bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attempting to Estimate the Unseen – Correction for Occluded Fruit in Tree Fruit Load Estimation by Machine Vision With Deep Learning
Authors: Koirala Anand , Walsh Kerry Brian , Wang Zhenglin
Published: January 2021

Imaging systems mounted to ground vehicles are used to image fruit tree canopies for estimation of fruit load, but frequently need correction for fruit occluded by branches, foliage or other fruits. This can be achieved using an orchard ‘occlusion factor’, estimated from a manual count of fruit load on a sample of trees (referred to as the reference method). It was hypothesised that canopy images could hold information related to the number of occluded fruit. Five approaches to correct for occluded fruit based on canopy images were compared using data of three mango orchards in two seasons. However, no attribute correlates to the number of hidden fruit were identified. Several image features obtained through segmentation of fruit and canopy areas, such as the proportion of fruit that were partly occluded, were used in training Random forest and multi-layered perceptron (MLP) models for estimation of a correction factor per tree. In another approach, deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNNs) were directly trained against harvest fruit count on trees. The supervised machine learning methods for direct estimation of fruit load per tree delivered an improved prediction outcome over the reference method for data of the season/orchard from which training data was acquired. For a set of 2017 season tree images (n=98 trees), a R2 of 0.98 was achieved for the correlation of the number of fruits predicted by a Random forest model and the ground truth fruit count on the trees, compared to a R2 of 0.68 for the reference method. The best prediction of whole orchard (n = 880 trees) fruit load, in the season of the training data, was achieved by the MLP model, with an error to packhouse count of 1.6% compared to the reference method error of 13.6%. However, the performance of these models on new season data (test set images) was at best equivalent and generally poorer than the reference method. This result indicates that training on one season of data was insufficient for the development of a robust model. This outcome was attributed to variability in tree architecture and foliage density between seasons and between orchards, such that the characters of the canopy visible from the interrow that relate to the proportion of hidden fruit are not consistent. Training of these models across several seasons and orchards is recommended.
REPRESENTATION OF IDEOLOGY IN TEMPO NEWSPAPER ANCOL RECLAMATION NEWS DISCOURSE (Van Dijk Model Criticaldiscourse Analysis Study)
Authors: Visiaty Arianty , Rasyid Yumna , Anwar Miftahulkhairah
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT

 

The study aims to examine the ideological representations that appear in the news in the media. The analysis of this research uses the CDA Van Dijk concept. The data of this research is the news entitled “DKI Mengklaim Perluasan Ancol untuk Publik” published in TEMPO Newspaper, Monday July 6, 2020. From the analysis, this news shows support for the reclamation policy of the Ancol area of the DKI Jakarta Government. Besides, it is known that this news represents the ideological strategy of capitalism.

Keywords: Critical Discourse Analysis; Van Dijk model; ideology
Orthopaedic Application of Cryotherapy
Authors: Kunkle Bryce F. , Kothandaraman Venkatraman , Goodloe Jonathan B. , Curry Emily J. , Friedman Richard J. , Li Xinning , Eichinger Josef K.
Published: January 2021

» Cold therapy, also known as cryotherapy, includes the use of bagged ice, ice packs, compressive cryotherapy devices, or whole-body cryotherapy chambers. Cryotherapy is commonly used in postoperative care for both arthroscopic and open orthopaedic procedures.

» Cryotherapy is associated with an analgesic effect caused by microvasculature alterations that decrease the production of inflammatory mediators, decrease local edema, disrupt the overall inflammatory response, and reduce nerve conduction velocity.

» Postoperative cryotherapy using bagged ice, ice packs, or continuous cryotherapy devices reduced visual analog scale pain scores and analgesic consumption in approximately half of research studies in which these outcomes were compared with no cryotherapy (11 [44%] of 25 studies on pain and 11 [48%] of 23 studies on opioids). However, an effect was less frequently reported for increasing range of motion (3 [19%] of 16) or decreasing swelling (2 [22%] of 9).

» Continuous cryotherapy devices demonstrated the best outcome in orthopaedic patients after knee arthroscopy procedures, compared with all other procedures and body locations, in terms of showing a significant reduction in pain, swelling, and analgesic consumption and increase in range of motion, compared with bagged ice or ice packs.

» There is no consensus as to whether the use of continuous cryotherapy devices leads to superior outcomes when compared with treatment with bagged ice or ice packs. However, complications from cryotherapy, including skin irritation, frostbite, perniosis, and peripheral nerve injuries, can be avoided through patient education and reducing the duration of application.

» Future Level-I or II studies are needed to compare both the clinical and cost benefits of continuous cryotherapy devices to bagged ice or ice pack treatment before continuous cryotherapy devices can be recommended as a standard of care in orthopaedic surgery following injury or surgery.
Teasing Meaning Out of a Tangle of Fracturing Data
Authors: Rassenfoss Stephen
Published: January 2021

The snarled red lines on the chart look more like a plate of spaghetti than a source of fracturing insights.

It looks like a meaningless mess, which is generally how the ups and downs of difficult stages are viewed.

To Adam Hoffman, a completion engineer for Chesapeake Energy, those 47-stages-worth of data look like a valuable opportunity.

“We see so many stages with so many odd spikes and drops or chatter. We chop it off and say that was an odd stage. In my mind when we are looking at all those stages, we should wonder, ‘what was that pressure spike telling us,’” he said.

That curiosity became a research project after Chesapeake encountered a spate of blockages in recently fractured Eagle Ford wells. The investigation into the cause of the casing damage led to a collaboration with Well Data Labs to look for connections between pressure changes and what is happening in the wells.

Based on hundreds of stages of data from 19 wells fractured in the Eagle Ford, and later in the Powder River Basin, they reported finding a distinctive pressure signature that provides a reliable, but not foolproof, guide to when casing damage is likely.

Well Data Labs has automated the search for those signatures as it looks for the meaning of the terabytes of fracturing data in this overwhelming number of seemingly random, squiggly lines.

The oilfield data and software company is working on ways to monitor changes in the fracturing-fluid chemistry, the proppant intake into perforations, and an explanation for the pressure spikes seen before the pressure falls, said Jessica Iriarte, research manager at Well Data Labs.

The troubleshooting and pressure analysis were covered in paper SPE 201484 presented at the 2020 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE).

It described how engineering trouble-shooting revealed that geological stresses were the likely source of problems in one case, and faulty pipe in the other. It followed up with data analysis, which used machine learning to identify distinctive patterns that provide an early warning of what is happening in the well faster and more objectively than a completion engineer studying the chart.

Based on the troubleshooting, Chesapeake made changes that largely eliminated those costly problems.

But it was also a costly learning process. In the Eagle Ford, they identified the underlying problem by investigating why multiple coiled-tubing runs were blocked while they were trying to drill out plugs after fracturing. When that happens, Hoffman said, “it can mean a week lost working past it.”

Failure to drill out a plug can block access to the productive rock further down the lateral.

A reliable automated treating-pressure analysis in the daily report could alert the completion team to problems while fracturing is in progress. They could then make adjustments on later stages and create a plan to limit the time lost when drilling out plugs on stages where they are likely to encounter tight sections.
Against the Grain: Three Proppant Delivery Approaches That Buck the Status Quo
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: January 2021

Pumping proppant down a wellbore is the easy part.

Ensuring that the precious material does its job is another matter.

A trio of field studies recently presented at the 2020 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) highlight in different ways how emerging technology and old-fashioned problem solving are moving the industry needle on proppant and conductivity control.

These examples include the adoption of unconventional completion techniques in a conventional oil field in Russia and work to validate the use of small amounts of ceramic proppant in North Dakota’s tight-oil formations. Both studies seek to counter widely held assumptions about proppant conductivity.

A third study details a recently developed chemical coating that Permian Basin producers are applying “on the fly” to sand before it is pumped downhole. The new adhesive material has found a niche in helping operators mitigate the amount of sand that returns to surface during flowback, a sectorwide issue that drives up completion costs and later may spell trouble for artificial lift systems.

Disproving “The Overflush Paradigm”

After conventional reservoirs are hydraulically fractured, both from vertical and horizontal wells, it has been standard practice for decades to treat the newly propped perforations with a gentle touch.

The approach to this end is known as underflushing.

When underflushing, the goal is to leave behind just a few barrels’ worth of proppant-laden slurry over the perforations before attempting to complete further stages. The motivation for this boils down to the need for an insurance policy against displacing the near-wellbore proppant pack and causing the open fracture face to pinch off before it ever has a chance to transmit hydrocarbons.

Such carefulness comes at a price. Underflushing raises the risk of needing a cleanout before oil can flow optimally to surface. This not only delays the arrival of first oil, it means extra equipment and personnel are required.

However, a more glaring downside to underflushing is that it appears to be an unnecessary precaution. The near-wellbore fracture area is, in fact, more robust than what conventional wisdom allows credit for.
Technology Focus: Digital Data Acquisition (January 2021)
Authors: Sarma Pallav
Published: January 2021

COVID-19 has significantly accelerated the adoption of digital technologies across all industries, and the oil and gas industry has been no exception. Consequently, interest in digital data acquisition, the backbone of all digital transformation work flows, also has increased significantly. This can clearly be seen in the multifold increase in the number of SPE papers on this topic since last year.

This feature will continue to focus on technologies to improve data accessibility and data acquisition, as well as entirely new data sources and their applications.

The papers chosen this year include real-time remote monitoring of steam traps and corrosion using wireless sensors, enabling faster and easier access to relevant subsurface information through deep learning of unstructured documents, and automation of real-time drilling work flows through digital transformation technologies.

While not reflected in these papers, a related emerging technology that has the potential to transform the data acquisition paradigm and that is garnering much attention, however, is edge computing. As the saying goes, if you cannot bring the data to the model, take the model to the data.

One of the main difficulties in faster adoption of digital transformation in oil and gas has been access to reliable real-time data that can be converted to real-time decisions. This is the case because of the remote and geographically distributed nature of most oil and gas assets and legacy outdated and piecemeal information-technology (IT) infrastructures, making it difficult to provide models with reliable, standardized data in a timely manner.

Edge-computing frameworks eliminate scale and capacity constraints and bypass limitations of current IT infrastructures, truly enabling operationalization of models for real-time decision making. Edge computing, together with machine learning and artificial intelligence, will be the real enablers of digital transformation.
Pulse Radar Randomly Interrupted Transmitting and Receiving Optimization Based on Genetic Algorithm in Radio Frequency Simulation
Authors: LIU Xiaobin , Zhao Feng , Ai Xiaofeng , Wu Qihua
Published: January 2021

The interrupted transmitting and receiving (ITR) can be used in anechoic chamber to solve the coupling between the transmitted and reflected signals. When the ITR periods are random, the fake peaks in high resolution range profile (HRRP) of ITR echo can be reduced. Then, by utilizing the piecewise sparse property of ITR echo, the HRRP is reconstructed based on compressive sensing (CS). However, the periods of ITR determine the restricted isometry property (RIP) condition and the HRRP reconstruction performance. In order to improve the HRRP reconstruction performance, the ITR periods sequence optimization method based on genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed in this paper. The correlation coefficient of the sensing matrix columns is minimized after optimization so that the RIP of sensing matrix can be well satisfied. Simulation and comparison results illustrate that the optimization method converges fast and the HRRP reconstruction performance is improved with the optimized ITR periods.
Numerical modeling of the disappearance of equatorial plasma bubble by nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances
Authors: Chou Min-Yang , Lin Charles C. H. , Huba Joseph D.
Published: January 2021

The Naval Research Laboratory first-principles ionosphere model SAMI3/ESF is performed to study the interaction between the nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) and equatorial plasma bubbles (EPBs). The synthetic dynamo currents are imposed into the potential equation to induce polarization electric fields for generating the MSTIDs. Simulations demonstrate that the MSTIDs can inhibit the upward growth of EPBs; however, MSTIDs alone are insufficient to explain the disappearance of EPBs. We found that the meridional winds likely contribute to the disappearance of MSTIDs by reducing the background electron density and polarization electric fields within the EPBs. Then, the MSTIDs transport plasma to fill the EPB depletions up via E × B drifts. Both MSTIDs and meridional winds are necessary to comprehend the underlying mechanism of EPB disappearance. We also found that the zonal and vertical E × B drifts within the MSTIDs affect the morphology of EPBs, leading to a reverse-C shape structure.
Clearance of inflammatory cytokines in Patients with Septic Acute Kidney Injury During Renal Replacement Therapy Using the EMiC2 Filter (Clic-AKI study)
Authors: Lumlertgul Nuttha , Hall Anna , Camporota Luigi , Crichton Siobhan , Ostermann Marlies
Published: January 2021

Background: The EMiC2 membrane is a medium cutoff hemofilter (45 kiloDalton). Little is known regarding its efficacy in eliminating medium-sized cytokines in sepsis. This study aimed to explore the effects of continuous veno-venous hemodialysis (CVVHD) using the EMiC2 filter on cytokine clearance.Methods: This was a prospective observational study conducted in critically ill patients with sepsis and acute kidney injury requiring kidney replacement therapy. We measured concentrations of 12 cytokines [Interleukin (IL) IL-1β, IL-1α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-ƴ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, epidermal growth factor (EGF)] in plasma at baseline (T0) and pre- and post-dialyzer at 1, 6, 24, and 48 hours after CVVHD initiation and in the effluent fluid at corresponding time points. Outcomes were the effluent and adsorptive clearance rates, mass balances, and changes in serial serum concentrations.Results: Twelve patients were included in the final analysis. All cytokines except EGF concentrations declined over 48 hours (p<0.001). The effluent clearance rates were variable and ranged from negligible values for IL-2, IFN-ƴ, IL-1α, IL-1β, and EGF, to 19.0 ml/min for TNF-α. Negative or minimal adsorption was observed. The effluent and adsorptive clearance rates remained steady over time. The percentage of cytokine removal was low for most cytokines throughout the 48-hour period. Conclusion: EMiC2-CVVHD achieved modest removal of most cytokines and demonstrated small to no adsorptive capacity despite a decline in plasma cytokine concentrations. This suggests that changes in plasma cytokine concentrations may not be solely influenced by extracorporeal removal.
Association of Menopausal Status with COVID-19 outcomes: a Propensity Score-Matching Analysis
Authors: Wang Xing-Wang , Hu Hao , Xu Zhi-Yong , Zhang Gong-Kai , Yu Qing-Hua , Yang Hui-Lan , Zheng Ji-Hua
Published: January 2021

Background: Despite the growing number of studies on the Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19), little is known about the association of menopausal status with COVID-19 outcomes.Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, we included 336 COVID-19 in-patients between February 15, 2020 and April 30, 2020 at the Taikang Tongji Hospital (Wuhan), China. Electronic medical records, including patient demographics, laboratory results, and chest computed tomography (CT) images were reviewed.Results: In total, 300 patients with complete clinical outcomes were included for analysis. The mean age was 65.3 years and most patients were women (n=167, 55.7%). Over 50% of patients presented with comorbidities, with hypertension (63.5%) being the most common comorbidity. After propensity-score matching, results showed that men had significantly higher odds than premenopausal women for developing severe disease type (23.7% vs. 0%, OR 17.12, 95% CI 1.00–293.60; p=0.003) and bilateral lung infiltration (86.1% vs. 64.7%, OR 3.39, 95% CI 1.08–10.64; p= 0.04), but not for mortality (2.0% vs. 0%, OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.04–19.12, p=1.00). However, non-significant difference was observed among men and post-menopause women in the percentage of severe disease type (32.7% vs. 41.7%, OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.37–1.24, p=0.21) and bilateral lung infiltration (86.1% vs. 91.7%, OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.22–1.47, p=0.24), mortality (2.0% vs. 6.0%, OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.06–1.69, p=0.25).Conclusions: Men had higher disease severity than premenopausal women, while the differences disappeared between postmenopausal women and men. These findings support aggressive treatment for the poor-prognosis of postmenopausal women in clinical practice.
Clinical features, radiological profiles, pathological features and surgical outcomes of pituicytomas: a report of 11 cases and a pooled analysis of individual patient data
Authors: Cheng Jianhua , Nie Ding , Li Bin , Gui SongBai , Li ChuZhong , Zhang YaZhuo , Cavallo Luigi Maria , Zhao Peng
Published: January 2021

Background: Pituicytoma is an extremely rare low-grade glial tumor that is closely related to the neurohypophysis axis. Most studies of pituicytomas include only several cases. To better understand this disease, we reviewed a series of cases of pituicytomas. The diagnosis and treatment of pituicytoma must be further elucidated.Methods: Eleven patients with pituicytoma admitted to Beijing Tiantan Hospital from 2012 to 2019 were selected. The clinical features, including radiological and histological examination, surgical records and prognosis were reviewed. Sixty-eight other previously published cases of pituicytoma also were used to analyze the predictive factors for the results.Results: Our cohort included 4 males (36.37%) and 7 females (63.63%), with a mean age of 48.6 years. The tumor was located in the suprasellar region in 4 patients (36.37%), intrasellar region in 5 patients (45.45%), and intrasellar-suprasellar region in 2 patients (18.18%). All patients were misdiagnosed with other common tumors in the sellar region before the operation. During the operation, gross total resection of the tumor was achieved in 6 patients (54.55%), and subtotal resection was achieved in 5 patients (45.45%). The mean progression-free survival time was 33.72 months. Tumor progression after surgical resection occurred in 4 patients (36.37%). Among them, 72.73% of the patients with subtotal resection experienced progression, while 18.18% of the patients with gross total resection experienced progression. Combined with the 68 cases in the literature, gross total resection was an independent risk factor for progression-free survival time (P<0.05).Conclusion: Pituicytomas are more common in middle-aged people and in the sellar region. The clinical manifestations of pituicytomas are different, but no diagnostic clinical features have been identified other than an abnormally abundant blood supply. Currently, gross total resection is the best approach for the treatment of pituicytomas. More patients and longer follow-up periods were needed to further elucidate the biological features of pituicytomas.
Alternative Splicing Signature in human Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Li Daowei , Tan Yue
Published: January 2021

Although hundreds of risk loci for Crohn’s disease (CD) have been identified, the underlying pathogenesis of CD remains unclear. Recently, evidence has shown that aberrant gene expression in CD patients’ colon tissues was associated with progression of CD. We reasoned that post-transcriptional regulation, especially alternative splicing (AS), may also play important roles in the pathogenesis of CD. Herein we re-analyzed a public mRNA-seq data from NCBI GEO dataset (GSE66207), and identified approximately 3,000 unique AS events in CD patients compared to the healthy controls. “Lysine degradation” and “Sphingolipid metabolism” are the top two AS events enriched terms in CD patients. In a validation study, we also sequenced 8 subjects and demonstrated that key genes which were previously linked to CDs, such as IRF1, STAT3, also had significant AS events in CDs. In conclusion, our study provided a landscape of AS events in CD, especially as the first study focused on a Chinese cohort. Our data suggested that dysregulation of AS may be a new mechanism that contribute to the pathogenesis of CD.
Energy delivery guided by indirect calorimetry in critically ill patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Duan Jing-Yi , Zheng Wen-He , Zhou Hua , Xu Yuan , Huang Hui-bin
Published: January 2021

Background: The use of indirect calorimetry (IC) is increasing due to its precision in resting energy expenditure (REE) measurement in critically ill patients. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of an IC-guided nutrition therapy compared to predictive equations strategy in such a patient population.Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane library databases up to Oct 25, 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included if they focused on energy delivery guided by either IC or predictive equations in critically ill adults. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool to assess the quality of the included studies. Short-term mortality was the primary outcome. The meta-analysis was performed with the fixed-effect model or random-effect model according to the heterogeneity. Results: Eight RCTs with 991 adults met the inclusion criteria. The overall quality of the included studies was moderate. Significantly higher mean energy delivered per day was observed in the IC group, as well as percent delivered energy over REE targets, than the control group. IC-guided energy delivery significantly reduced short-term mortality compared with the control group (risk ratio=0.77; 95% CI, 0.60 to 0.98; I2=3%, P=0.03). IC-guided strategy did not significantly prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation (mean difference [MD]=0.61 days; 95% CI, -1.08 to 2.29; P=0.48), length of stay in ICU (MD=0.32 days; 95% CI, -2.51 to 3.16; P=0.82) and hospital (MD=0.30 days; 95% CI, -3.23 to 3.83; P=0.87). Additionally, adverse events were similar between the two groups. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicates that IC-guided energy delivery significantly reduces short-term mortality in critically ill patients. This finding encourages the use of IC-guided energy delivery during critical nutrition support. But more high-quality studies are still needed to confirm these findings.
A placental trisomy 2 detected by NIPT evolved in a fetal small Supernumerary Marker Chromosome (sSMC).
Authors: Domaradzka Justyna Anna , Deperas Marta , Obersztyn Ewa , Kucińska-Chahwan Anna , Brison Nathalie , Bogaert Kris Van Den , Roszkowski Tomasz , Kędzior Marta , Bartnik-Głaska Magdalena , Łuszczek Alicja , Jakubów-Durska Krystyna , Vermeesch Joris Robert , Nowakowska Beata Anna
Published: January 2021

Background: Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) is a rapidly developing and widely used method in the prenatal screening. Recently, the widespread use of the NIPT caused a neglecting of the limitations of this technology. Case presentation: The 38-year-old woman underwent amniocentesis because of a high risk of trisomy 2 revealed by the genome-wide Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT). The invasive prenatal diagnosis revealed the mosaicism for a small supernumerary marker chromosome sSMC derived from chromosome 2. Interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on uncultured amniocytes revealed three signals of centromere 2 in 30% of the cells. GTG-banded metaphases revealed abnormal karyotype (47,XX,+mar[21]/46,XX[19]) and was confirmed by array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH). Cytogenetic analyses (FISH, aCGH, karyotype) on fetal skin biopsies were performed and confirmed the genomic gain of the centromeric region of chromosome 2. In the placenta, three cell lines were detected: a normal cell line, a cell line with trisomy 2 and a third one with only the sSMC.Conclusion: Whole-genome Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing allows not only the identification of common fetal trisomies but also diagnosis of rare chromosomal abnormalities. Especially in such cases, it is extremely important to perform not only NIPT verification on a sample of material other than trophoblast, but also to apply appropriate research methods. Such conduct allows detailed analysis of the detected aberration, thus appropriate clinical validity.
Multiwave pandemic dynamics explained: How to tame the next wave of infectious diseases
Authors: Cacciapaglia Giacomo , Cot Corentin , Sannino Francesco
Published: January 2021

Pandemics, like the 1918 Spanish Influenza and COVID-19, spread through regions of the World in subsequent waves.
Here we propose a consistent picture of the wave pattern based on the epidemic Renormalisation Group (eRG) framework, which is guided by the global symmetries of the system under time rescaling.
We show that the rate of spreading of the disease can be interpreted as a time-dilation symmetry, while the final stage of an epidemic episode corresponds to reaching a time scale-invariant state. We find that the endemic period between two waves is a sign of instability in the system, associated to near-breaking of the time scale-invariance. This phenomenon can be described in terms of an eRG model featuring complex fixed points.
Our results demonstrate that the key to control the arrival of the next wave of a pandemic is in the strolling period in between waves, i.e. when the number of infections grow linearly. Thus, limiting the virus diffusion in this period is the most effective way to prevent or delay the arrival of the next wave.
In this work we establish a new guiding principle for the formulation of mid-term governmental strategies to curb pandemics and avoid recurrent waves of infections, deleterious in terms of human life loss and economic damage.
Myogenic progenitor cell transplantation for muscle regeneration following hindlimb ischemia and reperfusion
Authors: Messner Franka , Thurner Marco , Müller Jule , Blumer Michael , Hofmann Julia , Marksteiner Rainer , Couillard-Despres Sebastien , Troppmair Jakob , Öfner Dietmar , Schneeberger Stefan , Hautz Theresa
Published: January 2021

Background Muscle is severely affected by ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI). Quiescent satellite cells differentiating into myogenic progenitor cells (MPC) possess a remarkable regenerative potential. We herein established a model of local application of MPC in murine hindlimb ischemia/reperfusion to study cell engraftment and differentiation required for muscle regeneration.Methods A clamping model of murine (C57b/6J) hindlimb ischemia was established to induce IRI in skeletal muscle. After 2 hours (h) warm ischemic time (WIT) and reperfusion, reporter protein expressing MPC (TdTomato or Luci-GFP, 1x106 cells) obtained from isolated satellite cells were injected intramuscularly. Surface marker expression and differentiation potential of MPC were analyzed in vitro by flow cytometry and differentiation assay. In vivo bioluminescence imaging and histopathologic evaluation of biopsies were performed to quantify cell fate, engraftment and regeneration.Results 2h WIT induced severe IRI on muscle, and muscle fiber regeneration as per histopathology within 14 days after injury. Bioluminescence in vivo imaging demonstrated reporter protein signals of MPC in 2h WIT animals and controls over the study period (75 days). Bioluminescence signals were detected at the injection site and increased over time. TdTomato expressing MPC and myofibers were visible in host tissue on postoperative days 2 and 14, respectively, suggesting that injected MPC differentiated into muscle fibers. Higher reporter protein signals were found after 2h WIT compared to controls without ischemia, indicative for enhanced growth and/or engraftment of MPC injected into IRI-affected muscle antagonizing muscle damage caused by IRI.Conclusion WIT-induced IRI in muscle requests increased numbers of injected MPC to engraft and persist, suggesting a possible rational for cell therapy to antagonize IRI. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the regenerative capacity and therapeutic advantage of MPC in the setting of ischemic limb injury.
Association of Kawasaki Disease and COVID-19 in children
Authors: esmaeilzadeh hossein , Mortazavi Negar , Salehi Alireza , Fatemian Hossein , Vardanjani Hossein Molavi
Published: January 2021

Kawasaki Disease (KD) is most common childhood vasculitis and cause of acquired heart disease for no apparent reason. There is some evidence indicating infectious agents as possible triggers for KD. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vasculitis has been a presentation of COVID-19 in children.ObjectiveWe performed this study to assess the association between KD and COVID-19.Methods and MaterialsWe evaluated KD hospitalized children during February to September 2020 for COVID-19 (group one) and compared their demographic, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic findings with KD patients from the same period of time in 2019 (group two). We also compared the same data in COVID-19 positive and COVID-19 negative KD patients in 2020 pandemic period.Results68% of KD patients in group one were positive for COVID-19 during the pandemic period. KD Age of onset in the group one was lower than group two (4.38 years VS 5.5 years, P-value= 0.044). There was no difference in the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic features of the patients during and before the COVID-19 pandemic (p-value > 0.05). Moreover, Comparing COVID-19 positive and negative patients, the incidence of rash was higher within COVID-19 positive cases (p<0.05), and coronary artery abnormalities were more prevalent in COVID-19 negative cases (p < 0.05).ConclusionAdmission rate of KD does not have significant difference during the COVID-19 pandemic but 68% of KD admitted patient were COVID-19 positive. Age of onset for KD during the COVID-19 pandemic was lower than the same period of time in last year.
Angelica dahurica extracts attenuate CFA-induced inflammatory pain via TRPV1 in mice
Authors: Zhu Chan , Wang Meiyuan , Guo Jun , Su Shu-Lan , Yu Guang , Yang Yan , Zhou Yuan , Tang Zongxiang
Published: January 2021

Background: Angelica dahurica, belonging to the family Apiaceae, is a well-known herbal medicine. The roots of Angelica dahurica is commonly used for the treatment of headache, toothache, abscess, furunculosis, and acne. However, little is known about their analgesic molecular mechanism underlying pain relief. Here, we investigated the anti-nociceptive activity of Angelica dahurica extracts（ADE） in complete freund's adjuvant(CFA)-induced inflammatory pain mice models, and its possible mechanism of the action associated with transient receptor potential vanilloid member 1 (TRPV1) was also explored. Material and Methods: In this study, we used behavioral tests to assess the analgesic effect of the ADE on CFA-induced inflammatory pain mice models. TRPV1 protein activity in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) was assessed with calcium imaging assay. TRPV1 expression was detected with western blot and immunohistochemistry. Then we examined the constituents of ADE using combined ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-light mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q−TOF−MS).Results: Our results showed that ADE effectively attenuated mechanical and thermal hypersensitivities in CFA-induced inflammatory pain model in mice. ADE also significantly reduced the activity and the protein expression of TRPV1 in DRG from CFA mice. Conclusion: These findings suggest that ADE exhibits an analgesic effect in CFA inflammatory pain models by targeting TRPV1. Therefore, ADE might be an attractive and suitable analgesic agent for the management of chronic inflammatory pain.
Distribution, Source Apportionment and Health Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticides in Drinking Groundwater
Authors: Oyekunle John A. O. , Adegunwa Abiodun O. , Ore Odunayo T.
Published: January 2021

Groundwater samples of Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria were investigated for their organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) levels. Probable sources of the OCPs and health risks associated with their consumption along with the water were determined in order to establish the potability of the groundwater samples. Quantitative determination of the OCPs was carried out by Gas Chromatography coupled with Electron Capture Detector (GC-ECD) after liquid-liquid extraction with dichloromethane (DCM). Results indicated that all the analyzed OCPs except p,p'-dichlorodiphenylethane were detected with high concentrations in the groundwater. Hepachlor (14.60±3.60 µg/L) and methoxychlor (12.60±2.20 µg/L) showed dominant concentrations that were higher than 0.02 ng/L maximum residue levels (MRLs) recommended by the European Union. Levels of the OCPs in the samples followed the decreasing trend: cyclodienes > diclorophehylethanes > chlorinated cyclohexanes, while the predominant source of the analyzed pesticides could be ascribed to aerial transportation from fresh applications in homes within the community. The carcinogenic health risk assessment also revealed consistent higher values of HQ and CR in children as opposed to adults, indicating that children are the more vulnerable population to the analyzed environmental contaminants.
Prognostic Significance of B-type Natriuretic Peptide in Patients with Left Ventricular Thrombus
Authors: An Zhixia , Gao Zhichun , Wang Luyu , Hou Changchun , Zhang Liying , Gong Siming , Rao Rongsheng , Li Chun , Qin Zhexue
Published: January 2021

Background: There is sparse information on the prognostic value of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) for the outcomes in patients with left ventricular thrombus (LVT). We aimed to determine the prognostic value of BNP in LVT.Methods: Patients diagnosed with LVT by transthoracic echocardiography between November 2009 to July 2020 at our institution were included. The endpoints were all-cause mortality and systemic embolism. Results: Ninety-two subjects were finally included in the study. The mean age of the cohort was 56.73±14.12, and 80.4% of the patients were male. The median BNP (1st quartile- 3rd quartile) was 437.5 (112.74-1317.5). The total all-cause mortality rate was 30.44% (28/92), and the 1-year, 2-year and 3-year cumulative survival rates were 85.4%, 75.5% and 66.5% respectively. Systemic embolism was identified in 10 subjects. COX multivariate analysis showed that Log BNP (HR, 4.96; 95%CI, 2.03-12.13; P=0.000) and LV posterior thickness (HR, 0.71; 95%CI, 0.51-0.97; P=0.034) were significantly associated with all-cause mortality. In addition, patients with BNP levels in the upper median (≥ 437.5pg/ml) had significantly higher all-cause mortality rate compared to those with lower median BNP (<437.5pg/ml; P=0.004). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for BNP and all-cause mortality was 0.71. In the linear trend test, BNP quartiles were significantly related to all-cause mortality in all models, and the P values for trend in models 1, 2 and 3 were 0.005, 0.006 and 0.048 respectively.Conclusion: BNP level is a prognostic factor for all-cause mortality in LVT patients, and elevated BNP is indicative of a higher risk of LVT.
Portal TB Gombak: Web-Based Application for Plotting of Tuberculosis Cases in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia
Authors: Mohidem Nur Adibah , Osman Malina , Muharam Farrah Melissa , Elias Saliza Mohd , Shaharudin Rafiza , Hashim Zailina
Published: January 2021

Background: In the last few decades, public health surveillance has been conducted using various programming languages implementing statistical methods to analyze the spatial distribution of a disease. Nevertheless, contact tracing and follow up control measures for tuberculosis (TB) patients remain challenging because many public health officers lack the appropriate programming skills to use the related software. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a TB mapping application associated with sociodemographic factor in Gombak. Methods: The sociodemographic data of 3325 TB cases such as age, gender, race, nationality, country of birth, educational level, employment status, healthcare worker, income status, residency, and smoking status between January 2013 and December 2017 in Gombak district were collected from the Tuberculosis Information System (TBIS) database at the Gombak District Health Office and Rawang Health Clinic and myTB website. Apart from that, the sociodemographic data of TB cases were extracted from the Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System (ArcGIS) version 10.7 and subsequently uploaded into the Portal TB Gombak. The application was set up in the Python Shapefile (PHP) CodeIgniter framework with ArcGIS JavaScript API 3.7 and HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheet (CSS), JavaScript, and PHP as programming languages to build the system. Additionally, the ESRI map was used as the base map and combined with the web GIS technology via ArcGIS Application Programming Interface (API). Results: The application displays the location of TB cases on an interactive map based on sociodemographic factor. Conclusion: Portal TB Gombak allows public health officers to visualize the potential risk areas of TB cases without a trained programmer and geospatial statistician. This application will help healthcare personnel better understand TB transmission, thus improving case detection and minimize the public health impact of the disease.
The Pons As Region of Reference For Intensity Normalization In Semi-Quantitative Analysis of Brain 18FDG PET: Application to Metabolic Changes Related to Ageing in Conventional and Digital Control Databases
Authors: Verger Antoine , Doyen Matthieu , Campion Jacques-Yves , Guedj Eric
Published: January 2021

Background: To define the most appropriate region for intensity normalization in brain 18FDG PET analysis through ageing.Brain metabolic changes related to ageing were evaluated in two populations of healthy controls who underwent conventional (n=56) or digital (n=78) 18FDG PET/CT. The median correlation coefficients between age and the metabolism of each 120 atlas brain region were reported for 120 distinct intensity normalizations (according to the 120 regions). SPM linear regression analyses with age were performed on most significant normalizations (FWE, p<0.05).Results: The cerebellum and pons were the two sole regions showing median coefficients of correlation with age less than -0.5. With SPM, the intensity normalization through the pons provided at least 1.7- and 2.5-fold more significant cluster volumes than other normalizations for conventional and digital PET respectively. Conclusions: The pons is the most appropriate area for brain 18FDG PET intensity normalization for examining the metabolic changes through ageing.
Dosimetry of 177Lu-DOTATOC First Circle Treatment in Patients With Advanced Metastatic Neuroendocrine Tumors: a Pilot Study in China
Authors: Xu Lei , Meng Qingle , Yao Xiaochen , Yang Rui , Zhang Pengjun , Li Rushuai , Jiang Hongbing , Wang Feng
Published: January 2021

Objective: The aim of this study was to calculate the dosimetry of 177Lu-DOTATOC in the first circle of peptide receptor radionuclide treatment (PRRT) in patients with advanced neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). Patients and Methods: Eight patients (4 female, 4 male) with NETs were enrolled in this study. All these patients with unresectable primary lesion and multiple metastasis received 177Lu-DOTATOC treatment with a single activity of 1.59-3.49 GBq (43.1-94.2 mCi) and underwent a series of whole-body planar scan at 0.5 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h and SPECT/CT scan at 24 h after injection. The region of interest (ROI) was drawn on the primary and metastatic lesion, the mediastinum served as control area. Therefore, the ratio of tumor-to-mediastinum (T/NT) was also calculated. The Hermes hybrid viewer dosimetry module together with OLINDA/EXM 2.0 was used to determine absorbed doses of organs and tumors. Results: No significant changes in both laboratory test was found after 177Lu-DOTATOC treatment, including renal function and blood cell analysis ( F= 0.047-1.062, P =0.364-0.959). Physiological uptake of 177Lu-DOTATOC was seen in the liver, the spleen and the kidneys. Focal uptake of 177Lu-DOTATOC was found in the tumors including primary tumors and metastatic lesions, the ratio of T/NT was 39.45 ± 28.83. The residence time of 177Lu-DOTATOC was 0.82 ± 0.12 h for left kidney, 0.80 ± 0.15 h for right kidney, 1.35 ± 0.89 h for spleen, 1.80± 2.70 h for tumors, and 30.21 ± 11.29 h for total body. Organs with the highest absorbed doses per injected activity were tumors (1.2936 ± 0.8625 mGy/MBq), spleen (0.4608 ± 0.4084 mGy/MBq), and kidneys (0.3843 ± 0.1120 mGy/MBq). The mean effective dose was 0.0392 ± 0.0158 mSv/MBq with the range of 0.0158-0.0674 mSv/MBq. In addition, Photon cross-irradiation was found to reach 19.46 % in adrenals, whereas photon can contribute less than 3% of the kidneys’ total dose. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that absorbed dose in the kidneys and spleen are relatively lower, whereas the tumor shows longer retention time and higher internal radiation absorbed dose in PRRT. PRRT is a well-tolerated treatment strategy. 177Lu-DOTATOC SPECT /CT serves as independent predictor for the evaluation of response to PRRT, which contributes to predict the response to PRRT and the related adversity.
A survey of Italian cat owners’ attitudes towards cat vaccination through a web-based questionnaire
Authors: Filipe Joel Fernando Soares , Pina Lucrezia , Lauzi Stefania , Dall’Ara Paola
Published: January 2021

Background: Vaccination plays an important role in feline healthcare as it is the most effective measure for prevention against feline infectious diseases. Therefore, it is important to know owners’ opinion towards cats’ vaccination and current veterinary practices in order to advice owners on the use of the correct vaccination protocol. This study aimed to identify factors motivating cat owners’ decisions related to vaccination in Italy. A questionnaire was disseminated online (mainly via social networks) to collect data regarding Italian cat owners’ demographics, information about cats, factors regarding vaccination of cats, and veterinary-owner relationship. Results: The majority (90.7%; n=1,131) of cats were vaccinated and 80% (n=998) had been vaccinated within the last three years. Cats 2-4 years old and origin from a breeder or cat shops had a high significant positive impact on the vaccination within the last three years status of cats. Vaccination before the three year period was significantly associated with the importance of cat’s indoor lifestyle, cats ≥ 5 years old and low annual household. The importance for cost vaccination, low annual household income and jobs of owner not related to healthcare had a significant impact on the unvaccination status of cats. In addition, 85.8% of owners present their cat regularly to veterinary clinics. Veterinarians play a significant role in owners’ decision and they are considered the most useful source of information about vaccination by 97.3% of owners. Conclusions: These results could help veterinarians to acquire a greater compliance from owners and better adapt vaccination protocols.
Comparative effect of electroacupuncture with different frequency on headache attacks in migraine outpatients: study protocol for a randomised placebo- controlled trial
Authors: Nie Na , Chen Le , Li Tong , Zhou Chuanlong , Li Bangwei , Zhou Jie , Chen Qin , Ji Conghua , Li Qiushuang , Liang Yi , Fang Jianqiao
Published: January 2021

Background: Headache attacks severely impaired life quality and increase economic burden of migraineurs. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been used world-widely to treat several pain-related diseases including migraine. However, whether EA with low- or high-frequency exerts distinct analgesic effect remains unknown and need to further study. Methods/Design: This study is a randomised, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial with three parallel arms. A total of 144 migraine outpatients will be randomly allocated to 2Hz EA group, 100Hz EA group and placebo control group. The duration of the trial is 20 weeks, including a 4-week long baseline assessment period (week-4-0), 4-week long treatment period (week 1-4), and 12-week long follow-up period (week 5-16). Twelve treatment sessions will be performed over a four-week period (week 1-4). The primary outcome will be measured by frequency of migraine attacks in the past 4 week at the end of week 4 post-randomisation. Secondary outcome will be measured by frequency of migraine attacks in the past 4 week at the end of week 8,12,16 post-randomisation, number of days with migraine, dosage of ibuprofen, the scores of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Migraine Specific Quality of Life questionnaire (MSQ) in the past 4 week at the end of week 4, 8, 12, 16 post-randomisation. Safety assessment, compliance and blinding evaluation will be carried out at the end of week 16 post-randomisation. Discussion: The recruitment will be started at 1 June, 2021 and expected to finish at 31 May, 2023. We aimed to clarify the dominant frequency of EA on headache attacks in migraineur. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR-1800017259. Registered on 20 July 2018.