bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Η αντιμετώπιση των συμπτωμάτων του κατώτερου ουροποιητικού (LUTS) σε ασθενείς με πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση (MS) με την χρήση B3 αγωνιστών ή αντιχολινεργικών
Authors: Γλύκας Ιωάννης
Published: March 2022

Εισαγωγή/Σκοπός: Η πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση είναι η συχνότερη απομυελινωτική νόσος του κεντρικού νευρικού συστήματος. Ασθενείς που πάσχουν από πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση συνήθως εκδηλώνουν συμπτώματα δυσλειτουργίας του κατώτερου ουροποιητικού. Σκοπός της μελέτης είναι να μελετηθεί και να συγκριθεί η αποτελεσματικότητα και η ασφάλεια της θεραπείας των ασθενών με πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση και συμπτώματα δυσλειτουργίας του κατώτερου ουροποιητικού με την χρήση είτε β3 αγωνιστή (mirabegron) είτε αντιχολινεργικών. Το πρωταρχικό καταληκτικό σημείο της μελέτης είναι η βελτίωση της συμπτωματολογίας από το κατώτερο ουροποιητικό σύστημα. Υλικό και μέθοδος: Πρόκειται για μία τυχαιοποιημένη, πολυκεντρική, μονά τυφλή μελέτη σύγκρισης στην οποία περιλαμβάνονται 91 ασθενείς με πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση και συμπτώματα από το κατώτερο ουροποιητικό. Στην 1η επίσκεψη οι ασθενείς εξετάστηκαν λεπτομερώς κλινικά, υποβλήθηκαν σε γενική/καλλιέργεια ούρων και υπερηχογράφημα ΝΟΚ και συμπλήρωσαν ημερολόγια ούρησης και συγκεκριμένα έγκυρα και αξιόπιστα ως προς την ελληνική τους μετάφραση ερωτηματολόγια (το MusiQoL και το NBSS). Κατά την 2η επίσκεψη στους ασθενείς χορηγήθηκε είτε β3 αγωνιστής (mirabegron) είτε αντιχολινεργικό. Η θεραπεία των ασθενών γινόταν πάντα παράλληλα με την θεραπεία για την πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση. Μετά την πάροδο τριών μηνών από την 1η επίσκεψη έγινε επαναξιολόγηση των ασθενών με τον ίδιο κλινικό και απεικονιστικό έλεγχο που είχε διενεργηθεί κατά την 1η επίσκεψη. Αποτελέσματα: Έγινε σύγκριση διαφόρων κλινικών και απεικονιστικών παραμέτρων, ανάμεσα στις 2 ομάδες ασθενών στην 1η επίσκεψη και μετά τον 3ο μήνα από την έναρξη της θεραπείας. Δεν ανεδείχθη καμία στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά ανάμεσα στην ομάδα του mirabegron και την ομάδα των αντιχολινεργικών ως προς τη βελτίωση των συμπτωμάτων από το κατώτερο ουροποιητικό σύστημα. Και στις 2 ομάδες ασθενών καταγράφηκε ωστόσο σημαντική βελτίωση μετά την θεραπεία εν συγκρίσει με την 1η επίσκεψη στις περισσότερες παραμέτρους που μελετήθηκαν. Πραγματοποιήθηκε στατιστική ανάλυση με την μέθοδο του t-test για εξαρτημένα δείγματα για τη σύγκριση των μεταβλητών κάθε ομάδας ασθενών στην αρχή και τρεις μήνες μετά τη θεραπεία. Στη συνέχεια εφαρμόστηκε η μέθοδος του t-test για ανεξάρτητα δείγματα για τη σύγκριση των στατιστικά σημαντικών μεταβλητών μεταξύ των δύο ομάδων ασθενών. Οι ανεπιθύμητες ενέργειες της θεραπείας καταγράφηκαν και στις 2 ομάδες ασθενών. Κανένας ασθενής δεν σταμάτησε την θεραπεία λόγω ανεπιθύμητων ενεργειών. Συμπεράσματα: Οι ασθενείς με πολλαπλή σκλήρυνση που έλαβαν είτε mirabegron είτε αντιχολινεργικό παράγοντα παρουσίασαν βελτίωση στην συμπτωματολογία από το κατώτερο ουροποιητικό στις περισσότερες από τις παραμέτρους που μελετήθηκαν. Παρόλα αυτά δεν ανεδείχθη στατιστικά σημαντική διαφορά ανάμεσα στις 2 ομάδες ασθενών στους 3 μήνες από την έναρξη της θεραπείας ως προς την αποτελεσματικότητα των διαφορετικών φαρμάκων που χρησιμοποιήθηκαν.
The accuracy of Infrared sensor detection in a smart toilet
Authors: Lokman Amar , Rajendran Kirenraj , Ramasamy R Kanesaraj
Published: March 2022

Background: Infrared (IR) sensors are useful tools for detecting distance and proximity. However, these sensors are not good at detecting edges of an area, therefore when used in a smart toilet it has difficulty in detecting the orientation and position of the user’s body. The aim of this study was to design an IR sensor for a smart toilet with a more accurate and consistent detection. 

Methods: A total of 12(six men and six women) participants with different body types were involved in this study. IR sensor detection was tested in the sitting and squatting toilets. For the best accuracy, the  IR sensor's angle was measured. Red, blue, and red-blue plastic covers were used, as these colors improve precision. The microcontroller was  set up to calculate the participant’s distance and presence in the cubicle.   

Results:  Toilet positioning varied greatly depending on whether one is sitting or squatting. For sitting

toilet, the red cover was close to the accurate distance at a 172˚ angle. IR detected a man but not a woman's body. The blue cover provided the same best angle of 172˚ with a higher sensor distance. When the red and blue cover combination was applied, the reading of 141cm detected both men and women, at 172˚ 

angle. The actual distance for squatting toilets  was 158cm. The optimal angle for both red and blue covers was 176˚, however the sensor distance was greater for the blue cover. Finally, the red and blue cover combination gave a more accurate distance of up to 163cm from the actual reading, when detecting both genders at a normal angle of 76˚. 

Conclusion: The combination of red and blue cover gave the most accurate detection for the squatting and sitting toilets. The best angle for sitting was 172˚, and for squatting was 176˚.
Interactive Learning System for Learning Calculus
Authors: Rahman Md Asifur , Sook Ling Lew , Yin Ooi Shih
Published: March 2022

Background: IT tools assist in creating a more participative and independent learning environment. They have brought a new perspective to collaborative learning where students do not just sit in a chair and swallow lecture content but instead participate in creating and sharing knowledge. However, interactivity promoted through the implementation of technology is limited in many cases.   

Purpose: This research develops an interactive application for learning calculus that promotes human-system interaction via augmented reality (AR) and human-human interaction through chat functions. The study examines the effect of both interactivities on learning experience and how that learning experience affects the performance of learning.  

Methods: The research adopted a quasi-experimental study design and pre-post test data analysis to evaluate the effect of interactivities on learning experience and consequently the effect of learning experience on learning performance. The subjects were exposed to the developed application for learning the calculus chapter ‘Revolution of Solids” in a controlled environment. The study validated its research framework through partial least squares path modelling and tested three hypotheses via pre-and post-test evaluation.  

Conclusions: The results found that both interactivities affect learning experience positively; human-human interactivity has a higher impact than human-system interactivity. It was also found that learning performance as part of the learning experience increased from pre-test to post-test.
An open-source natural language processing toolkit to support software development: addressing automatic bug detection, code summarisation and code search
Authors: Robledo Cristian , Sallicati Francesca , de Chalendar Gaël , Fernández Marcos , de Castro Pablo , Martín Eduardo , Gutiérrez Javier , Bouachera Yannis
Published: March 2022

This paper aims to introduce the innovative work carried out in the Horizon 2020 DECODER project – acronym for “DEveloper COmpanion for Documented and annotatEd code Reference” – (Grant Agreement no. 824231) by linking the fields of natural language processing (NLP) and software engineering. 

The project as a whole addresses the development of a framework, namely the Persistent Knowledge Monitor (PKM), that acts as a central infrastructure to store, access, and trace all the data, information and knowledge related to a given software or ecosystem. This meta-model defines the knowledge base that can be queried and analysed by all the tools integrated and developed in DECODER. Besides, the DECODER project offers a friendly user interface where each of the predefined three roles (i.e., developers, maintainers and reviewers) can access and query the PKM with their personal accounts. 

The paper focuses on the NLP tools developed and integrated in the PKM, namely the deep learning models developed to perform variable misuse, code summarisation and semantic parsing. These were developed under a common work package – “Activities for the developer” – intended to precisely target developers, who can perform tasks such as detection of bugs, automatic generation of documentation for source code and generation of code snippets from natural languages instructions, among the multiple functionalities that DECODER offers. These tools assist and help the developers in the daily work, by increasing their productivity and avoiding loss of time in tedious tasks such as manual bug detection.

Training and validation were conducted for four use cases in Java, C and C++ programming languages in order to evaluate the performance, suitability, usability, etc. of the developed tools.
Comparative analysis of health expectancy indicators in older adult men and women in selected European countries
Authors: Wróblewska Wiktoria
Published: March 2022

The study concerns the assessment of the health of older adults in selected European countries using summary measures of population health. These measures show to what extent increasing life span goes hand in hand with a healthier life, and to what extent it is burdened by health limitations and disability. This paper covers such health domains as self-perceived health, functional limitations, chronic morbidity and disability. Data on the health of people aged 60 and over came from Wave 7 of SHARE, and Sullivan’s method was used to calculate health expectancy measures. The multivariate nature of the health status measurement prompted us to also use a multivariate comparative analysis and to determine a synthetic measure of health status. The results showed large disproportions in health expectancy indicators in the later years of life of men and women in the European countries analysed, and these differences are greater than those relating to life expectancy.
An attempt to understand complexity in a government digital transformation project
Authors: Hafseld Kristin Helene J. , Hussein Bassam , Rauzy Antoine B.
Published: March 2022

Digital transformation projects will become one of the dominating tools for mastering digital transformation in governments. Studies show that such projects are complex undertakings and increasingly difficult to manage. The purpose of the paper is to provide a better understanding of the factors that cause complexity in government digital transformation projects. The authors use an in-depth case study approach to investigate factors of complexity in an ongoing digital transformation project. The results indicate that complexity in this project is rooted in dynamic relationships between multiple dimensions of organization, technologies, and innovation. The authors conclude that when organizational structuring, the introduction of new technology, and efforts to innovate and create added value for citizens and businesses operate in tandem, the pervasive complexity associated with delivering government digital transformation projects becomes increasingly difficult to manage.
Need for Speed: The Impact of In-Process Delays on Customer Behavior in Online Retail
Authors: Gallino Santiago , Karacaoglu Nil , Moreno Antonio
Published: March 2022

Online retail has become more prominent around the world in the last decade. As a result, online retailers' website performance is increasingly important. Previous literature has extensively studied customer sensitivity to service speed and wait times in offline services. In “Need for Speed: The Impact of In-Process Delays on Customer Behavior in Online Retail,” Gallino, Karacaoglu, and Moreno extend this literature to online retail. They study the impact of delays in online retail on customer behavior. They estimate sizable negative effects of website slowdowns on online sales and conversion rates. Moreover, they explore how customer sensitivity to online delays varies throughout customers' shopping journeys. They find that the impact of waiting times varies along the different stages of the shopping journey, with customers becoming more sensitive to slowdowns at the checkout stage. Their findings have implications for website design decisions. This research is especially relevant in the current regulatory environment with ongoing policy debates about net neutrality.
Caught in an Expectations Trap: Risks of Giving Securities Analysts What They Expect
Authors: Bascle Guilhem , Jung Jiwook
Published: March 2022

Although recent research shows that there is mounting pressure on firms to achieve earnings expectations of securities analysts, firms are far from being passive conformers; many firms proactively manage such pressure, particularly with earnings management tools. Yet why does the pressure to meet analyst expectations persist despite firms’ efforts to reduce it? To address the question, we develop an intertemporal model of the mutually reinforcing relationships between analyst expectations and firms’ strategic response, combining the behavioral theory of the firm and the concept of expectations trap. We argue that firms’ efforts to meet analyst expectations strengthen their salience as a predominant performance benchmark and, in doing so, ironically put them under greater pressure from analysts in three sequentially related steps—escalating future earnings expectations, imposing more severe penalties for failure to meet heightened expectations, and generating compensatory action for missed expectations. Our analysis, using data on more than 700 of the largest listed U.S. firms between 1986 and 2015, supports our arguments. Our study expands the scope of the behavioral theory of the firm, by demonstrating the increasing importance of performance feedback based on analyst expectations. Our study also contributes to the research on earnings pressure, by illuminating why the pressure persists despite firms’ efforts to reduce or evade it, and finally to the literature on strategic management of external expectations, by elaborating its unintended, long-term consequences.

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2021.1569 .
How the Basis for Status Perceptions Varies with Perceiver Status
Authors: Tan David , Rider Christopher I.
Published: March 2022

We posit a novel mechanism—socially endogenous calibration—whereby the tendency to align with others’ perceptions of organizational status varies systematically with the status of a perceiver’s own organization. We specifically theorize that members of higher-status organizations perceive larger and more correlated status differences among other organizations than members of lower-status organizations do. Using a simulation, we demonstrate how socially endogenous calibration yields these predictions even when quality is uniform across organizations. We further present empirical support for our arguments by analyzing data on individual-level prestige ratings of U.S. law firms. Integrating socially endogenous calibration with prevailing status perspectives based on quality uncertainty, we conclude by elaborating a novel research agenda on stability and instability in organizational status hierarchies.
A Branch-Cut-and-Price Approach for the Single-Trip and Multi-Trip Two-Echelon Vehicle Routing Problem with Time Windows
Authors: Marques Guillaume , Sadykov Ruslan , Dupas Rémy , Deschamps Jean-Christophe
Published: March 2022

The paper studies the two-echelon capacitated vehicle routing problem with time windows, in which delivery of freight from depots to customers is performed using intermediate facilities called satellites. We consider the variant of the problem with precedence constraints for unloading and loading freight at satellites. In this variant allows for storage and consolidation of freight at satellites. Thus, the total transportation cost may decrease in comparison with the alternative variant with exact freight synchronization at satellites. We suggest a mixed integer programming formulation for the problem with an exponential number of route variables and an exponential number of precedence constraints that link first-echelon and second-echelon routes. Routes at the second echelon connecting satellites and clients may consist of multiple trips and visit several satellites. A branch-cut-and-price algorithm is proposed to solve efficiently the problem. This is the first exact algorithm in the literature for the multi-trip variant of the problem. We also present a postprocessing procedure to check whether the solution can be transformed to avoid freight consolidation and storage without increasing its transportation cost. It is shown that all single-trip literature instances solved to optimality admit optimal solutions of the same cost for both variants of the problem either with precedence constraints or with exact synchronization constraints. Experimental results reveal that our algorithm can be used to solve these instances significantly faster than another recent approach proposed in the literature.
Non-dental Biofilm-induced Traumatic Gingival Lesion in a Child: A Case Report
Authors: Nayak Prajna P , Giliyar Subraya Bhat , Kumar Saurabh , Nayak Rashmi , Alhareky Muhanad S
Published: March 2022

Self-mutilation behaviours in individuals with normal intelligence are mostly habitual, but can sometimes be associated with emotional disturbances. A 6-year-old boy presented with pain in the gums of his upper back teeth. He was diagnosed with habitual gingival stripping secondary to irritation from chronic food impaction. Timely diagnosis and prompt intervention resulted in a favourable treatment outcome.

CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article illustrates a less common clinical presentation of gingivitis artefacta minor in a child.
Spermatozoon of the wild scalloped perchlet, Ambassis nalua (Hamilton, 1822): Ultrastructure and morphometric analysis
Authors:   Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Sukkhee Nutchar , Mitparian Tappadit ,   Chonburi Fishery Inspection Office, Department of Fisheries, Chonburi, Thailand 20230, Kanjanarakha Tassaporn ,   Marine Ecology and Marine Resources Utilization Research Unit, Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand, Senarat Sinlapachai ,   Department of Marine Science and Environment, Faculty of Science and Fisheries Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya, Trang Campus, Trang 92150, Thailand, Kangwanrangsan Niwat ,   Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand, Kaneko Gen ,   School of Arts and Sciences, University of Houston-Victoria, Victoria, Texas 77901, USA, Kettratad Jes ,   Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Published: March 2022

The description of sperm morphology is fundamental in the reproductive biology of fishes, but this information is limited in the family Ambassidae. Our report hence focused on the ultrastructure and morphometric analysis of spermatozoa in a pelagic fish Ambassis nalua. All fish (n = 75) were obtained during January and March 2017 from the Estuarine Pranburi River, Thailand. The standard length of fish used in this study was 3.4 ± 0.12 cm (mean ± standard deviation). All specimens were considered mature based on the abundance of spermatozoa in the testis. The testicular organs were collected and observed using standard histology and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ultrastructural observation associated with morphometric analysis showed that spermatozoa are structurally long cells of approximately 51.17 ± 4.54 µm total length, composed of a head, a midpiece and a tail. The head had no acrosome, and the granular structure of condensed chromatin was observed within the ovoid nucleus. The midpiece consisted of a short cylindrical region with the length of 1.29 ± 0.87 µm in diameter, having the centriolar complex organization and eight mitochondria (approx. 0.32 ± 0.02 µm each). The uniflagellar tail was clearly identified with a classical 9+2 arrangements of microtubules. Based on these characteristics, the spermatozoon of wild scalloped perchlet are considered as uniflagellate anacrosomal aquqsperm. The morphological features, including the number of mitochondria, may be used for further cryopreservation and in the evolutionary biology of this species.
Utilização de cartelas pictográficas na administração de medicamentos anti-hipertensivos: teste de legibilidade
Authors: Araújo Marcelo Robert Amorim de , Dias Carlos Alberto , Rodrigues Suely Maria Rodrigues , Alves Janete Higino , Fagundes Kênia Emanuelle Aguiar , Silva Thamires Gabriele Macedo
Published: March 2022

Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo avaliar a legibilidade do conjunto de cartelas pictográficas desenvolvidas para orientação da administração de medicamentos anti-hipertensivos em indivíduos assistidos pela Estratégia de Saúde da Família, de Diamantina, Minas Gerais. Trata-se de estudo transversal, descritivo, de abordagem quantitativa, realizado com 50 indivíduos hipertensos que participaram da fase 1 da pesquisa “Hipertensão arterial sistêmica: práticas comportamentais e representações sociais de pacientes a respeito da doença e seu tratamento”. Utilizando-se de um questionário com respostas escalonadas em conformidade com uma escala Likert de cinco graduações, foram avaliadas 6 cartelas nas dimensões: clareza, coerência e coesão. Embora todas tenham alcançado nota ≥ 2,5 na dimensão clareza, apenas as cartelas 1 e 2 alcançaram esta nota também nas dimensões coerência e coesão, atendendo aos critérios mínimos de legibilidade. Conclui-se que estas duas cartelas são legíveis, segundo os critérios da ISO. Já em relação as cartelas 3, 4, 5 e 6 foi observado que o maior número de elementos pictográficos nelas inseridos, elevaram sua complexidade fazendo com que os resultados obtidos a partir da coleta de dados não atendessem aos critérios estabelecidos. Estas devem ser reformuladas e submetidas a novo teste de legibilidade.
Direito à saúde e vigilância da Saúde no Brasil
Authors: Sanabria Clara Aleida Prada
Published: March 2022

O direito à saúde faz parte dos direitos sociais garantidos pelo Estado Democrático de Direito brasileiro. Para sua garantia existem uma série de serviços do Sistema Único de Saúde com cobertura de 100% da população, dentre eles, a vigilância da saúde constituída pelos Sistemas de Vigilância Sanitária e Vigilância Epidemiológica. Neste editorial, refletimos sobre a importância do SUS e da Vigilância em Saúde para o cumprimento dos fundamentos do Estado Brasileiro, assim como, apresentamos o número 2 do volume 11 da Revista de Saúde Coletiva da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana. Neste número, além de pesquisas sobre a COVID-19, são publicadas pesquisas sobre outros agravos de importância para a saúde coletiva, tais como Zika, dengue, aids, câncer de boca, hipertensão, sobre o trabalho da enfermeira na Estratégia de Saúde da Família e sobre o movimento antivacinas. Estas pesquisas contribuem ao evidenciar avanços e desafios do SUS e ao vislumbrar prioridades para a gestão e, também, para futuras pesquisas.
Miniature structured illumination microscope for in vivo 3D imaging of brain structures with optical sectioning
Authors: Supekar Omkar D. , Sias Andrew , Hansen Sean R. , Martinez Gabriel , Peet Graham C. , Peng Xiaoyu , Bright Victor M. , Hughes Ethan G. , Restrepo Diego , Shepherd Douglas P. , Welle Cristin G. , Gopinath Juliet T. , Gibson Emily A.
Published: March 2022

We present a high-resolution miniature, light-weight fluorescence microscope with electrowetting lens and onboard CMOS for high resolution volumetric imaging and structured illumination for rejection of out-of-focus and scattered light. The miniature microscope (SIMscope3D) delivers structured light using a coherent fiber bundle to obtain optical sectioning with an axial resolution of 18 µm. Volumetric imaging of eGFP labeled cells in fixed mouse brain tissue at depths up to 260 µm is demonstrated. The functionality of SIMscope3D to provide background free 3D imaging is shown by recording time series of microglia dynamics in awake mice at depths up to 120 µm in the brain.
Spontaneous emission enhancement by rotationally-symmetric optical nanoantennas: impact of radially and axially propagating surface plasmon polaritons
Authors: Wang Ning , Zhong Ying , Liu Haitao
Published: March 2022

The excitation and radiation properties of rotationally-symmetric optical nanoantennas are independent of the azimuth angle, which enables great convenience and superior performances in practical applications. However, for rotationally-symmetric nanoantennas, the physical mechanisms behind their resonance properties remain to be clarified. In this paper, firstly, for a simple single-nanocylinder-on-mirror antenna (S-antenna), we establish a first-principles-based semianalytical model of surface plasmon polariton (SPP) by considering an intuitive multiple-scattering process of the radially-propagating gap surface plasmon (RGSP) in the nanogap and the axially-propagating surface plasmon (ASP) on the nanocylinder. The model can comprehensively reproduce all the radiation properties of the S-antenna such as the total and radiative emission rates, SPP excitation rates, and far-field radiation pattern. The model indicates that when the antenna radius is small (respectively, large), the enhancement of spontaneous emission mainly results from the resonance of ASP (respectively, RGSP). To show the wide applicability of the SPP model along with its unveiled decisive role of the RGSP and ASP in the spontaneous emission enhancement for other rotationally-symmetric nanoantennas of cylindrical shapes, we extend the SPP model to a more complex ring-nanocylinder-on-mirror antenna (R-antenna) that supports two ASPs. Moreover, to provide an explicit explanation of the resonance properties of the R-antenna, we further establish a semianalytical model for the resonant modes (called quasinormal modes, QNMs) supported by the R-antenna based on the SPP model, which quantitatively reveals the role of the RGSP and ASP in forming the antenna resonant modes and the resultant enhancement of spontaneous emission.
Identification of an evolutionarily conserved domain in Neurod1 favouring enteroendocrine versus goblet cell fate
Authors: Reuter Anne Sophie , Stern David , Bernard Alice , Goossens Chiara , Lavergne Arnaud , Flasse Lydie , Von Berg Virginie , Manfroid Isabelle , Peers Bernard , Voz Marianne L.
Published: March 2022

ARP/ASCL transcription factors are key determinants of cell fate specification in a wide variety of tissues, coordinating the acquisition of generic cell fates and of specific subtype identities. How these factors, recognizing highly similar DNA motifs, display specific activities, is not yet fully understood. To address this issue, we overexpressed different ARP/ASCL factors in zebrafish ascl1a-/- mutant embryos to determine which ones are able to rescue the intestinal secretory lineage. We found that Ascl1a/b, Atoh1a/b and Neurod1 factors are all able to trigger the first step of the secretory regulatory cascade but distinct secretory cells are induced by these factors. Indeed, Neurod1 rescues the enteroendocrine lineage while Ascl1a/b and Atoh1a/b rescue the goblet cells. Gain-of-function experiments with Ascl1a/Neurod1 chimeric proteins revealed that the functional divergence is encoded by a 19-aa ultra-conserved element (UCE), present in all Neurod members but absent in the other ARP/ASCL proteins. Importantly, inserting the UCE into the Ascl1a protein reverses the rescuing capacity of this Ascl1a chimeric protein that cannot rescue the goblet cells anymore but can efficiently rescue the enteroendocrine cells. This novel domain acts indeed as a goblet cell fate repressor that inhibits gfi1aa expression, known to be important for goblet cell differentiation. Deleting the UCE domain of the endogenous Neurod1 protein leads to an increase in the number of goblet cells concomitant with a reduction of the enteroendocrine cells, phenotype also observed in the neurod1 null mutant. This highlights the crucial function of the UCE domain for NeuroD1 activity in the intestine. As Gfi1 acts as a binary cell fate switch in several tissues where Neurod1 is also expressed, we can envision a similar role of the UCE in other tissues, allowing Neurod1 to repress Gfi1 to influence the balance between cell fates.
Airway epithelial Paraoxonase-2 in obese asthma
Authors: Winnica Daniel Efrain , Monzon Anthony , Ye Shuyu , Vladar Eszter K. , Saal Maxwell , Cooney Riley , Liu Cuining , Sharma Sunita , Holguin Fernando
Published: March 2022

Background

Obesity in asthmatics has been associated with higher airway oxidative stress in which dysfunctional mitochondria are a potential contributing source of excess free radicals. Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) plays an important role in reducing mitochondrial-derived oxidative stress and could, therefore, have therapeutic potential in these patients.

Objectives

We used primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) from asthmatics and healthy controls to evaluate: a) protein levels of Paraoxonase 2 and b) to test the potential protective effect of quercetin supplementation in cells under oxidative stress conditions.

Results

Compared to lean controls, obese asthmatics had significantly lower PON2 airway epithelial levels (respectively, 1.08 vs. 0.47 relative units normalized by GAPDH) (p-value < 0.006). Treating HBECs in vitro for 24 hrs. with 25μM quercetin significantly increased PON2 protein levels: 15.5 treated cells vs. 9.8 untreated cells (relative units normalized by GAPDH) (p value = 0.004). Notably, compared to untreated cells, quercetin supplementation reduces mitochondrial superoxide and hydrogen peroxide production on HBECs cells exposed to different oxidative stress triggers such as 1–2 Naphthoquinone (1–2 NQ) and hydrogen peroxide, suggesting that PON2 might play a protective role ameliorating oxidative injury on human airway epithelium.

Conclusion

Compared to lean controls, obese asthmatics have significantly reduced PON2 levels in airway epithelial cells. Treatment with quercetin in vitro increased PON2 protein levels and prevented oxidative stress from different types of stimuli. Hence, quercetin supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent obesity-mediated airway oxidative stress in obese asthmatics.
SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in the city of Puerto Madryn: Underdiagnosis and relevance of children in the pandemic
Authors: Schonfeld Daniel , Fernández Hugo , Ramírez Julio , Acosta Denisse , Becerra Julián , Wettstein Magali , Strella Teresa , Vaccaro Marcelo , Arias Sergio , Rodríguez Calvo Vilma , Neme Roberto , Pérez-Chada Daniel
Published: March 2022

Background

Reported cases of COVID-19 may be underestimated due to mild or asymptomatic cases and a low testing rate in the general population.

Research question

What is the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the general population and how it compares with the data on SARS-CoV-2 cases reported by a national health surveillance system (SNVS 2.0).

Study design and methods

This was a population-based, seroepidemiological, cross-sectional study in the city of Puerto Madryn, a middle size city in the Province of Chubut, Argentina. The study period was between March 3 and April 17, 2021. The sample size was calculated using the technique of calculation of confidence intervals for a proportion. Participants were selected using stratified and cluster probability sampling. A total of 1405 subjects were invited to participate in the study. Participants were divided into the following four age groups: 1) 0 to 14, 2) 15 to 39, 3) 40 to 64, and 4) 65 or older. After informed consent was obtained, a blood sample was taken by puncture of the fingertip, and a structured questionnaire was administered to evaluate demographics, socioeconomic status, level of education, comorbidities and symptoms suggestive of COVID-19.

COVID-19 seroprevalence was documented using an immunoenzymatic test for the in vitro detection of IgG antibodies specific to the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2.

Results

A total of 987 participants completed the survey. Seropositivity in the full study population was 39,2% and in those under 15 years of age, 47.1%. Cases reported by the SNSV 2.0 amounted to 9.35% of the total population and 1.4% of those under 15 years of age.

Interpretation

The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in the general population is four times higher than the number of cases reported by the SNVS 2.0 in the city of Puerto Madryn. For each child under the age of 15 identified by the SNVS 2.0 with COVID-19, there are more than 30 unrecognized infections. Seroepidemiological studies are important to define the real extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a particular community. Children may play a significant role in the progression of the current pandemic.
Pacemaker translocations and power laws in 2D stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte cultures
Authors: Dunham Christopher S. , Mackenzie Madelynn E. , Nakano Haruko , Kim Alexis R. , Juda Michal B. , Nakano Atsushi , Stieg Adam Z. , Gimzewski James K.
Published: March 2022

Power laws are of interest to several scientific disciplines because they can provide important information about the underlying dynamics (e.g. scale invariance and self-similarity) of a given system. Because power laws are of increasing interest to the cardiac sciences as potential indicators of cardiac dysfunction, it is essential that rigorous, standardized analytical methods are employed in the evaluation of power laws. This study compares the methods currently used in the fields of condensed matter physics, geoscience, neuroscience, and cardiology in order to provide a robust analytical framework for evaluating power laws in stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte cultures. One potential power law-obeying phenomenon observed in these cultures is pacemaker translocations, or the spatial and temporal instability of the pacemaker region, in a 2D cell culture. Power law analysis of translocation data was performed using increasingly rigorous methods in order to illustrate how differences in analytical robustness can result in misleading power law interpretations. Non-robust methods concluded that pacemaker translocations adhere to a power law while robust methods convincingly demonstrated that they obey a doubly truncated power law. The results of this study highlight the importance of employing comprehensive methods during power law analysis of cardiomyocyte cultures.
Identification of C-T novel polymorphism in 3rd exon of OsSPL14 gene governing seed sequence in rice
Authors: Din Muhammad Salah ud , Wang Xiukang , Alamery Salman , Fiaz Sajid , Rasheed Haroon , Khan Muhammad Abid , Khan Shahid Ullah , Saeed Sumbul , Ali Niaz , Marwat Kalim Ullah , Attia Kotb , Kimiko Itoh , Wani Shabir Hussain
Published: March 2022

Recently food shortage has become the major flagging scenario around the globe. To resolve this challenge, there is dire need to significantly increase crop productivity per unit area. In the present study, 24 genotypes of rice were grown in pots to assess their tillering number, number of primary and secondary branches per panicle, number of grains per panicle, number of grains per plant, and grain yield, respectively. In addition, the potential function of miR156 was analyzed, regulating seed sequence in rice. Furthermore, OsSPL14 gene for miR156 was sequenced to identify additional mutations within studied region. The results demonstrated Bas-370 and L-77 showed highest and lowest tillers, respectively. Bas-370, Rachna basmati, Bas-2000, and Kashmir Basmati showed high panicle branches whereas, L-77, L-46, Dilrosh, L-48, and L-20 displayed lowest panicle branches. Bas-370 and four other studied accessions contained C allele whereas, L-77 and 18 other investigated accessions had heterozygous (C and T) alleles in their promoter region. C-T allelic mutation was found in 3rd exon of the OsSPL14 gene. The sequence analysis of 12 accessions revealed a novel mutation (C-T) present ~2bp upstream and substitution of C-A allele. However, no significant correlation for novel mutation was found for tillering and panicle branches in studied rice accessions. Taken together present results suggested novel insight into the binding of miR156 to detected mutation found in 3rd exon of the OsSPL14 gene. Nevertheless, L-77, L-46, Dilrosh, L-48, and L-20 could be used as potential breeding resource for improving panicle architecture contributing yield improvement of rice crop.
Status of the stateless population in Thailand: How does stigma matter in their life?
Authors: Kitchanapaibul Siwarak , Apidechkul Tawatchai , Srichan Peeradone , Mulikaburt Thanatchaporn , Singkhorn Onnalin , Udplong Anusorn , Upala Panupong , Chomchoei Chalitar , Yeemard Fartima , Tamornpark Ratipark , Wongnuch Pilasinee
Published: March 2022

Background

The stateless population in Thailand live by accessing all public services, including the health care system. Stigma is a crucial factor impacting these individuals’ lives and their access to medical care. This study aimed to understand the experience of the stateless population in Thailand and how they overcome the problem of stigma.

Methods

A qualitative method was used to elicit information from key informants who were members of the stateless population, which was classified as those who did not hold Thai identification cards (IDs). A questionnaire was used to guide the interview, which was conducted in a private and confidential room. The interviews were conducted after voluntary agreement was obtained from the participants; each interview was held in August 2021 and lasted for approximately 45 minutes.

Results

Fifty-one people participated in the study; 68.6% were females, 86.3% were married, and 90.2% were Akha or Lahu. The stateless population in Thailand reported four types of perceived stigma: having a lower ability to request that their needs be met, not being equal to others, not being able to qualify for health care services and being ranked below other hill tribe people who have IDs. The phrase “life is nothing” was presented by the participants, who reported that they felt like an invisible population in Thailand. Some participants reported that other hill tribe people who have IDs act as stigma perpetuators among members of the stateless population who do not have IDs. Maintaining their privacy within their village, trying to obtain a Thai ID, and practicing the Thai language were the main ways of avoiding the stigma reported by the stateless population. Obtaining a Thai ID was detected as the top goal in their aim to overcome the stigma problem.

Conclusions

The stateless population in Thailand live as an invisible population and are negatively treated via various patterns from others. Accessing Thai IDs and education are argued to be the most effective procedures for addressing the problem under the implementation schemes of the relevant organizations.
In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Tamarix nilotica shoot extracts and fractions
Authors: Daou Mariane , Elnaker Nancy A. , Ochsenkühn Michael A. , Amin Shady A. , Yousef Ahmed F. , Yousef Lina F.
Published: March 2022

α-glucosidase inhibitors represent an important class of type 2 antidiabetic drugs and they act by lowering postprandial hyperglycemia. Today, only three synthetic inhibitors exist on the market, and there is a need for novel, natural and more efficient molecules exhibiting this activity. In this study, we investigated the ability of Tamarix nilotica ethanolic and aqueous shoot extracts, as well as methanolic fractions prepared from aqueous crude extracts to inhibit α-glucosidase. Both, 50% ethanol and aqueous extracts inhibited α-glucosidase in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 12.5 μg/mL and 24.8 μg/mL, respectively. Importantly, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity observed in the T. nilotica crude extracts was considerably higher than pure acarbose (IC50 = 151.1 μg/mL), the most highly prescribed α-glucosidase inhibitor on the market. When T. nilotica crude extracts were fractionated using methanol, enhanced α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed in general, with the highest observed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity in the 30% methanol fraction (IC50 = 5.21 μg/mL). Kinetic studies further revealed a competitive reversible mechanism of inhibition by the plant extract. The phytochemical profiles of 50% ethanol extracts, aqueous extracts, and the methanolic fractions were investigated and compared using a metabolomics approach. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the contents of the crude extracts and fractions and potentially identified the molecules that were most responsible for these observed variations. Higher α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was associated with an enrichment of terpenoids, fatty acids, and flavonoids. Among the identified molecules, active compounds with known α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were detected, including unsaturated fatty acids, triterpenoids, and flavonoid glycosides. These results put forward T. nilotica as a therapeutic plant for type 2 diabetes and a source of α-glucosidase inhibitors.
Survey of awareness, attitudes, and compliance with COVID-19 measures among Vermont residents
Authors: Vatovec Christine , Hanley John
Published: March 2022

The objective of this research was to examine residents’ awareness, attitudes, and compliance with COVID-19 public health guidelines in Vermont, which emerged as an early leader in national pandemic response. Our methods included conducting an online survey of adult Vermont residents between January and April 2021. We analyzed demographics associated with awareness and compliance, and identified features associated with non-compliance. Our results show that of the 2,208 adult Vermont residents who completed the survey, 90% were extremely aware of the state’s COVID-19 guidelines, and 95% reported knowing exactly what to do to follow recommended actions. Political affiliation emerged as a primary factor related to attitudes and compliance. Self-identified Republicans were less likely to agree that public health measures keep people safe or help businesses stay open, and were less likely to follow masking, quarantine, social distancing, and vaccine guidance than Independents, Progressives, and Democrats. The large differences in COVID-19 infection and death rates across the country, and recent shift toward a "pandemic of the unvaccinated," underscore the need for identifying public health strategies that work in some areas in order to adapt and apply them to areas that have struggled with controlling the virus. Consistent with national surveys, our results show that resistance to public health guidance is a partisan challenge even in states with high compliance. Identifying populations that are less supportive or hesitant to follow guidelines while understanding factors that motivate compliance can help inform strategies for developing targeted programs to encourage collective action on pandemic response. Developing communication strategies that reach people who do not believe COVID-19 guidelines keep them safe is necessary to reach universal compliance.
Large-scale design and refinement of stable proteins using sequence-only models
Authors: Singer Jedediah M. , Novotney Scott , Strickland Devin , Haddox Hugh K. , Leiby Nicholas , Rocklin Gabriel J. , Chow Cameron M. , Roy Anindya , Bera Asim K. , Motta Francis C. , Cao Longxing , Strauch Eva-Maria , Chidyausiku Tamuka M. , Ford Alex , Ho Ethan , Zaitzeff Alexander , Mackenzie Craig O. , Eramian Hamed , DiMaio Frank , Grigoryan Gevorg , Vaughn Matthew , Stewart Lance J. , Baker David , Klavins Eric
Published: March 2022

Engineered proteins generally must possess a stable structure in order to achieve their designed function. Stable designs, however, are astronomically rare within the space of all possible amino acid sequences. As a consequence, many designs must be tested computationally and experimentally in order to find stable ones, which is expensive in terms of time and resources. Here we use a high-throughput, low-fidelity assay to experimentally evaluate the stability of approximately 200,000 novel proteins. These include a wide range of sequence perturbations, providing a baseline for future work in the field. We build a neural network model that predicts protein stability given only sequences of amino acids, and compare its performance to the assayed values. We also report another network model that is able to generate the amino acid sequences of novel stable proteins given requested secondary sequences. Finally, we show that the predictive model—despite weaknesses including a noisy data set—can be used to substantially increase the stability of both expert-designed and model-generated proteins.
Effect of rotating providers on chest compression performance during simulated neonatal cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Authors: Sandhu Tavleen , Szyld Edgardo G. , Anderson Michael P. , Shah Birju A.
Published: March 2022

Objective

Simulation studies in adults and pediatrics demonstrate improvement in chest compression (CCs) quality as providers rotate every two minutes. There is paucity of studies in neonates on this matter. This study hypothesized that frequent rotation while performing CCs improves provider performance and decreases fatigue.

Study design

Prospective randomized, observational crossover study where 51 providers performed 3:1 compression-ventilation CPR as a pair on a term manikin. Participants performed CCs as part of 3 simulation models, rotating every 3, 5 and 10 minutes. Data on various CC metrics were collected. Participant vitals were recorded at multiple points during the simulation and participants reported their level of fatigue at completion of simulation.

Results

No statistically significant difference was seen in any of the compression metrics. However, differences in the providers’ fatigue scores were statistically significant.

Conclusion

CC performance metrics did not differ significantly, however, providers’ vital signs and self-reported fatigue scores significantly increased with longer CC durations.
Evaluating the predictive validity of four divergent thinking tasks for the originality of design product ideation
Authors: Erwin Abbey K. , Tran Khue , Koutstaal Wilma
Published: March 2022

What factors predict the originality of domain-specific idea generation? Replicating and extending an earlier study using a Design Product Ideation task in an introductory university design course, the present research, grounded in the componential theory of creativity, assessed the relative contributions to originality of design ideation from five factors: divergent thinking, personality traits, general cognitive ability, prior creative experience, and task-specific challenge/interest. The Design Product Ideation task asked participants, at two different timepoints, to propose ideas for products to improve either the experience of urban gardening or of outdoor picnics. Four divergent thinking tasks were used, including the predominantly conceptually-based Alternative Uses Task, a newly developed perceptually-based Figural Interpretation Quest, and two modified verbal tasks from the Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (Torrance Suppose and Torrance Product). Regression analyses revealed that, at both timepoints, originality on the Design Product Ideation tasks was predicted by multiple divergent thinking, personality, and task-based factors. Originality of responses to the Figural Interpretation Quest was a significant predictor at both timepoints, and continued to add incremental value after controlling for the other divergent thinking measures. Collectively, these findings indicate that the four divergent thinking tasks, though related, do not measure identical constructs, and that many individual difference components, both trait-based (e.g., openness to experience) and more specifically task-based (e.g., perceived challenge of the task), shape creative performance. Methodologically, and from a practical standpoint, these findings underscore the value of incorporating both conceptual and perceptual measures of divergent thinking as contributors to originality in domain-specific idea generation.