bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analyzing the Reliability of the Grouping-Based Concept Lattice Reductions and a Method for Improving It
Authors: Peng Siqi , Yamamoto Akihiro
Published: May 2022

Formal concept analysis (FCA) is an important task for analyzing rela-tional data as well as extracting formalized knowledge from them. It has a wide range of practical applications, while a problem is frequently encountered that the extracted knowledge, i.e., the concept lattice may be too complicated for further processing and/or analysis. To reduce the concept lattice, various branches of techniques have been proposed and one of the most preferred categories of methods is the grouping-based simplification methods which aim at reducing the volume of the concept lattice by removing the redundant objects/attributes. However, we figure out that these methods may introduce too much information distortion to the context and the concept lattice, making the reduction result unreliable. To identify and overcome these problems, we propose a method for analyzing the reliability of a reduction in terms of context fidelity and lattice fidelity as well as a novel grouping-based concept lattice reduction method using an integer linear programming model. We conduct experiments on several data sets to prove that our method works in different cases and can produce more reliable reductions.
Infusion-Related Side-effects during Convection Enhanced Delivery for Brainstem-Diffuse Midline Glioma/Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma
Authors: Hollingworth Milo Alexander , Zacharoulis Stergios
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Side-effects during convection enhanced delivery (CED) are poorly understood. We intended to determine the frequency of side-effects during brain stem infusion and determine risk factors for side-effects persisting longer than 24 hours. Methods: Children with a radiological diagnosis of brain stem diffuse midline glioma/Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma were treated on compassionate grounds with awake infusion of carboplatin and sodium valproate into the brain stem using the 4-catheter (2 trans-cerebellar 2 trans-frontal) chronic, intermittent Renishaw Drug Delivery System. We used change in the Pontine Neurological Observation Score (PONScore), a standardised neurological assessment tool, to identify side-effects during infusion. Recovery was determined by retrospective chart review. Results: 55 infusions were performed in 8 children (3-11 years). Mean PONScore increased during infusion from 3.3 to 5.7 (p-value >0.001). One hundred and fifty-seven infusion-related side-effects were identified including headache (33/157) and limb weakness (49/157). Fifty-four side-effects persisted >24 hours. Side-effects that had occurred during a previous infusion and those that occurred during infusion via trans-cerebellar catheters were more likely to be persistent with OR 2.333 (95% CI 1.094-4.976; p-value =0.028) and 2.155 (1.029- 4.513; p-value=0.042) respectively. If infusion was stopped or titrated at onset rather than continued, the side-effect was less likely to persist >24 hours, OR 0.473 (95% CI 0.177-0.948; p-value=0.037). Most side-effects developed within the first three millilitre of infusion. Conclusions: Side-effects during brainstem infusion are common, can be transient or persist longer than 24 hours. Neurological injury during infusion may be time dependent and accumulative rather than volume dependent.
Yield performance of potato (Solanum tuberosum L) under integrated use of blended NPS fertilizer and vermicompost in Horroguduru area, Western Ethiopia
Authors: Wagari Alemayehu , Jalata Zerihun , Gobena Amsalu
Published: May 2022

Potato is a high-yielding potential crop grown for its high nutritional value but constrained with low soil fertility. This study was conducted at Gitilo site, western Ethiopia during 2019 year with the aim to analyze the impact of vermicompost and blended NPS fertilizer rates on potato yield associated traits. The treatments consisted of four rates of NPS fertilizers (0, 150, 200, and 250 kg NPS ha− 1) and four rates of vermicompost (0, 4, 6, and 8 tha− 1) in 4x4 factorial which becomes laid out in randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The result revealed significant influence of NPS fertilizers and vermicompost on all parameters measured indicating a high response of potato to the treatments. The application of blended NPS fertilizer integrated with vermicompost resulted superior to the application of either NPS fertilizer or vermicompost alone. The combined application of 8tha− 1 vermicompost with 250 kg ha− 1 blended NPS fertilizer resulted in maximum value for most of the yield parameters including marketable tuber yield (27.4 tha− 1) and total tuber yield (27.9 tha− 1).. The result suggests the application of 250 kg ha− 1 blended NPS with 8 t ha− 1 vermicompost is profitable with a net benefits of about 2761USD with a 315.9% marginal rate of return. Since at increasing levels of treatment resulted an increasing yield trend, further study is required to identify the optimum rate of recommendation of both fertilizers.
The real-world therapeutic analysis of first-line immunotherapy in Chinese patients with Drive Gene Positive for Advanced Non-Small Cell lung cancer
Authors: Liu Lei , Zhao Jing , Zhuo Xiaoli , Lai Jingjiang , Wang Jingliang , Jiang Fengxian , Xu Wei , Luan Fang , Yang Shuping , Lin Xiaoyan , Fu Guobin
Published: May 2022

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors are widely used in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, but in some studies it has been shown that patients with genetic mutations didn't benefit from immunotherapy. Our aim was to explore the efficacy of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and programmed death-receptor-ligand 1 (PD-L1) inhibitors in the first-line treatment of advanced NSCLC with driver gene mutations in real-world settings and to analyze potential prognostic correlates. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients with advanced NSCLC treated with PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors at Shandong Provincial Hospital from May 2019 to October 2021, identification of patient driver gene mutation status using ARMS-PCR and NGS. The basic clinical characteristics, objective response rate (ORR), progression free survival (PFS) and other clinical data of patients were also collected to evaluate the clinical efficacy and potential prognostic factors of treatment for patients with driver gene mutations. Results: A total of 86 NSCLC patients were enrolled in the study. The main pathological type of patients was adenocarcinoma (57.0%), the overall mutation rate was 43.0% (n=37), including KRAS (n=20), TP53 (n=18), EGFR (n=3), BRAF (n=3),Her-2 (n=3), MET (n=3),ROS1 (n=1), NRAS (n=1), with an overall ORR of 16.10% and a disease control rate (DCR) of 82.23%.At the time of follow-up cutoff , the median PFS of the whole group of patients was 13.2 (95%CI:10.6-15.8) months.Patients with negative driver mutations treated with ICIs had a longer median progression-free survival compared to patients with mutations (13.5 vs 11.6 months, P=0.50). The survival benefit varied among the different mutation subgroups. Overall, NSCLC patients with driver gene mutation had slightly lower PFS than patients with negative mutation with first-line immunotherapy, but there was no statistical difference. PD-L1 expression level was positively correlated with PFS of immunotherapy. Conclusions: In this real-world setting, the efficacy of first-line immunotherapy in NSCLC patients with driver gene mutations is similar to that in mutation negative patients, immune monotherapy may be more effective in patients with positive driver mutations, and immune efficacy is positively correlated with PD-L1 expression levels.
High accuracy prediction of behaviour with slow, low-cost accelerometers in the wild boar
Authors: Ruf Thomas , Krämer Jennifer , Vetter Sebastian , Bieber Claudia
Published: May 2022

Background: We classified the behaviour of wild boar, kept under semi natural conditions in a large outdoor enclosure, using acceleration data. The prediction was made using a machine learning algorithm, specifically a random forest model in the open software h2o. Remarkably, highly accurate prediction was possible using ear-tag acceleration sensors that sampled data only at a frequency of 1 Hz. This measurement device was used to minimise the potentially harmful effects caused by the repeated capture of wild animals to exchange batteries.﻿Results: Overall accuracy was as high as 94.7 %, but sensitivity ranged from 1.0 for common behaviours like foraging to 0.0 % in the case of rare events (e.g., scrubbing). Results show that static features of unfiltered acceleration data, as well as of gravitation- and orientation filtered data, were used in the prediction of behaviour. The waveform of certain behaviours in the sampled frequency range played no important role. ﻿Conclusions: Low-cost, slow accelerometers can be used to correctly classify behaviour in the wild boar. The positively identified behaviours, such as food intake and lactation, could be of interest for wildlife managers attempting to control population growth in this pest species. In addition to the model predicting behaviour, we provide several universal R-scripts that ease the generation of input files for machine learning.
Incidence and predictors of postoperative persistent pain in breast cancer survivors: A retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Yu , Qin Jiazhu , Yan Yixiu , Huang Luping , Pan Wei , Du Wenwen
Published: May 2022

Purpose: This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors of postoperative persistent pain in breast cancer survivors in the fifth year after breast cancer surgery. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of 303 breast cancer patients who underwent elective breast cancer surgery in the Department of Anesthesiology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University between January 2015 and June 2016. The patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of pain. The patient data were obtained from the patient records system. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the risk factors of persistent postoperative pain in breast cancer survivors. Results: The incidence of postoperative persistent pain in the fifth year after breast cancer surgery was 31.68%, and half of the patients with postoperative persistent pain reported chest wall pain. Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that preoperative chronic pain [OR=3.42; 95%CI (1.28-9.15), P=0.014], postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy [OR=2.18; 95%CI (1.14-4.15), P=0.017], medical insurance [OR=3.17; 95%CI (1.17-11.74), P=0.026], pain a month after surgery [OR=11.60; 95%CI (6.29-21.39), P<0.001], and axillary dissection [OR=0.53; 95%CI (0.29-0.97), P=0.039] were significantly associated with postoperative persistent pain in the fifth year after breast cancer surgery. The area under the curve was 0.83. Conclusion: Patients with breast cancer who have preoperative chronic pain, do not need axillary dissection during surgery, receive postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy, enjoy medical insurance, and still have pain one month after surgery are more prone to postoperative chronic pain. Therefore, awareness should be created, intraoperative analgesic drugs should be administered, and pain should be actively controlled within one month after surgery to reduce the prevalence of postoperative persistent pain in breast cancer survivors.Trial registration number for randomized clinical trials：The study protocol was registered at Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (http://www.chictr.org.cn) with identifier ChiCTR2100054013.
Effect of commercial diets on growth performance and stress in tomato clownfish (Amphipriom frenatus): A first approach
Authors: Boglino Anaïs , Caicedo Juan Pablo Rivera , Madrid Jorge , Ibarra-Zatarain Zohar
Published: May 2022

The genus Amphiprion, which species are typically known as clownfish or anemone fish, are among the most commercialized marine ornamental fish species in the world. The present study evaluated three commercial aquaculture diets (A = 40% protein and 9% of crude fat, B = 45% protein and 14% of crude fat, C = 38% protein and 6% of crude fat) on the growth performance and stress response of juveniles of the tomato clownfish A. frenatus during six weeks. Initial and final weight, length, weight gain, relative weight gain, condition factor, specific growth rate and survival were evaluated to determine growth performance. To analyze the stress response, individuals were subjected to a novel environment and a mirror test both performed on the second and fifth week of the experiment. Results demonstrated that diet B significantly increased (P < 0.05) weight and length, weight gain, relative weight gain, specific growth rate and had a better feed conversion rate. In terms of the stress response, fish from treatment B exhibited higher activity and higher swimming velocity (P < 0.05). Additionally, fish from same diet remained closer to the mirror and performed more attacks attempts than fish from treatments A and C. Furthermore, tomato clownfish showed consistent behavioural responses over time. These results demonstrate that diets not only influences growth performance, but also impacts the stress response of juvenile tomato clownfish. This might be of interest to the aquaculture industry of this fish species to select adequate diets and to develop protocols to improve welfare of fish kept in captivity.
Pharmacists implementing collaborative pharmaceutical care plans in patients with chronic disease: a prospective cohort feasibility study
Authors: Percival Matthew , Freeman Christopher , Cottrell Neil
Published: May 2022

Background: Pharmacists working in general practices provide medication reviews with suggestions to general practitioners to implement their recommendations to optimise medications. The next step is a model where the pharmacist takes on responsibility for implementing their recommendations. Aim: To explore the feasibility of an expanded model of collaborative pharmaceutical care in which the pharmacist has increased responsibility to manage patients with chronic diseaseMethod: This was a prospective cohort study (March to September 2018). A pharmacist developed a collaborative pharmaceutical care plan to identify drug related problems in patients with chronic disease in three general practices. The pharmacist consulted with the general practitioner discussing recommendations to manage drug related problems identified and recommendations the general practitioner was happy for the pharmacist to implement. The pharmacist implemented agreed recommendations and followed patients for six months. Outcome measures included number of recommendations implemented and drug related problems identified.Results: The pharmacist made 135 recommendations to optimise medicine use of which 126 (93.3%) were accepted by the general practitioner with 105 (83.3%) implemented by the 6-month follow up. The pharmacist was responsible for implementing 62 (49.3%) of the 126 accepted recommendations. The median number of drug related problems per patient reduced at six months compared to baseline (5 [IQR 3.3 – 7.0] vs. 2 [IQR 1.0 – 3.0]). Conclusion: The results confirm the feasibility of a pharmacist-general practitioner collaborative model within a general practice setting in Australia. The general practitioner accepted a high proportion of the pharmacist’s recommendations and almost half were implemented by the pharmacist.
Factors associated with emergency department length of stay and in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit from the emergency department: a nationwide analysis
Authors: Lee Kyung-Shin , Min Hye Sook , Moon Jae Young , Lim Daesung , Kim Younghwan , Ko Eunsil , Kim You Sun , Kim Joohae , Lee Jeehye , Sung Ho Kyung
Published: May 2022

Background: Prolonged emergency department length of stay (EDLOS) in critically ill patients leads to adverse outcomes, including an increased mortality risk. This nationwide study investigated patient and hospital characteristics associated with prolonged EDLOS and in-hospital mortality in adult patients admitted from the emergency department (ED) to the intensive care unit (ICU).Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Emergency Department Information System. Prolonged EDLOS was defined as an EDLOS of 6 h or more. We constructed multivariate logistic regressions to model the effects of patient and hospital variables as predictors of prolonged EDLOS and in-hospital mortality risk.Results: Between 2016 and 2019, 657,622 adult patients were admitted to the ICU from the ED, representing 2.4% of all ED presentations. The median EDLOS of the overall study population was 3.3 h (interquartile range, 1.9–6.1 h). In total, 25.3% of patients had prolonged EDLOS. Patient characteristics associated with prolonged EDLOS included night-time ED presentation, assignment of initial triage to less urgency, and one or more comorbidities. Hospital characteristics associated with prolonged EDLOS included a higher number of staffed beds and a higher ED level. Prolonged EDLOS was associated with in-hospital mortality after adjustment for selected confounders (adjusted odds ratio,1.18; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.16–1.20). Patient characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality included age ≥ 65 years, transferred-in, mechanical ventilation in the ED, assignment of initial triage to more urgency, and one or more comorbidities. Hospital characteristics associated with in-hospital mortality included a lower number of staffed beds and a lower ED level.Conclusions: In this nationwide analysis, 25.3% of critically ill patients admitted to the ICU from the ED had a prolonged EDLOS, which in turn was significantly associated with an increased in-hospital mortality risk. Hospital characteristics were also associated with prolonged EDLOS and in-hospital mortality, including the number of staffed beds and the ED level.
Ethnobotany of Wild Edible Plants in Multi-ethnic Areas of Gansu-Ningxia-Inner Mongolia Junction Zone
Authors: Jia Xiaohuan , Zhao Yongxia , Zhu Yunyue , Zen Xin , Liang Xuehui , Xie Jian , Wu Faming
Published: May 2022

Introduction: In recent years, research on wild edible plant resources has become a hotspot.Hassan Nature Reserve is a multi-ethnic mixed area mainly composed of Han, Hui and Mongolian. The edible development of wild plant resources in this area is extremely high. However, with the advancement of urbanization and the development of modern agricultural technology, such resources have been seriously damaged, and the related traditional knowledge such as national medicine has been lost.Methods: With the methods of literature study, interview with village and community organizations, participatory observation and quantitative evaluation of ethnobotany, the wild edible plants in hassan region of gansu-ningxia-inner mongolia interchange belt were investigated and studied.Results: The survey results showed that there were 53 species (varieties) of wild edible plants belonging to 24 families in this area, with 8 species and 7 species in Compositae and Liliaceae, respectively, being the most abundant. The young stems and leaves were the most edible parts, with 17 species, followed by the fruits (including young fruits) with 16 species. In addition, the edible parts also included root or rhizome (bulb), seed, whole plant, skin, etc. There were two types of raw food and cooked food, raw food was mainly used as snacks, mainly fruit; The cooked food is mainly vegetables with tender stems and leaves as the main, in addition can also be used as seasoning, medicinal diet, emergency food in the famine years. Important (CFSI>500) wild edible health-care plants in the region include: Mulgedium tataricum (L.) DC., Nostoccommune, Sonchus arvensis L., Taraxacum mongolicum Hand.-Mazz., Allium schoenoprasum, Robinia pseudoacacia, Hemerocallis citrina Baroni, Elaeagnus angustifolia Linn., Medicago sativa L., Ulmus pumila L., Stachys sieboldii Miq. var. sieboldii, Tooinensis (A. Juss.) Roem. var. sinensis, had high utilization value and utilization rate in the locality.Conclusion: In summary, the species, edible parts, edible categories, edible methods and health care functions of wild edible plants in this area are diverse, and the traditional utilization knowledge is rich, and some wild plants have high development value.
Associations between IBS, IBD and the risk of Insomnia: An Observational Analysis and Genome-wide Interaction Study
Authors: Cai Qingqing , Zhang Huijie , Qin Xiaoyue , He Dan , Zhao Yijing , Wei Wenming , Chu Xiaoge , Shi Sirong , Zhang Na , Li Chune , Chen Yujing , Pan Chuyu , Zhang Jingxi , Zhang Zhen , Zhang Feng
Published: May 2022

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) were reported to be associated with mental disorders. But limited efforts were made to investigate the relationship between IBS/IBD and the risk of insomnia, especially from genetic perspective. Methods: Based on the UK Biobank cohort, we first calculated the polygenic risk scores (PRS) of IBS and IBD. Linear regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association of IBS/IBD PRS with 7 sleep-related traits (N = 285,538-376,545), such as insomnia, short sleep. Genome-wide interaction study (GWIS) was performed to test the interacting effects of SNP × IBS PRS/Crohn's disease (CD) PRS on the risk of insomnia. Linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSC) was performed to evaluate the genetic correlation between IBS/IBD and sleep-related traits by using genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data of IBS (N = 29,524), IBD (CD: N = 5,956; UC: N = 6,968) and sleep-related traits (N = 1,331,010). Results: For IBS, observational analyses showed that IBS PRS was significantly associated with insomnia (P = 2.37×10-2), short sleep (P = 2.49×10-2) and healthy sleep score (P = 9.95×10-4). LDSC identified significant genetic correlation of IBS and sleep-related traits, such as insomnia (P = 1.12×10-23). GWIS observed significant interaction effects of LTBP1 ´ IBS PRS for insomnia (rs184718843, P = 6.04×10-9). For IBD, we found an association between CD PRS and insomnia (P = 3.57×10-2). LDSC detected significant genetic correlation between CD and dozing (P = 1.20×10-3). For CD PRS, GWIS detected several suggestive interaction signals for insomnia, such as ANKRD30A (rs551207458, P = 7.10×10-7). Conclusion: Our results suggested that IBS and IBD were functionally related to insomnia, and reported several candidate genes interacting with IBS/IBD PRS for insomnia.
An Uncommon Presentation of Obstructive Colonic Cancer: An Extensive Ischemic Colitis
Authors: Kachornvitaya Pattharasai , Sapsupan Wasu
Published: May 2022

Obstructive colonic cancer is a common presentation of colonic cancer but extensive ischemic colitis proximal to an obstructive colonic cancer is an uncommon condition. It has been referred to by various terms in the literature such as obstructive colitis. A 59-year-old female presented with fever, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Abdominal CT revealed a short segment of circumferential bowel wall thickening at sigmoid colon with diffuse colonic wall thickening proximal to the lesion. Emergency surgery was performed, and intraoperative findings found a tumor located at sigmoid colon causing proximal colonic obstruction. The serosal surface of proximal colon appears normal but intraluminal appear black in color. The major vessels were patent. Total colectomy with side-to-end ileo-rectal anastomosis was performed. Obstructive colitis is a rare condition, and its etiology remains unclear. We report our case to share an experience and to review the literature to facilitate the recognition and proper management.
Parasitological and Histopathological Observations of Huffmanela Species Infesting Spot-Tail Shark Carcharhinus sorrah from Water of Arabian Gulf; Saudi Arabia
Authors: Baghdadi Hanadi , Al-Salem‎ Afaf , Ibrahim‎ Mustafa , Mahmoud Mahmoud‎ , Bayoumy Elsayed
Published: May 2022

Fifteen (10%) of Spot-Tail Shark; Carcharhinus sorrah; out of one hundred and fifty samples that were caught from the water of the Arabian Gulf and examined during the period of May till November 2018. They showed unusual black irregular discolouration in the form of linear tracks together with fine, tiny black spots on the skin. The Parasitological examination showed bipolar eggs somewhat resemble those of the nematode genus Huffmanela (Nematode, Trichosomoididae). The parasitological examination revealed the presence of dark-shelled trichinelloid embryonated eggs dispersed at some stage in the skin and muscular tissue. The eggs were 110 to 140 (130 ± 2.4) ×55 to 65(59±2.8) µm in size, with large polar plugs 11.2-11.8(11.5±0.15) ×6.5-7.1(6.7±0.13) µm length by width. The species of trichosomoidid nematode, Huffmanela sp. was recorded from C. sorrah. Brief egg morphology was reported and compared with most related previously described species. The histopathological examination of the infected shark fish revealed that the epidermal layer showed clear, dark brown eggs of Huffmanela in between the placoid scales and most prominent in the epidermal layers. Huffmanela eggs showed morphological differences from the previously identified ones, so they could be considered a new species in a new geographical location and in a newly infected shark fish host.
A nomogram to predict the success rate of patients with small bowel obstruction relief by ileus tube
Authors: Chen Qing-Feng , Lin Bin-qiang , Zhang Jun-rong , Xue Chao-rong , Pan Jie , Huang Zheng-yuan , Chen Xian-qiang
Published: May 2022

Purpose: This article investigated patient clinical data to establish a nomogram to predict the success rate of patients with small bowel obstruction relief by ileus tube.Methods: We identified 210 patients with small bowel obstruction treated with ileus tube (January 2014 to January 2020) from a prospectively collected database. Among them, 117 cases were successfully relieved (Successful group), and 93 cases failed (Failure group).Results: The Successful group had a higher age and body mass index, as well as a shorter time from obstruction to insertion than the failure group before insertion of the ileus tube. White blood cell, neutrophil, red blood cell distribution width and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio were lower in the successful group after insertion of the ileus tube. In addition, white blood cell, neutrophil, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio decreased in the successful group after insertion. However, the result was the opposite in the Failure group. The success rate of paralytic ileus was the highest (79.4%). Patients with fecal stone ileus had the most rapid ventilation and defecation times. Multivariate analysis showed that the platelet-change, albumin after insertion, time from obstruction to insertion and obstruction factors were independent factors influencing the success rate of ileus tube insertion. In addition, we established nomograms to predict the success rate of patients with small bowel obstruction relief by ileus tube (C-index=0.753).Conclusion: This nomogram can effectively predict whether patients can successfully relieve obstruction by ileus tube, which provides convenience for clinical treatment.
Differentiating between adult intracranial medulloblastoma and ependymoma using MRI
Authors: Deng Juan , Xue Caiqiang , Liu Xianwang , Li Shenglin , Zhou Junlin
Published: May 2022

Purpose
It is difficult to distinguish between adult intracranial medulloblastomas and ependymomas because of their overlapping imaging manifestations. However, considering their different treatments and prognoses, accurate preoperative differential diagnosis is essential. This study aimed to investigate the value of routine magnetic resonance (MR) examination combined with diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differential diagnosis of adult intracranial medulloblastomas and ependymomas.
Materials and Methods
MR images of 18 medulloblastomas and 18 ependymomas in adult patients were retrospectively analyzed, and differences in MR features of lesions and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of solid lesions between the two groups were recorded. Independent sample t-tests and χ2 tests were used to analyze the differences in MR signs and maximum ADC (ADCmax), minimum ADC (ADCmin), and mean ADC (ADCmean) values between the two groups. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the differential diagnostic efficacy and optimal threshold for each ADC value.
Results
There were significant differences in age and tumor enhancement between adult medulloblastoma and ependymoma (P < 0.05). The ADCmax (0.69 ± 0.11 vs. 1.04 ± 0.20×10− 3 mm²/s, P < 0.001), ADCmin (0.57 ± 0.12 vs. 0.96 ± 0.21×10− 3 mm²/s, P < 0.001), and ADCmean (0.62 ± 011 vs. 1.00 ± 0.20×10− 3 mm²/s, P < 0.001) values were significantly lower in adult medulloblastoma than in ependymoma. The areas under the ROC curves of ADCmax, ADCmin, and ADCmean were 0.951, 0.957, and 0.966, respectively. The optimal ADCmean threshold was 0.75×10− 3 mm²/s, with a sensitivity of 88.9% and a specificity of 88.9%.
Conclusion
Routine MR imaging examination combined with DWI is helpful in differentiating between intracranial infratentorial medulloblastoma and ependymoma in adults.
Spatial variation and controlling parameters of surface water stable isotope signatures (δ 18O and δ 2H) in Iran
Authors: Heydarizad Mojtaba , Mohammadabadi Hamid Ghalibaf
Published: May 2022

Surface water resources beside groundwater resources have dominant role to provide water supply for Iran. Stable isotopes technique as an accurate and reliable method has been used to study surface water resources in Iran. Stable isotopes signatures in surface water resources is under influence of both evaporation as well as moisture sources variations. Surface water resources across Iran have been classified to seven groups including North-eastern Iran, North-western Iran, North-central Iran, Western Zagros, Southern Zagros, South Iran, and Central Iran. The role of various moisture sources on surface water resources recharge has been studied by comparing δ18O & δ2H values in surface water resources with Iran meteoric water lines. Furthermore, the contribution percentage of each air mass (precipitation events originate each air mass) in the recharge of main rivers across Iran has been calculated using mixing model "Simmr-package" in R language. The evaporation effect in surface water resources is also studied by comparing stable isotopes signatures in surface water resources with local meteoric water lines (LMWLs) as well as calculating the line-conditioned excess (lc-excess). The more depleted lc-excess is observed in dam reservoirs, lakes and seas due to stronger evaporation compare to river water samples.
Etiology Model for Clinical Studies’ Intramuscular Injection of Saline Solution Control Driving Innate Immune Response Associated Adverse Events in Volunteers
Authors: Ricke Darrell O.
Published: May 2022

Clinical studies include placebo controls to enable differentiation between treatment efficacy and adverse events from placebo effects. Intramuscular injection of saline solution was used in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials as the placebo control. The underlying hypothesis is that intramuscular injection of saline solution does not cause adverse events. Herein, an alternative hypothesis is advanced that intramuscular injection of saline solution can stimulate innate immune responses in volunteers and that these adverse events are not placebo effects. This implies that clinical studies including intramuscular injection of saline solution controls are comparing vaccine associated adverse events with saline solution innate immune response adverse events. This article proposes that innate immune responses to intramuscular injection of saline solution triggers a temporary surge in histamine levels. Further, this temporary surge of histamine levels is causative for the local and systemic adverse events experienced by the control volunteers.
Low-Dose Fluoroscopy Technique Drastically Decreases Patient Radiation Exposure during Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Authors: Cheng Galen , Campbell Timothy , Feng Changyong , Quarrier Scott , Jain Rajat
Published: May 2022

IntroductionFluoroscopy is essential in percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) but exposes patients and operating room staff to radiation. We investigated whether a low-dose (LD) protocol could reduce radiation exposure during fluoroscopy-guided access without compromising clinical outcomes.MethodsPatients undergoing PCNL with fluoroscopy-guided access at a tertiary care stone center between January 2019 to July 2021 were identified. Prior to September 3, 2020, the Philips Veradius C-arm’s default settings were used: standard per-frame dose, 15 pulses per second (PPS) frame rate. After this date, a low-dose protocol was used: reduced per-frame dose, reduced frame rate of 8 PPS for needle puncture and 4 PPS for all other steps. Clinical and radiographical data were retrospectively collected. The primary outcome was cumulative radiation dose. Secondary outcomes were stone-free status (SFS; defined as no fragments ³2mm) and complications. Multivariate regression analysis was performed.Results100 patients were identified; 31 were in the LD group. The LD cohort was exposed to a significantly lower mean cumulative radiation dose of 11.68 mGy compared to 48.88 mGy (p<0.0001). There were no differences in operative time, fluoroscopy time, stone burden, SFS or complications. In a multivariable regression model adjusting for several variables, LD protocol was associated with lower radiation dose while skin-to-calyx-distance (STCD) was positively associated with cumulative radiation dose. Higher preoperative stone burden was associated with longer operative time (p=0.0001) and lower odds of postoperative SFS (odds ratio=0.959, p=0.0007).ConclusionsLow-dose fluoroscopy and decreased frame rate during PCNL decreased radiation exposure four-fold without affecting SFS or complication rates.
White Matter Microstructural Abnormalities and Cognitive Functions Assessment in First versus Multiple episodes of Euthymic Bipolar Cases
Authors: Aufa Ola Mohamed , Shahawi Heba Hamed El , Sakr Housam Mousa , Effat Safeya Mahmoud , Nagar zeinab mohamed El
Published: May 2022

Background
Recently, several studies have detected cognitive impairment and microstructural deficits of white matter in bipolar disorder type. It is still unclear if these structural and cognitive abnormalities in bipolar disorder are progressive or static.
Results
The study was conducted on 40 cases with bipolar disorder I during euthymic state (20 cases with single episodes and 20 cases with multiple episodes) and 20 healthy participants. Assessment of white matter integrity of selected regions and tracts using diffusion tensor imaging technique and correlated the findings with cognitive functions results. Cases with BD I both with a single episode or multiple episodes showed deficits than the control group in all the selected regions for Diffusion Tensor Imaging study in comparison to controls. Also, more deficits were found as regards cognitive functions include (memory, executive functions, and sustained attention). On the other hand, cases with multiple episodes had more deficit than those with a single episode regarding seven regions of interest (left and right inferior longitudinal fasciculus, left and right superior longitudinal fasciculus, left uncinate fasciculus, right cingulum, and right inferior frontal area) as well as more impairment in executive functions and sustained attention which correlated with these white matter deficits.
Conclusion
The present findings indicate that white matter microstructural abnormalities and cognitive functions deficits could serve as state and trait markers in cases with bipolar disorder I. The detected abnormalities could affect the future in early diagnosis and intervention, thus facilitating functional recovery in cases with bipolar disorder I.
Prevalence and Risk Factors of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes in a Tertiary Hospital, Mogadishu-Somalia
Authors: Sidow Nor Osman , Ali Abdiladhif Mohamed , Kög Nilüfer , Hassan Mohamed Sheikh , Mohamud HayirTahlil
Published: May 2022

INTRODUCTION:Basic in Somali. a country in East Africa, no data are available about key features of stroke such as incidence, prevalence, and mortality or stroke subtypes. So. we decided to conduct this study to make sure the rate burden of stroke in our population and become a starting data for further research.MATERIALS AND METHODSWe performed a retrospective hospital-based study in Mogadishu, Somali, to assess risk factors and etiology of stroke. Patients were recruited from January 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, at the MogadishuSomali–Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Training and Research Hospital.RESULTSA total of 292 participants with stroke (65.4% male and 34.6% women) were analyzed. The prevalence of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes were 66.8% and 33.2% respectively. A system for categorization of subtypes of ischemic stroke mainly based on etiology has been developed for the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST)[7], the most prevalent were stroke of other determined etiology (28.7%), undetermined (24.6%) and large artery disease (22.1%) while the least common ischemic strokes were lunar stroke (11.3%) and cardio embolic (13.3%). The most prevalent hemorrhagic strokes were Basal ganglia CONCLUSIONS: In Somalia there is no previous data for the prevalence and risk factors of the stroke. We concluded that the prevalence of hemorrhagic stroke in Somalia is more compared than the other countries (from 20% worldwide to 33.2% Somali). And the most risk factors were hypertension and diabetes mellitus.
Assessing heavy metal pollution in the Rietspruit, Far West Rand Goldfield, South Africa
Authors: Raji Iyioluwa , Bett SK
Published: May 2022

Since the discovery of gold in the Witwatersrand Basin, the Basin has experienced over 100 years of mining activities. However, the removal of the precious stones buried several meters below the earth surface has led to water and sediment pollution by heavy metals. In this study, the concentration of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in the water and sediment samples collected in the Rietspruit. The Rietspruit is a perennial stream located in the Witwatersrand Basin, the source of the water is attributed to the discharge of mine water by a gold and uranium mine located upstream of the river. High concentration of the studied heavy metals were recorded within and some distance away from the mining environment. In this study, the maximum concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead recorded were 45.5 µg/l, 0.43 µg/l, 11.8 µg/l and 3.5 µg/l respectively in Rietspruit water. In the sediment, the maximum concentrations recorded were 550.4 mg/kg, 3.88 mg/kg, 2.44 mg/kg and 184.3 mg/kg in arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead respectively. In areas where human exposure was observed, the concentrations of mercury was higher than the guideline limit of the metal in water. As a result, the use of the Rietspruit water for agricultural, domestic and religious purposes must be discouraged and adequate intervention of the study area is needed.
Major amputation needed to treat purulent tenosynovitis and necrotizing fasciitis in a patient diagnosed with severe COVID-19: a case report
Authors: Toga Akira , Balaji Ayush , Nagura Shigeki
Published: May 2022

Background
Peripheral human bite wounds are rarely serious and are typically treated medically, with the most complex cases requiring only minor amputation or excision of the infected site. There are few to no reports documenting the development of purulent tenosynovitis, necrotizing fasciitis, and osteomyelitis from these lesions. Major amputations are required only rarely in these cases.
Case Presentation:
A 71-year-old woman presented with an uncontrolled infection following a self-inflicted bite wound to her left middle finger. A bacterial culture of the lesion revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The infection could not be controlled with antibiotics or additional interventions, including debridement and minor amputation. She contracted severe COVID-19 while in the hospital which limited the available treatment options. In an attempt to control the infection, the patient ultimately underwent a major amputation of the distal left forearm. While recovering from the procedure, the patient succumbed to septic shock and cardiopulmonary arrest
Conclusions
The unusual progression of this case may be attributed to the interventions required to treat acute COVID-19 as well as a variety of confounding factors. For example, vasopressors and steroids used to treat severely-ill patients compromise the local and systemic physiologic responses to acute bacterial infection. It is important to reconsider clinical expectations during the pandemic and intervene as early as possible to prevent ongoing damage and clinical deterioration.
Effect of Bamboo Mat Reinforcements on Behaviour of Cohesionless Soil Using Triaxial Tests
Authors: Akhil K S , Sankar N , Chandrakaran S
Published: May 2022

Ground improvement has become a routine process due to the scarcity of suitable land for construction. The soil reinforcement technique is one of the versatile methods and soil reinforcement using geosynthetic materials has become more popular due to its simplicity. Due to rising costs and the concern over the environmental issues associated with it, the researchers search for natural products to utilize for soil reinforcement. In the present study, bamboo mats are used as reinforcement material in cohesionless soil. A series of triaxial tests were performed to assess the efficacy of bamboo mat as a reinforcement element in different configurations and the effect of configuration also reported here. In addition to that, the effect of confining pressure and the number of layers are also presented. A non-dimensional factor called Shear Strength Ratio measures the degree of improvement in peak deviator stress due to the inclusions. To quantify the degree of improvement, a factor called Shear Strength Ratio is used. The results show that bamboo mat inclusions are highly effective as soil reinforcement elements and inclusions considerably improve the shear strength parameters.
On the Efficacy of Average Weightings Predicting Joint Choices in Bilateral Negotiations with Attribute Tradeoffs
Authors: Menasco Michael Brian
Published: May 2022

Conventional wisdom suggests negotiators demonstrate a predisposition toward weight averaging or the averaging of attribute values. One assumption is that weight averaging generates a maximizing joint choice based on joint preference or ‘utility’ over attribute values. We test this assumption in a simulated experiment predicting joint choice when there are trade-offs in two attributes and negotiators average their intrinsic weightings paramorphic to a multi -attribute model. We show that joint weights by averaging, or negotiation must be equal (a 50/50 weighing of the two attributes) to achieve maximum joint preference or utility. Consistent with prior research, results find that a relative 50/50 weighing of the two attributes is dependent both on the symmetry or asymmetry of negotiators’ preference functions for the two attributes and possible cognitive conflict inherent to negotiators intrinsic individual weightings. For instance, negotiators’ individual weightings (\(.2, .8\)) vs (.\(8, .2\)) resulting in average weights of (\(.5, .5\)) involve less cognitive conflict than negotiating weightings of (\(.7, .3\)) vs (.\(1, .9\)) to achieve joint weights of (\(.5, .5\)). The paper concludes by summarizing the primary results of the simulation related to extant research and presents possible modeling for negotiations over three attributes of which at least two attributes are strictly tradeoffs.
SEMA6D, negatively regulated by miR-7, contributes to C28/I2chondrocyte’s catabolic and anabolic activities via p38 signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Haoyu , Yang Zhicheng , Yu Zhentang , Xiong Chenwei , Zhang Yi , Zhang Junjie , Huang Yong , Zhou Xindie , Li Jin , Xu Nanwei
Published: May 2022

MiR-7 has been recognized as an osteoarthritis (OA) promoting factor, but thespecific down-stream pathway of miR-7 still remains unknown. Further investigationof the molecular regulatory mechanism of miR-7 might help develop a novel therapeutic method for OA. In this study, we revealed that Semaphorin 6D(SEMA6D) was a direct target gene of miR-7, and presented a negative regulatory relationwithSEMA6D in vitro and in vivo. SEMA6D could improve OA in rat OAmodels, asindicated by H&E and Safranin O-Fast green staining, and also µCT analysis. Further evaluation of SEMA6D suggested that SEMA6D promotes the anabolismand reducesthe catabolism of C28/I2 chondrocytes via inhibiting the activation of the p38pathway. The present research illustrated that SEMA6D is a negatively regulatoryfactor of miR-7 and a pivotal mediator of catabolism and anabolismin C28/I2chondrocytes. SEMA6D exerts its function via inhibiting the activation of the p38pathway.
The inhibitory effect of KIAA1456 on the proliferation and metastasis of epithelial ovarian cancer through SSX1 and AKT signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Yingfeng , Gao Yanhong , Sun Congcong , Mao Yanhua , Wu Benyuan , Li Changjiang , Zhang Wenwen , Wang Jia
Published: May 2022

Background: KIAA1456 is effective in the inhibition of tumorigenesis. We previously confirmed that KIAA1456 inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in EOC. In the current study, the specific molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of KIAA1456 underlying the repression of EOC were investigated.Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate the protein expression of KIAA1456 and SSX1 in EOC and normal ovarian tissues. The relationship of KIAA1456 and SSX1 with overall survival of patients with EOC was analysed with Kaplan–Meier survival curve and log-rank tests. KIAA1456 was overexpressed and silenced in HO8910PM cells with lentivirus. Anticancer activities of KIAA1456 was tested by CCK8, plate clone formation assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and Transwell invasion assay. Xenograft tumour models were used to investigate the effects of KIAA1456 on tumour growth in vivo. Bioinformatics analyses of microarray profiling indicated that SSX1 and the PI3K/AKT were differentially expressed in KIAA1456-overexpressing and control cells. The downstream factors of PI3K/AKT that are related to cell growth and apoptosis.Results: KIAA1456 expression was lower in EOC than in normal ovarian tissues. Its expression negatively correlated with pathological grade. Pearson’s correlation analysis showed that KIAA1456 negatively correlated with SSX1 expression. The overexpression of KIAA1456 in HO8910PM cells inhibited proliferation, migration and invasion and promoted apoptosis. The silencing of KIAA1456 resulted in the opposite behaviour. A xenograft tumour experiment showed that KIAA1456 overexpression inhibited tumour growth in vivo. The overexpression of KIAA1456 inhibited SSX1 and AKT phosphorylation in HO8910PM cells, causing the inactivation of the AKT pathway and eventually reducing the expression of PCNA, CyclinD1, MMP9 and Bcl2. The silencing of KIAA1456 resulted in the opposite behaviour. SSX1 overexpression could partially reverse the KIAA1456-induced biological effect.Conclusion: KIAA1456 may serve as a tumour suppressor via the inactivation of SSX1 and the AKT pathway, providing a promising therapeutic target for EOC.