bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An efficient and reproducible Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation method for the ornamental monocotyledonous plant Ornithogalum dubium Houtt.
Authors: Tripathi Pankaj Kumar , Ayzenshtat Dana , Kumar Manoj , Zemach Hanita , Yedidia Iris , Bocobza Samuel
Published: March 2023

Ornithogalum is a genus from the Hyacinthaceae (Asparagaceae) family that comprises about 200 species with remarkable white, yellow, or orange flowers that display exceptional vase life. These properties have made it a popular cut flower and pot plant. Forward genetics approaches may be advantageous to generate novel phenotypes, but the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants from this genus remains challenging. Here, a stable and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system was established for O. dubium. We found that the timing of transformation with respect to light exposure of the tissue affected transformation rates more than other tested parameters. In the transgenic plants obtained, T-DNA integrations were confirmed by polymerase chain reactions, and positive plants were established in the greenhouse and displayed weak transgene expression. This study exposed an efficient platform for gene function research and germplasm improvement in O. dubium plants. The present protocol is now available for the development of novel improved O. dubium varieties.
The use of Palliative Performance Scale as the Sole Prognostication Tool among Patients Transferred Under Palliative Care: A Single Institution’s Experience in Qatar
Authors: Abdullah Hodan , Allam Ayman , Singh Kalpana , keldi Shaikhah Al , Idris Zeinab , Hassan Azza , Lenjawi Badriya Al
Published: March 2023

Background
The demand for cancer palliative care services in Qatar is increasing due to the increase in the number of people with advanced cancer who require supportive measures and end of life care. End-of-life prognostication is a vital step to determine survival; however, this is extremely challenging, and requires precise tools besides clinicians’ judgments. The palliative performance scale (PPS) tool is used to prognosticate survival and to assess patients ‘symptoms at the National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR). The aim is to analyse the correlation between PPS and overall survival (OS) and to report the experience of using PPS as a sole prognostication tool among patients transferred under palliative care at NCCCR in Qatar.
Method
This is a retrospective cohort study. Data of advanced cancer patients who were accepted under the palliative care program were retrieved from the electronic medical record from January 1, 2017 until December 31, 2021, to test the accuracy of PPS in estimating the prognosis and survival time. The PPS scores were compared with the dates of death for each patient.
Result
The findings revealed that the initial PPS is a significant predictor for overall survival, along with the type of cancer, but not with age or gender. There are clinical differences between PPS scores of ≤ 30% and those of 40% or more; therefore, PPS ≤ 30% was chosen as a cut-off value in this present study. The results revealed a statistically significant higher OS for patients with PPS of 40–80% compared to those with PPS of ≤ 30% (p = 0.03).
Conclusion
There is a need to couple PPS with other prognostication tools to achieve accuracy in predicting overall survival time for cancer patients under palliative care.
Prospective Validation of the Venous Excess Ultrasound “(VExUS)” Score
Authors: Longino August , Martin Katharine , Leyba Katarina , Siegel Gabriel , Gill Edward , Douglas Ivor , Burke Joseph
Published: March 2023

Venous congestion is an under-recognized contributor to mortality in critically ill patients. Unfortunately, venous congestion is difficult to measure, and right heart catheterization (RHC) remains the gold standard. Recently, a novel “Venous Excess Ultrasound (VExUS)” score was developed to noninvasively quantify venous congestion using inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter and doppler flow through the hepatic, portal, and renal veins. A preliminary retrospective study of post-cardiac surgery patients showed promising results, including a high positive-likelihood ratio of high VExUS grade for acute kidney injury. However, further validation studies have not been reported in broader patient populations, and validity of VExUS as compared to other measures of venous congestion such as IVC diameter is unknown. To address this gap, the authors prospectively validated the VExUS against right atrial pressure (RAP), with comparison to inferior vena cava (IVC) diameter. Patients undergoing RHC at the Denver Health Medical Center underwent VExUS examination before their procedure. VExUS grades were assigned before RHC, blinding ultrasonographers to RHC outcomes. After controlling for age, sex, and common comorbidities, there was a significant positive linear association between RAP and VExUS grade (p < 0.001, R2 = .68). VExUS had a favorable AUC for prediction of a RAP ≥ 12 mmHg (0.99, 95% CI 0.96-1) compared to IVC diameter (0.79, 95% CI 0.65–0.92). These results suggest a strong physiologic correlation between VExUS and RAP in a diverse patient population, and support future studies of VExUS as a tool to assess venous congestion and guide management in a variety of critical illnesses.
Topical Tacrolimus for Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chandra Michael , Angelina Monica
Published: March 2023

Purpose
Vernal keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) is a severe ocular inflammatory disease that requires potent anti-inflammatory drugs as a reliever. Despite the unpopularity, tacrolimus could admirably control inflammations. However, studies regarding topical tacrolimus effectivity for VKC are still lacking.
Methods
We conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effect of topical tacrolimus for VKC. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist for this systematic review. Relevant articles were retrieved from Cochrane Library, PubMed, EBSCO Host, and ProQuest database. We specifically included publication in English. This study was registered with PROSPERO under the number CRD42022302291.
Results
A total of 7 studies were included, involving 232 participants, with a mean age of 10.6 ± 4.3 years. In general, topical tacrolimus reduced the total objective signs score (TOSS) as well as the total subjective symptoms score (TSSS). Adverse events reported from topical tacrolimus were insignificant.
Conclusion
The results of this systematic review suggest that topical tacrolimus could significantly reduce VKC signs and symptoms. Further randomized trials and analyses are required to provide more evidence regarding this intervention.
Selenium protects yellow catfish from low temperature damage via the perspective analysis of metabonomics and intestinal microbes
Authors: Hu Junru , Wang Lei , Zhao Hongxia , Lu Huijie , Peng Kai , Huang Wen , Liu Zhenxing , Liu Ding , Sun Yuping
Published: March 2023

Selenium is an essential trace element in animals, which can improve growth performance and anti-stress ability. Temperature is a crucial environmental factor affecting the health of fish, while Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (P. fulvidraco) can not tolerate low temperature. Does dietary selenium affect the resistance to low temperature stress of this fish? Metabolomics and microbiome analysis were used to investigate it. Feeding results showed selenium supplementation increased the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and survival rate (SR) of P. fulvidraco, and decreased the feed conversion rate (FCR) (P > 0.05), under low temperature stress, selenium also enhanced the glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity, reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content in serum, but these differences were not significant (P > 0.05). Metabonomics analysis revealed lipids and lipid-like molles, organic acids and derivatives, fatty acyls were the mainly differential metabolites caused by selenium, among these, indoles and derivatives, steroids and steroid derivatives, glycerolipids and sphingolipids were significantly up-regulated, while erythrina alkaloids, organic oxygen compounds, organic nitrogen compounds and purine nucleosides were significantly down-regulated. Choline, linoleic acid and glycerophospholipid metabolism pathways, d-arginine and d-ornithine metabolism, valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation and biosynthes pathways as well as pyrimidine metabolism pathways produced these metabolites. In addition, selenium supplementation also increased the diversity of intestinal microbes in P. fulvidraco and decreased the relative abundance of Plesiomonas under low temperature stress, however, the intestinal microbes change did not affect the metabolites production. In summary, selenium supplementation actived lipid, carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism for energy substances provision, meanwhile reduced oxidation and other harmful substances production, increased the intestinal microbes diversity of P. fulvidraco to improve the low temperature stress resistance.
Fabrication of supramolecular system derived from Poly β-cyclodextrin coupling quinoline derivative and its fluorescence sensing of zinc ion in pure water environment
Authors: Zhu Wenping , Chen Yinlong , Liu Zengchen , Yang Weijie , Li Yanxia , Chen Yahong , Li Qingfeng , Wang Baodui
Published: March 2023

Cyclodextrin (CD) is an important guest material owing to the water solubility and biocompatibility. In the paper, an organic small molecule was synthesized. According to supramolecular self-assembly, the organic molecule was bounded to the cavity of Poly β-cyclodextrin, which was characterized by IR, SEM and TEM et. al. After self-assembly interaction, the morphology has changed obviously comparing with precursors. Simultaneously, the supramolecular self-assembly complex exhibited good water solubility. Moreover, By Gaussian calculation, the high binding activity between organic molecule and cyclodextrin was confirmed. By fluorescence investigation, the supramolecular system showed high fluorescence sensing activity for Zn2+ in pure water environment, which could track the dynamic change of Zn2+ in organisms. In addition, the supramolecular system exhibited low cytotoxicity. The work provided an interesting pathway for constructing water-soluble and hypotoxic fluorescence sensor for Zn2+.
Effect of Gamma-Irradiated Borosilicate Glass on Ciprofloxacin Drug Delivery and Cytotoxicity: In-vitro Study for Medical Applications
Authors: Tiama Taha M. , gweily Noha , Ibrahim Medhat A. , Elshaer Yasser H.
Published: March 2023

Modified borosilicate glasses (BSG) with the composition [50 B2O3-5 SiO2-15 ZnO-30 CaO] were fabricated with melt quenching technique. Samples were then irradiated with gamma radiation at dose rate of 1.4 kGy/h at a temperature of 30°C. Samples were characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX). FTIR and SEM monitored the microstructural changes of BSG samples before and after gamma irradiation with doses of 50, 100 and 200 M rad, with 50 M rad step. Furthermore, to verify the transformation of the glass and the presence of bioactive glass particles in BSG samples, EDX was implemented to detect oxygen peaks, which are the main component of BSG. Later on, the efficacy of gamma-irradiated BSG in Ciprofloxacin drug delivery and cytotoxicity were studied to be dedicated for medical applications.
A taste for local food: Analysis of archaeological cereal-based foods from the East of England
Authors: Carretero Lara González
Published: March 2023

The study of food preparation and cooking is a research area which is rapidly evolving within archaeobotany and archaeological sciences. Many are the methods available today for the investigation into past culinary and dietary choices and, within these, high-resolution microscopy of preserved remains of cooked foods has become a leading approach. This research presents the application of a fully integrated microscopic approach to the study of archaeological remains of food recovered from sites in Cambridgeshire, England. Applied methods included optical, digital and scanning electron microscopy for the detailed analysis of the identified food products. For the first time, this paper presents the results from the analysis of charred food remains recovered from sites in Britain, specifically from the A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Improvement Scheme excavations led by MOLA Headland Infrastructure.
Treatment paradigm and prognostic factor analysis of rectal squamous cell carcinoma- a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Rui , Zhang Jiahui
Published: March 2023

Background：Rectal squamous cell carcinoma（rSCC）is a rare pathological type of rectal malignant tumors. There is no consensus on the treatment paradigm of patients with rSCC. This study aims to provide a paradigm for clinical treatment via analyzing the efficacy of different treatment regimens for patients with different TNM stages.
Methods：Patients diagnosed with rSCC between 2010 and 2019 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. According to the TNM staging system, Kaplan-Meier（K-M）survival analysis was used to identify the survival benefits of patients with rSCC in different treatment groups. The Cox regression method was used to identify independent prognostic risk factors. Nomograms were evaluated by Harrell's concordance index, calibration curves, DCA and K-M curve.
Results：463 patients with rSCC were extracted from the SEER database. Survival analysis showed that there was no significant difference in cancer specific survival (CSS) among radiotherapy（RT）, chemoradiotherapy（CRT）and surgeryin Stage 1 (P = 0.249). In TNM Stage 2, there was significant difference in CSS among surgery, RT, and CRT (P = 0.003). In TNM Stage 3, there was significant difference in CSS between CRT, no treatment and CRT plus surgery (P < 0.001). In TNM Stage 4, there was significant difference in CSS between CRT, no treatment and CT (P = 0.041). COX regression analysis showed that Age, Marital status, N, M, CEA, PIN, Size, RT, CT, and surgery were the independent risk factors. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year C-index was 0.869,0.777,0.759, respectively. The calibration curve showed that the model had excellent calibration. The DCA curve showed that the model had excellent clinical application value.
Conclusion：RT or surgery is recommended for patients with rSCC at Stage 1, and CRT is recommended for patients with rSCCat Stage 2, Stage 3, and Stage 4. Age, marital status, N, M, PIN, size, RT, CT and surgery are independent risk factors for CSS in patients with rSCC. The prediction model composed of the above independent risk factors has excellent prediction efficiency.
Mycorrhizal-based inoculants in the root microbiome enhanced phytocannabinoid production in medical Cannabis cultivars
Authors: Ahmed Bulbul , Beneš František , Hajšlová Jana , Fišarová Lenka , Vosátka Miroslav , Hijri Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Background
The root microbiome of medical Cannabisplants has been largely unexplored due to past legal restrictions in many countries. To gain insight into the microbial communities of Cannabis sativaL. cultivars with different tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) profiles, a greenhouse trial was carried out with and without inoculants added to the growth substrate. Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing of the bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal ITS was used to analyze the root and rhizosphere microbiome of the five cultivars.
Results
Plant biomass production showed higher in three of five cultivars with K2 treatments (Rhizophagus irregularis and forest microbial suspension). Blossom dry weight of THE cultivar was greater when inoculated with R. irregularis and microbial suspension than no inoculation. Twelve phytocannabinoid compounds in mature Cannabisvaried among cultivars and were affected by inoculants. For example, CBG concentration was higher in CCL cultivar in response to F treatment than other treatments; and CBGA production was higher in ECC cultivar with K1 treatments. We found microbes which were shared among cultivars, Terrimicrobium sp., Actinoplanes sp., and Trichoderma reeseiwere shared by the cultivars ECC-EUS-THE, CCL-ECC, and EUS-THE, respectively.
Conclusion
This study showed that inoculants influenced the production of phytocannabinoids in five Cannabis cultivars. The microbial diversity and community structure associated with Cannabisroots and rhizosphere may be useful in identifying key taxa for inclusion in Cannabis inoculants.
An assessment of potentially space weather causing CMEs through analysis of associated interplanetary type II solar radio bursts and solar energetic particle events
Authors: Umuhire A. C. , Gopalswamy N. , Uwamahoro J.
Published: March 2023

We report on the results of a study conducted to analyze and characterize the space weather consequences of CMEs as inferred from the associated interplanetary (IP) type II Solar Radio Bursts (SRBs) during part of solar cycle (SC) 24. A sample of 39 metric type II bursts with Decametric-Hectometric (DH) counterpart was analyzed. The properties of SRBs are divided in three groups: all metric type II bursts with DH counterparts (m-DH), m-DH accompanied by a Solar Energetic Particle (SEP) event (m-DH-SEP), and m-DH not accompanied by SEP events (m-DH-NonSEP) were compared and the results are presented. We analysed the CME parameters such as widths, speeds and residual accelerations for the three groups. Among 39 m-DH type II bursts analysed in this study, 21 (54%) are accompanied by SEP events. The average CME speed of m-DH SEP-accompanied events (1198 km/s) is higher than both the m-DH non-SEP events (722 km/s) and all m-DH events (978 km/s). We found that the fraction of halos increases in the order of (i) m-DH-SEP (90.5%), (ii) m-DH (74.3%) and (iii) m-DH-NonSEP (55.6%). The sky-plane speed of CMEs and logarithmic peak intensity of SEP events are highly correlated (Pearson’s correlation coefficient cc = 0.802 with a standard error of SE cc = 0.137). Among 21 m-DH-SEP events, 15 originated from the western longitude and this is consistent with their solar source connected to the observer near Earth, hence a significant space weather implication. In general, the obtained results confirm previous findings that fast and wide (FW) CMEs are effective in accelerating energetic particles and DH type II bursts are good indicators of such events.
Cortical Grey Matter Changes, Behavior and Cognition in Children with Sleep Disordered Breathing
Authors: Tan Brendan , Tamanyan Knarik , Nixon Gillian M , Davey Margot J , Ditchfield Michael , Horne Rosemary SC
Published: March 2023

This paper investigated cortical thickness and volumetric changes in children to better understand the impact of obstructive sleep disordered breathing (SDB) on the neurodevelopment of specific regions of the brain. We also aimed to investigate how these changes were related to the behavioral, cognitive and autonomic deficits observed in the condition. Neuroimaging, behavioral and sleep data were obtained from 30 children (15 non snoring controls, 15 referred for assessment of SDB) aged 7 to 17 years. Gyral-based regions of interest were identified using the Desikan-Killiany Atlas. Student’s T-tests were used to compare regions of interest between the controls and SDB groups. We found cortical thickness was significantly greater in the right caudal anterior cingulate and right cuneus regions and volumetric increases in the left caudal middle frontal, bilateral rostral anterior cingulate, left, right and bilateral caudate brain regions in children with SDB compared to controls. Neither cortical thickness nor volumetric changes were associated with behavioral or cognitive measures. The findings of this study indicate disruptions to neural developmental processes occurring in structural regions of the brain; however, these changes appear unrelated to behavioral or cognitive outcomes.
Dynamics and Entrainment Mechanism of the Jet Flows from an Elliptical Nozzle: Time-Resolved Tomographic PIV Measurements
Authors: Xin Zeng , ZHANG Yuyao , HE Chuangxin , LIU Yingzheng
Published: March 2023

In this study, the coherent structure dynamics and entrainment capability of elliptical jets emitted from an elliptical nozzle with aspect ratio (AR) values of 1 (i.e., a circular jet), 2, and 4 at a fixed Reynolds number of 3,000 were experimentally characterized by flow reconstruction using tomographic particle image velocimetry and modal decomposition using the spectral proper orthogonal decomposition method. Statistical analysis indicated that the elliptical synthetic jet had a greater entrainment rate and momentum flux than the circular jet. The temporal dynamics of the coherent structure showed that all the jets emitted from the elliptical nozzle at AR = 1 (i.e., a circular jet), 2, and 4 had a dominant frequency at Strouhal number (St) = 0.39, representing the leading Kelvin–Helmholtz (K-H) vortex ring in each jet. The frequency of the trailing vortex was also at St = 0.39 at AR = 1 and 2, whereas that at AR= 4 was at St = 0.70. It was found that vortex ring pairing and merging, as well as axis switching, are common in elliptical jets. When AR was 4, there was also a large-scale single vortex ring between the two merged vortex rings, this large-scale single vortex alone underwent axis transformation and breakage. The merger always occurred in the major plane in elliptical jets because in the major plane, the leading and trailing vortices approached each other as a result of self-induction and mutual induction. The entrainment rate was strongly correlated with the K-H vortex ring dynamics in circular jets and weakly correlated with the K–H vortex ring passing in elliptical jets. The entrainment appeared in the upstream part of the K-H vortex ring structures in circular jets, whereas it was enhanced in the axis-switching region in elliptical jets. An analysis of the contribution of each mode to mass entrainment showed that the entrainment rate of the elliptical nozzle was better than that of the circular nozzle, mainly because many streamwise vortices were generated.
Agrobiodiversity in Quilombola Swiddens in the Municipality of Abaetetuba, Amazon Forest of Pará
Authors: Gonçalves Janaina Pinheiro , Torres Marivaldo Gomes , Pereira José Alex Batista , Alves Raynon Joel Monteiro , Miranda Thyago Gonçalves , Tavares-Martins Ana Cláudia Caldeira , Andrade Eloísa Helena de Aguiar
Published: March 2023

This study aimed to characterize and analyze the swiddens and the socioeconomic, cultural and environmental scenario of the Quilombola communities Ramal Bacuri and Rio Baixo Itacuruçá in the municipality of Abaetetuba, Pará. The sampling of informants was non-probabilistic and used the snowball method and the data were collected through participant observation, field journals, and semi-structured interviews with the support of forms for characterization of the swiddens, productive aspects and difficulties in swidden management. The data were analyzed by content analysis. The results indicated that the swiddens are traditionally planted on terra firme (non-flooded) areas (primary and secondary forests, the latter known as “capoeiras”) and that environmental, socioeconomic and cultural conditions are factors that influence the perspective of the product with the highest market value. A relative diversity of annual and perennial species was observed in the two communities, which serve as food and are also used for income generation. The conscious use of “capoeiras”, the control of fires by firebreaks, and the maintenance of varieties of “manivas” are knowledge/practices that favor the conservation of agrobiodiversity. Therefore, the swiddens of Bacuri and Itacuruçá are agrobiodiverse spaces that encompass biological diversity and traditional knowledge associated with the management and conservation of resources.
Association of neuroimaging scoring and clinical status in Korean patients with metachromatic leukodystrophy
Authors: Lee Sunho , Na Ji Hoon , Yoon Choon-Sik , Lee Young-Mock
Published: March 2023

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase A, leading to progressive demyelination in the central and peripheral nervous systems and, causing gross motor deterioration. This study aimed to analyze data related to neuroimaging and clinical phenotypes of MLD patients according to disease subtype. Patients diagnosed with MLD based on arylsulfatase A enzymatic activity, demyelination in brain MR findings, and/or pathogenic mutations were enrolled in this study. The medical charts of patients with confirmed MLD were retrospectively reviewed. We used a modified MRI scoring system and clinical status using the analogous designed scale. We analyzed the correlation between MRI score and clinical status in the two groups divided by late-infantile and juvenile type, and specific neuroimaging lesions. We detected a positive relationship between clinical function deterioration and MRI score (rho 0.59, p 0.002) in patients with MLD. A stronger positive relationship between clinical score and brain MRI scoring (rho 0.700, p 0.003) was found in the late-infantile type than in the juvenile type. A strong relationship was also seen in groups with high signal intensities in the pons and basal ganglia, and cerebellar atrophy, but not in patients with lesions in the midbrain. MLD with a high MRI score is associated with poor clinical function. Correlating modified MRI scores and clinical function scale may help predict the prognosis of patients with MLD for identifying treatment options and increasing patientsʼ quality of life.
Gis-based Surface Irrigation Potential Assessment: a Case Study in Muga Watershed East Gojam Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Authors: abeza zelalem
Published: March 2023

Assessing available water and land for surface irrigation is important for planning their use. The high dependency on rain-fed farming and erratic rainfall require alternative ways of improving agricultural production. The alternative to improve is through development of small scale irrigation schemes by assessing the available suitable land and water resources in sub-basin level. The objective of this study was assessing the land and water resources potential of Muga watershed in East Gojjam Zone for surface irrigation development using Geographic Information System. Identification of suitable land, estimation of available river flow, and determination of irrigation water requirement were the main steps that were followed. The land irrigation suitability factors considered were: slope, soil, land use/land cover, and river proximity. Estimation of river flow in the six manually added outlets was conducted by simulation after calibration and validation were carried out with the observed flow of gauged river using Soil and water assessment tool. The commonly cultivated crops in the area maize, onion and potato were selected, and the irrigation water requirements of these crops were determined using the CROPWAT8.0 model. Comparison between gross irrigation water requirements of the selected crops for the identified suitable land with simulated river flow at the area of the selected site was carried out. Overall, the weighted overlay analysis of these factors gave a suitable land among river sub-basin as G/muga 560ha, E/muga 3057ha, Bora 670ha, Gibstawit 404ha, and Genet 241ha. Mean monthly flow of 11.4m3/s were determined at the watershed. A total of 3443ha (5.1%) was found to be potentially suitable for the development of surface irrigation project from a total watershed area of 67535ha. In conclusion, the irrigation potential of the area could be increased either by harvesting rainwater or using groundwater.
Deictic gestures impairment in individuals with at risk mental states for psychosis.
Authors: Lopes-Rocha Ana , Ramos Willian de Paula , Argolo Felipe , Gondim João Medrado , Mota Natalia , Andrade Julio , Ferreira Andrea Fontes Jafet , de Medeiros Matheus Wanderley , Serpa Mauricio Henriques , Cecchi Guillermo , Ara Anderson , Gattaz Wagner , Corcoran Cheryl Mary , Loch Alexandre
Published: March 2023

Background: Nonverbal communication (NVC) is a complex behavior that involves different modalities that are impaired in schizophrenia spectrum, including gesticulation. However, there are few studies that evaluate it in individuals with at-risk mental states (ARMS) for psychosis, mostly in developed countries. Given our prior findings of reduced movement during speech seen in Brazilian individuals with ARMS, we now aim to determine if this can be accounted for by reduced gesticulation behavior.
Methods: 56 medication-naïve ARMS and 64 healthy controls were filmed during speech tasks. The frequency of specific coded gestures across four categories (and self-stimulatory behaviors) were compared between groups and tested for correlations with prodromal symptoms of the Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes (SIPS) and with the variables previously published.
Results: ARMS individuals showed a reduction in one gesture category.Gesture frequency was negatively correlated with prodromal symptoms and positively correlated with the variables of amount of movement previously analyzed.
Conclusion: The reduction in gesture performance observed agrees with literature findings in other cultural contexts in ARMS and schizophrenia subjects. The lack of differences for other categories might be related to differences within the ARMS group itself and the course of the disorder. These findings show the importance of analyzing NVC in ARMS and of considering different cultural and sociodemographic contexts in the search for markers of these states.
Association between hospital spending and in-hospital mortality of patients with sepsis based on a Japanese nationwide medical claims database study—the Japan Sepsis Alliance study group
Authors: Oami Takehiko , Abe Toshikazu , Nakada Taka‑aki , Imaeda Taro , Aizimu Tuerxun , Takahashi Nozomi , Yamao Yasuo , Nakagawa Satoshi , Ogura Hiroshi , Shime Nobuaki , Umemura Yutaka , Matsushima Asako , Fushimi Kiyohide
Published: March 2023

Background:
The effect of hospital spending on the mortality rate of patients with sepsis has not yet been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that hospitals that consume more medical resources would have lower mortality rates among patients with sepsis.
Methods:
This retrospective study used administrative data from 2010 to 2017. The enrolled hospitals were divided into quartiles based on average daily medical cost per sepsis case. The primary and secondary outcomes were the average in-hospital mortality rate of patients with sepsis and the effective cost per survivor among the enrolled hospitals, respectively. A multiple regression model was used to determine the significance of the differences among hospital categories to adjust for baseline imbalances. Fractional polynomials and restricted cubic splines were used to determine the significance of the association between hospital spending and in-hospital mortality. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed for the primary outcome.
Results:
Among 997 hospitals enrolled in this study, the crude in-hospital mortality rates were 15.7% and 13.2% in the lowest and highest quartiles of hospital spending, respectively. After adjusting for confounding factors, the highest hospital spending group demonstrated a significantly lower in-hospital mortality rate than the lowest hospital spending group (coefficient = − 0.025, 95% confidence interval [CI] − 0.034 to − 0.015; p < 0.0001). Similarly, the highest hospital spending group was associated with a significantly higher effective cost per survivor than the lowest hospital spending group (coefficient = 77.7, 95% CI 73.1 to 82.3; p < 0.0001). Analyses using fractional polynomials and restricted cubic splines revealed an inverse correlation between hospital spending and in-hospital mortality. In subgroup analyses, hospitals with a small or medium number of beds demonstrated a consistent pattern with the primary test, whereas those with a large number of beds or academic affiliations displayed no association.
Conclusions:
Using a nationwide Japanese medical claims database, this study indicated that hospitals with greater expenditures were associated with a superior survival rate and a higher effective cost per survivor in patients with sepsis than those with lower expenditures. In contrast, no correlations between hospital spending and mortality were observed in hospitals with a large number of beds or academic affiliations.
The effects of Treprostinil in high-risk patients after total cavo-pulmonary connection procedure
Authors: Wang Xiaofeng , Wang Shilin , Lu Zhongyuan , Wang Wenlong , Wang Peng , Zhu Zhiyuan , Wang Xu
Published: March 2023

Background: We hypothesized that administration of Treprostinil after high-risk total cavo-pulmonary connection (TCPC) procedure may be benefit for hemodynamics and post-operative recovery.
Methods: From 2015 to 2022, among patients who underwent TCPC procedure and received Treprostinil therapy in our single center, high-risk patients (mean pulmonary arterial pressure= 15mmHg) were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were separated into satisfactory recovery group and delayed recovery group based on whether the post-operative length of stay was more than 30 days. The peri-operative date of the two groups were investigated to find possible indicators to improve the post-operative recovery as the primary outcome. The hemodynamics data after 24 hours maintaining dose of Treprostinil were investigated as the second outcome.
Results: Among 371 TCPC patients, 24 patients were included in our study. There were 9 patients in satisfactory recovery group and 15 patients in delayed recovery group. The statistical difference existed in the maintaining dose of Treprostinil (p=0.005), pleural effusion volume (p=0.001) and renal replacement therapy (p=0.022). Through multivariable analysis, only Treprostinil was of statistical difference (p=0.027). The ROC curve shown that maintaining dose>19.5 ng/kg/min was the cut off point, with the area under curve 0.852, sensitivity 0.89, specificity 0.8. During the observation of hemodynamic data, the mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 14±4 to 12±3 mmHg (p<0.001) with no severe complications.
Conclusion: In patients after TCPC procedure, the Treprostinil therapy can decrease mean pulmonary artery pressure without severe complication. A maintaining dose of Treprostinil >19.5 ng/kg/min is benefit to shorten the post-operative length of hospital stay.
Greenness Assessment UV-Stability Spectrophotometric Methods for Determination of Dalfampridine in the Presence of its Oxidative Derivative
Authors: Kelani Khadiga M. , Talaat Wael , Omran Gamal A. , Morshedy Samir , Nassar Ahmed Mohmed Wafaa
Published: March 2023

This study describes three spectrophotometric techniques that were developed and verified for the reliable identification of dalfampridine (DFP) in the presence of its oxidative derivative, namely (Derivative ratio 1DD, Ratio subtraction RD, and Bivariate BI); calibration graphs were established in the range of (1–14 ug/mL) with good correlation coefficients. The established techniques have been effectively used to analyze Dalfampridine (DFP) in its pharmaceutical dose form. The procedures were verified in accordance with ICH requirements, and accuracy, precision, and repeatability were determined to be satisfactory. The degradation pathway was confirmed using TLC, IR, 1H NMR and mass spectrometry. In addition to Analytical Greenness metrics (AGREE) method and Analytical Eco-Scale tools were applied for DFP with greenness assessment.
Survivorship Experiences of Chinese Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Survivors: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Ruan Jiayin , Qian Ying , Zhuang Yiyu
Published: March 2023

Background:The number of global hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors is increasing rapidly. Survivors encounter many challenges, but studies regarding survivorship experiences in China are scarce.Objective:This study aimed to explore the survivorship experiences of Chinese patients with hematological cancers after HSCT and to describe the impact of HSCT on survivors’ lives.Methods:Descriptive qualitative research was employed. Purposive sampling was used to recruit HSCT survivors who were treated in Zhejiang Province from June 2021 to June 2022. Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed via conventional content analysis.Results:Fifteen HSCT survivors aged 18-59 years participated in this study. Four themes and 11 subthemes emerged: (1) transplant being harder than you thought (body function impaired, forced to modify diet, disturbed by survivorship uncertainty), (2) difficulty blending into circles (limited activity space, suffering from discrimination), (3) adjusting value judgment (health being a top priority, contributing to family as much as possible, feeling worthless), and (4) still being the lucky one (recovered better than others, genuine relationships acquired, self-improvement achieved).Conclusion:This study offers insight into subjective survivorship experiences of patients with hematological cancers post-HSCT within a Chinese sociocultural context. It also presents changed perceptions of HSCT, life alterations, adjusted value judgments, and positive self-evaluation since treatment.Implications for Practice:Nurses can provide person-centered survivorship care based on understanding the survivorship experiences and needs of Chinese HSCT survivors. Intervention programs and informational materials should be developed to address difficulties encountered by Chinese HSCT survivors.
Magnetic field mediated charge density wave transport in Ni doped NbSe3 nanowires
Authors: Tang Hao , Li Yong , Yin Junyao , Xu Dongyan
Published: March 2023

Controllable manipulation of the transition between many-body ground states or metastable states in charge density wave (CDW) systems by external stimuli such as an electric field or optical pulse is of great interest to distinguish delicate interplay of quantum states and to design functional devices. Here, we report magnetization-induced transport anomalies in magnetic impurity Ni doped NbSe3 nanowires, which is toward suppressing the anomalous features of pristine CDW states and inducing the typical transport characteristics of disordered metallic phase accompanied by new emergent metastable CDW states or a tunneling-like transport behavior. These transport switching phenomena are ascribed to out-of-equilibrium disorder introduced by the reorientation of local charge/spin-density-wave domains, which partly retain even after switching off the magnetic field. Our observation will promote the understanding of the interaction between the CDW and the magnetic field coupled by magnetic impurities and pave a way to tune the CDW transport by magnetization, which may contribute to the development of CDW-based devices.
Generation of magnetic biohybrid microrobots based on MSC.sTRAIL for targeted stem cell delivery​ and treatment of cancer
Authors: Gundersen Rebekah Anamarie , Chu Tianyuan , Abolfathi Kiana , Dogan Serap Gokcen Dogan Gokcen , Blair Phoebe Elizabeth , Nago Nyasha , Hamblin Michael , Brooke Greg Nicholas , Zwacka Ralf Michael , Hoshiar Ali Kafash , Mohr Andrea
Published: March 2023

Background: Combining the power of magnetic guidance and the biological activities of stem cells transformed into biohybrid microrobots holds great promise for the treatment of several diseases including cancer.
Results: We found that human MSCs can be readily loaded with magnetic particles and that the resulting biohybrid microrobots could be guided by a rotating magnetic field. Rotating magnetic fields have the potential to be applied in the human setting and steer therapeutic stem cells to the desired sites of action in the body. We could demonstrate that the required loading of magnetic particles into stem cells is compatible with their biological activities. We examined this issue with a particular focus on the expression and functionality of therapeutic genes inside of human MSC-based biohybrid microrobots. The loading with magnetic particles did not cause a loss of viability or apoptosis in the human MSCs nor did it impact on the therapeutic gene expression from the cells. Furthermore, the therapeutic effect of the gene products was not affected, and the cells did also not lose their migration potential.
Conclusion: These results demonstrate that the fabrication of guidable MSC-based biohybrid microrobots is compatible with their biological and therapeutic functions. Thus, MSC-based biohybrid microrobots represent a novel way of delivering gene therapies to tumours as well as in the context of other diseases.
Ileus and Subileus in the young bovine animal
Authors: Dirksen G. , Doll K.
Published: March 2023

Forms of ileus and subileus occurring in the calf are predominantly as in the adult bovine animal, but there are certain differences in the younger animal concerning aetiology and pathogenesis of digestive tract obstruction as well as incidence, clinical appearance, diagnosis and therapy. In addition, types of ileus not yet observed in the adult ruminant occur in the young animal.

The differences mentioned could be due to, firstly, the fact that the gastrointestinal tract of the young animal is in the process of development and differs, sometimes considerably, from that of the adult as regards anatomy, topography and function. In addition, the specific symptoms appear to be influenced by the comparatively lower sensitivity to pain of younger individuals. As yet, this branch of buiatrics has on the whole not been closely studied; however, some communications concerning certain ileus forms are available.

The following review is of necessity restricted to the depiction of some characteristic aspects, due to the multiplicity of possible tract obstructions and the space available.
Combined corticosteroid and antibiotic therapy in bovine repiratory disease (BRD) of young cattle
Authors: Espinasse J. , Allaire R. , Raynaud J. P. , Van Gool F. , Tixier G.
Published: March 2023

Over the past few years, the use of anti-inflammatory corticosteroids in Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) of young cattle has been the subject of several updates, discussions and debates, stemming solely from the observations by Christie et. al. in which it appeared that the combination of oxytetracycline and dexamethasone produced less effective clinical results and led to more relapses than oxytetracycline alone. Therefore, we considered it important to check these statements under production conditions in France.
Treatment of bovine respiratory disease with erythromycin and amoxicillin
Authors: Morter R. L. , Boyce J. R. , Amstutz H. E.
Published: March 2023

The antibiotic used first in beef cattle with respiratory disease (attributable to Pasteurella haemolytica) was erythromycin. The cure rate fell from 60% in 1984 to 53% in 1985. Cases which failed to respond were next treated with amoxicillin, giving combined cure rates of 82% in 1984 and 87.5% in 1985. Spectinomycin was the third antibiotic used, if needed. The sensitivity of P. haemolytica to these antibiotics was discussed.
Vitamin E and selenium in cattle production
Authors: Whitehair C. K.
Published: March 2023

Vitamin E and selenium are important in the normal function of a wide variety of cells, tissues and organs and are thus essential for good health in cattle. Tables indicate disease conditions due to vitamin E/Se deficiency and suggested values of these nutrients in blood, liver and feed of cattle.
Transport of passive immunity to the calf
Authors: Staley T. E.
Published: March 2023

The protective effects of colostrum in the newborn calf appear to be directly associated with the immunoglobulins IgG, IgM, and IgA. The exact role which these colostral components play in protection is still in debate. The transport of intact immunoglobulins from the intestine into the circulation of the calf is dependent on the lining intestinal epithelial cells. These cells are characterized by the capacity to engulf large molecular weight proteins, maintain them within a vacuole during transport, and release them at the basal cell membrane into the lamina propria. The ability of the intestinal epithelium to transport proteins is decreased approximately 56% during the first 24 hours after birth. This process referred to as “closure” does not appear to be absolute, since bacterial antigens may be absorbed throughout the life of the animal. Enhancing immunoglobulin absorption or prolonging neonatal permeability of the intestine would appear to be an approach in insuring adequate levels of passive immunity. The efficiency of absorption of immunoglobulins is due largely to the amount of immunoglobulin consumed, however, other factors such as deficient absorption and/or immunoglobulin in colostrum also must be considered.
Physiological aspects of the omasum and abomasum
Authors: Troutt H. F , Amstutz H. E.
Published: March 2023

The abomasum can be envisioned as a structure having a somewhat primitive contractile pattern and the capability of secreting large volumes of acid fluid. In addition, it may have the capacity of absorbing a portion of the chemical products resulting from rumen fermentation. Both the secretory activity and the motility patterns of the abomasum can be apparently altered by the nature of the ingesta presented to it. Are thesephysiological aspects relevant when clinical disorders of the bovine abomasum are considered? Perhaps they are very relevant. A subsequent paper will attempt to relate research information to certain clinical disorders of the abomasum and to speculate on possible pathophysiologic processes involved.
Electroejaculation of the bull
Authors: Ball L. , Furman J. W.
Published: March 2023

The art of electroejaculation can be mastered with practice; however, the evaluation of semen collected by electroejaculation can be misleading if the physical condition of the bull is not considered. The greatest danger lies in classifying a bull as a questionable or unsatisfactory breeding prospect when he actually failed to ejaculate. There are many factors associated with effective electroejaculation of the bull, including the type ofrectal probe, power output of the electroejaculator, and the skill of the operator. The design of the probe has an important bearing on the power required for electroejaculation and the associated skeletal muscularresponse of the bull. A rectal probe was designed to increase the efficiency of electroejaculation and to decrease the muscular contractions associated with it.
International Congress on Cattle Diseases (7th : 1972)
Authors: International Congress on Cattle Diseases
Published: March 2023

Highlights of the International Congress on Cattle Diseases (7th : 1972).
Effectiveness of antibiotic infusion at drying-off in preventing new mastitis infections in cows.
Authors: Sinkevich M. G. , Barto P. B. , Wells M. E. , Adams G. D.
Published: March 2023

Infusion of each udder quarter at drying-off with 500 mg benzathine cloxacillin, significantly reduced (P < 0.01) the rate of new mastitis infection in cows up to 4 to 10 days post-calving. Rate of new infection was 18.8% in control cows compared to 4.6% in infused cows. 75% of the new infections in cows and 66.7% in quarters were detected only by bacteriological examination. No increase in the less common species of mastitis producing bacteria occurred as a result of dry cow infusion. The incidence of new infections in the period from the first post-calving sampling up to 30 days of lactation was similar in both groups.