bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Desain Taman dan Ruang Baca Anak di Komplek Timah Timur, Cimanggis - Depok
Authors: Effendi Andrey Caesar , Wibowo Danang Harito
Published: March 2023

The housing complex, which was built in 1976 for Timah District Court employees, is located in the Depok city area, named Komplek Timah, which is the earliest housing in the Depok city area. The housing complex is divided into two, namely the West Tin Complex and the East Tin Complex. In PKM activities by designing a children's garden and reading room located in the East Timah Complex. The age of the housing which is more than 45 years old has resulted in the neglect of several existing social and public facilities, such as the East Tin Complex in Block EE which is the location of PKM this semester. The purpose of this PKM is to redesign the function of the social and public facilities in the East Timah complex area, which is currently not being used for anything and is left neglected. The design method used is to go directly to the field and ask local administrators so that factual data can be obtained in the field, then students and lecturers begin to define functions and design the social and public facilities. The Matana Architecture Study Program is trying to carry out PKM activities in the form of consulting and designing one of the social and public facilities in this housing area which is often used by the local community every day. This activity involves students of classes 2019 at Matana University as well as a place for them to apply the knowledge they have gained from the Site Design Studio course.
Cover dan Daftar Isi
Authors: Khamdevi Muhammar
Published: March 2023

Cover dan Daftar Isi
The role of sea ice in the distribution, habitat use, and phenology of eastern North Pacific gray whales
Authors: Joyce TW , Ferguson MC , Berchok CL , Wright DL , Crance JL , Braen EK , Eguchi T , Perryman WL , Weller DW
Published: March 2023

A strong negative relationship has been observed between calf production of eastern North Pacific gray whales Eschrichtius robustus and Pacific Arctic sea ice area with the exception of 2 potentially anomalous periods: 2013-2014 and 2017-2019. Sea ice may play a role in reproductive variability by blocking gray whale access to foraging hotspot habitats. We tested this ‘sea ice exclusion’ hypothesis using complementary aerial survey and moored hydrophone data sets that together provide broad spatial and temporal coverage. A negative relationship (generalized additive model, p < 0.001) was found between gray whale aerial counts and ice concentration in the northeast Chukchi Sea (2008-2019), with a nonlinear increase in negative slope above 45-55% concentration. A comparison of distribution patterns between years further indicated the absence of sightings within northern Bering and northeastern Chukchi foraging hotspots during years with delayed ice break-up versus years with an early-to-average ice retreat. Passive acoustic recordings likewise showed the near-absence of detections during periods of dense ice cover and indicated a strongly positive relationship between ice break-up dates and the timing of acoustic detection onset. Together, these analyses point to the important role of sea ice in gray whale distribution, habitat use, and phenology. However, a relatively consistent 10-15 d lag observed between ice break-up and acoustic onset dates suggested that the mechanism(s) underpinning gray whale interactions with sea ice may be more complex than simply ‘sea ice exclusion.’ Here, we propose ‘prey quality timing’ as a potential alternative hypothesis that warrants further investigation.
Apparent mismatch between stable isotopes and foraging habitat suggests high secondary ingestion of Antarctic krill in brown skuas
Authors: Graña Grilli M , Di Virgilio A , Alarcón PAE , Cherel Y
Published: March 2023

Changes in seasonal resource availability and in energetic requirements as offspring grow may force parents to change their trophic ecology throughout the breeding season. Brown skuas Stercorarius antarcticus breed in a highly seasonal environment where the availability of their main food resource changes during the season. We studied the feeding plasticity of breeding brown skuas by assessing their isotopic diet and movement patterns at different stages of their breeding cycle. Blood δ15N values indicated that penguin chicks Pygoscelis spp. and Antarctic krill Euphausia superba constituted most of the diet of brown skuas (up to ~70%), and that there was an increase in the ingestion of lower trophic level prey (most likely Antarctic krill) throughout the breeding period (from 30-46%). This contrasts with movement analysis indicating that 65% of the overall foraging locations were within penguin rookeries. The apparent contradiction between the results from both techniques may be explained by a combination of some skuas feeding mostly at sea or on shore together with secondary ingestion of marine resources from the penguins’ gut by feeding mostly within penguin rookeries. Krill obtained in that way may provide protein to replenish reserves before migration along with globulins through the intake of carotenoids. These results highlight the fact that the trophic ecology of species can be more complex than that suggested by one single method and emphasizes the importance of combining techniques to draw robust conclusions. In addition, our study indicates that skuas may select portions of prey to obtain specific resources to fulfill their nutritional requirements.
Infecciones urinarias recurrentes: ¿puede la profilaxis inmunoactiva mejorar el tratamiento de la enfermedad en mujeres sanas?
Authors: Legg Ewen
Published: March 2023

Esta cumbre, de carácter educativo y financiada por una beca independiente de OM/Vifor Pharma, ha reunido a expertos en urología y ginecología procedentes de Europa y Latinoamérica con el fin de conocer y debatir sobre el tratamiento más avanzado de pacientes con infecciones urinarias recurrentes (IUR). El congreso ha incluido conferencias plenarias, talleres y sesiones interactivas que han permitido a los congresistas y presentadores debatir sobre los asuntos internacionales y locales más apremiantes del campo.

Las infecciones urinarias (IU) constituyen unas de las infecciones bacterianas más comunes y son el tipo de infección más habitual en mujeres adultas sanas, afectando al 50% de las mismas en al menos una ocasión en la vida.1 El nivel de resistencia antibacteriana en los organismos uropatogénicos comunes está alcanzando niveles alarmantes2 y la importancia de la profilaxis en el contexto del aumento de la resistencia no puede exagerarse. El enfoque actual de tres corrientes de la Asociación Europea de Urología (AEU) para la prevención de las IU consiste en la modificación del asesoramiento y de la conducta, una profilaxis no antibiótica y por último, una profilaxis antibiótica.3 Para muchas mujeres, la modificación de la conducta y del asesoramiento no será suficiente para prevenir las IUR y necesitarán tratamientos no antibióticos que limiten la ingesta de antibióticos y que reduzcan el riesgo de desarrollar una resistencia mayor en los uropatógenos. El OM-89, un tratamiento basado en el lizado bacteriano, cuenta con el grado de recomendación B en las directrices de la AEU para la prevención no antibiótica de las IUR en mujeres sin más complicaciones.3 En el siguiente artículo se resumirá el presunto mecanismo inmunoestimulante del OM-89 y se estudiarán las pruebas de su eficacia en la prevención de IUR en mujeres premenopáusicas y posmenopáusicas.
Interfacial Layer Effect on the Adhesion of the Ultra-Hard Thick TAC Film Deposition
Authors: Lim Sang-Won , Huh Jeung-Soo
Published: March 2023

Carbon-based thin film tool coatings, such as diamond-like carbon (DLC), have excellent lowfriction and anti-sticking properties. These thin films are widely used for the cutting and machining of increasingly widely-used lightweight non-metallic and non-ferrous metal materials, as a part of countermeasures against global warming. However, non-metallic and non-ferrous metal materials are significantly inferior in strength and heat resistance compared to iron-based metals. Therefore, they are primarily employed in high-content fiber reinforced composite materials, which significantly improves their mechanical and thermal properties. Tetrahedral amorphous carbon (TAC) coating has a hardness level similar to diamond coating. However, when TAC is deposited as a thick film, delamination of the coating layer may occur because of the high internal compressive stress between the carbide-based substrate and coating layer, thereby restricting its scalability to other applications. Other factors to be controlled for thick film TAC deposition include minimizing droplets generated during the coating process, and improving interfacial properties like hardness and fatigue resistance. Here, C in the form of CH4, which has high solubility over Cr and forms various compounds, was added during the interfacial deposition process, between the carbide and TAC, to improve interfacial strength and adhesion by precipitation of carbide at the interface. This eventually led to thick TAC film with the thickness and adhesion of commercially viable thick film.
Electrical, Thermal, and Thermoelectric Transport Properties of Co-Doped n-type Cu0.008Bi2Te2.6Se0.4 Polycrystalline Alloys
Authors: Park Okmin , Kim TaeWan , Heo Minsu , Park Sang Jeong , Lee Se Woong , Cho Hyun Kyu , Kim Sang-il
Published: March 2023

Bi2Te3-based alloys have been extensively studied as thermoelectric materials near room temperature. In this study, the electrical, thermal, and thermoelectric transport properties of a series of Co-doped n-type Cu0.008Bi2Te2.6Se0.4 polycrystalline alloys (Cu0.008Bi2−xCoxTe2.6Se0.4, x = 0, 0.03, 0.06, 0.09 and 0.12) are investigated. The electrical conductivity of the Cu0.008Bi1.97Co0.03Te2.6Se0.4 (x = 0.03) sample was significantly enhanced, by 34%, to 1199 S/cm compared to 793 S/cm of the pristine Cu0.008Bi2Te2.6Se0.4 (x = 0) sample at 300 K, and gradually decreased to 906 S/cm for x = 0.12 upon further doping. Power factors of the Co-doped samples decreased compared to the 3.26 mW/mK2 of the pristine Cu0.008Bi2Te2.6Se0.4 sample at 300 K. Meanwhile, the power factor of the Cu0.008Bi1.97Co0.03Te2.6Se0.4 (x = 0.03) sample became higher at 520 K. The lattice thermal conductivities of the Co-doped samples decreased due to additional point defect phonon scattering by the Co dopant. Consequently, the zT for the Cu0.008Bi1.97Co0.03Te2.6Se0.4 alloy at 520 K was 0.83, which is approximately 15% larger than that of pristine Cu0.008Bi2Te2.6Se0.4, while the zT of the Cu doped samples at 300 K was smaller than that of the pristine Cu0.008Bi2Te2.6Se0.4 sample. Electrical transport properties of the Co-doped Cu0.008Bi2−xCoxTe2.6Se0.4 samples were analyzed by experimental phenomenological parameters, including the density-of-state, effective mass, weighted mobility, and quality factor.
Nursing Students' Caring Behavior Towards Clinical Learning Readiness
Authors: Permana Bhakti , Yusuf Ah. , Setiawan Henri , Putri Tri Antika Rizki Kusuma
Published: March 2023

Aims: There was a high rate of psychological issues among students engaging in clinical practice. Students that focus on caring as their pedagogical foundation will be more equipped to provide nursing intervention in clinical situations.
Objective: This research aimed to examine nursing students' caring behaviors as they relate to their readiness for clinical practice.
Methods: A total of 122 nursing students from nursing schools in Bandung participated in this descriptive and cross-sectional study, with a response rate of 81.3%. Students' caring behavior and clinical readiness are assessed using the Casey-Fink Readiness for Practice Survey and the CBI-24 (Caring Behavior Instrument short form). Pearson correlation and linear regression tests in SPSS 26 were used to establish associations between the variables.
Results: Findings demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between students' caring conduct and clinical preparation (sig 0.000; p0.05). The correlation between the two variables was 23.8% strong, which  was statistically significant. Student readiness for clinical practice was only strongly related to the connection factor. Nursing students' caring attitudes and clinical readiness were not significantly influenced by students' age, gender, or work situation.
Conclusions: The level of empathy and social connection among nursing students influenced how well they were prepared for clinical practice. The development of students' caring behaviors, including self-assurance, competency, and respect, should be a primary goal of nursing education.
Förord
Authors: Gruber Sabine ,  Gustafsson Kristina , Sköld Johanna
Published: March 2023

Det här temanumret handlar om deltagande forskning inom socialt arbete samt det socialvetenskapliga fältet i en vidare bemärkelse. Deltagande forskning är en samlingsterm för forskningspraktiker som tar avstamp i socialt engagerad samhällsvetenskap, som eftersträvar mobilisering och förändring och som drivs av en ambition att göra forskning tillsammans med dem som är berörda av den. Deltagande forskningsansatser samlas under en rad olika benämningar, som till exempel aktionsforskning (Swedner 1982), samhällsarbete (Sjöberg & Turunen 2018), brukarorienterad forskning (Beresford 2021, även recenserad i detta nummer av Sara Hultqvist), deltagande aktivistisk forskning (lisahunter m.fl 2013) ), praktiknära forskning (Uggerhöj 2011), eller medborgarforskning (Kasperowski & Kullenberg 2018). Denna variation i hur deltagande forskningsansatser benämns återspeglas även i bidragen i det här temanumret. I flera av bidragen talar författarna även i termer av participatory action research (PAR). Det som förenar de olika benämningarna och ansatserna är just de deltagande dimensionerna, att det rör sig om forskningspraktiker som eftersträvar att kunskap och förståelse nås i samspel och ömsesidigt utbyte mellan forskare och forskningsdeltagare, med målsättning att forskning ska vara användbar för alla involverade. Signumet för sådan forskning är alltså att den görs tillsammans med och inte om människor.
Projektifierad forskning
Authors: Hultgren Peter
Published: March 2023

Research “projectified” – an ongoing evaluation of a local labour market projectIn this paper the researcher’s role within a small-scale project aiming at social change is problematized in the light of the the organizational specificities of the project. The text is based on experiences from a labour market project, in a small industrial community, where two colleagues and I at the Department of Social Work at Linnaeus University conducted ongoing research in the years 2018–2020. Over this period, we acted as a sounding board for the project management and assisted with analyses of the activities carried out in the project, from the start-up phase, over a consolidated phase to its completion.In retrospect, the conditions for conducting ongoing research within the framework of a smallscale project raise several questions of which two will be discussed here. Firstly, the researchers role in an often conflicting relationship between operational development and knowledge creation. Secondly, the researchers role in the knowledge accounting of the change work carried out in the project.It can be argued that the researcher role is at risk of being “projectified”, i.e., the knowledge creation and the reporting of the change work is adapted to the conflicts and tensions between dayto-day practice and the goals of the change work in negotiation with the project’s stakeholders.
Clinical and epidemiological aspects of ulcerative colitis in the Irkutsk region
Authors: Chashkova E. Yu. , Korotaeva N. S. , Pak V. E. , Grigoryev E. G. , Shedoeva L. R. , Tungusova N. V.
Published: March 2023

AIM: to study sociodemographic, clinical and epidemiological features in patients with ulcerative colitis in the Irkutsk region (Russia).

PATIENTS AND METHODS: the database of the Irkutsk IBD Center included 1,122 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) registered from 01.01.2006 to 31.12.2019. The study is retrospective with a focus on the results of follow-up, check up and treatment in different periods of their disease (acute attack, chronic course, remission). Statistical analysis was performed according to the principles of the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

RESULTS: the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in the Irkutsk Oblast over the previous 14 years has increased by 2.7 times, of ulcerative colitis — by 3.1 times and was 3.91 person-years per 100,000 population. The prevalence of UC was 68.5 per 100,000 population. The annual increase in new UC cases was 46.6 ± 8.2. Most patients had total lesion (68.4%) and moderate-to-severe disease (46.9%). Extra-intestinal manifestations (13.6%) were represented by skin lesions (40.7%). Body weight deficiency occurred in 9.9% in females and in 5.1% in males. The probability of colectomy was 1.4/100 patient-years (follow-up period was 7049.5 patient-years; n = 1122). Patients underwent urgent operations in 76.3%. Postoperative mortality was 1.03/100 patient-years (exposition time — 291.6 years, n = 3). Total mortality for the entire follow-up period was 1.8% — 0.34/100 patient-years (exposition time — 4440.8 years).

CONCLUSION: objective epidemiological data, clinical features and treatment options for patients with ulcerative colitis in long-term follow-up in the Irkutsk Oblast are presented. The results of such studies on a national scale can serve as a platform for further scientific research and planning of socio-economic programs.
Perianal fistulas in Crohn's disease (review)
Authors: Anosov I. S. , Nanaeva B. A. , Vardanyan A. V. , Zakharov M. A.
Published: March 2023

Treatment of аnal fistulas as perianal manifestations of Crohn’s disease is an important task, the solution of which has not yet been found. First of all, this is due to debilitating symptoms that reduce the quality of life. Incorrect tactics in the treatment of this disease can lead to the development of anal incontinence, and in some cases to the removal of the rectum. The purpose of this review was to study the effectiveness of various surgical methods for the treatment of perianal fistulas, the features of their use in various types of fistulas, as well as to assess the impact of surgical treatment on the function of the anal sphincter. It was found that most of the described methods were used in a strictly selected limited group of patients and allowed only temporary elimination of the clinical manifestations of Crohn’s disease. Unsatisfactory results of treatment, especially in the late postoperative period, a small number of clinical observations in published scientific papers on the treatment of perianal manifestations of Crohn’s disease, as well as low reliability of the results, dictate the need for further studies involving more patients.
Colorectal cancer in ulcerative colitis (review)
Authors: Rasulov A. O. , Kulikov A. E. , Madyarov J. M. , Rasulov Z. R.
Published: March 2023

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease that mainly affects young people. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the UC complications. This review considers the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis and screening, and drug prevention of CRC in UC. Various treatment options for dysplasia and CRC associated with UC are described. Taking into account the lack of literature to standardize colorectal cancer treatment approaches (especially rectal cancer) for UC, further studies are warranted to evaluate both oncological and functional treatment outcomes.
Macromolecular crowding in animal component-free, xeno-free and foetal bovine serum media for human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cell expansion and differentiation
Authors: Korntner Stefanie H. , Di Nubila Alessia , Gaspar Diana , Zeugolis Dimitrios I.
Published: March 2023

Background: Cell culture media containing undefined animal-derived components and prolonged in vitro culture periods in the absence of native extracellular matrix result in phenotypic drift of human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs).

Methods: Herein, we assessed whether animal component-free (ACF) or xeno-free (XF) media formulations maintain hBMSC phenotypic characteristics more effectively than foetal bovine serum (FBS)-based media. In addition, we assessed whether tissue-specific extracellular matrix, induced via macromolecular crowding (MMC) during expansion and/or differentiation, can more tightly control hBMSC fate.

Results: Cells expanded in animal component-free media showed overall the highest phenotype maintenance, as judged by cluster of differentiation expression analysis. Contrary to FBS media, ACF and XF media increased cellularity over time in culture, as measured by total DNA concentration. While MMC with Ficoll™ increased collagen deposition of cells in FBS media, FBS media induced significantly lower collagen synthesis and/or deposition than the ACF and XF media. Cells expanded in FBS media showed higher adipogenic differentiation than ACF and XF media, which was augmented by MMC with Ficoll™ during expansion. Similarly, Ficoll™ crowding also increased chondrogenic differentiation. Of note, donor-to-donor variability was observed for collagen type I deposition and trilineage differentiation capacity of hBMSCs.

Conclusion: Collectively, our data indicate that appropriate screening of donors, media and supplements, in this case MMC agent, should be conducted for the development of clinically relevant hBMSC medicines.
Bacterial-mediated synthesis and characterization of copper oxide nanoparticles with antibacterial, antioxidant, and anticancer potentials
Authors: Talebian Seyedehsaba , Shahnavaz Bahar , Nejabat Masoud , Abolhassani Yasaman , Rassouli Fatemeh B.
Published: March 2023

The application of novel bacterial strains for effective biosynthesis of nanoparticles minimizes negative environmental impact and eliminates challenges of available approaches. In the present study, cell-free extract of Stenotrophomonas sp. BS95. was used for synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs). Characterization of crude and calcined CuONPs was carried out by UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Afterward, biogenic CuONPs were evaluated for antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic effects using broth micro-dilution method, DPPH assay and alamarBlue assay, respectively. Finally, molecular mechanisms behind anticancer effects of CuONPs was ascertained by real time PCR. UV-vis absorbance spectra registered surface plasmon resonance peaks at 286 nm and 420 nm for crude and calcined CuONPs, respectively. FTIR spectra exhibited bands associated with organic functional groups of bacterial proteins, confirming capping and functionalization of CuONPs. The average crystallite size of crude and calcined CuONPs was determined as 18.24 and 21.3 nm by XRD, respectively. The average zeta potentials of crude and calcined CuONPs were as −28.57 ± 5.13 and −29.47 ± 4.78 mV, respectively, indicating their high stability. Electron microscopy revealed that crude and calcined CuONPs were roughly spherical particles with an average size of 35.24 ± 4.64 and 43.68 ± 2.31 nm, respectively. Biogenic CuONPs induced antibacterial effects with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 62.5 to 1,000 μg/ml against Gram-negative and Gram-positive strains. The antioxidant activity of crude and calcined CuONPs was found to be 83% ± 2.64% and 78% ± 1.73%, respectively. More intriguingly, CuONPs exerted considerable cytotoxic effects on human colon and gastric adenocarcinoma cells, while induced low toxicity on normal cells. Anticancer effects of biogenic CuONPs were confirmed by significant changes induced in the expression of apoptosis-related genes, including P53, BAX, BCL2 and CCND1. Hence, biosynthesized CuONPs could be considered as potential antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer agents.
Enhancement of Himalayan irregular stone masonry buildings for resilient seismic design
Authors: Khadka Shyam Sundar , Acharya Sabin , Acharya Ayush , Veletzos Marc J.
Published: March 2023

In the Himalayan region of Nepal, stone masonry has been used for centuries as the primary building material for structures with or without mud mortar. In three distinct remote rural villages, a thorough structural survey of approximately 223 buildings was conducted with an emphasis on their structural irregularities. The thickness of masonry walls frequently varied between floors, which caused mass irregularities. Openings in the front wall of the buildings were not symmetrical in the vertical direction, which caused in-plane discontinuity. There were also out-of-plane offset irregularities due to the cross wall on the ground floor. These buildings were irregular in many aspects and were constructed without seismic considerations. This type of construction is more susceptible to earthquakes as a result of these irregularities. In this study, a thorough examination of a typical building was conducted using construction information obtained following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake. The database for each structural typology was prepared with an emphasis on construction practice to enhance the seismic design. The use of mud/cement mortar was extremely sparse, and the use of timber bands at various heights along the height of the masonry wall and an inappropriate connection between the wall and the roof were also negligible. The three main community-learned improvements following damage were the replacement of the gable wall with a metal sheet, the reduction of individual stone masonry homes to one story, and lighter construction on the upper stories of hotel buildings. Based on regional building techniques, non-linear finite models for typical and enhanced buildings were simulated. Due to the irregular stone units, construction variability, and constrained linear behavior, stone masonry with and without mud mortar presents difficulties in conducting a detailed numerical analysis. The development of these structures using mud/cement mortar and other regional materials, with careful attention to detail, was found to have significant potential as a seismically resilient building form.
The role of nanocomposites against biofilm infections in humans
Authors: Varma Anand , Warghane Ashish , Dhiman Neena K. , Paserkar Neha , Upadhye Vijay , Modi Anupama , Saini Rashmi
Published: March 2023

The use of nanomaterials in several fields of science has undergone a revolution in the last few decades. It has been reported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that 65% and 80% of infections are accountable for at least 65% of human bacterial infections. One of their important applications in healthcare is the use of nanoparticles (NPs) to eradicate free-floating bacteria and those that form biofilms. A nanocomposite (NC) is a multiphase stable fabric with one or three dimensions that are much smaller than 100 nm, or systems with nanoscale repeat distances between the unique phases that make up the material. Using NC materials to get rid of germs is a more sophisticated and effective technique to destroy bacterial biofilms. These biofilms are refractory to standard antibiotics, mainly to chronic infections and non-healing wounds. Materials like graphene and chitosan can be utilized to make several forms of NCs, in addition to different metal oxides. The ability of NCs to address the issue of bacterial resistance is its main advantage over antibiotics. This review highlights the synthesis, characterization, and mechanism through which NCs disrupt Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial biofilms, and their relative benefits and drawbacks. There is an urgent need to develop materials like NCs with a larger spectrum of action due to the rising prevalence of human bacterial diseases that are multidrug-resistant and form biofilms.
The implication of gut microbiota in recovery from gastrointestinal surgery
Authors: Zheng Zhipeng , Hu Yingnan , Tang Jingyi , Xu Wenjun , Zhu Weihan , Zhang Wei
Published: March 2023

Recovery from gastrointestinal (GI) surgery is often interrupted by the unpredictable occurrence of postoperative complications, including infections, anastomotic leak, GI dysmotility, malabsorption, cancer development, and cancer recurrence, in which the implication of gut microbiota is beginning to emerge. Gut microbiota can be imbalanced before surgery due to the underlying disease and its treatment. The immediate preparations for GI surgery, including fasting, mechanical bowel cleaning, and antibiotic intervention, disrupt gut microbiota. Surgical removal of GI segments also perturbs gut microbiota due to GI tract reconstruction and epithelial barrier destruction. In return, the altered gut microbiota contributes to the occurrence of postoperative complications. Therefore, understanding how to balance the gut microbiota during the perioperative period is important for surgeons. We aim to overview the current knowledge to investigate the role of gut microbiota in recovery from GI surgery, focusing on the crosstalk between gut microbiota and host in the pathogenesis of postoperative complications. A comprehensive understanding of the postoperative response of the GI tract to the altered gut microbiota provides valuable cues for surgeons to preserve the beneficial functions and suppress the adverse effects of gut microbiota, which will help to enhance recovery from GI surgery.
The phylogeny and distribution of Wolbachia in two pathogen vector insects, Asian citrus psyllid and Longan psyllid
Authors: Ou Da , Qiu Jun-Hong , Su Zheng-Qin , Wang Lei , Qiu Bao-Li
Published: March 2023

Background

Wolbachia is the most abundant bacterial endosymbiont among insects. It can play a prominent role in the development, reproduction and immunity of its given insect host. To date, Wolbachia presence is well studied within aphids, whiteflies and planthoppers, but relatively few studies have investigated its presence in psyllids.

Methods

Here, the infection status of Wolbachia in five species of psyllid, including Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri and longan psyllid Cornegenapsylla sinica was investigated. The phylogenetic relationships of different Wolbachia lines and their infection density and patterns in D. citri and C. sinica from different countries was also examined.

Results

The infection rates of Wolbachia in D. citri and C. sinica were both 100%, and their sequencing types are ST173 and ST532 respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Wolbachia lines in D. citri and C. sinica both belong to the Con subgroup of Wolbachia supergroup B. In addition, Wolbachia displayed a scattered localization pattern in the 5th instar nymphs and in the reproductive organs of both D. citri and C. sinica but differed in other tissues; it was highest in the midgut, lowest in the salivary glands and medium in both the testes and ovaries.

Conclusion

Our findings assist in further understanding the coevolution of Wolbachia and its psyllid hosts. Given that Wolbachia could play an important role in insect pest control and pathogen transmission inhibition, our findings may also provide new insights for development of control strategies for D. citri and C. sinica.
Short-term outcomes of drug-coated balloon versus drug-eluting stent for de novo saphenous vein graft lesions in coronary heart disease
Authors: Lin Li , Lu Wenjie , Wang Xi , Pan Liang , Wang Xule , Zheng Xiaolin , Li Ran , Shan Yingguang , Peng Meng , Qiu Chunguang
Published: March 2023

Background

As a device for percutaneous coronary intervention, drug-coated balloon (DCB) is widely used to treat in-stent restenosis. However, data regarding the use of DCB in treating de novo saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions are limited. This study aimed to explore the outcomes of using the DCB in the treatment of de novo SVG lesions of coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods

This retrospective and observational study analyzed CHD patients with de novo SVG lesions treated with DCB or the new-generation drug-eluting stent (DES) between January 2018 and December 2020. Restenosis was the primary endpoint, whereas target lesion revascularization (TLR), major adverse cardiac events, restenosis, cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, and myocardial infarction were the secondary outcomes.

Results

We enrolled 31 and 23 patients treated with DCB and DES, respectively. The baseline clinical data, lesion characteristics, and procedural characteristics were similar between the two groups. Twenty-eight (90.3%) patients in the DCB group and 21 (91.3%) in the DES group completed follow-up angiography after 1 year. The quantitative coronary angiography measurements at angiographic follow-up showing late lumen loss were −0.07 ± 0.95 mm for the DCB group and 0.86 ± 0.71 mm for the DES group (P = 0.039), and the rates of restenosis were 13.3% and 21.7% for the DCB and DES groups, respectively (P = 0.470). No significant differences were observed in the rates of MACE (16.7% vs. 26.1%, P = 0.402) and TLR (13.3% vs. 4.3%, P = 0.374) during clinical follow-up.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that when pre-dilatation was successful, DCB might be safe and effective in treating de novo SVG lesions.
Uncertainty assessment of a permanent long-range terrestrial laser scanning system for the quantification of snow dynamics on Hintereisferner (Austria)
Authors: Voordendag Annelies , Goger Brigitta , Klug Christoph , Prinz Rainer , Rutzinger Martin , Sauter Tobias , Kaser Georg
Published: March 2023

A permanently installed terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) helps to investigate surface changes at high spatio-temporal resolution. Previous studies show that the annual and seasonal glacier volume, and subsequently the mass balance, can be measured by TLSs. This study systematically identifies and quantifies uncertainties and their sources of the permanent long-range TLS system at Hintereisferner glacier (Ötztal Alps, Austria) in order to assess its potential and limitations for detecting glaciologically relevant small-scale surface elevation changes, such as snowfall and redistribution events. Five uncertainty sources are analyzed: the registration method, the influence of the instrument and hardware limitations of the TLS, the effect of atmospheric conditions on the laser beam, the scanning geometry, and the uncertainty caused by rasterization. The instrument and hardware limitations cause the largest uncertainty to the TLS data, followed by the scanning geometry and influence of varying atmospheric conditions on the laser beam. The magnitude of each uncertainty source depends on the distance (range) between the TLS and the target surface, showing a strong decrease of the obtained spatial resolution and a concurrent increase in uncertainty with increasing distance. An automated registration method results in an uncertainty of ±0.50 m at grids of 100 by 100 m. After post-processing, a 0.1-m vertical accuracy can be obtained allowing the detection of surface changes of respective magnitudes and especially making it possible to quantify snow dynamics at Hintereisferner.
Multi-fault rupture behavior of the 1786 M 73/4 Kangding earthquake on the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Feng Jiahui , Chen Lichun , Han Mingming , Gao Shuaipo , Li Yanbao , Lu Lili , Chen Shunyun
Published: March 2023

The 2022 LudingMs6.8 earthquake has drawn attention to the Xianshuihe fault zone. Historically, there was anM73/4earthquake in this region in 1786. Because the surface rupture of this historic earthquake was not obvious, there is still much debate over the extent of the surface rupture, which is critical for comprehending tectonic activity and assessing seismic risk for the Xianshuihe fault (XSHF). In particular, the seismogenic structure of this earthquake was connected by three active left-lateral strike-slip faults—the Anninghe fault (ANHF), Daliangshan fault (DLSF), and XSHF—where a large earthquake could cause multi-fault rupture.Giventhese criteria, we report the results of a series of trenches excavated in the vicinity of the epicenter at the northern section of the DLSF, the northern section of the ANHF, the Zheduotang section, and the Selaha section of the XSHF. We find that 1) three palaeoseismic events have been revealed on the northern section of the ANHF: BE1, ∼1003 AD; BE2, 1000–1182 AD; and BE3, 1536 AD asM7 earthquakes, and 2) two palaeoseismic events have occurred on the Selaha fault during the last 500 years. The first event corresponds to the AD 1725 KangdingM7 earthquake, and the latest event may be the AD 1786 M73/4earthquake. 3) Three palaeoseismic events occurred on Zheduotang: ZD1, 1215 BC∼315 AD; ZD2, 830 BC∼705 AD; and ZD3, the 1955 AD KangdingM71/2earthquake. 4) The 1786 KangdingM73/4earthquake was probably a multi-fault rupture event, as evidenced by the trenching profile evidence, nearby offset geomorphic features, and historical earthquake data. Not only the Moxi fault, a seismogenic structure, but also the southern end of the Selaha fault to the north and the Shimian fault (DLSF) to the south simultaneously broke during this earthquake.
Cardiovascular and metabolic characters of KCNJ5 somatic mutations in primary aldosteronism
Authors: Chang Yi-Yao , Lee Bo-Ching , Chen Zheng-Wei , Tsai Cheng-Hsuan , Chang Chin-Chen , Liao Che-Wei , Pan Chien-Ting , Peng Kang-Yung , Chou Chia-Hung , Lu Ching-Chu , Wu Vin-Cent , Hung Chi-Sheng , Lin Yen-Hung ,   TAIPAI study group
Published: March 2023

Background

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the leading cause of curable endocrine hypertension, which is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and metabolic insults compared to essential hypertension. Aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) is a major cause of PA, which can be treated with adrenalectomy. Somatic mutations are the main pathogenesis of aldosterone overproduction in APA, of which KCNJ5 somatic mutations are most common, especially in Asian countries. This article aimed to review the literature on the impacts of KCNJ5 somatic mutations on systemic organ damage.

Evidence acquisition

PubMed literature research using keywords combination, including “aldosterone-producing adenoma,” “somatic mutations,” “KCNJ5,” “organ damage,” “cardiovascular,” “diastolic function,” “metabolic syndrome,” “autonomous cortisol secretion,” etc.

Results

APA patients with KCNJ5 somatic mutations are generally younger, female, have higher aldosterone levels, lower potassium levels, larger tumor size, and higher hypertension cure rate after adrenalectomy. This review focuses on the cardiovascular and metabolic aspects of KCNJ5 somatic mutations in APA patients, including left ventricular remodeling and diastolic function, abdominal aortic thickness and calcification, arterial stiffness, metabolic syndrome, abdominal adipose tissue, and correlation with autonomous cortisol secretion. Furthermore, we discuss modalities to differentiate the types of mutations before surgery.

Conclusion

KCNJ5 somatic mutations in patients with APA had higher left ventricular mass (LVM), more impaired diastolic function, thicker aortic wall, lower incidence of metabolic syndrome, and possibly a lower incidence of concurrent autonomous cortisol secretion, but better improvement in LVM, diastolic function, arterial stiffness, and aortic wall thickness after adrenalectomy compared to patients without KCNJ5 mutations.
Metformin treatment and risk of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Beijing, China
Authors: Yang Ruotong , Yu Huan , Wu Junhui , Chen Hongbo , Wang Mengying , Wang Siyue , Qin Xueying , Wu Tao , Wu Yiqun , Hu Yonghua
Published: March 2023

Background

Metformin treatment is associated with vitamin B12 deficiency, which is a risk factor for neuropathy. However, few studies have examined the relationship between metformin treatment and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), and the available findings are contradictory. We aimed to assess whether metformin treatment is associated with DPN in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Beijing, China.

Methods

All patients with newly diagnosed T2DM between January 2010 and September 2012 in the Medical Claim Data for Employees database were included. Metformin treatment was defined as any record of metformin prescription. The average daily dose of metformin during follow-up was calculated. DPN was defined as DPN admissions occurring after a diagnosis of T2DM in the database. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Among 49,705 T2DM patients, 1,933 DPN events were recorded during a median follow-up of 6.36 years. The crude incidence rates were 7.12 and 3.91 per 1000 person-years for patients treated with metformin (N=37,052) versus those not treated (N=12,653). Patients treated with metformin had an 84% increased risk of DPN compared with patients not using metformin (HR, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.62, 2.10). The daily dose was positively associated with DPN risk (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.46, 1.51; P for trend <0.001). The risk of DPN was 1.53-fold (1.30, 1.81) and 4.31-fold (3.76, 4.94) higher in patients with daily doses of 1.0-2.0 g and >2.0 g, respectively, than in patients who did not receive treatment. Patients aged less than 60 years had a higher risk of DPN (P<0.05 for interaction test). Among patients taking vitamin B12 at baseline, there was no increased risk of DPN in the metformin group (1.92: 0.79, 4.69).

Conclusions

In Chinese patients with T2DM, metformin treatment was associated with an increased risk of DPN admission and this risk responds positively to the daily dose of metformin. In particular, metformin use was a major risk factor for DPN in younger patients. Concomitant use of vitamin B12 may avoid the increased risk of DPN associated with metformin use.
Cellular senescence of renal tubular epithelial cells in renal fibrosis
Authors: Zhang Jun-Qing , Li Ying-Ying , Zhang Xue-Yan , Tian Zeng-Hui , Liu Cheng , Wang Shi-Tao , Zhang Fa-Rong
Published: March 2023

Renal fibrosis (RF) is the common pathological manifestation of virtually all chronic kidney diseases (CKD) and one of the major causes of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but the pathogenesis of which is still unclear. Renal tubulointerstitial lesions have been identified as a key pathological hallmark of RF pathology. Renal tubular epithelial cells are the resident cells of the tubulointerstitium and play an important role in kidney recovery versus renal fibrosis following injury. Studies in recent years have shown that senescence of renal tubular epithelial cells can accelerate the progression of renal fibrosis. Oxidative stress(OS), telomere attrition and DNA damage are the major causes of renal tubular epithelial cell senescence. Current interventions and therapeutic strategies for cellular senescence include calorie restriction and routine exercise, Klotho, senolytics, senostatics, and other related drugs. This paper provides an overview of the mechanisms and the key signaling pathways including Wnt/β-catenin/RAS, Nrf2/ARE and STAT-3/NF-κB pathway involved in renal tubular epithelial cell senescence in RF and therapies targeting renal tubular epithelial cell senescence future therapeutic potential for RF patients. These findings may offer promise for the further treatment of RF and CKD.
Hypoglycemia as a potential risk for patients taking clopidogrel: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Shi , Qiang Jiaqi , Zhang Yuelun , Zhao Bin , Tian Ran , Yuan Tao , Li Ming , Li Mei , Li Yuxiu , Zhu Huijuan , Pan Hui
Published: March 2023

Background

Clopidogrel is a cornerstone antiplatelet drug used in cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and peripheral artery diseases. The sulfhydryl group of clopidogrel metabolite could induce insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) with hypoglycemia as the major symptom. Discontinuing clopidogrel and substituting it with ticagrelor has been revealed as an effective treatment in previous studies. Since hypoglycemia serves as a risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, we aimed to determine the association between hypoglycemia/IAS and clopidogrel and to investigate whether clopidogrel is a modifiable and causal risk factor of hypoglycemia/IAS.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane databases, and clinical trial registries were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of clopidogrel from inception to 28 February 2022. RCTs comparing clopidogrel with placebo or other antiplatelet drugs were eligible if meeting the inclusion criteria: 1) clopidogrel was administrated 75 mg qd orally as a long-term antiplatelet prescription at least for months, and 2) hypoglycemia-inducible drugs were not used in the control arm. One investigator abstracted articles and performed a quality assessment. Uncertainties were resolved by discussions with two investigators independently. Odds ratio (OR) and risk difference (RD) were calculated and performed with subgroup analyses. The pre-specified protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022299622).

Results

Six trials with 61,399 participants in total fulfilled the criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Clopidogrel might not be associated with higher hypoglycemia odds (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.65 to 1.40). However, Asian participants (p = 0.0437) seemed more likely to develop clopidogrel-associated hypoglycemia. Clopidogrel-associated hypoglycemia occurred at the highest rate of 0.03% (RD −0.00023, 95% CI −0.00077 to 0.00031), and this increased to 0.91% (RD 0.00210, 95% CI −0.00494 to 0.00914) in an aging population and to 0.18% (RD 0.00040, 95% CI −0.00096 to 0.00177) when Asian ratio of the population was elevated.

Conclusions

We raise the concern that clopidogrel might be a modifiable and causal risk factor of hypoglycemia. The Asian population might be more vulnerable and need additional care.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier CRD42022299622.