bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Cane Vigour on the Kiwifruit Quality of A. Deliciosa and A. Arguta
Authors: Medic Aljaz , Veberic Robert , Hudina Metka
Published: January 2021

Kiwifruit has not been studied as much as other well-known fruits especially when it comes to studies about plant vigour and training systems. The aim of the study was to determine the importance of cane vigour of Actinidia deliciosa 'Hayward' and Actinidia arguta 'Issai' in order to develop the proper pruning technique that results in the best fruit quality. In addition, the effect of storage parameters such as weight, firmness and quality of the fruit was also studied. The study showed that the fruit size and weight are lower in low vigour canes in A. arguta, in contrast to A. deliciosa, where the fruit size and weight are smaller on high-vigorous canes. For A. arguta, it is recommended to choose high-vigour canes as the optimal fruit wood during pruning. In this way, the fruits will ripen more evenly. The other possibility is to perform the harvest two to three times per season to achieve a more uniform fruit quality. In the case of A. deliciosa the fruit are less variable between different cane vigour, so harvesting can be done in a single picking. In A. deliciosa the less vigorous canes tend to show a slightly better fruit quality.
Rectal Specimen Self-Collection for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Screening: A Cross-Sectional Pilot Feasibility Study at a Community Health Center
Authors: Haddad Marwan , Bifulco Lauren , McIntosh Jeannie , Garcia Meghan McClain
Published: January 2021

Purpose: Rectal self-collection increases detection of asymptomatic chlamydia and gonorrhea among at-risk men who have sex with men and transgender women. This feasibility study assessed patient and primary care provider (PCP) perceptions of implementing rectal self-collection at a large, general practice community health center.Methods: PCPs offered rectal self-collection to at-risk patients due for routine or risk-based screening. Patients and PCPs completed brief cross-sectional assessments.Results: Rectal screening was feasible in a large primary care setting despite clinical time and resource constraints and was universally accepted when offered (n=36; 91.6% of whom opted for self-collection). Both PCPs and patients preferred self-collection over clinician-collection.Conclusions: Rectal self-collection can increase screening and improve extra-genital chlamydia and gonorrhea diagnoses. Adoption of rectal self-collection in primary care is a scalable, useful, and acceptable strategy to increase extra-genital screening among medically underserved sexual and gender minority patients and combat the current sexually-transmitted infection epidemic.
Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Irrigated Tomato Production in North Gondar Zone of Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Koye Tigabu Dagnew , Koye Abebe Dagnew , Mekie Taye Melese
Published: January 2021

Ethiopia is a country with a total population of more than 110 million, of which about 80% of the total population is engaged in subsistence farming in rural areas. Although agricultural sector plays a great role in Ethiopian economy, it is characterized by low productivity due to technological and socioeconomic factors. Improving smallholder irrigated tomato production, and productivity, would contribute to enhancing food security and alleviating poverty. Therefore, this study was investigated to fill this gap with the aim of analyzing technical efficiency of irrigated tomato production and its determinant factors in North Gondar Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Primary data were collected from 160 farmers’ selected using multistage sampling procedure and analyzed using descriptive statistics, a parametric stochastic frontier production function models. The stochastic frontier and Cobb-Douglas functional form with a one-step approach was employed to analyze efficiency and factors affecting efficiency in irrigated tomato production. The estimated gamma parameters indicated that 80% of the total variation in tomato output was due to technical inefficiency. The means technical efficiency was found 55%, and about 6,907.32 kg of tomato output per hectare was lost due to inefficiency factors implying there is a room for improvement in technical efficiency by 43% with the present technology. The Stochastic Production Frontier (SPF) result revealed that ODE, DAP and plot size at 1% and labor at 10% probability level significantly influencing tomato production. The socio-economic variables that exercised important role for variations in technical efficiency positively were the level of education, TLU and watering in morning, and in contrast age, off farm, watering frequency and training for marketing were found to increase inefficiency significantly among farm households. To get better farmers' efficiency in the production of irrigated tomato a continuous marketing training should be established and strengthening the available farmers training center (FTC) to improve farm productivity. The government and any concerned bodies should be build irrigation canals and other alternatives so as to reduce watering frequency. There should be timely and sufficient supply of DAP to improve farmers’ efficiency in production of tomato.
High Dimensional Characterization of Post-acute Sequalae of COVID-19: analysis of health outcomes and clinical manifestations at 6 months
Authors: Al-Aly Ziyad , Xie Yan , Bowe Benjamin
Published: January 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The acute clinical manifestations of COVID-19 are well characterized. The post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 have not been comprehensively described. Here, we use the national healthcare databases of the US Department of Veterans Affairs to undertake a high dimensional approach to comprehensively identify 6-months outcomes of incident clinical manifestations including diagnoses, medication use, and laboratory abnormalities in people who survived the first 30 days of COVID-19. We first describe the clinical manifestations in people with COVID-19 compared to users of the Veterans Affairs healthcare system. We then provide a comparative evaluation of the post-acute sequalae in 30-day survivors who were hospitalized for COVID-19 vs. seasonal influenza. We show that beyond the first 30 days of illness, people with COVID-19 are at higher risk of death and health resource utilization. Our approach identifies incident clinical manifestations in the respiratory system and several other manifestations including the nervous system and neurocognitive disorders, mental health disorders, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, and signs and symptoms related to poor generalized wellbeing including malaise, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and anemia. There was increased incident use of pain medications (opioids and non-opioids), antidepressants, anxiolytics, antihypertensives, antihyperlipidemic, insulin, and several other medication classes. The findings show that beyond the first 30 days of illness, substantial burden of health loss — spanning pulmonary and several extrapulmonary organ systems — is experienced by COVID-19 survivors. The results provide a roadmap to inform health system planning and development of multidisciplinary care strategies aimed at reducing chronic health loss and optimizing wellness among COVID-19 survivors.
Copeptin, Pro-atrial Natriuretic Peptide and Pro-adrenomedullin as Markers of Hypoxic Stress in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea - a Prospective Intervention Study
Authors: Karakioulaki Meropi , Grendelmeier Peter , Strobel Werner , Schmid Thomas , Jahn Kathleen , Grize Leticia , Tamm Michael , Stolz Daiana
Published: January 2021

Study Objectives: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) might lead to oxidative stress, inflammation and elevated circulating copeptin, proANP and proADM levels. We aimed to evaluate whether the levels of these prohormones are higher in patients with OSA and whether they might change under continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, serving as potential proxies for the diagnosis and therapy-response in OSA. Methods: A total of 310 patients with suspicion of OSA were recruited. Screening for OSA was performed using overnight pulse oximetry followed by polygraphy and a venous puncture in the morning. All patients diagnosed with OSA underwent CPAP adaptation. A venous puncture was conducted in the night before CPAP and in the following morning. At 1 and 6 months of treatment, polygraphy was performed, followed by a venous puncture in the morning. In the acquired blood, copeptin, proANP and proADM levels were measured.Results: We analyzed 232 patients with OSA and 30 patients without OSA. Our results indicated that only copeptin levels differed significantly among patients with and without OSA at baseline. In OSA patients, the levels of proADM significantly changed after 1 and 6 months on CPAP therapy, when compared to baseline (p<0.001 and p=0.020). Additionally, proANP levels significantly decreased after 12 hours on CPAP therapy, as compared to baseline levels (p<0.001). Conclusions: Copeptin is significantly associated with the presence of OSA. ProANP levels might serve as a potential proxy for the acute response to non-invasive ventilation (12 hours), while proADM reflects the long-term response (1 and 6 months).
Effects of elevated CO2 levels on lung immune response to organic dust and lipopolysaccaride
Authors: Schneberger David , Pandher Upkardeep Singh , Thompson Brooke , Kirychuk Shelley
Published: January 2021

Workplaces with elevated organic dust levels such as animal feed barns also commonly have elevated levels of gasses, such as CO2. Workers exposed to such complex environments often experience respiratory effects that may be due to a combination of respirable factors. We examined the effects of CO2 at the ASHRAE recommended limit (1000 ppm) as well as the EPA 8hr time weighted average limit (5000 ppm) on lung innate immune responses in mice with exposure to inflammatory lipopolysaccharide and organic dust. Mice were nasally instilled with dust extracts or LPS and immediately put into chambers with a constant flow of room air (approx. 430 ppm CO2), 1000 ppm, or 5000 ppm CO2 enriched air. Organic dust exposures tended to show decreased inflammatory responses with 1000 ppm CO2 and increased responses at 5000 ppm CO2. Conversely, LPS with addition of CO2 as low as 1000 ppm tended to inhibit several inflammatory markers. In most cases saline treated animals showed few changes with CO2 exposure, though some changes in mRNA levels were present. This shows that CO2 as low as 1000 ppm CO2 was capable of altering innate immune responses to both LPS and organic dust extracts, but each response was altered in a different fashion.
Determination of minimum number of samples allowing to detect long term soil organic carbon changes in Mediterranean arable lands using paired-sites
Authors: Schillaci Calogero , Saia Sergio , Lipani Aldo , Perego Alessia , Zaccone Claudio , Acutis Marco
Published: January 2021

Background Legacy data are unique occasions for estimating soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration changes and spatial variability, but their use can pose limitations due to the sampling schemes adopted and improvements may be needed in the analysis methodologies. When SOC changes is estimated with legacy data, the use of soil samples collected in different plots (i.e., non-aligned data) may lead to biased results. In the present work, N=302 georeferenced soil samples were selected from a regional (Sicily, south of Italy) soil database. An operational sampling approach was developed to spot SOC concentration changes from 1994 to 2017 in the same plots at the 0-30 cm soil depth and tested. Results The measurements were conducted after computing the minimum number of samples needed to have a reliable estimate of SOC variation after 23 years. By applying an effect size based methodology, 30 out of 302 sites were resampled in 2017 to achieve a power of 80%, and an a=0.05. A Wilcoxon test applied to the variation of SOC from 1994 to 2017 suggested that there was not a statistical difference in SOC concentration after 23 years (Z = -0.556; 2-tailed asymptotic significance = 0.578). In particular, only 40% of resampled sites showed a higher SOC concentration than in 2017. Conclusions This finding contrasts with a previous SOC concentration increase that was found in 2008 (75.8% increase when estimated as differences of 2 models built with non-aligned data), when compared to 1994 observed data (Z = -9.119; 2-tailed asymptotic significance < 0.001). Such a result implies that the use of legacy data to estimate SOC concentration dynamics requires soil resampling in the same locations to overcome the stochastic model errors. Further experiment is needed to identify the percentage of the sites to resample in order to align two legacy datasets in the same area.
Characterization and Eradication of The High Concentration Infection Source of Oral Segment of Candida By Infection Examination Diagnosis System
Authors: Nonomura Yuusuke
Published: January 2021

Purpose: Candida albicans (CA) is a major pathogenic fungus that causes a critical infection and life-threatening disease. During ventilator usage for the treatment of COVID-19-associated pneumonia, CA colonization of the airway should be prevented to avoid an increase in mortality. Our aim was to characterize and analyze the infection of Candida albicans (CA) for eradication.Methods: We characterized and analyzed the infection source and infection field which are carrier field, diffusion field, and spread field, by using a new infection examination (diagnostic) system (IEDS) comprising a new dental formula (measurement analysis) medium (DFM) with time, space, and phase, and the simultaneous relative differential equations (C4RDE).Results: This study showed that CA was not an endogenous microorganism, but a fungus that infected teeth causing dental caries that was successfully eradicated from all teeth of 353 Japanese patients (oral cavity segment). [In the first examination, the percentages of people with CA (+) was 40.5% (the DMFT: 62.8%) and CA(-) was 56.4% (the DMFT: 47.1%). The difference in DMFT was 15.7% (P<0.01)] (DMFT is decayed, missing, and filled tooth index).Conclusion: Our methods help to eradicate the infection source (IS), prevent critical infection, and reduce mortality. The IEDS is a powerful tool that can be applied for any microbial infection easily. It is possible for the dentists to characterize CA by IEDS and eradicate CA from the oral cavity.
Enforced miR-144-5p Expression Sensitizes Erastin-Induced Ferroptosis via Targeting Nrf2 in Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Liu Chuanliang , Wang Dan , Li Lei , Zhang Ruihua
Published: January 2021

Background: Ferroptosis is a newly described form of regulated cell death, targeting nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) -mediated ferroptosis may be an attractive option to counteract malignant tumor. Whether miR-144-5p sensitize erastin-induced ferroptosis in gastric cancer via regulation of Nrf2 pathway is unclear. Methods: To speculate the function of miR-144-5p in cancers, bioinformatic analysis was performed. Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was used to predict effect of miR-144-5p on the expression of Nrf2. The expressions of miR-144-5p and Nrf2 in human gastric cancer cell lines and tissues were detected by qPCR, Immunohistochemistry or western blot. Results: miR-144-5p, identified to wreck Nrf2 mRNA, was selected and overexpressed in gastric cancer cells to sensitize erastin-induced ferroptosis. Ectopic expression of miR-144-5p in AGS and BGC-823 cells downregulated the mRNA and protein expression of Nrf2. In addition, AGS and BGC-823 cell lines with exogenous expression of miR-144-5p were more sensitive to erastin-induced ferroptosis with overgeneration of lipid reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione. Conclusions: miR-144-5p sensitizes erastin-induced ferroptosis via abrogating expression of Nrf2 to eliminate cancer cells selectively with high Nrf2 pathway activation.
Loss of Atypical Chemokine Receptors Expression Promotes Lymph Node Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Duan Haitao , Huang Yao , Zhang Caihua , Cui Juanjuan , Guo Lianying , Zhang Ting , Yu Lijun , Li Dongnin , Kong Lu , Liang Pin
Published: January 2021

Background: Atypical chemokine receptors (ACKRs), including DARC, D6 and CCX-CKR, hold very critical roles in cancer invasion and metastasis. The objective of the present study was to determine preliminarily the predictive value of ACKRs in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: From 2012 to 2019 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, 44 CRC patients were followed up. We performed immunohistochemical analysis, Western blot and RT-PCR analysis on CRC and adjacent normal tissues for investigating the expression of ACKRs and their relationships to clinicopathologic features and survival rate. Results: The expression of three ACKRs, CCX-CKR, DARC and D6, in normal colon tissues is higher than that in colorectal cancer tissues. Meanwhile, the expression of corresponding ligands CCL21, CCL2 and CCL22 shows the opposite. Low expression of ACKRs in colon cancer tissues was closely related to the potential of lymph node metastasis (P= 0.001). When compared with triple-negative ACKR expression, co-expression of the ACKRs predicted better outcomes of colorectal cancer patients with statistical significance (P=0.011). Conclusions: The loss of ACKRs may play important roles in lymph node metastasis of CRC. ACKR expression may be considered as prognostic markers in CRC patients.
Novel Method for The Valorization of Essential Oils From Orange By-Product
Authors: Samad Roudaina Abdel , Raafat Karim , Khatib Alissar Al , Chacra Hadi Abou , DARRA nada EL
Published: January 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Joint Modeling of Longitudinal Changes of Respiratory Rate, Pulse Rate and Oxygen Saturation With Time to Convalescence Among Pneumonia Patients: A comparison of Separate and Joint Models
Authors: Bayleyegne Yenefenta Wube , Kassahun Sindu Azmeraw
Published: January 2021

Background: Globally, pneumonia is the first infectious disease which is the leading cause of children under age five morbidity and mortality with 98% of deaths in developing countries. Objective: The study aimed to identify the determinant factors that jointly affect the longitudinal measures of pneumonia (respiratory rate, pulse rate and oxygen saturation) and time to convalescence or recovery of under five admitted pneumonia patients at Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.Methods: A prospective cohort study design was used on 101 sampled under five admitted pneumonia patients from December 2019 to February 2020. The study was conducted using joint model of longitudinal outcomes and survival outcomes.Results: The significant values of shared parameters in the survival sub model shows that the use of joint modeling of multivariate longitudinal outcomes with the time to event outcome is the best model compared to separate models. The estimated values of the association parameters for γ_1, γ_2 and γ_3 were -0.297, -0.121 and 0.5452 respectively and indicates that; respiratory rate and pulse rate were negatively related with recovery time, whereas oxygen saturation was positively associated with recovery time. As age of patients increased by one month, the average respiratory rate and pulse rate were significantly decreased by 0.3759 bpm and 1.1012 bpm respectively keeping other variables constant, but age has no information about oxygen saturation. Conclusion: Residence, birth order, severity and visit were found as determinants of the longitudinal measures of pneumonia and time to recovery of under-five admitted pneumonia patients jointly. To improve child survival, the community should be responsible for post ponding child birth and marriage.
Effects of Therapeutic Plasma Exchange on the Endothelial Glycocalyx in Septic Shock
Authors: Stahl Klaus , Hillebrand Uta Carola , Kiyan Yulia , Seeliger Benjamin , Schmidt Julius J. , Schenk Heiko , Gronski Phillip A. , Schmidt Bernhard M.W. , Welte Tobias , Hoeper Marius M. , Sauer Agnes , Wygrecka Malgorzata , Bode Christian , Haller Hermann , David Sascha
Published: January 2021

BackgroundDisruption of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) is observed in septic patients and its injury is associated with multiple-organ failure and inferior outcomes. Besides this biomarker function, increased blood concentrations of shedded eGC constituents might play a mechanistic role in septic organ failure. We hypothesized that therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) against fresh frozen plasma might influence eGC related pathology.MethodsWe enrolled 20 norepinephrine dependent (NE > 0.4μg/kg/min) patients with early septic shock (onset < 12h). Sublingual assessment of the eGC via sublingual sidestream darkfield (SDF) imaging was performed. Plasma eGC degradation products such as heparan-sulfate (HS) and the eGC regulating enzymes, heparanase (Hpa)-1 and Hpa-2, were obtained before and after TPE. A 3D microfluidic flow assay was performed to examine the effect of TPE on eGC ex vivo. Results were compared to healthy controls.ResultsSDF demonstrated a marked decrease in eGC thickness in septic patients compared to healthy individuals (p=0.001). Circulating HS levels were increased more than six-fold compared to controls and decreased significantly following TPE (controls: 16.9 (8-18.6) vs. septic patients before TPE: 105.8 (30.8-143.4) μg/ml, p<0.001; vs. after TPE: 70.7 (36.9-109.5) μg/ml, p<0.001). The Hpa-2 /Hpa-1 ratio was markedly reduced in septic patients before TPE but normalized after TPE (controls: 13.6 (6.2-21.2) vs. septic patients at inclusion: 2.9 (2.1-5.7), p=0.001; vs. septic patients after TPE: 13.2 (11.2-31.8), p<0.001). Ex vivo stimulation of endothelial cells with serum from septic patients induced eGC damage that could be attenuated with serum post TPE.ConclusionsSeptic shock results in profound degradation of the eGC and an acquired deficiency of the protective regulator Hpa-2. TPE removed potentially injurious eGC degradation products and partially attenuated Hpa-2 deficiency.Trial registrationclinicaltrials.gov NCT04231994, retrospectively registered 18 January 2020
Financial Development and Economic Growth in Nepal: An ARDL Bound Test Approach
Authors: Panthi Pradeep
Published: January 2021

This study empirically examines the dynamic relationship between financial development and economic growth in Nepal using annual time series data from 1985 to 2016. The financial development is measured by domestic credit to the private sectors, domestic credit to the private sectors by banks, broad money (M2) and net domestic credit, separately. All are ratios to GDP. The economic growth is measured by real GDP per capita. The bound test approach of cointegration under autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model reveals that Nepal’s financial development and economic growth are cointegrated with bi-directional causality in the long-run. Thus, the study concludes that financial development and economic growth positively and significantly impact each other. The causal effects running from financial development to economic growth are portent then economic growth to financial development. However, the speed of adjustment towards long-run equilibrium, directing from economic growth to financial development is reasonably robust. There is one-directional reverse causality running from economic growth to financial development in the short-run. Therefore, the study suggests policymakers to prioritize policies to develop a well-functioning financial sector to enhance economic growth, especially for developing countries like Nepal.JEL ClassificationsG21, C22, F43, O11, O16
Evaluation of the Impact of Delayed in Diagnosis and Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV-1 Infected Infants on Their Viral Load (Viraemia) and CD4 T Lymphocyte Cell Status Outcome in the Gambia.
Authors: Ceesay Musa , Jarju Modoulamin , Mendy Alphonse , Jagne Sheriffo , Bah Pah ousman , Ndow Manjally , Usuf Effua , Baldeh Ignatius , Nordin Nani , Sanneh Bakary , Abdulla Abdelkodose Mohammed Hussen
Published: January 2021

Background: To enhance durable viral suppression and upgrade CD4 cell immune function of HIV-1 proviral DNA positive infants, Gambia government adopted WHO recommended sample collection from infants born to HIV infected mothers before or at 6-8 weeks soon after birth, then ensure 4 weeks’ timeframe from collection dates, through molecular testing, to ART initiation if positive. Despite, studies to determine if these infants sample were collected, tested and initiated on ART within the adopted recommended timeframe, to ensure their achievements of this benefit are lacking. Aims: We aimed to determine the effect of delayed in diagnosis and ART initiation on CD4 cell and viraemia outcome of HIV-1 proviral DNA positive infants in the Gambia. Method: 2015-2019 retrospective data collection and analysis of key dates, initial viraemia and CD4 cell outcome, and then prospective cohort study on CD4 cell and viraemia outcome of those followed within at least 6 months and at most 3 years duration on ART adherence. STATA version 13 was used for the data analysis. Delayed in diagnosis and ART initiation was dichotomized using the adopted recommended timeframe, and Pair T-test used to determine the difference between mean initial and mean prospective, CD4 cell and viraemia outcome respectively.Results: Between 2015-2019, 95 infants were found tested HIV-1 proviral DNA positive among which, 49/95 were found initiated on ART 42 weeks (IQR: 25, 83) median time from their delivery dates. Among these 49, 4 found adhered to the duration in the cohort of those not affect by the delays, difference between their mean initial and prospective CD4 cell outcome was found significantly (P = 0.02) higher than the 11 found adhered to the duration in the cohort of those affected by the delays (P = 0.37).The reverse was found in their viraemia outcome although, not statistically significant for both (P values = O.33 and 0.18 respectively). Conclusion: The overall 42 weeks median time was found in conflict with the adopted recommended timeframe thus, found affected the CD4 cell and viraemia outcome of positive infants affected by the delays. Henceforth, the urgent attention is required for those affected to improve their prognosis.
Programmable Nonreciprocal Meta-Prism
Authors: Taravati Sajjad , Eleftheriadees George V.
Published: January 2021

Optical prisms are made of glass and map temporal frequencies into spatial frequencies by decomposing incident white light into its constituent colors and refract them into different directions. Conventional prisms suffer from their volumetric bulky and heavy structure and their material parameters are dictated by the Lorentz reciprocity theorem.. Considering various applications of prisms in wave engineering and their growing applications in the invisible spectrum and antenna applications, there is a demand for compact apparatuses that are capable of providing prism functionality in a reconfigurable manner, with a nonreciprocal/reciprocal response. Here, we propose a nonreciprocal metasurface-based prism constituted of an array of phase-and amplitude-gradient frequency-dependent spatially variant radiating super-cells. In conventional optical prisms, nonreciprocal devices and metamaterials, the spatial decomposition and nonreciprocity functions are fixed and noneditable. Here, we present a programmable metasurface integrated with amplifiers to realize controllable nonreciprocal spatial decomposition, where each frequency component of the incident polychromatic wave can be transmitted under an arbitrary and programmable angle of transmission with a desired transmission gain. Such a polychromatic metasurface prism is constituted of frequency-dependent spatially variant transistor-based phase shifters and amplifiers for the spatial decomposition of the wave components. Interesting features include three-dimensional prism functionality with programmable angles of refraction, power amplification, and directive and diverse radiation beams. Furthermore, the metasurface prism can be digitally controlled via a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), making the metasurface a suitable solution for radars, holography applications, and wireless telecommunication systems.
Dental caries in association with viral load in children living with HIV in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kikuchi Kimiyo , Yasuoka Junko , Tuot Sovannary , Okawa Sumiyo , Yem Sokunthea , Chhuon Pheak , Murayama Makoto , Huot Chantheany , Yi Siyan
Published: January 2021

Background: Oral health status is known to be associated with overall health among people living with HIV. However, it is unclear whether dental caries is associated with viral load among this population. In particular, dental caries among children living with HIV needs to be better understood, as this can affect their overall health and future well-being. This study assessed the association between dental caries and viral load among children living with HIV in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Paediatric Hospital as a baseline survey of a randomized controlled trial. The study population included children living with HIV aged 3–15 years and their primary caregivers. Calibrated examiners collected data on dental caries status (WHO index) and the latest HIV viral load data stored in the patients’ information system at the hospital. On the day of the dental examination, children’s caregivers and older children were invited to answer a questionnaire-based interview. Multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between dental caries and viral load. The cut-off point for undetectable viral load was set at <40 copies/mL.Results: Data from 328 children were included in the analysis; 68.3% had an undetectable viral load. The mean decayed, missing, or filled permanent/deciduous teeth was 7.7 (standard deviation = 5.0). In the regression analysis, dental caries in permanent or deciduous teeth was positively associated with detectable viral load (adjusted odds ratio: 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.14). Conversely, antiretroviral therapy of ≥1 year and self-reported better adherence to antiretroviral drugs were negatively associated with detectable viral load. Among children with detectable viral load, dental caries in permanent or deciduous teeth was also positively associated with non-suppression of viral load (>1000 copies/mL) (adjusted odds ratio: 1.12, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–1.23).Conclusions: Dental caries was associated with viral load status detection among children living with HIV. This finding suggests that dental caries may affect the immune status of children. The oral health of children living with HIV should be strengthened, and further research is needed to clarify the causal relationship between viral load and oral health status.
Molecular cloning and characterization of GhERF105, a gene contributing to the regulation of gland formation in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Wu Chaofeng , Cheng Hailiang , Li Shuyan , Zuo Dongyun , Lin Zhongxu , Zhang Youping , Lv Limin , Wang Qiaolian , Song Guoli
Published: January 2021

Background: Gossypium hirsutum L. ( cotton) is one of the most economically important crops in the world due to its significant source of fiber, feed, foodstuff, oil and biofuel products. However, the utilization of cottonseed was limited due to the presence of small and darkly pigmented glands that contain large amounts of gossypol, which is toxic to human beings and non-ruminant animals. To date, some progress has been made in the pigment gland formation, but the underlying molecular mechanism of its formation was still unclear.Results: In this study, we identified an AP2/ERF transcription factor named GhERF105 (GH_A12G2166), which was involved in the regulation of gland pigmentation by the comparative transcriptome analysis of the leaf of glanded and glandless plants. It encoded an ERF protein containing a converved AP2 domain which was localized in the nucleus with transcriptional activity, and showed the high expression in glanded cotton accessions that contained much gossypol. Virus-induced gene silencing(VIGS) against GhERF105 caused the dramatic reduction in the number of glands and significantly lowered levels of gossypol in cotton leaves. GhERF105 showed the patterns of spatiotemporal and inducible expression in the glanded plants. Conclusions: These results suggest that GhERF105 contributes to the pigment gland formation and gossypol biosynthesis in partial organs of glanded plant. It also provides a potential molecular basis to generate ‘glandless-seed’ and ‘glanded-plant’ cotton cultivar.
Gastrointestinal Failure Score in Children with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Zhou Ying , Lu Weifeng , Tang Weibing
Published: January 2021

Background: To review the value of the gastrointestinal failure (GIF) score in children with different degrees of traumatic brain injury (TBI) by analyzing the correlation between outcome and gastrointestinal function. Methods: A total of 165 children with TBI who were diagnosed and treated in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) for longer than 72 h between August 2017 and September 2019 were analyzed. Admission parameters included sex, age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, body mass index (BMI), leukocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct), blood glucose, lactic acid, procalcitonin (PCT), albumin, plasma osmotic pressure, prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). To predict outcomes, the Pediatric Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score, Pediatric Clinical Illness Score (PCIS), and mean GIF score for the first three days were combined. Results: The percent of patients with gastrointestinal dysfunction on the first day was 78.8%. Food intolerance (FI) and intra-abdominal hypertension (IAH) developed in 36.4% and 21.8% of the patients, respectively. The GIF score and mean GIF score for the first three days in children with different degrees of TBI were significantly different (P<0.05); these scores were also significantly different between patients who died and those who survived (P<0.05). The mean GIF score for the first three days was identified as an independent risk factor for mortality (odds ratio>1, 95% confidence interval=1.457 to 16.016, P<0.01), as was the PCIS. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis suggested that the mean GIF score for the first three days had the same calibrating power as the PCIS in discriminating the risk of death of children. Conclusion: The incidence of gastrointestinal dysfunction in children with TBI is high. The GIF score has the ability to reflect the status of the gastrointestinal system. The mean GIF score for the first three days has high prognostic value for ICU mortality in the SICU.
Adaptation and convergence in circadian-related genes in Iberian freshwater fish
Authors: Moreno João M , Jesus Tiago F , Coelho Maria M , Sousa Vitor C
Published: January 2021

BackgroundThe circadian clock is a biological timing system that improves the ability of organisms to deal with environmental fluctuations. At the molecular level it consists of a network of transcription-translation feedback loops, involving genes that activate (bmal and clock – positive loop) and repress expression (cryptochrome (cry) and period (per) – negative loop). This is regulated by daily alternations of light but can also be affected by temperature. Fish, as ectothermic, depend on the environmental temperature and thus are good models to study its integration within the circadian system. Here, we studied the molecular evolution of circadian genes in four Squalius freshwater fish species, distributed across Western Iberian rivers affected by two climatic types with different environmental conditions (e.g., light and temperature). S. carolitertii and S. pyrenaicus inhabit the colder northern region under Atlantic climate type, while S. torgalensis, S. aradensis and some populations of S. pyrenaicus inhabit the warmer southern region affected by summer droughts, under Mediterranean climate type. ResultsWe identified 16 circadian-core genes in the Squalius species using a comparative transcriptomics approach. We detected evidence of positive selection in 12 of these genes using methods based on dN/dS. Positive selection was mainly found in cry and per genes of the negative loop of the cycle, with 55 putatively adaptive substitutions, 16 located on protein domains. Evidence for positive selection is predominant in southern populations affected by the Mediterranean climate type. By predicting protein features we found that changes at sites under positive selection can impact protein thermostability by changing their aliphatic index and isoelectric point. Additionally, in nine genes, the phylogenetic clustering of species that belong to different clades but inhabit southern basins with similar environmental conditions indicated evolutionary convergence. We found evidence for increased nonsynonymous substitution rate in convergent lineages, likely due to positive selection at 27 sites, mostly in cry genes. ConclusionsOur results support that temperature may be a selective pressure driving the evolution of genes involved in the circadian system. By integrating sequence-based functional protein prediction with dN/dS-based methods to detect selection we uncovered adaptive convergence in the southern populations, probably related to their similar thermal conditions.
Assessment of chronic disease self-management in patients with chronic heart failure based on the MCID of patient-reported outcomes by the multilevel model
Authors: Tian Jing , Zhao Jinghua , Zhang Qing , Ren Jia , Han Linai , Li Jing , Zhang Yanbo , Han Qinghua
Published: January 2021

Purpose: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of a patient-reported outcome (PRO) represents the threshold value of the change in the score for that PRO. It is deemed to have an important implication in clinical management. This study was performed to evaluate the clinical significance of chronic disease self-management (CDSM) for patients with chronic heart failure based on the MCID of the chronic heart failure - PRO measure (CHF-PROM).Methods: A multicenter, prospective cohort study of 555 patients with heart failure were enrolled from July 2018. Advice of CDSM was provided in written form at discharge to all patients. Information regarding CHF-PROM and CDSM were collected during follow-up. Multilevel models were applied to dynamically evaluate the effects of CDSM for CHF-PROM scores, as well as its physical and psychological domains. MCID changes of the PRO were introduced and compared with β values of CDSM obtained from the multi-level models to further evaluate the clinical significance. The STROBE checklist is shown in supplementary 1.Results: Scores for CHF-PROM improved significantly after discharge. The multilevel models showed that a regular schedule, avoidance of over-eating, a low-sodium diet and exercise increased scores on CHF-PROM. Compared with the MCID, avoidance of over-eating (12.39 vs. 9.75) and maintenance of a regular schedule often (10.98 vs. 9.75), and exercise almost every day (11.36 vs. 9.75) reached clinical significance for the overall summary. Avoidance of over-eating (5.88 vs. 4.79) and a regular schedule almost every day (4.96 vs. 4.79) reached clinical significance for the physical scores. Avoidance of over-eating half of the time (5.26 vs. 4.87) and a regular schedule almost every day (5.84 vs. 4.87) demonstrated clinical significance for the psychological scores.Conclusions: This study observed an association of avoidance of over-eating and maintenance of a regular schedule with the improvement of CHF-PROM. It provides further evidence for management of heart failure.Trial registration: Current Prospective Trials NCT02878811; registered August 25, 2016; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02878811?term=NCT02878811&draw=2&rank=1.
Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Social Robots for Older Adults and People with Dementia: A Scoping Review Protocol
Authors: Koh Wei Qi , Felding Simone Anna , Toomey Elaine , Casey Dympna
Published: January 2021

Background Psychosocial health issues such as depression and social isolation are an important cause of morbidity and premature mortality for older adults and people with dementia. Social robots are promising technological innovations to deliver effective psychosocial interventions to promote psychosocial wellbeing. Studies have reported positive findings regarding this technology on the psychosocial health of older adults and people with dementia. However, despite positive findings of the effects of social robots for older adults and people with dementia, little is known about factors affecting their implementation in practice.Methods This study follows Arksey and O’Malley’s approach and methodological enhancement by Levac et al (2010). Relevant articles will be identified by searching electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, Compendex and PubMed. A two-phase screening process will be undertaken by two independent reviewers to determine articles’ inclusion. Findings will be summarized and reported thematically based on domains in the Consolidated Framework of Implementation Research (CFIR) and presented narratively. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) will guide the reporting of findings.Discussion Reporting the protocol in advance of conducting the review will ensure a rigorous and transparent methodological approach is undertaken. The outcomes of the review include identifying variants in terminologies used to describe implementation, identifying the scope of the literature regarding the barriers and facilitators affecting the implementation of social robots, and identify research gaps to guide further empirical research in this field. This evidence synthesis constitutes part of a bigger project aimed to develop implementation guidelines for social robotics for older adults with dementia. Since the methodological process consists of reviewing and collecting data from publicly available data, this study does not require approval from a research ethics board.Scoping Review Registration Our protocol is registered with the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/2x3y9/) as an open access article, under the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC-4.0) license, which allows others to distribute, remix, adapt and build on this work on a non-commercial basis, and license their derivative work using different terms, on the basis that the original basis is properly cited and the use is non-commercial (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).
Co-occurring hydrocephalus in autism spectrum disorder: a Danish population-based cohort study
Authors: Munch Tina Nørgaard , Hedley Paula Louise , Hagen Christian Munch , Bækvad-Hansen Marie , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Grove Jakob , Nordentoft Merete , Børglum Anders Dupont , Mortensen Preben Bo , Werge Thomas Mears , Melbye Mads , Hougaard David Michael , Christiansen Michael
Published: January 2021

Background The association between autism spectrum disorder and hydrocephalus is not well understood, despite demonstrated links between autism spectrum disorder and cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. Based on the hypothesis that autism spectrum disorder and hydrocephalus may, at least in some cases, be two manifestations of a shared congenital brain pathology, we investigated the potential association between autism spectrum disorder and hydrocephalus in a large Danish population-based cohort.Methods Patients and controls were obtained from the Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research iPSYCH2012 case-cohort, which includes all patients with selected psychiatric disorders born in Denmark 1981-2005 along with randomly selected population controls (end of follow-up, December 31, 2016). The associations between individual psychiatric disorders and hydrocephalus were estimated using binary logistic regression with adjustment for age and sex. Results The cohort consisted of 86,571 individuals, of which 14,654 were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, 28,606 were population controls, and the remaining were diagnosed with other psychiatric disorders. We identified 201 hydrocephalus cases; 68 among autism spectrum disorder patients and 40 among controls (OR 3.77, 95% CI 2.48-5.78), which corresponds to an absolute risk of 0,46 %. The autism spectrum disorder-hydrocephalus association was significant over the entire subgroup spectrum of autism spectrum disorder. Conclusions Given the considerable risk of hydrocephalus among patients with autism spectrum disorder, we suggest that patients with autism spectrum disorder should be evaluated for co-occurring hydrocephalus on a routine basis as timely neurosurgical intervention is important. Likewise, attention must be paid to traits of autism spectrum disorder in children with hydrocephalus. The results of this study call for future investigations on a potential shared aetiology between hydrocephalus and autism spectrum disorder, including the role abnormal CSF dynamics in the pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder.
Whole-Exome Sequencing in 168 Korean Patients with Inherited Retinal Degeneration
Authors: Ma Dae Joong , Lee Hyun-Seob , Kim Kwangsoo , Choi Seongmin , Jang Insoon , Cho Seo-Ho , Yoon Chang Ki , Lee Eun Kyoung , Yu Hyeong Gon
Published: January 2021

Background To date, no genetic analysis of inherited retinal disease (IRD) using whole-exome sequencing (WES) has been conducted in a large-scale Korean cohort. The aim of this study was to characterise the genetic profile of IRD patients in Korea using WES. Methods We performed comprehensive molecular testing in 168 unrelated Korean IRD patients using WES. The potential pathogenicity of candidate variants was assessed using the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics and the Association for Molecular Pathology variant interpretation guidelines, in silico prediction tools, published literature, and compatibility with known phenotypes or inheritance patterns.Results Causative variants were detected in 86/168 (51.2%) IRD patients, including 58/107 (54.2%) with retinitis pigmentosa, 7/15 (46.7%) with cone and cone-rod dystrophy, 2/3 (66.6%) with Usher syndrome, 1/2 (50.0%) with congenital stationary night blindness, 2/2 (100.0%) with Leber congenital amaurosis, 1/1 (100.0%) with Bietti crystalline dystrophy, 1/1 (100.0%) with Joubert syndrome, 9/10 (90.0%) with Stargardt macular dystrophy, 1/10 (10.0%) with vitelliform macular dystrophy, 1/11 (9.1%) with other forms of macular dystrophy, and 3/4 (75.0%) with choroideraemia. USH2A, ABCA4, and EYS were the most common causative genes associated with IRD. For retinitis pigmentosa, variants of USH2A and EYS were the most common causative gene mutations.Conclusions This study demonstrated the distribution of causative genetic mutations in Korean IRD patients. The data will serve as a reference for future genetic screening and development of treatment modalities for Korean IRD patients.