the double bootstrap DEA model was used to identify the environmental variables that affect malaria spending efficiency.
Results
The overall malaria spending efficiency score was estimated to be 82.9% (95% CI: 81.4–84.4%) over the study period. This estimate suggests that malaria treatment and prevention outcomes can potentially be improved by at least 17% by using existing resources. We found a significant association between efficiency and education, temperature levels, nurses and midwives’ density, and the proportion of children of age five who slept in insecticide-treated bed nets.
Conclusion
To achieve the targets spelt out in the Global Technical Strategy for malaria by 2030, policymakers must not only be concerned with improving educational outcomes but also consider ways to mitigate the effects of climate change and improve access to healthcare services.
The efficacy and mechanism of platelet-rich plasma on the myogenic differentiation process of adipose-derived stem cell: A bioinformatics and experimental study
Authors: Wang Xiaochen , Fei Wenyong , Liu Mingsheng , Shen Fanglin , Liu Yu , Gu Sanjun
Published: May 2022

Background
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) can effectively treat injury of musculoskeletal system, but there is no consensus on whether it can effectively promote the myogenic differentiation of adipose mesenchymal stem cells.
Methods
Dataset of PRP in the treatment of musculoskeletal injury was obtained by GEO database and the key pathways of PRP were identified by KEGG enrichment analysis. PPI network was constructed by Cytoscape and core gene was identified by the MOCODE. ADSCs were clutivated in vitro and 5-Aza combined PRP were added. MTT were performed to determine the cell viability. Cell senescence was detected by β-galactosidase. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect the expression of MHC and MyoD. Core gene expression was detected by RT-PCR. Mito-tracker staining and transmission electron microscope were performed respectively.
Results
GSE70918 was obtained and 148 differentially expressed genes were obtained. KEGG analysis showed the differential genes were enriched in GPCR-related pathways. CCL2 was set as core gene. MTT showed that PRP significantly increase the viability of ADSCs and the IC50 was 19.4 µmol/L. After the addition of 5-Aza combined with PRP, β-galactosidase showed the number of senescent cells decreased significantly, immunofluorescence staining showed the expression of MHC and MyoD increased significantly, RT-PCR showed the expression of CCL-2 decreased significantl, mito-tracker staining showed the number of mitochondria increased and transmission electron microscopy showed the number of mitophagy increased significantly.
Conclusion
PRP can effectively protect the viability of ADSCs, promote myogenic differentiation efficiency and promote mitophagy. The above functions may be caused by inhibiting the expression of CCL-2.
Design and Research of College English Reading, Writing and Translation Teaching Class Based on 5G Technology
Authors: Wang Min
Published: May 2022

Traditional college English lectures, writing, and translation through wireless networks have numerous drawbacks. As a result, investigation and advancement for fifth-generation (5G) technologies is already underway. High data rates, reduced delay, energy saving, minimum price, improved system potential, and large-scale devices interconnection are all features of 5G, the fifth generation of mobile communications technology. The 5G wireless network interaction methodology for digital cellular network that allows high amounts of information traffic and a large count of wireless connections, is known as the 5G network. The use of the latest 5G technologies must be integrated into the curriculum to achieve higher order educating capabilities. Educators must make complete utilization of network sources, particularly 5G network interaction tools, to enhance English lecture, writing, and translation, as the rapid growth of 5G network interaction methodology offers a novel perspective for English lecture, writing, and translation. Based on 5G technology, this article suggests the design of soft computing approaches such as Genetic Algorithm (GA) for college English lecture, writing, and translation. This study claims that network interaction technologies shall promote resource sharing, empower teacher-student connection, and improve students' overall English writing performance by researching this novel kind of network. To increase the performance of the suggested system, 5G network-dependent English writing and interaction tools are employed in this paper.
Addressing the interplay amongst university support, student experience, and university brand image at Vietnamese higher education institutions
Authors: Ninh Nguyen Hai , Tra Phuong Nguyen Thi , Dieu Phan Thi , Tu Pham Cam , Truc Tran Thi
Published: May 2022

During the last three years, the Covid-19 pandemic has made landmark changes in all aspects of the society and higher education is no exception. The current study examines the interrelationships between university support, student experience, and university brand image. The study used partial least square–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and Smart PLS 3.3.7 to conduct the analysis. Research data were collected by structured questionnaire with 300 students from various studying majors of 12 prominent universities across the nation. The findings firstly suggest that university support has a positive and significant impact on students’ perceived support and overall student experience. Second, the student experience has a noticeable impact on the university image. In addition, the current paper also emphasizes the significant role of student experience in mediating the relationship between university brand image and student perceived support. Practically, universities have been suggested to provide more support for students, including both policies and activities, to improve student perceptions of support and experience. An outstanding student experience is critical to develop and enhance the university brand image. As a result, the findings aid higher education institutions in enhancing their competitiveness in today’s dynamic educational environment.
Data-driven Determination of Disease Markers’ Threshold Values in Rot-affected Wine Grapes
Authors: Cornelissen R.J. , Kidd M. , Aleixandre-Tudo J.L. , Nieuwoudt H.H.
Published: May 2022

Grapevine bunch rot is detrimental to grape and wine quality. Traditionally, detecting and quantifyingthe severity of rot infection is executed visually. This study aimed at defining local, area-specific thresholdvalues of rot-associated disease markers. This is a first step towards making informed decisions aboutthe quality of grapes delivered at winery intake. Viticulturists visually assessed on-vine rot infection innine white wine grape cultivars. Results showed that severity ratings were consistent between assessors.Chemical analyses of the grape must from these assessed samples were done. Multiple factor analysis (MFA)showed that rot severity was positively correlated with glycerol, alcohol, gluconic acid and acetic acidconcentrations. As severity increased, gluconic acid, glycerol, alcohol, Brix, acetic acid and total titratableacidity (TA) concentrations also increased. Following the probability chosen for sensitivity and specificity,grape rot indicators’ threshold values in white grape must are as follow: Alcohol ≥ 0.10 %v/v; acetic acid≥ 0.17 g/L; glycerol ≥ 0.79 g/L; gluconic acid ≥ 0.99 g/L; TA ≥ 8.86 g/L. Statistical determined thresholdvalues differentiating between rot-affected and healthy grape must, would eliminate the subjectivity andbias associated with visual assessments.
Bazı Bitkilerden Elde Edilen Liyofilize İnfüzyonlarda Demleme Süresi Faktörünün Antioksidan Özellikler ve Ağır Metal Kompozisyonu Üzerine Etkisi
Authors: TOPDAS Elif Feyza
Published: May 2022

Bitki infüzyonları, genellikle polifenol içeriklerinden kaynaklanan faydalı özelliklerinden dolayı dünya çapında yaygın olarak tüketilen içeceklerdir. Bu çalışmada, ülkemizde halk tarafından yaygın olarak kullanılan ve genelde infüzyonları tüketilen; ayva (Cydonia oblonga) yaprağı, ıhlamur (Tilia cordata) çiçeği ve yaprağı, altın otu (Helichrysum arenarium), karabaş otu (Lavandula stoechas) çiçeği, hatmi (Althaea officinalis) çiçeği ve böğürtlen (Rubus fruticosus) yaprağından oluşan yedi farklı bitki ile çalışılmıştır. Bitkilerin 3, 9, 15 ve 21 dk demleme sürelerinde elde edilen liyofilize infüzyonların verim, renk, toplam fenolik ve toplam flavonoid madde, antiradikal aktivite ve ağır metal içerikleri (Hg, Pb, Cu, Mn, Zn, Cr, Ni, Al ve Cd) değerlendirilmiştir. Hatmi çiçeği ve böğürtlen yaprağının ekstraksiyon verimleri diğer bitkilere kıyasla daha yüksek bulunmuştur. Demleme süresindeki artışın numunelerin L* değerini azalttığı, a* değerini artırdığı, b* değerini ise genel olarak azalttığı tespit edilmiştir. Liyofilize infüzyonların Folin-Ciocalteu prosedürü ile belirlenen toplam fenolik madde içerikleri 8.05 ile 53.92 mg GAE g-1 aralığında değişim göstermiştir. En yüksek toplam flavonoid madde miktarı karabaş otu infüzyonunda 21. dakikada 22.40 mg KE g-1 olarak tespit edilmiştir. Antiradikal aktivite, ABTS ve DPPH radikal giderme aktivite analizleri ile belirlenmiştir. Tüm bitki infüzyonları toplam fenolik ve flavonoid içerikleri ile güçlü bir şekilde ilişkili olarak antiradikal aktivite sergilemiştir. DPPH radikali giderme aktivitesi analizinde liyofilize infüzyonların IC50 değerleri 20.42-40.65 µg mL-1 aralığında değişim göstermiştir. DPPH ve ABTS serbest radikallerine karşı en yüksek antiradikal aktivite karabaş otu tarafından sergilenmiştir. Liyofilize infüzyonların ICP-MS ile belirlenen ağır metal içerikleri Mn>Zn>Al>Ni>Cu>Cr şeklinde sıralanmış ve demleme süresi faktörü mineral geçişi üzerinde p<0.05 düzeyinde ekili olmuştur. Hg, Pb ve Cd ağır metalleri ise hiçbir örnekte tespit edilememiştir. Bu çalışmada elde edilen bulgular, gerçek antioksidan özellikler ve ağır metal içeriğini belirlemek için son ürünü (tüketici tarafından hazırlanan infüzyonlar) analiz etmenin faydalı olacağını göstermektedir.
Ankara İli Elmadağ ve Yenimahalle İlçelerinde Sığır Yetiştiriciliğinin Yapısal Analizi
Authors: KAYGISIZ Ali , YILMAZ İsa , ŞANVER Necati , SERİM Salih Taner
Published: May 2022

Bu çalışmanın amacı Ankara ili Elmadağ ve Yenimahalle ilçelerinde sığırcılık işletmelerinde sürü yönetimi, barınakların durumu ve buzağı yetiştirme ile ilgili mevcut uygulamaların yeterliliğini araştırmaktır. Çalışma Ankara ili Elmadağ ve Yenimahalle ilçelerinde sığırcılık işletmelerinde 2021 yılında yetiştiricilerle yüz yüze anket çalışması şeklinde yürütülmüştür. Basit Tesadüfi Örnekleme yöntemiyle örnek büyüklüğü 200 işletme olarak belirlenmiştir. Verilerin istatistiksel değerlendirilmesinde, SPSS 20.0 paket programı kullanılmıştır. Verilerin sınıflama (kategorik) ölçeğinde olması nedeniyle karşılaştırmalarda Ki-Kare bağımsızlık testi kullanılmıştır. Elde edilen sonuçlara göre işletmelerde ortalama sığır sayısı 39.60±2.76 baş, sürü ortalaması günlük süt verimi 17.35±0.371 kg gün sürü-1, işletmeler bazında buzağı kaybı %4.65 ve ortalama yıllık işletme başına buzağı kaybı 1.01±0.12 baş olarak tespit edilmiştir. İşletmelerde buzağı kayıplarının az olduğu gözlenmiş olup, bunun sebebi olarak buzağılara zamanında ağız sütü verilmesi ve hayati öneme sahip bazı pratik uygulamaların yüksek oranda yapılmasının uygun olduğu kanaatine varılmıştır. Sonuç olarak, hayvansal ürünler talebin sürekli olduğu bir üretim şeklidir. Bu nedenle süreklilik gösteren talebi karşılamak için ise sürdürülebilir bir üretim gereklidir. Hayvancılığın yoğun olarak yapıldığı bölgelerde öncelikle mevcut hayvancılığın durumunun ortaya konulması ve sürdürülebilirliğin yol haritasının belirlenmesi gereklidir. İşletmelerde sürdürülebilir bir yetiştiricilikle birlikte yüksek süt verimi ve yılda bir buzağı alınması hedefi ile yaygın hastalıklardan sürüleri korumak için eradikasyon programlarının uygulanması gereklidir. İşletmelerin verimliliği, yapısal durumunu, problemler ve yetiştirici isteklerinin tespiti için daha fazla bilimsel çalışmaya ihtiyaç vardır.
Strengthening country-led water and sanitation services monitoring and data use for decision-making: lessons from WaterAid experience in four countries
Authors: Kimbugwe Ceaser , Davis Tim , Goff Fraser , Greggio Ellen , Chanthet Sokhadeva , Kiap Benjamin
Published: May 2022

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are fundamental human rights, of critical importance to health, education, wellbeing, and economic prosperity. To fulfil these human rights and drive progress towards universal and sustainable access to WASH services, government service-level monitoring processes and data use are vital for effective decision-making and accountability. Despite increasing sector efforts to improve WASH data access, there is limited evidence of this translating into effective data use to inform effective planning for equitable access and budgeting and of the factors affecting this. Four case studies where WaterAid has worked with national government and sector stakeholders to strengthen WASH monitoring processes in Uganda, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea (PNG), and Myanmar were analysed through an analytical framework to understand the impact of different factors and related system-strengthening activities towards outcomes of increased data coordination, timely and relevant data availability and data use to inform decision-making in WASH service delivery. The analysis highlighted that strengthening activities aiming at improving indicators, data collection and analysis, and the type of data collection and visualisation technology have a direct impact on improving WASH sector coordination and timely data availability. However, to ensure strengthening activities support data use for decision-making, they need to be developed from within and adapt to the on-going wider political economy systems evolution, including formal processes such as decentralisation and evolving informal political drivers.
An Immunomolecular Approach to the Determination of the Amino Acid Sequence of a Continuous Epitope
Authors: Smith Laura A. , Jones William T. , Reynolds Paul H.S.
Published: May 2022

Deletion clones of aspartate aminotransferase-P2 (AAT-P2) were constructed, expressed in E. coli and probed with MAb 7Fl and a 77 amino acid region which was likely .to contain the 7Fl epitope was identified. Overlapping eight-amino-acid-long peptides encompassing this region were synthesized on polystyrene pins and probed with MAb 7Fl and two reactive peptide sequences were identified. Only one of these peptides, RYFPGAKV, competed with MAb 7Fl for AAT-P2 protein.
Molecular Modelling and Virtual Screening to Identify New Piperazine Derivatives as Potent Human 5-HT1A Antagonists and Reuptake Inhibitors
Authors: Ayipo Yusuf Oloruntoyin , Alananzeh Waleed A. , Yahayaa Sani Najib , Mordi Mohd Nizam
Published: May 2022

Background:

Serotonin/5-HT antagonist and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs) ameliorate depression by increasing the terminal 5-HT through the activation of somatodendritic 5-HT1A autoreceptors. In addition to their therapeutic application as standalone antidepressants, they are co-administered with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) to improve unpleasant side effects associated with SSRI-treated depression. However, only a few of the atypical antidepressants are available and not without some serious aftereffects. This study aims at the identification of novel promising SARIs using computational chemistry and high throughput screening.

Methods:

Pharmacophore features were modelled using LigandScout 4.3 and validated through the area under curve (AUC), enrichment factor (EF) and Guner-Henry (GH) scores. Molecular docking was employed for virtual screening against modelled human 5HT1A homology receptor, molecular dynamics simulations and ADMET predictions.

Results:

The adopted pharmacophore possesses AUC, EF and GH scores of 0.7, 30.9 and 0.6 respectively, thus validated and used for molecular database screening. The modelled 5-HT1A homology receptor, validated using RCSB structure validation protocols, was employed for molecular docking and dynamics simulations. From the IBScreen database, the ligands, STOCK6S-36853, STOCK7S-36094, STOCK3S-94557, STOCK7S-28769 and STOCK5S-36248 interacted more strongly against the 5-HT1A receptor with docking scores of -8.735, -8.677, -8.140, -7.911 and -7.710 kcal/mol, and binding free energy of -29.72, -38.87, -29.85, -7.65 and -34.71 kcal/mol respectively, compared to fluoxetine and trazodone (positive controls) while albendazole and metformin (negative controls) scored least. They demonstrated good stability, satisfy the BDDCS RO5 and thus, are identified as potent SARIs.

Conclusion:

The study represents a cost-effective, faster and environmentally friendly approach to the discovery of promising SARI antidepressants for further translational study.
Insights of Lipid Vesicular and Particulate Carrier Mediated Approach
for Acne Management
Authors: Pimple Prachi , Dudhat Shruti , Singh Prabha
Published: May 2022

Acne vulgaris is a universal multifactorial human skin condition of the pilosebaceous units.
Although acne majorly prevails in teenagers, it is neither restricted to age group nor gender. Multifarious
causative factors like Propionibacterium acnes, dysregulated sebum secretion, and androgens play
an integral role in the manifestation of acne. Though abundant new chemical entities are convenient for
acne therapy, none can treat this condition without compromising patient compliance. Furthermore,
accessible treatment prevents the ailment and alleviates signs and symptoms with no absolute cure. So
presently, despite the variety of topical formulations, the current market demands an ideal remedy to
fulfill the unmet need for acne management. Extensive research has proved the upper hand of novel
carrier systems over conventional formulations by substantially improving efficacy and eliminating
unpleasant side effects. Lipid-based vesicular and particulate systems are promising prospects due to
their closeness to the intrinsic structure of the skin, which offer delivery of the actives in a more desirable
approach. This review underlines the practicability and superiority of liposomes, niosomes, transfersomes,
ethosomes, cubosomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers over conventional
therapies for acne. The review also highlights acne product market survey and available conventional
as well as novel formulations portraying their scope in the market. In a nutshell, lipid-based vesicular
and particulate systems prevail as a propitious modality for treating acne vulgaris as they conduce
better penetrability, localized action, and reduce adverse effects. These systems have the ability to
open a window of opportunities for effective acne alleviation.