bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cardiac myosin‐binding protein C in the diagnosis and risk stratification of acute heart failure
Authors: Kozhuharov Nikola , Wussler Desiree , Kaier Thomas , Strebel Ivo , Shrestha Samyut , Flores Dayana , Nowak Albina , Sabti Zaid , Nestelberger Thomas , Zimmermann Tobias , Walter Joan , Belkin Maria , Michou Eleni , Lopez Ayala Pedro , Gualandro Danielle M. , Keller Dagmar I. , Goudev Assen , Breidthardt Tobias , Mueller Christian , Marber Michael ,   for the BASEL V Investigators
Published: January 2021

Aims

Cardiac myosin‐binding protein C (cMyC) seems to be even more sensitive in the quantification of cardiomyocyte injury vs. high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin, and may therefore have diagnostic and prognostic utility.

Methods and results

In a prospective multicentre diagnostic study, cMyC, high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs‐cTnT), and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐proBNP) plasma concentrations were measured in blinded fashion in patients presenting to the emergency department with acute dyspnoea. Two independent cardiologists centrally adjudicated the final diagnosis. Diagnostic accuracy for acute heart failure (AHF) was quantified by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). All‐cause mortality within 360 days was the prognostic endpoint. Among 1083 patients eligible for diagnostic analysis, 51% had AHF. cMyC concentrations at presentation were higher among AHF patients vs. patients with other final diagnoses [72 (interquartile range, IQR 39–156) vs. 22 ng/L (IQR 12–42), P < 0.001)]. cMyC's AUC was high [0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78–0.83], higher than hs‐cTnT's (0.79, 95% CI 0.76–0.82, P = 0.081) and lower than NT‐proBNP's (0.91, 95% CI 0.89–0.93, P < 0.001). Among 794 AHF patients eligible for prognostic analysis, 28% died within 360 days; cMyC plasma concentrations above the median indicated increased risk of death (hazard ratio 2.19, 95% CI 1.66–2.89; P < 0.001). cMyC's prognostic accuracy was comparable with NT‐proBNP's and hs‐cTnT's. cMyC did not independently predict all‐cause mortality when used in validated multivariable regression models. In novel multivariable regression models including medication, age, left ventricular ejection fraction, and discharge creatinine, cMyC remained an independent predictor of death and had no interactions with medical therapies at discharge.

Conclusion

Cardiac myosin‐binding protein C may aid physicians in the rapid triage of patients with suspected AHF.
Circulating cardiovascular microRNAs in critically ill COVID‐19 patients
Authors: Garg Ankita , Seeliger Benjamin , Derda Anselm A. , Xiao Ke , Gietz Anika , Scherf Kristian , Sonnenschein Kristina , Pink Isabell , Hoeper Marius M. , Welte Tobias , Bauersachs Johann , David Sascha , Bär Christian , Thum Thomas
Published: January 2021

Aims

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a still growing pandemic, causing many deaths and socio‐economic damage. Elevated expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) entry receptor angiotensin‐converting enzyme 2 on cardiac cells of patients with heart diseases may be related to cardiovascular burden. We have thus analysed cardiovascular and inflammatory microRNAs (miRs), sensitive markers of cardiovascular damage, in critically ill, ventilated patients with COVID‐19 or influenza‐associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (Influenza‐ARDS) admitted to the intensive care unit and healthy controls.

Methods and results

Circulating miRs (miR‐21, miR‐126, miR‐155, miR‐208a, and miR‐499) were analysed in a discovery cohort consisting of patients with mechanically‐ventilated COVID‐19 (n = 18) and healthy controls (n = 15). A validation study was performed in an independent cohort of mechanically‐ventilated COVID‐19 patients (n = 20), Influenza‐ARDS patients (n = 13) and healthy controls (n = 32). In both cohorts, RNA was isolated from serum and cardiovascular disease/inflammatory‐relevant miR concentrations were measured by miR‐specific TaqMan PCR analyses. In both the discovery and the validation cohort, serum concentration of miR‐21, miR‐155, miR‐208a and miR‐499 were significantly increased in COVID‐19 patients compared to healthy controls. Calculating the area under the curve using receiver operating characteristic analysis miR‐155, miR‐208a and miR‐499 showed a clear distinction between COVID‐19 and Influenza‐ARDS patients.

Conclusion

In this exploratory study, inflammation and cardiac myocyte‐specific miRs were upregulated in critically ill COVID‐19 patients. Importantly, miR profiles were able to differentiate between severely ill, mechanically‐ventilated Influenza‐ARDS and COVID‐19 patients, indicating a rather specific response and cardiac involvement of COVID‐19.
A Wet Impregnation Strategy for Advanced FeNi‐Based Electrocatalysts towards Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Wang Xueyang , Liu Yuanjun , Wei Tiange , Sun Jinyong , Song Xuefeng , Chen Peng , He Jinghui , Shen Xiaoping , Zhu Guoxing
Published: January 2021

In this study, the typical wet impregnation method was employed to prepare advanced electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The preparation process is easy‐operation and doesn't require any complex synthesis steps. This strategy was demonstrated with Fe3+/Ni2+ loaded on porous carbon as an example. The thus formed pre‐catalyst was in situ activated in the electrochemical test process, during which the electrochemically active species for OER are achieved. With the optimized catalyst, a current density of 10 mA.cm−2 can be obtained at an overpotential of 275 mV. This catalytic performance is close to or even better than the benchmarked RuO2 and IrO2 catalysts. Especially, the catalyst also exhibits good catalytic stability. This study presents a new non‐chemical synthesis route for advanced oxygen evolution catalysts.
Facial expressions of pain in daily clinical practice to assess postoperative pain in children: Reliability and validity of the facial action summary score
Authors: Bringuier Sophie , Macioce Valerie , Boulhais Myriam , Dadure Christophe , Capdevila Xavier
Published: January 2021

Background

Behavioural pain scales are recommended to assess postoperative pain for children who are too young to use self‐report tools. Their main limitation is underestimation of pain in the days following an intervention. Although relevant, facial expression is not used in daily clinical practice. This prospective study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Facial Action Summary Score (FASS), a five‐item scale, to assess postoperative pain until hospital discharge in children <7 years.

Methods

Assessments of pain and anxiety of 123 children using FASS and validated scales were used to study the psychometric validity of the FASS in clinical practice.

Results

The content validity was previously investigated in a development study. The internal validity of the FASS was high with excellent reliability (intraclass coefficient = 0.94) and a high Cronbach α (0.89). Convergent validity with pain scales (FLACC [Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consoling] and FPS‐R [Faces Pain Scale – Revised]) was high (r > 0.8). Sensitivity to change was verified by a significant decrease in the score after rescue analgesia. For a threshold of 2/5, the FASS shows excellent specificity (97%) and sensitivity (82%). The low number of false negatives is the main strength of this tool.

Conclusions

This work highlights the interest in using facial expression in daily clinical practice to manage postoperative pain. The FASS is easy to use with excellent psychometric properties and is particularly sensitive to measure pain in the days following surgery.

Significance

The aim of this study was to prove that facial expression of pain can be used in clinical practice to measure postoperative pain in children. The reduced number of false negatives is the main strength of this tool.
Quality of Service‐aware clustered triad layer architecture for critical data transmission in multi‐body area network environment
Authors: Ibrahim Abdullahi Abdu
Published: January 2021

Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is an important element of future smart healthcare services in smart cities. For this reason, many research works have been undergone in WBAN. The significant research issue in the WBAN environment is Quality of Service (QoS) provisioning. In literature, some of the works have been focused on QoS aspect of WBAN. However, they have only marginal impact due to ineffective network design and the usage of a single sink node. Also, most of the research works have been tested within a single BAN and present intra‐BAN communication. In practical, an effective multi‐BAN communication system is emerging due to the need of large‐scale healthcare system. This paper addresses these issues and designs a novel QoS‐aware Clustered Triad Layer (QC‐TriL) architecture for multi‐BAN environment. The novel QC‐TriL uses dual sink nodes in each BAN and both sinks are deployed in the optimal positions. To determine the optimal position, Type‐II Fuzzy Logic (T2FL) is proposed with different criteria. Next, we form clusters based on the positions of dual sink nodes. QC‐TriL adopts criticality‐aware routing by presenting Delay‐aware One‐Hop Transmission and Fused Rank Scheme (FuRank) for critical data and normal data routing respectively. The data transmission is organized by a novel 1D‐Dragonfly topology‐based Priority Dual TDMA (PD‐TDMA) scheduling protocol. Finally, multi‐BAN communication is enabled with an optimal route selected by QoS‐aware Emperor Penguin Colony (QoS‐EPC) algorithm. The QC‐TriL multi‐BAN environment is modeled in OMNeT++ simulator and evaluated in terms of energy consumption, packet delivery ratio, throughput, and delay. The experiments show promising results for the multi‐BAN environment.
Facile engineering and interfacing of styrenic block copolymers devices for low‐cost, multipurpose microfluidic applications
Authors: Salmon Hugo , Rasouli M. Reza , Distasio Nicholas , Tabrizian Maryam
Published: January 2021

Soft thermoplastic elastomers (sTPE) and specifically styrenic block copolymers (SBC) are making rapid progress in the prototyping and mass production of microfluidic chips. However, these new materials lack guidelines and protocols for chips fabrication, curbing their widespread applications compared to polydimethylsiloxane. In this work, the prototyping potential of a commercially available SBC material, Flexdym, for continuous flow applications is explored. This SBC material exhibits both reversible and permanent self‐adhesion depending on the time and bonding temperature, allowing for rapid and adaptive chip fabrication. Replicates are embossed in 2 min, assembled and sealed in 10 min. Under continuous flow, stud interfaces fabricated with this method can withstand 1 bar with reversible bonding and up to 3 bar after permanent bonding. The integration of an acoustic transducer in an SBC chip to induce acoustic streaming enables rapid mixing and local enrichment of polystyrene microparticles up to 8× the injected concentration. The reversible bonding feature of SBC chips allows to culture endothelial cells in open channels and then close and perfuse through channel to stain the cell. Our finding suggests that TPE‐based materials offer numerous possibilities for prototyping microfluidic chips for analytical and biomedical applications when working with continuous flow at high pressure is required.
Microscale Discrete Element Method Simulation of the Carbon Black Aggregate Fracture Behavior in a Simple Shear Flow
Authors: Asylbekov Ermek , Trunk Robin , Krause Mathias J. , Nirschl Hermann
Published: January 2021

The shear stress induced breaking behavior of carbon black (CB) aggregates during the manufacturing process of Li‐ion batteries is investigated via microscale discrete element method (DEM) simulations. The relevant range of shear stress is chosen according to a planetary mixer and cathode slurries with high solid content. Aggregates of different sizes and shapes are modeled using a self‐written algorithm based on the tunable dimension method. Then, suitable models are chosen for representing the solid bridges between the primary particles of the CB aggregates and relevant fluid forces. The results show a correlation between aggregate size and critical shear stress which is required to initiate aggregate fracturing. Furthermore, a change in aggregate shape is linked to applied stress and initial aggregate size and shape. Hence, a recommendation for an efficient disintegration of CB aggregates during the mixing process is made.
Impact of the Level of Homogenization in 3D Thermal Simulation on the Internal Temperature Distribution of Li‐Ion Battery Cells
Authors: Queisser Oliver , Cloos Lisa , Boehm Friederike , Oehler Dieter , Wetzel Thomas
Published: January 2021

Temperature is an important factor for an optimal battery performance. To gain knowledge about the internal temperature distribution in a battery, many thermal simulation studies are performed. Among other factors, they differ in the level of homogenization (LoH) of the geometry, which directly influences the computing time. However, the effects of different LoH, in particular of the cell layers, on the modeling and prediction quality of the temperature field are scarcely investigated. This work discusses the effect of different LoH of the cell stack on a numerical 3D thermal battery model for different thermal management strategies. A new approach of reducing the number of cell layers of the pouch cell geometry while keeping their volumetric proportions constant is proposed. It is clearly shown that the LoH has a large impact on the thermal transport paths, especially through the current collectors and tabs, and therefore on the predicted internal temperature distribution. In addition, the effect of the LoH differs for different thermal management strategies, because they affect the heat transport paths as well.
Influence of the rocking behavior of shearwalls on the fundamental period of CLT structures
Authors: Casagrande Daniele , Pacchioli Stefano , Polastri Andrea , Pozza Luca
Published: January 2021

The comparison of results obtained from on‐site modal tests and numerical analyses presented in recent studies showed that Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) buildings may exhibit a significant shift of fundamental period from the condition when rocking does not occur to the condition which the shearwall rocking is activated for. The objective of the current study is to establish a relationship between the fundamental period of CLT structures and the lateral drift of their global dynamic response. The influence of the activation of rocking behavior on the fundamental period was investigated by using experimental modal testing and Finite Element (FE) numerical analyses. The results from an experimental campaign were adopted to validate an FE numerical model used to perform an extended parametric analysis. The shift of the fundamental period from the value of period representing the condition for which the rocking of shearwall does not occur is investigated via elastic nonlinear incremental dynamic analyses. The effects of vertical load, stiffness, and yield displacement of mechanical anchors and geometrical dimensions of CLT shearwalls are analyzed and discussed. An analytical expression to predict the maximum range of fundamental period which a CLT shearwall may exhibit under different levels of the dynamic lateral response is reported as a function of the vertical load and the equivalent rocking slenderness.
Maximum power estimation through injection dependent electroluminescence imaging
Authors: Dix‐Peek Ross Michael , van Dyk Eugene Ernest , Vorster Frederik Jacobus
Published: January 2021

The mathematical models applied to photovoltaic (PV) modules are typically oversimplified. In general, the models applied to individual PV cells are modified to obtain the “cell” voltage by dividing the module voltage by number of cells in the module. Due to the complexity of the current–voltage (IV) relation and the presence of bypass diodes in commercial PV modules this approach is inappropriate and can lead to incorrect conclusions about the electrical response of a module. This paper provides a method of determining each cell's electrical response using a combination of the Dark IV response of the entire module and injection dependent electroluminescence (EL) imaging. This combination of characterization techniques makes use of equipment that is readily available in commercial facilities as well as regular PV characterization laboratories. This method can be used as an alternative to lock‐in thermography (LIT) based methods, as the equipment required is not always present in standard PV characterization laboratories. In this study, Evolutionary Algorithms are used to optimize the individual cells' electrical parameters. This advanced characterization method can be utilized in commercial facilities, to investigate atypical module electrical response and in research laboratories to investigate the degradation in individual cells within a module.
Mechanisms for avulsion on alluvial fans: Insights from high‐frequency topographic data
Authors: Leenman Anya , Eaton Brett
Published: January 2021

Avulsion is a key process in building alluvial fans, but it is also a formidable natural hazard. Based on laboratory experiments monitored with novel high‐frequency photogrammetry, we present a new model for avulsion on widely graded gravel fans. Previous experimental studies of alluvial fans have suggested that avulsion occurs in a periodic autogenic cycle, that is thought to be mediated by the gradient of the fan and fan‐channel. However, those studies measured gradients at low spatial or temporal resolutions, which capture temporally or spatially averaged topographic evolution. Here, we present high‐resolution (1 mm), high‐frequency (1‐minute) topographic data and orthophotos from an alluvial fan experiment. Avulsions in the experiment were rapid and, in contrast to some previous experimental studies, avulsion occurrence was aperiodic. Moreover, we found little evidence of the back‐filling observed at coarser temporal and spatial resolutions. Our observations suggest that avulsion is disproportionately affected by sediment accumulation in the channel, particularly around larger, less mobile grains. Such in‐channel deposition can cause channel shifting that interrupts the autogenic avulsion cycle, so that avulsions are aperiodic and their timing is more difficult to predict.
Sounding and modeling of the indoor aerial acoustic transmission channel
Authors: Jung Peter , Bruck Guido H.
Published: January 2021

The authors verify that the indoor aerial acoustic transmission channel regarding small‐scale application environments, for example, a car cabin, is a quasi‐wide sense stationary uncorrelated scattering (QWSSUS) channel like radio channels. To the best knowledge of the authors, the QWSSUS feature of the indoor aerial acoustic transmission channel has never been evaluated before. Setting out from the QWSSUS concept, the channel modeling by means of correlation functions is proposed. Also, parameter sets that can be used in channel simulations are suggested.
Comparative physiological and metabolomic analyses revealed that foliar spraying with zinc oxide and silica nanoparticles modulates metabolite profiles in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Authors: Li Sen , Liu Juan , Wang Yibo , Gao Yang , Zhang Zhipeng , Xu Jin , Xing Guoming
Published: January 2021

Previous studies have reported crop toxicity of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO‐NPs) by root exposure and that silica nanoparticles (SiO2‐NPs) modulate crop growth and soil physicochemical properties. In this study, we determined the effects of foliar exposure to ZnO‐NPs and SiO2‐NPs on the growth and metabolomic profile of cucumber seedlings. Foliar spraying with ZnO‐NPs and SiO2‐NPs improved cucumber plant performance, as indicated by increases in chlorophyll contents, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, and the fresh/dry weights of leaves and roots. According to metabolomic analysis results, foliar exposure to ZnO‐NPs and SiO2‐NPs induced pronounced changes in the metabolome, especially in the leaves. Besides, ZnO‐NP or SiO2‐NP treatments either upregulated or downregulated the contents of amino acids, organic acids, sugars and glycosides, and secondary metabolites, indicating that the two NPs affected both primary metabolism and secondary metabolism. The elevated levels of several secondary metabolites involved in antioxidative defense imply that the two NPs potentially regulate stress resistance in plants. Overall, these results indicate that different from root exposure, foliar exposure to ZnO‐NPs or SiO2‐NPs is beneficial to plant growth. The present study provides a theoretical basis for the environmental assessment and application of these two NPs in agricultural production.
Simulation of three‐dimensional nonlinear water waves using a pseudospectral volumetric method with an artificial boundary condition
Authors: Klahn Mathias , Madsen Per A. , Fuhrman David R.
Published: January 2021

This article presents a pseudospectral method for the simulation of nonlinear water waves described by potential flow theory in three spatial dimensions. The method utilizes an artificial boundary condition that limits the vertical extent of the fluid domain, and it is found that the reduction in domain size offered by the boundary condition enables the solution of the Laplace problem with roughly half the degrees of freedom compared to another spectral method in the literature for (wave number times water depth) . Moreover, it is found that the location of the artificial boundary condition can be chosen once and for all at the beginning of simulations such that the size of the fluid domain is reduced substantially, even when the lowest point of the free surface elevation varies significantly with time. The method is tested by simulating steady nonlinear wave trains, the development of crescent waves from a steady nonlinear wave train, a nonlinear focusing event, and a Gaussian hump which is initially at rest. It is shown that in all, but the most nonlinear cases, the method is capable of obtaining accurate results.
A simplified lattice Boltzmann flux solver for multiphase flows with large density ratio
Authors: Yang Liuming , Shu Chang , Chen Zhen , Wang Yan , Hou Guoxiang
Published: January 2021

Unlike the conventional multiphase lattice Boltzmann method (LBM), the recently developed finite volume‐based multiphase lattice Boltzmann flux solver (MLBFS) is free from the limitation of the uniform mesh, the coupled time step and mesh spacing, and the high virtual memories. In the MLBFS, the macroscopic equations recovered from the LBM are discretized by the finite volume method while the fluxes at the cell interfaces are evaluated based on the local application of LBM. The interfacial fluxes are calculated only by the distribution functions. However, the code implementation involving too many distribution functions is still not simple enough. And the computation of the distribution functions will still cost relatively large computational resources. We notice that some moments of the distribution functions can be directly simplified as the macroscopic variables. Therefore, to further simplify the code implementation and improve the computational efficiency of the MLBFS, we propose a simplified MLBFS which reconstructs the fluxes with the combination of the distribution functions and the macroscopic variables. Naturally, we can expect that the simplified method can improve the computational efficiency while maintaining the numerical accuracy and reliability of the original MLBFS. Numerical experiments of the Laplace law, the Rayleigh–Taylor instability, the bubble rising under buoyancy and the droplet splashing on a liquid film are conducted to evaluate the simplified MLBFS. Results show that our method can save up to 18.32% of the original computational time. The simplified method is superior to the original one especially for the cases with a large number of girds.
Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate reduced acute lung inflammation and increased M2 macrophage‐associated cytokines in an acute mouse model of allergic airways disease
Authors: Shaw Odette M. , Hurst Roger D. , Cooney Janine , Sawyer Gregory M. , Dinnan Hannah , Martell Sheridan
Published: January 2021

Bioactive compounds including anthocyanins and other polyphenols are associated with reduced lung inflammation and improved lung function in asthma and other lung diseases. This study investigated the effects of a Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate, high in cyanidin glycosides, ellagitannins, and chlorogenic acid, on a mouse model of allergic airways inflammation. Male C57BL/6J mice were orally gavaged with 2.5 mg/kg of total anthocyanins (TAC) from BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate (0.2 mg/kg human equivalent dose) or water control 1 hr before an acute intranasal ovalbumin (OVA) challenge and were gavaged again 2 days after the intranasal challenge. Consumption of BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate significantly decreased OVA‐induced infiltrating eosinophils, neutrophils, and T cells in the lung, and mucous production. Quantification of gene expression for arginase (Arg1), chitinase 3‐like 3 (Ym‐1), found in inflammatory zone (Fizz1), which have been associated with an anti‐inflammatory macrophage phenotype (M2), found significantly increased Arg1 expression in the lung in the Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate treatment group. There was also increased production of M2‐associated cytokines C‐X‐C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL) 10 and C‐C motif chemokine ligand (CCL) 4. These results suggest that consumption of BerriQi® Boysenberry and apple juice concentrate promoted a shift toward an anti‐inflammatory environment within the lung leading to reduced immune cell infiltration and tissue damage.
Development and evaluation of a high performance T1‐weighted brain template for use in studies on older adults
Authors: Ridwan Abdur Raquib , Niaz Mohammad Rakeen , Wu Yingjuan , Qi Xiaoxiao , Zhang Shengwei , Kontzialis Marinos , Javierre‐Petit Carles , Tazwar Mahir ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, Bennett David A. , Yang Yongyi , Arfanakis Konstantinos
Published: January 2021

Τhe accuracy of template‐based neuroimaging investigations depends on the template's image quality and representativeness of the individuals under study. Yet a thorough, quantitative investigation of how available standardized and study‐specific T1‐weighted templates perform in studies on older adults has not been conducted. The purpose of this work was to construct a high‐quality standardized T1‐weighted template specifically designed for the older adult brain, and systematically compare the new template to several other standardized and study‐specific templates in terms of image quality, performance in spatial normalization of older adult data and detection of small inter‐group morphometric differences, and representativeness of the older adult brain. The new template was constructed with state‐of‐the‐art spatial normalization of high‐quality data from 222 older adults. It was shown that the new template (a) exhibited high image sharpness, (b) provided higher inter‐subject spatial normalization accuracy and (c) allowed detection of smaller inter‐group morphometric differences compared to other standardized templates, (d) had similar performance to that of study‐specific templates constructed with the same methodology, and (e) was highly representative of the older adult brain.
Role of the temporoparietal fascia free flap in salvage total laryngectomy
Authors: Molteni Gabriele , Gazzini Luca , Sacchetto Andrea , Nocini Riccardo , Marchioni Daniele
Published: January 2021

The procedure for salvage total laryngectomy (STL) is burdened by a high rate of postoperative complications as a result of delayed wound healing in previously irradiated tissue. Several observational studies have investigated the role of prophylactic vascularized flaps to aid pharyngeal closure after STL and prevent the development of PCF. The use of a temporoparietal fascia free flap (TFFF) as an overlay flap for STL has been described previously in two published studies and both sets of authors agreed that the most obvious benefit of the TFFF in STL is a reduced PCF rate with low site morbidity and good functional outcomes. The aim of this video is to illustrate the use of the temporoparietal fascia flap to provide an adjunctive reinforcement layer in the reconstruction of the pharynx.
Mast Cells Promote Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Phenotypes and Microvesicular Steatosis in Mice Fed a Western Diet
Authors: Kennedy Lindsey , Meadows Vik , Sybenga Amelia , Demieville Jennifer , Chen Lixian , Hargrove Laura , Ekser Burcin , Dar Wasim , Ceci Ludovica , Kundu Debjyoti , Kyritsi Konstantina , Pham Linh , Zhou Tianhao , Glaser Shannon , Meng Fanyin , Alpini Gianfranco , Francis Heather
Published: January 2021

Background and Aims

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is simple steatosis but can develop into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), characterized by liver inflammation, fibrosis, and microvesicular steatosis. Mast cells (MCs) infiltrate the liver during cholestasis and promote ductular reaction (DR), biliary senescence, and liver fibrosis. We aimed to determine the effects of MC depletion during NAFLD/NASH.

Approach and Results

Wild‐type (WT) and KitW‐sh
(MC‐deficient) mice were fed a control diet (CD) or a Western diet (WD) for 16 weeks; select WT and KitW‐sh
WD mice received tail vein injections of MCs 2 times per week for 2 weeks prior to sacrifice. Human samples were collected from normal, NAFLD, or NASH mice. Cholangiocytes from WT WD mice and human NASH have increased insulin‐like growth factor 1 expression that promotes MC migration/activation. Enhanced MC presence was noted in WT WD mice and human NASH, along with increased DR. WT WD mice had significantly increased steatosis, DR/biliary senescence, inflammation, liver fibrosis, and angiogenesis compared to WT CD mice, which was significantly reduced in KitW‐sh
WD mice. Loss of MCs prominently reduced microvesicular steatosis in zone 1 hepatocytes. MC injection promoted WD‐induced biliary and liver damage and specifically up‐regulated microvesicular steatosis in zone 1 hepatocytes. Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family, member A3 (ALDH1A3) expression is reduced in WT WD mice and human NASH but increased in KitW‐sh
WD mice. MicroRNA 144‐3 prime (miR‐144‐3p) expression was increased in WT WD mice and human NASH but reduced in KitW‐sh
WD mice and was found to target ALDH1A3.

Conclusions

MCs promote WD‐induced biliary and liver damage and may promote microvesicular steatosis development during NAFLD progression to NASH through miR‐144‐3p/ALDH1A3 signaling. Inhibition of MC activation may be a therapeutic option for NAFLD/NASH treatment.
Facilitators of the health advocacy role practice of the nurse in Ghana: A qualitative study
Authors: Laari Luke , Duma Sinegugu Evidence
Published: January 2021

Background

Identifying facilitators of health advocacy role practice of nurses is important in reducing health disparities and inequities in Ghana. The struggle to reducing these disparities and inequities needs a combination of bravery, courage, and professionalism. In many instances, many barriers hinder nurses from practicing their health advocacy role in Ghana. Facilitators that motivate nurses who would perform this health advocacy role have not been identified and adequately described in Ghana.

Aim

To explore and describe the facilitators of the health advocacy role of nurses in Ghana.

Methods

This qualitative study used Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory approach to collect and analyze data from 2018 to 2019 in three regions in Ghana. Semistructured interviews (n = 24) and field notes were used to collect data.

Results

Professional influence emerged as a core category among other three facilitators that motivate nurses to perform the health advocacy role. The other three are clientele influence, intrinsic influence, and cultural influence.

Conclusions

Facilitators to the health advocacy role practice of nurses are multidimensional and hidden. In this respect, educating hospital managers on these facilitators should be done through workshops and seminars to enhance the managers' strategies of motivating nurses to advocate for the less privileged and the disadvantaged of the society.
Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea at an outpatient memory clinic
Authors: Linssen Britt , Bergman Esther , Klarenbeek Pim , Hoff Erik
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder that has several health hazards, including cognitive dysfunction. Studies have thus far primarily focussed on the prevalence of cognitive impairment in patients diagnosed with OSA at sleep clinics. The present study aims to investigate the prevalence of OSA at an outpatient memory clinic.

Methods

A dataset of patients who visited our memory clinic in the period from June 2015 to September 2019 was retrospectively examined for the presence of OSA. The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of OSA, subdivided into three cognitive syndrome diagnosis groups: subjective cognitive complaints (SCC), mild cognitive impairment and dementia. Secondary outcome measures included age, education level, body mass index, substance use, depression and OSA criteria.

Results

Of the 885 patients included in this study, 153 patients had already been or were diagnosed with OSA (17.3%). The percentage of OSA in the SCC group was significantly higher compared with the dementia group (26.7% vs 8.0%; OR 3.83 [95%CI 2.43‐5.99]). Age differed significantly between the SCC group and the dementia group: 63.5 vs 71.5 years (7.6 ± 1.810; P < .001). Higher education level was associated with a lower prevalence of dementia compared to SCC (OR 0.068[95%CI 0.008‐0.588]). Severity parameters of OSA did not show significant differences across the various cognitive syndrome diagnosis groups.

Conclusions

Prevalence of OSA at our outpatient memory clinic is generally high. Especially in patients with SCC. We would therefore advocate screening for OSA at memory clinics.
An experimental investigation of the effects of thawed soil depth on rill flow velocity
Authors: Gao Xiaofeng , Shi Xiaonan , Lei Tingwu , Liu Huaqing , Yang Jiahui
Published: January 2021

Water flow velocity is an important hydraulic variable in hydrological and soil erosion models, and is greatly affected by freezing and thawing of the surface soil layer in cold high‐altitude regions. The accurate measurement of rill flow velocity when impacted by the thawing process is critical to simulate runoff and sediment transport processes. In this study, an electrolyte tracer modelling method was used to measure rill flow velocity along a meadow soil slope at different thaw depths under simulated rainfall. Rill flow velocity was measured using four thawed soil depths (0, 1, 2 and 10 cm), four slope gradients (5°, 10°, 15° and 20°) and four rainfall intensities (30, 60, 90 and 120 mm·h−1). The results showed that the increase in thawed soil depth caused a decrease in rill flow velocity, whereby the rate of this decrease was also diminishing. Whilst the rill flow velocity was positively correlated with slope gradient and rainfall intensity, the response of rill flow velocity to these influencing factors varied with thawed soil depth. The mechanism by which thawed soil depth influenced rill flow velocity was attributed to the consumption of runoff energy, slope surface roughness, and the headcut effect. Rill flow velocity was modelled by thawed soil depth, slope gradient and rainfall intensity using an empirical function. This function predicted values that were in good agreement with the measured data. These results provide the foundation for a better understanding of the effect of thawed soil depth on slope hydrology, erosion and the parameterization scheme for hydrological and soil erosion models.
RNA m6A methylation regulates virus–host interaction and EBNA2 expression during Epstein–Barr virus infection
Authors: Zheng Xiang , Wang Jia , Zhang Xiaoyue , Fu Yuxin , Peng Qiu , Lu Jianhong , Wei Lingyu , Li Zhengshuo , Liu Can , Wu Yangge , Yan Qun , Ma Jian
Published: January 2021

Introduction

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent modification that occurs in messenger RNA (mRNA), affecting mRNA splicing, translation, and stability. This modification is reversible, and its related biological functions are mediated by “writers,” “erasers,” and “readers.” The field of viral epitranscriptomics and the role of m6A modification in virus–host interaction have attracted much attention recently. When Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infects a human B lymphocyte, it goes through three phases: the pre‐latent phase, latent phase, and lytic phase. Little is known about the viral and cellular m6A epitranscriptomes in EBV infection, especially in the pre‐latent phase during de novo infection.

Methods

Methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP‐seq) and MeRIP‐RT‐qPCR were used to determine the m6A‐modified transcripts during de novo EBV infection. RIP assay was used to confirm the binding of EBNA2 and m6A readers. Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR) and Western blot analysis were performed to test the effect of m6A on the host and viral gene expression.

Results

Here, we provided mechanistic insights by examining the viral and cellular m6A epitranscriptomes during de novo EBV infection, which is in the pre‐latent phase. EBV EBNA2 and BHRF1 were highly m6A‐modified upon EBV infection. Knockdown of METTL3 (a “writer”) decreased EBNA2 expression levels. The emergent m6A modifications induced by EBV infection preferentially distributed in 3ʹ untranslated regions of cellular transcripts, while the lost m6A modifications induced by EBV infection preferentially distributed in coding sequence regions of mRNAs. EBV infection could influence the host cellular m6A epitranscriptome.

Conclusions

These results reveal the critical role of m6A modification in the process of de novo EBV infection.
Day‐of‐the‐week effect and market liquidity: A comparative study from emerging stock markets of Asia†
Authors: Khan Badal , Aqil Muhammad , Alam Kazmi Syed Hasnain , Zaman Syed Imran
Published: January 2021

In the second half of the 20th century, it was observed that weekday‐of‐Monday generate significantly lower returns than other days of the week. Literature has shown that the day effect exists on weekdays of the week, which is different from this day Monday. This study investigates day‐of‐the‐week effect in returns and volume of stock in emerging Asian markets by using ordinary least square regression (OLS), generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (GARCH) (1, 1) and Kruskal‐Wallis test. The data are obtained from Thomson Reuters from July 2013 to March 2019 for the market indices and volume. The OLS and GARCH (1, 1) are employed through Eviews, while Kruskal‐Wallis test is used through SPSS. The results show a significant day‐of‐the‐week effect in returns in China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia and Pakistan. On the other hand, no significant day‐of‐the‐week effect in returns is revealed in India and Malaysia. Furthermore, significant differences in traded volume on different days are also observed in all markets except for Malaysia, where Monday is the least traded day in most markets. No evidence for co‐occurrence of day‐of‐the‐week effect in returns and volume is observed. The findings affirm inconsistency in the day‐of‐the‐week effect.
A survey on the amount of unnecessary brain and spine magnetic resonance imaging and reasons to affect it in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Akhavan Rezayat Sara , Emam Gholi Pour Sara , AliKhassi Afsaneh , Habibi Zohreh , Ahmadi Batoul
Published: January 2021

Objectives

Analyzing and understanding image recognition technologies' application patterns is of great importance for health planning systems, especially in the middle‐ and low‐income countries. The literature review reveals that magnetic resonance imaging has been significantly used worldwide compared to other imaging diagnoses. This study aimed to determine the number of unnecessary MRIs in 2015, 2016, and 2017, thus reducing them using the obtained information.

Methods and materials

This descriptive‐analytical and Retrospective study was carried out in 2015, 2016, and 2017. The Cochran formula was used to determine the sample volume: where P = q = 0.5 at the significance level of 5%, and N represented the statistical population. Since the number of hospitalized MRIs during these three years was 1,617, 1,499, and 2,090, the sample size was 310, 305, and 325. Finally, 940 cases were included in the study. The samples were randomly selected. MRI request indexes design and data were collected based on the AIM guidelines. Finally, by choosing specific indications based on the brain and spinal MRI guidelines and adding indications to software and data, they were analyzed using the SPSS23 software and chi‐square test. Chi ‐ squares test was used to measure the significance of the data.

Results

According to the present study and based on the indications and diagnoses related to brain and spinal cord diseases extracted from inpatients' records, 20% of prescriptions were unnecessary; of all unnecessary requested MRIs, 70.8% related to the brain and 29.2% to the spine. Moreover, the notable point was the lack of MRI response in 18.3% of the cases. In this study, 35% (most) of the unnecessary MRIs were prescribed by physicians with non‐neurological and non‐orthopedic specialties. On the other hand, non‐stamped MRI requests accounted for a significantly higher share of unnecessary MRIs (49.8%). Examining physicians' type of activity and work experience shows that the highest share of unnecessary prescriptions (almost 50%) was related to physicians' non‐stamped records.

Conclusion

Factors such as professional certainty, more time for examination, prescription of MRI by a related physician, supervision of professors of the medical department on the prescriptions of less experienced physicians, failure to perform MRI of unstamped files by master or residents by the imaging center, and the need to use indications Guideline‐compliant prescriptions can reduce unnecessary patient and health system. So, it is essential to consider some aspects for reducing unnecessary requests in any subject of the health system.
Asymmetric effect of macroeconomic variables on the emerging stock indices: A quantile ARDL approach
Authors: Hashmi Shabir Mohsin , Chang Bisharat Hussain
Published: January 2021

The objective of this study is to examine the short‐run and long‐run impact of macroeconomic variables on E7 stock indices across bullish, bearish and normal states of the stock markets. For this purpose, this study uses both autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and quantile ARDL (QARDL) models. The findings based on the ARDL model indicate that, in the long‐run, foreign direct investment (FDI), trade balance and industrial production index (IPI) significantly affect emerging stock indices. In addition, the findings based on the QARDL model indicate that the short‐run effect of FDI, consumer price index, interest rate and exchange rate varies across bullish, bearish and normal states of the emerging stock markets, whereas the long‐run effect varies for all macroeconomic variables except IPI. These findings indicate that the results change when QARDL model is used; however, these findings remain same across seven emerging stock indices. Finally, this study proposes important policy recommendations based on the findings of this study.
Effects of three contraceptive methods on depression and sexual function: An ancillary study of the ECHO randomized trial
Authors: Singata‐Madliki Mandisa , Carayon‐Lefebvre d’Hellencourt Florence , Lawrie Theresa A. , Balakrishna Yusentha , Hofmeyr G. Justus
Published: January 2021

Objective

To compare the effects of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA‐IM), levonorgestrel (LNG) implant, and copper intrauterine device (IUD) on mood and sexual function.

Methods

At the Effective Care Research Unit in South Africa, women already randomized in the ECHO Trial to the three methods were asked to participate in this study. Participants were interviewed at 3 and 12 months after enrollment using the Beck Depression Inventory and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, and at 12 months using the WHO‐5 Wellbeing Index and the Patient Global Impression scale.

Results

A total of 605 women participated. There was little difference in depression at 3 months across the three study groups. Contrary to our hypothesis, at 12 months, depression was lowest among DMPA‐IM users (16/167, 9.6%) and highest among IUD users (28/158, 17.7%) (p = 0.032). There was little difference in sexual function at any time‐point. More women in the DMPA‐IM group felt “very much better” on the PGI scale than in the IUD and LNG implant groups (p = 0.003).

Conclusion

Depression may be less likely with DMPA‐IM than with the other methods 1 year after initiation. Major differences in sexual functioning are unlikely. Unhappiness related to not using DMPA‐IM, the most popular method in our setting, may have skewed results.

Trial registration number: PACTR201706001651380.
Effects of biological determinist and interactionist causal explanations on undergraduate students' stigma of children with attention deficits hyperactivity disorders: An experimental investigation
Authors: Ching Boby Ho‐Hong , Ma Terrence Cheok In
Published: January 2021

This experimental study examined the effects of biological explanations on individuals' stigma against children with ADHD. We randomly assigned 174 undergraduate students to read one of the three fictitious articles: the first article focused on the determining role of biology in affecting children's ADHD symptoms (biological determinist), the second article highlighted the interplay between biological and environmental factors (interactionist), and the third article was unrelated to ADHD (control). Analyses of variance showed that participants who read the biological determinist message, relative to the control group, were (a) less likely to blame the children for their problems, but (b) more likely to endorse fixed beliefs about the nature of ADHD (entity beliefs). Thus, the overall direct effect of biological determinist message on desire for social distance was not significant. By contrast, participants who read the interactionist message showed (a) less blame attribution and (b) lower levels of entity beliefs, which contributed to less desire for social distance. These findings suggest that (a) presenting biological information regarding ADHD in a deterministic way may not be an effective way to reduce stigma, whereas (b) providing an interactionist account of ADHD may undermine the potential negative effect of an exclusively biological explanation.