bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Polymorphisms in the hypoxia inducible factor binding site of the macrophage migration inhibitory factor gene promoter in schizophrenia
Authors: Okazaki Satoshi , Boku Shuken , Watanabe Yuichiro , Otsuka Ikuo , Horai Tadasu , Morikawa Ryo , Kimura Atsushi , Shimmyo Naofumi , Tanifuji Takaki , Someya Toshiyuki , Hishimoto Akitoyo
Published: March 2022

Background

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a multifunctional cytokine that promotes neurogenesis and neuroprotection. MIF is predominantly expressed in astrocytes in the brain. The serum MIF level and microsatellites/single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MIF gene promoter region are known to be associated with schizophrenia (SCZ). Interestingly, previous studies reported that hypoxia, an environmental risk factor for SCZ, induced MIF expression through binding of the hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1 to the hypoxia response element (HRE) in the MIF promoter.

Methods

We investigated the involvement of MIF in SCZ while focusing on the HIF pathway. First, we conducted an association study of the SNP rs17004038 (C>A) in the HRE of the MIF promoter between 1758 patients with SCZ and 1507 controls. Next, we investigated the effect of hypoxia on MIF expression in primary cultured astrocytes derived from neonatal mice forebrain.

Results

SNP rs17004038 was significantly associated with SCZ (p = 0.0424, odds ratio = 1.445), indicating that this SNP in the HRE of the MIF promoter was a genetic risk factor for SCZ. Hypoxia induced MIF mRNA expression and MIF protein production and increased HIF-1 binding to the MIF promoter, while the activity of the MIF promoter was suppressed by mutations in the HRE and by deletion of the HRE in astrocytes.

Conclusion

These results suggest that SNP rs17004038 in the HRE of the MIF promoter was significantly associated with SCZ and may be involved in the pathophysiology of SCZ via suppression of hypoxia and HIF pathway-induced MIF expression.
CD4+ cell count recovery after initiation of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected Ethiopian adults
Authors: Fiseha Temesgen , Ebrahim Hussen , Ebrahim Endris , Gebreweld Angesom
Published: March 2022

Background

CD4+ cell count recovery after effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an important determinant of both AIDS and non-AIDS morbidity and mortality. Data on CD4+ cell count recovery after initiation of ART are still limited in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to assess CD4+ cell count recovery among HIV-infected adults initiating ART in an Ethiopian setting.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of HIV-infected adults initiating ART between September 2008 and June 2019 was carried out. CD4+ cell count recovery was defined as an increase in CD4+ cell count of >100 cells/mm3 from baseline or achievement of a CD4+ cell count >500 cells/mm3 at 12 months after ART initiation. Factors associated with CD4+ cell count recovery were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.

Results

Of the 566 patients included in this study, the median baseline CD4+ cell count was 264 cells/mm3 (IQR: 192–500). At 12 months after ART initiation, the median CD4+ cell count increased to 472 cells/mm3, and the proportion of patients with CD4+ cell count < 200 cells/mm3 declined from 28.3 to 15.0%. A total of 58.0% of patients had an increase in CD4+ cell count of >100 cells/mm3 from baseline and 48.6% achieved a CD4+ cell count >500 cells/mm3 at 12 months. Among patients with CD4+ cell counts < 200, 200–350 and >350 cells/mm3 at baseline, respectively, 30%, 43.9% and 61.7% achieved a CD4+ cell count >500 cells/mm3 at 12 months. In multivariable analysis, poor CD4+ cell count recovery (an increase of ≤100 cells/mm3 from baseline) was associated with older age, male sex, higher baseline CD4+ cell count and zidovudine-containing initial regimen. Factors associated with poor CD4+ cell count recovery to reach the level >500 cells/mm3 included older age, male sex and lower baseline CD4+ cell count.

Conclusions

CD4+ cell count failed to recover in a substantial proportion of adults initiating ART in this resource-limited setting. Older age, male sex and baseline CD4+ cell count are the dominant factors for poor CD4+ cell count recovery. Novel therapeutic approaches are needed focusing on high risk patients to maximize CD4+ cell count recovery and improve outcomes during therapy.
TimTrack: A drift-free algorithm for estimating geometric muscle features from ultrasound images
Authors: van der Zee Tim J. , Kuo Arthur D.
Published: March 2022

Ultrasound imaging is valuable for non-invasively estimating fascicle lengths and other features of pennate muscle, especially when performed computationally. Effective analysis techniques to date typically use optic flow to track displacements from image sequences, but are sensitive to integration drift for longer sequences. We here present an alternative algorithm that objectively estimates geometric features of pennate muscle from ultrasound images, without drift sensitivity. The algorithm identifies aponeuroses and estimates fascicle angles to derive fascicle lengths. Length estimates of human vastus lateralis and gastrocnemius fascicles in healthy subjects (N = 9 and N = 17 respectively) compared well (overall root-mean-square difference, RMSD = 0.52 cm) to manual estimates by independent observers (n = 3), with overall coefficient of multiple correlation (CMC) of 0.98. Our tests yielded accuracy (CMC, RMSD) and processing speed similar to or exceeding that of state-of-the-art algorithms. The algorithm requires minimal manual intervention and can optionally extrapolate fascicle lengths that extend beyond the image frame. It thus facilitates automated analysis of ultrasound images without drift.
The use of dried blood spot cards to assess serologic responses of individuals vaccinated against measles, hepatitis A, tetanus, influenza and varicella zoster
Authors: Reinhardt Brian , Taylor Robert , Dawkins Colin , Banks Taylor , Watson Nora , Sundaram Appavu , Ewing Daniel , Danko Janine Ruth
Published: March 2022

Traditional blood sampling by venipuncture is cumbersome and relatively expensive. Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling is desirable because of its ease of sample collection, transportation and storage. It has been used in clinical diagnosis but not been thoroughly studied for the potential use to assess the immune status of individuals following natural infection or preventive vaccination. The goal of this study was to compare DBS to traditional blood samplings in detection of antibodies in individuals vaccinated against measles, hepatitis A, tetanus, influenza and varicella zoster. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test DBS eluates and serum samples for antibodies against measles, varicella, tetanus and hepatitis A. Sensitivities, specificities, and correlation coefficients were evaluated to compare optical density (OD) values of paired serum and DBS samples. The long-term stability of DBS samples at different temperatures was assessed using simulated immune measles blood. DBS OD was highly correlated with serum OD for antibodies to measles (r = 0.93), varicella (r = 0.82), and tetanus (r = 0.91). Sensitivities of DBS OD ranged from 86–99% and specificities ranged from 96–100% using cut-offs established by each assay. By contrast, the hepatitis A data showed a low sensitivity (31%) and weak correlation (r = 0.14) between DBS and serum samples. Antibody titers in serum samples for anti-influenza A (H1N1 and H3N1) failed to correlate in DBS eluates in HAI and MN assays. DBS samples were stable for 4 weeks when stored at room temperature and for 6 months at 4°C. DBS sampling was sensitive, specific, and highly correlated with traditional venipuncture sampling in detection of antibodies against measles, tetanus and varicella zoster, but not hepatitis A and influenza. Thus, the success of using DBS sampling to assess the antibody levels in immunized individuals may be dependent on the pathogens and the development of the assay used.
Mapping local hot spots with routine tuberculosis data: A pragmatic approach to identify spatial variability
Authors: Brooks Meredith B. , Millones Ana Karina , Puma Daniela , Contreras Carmen , Jimenez Judith , Tzelios Christine , Jenkins Helen E. , Yuen Courtney M. , Keshavjee Salmaan , Lecca Leonid , Becerra Mercedes C.
Published: March 2022

Objective

To use routinely collected data, with the addition of geographic information and census data, to identify local hot spots of rates of reported tuberculosis cases.

Design

Residential locations of tuberculosis cases identified from eight public health facilities in Lima, Peru (2013–2018) were linked to census data to calculate neighborhood-level annual case rates. Heat maps of tuberculosis case rates by neighborhood were created. Local indicators of spatial autocorrelation, Moran’s I, were used to identify where in the study area spatial clusters and outliers of tuberculosis case rates were occurring. Age- and sex-stratified case rates were also assessed.

Results

We identified reports of 1,295 TB cases across 74 neighborhoods during the five-year study period, for an average annual rate of 124.2 reported TB cases per 100,000 population. In evaluating case rates by individual neighborhood, we identified a median rate of reported cases of 123.6 and a range from 0 to 800 cases per 100,000 population. Individuals aged 15–44 years old and men had higher case rates than other age groups and women. Locations of both hot and cold spots overlapped across age- and gender-specific maps.

Conclusions

There is significant geographic heterogeneity in rates of reported TB cases and evident hot and cold spots within the study area. Characterization of the spatial distribution of these rates and local hot spots may be one practical tool to inform the work of local coalitions to target TB interventions in their zones.
Quantifying wedge-tailed shearwater (Ardenna pacifica) fallout after changes in highway lighting on Southeast Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi
Authors: Urmston Jennifer , Hyrenbach K. David , Swindle Keith
Published: March 2022

Attraction to artificial light at night (ALAN) poses a threat to many fledgling seabirds leaving their nests for the first time. In Hawaiʻi, fledgling wedge-tailed shearwaters disoriented by lights may become grounded due to exhaustion or collision, exposing them to additional threats from road traffic and predation. While the timing and magnitude of shearwater fallout varies from year to year, little is known about how changing lighting and environmental conditions influence the risk of grounding for this species. We analyzed 8 years (2012–2019) of observations of road-killed shearwaters along the Kalanianaʻole Highway on Oʻahu to quantify the timing and magnitude of fallout during the fledging season (November–December). Our goal was to compare fallout before (2012–15) and after (2016–19) a transition in highway lighting from unshielded high-pressure sodium (HPS) to full-cutoff light-emitting diode (LED) streetlights. To detect the shearwater response to the lighting regime, we also accounted for three potential environmental drivers of interannual variability in fallout: moon illumination, wind speed, and wind direction. The effects of these environmental drivers varied across years, with moon illumination, wind speed and wind direction significantly affecting fallout in at least one year. Altogether, the interaction between moon illumination and wind speed was the most important predictor, suggesting that fallout increases during nights with low moon and strong winds. The lack of an increase in fallout after the change from HPS to shielded 3000K - 4000K LED streetlights suggests the new streetlights did not worsen the light pollution impacts on wedge-tailed shearwaters on Southeast Oʻahu. However, due to potential species-specific disparities in the behavior and light attraction of petrels, similar studies are needed before energy saving LED lights are implemented throughout the Hawaiian archipelago.
Clinical features of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding undergoing capsule endoscopy: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Komaki Yuga , Kanmura Shuji , Yutsudo Kazuki , Kuwazuru Kosuke , Komaki Fukiko , Tanaka Akihito , Maeda Hidehito , Arima Shiho , Tanoue Shiroh , Sasaki Fumisato , Hashimoto Shinichi , Horiuchi Masahisa , Ido Akio
Published: March 2022

Background

Capsule endoscopy has been widely used to investigate obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB) in the small intestine since its approval in 2001. However, the clinical features of OGIB remain unclear.

Aim

We retrospectively examined the clinical features and risk factors of OGIB in patients who underwent capsule endoscopy in our hospital.

Methods

We included 420 of the 431 patients who underwent capsule endoscopy from June 2014 to May 2021, in whom the small intestine could be observed. We retrospectively compared the clinical features and treatment of OGIB cases, with or without active small bowel bleeding (n = 173), with other cases (n = 247). Patient sex, age, diabetes mellitus, and heart failure histories were matched for the analysis.

Results

The male/female ratio was 247/173 and the average age was 51.54 years. In multivariate analysis, the use of direct oral anticoagulants was significant (P = 0.016), and vascular lesions (P = 0.018) were observed in OGIB cases. When OGIB cases with and without active small bowel bleeding were compared, serum albumin level was lower in cases with active bleeding (P = 0.031). When treatment of OGIB cases were compared, those without vascular lesions could be treated conservatively (P = 0.0047). In the 1:1 propensity score matching analysis, serum creatinine level was elevated in cases of active bleeding (P = 0.029), and cases without vascular lesions were treated conservatively (P = 0.010).

Conclusions

Use of direct oral anticoagulants is frequently associated with OGIB. OGIB patients without vascular lesions may be treated conservatively.
Prevalence and risk factors associated with rural women’s protected against tetanus in East Africa: Evidence from demographic and health surveys of ten East African countries
Authors: Belay Alebachew Taye , Fenta Setegn Much , Agegn Setegn Bayabil , Muluneh Mitiku Wale
Published: March 2022

Background

Tetanus is a deadly bacterial infection caused by Clostridium tetani wound contamination characterized muscular spasms and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Maternal and neonatal tetanus occurs under improper hygiene practices during childbirth. Globally, an estimated 3.3 million newborn deaths occur every year, and about 9,000 babies die every day in the first 28 days of life. This study sought to identify risk factors associated with the immunization of rural women against tetanus in rural areas in ten East African countries.

Method

The data used in this study were taken from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of ten East African countries (Ethiopia, Burundi, Comoros, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Ruanda, Tanzania, Uganda and, Zambia). Multivariable binary logistic regression is used to determine the risk factors associated with tetanus-protected women in east Africa.

Results

The weighted total samples of 73735 rural women were included in the analysis. The combined prevalence of tetanus immunization among protected rural women in ten East African countries was 50.4%. Those women with age of 24–34 (AOR = 0.778; 95%CI: 0.702–0.861), higher educational level (AOR = 4.010; 95%CI: 2.10–5.670), rich women (AOR = 3.097;95%CI: 2.680–3.583), mass media coverage(AOR = 1.143; 95%CI: 1.030–1.269),having above three antenatal care follow up (AOR = 1.550; 95% CI: 1.424–1.687), big problem of distance to health facility (AOR = 0.676; CI: 0.482–0.978) and place of delivery health facility (AOR = 1.103; 95% CI: 1.005–1.210) had a significant effect on women’s protected from tetanus.

Conclusion

The coverage of tetanus immunization in East Africa was very low. Public health programs target rural mothers who are uneducated, poor households, longer distances from health facilities, mothers who have the problem of media exposure, and mothers who have not used maternal health care services to promote TT immunization.
Mobile applications in medical education: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chandran Viji Pulikkel , Balakrishnan Athira , Rashid Muhammed , Pai Kulyadi Girish , Khan Sohil , Devi Elsa Sanatombi , Nair Sreedharan , Thunga Girish
Published: March 2022

Objective

This review evaluates the effectiveness of smartphone applications in improving academic performance and clinical practice among healthcare professionals and students.

Methods

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane library through a comprehensive search strategy. Studies that included medical, dental, nursing, allied healthcare professional, undergraduates, postgraduates, and interns from the same disciplines who used mobile applications for their academic learning and/or daily clinical practice were considered.

Results

52 studies with a total of 4057 learner participants were included in this review. 33 studies (15 RCTs, 1 cluster RCT, 7 quasi-experimental studies, 9 interventional cohort studies and 1 cross-sectional study) reported that mobile applications were an effective tool that contributed to a significant improvement in the knowledge level of the participants. The pooled effect of 15 studies with 962 participants showed that the knowledge score improved significantly in the group using mobile applications when compared to the group who did not use mobile applications (SMD = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.57 to1.31, P<0.00001). 19 studies (11 RCTs, 3 quasi-experimental studies and 5 interventional cohort studies) reported that mobile applications were effective in significantly improving skills among the participants.

Conclusion

Mobile applications are effective tools in enhancing knowledge and skills. They can be considered as effective adjunct tools in medical education by considering their low expense, high versatility, reduced dependency on regional or site boundaries, online and offline, simulation, and flexible learning features of mobile apps.
Logistic regression analysis of ultrasound findings in predicting the malignant and benign phyllodes tumor of breast
Authors: Li Tingting , Li Yanjie , Yang Yingqi , Li Juan , Hu ZiYue , Wang Lu , Pu Wei , Wei Ting , Lu Man
Published: March 2022

Objective

To evaluate ultrasound characteristics in the prediction of malignant and benign phyllodes tumor of the breast (PTB) by using Logistic regression analysis.

Methods

79 lesions diagnosed as PTB by pathology were analyzed retrospectively. The ultrasound features of PTB were recorded and compared between benign and malignant tumors by using single factor and multiple stepwise Logistic regression analysis. Moreover, the Logistic regression model for malignancy prediction was also established.

Results

There were 79 patients with PTB, including 39 benign PTBs and 40 malignant PTBs (33 borderline PTBs and 7 malignant PTBs by pathologic classification). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of lesion size and age were 0.737 and 0.850 respectively. There were significant differences in age, lesion size, shape, internal echo, liquefaction, and blood flow between malignant and benign PTBs by using single-factor analysis (P<0.05). Age, internal echo, and liquefaction were significant features by using Logistic regression analysis. The corresponding regression equation In (p/(1 − p) = -3.676+2.919 internal echo +3.029 liquefaction +4.346 age).

Conclusion

Internal echo, age, and liquefaction are independent ultrasound characteristics in predicting the malignancy of PTBs.
Loss of Tpl2 activates compensatory signaling and resistance to EGFR/MET dual inhibition in v-RAS transduced keratinocytes
Authors: Kelley Mary B. , Geddes Taylor J. , Ochiai Maria , Lampl Noah M. , Kothmann W. Wade , Fierstein Sara R. , Kent Victoria , DeCicco-Skinner Kathleen
Published: March 2022

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer in the United States, affecting one million people per year. Patients with aggressive disease have limited treatment options and high mortality, highlighting the need to identify new biomarkers linked to poor clinical outcome. HRAS mutations are found in skin papillomas and cSCCs and increase in frequency when MAP3K family members are inhibited, suggesting a link between blockade of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and initiation of RAS-primed cells. Tpl2, a MAP3K gene, can serve as a tumor suppressor gene in cSCC. We have previously shown that upon Tpl2 ablation, mice have heightened sensitivity to aberrant RAS signaling. Tpl2-/- mice display significantly higher numbers of papillomas and cSCCs in two-stage chemical carcinogenesis studies and increased tumorigenicity of keratinocytes expressing oncogenic v-rasHa in nude mouse skin grafts. In part, this is mediated through increased mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) receptor activity. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is reported to be an essential factor for MET-driven carcinogenesis and MET activation may confer resistance to EGFR therapies, suggesting that the concurrent use of both an EGFR inhibitor and a MET inhibitor may show promise in advanced cSCCs. In this study we assessed whether normal or Ras-transformed Tpl2-/- keratinocytes have aberrant EGFR signaling and whether concomitant treatment with EGFR/MET tyrosine kinase inhibitors was more effective than single agents in reducing growth and angiogenic potential of Ras-transformed keratinocytes. Tpl2-/- keratinocytes exhibited increased HER-2 and STAT-3 under basal conditions and elevated p-MET and p-EGFR when transduced with oncogenic RAS. Inhibition of MET by Capmatinib increased p-EGFR in Tpl2-/- keratinocytes and papillomas, and inhibition of EGFR by Gefitinib increased HER2 and HER3 signaling in both genotypes. Treatment of keratinocytes with EGFR and MET inhibitors, in combination, significantly enhanced endothelial tube formation, MMP-9 activity and activation of other RTKs, with more pronounced effects when Tpl2 was ablated. These data indicate that Tpl2 cross-talks with both EGFR and MET signaling pathways. Upon inhibition of EGFR/MET signaling, a myriad of escape mechanisms exists in keratinocytes to overcome targeted drug effects.
Understanding the psychological mechanisms of return to sports readiness after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
Authors: Liew Bernard X. W. , Feller Julian A. , Webster Kate E.
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The psychological response to an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) injury is significant and can negatively impact return to sports outcomes. This study aimed to quantify the association between factors associated with return to sport using network analysis.

Methods

441 participants who underwent primary ACL reconstruction. The 12-item ACL Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) scale was administered to all participants 12 months after surgery. Three network analyses were used to quantify the adjusted correlations between the 12 items of the ACL-RSI scale, and to determine the centrality indices of each item (i.e., the degree of connection with other items in the network). Further subgroup network analyses were conducted for those who had (n = 115) and had not returned (n = 326) to their pre-injury level of sport.

Results

The greatest adjusted correlation was between Q7 and Q9 (fear of re-injury and afraid of accidentally injuring knee) of the ACL-RSI (group 0.48 (95%CI [0.40 to 0.57])) across all three networks. The most important item in the network was Q12 (relaxed about sport) across all three networks. Individuals who did return to sport had greater Strength centrality for Q8 (confidence in knee, P = 0.014) compared to those who did not return to sport.

Conclusion

Fear of re-injury and being relaxed about playing sport were the two most important nodes in the network models that describe the return to sport readiness. The importance of knee confidence at influencing psychological readiness was greater in athletes who did return to sport compared to those who did not. Our findings provide candidate therapeutic targets that could inform future interventions designed to optimize return to sport rates in athletes post ACL reconstruction.
Stem cell sheet interpositioned between the tendon and bone would be better for healing than stem cell sheet overlaid above the tendon-to-bone junction in rotator cuff repair of rats
Authors: Choi Jae hee , Shim In Kyong , Shin Myung Jin , Lee Yu Na , Koh Kyoung Hwan
Published: March 2022

Background

Although stem cells might enhance natural enthesis healing in surgical rotator cuff repair, not much attention has been given to the delivery and location of delivering stem cells. The purpose of this study to know where to locate those stem cells during repair.

Methods

Animal model of chronic rotator cuff tear was created in 24 rats. Adipose-derived stem cells were engineered as a sheet and transplanted 1) between a torn tendon and humerus (interposition group) or 2) over a repaired tendon-to-bone junction (overlay group) at the time of surgical repair. Tracking of stem cells with overexpression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) were carried out at the time of sacrifice in additional 4 shoulders in each group. Histological and Biomechanical evaluation was performed to compare the differences in tendon-to-bone healing.

Results

Histology showed increased fibrocartilage, a clear boundary at the mineralized fibrocartilage, abundant collagen type III, and higher total scores, especially in the interposition group. GFP-overexpression was observed at the transplanted site at 2 weeks after repair. Although two groups where stem cell sheets applied showed higher load to failure than the repair-only group, the load to failure was not different between the interposition and overlay group.

Conclusion

In the chronic rotator cuff repair model, stem cell sheets enhanced regeneration of the tendon-to-bone junction. This regeneration was effective when the stem cell sheet was interpositioned at the tendon-to-bone interface.

Level of evidence

Basic Science Study; In Vivo Animal Model; Histology and Biomechanics.
A national survey on current clinical practice pattern of Korean Medicine doctors for treating obesity
Authors: Jegal Kyung Hwan , Ko Mi Mi , Kim Bo-Young , Son Mi Ju , Kim Sungha
Published: March 2022

Background and aims

Given the multifactorial nature of obesity, there is current interest on Korean medicine (KM) for weight loss. This survey aimed to investigate current practice patterns of KM treatment for obesity among doctors.

Methods

A questionnaire on clinical practice patterns of KM treatment for obesity was constructed and distributed to 21,788 KM doctors (KMDs). The questionnaire was consisted of respondent characteristics, state of treated patient, diagnosis, treatment, and usage pattern of herbal medicine for obesity.

Results

A total of 4.9% of KMDs (n = 1,084/21,788) validly completed the survey. Patients with Obesity Class I (25 ≤ Body mass index (BMI) ≤ 29.9) are the most common in KM clinics. Bioelectric impedance and KM Obesity Pattern Identification Questionnaire were routinely used for diagnosis. The average treatment duration was 4.16 weeks, and patients visited on an average 4.25 times per month for treatment. Herbal medicine is the most commonly used for obesity treatment by KMDs, and Taeeumjowui-tang was the most frequently prescribed. Ephedrae Herba, which is identified as the most used herbs for weight loss, was prescribed 5.18 ± 2.7 g/day at minimum and 10.06 ± 4.23 g/day at maximum. A total of 62.9% of responded KMDs had ever a patient with uncomfortable symptoms due to Ephedrae Herba use, neuropsychiatric events were the most common symptoms, followed by gastrointestinal events.

Conclusion

Taken together, this study provides information on real clinical practice patterns of KM including patients, diagnosis, treatments, and herbal medicine for obesity.
The Cdkn2a gene product p19 alternative reading frame (p19ARF) is a critical regulator of IFNβ-mediated Lyme arthritis
Authors: Li Jinze , Ma Ying , Paquette Jackie K. , Richards Amanda C. , Mulvey Matthew A. , Zachary James F. , Teuscher Cory , Weis Janis J.
Published: March 2022

Type I interferon (IFN) has been identified in patients with Lyme disease, and its abundant expression in joint tissues of C3H mice precedes development of Lyme arthritis. Forward genetics using C3H mice with severe Lyme arthritis and C57BL/6 (B6) mice with mild Lyme arthritis identified theBorrelia burgdorferi arthritis-associated locus 1(Bbaa1) on chromosome 4 (Chr4) as a regulator ofB.burgdorferi-induced IFNβ expression and Lyme arthritis severity. B6 mice introgressed with the C3H allele forBbaa1(B6.C3-Bbaa1mice) displayed increased severity of arthritis, which is initiated by myeloid lineage cells in joints. Using advanced congenic lines, the physical size of theBbaa1interval has been reduced to 2 Mbp, allowing for identification of potential genetic regulators. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing identifiedCdkn2aas the gene responsible forBbaa1allele-regulated induction of IFNβ and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). TheCdkn2a-encoded p19 alternative reading frame (p19ARF) protein regulates IFNβ induction in BMDMs as shown by siRNA silencing and overexpression of ARF.In vivostudies demonstrated that p19ARF contributes to joint-specific induction of IFNβ and arthritis severity inB.burgdorferi-infected mice. p19ARF regulatesB.burgdorferi-induced IFNβ in BMDMs by stabilizing the tumor suppressor p53 and sequestering the transcriptional repressor BCL6. Our findings link p19ARF regulation of p53 and BCL6 to the severity of IFNβ-induced Lyme arthritisin vivoand indicate potential novel roles for p19ARF, p53, and BCL6 in Lyme disease and other IFN hyperproduction syndromes.
Análise exploratória dos dados e análise espacial a partir da geoestatística em área contaminada investigada em alta resolução
Authors: Tavares Guilherme Navarro Diogo , Salaroli Raphael Martin , Jesus Felipe Augusto Nascimento de , Riyis Marcos Tanaka
Published: March 2022

A massa de contaminantes em fase retida e sua distribuição espacial são variáveis relevantes durante a etapa de remediação ambiental. A Análise Exploratória dos Dados em conjunto com a Geoestatística, abordada através da Krigagem Ordinária (KO) e Radial Basis Function (RBF) foram comparadas às técnicas tradicionais de tratamento de dados oriundos de investigações ambientais por baixa e alta resolução com o objetivo de avaliar a diferença na estimativa de massa de contaminantes, volume de solo impactado e indicar melhorias na estratégia de investigação de áreas contaminadas. Foi verificado que os critérios tradicionais de investigação de compostos orgânicos voláteis em fase retida promovem o enviesamento dos dados e redução da confiança da estimativa de massa de contaminantes e de solo impactado. A substituição do método de interpolação tradicional (ABNT NBR 15515-3) pela geoestatística resultou na redução de massa de contaminantes de 62,73 kg para 28,16 kg (KO) e 8,45 kg (RBF), e do volume impactado de 1423,43 m³ para cerca de 525 m³. Recomenda-se a adoção de técnicas como regularização (composite) e a adição de critérios de amostragem aleatória (simples ou estratificada) ou sistemáticos em combinação aos tradicionais.
Tools for Estimating Large-Scale Transport Projects in a Situation of Radical Uncertainty
Authors:   Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering SB RAS, Kibalov Evgeny , Pyataev Maksim ,   Siberian Transport University
Published: March 2022

The purpose of the article is to demonstrate how the systemic analysis of the effectiveness of large-scale railway projects with high strategic significance for the country should be carried out. The achievement of the set goal is racing on the example of three projects: Transpolar Mainline, Lena-Kamchatka Mainline and the railway crossing to Sakhalin Island. Projects of this scale implemented in the territory of Siberia and the Far East are unacceptable to evaluate from the point of view of their commercial efficiency. Within the framework of this study, it is proposed to use the logical-heuristic model for assessing the effectiveness of large-scale railway projects based on expert technology
Pengaruh Perubahan Tutupan Lahan Terhadap Jasa Ekosistem Pangan Di Taman Nasional Danau Sentarum
Authors: Andryannur Hanif , Akbar Aji Ali , Sulastri Aini
Published: March 2022

Jasa ekosistem merupakan komponen yang penting dalam perkembangan pengelolaan Taman Nasional Danau Sentarum (TNDS), besar jasa ekosistem bagi masyarakat dapat memicu keterlibatan masyarakat di kawasan Taman Nasional untuk ikut melestarikan ekosistem Taman Nasional Danau Sentarum. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji pengaruh perubahan tutupan lahan terhadap sebaran kelas jasa ekosistem pangan di kawasan TNDS. Pola sebaran jasa ekosistem Taman Nasional Danau Sentarum pada penelitian ini dikaji dengan pendekatan berbasis data pola perubahan tutupan lahan di Kawasan Taman Nasional Danau Sentarum. Peta jasa ekosistem disusun melalui pendapat para ahli terhadap potensi jasa ekosistem pada masing- masing jenis tutupan lahan melalui Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) menggunakan metode perhitungan pairwise comparison. Jenis jasa ekosistem yang dianalisis adalah penyedia pangan. Hasil dari perhitungan menunjukkan bahwa nilai indeks jasa ekosistem pangan Taman Nasional Danau Sentarum pada tahun 2020 masih didominasi oleh kelas jasa ekosistem pangan rendah dengan total luasan 71.115 ha dengan tutupan lahan yang mendominasi adalah lahan rawa seluas 51.757 ha. Pada tahun 2020 juga terjadi peningkatan luasan pada kelas jasa ekosistem pangan sedang dengan total luasan 43.325 ha yang didominasi oleh tutupan lahan hutan rawa sekunder dengan total luasan 13.310 ha.ABSTRACTEcosystem services are an important component in the development of the management of Danau Sentarum National Park (DSNP), large ecosystem services for the community can trigger community involvement in the National Park area to participate in conserving the ecosystem of Danau Sentarum National Park This study examines the effect of land cover changes on the distribution of food ecosystem service classes in the DSNP area. The pattern of distribution of ecosystem services in Danau Sentarum National Park in this study was studied using an approach based on data on land cover change patterns in the Danau Sentarum National Park area. Ecosystem service maps are prepared through expert judgment on the potential for ecosystem services in each type of land cover through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with the pairwise comparison calculation method. The types of ecosystem services analyzed are food providers. The results of the calculation show that the value of the food ecosystem service index of Danau Sentarum National Park in 2020 is still dominated by the low food ecosystem service class with a total area of 71,115 ha with the dominant land cover being a swamp area of 51,757 ha. In 2020 there was also an increase in the area of the medium food ecosystem service class with a total area of 43,325 ha which was dominated by secondary swamp forest land cover with a total area of 13,310 ha
Labor Share Dynamics and Factor Complementarity
Authors: Chang Juin-Jen , Kuo Chun-Hung
Published: March 2022

This paper investigates the mechanism behind the cyclical movements in the labor income share. We build a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model with search and matching frictions to examine the counter-cyclicality and overshooting of the labor income share, following a technology innovation. This model features (i) a time-varying output elasticity of labor, generated from the capital–labor complementarity under a constant-elasticity-of-substitution production function, and (ii) an endogenous markup variation, generated from wage/price rigidity. Through the output elasticity and markup channels, the capital–labor complementarity interacts with wage rigidity, which allows us to produce a satisfactory matching of the amplitude of the labor share overshooting observed in the data. The amplitude of the labor share overshooting is more significant when wages (prices) are more (less) sticky, and when the government’s interest rate rule is more (less) responsive to the deviation in the inflation (output) target.
Efforts made in enhancing corrosion inhibition potential of organic compounds: recent developments and future direction
Authors: Verma Chandrabhan , Quraishi Mumtaz A.
Published: March 2022

Numerous attempts have been made to enhance the corrosion inhibition (%IE) of organic compounds. Each method has its own advantages and drawbacks. One of the important methods of enhancing %IE of organic compounds is their chemical functionalization which involves addition of polar functional groups, which enhances %IE due to combined effect of enhanced solubility and the number of adsorption centers. A large number of organic compounds derivatized through covalent and noncovalent functionalization are extensively used as corrosion inhibitors. It is well documented that properly functionalized organic compounds show higher %IE than the parent compounds. Other important factors that usually affect corrosion inhibition performance are transportability rate, immersion time, planarity, strength of electrolyte, and synergism. In the present article effect of these factors has been discussed. A proper understanding of these factors will help corrosion scientists and engineers in designing and synthesis (formulation) of effective corrosion inhibitors for industrial scale applications.
Feeling Right: Regulatory Fit Theory and Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Investment Decisions
Authors: Jiang Shiyao , Li Guiquan , Liu Haixin , Xiong Jie , Chakraborty Shubho
Published: March 2022

Recent advances in entrepreneurial investment decisions research implied that early-stage investment decisions, given their extreme uncertainty and unpredictability, were results of investors’ intuition processes. In other words, investors manage the high risks of early-stage investment decisions by finding justifications of future value against risk in the invested entrepreneurial projects. Although some studies have discussed the decision-making process of mid- and late-stage venture capital, there is still a lack of discussion on the early-stage investment decision-making mechanism. In this paper, we draw on regulatory fit theory to theorize how the fit of regulatory focus between investor and entrepreneur could lead to the investor’s early-stage investment decisions in terms of investment amount and speed. Across three experimental studies, we found empirical support for our proposed model. Specifically, investors who have similar regulatory focus with the entrepreneurs are more likely to invest a larger amount of funds at a faster speed. We further found that investor’s sense of rightness mediates the relationship between regulatory fit and investment decision, and investor’s previous investment experience plays a moderating role.
Estimating the volume of the 1978 Rissa quick clay landslide in Central Norway using historical aerial imagery
Authors: Robson Benjamin Aubrey , Hölbling Daniel , Nielsen Pål Ringkjøb , Koller Max
Published: March 2022

Quick clay is found across Scandinavia and is especially prominent in south-eastern and central Norway. Quick clay is prone to failure and can cause landslides with high velocities and large run-outs. The 1978 Rissa landslide is one of the best-known quick clay landslides to have occurred in the last century, both due to its size and the fact that it was captured on film. In this article, we utilise Structure from Motion Multi-View Stereo (SfM-MVS) photogrammetry to process historical aerial photography from 1964 to 1978 and derive the first geodetic volume of the Rissa landslide. We found that the landslide covered a total onshore area of 0.36 km2 and had a geodetic volume of 2.53 ± 0.52 × 106 m3 with up to 20 m of surface elevation changes. Our estimate differs profusely from previous estimates by 43–56% which can partly be accounted for our analysis not being able to measure the portion of the landslide that occurred underwater, nor account for the material deposited within the landslide area. Given the accuracy and precision of our analyses, we believe that the total volume of the Rissa landslide may have been less than originally reported. The use of modern image processing techniques such as SfM-MVS for processing historical aerial photography is recommended for understanding landscape changes related to landslides, volcanoes, glaciers, or river erosion over large spatial and temporal scales.
Spatial accessibility between commercial and ecological spaces: A case study in Beijing, China
Authors: Xue Ying
Published: March 2022

The accessibility evaluation between ecological and commercial spaces is important for “production-living-ecological” coordination. This article selects Tongzhou of Beijing as an example. Significance tests showed the commercial facilities in Tongzhou district followed an agglomerated distribution. Further exploration of the relationship between concentrated commercial and ecological spaces show the distribution of ecological space in Tongzhou district is unbalanced, which shows that the northern, western, and central regions of Tongzhou district cover a wide area, whereas the southeast region has a low level of accessibility. The coverage rate of ecological space of each street with 10 min walking is lower than 50% on average. The coverage rate of walking for 20 min varies greatly, and the sub-districts with high coverage rate are basically distributed along the north–south central axis and east–west central axis. Emerging commercial spaces have poor accessibility towards ecological space, which indicates that in the new commercial space, ecological space has not been considered in the planning. It also reflects that in the existing daily ecological management, managers tend to focus on the ecological remediation of the built area and ignore the ecological planning in the community construction stage of commercial space.
Geomorphological and hydrological heritage of Mt. Stara Planina in SE Serbia: From river protection initiative to potential geotouristic destination
Authors: Marjanović Miloš , Milenković Jelena , Lukić Milica , Tomić Nemanja , Antić Aleksandar , Marković Rastko S. , Atanasijević Jasna , Božić Dragana , Buhmiler Sandra , Radaković Milica , Radivojević Aleksandar R. , Milićević Ana Langović , Gavrilov Milivoj B. , Marković Slobodan B.
Published: March 2022

Mt. Stara Planina is located in the eastern part of the Republic of Serbia and represents the westernmost part of the large mountain massif of the Balkans. Both endogenous and exogenous forces created interesting geomorphological and hydrological features for geotourism development in this area. This article proposes a preliminary list of geomorphological and hydrological sites and analyses them to reveal which geosite possesses geotourism potential. This research was carried out by applying the modified geosite assessment model. In this article, ten geosites were singled out based on the degree of their attractiveness for geotourism development. The results reveal information about the key fields of improvement for each evaluated geosite, and identify which areas require more attention and better management in the upcoming period for Mt. Stara Planina to become a well-known geotourism destination that would attract a large number of tourists in the future.
Optical properties of transparent wood composites prepared using transverse sections of poplar wood
Authors: Bisht Priya , Pandey Krishna K. , G Srinivas
Published: March 2022

The revolutionary transformation of opaque wood into a transparent material, with combination of high optical transmittance and high haze, has gained widespread interest in the realms of advanced functional materials. However, the thickness of transparent wood composite (TWC) is limited to a few millimeters which restricts potential use. In this study, TWC were prepared using transverse sections of poplar (Populus deltoides) in thickness ranging from 1.5 to 15 mm by lignin modification bleaching followed by epoxy resin infiltration. The effects of bleaching duration as well as sample thickness on the optical properties of TWC were investigated. TWC was characterized using scanning electron microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. The optical properties of TWC were measured using UV-VIS-NIR spectroscopy. The results indicated that light transmittance depended on severity of bleaching, lignin content and sample thickness.
Construction of optical solitons of Radhakrishnan–Kundu–Lakshmanan equation in birefringent fibers
Authors: Ullah Naeem , Asjad Muhammad Imran , Ur Rehman Hamood , Akgül Ali
Published: March 2022

In this article, we are attracted to discover the multiple-optical soiltons in birefringent fibers for Radhakrishnan–Kundu–Lakshmanan equation (RKLE) by applying the Sardar-subequation method (SSM) and the new extended hyperbolic function method (EHFM). We construct the solutions in the form of exponential, trigonometric, and hyperbolic functions solitons solutions like mixed complex solitons and multiple-optical solitons solutions. In addition, singular periodic wave solutions are constructed, and the restraint conditions for the presence of soliton solutions are also defined. Moreover, the physical interpretation of the obtained solutions is disclosed in forms of 3D and 2D plots for different suitable parameters. The attained results indicate that the implemented computational scheme is straight, proficient, and brief and can be applied in more complex phenomena with the associate of representative computations. We have obtained several sorts of new solutions.
Beyond the Standards of the Epoch – The Phenomenon of Elżbieta Sieniawska Née Lubomirska and Anna Katarzyna Radziwiłł née Sanguszko based on Selected Aspects of Their Economic Activities in Times of Political Unrest in the Saxon Era
Authors: Kicińska Urszula
Published: March 2022

At the turn of the eighteenth century, the political and economic situation in the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth was difficult and unstable. This period was brimming with military conflicts, the most important of which was the Great Northern War, and contributed to devastation and impoverishment in many areas of the country. The post-war damage in cities and villages could be felt among civilians for many years. While women did not take part in military operations directly, they were interested in the reports from the war front, they caught up on political news, and sometimes personally experienced the toll of the war since Saxon, Swedish, and Russian troops, which were marching across the country, plundered their lands and homes, instilling fear and terror among the residents. And yet there was something that played an important role in the fight against the destructive enemy – a possibility to gain influential patrons and use their authority as a “shield” protecting one’s property from the troops and aggressive neighbours. Respect for some people from the ruling spheres or local elites as well as fear for their revenge built a barricade of sorts, strong enough to protect their clients from adverse actions of the destroyer.
A Gini estimator for regression with autocorrelated errors
Authors: Ka Ndéné , Mussard Stéphane
Published: March 2022

The widely used Prais–Winsten technique for estimating parameters of linear regression model with serial correlation is sensitive to outliers. In this paper, an alternative method based on Gini mean difference (GMD) is proposed. A Monte Carlo simulation is used to show that the Gini estimator is more robust than the general least squares one when the data are contaminated by outliers.