bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drivers, barriers, and response to care of Australian pregnant women seeking chiropractic care for low back and pelvic girdle pain: A qualitative case study
Authors: Bernard-Giglio Maria , French Simon D , Myburgh Corrie , de Luca Katie
Published: September 2022

Background Pregnancy-related low back and/or pelvic girdle pain is common, with a prevalence of pelvic girdle pain at 44% in Australian women. Although 20% of Australian pregnant women visit a chiropractor for pelvic girdle pain, little is known about the experience of pregnant women who seek this care.The aim of this study was to explore and describe the lived experiences of Australian pregnant women who seek chiropractic care for their current pregnancy-related low back and/or pelvic girdle pain. Methods A qualitative case study approach with purposive sampling, from 27 chiropractic practices, was used. A constructivist and interpretivist stance provided understanding and meaning to the pregnant women’s lived experiences. Unstructured interviews using an audio-visual recording on an online platform were performed. A thematic analysis, based on a framework of transcribed interviews, memos, survey findings with triangulation and respondent validation was undertaken. Results 16 potential participants expressed interest in participating. After eligibility screening, nine interviews were undertaken. The thematic analysis identified four key themes: care drivers, care barriers, chiropractic treatment, and response to care. Conclusion Four key themes were identified, which support an overarching substantive-level theory that chiropractic care for pregnant woman experiencing low back pain and/or pelvic girdle pain improves pain and function, while reducing pregnancy-related biopsychosocial concerns. Due to the qualitative study design, findings have only “naturalistic” generalisability and general transferability. However, the findings may inform antenatal providers and the chiropractic profession about pregnant women’s experience with chiropractic care as well as directing future research. Ethics Approval: The research was granted ethics approval with Macquarie University Human Research Ethics applications # 52020621817665.
Kv1.3 in Microglia Cell Mediates Neurological Dysfunction after Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Chen Xingxing , Ge Yiqin , Zhang Die , Jiang Haopeng , Wan Wenyan , Yuan Yi , Tang Lele
Published: September 2022

Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a kind of brain structure destruction and brain dysfunction syndrome caused by mechanical injury. At present, the treatment of traumatic brain injury is mainly neuroprotective drugs, but the efficacy is limited. Therefore, the exploration of effective therapeutic targets for traumatic brain injury has become a key scientific problem in current neuropharmacological research. Studies have found that neuroinflammation is closely related to the occurrence and development of traumatic brain injury. After activation of central microglia cell, various cellular inflammatory factors will be secreted, causing damage to the central nervous system and causing neuroinflammation. Studies have shown that potassium channel Kv1.3 plays a crucial role in microglia-mediated neuroinflammation, but the mechanism of microglial potassium channel Kv1.3 on traumatic brain injury remains unclear.
Methods
In this study, the functional localization of potassium channel Kv1.3 in microglia cell was investigated by behavioral observation, patch clamp, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, real-time PCR and other techniques in mice model of repetitive traumatic brain injury combined with Kv1.3 gene knockout mice.
Results
We found significant neurological deterioration in TBI mice, and knockdown of Kv1.3 effectively reversed TBI-mediated neurological dysfunction. The expression of inflammatory factors IL-1β and TNF-α was significantly increased in the hippocampus of mice with traumatic brain injury, and the down-regulation of Kv1.3 gene significantly inhibited the expression of these inflammatory factors.
Conclusion
Potassium channel Kv1.3 in microglia cell is an important regulatory target in repetitive traumatic brain injury.
Long-acting injectable in situ gel of rasagiline: a patented product development
Authors: Zhao Dongyang , Chen Ping , Hao Yuanbin , Dong Jing , Dai Yu , Lu Qingqing , Zhang Xin , Liu Chia-Wen
Published: September 2022

Rasagiline has certain potential in neuroprotection and delaying the progression of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the poor pharmacokinetics (PK) characteristics of conventional oral tablets and poor medication compliance limit the optimal efficacy of rasagiline. Based on this, we designed and optimized a sustained-release rasagiline in situ gel based on in vitro release and in vivo PK results. Among them, we found for the first time that aluminum hydroxide can effectively shorten the lag phase and promote the early and late release, making the daily release more uniform. After subcutaneous administration of the optimized gel formulation at a monthly dose, the Cmax (64 ng/ml) was lower than that of free rasagiline (494 ng/ml) administered subcutaneously at a daily dose and comparable to that of oral administration of Azilect® (59.1 ng/ml) at a daily dose. Meantime, the plasma concentration of rasagiline was mainly maintained at 5-10 ng/ml for about one month, and the active metabolite 1-aminoindane in plasma was also able to maintain a steady state. The rasagiline in situ gel has suitable viscosity and injectability, good repeatability of subcutaneous injection, controllable impurities, and can achieve sustained release in vivo with small burst release, which may have the clinical application advantages of maximizing the disease-modifying effect of rasagiline and improving medication compliance.
Association of Socio-demographic Characteristics with Hypertension Awareness, Treatment, and Control in Bangladesh
Authors: Babagoli Masih , Chen Yea-Hung , Chakma Nantu , Islam Md. Saimul , Naheed Aliya , Boettiger David
Published: September 2022

The prevalence of hypertension has been rapidly growing in Bangladesh. Despite this burden, there has been limited analysis of the socio-demographic variation of each step of the hypertension cascade of care. This study was a secondary analysis of the 2017-18 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey. Four dichotomous outcome variables – hypertension prevalence, awareness among those with hypertension, treatment among those aware, and control among those treated – were analyzed. The variation of each outcome was assessed across socio-demographic factors; the association between socio-demographic characteristics and the four outcomes was analyzed using logistic regression. In Bangladesh, 27.5% [95% CI 26.5, 28.5%] of individuals had hypertension, 42.5% [95% CI 40.5%, 44.5%] of those with hypertension were aware, 87.4% [95% CI 85.3%, 89.5%] of those aware were receiving treatment, and 33.8% [95% CI 30.8%, 36.8%] of those receiving treatment had their blood pressure controlled. Hypertension prevalence and awareness were higher among older individuals, females, and those with higher household wealth. Comparing older to younger individuals, the proportion of treatment among those aware was higher, while control among those treated was lower. In multivariable models stratified by rural/urban community, the impact of education on odds of treatment differed between rural and urban communities. Specific efforts to improve hypertension awareness among individuals who are younger, male, of lower household wealth, and in rural areas are required to address disparities in hypertension care. Socio-demographic variations in hypertension awareness, treatment, and control must be considered to design targeted interventions for each step of the cascade.
Predicting hospital admissions and its cost due to respiratory diseases in Brazil using Machine Learning Time Series Forecasting
Authors: Ferreira Rafaela , Goularte Vinicius , Pate Arthur , Braga Marion Coting , AbreuB Ariane , Pereira Ramon Gonçalves
Published: September 2022

Background: Respiratory diseases (RD) impose an immense health burden and over 1 billion people suffer from acute or chronic RD. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve the quality of healthcare, with the potential of assisting in the medical diagnosis of many diseases and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and costs. This article aims to develop a Machine Learning (ML) model to predict the healthcare resources utilization (HCRU) and costs associated to RD hospitalizations in the Brazilian public health system (SUS).
Methods: Data were extracted from three public databases: Hospital Information System (SIH), “e-saúde” database and Meteorological Database, in the city of Curitiba, between 2017 and 2019. All analyzes considered the number of hospitalizations per day. The outcomes predicted by ML were the cost and the number of hospitalizations in the next seven days after a RD claim. The models were created by data mining process. Different algorithms were tested by the model building process up to five times. The best model for the seven-day cost and utilization forecasts was defined according to mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean squared error (RMSE). The SHAP method was used to analyze the interpretability of the best selected model.
Results: There were, on average, 315.41 hospitalizations and 97,596 primary care services for RD per week in the city of Curitiba between 2017 and 2019, with an average cost of 246,390.30 US dollars (R$ 549,332.87). The Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) methods (LSTM and GRU) presented the best results for forecasting costs and HCRU. LSTM model outperformed all other algorithms in both models with a RMSE of 0.07 and 0.04 respectively. The most impacting variables in the model (SHAP analysis) were the meteorological ones. However, the forward to specialist, type of attendance and medical specialty on the ambulatorial records were also important. High average temperatures support the model to make a prediction of a smaller number of hospitalization days for that period.
Conclusion: The prediction model used was robust enough to predict information about hospitalization and costs related to RD, demonstration its applicability as a tool to optimize resources allocation and health promotion strategies.
Associations between 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration and abortion: a retrospective study and a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Hongping , Ding Xingru , Hu Xianqing , Sun Congcong , cheng Jingjing , Li Xiaoqing , Zheng Zhengzheng , Cheng Haiying , Liao Tingting , Zhao Na , Zhong Mingchen , Fang Rujing , Huang Xiu-Feng , Zheng Jianqiong
Published: September 2022

Background: Abortion was defined as loss at a gestational age less than 28 weeks. Vitamin D is reported to be associated with reproductive functions, whereas its casual effects on abortion remains unclear. In this study, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to systematically assess the causal relationships between serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration and the risk of abortion.
Results: GWAS summary data of vitamin D was used as exposure, and data of missed abortion and spontaneous abortion was considered as outcome. A retrospective study was also conducted to verify the associations identified from MR study. MR estimates showed that a higher Vitamin D level was associated with decreased risk of both missed abortion and spontaneous abortion. However, the P value was not significant. We then conducted a retrospective study, and observed the consistent result of Vitamin D’s protective role to abortion. The value was very close to statistical significance (P=0.0527).
Conclusions: This study reports the potential protective role of serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D concentration to abortion, that is, higher Vitamin D levels can decrease risk of abortion. Further larger retrospective study is needed to confirm this association.
Mapping of groundwater vulnerability using optimized AHP-GOD Models and geospatial factors (Case study: littoral sedimentary aquifer of Ain Temouchent – NW Algeria
Authors: Abdellatif DEHNI
Published: September 2022

The monitoring and protection of coastal aquifers has become a primary priority and a subject of research with the integration of Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) in order to map groundwater vulnerability to contamination, and to evaluate their aquifer protective capacity. A study aimed to to identify an exposure level of contamination for a sustainable use of the water resources in the aquifer of Ouled Taoui - Boujema aquifer situated in Ain Temouchent – Algeria. For this purpose, a dataset was established including 170 VES soundings, topography ASTER GDEM, geological maps and finally boreholes were acquired to develop the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) by ordering the weightage of geospatial factors in vulnerability mapping. However, a GOD-LT model (G: groundwater type; O: aquifer overlying strata; D: aquifer depth and L: Longitudinal conductance; T: Topography slope and Th: Thickness) has been evaluated using optimized AHP as predictive model abbreviated GOD-L, GOD-LT and GOD-LTh. Furthermore, these factors are considered as the causal factors of aquifer vulnerability (AVCF’s). The geospatial factors were derived on AHP-WLA (Weight Linear Average) for rating optimization. The pairwise comparison matrix was developed on the AVCF’s factors for AHP-GOD. The validation result showcases that 72% of prediction consistency is optimized for GOD-L model compared to 64% for the standard GOD. The GOD-LT and GOD-Th demonstrated the best reliability under consistency index. However, the vulnerability to pollution is validated by using nitrate concentration, water corrosivity and the degree of aquifer capacity protection and can be efficient mapping for water supply and environmental assessment.
Valorization of Solid Food Waste as a Source of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids using Aurantiochytrium sp. L3W
Authors: Suenaga Toshikazu , Nakai Satoshi , Umehara Akira , Nishijima Wataru , Gotoh Takehiko , Humaidah Nurlaili
Published: September 2022

Purpose: This study aimed at valorizing solid food waste containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).
Methods: Aurantiochytrium sp. L3W that produces DHA and EPA was cultivated on eight types of solid food waste: sake lees (SL), crown daisy, Japanese mustard spinach (JMS), soy sauce residue, lemon peel (LP), orange peel, grape skin, and Hiroshimana old pickle (HOP). The biomass mixture of the remaining food waste and strain L3W was analyzed for DHA and EPA. To characterize the types of food waste, the leachability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and dissolved nitrogen (DN) were compared.
Results: The strain L3W grew on both pasteurized and unsterilized food waste such as SL and JMS. Elution of DOC and DN from the food waste might be a factor affecting the growth of strain L3W. However, the strain L3W might utilize solid-state organic compounds in JMS. Despite the unsterile conditions, the biomass mixture of SL contained both DHA and EPA, whereas DHA was found in the biomass mixtures of JMS, LP and HOP, thereby confirming the valorization of these types of solid food waste. Unsterile mass cultivation of the strain L3W using SL and HOP in a 200 L tank also produced a biomass mixture containing 12.6 mg-DHA/g and 0.217 mg-EPA/g. These DHA and EPA contents were 1500-times and 37-times higher, respectively, than that in commercial poultry feed, indicating that these mixtures could be used as an additive in poultry feed.
Optimal insertion depth of central venous catheter through the right internal jugular vein, verified by transesophageal echocardiography
Authors: Lee Jung-Man , Park Ji-Hoon , Oh Sohee , Kang Yeonsoo , Lee Jiwon
Published: September 2022

This prospective observational study investigated the optimal insertion depth of the central venous catheter through the right internal jugular vein using transesophageal echocardiography. After tracheal intubation, the anesthesiologist inserted a probe for esophageal echocardiography into the patient’s esophagus. The investigators placed the catheter tip 2 cm above the crista terminalis with echocardiography, which was defined as the optimal point. We measured the inserted length of the catheter. Pearson correlation tests were performed with the measured optimal depth and some patient parameters. We made a new formula for placing the catheter at the optimal position. A total of 89 subjects were enrolled in this trial. The correlation coefficient between the measured optimal depth and the patient’s parameters was highest for patient height (0.703, p < 0.001). We made a new formula of ‘height (cm)/10–1.5 cm’. The accuracy rate of this formula for the optimal zone was 71.9% (95% confidence interval; 62.4–81.4%), which was highest among the previous formulas or guidelines, when we compared. In conclusion, the central venous catheter tip was evaluated with transesophageal echocardiography, and we could make a new formula of ‘height (cm)/10–1.5’, which seemed to be better than other previous guidelines.
Synthesis of gold nanoparticles from Metarhizium anisopliae for management of blast disease of rice and its effect on soil biological index and physicochemical properties
Authors: Kaman Pranjal , Dutta Pranab , Bhattacharyya Ashok
Published: September 2022

Aims: The aim of this experiment was to synthesized gold nanoparticles from entomopathogen fungi Metarhizium anisopliae, an indigenous biocntrol agent and its antifungal activity against Magnaporthe grisea and its effect on soil biological index and physicochemical properties.
Methods:Biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles was done by following standard protocol and characterized by different equipments. soil biological and ph
ysicochemical properties was carried out by following standard protocol.
Results:Formation of gold nanoparticles were confirmed by UV-VIS spectroscopy study with absorption peaks at 550 nm. FTIR study showed that synthesized gold nanoparticle has all the required functional groups like OH, N-H, C-H and COO-. Study on surface properties of nanoparticles by using zetasizer resulted that gold nanoparticle from Metarhizium anisopliae was found to be negative and were stable in nature with zeta potential value of -20.7 mV. DLS analysis showed that the average size of the biosynthesized gold nanoparticles is 32.54 nm with polydispersity index of 0.560. TEM study showed that shape of the biosynthesized nanoparticle is from triangular to quasihedral and the size range from 9-54nm. Antifungal activity of gold nanoparticles at 150 ppm significantly inhibit the mycelia growth of the pathogens as compared to the Tryclozole @ 600 ppm
Conclusions : A positive effect was found on soil biological index and physicochemical properties of soil along with reduction of disease incidence when rice seedling was treated as seedling dip treatment + foliar spray + Soil application @ 150ppm of biosynthesized gold nanoparticles.
Multi-Characteristic Reinforcement of Horizontally Integrated TENet Based on Wrist Bone Development Criteria for Pediatric Bone Age Assessment
Authors: Jian Kunyuan , Yang Mengning , Wang Simin , Song Cui , Li Shuxiang
Published: September 2022

Pediatric bone age assessment (BAA) is an essential human physiological examination that reflects human growth potential and sexual maturation trends. In clinical practice, the "Methodology for Bone Maturation and Evaluation of the Wrist in Chinese Adolescent Children" (CHN-05) is a widely used method for BAA by Chinese radiologists. CHN-05 adopts the metacarpal length (ML) as well as the metacarpal margin (MM) as reference standards to estimate bone age. Inspired by the semantic description of CHN-05, we propose a new model, called a topology and edge map composed of a network(TENet), for automatic bone age assessment. In TENet, we design a hand topology module to recognize key hand locations and extract structural semantics. In addition, we devise an edge feature enhancement module to supply precise skeletal edge information throughout the training process. Our model can detect the overall message of edges alongside the local message of topology for the purpose of multi-feature horizontally fused assessment of bone age. Experimental results show that our TENet achieves a state-of-the-art model performance of 5.35 mean absolute error (MAE) on the public dataset RSNA. Since our model for designing follows CHN-05 semantic logic, it is reliable and interpretable in terms of clinical use.
A sex-specific thermogenic neurocircuit induced by stressful olfactory inputs.
Authors: Jovanovic Predrag , Morones Nancy , Pool Allan-Hermann , wang Yidan , Novinbakht Edward , Keshishian Nareg , Jang Kaitlyn , Oka Yuki , Riera Celine
Published: September 2022

When detecting danger signals, animals exhibit adaptive changes in physiology and behavior aimed at increasing survival. In small prey animals, such as rodents, olfactory information plays a fundamental role in the perception of their environment and predator avoidance. Exposure to predation has been associated with reduced fatness in male rodents, but whether similar responses exist in both sexes is poorly understood. Exactly how the nervous system regulates weight in the context of danger perception remains unknown. Here we identify a sex-specific response leading to increased energy expenditure and elevated corticosterone in female mice exposed to predator smell or global stimulation of mitral and tufted cells of the olfactory bulb (OB). This response is absent in male mice and is not attenuated by gonadectomy in females. A population of neurons in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH), selectively activated by aversive olfactory signals also receives polysynaptic afferents from mitral and tufted cells of the main OB (MOB). Cell sorting of projection neurons in the DMH receiving olfactory inputs and single-nucleus RNA-sequencing identify cholecystokinin (Cck)-expressing neurons as putative recipients of olfactory inputs. Chemogenetic stimulation of DMHCCK neurons recapitulates the effects of aversive olfactory stimulation on female energy expenditure. Taken together, our results suggest the existence of a female heightened stress reaction recruiting DMHCCK neurons to promote high energy utilization.
Investigating the Relationship between COVID-19 and Mental Health: A Survey of Stress, Loneliness, and Substance Abuse among the US General Population
Authors: Strayhorn Terrell
Published: September 2022

Background
Health officials have called for more information about the mental or psychological consequences of COVID-19 on individuals, especially in the US general population where COVID rates are remarkably high.
Aims
This exploratory study aimed to understand stress, loneliness and substance abuse among the US general population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
A cross-sectional study comprising 1,203 respondents to a controlled-access, web-based survey was conducted.
Results
Study results reveal statistically significant differences in stress (p<0.001), loneliness (p<0.001), and substance (ab)use (p<0.001), especially illicit (non-prescription) drug use, between those with COVID-19 or related symptoms and those without. Effect size estimates indicate small to moderate effects, ranging from 0.178 to 0.276, consistent with prior studies based on past outbreaks.
Conclusions
Findings have significant implications for mental health practitioners, community organizations, and federal agencies in terms of policy, practice, and future research.
Shape-stable composite phase change materials encapsulated by Lignin-based ordered porous carbon for thermal energy storage
Authors: Pan Hong , Li Tianyang , Xu Lihui , Li Keting , Shen Yong , Ni Kai
Published: September 2022

This paper showed two bio-based shape-stable composite phase change materials which were prepared through a convenient vacuum impregnation method. Lignin-based ordered porous carbon (LOC) was the porous supporting material, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and paraffin (PA) was the phase change substance in this work. The maximum loading of PCMs in the obtained LOC/PEG and LOC/PA are 70% and 75%, respectively, and their phase transition enthalpy (ΔHm) are also as high as 81.5 J·g‒1 and 88.5 J·g‒1, respectively. In addition, the obtained LOC/PA showed better thermal management capabilities and better thermal stability after infrared thermography tests compared to LOC/PEG. Considering the low cost and excellent properties, the obtained lignin-based ordered porous carbon composite phase change material has a promising future for practical applications in thermal energy storage.
Usefulness of the Ultrasound Measurement of the Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter to Detect Intracranial Hypertension.
Authors: Yic Christian , Pontet Julio , Mercado Mauricio , Muñoz Matias , Biestro Alberto
Published: September 2022

Objectives:
To determine the predictive value of the measurement of the diameter of the optic nerve sheath (ONSD) with ocular ultrasonography compared to invasive intracranial pressure (ICP) measurement for the detection of intracranial hypertension (ICH).
Design: Prospective, observational study.
Setting: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of two tertiary university hospitals in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Patients: We studied 56 adult patients of both sexes, over 18 years of age, who required sedation, mechanical ventilation, and invasive ICP monitoring (patients with severe, traumatic and non-traumatic AEI) with a Glascow Coma Score (GCS) equal to or less than 8 on admission to the ICU.
Interventions: This was a study that utilized non-invasive (minimal risk) ultrasonography in patients admitted to the ICU.
Measurements and main results: In our study, a logistic regression model was performed in which it was observed that the variable ONSD is statistically significant with a p value of 0.00803 (<0.05). This model estimates and predicts the probability that a patient will have an ICP greater than 20 mmHg.
From the analysis of the cut-off points, it is observed that a value of 5.65 mm of ONSD maximizes the sensitivity (92.9%) of the method (a greater number of individuals with ICP > 20 mmHg are correctly identified).
Conclusions: In sedated neurocritical patients, with structural Acute Brain Injury, the ONSD measurement strongly correlates with the ICP values measured invasively.
Security of medical information: Case study of the SMART2C system
Authors: DAASSA Asma , Ghannouchi Sonia Ayachi , Machhout Mohsen , Aguili Taoufik
Published: September 2022

In spite of the importance of security in process models, the domain of BPM and BPMS which stand for "Business Process Management" and "Business Process Management System", provide only little support for securing sensitive data. Nevertheless, privacy and confidentiality in BPMS solutions is still missing. This is particularly required for e-health applications. In this paper, we address the problem of privacy requirements and discuss data encryption approaches for personal information of patients and doctors in the database of a BPMS solutions in Intelligent assistance system for a COVID-19 crisis unit (SMART2C).
The natural capital of the Colombian Pacific basin. Challenges for a megadiverse region with little Government assistance
Authors: Agudelo Cesar Augusto Ruiz , Bonilla Francisco de Paula Gutierrez
Published: September 2022

The Pacific region is considered a biodiversity hotspot and presents high species endemic levels. The Colombian Pacific basin occupies an area of approx. eight million hectares, located in the country's west. The literature about the economic valuation of ecosystem services (ES) and the spatial information on natural resources in the Colombian Pacific basin was revised through various information sources to document the earliest approximation to the state, spatial distribution, and economic value of the natural capital at the scale of biomes, specific ecosystems, and political-administrative units. Our assessment estimated a natural capital loss of 40 billion Int.$2020/year (15% of Colombian GDP in 2020) and a remnant natural capital worth 139 billion Int.$2020/year (51% of Colombia's GDP in 2020) for 15 ecosystem services. This research establishes that a potential expansion in livestock production systems will generate an additional loss of natural capital between six and eight billion Int.$2020/year. Additionally, we include an analysis based on the GLOBIO4 initiative models, identifying future natural capital losses between 7.5 and 7.6 billion Int.$2020/year. Lastly, the policy challenges and gaps in research and management concerning this remaining natural capital in the Colombian Pacific basin are pointed out.
The Dietary Supplementation of Copper and Zinc Nanoparticles Improves Health Condition of Young Dairy Calves by Reducing the Incidence of Diarrhea and Boosting Immune Function and Antioxidant Activity
Authors: Pandey Pooja , Kumar Muneendra , Kumar Vinod , Kushwaha Raju , Vaswani Shalini , Kumar Avinash , Singh Yajuvendra , Shukla Pankaj Kumar
Published: September 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of nano copper (nano-Cu) and nano zinc (nano-Zn) supplementation on the biomarkers of immunityand antioxidant and health status attributes in young dairy calves. Twenty-four young cattle calves were randomly assigned into four groups (6 calves per group) on body weight and age basis for a period of 120 days. Feeding regimen was same in all the groups except that these were supplemented with 0.0 mg nano Cu and nano Zn (control), 10 mg nano Cu (nanoCu10), 32 mg nano Zn (nanoZn32) and combination of nano Cu and nano Zn (nanoCu10+nanoZn32) per kg dry matter (DM) basis in four respective groups. Supplementation of nano Cu along with nano Zn improves immune response which was evidenced from higher immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM), immunoglobulin A (IgA), total immunoglobulin (TIg) and Zn sulphate turbidity (ZST) units and lower plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and cortisol innanoCu10+nanoZn32group. There were no effect of treatment on the plasma concentrations of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ). Antioxidant status was also better in thenanoCu10+nanoZn32group as evidenced from lower concentrations of malondialdehyde (MDA) and higher activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), ceruloplasmin (Cp) and total antioxidant status (TAS). However, treatment did not exert any effect on catalase (CAT) activity. Although the nano Cu or nano Zn supplementation, either alone or in combination, did not exert any effect on growth performance or body condition score (BCS) but frequency of diarrhea and incidence of diarrhea was lower while faecal consistency score (FCS) and attitude score were better in thenanoCu10+nanoZn32groups. In control group, one calves found affected with joint ill and two calves were found affected with navel ill. During the experimental period, none of the calf in all four groups was found affected with pneumonia. The findings of this study revealed that, dietary supplementation of nano Cu in combination with nano Zn improved the health status of young dairy calves by improving immunity and antioxidant status.
Long-term care needs and the risk of household poverty across Europe: A comparative secondary data study
Authors: Casanova Georgia , Lillini Roberto , Moreno Carolina , Lamura Giovanni
Published: September 2022

Population ageing and rising poverty are two of the most pressing issues today, even in Western European nations. In parallel, the risk of poverty is also growing as a result of the recent global economic crisis and the COVID-19 containment measures, which have reduced individual and collective productivity and had a negative impact on household income. This study intends to explore the relationship between long-term care (LTC) needs and the risk of poverty at the household level in eight European countries selected to represent the different care regimes in Europe.
The main international databases were scoured for study variables. These variables were categorized according to the following conceptual areas: home care, residential care, health expenditure, service coverage, cash benefits, private services, population, family, education, employment, poverty, disability and care recipients, and life expectancy. The statistical analyses were conducted as described hereafter: analysis of the Pearson’s Bivariate Correlation between the dependent variable and all other variables; a Multivariable Linear Regression Model between the Poverty Index (dependent variable) and the covariates identified in the preceding step; a check for geographical clustering effects and a reduced Multivariable Linear Regression Model for each identified European cluster.
The variables that addressed the risk of poverty pertained to the area of policy intervention and service provision (e.g., index of the service’s territorial coverage and the proportion of 65+ people receiving integrated home care).
Rising private out-of-pocket health expenditures and the proportion of “poor” couples with at least one child are two factors that contribute significantly to the rise in poverty.
The results of this study reveal the existence of a clear correlation between the need for LTC and the risk of poverty in households across Europe. These results highlight the central relevance of LTC policies, which are often still treated as marginal and sectoral, for the future sustainability of integrated care strategies.
Is Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation Effective and Safety for Treating and Managing Faecal Incontinence (FI) Compared to Sham Electrical Stimulation? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Luo Can , Yue Fuping , Han Yixian , Wei Dongmei , Pang Kaiyin , Niu Xiaoyu
Published: September 2022

Purpose
Sacral Nerve Stimulation (SNM) was seen the best second-line treatment for Faecal incontinence (FI). However, expensive, twice operations and complicated procedures blocked the spread of SNM. Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS) were gradually applied to FI with different clinical outcomes, so we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to invest the efficacy and safety of PTNS versus sham electrical stimulation for the treatment of FI.
Method
We searched electric databases including Pubmed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane library. All the studies were limited to randomized controlled trails (RCTs) without limitation about region and race.
Results
Four randomized controlled studies were included in this review, which involved 441 FI adult patients (302 of them received PTNS versus 194 underwent sham electrical stimulation. Our Meta-Analysis showed that PTNS can better reduce the episodes of FI per week compared to control groups (MD=-1.57, 95%CI -2.97 to -0.17, p = 0.03, I2 = 31%). More patients reported more than 50% reductions in FI episodes per week after PTNS (RR = 1.32, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.73, p = 0.04, I2 = 6%). No significant differences existed in any domains of the FI Quality of Life and St Mark’s incontinence scores (MD=-1.44, 95%CI -3.55 to 0.68, p = 0.18, I2 = 81%). No sever events related PTNS had been reported in all participants.
Conclusion
Compared with sham groups, our Meta-analysis demonstrated that PTNS can better reduced FI episodes, but no differences existed in St Mark’s incontinence scores and FI Quality of Life. In the future, multicentric and well-designed trials with longer follow-up periods will be conducted to confirm our conclusions.
Removal efficiencies of emissions of volatile organic compounds by adsorption systems installed in small-scale auto-repair painting operations
Authors: Chun Haejoon , Song Min Young
Published: September 2022

Total hydrocarbon (THC), including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is emitted during the operations of an auto-repair painting workshop. VOCs are especially hazardous pollutants because of their impacts on ozone formation and human health. To reduce the THC generated from small auto-repair painting shops, the Korean government conducts a support program to enable them to shift from an old to a new adsorption system. Although lab-scale evaluations of the pollutant reduction efficiencies of some adsorption devices have been carried out, actual field evaluations are lacking. In this study, three auto-repair shops (one with an old and two with new air pollutant adsorption systems) in Seoul were selected to evaluate their removal efficiencies with respect to THC and VOCs during painting and drying operations. Results show that the THC removal efficiencies were − 41.3–35.4% and 17.2 − 59.2% for the old and new adsorption systems, respectively. The removal efficiencies of the top five VOC species such as butyl acetate, toluene, 1,2,3-trimethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and ethylbenzene were positive (+) and negative (−) for the new and old adsorption systems, respectively. These results provide a theoretical basis that endorses the government support policy for the removal of air pollutants from the emissions of small businesses that are not well managed, such as auto-repair painting, printing, and dry cleaning.
Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus spp isolated in dairy farms and its relationship with the antimicrobial control and treatment of bovine mastitis
Authors: Rodríguez Martha Fabiola , Gomez Arlen Patricia
Published: September 2022

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Staphylococcus strains from dairy farms has been attributed to the use of antibiotics in humans and animals. We conducted this research to identify the AMR genotypes and phenotypes of Staphylococcus spp isolates from different sources on dairy farms and their relationship with the control and treatment of mastitis. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed on 349 Staphylococcus isolates, identified by Vitek® 2 compact automated system and Maltitoff, from milk of cows with subclinical mastitis, teats of cows with and without mastitis, nasal mucosa of workers, and the environment of dairy farms. AMR genes were identified in S. aureus isolates by PCR. 152 S. aureus and 197 non-aureus staphylococci (NAS) showed resistance mainly to penicillin (54.1% and 32.4%) and ampicillin (50.3% and 27.0%), which was associated with the use of these antibiotics on farms. S. aureus isolated from workers and the environment exhibited significantly higher AMR compared to β-lactams. The identification of the blaZ (83.9%), aacA-aphD (48.6%), ermC (23.5%), tetK (12.9%) and mecA (11.8%) genes in S. aureus had low correspondence with the AMR phenotype. We conclude that the use of β-lactam antibiotics influences the expression of AMR on Staphylococcus circulating in dairy farms and that environmental and human isolates of S. aureus may be involved in the persistence of resistant strains in dairy farms.
Towards a High-density Photonic Tensor Core Enabled by Intensity-modulated Microrings and Photonic Wire Bonding
Authors: Luan Enxiao , Yu Shangxuan , Salmani Mahsa , Nezam Mohammadreza , Shastri Bhavin , Chrostowski Lukas , Eshaghi Armaghan
Published: September 2022

We propose a photonic processing unit for high-density analog computation using intensity-modulation-based microringmodulators (IM-MRMs). The output signal at the fixed resonance wavelength is directly intensity modulated by changing theextinction ratio (ER) of the IM-MRM. Thanks to the intensity-modulated approach, the proposed photonic processing unit isless sensitive to the inter-channel crosstalk. Simulation results reveal that the proposed design offers a maximum of 17-foldincrease in wavelength channel density compared to its wavelength-modulated counterpart. Therefore, a photonic tensor coreof size 512 × 512 can be realized by current foundry lines. A convolutional neural network (CNN) simulator with 6-bit precisionis built for handwritten digit recognition task using the proposed modulator. Simulation results show an overall accuracy of 96.76%, when the wavelength channel spacing suffers a 3-dB power penalty. To experimentally validate the system, 1000 dotproduct operations are carried out with a 4-bit signed system on a co-packaged photonic chip, where optical and electrical I/Osare realized using photonic and electrical wire bonding techniques. Study of the measurement results show a mean squarederror (MSE) of 3.09 × 10^−3 for dot product calculations. The proposed IM-MRM, therefore, renders the crosstalk issue tractableand provides a solution for the development of large-scale optical information processing systems with multiple wavelengths.
Achieving a long-life 165 Wh/kg sodium-ion pouch-cell via regulating intergrowth structure in layered oxide cathode with anionic redox
Authors: Qiao Yu , Wang Xiaotong , Zhang Qinghua , Zhao Chen , Li Haifeng , Zhang Baodan , Zeng Guifan , Tang Yonglin , Huang Zhonghuan , Hwang Inhui , Zhang Haitang , Zhou Shiyuan , Qiu Yongfu , Xiao Yinguo , Cabana Jordi , Sun Cheng-Jun , Amine Khalil , Wang Qingsong , Xu Gui-Liang , Gu Lin , Sun Shi-Gang
Published: September 2022

The Na-O-Li configurations in P2-type sodium layered transition metal (TM) oxide cathode can trigger additional oxygen redox at high charging voltage (deep de-sodiation). However, the P-type to O-type phase transition and irreversible TM migration would be simultaneously aggravated at high state-of-charge, resulting in structural distortion. Herein, we demonstrate that excessive de-sodiation of Na0.67Li0.1Fe0.37Mn0.53O2 (NLFMO) induces Li removal from lattice and the formation of neighboring O-stacking faults with an OP4-O2 intergrowth structure, which is the chief culprit of structural distortion. Regulating Li migration from the pristine TM layer (LiTM) to the alkali-metal layer (LiAM) would sustain a repetitive P-stacking state (not evolve into a deteriorated neighboring O-stacking), and tune the reversible movement of TM ions during cycling. Accurately regulating the O/P-intergrowth structure (within the OP4 boundary phase) does not bring any obvious trade-off on capacity, but enhances the structural stability of NLFMO cathode, achieving a long-life 165 Wh/kg pouch-cell with cationic/anionic redox activities.
Fabrication and in vitro assessment of a biomimetic tri-layer PGS/PCL scaffold loaded with Heparin and PRP for tissue engineering of vascualar grafts
Authors: Ghebleh Ayda , Kharazi Anousheh Zargar
Published: September 2022

The most important challenges in tissue engineering of vascular graft (for under 6 mm diameter grafts) is attributed to the inability to remodeling and the patency of the graft. In this research, functionally graded materials are designed to mimic naturally occurring structure in the vessels and a new biomimetic scaffold whit simultaneous release of anti-clotting drugs and growth factors was designed to overcome the mentioned challenges. The scaffold was made of PGS/PLA blend in three layers, where the ratio of the polymers was 3:1 in the inner layer, 2:1 in the middle layer, and 1:1 in the outer layer. Heparin as an anticoagulant and Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) as a growth factor release function was loaded in the middle and inner layers respectively. The scaffold was evaluated from Physical, mechanical, drug release, hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity characterization. Results showed that adding drugs, disturb uniformity of the fibers. It also improved hydrophilicity of the scaffold. The tri-layer scaffold showed a 40 % weight loss after 30 days of soaking in PBS but no delamination was seen in the samples. Ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus of tri-layer scaffold containing dugs were 0.798±0.103 Mpa and 13.8±1.11 MPa respectively. The integrity of the layers was preserved due to the gradual change in the composition from the inner to the outer layer. The scaffold showed no cytotoxicity also fully blood compatibility. This three-layer biomimetic scaffold can promise to achieve ideal tissue engineering vascular grafts however, more preclinical evaluation should be performed in future research.
Specific contamination symptoms are associated with experiencing a limited response of cognitive-behavioral therapy in pediatric patients with OCD
Authors: Duholm Charlotte Steen , Jensen Sanne , Rask Charlotte Ulrikka , Thomsen Per Hove , Ivarsson Tord , Skarphedinsson Gudmundur , Torp Nor Christian , Weidle Bernhard , Nissen Judith Becker , Højgaard Davíð R.M.A
Published: September 2022

A recent study identified three distinct OCD treatment-response trajectories during and after treatment in a large pediatric sample, where higher levels of contamination symptoms predicted a limited response to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This study is an extension of this, examining what characterizes limited responders to CBT regarding contamination symptoms from baseline to 3-year follow-up. The study sample comprised 269 patients with OCD, aged 7–17 years. All participants received stepped-care treatment with manualized CBT. Differences in single item-reporting between the three groups was examined using linear mixed-effect modeling. Limited responders were characterized by a higher symptom load across all OCD symptom categories at 3-year follow-up, dominated by contamination symptoms. In the limited responder group, five contamination items showed persistence from baseline to 3-year follow-up. The results indicate that specific contamination symptoms may play an important role for a certain group of young patients with OCD and their response to CBT.
Seasonal household variation in harvested rainwater availability in Siaya County, Kenya: a modelling analysis
Authors: Wright Jim , Yu Weiyu , Wanza Peggy , Kwoba Emmah , Mwangi Thumbi , Okotto-Okotto Joseph , Silva Diogo Trajano Gomes da
Published: September 2022

Rainwater harvesting reliability, the proportion of days annually when rainwater demand is fully met, is challenging to estimate from cross-sectional household surveys that underpin international monitoring. This study aims to develop and evaluate a rainwater harvesting reliability model that integrates household surveys with gridded precipitation data. We interviewed 234 households in rural Siaya County, Kenya in two survey campaigns, administering a standard questionnaire that also identified the source of household stored drinking-water. Logistic mixed effects models estimated stored rainwater availability from household and climatological variables, with random effects accounting for unobserved heterogeneity. Household rainwater availability was significantly associated with seasonality, storage capacity, and access to alternative improved water sources. Most households (96.9%) that consumed rainwater faced insufficient supply of rainwater available for potable needs throughout the year, with intermittencies during the short rains for most households with alternative improved sources. Although not significant, stored rainwater lasts longer for households whose only improved water source was rainwater (299.6 ± 50.7 days) compared to those having multiple improved sources (136.3 ± 81.3 days). Such modelling analysis could enable rainwater harvesting reliability estimation, and thereby targeted follow-up fieldwork to support rainwater harvesting.