bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary hepatopancreatobiliary lymphoma: Pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management
Authors: Wang Qianwen , Wu Kangze , Zhang Xuzhao , Liu Yang , Sun Zhouyi , Wei Shumei , Zhang Bo
Published: August 2022

Primary hepatopancreatobiliary lymphoma (PHPBL) is extremely rare, which is defined as a lympho-proliferative disease confined to the hepatobiliary system and pancreas without any involvement of lymph nodes, bone marrow, or other organs. The clinical and imaging manifestations of PHPBL are variable and non-special, which are akin to those of tumors of the hepatobiliary and pancreatic systems. The overall prognosis and management of PHPBL differ from those of other tumors in the hepatobiliary system and pancreas. Proper diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential for improving clinical outcomes. Due to its rarity, the optimal treatment has not been issued. However, combination chemotherapy is considered as a standard treatment for them. This review provides an overview of the pathogenesis, diagnosis, pathology, and management of PHPBL and offers clinicians the diagnosis and management schedule for PHPBL.
Busulfan and thiotepa as a conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma: A study of the Korean Multiple Myeloma Working Party (KMMWP-1801 study)
Authors: Song Ga-Young , Jung Sung-Hoon , Kim Jin Seok , Eom Hyeon Seok , Moon Joon Ho , Yhim Ho-Young , Kim Kihyun , Min Chang-Ki , Lee Je-Jung
Published: August 2022

Background

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM). Several attempts to improve the efficacy of conditioning regimens have been conducted in MM, but no more effective regimen than conventional high-dose melphalan has been introduced.

Objective

In this study, the efficacy and toxicity of busulfan and thiotepa (BuTT) and those of high-dose melphalan (HD-MEL) were compared retrospectively as a conditioning regimen for ASCT in patients with MM.

Study design

Included in the analysis were 114 patients who received BuTT and 114 patients who received HD-MEL treatment between March 2008 and May 2020. The BuTT regimen consisted of intravenous thiotepa 5 mg/kg once a day from days 7 to 6, followed by intravenous busulfan 3.2 mg/kg once a day from days 5 to 3. The HD-MEL conditioning regimen consisted of melphalan 100 mg/m2 once a day from days 3 to 2.

Results

The overall response rate after ASCT did not differ between BuTT and HD-MEL (94.7% in BuTT vs. 97.4% in HD-MEL, p = 0.333). After a median follow-up of 47.6 months, progression-free survival (PFS) tended to be longer in the BuTT group (median PFS, 41.5 months vs. 30.3 months; hazard ratio (HR), 0.706; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.497–1.004, p = 0.053). In the subgroup analysis of patients who did not proceed to maintenance or consolidation treatment after ASCT, the difference in PFS became more significant (median PFS, 41.5 months vs. 24.4 months; HR, 0.621; 95% CI, 0.388–0.993; p = 0.047). Additionally, the BuTT group had fewer adverse events, such as grade 3 or 4 stomatitis and diarrhea, than the HD-MEL group (stomatitis, 10.5% vs. 23.7%, p = 0.013; diarrhea, 10.5% vs. 25.4%, p = 0.005). There was no difference in the occurrence of venous-occlusive disease (2.6% in BuTT vs. 0.9% in HD-MEL, p = 0.622).

Conclusion

Our study results suggest that BuTT is an effective alternative conditioning regimen with reduced toxicity in patients with newly diagnosed MM.
A review of key strategies to address the shortage of analgesics and sedatives in pediatric intensive care
Authors: Castro Roberta Esteves Vieira de , Rodríguez-Rubio Miguel , Magalhães-Barbosa Maria Clara de , Prata-Barbosa Arnaldo , Holbrook Jaimee , Kamat Pradip , Stormorken Anne
Published: August 2022

Importance

Targeted analgosedation is a challenge in critically ill children, and this challenge becomes even more significant with drug shortages.

Observations

Published guidelines inform the provision of analgosedation in critically ill children. This review provides insights into general approaches using these guidelines during drug shortages in Pediatric Intensive Care Units as well as strategies to optimize both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches in these situations.

Conclusions and relevance

Considering that drug shortages are a recurrent worldwide problem, this review may guide managing these drugs in critically ill children in situations of scarcity, such as in pandemics or disasters.
The Antigastric Cancer Effect of Triptolide is Associated With H19/NF-κB/FLIP Axis
Authors: Yuan Weiwei , Huang Jinxi , Hou Shanshan , Li Huahua , Bie Liangyu , Chen Beibei , Li Gaofeng , Zhou Yang , Chen Xiaobing
Published: August 2022

Background and Objective: Triptolide (TP), one of the fat-soluble components extracted from the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. (TWHF), possesses strong antitumor bioactivities, but its dose-dependent side effects restrict its wide application. This study was designed to investigate whether inflammatory factors increased the antitumor effects of the nontoxic dose of TP on gastric cancer cells and tried to explore the possible molecular mechanisms.

Method: AGS and MKN45 cells were treated with different doses of TP and TNF-α. Cell viability and apoptosis were detected in vitro. In addition, NF-κB mediated prosurvival signals and cytoprotective proteins, especially FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP), were detected to determine their effects on TP/TNF-α–induced apoptosis. Moreover, the function of lncRNA H19/miR-204-5p/NF-κB/FLIP axis was investigated in vitro, and the antigastric cancer effect of TP plus TNF-α was proved in the mice xenograft model.

Result:In vitro experimental results showed that TP pretreatment promoted apoptosis in AGS and MKN45 cells upon TNF-α exposure. TP/TNF-α–mediated apoptosis was partly mediated by the inhibitory effect of NF-κB–mediated FLIP expression. Oncogene H19 lying in the upstream pathway of NF-κB played a vital role upon TNF-α exposure, and bioinformatics analysis proved that H19 participated in TP/TNF-α–induced apoptosis via binding of miR-204-5p. Lastly, a low dose of TP and TNF-α inhibited the tumor weight and tumor volume of AGS and MKN45 cells in vivo.

Conclusion: TP pretreatment increased apoptosis in TNF-α–stimulated gastric cancer cells, which are dependent on the disruption of the H19/miR-204-5p/NF-κB/FLIP axis. Cotreatment of TP and TNF-α is a better option for enhancing the anticancer effect and lowering the side effect of TP.
Linezolid resistance in multidrug-resistant mycobacterium tuberculosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Azimi Taher , Khoshnood Saeed , Asadi Arezoo , Heidary Mohsen , Mahmoudi Hassan , Kaviar Vahab Hassan , Hallajzadeh Masoume , Nasiri Mohammad Javad
Published: August 2022

Introduction: Linezolid (LNZ) is an effective antibiotic to treat patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) treatment failure. M. tuberculosis strains resistant to isoniazid and rifampin are defined as MDR-TB. In recent years, resistance to LNZ among MDR-TB cases has been reported in several different countries. In this study, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the prevalence of LNZ resistance among MDR-TB isolates.

Methods: The databases of Embase, PubMed/Medline, and Web of Science were searched systematically from January 2000 to April 2021. Statistical analyses were performed by using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Heterogeneity was reported by using the t-squared statistic and Q-statistic. Begg’s rank correlation in combination with the funnel plot were used to evaluate any possible publication bias.

Results: In total, 25 studies were selected for meta-analysis from 14 different countries; the majority was from China (n = 5) and Turkey (n = 4). Moreover, 7,366 patients were infected with MDR M. tuberculosis. Among the study population, 98 patients were co-infected with HIV, and 18 patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Furthermore, 28 cases had diabetes, and139 cases were alcohol abuser. Overall, 4,956 MDR M. tuberculosis strains were isolated from TB patients. The pooled frequency of LNZ resistance among the clinical isolates of MDR M. tuberculosis was 4.2% (95%). Begg’s (p = 0.72) test showed no evidence of publication bias.

Conclusion: LNZ resistance among MDR M. tuberculosis isolates is increasing. On the other hand, long-term treatment of MDR-TB cases with LNZ alone is associated with several adverse effects. Thus, it is recommended that newer anti-TB drugs, including bedaquiline and delamanid, in combination with linezolid could increase its effectiveness and decrease toxicities. However, more studies should be done in this field.
The mechanism of action of a novel neuroprotective low molecular weight dextran sulphate: New platform therapy for neurodegenerative diseases like Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Logan Ann , Belli Antonio , Di Pietro Valentina , Tavazzi Barbara , Lazzarino Giacomo , Mangione Renata , Lazzarino Giuseppe , Morano Inés , Qureshi Omar , Bruce Lars , Barnes Nicholas M. , Nagy Zsuzsanna
Published: August 2022

Background: Acute and chronic neurodegenerative diseases represent an immense socioeconomic burden that drives the need for new disease modifying drugs. Common pathogenic mechanisms in these diseases are evident, suggesting that a platform neuroprotective therapy may offer effective treatments. Here we present evidence for the mode of pharmacological action of a novel neuroprotective low molecular weight dextran sulphate drug called ILB®. The working hypothesis was that ILB® acts via the activation of heparin-binding growth factors (HBGF).

Methods: Pre-clinical and clinical (healthy people and patients with ALS) in vitro and in vivo studies evaluated the mode of action of ILB®. In vitro binding studies, functional assays and gene expression analyses were followed by the assessment of the drug effects in an animal model of severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) using gene expression studies followed by functional analysis. Clinical data, to assess the hypothesized mode of action, are also presented from early phase clinical trials.

Results: ILB® lengthened APTT time, acted as a competitive inhibitor for HGF-Glypican-3 binding, effected pulse release of heparin-binding growth factors (HBGF) into the circulation and modulated growth factor signaling pathways. Gene expression analysis demonstrated substantial similarities in the functional dysregulation induced by sTBI and various human neurodegenerative conditions and supported a cascading effect of ILB® on growth factor activation, followed by gene expression changes with profound beneficial effect on molecular and cellular functions affected by these diseases. The transcriptional signature of ILB® relevant to cell survival, inflammation, glutamate signaling, metabolism and synaptogenesis, are consistent with the activation of neuroprotective growth factors as was the ability of ILB® to elevate circulating levels of HGF in animal models and humans.

Conclusion: ILB® releases, redistributes and modulates the bioactivity of HBGF that target disease compromised nervous tissues to initiate a cascade of transcriptional, metabolic and immunological effects that control glutamate toxicity, normalize tissue bioenergetics, and resolve inflammation to improve tissue function. This unique mechanism of action mobilizes and modulates naturally occurring tissue repair mechanisms to restore cellular homeostasis and function. The identified pharmacological impact of ILB® supports the potential to treat various acute and chronic neurodegenerative disease, including sTBI and ALS.
CD36 deficiency inhibits proliferation by cell cycle control in skeletal muscle cells
Authors: Sun Jingyu , Su Yajuan , Xu Yaning , Qin Duran , He Qianhui , Qiu Haiping , Zhuo Jiatong , Li Weida
Published: August 2022

Obesity-related muscular dysfunction and relative muscle atrophy affect an increasing number of people. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms of skeletal muscle cell development and growth may contribute to the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass in obesity. Fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36), as a long-chain fatty acid transport protein, is crucial for lipid metabolism and signaling. CD36 is known to function in myogenic differentiation, and whether it affects the proliferation of skeletal muscle cells and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, the effect of CD36 deficiency on skeletal muscle cell viability and proliferation was examined using C2C12 myoblasts. Results showed that the deletion of CD36 enhanced the inhibitory effect of PA on the proliferation and the promotion of apoptosis in skeletal muscle cells. Intriguingly, the silencing of CD36 suppressed cell proliferation by preventing the cell cycle from the G0/G1 phase to the S phase in a cyclin D1/CDK4-dependent manner. Overall, we demonstrated that CD36 was involved in skeletal muscle cell proliferation by cell cycle control, and these findings might facilitate the treatment of obesity-related muscle wasting.
Integrative medicine in treating post-stroke depression: Study protocol for a multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Chen Jing , Shen Ke , Fan Lijuan , Hu Hantong , Li Tieniu , Zhang Yiting , Gao Hong
Published: August 2022

Background

Post-stroke depression (PSD) is one of the most common neuropsychiatric diseases in patients with stroke, and it can increase the disability rate, mortality, and recurrence rate of stroke. Currently, many clinical studies have indicated that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), such as acupuncture and herbs, Western medicine, rehabilitation, repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation, and other treatment methods, are effective in treating PSD. However, no study has formulated a comprehensive treatment plan that integrates TCM, Western medicine, and rehabilitation for PSD. Thus, this trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of integrative medicine for treating PSD.

Methods

This multicenter, prospective, randomized, controlled study aims to form a set of effective clinical treatment schemes that integrate TCM, Western medicine, and rehabilitation for PSD. A total of 202 participants recruited from four centers will be randomized into either the integrative medicine or standard care group. Standard care—basic treatment, general nursing care, and exercise therapy—will be provided to all participants. The integrative medicine group will also receive acupuncture, Chinese herbs, and repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Participants will receive acupuncture and rTMS treatments five times per week for 4 weeks and will be administered Chinese herbs, basic treatment, general nursing care, and exercise therapy for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes include the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL). And the secondary outcomes include the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale, the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) Scale, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). All outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline, week 4 (the end of the treatment courses), and week 8 (the end of follow-up). Safety assessments will be performed throughout the study.

Discussion

This study is expected to verify the efficacy and safety of integrative medicine for treating PSD, providing an evidence-based clinical reference for the future development of a standardized scheme.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT05187975
An app-enhanced cognitive fitness training program for athletes: The rationale and validation protocol
Authors: Aidman Eugene , Fogarty Gerard J. , Crampton John , Bond Jeffrey , Taylor Paul , Heathcote Andrew , Zaichkowsky Leonard
Published: August 2022

The core dimensions of cognitive fitness, such as attention and cognitive control, are emerging through a transdisciplinary expert consensus on what has been termed the Cognitive Fitness Framework (CF2). These dimensions represent key drivers of cognitive performance under pressure across many occupations, from first responders to sport, performing arts and the military. The constructs forming the building blocks of CF2 come from the RDoC framework, an initiative of the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) aimed at identifying the cognitive processes underlying normal and abnormal behavior. Similar to physical conditioning, cognitive fitness can be improved with deliberate practice. This paper reports the development of a prototype cognitive fitness training program for competitive athletes and the protocol for its evaluation. The program is focused on primary cognitive capacities and subtending skills for adjusting training rhythms and enhancing readiness for competition. The project is driven by the Australian Psychological Society’s College of Sport & Exercise Psychology and includes the development of a Cognitive Gym program for a smartphone app-enhanced implementation. Its key building blocks are training protocols (drills) connected by a periodized training plan. A website with background supporting resources has also been developed as part of the project. National-level training squads will participate in a three-week pilot evaluation protocol, assessing the program’s efficacy and usability through gamified cognitive assessment of participants’ training gains and coaching staff evaluations, respectively. Both near and far transfer of training effects will be examined.
The presence of psychological distress in healthcare workers across different care settings in Windsor, Ontario, during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Voth Jennifer , Jaber Lindsey , MacDougall Linda , Ward Leslee , Cordeiro Jennifer , Miklas Erica P.
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Few studies have examined psychological distress in healthcare workers (HCWs) across the care continuum. This study describes distress levels reported by HCWs across care settings and factors associated with distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of HCWs from Windsor, Ontario, was conducted between May 30th, 2020, and June 30th, 2020. The survey included the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), sociodemographic, frontline status, perceptions of training, protection, support, respect among teams, and professional and personal stressors. Univariate analyses were used to compare across settings and multivariate logistic regression assessed factors associated with distress.

Results

Four hundred and three HCWs from the hospital (49.4%), community health and social service (18.4%), first responder (14.7%), primary care (7.9%), home (6.0%), and long-term care (LTC; 4.0%) participated in the survey. Common concerns included fear of transmitting COVID-19 to family, safety on the job, and balancing personal care with work demands. LTC and home-care HCWs reported greater concern about workload and staffing levels, whereas community health workers were more anxious about their financial security. Overall, 228 (74.2%) HCWs who completed the K10 reported high distress, with greater rates among hospital and LTC HCWs. Distress was more likely in HCWs who identified as female, younger than 55, perceived lower respect among team, and experienced greater worry about physical and mental health and managing high workloads.

Conclusion

Results showed a high degree of distress experienced by HCWs across care settings and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on personal and work-related stress. Promoting self-care and supportive and collaborative healthcare teams are promising avenues for mitigating symptoms of distress.
Exploring trajectories of depressive symptoms in North Korean defectors: A latent class mixed analysis
Authors: Kim Dahae , Park Sohee , An Ji Hyun , Kim Myung Hyun , Chang Hyein , Hong Jin Pyo
Published: August 2022

Background

North Korean defectors (NKDs) are known to be vulnerable to depression due to the influence of various psychosocial factors during their settlement process. Therefore, this study aimed to explore different trajectories of depressive symptoms in NKDs and identify predictors of the worsening of depressive symptoms. In particular, the focus was on whether posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) functions as a significant predictor.

Methods

Participants consisted of 300 NKDs who settled in South Korea within 3 years of entering in the country. Five waves of longitudinal data collected from 2016 to 2019 were used. In this study, the North Korean Composite International Diagnostic Interview (NK-CIDI), a diagnostic interview tool, was conducted at baseline and depressive symptoms were measured at each wave. Trajectory identification was based on latent class mixed modeling. Logistic regression was used to extract the significant factors predicting a high/increasing depressive symptom trajectory.

Results

Two trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified: “low/stable symptom” (76.7% of participants) and “high/increasing symptom” (23.3% of participants). Predictors of the high/increasing symptom group were being female and a low use of mental health services. Generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and alcohol dependence acted as significant predictors. Although PTSD was not a significant predictor, self-reported PTSD symptom scores were high in the high/increasing symptom group.

Conclusions

Identifying the trajectories of depressive symptoms in NKDs helps identify the risk factors of clinically vulnerable groups. In the process of establishing government-level interventions, it may be helpful to create a therapeutic environment. In addition, when evaluating initial psychiatric problems, it is important to primarily consider NKDs' anxiety levels and alcohol problems. There should also be an appropriate consideration of PTSD symptoms.
Impact of sustained health policy and population-level interventions on reducing the prevalence of obesity in the Caribbean region: A qualitative study from The Bahamas
Authors: Poitier Francis , Kalliecharan Ricky , Ebenso Bassey
Published: August 2022

Background

The 2020 Global Nutrition Report highlights that despite improvements in select nutrition indicators, progress is too slow to meet the 2025 Global Nutrition Targets. While the Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region has achieved the greatest global reduction in undernutrition (stunting, underweight, and wasting) in the past decade, it also has the highest prevalence of people with overweight worldwide. Since the early 2000s, the region has mounted increasingly comprehensive and multi-sectoral policy interventions to address nutritional health outcomes. The Bahamas is one such LAC country that has used consistent policy responses to address evolving nutritional challenges in its population. After addressing the initial problems of undernutrition in the 1970s and 80s, however, overconsumption of unhealthy foods has led to a rising prevalence of obesity which The Bahamas has grappled with since the early 2000s.

Objective

This study develops a timeline of obesity-related health policy responses and explores the macrosocial factors and conditions which facilitated or constrained public health policy responses to obesity in The Bahamas over a 20-year period.

Methods

This multi-method case study was conducted between 2019 and 2021. A document review of health policies was combined with secondary analysis of a range of other documents and semi-structured interviews with key actors (policymakers, health workers, scholars, and members of the public). Data sources for secondary data analysis included policy documents, national survey data on obesity, national and regional newspaper websites, and the Digital Library of the Caribbean database. An adapted framework approach was used for the analysis of semi-structured interviews.

Results

Between 2000 and 2019, a series of national policies and community-level interventions were enacted to address the prevalence of obesity. Building on previous interventions, obtaining multi-sectoral collaboration, and community buy-in for policy action contributed to reducing obesity prevalence from 49.2 to 43.7% between 2012 and 2019. There are, however, constraining factors, such as political and multi-sectoral challenges and gaps in legislative mandates and financing.

Conclusion

Sustained multilevel interventions are effective in addressing the prevalence of obesity. To maintain progress, there is a need to implement gender-specific responses while ensuring accessibility, availability, and affordability of nutritious food for all.
Effect of physical activity combined with extra ciliary-muscle training on visual acuity of children aged 10–11
Authors: Yin Rongbin , Xu Jianrong , Wang Hongyun , Zhou Sheng , Zhang Meng , Cai Geng
Published: August 2022

This study is intended for exploring the effects of the physical activity combined with extra ciliary-muscle training with different frequencies on children's kinetic visual acuity and uncorrected distance visual acuity, and eventually figuring out the optimal frequency of ciliary-muscle training for each physical education class. To do the present research, A total of 160 students aged 10–11 from a school in Suzhou (a major city located in southeastern Jiangsu Province, East China) were randomly selected and divided into control group (n = 33), 15-frequency group (n = 44), 30-frequency group (n = 40) and 60-frequency group (n = 43), and the latter three experimental groups participated in a specially designed physical activity plan based on the training principles of ciliary muscle, while the control group participated in normal physical activity as usual. The experimental intervention period was 16 weeks, and all students' kinetic visual acuity and uncorrected distance visual acuity were measured before and after the experiment. The result showed that the kinetic visual acuity of the students in the 30 and 60-frequency groups got improved significantly after the experiment (p < 0.05), with the highest improvement occurring in the 30-frequency group, while there was no significant change in the 15-frequency group and the control group; The uncorrected distance visual acuity of the students in the 30 and 60-frequency groups was significantly improved after the experiment (p < 0.05), and the improvement range in these two groups was similar. In contrast, there was no significant change in the 15-frequency group, while the control group showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05). Physical activity combined with extra ciliary-muscle training has a positive effect on improving children's vision; at the same time, ciliary-muscle training with different frequencies bring out different outcomes on children's vision improvement, among which ciliary-muscle training with frequency of 30 in each physical education class is the best choice to enhance children's kinetic visual acuity and uncorrected distance visual acuity.
What a good boy! Deciphering the efficiency of detection dogs
Authors: Martin Clément , Willem Noémie , Desablens Sorenza , Menard Vincent , Tajri Sophia , Blanchard Solène , Brostaux Yves , Verheggen François , Diederich Claire
Published: August 2022

Dogs have a powerful olfactory system, which is used in many areas of the police and military to detect drugs, human remains, and explosives, among other items. Despite these powerful detection abilities, methods assessing the performance (MAP) of dogs remain scarce, and have never been validated. In particular, scientific knowledge on post-training performance assessments is scarce. To validate a quantitative MAP, an efficient detection dog (DD) must first be defined. Here, we aimed to define what an efficient DD is, and to develop a quantitative MAP. Specifically, we conducted 1) an international survey sent to professional DD practitioners (n= 50), and 2) an experimental assay on cadaver and drug DDs (n= 20). Based on the survey, efficient DDs were defined as confident animals, making few mistakes, alerting to the presence of target odors as close as possible, able to strategically screen the search area effectively, independent and not easily distracted. The developed quantitative MAP was based on video tracking DDs in a circular behavioral arena, in which the error rate of DD was recorded, including accuracy and the strategy level. Previous studies have already demonstrated that DDs are usually confidant. Guidance was not assessed during MAP development; however, handlers could not guide DDs during the search session. Based on this method, future studies should evaluate DD performance throughout the entire training process. Such monitoring would allow thresholds to be determined, allowing efficient DDs to be identified, along with the effect of certain factors on performance (e.g., dogs breed, gender, and training aids used during DD conditioning).
Governance learning from collective actions for just climate adaptation in cities
Authors: Yazar Mahir , Haarstad Håvard , Drengenes Lene Lundøy , York Abigail
Published: August 2022

Environmental policy research fails to integrate procedural and recognitional justice perspectives and collective actions in governance learning for just climate adaptations. Drawing on the insights of two cities experiencing climate impacts differently, Bergen (Norway) and Istanbul (Turkey), this paper assesses how collective actions influence different levels of governments (local to national) to learn from these actions to implement just climate actions in their localities. Using environmental justice (specifically recognition and procedural) and policy learning literature, we contextualize a three-governance learning typology that emerges through collective actions that may trigger governance structures for policy integration: governance learning by resisting, co-opting, and expanding. We identify what kind of learning is introduced to the existing governance structures in Bergen and Istanbul, and how that learning shapes or is shaped by the governance structures, local government in Bergen and local to national governments in Istanbul, while developing climate adaptation policies and actions. Overall, this paper shows what types of knowledge and information are incorporated or ignored after collective actions and how power mediates interactions between actors across multiple urban settings for just climate adaptation.
Birefringence-modulated total internal reflection in liquid crystal shells
Authors: Popov Nikolay , Lagerwall Jan P. F.
Published: August 2022

The combination of anisotropic boundary conditions and topological constraints acting on a spherical shell of nematic liquid crystal confined between aqueous phases gives rise to peculiar but well-defined configurations of the director field, and thus of the optic axis that defines the impact of the nematic birefringence. While the resulting optics of nematic shells has been extensively investigated in transmission, studies of the reflection behavior are scarce. Here we show that nematic shells exhibit specific light guiding paths mediated by birefringence-modulated total internal reflection (TIR) within the shell. With stabilizers promoting tangential boundary conditions, shells show immobile antipodal spots revealing the locations of maximum effective refractive index, but their intensity is modulated by the polarization of the illuminating light. With normal-aligning stabilizers, shells instead show bright arcs separated by dark spots, and these follow the rotation of the polarization of the illuminating light. Reflection polarizing microscopy thus offers a valuable complement to the more common characterization in transmission, adding data that can be helpful for accurately mapping out director fields in shells of any liquid crystal phase. Moreover, the TIR-mediated light guiding paths may offer interesting handles to localize photopolymerization of reactive liquid crystal shells or to dynamically modulate the response of light-triggered liquid crystal elastomer shell actuators.
Importance of lower atmospheric forcing and magnetosphere-ionosphere coupling in simulating neutral density during the February 2016 geomagnetic storm
Authors: Maute Astrid , Lu Gang , Knipp Delores J. , Anderson Brian J. , Vines Sarah K.
Published: August 2022

During geomagnetic storms a large amount of energy is transferred into the ionosphere-thermosphere (IT) system, leading to local and global changes in e.g., the dynamics, composition, and neutral density. The more steady energy from the lower atmosphere into the IT system is in general much smaller than the energy input from the magnetosphere, especially during geomagnetic storms, and therefore details of the lower atmosphere forcing are often neglected in storm time simulations. In this study we compare the neutral density observed by Swarm-C during the moderate geomagnetic storm of 31 January to 3 February 2016 with the Thermosphere-Ionosphere-Electrodynamics-GCM (TIEGCM) finding that the model can capture the observed large scale neutral density variations better in the southern than northern hemisphere. The importance of more realistic lower atmospheric (LB) variations as specified by the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model eXtended (WACCM-X) with specified dynamics (SD) is demonstrated by improving especially the northern hemisphere neutral density by up to 15% compared to using climatological LB forcing. Further analysis highlights the importance of the background atmospheric condition in facilitating hemispheric different neutral density changes in response to the LB perturbations. In comparison, employing observationally based field-aligned current (FAC) versus using an empirical model to describe magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling leads to an 7–20% improved northern hemisphere neutral density. The results highlight the importance of the lower atmospheric variations and high latitude forcing in simulating the absolute large scale neutral density especially the hemispheric differences. However, focusing on the storm time variation with respect to the quiescent time, the lower atmospheric influence is reduced to 1–1.5% improvement with respect to the total observed neutral density. The results provide some guidance on the importance of more realistic upper boundary forcing and lower atmospheric variations when modeling large scale, absolute and relative neutral density variations.
Analysis of the risk factors for severe lung injury after radical surgery for tetralogy of fallot
Authors: He Yan , Zhang Hong-Sheng , Zhang Ting-Zhou , Feng Yu , Zhu Yan , Fan Xing
Published: August 2022

Objective

This study aimed to determine the risk factors for severe lung injury (SLI) (partial pressure of oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen <150) after radical surgery for tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosis (TOF/PS) in children.

Method

A retrospective analysis was conducted including a total of 287 children with TOF/PS aged below 10 years (including 166 males) who had undergone radical surgery at the Center of Pediatric Heart Disease of the Beijing Anzhen Hospital (China) from 2018 to 2020.

Results

A total of 83 cases (28.9%) had SLI after surgery. Univariate analysis showed that age, weight, pulmonary artery index (PAI), cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) percentage on the first day after surgery were risk factors for postoperative SLI. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that PAI, PMN percentage on the first day postoperatively, and CPB time were independent risk factors for SLI after surgery. The prediction model was established as follows: Logit(P) = 2.236 + 0.009*CPB-0.008*PAI-0.035*PMN, area under the curve (AUC) = 0.683, P < 0.001, sensitivity 65.8%, and specificity 68.6%. Following surgery, static lung compliance was significantly lower in the SLI group compared with the routine group. Complication rates and mortality were significantly higher in the SLI than in the routine group. Ventilator support times, the length of intensive care unit stays, and the total lengths of hospital stay were significantly longer in the SLI than in the routine group.

Conclusion

The occurrence of SLI following radical surgery for TOF in children significantly affected postoperative recovery, and PAI, PMN percentage on the first day postoperatively, and CPB time were independent risk factors for SLI.
The hidden blood loss and its factors in patients undergoing minimally invasive knee arthroscopy
Authors: Li Sheng , A Liang
Published: August 2022

Background

With respect to knee arthroscopy, assessing the amount of hidden blood loss is of great importance to avoid potential complications such as fever, anemia, difficulty in wound healing and wound infection. The current study aims to investigate the hidden blood loss and its factors in patients who underwent minimally invasive knee arthroscopy.

Methods

Consecutive patients with knee joint injury, who underwent arthroscopic minimally invasive treatment, were enrolled from January 2019 to November 2020 and were retrospectively studied. Demographic information on these patients, such as medical history and biochemical parameters, was collected. The hidden blood loss was calculated. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to confirm independent factors associated with hidden blood loss.

Results

Finally, a total of 100 patients aged 44.78 ± 13.67 (range 17–66) years were reviewed, and it was found that a substantial amount of [387.02 ± 252.56 (range 18.89–1130.06) ml] hidden blood loss occurred after minimally invasive knee arthroscopy. Univariate analysis showed that this hidden blood loss was negatively correlated with age, gender, postoperative hemoglobin, and postoperative hematocrit (all P < 0.05), while it was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI), length of hospital stay, preoperative red blood cells, preoperative hemoglobin, preoperative hematocrit, blood volume, and the presence of medical conditions (all P < 0.05). Further multivariate linear regression indicated that preoperative hematocrit, blood volume, and postoperative hematocrit were independent factors associated with actual blood loss, and preoperative hematocrit, blood volume, postoperative hematocrit, and gender were independent factors associated with hidden blood loss, respectively (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Preoperative hematocrit, preoperative blood volume, postoperative hematocrit, and gender are the influencing factors of hidden blood loss in patients undergoing minimally invasive treatment under knee arthroscopy. More attention should be paid to hidden blood loss and its factors during the perioperative period.
Survival benefit of primary and metastatic tumor resection for colon cancer with liver metastases: A population based, propensity score-matched study
Authors: Qiao Yunfeng , Qiao Yunfeng , Li Huijun , Fu Jinge , You Shuping
Published: August 2022

Background

Colon cancer remains one of the most common malignancies and we aimed to evaluate whether surgery has an effect on the survival of metastatic colon patients.

Methods

We analyzed 7,583 metastatic colon patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, between January 2010 and December 2015. Using Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier curves, the overall survival rate (OS) and cancer-specific survival rate and End Results (SEER) registry (CSS) months (m) were evaluated with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to adjust for potential baseline confounding of all comparison groups.

Results

In general, receiving both primary and metastatic tumor resection (PMTR) remarkably improved OS and CSS compared with only primary tumor resection (PTR) after PS matching (PSM) (P < 0.05), with a significantly improved OS (HR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.69–0.80) and CSS (HR = 0.71, 95%CI = 0.66–0.76) in all stage M1 colon patients. The stratification analysis indicated a significant difference between OS and CSS in M1a and M1b stages. After PSM, PMTR was found to be associated with remarkably improved OS and CSS for patients with liver metastases but not associated with OS and CSS of patients with lung metastases in both M1a and M1b stage.

Conclusions

The results from this large SEER cohort supported PMTR might improve the survival of colon patients with liver metastases on the basis of chemotherapy.
Clinicopathological Implications of ASAP1 Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Bang Seongsik , Jee Seungyun , Son Hwangkyu , Cha Hyebin , Sim Jongmin , Kim Yeseul , Park Hosub , Myung Jaekyung , Kim Hyunsung , Paik Seungsam
Published: August 2022

Background: The expression of ArfGAP with SH3 domain ankyrin repeat and PH domain 1 (ASAP1) is increased in various types of cancer, showing potential as a prognostic marker. The clinicopathological implications of ASAP1 expression in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remain unclear. We thus investigated the clinicopathological significance and prognostic effect of ASAP1 expression in HCC patients.

Materials and Methods: ASAP1 expression was assessed in 149 HCC tissue samples using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The associations between ASAP1 expression and clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. The prognostic effect of ASAP1 expression in patients with HCC was evaluated based on survival analyses and confirmed using a web-based tool.

Results: ASAP1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of tumor cells. High ASAP1 expression was observed in 89 (59.7%) of 149 cases. High ASAP1 expression was significantly associated with male patients (p = 0.018), higher histological grade (p = 0.013), vessel invasion (p = 0.021), and higher stage (p = 0.020). High ASAP1 expression was associated with shorter overall survival (OS; p = 0.041) and recurrence-free survival (RFS; p = 0.008) based on Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Web-based analysis using Kaplan-Meier (KM) plotter showed high mRNA ASAP1 expression to be associated with short OS (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: High ASAP1 expression was associated with aggressive clinicopathological characteristics and poor clinical outcomes in patients with HCC. ASAP1 can be considered a prognostic biomarker in HCC patients.
SE-YOLOv5x: An Optimized Model Based on Transfer Learning and Visual Attention Mechanism for Identifying and Localizing Weeds and Vegetables
Authors: Zhang Jian-Lin , Su Wen-Hao , Zhang He-Yi , Peng Yankun
Published: August 2022

Weeds in the field affect the normal growth of lettuce crops by competing with them for resources such as water and sunlight. The increasing costs of weed management and limited herbicide choices are threatening the profitability, yield, and quality of lettuce. The application of intelligent weeding robots is an alternative to control intra-row weeds. The prerequisite for automatic weeding is accurate differentiation and rapid localization of different plants. In this study, a squeeze-and-excitation (SE) network combined with You Only Look Once v5 (SE-YOLOv5x) is proposed for weed-crop classification and lettuce localization in the field. Compared with models including classical support vector machines (SVM), YOLOv5x, single-shot multibox detector (SSD), and faster-RCNN, the SE-YOLOv5x exhibited the highest performance in weed and lettuce plant identifications, with precision, recall, mean average precision (mAP), and F1-score values of 97.6%, 95.6%, 97.1%, and 97.3%, respectively. Based on plant morphological characteristics, the SE-YOLOv5x model detected the location of lettuce stem emerging points in the field with an accuracy of 97.14%. This study demonstrates the capability of SE-YOLOv5x for the classification of lettuce and weeds and the localization of lettuce, which provides theoretical and technical support for automated weed control.
Effect of Deep Placement of Large Granular Fertilizer on Ammonia Volatilization, Soil Nitrogen Distribution and Rice Growth
Authors: Zhou Pingyao , Zhang Zhen , Du Linsen , Sun Geng , Su Liang , Xiao Zhiyu , Li Chunwang , Wang Zhichang , Xiao Zhihua , Hu Teng , Wang Keming , Ni Fang , Wang Shuping , Wang Hua
Published: August 2022

Excessive fertilization is often applied to produce rice. To reduce nitrogen loss and improve nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), we studied the effects of application depth (surface application, 5 and 10 cm) and shape of nitrogen fertilizers (row application and deep application of large granular fertilizer) on rice growth, soil N distribution and ammonia volatilization. The results showed that grain yield, shoot biomass and total dry biomass of the treatment with N in large granular fertilizer applied at 10 cm depth were significantly higher than those of all other treatments. Moreover, compared with the surface application, the N recovery efficiency and the N agronomic efficiency of deep application treatments were enhanced by 18.1–52.3% and 35.6–95.6%, respectively. Deep application significantly increased NH4+-N concentration at their fertilization points. During the growth season, N in large granular fertilizer treatments (mixed with clay to form an unusually large pellet of 1.0–1.5 cm in diameter) distributed closer to the roots, while N in other treatments, including row application treatments, was more widely distributed. Compared with the surface application, deep application significantly reduced NH3 volatilization and NH4+-N concentration in surface water by 58.7–64.8% and 26.0–72.5%, respectively. Furthermore, the NH3 volatilization from large granular treatment was 7.6–11.0% lower than that in the row application. In conclusion, applying N in large granular fertilizer at 10 cm depth reduces ammonia volatilization, and improves rice growth and grain yield, indicating improved NUE and lowered environmental risks.
Effect of Treating Eggs with Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) on Growth Variables, Histomorphometry, and Antioxidant Capacity in Red Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus × Oreochromis mossambicus) Larvae
Authors: Mourad Mona M. , Shahin Shimaa A. , El-Ratel Ibrahim T. , El Basuini Mohammed F.
Published: August 2022

Red tilapia eggs one day post fertilization (dpf) were exposed to coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) at rates of 0, 5, and 10 mg/L for control, treatment 2 (C5), and treatment 3 (C10), respectively, without exchanging water and until the larval mouth-opening stage. Fertilized eggs of red tilapia exposed to different concentrations of CoQ10 were hatched at rates (p > 0.05) between 38 to 54.67%. The yolk-sac diameter at the 2nd day post hatching (dph), ranged from 1.85 to 1.87 mm in depth and 1.63 to 1.88 mm in width and was not altered by the CoQ10 treatments. Similarly, red tilapia survival (p > 0.05) ranged from 22.67 to 32%. On 6 dph, a slight percentage (2.08%) of survived fishes exposed to high CoQ10 dose (C10) exhibited larval deformation in the form of an axial curvature of the spine in the abdominal and caudal region. Larvae displayed a normal structure of the esophagus folds in all fish groups, and larvae in the C5 group displayed the longest folds and widest muscularis layer, followed by fishes in the C10 group and the control. Red tilapia fry on 30 dph treated with CoQ10 possessed higher antioxidant potentials in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) compared to the control. In conclusion, treating Red tilapia fertile eggs with 5 mg/L CoQ10 improves the growth, gut structure, and antioxidant efficiency of the produced larvae.