bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sjögren’s syndrome in children: about 15 cases in Guinea Conakry
Authors: Condé Kaba , Guelngar Carlos Othon , Barry Mamadou Ciré , Atakla Hugues Ghislain , Mohamed Awada , Cissé Fodé Abass
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Sjögren’s syndrome is rare in children and most often secondary. It frequently affects girls and is characterized by dry eye syndrome, mouth and sometimes systemic involvement. Its diagnosis is difficult to establish in children. We report a series of 15 cases of Sjögren’s syndrome in order to clarify the peculiarities of this condition in children.

Patients and methods

This retrospective study was carried out over a 2-year period focused on children under 16 years of age who had been followed for Sjögren’s syndrome in the rheumatology and pediatric departments. Patient data were collected and then analyzed by STATA/SE version 11.2 software. Anonymity and respect for ethical rules were the norm. There was no connection between the patients and the researchers.

Description of cases

The mean age of the patients was 11 years with extremes of 5–15 years. History reveals that a dry mouth was found in more than half of the cases, or in 10 (66.7%) patients. Clinical examination found oral ulceration and periodontitis in equal proportions, 6 (40%). The immunological workup and the biopsy of the accessory salivary glands served as diagnostic evidence in the 15 patients according to the US–European criteria of 2002.

Conclusion

Sjögren’s syndrome is a rare entity in pediatrics. Its diagnosis is difficult to establish in pediatrics and its severity is linked to the occurrence of late visceral and lymphomatous sicca syndrome. Rapid diagnosis and initiation of a synthetic antimalarial (hydroxychloroquine) increases the hope of a cure.
Early detection of bipolar disorders and treatment recommendations for help-seeking adolescents and young adults: Findings of the Early Detection and Intervention Center Dresden
Authors: Martini Julia , Leopold Karolina , Pfeiffer Steffi , Berndt Christina , Boehme Anne , Roessner Veit , Fusar-Poli Paolo , Young Allan H. , Correll Christoph U. , Bauer Michael , Pfennig Andrea
Published: July 2021

Background

Early identification and intervention of individuals with risk factors for or subtle prodromal symptoms of bipolar disorders (BD) may improve the illness course and prevent adverse long-term consequences.

Methods

We examined sociodemographic, clinical and psychopathological characteristics of help-seeking adolescents and young adults who consulted the Early Detection and Intervention Center Dresden at the University of Dresden (Germany) and presented with or without pre-defined at-risk criteria for BD. The standardized diagnostic procedure for all help-seeking youth included a comprehensive psychiatric history and a structured clinical interview. When BD at-risk state was suspected, early detection instruments (EPIbipolar, BPSS-FP) were applied. Treatment recommendations were formulated in multi-professional case conferences.

Results

Out of 890 help-seeking persons between 05/2009 and 04/2018, 582 (65%) completed the diagnostic process. Of these, 24 (4%) had manifest BD and 125 (21%) fulfilled at-risk BD criteria (age = 23.9 ± 0.6 years, female = 62%). Of the pre-defined main risk factors, family history for BD was reported in 22% of the at-risk persons, (hypo-)mania risk state in 44%, and increasing cyclothymic mood swings with increased activity in 48%. The most common secondary risk factors were decreased psychosocial functioning (78%), lifetime diagnosis of depressive disorder (67%) and specific sleep/circadian rhythm disturbances (59%). Substance use was very common in subjects at-risk for BD (cannabis = 50%, alcohol = 33%) and highest in patients with BD (cannabis = 75%, alcohol = 40%). Psychiatric treatment history, including psychopharmacological therapy, was similar between the groups, while treatment recommendations differed, with more advice for psychotherapy and antidepressants in the at-risk group with a lifetime diagnosis of depression and more advice for specialized BD treatment including mood stabilizers in patients with BD.

Conclusion

This analysis on the phenomenology of different BD at-risk stages suggests that early detection of individuals presenting with suggested risk factors for the development of BD is feasible in help-seeking young people. Future research should further develop/test stage-specific prevention and early targeted intervention approaches that were described in a naturalistic setting.
Factor VIII inhibitor bypass activity (FEIBA) for the reduction of transfusion in cardiac surgery: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot trial
Authors: Sera Valerie A. , Stevens Ann E. , Song Howard K. , Rodriguez Victor M. , Tibayan Frederick A. , Treggiari Miriam M.
Published: July 2021

Background

Uncontrolled bleeding after cardiac surgery can be life-threatening. Factor eight inhibitor bypassing activity (FEIBA) is a prothrombin complex concentrate empirically used as rescue therapy for correction of refractory bleeding diathesis post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). FEIBA used as rescue therapy for bleeding diathesis after CPB has been associated with a low incidence of complications and a reduction in transfusion requirement and re-exploration. The feasibility and efficacy of early administration of FEIBA after the termination of CPB have not been studied in a prospective randomized trial.

Methods

We designed a small randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial to determine the feasibility of a larger trial testing the hypothesis that FEIBA decreases transfusion requirements after CPB. The study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a larger pivotal trial to determine the effectiveness of FEIBA in reducing the total volume of blood products transfused perioperatively, and its safety profile. Study participants were adult patients undergoing elective major aortic cardiovascular surgery at a tertiary referral hospital, who were equally randomized to receive a single dose of either FEIBA or matched placebo intraoperatively at the end of CPB.

Results

Twenty patients were screened and 12 were randomized and included in the analysis. Protocol adherence was high, and all patients received the study drug per intention-to-treat except one patient. There were no protocol deviations or events of unblinding, and adverse events were not different between groups. Patients in the FEIBA group were older and more likely to be female and had higher BMI, lower hematocrit, and longer hypothermic circulatory arrest. There were no differences in post-randomization blood product transfusions (difference FEIBA vs. placebo −899 mL; 95% CI −5206 to 3409) or in the administration of open-label FEIBA.

Conclusions

This pilot trial confirmed the adequacy of the trial design that involved the early, blinded administration of FEIBA, by demonstrating excellent protocol adherence. We conclude that a larger trial establishing the effectiveness of early prothrombin complex concentrate administration to reduce the use of blood products in the setting of high-risk cardiac surgery is feasible.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02577614. Registered 16 October 2015
Environmental risks of car tire microplastic particles and other road runoff pollutants
Authors: Tamis Jacqueline E. , Koelmans Albert A. , Dröge Rianne , Kaag Nicolaas H. B. M. , Keur Marinus C. , Tromp Peter C. , Jongbloed Ruud H.
Published: July 2021

Tire wear represents a large source of microplastic entering the aquatic environment, however little is known about its environmental risks. Here, we provide the first assessment of the environmental risks of pollution with tire wear microplastic particles (TWP) and associated organic micropollutants present in road runoff in Europe, in one go. Besides microplastic TWP, the assessment focused on priority substances as defined by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In addition, several other pollutants (mercaptobenzothiazole, tolyltriazole, diisodecyl phthalate and hexa (methoxymethyl)melamine) were included. The risk assessment comprised a hazard identification (selection of traffic related substances), an assessment of exposure (Predicted Environmental Concentrations, PECs), based on estimated and measured values, effect assessment (selection of Predicted No Effect Concentrations, PNECs, and effect values) and a risk characterization (PEC/PNEC and Species Sensitivity Distributions (SSDs)). Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET)-tests on samples taken from road runoff, surface water and sediment were conducted as a retrospective approach to support the risk assessment. We demonstrate that risks exist for TWP and for several TWP-associated chemical substances in surface water and sediment. In addition, WET-tests of the runoff samples showed significant dose-related effects for algae. However, WET-tests of surface water showed no significant toxic effects. The present study provides opportunities to protect the quality of European waters from complex road runoff pollution, focusing on TWP microplastic, their associated WFD priority substances and other hazardous substances.
Small-scale medium variations with high-order finite-difference and pseudospectral schemes
Authors: Mittet Rune
Published: July 2021

The accuracy of implementing interfaces with coarse-grid methods such as the pseudospectral method and high-order finite differences has been considered to be low. Our focus is on variations in interface locations and on inclusions that are significantly smaller than the grid step sizes. Classic implementations of these staggered-grid high-order methods are used. Band-limited versions of the Heaviside step function are used to manipulate the material-parameter grids. Interfaces can be implemented with accuracy that is one order of magnitude smaller than the step size. Small medium inclusions, diffractors, can, be three orders of magnitude smaller in area than the typical cell size and still be modeled with good accuracy. If the method used to implement an interface or to implement a small-scale inclusion is viewed as a filter, then this filter must be accurate up to the spatial Nyquist wavenumber of the simulation grid.
Twin anemia polycythemia sequence in a dichorionic diamniotic pregnancy: a case report
Authors: Lee Soo-Young , Bae Jin Young , Hong Seong Yeon
Published: July 2021

Complications related to the vascular anastomosis of the placental vessels in monochorionic twins are fatal. The clinical syndromes of feto-fetal transfusion include twin anemia polycythemia sequence (TAPS), twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and twin reversed arterial perfusion sequence. We present an extremely rare case of TAPS in a dichorionic diamniotic pregnancy. A 36-year-old woman, gravida 0, para 0, was referred to our hospital with suspected preterm premature membrane rupture. Although her pelvic examination did not reveal specific findings, the non-stress test result showed minimal variability in the first fetus and late deceleration in the second one. An emergency cesarean section was performed. The placenta was fused, and one portion of the placenta was pale, while the other portion was dark red. The hemoglobin level of the first fetus was 7.8 g/dL and that of the second one was 22.2 g/dL.
Processos de saúde e doença no campo sagrado e as narrativas de ressignificação corpórea: O caso das cirurgias espirituais no Hospital Espiritual Casa de Hansen
Authors: Da Silva Barros Valquíria , Oliveira Rosane Cristina , Da Silva Renato
Published: July 2021

O objetivo deste artigo é discutir os processos de saúde e doença, tendo como principal foco da análise as narrativas de ressignificação do corpo de sujeitos submetidos às práticas de cura no campo do sagrado, as chamadas cirurgias espirituais. O lócus da pesquisa é o Lar Espiritual Sagrado Coração de Jesus – Casa de Hansen (também conhecido como Hospital Espiritual Casa de Hansen), situado na cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Argumentamos que as práticas terapêuticas populares intermediadas pelas religiões constituem dispositivo para a construção dos sentidos sobre a doença, funcionando de forma complementar ao modelo biomédico. Assim, na contemporaneidade, observa-se a religiosidade de forma desinstitucionalizada, privilegiando a autonomia dos indivíduos, destacando a categoria “espiritualidade” como o principal intermediário entre o sujeito e Deus. Metodologicamente, este trabalho alicerça-se na pesquisa qualitativa, exploratória e etnográfica, chamando a atenção para a análise das entrevistas realizadas no Hospital Espiritual Casa de Hansen.
Civilidade e técnicas de si como conceitos para análise sociológica das moralidades
Authors: Fernandes Freire Alyson Thiago , Magalhães Brito Simone
Published: July 2021

Com o objetivo de refinar as ferramentas teóricas para uma abordagem da experiência moral que articule moralidade e poder, este artigo pretende discutir os conceitos de civilidade (Norbert Elias) e técnicas de si (Michel Foucault). Considerando o desenvolvimento do campo de pesquisas em sociologia da moral, procuramos demonstrar como esses conceitos auxiliam na compreensão da relação mediada dos indivíduos consigo mesmos, com sua subjetividade, emoções e atitudes, ao mesmo tempo em que fornecem uma análise sociológica orientada por dois processos: 1) a mudança social produzida pela transformação e ruptura dos principais grandes códigos e ethos, e 2) a constituição do sujeito através de modos de autocompreensão e de práticas morais compartilhadas.
Fostering Artistic Reflection Skills in Student Pre-School Educators Seen as Artistic Competence Development
Authors: Savluk Halyna , Polovina Olena , Kondratets Inna , Ukhtoms`ka Аnna , Dovbnia Sofiia
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the study is to identify how the instructional model influences students’ reflective disposition and how the students perceived the intervention. The study addressed the research questions through the ‘Artistic Reflection Scale’ for student pre-school educators that consisted of four domains such as students’ observation skills, critical analysis skills, evaluation skills, and the occupation application of artistic reflection, and the course satisfaction questionnaire. The study found that the technology of artistic reflection and image creation was effective in fostering students’ artistic reflective thinking comprising observation skills, critical analysis, their art output evaluation skills with a focus on sharing their reflective experience with the preschoolers. The artistic reflection scale was proved to be a reliable instrument in measuring students’ reflective thinking skills. The study found a change in the artistic reflective skills of the experimental group students was substantially greater than in the students of the control group. After the intervention, there was a shift from the basic level of artistic reflection to the higher levels in the experimental group students, and the proportion of the students being at this stage reduced, while the other proportions increased.
Influencing Variables and Implications in the Teacher-Student Relationships
Authors: Hu Yung-Hsiang , Asistido Randolf L. , Villanueva Mary Jonie O.
Published: July 2021

The purpose of the study was to examine correlations between perceived teacher innovation (PTI) and self-regulated learning (SRL), where learning motivation, self-efficacy, and learning transfer help illustrate the interplay between and among influencing variables in the teacher-student relationship. This study gathered 213 valid questionnaires out of 355 participants in the Design Thinking for Data Scientists, which is one of the courses taught from a university in Taiwan. This study has analyzed the possible linkage in the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) through the path coefficient. The ensuing data analysis study has shown that learning motivation, self-efficacy, and learning transfer not only served as the mediator effects in the PTI and SRL but also played small moderating effects. It appears that when learning motivation, self-efficacy, and learning transfer decrease, the interplay between PTI and SRL becomes stronger. It is necessary to increase the level of intrinsic motivation by the perception of greater innovation in teaching materials. By so doing, students would be more receptive and affective of course contents in the classroom and regulate themselves to achieve educational goals. The implications of teachers' perceptions of pedagogical innovation for learning motivation and learning experience are likewise discussed.
Stability Indicating RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation for Simultaneous Estimation of Metoprolol Succinate and Chlorthalidone in Bulk and in Tablet Dosage Form
Authors: Gholve Rameshwar , Pekamwar Sanjay , Kalyankar Tukaram
Published: July 2021

RP-HPLC method has been developed along with stability indicating attribute for simultaneous estimation of Metoprolol Succinate and Chlorthalidone in bulk and in tablet dosage form with minimized drug extraction steps. The chromatographic analysis was performed isocratically by using Oyster ODS3, 150 - 4.6 mm column having particle size of 5 µm (Merck) as stationary phase maintained at ambient temperature (about 25 °C) with 1.0 mL/minute of flow rate and 20 mM phosphate buffer having pH 2.3 (adjusted with10% orthophosphoric acid) and Acetonitrile (650:350, v/v) as Eluent at wavelength 225 nm. Individual drug substances as well as combination drug product was subjected to acid, alkali, oxidative, photolytic, thermal and humidity degradation, the peaks due to degraded product were significantly separated out from active analytes peak. The method was validated for the specificity, linearity, detection limit, quantitation limit, precision, accuracy, robustness and solution stability as per ICH guidelines and successfully used for regular analysis.
Extraction of Curcumin from Turmeric Powder Through Complexation
Authors: Thomas Sherin Geevarghese , Rajasekharan Kallikat Narayanan
Published: July 2021

The complexation behavior of curcumin with boron and oxalic acid to form rubrocurcumin is utilized for the extraction of curcumin from turmeric powder. The complex formation reaction has been hastened by the addition of a phase transfer catalyst.To recover curcumin from the complex, the decomposition of the rubrocurcumin is studied. It was found that ammonia solution is a better reagent for the recovery of curcumin from its boron complex. The complexation of curcumin and its recovery by decomposition do not adversely affect curcumin, as ascertained by spectroscopic methods. This new approach for extraction of curcumin affords its isolation in an appreciable yield and in lesser time.
Seasonable Variation on Trace Metals Statistical Values of Groundwater in and Around Tannery Areas of Vellore District
Authors: Kistan A. , Kanchana V. , Geetha N. K.
Published: July 2021

This paper investigates the determination of seasonable variation of trace metals named Copper, Zinc, Iron, Cadmium, Chromium and Lead set down in the groundwater in and around area of tannery areas of Vellore district. The tanneries discharge untreated tannery effluents, which get mixed with the soil, water of the Palar River, and underground in this area. The determination of metals was performed for the groundwater samples which are collected from adjacent to tannery localities, which bears untreated tannery effluents at pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. The metals might be deposited into the plants and vegetables grown on that agricultural soil, which disturb human health. Somewhat risky amount of trace metals were found in some groundwater samples, especially in the case of in pre-monsoon. All these trace metals were analysed by the Atomic adsorption spectroscopy technique (AAS). These metals contamination in the groundwater is answerable for the support of harmfulness in farming crops and underground water.
Synthesis and Spectral Characterization of Some New Novel Schiff bases Derived from Hydroxy Propiophenone
Authors: Wagh Shaila , Patil B.R.
Published: July 2021

New Schiff bases derived by the condensation of methyl, chloro, and bromo substituted 2' hydroxy propiophenones with aliphatic and aromatic amines have been synthesized. The Schiff bases are yellow solids with sharp melting points. Schiff bases The spectral characterization of these newly synthesized Schiff base ligands has been done.These Schiff bases were characterized by IR spectroscopy, Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, UV spectroscopy, and Mass spectroscopy. IR spectra confirmed the presence of the phenolic OH group and azomethine group.
Two-photon absorption characterization and comparison of Au(I) fluorenyl benzothiazole complexes in the visible wavelength regime
Authors: Ensley Trenton R. , O’Donnell Ryan M. , Mihaly Joseph J. , Haley Joy E. , Grusenmeyer Tod A. , Gray Thomas G.
Published: July 2021

We use the two-photon excited fluorescence method to determine the two-photon
absorption (2PA) cross sections of three series of (fluorenyl
benzothiazole) gold(I) complexes in the visible wavelength range from
570 to 700 nm. We compare the effect of ancillary ligand substitutions
on the 2PA magnitudes and find that the ancillary ligand does not
drastically affect either the magnitude or the shape of 2PA. Even so,
moderate 2PA cross sections were measured that ranged from 10 to
1000 s of GM (Göppert–Mayer,

=

10

−
50

c
m

4

s

/

p
h
o
t
o
n

), making these types of complexes
nonlinear optical materials for two-photon absorbing applications.
Efficient computation of backprojection arrays for 3D light field deconvolution
Authors: Eberhart Martin
Published: July 2021

Light field deconvolution allows three-dimensional investigations from a single snapshot recording of a plenoptic camera. It is based on a linear image formation model, and iterative volume reconstruction requires to define the backprojection of individual image pixels into object space. This is effectively a reversal of the point spread function (PSF), and backprojection arrays H′ can be derived from the shift-variant PSFs H of the optical system, which is a very time consuming step for high resolution cameras. This paper illustrates the common structure of backprojection arrays and the significance of their efficient computation. A new algorithm is presented to determine H′ from H, which is based on the distinct relation of the elements’ positions within the two multi-dimensional arrays. It permits a pure array rearrangement, and while results are identical to those from published codes, computation times are drastically reduced. This is shown by benchmarking the new method using various sample PSF arrays against existing algorithms. The paper is complemented by practical hints for the experimental acquisition of light field PSFs in a photographic setup.
848 kHz repetition-rate narrowband dissipative soliton ps-pulsed Figure-9 fiber laser
Authors: Duan Dian , Lu Qiao , Wu Bin , Mao Yingqiu , Zhang Zhen , Ma Jindong , Yao Bo , Wei Shanshan , Mao Qinghe
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we study the limitations of decreasing the repetition rate for the narrowband dissipative soliton picosecond (ps) pulsed Figure-9 fiber laser with periodically saturable absorber (SA), and demonstrate how to decrease the repetition rate of this kind of fiber laser. By asymmetrically increasing the passive fiber length of nonlinear amplifying loop mirror (NALM) to lower SA saturation power, Q-switching instability can be avoided, thus effectively reducing the repetition rate of ps pulses. To combat noise-like pulse caused by excessive reduction of SA saturation power, we invoke the non-reciprocal output characteristics of periodic SA, and combined with increasing the intracavity fiber length outside the SA, we further reduce the laser repetition rate. Repetition rates for ∼10 and ∼20 ps pulses are reduced to 1.7 MHz and 848 kHz, respectively, which are, to the best of our knowledge, the lowest repetition rates of Figure-9 lasers reported thus far.
Enabling long range distributed vibration sensing using multicore fiber interferometers
Authors: Zhao Zhiyong , Shen Li , Dang Yunli , Lu Chao , Tang Ming
Published: July 2021

We report a novel long range distributed fiber optic vibration sensor using two counter-propagating interferometers, which are space-division multiplexed in different cores of a seven-core fiber. The proposed system requires only one laser source. Thanks to the spatially separated structure of the two interferometers, it no longer suffers from the coherent Rayleigh backscattering noise, and, since forward transmitting CW light instead of weak backscattering light is used, as a result, the sensing range can be significantly extended. On the other hand, because the two interferometers are implemented in one single compact multicore fiber, the output temporal waveforms have good correlation; therefore, the sampled waveforms can be used directly to determine the vibration location through cross correlation, and no additional complicated data processing (e.g., time-frequency analysis methods) is required. For proof of concept, we achieved distributed vibration detection with 38.5 km sensing range, and the root mean square error of positioning is estimated to be about 54.9 m with 120 measurements. The proposed system has the unique advantages of simple setup, high sensitivity, large dynamic range, ultra-long sensing range, etc.
Leveraging high-throughput screening data, deep neural networks, and conditional generative adversarial networks to advance predictive toxicology
Authors: Green Adrian J. , Mohlenkamp Martin J. , Das Jhuma , Chaudhari Meenal , Truong Lisa , Tanguay Robyn L. , Reif David M.
Published: July 2021

There are currently 85,000 chemicals registered with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Toxic Substances Control Act, but only a small fraction have measured toxicological data. To address this gap, high-throughput screening (HTS) and computational methods are vital. As part of one such HTS effort, embryonic zebrafish were used to examine a suite of morphological and mortality endpoints at six concentrations from over 1,000 unique chemicals found in the ToxCast library (phase 1 and 2). We hypothesized that by using a conditional generative adversarial network (cGAN) or deep neural networks (DNN), and leveraging this large set of toxicity data we could efficiently predict toxic outcomes of untested chemicals. Utilizing a novel method in this space, we converted the 3D structural information into a weighted set of points while retaining all information about the structure. In vivo toxicity and chemical data were used to train two neural network generators. The first was a DNN (Go-ZT) while the second utilized cGAN architecture (GAN-ZT) to train generators to produce toxicity data. Our results showed that Go-ZT significantly outperformed the cGAN, support vector machine, random forest and multilayer perceptron models in cross-validation, and when tested against an external test dataset. By combining both Go-ZT and GAN-ZT, our consensus model improved the SE, SP, PPV, and Kappa, to 71.4%, 95.9%, 71.4% and 0.673, respectively, resulting in an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of 0.837. Considering their potential use as prescreening tools, these models could provide in vivo toxicity predictions and insight into the hundreds of thousands of untested chemicals to prioritize compounds for HT testing.
A benchmark dataset for canopy crown detection and delineation in co-registered airborne RGB, LiDAR and hyperspectral imagery from the National Ecological Observation Network
Authors: Weinstein Ben G. , Graves Sarah J. , Marconi Sergio , Singh Aditya , Zare Alina , Stewart Dylan , Bohlman Stephanie A. , White Ethan P.
Published: July 2021

Broad scale remote sensing promises to build forest inventories at unprecedented scales. A crucial step in this process is to associate sensor data into individual crowns. While dozens of crown detection algorithms have been proposed, their performance is typically not compared based on standard data or evaluation metrics. There is a need for a benchmark dataset to minimize differences in reported results as well as support evaluation of algorithms across a broad range of forest types. Combining RGB, LiDAR and hyperspectral sensor data from the USA National Ecological Observatory Network’s Airborne Observation Platform with multiple types of evaluation data, we created a benchmark dataset to assess crown detection and delineation methods for canopy trees covering dominant forest types in the United States. This benchmark dataset includes an R package to standardize evaluation metrics and simplify comparisons between methods. The benchmark dataset contains over 6,000 image-annotated crowns, 400 field-annotated crowns, and 3,000 canopy stem points from a wide range of forest types. In addition, we include over 10,000 training crowns for optional use. We discuss the different evaluation data sources and assess the accuracy of the image-annotated crowns by comparing annotations among multiple annotators as well as overlapping field-annotated crowns. We provide an example submission and score for an open-source algorithm that can serve as a baseline for future methods.
Favipiravir treatment prolongs the survival in a lethal mouse model intracerebrally inoculated with Jamestown Canyon virus
Authors: Kato Hirofumi , Takayama-Ito Mutsuyo , Satoh Masaaki , Kawahara Madoka , Kitaura Satoshi , Yoshikawa Tomoki , Fukushi Shuetsu , Nakajima Nozomi , Komeno Takashi , Furuta Yousuke , Saijo Masayuki
Published: July 2021

Background

Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) is a mosquito-borne orthobunyavirus that causes acute febrile illness, meningitis, and meningoencephalitis, primarily in North American adults. Currently, there are no available vaccines or specific treatments against JCV infections.

Methodology/Principal findings

The antiviral efficacy of favipiravir (FPV) against JCV infection was evaluated in vitro and in vivo in comparison with that of ribavirin (RBV) and 2’-fluoro-2’-deoxycytidine (2’-FdC). The in vitro inhibitory effect of these drugs on JCV replication was evaluated in Vero and Neuro-2a (N2A) cells. The efficacy of FPV in the treatment of JCV infection in vivo was evaluated in C57BL/6J mice inoculated intracerebrally with JCV, as per the survival, viral titers in the brain, and viral RNA load in the blood. The 90% inhibitory concentrations (IC90) of FPV, RBV, and 2’-FdC were 41.0, 61.8, and 13.6 μM in Vero cells and 20.7, 25.8, and 8.8 μM in N2A cells, respectively. All mice infected with 1.0×104 TCID50 died or were sacrificed within 10 days post-infection (dpi) without treatment. However, mice treated with FPV for 5 days [initiated either 2 days prior to infection (−2 dpi–2 dpi) or on the day of infection (0 dpi–4 dpi)] survived significantly longer than control mice, administered with PBS (p = 0.025 and 0.011, respectively). Moreover, at 1 and 3 dpi, the virus titers in the brain were significantly lower in FPV-treated mice (0 dpi–4 dpi) versus PBS-treated mice (p = 0.002 for both 1 and 3 dpi).

Conclusions/Significance

Although the intracerebral inoculation route is thought to be a challenging way to evaluate drug efficacy, FPV inhibits the in vitro replication of JCV and prolongs the survival of mice intracerebrally inoculated with JCV. These results will enable the development of a specific antiviral treatment against JCV infections and establishment of an effective animal model.
Natural history of disease in cynomolgus monkeys exposed to Ebola virus Kikwit strain demonstrates the reliability of this non-human primate model for Ebola virus disease
Authors: Niemuth Nancy A. , Fallacara Dawn , Triplett Cheryl A. , Tamrakar Sanjay M. , Rajbhandari Alisha , Florence Clint , Ward Lucy , Griffiths Anthony , Carrion Ricardo , Goez-Gazi Yenny , Alfson Kendra J. , Staples Hilary M. , Brasel Trevor , Comer Jason E. , Massey Shane , Smith Jeanon , Kocsis Andrew , Lowry Jake , Johnston Sara C. , Nalca Aysegul , Goff Arthur J. , Shurtleff Amy C. , Pitt Margaret L. , Trefry John , Fay Michael P.
Published: July 2021

Filoviruses (Family Filoviridae genera Ebolavirus and Marburgvirus) are negative-stranded RNA viruses that cause severe health effects in humans and non-human primates, including death. Except in outbreak settings, vaccines and other medical countermeasures against Ebola virus (EBOV) will require testing under the FDA Animal Rule. Multiple vaccine candidates have been evaluated using cynomolgus monkeys (CM) exposed to EBOV Kikwit strain. To the best of our knowledge, however, animal model development data supporting the use of CM in vaccine research have not been submitted to the FDA. This study describes a large CM database (122 CM, 62 female and 60 male, age 2 to 9 years) and demonstrates the consistency of the CM model through time to death models and descriptive statistics. CMs were exposed to EBOV doses of 0.1 to 100,000 PFU in 33 studies conducted at three Animal Biosafety Level 4 facilities, by three exposure routes. Time to death was modeled using Cox proportional hazards models with a frailty term that incorporated study-to-study variability. Despite significant differences attributed to exposure variables, all CMs exposed to the 100 to 1,000 pfu doses commonly used in vaccine studies died or met euthanasia criteria within 21 days of exposure, median 7 days, 93% between 5 and 12 days of exposure. Moderate clinical signs were observed 4 to 5 days after exposure and preceded death or euthanasia by approximately one day. Viremia was detected within a few days of infection. Hematology indices were indicative of viremia and the propensity for hemorrhage with progression of Ebola viremia. Changes associated with coagulation parameters and platelets were consistent with coagulation disruption. Changes in leukocyte profiles were indicative of an acute inflammatory response. Increased liver enzymes were observed shortly after exposure. Taken together, these factors suggest that the cynomolgus monkey is a reliable animal model for human disease.
Less need for differentiation? Intestinal length of reptiles as compared to mammals
Authors: Hoppe Monika I. , Meloro Carlo , Edwards Mark S. , Codron Daryl , Clauss Marcus , Duque-Correa María J.
Published: July 2021

Although relationships between intestinal morphology between trophic groups in reptiles are widely assumed and represent a cornerstone of ecomorphological narratives, few comparative approaches actually tested this hypothesis on a larger scale. We collected data on lengths of intestinal sections of 205 reptile species for which either body mass (BM), snout-vent-length (SVL) or carapax length (CL) was recorded, transforming SVL or CL into BM if the latter was not given, and analyzed scaling patterns with BM and SVL, accounting for phylogeny, comparing three trophic guilds (faunivores, omnivores, herbivores), and comparing with a mammal dataset. Length-BM relationships in reptiles were stronger for the small than the large intestine, suggesting that for the latter, additional factors might be relevant. Adding trophic level did not consistently improve model fit; only when controlling for phylogeny, models indicated a longer large intestine in herbivores, due to a corresponding pattern in lizards. Trophic level effects were highly susceptible to sample sizes, and not considered strong. Models that linked BM to intestine length had better support than models using SVL, due to the deviating body shape of snakes. At comparable BM, reptiles had shorter intestines than mammals. While the latter finding corresponds to findings of lower tissue masses for the digestive tract and other organs in reptiles as well as our understanding of differences in energetic requirements between the classes, they raise the hitherto unanswered question what it is that reptiles of similar BM have more than mammals. A lesser effect of trophic level on intestine lengths in reptiles compared to mammals may stem from lesser selective pressures on differentiation between trophic guilds, related to the generally lower food intake and different movement patterns of reptiles, which may not similarly escalate evolutionary arms races tuned to optimal agility as between mammalian predators and prey.
Nanoparticulate matter exposure results in white matter damage and an inflammatory microglial response in an experimental murine model
Authors: Connor Michelle , Lamorie-Foote Krista , Liu Qinghai , Shkirkova Kristina , Baertsch Hans , Sioutas Constantinos , Morgan Todd E. , Finch Caleb E. , Mack William J.
Published: July 2021

Exposure to ambient air pollution has been associated with white matter damage and neurocognitive decline. However, the mechanisms of this injury are not well understood and remain largely uncharacterized in experimental models. Prior studies have shown that exposure to particulate matter (PM), a sub-fraction of air pollution, results in neuroinflammation, specifically the upregulation of inflammatory microglia. This study examines white matter and axonal injury, and characterizes microglial reactivity in the corpus callosum of mice exposed to 10 weeks (150 hours) of PM. Nanoscale particulate matter (nPM, aerodynamic diameter ≤200 nm) consisting primarily of traffic-related emissions was collected from an urban area in Los Angeles. Male C57BL/6J mice were exposed to either re-aerosolized nPM or filtered air for 5 hours/day, 3 days/week, for 10 weeks (150 hours; n = 18/group). Microglia were characterized by immunohistochemical double staining of ionized calcium-binding protein-1 (Iba-1) with inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) to identify pro-inflammatory cells, and Iba-1 with arginase-1 (Arg) to identify anti-inflammatory/ homeostatic cells. Myelin injury was assessed by degraded myelin basic protein (dMBP). Oligodendrocyte cell counts were evaluated by oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2). Axonal injury was assessed by axonal neurofilament marker SMI-312. iNOS-expressing microglia were significantly increased in the corpus callosum of mice exposed to nPM when compared to those exposed to filtered air (2.2 fold increase; p<0.05). This was accompanied by an increase in dMBP (1.4 fold increase; p<0.05) immunofluorescent density, a decrease in oligodendrocyte cell counts (1.16 fold decrease; p<0.05), and a decrease in neurofilament SMI-312 (1.13 fold decrease; p<0.05) immunofluorescent density. Exposure to nPM results in increased inflammatory microglia, white matter injury, and axonal degradation in the corpus callosum of adult male mice. iNOS-expressing microglia release cytokines and reactive oxygen/ nitrogen species which may further contribute to the white matter damage observed in this model.
Identification and quantification of glucose degradation products in heat-sterilized glucose solutions for parenteral use by thin-layer chromatography
Authors: Leitzen Sarah , Vogel Matthias , Engels Anette , Zapf Thomas , Brandl Martin
Published: July 2021

During heat sterilization of glucose solutions, a variety of glucose degradation products (GDPs) may be formed. GDPs can cause cytotoxic effects after parenteral administration of these solutions. The aim of the current study therefore was to develop a simple and quick high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method by which the major GDPs can be identified and (summarily) quantified in glucose solutions for parenteral administration. All GDPs were derivatized with o-phenylenediamine (OPD). The resulting GDP derivatives (quinoxalines) were applied to an HPTLC plate. After 20 minutes of chamber saturation with the solvent, the HPTLC plate was developed in a mixture of 1,4-dioxane-toluene-glacial acetic acid (49:49:2, v/v/v), treated with thymol-sulfuric acid spray reagent, and heated at 130°C for 10 minutes. Finally, the GDPs were quantified by using a TLC scanner. For validation, the identities of the quinoxaline derivatives were confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Glyoxal (GO)/methylglyoxal (MGO) and 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG)/3-deoxygalactosone (3-DGal) could be identified and quantified in pairs, glucosone (2-KDG), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), and 3,4-dideoxyglucosone-3-ene (3,4-DGE) each individually. For 2-KDG, the linearity of the method was demonstrated in the range of 1–50 μg/mL, for 5-HMF and 3,4-DGE 1–75 μg/mL, for GO/MGO 2–150 μg/mL, and for 3-DG/3-DGal 10–150 μg/mL. All GDPs achieved a limit of detection (LOD) of 2 μg/mL or less and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 10 μg/mL or less. R2 was 0.982 for 3.4-DGE, 0.997 for 5-HMF, and 0.999 for 2-KDG, 3-DG/3-DGal, and GO/MGO. The intraday precision was between 0.4 and 14.2% and the accuracy, reported as % recovery, between 86.4 and 112.7%. The proposed HPTLC method appears to be an inexpensive, fast, and sufficiently sensitive approach for routine quantitative analysis of GDPs in heat-sterilized glucose solutions.
Characterization of antibody response in asymptomatic and symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Marchi Serena , Viviani Simonetta , Remarque Edmond J. , Ruello Antonella , Bombardieri Emilio , Bollati Valentina , Milani Gregorio P. , Manenti Alessandro , Lapini Giulia , Rebuffat Annunziata , Montomoli Emanuele , Trombetta Claudia M.
Published: July 2021

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is causing high morbidity and mortality burden worldwide with unprecedented strain on health care systems. To investigate the time course of the antibody response in relation to the outcome we performed a study in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. As comparison we also investigated the time course of the antibody response in SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic subjects. Study results show that patients produce a strong antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 with high correlation between different viral antigens (spike protein and nucleoprotein) and among antibody classes (IgA, IgG, and IgM and neutralizing antibodies). The antibody peak is reached by 3 weeks from hospital admission followed by a sharp decrease. No difference was observed in any parameter of the antibody classes, including neutralizing antibodies, between subjects who recovered or with fatal outcome. Only few asymptomatic subjects developed antibodies at detectable levels.
Measuring novelty in science with word embedding
Authors: Shibayama Sotaro , Yin Deyun , Matsumoto Kuniko
Published: July 2021

Novelty is a core value in science, and a reliable measurement of novelty is crucial. This study proposes a new approach of measuring the novelty of scientific articles based on both citation data and text data. The proposed approach considers an article to be novel if it cites a combination of semantically distant references. To this end, we first assign a word embedding–a vector representation of each vocabulary–to each cited reference on the basis of text information included in the reference. With these vectors, a distance between every pair of references is computed. Finally, the novelty of a focal document is evaluated by summarizing the distances between all references. The approach draws on limited text information (the titles of references) and publicly shared library for word embeddings, which minimizes the requirement of data access and computational cost. We share the code, with which one can compute the novelty score of a document of interest only by having the focal document’s reference list. We validate the proposed measure through three exercises. First, we confirm that word embeddings can be used to quantify semantic distances between documents by comparing with an established bibliometric distance measure. Second, we confirm the criterion-related validity of the proposed novelty measure with self-reported novelty scores collected from a questionnaire survey. Finally, as novelty is known to be correlated with future citation impact, we confirm that the proposed measure can predict future citation.
Harmful cultural practices during perinatal period and associated factors among women of childbearing age in Southern Ethiopia: Community based cross-sectional study
Authors: Abebe Haimanot , Beyene Girma Alemayehu , Mulat Berhanu Semra
Published: July 2021

Introduction

Although the maternal mortality ratio has decreased by 38% in the last decade, 810 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth every day, and two-thirds of maternal deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. The lives of women and newborns before, during, and after childbirth can be saved by skilled care. The main factors that prevent women from receiving care during pregnancy and childbirth are harmful cultural practices. The aim of this study was to assess the level of harmful cultural practices during pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal period, and associated factors among women of childbearing age in Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted in the Gurage zone, among representative sample of 422 women of reproductive age who had at least one history of childbirth. A simple random sampling technique was used to recruit participants. Data were collected by six experienced and trained data collectors using a pretested structured questionnaire with face to face interviews. Harmful cultural practices are assessed using 11 questions and those who participate in any one of them are considered as harmful cultural practices. Descriptive statistics were performed and the findings were presented in text and tables. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the association between each independent variable and outcome variable.

Results

Harmful cultural practices were found to be 71.4% [95%CI, 66.6–76.0]. The mean age of study participants was 27.6 (SD ± 5.4 years). Women with no formal education [AOR 3.79; 95%CI, 1.97–7.28], being a rural resident [AOR 4.41, 95%CI, 2.63–7.39], having had no antenatal care in the last pregnancy [AOR 2.62, 95%CI, 1.54–4.48], and pregnancy being attended by untrained attendants [AOR 2.67, 95%CI, 1.58–4.51] were significantly associated with harmful cultural practice during the perinatal period.

Conclusion

In this study we found that low maternal education, rural residence, lack of antenatal care and lack of trained birth attendant were independent risk factors associated with women employing harmful cultural practices during the perinatal period. Thus, strong multi-sectoral collaboration targeted at improving women’s educational status and primary health care workers should take up the active role of women’s health education on the importance of ANC visits to tackle harmful cultural practices.
Oral secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI): Associations with oropharyngeal cancer and treatment outcome
Authors: Dickey Brittney L. , Sirak Bradley , Martin-Gomez Laura , Reich Richard R. , Abrahamsen Martha , Isaacs-Soriano Kimberly , Chung Christine H. , Giuliano Anna R.
Published: July 2021

Background

Rates of oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) associated with alcohol & tobacco use have decreased, while human papillomavirus (HPV) associated OPC has increased among men in the US. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), detectable in a variety of secretions, has been implicated in cancers of the head and neck, associated with tumor progression and anti-viral activity. Using the recently verified oral gargle specimen, this study aimed to assess the association of salivary SLPI expression with risk of OPC and response to treatment.

Methods

A case-control study design compared levels of salivary SLPI among OPC cases to age and tobacco smoking matched healthy controls. Oral HPV DNA and SLPI was quantified from oral gargle specimens. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations of oral SLPI and risk of OPC and treatment outcomes.

Results

In crude and adjusted analyses of 96 OPC cases and 97 age- and smoking-matched controls, OPC was not significantly associated with oral gargle SLPI levels. Among cases, oral SLPI was associated with tonsillectomy (p = 0.018) and among controls oral SLPI was associated with HPV in the oral gargle (p = 0.008). Higher concentrations of SLPI was significantly associated with increased odds of incomplete treatment response (T2: OR: 12.39; 95% CI: 1.44–106.72; T3: OR: 9.86; 95% CI: 1.13–85.90) among all cases, but not among P16+ cases.

Conclusions

Salivary SLPI was not associated with OPC risk but was associated with higher odds of an incomplete treatment response.