bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stereo-divergent synthesis of silyl-enyneviapalladium-catalyzed coupling of alkynes and iodosilanes
Authors: Song Kun-Long , Wu Bin , Gan Wan-Er , Zeng Yan , Zhang Yu-Jie , Cao Jian , Xu Li-Wen
Published: May 2022

A palladium-catalyzed coupling reaction of alkynes and silicon electrophiles is reported, affordingE- orZ-silyl-enynes in high yields and in a highly stereoselective manner depending on the choice of ligands.
Correction: Recent developments of a co-immobilized laccase–mediator system: a review
Authors: Gu Yaohua , Yuan Lin , Jia Leina , Xue Ping , Yao Huiqin
Published: May 2022

Correction for ‘Recent developments of a co-immobilized laccase–mediator system: a review’ by Yaohua Gu et al., RSC Adv., 2021, 11, 29498–29506, https://doi.org/10.1039/D1RA05104K.
Student perceptions of “critical thinking”: insights into clarifying an amorphous construct
Authors: Bowen Ryan S.
Published: May 2022

“Critical thinking” has been situated as an important skill or way of thinking in chemistry education. However, despite its perceived importance, there has not been an established consensus definition for chemistry and science education with many resources operating from working definitions. The many definitions obfuscate what “critical thinking” is and entails and thus makes it an amorphous construct within education. Previous work in chemistry education has explored how different groups define “critical thinking” and found that the groups had limited agreement. The work here seeks to expand the literature base on what we know about “critical thinking” by probing perceptions of the construct further. Using semi-structured interviews and constructivist grounded theory, I explored student perceptions of “critical thinking” in the context of organic chemistry courses. From the analysis, I generated four major themes. Students perceived that “critical thinking” (1) involved the application and use of knowledge, (2) was contrasted to passive approaches to learning, particularly rote memorization, (3) was learned from previous experiences prior to organic chemistry, and (4) was motivated by a variety of intrinsic and extrinsic forces. I assert that these overarching commonalities across student perceptions align with the previous literature and the scientific practices in three-dimensional learning, thus offering a potential way forward for clarifying the construct and being more explicit about what we want students to know and do.
Validity of Off-the-Shelf Automatic Speech Recognition for Assessing Speech Intelligibility and Speech Severity in Speakers With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Gutz Sarah E. , Stipancic Kaila L. , Yunusova Yana , Berry James D. , Green Jordan R.
Published: May 2022

Purpose:

There is increasing interest in using automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems to evaluate impairment severity or speech intelligibility in speakers with dysarthria. We assessed the clinical validity of one currently available off-the-shelf (OTS) ASR system (i.e., a Google Cloud ASR API) for indexing sentence-level speech intelligibility and impairment severity in individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and we provided guidance for potential users of such systems in research and clinic.

Method:

Using speech samples collected from 52 individuals with ALS and 20 healthy control speakers, we compared word recognition rate (WRR) from the commercially available Google Cloud ASR API (Machine WRR) to clinician-provided judgments of impairment severity, as well as sentence intelligibility (Human WRR). We assessed the internal reliability of Machine and Human WRR by comparing the standard deviation of WRR across sentences to the minimally detectable change (MDC), a clinical benchmark that indicates whether results are within measurement error. We also evaluated Machine and Human WRR diagnostic accuracy for classifying speakers into clinically established categories.

Results:

Human WRR achieved better accuracy than Machine WRR when indexing speech severity, and, although related, Human and Machine WRR were not strongly correlated. When the speech signal was mixed with noise (noise-augmented ASR) to reduce a ceiling effect, Machine WRR performance improved. Internal reliability metrics were worse for Machine than Human WRR, particularly for typical and mildly impaired severity groups, although sentence length significantly impacted both Machine and Human WRRs.

Conclusions:

Results indicated that the OTS ASR system was inadequate for early detection of speech impairment and grading overall speech severity. While Machine and Human WRR were correlated, ASR should not be used as a one-to-one proxy for transcription speech intelligibility or clinician severity ratings. Overall, findings suggested that the tested OTS ASR system, Google Cloud ASR, has limited utility for grading clinical speech impairment in speakers with ALS.
Robust iterative learning model predictive control for repetitive motion of maglev planar motor
Authors: Zhang Kaiyang , Xu Fengqiu , Xu Xianze
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a robust iterative learning model predictive control (RILMPC) scheme for repetitive trajectory tracking of a magnetically levitated (maglev) planar motor. The motivation lies in the improvement of tracking performance and disturbance rejection ability for the maglev system. Relying on the past error in the repetitive motion, the model discrepancy is persistently compensated with iterations to improve the prediction accuracy. The cost function that serves as the upper bound of the tracking error is then derived from the past control trajectory based on the Lipschitz property of disturbances. In the proposed RILMPC scheme, a minimal robust positive invariant set is introduced into the MPC optimisation to cope with unmodeled dynamics and disturbances. Furthermore, it is theoretically shown that the perturbed closed‐loop system is stable, and the proposed RILMPC scheme is recursively feasible with perfect tracking performance under some conditions. Finally, comparative experiments carried out on a maglev planar motor demonstrate that the proposed control strategy possesses satisfactory transient/steady‐state tracking performance and robustness against disturbances.
Cross‐layered distributed data‐driven framework for enhanced smart grid cyber‐physical security
Authors: Starke Allen , Nagaraj Keerthiraj , Ruben Cody , Aljohani Nader , Zou Sheng , Bretas Arturo , McNair Janise , Zare Alina
Published: May 2022

Smart Grid (SG) research and development has drawn much attention from academia, industry and government due to the great impact it will have on society, economics and the environment. Securing the SG is a considerably significant challenge due the increased dependency on communication networks to assist in physical process control, exposing them to various cyber‐threats. In addition to attacks that change measurement values using False Data Injection (FDI) techniques, attacks on the communication network may disrupt the power system's real‐time operation by intercepting messages, or by flooding the communication channels with unnecessary data. Addressing these attacks requires a cross‐layer approach. In this paper a cross‐layered strategy is presented, called Cross‐Layer Ensemble CorrDet with Adaptive Statistics(CECD‐AS), which integrates the detection of faulty SG measurement data as well as inconsistent network inter‐arrival times and transmission delays for more reliable and accurate anomaly detection and attack interpretation. Numerical results show that CECD‐AS can detect multiple False Data Injections, Denial of Service (DoS) and Man In The Middle (MITM) attacks with a high F1‐score compared to current approaches that only use SG measurement data for detection such as the traditional physics‐based State Estimation, ECD‐AS strategy and other machine learning classification‐based detection schemes.
Infecção periprotética do joelho – Parte 2: Tratamento
Authors: Barretto João Maurício , Campos André Luiz Siqueira , Ooka Nelson Hiroyuki Miyabe
Published: May 2022

Diversas modalidades de tratamento são propostas para as infecções periprotéticas, com índices de sucesso variáveis. No entanto, a eficácia está relacionada à seleção adequada dos casos para cada tipo de tratamento.

O desbridamento com retenção do implante é indicado em infecções agudas com implante fixo, e seu sucesso depende do tipo de infecção, das comorbidades do hospedeiro e da virulência do agente etiológico.

A revisão em um ou dois estágios se impõem nos casos em que haja formação de biofilme, ou nos quais se tenha afrouxamento do implante. A escolha entre realizar a revisão em um ou dois estágios depende de fatores como identificação do agente etiológico, virulência do patógeno, fatores locais e sistêmicos do hospedeiro.

Os procedimentos de salvamento como artrodese, amputação, artroplastia de ressecção ou, ainda, supressão antibiótica são reservados para os casos em que não se conseguiu erradicação da infecção.
Efeito dos imunossupressores tacrolimus e ciclosporina na regeneração de nervos periféricos: Revisão sistemática e metanálises
Authors: Seixas Stéphanie Farias , Forte Gabriele Carra , Magnus Gabriela Agne , Stanham Valentina , Mattiello Rita , Silva Jefferson Braga
Published: May 2022

As lesões nervosas periféricas são uma causa importante de busca por atendimento médico. Elas ocorrem quando há a interrupção da continuidade das estruturas e do bloqueio da propagação dos impulsos nervosos, afetando a capacidade funcional dos indivíduos. Para avaliar os efeitos dos imunossupressores tacrolimus e ciclosporina na regeneração de nervos periféricos, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Foram incluídos artigos publicados até setembro de 2018, que se propunham avaliar os efeitos dos imunossupressores tacrolimus e ciclosporina na regeneração nervosa e neuroproteção, disponíveis nas bases de dados MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Oxford Pain Relief Database e LILACS. A pesquisa analisou um total de 56 artigos, dos quais 22 foram para metanálise. A análise estatística sugere o efeito protetor do tacrolimus na regeneração do número de axônios mielinizados (intervalo de confiança [IC] 95%: 0,93–2,39; p < 0,01); todavia tal efeito não foi observado em relação à ciclosporina (IC95%: - 0,38–1,18; p = 0,08). Ela também sugere haver uma relação significativa entre o uso do tacrolimus e a espessura da mielina (IC95%: 2,00–5,71; p < 0,01). O uso de imunossupressores na regeneração de lesão nervosa periférica promove um aumento no número de axônios mielinizados de forma geral, independentemente da dose administrada. Além disso, garante uma maior espessura da mielina, um maior peso muscular e restabelecimento do índice da função do nervo ciático. Todavia, a heterogeneidade foi alta na maioria das análises realizadas.
Vitals are Vital: Simpler Clinical Data Model Predicts Decompensation in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Cavalier Joanna Schneider , O'Brien Cara L. , Goldstein Benjamin A. , Zhao Congwen , Bedoya Armando
Published: May 2022

Objective Several risk scores have been developed and tested on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients to predict clinical decompensation. We aimed to compare an institutional, automated, custom-built early warning score (EWS) to the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) in COVID-19 patients.

Methods A retrospective cohort analysis was performed on patients with COVID-19 infection who were admitted to an intermediate ward from March to December 2020. A machine learning–based customized EWS algorithm, which incorporates demographics, laboratory values, vital signs, and comorbidities, and the NEWS, which uses vital signs only, were calculated at 12-hour intervals. These patients were retrospectively assessed for decompensation in the subsequent 12 or 24 hours, defined as death or transfer to an intensive care unit.

Results Of 709 patients, 112 (15.8%) had a decompensation event. Using the custom EWS, decompensation within 12 and 24 hours was predicted with areas under the receiver operating curve (AUC) of 0.81 and 0.79, respectively. The NEWS score applied to the same population yielded AUCs of 0.83 and 0.81, respectively. The 24-hour negative predictive values (NPV) of the NEWS and EWS in patients identified as low risk were 99.6 and 99.2%, respectively.

Conclusion The NEWS score performs as well as a customized EWS in COVID-19 patients, demonstrating the significance of vital signs in predicting outcomes. The relatively high positive predictive value and NPV of both scores are indispensable for optimally allocating clinical resources. In this relatively young, healthy population, a more complex score incorporating electronic health record data beyond vital signs does not add clinical benefit.
Global environmental changes more frequently offset than intensify detrimental effects of biological invasions
Authors: Lopez Bianca E. , Allen Jenica M. , Dukes Jeffrey S. , Lenoir Jonathan , Vilà Montserrat , Blumenthal Dana M. , Beaury Evelyn M. , Fusco Emily J. , Laginhas Brittany B. , Morelli Toni Lyn , O’Neill Mitchell W. , Sorte Cascade J. B. , Maceda-Veiga Alberto , Whitlock Raj , Bradley Bethany A.
Published: May 2022

Significance

International concern about the consequences of human-induced global environmental changes has prompted a renewed focus on reducing ecological effects of biological invasions, climate change, and nutrient pollution. Our results show that the combined effects of nonnative species invasions and abiotic global environmental changes are often negative but no worse than invasion impacts alone. Invasion impacts are also more strongly detrimental than warming temperatures or nitrogen deposition, two common stressors. Thus, reducing the spread of invasive species is critical for mitigating harms from anthropogenic changes to global ecosystems.
Thermal Synthesis of Au-ZnO Nanoparticles for Application in Photocatalytic Degradation of Reactive blue 4 Dye in Aqueous Solution
Authors: Alshamsi Hassan A. , Nema Qusay A.
Published: May 2022

In the present study, zinc oxide (ZnO), gold (Au) and gold doped zinc oxide (Au-ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) were successfully synthesized through thermal decomposition of [Au(L)Cl]Cl.H2O and [Zn(L)2].H2O complexes, where L is 7-[2-(BenzImidazolyl) Azo]-8-Hydroxy Quinoline (BIAHQ). Several characterization techniques such as XRD, FT-IR), UV–Vis DRS, SEM, TEM, AFM) were employed to investigate the phase structure, crystallite size, chemical structure, optical features, particles morphology and surface topography of as synthesized nanomaterials. The visible light photocatalytic activities of undoped ZnO and Au-ZnO NPs were compared for the decolorization of reactive blue 4 dye (RB4) aqueous solution. Factors influencing the photocatalytic degradation process including irradiation time, catalyst dosage, initial RB4 concentration and initial pH have been evaluated. The photocatalytic degradation results showed that the Au-ZnO NPs exhibited excellent photodecolorization efficiency towards cationic RB4 dye decolorization with 97.36 removal efficiency under visible light illumination for 160 min
Environmental Removal of Reactive Blue 49 Dye From Aqueous Solution by (Lemon peels as activated carbon): a Model of Low Cost agricultural waste
Authors: Taifi Ahmed , Alkadir Ola Kamal A. , Aljeboree Aseel M. , Al Bayaa Abdul Latif , Alkaim Ayad F. , Abed Salwan Ali
Published: May 2022

The removal of reactive blue 49 dye on a bio-sorbent material for Natural lemon peels(NLP) and Acid-activated carbon for lemon peels(AACLP) from aqueous solutions was studied. Preparation of activated carbon for lemon peels(AACLP) by Calcinations at temperature (300°C) for one hour and chemical activation by phosphoric acid. Study different parameter such as effect of contact time, adsorbent dose, pH solution, solution of temperature and Adsorption comparison (agricultural waste). The prepared AACLP was characterized utilizing FT-IR, FESEM technique. Equilibrium result were Isotherm utilizing Isotherm Langmuir and isotherm Freundlich. The result obey Isotherm Langmuir good correlations (R2=0.854). Thermodynamic parameter studies have shown that the reaction is spontaneous, endothermic and convenient in nature.
The inhibitory effect of ginger and lemongrass plants extracts on the growth of some fungi associated with stored yellow corn grains
Authors: Alsudani Ali A , Al-Awsi Ghaidaa Raheem Lateef
Published: May 2022

The current study included testing the effect of the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the rhizomes of the ginger plant (Zengiber officinal) and the leaves of the lemongrass plant (Cymbopogon citratus) on the germination of local yellow corn grains stored in some local markets in the city of Al-Diwaniyah and studying the effect of four different concentrations of these extracts (10, 20, 30, and 40) mg/ml in the radial growth of some fungi isolated from yellow corn grains. The results showed that there were significant differences in the germination ratios of yellow corn grains for the different concentrations of the extracts in comparison with the control treatment, and there were no significant differences in the germination rates of yellow corn grains at a concentration of 40 mg/ml for the different treatments with the treatment of the fungicide Raxil at a probability level of 5 %. It was found that all the extracts had a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of the fungi tested on Potato Dextrose Agar medium by comparison with the control treatment, and these fungi are: Aspergillus niger, Ulocladium sp., Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium graminearum, and the alcoholic extracts of ginger and lemongrass extracts were higher to inhibition of the radial growth of fungi tested in the different treatments, the inhibition ratios were between 73.33-87.12 % in the alcoholic extract treatments for ginger and between 75.15-86.98 % in the alcoholic extract treatments for the lemongrass plant, and the two concentrations were 30 and 40 mg/ml for the alcoholic extracts of the ginger plant and lemongrass has a significant effect similar to that of the fungicide Raxil for all the tested fungi, while it was found that the concentration of 40 mg/ml of the aqueous extracts of ginger and lemongrass was the only concentration that produced a significant effect similar to that of the fungicide Raxil for all tested fungi.
Role of Pomegranate peels as a activated carbon for removal of pollutants
Authors: Hussain Namer A. , Taifi Ahmed , Alkadir Ola Kamal A. , Obaid Nour H. , Abboud Zahraa M. , Aljeboree Aseel M. , Bayaa Abdul Latif Al , Abed Salwan Ali , Alkaim Ayad F.
Published: May 2022

Pomegranate peels are considered as solid agricultural residues that were used as adsorbent materials, very effective in get rid of brilliant yellow Dye from aqueous solution after converting it to Acid-Activated Carbon by phosphoric acid. The surface properties were studied through the use of (FTIR ) and (FESEM) techniques. Several factors affect the adsorption process have been studied like, effect of dye concentration (10-100 mg/L ), where the adsorption efficiency (Qe mg/g) increases with increasing dye concentration ( mg/g ) and weight effect (0.01-0.1 ), the adsorption efficiency(Qe mg/g) decreases with increasing surface weight. Desorption of the Brilliant yellow from the ACPP was studied utilizing several type of solvents (acetone 10% (v/v), methanol 10% (v/v), 0.1N HCl, 0.1 N NaOH,). The adsorption is found through the results that obeys the Friendlich isotherm because it depends on the value of (R2 ) and also the heterogeneous surfaces.
Environmental ID and Phylogenetic Studies of Lactobacillus spp. Najaf Insulates By means of the 16s rRNA Gene
Authors: Azzawi Huda Saad , Hussein Jenan Mohammed
Published: May 2022

Lactobacillus is one of the most important genera in the human and animal digestive tract. They can be found in dairy and non-dairy probiotic foods, and they aid in the restoration of intestinal microflora, which is good for one’s health. Lactobacillus strains were phenotypically identified and defined using biochemical characteristics. For the current study, 120 fecal samples were collected from healthy breast-feeding infants aged two years and under. We looked at a couple of primers on complex communities to see if they could service our investigation of complicated micro-ecosystems. The two primers provided positive results with L.acidophilus and L. helveticus. Their strains came from the feces of breast-fed litters. The remains obtained from DNA samples were sequenced and uploaded to the GenBank “NCBI” database after PCR augmentation.
An improved FFT method for shot peening surface reconstruction
Authors: Xia Fujia , Tang Jinyuan , Li Lin , Yang Duo , Zhao Jiuyue
Published: May 2022

Shot peening is the efficient method for metal surface modification and performance improvement. However, there is still no effective way to establishing the mathematical model for shot peening surface reconstruction, resulting in restricting the correlation study between shot peening surface properties and morphology. The difficulty of shot peening surface reconstruction lies in how to accurately characterize the roughness surface height and texture features. Therefore, a novel method of generating non-Gaussian sequences with specified height roughness parameters is proposed in this paper. Fast Fourier transform (FFT) method gets improved combined with the new method, which overcome the predicament that the unimproved FFT cannot ensure the height features in the reconstructed shot peening surfaces. In addition, a new autocorrelation function in shot peening surfaces is proposed to accurately characterize the reconstructed surface texture. The experimental results show that with the improved FFT method and the new autocorrelation function introduced to shot peening surface reconstruction, the maximum error of the seven height roughness parameters in the reconstructed surface is 2.201%. And the texture features and height distribution of the reconstructed surface are in good agreement with the measured surface.
Introduction
Authors: Craig Errol
Published: May 2022

To those who have never been afflicted or perhaps have never even heard of scabies, it might seem but a medical curiosity. Who would believe that a tiny male mite would exist that seeks out and impregnates a similarly tiny female mite that then proceeds to lay eggs which hatch and form baby mites, all in your skin? And that this could lead to a skin disease and an intense itch? At first, it may be perceived only subtly, or in fact not at all, but with time, scabies leads to fits of scratching, where its symptoms can be disturbingly out of proportion to any physical findings. Patients can feel like they are losing their mind. Colloquially known as simply ‘The Itch’, scabies can distract from work and study, and severely disrupt sleep. Often patients will scratch their skin so heavily that they develop skin infections on top of their already miserable rash. Scabies is a disease that is both difficult to diagnose and rich in history. This chapter provides an introduction to scabies, and details a clinical scenario which provoked the author’s initial interest in the scabies mite and the itchy rash it causes.
Pediatric Hospital Medicine Board Review
Authors: Kulkarni Deepa , Kamzan Audrey , Newcomer Charles A.
Published: May 2022

This Board Review book for Pediatric Hospital Medicine is an essential question-based study guide for pediatric hospitalists and fellows preparing to take the Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) board certification exam. Written by experts from the nation’s top children’s hospitals, this comprehensive resource contains over 500 high-yield multiple-choice questions covering 100% of the content specifications on the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) PHM content outline. Each question is written in the same format as the exam and is accompanied by a clear and concise answer explanation. Features include tables and figures for visual learners, color photos and clinical images, references to updated articles and guidelines for further reading, and high yield pearls in each subject area to help readers succeed on the PHM boards.
The social nature of dying and the social model of health
Authors: Kellehear Allan
Published: May 2022

This chapter outlines the reasons to believe that dying is a predominantly social experience and that a predominantly social model for its care is both logical and essential. Themes for the major research traditions studying dying are summarized. This is followed by an explanation of the 95% rule—time spent by dying people outside of the formal healthcare encounter. The next sections describe how a public health palliative care approach is a quintessential social model of palliative care suitable and relevant to today’s experience of dying and its care. This model places both the social experience and the pursuit of health and well-being at the heart of its approach.
Compassionate cities
Authors: Wilson Gail , Herrera Molina Emilio , Librada Flores Silvia , Kellehear Allan
Published: May 2022

This chapter introduces the idea of the social ecology of health and links this approach to the social ecology at the end of life. This approach is founded upon a ‘setting’-based, or place-based, set of ideas that links health and illness to characteristics of the physical and social environment. From these frameworks emerge practice methods to directly address these kinds of determinants—healthy cities and compassionate cities. Two examples from England and Spain are described to illustrate how these approaches are deployed in encouraging full civic participation in palliative care. Strengths as well as barriers and changes to these approaches are described.
The evidence for the effectiveness of a public health palliative care approach
Authors: Sawyer Joseph , Sallnow Libby
Published: May 2022

Having set the standard of care for those affected by death and dying, palliative care as a specialty now finds itself at a crossroads. Services have been challenged by long-standing issues relating to equity of access for marginalized groups and persistent criticisms relating to the professionalization of death. The response to such issues has been augmented by the introduction and application of new public health principles that seek to embrace death and dying as social processes. Such an approach reframes questions on access by asking what can be done by services together with communities as partners working in palliative care. Evidencing such an approach is limited by the inherent difficulties in applying systematic scientific methods to what are broad-based concepts with multifaceted and context-specific outcomes. This chapter aims to describe and critically appraise the evidence base that has developed in support of a new public health approach to palliative care. By integrating theory from a range of other disciplines it concludes that new public health approaches have the potential to address many of the issues the speciality is facing. However, there are inherent tensions that arise when adopting death as an exclusively social process, notably relating to ideas on responsibility and duty of care. In order to develop a path forward, tensions need to be acknowledged and explored while the clamour to provide evidence of effectiveness must not overshadow what is relevant and important to know in the first instance.
Shedding Light on Races of the Spinach Fusarium Wilt Pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae
Authors: Batson Alex M. , Gyawali Sanjaya , du Toit Lindsey J.
Published: May 2022

Two pathogenicity groups of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae, the causal agent of Fusarium wilt of spinach ( Spinacia oleracea), were described recently based on virulence of isolates on proprietary spinach inbreds. In this study, a wide range in severity of wilt was observed for 68 spinach cultivars inoculated with an isolate of each pathogenicity group, with 22 (32.4%) cultivars displaying differential responses to the isolates. In a second set of trials, seven spinach cultivars were inoculated with five isolates of each pathogenicity group. The cultivars had similar wilt responses to isolates within each group. In both sets of trials, the most severe wilt developed on cultivars inoculated with pathogenicity group 2 isolates when daylength was shorter and light intensity lower. To test whether light intensity exacerbates severity of Fusarium wilt, three spinach cultivars were inoculated with two isolates of each pathogenicity group and grown with or without shading. Shaded plants developed more severe wilt than nonshaded plants. This difference in wilt severity was greatest for plants inoculated with pathogenicity group 2 isolates. We propose naming isolates of pathogenicity groups 1 and 2 as races 1 and 2 of F. oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae, respectively, and recommend the cultivars Kiowa (susceptible to both races) and Magnetic (susceptible to race 2 and highly resistant to race 1) as differentials. Results of this study should help breeders screen spinach germplasm for resistance to both races of F. oxysporum f. sp. spinaciae.
Male and female rats exhibit comparable gaping behavior but activate brain regions differently during expression of conditioned nausea
Authors: Bernanke Alyssa , Sette Samantha , Hernandez Nathaniel , Zimmerman Sara , Murphy Justine , Francis Reynold , Reavis Zackery , Kuhn Cynthia
Published: May 2022

Twenty-five to fifty percent of patients undergoing chemotherapy will develop anticipatory nausea and vomiting (ANV), in which symptoms occur in anticipation of treatment. ANV is triggered by environmental cues and shows little response to traditional antiemetic therapy, suggesting that unique neural pathways mediate this response. Understanding the underlying neural mechanisms of this disorder is critical to the development of novel therapeutic interventions. The purpose of the present study was to identify brain areas activated during ANV and characterize sex differences in both the behavior and the brain areas activated during ANV. We used a rat model of ANV by pairing a novel context with the emetic drug lithium chloride (LiCl) to produce conditioned nausea behaviors in the LiCl-paired environment. We quantitated gaping, an analog of human vomiting, after acute or repeated LiCl in a unique environment. To identify brain regions associated with gaping, we measured c-fos activation by immunochemical staining after these same treatments. We found that acute LiCl activated multiple brain regions including the supraoptic nucleus of the hypothalamus, central nucleus of the amygdala, nucleus of the solitary tract and area postrema, none of which were activated during ANV. ANV activated c-fos expression in the frontal cortex, insula and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus of males but not females. These data suggest that therapies such as ondansetron which target the area postrema are not effective in ANV because it is not activated during the ANV response. Further studies aimed at characterizing the neural circuits and cell types that are activated in the conditioned nausea response will help identify novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of this condition, improving both quality of life and outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Spontaneous alternation and stereotypical behaviour in deer mice: response to escitalopram and levetiracetam
Authors: de Ridder Maret , Mograbi Daniel , Wolmarans De Wet
Published: May 2022

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is varyingly associated with cognitive impairment, that is, deficits in spatial working memory, although it seems unlikely that this is generalised across all domains of functioning. Further, it is unclear whether symptoms will respond to potentially novel, non-serotonergic drugs that have shown promise as so-called cognitive enhancers. Here, we studied low (Norm-N; n = 31) and compulsive-like high (Comp-H; n = 34) stereotypical deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus bairdii) to establish (1) whether there is a relationship between stereotypical intensity and working memory ability as measured by spontaneous T-maze arm alternation and (2) if and how stereotypy and its association with changes in working memory, would respond to the known anti-compulsive agent, escitalopram, and the proposed cognitive enhancer, levetiracetam. After assessing the stereotypical and alternation behaviour of all animals at baseline, they were divided into three socially housed drug exposure groups, that is, water control (n = 11 per phenotype), escitalopram 50 mg/kg/d (n = 11 per phenotype) and levetiracetam 75 mg/kg/d (Norm-N: n = 9; Comp-H: n = 12). Drugs were administered for 28 days before stereotypy and alternation assessment were repeated. The present data indicate a weak negative relationship between stereotypical intensity and spontaneous alternation. While levetiracetam increased the time spent engaging in normal rodent activity by Comp-H, but not Norm-N animals, neither of the interventions affected the expression of Comp-H behaviour or the alternation behaviour of deer mice. In conclusion, this work points to some degree of cognitive involvement in Comp-H expression, which should be explored to further our understanding of compulsive-like stereotypy.
Invasive Salmonella Infections Among Children in Shenzhen, China: A Five-year Retrospective Review
Authors: Jiang Man , Wang Hong-mei , Zhou Guang-lun , Chen Yun-sheng , Deng Ji-kui
Published: May 2022

Background:

Invasive Salmonella infections are highly prevalent worldwide. Clinical data of childhood invasive Salmonella infections from China are limited.

Methods:

Data of hospitalized children <18 years old with invasive Salmonella infections from 2016 to 2020 in Shenzhen Children’s Hospital in Shenzhen were retrospectively collected. Serotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the invasive Salmonella isolates were performed.

Results:

Sixty-three cases were enrolled during the 5-year study period including 8 in 2016, 11 in 2017, 16 in 2018, 6 in 2019 and 22 in 2020. The median age was 15 months (interquartile range, 11–22 months), and 79.4% (50 cases) were <2 years of age. Underlying diseases were found in 28.6% (18 cases) of the patients with a great variety, but no cases of malaria or HIV infection were identified. Most of the invasive Salmonella cases were bloodstream infections (84.1%), followed by osteoarthritis (11.1%) and meningitis (4.8%). Gastroenteritis (49.2%) and pneumonia (28.6%) were found to be the major manifestations among the patients. Furthermore, invasive Salmonella infections resulted in the death of 3 children (4.8%). Salmonella enteritis (12 cases; 15.9%) and Salmonella typhimurium (9 cases; 19.0%) as the most common serovars were identified. The resistance rates of Salmonella strains to ceftriaxone, ceftazidime and cefepime were also measured to be 17.5%, 17.5% and 9.5%, respectively.

Conclusions:

An increasing number of childhood invasive Salmonella infections with a broad range of serotypes was observed in Shenzhen, China. It is critical to pay attention to the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates taken from children with invasive Salmonella infections.
The haplotypes GCA and ACA in ESR1 gene are associated with the susceptibility of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) in Chinese Han
Authors: Tang Liang , Xiang Qin , Xiang Ju , Li Jianming
Published: May 2022

The nonstructured abstract were supplied as following: Estrogen receptor is involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). The ESR1 and ESR2 genes can mediate nongenomic estrogen responses. This study aimed to assess the genetic association between the ESR1 and ESR2 genes polymorphisms and RSA susceptibility in a Chinese Han population. A total of 258 women who had experienced RSA and 264 unrelated healthy women were recruited. Genotypes of the 6 polymorphisms in the ESR1 (rs9340799, rs2234693, and rs3798759) and ESR2 genes (rs207764, rs4986938, and rs1256049) were analyzed using Snapshot technology. No association was detected between the alleles and genotypes of ESR1 rs9340799, rs2234693, and rs3798759 polymorphims and RSA risk (P > .05). Subjects carrying the haplotype of rs9340799A-rs2234693C-rs3798759A had a significantly increased RSA risk in the case group compared with the control group (P = .0005, Padj = .003, odds ratios [95% CI] = 0.35 [0.19–0.65]). However, subjects carrying the haplotype of rs9340799G-rs2234693C-rs3798759A had a significantly decreased RSA risk in the case group compared with the control group (P = .0005, Padj = .003, odds ratios [95% CI] = 2.99 [1.57–5.70]). In addition, no association was found between the alleles, genotypes, and haplotypes of ESR2 rs207764, rs4986938, rs1256049 polymorphisms and RSA risk (P > .05). In conclusion, the haplotype rs9340799A-rs2234693C-rs3798759A of ESR1 might be a risk factor. And the haplotype rs9340799G-rs2234693C-rs3798759A of ESR1 might be a protective factor for RSA in a Chinese Han population.
Spleen stiffness-spleen size-to-platelet ratio risk score as noninvasive predictors of esophageal varices in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis
Authors: Cho Young Seo , Lim Sanghyeok , Kim Yongsoo , Lee Min Hee , Choi Seo-Youn , Lee Ji Eun
Published: May 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate the predictive value of spleen stiffness-spleen size-to-platelet ratio risk score (SSPS) as a noninvasive predictor of esophageal varices (EVs) and to compare it with others.

In this retrospective study, from April 2017 to October 2018, a total of 65 patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis who underwent the liver and spleen stiffness (LS, and SS) measurements by 2 dimensional-shear wave elastography and endoscopic evaluation for EVs were enrolled. Liver stiffness-spleen size-to-platelet ratio risk score (LSPS) and SSPS were calculated. The prognostic values were assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Twenty-six patients had no EV on endoscopy. Among 39 patients who had EVs, 12 patients had high risk EVs. The AUCs of the LS value, SS value, LSPS, and SSPS for predicting EVs were 0.72, 0.77, 0.80, and 0.85, respectively. The AUCs of the LS value, SS value, LSPS, and SSPS for predicting high-risk EVs were 0.55, 0.78, 0.67, and 0.80, respectively. SSPS had the highest specificity, at 96.15%, for predicting EVs.

SSPS may be beneficial to exclude from having EVs and it is expected that the frequency of performing endoscopies for screening EVs can be reduced.
Pathophysiology of bilateral hyperaldosteronism
Authors: Nanba Kazutaka , Rainey William E.
Published: May 2022

Purpose of review

Renin-independent aldosterone production from one or both affected adrenal(s), a condition known as primary aldosteronism (PA), is a common cause of secondary hypertension. In this review, we aimed to summarize recent findings regarding pathophysiology of bilateral forms of PA, including sporadic bilateral hyperaldosteronism (BHA) and rare familial hyperaldosteronism.

Recent findings

The presence of subcapsular aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2)-expressing aldosterone-producing micronodules, also called aldosterone-producing cell clusters, appears to be a common histologic feature of adrenals with sporadic BHA. Aldosterone-producing micronodules frequently harbor aldosterone-driver somatic mutations. Other potential factors leading to sporadic BHA include rare disease-predisposing germline variants, circulating angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies, and paracrine activation of aldosterone production by adrenal mast cells. The application of whole exome sequencing has also identified new genes that cause inherited familial forms of PA.

Research over the past 10 years has significantly improved our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of bilateral PA. Based on the improved understanding of BHA, future studies should have the ability to develop more personalized treatment options and advanced diagnostic tools for patients with PA.
Optimal and novel imaging of the adrenal glands
Authors: Navin Patrick J. , Moynagh Michael R.
Published: May 2022

Purpose of review

Adrenal imaging forms an important role in the workup of adrenal masses. The purpose of this review is to briefly review the traditional role of imaging in adrenal diseases and highlight the most recent research and new applications aimed to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Recent findings

The current review will focus on new applications of computed tomography (CT), MRI and PET/CT imaging, addressing the implications of artificial intelligence and radiomics in progressing diagnostic accuracy.

The new applications of adrenal imaging are improving diagnostic accuracy and expanding the role of imaging, particularly with novel PET radiotracers and the use of artificial intelligence.
Inpatient Care Utilization and Epidemiology of Hirschsprung Disease: Analysis of the National Inpatient Sample
Authors: Dharmaraj Rajmohan , Reno Jessica , Fridge Jacqueline , Perger Lena , Zhu Yiliang
Published: May 2022

Background/Objectives:

Hirschsprung disease (HD) is associated with significant morbidities including long-term bowel dysfunction. The aim of this study was to update national and regional trends in the inpatient care utilization and epidemiology of HD in the United States between 2009 and 2014 using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database.

Methods:

We identified all pediatric admissions with a diagnosis of HD within the NIS from 2009 through 2014. We analyzed HD discharges with respect to various demographic and clinical factors, specifically trends and group differences in inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization, procedures, co-morbidities, hospital mortality, and length of stay (LOS). A modified Cochrane–Armitage trend test was used to analyze trends for dichotomous outcome variables, and regression analyses were conducted for continuous and binary variables.

Results:

National estimates of HD-discharges showed no significant trend between 2009 and 2014 (P = 0.27), with estimated relative incidence ranging from 46 to 70 per 100,000 pediatric discharges. Inflation-adjusted cost of hospitalization increased by $1137 (SE $326) per year (P = 0.0005). Pull-through procedures in neonatal age group increased from 33.0% in 2009 to 36.5% in 2014 (P = 0.003). Hospital mortality has remained stable between 0.4% and 1.0% (P = 0.598). LOS decreased by 0.23 days per year (P = 0.036).

Conclusion:

Increasing cost of HD-related hospitalization despite decreasing LOS was observed in this cohort. Stable rate of hospitalizations with increasing proportions of pull-through procedures among neonates was noted. Future studies and development of protocols to standardize patient care could improve outcomes and healthcare spending.
6- and 12-Month Outcomes after 90:10 Enteral Nutrition Induction Therapy in Pediatric Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Davidson Nicole , Rutsky Jessica , Bricker Josh B. , Smith Jennifer , Maltz Ross M. , Dotson Jennifer L. , Michel Hilary K. , Boyle Brendan
Published: May 2022

Objectives:

Studies describing longer-term outcomes after EEN induction are limited. We describe clinical outcomes during 90:10 EN induction, and 6- and 12- month outcomes among patients that successfully completed EN induction and then continued either EN or immunomodulator (IM) maintenance therapy.

Methods:

All children with CD treated with 90:10 EN induction protocol (90% formula:10% regular diet) at our IBD Center from 2013 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded at baseline, 6, and 12 months (± 3 months at each timepoint). Therapy changes after initiation of EN induction through 12 months were recorded. Among patients that successfully completed 90:10 induction, outcomes between EN and IM maintenance groups were compared.

Results:

In total, 44/105 (42%) patients completed 8–12 weeks of 90:10 EN induction. Sixty-one patients had incomplete EN induction, with 52% requiring corticosteroids and 25% anti-TNF therapy as alternate induction approaches. Forty-four patients completed EN induction (18 continued EN maintenance and 26 IM maintenance therapy). Twenty-seven of these 44 (61%) remained on initial maintenance therapy at 6 months (10/18 (56%) EN and 17/26 (65%) IM). In total, 16/44 (36%) remained on their initial maintenance therapy at 12 months. By 12 months, 10 patients required anti-TNF and 11 corticosteroids after successful completion of induction.

Conclusions:

In this retrospective study of short and longer-term outcomes after 90:10 EN induction, the need for an alternate induction therapy was common, most frequently to anti-TNF or corticosteroid therapy. Future studies are needed to evaluate for predictors of long-term success after EN induction.
Children With Cystic Fibrosis Have Elevated Levels of Fecal Chitinase-3-like-1
Authors: Permain Jessica , Appleton Laura , Ho Shaun S. C. , Coffey Michael , Ooi Chee Y. , Keenan Jacqueline I. , Day Andrew S.
Published: May 2022

Although chitinase-3-like-1 (CHI3L1), predominately produced by epithelial cells and macrophages, is relevant to pulmonary disease in cystic fibrosis (CF), fecal levels have not yet been assessed in children with CF. Fecal CHI3L1 was measured with a commercial immunoassay using fecal samples provided by children with CF and healthy control (HC) children. Higher median (interquartile range) fecal CHI3L1 levels were seen in the 52 children with CF than in the 35 controls: 15.97 (3.34–50.53) ng/g versus 2.93 (2.13–9.27) ng/g (P = 0.001). Fecal CHI3LI did not differ according to sex. In the children with CF, fecal CHI3L1 levels did not correlate with growth parameters nor were the levels affected by pancreatic insufficiency. Children with CF had higher fecal CHI3L1 levels, suggesting underlying gut inflammation. Further work is required to confirm the current findings and to ascertain the longer-term significance of elevated CHI3L1.
Does Maternal Nutrition Have Any Impact on Sex Ratio at Birth in Animal and Human Studies?
Authors: Aoun Antoine , Ghanem Charbel , Hamod Natacha , Darwish Fatima , Ghemrawi Sarah , Al Hayek Sibelle
Published: May 2022

The sex ratio at birth (SRB) is the ratio of male-to-female births. This ratio is slightly skewed toward males (about 105 males to 100 females). However, several studies mostly in experimental animals have raised the question of whether the sex ratio in humans may be modified by certain nutritional and nonnutritional factors. The aim of this literature review is to explore the influence of maternal nutritional factors on sex ratio at birth in various animals and humans. We used Google Scholar, Research Gate, ProQuest, Scopus, Cochrane, and PubMed databases to collect appropriate articles for the review without limiting the publication period. Of the different nutritional approaches in animals the most frequent manipulations are controlling the energy intake and, to a lesser extent, the composition of the diet in terms of macronutrients and micronutrients is most likely to influence the sex ratio at birth in animals. The data on these factors affecting sex ratio at birth are sparse and offer little promise of influencing sex at birth in humans.