bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and treatment of gemcitabine- and cisplatin-resistant bladder cancer cells with a Pan-RAS inhibitor
Authors: Yoshino Hirofumi , Yokoyama Seiya , Tamai Motoki , Okamura Shunsuke , Iizasa Sayaka , Sakaguchi Takashi , Osako Yoichi , Inoguchi Satoru , Matsushita Ryosuke , Yamada Yasutoshi , Nakagawa Masayuki , Tatarano Shuichi , Tanimoto Akihide , Enokida Hideki
Published: October 2022

Background
Combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and cisplatin (GC) is recommended as the primary treatment for advanced bladder cancer (BC). However, the benefits of this approach are limited owing to the acquisition of drug resistance. Therefore, we characterized GC resistance in BCs and evaluated the effects of a pan-RAS inhibitor on these cells.
Methods
We examined cross-resistance between gemcitabine-resistant and cisplatin-resistant BCs. To overcome drug resistance, we used the newly developed pan-RAS inhibitor Compound 3144 in vitro and investigated genes and pathways.
Results
The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of cisplatin in gemcitabine-resistant BCs was the same as that in parental cells, and the IC50 of gemcitabine in cisplatin-resistant BCs was also the same as that in parental cells. Furthermore, different mRNA patterns were observed between gemcitabine- and cisplatin-resistant BCs using RNA sequence analysis. Compound 3144 inhibited cell viabilities through suppression of RAS-Dependent Signaling in gemcitabine- and cisplatin-resistant BCs. RNA sequencing revealed that several genes and pathways, particularly those related to the cell cycle, were significantly downregulated in Compound 3144-treated BCs.
Conclusion
Cross-resistance was not observed, and the pan-RAS inhibitor exhibited antitumor effects in gemcitabine- and cisplatin-resistant BCs. These findings provide insights into potential therapeutic strategies for treating BC.
Development and Psychometric Evaluation of the Hope in Medicine Scale
Authors: Balthasar Lea , Bräscher Anne-Kathrin , Kaptchuk Ted Jack , Ballou Sarah Katherine , Kube Tobias
Published: October 2022

Background: Hope is an integral part of seeking medical treatment. However, there is a lack of measurements that allow to examine the influence of hope on treatment success and the course of symptoms. Therefore, the present study aimed to fill this gap by developing a new self-report scale, the Hope in Medicine (HIM) scale, considering hope as multi-dimensional construct.
Methods: We examined the psychometric properties of the HIM scale in a sample of 74 allergic rhinitis patients participating in a 2-week randomized-controlled trial comparing open-label placebos (OLP) with treatment as usual (TAU).
Results: The 15-item HIM scale had a Cronbach’s α of .78 and an exploratory factor analysis revealed four factors: realistic hope (i.e., hoping for specific positive outcomes such as improvement in symptoms), transcendent hope (i.e., non-directed hoping that things will turn out positively), utopian hope (i.e., hoping to contribute to greater knowledge), and technoscience hope (i.e., hoping for scientific breakthrough). Speaking to the convergent validity of the scale, hope was moderately related to treatment expectancies (r = .56) and trait optimism (r = .34). We found that high hopes were related to less symptom improvement in TAU.
Conclusions: The HIM scale showed good internal consistency and convergent validity; hence, the HIM scale might be a promising approach to investigate hope in relation to treatment success and symptom course more deeply in future studies. The negative association between hope and symptom improvement raises questions about possible downsides of hope in that context.
A novel framework for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's continuum using embedded features of brain networks
Authors: Poury Milad Mashhady  Ali , Masoudnia Saeed , Ameri Ali
Published: October 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The immune-related gene-based prognostic index predicts the prognosis and effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Qu Jialin , Sun Fenghao , Guan Hui , Hou Yichen , Qi Haoran , Sun Xiaorong , Xing Ligang
Published: October 2022

Background: Immune-related genes have been confirmed to be related to tumor development and anti-tumor immune response. Therefore, immune-related genes are potential candidate for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response. We aimed to explore the relationship between immune-related genes and the prognosis, tumor microenvironment and response to immunotherapy in HCC.
Methods: The immune-related gene-based prognostic index (IRGPI) is constructed by 4 hub genes that are most closely related to prognosis among 1.811 immune related genes. We then sequentially compared the differences in clinical characteristics, driver gene mutations, immune microenvironment and immunotherapy between the two groups of IRGPI. Finally, multiplex immunofluorescence staining was used to assess the abundance of infiltrating CD8+ T cells in tumor microenvironment between different subgroups.
Results: IRGPI-high significantly related to higher disease progression and shorter survival time. IRGPI is accompanied by a higher TMB and frequency of driver gene mutations that predicts worse prognosis. In tumor microenvironment, the number and activity of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the IRGPI-low group was significantly greater than that of the IRGPI-high. TIDE and three immunotherapy datasets showed that patients in the IRGPI-low group are more in an immune dysfunction state and respond well to ICIs. Immunostaining on the HCC cohort further confirmed that CD8+ T cells were more abundant in IRGPI-low group, while the tumor microenvironment of IRGPI-high group presents a scene of immune desert, which corresponds to our results and partly explains why IRGPI-high group cannot respond well to ICIs.
Conclusions: IRGPI was created based on the immune-related genes in HCC. The novel prognostic model can predict prognosis and response to ICIs in HCC patients.
Evidence for translocation of oral Parvimonas micra from the subgingival sulcus of the human oral cavity to the colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Conde-Pérez Kelly , Buetas Elena , Aja-Macaya Pablo , Arribas Elsa Martín-De , Iglesias-Corrás Iago , Trigo-Tasende Noelia , Nasser-Ali Mohammed , Estévez Lara S. , Rumbo-Feal Soraya , Otero-Alén Begoña , Noguera José F. , Concha Ángel , Pardiñas-López Simón , Carda-Diéguez Miguel , Gómez-Randulfe Igor , Martínez-Lago Nieves , Ladra Susana , Aparicio Luis M. A. , Bou Germán , Mira Álex , Vallejo Juan A. , Poza Margarita
Published: October 2022

Background: The carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a multifactorial process involving both environmental and host factors, such as human genetics or the gut microbiome, which in CRC patients appears to be enriched in oral microorganisms. The aim of this work was to investigate the presence and activity of Parvimonas micrain CRC patients. To do that, samples collected from subgingival sulcus and neoplastic lesions were used for culturomics. Then, samples from different body locations (saliva, gingival crevicular fluid, feces, non-neoplastic colon mucosa, transition colon mucosa, adenocarcinoma, adenomas, metastatic and non-neoplastic liver samples) were used for 16S rRNA metabarcoding and metatranscriptomics. Whole genome sequencing was conducted for all P. micrastrains obtained.
Results: Several P. micraisolates from the oral cavity and adenocarcinoma tissue from CRC patients were obtained. The comparison of oral and tumoral P. micra genomes identified that a pair of clones (PM89KC) were 99.2% identical between locations in one CRC patient, suggesting that the same clone migrated from oral cavity to the gut. The 16S rRNA metabarcoding analysis of samples from this patient revealed that P. micra cohabits with other periodontal pathogens such as Fusobacterium, Prevotella or Dialister, both in the intestine, liver and the subgingival space, which suggests that bacterial translocation from the subgingival environment to the colon or liver could be more efficient if these microorganisms travel together forming a synergistic consortium. In this way, bacteria might be able to perform tasks that are impossible for single cells. In fact, RNA-seq of the adenocarcinoma tissue confirmed the activity of these bacteria in the neoplastic tissue samples and revealed that different oral species, including P. micra, were significantly more active in the tumor compared to non-neoplastic tissue from the same individuals.
Conclusion: P. micra appears to be able to translocate from the subgingival sulcus to the gut, where oral bacteria adapt to the new niche and could have a relevant role in carcinogenesis. According to our findings, periodontal disease, which increases the levels of these pathogens and facilitates their dissemination, could represent a risk factor for CRC development and P. micra could be used as a non-invasive CRC biomarker.
Increased distal femoral torsion is a predictor of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury: a case control study
Authors: Wang Dehua , Chen Jie , Fan Hengkai , Seeley Rebecca A. , Liang Xi , Huang Wei , Gan Xinling , Li Ke
Published: October 2022

Background
The Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most easily injured ligaments in the knee. Abnormal femur and knee rotation may lead to ACL injury, while an increased proportion of the lateral femoral condyle is also a potential factor in ACL injury. Therefore, distal femoral torsion (DFT) may be closely related to ACL injury. Thus, this study aims to investigate the associations of DFT with the risk of ACL injury and the severity of the injury.
Methods
582 patients who received ACL reconstruction surgery between 2014 and 2019 were examined retrospectively, and 114 patients were selected for analysis. Among them, 32 experienced ACL and anterolateral ligament (ALL) injury (ACL + ALL-injury group), and 32 experienced only ACL injury (only ACL injury group). In addition, 50 patients with similar age and BMI, but without ACL or ALL injury, were selected as the control group. DFT was assessed via the surgical posterior condylar angle (sPCA) on MRI by a blinded researcher. Inter-group differences were assessed via ANOVA. An ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve was generated to elucidate the ACL injury risk, and to establish the appropriate threshold value.
Result
The average sPCA was 3.68 ± 1.26° among the ACL + ALL-injury and ACL-injury only patients. Notably, the 3.77 ± 1.15° sPCA among the ACL + ALL-injury patients, and the 3.58 ± 1.37° sPCA among the ACL-injury patients were markedly enhanced, compared to the 2.41 ± 1.48° value in control patients. The ACL + ALL patients displayed an augmented sPCA trend over ACL-alone patients, however, it did not reach significance. Moreover, based on the ROC curve, sPCA > 2.37° was indicative of an enhanced ACL injury risk among the ACL-intact individuals.
Conclusion
Based on our analysis, augmented sPCA values were intricately linked to enhanced ACL injury risk in non-contact ACL ruptured patients. Nevertheless, its usage as a predictor of ACL injury severity is scarce. The conclusions of this study will likely assist orthopedic surgeons in identifying patients who may benefit from targeted ACL injury prevention.
Ability to track hemodynamic changes in parturients undergoing cesarean section using central venous pressure, stroke volume, and stroke volume variation: a prospective observational study
Authors: Li Chenchen , Zhang Xiaojun , Liu Chao , Li Liang
Published: October 2022

Fluid management in parturients with massive bleeding is often difficult to gauge because there are no reliable indicators of the fluid status. Thirty-two eligible parturients with pernicious placenta previa at the Qilu Hospital of Shandong University between January 2019 and August 2021 were included in this prospective observational study. All subjects were monitored continuously to measure the central venous pressure (CVP), stroke volume (SV), and stroke volume variation (SVV) along with standard monitoring. The primary outcome is the sensitivity and specificity of HR, CVP, SV, and SVV to diagnose hemodynamic instability induced by massive blood loss, which was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The areas under the ROC curve for HR, CVP, SVV, and SV to diagnose hemodynamic instability were 0.83 (sensitivity: 0.62, specificity: 1), 0.79 (sensitivity: 0.46, specificity: 1), 0.72 (sensitivity: 0.62, specificity: 0.95), and 0.64 (sensitivity: 0.69, specificity: 0.68), respectively. Massive blood loss, general anaesthesia induction, and balloon deflation caused significant changes in corresponding hemodynamic indicators. The CVP, SV, and SVV can effectively track the hemodynamic changes in parturients undergoing cesarean section. The sensitivity is low and the specificity is high for HR, CVP, and SVV to diagnose massive blood loss-induced hemodynamic instability.
Dissecting the tumorigenesis trajectory by single-cell RNA-seq reveals critical roles of RNA splicing
Authors: Wu Baohong , Chen Xuelan , Pan Xiangyu , Deng Xintong , Li Shujun , Wang Zhongwang , Wang Jian , Liao Dan , Xu Jing , Chen Mei , Zhao Chengjian , Xue Zhihong , Wang Yuan , Niu Ting , Lin Jingwen , Chen Lu , Chen Chong , Liu Yu
Published: October 2022

Background
Leukemogenesis is proposed to be a multistep process by which normal hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are transformed into full-blown leukemic cells, the details of which are not fully understood.
Methods
We performed serial single-cell transcriptome analyses(10X genomics) of preleukemic and leukemic cells (PLCs) and constructed the cellular and molecular transformation trajectory in a Myc-driven AML model in mice, which represented the transformation course in patients. Another single-cell approach, Smart Seq2, was used to analyze alternative splicing events in leukemic cell.
Results
We found that the Myc targets were gradually upregulated along the trajectory. Among them were splicing factors, which showed stage-specific prognosis for AML patients. Furthermore, we dissected the detailed gene network of a tipping point for HSPCs to generate initiating PLCs, which was characterized by dramatically increased splicing factors and unusual RNA velocity. In the late stage, PLCs acquired explosive heterogeneity through RNA alternative splicing. Among them, the Hsp90aahi subpopulation was conserved in both human and mouse AML and associated with poor prognosis. Exon 6 skipping of Tmem134 was identified in these cells. While the exon skipping product Tmem134β promoted the cell cycle, full-length Tmem134α delayed tumorigenesis.
Conclusion
Our study emphasized the critical roles of RNA splicing in the full process of leukemogenesis and identified the role of a novel tumor specific alternative splicing event, Exon 6 skipping of Tmem134, during the occurrence and maintenance of leukemia.
NewRelics: an interactive installation development method for enhancing museum education
Authors: Qi Wenqian , Zhang Yebingqing , Zou Ning , Chen Chao , Sun Shouqian
Published: October 2022

This paper describes an innovative development method and how it supports museum education through providing better user experience of interactive installation. There have been many studies on museum interactive installations in recent years. We consider the weaknesses of existing installations, finding their interactions are static and lack tactile interaction simultaneously, without which visitors do not resonate with a cultural relic and will forget the experience quickly. To enhance further the user's experience of learning cultural knowledge when visiting the museum, we propose an interactive installation development method, NewRelics. We chose three characteristic cultural relics to demonstrate the whole process of NewRelics, and produce the installations. By operating them, visitors will make an impression on the cultural relics and their history, thus improving visitors' overall experience of the museum in the sense of visual, hearing, and touch, highlighting the significance of cultural relics. In the future, this method can be optimized in combination with smart devices using AR and VR to add value to person-object interaction, cultural experiences, and communication in a museum setting.
Contribution to the study of water resources in the coastal region of Essaouira, using vertical electrical soundings (VES), electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and GIS (Essaouira, Morocco)
Authors: Ouzerbane Zakaria , Essahlaoui Ali , Hmaidi Abdellah El , Najine Abdessamad , Ouali Anas El
Published: October 2022

The geophysical study using the VES and the ERT, carried out in the coastal area of Essaouira (Morocco), for the purpose of mapping the aquifers by combining the two geo-electrical methods, the results allowed us to determine the lateral and vertical distribution of the geological formations in the study region. Thereafter the exploitation of these results by the decision makers in the choice of the sites likely to be hydrogeologically fertile to answer the need for the inhabitants in resource in water. The synthesis on the evolution of the geological layers, the variations of thickness and to highlight the anomalies which could affect them, the GIS tool makes it possible to draw up maps (VES) and electrical imagery (ERT ) at a depth chosen by data interpolated by Kriging. The analysis of the results shows that the Qsob zone is of paramount hydrogeological interest, it is represented by a very important layer given the great extension of the resistant formations of Plio-Plioctecene and Cretaceous age with significant thicknesses. The area is crossed by the Qsob River which is the main source of supply for these two aquifers. With the communication of the two aquifers by the very abundant and dense electric discontinuities of general directions E-W, NE-SW and NNE-SSW.
Evaluation and Spatial Distribution of Livelihood Capital at the District Level in the Koshi River Basin
Authors: Zhang Chenjia
Published: October 2022

Research of farmers’ livelihood capital contributes significantly to understanding the mechanism of regional poverty, advancing strategies to enhance the sustainability of poor farmers’ livelihoods, and formulating policies for regional targeted development. Taking the Nepalese and Chinese parts of the Koshi River Basin (KRB) as an example, this study investigates the current situation of shortages of livelihood capitals between the upper and lower reaches in China and Nepal separately, and explores the potential causes of differences in livelihood capital from the diverse perspectives. Results reveal that the comprehensive livelihood level in the basin is poor, and there are diverse levels of shortage and differentiation of livelihood capital. The total spatial difference in livelihood capital is minor and distributed at random or independently, and it was discovered that financial capital and social capital are the scarcest capital in the entire basin. These results also illustrate the spatial patterns of financial capital prevail in the Nepalese part of the basin. The livelihood capital at the district level is significantly related to adult literacy rates, levels of regional employment, the number of livestock at the end of the year, regional livestock product production, labor productivity, per capita of arable land area, crop production areas, and economically active populations. The findings produce a theoretical basis for the formulation of appropriate livelihood adaptation strategies and the establishment and enhancement of poverty reduction systems and policies in the KRB.
Regional Feature Learning using Structural Analysis of Attributes in a Bipartite Attention Framework for Vehicle Re-Identification
Authors: B Cynthia Sherin , Jayavel Kayalvizhi
Published: October 2022

Vehicle re-identification aspires to discover the target vehicle from the images obtained from the multiple non-overlapping real-world surveillance cameras. The challenges of illuminations, pose variations, resolution and various other attributes adds to the difficulty in re-identification. To overcome these difficulties, fine-grained visual differences in the vehicles are recognized for accurate predictions. Along with the coarse-grained features such as vehicle colour, model the customized features like annual service signs, logo, hangings are additionally considered. In this research work, we have designed a new dataset named Attributes27 with 27 classes of hierarchically labelled attributes to work on our proposed bipartite attention framework. The bipartite framework comprises of three blocks: A double branched convolution neural network layer extracts the global and local features in each vehicle image. Secondly, the self-attention block attached to each branch to detect the Region of Interests (ROIs). And finally the partition-alignment block is deployed to obtain the regional features from the gathered ROIs. Attributes27 and VeRi-776 datasets are the two datasets on which our proposed system is evaluated and the results show significant improvement in accuracy and also concentrate on the specific regional attributes present in each vehicle. The proposed method exhibits a performance of 98.5% and 84.3% respectively on Attributes27 and VeRi-776 datasets which is compared to be higher than the existing methods which exhibited 78.6% of accuracy.
Characterization and modeling of wood species sorption isotherms for use in civil engineering structures monitoring
Authors: Varnier Maximin , Ulmet Laurent , DUBOIS Frédéric , Sauvat Nicolas
Published: October 2022

This paper deals with a model allowing to calculate and describe, in a universal way, the sorption isotherms in wood material used in the moisture content measurement and the simulation of mass transfers. The originality of the presented tool lies in a thermodynamic approach explained in a few parameters model , grouped by species families, via the notion of normalized isotherms. It is also adapted to non-isothermal environments thanks to the application of Le Chatelier's principle. Finally, the model integrates partial isotherms, which makes it possible to use it not only to characterize the material sorption properties, but also to integrate it in heat transfer algorithms or in the implementation of moisture monitoring of timber structures under uncontrolled environments.
A multi-modal AI-driven cohort selection tool based on response to loading-phase aflibercept for neovascular age-related macular degeneration: PRECISE study
Authors: Chorev Michal , Haderlein Jonas , Chandra Shruti , Menon Geeta , Burton Benjamin , Pearce Ian , McKibbin Martin , Thottarath Sridevi , Karatsai Eleni , Chandak Swati , Kotagiri Ajay , Talks S , Grabowska Anna , Ghanchi Faruque , Gale Richard , Hamilton Robin , Antony Bhavna , Garnavi Rahil , Mareels Iven , Giani Andrea , Chong Victor , Sivaprasad Sobha
Published: October 2022

Patients diagnosed with neovascular age-related macular degeneration are commonly treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) agents. However, response to treatment is heterogeneous, without a clinical explanation. Predicting suboptimal response at baseline will enable more efficient clinical trial designs for novel, future interventions and facilitate individualised therapies. In this multicentre study, we trained a multi-modal artificial intelligence (AI) system to identify suboptimal responders to the loading-phase of the anti-VEGF agent, aflibercept from baseline characteristics. We collected clinical features and optical coherence tomography scans from 1720 eyes of 1612 patients between 2019 and 2021. We evaluated our AI system as a patient selection method by emulating hypothetical clinical trials of different sizes based on our test set. Our method detected up to 57.6% more suboptimal responders than random selection, and up to 24.2% more than any alternative selection criteria tested. Applying this method to the entry process of candidates into randomised controlled trials may contribute to the success of such trials and further inform personalised care.
The Efficacy and Safety of Varenicline Nasal Spray for the Management of Dry Eye Signs: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Bashrahil Bader , Taher Nada , Alzahrani Ziyad , Alnabihi Ahmed , Aldahlawi Abdulaziz , Alkhathlan Mohammad , Alghamdi Saeed
Published: October 2022

Background Dry eye disease (DED) is a disease caused by a reduced volume or deficient quality of tears and is treated mainly with tear supplementation. There is emerging evidence that nicotinic nasal sprays are effective for DED. Our systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the efficacy and safety of varenicline nasal spray (OC-01) for DED treatment utilizing the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) criteria. Methods Medline, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) databases were searched. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the efficacy of OC-01 versus placebo were included. The mean change in the Schirmer test score from baseline on day 28 was the efficacy endpoint. Serious adverse events (SAEs), nonserious adverse events (NSAEs), and the rate of mortality were the safety endpoints. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used for continuous outcomes, while the risk ratio (RR) was used to demonstrate dichotomous variables. Data pooling was performed using the inverse variance weighting technique. The certainty of evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. The risk of bias assessment was conducted using the Revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials. Results Three RCTs (n = 1063) met the eligibility criteria. All RCTs had a low risk of bias. Meta-analysis found a statistically significant increase in the mean STS change from baseline on day 28 (SMD = 5.70, 95% CI 3.40 − 7.99 P < 0.00001, I2 = 99%). The pooled analysis found no significant difference between OC-01 and placebo in the frequency of SAEs (RR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.49–2.00,P = 0.98, I2 = 8%) or mortality (RR = 1.05, 95% CI 0.16–7.16,P = 0.96, I2 = 0%). However, OC-01 had a significant effect on developing NSAEs (RR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.51–2.34,P < 0.00001, I2 = 75%). Conclusion OC-01 had a highly significant increase in the efficacy endpoints but caused an increased frequency of NSAEs. OC-01 did not correlate with either SAEs or mortality. The RCTs included in our study had a low risk of bias assessment. Nevertheless, they were downgraded in multiple domains upon GRADE assessment.
Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe COVID-19 pneumonitis: case series from a Hungarian tertiary centre
Authors: Zöllei Éva , Rudas László , Hankovszky Péter , Korsós Anita , Pálfi Alexandra , Varga Zoltán , Tomozi László , Hegedüs Zoltán , Bari Gábor , Szivós Brigitta Lobozárné , Kiszel Attila , Babik Barna
Published: October 2022

Background: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (V-V ECMO) is recommended for the support of patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonitis. In this study we report the characteristics and outcome of COVID-19 patients treated with V-V ECMO in a Hungarian centre.

Methods: We retrospectively collected data on all patients admitted with proven SARS CoV-2 infection who received V-V ECMO support between March 2021 and May 2022.

Results: Eighteen patients were included in the analysis (5 women, age 44±10 years, APACHE II score 12 (IQR 10-14.5)). The patients had their first positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test 9 (7-15) days before admission and were already hospitalised for 6 (4-11) days. Fifteen patients received non-invasive ventilation for 4 (2-8) days, two patients high flow nasal oxygen therapy each for one day. They were intubated 2.5 (1-6) days prior to ECMO initiation. Prone position was applied in 15 cases. The Lung Injury Score was 3.25 (3-3.26), the PaO2/FiO2 ratio was 71±19 mmHg. The duration of V-V ECMO support was 26±20 days, and the longest run lasted 70 days. Patients were mechanically ventilated for 34±23 days. Intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were 40±28 days and 45±31 days, respectively. 11 patients were successfully weaned from ECMO. ICU survival rate was 56%, in-hospital survival was 50%. All patients who were discharged from hospital reported a good health-related quality of life at the 5-16 month follow-up.

Conclusions: We achieved comparable survival rate to that reported by the European Chapter of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organisation COVID-19 Survey.
Influence of anaerobic biotransformation process of agro-industrial waste with Lactobacillus acidophilus on the rheological parameters: case of study of pig manure
Authors: Estrada-García Joaquín , Hernández-Aguilar Eduardo , Romero-Mota Diana Ibeth , Contreras Juan Manuel Méndez
Published: October 2022

This study evaluated rheological behavior of the pig waste biotransformation process to produce Lactic Acid (LA) and biomass with Lactobacillus acidophilus in a stirred reactor. Also, cell growth, carbohydrate consumption, and LA production at three different agitation speeds, 100, 150, and 200 rpm at 37°C, with a reaction time of 52 h. During the development of the process, the kinetic and rheological parameters were obtained using the logistic, Gompertz, and generalized Gompertz, Ostwald de Waele, and Herschel-Bulkley mathematical models, respectively. The substrate used was pig manure, to which molasses was added at 12% v/v to increase the concentration of carbohydrates. The results suggest that mass exchange is favorable at low agitation speeds. Still, the presence of molasses rich in carbohydrates as a carbon source modifies the characteristics of the fluid, dilatant (n > 1) at the beginning of the process to end up as pseudoplastic (n < 1) due to the addition of exopolysaccharides and the modification of the physical structure of the substrate. This effect was confirmed by the Herschel-Bulkley model, which presented a better fit to the data obtained, in addition to finding a direct relationship between viscosity and pH that can be used as variables for the control of bioconversion processes of pig manure into biomass rich inLactobacillus acidophilus.
Studying the Causes of Acute Asthma Attacks at Damascus Hospital, Treatment, Hospitalization, and Deaths
Authors: Alkhaled Oula Shaalan , Alshurbaji Ranem Emad , Al-bardan Hossam
Published: October 2022

Introduction:
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways. Patients with an acute asthma attack who rely on emergency department services are generally considered to have severely poor disease control and prognosis. It is important to determine the characteristics of patients with an acute asthma attack, factors related to poor disease control, and measures presented and complications to apply appropriate clinical management.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted for patients admitted with an acute asthma attack story in Damascus Hospital. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between sex and death with patient variables. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and t-test were used to compare the means of continuous variables (eg, age, duration of asthma). A value (p < 0.05) was adopted as statistical significance.
Results
Out of 140 patients, 26.4% were male, and 73% were female, with an average age of 47.4 years. Most of the patients were non-smokers (68.6%), and 12.9% were former smokers. The shortness of breath was presented in 95.7% and cough in 80.7% of the patients. Respiratory infections were 32.9% of the main triggers of an asthma attack. And each of the antibiotics 87.9%, steroids 85.7%, and Compevent 67.9% were the most prominent treatments used to manage an acute asthma attack at the hospital. Gender, age, duration of asthma and death showed a statistically significant relationship with the study variables.
Conclusions
Providing country-specific data on patterns of practice in acute asthma attack management is critical in Syria. The development of asthma leads to a deterioration in the quality of life characterized by limited activities and loss of ability to function independently. Therefore, programs aimed to prevent acute asthma attacks and raise awareness about the importance of adherence to drug treatment and avoidance of triggers must be implemented. Emphasis should be placed on achieving asthma control in older adult patients to improve their quality of life and reduce their economic burden.
Effect of Duration and Rate of Freezing and Tissue Hydration on ‘Bartlett’ Pear Buds, Flowers, and Small Fruit
Authors: Strang John G. , Lombard Porter B. , Westwood M. N. , Weiser C. J.
Published: October 2022

Freezing studies on ‘Bartlett’ pear (Pyrus communis L.) bouquets of buds, flowers, and small fruit showed injury increased with decreasing temperature, increasing developmental stage, and increasing duration of frost. At the minimum temperature, 30 and 60 minutes of frost exposure in all stages increased injury, however, in the small fruit stage injury at −2°C increased for up to 2 hours exposure. The effect of freezing rate was dependent on minimum temperature and dry florets were injured slightly more than florets misted just prior to freezing.
Plant Populations and Fertility Studies on Rabbiteye Blueberries1
Authors: Austin M. E. , Mullinix B. G.
Published: October 2022

The response of rabbiteye blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade, cv. Tifblue) to 3 plant spacings and 3 fertilizer levels was compared for 6 years. Tifblue did not respond to fertilizer levels during the first 5 years, but beginning the 3rd year in the field, higher yields were obtained with higher plant population (2315 plants/ha). Increasing fertilizer levels increased unmarketable fruit, the amount of pruned wood and the time required to grade fruit. The best combination of spacing and fertilizer were 1.8 m in-the-row spacing and 67-30-40 kg/ha of N-P-K, respectively.
Potato Sprout Inhibition by Camptothecin, a Naturally Occurring Plant Growth Regulator1
Authors: Wang C. Y. , Buta J. G. , Moline H. E. , Hruschka H. W.
Published: October 2022

An isolate of camptothecin alkaloids was applied to the eyes or sprouts on potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) as lanolin suspensions at concentrations of 1.5, 3, 9, and 15 mM, or to the whole tubers as aqueous sprays or dips at various concentrations. Potato sprouting at 15°C was completely inhibited for 4 weeks by all the lanoline suspensions. Inhibition was greater than 95% when a solution of the alkaloids at 5 × 10−1 mM was applied to the tubers as a 3-spray or 3-dip treatment. The camptothecin treatments that inhibited sprouting also reduced weight loss of potato tubers; and even after 4 months at 15°, no symptoms of internal sprouting or other deleterious effects were evident. Electron micrographs of sprouts suggest that camptothecin inhibited sprouting by inducing structural changes in vascular tissues and interfering with cell division in the meristematic portions of the sprouts.
Some Growth Regulator Effects on Fruit Quality, Mesocarp Composition, and Susceptibility to Postharvest Surface Marking of Sweet Cherries1
Authors: Looney N. E. , Lidster P. D.
Published: October 2022

Gibberellic acid (GA3) sprays applied approximately 4 weeks before harvest reduced postharvest surface marking of ‘Van’ and ‘Lambert’ sweet cherries (Prunus avium L.). Surface pitting was reduced more consistently than was visible bruising. GA3-treated fruits were larger and firmer when harvested at a prescribed color maturity. Mesocarp tissue of treated fruits was higher in alcohol insoluble solids, higher in dry weight and contained less nitrogen per unit of fresh or dry weight. Ethephon applied a few days before harvest reduced fruit removal force but did not consistently reduce the incidence of bruising or surface pitting. ‘Lambert’ fruits picked without stems developed more surface pitting than stemmed fruits. It is proposed that GA3 improves postharvest fruit condition by more than one mechanism. Increased fruit firmness may reduce the tendency to bruise but pitting appears to be suppressed by some other physiological effect of the GA3 treatment.
Effects of Plant Age and Nitrogen Fertilization on Nitrate Accumulation and Postharvest Nitrite Accumulation in Fresh Spinach1
Authors: Aworh O. C. , Hicks J. R. , Minotti P. L. , Lee C. Y.
Published: October 2022

Leaves of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) from N fertilized and unfertilized plots were harvested at different stages of maturity, and analyzed for nitrate and nitrite at harvest and after storage at 10°C for 5, 10 or 15 days. Leaf nitrate-N increased with time in plants sidedressed with 340 kg N/ha, but decreased in unfertilized spinach. Leaves harvested at market maturity accumulated 5-fold more nitrite-N when held at 10°C for 15 days than immature leaves. N fertilization increased nitrate accumulation at harvest, and nitrite accumulation after 15 days at 10°C.
Stimulation of Bud and Shoot Development of Rieger Begonia Leaf Cuttings with Cytokinins1
Authors: Davies F. T. , Moser B. C.
Published: October 2022

Leaf cuttings of Rieger elatior begonias (Begonia bertini ‘compacti’ × B. socotrana cvs. Aphrodite Cherry Red and Schwabenland Red) were treated with 6-furfurylamino purine (kinetin), 6-benzylamino purine (BA), and 6-(benzylamino)-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)-9H-purine (PBA). BA and PBA enhanced bud and shoot regeneration in ‘Aphrodite Cherry Red,’ while kinetin showed no activity. All cytokinins tested reduced shoot development in ‘Schwabenland Red.’ PBA stimulated optimal bud and shoot development when applied to ‘Aphrodite Cherry Red’ leaf cuttings as a 12 hour 15 μM basal-petiole dip, 1000 μM spray, and 0.01% talc-petiole- dip. Cuttings taken from ‘Aphrodite Cherry Red’ stock plants treated with 1000 μM PBA successfully generated new plants.
Infestation Procedures and Heritability of Characters Used to Estimate Ear Damage Caused by Second-Brood European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis, Hübner) on Corn1
Authors: Grier Stephen L. , Davis David W.
Published: October 2022

Procedures for forced field infestation of maize with European corn borer egg masses, placed to simulate possible natural ovipositional sites and to emphasize damage to the ear, were compared. A growth chamber procedure using excised ears and a free-choice (preference) infestation procedure were also used. Forced infestation in the field permitted infestation at a uniform relative maturity and uniform development of borers from time of infestation to evaluation. An ear-and-leaf infestation procedure appeared to be the most appropriate for simultaneous evaluation of kernel damage and stalk tunneling. Estimated heritabilities, using this procedure on 2 segregating populations, were 0.71 and 0.84 for kernel damage and 0.39 and 0.79 for stalk tunneling. Phenotypic correlations among 3 ear damage criteria were noted (r = 0.42 to 0.46). Evaluation based on kernel damage alone, excluding cob tunneling and number of surviving larvae, was considered sufficient. There was no evidence that kernel damage was influenced by level of stalk tunneling.
A Computer Simulation to Maximize Asparagus Yield1
Authors: Lampert Emmett P. , Johnson Donn T. , Tai Art W. , Kilpatrick Glen , Antosiak Randy A. , Crowley Philip H. , Goodman Erik D.
Published: October 2022

A computer simulation of asparagus growth is developed and used to evaluate the effects of various harvest strategies on short and long term commercial yield of asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). At present asparagus is harvested until the canners stop buying, usually in the 3rd or 4th week of June in southern Michigan, purchase generally being terminated by the reduction of spear diameter (whips), increase in fiber content of the spears or opening of the bracts. The simulation shows that this stragety is economically optimal for any single year; however, if the grower terminates the harvest every year on June 1, then the average yearly yields are significantly greater than those derived from the previous strategy. Skipping strategies, in which the grower skips a harvest every nth year (2nd, 3rd, or 4th), produced significantly lower 15 year average yields than either of the other 2 strageties, but produced significantly greater yields per plant.
Correlations of Fisheye Photography to Canopy Structure, Light Climate, and Biological Responses to Light in Apple Trees1
Authors: Lakso Alan N.
Published: October 2022

Fisheye (hemispherical) photographs were taken in apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) tree canopies of varying types and analyzed for the percentage sky visible in the photograph. Canopy structure was evaluated with photographs along vertical transects, and seasonal development of different canopy forms was followed. Good correlations of the % sky to total and diffuse light, sunfleck penetration, red/far-red ratios, flowering and fruit coloration were found. Results were used to help define the proper balance between light penetration and interception by apple tree canopies, which was estimated as about 20% sky at the bottom of a canopy for ‘McIntosh’.
Effect of Simulated Frost Injury on Fruit Development in Three Pear Cultivars1
Authors: Strang John G. , Lombard P. B. , Westwood M. N.
Published: October 2022

Simulated frost injury to ovaries at intervals after full bloom significantly increased fruit malformation, reduced fruit weight, and increased fruit drop in ‘Bartlett’, ‘Bosc’, and ‘Comice’ pear (Pyrus communis L.). Time of injury did not affect fruit weight and malformation in most cases, but did significantly affect fruit drop. Significant positive correlations were found between fruit weight and seed content, while negative correlations were found between fruit malformation and seed content for all cultivars.
Susceptibility of Starch Granules from Maize Endosperm Mutants to Amylases1
Authors: Garwood D. L. , Vanderslice S. F.
Published: October 2022

Starch granules were extracted from maize (Zea mays L.) endosperm of mature F2 kernels of IA5125 × IA453 normal, amylose-extender (ae), dull (du) waxy (wx), and ae du wx and from ae du wx F2 kernels harvested at the fresh market stage of development. Samples were digested for 1.5 hours with hog pancreatic α- amylase and Rhizopus II amyloglucosidase. The mature and immature ae du wx samples were usually digested significantly more than the other 4 genotypes, while ae was digested significantly less than the others. Digestion of starch granules from mature and immature ae du wx kernels did not differ. The sweet corn background used had little effect, since our observations of the single mutant genotypes were similar to those in a dent background. Clearly, ae du wx starch granules do not reflect the reduced digestibility associated with ae, and thus cultivars homozygous for ae du wx are not inferior with respect to their ability to supply carbohydrates to the diet.
Effects of Selected Photoperiods and Fertilizer Rates on Growth of Pinus strobus and Pinus thunbergii Seedlings1
Authors: Struve Daniel K. , Blazich Frank A.
Published: October 2022

Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) and Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii Pari.) seedlings were grown under 4 photoperiods with 5 rates of 18N-2.6P-10.0K (18N-6P205-12K2O) Osmocote fertilizer applied at radicle emergence. Seedlings of both species grown under 16 and 20 hour photoperiods at fertilizer rates of 1.78 and 3.56 kg/m3 were taller and had greater dry weight than seedlings grown under 8 and 12 hour photoperiods and higher rates of fertilizer (5.34 and 7.12 kg/m3). With both species, short days inhibited height growth and dry weight accumulation and this effect could not be overcome by increasing the fertilizer rate.
Influence of Cultivar, Season, Irrigation, and Date of Planting on Thiocyanate Ion Content in Cabbages1
Authors: Bible Bernard B. , Ju Hak-Yoon , Chong Calvin
Published: October 2022

Tissue analysis of 14 cultivars of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. Capitata group) in both 1974 and 1975 indicated that late maturing cultivars generally were higher in thiocyanate ion (SCN−) content than early maturing cultivars. In both years, there was a significant positive correlation between SCN− content of cultivars and days to maturity. While SCN− content of late-planted (June 18, 1975) unirrigated ‘Badger Market’ and ‘Storage Green’ cabbages were more than twice as high as corresponding late-planted cabbages irrigated 5 times per week, the SCN− content of early-planted (May 6) cabbages of both cultivars was not significantly influenced by irrigation treatment. In contrast, the marketable head fresh weight of both cultivars was lowest in late-planted, unirrigated plots. Head SCN− content was negatively correlated with marketable head fresh weight and with total top weight of both cabbage cultivars.
Influence of Reduced Night Temperatures on Growth and Flowering of ‘May Shoesmith’ Chrysanthemums1
Authors: Bonaminio Vincent P. , Larson Roy A.
Published: October 2022

Plants of ‘May Shoesmith’ chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) were grown in controlled environment chambers at optimal (16°C) and sup-optimal night temperatures. Reduced night temperatures were imposed for all or part of the night cycle. Number of days to flowering was delayed as night temperature decreased from 16° or as duration of reduced temperature during each diurnal cycle was increased. Compared to plants grown at a continuous 16° night temperature, plants grown at 10° for 9 or 10½ hours each night (with the remaining hours at 16°) had greater stem diameter, were taller and had flowers with greater diameter and fresh weight. Number of nodes was not affected.
Chromosome Numbers and Comparative Breeding Behavior of Certain Impatiens from Africa, India, and New Guinea1
Authors: Arisumi Toru
Published: October 2022

Chromosome counts were made of 10 Impatiens spp. L. from Africa, 5 from India, and 6 from the New Guinea-Indonesia area. Chromosome numbers reported for the first time were 2x = 16 for Impatiens auricoma Baill., I. epiphytica G. M. Schulze, and I. marianae Reichb. Counts that differed from previous reports were 2x = 18 for I. campanulata Wight, 2x = 36 for I. hookeriana Arn., and 2x = 32 for I. mooreana Schltr. Breeding tests with 20 species showed that 6 were self-incompatible. Crosses between species from different geographic groups were incompatible. Four out of 72 possible crosses among 9 African species and 30 out of 30 among 6 New Guinea-Indonesia species were compatible. The 20 crosses among 5 Indian species were all incompatible. Aborted embryos were observed in 57 incompatible crosses.
Multiparameter quantum critical metrology
Authors: Di Fresco Giovanni , Spagnolo Bernardo , Valenti Davide , Carollo Angelo
Published: October 2022

Single parameter estimation is known to benefit from extreme sensitivity to parameter changes in quantum critical systems. However, the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters is generally limited due to the incompatibility arising from the quantum nature of the underlying system. A key question is whether quantum criticality may also play a positive role in reducing the incompatibility in the simultaneous estimation of multiple parameters. We argue that this is generally the case and verify this prediction in paradigmatic quantum many-body systems close to first and second order phase transitions. The antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic 1-D Ising chain with both transverse and longitudinal fields are analysed across different regimes and close to criticality.