bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of a self-management mobile app on the quality of life of women with breast cancer: a study in a developing country
Authors: Mohammadzadeh Zahra , Eghtedar Samereh , Ayatollahi Haleh , Jebraeily Mohamad
Published: November 2022

Background

Self-management involves taking responsibility for personal health and taking the initiative to do so. This can be accomplished by learning information and skills that will help consider the difficulties may encounter during and after cancer treatment. With this perspective, we have aimed to develop a self-management mobile app for women with breast cancer in Iran and evaluate its impact on the quality of life of patients.

Method

This study is a methodological study in 2021. We developed the app during three phases. The first phase aimed at identifying educational content and designing user experience, the second phase aimed at developing and implementing the app, and the third phase aimed at evaluating pre-and post-implementation.

Result

In this study, an Android app for self-management women with breast cancer was developed. According to the results of the pre-and post-implementations among the most significant changes were in the quality of life level, highest respectively: social avoidance (Pre: 6.41–Post: 3.56), negative feelings (Pre: 5.93 - Post: 3.40), sexual function (Pre: 6.80 - Post: 5.04), sexual interest (Pre: 6.41 - Post: 4.75) and pain (Pre: 6.37 - Post: 4.97). And least the changes respectively: distress-family (Pre: 7 - Post: 7), distress-recurrence (Pre: 4.49 - Post: 4.38), benefits (Pre: 2.47 - Post: 3.12), appearance (Pre: 4.10 - Post: 3.32). Also, we calculated the usability evaluation of this app with the system usability scale (SUS); the overall rating score was 83/100, an excellent level (> 80.3), and a grade A.

Conclusion

The study shows that a breast cancer self-management app can support and improve the quality of life of women with breast cancer. We conducted this study to show that by developing a self-management app, women with breast cancer can improve their quality of life, − by increasing their self-management skills.
Effect of mobile-based self-management application on stroke outcomes: a study protocol for triple blinded randomized controlled trial
Authors: Tadayon Hamidreza , Farzandipour Mehrdad , Nabovati Ehsan , Akbari Hossein , Masoud Seyed Ali
Published: November 2022

Background

Stroke is the main leading cause of long-term disabilities in the world. This protocol will be implemented for a study to evaluate the effects of an Android-based self-care application on patients with stroke.

Methods

The first stage will include the development of an android-based application using JAVA programming language for developing the user interface and ASP.NET Core for developing Web server. The second stage will be conducted using triple blinded randomized clinical trial (RCT). The sample size will include 60 patients with recent stroke and partial paralysis of limbs, who will be divided into two groups of intervention and control through permuted block randomization method. Patients in both groups will receive usual medical care, but those in the intervention group will also use an Android-based application for a period of two months. Outcomes will be assessed using valid and reliable questionnaires.

Discussion

The assessed outcomes will include stroke severity using National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, ability to perform activities of daily living using Barthel Index (BI) score, depression rate using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) score, quality of life using EQ-5D-3L score, medication adherence using Modified Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) score, patient satisfaction using Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) score and the number and type of complications in patients in two groups. These outcomes will be assessed at baseline, after two months and after three months from the beginning of the intervention. Intervention effects on the measured variables will also be evaluated using appropriate statistical tests based on the type of variable distribution. Potential consequences of the study might be the improvement of the measured variables in the intervention group compared to that of the control group. The expected results are that the intervention may significantly improve the status of the measured variables in the intervention group compared to that of the control group. If the outcomes of the intervention group do not change significantly compared to those of the control group, it can be due to different reasons. However, this can most likely be attributed to incorrect or insufficient use of the application by patients.

Trial registration: This protocol is registered in the Iranian registration of clinical trial (IRCT) on November 7, 2020 with the code IRCT20201015049037N1. URL: https://irct.ir/trial/51674
Designing synthetic consortia of Trichoderma strains that improve antagonistic activities against pathogens and cucumber seedling growth
Authors: Hao Dazhi , Lang Bo , Wang Yongkun , Wang Xinhua , Liu Tong , Chen Jie
Published: November 2022

Background

Trichoderma spp. are important agricultural biocontrol microorganisms that are often used as effective components of microbial fungicides and microbial biofertilizers. However, most of these products are prepared by a single strain in monoculture, which significantly limits the biocontrol efficiency and stability of Trichoderma products. Therefore, the establishment of a design and screening approach for consortia with multi-Trichoderma strains for co-culture is of great importance to overcome the shortage of traditional Trichoderma biocontrol products.

Results

First, 15 Trichoderma strains were screened in terms of mycelium growth rate, antagonistic activity to a variety of pathogens, stress tolerance to high temperature and salt stress, and cucumber seedling growth promotion level. Then, the combinations of Trichoderma asperellum GDSF1009 (CGMCC NO. 9512), Trichoderma asperelloides Z4-1 (CGMCC NO. 40245), Trichoderma harzianum 10569 (CGMCC NO. 40246), and T. asperellum 10264 (CGMCC NO. 22404) were finally screened as an optimal consortium for co-culture underlying the levels of plant growth-promoting and antagonistic activity to Fusarium oxysporum and seed germination promotion relative to the monoculture of a single strain. Consortia with multiple co-cultured strains were found to generate larger amounts of free amino acids than those from the monoculture of a single strain, and a pot assay also indicated that metabolites of co-cultures were able to promote cucumber seedling growth superior to that with monoculture of a single strain, even though the promotion was better than from simply mixed cultures from each of the four Trichoderma strains. Taken together, the co-culture consortia composed of the four compatible interactive Trichoderma strains was a potential novel multiple strain biocontrol agent based on the combination of synthetic consortia design and co-culture. In the field experiment, we found that the growth-promoting effect of the co-culture fermentation filtrate was better than that of the single culture fermentation filtrate. Compared with T-Z4-1, T-1009, T-10264 and T-10569, the plant height of cucumber was increased by 22.99%, 42.06%, 24.18% and 30.09%, respectively, and the stem diameter was increased by 16.59%, 18.83%, 13.65% and 14.70%, respectively.

Conclusion

An approach to designing and screening Trichoderma consortia for co-culture was established. The consortia co-culture presented a better performance in antagonistic activity and cucumber growth compared with a monoculture of a single strain. Thus, it is of great significance to lay the foundation for the creation of a novel Trichoderma biofungicide or biomanure to resist cucumber Fusarium wilt and promote cucumber growth.
A split influenza vaccine formulated with a combination adjuvant composed of alpha-d-glucan nanoparticles and a STING agonist elicits cross-protective immunity in pigs
Authors: Patil V. , Hernandez-Franco J. F. , Yadagiri G. , Bugybayeva D. , Dolatyabi S. , Feliciano-Ruiz N. , Schrock J. , Hanson J. , Ngunjiri J. , HogenEsch H. , Renukaradhya G. J.
Published: November 2022

Background

Swine influenza A viruses (SwIAVs) pose an economic and pandemic threat, and development of novel effective vaccines is of critical significance. We evaluated the performance of split swine influenza A virus (SwIAV) H1N2 antigens with a plant-derived nanoparticle adjuvant alone (Nano-11) [Nano11-SwIAV] or in combination with the synthetic stimulator of interferon genes (STING) agonist ADU-S100 (NanoS100-SwIAV). Specific pathogen free (SPF) pigs were vaccinated twice via intramuscular (IM) or intradermal (ID) routes and challenged with a virulent heterologous SwIAV H1N1-OH7 virus.

Results

Animals vaccinated IM or ID with NanoS100-SwIAV had significantly increased cross-reactive IgG and IgA titers in serum, nasal secretion and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid at day post challenge 6 (DPC6). Furthermore, NanoS100-SwIAV ID vaccinates, even at half the vaccine dose compared to their IM vaccinated counterparts, had significantly increased frequencies of CXCL10+ myeloid cells in the tracheobronchial lymph nodes (TBLN), and IFNγ+ effector memory T-helper/memory cells, IL-17A+ total T-helper/memory cells, central and effector memory T-helper/memory cells, IL-17A+ total cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs), and early effector CTLs in blood compared with the Nano11-SwIAV group demonstrating a potential dose-sparing effect and induction of a strong IL-17A+ T-helper/memory (Th17) response in the periphery. However, the frequencies of IFNγ+ late effector CTLs and effector memory T-helper/memory cells, IL-17A+ total CTLs, late effector CTLs, and CXCL10+ myeloid cells in blood, as well as lung CXCL10+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells were increased in NanoS100-SwIAV IM vaccinated pigs. Increased expression of IL-4 and IL-6 mRNA was observed in TBLN of Nano-11 based IM vaccinates following challenge. Furthermore, the challenge virus load in the lungs and nasal passage was undetectable in NanoS100-SwIAV IM vaccinates by DPC6 along with reduced macroscopic lung lesions and significantly higher virus neutralization titers in lungs at DPC6. However, NanoS100-SwIAV ID vaccinates exhibited significant reduction of challenge virus titers in nasal passages and a remarkable reduction of challenge virus in lungs.

Conclusions

Despite vast genetic difference (77% HA gene identity) between the H1N2 and H1N1 SwIAV, the NanoS100 adjuvanted vaccine elicited cross protective cell mediated immune responses, suggesting the potential role of this combination adjuvant in inducing cross-protective immunity in pigs.

Graphical Abstract
Cytomegalovirus infection reduced CD70 expression, signaling and expansion of viral specific memory CD8+ T cells in healthy human adults
Authors: Lu Jian , Chen Guobing , Sorokina Arina , Nguyen Thomas , Wallace Tonya , Nguyen Cuong , Dunn Christopher , Wang Stephanie , Ellis Samantha , Shi Guixin , McKelvey Julia , Sharov Alexei , Liu Yu-Tsueng , Schneck Jonathan , Weng Nan-ping
Published: November 2022

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection leads to effector memory CD8+ T cell expansion and is associated with immune dysfunction in older adults. However, the molecular alterations of CMV-specific CD8+ T cells in CMV infected healthy young and middle-aged adults has not been fully characterized.

Results

We compared CD8+ T cells specific for a CMV epitope (pp65495-503, NLV) and an influenza A virus (IAV) epitope (M158-66, GIL) from the same young and middle-aged healthy adults with serum positive for anti-CMV IgG. Compared to the IAV-specific CD8+ T cells, CMV-specific CD8+ T cells contained more differentiated effector memory (TEM and TEMRA) cells. Isolated CMV-specific central memory (TCM) but not naïve (TN) cells had a significant reduced activation-induced expansion in vitro compared to their IAV-specific counterparts. Furthermore, we found that CD70 expression was reduced in CMV-specific CD28+CD8+ TCM and that CD70+ TCM had better expansion in vitro than did CD70- TCM. Mechanistically, we showed that CD70 directly enhanced MAPK phosphorylation and CMV-specific CD8+ TCM cells had a reduced MAPK signaling upon activation. Lastly, we showed that age did not exacerbate reduced CD70 expression in CMV- specific CD8+ TCM cells.

Conclusion

Our findings showed that CMV infection causes mild expansion of CMV-NLV-specific CD8+ T cells, reduced CD70 expression and signaling, and proliferation of CMV-NLV-specific CD8+ TCM cells in young and middle-aged healthy adults and revealed an age-independent and CMV infection-specific impact on CD8+ memory T cells.
Correlations between radiological and histological findings of bone remodelling and root resorption in a rodent cleft model
Authors: Möhlhenrich Stephan Christian , Kniha Kristian , Heitzer Marius , Magnuska Zuzanna , Hermanns-Sachweh Benita , Gremse Felix , Chhatwani Sachin , Hölzle Frank , Modabber Ali , Danesh Gholamreza
Published: November 2022

Background

The evaluation of bone remodelling and dental root resorption can be performed by histological techniques or micro-computed tomography (micro-CT). The present study aimed to evaluate the relationship between these two procedures in the context of cleft repair in a rat model.

Methods

The reconstructed maxillae and the orthodontically-moved first molar of 12 rats were analysed for correlations between the histological and radiological findings retrospectively. The alveolar cleft repairs were performed using bone autografts or (human) xenografts. Four weeks after the operation, the intervention of the first molar protraction was initiated and lasted for eight weeks. The newly formed bone and the root resorption lacunae were determined via histology. In the micro-CT analysis, the average change of bone mineral density (BMD), bone volume fraction (BV/TV), trabecular thickness and trabecular separation of the jaw, as well as the volume of the root resorptions were determined. The Pearson correlation coefficient was applied to study the associations between groups.

Results

Positive correlations were found only between the newly formed bone (histology) and BMD changes (micro-CT) in the autograft group (r = 0.812, 95% CI: 0.001 to 0.979, p = 0.05). The relationship of newly formed bone and BV/TV was similar but not statistically significant (r = 0.691, 95% CI: −0.274 to 0.963, p = 0.013). Regarding root resorption, no significant correlations were found.

Conclusions

Due to the lack of correlation between histological and radiological findings of bone remodelling and the development of root resorptions, both methods should be combined in this cleft model in rats for a comprehensive analysis.
What is an appropriate gestational weight gain for women with gestational diabetes mellitus: based on the adverse pregnancy outcomes of over 12 thousand participants?
Authors: Luo Xiaoqin , Gao Jiayi , He Zhangya , Ji Jing , Zhang Wanyu , Wu Pei , Guo Xiaoxiao , Cao Dan , Xu Zhangrui , Li Chao , Mi Yang
Published: November 2022

Background

Evidence showed possible benefits of a less gestational weight gain (GWG) than the US Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendation in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) pregnancy. Here, we aimed to explore an appropriate GWG range in GDM women according to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

We enrolled all the singleton GDM pregnant women (n = 14,213) from January 2015 to December 2018 in Xi'an, Northwest China. According to the pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), they were classified into the Underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), Normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2), Overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m2) and Obesity (≥ 30.0 kg/m2) group, respectively. Logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). The appropriate ranges of GWG were determined based on a significant protective association (OR < 1).

Results

Totally, 12,712 participants were finally recruited. There were 1180 (9.3%), 9134 (71.9%), 2097 (16.5%), and 301 (2.4%) patients in the Underweight, Normal weight, Overweight, and Obesity groups, respectively. Adverse outcomes increased with the elevation of pre-pregnancy BMI. Among them, the risk of cesarean section was the highest, followed by large for gestational age (LGA), small for gestational age (SGA), preeclampsia, and gestational hypertension. Through the analysis of the risk of adverse outcomes in continuous GWG categories in each group, an ideal GWG range obtained in this study was as follows: 10–15.9 kg, 8–11.9 kg, 6–7.9 kg, and -5–3.9 kg for the Underweight, Normal weight, Overweight and Obesity group, respectively. Furthermore, the ranges in this study were more protective for adverse outcomes than those from IOM.

Conclusions

Based on the adverse pregnancy outcomes of over 12 thousand participants, our findings showed a more stringent GWG range for GDM women than the IOM criteria recommendation.
GA/HbA1c ratio is a simple and practical indicator to evaluate the risk of metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes: an observational study
Authors: Wang Jun-Wei , Jin Chun-Hua , Ke Jiang-Feng , Ma Yi-Lin , Wang Yu-Jie , Lu Jun-Xi , Li Mei-Fang , Li Lian-Xi
Published: November 2022

Background

It is still debatable whether glycated albumin/glycated hemoglobin A1C (GA/HbA1C) ratio is associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), and few studies have been conducted in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association between GA/HbA1C ratio and MAFLD and to evaluate whether GA/HbA1C ratio can be used an indicator of MAFLD in Chinese patients with T2DM.

Methods

This cross-sectional study consisted of 7117 T2DM patients including 3296 men and 3821 women from real-world settings. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed to diagnose MAFLD. In addition to comparing the clinical characteristics among the GA/HbA1C ratio quartile groups, we also investigated the associations of GA/HbA1C ratio and quartiles with MAFLD in T2DM subjects.

Results

There was a significantly decreased trend in the MAFLD prevalence across the GA/HbA1C ratio quartiles (56.3%, 47.4%, 37.8%, and 35.6% for the first, second, third, and fourth quartile, respectively, P < 0.001 for trend) after adjusting for gender, age, and diabetes duration. Fully adjusted Binary logistic regression indicated that both GA/HbA1C ratio (OR: 0.575, 95% CI: 0.471 to 0.702, P < 0.001) and quartiles (P < 0.001 for trend) were inversely associated with the presence of MAFLD among T2DM patients. Additionally, HOMA2-IR values were clearly increased in the T2DM subjects with MAFLD compared with those without MAFLD (P < 0.001), and markedly increased from the highest to the lowest GA/HbA1C ratio quartile (P < 0.001 for trend).

Conclusions

GA/HbA1C ratio is closely and negatively associated with MAFLD in T2DM subjects, which may attribute to that GA/HbA1C ratio reflects the degree of insulin resistance. GA/HbA1C ratio may act as a simple and practical indicator to evaluate the risk of MAFLD in T2DM.
Why epigenetics is (not) a biosocial science and why that matters
Authors: Chiapperino Luca , Paneni Francesco
Published: November 2022

Epigenetic modifications offer compelling evidence of the environmental etiology of complex diseases. Social and biographical conditions, as well as material exposures, all modulate our biology with consequences for risk predispositions and health conditions. Elucidating these complex biosocial loops is one of the main challenges animating epigenetics. Yet, research on the development of epigenetic biomarkers often pulls in a direction that departs from a view of biological determinants of health embedded in their social and material environment. Taking the example of the epigenetics of cardiovascular diseases, this paper illustrates how common understandings of epigenetic biomarkers strongly lean toward considering them as mere targets for molecular intervention, rather than as correlates of a complex biological and social patterning of disease. This reductionism about biosocial dynamics of disease, we argue, hampers the pursuit of the goals epigenetics has given itself (in cardiology and beyond). If epigenetic mechanisms point to the deep socio-environmental embeddedness of our health, we conclude, future designs and methods of this research may require an improved methodological consideration of a biosocial perspective.
Which indicator should be used? A comparison between the incidence and intensity of catastrophic health expenditure: using difference-in-difference analysis
Authors: Koo Jun Hyuk , Jung Hyun Woo
Published: November 2022

Background

Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) represents out-of-pocket payment as a share of household income. Most previous studies have focused on incidence aspects when assessing health policy effects. However, because CHE incidence is a binary variable, the effect of the health policy could not accurately be evaluated. On the contrary, the intensity of CHE is a continuous variable that can yield completely different results from previous studies. This study reassesses the coverage expansion plan for four serious diseases using the intensity of CHE in Korea.

Methods

We used the Korea Health Panel Study from 2013 to 2015 to conduct the analysis. The study population is households with chronic diseases patients. We divided the population into two groups: the policy beneficiary group, i.e., households with a patient of any of the four serious diseases, and the non-beneficiary group. A difference-in-difference model was employed to compare the variation in the intensity and incidence of CHE between the two groups. We defined the incidence of CHE as when the ratio of out-of-pocket medical expenses to household income is more than a threshold of 10%, and the intensity of CHE is the height of the ratio subtracting the threshold 10%.

Results

The increased rate of CHE intensity in households with four serious diseases was lower than that in households with other chronic diseases. The interaction term, which represents the effect of the policy, has a significant impact on the intensity but not on the incidence of CHE.

Conclusions

CHE indicators should be applied differently according to the purpose of policy evaluation. The incidence of CHE should be used as the final achievement indicator, and the intensity of CHE should be used as the process indicator. Furthermore, because CHE has an inherent characteristic that is measured by the ratio of household income to medical expenses, to lower this, a differential out-of-pocket maximum policy for each income class is more appropriate than a policy for strengthening the coverage for specific diseases.
Diatom frustule silica extracted from Melosira nummuloides ameliorates acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury in mice
Authors: Choi Jae Ho , Go Gyung Min , Unno Tatsuya
Published: November 2022

Melosira nummuloides is a type of diatom in the family Melosiraceae. Diatoms are unicellular microalgae widely distributed in aquatic environments. Diatoms are known to be suitable for many industrial and biomedical applications because of their high biocompatibility and ease of use. In this study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of diatom frustule silica (DFS) extracted from Melosira nummuloides on hepatotoxicant-induced liver injury. Hepatoprotective effects of DFS were examined using acetaminophen-induced acute liver injury (ALI) mouse model. We evaluated the hepatoprotective effects through hepatotoxicity, pro-inflammatory cytokines, transcriptional factors, upstream signaling pathways, and histopathological analysis by DFS in an animal model of acetaminophen-induced ALI. Our results showed serum alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase activity and hepatic malondialdehyde formation were significantly attenuated upon DFS administration. DFS also ameliorated glutathione depletion and down-regulated acetaminophen-induced CYP2E1. DFS administration also down-regulated expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines through preventing NF-κB activation by JNK1/2 phosphorylation inhibition. These findings demonstrate that the hepatoprotective effect of DFS is associated with suppression of inflammatory responses in an animal model of acetaminophen-induced ALI.
Coordinated cyber-physical attack considering false overload of lines
Authors: Yang Jun , Sun Guanhang , Yin Jianshu
Published: November 2022

The application of many sensor devices and complex information communication networks in a power system brings new potential threats to the electrical cyber-physical system. In this paper, a coordinated cyber-physical attack method considering false line overload is proposed. Through the combination of physical side attack and information side attack, the false data injection attack is used to cover up the physical attack and create false overload events, leading the dispatcher to make unreasonable scheduling strategies to achieve the purpose of affecting the economic operation of the system. In response to false overload events, this paper proposes a method to select the target line of false overload. At the same time, the output cost of the generator, the cost of load reduction and the number of overload lines are used as the evaluation indices to measure the damage capability of the coordinated attack, and the evaluation indices of different dimensions are normalized using fuzzy methods. Finally, the system losses caused by different attack modes are compared and analyzed through simulation calculations, and the effectiveness of the proposed model is verified.
Diversity of root endophytic bacteria from maize seedling involved in biocontrol and plant growth promotion
Authors: Cun Haichun , Munir Shahzad , He Pengfei , Wu Yixin , He Pengbo , Ahmed Ayesha , Che Hongbing , Li Jian , He Yueqiu
Published: November 2022

Background

Native endophytes from maize could play a vital role in plant protection and growth promotion. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of soil types and different maize varieties on culturable endophytic bacterial diversity and to use potential endophytes as biocontrol agents and plant growth promoters.

Results

Based on rpoB and 16S rRNA genes, one hundred seventy-four (174) endophytes distributed into twenty-five (25) genera were identified, in which the greatest number of isolates were classified into Bacillus (52.30%), followed by Streptomyces (13.22%), Paenibacillus (6.32%), and Pseudomonas (4.60%). Out of the total isolated strains, endophytic strains with total number thirteen (13), eighty-four (84), one hundred and five (105), and nine (9) were able to fix nitrogen, and solubilize calcium phosphate, calcium phytate, and potassium, respectively. Moreover, out of total endophytes; twenty-four (24), thirty-three (33) and twenty-one (21) endophytic strains displayed marked antagonistic effects against important fungal pathogens such as Fusarium graminearum, Rhizoctonia solani and Exserohilum turcicum, respectively.

Conclusions

Soil types play a functional role in culturable endophyte diversity and provide an isolation reference for endophytic reserves with multiple functions such as growth promoters and biocontrol agents.
Hematological and biochemical reference intervals of wild-caught and inhouse adult Indian rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Shah Niraj A. , Bhatt Laxit K. , Patel Rajesh J. , Patel Tushar M. , Patel Nayankumar V. , Trivedi Harshida G. , Patel Nilam R. , Patel Jitendra H. , Patel Satish D. , Sundar Rajesh S. , Jain Mukul R.
Published: November 2022

Background

Nonhuman primates are used for research purposes such as studying diseases and drug discovery and development programs. Various clinical pathology parameters are used as biomarkers of disease conditions in biomedical research. Detailed reports of these parameters are not available for Indian-origin rhesus macaques. To meet the increasing need for information, we conducted this study on 121 adult Indian rhesus macaques (57 wild-sourced and 64 inhouse animals, aged 3–7 years). A total of 18 hematology and 18 biochemistry parameters were evaluated and reported in this study. Data from these parameters were statistically evaluated for significance amongst inhouse and wild-born animals and for differences amongst sexes. The reference range was calculated according to C28-A3 guidelines for reporting reference intervals of clinical laboratory parameters.

Results

Source of the animals and sex appeared to have statistically significant effects on reference values and range. Wild-born animals reported higher WBC, platelets, neutrophils, RBC, hemoglobin, HCT, MCV, and total protein values in comparison to inhouse monkeys. Sex-based differences were observed for parameters such as RBCs, hemoglobin, HCT, creatinine, calcium, phosphorus, albumin, and total protein amongst others.

Conclusions

Through this study, we have established a comprehensive data set of reference values and intervals for certain hematological and biochemical parameters which will help researchers in planning, conducting, and interpreting various aspects of biomedical research employing Indian-origin rhesus monkeys.
The association of kynurenine pathway metabolites with symptom severity and clinical features of bipolar disorder: An overview
Authors: Bartoli Francesco , Cioni Riccardo M. , Cavaleri Daniele , Callovini Tommaso , Crocamo Cristina , Misiak Błażej , Savitz Jonathan B. , Carrà Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

Background

The balance between neurotoxic and neuroprotective effects of kynurenine pathway (KP) components has been recently proposed as a key element in the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) and related mood episodes. This comprehensive overview explored the link of KP with symptom severity and other clinical features of BD.

Methods

We searched Medline, Embase, and PsycInfo electronic databases for studies assessing the association of peripheral and/or central concentrations of KP metabolites with putative clinical features, including symptom severity and other clinical domains in BD.

Results

We included the findings of 13 observational studies investigating the possible variations of KP metabolites according to symptom severity, psychotic features, suicidal behaviors, and sleep disturbances in BD. Studies testing the relationship between KP metabolites and depression severity generated mixed and inconsistent findings. No statistically significant correlations with manic symptoms were found. Moreover, heterogeneous variations of the KP across different clinical domains were shown. Few available studies found (a) higher levels of cerebrospinal fluid kynurenic acid and lower of plasma quinolinic acid in BD with psychotic features, (b) lower central and peripheral picolinic acid levels in BD with suicide attempts, and (c) no significant correlations between KP metabolites and BD-related sleep disturbances.

Conclusions

An imbalance of KP metabolism toward the neurotoxic branches is likely to occur in people with BD, though evidence on variations according to specific clinical features of BD is less clear. Additional research is needed to clarify the role of KP in the etiopathogenesis of BD and related clinical features.
Text, Materiality, and Enshrinement Practices: Visual Culture of a BuddhistDhāraṇīin Late Medieval Korea
Authors: Lee Seunghye
Published: November 2022

This article examines woodblock prints of the Sūtra of the Dhāraṇī of the Precious Casket Seal of the Concealed Complete-Body Relics of the Essence of All Tathāgatas, a short text that came to serve as a backbone for the textual relic cult and, starting in the early Koryŏ, became an important part of consecratory deposits of Buddhist icons. This article focuses on how material embodiments of dhāraṇīs were enshrined in the Korean context and how such enshrinement defined their function and meaning. Through an analysis of the Dhāraṇī of the Precious Casket Seal in diverse forms, visual designs, and ritual contexts from the eleventh to the fourteenth century, the article demonstrates that the materiality of this important dhāraṇī was key to its performativity as a sacred object that could consecrate otherwise manmade architectural or iconic entities. By so doing, this study reveals key aspects of the Buddhist visual culture that have long remained obscure, while contributing to the growing scholarship on textual materiality in premodern Korea.
Kim Chŏnghŭi and His Epigraphic Studies: Two Silla Steles and Their Rubbings
Authors: Shin Jeongsoo
Published: November 2022

Theoretically, ink rubbings are secondary to the steles they come from, but they served as primary sources for epigraphers who were more interested in literati inscriptionality than they were in the three-dimensional monumentality of the steles. In this shifting status of the two media, textual form and calligraphic style play a subtle yet critical role in the appreciation of inscriptions. Beginning in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, scholars in China and Korea exchanged rubbings of ancient steles to build friendships. Conflicting interpretations, however, arose when discussing the calligraphic style of Korean inscriptions. Chinese fascination with Korean steles is understood as part of their investigation into the remnants of Chinese heritage on the Korean peninsula. Korean scholars, in turn, attempted to suggest that Korean culture kept abreast with that of China from early times onward. Using two case studies of the Mujangsa and Hwangch’oryŏng Steles, this article discusses how self-serving agendas motivated scholars of both countries.
North Korean Calligraphy: Gender, Intimacy, and Political Incorporation, 1980s–2010s
Authors: Chizhova Ksenia
Published: November 2022

A ubiquitous part of everyday life, North Korean calligraphy is an easily overlooked and yet integral element of the country’s mass mobilization art. Under the curation of Kim Jong Il (Kim Chŏngil, 1941–2011), calligraphy was mobilized as a mechanism for the articulation of organistic national unity centered on the ruling Kim family and captured through the idea of the “social and political living body” (sahoe chŏngch’i chŏk saengmyŏngch’e), which mediated the familial transition of power. Cultivating penmanship identical to that of his father and expanding the hagiographic project around the revolutionary calligraphy of his parents, Kim Il Sung (Kim Ilsŏng, 1912–94) and Kim Jong Suk (Kim Chŏngsuk, 1917–49), Kim Jong Il worked out an image of charismatic familial embodiment by means of the script. In addition, calligraphy constitutes a disciplinary apparatus that coordinates performances of political intimacy, bodily training, and political interpretation within the space of everyday life. Drawing on the North Korean calligraphy textbooks, art periodicals, and visual archive, this article contextualizes the dichotomy of the idiosyncratic style of the male leaders and the feminized, ubiquitous Ch’ŏngbong style, connected with the figure of Kim Jong Suk. Special attention is given to the body symbolism and somatic discipline of North Korean calligraphy, which underlie its political efficacy as inscriptional and hermeneutic practice.
Mothers, Daughters, and the Lash
Authors: Baker Courtney R.
Published: November 2022

This essay examines women’s literary mourning as expressed in the trope of lashing in Toni Morrison’s 2008 novel A Mercy. Structural ties, bonds, and lashes grant affective bonds in A Mercy a dangerous and sometimes lethal edge. This essay examines the fraught bonding and binding—or, to use the language of A Mercy, the lashing—that deforms the relationship between mothers and daughters and produces an archive of intergenerational mourning that struggles to be transmitted and deciphered. This essay seeks to understand how language and affective bonds influence the narrative management of women’s bodies and the form of the novel itself. The invitation to mourn extends beyond the book’s characters and to the reader. A Mercy disturbs the potentially stabilizing authority of the written word, expanding the practice of literary mourning from the world of the book to the world of the book’s reader. Lashed to a language that promises our undoing, the reader—like the women in the novel—confronts the originary violences of patriarchy, settler colonialism, and slavery that define the newness of the “New World.”
Health literacy on COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccinations in Indonesia
Authors: Kalanjati Viskasari P. , Hasanatuludhhiyah Nurina , d'Arqom Annette , Muhammad Azlin , Marchianti Ancah Caesarina Novi , Arsyi Danial H. , Permana Putu Bagus Dharma , Susila I Made Dwi Yudiartana Putra , Pratiwi Octaviana Galuh , Purwitasari Diana
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Health literacy on the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) affects people’s capability to ascertain their health and health care quality during the pandemic. The objective of this study was to determine the levels of health literacy about COVID-19 vaccines and vaccinations (Vaccines and Vaccinations literacy-VL) in the Indonesian adult general population, assessing the perceptions of the respondents about current adult immunization and beliefs about vaccinations in general, and analyzing correlations of these variables with the VL levels.

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a rapid survey was administered via the Internet. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics; the internal consistency of the VL scales was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient; the inter-correlation between the functional and interactive-critical VL questions, the underlying components (factors) and each question’s load on the components were identified using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). An alpha level lesser than 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Responses to functional- and interactive/ critical- VL questions were acceptable and showed internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.817 and 0.699, respectively), lowest values observed were 0.806 for functional scale and 0.640 for the interactive-critical scale. The PCA demonstrated that there were two components accounting for 52.45% of the total variability. Approximately 60% of respondents were females (n=686). Almost all respondents used the internet to seek information regarding COVID-19 and COVID-19 vaccinations. Many used at least one social media actively with 74.4% of respondents sometimes believing the validity of this information.

Conclusions: High scores were observed in both functional- and interactive/ critical-VL, and were quite in a balance between sexes in the prior VL and higher in females for the latter; these were also closely related to the educational level and age group. It is crucial to increase public health literacy in managing the pandemic.
Clinical spectrum and short-term outcome of post-COVID multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children after the 2019 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Kumar Sudesh , Bhattacharya Piyali , Arya Nikhil , Kumari Anamika , Chattopadhyay Nandita
Published: November 2022

Background

As a post-COVID complication in children, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is important because of its varied and life-threatening manifestations. With this background, this study attempts to focus on MIS-C cases in an underprivileged rural setting in north-eastern India, with most patients being treated with methylprednisolone rather than intravenous immunoglobulin due to financial constraints.

Methods

In this prospective longitudinal cohort study at MGM Medical College, 27 MIS-C cases diagnosed following WHO criteria were included. Laboratory and radiological investigations, including echocardiography, were performed as required for diagnosis and to assess prognosis. Most patients were treated with methylprednisolone. A follow-up assessment was done six weeks after discharge for any residual impairment.

Results

The most frequently affected age group was 5–10 years (59.28%), while respiratory (48.14%) and cardiac (40.74%) were the most commonly involved systems. Logistic regression studies established a significant association between serum ferritin level and prolonged hospital stay (coefficient 0.0674, p=0.0041), possibly due to greater complications in cases with high ferritin levels. Organ impairment was found to increase the need for inotrope use (coefficient 3.8797, p=0.00584). Most cases were treated with methylprednisolone alone (85.18%) with a favourable response and no death occurred.

Conclusion

The favourable response in cases treated with methylprednisolone only affirms the effectiveness of the drug as a cheaper alternative in a resource-poor setting. The study highlights that higher ferritin levels in complicated cases leads to prolonged hospitalisation and the increased need for inotropes in cases with organ impairment.
The conjunctival transcriptome in Ethiopians after trichiasis surgery: associations with the development of eyelid contour abnormalities and the effect of oral doxycycline treatment
Authors: Derrick Tamsyn , Habtamu Esmael , Tadesse Zerihun , Callahan E. Kelly , Worku Abebaw , Gashaw Bizuayehu , Macleod David , Mabey David C.W. , Holland Martin J. , Burton Matthew J.
Published: November 2022

Background: Surgery to correct trichiasis is a key component of the World Health Organisation trachoma control strategy, however unfavourable outcomes such as eyelid contour abnormalities (ECA) following surgery are relatively common. This study aimed to understand the transcriptional changes associated with the early development of ECA and the impact of doxycycline, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties, upon these transcription patterns.

Methods: One thousand Ethiopians undergoing trichiasis surgery were enrolled in a randomised controlled trial following informed consent. Equal groups of randomly assigned individuals were orally administered with 100mg/day of doxycycline (n=499) or placebo (n=501) for 28 days. Conjunctival swabs were collected immediately prior to surgery and at one- and six-months post-surgery. 3’ mRNA sequencing was performed on paired baseline and one-month samples from 48 individuals; 12 in each treatment/outcome group (Placebo-Good outcome, Placebo-Poor outcome, Doxycycline-Good outcome, Doxycycline-Poor outcome). qPCR validation was then performed for 46 genes of interest in 145 individuals who developed ECA at one month and 145 matched controls, using samples from baseline, one and six months.

Results: All treatment/outcome groups upregulated genes associated with wound healing pathways at one month relative to baseline, however no individual differences were detected between groups. The summed expression of a highly coexpressed cluster of pro-fibrotic genes was higher in patients that developed ECA in the placebo group relative to controls. qPCR validation revealed that all genes in this cluster and a number of other pro-inflammatory genes were strongly associated with ECA, however these associations were not modulated by trial arm.

Conclusions: The development of post-operative ECA is associated with overexpression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic genes including growth factors, matrix metalloproteinases, collagens and extracellular matrix proteins. There was no evidence that doxycycline modulated the association between gene expression and ECA.
Algorithmic considerations when analysing capture Hi-C data
Authors: Disney-Hogg Linden , Kinnersley Ben , Houlston Richard
Published: November 2022

Chromosome conformation capture methodologies have provided insight into the effect of 3D genomic architecture on gene regulation. Capture Hi-C (CHi-C) is a recent extension of Hi-C that improves the effective resolution of chromatin interactions by enriching for defined regions of biological relevance. The varying targeting efficiency between capture regions, however, introduces bias not present in conventional Hi-C, making analysis more complicated. Here we consider salient features of an algorithm that should be considered in evaluating the performance of a program used to analyse CHi-C data in order to infer meaningful interactions. We use the program CHICAGO to analyse promoter capture Hi-C data generated on 28 different cell lines as a case study.
PECULIARITIES OF REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN MODERN CONDITIONS
Authors: Mukhametgaliev Farit , Valiev Ayrat , Avhadiev Fayaz , Sitdikova Landysh , Gaynutdinov Ilgizar
Published: November 2022

The study was carried out in order to study the level of development of the regional agricultural sector of the economy, identify current problems that hinder the sustainable development of agricultural business entities and substantiate proposals for ensuring its further development. The agrarian sector of the economy of the Republic of Tatarstan is designed to solve the problems of providing the population with food at affordable prices in the face of severe restrictions and sanctions from unfriendly countries. 450 large and medium-sized agricultural organizations, 3006 peasant farms (peasant farms), 2.5 ... 3 thousand individual entrepreneurs and more than 472.4 thousand personal subsidiary plots of the population are involved in this task. 4.3% of the agricultural products of the Russian Federation and 15.0% of the agricultural products of the Volga Federal District are produced on the territory of the republic. Over the past five years, the pace of development of agricultural business entities has been slowing down faster than the economy of the republic as a whole (the decrease in the average annual rate of economic development of the Republic of Tatarstan is 2.9%, the agricultural sector - 3.1%), which may lead in the future to a decrease in the share of agriculture in the gross regional product of the republic from 10 ... 11% to 6 ... 7%. to intensify work on the creation of drought-resistant varieties of agricultural crops, moisture-saving technologies and land reclamation measures. One of the most important tasks is the dissemination of information and digital technologies at all stages of the implementation of technological processes for the production of agricultural products. In animal husbandry, it is required to carry out a gradual replacement of unproductive animals with highly productive breeding stock, to accelerate their breeding. In 2021, agricultural producers participated in 19 digitalization projects in crop production and 145 farms used digital systems in cattle breeding, which contributed to an increase in milk production by 62 thousand tons and additional revenue in the amount of 1.6 billion rubles.