bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tempo circular, pululação e fracasso em “O jardim de veredas que se bifurcam”, de Jorge Luis Borges
Authors: Schwartz Adriano
Published: September 2022

O artigo pretende mostrar que, apesar de diferentes leituras de “O jardim de veredas que se bifurcam”, de Jorge Luis Borges, sempre mencionarem a importância do termo “pululação” – que ali aparece três vezes em um momento crucial da narrativa –, essa importância raras vezes é explicitada. Ao discutir de modo detido o trecho em que a palavra é usada reiteradamente, espera-se expandir a leitura a ela vinculada e já corrente da circularidade e da multiplicidade na obra. Espera-se ao mesmo tempo mostrar como essa expansão implica o fracasso (e não há nada de negativo aí) do próprio texto e de sua interpretação, bem como que essa ideia de fracasso já aparecia de forma disseminada nesse e nos outros dois contos de Borges (“A morte e a bússola” e “Aben Hakam, o Bokari, morto em seu labirinto”) que releem os três contos policiais de Edgar Allan Poe.
Espantalhos e monstros teóricos
Authors: Brito Matheus de
Published: September 2022

Resenha: ARAÚJO, Nabil. Teoria da Literatura e História da Crítica: momentos decisivos. Rio de Janeiro: EdUERJ, 2020.
A recepção das obras póstumas (1887-1889)
Authors: Delons Catherine , Ricieri Francine Fernandes Weiss , Mendes Maria Lúcia Dias
Published: September 2022

Em 1887, Eugène Crépet revela uma coleção de textos inéditos de Baudelaire. Na imprensa, muitos artigos permitem medir o lugar ocupado pelo poeta na França vinte anos após sua morte. Aclamado como o precursor do decadentismo e do simbolismo, Baudelaire permanece para seus detratores um poeta imoral, doentio e artificial.
Metabolism and Target Organ Damage
Authors: Fearon Naomi M. , Pournaras Dimitri J.
Published: September 2022

People with diabetes mellitus (DM) undergo more elective surgery than those without DM; however, up to half of the patients are undiagnosed when referred for surgery. This is an opportunity to intervene and instigate a management plan. Preoperative strategies may vary based on coexisting medical diseases such as obesity and the availability of resources with the aim of achieving glycaemic control while also treating coexisting conditions. In the context of obesity, there is substantial overlap in some of the treatment strategies. Guidelines, such as those from the UK Centre for Perioperative Medicine, suggest target glycated haemoglobin levels, preoperative fasting blood glucose levels, and when to defer an elective operation or instigate treatment to proceed if deemed safe. Preoperatively glycaemic control is often achieved pharmacologically, and newer agents, including glucagon-like peptide one receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) and sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, are emphasised in the preoperative management of diabetes mellitus, particularly if obesity is also present. A very low-energy diet is an underutilised but well-evidenced method of achieving both glycaemic control and weight loss with a particularly dominant effect on liver fat which is helpful for people who are due to undergo abdominal surgery. Bariatric-metabolic procedures are of growing interest as bridging interventions to surgery and are more commonly used for obesity, but they also have a well-recognized impact on the improvement and remission of DM. This review gives an overview of the necessity of preoperative identification of DM and strategies for management. Intra-operative glycaemic control is also discussed, and the role of stress hyperglycaemia perioperatively.
Assessment of Drinking Tap Water Quality in Wa Municipality, Ghana
Authors: Bowan Patrick Aaniamenga
Published: September 2022

Water quality analysis is an essential component of water supply globally. This study analyzed drinking water quality at the tap in the Wa Municipality of Ghana. Bacteriological, physicochemical, aesthetic, and some chemical parameters of raw, treated and tap water was analyzed. The analysis showed that drinking tap water has a good quality and was satisfactory according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for drinking water. However, an assessment of consumers’ perception of water consumption profiles revealed that 25 % of the respondents claimed that the water quality was bad and had some taste that may be attributable to the long period of water storage. Therefore, it is recommended that the post chlorination dose should be increased to ensure the disinfection requirements and avoid any post-treatment contamination.
The Efficient Antiviral Response of A549 Cells Is Enhanced When Mitochondrial Respiration Is Promoted
Authors: Lebeau Grégorie , Hoareau Mathilde , El Safadi Daed , Paulo-Ramos Aurélie , Desprès Philippe , Krejbich-Trotot Pascale , Chouchou Florian , Roche Marjolaine , Viranaïcken Wildriss
Published: September 2022

When exposed to a viral infection, the attacked cells promptly set up defence mechanisms. Part of antiviral responses, the innate immune interferon pathway and associated interferon stimulated genes are notably allowing the production of proteins bearing an antiviral activity. Numerous viruses are able to evade the interferon response, highlighting the importance of controlling this pathway to ensure their efficient replication. Several viruses are also known to manipulate the metabolism of infected cells to optimize the availability of amino acids, nucleotides and lipids. They then benefit from a reprogramming of the metabolism that favours glycolysis instead of mitochondrial respiration. Given the increasingly discussed crosstalk between metabolism and innate immunity, we wondered whether this switch from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration would be beneficial or deleterious for an efficient antiviral response. We used a cell based model of metabolic reprogramming. Interestingly, we showed that increased mitochondrial respiration was associated with an enhanced interferon response following poly:IC stimulation. This suggests that during viral infection, the metabolic reprogramming towards glycolysis is also part of the virus' strategies to inhibit the antiviral response.
E2F4DN Transgenic Mice: A Tool for the Evaluation of E2F4 as a Therapeutic Target in Neuropathology and Brain Aging
Authors: Ramón-Landreau Morgan , Sánchez-Puelles Cristina , López-Sánchez Noelia , Lozano-Ureña Anna , Llabrés-Mas Aina M. , Frade José M.
Published: September 2022

E2F4 was initially described as a transcription factor with a key function in the regulation of cell quiescence. Nevertheless, a number of recent studies have established that E2F4 can also play a relevant role in cell and tissue homeostasis as well as tissue regeneration. For these non-canonical functions, E2F4 can also act in the cytoplasm, where it is able to interact with many homeostatic and synaptic regulators. Since E2F4 is expressed in the nervous system, it may fulfill a crucial role in brain function and homeostasis, being a promising multifactorial target for neurodegenerative diseases and brain aging. The regulation of E2F4 is complex as it can be chemically modified through acetylation, from which we present evidence in the brain, as well as methylation, and phosphorylation. The phosphorylation of E2F4 within a conserved threonine motif induces cell cycle re-entry in neurons, while a dominant negative form of E2F4 (E2F4DN), in which the conserved threonines have been substituted by alanines, has been shown to act as a multifactorial therapeutic agent for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We have generated transgenic mice neuronally expressing E2F4DN. We have recently shown using this mouse strain that expression of E2F4DN in 5xFAD mice, a known murine model of AD, improved cognitive function, reduced neuronal tetraploidization, and induced a transcriptional program consistent with modulation of amyloid-beta (Abeta) peptide proteostasis and brain homeostasis recovery. 5xFAD/E2F4DN mice also showed reduced microgliosis and astrogliosis in both cerebral cortex and hippocampus at 3-6 months of age. Here we have analyzed the immune response in 1 year-old 5xFAD/E2F4DN mice, concluding that reduced microgliosis and astrogliosis is maintained at this late stage. In addition, the expression of E2F4DN also reduced age-associated microgliosis in wild-type mice, thus stressing its role as a brain homeostatic agent. We conclude that E2F4DN transgenic mice represent a promising tool for the evaluation of E2F4 as a therapeutic target in neuropathology and brain aging.
Detecting Female Students Transforming Entrepreneurial Competency, Mindset, and Intention into Sustainable Entrepreneurship
Authors: Chang Angel , Chang Dian-Fu , Chen Tien-Li
Published: September 2022

Entrepreneurship has been viewed as an opportunity for economic development and changing economic scenarios in global markets. Women are viewed as a reservoir of entrepreneurial talent, so they can be growth engines in novel markets. Previous studies have considered entrepreneurship as the most effective way towards the economic empowerment of women. Female students engaged in entrepreneurial education have been addressed persistently, while what transforms them in an education process is still unclear. Considering the transforming global economy and its influence on higher education, this study aims to detect female students transforming entrepreneurial competency, mindset, and intention into sustainable entrepreneurship. Using a self-compiled survey, we targeted 752 female students to investigate their entrepreneurial competency, mindset, and intention. SPSS and AMOS were used to transform the data for interpretation. We assumed that the impact of female students’ entrepreneurial competency could be modified by an entrepreneurial mindset and result in entrepreneurial intention. To detect this causal relationship, this study employed reliability, factor, structural equation modeling (SEM), and bootstrap-ping analyses to verify the evidence. The result of the SEM confirms that female students’ entrepreneurial competency will, through their entrepreneurial mindset, impact entrepreneurial intention. With bootstrapping, 5000 samples were collected, and it was demonstrated that the measure constructs were still reliable in the model. This study found that there is a mediation effect between entrepreneurial competency and entrepreneurial intention. The entrepreneurial mindset plays a crucial role in the transformation process. Without an entrepreneurial mindset, entrepreneurial competency cannot exert a significant effect on entrepreneurial intention. The findings can help reinvent related entrepreneurial education in higher education.
On the Impacts of Hard Data Patterns on Bayesian Maximum Entropy Performance: Simulation-based Analysis
Authors: E. Ehnon Gongnet , E. Agbangba Codjo , T Affossogbe Sédjro , R. Vihotogbé , R. Glèlè Kakaï
Published: September 2022

Bayesian Maximum Entropy (BME) is increasingly used in predicting and mapping spatio-temporal data. However, studies that have fully evaluated its robustness empirically are rare. Therefore, this research examined empirically the effect of skewness, sample size and spatial dependency level using simulated data. We considered symmetric data, data positively skewed by 1, 3, 6 and 9, data with weak, moderate, and strong spatial dependency levels, and sample sizes from 100 to 500 at the interval length of 50. The results showed that the variation of sample sizes and spatial dependency levels do not affect the Mean Square Error (MSE) and bias of BME prediction. However, skewness affects the MSE of prediction but does not affect the bias. This result indicates that BME is robust to sample size and is unbiased. Despite the significant difference due to skewness, a graphical plot showed values of MSE close to zero, suggesting that BME can be considered robust to skewness.
Efecto de las variables socioeconómicas en la inflación y el desempleo en México, 1980-2019
Authors: Figueroa Hernández Esther , Pérez Soto Francisco , Godínez Montoya Lucila , Pérez Figueroa Rebeca Alejandra
Published: September 2022

El objetivo consistió en analizar las variables socioeconómicas que afectan la tasa de inflación y el desempleo en México, 1980-2019. Para ello, se elaboraron dos modelos utilizando regresión lineal de componentes principales. Los resultados obtenidos, la tasa de inflación presentó una relación directa con el desempleo, el tipo de cambio, las remesas y la tasa de interés e inversa con el PIB de México, el salario, la pobreza, la población y la migración. Las conclusiones obtenidas de las variables de mayor impacto en la inflación fueron el tipo de cambio, las remesas y la tasa de interés. Para el caso del desempleo fue el producto Interno Bruto, la población, y el número de migrantes. La hipótesis se cumplió solo para el Producto Interno Bruto, el salario, y el número de migrantes a Estados Unidos.
Brine, englacial structure and basal properties near the terminus of McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica
Authors: Campbell Seth , Courville Zoe , Sinclair Samantha , Wilner Joel
Published: September 2022

We collected ∼1300 km of ground-penetrating radar profiles over McMurdo Ice Shelf, Antarctica, using frequencies between 40 and 400 MHz to determine extent, continuity and depth to the brine. We also used profiles to determine meteoric ice thickness and locate englacial features, which may suggest ice shelf instability. The brine extends 9–13 km inland from the ice shelf terminus and covers the entire region between Ross, White and Black Islands. Jump unconformities and basal fractures exist in the brine and ice shelf, respectively, suggesting prior fracturing and re-suturing. One 100 MHz profile, the most distal from the ice shelf edge while still being situated over the brine, simultaneously imaged the brine and bottom of meteoric ice. This suggests a negative brine salinity gradient moving away from the terminus. The meteoric ice bottom was also imaged in a few select locations through blue ice in the ablation zone near Black Island. We suggest that brine, sediment-rich ice and poor antenna coupling on rough ice attenuates the signal in this area. When combined with other recent mass-balance and structural glaciology studies of MIS, our results could contribute to one of the most high-resolution physical models of an ice shelf in Antarctica.
A deep learning model for detection of leukocytes under various interference factors
Authors: Li Meiyu , Li Lei , Song Shuang , Ge Peng , Zhang Hanshan , Lu Lu , Liu Xiaoxiang , Zheng Fang , Lin Cong , Zhang Shijie , Sun Xuguo
Published: September 2022

The accurate detection of leukocytes is the basis for the diagnosis of blood system diseases. However, current methods and instruments either fail to fully automate the identification process or have low performance. To improve the current status, we do need to develop more intelligent methods. In this paper, we investigate fulfilling high-performance automatic detection for leukocytes using a deep learning-based method. A complete working pipeline for building a leukocyte detector is presented, which includes data collection, model training, inference, and evaluation. We established a new leukocyte dataset that contains 6273 images (8595 leukocytes), considering nine common clinical interference factors. Based on the dataset, the performance evaluation of six mainstream detection models is carried out, and a more robust ensemble scheme is proposed. The mAP @IoU = 0.50:0.95 and mAR@IoU = 0.50:0.95 of the ensemble scheme on the test set are 0.853 and 0.922, respectively. The detection performance of poor-quality images is robust. For the first time, it is found that the ensemble scheme yields an accuracy of 98.84% for detecting incomplete leukocytes. In addition, we also compared the test results of different models and found multiple identical false detections of the models, then provided correct suggestions for the clinic.
Identification of novel enhancer RNA biomarkers and corresponding prognostic signatures of hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Peng , Qi Debin , Sun Keyan , Song Shaohua , Li Tao
Published: September 2022

Background
Researchers now pique an interest on enhancer RNAs (eRNAs). Their roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain to be elucidated. Further investigation on eRNAs may shed light on putative prognosis biomarkers and therapeutic targets, which may benefit for early diagnosis of HCC.
Methods
RNA-Seq data and clinical information were obtained from TCGA cohort. Data were analyzed using R software. Prognosis-related eRNAs were identified, and their target genes of eRNAs were predicted based on the correlation level. We performed enrichment and pan-cancer analyses, constructed prognostic model using selected eRNAs and target genes. QPCR was performed for validation.
Results
125 prognosis-related eRNAs were identified. 15 eRNA and target gene pairs were selected for the association with HCC tumorigenesis-related biological behaviors. We chose AL137803.1 for further investigation. We revealed target genes, C5orf58, NDC1, LINC00501 and G6PD could be prognostic signatures of HCC. The prediction value was confirmed and pan-cancer analyses also demonstrated multiple function of the key eRNA and its target genes. Our hypothesis was validated eventually.
Conclusion
A novel eRNA AL137803.1 may be a potential biomarker of HCC, besides its putative target genes may serve as prognostic signatures.
Pattern-Based Hybrid Book Recommendation System using Semantic Relationships
Authors: Wayissa Fekadu , Leranso Mesfin , Asefa Girma , Kedir Abduljebar , Salau Ayodeji Olalekan
Published: September 2022

In the fields of machine learning and artificial intelligence, recommendation systems (RS) or recommended engines are commonly used. In today's world, recommendation systems based on user preferences assist consumers in making the best decisions without depleting their cognitive resources. They can be applied to a variety of things, including search engines, travel, music, movies, literature, news, gadgets, and dining. A lot of people utilize RS on social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and it has proven beneficial in corporate settings like those at Amazon, Netflix, Pandora, and Yahoo. There have been numerous proposals for recommender system variations. However, certain techniques result in unfairly recommended things due to biased data because there are no established connections between the items and consumers. In order to solve the challenges mentioned above for new users, we propose in this work to employ Content-based Filtering (CBF) and Collaborative Filtering (CF) with semantic relationships to capture the relationships as knowledge-based book recommendations to readers in a digital library. When proposing things, patterns are more discriminative than single phrases. To capture the similarity of the books that the new user had retrieved, the patterns were grouped in a semantically equivalent manner using the Clustering method. The effectiveness of the suggested models is examined through a series of extensive tests employing Information Retrieval (IR) evaluation criteria. Recall Precision and F-Measure, two of the three widely used performance measuring metrics, were employed. The findings demonstrate that the suggested model performs noticeably better than cutting-edge models.
Outcomes of surgical revascularization for pediatric moyamoya disease and syndrome
Authors: Boulter Jason H , Szuflita Nicholas S , Keating Robert F , Magge Suresh N
Published: September 2022

Purpose: Moyamoya disease and syndrome represent rare entities characterized by progressive stenosis and/or occlusion of the intracranial blood vessels. We present our series of patients with moyamoya disease and syndrome stratified by underlying disease and analyze differences in presentation and outcome following surgical revascularization.Methods: This was an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved, retrospective review of all patients surgically revascularized by the senior author (SNM) while at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC. Demographic data, presenting symptoms and severity, surgical details, and functional and radiographic outcomes were obtained and analyzed for differences amongst the underlying cohorts of moyamoya disease and syndrome as well as by unilateral or bilateral disease and index or non-index surgeries.Results: Twenty-two patients were identified with the following underlying diseases: six with idiopathic moyamoya disease, six with sickle cell anemia, five with trisomy 21, and five with neurofibromatosis type 1. Thirty hemispheres were revascularized with a significantly reduced rate of stroke from 3.19 strokes/year (SD = 3.10) to 0.13 strokes/year (SD = 0.25), p = 0.03. When analyzed by underlying cause of moyamoya syndrome, patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 were found to be significantly less likely than the other subtypes of moyamoya syndrome to have had either a clinical stroke (0.0% vs 100.0% [sickle cell], 60.0% [trisomy 21], or 83.3% [moyamoya disease], p < 0.01) or radiographic stroke (0.0% vs 100.0% [sickle cell], 60.0% [trisomy 21], or 83.3% [moyamoya disease], p < 0.01) at time of presentation. Additionally, patients with bilateral disease demonstrated no difference in final functional outcome (mRS 0.73 (SD = 1.33) vs. 1.29 (SD = 1.60), p = 0.63), but second, contralateral surgeries were associated with an increased rate of temporary peri-operative ischemic events when compared to index procedures (50.0% vs 9.1%, p = 0.03).Conclusion: Surgical revascularization decreases stroke risk for pediatric patients with different forms of moyamoya disease and moyamoya syndrome. In this study, all but one patient underwent pial synangiosis for indirect revascularization.
Nucleation Front Proliferation in Bi-modal PCBM Crystals and a Crystal Fan – Axial Morphological Transition.
Authors: Hynes Elizabeth
Published: September 2022

This paper analyses crystal properties of PCBM when annealed in a bilayer with PS on the top. There are intriguing formations and definite thresholds to the varying reproducible morphologies found. This paper suggests that the PS layer greatly influences PCBM crystal nucleation rate and final morphology.
Evaluation of a Transition to Survivorship Program for Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients and Caregivers
Authors: Bingen Kristin , Karst Jeffrey , Anderson Lynnette , Chan Sherilynn , Jordan Anna , Morin Jocelyn , Nichols Julie , Palou-Torres Akasha , Phelan Rachel , Schmidt Debra , Yan Ke , Hoag Jennifer A
Published: September 2022

Purpose
Survivorship education and anticipatory guidance represents an unmet need for pediatric, adolescent, and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors and their caregivers when treatment ends. This pilot study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a structured transition program, bridging treatment to survivorship, to reduce distress and anxiety and increase perceived preparedness for survivors and caregivers.
Methods
Bridge to Next Steps is a 2-visit program, within 8 weeks of treatment completion and 7 months post-treatment, which provides survivorship education, psychosocial screening, and resources. Fifty survivors and 46 caregivers participated. Participants completed pre- and post-intervention measures: Distress Thermometer and PROMIS anxiety/emotional distress (ages ≥ 8 years), and perceived preparedness survey (ages ≥ 14 years). AYA survivors and caregivers completed a post-intervention acceptability survey.
Results
Most participants (92.59%) completed both visits, and most AYA survivors (57.1%) and caregivers (76.5%) endorsed the program as helpful. Caregivers’ distress and anxiety scores decreased from pre- to post-intervention (p < 0.01). Survivors’ scores remained the same, which were low at baseline. Participants felt more prepared for survivorship from pre- to post-intervention (p = 0.02, p < 0.01, respectively).
Conclusions
Bridge to Next Steps was feasible and acceptable for most participants. AYA survivors and caregivers felt more prepared for survivorship care after participation. Caregivers reported decreased anxiety and distress from pre- to post-Bridge, whereas survivors remained at a low level for both.
Implications for Cancer Survivors:
Effective transition programs that better prepare and support pediatric and AYA cancer survivors and families from active treatment to survivorship care will contribute to healthy adjustment.
Corneal Endothelial Cell insult by Chronically Elevated Intraocular Pressure in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: A.Mateen Elshimaa , Sayed Khulood Muhammad , Mounir Amr , Ammar Hatem Gamal
Published: September 2022

PURPOSE: To evaluate specular microscopic changes of corneal endothelial cell (CEC) count and morphology in correlation to retinal nerve fiber layer RNFL changes detected by OCT in early and advanced primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with POAG versus non-glaucomatous patients of the same age group. Specular microscopy, VF test, OCT scans of RNFL, and macular ganglion cell complex (GCC) were performed. Glaucoma group was further subdivided into early and advanced stages.RESULTS: The study included 130 eyes of 130 subjects, 70 were eyes with POAG (early glaucoma 40 eyes, advanced glaucoma 30 eyes), 60 were healthy eyes (control group). Both groups were comparable regarding mean age and sex.In the early glaucoma group, a significant negative correlation was found between the coefficient of variation (CV%) and superior RNFL thickness (r=-0.5, p-value=0.018). A significant negative correlation was also found between percentage of cellular hexagonality (HEX%) and vertical cup/disc (C/D) ratio (r=-0.43, p-value= 0.035). A significant positive correlation was found between HEX% and (superior, inferior) RNFL thickness (r=0.53, 0.5 and p-value= 0.008, 0.015) respectively.Mean CEC count was significantly lower in the advanced glaucoma group than in the control group (2958.7±371.2 vs 3085±172.5, p value=0.043). CONCLUSIONS: CEC is affected by chronic intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation just like the RNFL and macular GCC. CEC morphology is insulted in the early stages of POAG while the count can withstand chronic IOP elevation till advanced stages where both are affected.
Trace Metals Assessment in Soils and Sediments near the Abandoned Mine of “El Abed” Pb-Zn deposit – Northwestern Algeria
Authors: Mellah Farida , Boutaleb Abdelhak , Henni Bachir , Dalila Berdous , Abdelhamid Mellah
Published: September 2022

El-Abed is one of the largest historical and abandoned mining operations for Pb–Zn deposits in northwestern Algeria, leaving large amounts of mining wastes accumulating under the influence of wind erosion. This study aims to verify the concentrations and sources of heavy metals for fifty-six (56) surface samples of environmental media (soil, sediments and mining residues).Chemical analyzes were performed using an optical emission spectrophotometer. A set of environmental quality indicators and multivariate statistical methods with geographic information system was obtained. In this study the mean values ​​of the concentrations of trace metals are: (As = 30,82), (Pb = 1219,27), (Zn = 2855,94), (Cu = 5,3),mg/Kg, and the order as following : Zn > Pb > As > Cu. Based on these results, all trace metals except Copper (Cu) bypassed the the Geochemical background value in the Earth's crust. The results of the multivariate census indicated that there is a strong relationship for pollution indicators for trace elements lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and arsenic (As). This factors indicate that they are from human sources, and a weak relationship for pollution indicators for trace elements copper (Cu), which is a natural source. Using Geographic Information System and based on spatial distribution maps, many hotspots have been identified. All sampling sites indicate general pollution, poor site quality and environmental hazards.
Bridging the Gap, How Interprofessional Collaboration Can Support Family-Centered Emergency Preparedness: An Exploratory Qualitative Study
Authors: Flanagan Shelby K. , Sterman Julia J. , Merighi Joseph R. , Batty Rachael
Published: September 2022

BACKGROUND
Children with disabilities and their families are at higher risk during emergencies and disasters, which is often attributed to the lack of disability inclusion in emergency response as well as disparities in preparedness. This disparity speaks to a need for emergency preparedness that centers children with disabilities and their families. The goal of this study was to provide recommendations for practice and policy to better support family-centered emergency preparedness inclusive of children who have disabilities, with the ultimate objective of improving safety outcomes for children with disabilities and their families in emergency situations.
METHODS
This study consisted of 46 qualitative interviews with nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, public safety professionals, and advocacy organization representatives about their role in emergency preparedness for families of children with disabilities. Qualitative content analysis was used to identify themes from participants’ responses.
RESULTS
Participants expressed interest in family-centered emergency preparedness, and stated that greater awareness, more education and training, increased networking between professions, and institutional support would enable their involvement.
CONCLUSIONS
These findings have implications for the importance of interprofessional collaboration in supporting family-centered emergency preparedness for families of children with disabilities. Stronger interprofessional networks would help overcome many of the barriers identified by participants, and advocacy groups appear to be well-positioned to bridge the gap between these professionals and their areas of expertise.
Comparative proteome analysis illustrates tobacco defense mechanisms in response to Ralstonia solanacearum infection
Authors: Sun Yiwen , Si Huan , Alariqi Muna , Ali Qurban , Chen Luo , Wei Hao , Zhao Liyan , Yang Guangqin , Jin Shuangxia , Cao Jinglin
Published: September 2022

Background
Ralstonia solanacearum causing bacterial wilt disease provokes tremendous losses in global crop production including tobacco. Transcriptional changes in response to R. solanacearum infection have already been intensively studied in various plant species. However, the genetic networks regulating defense responses of different tobacco varieties having different resistance backgrounds are quite limited.
Results
In this study, we performed a comparative proteome analysis of two tobacco cultivars, resistant (R) and susceptible (S), during the infection of R. solanacearum, to uncover the potential candidate genes regulating tobacco resistance to R. solanacearum. We observed huge difference in protein profiles between the two cultivars after R. solanacearum infection. The proteins involved in salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA) and ethylene (ETH) exhibited significant changes in response to R. solanacearum. These changes thought to regulate defense responses in tobacco plants. Phenylpropanoid metabolism related proteins including PAL, 4CL, POD, and TOGT also showed differential regulation in both R and S tobacco cultivars in response to R. solanacearum infection, which may be one of the reason why the different resistance showed in these two cultivars. By using CRISPR/Cas9, we experimentally validated that knockout of NtTOGT gene has decreased tobacco resistance to R. solanacearum.
Conclusion
Collectively, our results provide new insights to understand tobacco defense mechanism against R. solanacearum that would benefit breeding programs in the future. It will asset to identify potential defense responsive genes to understand and improve plant resistance. In addition, we suggest that NtTOGT might be a resistant gene involved in plant defense response against R. solanacearum.
Intensified tuberculosis treatment to reduce the mortality of HIV-infected and uninfected patients with tuberculosis meningitis (INTENSE-TBM): Study protocol for a Phase III Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Bonnet Fabrice
Published: September 2022

Background: Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is the most lethal and disabling form of tuberculosis (TB) particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Current anti-TB treatment is poorly effective since TBM mortality reaches 40% in HIV negative patients and up to 70% in HIV co-infected patients. To reduce TBM induced morbidity and mortality, the INTENSE-TBM trial evaluates two interventions in both HIV-infected and uninfected patients: an anti-TB treatment intensification using oral high-dose rifampicin (35 mg/kg daily) and linezolid (1,200 mg daily and then 600 mg daily) during the first 8 weeks of the anti-TB treatment and the use of adjunctive aspirin (200 mg daily).Methods: This is a randomized controlled, phase III, multicenter, 2 x 2 factorial plan superiority trial. The trial has four arms, combining the two experimental treatments (intensified TBM regimen and aspirin) with the two reference treatments (WHO standard TB treatment and placebo) and is open-label for anti-TB treatment and double blind placebo-controlled for aspirin treatment. This trial is conducted in adult or adolescent of age ≥15 years with TBM defined as “definite”, “probable” or “possible” using Tuberculosis Meningitis International Research Consortium criteria, in four African countries: Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Uganda and South Africa. The primary outcome is all-cause death between inclusion and week 40.Discussion: The INTENSE-TBM trial represents a key opportunity to enhance TBM treatment with widely available existing drugs notably in high incidence setting of both TB and HIV. The trial design is pragmatic and the results will permit early and effective applications in TBM patients care, in both HIV and TB high incidence countries.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, ID: NCT04145258Trial Registration Dataset: Table 1
X-photon laser direct write 3D nanolithography
Authors: Malinauskas Mangirdas , Skliutas Edvinas , Samsonas Danielius , Čiburys Arūnas , Kontenis Lukas , Gailevicius Darius , Narbutis Donatas , Jukna Vytautas , Vengris Mikas , Juodkazis Saulius
Published: September 2022

Polymerized voxels by focusing ultrashort pulses varying wavelength over three-octaves wide range for femtosecond laser direct write 3D nanoprinting are studied. A possibility to use any color of spectrum from 500-nm-to-1200-nm with a controlled pulse width of 100-fs reveals delicate interplay of photo-physical mechanisms more than just two-photon absorption inducing localized photo-polymerization. None of the applied exposure conditions ensured significantly higher spatial definition than 200-nm in width using SZ2080TM photosensitized and pure materials, yet it allowed tuning the voxel aspect ratio and greatly influenced dynamic fabrication window determined by the resolution bridges method. An effective order of absorption, i.e., the nef-photon process of absorption, and exposure per pulse (energy, fluence, intensity) was assessed for ultra-short pulses varying wavelengths as it has the paramount influence to the established multi-photon polymerization (MPP) process. Here an evolution of the polymerised volume via different energy delivery mechanisms: one-/two-/three-photon absorption, avalanche ionization, thermal diffusion leading to controlled photo-polymerization are revealed. The results can be used to tailor polymerized volume for increasing the 3D nano-printing performance. A non-trivial energy deposition by X-photon absorption observed with an onset of a strong lateral size increase at the higher pulse energy at longer wavelengths and can be understood as due to reaching epsilon-near-zero conditions. Findings are valuable for the developing MPP technology to reduce the footprint size and increase its efficiency. Understanding mechanisms and appearance of λ-tunable commercial lasers are benefiting broad applications in advanced optical additive manufacturing areas of micro-optics, nano-photonic devices, meta-materials, and integrated-chips, and tissue engineering.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of urinary tract infection among women in Bangladesh
Authors: Farhana Fatima , Mosaddek Nafisa , Islam Md. Saiful , Hossain Nazmul , Sarker Anima , Mukta Taposhi Rabeya , Akter Rumi , Rizvi Rinat , Rakibul Hasan K.M. , Ansary E A F , Mosaddek Abu Syed
Published: September 2022

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) occurs more in women than men. Escherichia coli are responsible in most cases. The microbial (Lactobacillus) species which inhabit in the vaginal tract, play an important role in the prevention of infection. Irrational use of antibiotics contributes to changes in antibiotic susceptibility patterns of pathogens. Hence, administration of probiotics exogenously may cause colonization of Lactobacillus in female urogenital organs.Objectives: The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment of UTI among women in Bangladesh.Methods: This interventional, prospective, non-randomized trial was conducted among women suffering from UTI in the department of Pharmacology and Gynecology of Uttara Adhunik Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh from January, 2019 to June, 2021. A total of 162 women who suffered from UTI were enrolled to receive probiotic, antibiotic, and probiotic + antibiotic treatments. Urine culture and sensitivity test of all participants was done during enrollment. Patients came for follow-up visits on day 30 of completion of therapy and the final study population was 132. Results: Among the 132 participants, the mean ages were 34.23±14.28 years (mean±SD). Average duration of UTI prior to enrollment was 77.61±288.59 days. 93.18% patients complaint burning sensation of urination, pain or pressure in the back or lower abdomen (67.42%) and fever (37.12%), respectively. During enrollment, urine R/M/E test revealed that most of the urine samples showed no growth of organisms (84.8%) and E. coli (09.85%). Most commonly used antibiotic was nitrofurantoin (43.33%), cefixime (18.88%), and ciprofloxacin (18.88%). During follow-up, urine sample culture revealed no growth of pathogenic organisms in 131 (99.24%) and E. coli in one patient who was treated with only probiotics.Conclusions: The present study revealed that the use of probiotics is effective and safe to treat UTI in women in Bangladesh.Trial registration number: CTRI/2020/05/025175, Date: 14.05.2020
Incidence and Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome – Experience of a Medical Center in Taiwan
Authors: Yu Yu-Yi , Ou Wei-Fan , Wu Jia-Jun , Hsu Han-Shui , Wu Chieh-Laing , Yang Kuang-Yao , Chan Ming-Cheng
Published: September 2022

Background: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common life-threatening condition in critically ill patients. It is also an important public health issue because it can cause substantial mortality and health care burden worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and outcomes of ARDS patients in a medical center in Taiwan. Methods: This was a single center, observational study which analyzed prospectively collected data from adults in 6 ICUs at Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan from October 1st2018 to September 30th 2019. Patients needing invasive mechanical ventilation and meeting the Berlin definition criteria were included for analysis.Results: A total of 1,788 subjects were screened in 6 adult ICUs and 370 patients fulfilled the criteria of ARDS in the first 24 hours of ICU admission. Among these patients, the incidence of ARDS was 20.8% and the overall hospital mortality rate was 42.2%. The mortality rates of mild, moderate and severe ARDS were 35.9%, 43.9% and 46.5%, respectively. In a multivariate logistic regression model, an increase of 1 cmH2O driving pressure was associated with an 11% increase in the mortality rate (adjusted odds ratio 1.100, 95% confidence interval 1.027- 1.179, p=0.007). Both oxygenation and driving pressure were independently associated with mortality in ARDS. Patients with worse oxygenation and a higher driving pressure had the highest hospital mortality rate (p<0.0001).Conclusions: ARDS is common in the ICU and the mortality rate remains high. Combining oxygenation and respiratory mechanics may better predict the outcomes of these ARDS patients.
Pharmacokinetics of SSRI/SNRI after bariatric surgery and the effects on depressive symptoms
Authors: Pasi Patrick Rodolphe , Kröll Dino , Siegfried Alena , Sykora Martin , Wildisen Alessandro , Milone Cristiana , Milos Gabriella , Horka Laura , Fischli Stefan , Henzen Christoph
Published: September 2022

Background Depression and treatment with antidepressants SSRI/SNRI are common in people with morbid obesity who are candidates for bariatric surgery. There is few and inconsistent data about the postoperative pharmacokinetics of SSRI/SNRI. The aims of our study were to provide comprehensive data about the postoperative bioavailability of SSRI/SNRI, and the clinical effects on depressive symptoms. Methods Prospective multicenter study including 63 patients with morbid obesity and therapy with SSRI/SNRI: participants filled the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) questionnaire, and plasma levels of SSRI/SNRI were measured by HPLC, preoperatively (T0), and 4 weeks (T1) and 6 months (T2) postoperatively. Results The plasma concentrations of SSRI/SNRI dropped significantly in the bariatric surgery group from T0 to T2 by 24.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], -36.8 to -16.6, p=0.0027): from T0 to T1 by 10.5% (95% CI, -22.7 to -2.3; p=0.016), and from T1 to T2 by 12.8% (95% CI, -29.3 to 3.5; p=0.123), respectively. There was no significant change in the BDI score during follow-up (-2.9, 95% CI, -7.4 to 1.0; p=0.13). The clinical outcome with respect to SSRI/SNRI plasma concentrations, weight change, and change of BDI score were similar in the subgroups undergoing gastric bypass surgery and sleeve gastrectomy, respectively. In the conservative group the plasma concentrations of SSRI/SNRI remained unchanged throughout the six months follow-up (-14.7%, 95% CI, -32.6 to 1.7; p=0.076)Conclusions In patients undergoing bariatric surgery plasma concentrations of SSRI/SNRI decrease significantly by about 25% with wide individual variation, but without correlation to the severity of depression or weight loss.
Analysis of risk factors of hydrocephalus after intraventricular hemorrhage in infants
Authors: Yi Liu , Qi Qin , Jia Zhang , Mengzhao Feng , Zhentao Li , Hui Dong
Published: September 2022

Objective Hydrocephalus following intraventricular hemorrhage is the most severe consequence of intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in babies. However, it is unclear what causes hydrocephalus. While the case series describes hydrocephalus linked to intraventricular bleeding, most investigations have limitations. The authors set out to examine the morphological and demographic aspects of hydrocephalus following intraventricular hemorrhage in a sizable cohort of infants in order to address this.Methods The clinical information of 112 patients who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery, the third affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou University, between June 2013 and January 2022 was retrospectively evaluated. Sex, gestational age (in weeks), birth weight (in grams), grade of intraventricular hemorrhage, use of prenatal steroids, single or multiple births, mode of delivery (cesarean section), perinatal complications (history of hypoxia asphyxia), maternal complications (diabetes/hypertension), and other risk factors that may affect the formation of PHH were collected. Follow-up was done during the first 90 days postpartum. With real-time ultrasound,all the patients with progressive ventricular dilation that was not responsive to conservative or less-invasive procedures were considered to have PHH and were treated with a VP shunt. The patients were split into two groups based on the findings of the MRI test: those with PHH (n = 55) and those with RVD (n = 57), respectively. After an intraventricular hemorrhage, the risk variables for hydrocephalus were examined using univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Results Overall, 55 of 112 patients had PHH (49%). By univariate comparison ,birth weight(p<0.001), gestational age(p<0.001), the grade of intraventricular hemorrhage(p<0.001) and the use of prenatal steroids(p<0.001) were associated with PHH. Multivariate analysis confirmed an independent effect of early preterm infants and prenatal steroids and bleeding grades.Conclusion Early preterm infants are an independent risk factor for hydrocephalus. Without prenatal steroids, the higher the bleeding grade, the higher the risk of hydrocephalus.
Unique insertion/deletion polymorphisms within histidine-rich region of histidine-rich glycoprotein in Thoroughbred horses
Authors: Muko Ryo , Sunouchi Tomoya , Urayama Shuntaro , Toishi Yuko , Kusano Kanichi , Sato Hiroaki , Muranaka Masanori , Shin Taekyun , Oikawa Masa-aki , Ojima Yoshinobu , Ali Mohammad , Nomura Yoshihiro , Matsuda Hiroshi , Tanaka Akane
Published: September 2022

Histidine-rich glycoproteins (HRG) are abundant plasma protein with various effects on angiogenesis, coagulation, and immune responses. Previously, we identified the base and amino acid sequences of equine HRG (eHRG) and revealed that eHRG regulates neutrophil functions. In this study, we first conducted a large-scale gene analysis with DNA samples extracted form 1,700 Thoroughbred horses and identified unique insertion/deletion polymorphisms in the histidine-rich region (HRR) of eHRG. Here we report two types of polymorphisms (deletion type 1 [D1] and deletion type 2 [D2]) containing either a 45 bp or 90 bp deletion in the HRR of eHRG, and five genotypes of eHRG (insertion/insertion [II], ID1, ID2, D1D1, and D1D2) in Thoroughbred horses. The incidence of each genotype was 23.4%, 46.2%, 3.6%, 23.1%, and 3.7%, respectively. We also examined the molecular weight of plasma eHRG originated from each insertion/deletion mutant eHRG genes and eHRG proteins were detected as bands with different sizes. Furthermore, nickel-binding affinity of eHRG with D1 or D2 deletion was reduced. As HRG possesses a variety of biological and immunological activities in vivo and HRR is the active center of HRG, genetic polymorphisms in eHRG may participate in performance, productivity, and susceptibility to infectious diseases in Thoroughbred horses.
On the Sliding Mode Control Gain-Tuning: Novel Method and Experimental Verification
Authors: Xuan-Mung Nguyen , Nguyen Ngoc Phi , Pham Dinh Ba , DAO NHU NGOC , NGOC THANH HA LE NHU , VU MAI THE , HONG SUNG KYUNG
Published: September 2022

The sliding mode control is well-known as a useful control technique that can be applied in several real-world applications. However, a straightforward and efficient process of tuning the gains of a sliding mode controller remains a challenging but interesting topic. In this paper, a mathematical method for the sliding mode controller gain tuning is investigated. Firstly, we obtain relations between the gains and the natural and damping ratio of the closed-loop system. Secondly, the time constant of the system's actuators and the system response performance criteria, including settling time and delay time, are taken into consideration to determine the gains. In addition, appropriate gain ranges, which ensure that the system performance is met and the actuators work properly, are derived. Finally, the proposed method is applied to the gain tuning process of a sliding mode altitude controller for an actual quadcopter unmanned aerial vehicle. Simulation and experimental results demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of this method.