bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of resilience in the relationship between role stress and psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Padmanabhanunni Anita , Pretorius Tyrone B , Khamisa Natasha
Published: February 2023

Background

Stress resistance resources, such as social support and resilience, have been found to be important in promoting psychological well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, most prior research studies have conceptualized stress resistance resource variables as having a mediating or moderating role. Cooper (2018) proposed a model of the relationship between stress and health which posits that coping resources are always present and not only invoked in the face of adversity. Thus, we hypothesize that coping resources are causally antecedent to stressors and influence well-being indirectly via the stressor. We focused specifically on school teachers due to them being at the frontlines of service provision during the pandemic. Teaching was already identified as a highly stressful profession prior to COVID-19 and disease containment measures placed additional strain on teachers who had to adapt to emergency remote teaching.

Aim

The current study tests this hypothesis by examining the indirect effects of resilience on indices of psychological health via role stress.

Methods

Participants (N = 355) were teachers who completed the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale-10, the Role Stress Scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait Scale, and the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. An electronic version of the questionnaires was distributed to teachers via Facebook and to officials from the Department of Education, who assisted with distribution of the electronic link to the survey. Participants were mostly women (76.6%) and mean number of years in the teaching profession was 15.7.

Results

Structural equation modelling results demonstrated significant direct effects of resilience on life satisfaction, anxiety, and depression, which indicates that resilience is beneficial for psychological health even in the absence of stress. Resilience also had a significant indirect effect on indices of psychological well-being via role ambiguity but not role conflict.

Conclusion

These findings have theoretical implications for the understanding of the role of resilience in promoting psychological health among educators. Practical implications include an empirical contribution to education policy and information that can inform interventions aimed to promote resilience among educators.
Exploration of a virtual restoration practice route for architectural heritage based on evidence-based design: a case study of the Bagong House
Authors: Zhang Ziyi , Zou Yiquan , Xiao Wei
Published: February 2023

Architectural heritage is a testament to human and natural development, and the process of human social development can be glimpsed through the study and exploration of heritage. However, in the long history of human social development, architectural heritage is vanishing, and protecting and restoring such heritage is a pressing issue in contemporary society. This study applies the evidence-based theory of medicine to the virtual restoration practice of architectural heritage, which focuses more on scientific data-driven research and decision-making than does traditional restoration. Combined with the practice of evidence-based medicine, the stages of digital conservation of architectural heritage for virtual restoration based on evidence-based design are investigated, forming a comprehensive knowledge system consisting of clear objectives, evidence-based research, evidence assessment, virtual restoration-guided practice, and post feedback. In addition, it is emphasized that the restoration of architectural heritage should be founded on the outcomes obtained through evidence-based practice that have been translated into evidence, in turn creating a rigorous evidence-based system with high-frequency feedback. The final illustration of the procedure is the Bagong House in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. The examination of this practice line provides a scientific, humanistic, and practicable theoretical framework for the restoration of architectural heritage and fresh ideas for the restoration of other cultural assets, which have significant practical application value.
Temporal change in rock-magnetic properties of volcanic ashes ejected during a 1-year eruption event: a case study on the Aso Nakadake 2019–2020 eruption
Authors: Anai Chisato , Ohkura Takahiro , Yoshikawa Shin , Mochizuki Nobutatsu
Published: February 2023

We investigated temporal changes in the rock-magnetic properties of volcanic ash ejected from the Aso Nakadake volcano during a sequence of ash eruptions from 2019 to 2020. For 39 volcanic ash samples, magnetic hysteresis parameters, including saturation magnetization (Ms), saturation remanent magnetization (Mrs), coercivity (Bc), and coercivity of remanence (Bcr), were obtained. Curie temperature (Tc) of the samples was also estimated using thermomagnetic analyses. Titanium-rich and -poor titanomagnetites were the dominant magnetic minerals in the volcanic ash, of which the titanium-rich phase was dominant. Systematic magnetic measurements of the volcanic ash ejected during the 1-year eruption event indicate that temporal changes in the hysteresis parameters occurred throughout the event. These temporal changes suggest that the Mrs/Ms and Bc values of the volcanic ash increased considerably during several periods. The clear increases in Mrs/Ms and Bc, associated with the central peak in FORC diagrams, indicate that non-interacting single-domain grains increased. For these high Mrs/Ms and Bc samples, thermal demagnetizations of 3-axis IRM show that the low unblocking-temperature component up to 250–300 °C has apparently higher coercivity, suggesting that the above-mentioned, non-interacting single-domain grains are Ti-rich titanomagnetite. Interestingly, the high Mrs/Ms and Bc values were synchronous with observations of volcanic glow. These results suggest that changes in the magnetic properties of titanomagnetite grains in volcanic ash reflect changes in physical conditions from the vent to the conduit of the volcano.

Graphical Abstract
Rediscovery of poly(ethylene glycol)s as a cryoprotectant for mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Patel Madhumita , Park Jin Kyung , Jeong Byeongmoon
Published: February 2023

Background

A medium containing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (10% v/v) is most widely used for cell cryopreservation at –196 °C. However, residual DMSO consistently raises concerns because of its toxicity; thus, its complete removal process is required.

Method

As biocompatible polymers approved by the Food and Drug Administration for various biomedical applications for humans, poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) with various molecular weights (400, 600, 1 K, 1.5 K, 5 K, 10 K, and 20 K Da) were studied as a cryoprotectant of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Considering the cell permeability difference of PEGs depending on their molecular weight, the cells were preincubated for 0 h (no incubation), 2 h, and 4 h at 37 °C in the presence of PEGs at 10 wt.% before cryopreservation at –196 °C for 7 days. Then, cell recovery was assayed.

Results

We found that low molecular weight PEGs (400 and 600 Da) exhibit excellent cryoprotecting properties by 2 h preincubation, whereas intermediate molecular weight PEGs (1 K, 1.5 K, and 5 K Da) exhibit their cryoprotecting properties without preincubation. High molecular weight PEGs (10 K and 20 K Da) were ineffective as cryoprotectants for MSCs. Studies on ice recrystallization inhibition (IRI), ice nucleation inhibition (INI), membrane stabilization, and intracellular transport of PEGs suggest that low molecular weight PEGs (400 and 600 Da) exhibit excellent intracellular transport properties, and thus the internalized PEGs during preincubation contribute to the cryoprotection. Intermediate molecular weight PEGs (1 K, 1.5 K, and 5 K Da) worked by extracellular PEGs through IRI, INI, as well as partly internalized PEGs. High molecular weight PEGs (10 K and 20 K Da) killed the cells during preincubation and were ineffective as cryoprotectants.

Conclusions

PEGs can be used as cryoprotectants. However, the detailed procedures, including preincubation, should consider the effect of the molecular weight of PEGs. The recovered cells well proliferated and underwent osteo/chondro/adipogenic differentiation similar to the MSCs recovered from the traditional DMSO 10% system.

Graphical Abstract
Adverse selection, loan access and default behavior in the Chilean consumer debt market
Authors: Madeira Carlos
Published: February 2023

Why do households use different types of loans? Which factors cause borrowers to default? Using a comprehensive survey dataset from Chile, I estimate a partial information model of consumer debt access, lender choice, loan amount and default. The model consists of a first-stage multinomial logit that explains the choice across the five loan types, plus the options of no access to debt due to credit constraints and a no wish for consumer debt. In the second and third stages, the model assumes a log-linear regression of the debt amount and a logit regression of the default behavior, accounting for the loan type selection probability. Identification is obtained using factors measured at different time periods for the default and the loan type choices. I find that households choose different lenders based on income, education and labor risks. Higher income and education decrease the probability of credit constraints, while increasing bank lending and debt amounts. Unemployment risk and household size increase the chances of all the loan types; however, unemployment decreases the debt amount. Age and wage volatility reduce the probability of all loans. Default decreases with income, education and age, whereas it increases with indebtedness, unemployment, household size, health shocks, and paying previous loans. Counterfactual exercises demonstrate that pension reform, higher requirements for borrowers’ capacities, and financial literacy programs could substantially reduce default risk. Financial literacy could greatly reduce arrears, households with credit constraints, the number of debtors and the aggregate debt amounts, especially for non-bank lending.
Injury-induced interleukin-1 alpha promotes Lgr5 hair follicle stem cells de novo regeneration and proliferation via regulating regenerative microenvironment in mice
Authors: Yang Guang , Chen Haiyan , Chen Qun , Qiu Jiayi , Qahar Mulan , Fan Zhimeng , Chu Weiwei , Tredget Edward E. , Wu Yaojiong
Published: February 2023

Background

The hair follicles (HFs) are barely regenerated after loss in injuries in mammals as well as in human beings. Recent studies have shown that the regenerative ability of HFs is age-related; however, the relationship between this phenomenon and the stem cell niche remains unclear. This study aimed to find a key secretory protein that promotes the HFs regeneration in the regenerative microenvironment.

Methods

To explore why age affects HFs de novo regeneration, we established an age-dependent HFs regeneration model in leucine-rich repeat G protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5) + /mTmG mice. Proteins in tissue fluids were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing. The role and mechanism of candidate proteins in HFs de novo regeneration and hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) activation were investigated through in vivo experiments. The effects of candidate proteins on skin cell populations were investigated by cellular experiments.

Results

Mice under 3-week-old (3W) could regenerate HFs and Lgr5 HFSCs, which were highly correlated with the immune cells, cytokines, IL-17 signaling pathway, and IL-1α level in the regeneration microenvironment. Additionally, IL-1α injection induced de novo regeneration of HFs and Lgr5 HFSCs in 3W mouse model with a 5 mm wound, as well as promoted activation and proliferation of Lgr5 HFSCs in 7-week-old (7W) mice without wound. Dexamethasone and TEMPOL inhibited the effects of IL-1α. Moreover, IL-1α increased skin thickness and promoted the proliferation of human epidermal keratinocyte line (HaCaT) and skin-derived precursors (SKPs) in vivo and in vitro, respectively.

Conclusions

In conclusion, injury-induced IL-1α promotes HFs regeneration by modulating inflammatory cells and oxidative stress-induced Lgr5 HFSCs regeneration as well as promoting skin cell populations proliferation. This study uncovers the underlying molecular mechanisms enabling HFs de novo regeneration in an age-dependent model.
Comparison of CAT and short forms for PROMIS pain and physical health domains in children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Mason Sadie F. , Dasgupta Mahua , Flynn Kathryn E. , Simpson Pippa M. , Singh Ashima
Published: February 2023

Background

Pain and physical health domains included in Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System® (PROMIS®) can be administered as short forms (SF) or as computer adaptive tests (CAT). CAT is ideal in many settings but cannot be administered without specialized technology. We compared SF and CAT to identify items for customized SFs to improve the SF performance for children with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods

Eligible children 8–17 years old were administered CATs for 5 domains of physical health and 2 domains of pain, followed by any items on the corresponding SF that were not included in the CAT assessments. We describe the range of scores on the CAT and SFs, including the percentage of participants with floor or ceiling effects using the SF. The agreement and correlation between CAT and SF scores were assessed using Bland–Altman plots. Items frequently offered on CAT that had variable responses and were not already present on SF are recommended as additional items for customized SFs.

Results

Among 90 children with SCD, there were strong correlations between CAT and SF scores (Concordance Correlation Coefficient > 0.8) however, the SFs for fatigue, mobility, strength impact, pain behavior, and pain interference had substantial floor/ceiling effects. Fatigue, mobility, physical stress experience, and pain behavior domains had items that were frequently offered on CAT, variable responses, and were not present on the SF.

Conclusions

Adding items to the SFs for the fatigue, mobility, physical stress experience, and pain behavior domains may improve these domains’ SFs performance for children with SCD.
Root-knot nematode pathogen suppression in eggplant using antagonistic fungi
Authors: Uddin Jalal , Ullah Farman , Naz Ishrat , Ahmad Sarir , Saljoqi Ahmad-Ur-Rahman , Khan Shahid Sattar , Salim Muhammad
Published: February 2023

Background

Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid and White) Chitwood is a major pest of eggplant in Pakistan. The second-stage juveniles (J2s) feed on the roots of eggplant. Damaged roots swell and the plant exhibits stunted growth. Mostly farmers rely on the use of broad-spectrum nematicides. However, due to hazardous effects on the environment and non-target species, its application is greatly criticized. Fungal biocontrol agents have been long used for curtailing root-knot nematode infections. The present study was conducted to determine the virulence of four fungal biocontrol agents against M. incognita under laboratory and greenhouse conditions.

Results

The in vitro results revealed that Trichoderma harzianum significantly caused 77.60% egg inhibition, followed by Pochonia chlamydosporium (53.0%) at 1:1 concentration after 72 h. The maximum J2s mortality was achieved by T. harzianum (82.0%), followed by P. chlamydosporium (70.20%) at 1:1 concentration after 72 h. The in-planta examination carried out at a greenhouse demonstrated that the soil drench treatment of fungal biocontrol agents significantly suppressed M. incognita parameters and upraised the eggplant growth. The mean least number of galls (22.25) was in T. harzianum treated plants, while the control had (206.8) galls. Likewise, T. harzianum curtailed the least egg masses to 35.75 and swollen females to 21.12 than control negative (224.13 egg masses and 182.75 swollen females).

Conclusion

T. harzianum was the best agent to control M. incognita (J2s) effectively, followed by P. chlamydosporum. T. harzianum may be a contribution to the biological control of M. incognita in Pakistan.
Foraging behaviors of Amblyseius swirskii Athias-Henriot and Euseius scutalis (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae) feed on the invasive pest, Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein) (Acari: Tetranychidae)
Authors: Yalçın Kemal , Döker İsmail , Kazak Cengiz
Published: February 2023

Background

Recent population outbreaks of citrus brown mite,Eutetranychus orientalis(Klein) (Acari: Tetranychidae), were observed in the Çukurova region, a region that supplies approximately 80% of total citrus production in Turkey. Therefore, to obtain preliminary data, regarding biological control of this pest, functional and numerical responses of two commonly found predatory mites,Amblyseius swirskiiAthias-Henriot andEuseius scutalis(Athias-Henriot) (Phytoseiidae) in citrus orchards, to egg and protonymph stages ofE. orientaliswere determined under laboratory conditions.

Results

In the experiments, six different prey densities (1, 5, 10, 20, 40 and 80) for each selected biological stage of the prey were provided to the predatory mite for 24 h. According to results, the proportion of prey consumed byA.swirskiidecreased with increasing egg and protonymph stages of the prey densities. Similarly, the proportion of protonymph consumption ofE.scutalisdecreased with increasing prey densities, but egg consumption of the predator showed no discernible response to increasing densities.A. swirskiiexhibited a type II functional response in both prey stages, whereasE.scutalisshowed a type II response only for the protonymph stage of the prey. The attack rate (α) and the handling time (Th) varied between the biological stages and also predatory mite species. The highestα(0.066 h−1) and the lowestTh(0.536 h) values were determined when theA.swirskiiwas fed on protonymph stage ofE.orientalis. The numerical response curves were found to be similar to those of Type II functional response. The efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) of the both predatory mite species females decreased on both tested stages when prey density increased. The highest and the lowest average daily mean number of eggs laid byE.scutaliswas found as 0.20 and 1.40 when it fed on eggs and protonymphs of its prey, respectively.

Conclusion

Both predatory mite species were evaluated as potential and promising biological control agents in the sustainable control ofE.orientalisin citrus orchards.
Suction drainage in total knee replacement does not influence early functional outcomes or blood loss: a randomized control trial
Authors: Maliarov Anton , Newman Nicholas , Sabouret Pierre , Al-Shakfa Fidaa , Chergui Sami , Lavoie Frédéric
Published: February 2023

Introduction

The use of wound drainage following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of suction drainage on early postoperative outcomes in patients who underwent TKA with concomitant administration of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA).

Method

One hundred forty-six patients undergoing primary TKA with systematic intravenous TXA were prospectively selected and randomly divided into two groups. The first "Study group" (n = 67) received no suction drain and the second "Control" group (n = 79) had a suction drain. Perioperative hemoglobin levels, blood loss, complications, and length of hospital stay were assessed in both groups. Preoperative and postoperative range of motion and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scores (KOOS) were also compared at a 6-week follow-up.

Results

The study group was found to have higher hemoglobin levels preoperatively and during the first two days following surgery, and no difference was found between the groups on the third day. No significant discrepancies at any time were found between groups in terms of blood loss, length of hospitalization, knee range of motion, and KOOS score. Complications requiring further treatment were observed in one patient from the study group and ten patients from the control group.

Conclusion

The use of suction drains after TKA with TXA did not alter early postoperative outcomes.
Assessment of tomographic window and sampling rate effects on GNSS water vapor tomography
Authors: Yang Fei , Sun Yilin , Meng Xiaolin , Guo Jiming , Gong Xu
Published: February 2023

The ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) water vapor tomography is increasingly important in GNSS meteorology. As the multi-GNSS and more ground-based GNSS sites can be incorporated into the regional water vapor tomographic model, determining the tomographic window and sampling rate is crucial for the modelling of the water vapor tomography. These two factors affect not only the number of available signal rays from the satellites, but also the number of tomographic voxels crossed by the signal rays. This study uses Hong Kong as the research area to explore the impact of 12 schemes with different tomographic window and sampling rate on the three water vapor tomography methods, including Least squares, Kalman filtering, and Multiplicative Algebraic Reconstruction Technique (MART). Numerical results show that the tomographic results with the three methods get better as the width of the tomographic window decreases and the sampling rate increases in these 12 schemes, and it is found that the Least squares method is most affected by the two factors, followed by Kalman filtering and MART methods. It is recommended to set a tomographic window width of 10 min and a sampling rate of 300 s in a GNSS water vapor tomographic experiment with dense GNSS site like Hong Kong.
Relationship between bronchial asthma and COVID-19 infection in adults: clinical and laboratory assessment
Authors: Rawy Abeer M. , Sadek Mohamed S. , Mogahed Mysara M. , Khamis Afaf , Allam Amira H.
Published: February 2023

Background

Asthma is still considered a major chronic respiratory disease that affects a large number in the world. The association between COVID-19 infection and asthma was studied in different ways focusing on hospital-admitted patients. This study aimed to assess the outcome of patients with asthma and/or COVID infection in adults attending outpatient pulmonary clinic over three successive months from clinical and laboratory point of view.

Patients and methods

The current study was a retrospective observational study involving 898 patients attending the outpatient pulmonary clinic of a Saudi Arabian private hospital over three successive months from the 1st of December 2020 to the end of February 2021. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1—COVID-19 infected with asthma (312); group 2—COVID-19 infected with no asthma (286); and group 3—COVID-19 non-infected with asthma (300).

Results and conclusions

Results showed the best patient’s outcome was seen in asthmatic patients without COVID-19 infection followed by asthmatic patient with COVID-19 infection. There was a significant statistical difference in eosinophil count between COVID-19-infected patients with asthma and COVID-19 infected without asthma. Also, it was shown that the most common cause of hospitalization in asthmatic patients with COVID-19 infection was pneumonia followed by gastroenteritis and not an asthma exacerbation.
Glucagonoma-induced Dilated Cardiomyopathy in a Young Woman
Authors: Ng Jennifer Lourdes , Ponce Lee Matthew , Jasul Gabriel
Published: February 2023

A 27-year-old woman presented with an epigastric mass, accompanied by emesis and weight loss. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed a pancreatic head-body mass and liver metastasis. Biopsy revealed well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, grade 3. Chromogranin and synaptophysin stains were positive, with a Ki-67 index of 33.6%. Increased frequency of episodic emesis with incomprehensible speech and right-sided weakness prompted admission. A cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed a subacute cerebrovascular infarct. Serum glucagon was markedly elevated. On the third hospital day, neurologic symptoms progressed, with repeat cranial MRI demonstrating acute lacunar infarcts. Two-dimensional echocardiography was consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. Because of her fragile condition, she was not a candidate for surgery and chemotherapy. She was treated with long-acting octreotide every 4 weeks for a total of 10 doses. Posttreatment, a 2-dimensional echocardiogram and an abdominal CT scan showed no significant change. We report a rare case of glucagonoma with associated prominently dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic stroke.
Left Stellate Ganglion Blockade for Refractory Ventricular Arrhythmias With Aconitine Poisoning: A Case Report
Authors: Ichikawa Yasuko , Matsumoto Shinsaku , Fujinaka Waso , Takatori Makoto , Nishioka Kenji , Namera Akira
Published: February 2023

Aconitine poisoning causes refractory ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). In a 20-year-old man, VAs of unknown etiology did not respond to drugs and electrical defibrillation. However, left stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) dramatically decreased arrhythmias without complications. At a later date, we found that refractory VAs were caused by aconitine poisoning. Left SGB is effective for treating refractory VAs with aconitine poisoning and can be easily performed with few complications for VAs of unknown etiology even if patients are receiving anticoagulant therapy. Also, left SGB can be performed to diagnose refractory VAs.
Haematological risk factors predicting clinical success in transarterial embolisation for acute gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Delf Jonathan , Ramachandran Sanjeev , Martin Christopher A , Vadera Sonam , Mustafa Syed , Waters Kate , Saeed Abdullah , Adair William , Glasby Michael , Kandiyil Neghal
Published: February 2023

Objectives:

Evaluate clinical outcomes in transarterial embolisation (TAE) for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) and determine risk factors for 30-day reintervention for rebleeding and mortality.

Methods:

TAE cases were retrospectively reviewed between March 2010 and September 2020 at our tertiary centre. Technical success (angiographic haemostasis following embolisation) was measured. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to identify risk factors for clinical success (absence of 30-day reintervention or mortality) following embolisation for active GIB or empirical embolisation for suspected bleeding.

Results:

TAE was conducted in 139 patients (92 (66.2%) male; median age:73, range: 20–95 years) for acute upper GIB (n = 88) and lower GIB (n = 51). TAE was technically successful in 85/90 (94.4%) and clinically successful in 99/139 (71.2%); with 12 (8.6%) reintervention cases for rebleeding (median interval 2 days) and 31 (22.3%) cases of mortality (median interval 6 days). Reintervention for rebleeding was associated with haemoglobin drop > 40 g l−1 from baseline based on univariate analysis (p = 0.047). 30-day mortality was associated with pre-intervention platelet count < 150×109 l−1 (p < 0.001, OR 7.35, 95% CI 3.05–17.71) and INR > 1.4 (p < 0.001, OR 4.75, 95% CI 2.03–11.09) on multivariate logistic regression analysis. No associations were found for patient age, gender, antiplatelet/anticoagulation prior to TAE, or when comparing upper and lower GIB with 30-day mortality.

Conclusion:

TAE had excellent technical success for GIB with relatively high (1-in-5) 30-day mortality. INR > 1.4 and platelet count < 150×109 l−1 were individually associated with TAE 30-day mortality, and pre-TAE > 40 g l−1 haemoglobin decline with rebleeding requiring reintervention.

Advances in knowledge:

Recognition and timely reversal of haematological risk factors may improve TAE periprocedural clinical outcomes.
Ultrasound shear wave elastography for the evaluation of renal pathological changes in adult patients
Authors: Leong Sook Sam , Jalalonmuhali Maisarah , Md Shah Mohammad Nazri , Ng Kwan Hoong , Vijayananthan Anushya , Hisham Ranitha , Wong Jeannie Hsiu Ding
Published: February 2023

Objective:

Many studies have conflicting findings in using shear wave elastography (SWE) to assess renal fibrosis. This study reviews the use of SWE to evaluate pathological changes in native kidneys and renal allografts. It also tries to elucidate the confounding factors and care taken to ensure the results are consistent and reliable.

Methods:

The review was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Literature search was conducted in Pubmed, Web of Science and Scopus database up to 23 October 2021. To evaluate risk and bias applicability, the Cochrane risk-of bias tool and GRADE was used. The review was registered under PROSPERO CRD42021265303.

Results:

A total of 2921 articles were identified. 104 full texts were examined and 26 studies included in systematic review. 11 studies performed on native kidneys and 15 studies on transplanted kidney. A wide range of impact factors was found that affect the accuracy of SWE of renal fibrosis in adult patients

Conclusions:

Compared to point SWE, two-dimensional SWE with elastogram could enable better selection of the region of interest in kidneys, leading to reproducible results. Tracking waves were attenuated as the depth from skin to region of interest increased, therefore, SWE is not recommended for overweight or obese patients. Variable transducer forces might also affect SWE reproducibility, thus, training of operators to ensure consistent operator-dependent transducer forces may be helpful.

Advances in knowledge:

This review provides a holistic insight on the efficiency of using SWE in evaluating pathological changes in native and transplanted kidneys, thereby contributing to the knowledge of its utilisation in clinical practice.
Morphological variations of the human spleen: no evidence for a multifocal or lobulated developmental origin
Authors: Buijtendijk Marieke FJ , Peters Jess J , Visser Sophie C , van Tongeren Floris HJM , Dawood Yousif , Lobé Nick HJ , van den Hoff Maurice JB , Oostra Roelof-Jan , de Bakker Bernadette S
Published: February 2023

Objectives:

Adult spleens show extensive morphological variation, with a reported prevalence of 40–98% clefts (also called notches or fissures) on the splenic surface and 10–30% accessory spleens at autopsy. It is hypothesised that both anatomical variants result from a complete or partial failure of multiple splenic primordia to fuse to the main body. According to this hypothesis, fusion of the spleen primordia is completed after birth and spleen morphological variations are often explained as stagnation of spleen development at the foetal stage. We tested this hypothesis by studying early spleen development in embryos, and compared foetal and adult spleen morphology.

Methods and materials:

We assessed 22 embryonic, 17 foetal and 90 adult spleens on the presence of clefts using histology, micro-CT and conventional post-mortem CT-scans, respectively.

Results:

The spleen primordium was observed as a single mesenchymal condensation in all embryonic specimens. The number of clefts varied from 0 to 6 in foetuses, compared to 0–5 in adults. We found no correlation between foetal age and number of clefts (R2 = 0.004). The independent samples Kolmogorov–Smirnov test showed no significant difference in the total number of clefts between adult and foetal spleens (p = 0.068).

Conclusion:

We found no morphological evidence for a multifocal origin or a lobulated developmental stage of the human spleen.

Advances in knowledge:

Our findings show that splenic morphology is highly variable, independent of developmental stage and age. We suggest to abandon the term “persistent foetal lobulation” and to regard splenic clefts, regardless of their number or location, as normal variants.
The COVID-19 pandemic and mental health outcomes – A cross-sectional study among health care workers in Coastal South India
Authors: T Rekha , Kumar Nithin , Hegde Kausthubh , Unnikrishnan Bhaskaran , Mithra Prasanna , Holla Ramesh , Bhagawan Darshan
Published: February 2023

Background: Frontline health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of developing unfavourable mental health outcomes and burnout, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the early warning signs of mental distress is very important to ensure the provision of quality patient care.

Methods: In this facility-based cross-sectional study, HCWs of the teaching hospitals affiliated to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore were assessed regarding their mental health status using a semi-structured questionnaire. All doctors and nurses who were willing to participate from these teaching hospitals were included in the study. Data was collected over a period of four months (1st March -30th June 2021) till the required sample size was reached and analysed using IBM SPSS and expressed using mean (standard deviation), median (interquartile range), and proportions. Univariate analysis was done to identify the factors associated with mental health outcomes among the HCWs and the corresponding unadjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were reported.

Results: A total of 245 HCWs [52.2% (n=128) doctors and 47.8% (n=117) nurses] were included in our study. The proportion of participants with depressive symptoms, anxiety, and insomnia assessed using PHQ-9, GAD-7, and ISI-7 scales were 49% (n=119), 38% (n=93), and 42% (n=102) respectively. Depression, anxiety, and insomnia were more likely to be experienced by HCWs aged > 27 years, females, and involved in COVID-19 patient care. (p>0.05)

Conclusions:  Our findings that 38% of the examined HCWs had clinically relevant anxiety symptoms and 49% had clinically relevant depression symptoms draws attention to the importance of systematically tracking the mental health of HCWs during this ongoing pandemic. HCWs should monitor their stress reactions and seek appropriate help both on a personal and professional level. Appropriate workplace interventions including psychological support should be provided to HCWs, to ensure provision of uncompromised quality patient care.
Advancing South-South cooperation in education: Indonesian experience with South Africa
Authors: Heryadi R. Dudy , Darmastuti Shanti , Rachman Ayu Anastasya
Published: February 2023

Education collaboration is important to increase the quality of human capital. South-South cooperation is conducted to exchange resources, technology, skills, and knowledge between southern countries. The purpose of this research is to investigate the collaboration between Indonesia and South Africa toward advancing South-South Cooperation in education. The data collection used in this qualitative research is an interview and literature study with 9 purposive informants from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indonesia Ministry of Education and Culture, and the Embassy of South Africa. The data were obtained within six months. The interview was primarily used to explore the roles and practices of government institutions and universities in fostering education collaboration and human resources development. In this study, the South-South Cooperation helps Indonesia address its educational needs. The result showed that most international education cooperation between both countries is agreed upon at the University-to-University level through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), facing less sustainable challenges and low impact. Therefore, an investment-led model, multi-stakeholder collaboration, and a tool to monitor and evaluate this process are needed to improve South-South Cooperation to achieve its goals.
Mutation patterns of resistance genes for macrolides, aminoglycosides, and rifampicin in nontuberculous mycobacteria isolates from Kenya
Authors: Mwangi Zakayo , Naeku Grace , Mureithi Marianne , Onyambu Frank , Bulimo Wallace
Published: February 2023

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) treatment constitutes a macrolide-based antibiotic regimen in combination with aminoglycosides for Rapid-Growing mycobacteria (RGM), and rifampicin for Slow-Growing mycobacteria (SGM). Mutations in the anti-NTM drug target regions promote NTM evolution to mutant strains that are insusceptible to NTM drugs leading to treatment failure. We, therefore, described the mutation patterns of anti-NTM drug target genes including rrl, rrs, and rpoB in NTM isolates from Kenya. 

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study that included 122 NTM obtained from the sputum of symptomatic tuberculosis-negative patients in Kenya. All  122 NTM underwent targeted sequencing of the rrl gene. The 54 RGM were also sequenced for rrs, and the 68 SGM were sequenced for rpoB genes using ABI 3730XL analyzer. The obtained sequences were aligned to their wild-type reference sequences for each gene using Geneious then mutations were identified. Pearson chi-square at a 95% confidence interval tested the association of NTM to mutation patterns for each gene.

Results: Twenty-eight (23%) of the NTM harbored mutations associated with resistance to at least one of the macrolide-based therapy antibiotics. Twelve (10.4%)  NTM comprising 7(58.3%) of RGM and 5(41.7%) of SGM had mutations in the rrl gene.

For ten (83.3%) NTM, mutations were found at position 2058, while for two (16.6%) NTM, mutations were found at position 2059. Six (11.1%) of the 54 RGM exhibited mutations in the aminoglycoside target gene rrs at location 1408. Ten (14.7%) of the 68 SGM harbored mutations in the rpoB gene with 40 percent having mutations at codon 531.

Conclusion: We demonstrated a significant level of mutations associated with drug resistance for macrolides, aminoglycosides, and rifampicin in NTM isolated from symptomatic TB negative patients in Kenya.
Entry of the antipsychotic drug, olanzapine, into the developing rat brain in mono- and combination therapies
Authors: Huang Yifan , Qiu Fiona , Habgood Mark , Nie Shuai , Dziegielewska Katarzyna , Saunders Norman
Published: February 2023

Background: Olanzapine is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in women of childbearing age. Continuation of psychotropic medications throughout pregnancy and lactation is often required as cessation could be dangerous for both mother and child. However, there is a lack of information on the transfer of these drugs into the developing brain.

Methods: Sprague Dawley rats at three developmental ages: embryonic day E19, postnatal day P4 and non-pregnant adult females were administered unlabelled or radiolabelled (3H) olanzapine (0.15 mg/kg) either as monotherapy or in combination with each of seven other common medications. Similar injections were administered to pregnant E19 females to investigate placental transfer. Olanzapine in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain was measured by liquid scintillation counting after a single dose (acute) or following 5 days of treatment (prolonged).

Results: Olanzapine entry into brain and CSF was not age-dependent. Prolonged olanzapine treatment reduced placental transfer from 53% to 46% (p<0.05). Co-administration of digoxin or lamotrigine with olanzapine increased its entry into the fetal brain, whereas paracetamol decreased its entry into the CSF. Placental transfer of olanzapine was increased by co-treatment with cimetidine and digoxin, whereas co-treatment with lamotrigine, paracetamol or valproate led to a substantial decrease. Repeated co-treatment of digoxin and olanzapine increased olanzapine transfer into the brain and CSF, but not across the placenta. Overall entry of olanzapine from maternally administered drugs into the fetal brain was higher after combination therapy with cimetidine and digoxin.

Conclusions: Co-administration of olanzapine with some commonly used drugs affected its entry into the fetus and its developing brain to a greater extent than in adults. It appears that protection of the fetal brain for these drugs primarily comes from the placenta rather than from the fetal brain barriers. Results suggest that drug combinations should be used with caution particularly during pregnancy.
A review of recent advances in the diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis, treatment of its cardiac complications, and disease-modifying therapies
Authors: Raval Maharshi , Siddiq Sajid , Sharma Kamal , Sanghvi Labdhi , Jain Akhil , Patel Sagar , Trivedi Jaahnavee , Uttam Chandani Kanishka , Patel Dhriti , Desai Rupak
Published: February 2023

Cardiac amyloidosis (CA), a significant condition resulting in infiltrative cardiomyopathy and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), is caused by extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils in the heart. Even though this has been known for an extended period, its prevalence in elderly patients with heart failure is increasingly being recognized. Recent advances in diagnosis with non-invasive methods like technetium pyrophosphate-labeled cardiac scintigraphy (i.e., Tc-PYP scan) and treatment options with tafamidis have played a pivotal role in awareness of the burden of this disease. Management of cardiac complications like heart failure, atrial arrhythmias, conduction block, ventricular arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and aortic stenosis is now more critical than ever. We aim to review and outline the recent advances in diagnoses of CA. We also review management strategies for cardiac complications of CA with a brief summary of disease-modifying therapies.
Genome-wide comparisons reveal broad variations in intraspecific SNP frequencies among species in Agaricomycetes, Basidiomycota
Authors: Zhao Kuan , Xu Jianping
Published: February 2023

Background: Genome sequence analyses can provide crucial information for understanding population history, speciation, and taxonomy. In Class Agaricomycetes where most mushroom-forming fungi belong, most species so far have been defined based on morphological, ecological, and/or molecular features. At present, there is little information on how species defined based on such features reflect their genome sequence diversity. In this study, we investigated genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) frequencies between strains within species to understand the patterns of variation.

Methods: A total of 112 species in 72 genera of Agaricomycetes contained the nuclear and/or mitochondrial genome sequences from at least two strains each in public databases. Together, we obtained 398 and 106 available nuclear and mitochondrial genomes respectively from these taxa. Pairwise strain comparisons of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes within individual species were conducted to obtain their SNP frequencies.

Results: The SNP frequencies between nuclear genomes within individual species ranged 0–7.69% while for the mitochondrial genome, the pairwise strain SNP frequencies ranged 0–4.41%. The Spearman’s non-parametric rank correlation test showed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between the paired nuclear and mitochondrial genome SNP frequencies. Overall, we observed a significantly higher SNP frequency in the nuclear genome than in the mitochondrial genomes between strains within most species. Interestingly, across the broad Basidiomycetes, the ratios of mitochondrial genome SNPs and nuclear genome SNPs between pairs of strains within each species were almost all lower than 1, with a mean of 0.24.

Conclusions: Our analyses revealed broad variations among species in their intraspecific SNP frequencies in both the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. However, there was broad consensus among the examined species in their mitochondrial to nuclear genome SNP ratios, suggesting that such a ratio could potentially serve as an indicator for genome sequence-based species identification.
Social distancing between personal belongings during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Guo Wen , Ikeda Ayumi , Takashima Kaito , Masuda Yoshitaka , Ueda Kohei , Ariga Atsunori , Sasaki Kyoshiro , Yamada Yuki
Published: February 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to instructions and suggestions from governments and experts to maintain social (physical) distance between people to prevent aerosol transmission of the virus, which is now becoming the norm. Thus, we examined whether the pandemic extended the distance between personal belongings.

Methods: We recruited 68 university students and instructed them to place their belongings on a long table following another participant (i.e., confederate). We measured the physical distance between the two belongings (i.e., the participant’s and the confederate’s). We collected data between June 10, 2022 and January 23, 2023. Pre-pandemic data was from Ariga (2016). Analysis was completed with one-tailed t-tests.

Results: Compared with the pre-pandemic results, via one-tailed t-test, the distance between the two belongings during the pandemic was significantly longer. Our results supported the hypothesis that the psychological framework for processing people’s belongings has dramatically changed during this pandemic.

Conclusion: This change may have been driven by social distancing practices or an increase in perceived vulnerability to disease. Our results provide new implications for future public spatial design, in other words, not only the distance between people, but also the distance between their belongings.
ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF PROTECTIVE FOREST STRIPS OF VARIOUS WINDAGE
Authors: Rulev Aleksandr S. , Ruleva Olga V.
Published: February 2023

Forest strip systems have a multifunctional effect on agricultural landscapes, stabilize the agroecological situation, and form new sustainable agroforestry systems.

Goal. On the basis of a comparative analysis of the taxation and reclamation parameters of the protective forest strips (PLP) of various windage to assess their current state.

The novelty of the research lies in the assessment of the state of various types of ZLN consisting of curtains, wings, modular and linear forest strips on complex chestnut soils.

Methods. The methodology included a survey of protective forest stands, laying of permanent test areas, determination of morphometric parameters taking into account the assortment of tree species and their condition. The width of the crown space, openwork, crown closeness coefficient, optical density, etc. were determined by the method of photographic images.

Results. Most of the plantings were planted in the period from 1988-92 of the last century. Forest strips whose age exceeds 34 years were created in an ordinary way. In addition to the main breed, shrubs were present in the composition of the bands. Many years of experience in creating forest strips in the dry steppe has revealed the dependence of plantings on the conditions of the soil cover on which they are grown. Moreover, the successful survival of PZLP on meadow-chestnut soils is linked to depressions. Edaphic conditions become an important criterion when growing LP.

Conclusion. When the edaphic conditions are significantly complicated, due to the complexity of soils and the rigidity of the climate, it is either extremely difficult or impossible to grow durable, stable and aerodynamically efficient tree plantations from tree species. In such cases, non-linear curtain and backstage plantings may be more reliable and effective.