bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SARS-CoV-2 Infection Causes Dopaminergic Neuron Senescence
Authors: chen shuibing , Han Yuling , Yang Liuliu , Kim Tae , Nair Manoj , Harschnitz Oliver , Wang Pengfei , Zhu Jiajun , Koo So Yeon , Tang Xuming , Lacko Lauretta , Chandar Vasuretha , Bram Yaron , Zhang Tuo , Zhang Wei , He Feng , Caicedo James , Huang Yaoxing , Evans Todd , Valk Paul van der , Titulaer Maarten J. , Spoor Jochem K. H. , Furler Robert L. , Canoll Peter , Goldman James , Przedborski Serge , Schwartz Robert , Ho David , Studer Lorenz
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 patients commonly present with neurological signs of central nervous system (CNS) and/or peripheral nervous system dysfunction. However, which neural cells are permissive to infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been controversial. Here, we show that midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are selectively permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection both in vitro and upon transplantation in vivo, and that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a DA neuron inflammatory and cellular senescence response. A high-throughput screen in hPSC-derived DA neurons identified several FDA approved drugs, including riluzole, metformin, and imatinib, that can rescue the cellular senescence phenotype and prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. RNA-seq analysis of human ventral midbrain tissue from COVID-19 patients, using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded autopsy samples, confirmed the induction of an inflammatory and cellular senescence signature and identified low levels of SARS-CoV-2 transcripts. Our findings demonstrate that hPSC-derived DA neurons can serve as a disease model to study neuronal susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 and to identify candidate neuroprotective drugs for COVID-19 patients. The susceptibility of hPSC-derived DA neurons to SARS-CoV-2 and the observed inflammatory and senescence transcriptional responses suggest the need for careful, long-term monitoring of neurological problems in COVID-19 patients.
Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia of the Breast on Core Needle Biopsy - Risk of Malignant Upgrade on Surgical Excision.
Authors: Bong Tiffany Sin Hui , Tan Thaddaeus , Ho Juliana TS , Tan Puay Hoon , Lau Wing Sze , Tan Tuan Meng , Wong Jill SL , Tan Veronique KM , Tan Benita KT , Madhukumar Preetha , Yong Wei Sean , Lim Sue Zann , Wee Ong Kong , Wong Chow Yin , Sim Yirong
Published: May 2021

Purpose: Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) is a high risk lesion with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This study aims to identify factors predictive of malignant upgrade for ADH diagnosed on core needle biopsy (CNB) and to develop a nomogram to facilitate evidence-based decision making.Methods: Retrospective analysis of women with CNB diagnosed ADH at the National Cancer Centre Singapore between 2010 and 2015 was performed. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to identify independent clinical, radiological and histological factors associated with malignant upgrade. A nomogram was constructed and multivariable logistic regression coefficients were used to estimate the predicted probability of upgrade for each factor combination. Combinations with the lowest predicted probabilities (≤5%) were identified as low risk. Model sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were assessed.Results: From 2010-2015, 238,122 women underwent screening under the national breast cancer screening programme. 29,564 women were recalled and 5742 CNBs were performed, of which 2686 were performed at NCCS. 88 patients (90 lesions) were diagnosed with ADH. 26 lesions were upgraded to a breast malignancy on excision biopsy. On univariate analysis, presence of a mass on either ultrasound (p= 0.018) or mammogram (p=0.026), presence of mammographic microcalcifications (p=0.047), diffuse microcalcification distribution (p=0.034), mammographic parenchymal density (p=0.008), presence of microcalcifications on biopsy (p=0.037) and three or more separate foci of ADH found on biopsy (p=0.024) were associated with malignant upgrade. Mammographic parenchymal density (Hazard ratio= 0.04, 95% CI 0.005-0.35, p=0.014), presence of a mass on ultrasound (Hazard ratio= 10.50, 95% CI 9.21-25.2, p=0.010) and number of foci of ADH (Hazard ratio = 1.877, 95% CI 1.831-1.920, p=0.002) remained significant on multivariate analysis and were included in the normogram which demonstrated good discrimination with C-statistic of 0.81 [95% CI, 0.74 to 0.88].Conclusion: Our model provides good discrimination of breast cancer risk prediction in patients with ADH on CNB. A subset of women at low risk (<5%) of upgrade to cancer may avoid surgical excision following a core-needle biopsy diagnosis of ADH.
Identification of Prognostic Gene Signature Associated with Tumor Microenvironment of Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Cao Jixiang , Chen Xi , Lu Guang , Wang Haowei , Zhang Xinyu , Yang Hua , Bai Yun
Published: May 2021

Background: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract with a dismal prognosis. Increasing evidence suggests that tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely associated with cancer prognosis. However, the prognostic signature for CCA based on TME has not yet been reported. This study aimed to develop a TME-related prognostic signature for accurately predicting the prognosis of patients with CCA. Methods: Based on the TCGA database, we calculated the stromal and immune scores using the ESTIMATE algorithm to assess TME in stromal and immune cells derived from CCA. TME-related differentially expressed genes were identified, followed by functional enrichment analysis and PPI network analysis. Univariate Cox regression analysis, Lasso Cox regression model and multivariable Cox regression analysis were performed to identify and construct the TME-related prognostic gene signature. Gene Set Enrichment Analyses (GSEA) was performed to further investigate the potential molecular mechanisms. The correlations between the risk scores and tumor infiltration immune cells were analyzed using Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database. Results: A total of 784 TME-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, which were mainly enriched in immune-related processes and pathways. Among these TME-related DEGs, A novel two‑gene signature (including GAD1 and KLRB1) was constructed for CCA prognosis prediction. The AUC of the prognostic model for predicting the survival of patients at 1-, 2-, and 3- years was 0.811, 0.772, and 0.844, respectively. Cox regression analysis showed that the two‑gene signature was an independent prognostic factor. Based on the risk scores of the prognostic model, CCA patients were divided into high- and low-risk groups, and patients with high-risk score had shorter survival time than those with low-risk score. Furthermore, we found that the risk scores were negatively correlated with TME-scores and the number of several tumor infiltration immune cells, including B cells and CD4+ T cells. Conclusion: Our study established a novel TME-related gene signature to predict the prognosis of patients with CCA. This might provide a new understanding of the potential relationship between TME and CCA prognosis, and serve as a prognosis stratification tool for guiding personalized treatment of CCA patients.
Ki67 Assessment by qRT-PCR in OncotypeDx ® Breast Recurrent Score®: Low Correlation With IHC Assessment of ki67 and Prognostic Impact of ki67 RNA Level of Expression.
Authors: Selmani Zohair , Molimard Chloé , Overs Alexis , Bazan Fernando , Chaigneau Loic , Dobi Erion , Meneveau Nathalie , Mansi Laura , Paillard Marie-Justine , Meynard Guillaume , Viot Julien , Algros Marie-Paule , Borg Christophe , Feugeas Jean-Paul , Pivot Xavier , Prétet Jean-Luc , Curtit Elsa
Published: May 2021

Background: Breast cancers expressing high levels of Ki67 are associated with poor outcomes. To provide individualized patient care, reliability of prognostic and predictive information deriving from Ki67 assessment is essential. Oncotype DX® test was designed for ER+/HER2- early-stage breast cancers to help adjuvant chemotherapy decision by providing a Recurrent Score® (RS®). RS® measures the expression of 21 specific genes from tumor tissue, including Ki67, and aim to predict the benefit of chemotherapy and the risk of distant recurrence. The primary aim of this study was to assess the agreement between Ki67RNA obtained with Oncotype DX® RS® and Ki67IHC. Other objectives were to analyze the association between the event free survival (EFS) and the expression level of Ki67RNA; and association between RS® and Ki67RNA.Methods: In a cohort of 98 patients with early ER+/HER2- breast cancers, we obtained: Recurrence score®, RNA level of Ki67 expression measured when assessing RS® and Ki67 tumor labelling by immunohistochemistry (Ki67IHC). The Ki67RNA was compared to the Ki67IHC by Kappa Cohen test. With a mean follow-up of 57 months, the association between the event free survival (EFS) and Ki67 status was measured using R package survival. Results: This population was essentially composed of no special type tumor (91%), N0 or Nmic (71%), grade 1 (62%), and tumor size pT1c (1-2 cm) (58%). The RS® values were <18 in 38% (n=37), 18-30 in 51% (n=50) and >30 in 11% (n=11) of the patients. A low agreement of 0.24 was found by Cohen’s kappa test between Ki67IHC and Ki67RNA. Moreover, Ki67RNAhigh tumors were significantly associated with the occurrence of events (p=0.02). On the other hand, we did not find any association between Ki67IHC and EFS (p=0.25).Conclusion: We observed of low agreement between expression level of Ki67RNA and Ki67 protein labelling by IHC. Unlike Ki67IHC and independently of the RS®, Ki67RNA could have a prognostic value. It would be interesting to better assess the prognosis and predictive value of Ki67RNA measured by qRT-PCR. The Ki67RNA in medical routine could be a good support in countries where Oncotype DX® is not accessible.
Treatment outcomes among adults with HIV/non-communicable disease multimorbidity attending integrated care clinics in Cape Town, South Africa
Authors: Gausi Blessings , Berkowitz Natacha , Jacob Nisha , Oni Tolu
Published: May 2021

Background

The growing burden of the HIV and non-communicable disease (NCD) syndemic in Sub- Saharan Africa, has necessitated introduction of integrated models of care in order to leverage existing HIV care infrastructure for NCDs. However, there is paucity of literature on treatment outcomes for multimorbid patients attending integrated care. We describe 12-month treatment outcomes among multimorbid patients attending integrated antiretroviral treatment (ART) and NCD clubs in Cape Town, South Africa.
Methods

As part of an integrated clubs (IC) model pilot implemented in 2016 by the local government at two primary health care clinics in Cape Town, we identified all multimorbid patients who were enrolled for IC for at least 12 months by August 2017. Mean adherence (using proxy of medication collection and attendance of club visits) percentages and optimal disease control (defined as the proportion of participants achieving optimal blood pressure, glycosylated haemoglobin control and HIV viral load suppression) were calculated at 12 months before, at the point of IC enrolment and 12 months after IC enrolment. Predictors of NCD control 12 months post IC enrolment were investigated using multivariable logistic regression.
Results and Discussion

As of 31 August 2017, 247 HIV-infected patients in total had been enrolled into IC for at least 12 months. Of these, 221 (89.5%) had hypertension, 4 (1.6%) had diabetes mellitus and 22 (8.9%) had both diseases. Adherence was maintained before and after IC enrolment with mean adherence percentages of 92.2% and 94.2% respectively. HIV viral suppression rates were 98.6%, 99.5% and 99.4% at the three time points respectively. Retention in care was high with 6.9% lost to follow up at 12 months post IC enrolment. Across the 3 time-points, optimal blood pressure control was achieved in 43.1%, 58.9% and 49.4% of participants and optimal glycaemic control was achieved in 47.4%, 87.5% and 53.3% of participants with diabetes respectively. Multivariable logistic analyses showed no independent variables significantly associated with NCD control.
Conclusion

Multimorbid adults living with HIV achieved high levels of HIV control in integrated HIV and NCD clubs. However, intensified interventions are needed to maintain NCD control in the long term.
SEIRS-SEI Model of Malaria Disease with Application of Vaccines and Anti-Malarial Drugs
Authors: Resmawan Resmawan
Published: May 2021

This article discusses the mathematical model of SEIRS-SEI type malaria disease. Modification of the model is done by giving the treatment in humans, in the form of vaccines and anti-malarial drugs treatment. In this model, the human population is divided into four classes, namely susceptible human, exposed human, infected human, and recovered human. The mosquito population is divided into three classes, namely susceptible mosquito, exposed mosquito and infected mosquito. Furthermore, the analysis of the model to show the effect of treatment given to disease transmission. At the end of this article is provided numerical simulations to show the effectiveness of vaccines and anti-malarial drugs in humans to suppress the rate of transmission of disease. The simulation results show that the increase of vaccines effectiveness and anti-malarial drugs in humans can reduce the reproduction numbers, so that within a certain time the disease will disappear from the population.
GP73 is a glucogenic hormone that contributes to SARS-CoV-2-induced hyperglycemia
Authors: Wan Luming , Gao Qi , Li Huilong , Yang Huan , Gong Jing , Deng Yong-Qiang , Ke Yuehua , Yang Xiaopan , Huang Linfei , Lin Haotian , Zhang Yanhong , Wang Huapeng , Wang Changjun , Yang Xiaoli , Li Dongyu , Peng Yumeng , Yan Qiulin , Wang Xiaolin , Lin Changqing , Zheng Fei , Xu Lei , Li Jingfei , Xu Yinxin , Sun Zhiwei , Wu Feixiang , Qin Cheng-Feng , Wei Congwen , Zhong Hui
Published: May 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection induces new-onset diabetes and severe metabolic complications of pre-existing diabetes. The pathogenic mechanism underlying this is incompletely understood. Here, we provided evidence linking circulating GP73 with the exaggerated gluconeogenesis triggered by SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found that SARS-CoV-2 infection or glucotoxic conditions increased GP73 production and secretion. Secreted GP73 then trafficked to the liver and kidney to stimulate gluconeogenesis through the cAMP/PKA pathway. By using global phosphoproteomics, we found a drastic remodeling of the PKA kinase hub exerted by GP73. Notably, plasma GP73 levels were elevated and positively correlated with blood glucose in patients with COVID19 and diabetes. Neutralization of circulating GP73 in serum of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 or with diabetes reduced excessive gluconeogenesis in cultured hepatocytes, and lowered blood glucose levels in animal models of diabetes. Ablation of GP73 from whole animals has a profound glucose-lowering effect secondary to reduced gluconeogenesis. Thus, GP73 is a key glucogenic hormone contributing to SARS-CoV-2-induced glucose abnormality.
Factors Influencing the Stages of Frailty among Korean Older Adults Focusing on Objective and Subjective Social Isolation
Authors: Han Song Yi , Jang Hye Young , Ko Young
Published: May 2021

Background: Although many studies have investigated the factors influencing frailty, studies on factors affecting transition between frailty stages are insufficient. This study was conducted to identify factors influencing the stages of frailty in Korean older adults, focusing on objective and subjective social isolation. Methods: This study analyzed the data of 10,041 older adults from the 2017 National Survey of Older Koreans. Two multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the factors influencing the frailty stages.Results: Among Korean older adults, 6% were in a frail stage, and 42.5% were in the pre-frail stage. The progression to the pre-frail stage was influenced by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics and by objective and subjective social isolation. Contrastingly, the transition from the pre-frail to frail stage was influenced by factors including objective social isolation, declining hearing, and lack of regular exercise.Conclusions: In the development of future interventions, researchers should consider differences in factors that influence the stages of frailty among Korean older adults. Interventions that help older people maintain existing social relationships or connect to new social networks can delay the transition from the pre-frail to frail stages.
CD8+ T cell densities and PD-L1 associated with favorable prognosis in schistosomiasis-associated Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wang Weixia , Jing Hongyan , Liu Jican , Zhang Yingyi , Zhu Ting , Lu Kui , Xu Yanchao , Bu Dacheng , Cheng Meihong , Liu Jing , Yao Junxia , Huang Sinian , Wang Limei
Published: May 2021

Backgroud: The expression of programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) was correlated with CD8+ T cells, which could producing IFNγ. The effect of infection of Schistosoma japonicum on CD8+ tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and then on PD-L1 expression has rarely been reported and the utility of CD8+ TILs as a biomarker for colorectal cancer (CRC), especially for schistosomal CRC, are still controversial and needing to be determined in CRC. Methods: A total of 338 patients with CRC were enrolled in this study. Immunohistochemical analysis were performed to evaluated the expression of PD-L1 within tumor cells (tPD-L1) and within stromal cells (sPD-L1), infiltration by CD8+ T cells. Results: In the whole cohort, results showed that CD8+ TIL density was positively correlated with tumoral and stromal PD-L1 expression （p＜0.05）. But there were no correlation between schistosomiasis and PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs. Furthermore, CD8+ TIL density, schistosomiasis, TNM stage, lymph nodes positive for CRC and gender were significantly independent predictive factors for overall survival (OS)（p＜0.05）. Stromal PD-L1 but not tPD-L1 expression was correlated with OS but was not an independent predictor (p=0.046). In patients without schistosomiasis, sPD-L1 was significantly associated with better OS but was not an independent predictor（p =0.004）.However, there were no association between schistosomiasis and OS in patients with schistosomal ifection. Conclusions: Our analysis indicated that CD8+ was an independent predictive factor for OS. And the expression of PD-L1 was positively associated with CD8+ TILs density. There were no correlation between schistosomiasis and PD-L1 and CD8+ TILs. Stromal PD-L1 but not tPD-L1 was significantly associated with OS, but was not an independent prognostic factor. It is proposed that PD-L1 expression in combination with CD8+ TIL could be a useful predictive biomarker in CRC patients.
Large B-cell Lymphoma with IRF4 rearrangement: a pitfall in the pathological diagnosis of lymphoma
Authors: Lu Minya , Teng Lisong , Wang Zhe , Teng Xiaodong , Wang Zhaoming
Published: May 2021

Background Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) with interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) rearrangement (IRF4+LBCL) is a rare and newly discovered subtype of mature B cell neoplasms. Case presentationHere, we describe a patient of 32 years old who was diagnosed IRF4+LBCL. Histological examination showed the normal structure of the lymphoid tissues were destroyed, and slightly crowded follicular or nodal structures instead. There were obvious necrosis on the surface of tonsil and the central part of some follicles. The monomorphic atypical lymphoid cells proliferated and grew consistently, which were of medium size or large, and the nuclear chromatin was opening. Some tumor cells can be seen around the normal striated muscle tissues near the tonsils. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) could show that CD20, CD79a, MUM-1 and BCL6 were positive, Ki-67 was 80%; CD3, CD5, CD10, BCL2, CD30, CD56, CD99, CD38, and CD138 were negative. In situ hybridization (ISH) of EBER was negative. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed that IRF4 gene rearrangement was found in tumor cells. The patient was followed up for 18 months without tumor after chemotherapy. Concl﻿usionGenerally speaking, destructive growth patterns with a large number of necrosis, high proliferation index and so on all suggest that the tumor is highly invasive. And in terms of pathological morphology, IRF4+LBCL can be similar to both high-grade follicular lymphoma (FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). But actually this disease is indolent and significantly different.
British surname origins, population structure and health outcomes – an observational study of English hospital records
Authors: Petersen Jakob , Kandt Jens , Longley Paul
Published: May 2021

BackgroundPopulation and social structure act as important confounders on pathways linking genotypes to health outcomes. This study examines whether the historical, geographical origins of British surnames – as markers of population structure - are associated with differential health outcomes today. MethodsWe coded the hospital admissions of more than 30 million patients in England between 1999 and 2013 to their surname origin and divided their diagnoses into 125 major disease categories. A base population dataset was constructed with patients’ first admission of any kind. Age- and sex-standardised odds ratios were calculated with logistic regression using patients with ubiquitous English surnames such as “Smith” as reference. Using a data mining approach, we scanned the results for “signals”, where a branch of related surname origins all had significantly higher or lower risk than the reference group. We subsequently studied the age- and sex-standardised incidence for each signal across the density of the surname origin (quintiles) as well as quintiles of area deprivation. ResultsWe identified a signal with Scottish surnames (alcohol-related disorders) and three with different branches of English surnames (disorders of teeth and jaw, fractures, upper gastrointestinal disorders). For the three English surname groups, the risk was only different to patients with other surnames in the quintile with the highest density of that group. Differential risk remained when studied across quintiles of area deprivation. ConclusionsThe study shows that surname origins are associated with diverse health outcomes and may thus act as combined markers of population structure over and above area deprivation.
Neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.617.1 and B.1.525 by BNT162b2-elicited sera
Authors: Shi Pei-Yong , Liu Jianying , Liu Yang , Xia Hongjie , Zou Jing , Weaver Scott , Swanson Kena , Cai Hui , Cutler Mark , Cooper David , Muik Alexander , Jansen Kathrin , Sahin Ugur , Xie Xuping , Dormitzer Philip
Published: May 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) continues to evolve around the world, generating new variants that are of concern based on their potential for altered transmissibility, pathogenicity, and coverage by vaccines and therapeutics. Here we report that 20 BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited human sera neutralize engineered SARS-CoV-2 with a USA-WA1/2020 genetic background (a virus strain isolated in January 2020) and spike glycoproteins from the newly emerged B.1.617.1 (first identified in India) or B.1.525 (first identified in Nigeria) lineages. Geometric mean plaque reduction neutralization titers against the variant viruses, particularly the B.1.617.1 variant, are lower than the titer against USA-WA1/2020 virus, but all sera tested neutralize the variant viruses at titers of at least 40. The susceptibility of the newly emerged B.1.617.1 and B.1.525 variants to BNT162b2 vaccine-elicited neutralization supports mass immunization as a central strategy to end the COVID-19 pandemic across geographies.
A Wide-angle Glance Of Phosphoglucomutase Gene Family In Pan-Cancer
Authors: Liu Ying-nan , Shen Shi-xuan , Yan Li-rong , Ding Han-xi , Wang Ang , Yuan Yuan , Xu Qian
Published: May 2021

Background

Phosphoglucomutases (PGMs) are a group of important enzymes in glucose metabolism. The PGM family play roles in a variety of cancers, but we still lack a comprehensive understanding of the relationship between the PGM family and pan-cancer.
Methods

We extracted data from the Cancer Genome Atlas, Oncomine, Human Protein Atlas, and Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia databases. The R language was mainly used for analysis.
Results

The PGM1 and PGM5 genes both show low expression in breast cancer, colon cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The expression of PGMs is related to signal transduction pathways, such as protein secretion, ultraviolet (UV) response, and DNA repair pathways, and the infiltration of immune cells such as naive B cells, activated natural killer cells, and resting mast cells in cancers. PGM5 is associated with a higher survival rate in clear-cell renal carcinoma and cervical cancer and a lower survival rate in squamous-cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. The copy number variation of PGMs have a broad impact on their expression. In breast cancer, colon cancer, and other cancers, PGM1 is upregulated when it has a higher copy number. Genetic variations in PGMs have adverse effects on the prognosis of various types of cancers. PGM5 mutations in liver cancer and sarcoma and PGM1 copy number deletion in cholangiocarcinoma are all risk factors for those cancers. The qRT-PCR experiments verified the higher expression of PGM2L1 and the lower expression of PGM5 in gastric cancer, and the lower expression of PGM1 and PGM5 in colorectal cancer.
Conclusion

The expression of PGMs is heterogeneous in cancer tissues and is associated with cancer activation pathways as well as immune cell infiltration. The expression of PGMs can affect the prognosis of a variety of cancers. Mutation or copy number variation of PGMs will affect their expression in cancers, as well as the cancer prognosis. These findings provide a foundation for investigating the role of PGMs in the prediction/diagnosis/prognosis of cancers and provide new clues for finding targets for cancer treatment.
Prevalence, Risk, and Outcome of Deep Vein Thrombosis in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Cui Na , Jiang Chunguo , Chen Hairong , Gao Yuan , Yu Lifeng , Zhang Liming , Feng Xiaokai
Published: May 2021

Background: Few data exist on deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by acute hypoxemia.Study Design and Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 225 adults with ARDS admitted to the Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital and the First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2020. We analyzed clinical, laboratory, and echocardiography data for groups with and without DVT and for direct and indirect ARDS subgroups.Results: Ninety (40.0%) patients developed DVT. Compared with the non-DVT group, patients with DVT were older, had lower serum creatinine levels, lower partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen, higher serum procalcitonin levels, higher Padua prediction scores, and higher proportions of sedation and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Multivariate analysis showed an association between age, serum creatinine level, IMV, and DVT in the ARDS cohort. The sensitivity and specificity of corresponding receiver operating characteristic curves were not inferior to those of the Padua prediction score and the Caprini score for screening for DVT in the three ARDS cohorts. Patients with DVT had a significantly lower survival rate than those without DVT in the overall ARDS cohort and in the groups with direct and indirect ARDS.Conclusions: The prevalence of DVT is high in patients with ARDS. The risk factors for DVT are age, serum creatinine level, and IMV, which predict DVT and are superior to the Padua prediction score and the Caprini score. DVT is associated with decreased survival in patients with ARDS.
Uncertainty Quantification using Variational Inference for Biomedical Image Segmentation
Authors: Sagar Abhinav
Published: May 2021

Deep learning motivated by convolutional neural networks has been highly successful in a range of medical imaging problems like image classification, image segmentation, image synthesis etc. However for validation and interpretability, not only do we need the predictions made by the model but also how confident it is while making those predictions. This is important in safety critical applications for the people to accept it. In this work, we used an encoder decoder architecture based on variational inference techniques for segmenting brain tumour images. We compare different backbones architectures like U-Net, V-Net and FCN as sampling data from the conditional distribution for the encoder. We evaluate our work on the publicly available BRATS dataset using Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) and Intersection Over Union (IOU) as the evaluation metrics. Our model outperforms previous state of the art results while making use of uncertainty quantification in a principled bayesian manner.
ANALYZING THE IMPACT OF AIR POLLUTION ON LABOR PRODUCTIVITY IN MANUFACTURING
Authors: Klynovskyi D.
Published: May 2021

As long as the ecological topic became highly discussed recently, economic research related to ecology seems relevant. Natural features have a substantial impact on economic outcomes, in particular health capital. Air pollution, which is believed to be one of the most notable factors of environmental deterioration, affects human health, thus may influence labor productivity. In developed countries ecologically friendly production tends to spread rapidly, and, as a result, a certain regeneration of ecology is observed. However, the developing countries still make the most efforts to realize their full industrial potential, assigning a lower priority to the ecological issues. A quantitative estimate of the effect of industrial pollutant emissions on the labor productivity of the manufacturing workers would be an important argument for the firm deciding to improve its production processes, e.g. invest in ‘clean’ technologies or enhance the working conditions. In addition, it is important to investigate managerial practices that were effective in keeping or growing the level of labor productivity while decreasing the harmful effect on the environment at the same time. The result of this research might be interesting both for manufacturing firms’ management and for policymakers designing the regulation for industrial firms to overwhelm the pollution levels. A policy tool for pollution regulation must be not only efficient in reducing the amounts of pollutant emissions, but also has to be a good incentive for producers to invest in clean technologies.
First detection of Gongylonema species in Geotrupes mutator in Europe
Authors: Bravo-Barriga Daniel , Martín-Pérez Manuel , Lobo Jorge M. , Parreira Ricardo , Pérez-Martín Juan Enrique , Frontera Eva
Published: May 2021

The detection of three Gongylonema sp. infective larvae in two specimens of the dung beetle Geotrupes mutator (Marsham, 1802) from western Spain is reported here for the first time in Europe. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the analyzed specimens belong to the genus Gongylonema, but it was not possible to determine the species identity by the lack of morphological information in the literature and because many of the phenotypic characteristics had not yet fully developed at this juvenile stage. Nevertheless, a phylogenetic analysis using amplified cox1 nucleotide sequences has revealed that the studied larvae could be clearly discriminated (< 89% identity) from all the other Gongylonema cox1 sequences available in public genetic databases. While our results are limited by the scarcity of genetic information available for this genus, the possibility that the analyzed specimens might correspond to a new species should not be ruled out, and more studies are needed. The results provided in this report indicate that G. mutator is involved in the transmission cycle of Gongylonema sp. to vertebrates in Europe.
The relationship between employee well-being and organizational trust in the context of sustainable human resource management
Authors: Jaskeviciute Vaida , Stankeviciene Asta , Diskiene Danuta , Savicke Julija
Published: May 2021

As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow, new challenges in the organizational and business environment emerge, causing the human resource management (HRM) to develop a flexible yet strategic and sustainable response in the face of instability and uncertainty. HRM practices that focus on employees’ emotional, psychological, and cognitive states are becoming crucial. The aim of this paper is to disclose the relationship between employee well-being and organizational trust in the context of sustainable HRM. The literature analysis revealed that sustainable HRM practices focused on meeting the needs of employees are particularly significant as they positively influence employee well-being. Furthermore, ensuring employee well-being based on sustainable HRM principles leads to increased organizational trust. The results of the analysis proved direct and indirect relationships between employee well-being and organizational trust; however, further research is needed to distinguish the relationship between sustainable human resource management practices and employee well-being, with a mediating role and moderating role of organizational trust.
Evaluation of the Effect of Brazilian Savanna (Cerrado) Seasons in Flavonoids and Alkaloids Accumulation: The Case of Duguetia furfuracea
Authors: Macedo Arthur , Boaretto Amanda , da Silva André , Maia Débora , de Siqueira João , Silva Denise , Carollo Carlos
Published: May 2021

Environmental factors can influence secondary plant metabolism, inducing seasonal variation in chemical composition. Few works report how the seasons of Brazilian savanna (Cerrado), rainy and dry, impacts plant metabolism. We investigated the seasonal effect on the production of secondary metabolites in Duguetia furfuracea. Leaves of three individuals were collected monthly for one year and analyzed by ultra-fast liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector and mass spectrometry (UFLC-DAD-MS), partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), volcano plot, and Pearson correlation. The main chemical classes found were benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives and flavonoids. Alkaloids are virtually perennial, with qualitative variation during the year, and flavonoids accumulate during the rainy season. Dew point temperature seemed to be the most representative weather indicator in the metabolite change. These results showed for the first time the effect of the Cerrado environment on the levels of flavonoids and alkaloids in Duguetia furfuracea. They could be useful for exploring this species since it is used in popular medicine and accumulates valuable secondary metabolites.
Water culture: The theoretic structure and dynamic mechanism
Authors: Zheng Xiao Yun
Published: May 2021

Since water is comprehensively connected with human society, diversified way of thinking, using, and managing water have developed. This has led to the diversification of water culture worldwide. Water culture was generated from water management, the social demand, and the spiritual feel of water. Consequently, it has also influenced water management comprehensively beginning from the earliest times to the present age. People worldwide rely on their own ideas, values, social relationships, institutions, and religion to manage water. This, however, has made water culture an important dynamic in water management and has also made water management acceptable, effective, equal, and sustainable. Water culture also deeply influences the spiritual world and social life of mankind. Water culture has a structural make up involving the levels of ideas, institutions, social life, and physical factors and is based on the attributes of nationality, civilization, local, and times. This theoretical structure and attributes provide a better understanding of water culture based on scientific and holistic dimension. Meanwhile, a dynamics mechanism was modeled as Double Dynamics and Bidirectional Dynamics to explain the relationship between water and mankind so as to better understand how the cultural generation is driven by water and the cultural initiative in water management. This chapter aims to build the structure and define the types of water culture, to exploring the dynamic mechanism of water culture in water management and human society, and to understand the generation and formation of water culture.
A Few water fountains in Tampere, Finland: Cultural attestation of water management
Authors: Juuti Petri S. , Rajala Riikka
Published: May 2021

This chapter describes how water influenced the growth of Tampere on the basis of four major water fountains related to the industrial heritage of the city. Tampere, currently Finland's third biggest city, with a population of over 220,000, and the largest inland city in the Nordic countries was founded in 1779. For many years, Tampere was the centre of Finnish industry. The history and development of Tampere have been largely shaped by issues related to water and water management. The city waterworks were established in which connection the industrialist Wilhelm von Nottbeck donated the fountain in the Central Square in 1882. A fountain depicting a swan and a boy and another with a lion theme are also connected to the industrialist von Nottbeck. Each fountain has its own history to tell viewers. Water fountains are probably at their best when they represent and reflect local city culture and heritage as these examples from Tampere.
Foggara water which left an imprint in the culture of oases of the southwest region of Algeria
Authors: Taha Ansari
Published: May 2021

In 2006, the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in his message during the World Water Day in 2006, with the theme ‘water and culture’, that water is not only essential for life; it is also a wide-ranging cultural presence – an inspiration for artists, a focus of scientific research, and an indispensable element in the religious rituals of many traditions and faiths. All this shows the importance of water in different cultures and shows that water is a Social and Cultural Space. In arid landscapes like the south-west region of Algeria, water is at the heart of human existence and the development of this region. The people have managed this precious resource and have developed many cultural practices around water. The people gave their water management system of underground channels the name ‘foggara’. The aim of this study is to understand the purpose of foggaras and to examine how foggaras – as an essential system for life in an arid area – play an important, conceptual role in local cultural orientations. The people of this region have built an environment that respects the laws of sustainable development, that is to say the oasis. An oasis is composed of a source of water (foggaras), a village (ksar), and a palm-grove. The foggara water in an oasis has a strong cultural dimension. Without understanding and considering the cultural aspects of our water problems, no sustainable solution can be found.
Customs related to water and water management in the tradition of the Dai people in Vietnam
Authors: Hien Nguyen Thi , Thuat Vu Hong
Published: May 2021

This chapter is an ethnographic account of the roles of water in the life of the Black Dai people in the Quy Chau and Que Phong Districts, Nghe An province in central Vietnam. For the Dai people, water meets the needs of their daily life, which includes housing, agricultural production, cultivation, and their customs and religious practices. This account relies on data that was collected for the case study in 24 villages of six communes in the two districts in 2013–2017. Using the views of local people and the information that they shared, this chapter demonstrates how the Black Dai people exploit and use water in an effective and efficient way. Their knowledge, their customs, and their practices reveal cultural identities that have been passed down by elderly people. Water is also reflected in their ways of social behavior and community management. Today in the open market economy and high technology era, their customs and habits related to the use and management of natural water endure and are still being promoted in their daily lives, such as in agriculture and swidden land cultivation.
The role of water culture in water management: A case study on the mid-reaches of Red River, China
Authors: Zheng Xiao Yun
Published: May 2021

Based on the structure of water culture, which include the four levels of ideas, institutions, social life and physical life, this chapter surveys the dynamic role of water culture in local water management using a case study on the mid-reaches of the Red River in China. This study shows that local water management closely depends on water culture. The local people, based on their ideas, values and knowledge about water use in the local water environment, created an environmentally friendly irrigation and life system. This was also related to their religion, social norms, rules, and social relations and has made water management to be of significant importance. This case study also demonstrated that water culture is indispensable for water management to support the irrigation system. It is, however, closely related to local subsistence since the terraced wet paddy-field is the essential resource of traditional subsistence. Water management and subsistence will not be sustained without water culture. This chapter also discussed the future prospects of water culture in a fast changing society and focuses on how to maintain traditional water culture and build a new culture to meet the current demands of water management.
The role of community in behaviors towards water in the red river delta and the central highlands of Vietnam
Authors: Chí Bền Nguyễn
Published: May 2021

In Vietnam, the region of Red River Delta is the primary living space of the Viet ethnic group; whereas, the Central Highlands region is currently the home of 11 ethnic minority groups. Water is a valuable natural resource essential to these communities’ existence, development and creation. Thus, throughout their long history, these communities have developed a specific attitude towards water: they need, treasure and fear water at the same time. Inhabitants of both the Red River Delta and the Central Highlands worship water gods and they consider these gods supreme beings in the pantheon. The development of the cult of water in the two regions has been attributed to the role of associated communities. However, due to the differences in geographical, geo-historical and geo-cultural positions and trajectories between the Red River Delta and the Central Highlands, the role of the community in the emergence and development of the cult of water in these two regions are also different. This chapter, therefore, will examine the role of the community in the cult of water, which is manifested through: the role of priests, the role of villages and other subjects and objects associated with the cult of water in the two regions. The result of this study provides an overview of culture–religion history developed in different cultural spaces of Vietnam.
Unveiling Venice's waterways heritage. From the digital and extended Water Museum of Venice to UNESCO's Global Network of Water Museums
Authors: Eulisse Eriberto
Published: May 2021

The Venice is often associated with an image of rich commercial ventures eastwards and trade in the Mediterranean. However, it is worthy of note that for centuries Venice made huge investments westwards to modify the local hydrography and build a sophisticated network of inland waterways. The origin of this system can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when extensive hydraulic works were carried out to modify local watercourses and create artificial canals for commercial and strategic purposes. From the 16th century, improvements in agricultural production and a blooming river trade became possible thanks to functional hydraulic artefacts aimed at managing and controlling all water levels. This system of navigable waterways was carefully managed until the fall of Venice (1797), but subsequently, when railways and road transport came to dominate over inland navigation, it was abandoned. Today Venice's waterways and related waterscapes offer a unique setting to attract tourists. However, with the single exception of the Riviera del Brenta (that is renowned worldwide for its Palladian architecture), this heritage often lies in a worrying state of abandonment. After introducing the geo-historical context where careful management aimed at controlling all water flows was developed over the centuries, this chapter focuses on recent cultural dynamics of managing this inherited water asset. Considering the present state of neglected waterways there are also interesting opportunities for their revitalization. The use of digital tools combined with new eco-tourism strategies indeed can stimulate new models of water governance also for the advantage of local communities. Today ground-breaking visions and new management approaches are needed to transmit to future generations this water heritage. In discussing the research strategy aimed at creating the ‘digital and extended’ Water Museum of Venice, this chapter will show how this model was useful to build a worldwide network of water museums.
A museum that travels: Yaku Viajero and citizen education on Guayllabamba social basin in Quito, Ecuador (South America)
Authors: Martínez José Ricardo , Reyes Cristina , Vallejo Emilia
Published: May 2021

Yaku Viajero is a travelling exhibition created by the Yaku Water Museum in Quito, Ecuador that aims to raise awareness among citizens about the importance of water conservation for the city and the world. It deals with five topics: water history in Quito, water quality, the right to water according to the constitution of Ecuador, Water Footprint and the social and hydrographic basin of the Guayllabamba, which provides water to the city of Quito, capital of Ecuador. This chapter describes in depth how the concept of the social basin is applied through educational and museographic resources and how it aims to promote the development of empathy as a fundamental basis of citizenship education.