bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leg muscle cross‐sectional area measured by ultrasound is highly correlated with MRI
Authors: Sponbeck Joshua K. , Frandsen Clint R. , Ridge Sarah T. , Swanson Derek A. , Swanson Dallin C. , Johnson A. Wayne
Published: January 2021

Background

The leg muscles are important for balance, posture, and movement during static and dynamic activity. Obtaining cross‐sectional area measurements (CSA) of the leg muscles helps researchers understand the health and force production capability of individual leg muscles. Therefore, having an easy to use and readily available method to assess leg muscle CSA is needed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to compare the magnitude, repeatability, and validity of CSA measurements of select leg muscles from ultrasound (US) and the current gold standard, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

20 healthy volunteers participated in this study. Each participant was imaged via US and MRI. The muscles of interest obtained on each participant consisted of the tibialis anterior at both 30 and 50% of the shank length, tibialis posterior at both 30 and 50% of the shank length, the flexor digitorum longus, the fibularis (peroneus) longus, and the fibularis (peroneus) brevis.

Results

Strong Pearson correlations were seen for all of the muscles when comparing US to MRI with a range from. 7840 to. 9676. For all measurements, standard error of the measurement ranged from. 003 to 0.260 cm2. Minimum detectable difference for muscle measurements ranged from. 008 cm2 for MRI fibularis longus and fibularis brevis to. 693 cm2 for MRI of tibialis anterior at 30%. US minimum detectable difference ranged from. 125 cm2 for the tibialis posterior muscle at 30% to. 449 cm2 for the tibialis anterior muscle at 50%.

Conclusions

Based on these results ultrasound is a valid method to obtain CSA of muscles of the leg when compared with MRI.
Comparison of the predictive value of progesterone‐related indicators for pregnancy outcomes of women undergoing the short‐acting GnRH agonist long protocol: a retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Yangyang , Xu Yang , Wang Yuqiong , Xue Qing , Shang Jing , Yang Xiuli , Shan Xuemin
Published: January 2021

Background

There are many progesterone (P) elevation-related indicators for predicting pregnancy outcomes, including the serum P, P-to-oestradiol ratio (P/E2), P-to-follicle index (PFI), and P-to-mature oocyte index (PMOI); however, due to inconsistencies in study populations and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) protocols among studies, these indicators are controversial. Moreover, no researchers have included these four commonly used indicators in one study to compare their predictive efficacies. The objective of this study was to compare the predictive value of P-related indicators for pregnancy outcomes of women undergoing the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol.

Methods

A total of 612 infertile women undergoing IVF/ICSI were recruited for this study. Serum samples were obtained on the morning of HCG injection for serum P and E2 measurements. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed to determine the follicle count (≥ 14 mm in diameter). The number of mature oocytes was observed in the embryo laboratory after oocyte retrieval.

Results

In cases of P < 2.5 ng/ml, there was no significant difference in the serum P level or P/E2 between the pregnant group and the non-pregnant group. The PFI and PMOI of the pregnant group were significantly lower than those of the non-pregnant group. According to the stratified analysis of the ovarian response, only the PMI and PMOI of the pregnant women in the normal ovarian response group were lower than those of the non-pregnant women. To compare the predictive value of the PFI and PMOI in IVF/ICSI outcomes, the patients were divided into four groups. The good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were highest in Group A (low PFI and low PMOI) and lowest in Group D (high PFI and high PMOI). In the two groups with discordant PFI and PMOI, namely Group B (low PFI and high PMOI) and Group C (high PFI and low PMOI), the good-quality embryo rate and clinical pregnancy rate were not significantly different.

Conclusions

The PFI and PMOI had equal value in predicting clinical pregnancy outcomes in the normal ovarian response group undergoing the short-acting GnRH agonist long protocol. Each clinical centre can choose one of the indicators according to their actual situation in clinical practice and establish individual cut-off values for PFI and PMOI based on their own hormonal measurements.
The accuracy of initial diagnoses in coma: an observational study in 835 patients with non-traumatic disorder of consciousness
Authors: Lutz Maximilian , Möckel Martin , Lindner Tobias , Ploner Christoph J. , Braun Mischa , Schmidt Wolf Ulrich
Published: January 2021

Background

Management of patients with coma of unknown etiology (CUE) is a major challenge in most emergency departments (EDs). CUE is associated with a high mortality and a wide variety of pathologies that require differential therapies. A suspected diagnosis issued by pre-hospital emergency care providers often drives the first approach to these patients. We aim to determine the accuracy and value of the initial diagnostic hypothesis in patients with CUE.

Methods

Consecutive ED patients presenting with CUE were prospectively enrolled. We obtained the suspected diagnoses or working hypotheses from standardized reports given by prehospital emergency care providers, both paramedics and emergency physicians. Suspected and final diagnoses were classified into I) acute primary brain lesions, II) primary brain pathologies without acute lesions and III) pathologies that affected the brain secondarily. We compared suspected and final diagnosis with percent agreement and Cohen’s Kappa including sub-group analyses for paramedics and physicians. Furthermore, we tested the value of suspected and final diagnoses as predictors for mortality with binary logistic regression models.

Results

Overall, suspected and final diagnoses matched in 62% of 835 enrolled patients. Cohen’s Kappa showed a value of κ = .415 (95% CI .361–.469, p < .005). There was no relevant difference in diagnostic accuracy between paramedics and physicians. Suspected diagnoses did not significantly interact with in-hospital mortality (e.g., suspected class I: OR .982, 95% CI .518–1.836) while final diagnoses interacted strongly (e.g., final class I: OR 5.425, 95% CI 3.409–8.633).

Conclusion

In cases of CUE, the suspected diagnosis is unreliable, regardless of different pre-hospital care providers’ qualifications. It is not an appropriate decision-making tool as it neither sufficiently predicts the final diagnosis nor detects the especially critical comatose patient. To avoid the risk of mistriage and unnecessarily delayed therapy, we advocate for a standardized diagnostic work-up for all CUE patients that should be triggered by the emergency symptom alone and not by any suspected diagnosis.
Incidence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients: data from two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Eck Ruben J. , Hulshof Lisa , Wiersema Renske , Thio Chris H. L. , Hiemstra Bart , van den Oever Niels C. Gritters , Gans Reinold O. B. , van der Horst Iwan C. C. , Meijer Karina , Keus Frederik
Published: January 2021

Background

The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence, incidence, prognostic factors, and outcomes of venous thromboembolism in critically ill patients receiving contemporary thrombosis prophylaxis.

Methods

We conducted a pooled analysis of two prospective cohort studies. The outcomes of interest were in-hospital pulmonary embolism or lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (PE-LDVT), in-hospital nonleg deep vein thrombosis (NLDVT), and 90-day mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between predefined baseline prognostic factors and PE-LDVT or NLDVT. Cox regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between PE-LDVT or NLDVT and 90-day mortality.

Results

A total of 2208 patients were included. The prevalence of any venous thromboembolism during 3 months before ICU admission was 3.6% (95% CI 2.8–4.4%). Out of 2166 patients, 47 (2.2%; 95% CI 1.6–2.9%) developed PE-LDVT and 38 patients (1.8%; 95% CI 1.2–2.4%) developed NLDVT. Renal replacement therapy (OR 3.5 95% CI 1.4–8.6), respiratory failure (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1–3.8), and previous VTE (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.7–7.7) were associated with PE-LDVT. Central venous catheters (OR 5.4; 95% CI 1.7–17.8) and infection (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1–4.3) were associated with NLDVT. Occurrence of PE-LDVT but not NLDVT was associated with increased 90-day mortality (HR 2.7; 95% CI 1.6–4.6, respectively, 0.92; 95% CI 0.41–2.1).

Conclusion

Thrombotic events are common in critically ill patients, both before and after ICU admittance. Development of PE-LDVT but not NLDVT was associated with increased mortality. Prognostic factors for developing PE-LDVT or NLDVT despite prophylaxis can be identified at ICU admission and may be used to select patients at higher risk in future randomized clinical trials.

Trial registration

NCT03773939.
Eubacterium rectale contributes to colorectal cancer initiation via promoting colitis
Authors: Wang Yijia , Wan Xuehua , Wu Xiaojing , Zhang Chunze , Liu Jun , Hou Shaobin
Published: January 2021

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease caused by microbial dysbiosis is an important factor contributing to colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation. The ‘driver-passenger’ model in human gut microbial dysbiosis suggests that ‘driver’ bacteria may colonize with low relative abundance on tumor site but persistently induce chronic change in normal intestinal epithelium and initiate CRC. They are gradually replaced by ‘passenger’ bacteria later on, due to their low adaptability to the on-tumor site niche.

Results

To reveal site-specific bacterial taxon markers in CRC patients, we analyzed the gut mucosal microbiome of 75 paired samples of on-tumor and tumor-adjacent sites, 75 off-tumor sites, and 26 healthy controls. Linear discriminant analysis of relative abundance profiles revealed unique bacterial taxon distribution correlated with specific tumor sites, withEubacteriumhaving the distribution characteristic of potential driver bacteria. We further show thatEubacterium rectaleendotoxin activates the transcription factor NF-κΒ, which regulates multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immune responses in normal colon epithelial cells. Unlike the ‘passenger’ bacteriumFusobacterium nucleatum,E. rectalepromotes dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in Balb/c mice.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal thatE. rectalefunctions as a ‘driver’ bacterium and contributes to cancer initiation via promoting inflammation.
High genetic diversity in Campylobacter concisus isolates from patients with microscopic colitis
Authors: Aagaard Marta Emilie Yde , Kirk Karina Frahm , Nielsen Henrik , Nielsen Hans Linde
Published: January 2021

The emerging intestinal pathogen Campylobacter concisus has been associated with prolonged diarrhoea and classic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and was recently also linked with microscopic colitis (MC). Previous reports have observed a high genetic diversity within isolates from diarrhoeic and IBD patients and from healthy controls (HC), and division of isolates into two major genomospecies (GS1 and GS2). The aim of this study was to describe genetic diversity in 80 recently cultivated MC biopsy and faecal isolates of C. concisus by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST); and to compare the phylogenetic relatedness to 102 isolates from diarrhoeic and IBD patients and HCs by k-mer-based distance estimation. MLST revealed high genetic diversity in MC isolates with 72 novel sequence types. K-mer divided MC isolates into two distinct clusters (cluster 1 n = 21, cluster 2 n = 49), with a significantly higher prevalence of cluster 2 isolates in biopsies than in faeces, p = 0.009. K-mer divided the 182 isolates into two major phylogenetic clusters: cluster 1 (GS1 isolates) and cluster 2 (GS2 isolates), which further differentiated into three subgroups. Cluster 1 and the three cluster 2 subgroups were each distinctive in mean genome size and GC count. Isolates from all disease phenotypes were present in cluster 1 and cluster 2 subgroup 2 and 3, whereas cluster 2 subgroup 1 only contained isolates restricted to patients with ulcerative colitis (n = 10) and HC (n = 4).
Morphological study of embryonic Chd8+/− mouse brains using light-sheet microscopy
Authors: Gómez Harold F. , Hodel Leonie , Michos Odyssé , Iber Dagmar
Published: January 2021

Objective

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) encompasses a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that remain poorly understood due to their genetic complexity. CHD8 is a risk allele strongly associated with ASD, and heterozygous Chd8 loss-of-function mice have been reported to exhibit macrocephaly in early postnatal stages. In this work, we sought to identify measurable brain alterations in early embryonic development.

Results

We performed light-sheet fluorescence microscopy imaging of N-cadherin stained and optically cleared Chd8+/− and wild-type mouse brains at embryonic day 12.5 (E12.5). We report a detailed morphometric characterization of embryonic brain shapes and cortical neuroepithelial apical architecture. While Chd8+/− characteristic expansion of the forebrain and midbrain was not observed this early in embryogenesis, a tendency for a decreased lateral ventricular sphericity and an increased intraocular distance in Chd8+/− brains was found compared to controls. This study advocates the use of high-resolution microscopy technologies and multi-scale morphometric analyses of target brain regions to explore the etiology and cellular basis of Chd8 haploinsufficiency.
An MRI-based strategy for differentiation of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors:   the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center, the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Yu Qun ,   the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Neuroimaging Initiative, Mai Yingren , Ruan Yuting , Luo Yishan , Zhao Lei , Fang Wenli , Cao Zhiyu , Li Yi , Liao Wang , Xiao Songhua , Mok Vincent C. T. , Shi Lin , Liu Jun
Published: January 2021

Background

The differential diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is difficult due to the overlaps of clinical symptoms. Structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) presents distinct brain atrophy and potentially helps in their differentiation. In this study, we aim at deriving a novel integrated index by leveraging the volumetric measures in brain regions with significant difference between AD and FTD and developing an MRI-based strategy for the differentiation of FTD and AD.

Methods

In this study, the data were acquired from three different databases, including 47 subjects with FTD, 47 subjects with AD, and 47 normal controls in the NACC database; 50 subjects with AD in the ADNI database; and 50 subjects with FTD in the FTLDNI database. The MR images of all subjects were automatically segmented, and the brain atrophy, including the AD resemblance atrophy index (AD-RAI), was quantified using AccuBrain®. A novel MRI index, named the frontotemporal dementia index (FTDI), was derived as the ratio between the weighted sum of the volumetric indexes in “FTD dominant” structures over that obtained from “AD dominant” structures. The weights and the identification of “FTD/AD dominant” structures were acquired from the statistical analysis of NACC data. The differentiation performance of FTDI was validated using independent data from ADNI and FTLDNI databases.

Results

AD-RAI is a proven imaging biomarker to identify AD and FTD from NC with significantly higher values (p < 0.001 and AUC = 0.88) as we reported before, while no significant difference was found between AD and FTD (p = 0.647). FTDI showed excellent accuracy in identifying FTD from AD (AUC = 0.90; SEN = 89%, SPE = 75% with threshold value = 1.08). The validation using independent data from ADNI and FTLDNI datasets also confirmed the efficacy of FTDI (AUC = 0.93; SEN = 96%, SPE = 70% with threshold value = 1.08).

Conclusions

Brain atrophy in AD, FTD, and normal elderly shows distinct patterns. In addition to AD-RAI that is designed to detect abnormal brain atrophy in dementia, a novel index specific to FTD is proposed and validated. By combining AD-RAI and FTDI, an MRI-based decision strategy was further proposed as a promising solution for the differential diagnosis of AD and FTD in clinical practice.
Spectrum of liver lesions hyperintense on hepatobiliary phase: an approach by clinical setting
Authors: Vernuccio Federica , Gagliano Domenico Salvatore , Cannella Roberto , Ba-Ssalamah Ahmed , Tang An , Brancatelli Giuseppe
Published: January 2021

Hepatobiliary MRI contrast agents are increasingly being used for liver imaging. In clinical practice, most focal liver lesions do not uptake hepatobiliary contrast agents. Less commonly, hepatic lesions may show variable signal characteristics on hepatobiliary phase. This pictorial essay reviews a broad spectrum of benign and malignant focal hepatic observations that may show hyperintensity on hepatobiliary phase in various clinical settings. In non-cirrhotic patients, focal hepatic observations that show hyperintensity in the hepatobiliary phase are usually benign and typically include focal nodular hyperplasia. In patients with primary or secondary vascular disorders, focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions arise as a local hyperplastic response to vascular alterations and tend to be iso- or hyperintense in the hepatobiliary phase. In oncologic patients, metastases and cholangiocarcinoma are hypointense lesions in the hepatobiliary phase; however, occasionally they may show a diffuse, central and inhomogeneous hepatobiliary paradoxical uptake with peripheral rim hypointensity. Post-chemotherapy focal nodular hyperplasia-like lesions may be tricky, and their typical hyperintense rim in the hepatobiliary phase is very helpful for the differential diagnosis with metastases. In cirrhotic patients, hepatocellular carcinoma may occasionally appear hyperintense on hepatobiliary phase.
Screening for depression in children and adolescents: a protocol for a systematic review update
Authors: Beck Andrew , LeBlanc John C. , Morissette Kate , Hamel Candyce , Skidmore Becky , Colquhoun Heather , Lang Eddy , Moore Ainsley , Riva John J. , Thombs Brett D. , Patten Scott , Bragg Heather , Colman Ian , Goldfield Gary S. , Nicholls Stuart Gordon , Pajer Kathleen , Potter Beth K. , Meeder Robert , Vasa Priya , Hutton Brian , Shea Beverley J. , Graham Eva , Little Julian , Moher David , Stevens Adrienne
Published: January 2021

Background

Major depressive disorder is common, debilitating, and affects feelings, thoughts, mood, and behaviors. Childhood and adolescence are critical periods for the development of depression and adolescence is marked by an increased incidence of mental health disorders. This protocol outlines the planned scope and methods for a systematic review update that will evaluate the benefits and harms of screening for depression in children and adolescents.

Methods

This review will update a previously published systematic review by Roseman and colleagues. Eligible studies are randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing formal screening in primary care to identify children or adolescents not already self-reporting symptoms of, diagnosed with, or treated for depression. If no or only a single RCT is available, we will consider controlled studies without random assignment. Studies of participants with characteristics associated with an elevated risk of depression will be analyzed separately. Outcomes of interest are symptoms of depression, classification of major depressive disorder based on a validated diagnostic interview, suicidality, health-related quality of life, social function, impact on lifestyle behavior (e.g., substance use, school performance, lost time at work, or school), false-positive results, overdiagnosis, overtreatment, labeling, and other harms such as those arising from treatment. We will search MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, and grey literature sources. Two reviewers will independently screen the titles and abstracts using the liberal accelerated method. Full-text screening will be performed independently by two reviewers using pre-specified eligibility criteria. Data extraction and risk of bias assessments will be performed independently by two reviewers. Pre-planned analyses, including subgroup and sensitivity analyses, are detailed within this protocol. Two independent reviewers will assess and finalize through consensus the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, and prepare GRADE evidence profiles and summary of findings tables for each outcome of interest.

Discussion

The systematic review will provide a current state of the evidence of benefits and harms of depression screening in children and adolescents. These findings will be used by the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care to inform the development of recommendations on depression screening.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42020150373
Time delay induced Hopf bifurcation in a diffusive predator–prey model with prey toxicity
Authors: Yang Ruizhi , Ma Yuxin , Zhang Chiyu
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we consider a diffusive predator–prey model with a time delay and prey toxicity. The effect of time delay on the stability of the positive equilibrium is studied by analyzing the eigenvalue spectrum. Delay-induced Hopf bifurcation is also investigated. By utilizing the normal form method and center manifold reduction for partial functional differential equations, the formulas for determining the property of Hopf bifurcation are given.
Modified homotopy methods for generalized fractional perturbed Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation in dusty plasma
Authors: Akinyemi Lanre , Şenol Mehmet , Huseen Shaheed N.
Published: January 2021

We propose a new modification of homotopy perturbation method (HPM) called the δ-homotopy perturbation transform method (δ-HPTM). This modification consists of the Laplace transform method, HPM, and a control parameter δ. This control convergence parameter δ in this new modification helps in adjusting and controlling the convergence region of the series solution and overcome some limitations of HPM and HPTM. The δ-HPTM and q-homotopy analysis transform method (q-HATM) are considered to study the generalized time-fractional perturbed $(3+1)$
(
3
+
1
)
-dimensional Zakharov–Kuznetsov equation with Caputo fractional time derivative. This equation describes nonlinear dust-ion-acoustic waves in the magnetized two-ion-temperature dusty plasmas. The selection of an appropriate value of δ in δ-HPTM and the auxiliary parameters n and ħ in q-HATM gives a guaranteed convergence of series solution, but the difference between the two techniques is that the embedding parameter p in δ-HPTM varies from zero to nonzero δ, whereas the embedding parameter q in q-HATM varies from zero to $\frac{1}{n}, n\geq{1}$

1
n

,
n
≥
1
. We examine the effect of fractional order on the considered problem and present the error estimate when compared with exact solution. The outcomes reveal complete reliability and efficiency of the proposed algorithm for solving various types of physical models arising in sciences and engineering. Furthermore, we present the convergence and error analysis of the two methods.
A service-learning experience in a free medical centre for undocumented migrants and homeless people
Authors: Civitelli Giulia , Liddo Marica , Mutta Irene , Maisano Bianca , Tarsitani Gianfranco , Marceca Maurizio , Cedeno Gonzalo Castro , Geraci Salvatore
Published: January 2021

Background

Service-learning experiences, informed by the realities of poverty and marginalization, are important for the education of future health professionals in order to commit them to tackling health inequalities and working with underserved populations. At the Caritas Medical Centre for undocumented migrants and homeless in Rome, students obtain an educational experience of service. The aim of this study is to try to measure the long-term impact of this experience on the professional and life choices of the student participants.

Methods

A questionnaire was designed and distributed by email to all 19–29 years old participants in the experience. Responses were collected and analysed in a quantitative descriptive way and in a qualitative way using the knowledge, skills and attitudes model.

Results

One hundred and seven students responded from the total 763 questionnaires distributed. Ninety-five percent of participants expressed a very high overall satisfaction, 93% declared that the experience influenced his/her future personal choices, and 84% found that the experience influenced their professional choices. Results were arranged into 6 categories of comments: knowledge about the realities of migration, poverty, and marginalization; relational skills; collaborative skills; attitudes towards migrants, poor people and others; Attitudes towards future professions; Attitudes towards life. A final category was listed with self-reflective questions related to the experience.

Conclusion

This research shows the importance of service-learning experiences made during academic studies from young students of medicine and other faculties. Developing a relationship with marginalized and homeless people, within a voluntary service setting, can influence the future professional and personal choices of students. Universities should recognize the value of such experiences and establish partnerships with non-profit organizations to allow future health professionals to confront health inequities and commit themselves to their reduction.
Antiplatelet effect of cudraxanthone B is related to inhibition of calcium mobilization, αIIbβ3 activation, and clot retraction
Authors: Shin Jung-Hae , Irfan Muhammad , Rhee Man Hee , Kwon Hyuk-Woo
Published: January 2021

Cudrania tricuspidata (C. tricuspidata) is widespread throughout Asia and has known to have various physiological activities such as, inflammation, diabetes, obesity and tumor. Cudrania tricuspidata, a rich source of xanthones and flavonoids, have been investigated phytochemically and biologically. However, research of these compounds on platelets is limited. Therefore, we searched for a new substance from various xanthones and flavonoids in C. tricuspidata. We confirmed the results that steppogenin and isoderrone suppress human platelets among the various components isolated from C. tricuspidata, and as a result of analyzing the antiplatelet effect using additional new samples, we found that cudraxanthone B (CXB) has the effect of suppressing human platelets. Therefore, we studied the potential efficacies of CXB on human platelet aggregation and its inhibitory mechanism. Inhibitory effects of CXB on platelet aggregation were assessed using washed platelets, followed by measurement of [Ca2+]i mobilization and dense granule release, fibrinogen binding, fibronectin adhesion assay, and clot retraction. Our data showed that CXB suppressed collagen-induced human platelet aggregation, [Ca2+]i mobilization, fibrinogen binding, fibronectin adhesion and clot retraction without cytotoxicity. Thus, our results show that inhibitory effects of CXB on human platelet activation and thrombus formation, suggesting its potential use as a natural substance for preventing platelet-induced thrombosis.
Producing a village input–output table (VIOT) from household survey data: a case study of a VIOT for a rural village in northern Lao PDR
Authors: Hongsakhone Soulixay , Islam Moinul , Ichihashi Masaru
Published: January 2021

In this study, a village input–output table (VIOT) is built from household survey data from a rural village in a developing country to capture the interdependency between households through their transactions in 2016. This VIOT is a simple, but useful tool for understanding the economic transactions among villagers. The main findings of this work are that lower- and middle-income households mainly depend on commodities supplied by non-poor counterparts, especially by four higher-income households, who are not only producers, but also traders of commodities in the village and play key roles in the village economy, and that the IO interdependency among non-poor households is stronger than that among poor households. Additionally, this paper describes a first trial application of the VIOT method to develop economic policies with goals such as poverty reduction and trade expansion in the village.
Assessing the impact of watershed land use on Kebena river water quality in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Asnake Kalkidan , Worku Hailu , Argaw Mekuria
Published: January 2021

Background

The impact of watershed land-use on surface water quality is one of the under researched areas in mega cities of the developing countries like Addis Ababa. The study examined the impact of watershed land uses on the Kebena river water quality within its seasonal and spatial variation and assessed the relationship between river water pollution and dominant land-use types in the sub-watersheds.

Method

The main land use types in the sub-watersheds were digitized from aerial photograph of 2016, and quantified for water quality impact analysis. Water samples were collected from the main Kebena river and the three sub-watersheds source and outlet points. A total of 128 samples were collected during the dry and wet seasons of 2016 and 2017 and analyzed for various water quality parameters. The study employed ANOVA, independent t-tests and multiple regression analysis to examine variations in water quality and assess the influence of the different land uses on water quality.

Results

Forest, built-up area and cultivated lands are the three major land use types in the Kebena watershed accounting for 39.14, 32.51 and 27.25% of the total area, respectively. Kebena catchment is drained by three sub-watersheds namely, Denkaka (44.9% cultivated land), Little-Kebena (60.87% forested) and Ginfle (90.44% urban land). The concentration of pollutants in the Kebena river was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the dry season than in the wet season. However, when compared to surface water quality standards, both the dry and wet season water quality records are exceptionally high. The urban and forest dominated sub-watersheds contribute significantly high amount of (P < 0.001) pollutant loads to the river which is associated with high runoff from impervious surfaces and sewerage discharge to the river from nearby urban settlements.

Conclusion

Integrating watershed planning with land use planning is of paramount importance to address water quality problems in urban areas. Thus, in the urban dominated sub-catchment, land-use planning should aim to relocating river front communities, providing sufficient river buffer-zones and forwarding appropriate storm water management schemes. In the forested sub-catchment, planning should protect, retain and enhance the existing natural green spaces through open space planning, and management schemes while providing wide river-buffer with natural vegetation cover to minimize pollution load to urban rivers from agriculture dominated sub-watershed.
Perception of Impacts of Climate Variability on Pastoralists and Their Adaptation/Coping Strategies in Fentale District of Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Mekuyie Muluken , Mulu Desta
Published: January 2021

Climate change has been threatening pastoral communities in Ethiopia as their economy is mainly based on rain-fed agriculture. The study area is one of the climate change prone area affected by climate induced shocks. To reduce the adverse effects of climate change, pastoral households need to recognize the changes already happening in their climate and employ climate change adaptation measures. Therefore, the present study was conducted in Fentale district, Central Ethiopia to determine the perceived adverse impacts of climate change and variability, the perception of pastoral households on the patterns of climate change and variability, and identify the adaptation/coping strategies of pastoralists to climate change impacts. A household questionnaire survey and focus group discussion were employed to collect primary data at a household level. A total of 130 pastoral households were sampled using random sampling. The data collected from household survey were analyzed using SPSS (version 20). The rainfall and temperature trends of the study area were analysed using Mann–Kendall test. The findings indicated significant decreasing trend of Belg rainfall and increasing trend of Kiremt rainfall for the period 1983–2017. The perception of pastoral households on rainfall and temperature trends was in line with the results of the recorded meteorological data analysis of the present study except the Kiremt rainfall and the long-term annual rainfall trends. The results indicated that pasture and water availability became scarce and livestock assets and productivity were highly reduced, due to adverse impacts of climate change and variability. The most important strategies deployed by the local people included (i) integrating livestock with crop production, (ii) livestock mobility, (iii) livestock diversification and herd composition change, (iv) decreased consumption, (v) remittance, (vi) cash for work and (vii) food aid. Therefore, the government should support and enhance household’s indigenous adaptation strategies through the provision of market access, early warning information, affordable credit access, and development of water points.
MicroRNA bta-miR-365-3p inhibits proliferation but promotes differentiation of primary bovine myoblasts by targeting the activin A receptor type I
Authors: Hao Dan , Wang Xiaogang , Wang Xiao , Thomsen Bo , Yang Yu , Lan Xianyong , Huang Yongzhen , Chen Hong
Published: January 2021

Background

MicroRNAs act as post-transcriptional regulators that repress translation or degrade mRNA transcripts. Each microRNA has many mRNA targets and each mRNA may be targeted by several microRNAs. Skeletal muscles express a plethora of microRNA genes that regulate muscle development and function by controlling the expression of protein-coding target genes. To expand our understanding of the role of microRNA, specifically bta-miR-365-3p, in muscle biology, we investigated its functions in regulating primary bovine myoblast proliferation and differentiation.

Results

Firstly, we found that bta-miR-365-3p was predominantly expressed in skeletal muscle and heart tissue in Chinese Qinchuan beef cattle. Quantitative PCR and western blotting results showed that overexpression of bta-miR-365-3p significantly reduced the expression levels of cyclin D1 (CCND1), cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) but stimulated the expression levels of muscle differentiation markers, i.e., MYOD1, MYOG at both mRNA and protein level. Moreover, downregulation of bta-miR-365-3p increased the expression of CCND1, CDK2 and PCNA but decreased the expression of MYOD1 and MYOG at both mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, flow cytometry, EdU proliferation assays and immunostaining results showed that increased levels of bta-miR-365-3p suppressed cell proliferation but promoted myotube formation, whereas decreased levels of bta-miR-365-3p resulted in the opposite consequences. Finally, we identified that activin A receptor type I (ACVR1) could be a direct target of bta-miR-365-3p. It was demonstrated that bta-miR-365-3p can bind to the 3’UTR of ACVR1 gene to regulate its expression based on dual luciferase gene reporter assays. Consistently, knock-down of ACVR1 was associated with decreased expressions of CDK2, CCND1 and PCNA but increased expression of MYOG and MYOD1 both at mRNA and protein level.

Conclusion

Collectively, these data suggested that bta-miR-365-3p represses proliferation but promotes differentiation of bovine myoblasts through several biological mechanisms involving downregulation of ACVR1.
Low-dosage ozonation in gas-phase biofilter promotes community diversity and robustness
Authors: Yeung Marvin , Saingam Prakit , Xu Yang , Xi Jinying
Published: January 2021

Background

The ozonation of biofilters is known to alleviate clogging and pressure drop issues while maintaining removal performances in biofiltration systems treating gaseous volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The effects of ozone on the biofilter microbiome in terms of biodiversity, community structure, metabolic abilities, and dominant taxa correlated with performance remain largely unknown.

Methods

This study investigated two biofilters treating high-concentration toluene operating in parallel, with one acting as control and the other exposed to low-dosage (200 mg/m3) ozonation. The microbial community diversity, metabolic rates of different carbon sources, functional predictions, and microbial co-occurrence networks of both communities were examined.

Results

Consistently higher biodiversity of over 30% was observed in the microbiome after ozonation, with increased overall metabolic abilities for amino acids and carboxylic acids. The relative abundance of species with reported stress-tolerant and biofilm-forming abilities significantly increased, with a consortium of changes in predicted biological pathways, including shifts in degradation pathways of intermediate compounds, while the correlation of top ASVs and genus with performance indicators showed diversifications in microbiota responsible for toluene degradation. A co-occurrence network of the community showed a decrease in average path distance and average betweenness with ozonation.

Conclusion

Major degrading species highly correlated with performance shifted after ozonation. Increases in microbial biodiversity, coupled with improvements in metabolizing performances of multiple carbon sources including organic acids could explain the consistent performance commonly seen in the ozonation of biofilters despite the decrease in biomass, while avoiding acid buildup in long-term operation. The increased presence of stress-tolerant microbes in the microbiome coupled with the decentralization of the co-occurrence network suggest that ozonation could not only ameliorate clogging issues but also provide a microbiome more robust to loading shock seen in full-scale biofilters.
Restoration of non-structural damaged murals in Shenzhen Bao’an based on a generator–discriminator network
Authors: Li Jiao , Wang Huan , Deng Zhiqin , Pan Mingtao , Chen Honghai
Published: January 2021

Shenzhen is a modern metropolis, but it hides a variety of valuable cultural heritage, such as ancient murals. How to effectively preserve and repair the murals is a worthy of discussion question. Here, we propose a generation-discriminator network model based on artificial intelligence algorithms to perform digital image restoration of ancient damaged murals. In adversarial learning, this study optimizes the discriminative network model. First, the real mural images and damaged images are spliced together as input to the discriminator network. The network uses a 5-layer encoder unit to down-sample the 1024 × 1024 × 3 image to 32 × 32 × 256. Then, we connect a layer of ZeroPadding2D to expand the image to 34 × 34 × 256, and pass the Conv2D layer, down-sample to 31 × 31 × 256, perform batch normalization, and repeat the above steps to get a 30 × 30 × 1 matrix. Finally, this part of the loss is emphasized in the loss function as needed to improve the texture detail information of the image generated by the Generator. The experimental results show that compared with the traditional algorithm, the PSNR value of the algorithm proposed in this paper can be increased by 5.86 db at most. The SSIM value increased by 0.13. Judging from subjective vision. The proposed algorithm can effectively repair damaged murals with dot-like damage and complex texture structures. The algorithm we proposed may be helpful for the digital restoration of ancient murals, and may also provide reference for mural restoration workers.
Left and right ventricular longitudinal strains are associated with poor outcome in COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wibowo Arief , Pranata Raymond , Astuti Astri , Tiksnadi Badai Bhatara , Martanto Erwan , Martha Januar Wibawa , Purnomowati Augustine , Akbar Mohammad Rizki
Published: January 2021

Background

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess whether ventricular longitudinal strain can be used as a prognostication tool in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods

Systematic literature searches of PubMed, Embase, and EuropePMC databases were performed on 16 November 2020. Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) refers to LV contraction measurement using the speckle tracking-based method refers to the mean of strain values of the RV free wall (three segments) measured using echocardiography. The main outcome was poor outcome, defined as a composite of mortality and severe COVID-19.

Results

Seven studies comprising of 612 patients were included in meta-analysis. Six studies have mortality as their outcome, and 1 study has severity as their outcome. Patients with poor outcome have lower LV-GLS (SMD 1.15 (0.57, 1.72),p< 0.001;I270.4%). Each 1% decrease in LV-GLS was associated with 1.4x increased risk of poor outcome (OR 1.37 (1.12, 1.67),p= 0.002;I248.8%). Patients with poor outcome have lower RV-LS (SMD 1.18 (0.91, 1.45),p< 0.001;I20%). Each 1% decrease in RV-LS was associated with 1.3x increased risk of poor outcome (OR 1.25 (1.15, 1.35),p< 0.001;I211.8%). Subgroup analysis showed that for every 1% decrease in LV-GLS and RV-LS is increased mortality with OR of 1.30 (1.12, 1.50) and OR of 1.24 (1.14, 1.35), respectively.

Conclusion

This study shows that lower LV-GLS and RV-LS measurements were associated with poor outcome in patients with COVID-19.

Trial registration

PROSPEROCRD42020221144
Accessing future crop yield and crop water productivity over the Heihe River basin in northwest China under a changing climate
Authors: Liu Qi , Niu Jun , Sivakumar Bellie , Ding Risheng , Li Sien
Published: January 2021

Quantitative evaluation of the response of crop yield and crop water productivity (CWP) to future climate change is important to prevent or mitigate the adverse effects of climate change. This study made such an evaluation for the agricultural land over the Heihe River basin in northwest China. The ability of 31 climate models for simulating the precipitation, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature was evaluated for the studied area, and a multi-model ensemble was employed. Using the previously well-established Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), crop yield and crop water productivity of four major crops (corn, wheat, barley, and spring canola-Polish) in the Heihe River basin were simulated for three future time periods (2025–2049, 2050–2074, and 2075–2099) under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The results revealed that the impacts of future climate change on crop yield and CWP of wheat, barley, and canola would all be negative, whereas the impact on corn in the eastern part of the middle reaches of the Heihe River basin would be positive. On the whole, climate change under RCP8.5 scenario would be more harmful to crops, while the corn crops in the Minle and Shandan counties have better ability to cope with climate change.
Depth variation of seismic moment and recurrence interval in Japan
Authors: Ji Yingfeng , Yoshioka Shoichi
Published: January 2021

In repeating seismic event sequences within a specialized horizontal area, the moment magnitude is usually scaled with the recurrence interval. In addition to two horizontal dimensions, the vertical dimension plays a certain role in affecting the scaling law. However, whether and how the changing depth influences the scaling law remain enigmatic. Based on a large number of earthquake records with high-resolution epicenter locations in recent decades in Japan, we focus on a comparison between the 3-D seismic moment and seismic interval, which recognize the vertical dimension as the same dimension as the horizontal distances. The results show that (1) the seismic moment scaling law is applicable in the multiparameter 3-D models by visiting the 1.8 million events collected during a period of 15 years; (2) the vertical dimension of depth plays an important role in the Mo–SI relationship as well as in the variance in the 3-D seismic moment–interval magnitudes; and (3) the seismic moment rate, attributable to the plate convergence rate, varies with area and depth in influencing the regional earthquake recurrence frequency.
Nationwide urban ground deformation monitoring in Japan using Sentinel-1 LiCSAR products and LiCSBAS
Authors: Morishita Yu
Published: January 2021

Ground subsidence in urban areas is a significant problem because it increases flood risk, damages buildings and infrastructure, and results in economic loss. Continual monitoring of ground deformation is important for early detection, mechanism understanding, countermeasure implementation, and deformation prediction. The Sentinel-1 satellite constellation has globally and freely provided frequent and abundant SAR data and enabled nationwide deformation monitoring through InSAR time series analysis. LiCSAR, an automatic Sentinel-1 interferometric processing system, has produced abundant interferograms with global coverage, and the products are freely accessible and downloadable through a web portal. LiCSBAS, an open source InSAR time series analysis package integrated with LiCSAR, enables users to obtain the deformation time series easily and quickly. In this study, spatially and temporally detailed deformation time series and velocities from the LiCSAR products using LiCSBAS for 73 major urban areas in Japan during 2014–2020 were derived. All LiCSBAS processing was automatically performed using predefined parameters. Many deformation signals with various temporal and spatial features, such as linear subsidence in Hirosaki, Kujyukuri, Niigata, and Kanazawa, episodic subsidence in Sanjo, annual vertical fluctuation in Hirosaki, Yamagata, Yonezawa, Ojiya, and Nogi, and linear uplift in Chofu were detected. Unknown small nonlinear uplift signals were found in Nara and Osaka in 2018. Complex postseismic deformations from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake were also revealed. All the deformation data obtained in this study are available on an open repository and are expected to be used for further research, investigation, or interpretation. This nationwide monitoring approach using the LiCSAR products and LiCSBAS is easy to implement and applicable to other areas worldwide.