bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non-medical switching of prescription medications, brand-name drugs and out-of-pocket spending on medicines among Peruvian adults
Authors: Uyen-Cateriano Angela , Herrera-Añazco Percy , Mougenot Benoit , Benites-Meza Jerry K , Benites-Zapata Vicente A
Published: September 2021

Objectives

This study evaluated the association between non-medical switching of prescription medications (NMSPM) with brand-name drugs and out-of-pocket spending (OPS) on drugs among Peruvian adults.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of the National Survey of User Satisfaction Health using an analytical cross-sectional design. We included 3155 adults who went to drugstores and pharmacies with prescriptions. The independent variable was the self-reported NMSPM. The outcomes were brand-name drug purchase and OPS on drugs. We calculated crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and the OPS on drugs was analysed using linear regression with crude and adjusted β and their 95% CIs.

Key findings

The rate of NMSPM was 6.7%, the proportion of brand-name drug purchases was 55.7% and the average spending on drugs was US$1.73. In the adjusted analysis, the proportion of brand-name drug purchases with NMSPM was higher than without (73.3% versus 54.5%; P < 0.001), with a statistically significant association (adjusted PR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.29 to 1.47; P < 0.001), and the association between NMSPM and OPS on drugs was statistically significant (adjusted β = 0.23; 95% CI = 0.16 to 0.30; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

There is a greater probability of brand-name drug purchases and OPS on drugs when NMSPM exists among adults who go to drugstores and pharmacies in Peru.
Study on the established customized limits for the daily quality assurance procedure
Authors: Jin Xiao-Li , Song Jian-Bo , Peng Jin-Xin , Pan Xiao-Peng , Guo Rui , Xing Xiao-Fen
Published: September 2021

Since there are no corresponding specification limits for some new daily quality assurance (QA) items in the TG-142, it is a compromise that the specification limits used in the monthly or annual QA procedures are used for the daily QA procedure in work. But there is no basis for whether this is feasible. The purpose of this article is to analyze QA results using SPC to determine the tolerance limits at our institution, and to present the usefulness of the analysis method using SPC. The data of three groups daily QA processes performed with Daily QA3 in three years were analyzed using statistical process control (SPC). For calculating capability indices (Cp, Cpk, Cpm and Cpmk) of processes, the appropriate number of calculation points was analyzed firstly. Then, in calculating the capability indices for output, limits ±3% of the daily QA in the TG-142 were used as the specification limit, while for flatness and symmetry, an annual QA limits of ±1% was used. For putting forward measures to solve the problem, customized tolerance and action limits were established for each process. And the process control charts calculated using data measured by the five therapists and a medical physicist were compared. At least six to eight weeks of control daily check data points (i.e. 30–40 points) should be used for calculating the individuals and moving range (I-MR) control chart to ensure the stability of control lines. Process capability indices of output were all ≥1, some were up to 3–4. While for symmetry, some processes failed to meet the requirements that capability indices were < 1. For different processes of the same daily QA items, the calculated customized limits were quite different. The range of upper control line (UCL) and lower control line (LCL) was smaller for output and the CL was closer to the target value of 0 for flatness and symmetry in the I-MR control chart calculated using data measured by one staff. For different quality control processes without management by the SPC method at our institution, calculated tolerance and action limits of the same measurement item were quite different. And in most measurement items, the specification limits used in the monthly or annual QA procedures in the TG-142 are not suitable to the daily QA procedure. So the analysis method using SPC is useful and necessary.
Surgical placement of customized abdominal vagus nerve stimulating and gastrointestinal serosal surface recording electrodes
Authors: Horn Charles C , Wong Liane , Shepard Brook S , Gourash William F , McLaughlin Bryan L , Fisher Lee E , Ahmed Bestoun H
Published: September 2021

Bioelectronic medical approaches to control vagus nerve-to-organ signaling have the potential to treat cardiac, respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI) and metabolic diseases, such as obesity. Unlike cervical vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), abdominal VNS could provide specific therapeutic control of the GI tract without off-target effects on thoracic organs; however, surgical approaches for abdominal VNS electrode placement are not well established. Moreover, optimal device configurations and additional placement of GI recording electrodes for closed-loop control are largely unknown. We designed VNS cuff and GI planar serosal electrodes and tested placement of these devices in laparoscopic surgery in two cadavers. We determined that electrode positioning on the ventral abdominal vagus nerve and gastric antrum was feasible but other sites, such as the duodenum and proximal stomach, were more difficult. The current investigation can guide potential placement and design of VNS cuff and GI electrodes for development of closed-loop GI therapeutic devices.
Simple lung retraction method for uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery
Authors: Mizukami Yasushi , Maki Ryunosuke , Adachi Hirofumi
Published: September 2021

In conventional multiportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, devices such as cotton-tipped applicators are used instead of graspers to avoid injuring the fragile lung tissue while stabilizing the lung and securing the surgical visual field. However, in uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, which requires the simultaneous use of multiple instruments, the instruments tend to interfere with each other during the procedure because they share a single incisional port. Here, we describe a simple, easy and cost-effective lung retraction technique using cotton swabs to solve the problem. We present this technique and comment on its advantages, including decreased cost and improved surgical visualization.
Giant mature cystic teratoma of the mediastinum resected by VATS: a case report
Authors: Zúñiga-Garza E , Aldape-Mora A , Chávez-Fernández D A , Rodríguez-Osuna J A , Onofre-Borja M , López-Saucedo R A
Published: September 2021

The incidence of mediastinal teratomas is low, it’s important to recognize them between all the differential diagnoses for mediastinal tumors. The treatment is surgical resection.

We report a giant mature cystic teratoma of the mediastinum in a 40-year-old woman. She presented with dyspnea, flu-like symptoms during the previous 5 days. An x-ray complemented with a chest CT scan showed a heterogeneous extrapulmonary multiloculated and predominantly fluid density tumor located at the left side of the mediastinum. The patient underwent resection by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). The tumor was 15 cm in diameter with a predominant cystic component. Histologic examination revealed a mature cystic teratoma.

Treatment of these tumors should attempt a complete resection. Open approaches are painful, require a longer recovery and are associated with higher morbidity. VATS has been used to treat these tumors, demonstrating the same effectiveness and advantages over open procedures.
Pronominal Subject Expression in Spoken Modern Hebrew: A Diachronic Perspective
Authors: Shor Leon , Reshef Yael , Gonen Einat
Published: September 2021

As a consequence of the sociolinguistic circumstances of its emergence, the morpho-syntactic profile of Modern Hebrew (MH) originates in several sources – classical layers of Hebrew, pre-existing written practices, contact-induced influence of the native languages of the early MH speakers and internal linguistic developments. Adopting a diachronic corpus-based perspective, the present study focuses on one morpho-syntactic feature, the distribution of first and second person free subject pronouns with suffix (qaṭal) and prefix ( yiqṭol) conjugation verbs. In contrast to the mainly synchronic studies of that feature in MH, the starting point of the present study is data extracted from historical recordings documenting the spontaneous speech of four generations of MH speakers over more than 50 years. Our data indicate two opposite trends: On the one hand, there is a relative stability in the rates of free pronoun usage from the 1960s until the 2010s in two aspects: the near obligatory presence of the free 1SG pronoun ani in the prefix-conjugation, and the relatively low rates of free pronouns in the remaining persons. On the other hand, a significant decrease in the use of the 1SG pronoun ani in the suffix-conjugation was found throughout the years.1
Reduced apoplastic barriers in tissues of shoot-proximal rhizomes of Oryza coarctata are associated with Na+ sequestration
Authors: Rajakani Raja , Sellamuthu Gothandapani , Ishikawa Tetsuya , Ahmed Hassan Ahmed Ibraheem , Bharathan Subhashree , Kumari Kumkum , Shabala Lana , Zhou Meixue , Chen Zhong-Hua , Shabala Sergey , Venkataraman Gayatri
Published: September 2021

Oryza coarctata is the only wild rice species with significant salinity tolerance. The present work examines the role of the substantial rhizomatous tissues of O. coarctata in conferring salinity tolerance. Transition to an erect phenotype (shoot emergence) from prostrate growth of rhizome tissues is characterized by marked lignification and suberization of supporting sclerenchymatous tissue, epidermis, and bundle sheath cells in aerial shoot-proximal nodes and internodes in O. coarctata. With salinity, however, aerial shoot-proximal internodal tissues show reductions in lignification and suberization, most probably related to re-direction of carbon flux towards synthesis of the osmporotectant proline. Concurrent with hypolignification and reduced suberization, the aerial rhizomatous biomass of O. coarctata appears to have evolved mechanisms to store Na+ in these specific tissues under salinity. This was confirmed by histochemical staining, quantitative real-time reverse transcription–PCR expression patterns of genes involved in lignification/suberization, Na+ and K+ contents of internodal tissues, as well as non-invasive microelectrode ion flux measurements of NaCl-induced net Na+, K+, and H+ flux profiles of aerial nodes were determined. In O. coarctata, aerial proximal internodes appear to act as ‘traffic controllers’, sending required amounts of Na+ and K+ into developing leaves for osmotic adjustment and turgor-driven growth, while more deeply positioned internodes assume a Na+ buffering/storage role.
Domestication Shapes Recombination Patterns in Tomato
Authors: Fuentes Roven Rommel , de Ridder Dick , van Dijk Aalt D J , Peters Sander A
Published: September 2021

Meiotic recombination is a biological process of key importance in breeding, to generate genetic diversity and develop novel or agronomically relevant haplotypes. In crop tomato, recombination is curtailed as manifested by linkage disequilibrium decay over a longer distance and reduced diversity compared with wild relatives. Here, we compared domesticated and wild populations of tomato and found an overall conserved recombination landscape, with local changes in effective recombination rate in specific genomic regions. We also studied the dynamics of recombination hotspots resulting from domestication and found that loss of such hotspots is associated with selective sweeps, most notably in the pericentromeric heterochromatin. We detected footprints of genetic changes and structural variants, among them associated with transposable elements, linked with hotspot divergence during domestication, likely causing fine-scale alterations to recombination patterns and resulting in linkage drag.
Dissecting Genomic Determinants of Positive Selection with an Evolution-Guided Regression Model
Authors: Huang Yi-Fei
Published: September 2021

In evolutionary genomics, it is fundamentally important to understand how characteristics of genomic sequences, such as gene expression level, determine the rate of adaptive evolution. While numerous statistical methods, such as the McDonald–Kreitman (MK) test, are available to examine the association between genomic features and the rate of adaptation, we currently lack a statistical approach to disentangle the independent effect of a genomic feature from the effects of other correlated genomic features. To address this problem, I present a novel statistical model, the MK regression, which augments the MK test with a generalized linear model. Analogous to the classical multiple regression model, the MK regression can analyze multiple genomic features simultaneously to infer the independent effect of a genomic feature, holding constant all other genomic features. Using the MK regression, I identify numerous genomic features driving positive selection in chimpanzees. These features include well-known ones, such as local mutation rate, residue exposure level, tissue specificity, and immune genes, as well as new features not previously reported, such as gene expression level and metabolic genes. In particular, I show that highly expressed genes may have a higher adaptation rate than their weakly expressed counterparts, even though a higher expression level may impose stronger negative selection. Also, I show that metabolic genes may have a higher adaptation rate than their nonmetabolic counterparts, possibly due to recent changes in diet in primate evolution. Overall, the MK regression is a powerful approach to elucidate the genomic basis of adaptation.
CancerSCEM: a database of single-cell expression map across various human cancers
Authors: Zeng Jingyao , Zhang Yadong , Shang Yunfei , Mai Jialin , Shi Shuo , Lu Mingming , Bu Congfan , Zhang Zhewen , Zhang Zaichao , Li Yang , Du Zhenglin , Xiao Jingfa
Published: September 2021

With the proliferating studies of human cancers by single-cell RNA sequencing technique (scRNA-seq), cellular heterogeneity, immune landscape and pathogenesis within diverse cancers have been uncovered successively. The exponential explosion of massive cancer scRNA-seq datasets in the past decade are calling for a burning demand to be integrated and processed for essential investigations in tumor microenvironment of various cancer types. To fill this gap, we developed a database of Cancer Single-cell Expression Map (CancerSCEM, https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/cancerscem), particularly focusing on a variety of human cancers. To date, CancerSCE version 1.0 consists of 208 cancer samples across 28 studies and 20 human cancer types. A series of uniformly and multiscale analyses for each sample were performed, including accurate cell type annotation, functional gene expressions, cell interaction network, survival analysis and etc. Plus, we visualized CancerSCEM as a user-friendly web interface for users to browse, search, online analyze and download all the metadata as well as analytical results. More importantly and unprecedentedly, the newly-constructed comprehensive online analyzing platform in CancerSCEM integrates seven analyze functions, where investigators can interactively perform cancer scRNA-seq analyses. In all, CancerSCEM paves an informative and practical way to facilitate human cancer studies, and also provides insights into clinical therapy assessments.
Assembly Apparatus of Light-Harvesting Complexes: Identification of Alb3.1–cpSRP–LHCP Complexes in the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Rathod Mithun Kumar , Nellaepalli Sreedhar , Ozawa Shin-Ichiro , Kuroda Hiroshi , Kodama Natsumi , Bujaldon Sandrine , Wollman Francis-André , Takahashi Yuichiro
Published: September 2021

The unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, contains many light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) associating chlorophylls a/b and carotenoids; the major LHCIIs (types I, II, III and IV) and minor light-harvesting complexes, CP26 and CP29, for photosystem II, as well as nine LHCIs (LHCA1–9), for photosystem I. A pale green mutant BF4 exhibited impaired accumulation of LHCs due to deficiency in the Alb3.1 gene, which encodes the insertase involved in insertion, folding and assembly of LHC proteins in the thylakoid membranes. To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which ALB3.1 assists LHC assembly, we complemented BF4 to express ALB3.1 fused with no, single or triple Human influenza hemagglutinin (HA) tag at its C-terminus (cAlb3.1, cAlb3.1-HA or cAlb3.1–3HA). The resulting complemented strains accumulated most LHC proteins comparable to wild-type (WT) levels. The affinity purification of Alb3.1-HA and Alb3.1–3HA preparations showed that ALB3.1 interacts with cpSRP43 and cpSRP54 proteins of the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) and several LHC proteins; two major LHCII proteins (types I and III), two minor LHCII proteins (CP26 and CP29) and eight LHCI proteins (LHCA1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9). Pulse-chase labeling experiments revealed that the newly synthesized major LHCII proteins were transiently bound to the Alb3.1 complex. We propose that Alb3.1 interacts with cpSRP43 and cpSRP54 to form an assembly apparatus for most LHCs in the thylakoid membranes. Interestingly, photosystem I (PSI) proteins were also detected in the Alb3.1 preparations, suggesting that the integration of LHCIs to a PSI core complex to form a PSI–LHCI subcomplex occurs before assembled LHCIs dissociate from the Alb3.1–cpSRP complex.
Salinity changes may influence dinoflagellate cyst morphometry: data from monsoon-influenced tropical coastal ecosystems
Authors: Rodrigues Roy Valentino , Patil Jagadish Siddalingappa
Published: September 2021

Generally, dinoflagellate cyst morphology is species specific. Their variability due to environmental factors (temperature and salinity) makes them potential proxies for such factors. However, there is a dearth of information on the variability of cyst morphology from monsoon-influenced coastal ecosystems. This study on distribution and variability in the dinocyst morphometry of Pyrophacus steinii and Protoperidinium pentagonum from estuarine (Cochin port and Zuari estuary) and marine (New Mangalore port) ecosystems along the Indian west coast revealed that both are common and euryhaline species. However, variability in cyst morphometry was observed and correlated salinity values between the ecosystems. Other parameters (i.e. the prevalence of narrow temperature ranges and nutrient-rich conditions) may not be dominant in influencing cysts morphometry. Cyst length, breadth and processes length (only in P. steinii) of both were relatively larger and smaller at salinity ranges higher and lower than 25 psu, respectively. The data presented for different ecosystems are comparable in most parameters except salinity variations. This study extends the ranges of records for both species. Pyrophacus steinii cysts were significantly larger (up to 120 μm in Zuari estuary) than literature reports on cysts from higher salinity systems and salinity-related variability in P. pentagonum cyst size indicates notable potential proxy indicator of salinity.
Drivers of microplankton community assemblage following tropical cyclones
Authors: Fiorendino James M , Gaonkar Chetan C , Henrichs Darren W , Campbell Lisa
Published: September 2021

Tropical cyclones impose tremendous impacts on microplankton communities. When Hurricane Harvey struck Texas in August 2017, delivering record rainfall, the resulting historically large freshwater plume provided an opportunity to identify how the coastal microplankton community responded to such a drastic shift in hydrography. Two cruises were conducted along the Texas coast one week apart to assess the impact of the low-salinity plume moving downcoast. The spatial–temporal variability and recovery of the microplankton community was compared with microplankton community changes during and after 13 other tropical storm/cyclone events observed during the decade-long record from the Texas Observatory for Algal Succession Timeseries (TOAST). Results revealed an unprecedented ciliate-dominated community developed in the weeks following Hurricane Harvey. TOAST data revealed diatoms dominated during upwelling and water column mixing. Moderate downwelling conditions favored dinoflagellates while strong downwelling and reduced salinity following Hurricane Harvey resulted in a ciliate-dominated community. The unexpectedly large biomass of ciliates and low diatom biomass observed during the response cruise indicated that the microplankton community had not yet recovered. Intensification of future hurricanes may produce brief blooms of diatoms, while dinoflagellates or ciliates dominate following high freshwater discharge. These drastic shifts in microplankton communities pose important implications for biogeochemical cycling, trophic interactions and commercial fisheries.
A New Generation of Police Officers: Experiences of Student Officers Undertaking the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship in One UK Police Force
Authors: Watkinson-Miley Charlotte , Cox Carol , Deshpande Maya
Published: September 2021

The Policing Vision 2025 and 2030 outlined long-term strategies to ensure consistency and accreditation in those joining policing careers in England and Wales, standardizing the qualifications obtained by all new recruits. The Police Educational Qualifications Framework has since been designed to support this vision, enabling three new entry routes into policing, one being the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship. This resulted in policing becoming a graduate profession from 2020, which is argued to be a radical transformation for policing. This research conducted focus groups and thematic analysis with three cohorts of student police officers (N = 30) undertaking the Police Constable Degree Apprenticeship (PCDA) at different stages of their programme in one police force. It unpicked motivations for joining the PCDA, their experiences so far and improvements for future workings of the programme. The disconnect between policing and academia was a key barrier, and students could not always utilize the academic teaching in practical policing settings.
Occupational risk of COVID-19 by country of birth. A register-based study
Authors: Kjøllesdal Marte , Magnusson Karin
Published: September 2021

Background

Occupational exposure has been suggested to contribute to a disproportionate burden of COVID-19 among immigrants. We aim to assess this hypothesis in Norway.

Methods

In 2729 627 adults born in Norway, Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey, we examined whether persons employed as taxi drivers, bus and tram drivers, child care workers, nurses, personal care workers in health, food service counter attendants, waiters/bartenders, cleaners and shop sale persons had a higher risk of COVID-19, from 1 April 2020 to 2 December 2020, compared with (i) Norwegian-born in the same occupational group and (ii) all others with the same birth country and aged 20–70 years, using logistic regressions.

Results

Within each occupational group, immigrants had a greatly increased odds of COVID-19 when compared with Norwegian-born (odds ratio [OR] ~ 1.66–12.72). However, immigrants working in the selected occupations had the same odds of COVID-19 as person with same birth country not having the same occupation (OR ~ 1). Exceptions were Somalian, Afghani and Iraqi personal care workers in health services who had an increased odds of COVID-19 compared with others from the same country.

Conclusion

Occupation is not an important driver of the high rates of COVID-19 among immigrants from Somalia, Pakistan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Turkey.
Social media use is linked to poor sleep quality: The opportunities and challenges to support evidence-informed policymaking in the UAE
Authors: Al Kazhali Manar , Shahwan Moyad , Hassan Nageeb , Jairoun Ammar Abdulrahman
Published: September 2021

Background

This study was conducted among a convenience sample of Ajman University students in UAE between February 2018 and May 2019.

Methods

All undergraduate and master’s degree students from the 1st to 5th year of medical and non-medical colleges. The survey was carried out by distributing a pre-designed, pre-structured questionnaire to the students during lectures. The questionnaires were primarily composed of three sections: demographic characteristics, educational characteristics and sleep quality characteristics. The data were analyzed using STATA version 14.2. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate the association between sleep characteristics, social media use and other significant risk factors. The P-values < 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant.

Results

The vast majority of the study participants were social media users, and a considerable proportion suffered from poor sleep quality. A significantly increased risk of bad sleep quality and intermittent/anxious sleep patterns were observed among social media users.

Conclusion

Health policymakers should fully consider these factors in improving the sleep quality of university students.
Venom of the desert black snakeWalterinnesia aegyptiaenhances anti-tumor immunity via its beneficial modulatory effects on pro- and anti-tumorigenic inflammatory mediators in cultured colon cancer cells
Authors: Daghestani Maha H , Ambreen Khushboo , Hakami Hana H , Omair Mohammed A , Saleem Abdulaziz M , Aleisa Nadia A , AlNeghery Lina M , Amin Mohannad H , Alobaid Hussah M , Omair Maha A , Hassen Lena M
Published: September 2021

The role of inflammation in colon cancer is understood as a well-accepted factor that has the tendency to release multiple pro- and anti-tumorigenic inflammatory mediators. Inflammation-induced increased expression of anti-tumorigenic inflammatory mediators and decreased expression of pro-tumorigenic inflammatory mediators encourage beneficial inflammatory effects in terms of powerful anti-tumor immunity. The present study aims to screen the beneficial inflammatory effects of Walterinnesia aegyptia venom via determining its modulatory tendency on the expression of 40 pro- and anti-tumorigenic inflammatory mediators (cytokines/growth factors/chemokines) in LoVo human colon cancer cell line. LoVo-cells were treated with varying doses of crude venom of W. aegyptia. Cell viability was checked utilizing flow cytometry, and IC50 of venom was determined. Venom-induced inflammatory effects were evaluated on the expression of 40 different inflammatory mediators (12 anti-tumorigenic cytokines, 11 pro-tumorigenic cytokines, 7 pro-tumorigenic growth factors, 9 pro-tumorigenic chemokines and 1 anti-tumorigenic chemokine) in treated LoVo-cells [utilizing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] and compared with controls. Treatment of venom induced significant cytotoxic effects on inflamed LoVo-cells. IC50 treatment of venom caused significant modulations on the expression of 22 inflammatory mediators in treated LoVo-cells. The beneficial modulatory effects of venom were screened via its capability to significantly increase the expression of five powerful anti-tumorigenic mediators (IL-9, IL-12p40, IL-15, IL-1RA and Fractalkine) and decrease the expression of four major pro-tumorigenic mediators (IL-1β, VEGF, MCP-1 and MCP-3). Walterinnesia aegyptia venom-induced beneficial modulations on the expression of nine crucial pro/anti-tumorigenic inflammatory mediators can be effectively used to enhance powerful anti-tumor immunity against colon cancer.
Mitochondrial sequences of the extinct Cypriot pygmy hippopotamus confirm its phylogenetic placement
Authors: Psonis Nikolaos , Vassou Despoina , Nicolaou Loucas , Roussiakis Socrates , Iliopoulos George , Poulakakis Nikos , Sfenthourakis Spyros
Published: September 2021

The Cypriot pygmy hippopotamus is an extinct Mediterranean species that inhabited the island of Cyprus during the Late Pleistocene. This iconic species last appears at the archaeological site of Akrotiri Aetokremnos, dated to ~12 500 cal. BP. Taxonomically, the Cypriot pygmy hippopotamus has been assigned to Hippopotamus minor, which, based on morphology, is more closely related to the common hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius; today present only in Sub-Saharan Africa) than to the West African pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis). Despite adverse conditions for preservation that greatly reduce the likelihood of DNA preservation in subfossil samples from hot environments, we recovered and analysed ancient DNA from petrous bones excavated from Akrotiri Aetokremnos. By whole mitogenome hybridization capture and exhaustive high-throughput sequencing, we were able to investigate the molecular phylogeny and taxonomic status of the Cypriot pygmy hippopotamus. The results of our low-coverage ancient mitogenomic analyses support the close phylogenetic affinity of H. minor to H. amphibius, with their divergence estimated at ~1.36 or 1.58 Mya, depending on the molecular dating method. To our knowledge, this study constitutes the first step towards reconstruction of the molecular phylogeny of Mediterranean Hippopotaminae.
Phylogeny of the new subfamily Cladodinae: neotenic fireflies from the Neotropics (Coleoptera: Lampyridae)
Authors: Bocakova Milada , Campello-Gonçalves Lucas , Da Silveira Luiz Felipe Lima
Published: September 2021

Phylogenetic relationships of Vestini with extensive sampling were inferred using 37 taxa scored for 66 morphological characters. Consistent with recent DNA analyses, Vesta is found to be sister to Photurinae rendering Vestini monotypic. Conversely, our parsimony and model-based analyses robustly support the new subfamily Cladodinae established for Neotropical species of the former Vestini. The cladodine lineage includes Cladodes, Dodacles, Dryptelytra, Ledocas, plus the newly proposed Andecladodes gen. nov. and Brasilocladodes gen. nov. While Ledocas is mostly paraphyletic, Cladodes is polyphyletic and, therefore, Cladodes s.s. is introduced. Further, most trees presented a distinct Nyctocrepis, which is revalidated and includes the subgenus Fenestratocladodes (transferred from Cladodes). Finally, a highly supported crown clade designated as the Dodacles lineage is regularly recovered, splitting into two sister-clades: (1) Dodacles, Brasilocladodes and (2) Dryptelytra, C. proteus, C. solieri and Andecladodes. Four new Andean species are described: Andecladodes cosangensis sp. nov., A. ovalis sp. nov., Dryptelytra pampahermosae sp. nov. and Ledocas pikillactanus sp. nov. To recover the monophyly of genera, the following new combinations are proposed: Brasilocladodes carinatuscomb. nov., Brasilocladodes delalandeicomb. nov., Brasilocladodes illigericomb. nov., Dodacles lateraliscomb. nov. and Dodacles nigercomb. nov. (transferred from Cladodes); Ledocas emissuscomb. nov., Ledocas remixtuscomb. nov. (from Dodacles); Cladodes proteus comb. nov. (from Ledocas) Nyctocrepis malleri comb. nov. and Nyctocrepi stellatacomb. nov. (from Cladodes); and Cladodes cincticolliscomb. nov. and Cladodes melanuruscomb. nov. (from Vesta).
Redescription of the hermit crabDiogenes pugilator(Decapoda: Anomura) reveals the existence of a species complex in the Atlanto-Mediterranean transition zone, resulting in the resurrection ofD. curvimanusand the description of a new species
Authors: Almón Bruno , Cuesta Jose A , Schubart Christoph D , Armenia Lisa , Enrique García-Raso J
Published: September 2021

Examination of material from the coasts of the Iberian Peninsula and nearby areas has revealed that more than one species is mixed under the name for the common diogenid hermit crab, Diogenes pugilator. In this study, three species are recognized, primarily on the basis of a combination of morphological characters and live colour patterns. Diogenes pugilator is redescribed on the basis of a neotype selected from near the supposed type locality, as well as specimens from other localities. Diogenes curvimanus is resurrected and the name attributed to a second species, whereas a third morphotype is described as a new species, Diogenes armatus sp. nov.. The last two species are also fully described and differentiating characters among the three species are discussed. Newly generated sequences from two mitochondrial genes and one nuclear gene, and comparative analyses with other available DNA sequences for the genus, are also included. The corresponding molecular phylogenies support the recognition of the three species and suggest the presence of additional unknown species in the D. pugilator species complex. All previous records of D. pugilator should be revised in the light of these new findings. Finally, a comprehensive identification key to the eastern Atlantic and western Mediterranean species of Diogenes is also provided.
Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis: Imaging and Treatment
Authors: Yang Lindsay , Navuluri Rakesh
Published: September 2021

Uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas or myomas, are benign tumors that arise from the smooth muscle of the uterus. Fibroids affect most women, up to 80% of black women, and nearly 70% of white women in the United States by the age of 50 years,1 and the incidence of fibroids increases with age up to menopause.2
Anaerosporobacter faecicola sp. nov. isolated from faeces of Korean cow
Authors: Choi Seung-Hyeon , Park Jam-Eon , Choi Ji Young , Kim Ji-Sun , Kang Se Won , Lee Jiyoung , Lee Mi-Kyung , Lee Jung-Sook , Lee Ju Huck , Jung Hyunjung , Hur Tai-Young , Kim Hyeun Bum , Lee Ju-Hoon , Kim Jae-Kyung , Park Seung-Hwan
Published: September 2021

A novel bacterial isolate designated as strain AGMB01083T was isolated from Korean cow faeces deposited in the National Institute of Animal Science (Wanju, Republic of Korea). The bacterium is obligate anaerobic, Gram-strain-positive, and motile. Cells are straight or curved rod-shaped, flagella and spores are observed. Growth occurs between 20–40 °C (temperature optimum of 35 °C), at pH 7–9 (pH optimum of 7), and in the presence of 0.5–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain belongs to the genus

Anaerosporobacter

and is most closely related to

A. mobilis

HY-37-4T (=KCTC5027T, similarity, 95.7 %). The DNA G+C content is 36.2 mol%, determined by the whole-genome sequence. The average nucleotide identity value between strain AGMB01083T and strain

A. mobilis

HY-37-4T is 75.5 %, below the interspecies identity threshold value. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) of strain AGMB01083T are C16 : 0, C16 : 0 dimethyl acetal (DMA), and C16 : 0 3-OH. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic, and genomic characterization, strain AGMB01083T is proposed to be a novel species, named Anaerosporobacter faecicola, in the genus

Anaerosporobacter

. The type strain is AGMB01083T (=KCTC 15857T=NBRC 114517T).
Clinical Trial of Efficacy and Toxicity of Disoproxil Tenofovir Fumarate and Emtricitabine for Mild to Moderate SARS-CoV-2 Infections
Authors: Arruda E.A.G. , Pires-Neto R.J. , Medeiros M.S. , Quirino-Filho J. , Clementino M. , Gondim R.N.D.G. , Magalhães L.M.V.C. , Cavalcante K.F. , Viana V.A.F. , Mello Liana Perdigão , Martins R.B , Santos A.A. , Magalhães P.J.C. , Havt A. , Lopes N.P. , Arruda-Neto E. , Lima A.A.M. ,   study group members
Published: September 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of tenofovir (TDF) and TDF combined with emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 infections. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients with clinical suspicion of mild to moderate respiratory infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 who were treated at an outpatient clinic. Patients were randomly recruited to take 10 days of TDF (300 mg/day), TDF (300 mg/day) combined with FTC (200 mg/day) or placebo Vitamin C (500 mg/day). The primary parameter was the score of symptoms and predictive signs of COVID-19, assessed on the seventh day of patient follow-up. From a total of 309 patients with clinical suspicion of SARS-CoV-2, 227 met the inclusion criteria and were randomly distributed into the following groups: (a) 75 (one did not initiate treatment) in the TDF group; (b) 74 in the TDF combined with FTC group; and (c) 77 in the Vitamin C group (placebo). Of the 226 patients, 139 (62%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. Fever (≥37.8°C), ageusia or dysgeusia, anosmia or dysosmia, and two or more clinical symptoms or signs were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. There was no significant change in clinical score based on clinical symptoms and signs between treatment groups. Patients with mild to moderate infection by SARS-CoV-2 had higher concentrations of G-CSF, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α compared to patients without infection. Patients with mild to moderate respiratory infection, with fever (≥37.8°C), loss of smell, loss of taste and two or more symptoms, have a better prediction for the diagnosis of COVID-19. Patients with SARS-CoV-2 showed higher and more persistent proinflammatory cytokines profile compared to patients not infected with SARS-CoV-2. Pharmacological intervention with TDF or TDF combined with FTC did not change the clinical signs and symptoms score in mild to moderate respiratory infection in patients with SARS-CoV-2 compared to the Vitamin C group (placebo).
Sex-specific associations between type 2 diabetes incidence and exposure to dioxin and dioxin-like pollutants: a meta-analysis
Authors: Gang Noa , Van Allen Kyle , Villeneuve Paul J. , MacDonald Heather , Bruin Jennifer E.
Published: September 2021

The relationship between persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), and diabetes incidence in adults has been extensively studied. However, significant variability exists in the reported associations both between and within studies. Emerging data from rodent studies suggest that dioxin exposure disrupts glucose homeostasis in a sex-specific manner. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis of relevant epidemiological studies to investigate whether there are sex-specific associations between dioxin or DL-PCB exposure and type 2 diabetes incidence. Articles were organized into the following subcategories: data stratified by sex (16%), unstratified data (56%), and data from only 1 sex (16% male, 12% female). We also considered whether exposure occurred either abruptly at high levels through a contamination event (“disaster exposure”) or chronically at background levels (“non-disaster exposure”). Only 8 studies compared associations between dioxin/DL-PCB exposure and diabetes risk in males versus females within the same population. When all sex-stratified or single sex studies were considered in the meta-analysis, the summary odds ratio (OR) for increased diabetes risk was similar between females and males (1.78 and 1.95, respectively) when comparing exposed to reference populations, suggesting that this relationship is not sex-specific. However, when we considered disaster-exposed populations separately, the association differed substantially between sexes, with females showing a much higher OR than males (2.86 and 1.59, respectively). Moreover, the association between dioxin/DL-PCB exposure and diabetes was stronger for females than males in disaster-exposed populations. In contrast, both sexes had significantly increased ORs in non-disaster exposure populations and the OR for females was lower than males (1.40 and 2.02, respectively). Our review emphasizes the importance of considering sex differences, as well as the mode of pollutant exposure, when exploring the relationship between pollutant exposure and diabetes in epidemiological studies.
Fc-gamma receptor expression and cytokine response to intravenous human immunoglobulin in mothers and neonates
Authors: Vazquez-Rodriguez Stephania , Arriaga-Pizano Lourdes A. , Mancilla-Herrera Ismael , Prieto-Chávez Jessica , Arizmendi-Villanueva Roberto , Flisser Ana , García-Latorre Ethel , Cérbulo-Vázquez Arturo
Published: September 2021

Objective

The use of intravenous human immunoglobulin (IVIg) as adjuvant therapy for sepsis has been shown efficacious in adults, but its use in pregnant women and newborns is controversial. Fc gamma receptors (FcγRs) support the ability of IVIg to stimulate the synthesis of inflammatory mediators and promote phagocytosis by leukocytes, however, the FcγRs expression is differential between adults and neonates. We aimed to explore the effect of IVIg in monocytes and neutrophils from mother and neonates in whole blood cultures.

Study design

Whole blood from adults, maternal, and neonates were incubated with LPS and/or IVIg. After 0, 24, and 48 hours, we measured the expression of FcγRs (CD16, CD32, and CD64) and bacterial phagocytosis by monocytes and neutrophils. Also, the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines was determined.

Results

FcγRs expression is quite similar among groups, and the LPS or IVIg challenge did not change the FcγRs expression on monocytes and neutrophils. Also, the LPS or IVIg challenge did not modify phagocytosis capacity in any group. However, IVIg induces a higher IL-8 response in neonates than in adults.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the IL-8 response to IVIg in whole blood from neonates is not dependent on differential FcγR expression.

Key messages

IVIg challenge in neonates or adults does not induce FcγR change expression on monocytes or neutrophils

IVIg induces higher IL-8 response in neonates than in adults
Map-less long-term localization in complex industrial environments
Authors: Liu Zhe , Qiao Zhijian , Suo Chuanzhe , Liu Yingtian , Jin Kefan
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to study the localization problem for autonomous industrial vehicles in the complex industrial environments. Aiming for practical applications, the pursuit is to build a map-less localization system which can be used in the presence of dynamic obstacles, short-term and long-term environment changes.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed system contains four main modules, including long-term place graph updating, global localization and re-localization, location tracking and pose registration. The first two modules fully exploit the deep-learning based three-dimensional point cloud learning techniques to achieve the map-less global localization task in large-scale environment. The location tracking module implements the particle filter framework with a newly designed perception model to track the vehicle location during movements. Finally, the pose registration module uses visual information to exclude the influence of dynamic obstacles and short-term changes and further introduces point cloud registration network to estimate the accurate vehicle pose.

Findings

Comprehensive experiments in real industrial environments demonstrate the effectiveness, robustness and practical applicability of the map-less localization approach.

Practical implications

This paper provides comprehensive experiments in real industrial environments.

Originality/value

The system can be used in the practical automated industrial vehicles for long-term localization tasks. The dynamic objects, short-/long-term environment changes and hardware limitations of industrial vehicles are all considered in the system design. Thus, this work moves a big step toward achieving real implementations of the autonomous localization in practical industrial scenarios.
Characterisation and comparison of unsteady actuators: a fluidic oscillator and a sweeping jet
Authors: Serrar Abderrahim , El Khlifi Mohamed , Kourta Azeddine
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare two unsteady actuators: an oscillator and a sweeping jet. Both actuators can produce an oscillating jet of different amplitudes and frequencies without any moving parts, making them an attractive actuator concept. The Coanda effect phenomenon can explain the operating principles of these two unsteady actuators.

Design/methodology/approach

A numerical study was conducted to compare the amplitudes and frequencies of fluidic and sweeping jet (SJ) oscillators to obtain an efficient actuator to control separated flows at high Reynolds numbers. For this goal, two-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes simulations were carried out using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) fluent code to evaluate the actuator performances. The discrete fast Fourier transform method determined the oscillation frequencies.

Findings

The oscillation frequencies gradually increase as the inlet pressure increases. The characteristics and dimensions of the vortices produced in the mixing chamber and feedback loops vary overtime when the injected fluid is swept sideways. The frequencies supplied by the SJ are stronger than those obtained by the fluidic oscillator, which may contribute to improving the aerodynamic performance at a lower power supply cost.

Originality/value

The existence of the splitter in the fluidic oscillator led to the production of separate pulses, which would be useful in various industrial applications, including active control of combustion and mixing processes while other applications such as flow separation control require SJs. With the latter actuator higher and interesting frequencies can be obtained, leading to efficient flow control.
A multiphase acceptance sampling model by attributes to investigate the production interruptions in batch production within tobacco industry
Authors: Yüksel Damla , Kazancoglu Yigit , Sarma P.R.S
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to create a new decision-making procedure that uses “Lot-by-Lot Acceptance Sampling Plan by Attributes” methodology in the production processes when any production interruption is observed in tobacco industry, which is a significant example of batch production.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the fish bone diagram, the reasons of the production interruptions are categorized, then Lot-by-Lot Acceptance Sampling Plan by Attributes is studied to overcome the reasons of the production interruptions. Furthermore, managerial aspects of decision making are not ignored and hence, acceptance sampling models are determined by an Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) among the alternative acceptance sampling models.

Findings

A three-phased acceptance sampling model is generated for determination of the reasons of production interruptions. Hence, the necessary actions are provided according to the results of the proposed acceptance sampling model. Initially, 729 alternative acceptance sampling models are found and 38 of them are chosen by relaxation. Then, five acceptance sampling models are determined by AHP.

Practical implications

The current experience dependent decision mechanism is suggested to be replaced by the proposed acceptance sampling model which is based on both statistical and managerial decision-making procedure.

Originality/value

Acceptance sampling plans are considered as a decision-making procedure for various cases in production processes. However, to the best of our knowledge Lot-by-Lot Acceptance Sampling Plan by Attributes has not been considered as a decision-making procedure for batch production when any production interruption is investigated.