bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequency of SARS-CoV2 infection in day care centers during reopening of the school activities
Authors: Soares Graciela , Morais Lucas Vinicius , Silva Kevin Cézar , Ferreira Elaine , Shio Marina , Romano Camila , Conde Carla , Sabino Ester , França Carolina , Nali Luiz
Published: January 2024

Background: SARS-Cov2 already has over than 215 million people and more
than 4.5 million fatalities. The beginning of the pandemic condition has
led the health authorities in several countries to adopt
no-pharmacological preventive measures, such as schools closures. The
return took place at a time when the country had the highest rates of
infection and mortality. In particular because of the circulation of the
gamma variant (P.1) and the vaccination program were beginning in the
country. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV2
in daycares after the return of educational activities. Methods The
study involved seven childcare facilities. Swab samples from the
nasopharynx and region were collected from each participant. This study
was carried out between March 16 and September 3, 2021. Viral RNA was
extracted using Invitrogen’s RNA purification kit. Viral diagnosis was
obtained using RT-PCR, through the TaqMan system. Viral detection was
performed with Seegene panel, Allplex TM 2019-nCoV Assay kit. Results
and Conclusion: The study population included 201 participants among
daycare workers and children. Only one sample (0,5%) was tested
positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, which was an asymptomatic
childcare worker, and no secondary cases were detected. Considering that
the return to day care activities occurred in a period with high number
of cases of deaths and lack of vaccines throughout the country, it is
believed that the several preventive measures used by the day care
center could be an indication of effectiveness in preventing
transmission of SARS-CoV2.
Cardiac age detected by machine learning applied to the surface ECG of healthy subjects: Creation of a benchmark
Authors: Wall Hein E.C. van der , Hassing Gerardus J. , Doll Robert-Jan , Westen Gerard J.P. van , Cohen Adam , Selder Jasper , Kemme Michiel , Burggraaf Jacobus , Gal Pim
Published: January 2024

Objective The aim of the present study was to develop a neural network
to characterize the effect of aging on the ECG in healthy volunteers.
Moreover, the impact of the various ECG features on aging was evaluated.
Methods & Results A total of 6228 healthy subjects without structural
heart disease were included in this study. A neural network regression
model was created to predict age of the subjects based on their ECG; 577
parameters derived from a 12-lead ECG of each subject were used to
develop and validate the neural network; A ten fold cross-validation was
performed, using 118 subjects for validation eacht fold. Using SHapley
Additive exPlanations values the impact of the individual features on
the prediction of age was determined. Of 6228 subjects tested, 1808
(29%) were females and mean age was 34 years, range 18 – 75 years.
Physiologic age was estimated as a continuous variable with an average
error of 6.9±5.6 years (R2= 0.72 ± 0.04) . The correlation was slightly
stronger for men (R2= 0.74) than for women (R2= 0.66). The most
important features on the prediction of physiologic age were T wave
morphology indices in leads V4 and V5, and P wave amplitude in leads AVR
and II. Conclusion The application of artificial intelligence to the ECG
using a neural network regression model, allows accurate estimation of
physiologic cardiac age. This technique could be used to pick up subtle
age-related cardiac changes, but also estimate the reversing of these
age-associated effects by administered treatments.
Animal Models of Acute lymphoblastic leukemia: recapitulating the human disease to evaluate drug efficacy and discover therapeutic targets
Authors: Xin Qianling , Chen Zhaoying , Wei Wei , Wu Yu-Jing
Published: January 2024

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a malignant hematologic tumor with
highly aggressive characteristics, which has few clinically effective
drugs. It is meaningful to gain a better understanding of its
pathogenesis in order to discover and evaluate potential therapeutic
drugs and new treatment targets. However, the process of new drugs from
research and development to clinical application is long and difficult.
Many promising drugs were rejected by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) due to serious adverse drug reactions (ADR) in
clinical phase I trials. Animal models provide us with an excellent tool
to understand the complex pathological mechanisms of human diseases, to
evaluate the potential of new targeted drugs and to assess the potential
ADR they may have on healthy organs. In this article we briefly
introduce the clinical status of ALL, review ALL animal models’
progression, their roles in revealing the pathogenesis of ALL and drug
development.
Analytical and verification experimental for longitudinal control of cable-stayed beam
Authors: Zhang Chunlin , Wang Zhiqian
Published: January 2024

The paper investigated the non-collocated control strategy for the
reduction of cable oscillations by the analytical studies and the
experimental implementation. We researched the control with introduced
points. We used the continuous model of cable-stayed beam to show the
main features of the non-collocated lon- gitudinal active control
strategy. Then, the suitable non-linear state-feedback controllers are
introduced to represent the modal. The results show that they can
capture the main previous control features and derive an implementable
strategy. We used an actively controlled cable-stayed beam to present
the control effectiveness of the proposed strategy, based on the large
campaign of experiments, which conducted in various frequency ranges and
amplitude levels including meaningful external resonance conditions. The
responses predicted by the analytical model and the experimental results
show good qualitative agreement with one another, in both the
uncontrolled and controlled experienced cable-stayed beam dynamics.
Recurrent fibrin-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a pediatric patient
Authors: Reilly Paige , Murga-Zamalloa Carlos , Huzaifa Husain Batool , Javois Alexander , Varga Peter , Menchaca Martha , Imran Naveen , Schmidt Mary Lou
Published: January 2024

Fibrin-associated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an exceptionally rare
neoplasm associated with Epstein-Barr virus. It is distinguished by an
indolent growth pattern within confined spaces and has a predilection
for prosthetic cardiac valves, implants, and thrombi. The case is an
immunocompetent 7-year-old with complex congenital heart disease and
recurrent primary cardiac FA-DLBCL in association with two bovine
bioprosthetic pulmonary valves. Children with complex CHD have an
increased risk of lymphoma and cardiac prosthetic devices may provide
environments for FA-DLBCL to occur. Pediatric oncologists must be
alerted to the risk of this incredibly rare lymphoma subtype, especially
among children with CHD.
left atrial sphericity predicts recurrence of atrial fibrillation after Pulmonary vein isolation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wei Liting , Jin Zhiru , Zeng Decai , Zhang Xiaofeng , Liang Qian , Pei Jusheng , Wu Ji
Published: January 2024

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) has been the mainstay of
catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. Left atrial sphericity (LASP)
was proposed as a new predictor of AF recurrence following ablation.
While, evidence supporting this theory is conflicting. Objective: To
clarify whether LASP is associated with increased risk of AF recurrence
post PVI through a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: All
studies evaluating the association between LASP and AF recurrence
post-PVI were included by searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane
library, EMBASE and CNKI until August 1st, 2021. Two investigators
performed screening, data extraction and quality assessment of the
studies independently. Results: Ten articles with a total of 1608
patients were finally included. Results were presented as odds ratio
(OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and a random model was used.
Higher LASP increases the risk of AF recurrence post PVI (HR =1.08, 95%
CI1.02-1.14). Sub-group analysis showed that different modalities of
measuring LASP (MRI and CT) had no significant impact on the odds.
Funnel plot (Begg’s test, P=0.043) showed publication bias. Conclusion:
LASP is associated with increased risk of AF recurrence post PVI
A de novo mutation of SALL4 gene in a Chinese family with Okihiro syndrome
Authors: Ma Xiuli , Huang Rui , Li Guo , Zhang Tiesong , Ma Jing
Published: January 2024

Objective: To analyze the clinical manifestations of a patient with
Okihiro syndrome/Duane-radial ray syndrome (DRRS) and his family and to
carry out genetic testing in order to specify the biological
pathogenesis. Methods: Clinical data of the patient and his family were
collected. Genomic DNA in the peripheral blood of the proband and his
family members was extracted. whole exome were sequenced by
high-throughput sequencing, and the mutation sites of the proband and
his parents were validated by Sanger sequencing. Results: The patient
was diagnosed with Okihiro syndrome that characterized by abnormalities
of bones in the arms and hands (radial ray malformations, absence of
thumbs) and sensorineural hearing loss. A pathogenic heterozygous
c.3060delG variant has been identified in exon 4 of the SALL4 gene in
the proband by whole exome sequencing (WES), which is a frameshift
mutation that changed the amino acid sequence of the SALL4 protein from
1053 to 1076 . This variant resulted in a longer SALL4 protein. The
variant was a de novo mutation, as the parents of the proband showed no
variation at this site. This variant has not been included in the
database and has not been reported in the literature. Conclusion: The de
novo heterozygous c.3060delG variant was the molecular pathological
cause of Okihiro syndrome in this study. The variant detected in this
case expanded the database of SALL4 variants.
Severe thrombocytopenia caused by vancomycin in the intensive care unit: a case report and systematic review
Authors: Wang Guanru , LI Xiao-Xiao , Ge Qing-gang , Li Chao , He Na , Yao Peng , Wang Chuhui , Yi Min , Wang Zongyu , Shi Luwen , Zhao Rongsheng
Published: January 2024

Thrombocytopenia can cause substantial morbidity and mortality in
critically ill patients. There are multiple etiology factors and various
mechanisms associated with thrombocytopenia, of which drug-induced
thrombocytopenia (DITP) deserves attention. Herein, we describe a case
of severe thrombocytopenia during intensive care unit (ICU)
hospitalization that was probable to be associated with vancomycin. In
addition, clinical studies evaluating thrombocytopenia caused by
vancomycin were systematically reviewed and 6 studies with acceptable
quality were included and analyzed. By revealing the process of
identifying this case of DITP and reviewing relevant clinical studies, a
risk alert of vancomycin related severe hematotoxicity should be focused
on.
Ecological stoichiometry-based study on carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrient limitation of different land use patterns in the Yellow River Delta
Authors: Kong Baishu , Jiao Shuying , Li Yongqiang , Shi Lianhui , Li Chuanrong , Shen Yuwen , Jia Sen , Fu Chunyu , Zhu Taochuan
Published: January 2024

The conversion of land uses was frequent in the saline-alkali
reclamation region of the Yellow River Delta (YRD), China. However, the
knowledge of the combined effects of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and
phosphorus (P) stoichiometry for soil and enzyme under different land
use patterns is limited. We investigated soil C, N, P stoichiometry and
soil extracellular enzyme activities of three representative land use
patterns (Alfalfa artificial grassland, AG; wheat-maize rotation field,
WM; native grassland, PC). The results showed that the average soil
stoichiometry of AG, WM, and PC was 31.32: 1.74: 1, 34.05: 1.46: 1, and
26.58: 1.14: 1 respectively, indicating that the level of C and N in the
YRD was low. The AG was beneficial to promote the mineralization of C,
N, and P, but its effect on the sequestration of C and P was not as good
as WM. The average enzyme stoichiometry of AG, WM, and PC was 0.96:
0.76: 1, 0.94: 0.74: 1, and 0.86: 0.73: 1 respectively, which deviated
from 1: 1: 1, and were significantly correlated with soil stoichiometry,
indicating that enzyme stoichiometry in the YRD was nutrient dependent
rather than homeostasis. Meanwhile, according to the vector analysis of
enzyme stoichiometry, PC could alleviate C limitation of soil
microorganisms. Collectively, land use changes affected C, N, P
stoichiometry, and should further change the biochemical cycle and
microbial nutrient limitation. Therefore, we argued that conversion and
proper conduct of land should be cautions for the degraded land
restoration and ecological security, and develop perennial legume forage
and conservation tillage for crops should be taken for soil healthy and
sustainable development.
New insights on the role of HCN in root hair elongation through single cell proteomics.
Authors: Arenas-Alfonseca Lucia , Yamada Masashi , Romero Luis , García Irene
Published: January 2024

Root hairs are specialized structures involved in water and nutrient
uptake by plants. They elongate from epidermal cells following a complex
developmental program. ß-cyanoalanine synthase (CAS), which is mainly
involved in hydrogen cyanide (HCN) detoxification in Arabidopsis
thaliana, plays a role in root hair elongation, as evidenced by the fact
that cas-c1 mutants show a severe defect in root hair shape. In addition
to root hairs, CAS C1 is expressed in the quiescent center and meristem.
However, the cas-c1 mutation has no visible effect on either tissue, in
both control and nutrient-deprivation conditions. To identify its role
in root hair formation, we conducted single cell proteomics analysis by
isolating root hair cells using Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorting
(FACS) from wild type and cas-c1 mutants. We also analyzed the presence
of S-cyanylation, a protein post-translational modification (PTM)
mediated by HCN and affecting cysteine residues and protein activity, in
proteins of wild type and cas-c1 mutants. We found that several proteins
involved in root hair development, related to the receptor kinase
FERONIA signaling and to DNA methylation, are modified by this new
post-translational modification.
In-situ prepared of quadrilateral flake Zn0.25(NH4) V2O5·H2O as a cathode for aqueous rechargeable Zn-ion batteries
Authors: Wu Jian , Yang zhanhong , Chen Hongzhe , Deng Lie , Rong Yao , Fu Zhimin
Published: January 2024

Aqueous zinc ion batteries (AZIBs) have great potential in the
large-scale energy storage as its low price, safety, efficiency and
environmental friendliness. In this work, a novel cathode of
quadrilateral flake
Zn(NH)VO·HO
is prepared in-situ by electrochemical induction, in which
NH and hydrated zinc ions are
co-embedded in VO framework. Specifically, the
Zn(NH)VO·HO
electrode displays a largest discharge specific capacity of 355 mA h
g at 0.1 A g in 2 M
Zn(CFSO), and shows
an excellent cycle lifespan of 84.6% capacity retention at 1 A
g. Furthermore, the
Zn//Zn(NH)
VO·HO cell is
evaluated its practicability by driving a motor fan. In addition, we
adopt ex-situ XRD and XPS to investigate the electrochemical induction
process and energy storage mechanism of the
Zn(NH)VO·HO
electrode, and
Zn(NH)VO·HO
electrode follows a typical reversible zinc ion
intercalation/deintercalation mechanism. Finally, this electrochemical
induction method will promote further in-depth research on
vanadium-based material cathode for AZIBs.
Boundedness of Toeplitz Type Operator Related to Fractional and Singular Integral Operators Satisfying a Variant of H¨ormander’s Condition
Authors: chang Ancheng , Huang Chuangxia
Published: January 2024

In this paper, some sharp maximal function inequalities for the Toeplitz
type operator related to the fractional and singular integral operators
satisfying a variant of H¨ormander’s condition are proved. As an
application, we obtain the boundedness of the operator on Lebesgue,
Morrey and Triebel-Lizorkin spaces.
Three different growth responses of six gymnosperm species under long-term excessive irrigation and traits determining species resistance to flooding
Authors: Bhusal Narayan , Adhikari Arjun , Lee Hojin , Lee Minsu , Reum Han Ah , Kim Hyun-Seok
Published: January 2024

In the era of extreme weather events, plant resistance to excessive
water should be considered for plantations in frequently flooded areas.
Therefore, we quantified the resistance to excessive irrigation (REI) in
seedlings of six conifer species on the basis of their morphological,
physiological, and biochemical traits. Two different irrigation regimes,
natural precipitation as a control treatment and additional irrigation
by sprinklers (30.89 ± 2.80 % above natural precipitation) as excessive
irrigation, were applied for three consecutive years. There were three
distinct responses in biomass accumulation: Chamaecyparis obtusa and
Abies holophylla significantly increased their aboveground and
underground biomass and showed a strong REI; Pinus thunbergii and P.
densiflora, both resistant to drought, significantly decreased their
aboveground and underground biomass and showed a weak REI. Larix
kaempferi and Pinus koraiensis showed a medium REI with only aboveground
biomass increment in the former and no biomass change in the latter.
Plant biomass responses corresponded well with the changes in
morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits. Biomass
augmentation resulted from an increase in leaf size, leaf mass per area
(LMA), maximum photosynthesis rate, and leaf water potential.
Flavonoids, LMA, and stomatal conductance are the most important traits
to access species REI.
Progressive Stridor: Extraintestinal Airway Manifestations in a Pediatric Patient with Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Kuntzman Kaitlyn , Chennupati Sri , Tolaymat Naser , Bingham Catherine , Greenawald Lauren
Published: January 2024

Airway manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease are rare in
pediatrics. This case describes a nine-year-old female with ulcerative
colitis (UC) with progressive stridor and dyspnea for two months. Severe
upper airway obstruction was noted on spirometry. CatScan (CT) scan of
the neck and chest revealed tracheal narrowing with circumferential,
heterogeneous soft tissue thickening and posterior wall nodularity.
Bronchoscopy visualized granulation tissue of the large airways and an
ulcerative lesion to the right mainstem. Consultation and evaluation by
gastroenterology, oncology, and rheumatology determined a diagnosis of
extraintestinal manifestations of UC. Systemic steroids led to symptom
resolution and improvement in lung function.
The effectiveness of implementing a fracture liaison service in Egypt: A quality improvement study.
Authors: Saber Heba , Aly Menna
Published: January 2024

Background: Fractures are one of the major health problems in the older
population, having a significant impact on overall health, and quality
of life. Fracture liaison services (FLS) are recommended as a model of
best practice. Aims: To determine the effectiveness of implementing an
FLS. Design: This was a quality improvement study set in our facility in
Ain Shams University hospitals. Methods: We compared fracture care and
outcomes before and after the implementation of FLS in terms of time to
surgery, length of stay, pre-and postoperative pain scores, depression,
and treatment decisions. We included 130 patients, aging above 60 years
presenting by fracture to the emergency department. Results: We found
that there was a significant reduction in the median time to surgery in
the post FLS group (p value < 0.001), and also a significant
decrease in the mean length of stay in favor of the group post FLS, with
p value < 0.001. But there wasn’t a significant difference
between the two groups regarding the number of patients that underwent
surgical correction, pre-and post-operative pain, or susceptibility to
depression. Conclusion: Since the beginning of our FLS unit, the
preliminary data have been encouraging, with significant reductions in
time to surgery and length of stay. Because there is poor patient
compliance to post-discharge follow-up, we were not able to accurately
measure time to medical clearance and return to previous activity and
functional levels.
Dry-wet change in the ecotone between farming and animal husbandry along the Great Wall of China between 1540 and 2019
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Chu Lijuan , Song Yujia , Liu Xiaohui , Jiang Ming
Published: January 2024

The research on the periodic change of dry-wet has significance to study
the regional response research of climate change. In the ecotone between
agriculture and animal husbandry along the Great Wall of China，The ring
width index of the Carya Cathayensis is fitted with the rain-factor
index (R) calculated by the nearest Qinglong meteorological station. The
R is divided into different cycles by the stepwise function fitting
method. The results show that there are two dry cycles and one wet cycle
from 1543 to 2019. In each dry and wet cycle, there are also different
cycles, such as long (decade years), intermediate (ten years) and short
cycles (several years). Drought is a greater threat to agricultural
production in the region and even China. In the first dry cycle
(1543-1756), 4 cycles (1633-1635: R = 30, 1636-1939: R = 26, 1640-1642:
R = 9 and 1643-1645: R = 24) with low R appear continuously, the severe
droughts (R < 20, no rain in a year) last 13 years. The cycles
of dry-wet changes are consistent with the traditional Chinese calendar.
The results can be used to make necessary preparations for effectively
coping with the drought and flood.
Impact of anti-angiogenic treatment on bone vascularization in a murine model of breast cancer bone metastasis using synchrotron radiation micro-CT
Authors: xu hao , Lafage-Proust Marie-Hèlène , Lamia BOUAZZA , Geraci Sandra , Clezardin Philippe , Roche Bernard , Peyrin Françoise , Langer Max
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose: Bone metastases are frequent complications of
breast cancer, facilitate the development of anarchic vascularization
and induce bone destruction. Therefore, anti-angiogenic drugs (AAD) have
been tested as a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of breast cancer
bone metastasis. However, the kinetics of skeletal vascularization in
response to tumor invasion under AAD is still partially understood.
Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the effect of AAD on
experimental bone metastasis by analyzing the three-dimensional (3D)
bone vasculature during metastatic formation and progression.
Experimental Approach: Eight-week-old female mice were treated with AAD
(bevacizumab, vatalanib, or a combination of both drugs) or the vehicle
(placebo) one day after injection with breast cancer cells. Mice were
sacrificed 8 or 22 days after tumor cell inoculation (time points T1 and
T2, respectively). Synchrotron radiation microcomputed tomography
(SR-μCT) was used to image tibia with a contrast agent. 3D-bone and
vascular networks were simultaneously visualized and quantitatively
analyzed. Key Results: At T1, the trabecular bone volume was
significantly increased in the combined AAD-treatment group, compared to
the placebo- and single AAD-treatment groups. At T2, only the bone
vasculature was reduced in the combined AAD-treatment group, as judged
by measurement of the blood vessel thickness. Conclusion and
Implications: We show for the first time that the use of SR-µCT with a
contrast agent enables the simultaneous quantitative measurement of 3D
bone and vessel microstructures, providing an unbiased method to assess
the efficacy of targeted therapies in a mouse model of bone metastasis.
Pathogen interactions with host resources and immunity result in bimodal infection outcomes
Authors: Yu Guozhi , Hu Yingying , Wang Shizhong , Han Xinfa , Du Xiaogang , Xu Huailiang , Zeng Xianyin , Steiner Ulrich , Rolff Jens
Published: January 2024

Death or survival are the two outcomes of an infection. Pathogen
infections perturb the resource and energy balance of hosts and in
response hosts adjust metabolism and resource assimilation. Host
resistance against infection relies on the allocation of resources, in
particular to mount sufficient immune responses. We hypothesize that
interactions between host resources, host immune responses and pathogens
determine host homeostasis and result in contrasting infection outcomes.
In this study, we mathematically formulate these interactions and find
that the temporal dynamics lead to two distinct trajectories of disease
progression. The pathogen load responds in a bistable manner by either
proliferating or persisting, if not being eliminated, which corresponds
to the death or survival of the host. We identified two key negative
feedbacks causing bistability: 1) host resources are either directly
consumed or indirectly inhibited by pathogens; 2) pathogen elimination
by the host immune response. The dynamics is also sensitive to “initial
conditions”, such as resource availability, immunocompetence, and
pathogen load at the onset of infection. Our result provides a
mechanistic intuitive explanation for the bistable outcome of pathogen
infection based on resource reallocation. It also provides a
quantitative framework to monitor disease trajectories and forecast the
physiological tipping point of death and survival.
When host populations move north, but disease moves south: counter-intuitive impacts of climate warming on disease spread
Authors: Moran E. Joe , Martignoni Maria , Lecomte Nicolas , Leighton Patrick , Hurford Amy
Published: January 2024

Empirical observations and mathematical models show that climate warming
can lead to the northern (or, more generally, poleward) spread of host
species ranges and their corresponding diseases. Here, we consider an
unexpected possibility whereby climate warming facilitates disease
spread in the opposite direction to the directional shift in the host
species range. To explore this possibility, we consider two host
species, both susceptible to a disease, but spatially isolated due to
distinct thermal niches, and where prior to climate warming the disease
is endemic in the northern species only. Previous theoretical results
show that species’ distributions can lag behind species’ thermal niches
when climate warming occurs. As such, we hypothesize that climate
warming may increase the overlap between northern and southern host
species ranges, due to the northern species lagging behind its thermal
tolerance limit. To test our hypothesis, we simulate climate warming as
a reaction-diffusion equation model with a Susceptible-Infected (SI)
epidemiological structure, for two competing species with distinct
temperature-dependent niches. We show that climate warming, by shifting
both species’ niches northwards, can facilitate the southward spread of
disease, due to increased range overlap between the two populations. As
our model is general, our findings may apply to viral, bacterial, and
prion diseases that do not have thermal tolerance limits and are
inextricably linked to their hosts’ distributions, such as the spread of
rabies from arctic to red foxes.
Machine learning aided experimental approach for studying the growth kinetics of Candida antarctica for lipase production
Authors: Sarmah Nipon , Mehtab Vazida , Bugata Pratyusha , Tardio James , Bhargava Suresh , Parthasarathy Rajarathinam , Chenna Sumana
Published: January 2024

This paper reports a systematic study for evaluating the growth and
enzyme kinetics of Candida antarctica MTCC 2706 for the first time. A
hybrid machine learning (ML) aided experimental approach is proposed
here to evaluate the microbial growth kinetics in which different ML
models were built with a smaller set of experimental samples to predict
the growth curve at different substrate concentrations and their
performance was compared. Gradient boosting regression model was found
to predict the growth curves effectively. Further, growth kinetics was
evaluated and the data was found to be fitted well with Monod’s model.
In addition, the activity of lipase produced in this study was
evaluated, and the resulting enzyme kinetics were studied. Further, the
statistical significance of models developed was quantified using
average absolute deviation percentage (AAD %) and R2 parameters, and
robustness of the model parameters is ensured through sensitivity
analysis. The results of the proposed ML-based approach were found to be
in good agreement with that of the conventional method while
successfully reducing the experimental efforts, time and resources by
nearly 50%. Also, the application of the proposed method can be
extended to any other microbial process.
Some Improved Estimation Procedures of Population Mean under Non-response in Sample Survey
Authors: Singh Garib , Jaiswal Ashok , Khan Mahmood
Published: January 2024

There is regular non-response in sample surveys which creates bias in
estimates of population parameters. The present study develops some
techniques to estimate a finite population using second-order raw
moments of an auxiliary variable in the presence of non-response in a
sample survey. Two estimators of the ratio type and the difference type
have been proposed in the two traditional situations of non-response.
The bias and mean square errors have been calculated under large sample
approximation in both situations: situation-I and situation-II. The
performance of the proposed estimators in terms of Percent Relative
Efficiency (PRE) is shown in conjunction with other existing estimators
discussed in this article using theoretical and empirical studies using
real data sets. Concerning the famous Hansen and Hurwitz (1947) method
of proposed estimators, the percent relative efficiency is always
greater than the percent relative efficiency of the other discussed
estimators. The results show that the proposed estimators performed
better than the other discussed estimators. The results are interpreted,
and appropriate recommendations are made to the survey practitioners.
Melatonin-Based Therapeutics for Atherosclerotic Lesions and Beyond: Focusing on Macrophage Mitophagy
Authors: Ajoolabady Amir , McClements David , Bi Yaguang , Lip Gregory Y.H. , Richardson Des , Klionsky Daniel , Reiter Russ , Ren Jun
Published: January 2024

Atherosclerosis refers to a unique form of chronic inflammatory anomaly
of the vasculature, presented as rupture-prone or occlusive lesions in
arteries. In advanced stages, atherosclerosis leads to the onset and
development of multiple cardiovascular diseases with lethal
consequences. Inflammatory cytokines in atherosclerotic lesions
contribute to the exacerbation of atherosclerosis. Pharmacotherapies
targeting dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia and neutralizing
inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, and IL-12/23) have
displayed some promising although contradictory results. Moreover,
adjuvants such as melatonin, a pluripotent agent with proven
anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective properties, also
display promises in alleviating cytokine secretion in macrophages
through mitophagy activation. Here, we share our perspectives on this
concept and present melatonin-based therapeutics as a means to modulate
mitophagy in macrophages and, thereby, ameliorate atherosclerosis.
The relationship between influenza vaccine and risk of hospitalization and mortality in the elderly: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rezaei Nilay , Kheiri Soleiman , Mohammadian-Hafshejani Abdollah
Published: January 2024

Background and Aims: In recent years, various studies have been
conducted to investigate the role of the influenza vaccine in reducing
the risk of hospitalization and death in the elderly; however, the
results of these studies are clearly contradictory. Accordingly, the
present study aimed to investigate the relationship between receiving
the flu vaccine with the risk of hospitalization and mortality in the
elderly. Methods: This study was a systematic review and meta-analysis
of clinical trial studies published in databases (web of science (ISI),
Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, Science Direct, Google Scholar) between 1980
and 2020. All analyzes were performed by Stata14 statistical software
and the significance level in this study was considered 0.05. Results:
In the initial search, 283 articles were retrieved which, considering
the study criteria, finally 7 clinical trial studies were included in
the meta-analysis. Based on the results of meta-analysis, the overall
Odds Ratio (OR) of hospitalization for the elderly is equal to 0.65
(95% CI: 0.51 - 0.82; P.value <0.001) and the overall OR of
mortality is equal to 0.95 (95% CI: 0.92 - 0.97; P.value
<0.001). There was no publication bias in the study of the
relationship between receiving the flu vaccine and hospitalization and
mortality of the elderly. Conclusion: Getting the flu vaccine in the
elderly can reduce the risk of hospitalization by 35% and the risk of
overall death by 5%. Therefore, it may be promising to receive this
vaccine as a preventive intervention for elderly deaths and
hospitalizations
Cross-Sectional Study on Swine Tuberculosis Prevalence in Gansu Province, China from February to June 2021
Authors: Sun Liang , Xi Yao , Huang Jiaxin , Yang Jifei , Lu zengjun , Sun Pu , Zeng Qiaoying
Published: January 2024

Summary: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the Mycobacterium
tuberculosis complex (MTBC), poses a major global threat to the health
of humans and animals. The Suidae family is highly susceptible to TB and
is used as screening sentinels for testing the presence of MTBC in the
environment, but swine TB (STB) tends to be neglected worldwide. China
has the largest pig population in the world, but epidemiological
information on STB is scarce. In this study, 1379 serum samples were
randomly collected from 45 herds of Gansu province, China from February
to June 2021 and tested with PPD-B-ELISA. The STB prevalence at
individual level was 0.22% (95% CI: 0.04%, 0.63%) and varied from
0.00% to 2.20% in different cities. The prevalence at herd level was
4.44% (95% CI: 0.54%, 15.15%) and varied from 0.00% to 33.33% in
different cities. The STB prevalence in intensively raised
three-crossbred pigs (0.23%, 95% CI: 0.05%, 0.68%) was higher than
that in free-range raised Tibetan pigs (0.00%, 95% CI: 0.00%, 3.85%)
( p = 0.81). Besides, 180 serum samples were collected from
Guangxi province, China, and STB prevalence in Guangxi province (1.67%,
95% CI: 0.35%, 4.79%) was significantly higher than that in Gansu
province ( p < 0.05). These latest STB prevalence data
are strongly suggested to conduct a randomized nationwide
cross-sectional study on a regular basis for the development of an
effective national program for STB surveillance and control.
Photobiomodulation therapy in subjective tinnitus: A systematic review
Authors: montazeri katayoon , farhadi mohammad , fekrazad reza , akbarnejad Zeinab , mahmoudian saeid
Published: January 2024

Tinnitus is a phantom perception of sound without an external source. It
has high prevalence and in severe cases can impair quality of life.
Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) uses light to repair cell damage and
modulate the function of target tissue. This article systematically
reviews studies that have used PBMT in the treatment of tinnitus to
determine the level of evidence for its effectiveness. Studies published
by May 2020, are reviewed according to PRIZMA guidelines. 8417 articles
found in the original search of PubMed, Google scholar, Embase and
Cochrane databases. 35 articles met our inclusion criteria. Because the
results of the studies are not homogeneous, it is impossible to
determine the exact level of evidence for PBMT effectiveness. However, 7
out of 13 RCTs and the animal study of PBMT in tinnitus, as well as
animal studies of brain disorders that share a pathway with tinnitus,
have confirmed its effectiveness. Based on this evidence, PBMT is likely
to be effective in treating tinnitus. The mechanism of tinnitus and the
mechanism of PBMT modulatory effects as well as the gaps and potential
limitations of the studies are also discussed. Factors that may improve
outcomes in future studies include: transcranial PBMT to modulate
central compensatory changes, the use of objective assessment methods,
and the selection of laser parameters based on evidence from animal
studies of brain disorders associated with tinnitus.
The effect of the adenosine A2A and A2B selective agonists, CGS 21680 and BAY 60-6583, on regional cardiovascular haemodynamics in conscious rats.
Authors: Cooper Samantha , Wragg Edward , Pannucci Patrizia , Soave Mark , Hill Stephen , Woolard Jeanette
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose: Adenosine is a local mediator that regulates
changes in the cardiovascular system via activation of four G
protein-coupled receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, A3). Here we have investigated
the effect of A2A and A2B-selective agonists on vasodilatation in three
distinct vascular beds of the rat cardiovascular system. Experimental
Approach: The regional haemodynamic effects of adenosine A2A and A2B
selective agonists were investigated in conscious rats. Male
Sprague-Dawley rats (350-450g) were chronically implanted with pulsed
Doppler flow probes on the renal artery, mesenteric artery and the
descending abdominal aorta. Cardiovascular responses were measured
following intravenous infusion (3 min for each dose) of CGS 21680 (0.1,
0.3, 1 g.kg-1.min-1) or BAY 60-6583 (4,13.3, 40 g.kg-1.min-1)
following pre-dosing with either SCH 58261 (0.1 or 1 mg.kg-1.min-1), PSB
1115 (10 mg.kg-1.min-1) or vehicle. Key Results: The A2A-selective
agonist CGS 21680 produced a striking increase in heart rate (HR) and
hindquarters vascular conductance (VC) that was accompanied by a
significant decrease in mean arterial pressure (MAP) in conscious rats.
In marked contrast, the A2B-selective agonist BAY 60-6583 significantly
increased HR and VC in the renal and mesenteric vascular beds, but not
in the hindquarters. Conclusions and Implications: Taken together, these
data indicate that A2A and A2B receptors are regionally selective in
their regulation of vascular tone. These results suggest that the
development of A2B receptor agonists to induce vasodilatation in the
kidney may provide a good therapeutic approach for the treatment of
acute kidney injury.
The genome of the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), a Critically Endangered seabird: a valuable resource for evolutionary and conservation genomics
Authors: Cuevas-Caballé Cristian , Obiol Joan Ferrer , Vizueta Joel , Genovart Meritxell , Gonzales-Solis Jacob , Riutort Marta , Rozas Julio
Published: January 2024

The Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) is the most
threatened seabird in Europe. The fossil record suggests that human
colonisation of the Balearic Islands resulted in a sharp decrease of the
population size. Currently, populations continue to be decimated mainly
due to predation by introduced mammals and bycatch in longline
fisheries, and some studies predict their extinction by 2070. We present
the first high-quality reference genome for the species which was
obtained by a combination of short and long-read sequencing. Our hybrid
assembly includes 4,169 scaffolds, with a scaffold N50 of 2.1 Mbp, a
genome length of 1.2 Gbp, and BUSCO completeness of 96%, which is
amongst the highest across sequenced avian species. This reference
genome allowed us to study critical aspects relevant to the conservation
status of the species, such as an evaluation of overall heterozygosity
levels and the reconstruction of its historical demography. Our
phylogenetic analysis using whole-genome information resolves current
uncertainties in the order Procellariiformes systematics. Comparative
genomics analyses uncover a set of candidate genes that may have played
an important role into the adaptation to a pelagic lifestyle of
Procellariiformes, including those for the enhancement of fishing
capabilities, night vision and the development of natriuresis. This
reference genome will be the keystone for future developments of genetic
tools in conservation efforts for this Critically Endangered species.
Methods of breaking physical dormancy in seeds of the invasive weed Mimosa pudica (Fabaceae) and a comparison with 36 other species in the genus
Authors: Tang Li , Baskin Carol , Baskin Jerry , Luo Kai , Yu Xiaohui , Huang Wei , Zhang Rui , Chen Yinhua
Published: January 2024

The herbaceous legume Mimosa pudica is an invasive weed in many tropical
and subtropical regions, as a serious problem for farmers since it is
difficult to clear by hand. Moreover, it has water impermeable seeds,
i.e. physical dormancy (PY), which could persist longer in the soil seed
bank than non-dormant seeds, making big challenge in weed control. The
aim of this study were to test the effect of various methods known to
break PY in seeds of M. pudica, to identify the site(s) of water entry
into seeds of M. pudica and also compare results of dormancy-breaking
methods for seeds of M. pudica with those of 36 other species of Mimosa
reported in the literature. Mechanical scarification, wet heat and
cycles of wet heat and ice water effectively broke PY. Following wet
heat at 80 ˚C for 10 min, water uptake was via the hilar region but not
the pleurogram. Since PY has been reported in 36 species of Mimosa
tested that includes invasive, rare and endemic species, it seems
obvious that this kind of dormancy is not the cause of weediness in M.
pudica. Further, the 36 species represent four of the five taxonomic
sections of Mimosa, and thus it is likely that seeds of most of all of
the about 500 species in the genus have PY.
Presence of identical B-cell clone in both cerebrospinal fluid and tumor tissue in a patient with Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with neuroblastoma
Authors: Noguchi Kazuhiro , Ikawa Yasuhiro , Takenaka Mika , Sakai Yuta , Fujiki Toshihiro , Kuroda Rie , Ikeda Hiroko , Nakata Satoko , Nomura Kozo , Sakai Seisho , Fukuda Masaki , Araki Raita , Takahashi Yukitoshi , Wada Taizo
Published: January 2024

Opsoclonus-myoclonus syndrome associated with neuroblastoma (OMS-NB) is
a refractory paraneoplastic syndrome which often remain neurological
sequelae, and detailed pathogenesis has remained elusive. We encountered
a pediatric patient with OMS-NB treated by immunosuppressed therapy who
showed anti-glutamate receptor δ2 antibody and increased B-cells in
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and multiple lymphoid follicles containing
abundant B-cells in tumor tissue. Unbiased B-cell receptor repertoire
analysis revealed identical B-cell clone was identified as the dominant
clone in both CSF and tumor tissue. These identical B-cell clone may
contribute to the pathogenesis of OMS-NB. Our results could facilitate
the establishment of pathogenesis-based treatment strategies for OMS-NB.
Secondary Acute Myeloid Leukemia in a Pediatric Patient Receiving Maintenance Therapy for Acute B Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report
Authors: wang xiaoning , ding ding , liu yalin
Published: January 2024

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common pediatric
hematologic malignancy. Exposure to certain cytotoxic therapies for ALL
is associated with an increased risk of secondary malignancies.We
present a rare case of a 6-year-old girl with secondary acute myeloid
leukemia (AML) that occurred while the patient was receiving maintenance
therapy for ALL approximately 17 months from the time of primary
diagnosis. This case indicates that if pediatric patients with ALL
receive induction chemotherapy agents used for adults, such as
idarubicin and cyclophosphamide, they may have a shorter time to the
progression of secondary malignancies.
Comparison of respiratory pathogens in children with lower respiratory tract infections before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Shanghai, China
Authors: Xu Menghua , Liu Pengcheng , Su Liyun , Cao Lingfeng , Zhong Huaqing , Lu Lijuan , Jia Ran , Xu Jin
Published: January 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the
prevalence of respiratory pathogens among hospitalized children with
lower respiratory tract infections (LTRIs) in Shanghai. Methods:
Respiratory specimens were collected from children with LTRIs in
Children’s Hospital of Fudan University from February 2019 to January
2021 and common respiratory pathogens were detected using multiplex PCR.
The data of 13 respiratory pathogens were analyzed and compared between
the year of 2020 (from February 2020 to January 2021) and 2019 (from
February 2019 to January 2020). Results: A total of 1049 patients were
enrolled, including 417 patients in 2019 and 632 patients in 2020. In
2020, 27.53% of patients were tested positive for at least one
pathogens, which was significantly lower than that in 2019 (78.66%).
The top three pathogens were Mp, ADV and RV in 2019, whereas RV, RSV and
PIV were the predominant ones in 2020. The positive rates of Mp, ADV,
RV, PIV, InfB, H3N2 and H1N1 were significantly decreased in 2020. RV
was the most detectable respiratory pathogen in 2020, and become the
most frequent pathogen in all five age groups. PIV had a high prevalence
from October to December 2020 which was even higher than that in 2019.
InfA was not detected in 2020. Co-infection was significantly less
frequent in 2020. Conclusions: The public health interventions aiming to
eliminate COVID-19 have great impact on the prevalence of common
respiratory pathogens. The prevalence of RV and PIV reminds us a
possible resurgence of some pathogens.
Efficacy and safety of Mirabegron plus Solifenacin combination therapy in comparison with Solifenacin monotherapy in Overactive bladder: A Systematic review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Warudkar Sandesh , Jain Amit , Dave Nilanj , Chaturvedi Alok
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Introduction & Objectives Antimuscarinic agents represent the
cornerstone of pharmacotherapy for Overactive bladder (OAB) but
persistence with treatment is often limited by undesirable side effects.
The purpose of this review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of
combination therapy of mirabegron 50 mg and solifenacin 5 mg in
comparison with 5 mg and 10 mg of solifenacin monotherapy in patients
with OAB. Materials & Methods An electronic database search was carried
out in Evidence Based Medicine Reviews, Cochrane Library and PubMed
using keywords Mirabegron, Solifenacin, Combination, Overactive bladder
based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and
Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guideline to include relevant randomized
controlled trials (RCT)s. The meta-analysis was performed by Review
Manager 5.4 software. Results Out of 907 studies screened, 4 RCTs
involving a total of 5339 patients were eligible for analysis. In
comparison to Solifenacin 5 and 10 mg monotherapy, combination therapy
resulted in significantly more improvement in mean volume voided (MVV)
per micturition, frequency of micturitions/24h, number of incontinence
epi¬sodes/24h. Compared to Solifenacin 5 mg monotherapy, combination
therapy was found to have overall acceptable tolerability profile in
terms of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), dry mouth,
constipation. Whereas when compared to Solifenacin 10 mg monotherapy,
combination therapy was found to be better tolerated for all studied
safety outcomes. Conclusions Combination therapy of mirabegron 50 mg and
solifenacin 5 mg leads to significantly greater improvement in OAB
symptoms and is better tolerated in comparison with solifenacin 10
monotherapy.