bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in public knowledge and perceptions about antibiotic use and resistance in Jordan: a cross-sectional eight-year comparative study
Authors: Abdelmalek Suzanne , AlEjielat Rowan , Rayyan Walid Abu , Qinna Nidal , Darwish Dana
Published: April 2021

Background

Resistance to antibiotics is a growing problem, worldwide and particularly in developing countries like Jordan. Raising public awareness on appropriate antibiotic use is crucial to combat this problem. The current study describes the change in public Knowledge and attitudes towards the use of antibiotics over a period of 8 years.

Methods

Two cross-sectional studies were performed 8 years apart on Jordanians of different age groups, and social settings, residing in Amman, Jordan. Convenience non-probability sampling techniques were used. In 2010, a questionnaire was distributed in paper form, whereas in 2018 snowball sampling was used to disseminate an identical electronic questionnaire. Chi-square test and post hoc analysis were done using the z-test to compare column proportions, adjustment for multiple testing using the Bonferroni method. Multiple logistic regression was used to adjust for case mix for each survey. Comparisons were made across the two studies and within each study.

Results

A total of 711 participants in 2010 and 436 participants in 2018 were surveyed. Over the 8-year period, there was a significant improvement in the beliefs regarding the use of antibiotics such as disagreeing to keeping left over antibiotics for later use from 57 to 70% (p < 0.05) and disagreeing to buying antibiotics without physicians’ consent increased from 80 to 89% (P value < 0.001). There was no significant change in the beliefs that support self-medication such as: using antibiotics from a friend (72 to 77%) buying antibiotics without a prescription (42 to 45%), and getting information about medication use from leaflet without referring to a health care professional (60 to 63%). There were some areas of confusion regarding antibiotic range of effectiveness, and origin of resistance. Agreement about antibiotic resistance being a problem in Jordan increased significantly from 44 to 60% (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant increase in the percentage of participants who said that they don’t request antibiotics from physicians (56 to 75% (P ≤ 0.001) and who said they would trust physicians’ decisions about the necessity of antibiotics (70 to 83% P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Findings indicate the need for better suited, and more inclusive, public educational campaigns.
Construction of an index system for evaluating the effectiveness of transitional care in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Zhou Xinyi , Ding Ping , Yang Qiaolan , Wang Ping , Zhou Haimei , Fu Jing , Miao Dongrui
Published: April 2021

Background

Previous studies showed that transitional care reduces the complication rate and readmission rate and improves the quality of life in kidney transplant receipts, nevertheless, in fact there are no standard evaluation indexes and debatable scientific of existing indexes in kidney transplant recipients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to construct an evaluation index system to assess the effects of transitional care in kidney transplant recipients.

Methods

Based on Omaha system, an initial evaluation index system about the effects of transitional care in kidney transplant recipients was drafted by the literature review and semi-structured interview. Two rounds of correspondence were conducted in 19 experts and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was used to calculate the weights of all indexes.

Results

Five first-level indexes, sixteen second-level indexes, and forty-eight third-level indexes were selected in the initial evaluation index system. The authority coefficient of two-round expert consultations was 0.90 and coordination coefficients of indexes ranged from 0.24 to 0.34.

Conclusion

The established evaluation index system for the effectiveness of transitional care for kidney transplant recipients was scientific and reliable. Furthermore, it would be a potential method to evaluate effects of transitional care in kidney transplant recipients after further examination.
A review of statistical methods for dietary pattern analysis
Authors: Zhao Junkang , Li Zhiyao , Gao Qian , Zhao Haifeng , Chen Shuting , Huang Lun , Wang Wenjie , Wang Tong
Published: April 2021

Background

Dietary pattern analysis is a promising approach to understanding the complex relationship between diet and health. While many statistical methods exist, the literature predominantly focuses on classical methods such as dietary quality scores, principal component analysis, factor analysis, clustering analysis, and reduced rank regression. There are some emerging methods that have rarely or never been reviewed or discussed adequately.

Methods

This paper presents a landscape review of the existing statistical methods used to derive dietary patterns, especially the finite mixture model, treelet transform, data mining, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and compositional data analysis, in terms of their underlying concepts, advantages and disadvantages, and available software and packages for implementation.

Results

While all statistical methods for dietary pattern analysis have unique features and serve distinct purposes, emerging methods warrant more attention. However, future research is needed to evaluate these emerging methods’ performance in terms of reproducibility, validity, and ability to predict different outcomes.

Conclusion

Selection of the most appropriate method mainly depends on the research questions. As an evolving subject, there is always scope for deriving dietary patterns through new analytic methodologies.
Facile fabrication of multi-pocket nanoparticles with stepwise size transition for promoting deep penetration and tumor targeting
Authors: Hou Xingyu , Zhong Dan , Li Yunkun , Mao Hongli , Yang Jun , Zhang Hu , Luo Kui , Gong Qiyong , Gu Zhongwei
Published: April 2021

Background

Nanocarriers-derived antitumor therapeutics are often associated with issues of limited tumor penetration and dissatisfactory antitumor efficacies. Some multistage delivery systems have been constructed to address these issues, but they are often accompanied with complicated manufacture processes and undesirable biocompatibility, which hinder their further application in clinical practices. Herein, a novel dual-responsive multi-pocket nanoparticle was conveniently constructed through self-assembly and cross-linking of amphiphilic methoxypolyethylene glycol-lipoic acid (mPEG-LA) conjugates to enhance tumor penetration and antitumor efficacy.

Results

The multi-pocket nanoparticles (MPNs) had a relatively large size of ~ 170 nm at physiological pH which results in prolonged blood circulation and enhanced accumulation at the tumor site. But once extravasated into acidic tumor interstices, the increased solubility of PEG led to breakage of the supramolecular nanostructure and dissolution of MPNs to small-sized (< 20 nm) nanoparticles, promoting deep penetration and distribution in tumor tissues. Furthermore, MPNs exhibited not only an excellent stable nanostructure for antitumor doxorubicin (DOX) loading, but rapid dissociation of the nanostructure under an intracellular reductive environment. With the capacity of long blood circulation, deep tumor penetration and fast intracellular drug release, the DOX-loaded multi-pocket nanoparticles demonstrated superior antitumor activities against large 4T1 tumor (~ 250 mm3) bearing mice with reduced side effect.

Conclusions

Our facile fabrication of multi-pocket nanoparticles provided a promising way in improving solid tumor penetration and achieving a great therapeutic efficacy.

Graphic Abstract
Effect of sidedness on survival among patients with early-stage colon cancer: a SEER-based propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Huang Zhuang-Sheng , Wu Jun-Wei , Li Ying , Lin Yu-Hai , Li Xu-Yuan
Published: April 2021

Background

Most previous studies compared survival between left-sided and right-sided colon cancer without adjustment for clinicopathological parameters. We investigated the effect of sidedness on survival among patients with early-stage colon cancer, using a propensity score matching method.

Methods

The 18 registry custom data within the SEER database were used to identify patients who were diagnosed with colon cancer between 2010 and 2014. A propensity score matching analysis was performed using the nearest neighbor method. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method. A Cox proportional hazards model was applied to determine the prognostic factors.

Results

In the unmatched cohort, 25,094 (35.72%) patients were diagnosed with left-sided colon cancer and 45,156 (64.28%) with right-sided colon cancer. After propensity score matching, each cohort included 5118 patients, and the clinicopathological characteristics were well balanced. In the unmatched cohort, left-sided colon cancer had superior all-cause (χ2=315, P<0.01) and cancer-specific (χ2=43, P<0.01) survival than right-sided tumors. However, in the matched cohort, no difference was observed for all-cause (χ2=0.7, P=0.4) and cancer-specific (χ2=0, P=0.96) survival between left and right colon cancer. The Cox model did not indicate sidedness as a prognostic factor. In the subgroup analysis, stage II right-sided colon cancer had a better survival outcome, while stage III left-sided tumors had a better survival outcome.

Conclusions

After adjusting for clinicopathological characteristics in this study, sidedness showed no impact on survival in early-stage colon cancer. However, sidedness was associated with prognostic differences in stages II and III early-stage colon cancer.
External application of liver compresses to reduce fatigue in patients with metastatic cancer undergoing radiation therapy, a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ghadjar Pirus , Stritter Wiebke , von Mackensen Irina , Mehrhof Felix , Foucré Clara , Ehrhardt Vincent H. , Beck Marcus , Gebert Pimrapat , Kalinauskaite Goda , Luchte Jacqueline S. , Stromberger Carmen , Budach Volker , Eggert Angelika , Seifert Georg
Published: April 2021

Background

Liver compresses are frequently used in integrative medicine as supportive therapy during cancer treatment in order to reduce fatigue. We performed a pilot study to test whether the external application of yarrow liver compresses impacts fatigue in patients with metastatic cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Methods

A randomized prospective pilot trial was performed including patients with brain metastasis or bone metastasis of solid tumors. Patients underwent either palliative radiation therapy (RT) of the metastatic lesions (control group) over two weeks or the same RT with additional external application of yarrow liver compresses once daily during RT. The primary objective was improvement on the general fatigue subscale of the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) at the end of treatment, where a mean difference of two points is considered clinically relevant. Secondary objectives included psychological distress, quality of life and qualitative analysis with self-established visual analogue scales (VAS). Mean differences in general fatigue at the end of treatment compared to baseline were analyzed using the ANCOVA test.

Results

From 09/2017 to 08/2019 a total of 39 patients were randomized. Due to drop outs 24 patients (12 per group) were available for analysis. Patients in the intervention group received a mean number of 10.5 (range, 7–14) applications of yarrow liver compresses. The mean improvement at the end of therapy on the general fatigue subscale of the MFI-20 was 2 points in favor of the intervention group (p = 0.13), and all other MFI-20 subscales showed at least a trend towards improvement in favor of the intervention group. Likewise, psychological distress and VAS data was improved, the latter reaching statistical significance for the symptoms fatigue, tension and lack of drive. Major toxicities were not observed.

Conclusions

External application of liver compresses appears to reduce fatigue within a clinical relevant range in patients with metastatic cancer undergoing radiation therapy.

Trial registration: ISRCTN, ICTRP DRKS00012999
Pharmacological inhibition of nSMase2 reduces brain exosome release and α-synuclein pathology in a Parkinson’s disease model
Authors: Zhu Chunni , Bilousova Tina , Focht Samantha , Jun Michael , Elias Chris Jean , Melnik Mikhail , Chandra Sujyoti , Campagna Jesus , Cohn Whitaker , Hatami Asa , Spilman Patricia , Gylys Karen Hoppens , John Varghese
Published: April 2021

Aim

We have previously reported that cambinol (DDL-112), a known inhibitor of neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2), suppressed extracellular vesicle (EV)/exosome production in vitro in a cell model and reduced tau seed propagation. The enzyme nSMase2 is involved in the production of exosomes carrying proteopathic seeds and could contribute to cell-to-cell transmission of pathological protein aggregates implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here, we performed in vivo studies to determine if DDL-112 can reduce brain EV/exosome production and proteopathic alpha synuclein (αSyn) spread in a PD mouse model.

Methods

The acute effects of single-dose treatment with DDL-112 on interleukin-1β-induced extracellular vesicle (EV) release in brain tissue of Thy1-αSyn PD model mice and chronic effects of 5 week DDL-112 treatment on behavioral/motor function and proteinase K-resistant αSyn aggregates in the PD model were determined.

Results/discussion

In the acute study, pre-treatment with DDL-112 reduced EV/exosome biogenesis and in the chronic study, treatment with DDL-112 was associated with a reduction in αSyn aggregates in the substantia nigra and improvement in motor function. Inhibition of nSMase2 thus offers a new approach to therapeutic development for neurodegenerative diseases with the potential to reduce the spread of disease-specific proteopathic proteins.
Genomic insights into the origin, domestication and genetic basis of agronomic traits of castor bean
Authors: Xu Wei , Wu Di , Yang Tianquan , Sun Chao , Wang Zaiqing , Han Bing , Wu Shibo , Yu Anmin , Chapman Mark A. , Muraguri Sammy , Tan Qing , Wang Wenbo , Bao Zhigui , Liu Aizhong , Li De-Zhu
Published: April 2021

Background

Castor bean (Ricinus communisL.) is an important oil crop, which belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. The seed oil of castor bean is currently the only commercial source of ricinoleic acid that can be used for producing about 2000 industrial products. However, it remains largely unknown regarding the origin, domestication, and the genetic basis of key traits of castor bean.

Results

Here we perform a de novo chromosome-level genome assembly of the wild progenitor of castor bean. By resequencing and analyzing 505 worldwide accessions, we reveal that the accessions from East Africa are the extant wild progenitors of castor bean, and the domestication occurs ~ 3200 years ago. We demonstrate that significant genetic differentiation between wild populations in Kenya and Ethiopia is associated with past climate fluctuation in the Turkana depression ~ 7000 years ago. This dramatic change in climate may have caused the genetic bottleneck in wild castor bean populations. By a genome-wide association study, combined with quantitative trait locus analysis, we identify important candidate genes associated with plant architecture and seed size.

Conclusions

This study provides novel insights of domestication and genome evolution of castor bean, which facilitates genomics-based breeding of this important oilseed crop and potentially other tree-like crops in future.
Roles of three putative salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) prostaglandin E2 synthases in physiology and host–parasite interactions
Authors: Dalvin Sussie , Eichner Christiane , Dondrup Michael , Øvergård Aina-Cathrine
Published: April 2021

Background

The salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis) is a parasite of salmonid fish. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) exhibit only a limited and ineffective immune response when infested with this parasite. Prostaglandins (PGs) have many biological functions in both invertebrates and vertebrates, one of which is the regulation of immune responses. This has led to the suggestion that prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is important in the salmon louse host–parasite interaction, although studies of a salmon louse prostaglandin E2 synthase (PGES) 2 gene have not enabled conformation of this hypothesis. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to characterize two additional PGES-like genes.

Methods

Lepeophtheirus salmonis microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 like (LsMGST1L) and LsPGES3L were investigated by sequencing, phylogenetics, transcript localization and expression studies. Moreover, the function of these putative PGES genes in addition to the previously identified LsPGES2 gene was analyzed in double stranded (ds) RNA-mediated knockdown (KD) salmon louse.

Results

Analysis of the three putative LsPGES genes showed a rather constitutive transcript level throughout development from nauplius to the adult stages, and in a range of tissues, with the highest levels in the ovaries or gut. DsRNA-mediated KD of these transcripts did not produce any characteristic changes in phenotype, and KD animals displayed a normal reproductive output. The ability of the parasite to infect or modulate the immune response of the host fish was also not affected by KD.

Conclusions

Salmon louse prostaglandins may play endogenous roles in the management of reproduction and oxidative stress and may be a product of salmon louse blood digestions.

Graphical Abstract
Associations of healthy lifestyles with cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease pathology in cognitively intact older adults: the CABLE study
Authors: Hou Xiao-He , Xu Wei , Bi Yan-Lin , Shen Xue-Ning , Ma Ya-Hui , Dong Qiang , Tan Lan , Yu Jin-Tai
Published: April 2021

Objective

We aimed to investigate the associations between healthy lifestyles and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).

Methods

A total of 1108 cognitively intact individuals from Chinese Alzheimer’s Biomarker and LifestylE (CABLE) study were examined to evaluate the associations of AD biomarkers with healthy lifestyle factors, including no current smoking, no harmful drinking, absence of social isolation, and regular physical activity. The participants were categorized into groups of favorable, intermediate, and unfavorable lifestyles according to the lifestyle factors. The associations between overall lifestyle and CSF biomarkers were also analyzed.

Results

Among cognitively intact older adults, those having more social engagement had lower CSF tau (p = 0.009) and p-tau (p < 0.001) than those who had social isolation. Regular physical activity was associated with higher CSF Aβ42 (p = 0.013) and lower levels of CSF tau (p = 0.036) and p-tau (p = 0.007). However, no significant associations were found of smoking status or alcohol intake with CSF biomarkers. When the overall lifestyle of the participants was evaluated by all the four lifestyle factors, favorable lifestyle profiles were related to lower levels of CSF tau (p < 0.001) and p-tau (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that healthy lifestyles had a beneficial effect on AD pathology among cognitively intact elders.
Establishing a comprehensive search strategy for Indigenous health literature reviews
Authors: Harding Louise , Marra Caterina J. , Illes Judy
Published: April 2021

Background

Appropriate search strategies are essential to ensure the integrity and reproducibility of systematic and scoping reviews, as researchers seek to capture as many relevant resources as possible. In the case of Indigenous health reviews, researchers are met with the special challenge of creating a search strategy that can encompass this large, diverse population group with no universally agreed upon identification criteria.

Main body

With an aim to promote improved review methodologies that uphold standards of justice, autonomy, and equity for Indigenous peoples and other heterogeneous populations, we describe critical gaps and approaches to close them. We report organizational and transparency issues around how Indigenous populations are indexed in several major databases, and draw on examples of published reviews and protocols to demonstrate the challenges inherent to creating a comprehensive search strategy.

Conclusions

The conduct and communication of results from health literature research on global Indigenous populations are compromised by challenges of methodology that are rooted in the complexities inherent to defining Indigenous peoples. These challenges must be urgently addressed to improve this important field of inquiry moving forward.
Improving farm productivity through the reduction of managerial and technology gaps among farmers in Rwanda
Authors: Ngango Jules , Hong Seungjee
Published: April 2021

Background

Rwanda and most parts of sub-Saharan Africa face severe challenges of increasing maize productivity, which has direct consequences on food security. Due to these challenges, policy-makers have paid particular attention to finding the cost-effective strategies of boosting maize production. In an effort to increase productivity, the literature suggests that the adoption of yield-enhancing technologies and production efficiency should be given priority. The objective of this study is to examine and compare the technical efficiency and technological gaps of maize farms that grow different seed varieties in Rwanda.

Methods

The data used in this study were obtained from a survey of 360 household farmers conducted in the Eastern Province of Rwanda during the 2018–2019 cropping season. The study applies the stochastic meta-frontier production function approach to estimate the technical efficiency and technological gaps of maize farms operating under heterogeneous production technologies.

Results

Results indicate that there are differences in technical efficiency measures among the three groups of farmers (i.e., adopters of hybrids, open-pollinated varieties, and local maize varieties). In particular, we find that on average, farms growing hybrid maize varieties appear to have higher values of technical efficiency, technology gap ratio, and meta-frontier technical efficiency than farms growing OPVs and local maize varieties. Thus, the analysis shows that there are significant technological and managerial performance gaps among farmers.

Conclusions

From a policy perspective, the results of this study suggest the development of policy measures that may reduce the managerial and technological gaps existing among farmers to improve productivity and food security. Based on the results of this study, one of the crucial avenues to close this gap would be to improve access to improved agricultural technologies such as certified hybrid seeds. Additionally, policies aiming to enhance technical efficiency and productivity should focus on expanding the delivery of extension services and strengthening the technical assistance provided to farmers’ cooperatives.
Identification of differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways in human conjunctiva and reproductive tract infected with Chlamydia trachomatis
Authors: Zhu Guo-Dong , Cao Xun-Jie , Li Ya-Ping , Li Jia-Xin , Leng Zi-Jian , Xie Li-Min , Guo Xu-Guang
Published: April 2021

Background

Currently, Chlamydia trachomatis–specific host defense mechanisms in humans remain poorly defined. To study the characteristics of host cells infected early with Chlamydia trachomatis, we used bioinformatics methods to analyze the RNA transcription profiles of the conjunctiva, fallopian tubes, and endometrium in humans infected with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Method

The gene expression profiles of GSE20430, GSE20436, GSE26692, and GSE41075 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Synthesis (GEO) database. Then, we obtained the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) through the R 4.0.1 software. STRING was used to construct protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks; then, the Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to visualize the PPI and screen hub genes. GraphPad Prism 8.0 software was used to verify the expression of the hub gene. In addition, the gene–miRNA interaction was constructed on the NetworkAnalyst 3.0 platform using the miRTarBase v8.0 database.

Results

A total of 600 and 135 DEGs were screened out in the conjunctival infection group and the reproductive tract infection group, respectively. After constructing a PPI network and verifying the hub genes, CSF2, CD40, and CSF3 in the reproductive tract infection group proved to have considerable statistical significance.

Conclusion

In our research, the key genes in the biological process of reproductive tract infection with Chlamydia trachomatis were clarified through bioinformatics analysis. These hub genes may be further used in clinical treatment and clinical diagnosis.
The fabric of Post-Western sociology: ecologies of knowledge beyond the “East” and the “West”
Authors: Roulleau-Berger Laurence
Published: April 2021

For several centuries, the history of the West has merged with the history of the world. The global economy of knowledge is structured around epistemic inequalities, hegemonies, and dominations. A clear division of scientific practices has developed among academic “peripheries,” “semi-peripheries,” and “core.” The question of epistemic injustice, which includes the indigenization of knowledge, was posed very early in the twentieth century in China, Japan, and Korea without being linked to coloniality, which was the case in Indian sociology. Based on the production of an epistemology shared with Chinese sociologists, we proposed a Post-Western sociology to enable a dialogue—on a level footing—addressing common concepts. This sociology also addresses concepts situated in European and Asian theories that consider the modes of creating continuities and discontinuities as well as the conjunctions and disjunctions between the knowledge spaces situated in different social contexts. We aim to fill the gaps between these social contexts. We will describe an ecology of knowledge in theWestern-West,the non-Western-West,the semi-Western West,the Western East,the Eastern East, andthe re-Easternized Eastsituated on an epistemological continuum. While Chinese sociology has constantly oscillated between indigenization and universalism, and while epistemic autonomies are diverse, Chinese sociologists agree that Western sociologies should not be considered hostile to Chinese sociology. We will offer a definition of Post-Western sociology and demonstrate how it can be theoretically and methodologically applied. We will then identify some transnational theories, theoretical discontinuities and continuities, and common knowledge situated in Western and non-Western contexts.
Urinary tract infections in culled sows from Greek herds: prevalence and associations between findings of histopathology, bacteriology and urinalysis
Authors: Cernat Mihaela , Skampardonis Vassilis , Papadopoulos Georgios A. , Kroustallas Fotios , Chalvatzi Sofia , Petridou Evanthia , Psychas Vassilios , Marouda Christina , Fortomaris Paschalis , Leontides Leonidas
Published: April 2021

Background

Urinary tract infections (UTI) of sows characterized by cystitis, which may progress to ureteritis and pyelonephritis, can affect their productivity, longevity and welfare. In this study, we determined the prevalence of UTI by histopathology and bacteriology. Furthermore, we investigated possible associations between histologically confirmed cystitis and the results of urinalysis and urine cultures in culled sows from three farrow-to-finish herds in Greece.

Materials and methods

One hundred eighty-five routinely culled sows were included in the study. Their urinary bladder was collected from abattoirs and subjected to histopathology. Furthermore, urinalysis and urine cultures were performed on urine samples aseptically collected from the bladders.

Results

Histologically confirmed cystitis was evident in 85/185 (45.94%) culled sows. Among those, 44 (51.76%) suffered from acute and 41 (48.24%) from chronic inflammation. The majority of positive urine cultures were due to colonization of the urinary tract withE.coli, which accounted for 55.81% of the total cases, followed byStaphylococcusspp. which accounted for 18.60% of detected infections. Evidence of cystitis was associated with bacteriuria and sows with bacteriuria were 2.30 (P = 0.03, 95% CI: 1.10–4.83) times more likely to have histologically confirmed cystitis compared to sows with negative urine cultures. Bacteriuria was associated with proteinuria (P < 0.01, OR = 9.72, 2.63–35.88), increased urine pH (P < 0.01, 3.40, 1.10–10.56) and presence of sediment (P < 0.01, 6.00, 1.50–23.76) in urine. Sows with proteinuria had 9.72 (P < 0.01, 2.63–35.88) times higher odds of bacteriuria than those without. Histologically defined cystitis was associated with proteinuria (P < 0.01, 2.03–13.20) and decreased urine pH (P < 0.01, 0.13–0.72). Sows with proteinuria were 5.18 (P < 0.01, 2.03–13.2) times more likely to have histological lesions consistent with cystitis, than those without. For one unit increase in pH, it was 3.20 (P = 0.006, 1.39–7.69) times less likely for a sow to have chronic or acute cystitis compared to absence of cystitis.

Conclusion

In the studied population, UTI affected almost one out of two culled sows. Bacteriuria, which was more common among sows with UTI than those without, was mainly ascribed to members of the intestinal and environmental bacteria. Proteinuria and the existence of urine sediment which were associated with UTI, could be used as proxy traits for UTI in live sows.
Does a pedagogical agent’s gesture frequency assist advanced foreign language users with learning declarative knowledge?
Authors: Davis Robert O. , Vincent Joseph , Wan Lili
Published: April 2021

Since the conception of pedagogical agents in multimedia environments, researchers have advocated for agents to be designed to exhibit social cues that prime the social interaction of the target audience. One powerful social cue has been agent gesturing. While most agents are created only to use deictic (pointing) gestures, there is recent evidence that agents that perform all gesture types (iconic, metaphoric, deictic, and beat) with enhanced frequency help foreign language users learn more procedural knowledge. Therefore, this research examines how all gesture types and different frequencies influence agent persona and learning outcomes when foreign language users learn declarative knowledge. The results indicated that the use of gestures, regardless of frequency, significantly increase agent persona. However, gesture frequency produced conflicting learning outcomes. While enhancing gestures were beneficial for cued recall and recognition, the average gesture condition was not, which indicates that the strength of social cues is important.
Reproductive outcomes in women with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism, a case series study
Authors: Abdelaal Ahmed Elsayed , Behery Mohamed Atef , Abdelkawi Ahmed Farouk
Published: April 2021

Background

Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is a rare condition in which there is gonadal hypofunction due to absence of gonadotropin drive. In this condition, there are very low serum levels of gonadotropins. Pituitary gland may itself have some disease or disorder, or there may be loss of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) pulses from the hypothalamus. The pharmacological interventions in HH women formed the basis for superovulation strategies for assisted reproduction techniques (ART) with a special reference to the role of LH and its impact on oocyte and embryo quality.

Results

The medians ±inter quartile ranges for number of oocytes retrieved, number of MII oocytes, and number of embryos transferred were 5±7, 4±3, and 3±1 respectively. The pregnancy rate was 31.5% for this group of patients. The live birth rate and miscarriage rate were 21% and 11.5% respectively.

Conclusion

The reproductive outcomes of patients of hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism are reasonable after ICSI and clinical trials are recommended to corroborate this concern.
Innovation in nursing practice and education
Authors: Argyropoulos Theodoros , Chronopoulou Ioanna
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackground: Innovation is defined as "the applied use of knowledge for the production and provision of new or substantially improved products, processes or services that find direct productive, utilitarian or commercial application. Innovations in healthcare fall under the broader umbrella of social innovations.Aim: The presentation of innovation in the field of nursing science and the promotion of its beneficial role in the development of nursing practice and in the improvement of the care provided.Material and method: A literature review was conducted in online databases (Google Scholar, PubMed) with appropriate indexing words. Articles published in Greek or English language were sought, in reputable journals with a publication date after 2000.Results: In nursing, as in science and art, there are both elements of product innovations and elements of process-related innovations. Innovation in nursing science is widespread with the direct effect of improving nursing practice, patient experiences and providing care.Conclusions: By proposing and implementing innovations in nursing science, important results are achieved such as modern concepts, new knowledge and skills, scientific recognition of nurses, the formation of a different work culture as well as higher incomes. The nurse leader forms a working culture of innovations, encourages nurses in continuing education, facilitates the development of innovations and actively participates.
The effect of percutaneous and surgical tracheotomy on thyroid hormones levels
Authors: Sampani Christina , Kalemikerakis Ioannis , Kalogianni Antonia , Papageorgiou Dimitrios
Published: April 2021

Background: The need for prolonged mechanical ventilation is one of the most serious cases of a disease in patients in intensive care units. Tracheostomy is often considered as a solution when mechanical ventilation is expected to be used for prolonged periods or for improvement of the respiratory state as this approach provides protection of the airways, facilitates access to remove secretions, improves patient convenience and promotes the development of care inside and outside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).Aim: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of surgical and percutaneous tracheotomy on thyroid hormones and to compare them.Material & Methods: This is a non-randomized clinical trial. The studied sample consisted of 87 patients from the Intensive Care Unit of a General Hospital of Athens who underwent percutaneous or surgical tracheotomy.Results: Thyroid-stimulating hormone levels were increased in surgical group compared to percutaneous group at 2 hours post procedure but the difference was not found statistically significant. The rise in post-operative levels of fT3 compared to preoperative was found statistically significant for surgical tracheostomy group. Elevated fT4 levels were found in both groups.Conclusions: The effect of surgical versus percutaneous tracheostomy on thyroid hormone was analyzed and it was found that both procedures may affect the level of thyroid hormones, being significant in the surgical group.
The National Ecological Observatory Network’s soil metagenomes: assembly and basic analysis
Authors: Werbin Zoey R. , Hackos Briana , Dietze Michael C. , Bhatnagar Jennifer M.
Published: April 2021

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) annually performs shotgun metagenomic sequencing to sample genes within soils at 47 sites across the United States. NEON serves as a valuable educational resource, thanks to its open data policies and programming tutorials, but there is currently no introductory tutorial for performing analyses with the soil shotgun metagenomic dataset. Here, we describe a workflow for processing raw soil metagenome sequencing reads using the Sunbeam bioinformatics pipeline. The workflow includes cleaning and processing raw reads, taxonomic classification, assembly into contigs, annotation of predicted genes using custom protein databases, and exporting assemblies to the KBase platform for downstream analysis. This workflow is designed to be robust to annual data releases from NEON, and the underlying Snakemake framework can manage complex software dependencies. The workflow presented here aims to increase the accessibility of NEON’s shotgun metagenome data, which can provide important clues about soil microbial communities and their ecological roles.
Half man, half prosthesis: the rehabilitation of people with hemicorporectomy – case series
Authors: Sugawara André Tadeu , Oshiro Milton Seigui , Yamanaka Eduardo Inglez , Meneghetti Ronaldo , Tarazona Carvajal Dayrin Vanessa , Iuamoto Leandro Ryuchi , Battistella Linamara Rizzo
Published: April 2021

Hemicorporectomy is a procedure where the lumbar spine and spinal cord, pelvic bones and contents, lower extremities and external genitalia are surgically removed. The rehabilitation process, in addition to being prolonged and costly, is challenging. This article reports the rehabilitation process for hemicorporectomy and shows the innovative solutions for mobility for this disability for two cases of paraplegic patients: case 1 due to traumatic spinal cord injury due to firearm injury and case 2 due to lumbosacral myelomeningocele. They presented chronic pressure ulcer which evolved to neoplastic transformation. (squamous cell carcinoma - Marjolin's ulcer). The cases were submitted to L4 hemicorporectomy and were rehabilitated to ensure the right to mobility independence for activities of daily living; social inclusion; prevention of comorbidities and pluralization of disabilities. The rehabilitation involved the elaboration of a new prosthesis for the hemibody and improvement of functional capacity, within a gain of 6 - 11 points in the Functional Independence Measure (FIM). The principal changes happened in social interaction, locomotion and transfers to a bed/chair and toilet. Despite the body transformation, patients show gains in quality of life mainly for the social domain of World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument-brief version (WHOQOL-bref). In general, there is an increase in the scores of this instrument from 1.78% -19.25%. The evolution of social inclusion through the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) reveals that patients are able to resume social, working, academic-professional life and recreation and leisure activities, reducing the number of severe and complete qualifiers from 90.91 to 60% when using the products appropriate assistive devices. Hemicorporectomy can be a therapeutic option for those in need, as it provides functionality without the need for caregivers and resumes educational, professional, economic and social aspects with gains in quality of life.
Finite difference magnetoelastic simulator
Authors: Vanderveken Frederic , Mulkers Jeroen , Leliaert Jonathan , Van Waeyenberge Bartel , Sorée Bart , Zografos Odysseas , Ciubotaru Florin , Adelmann Christoph
Published: April 2021

We describe an extension of the micromagnetic finite difference simulation software MuMax3 to solve elasto-magneto-dynamical problems. The new module allows for numerical simulations of magnetization and displacement dynamics in magnetostrictive materials and structures, including both direct and inverse magnetostriction. The theoretical background is introduced, and the implementation of the extension is discussed. The magnetoelastic extension of MuMax3 is freely available under the GNU General Public License v3.
Bringing Lived Lives to Swift’s Asylum: a psychiatric hospital perspective
Authors: Malone Kevin M. , Cleary Eimear , Kelleher Cecily C. , Jefferies Janis , Lane Abbie , Lucey James V. , McGuiness Seamus
Published: April 2021

Background: Few “interventions” around suicide and stigma have reached into psychiatric institutions. Lived Lives is a science-arts approach to addressing suicide and stigma, informed by a psychobiographical and visual arts autopsy. The resulting artworks and mediated exhibition (Lived Lives), with artist, scientist and the Lived Lives families, co-curated by communities, has facilitated dialogue, response and public action around stigma-reduction, consistent with a community intervention. Recent evidence from Lived Lives moved us to consider how it may situate within a psychiatric institution, where stigma is chronically apparent.

Methods: Lived Lives manifested in St. Patrick’s University Hospital (Ireland’s oldest and largest psychiatric hospital) in November 2017.  The mediated exhibition was open to the public for 4 days. Audiences included service users, policy makers, health professionals, senior hospital administrators and members of the public. Opinions and feelings were collected. The event was documented. Bereavement support was available. A Clinician and an artist provided independent evaluation.

Results:  86 participants engaged with the exhibition. 62% of participants were suicide-bereaved; 46% had experienced a mental health difficulty, and 35% had been suicidal in the past. 91% thought Lived Lives could be of benefit in the aftermath of a suicide death. Half of participants thought Lived Lives could help reduce suicidal feelings, whereas 88% thought it could benefit those with Mental Health difficulties. The emotional response was of a visceral nature, including fear, anger, sadness, disgust and anxiety. Bereavement support was occasionally called upon in a supportive capacity.

Conclusions: Lived Lives sits comfortably in discomfort, unafraid to call out the home-truths about stigma and its pervasive and pernicious impact, and with restoring identity at its core. Lived Lives can operate within a psychiatric hospital, as well as in community. The challenge is to move it forward for greater exposure and impacts in at-risk communities.
Lived Lives at Fort Dunree: a rural community perspective
Authors: Cleary Eimear , Malone Kevin M. , Corry Collete , Sheridan Anne , Kelleher Cecily C. , Lane Abbie , McGuiness Seamus
Published: April 2021

Background:  Elevated suicide rates have alarmed policy makers and communities. In these circumstances, the value of understanding more about communities and their potential role in suicide intervention is becoming more apparent. This study involved evaluating feedback from individuals with and without previous suicidal thinking who participated in an arts-science rural community-based intervention project around suicide (Lived Lives at Fort Dunree).

Methods:  A combined quantitative and qualitative questionnaire was used to evaluate individual and community responses to the Lived Lives project.

Results:  Participants (n = 83), with and without a mental health history and previous suicidal ideation, reported they believed Lived Lives could have potential to help suicide-bereaved families, people with mental illness and people with suicidal thinking.  Qualitative results suggested its’ suitability for specific groups affected by suicide.

Discussion:  The evaluation of the Lived Lives project indicated that supervised, “safe-space” community intervention projects around suicide have inherent value with positive impacts for bereaved individuals and communities, including those who have experienced suicidal feelings. Future research should explore the transferability of these findings to other communities, and at-risk groups.
Didactic Complexity Estimation of the General Physics Course Sections
Authors: Mayer Robert
Published: April 2021

Improving the effectiveness of teaching physics involves determining the didactic complexity (DС) of various elements of the educational material. The proposed method of key concepts is used, which consists in identifying the most complex concepts in the text, formulas and calculating their average information capacity. To assess the semantic complexity of terms, we take into account the number of words in their definitions, the term's entry into the language picture of the world, and its abstraction degree. The applied methodology for evaluating the physics textbook DС is as follows: 1) for each sub-paragraph write out 10 key terms, knowledge of which is necessary for understanding the text and is an indicator of complete assimilation of the educational material; 2) collect all the selected keywords in a text file and arrange them into several categories of complexity; 3) with the help of a special program Slozhnost.pas accessing the dictionary Slovar.txt, analyze the files and determine the total amount of information contained in key concepts from different paragraphs, and their average information capacity; 4) for each paragraph, estimate the proportion of mathematical and other formulas in relation to the total volume of the text; 5) for each sub-paragraph, write out 5 key terms of maximum complexity used in mathematical formulas; 6) for each paragraph, create files containing keywords included in the formulas; 7) evaluate the complexity of each term and use the complexity program; 8) for each paragraph, determine the total amount of information in keywords and the coefficient of information folding; 9) randomly select sentences from different sections of the textbook, determine the average length of words and the average number of syllables in words, and find an complexity indicator of the sentence structure; 10) for each paragraph, calculate the differential and integral didactic complexity for text and formula information.
Aggressive Behavior and Problems of Self-Identity of Adolescents at 14–17 Years Old
Authors: Pavlova E.
Published: April 2021

The problem of aggressive behavior of adolescents remains unresolved, and arouses great interest among psychologists, sociologists, criminologists. This is confirmed by a large number of articles and reports devoted to this problem, which appear annually in collections of scientific conferences. However, despite excessive quantity of theoretical literature devoted to adolescent psychology, there is a significant gap between theory and practice. The article attempts to move the problem of aggressive behavior of adolescents beyond individual external (social) and internal (characterological) factors to the global personological level and to consider it in the aspect of self-identity problems.
Perceções sobre Saúde e Qualidade de Vida em Idosos Algarvios.
Authors: Cristina Luisa Cláudia
Published: April 2021

O envelhecimento da população portuguesa surge como um desafio demográfico e social, sendo uma realidade em crescente. Em Portugal, o índice de envelhecimento é cada vez maior, sendo em 2018 de 157,4% quando em 2000 era de 98,8% (Pordata, 2018). Relacionados ao envelhecimento, que se pretende que veja vivido com qualidade de vida e de forma ativa, encontram-se associados diversos determinantes. As condições de saúde, os fatores ambientais e pessoais, os determinantes económicos, sociais e culturais, o ambiente físico, o sistema de saúde, o sexo, entre outros (World Health Organization, 2002). Nesse sentido, e de forma a compreender como os idosos percecionavam os seus estados de saúde e de qualidade de vida, realizou- -se um estudo de caracter qualitativo a 30 pessoas, com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, no Algarve. Aplicou-se um questionário de dados demográficos e uma entrevista semiestruturada, seguindo-se uma análise de conteúdo. Os resultados revelam que as categorias que melhor descrevem a saúde são a categoria psicológica e a ausência e para a qualidade de vida a categoria saúde, ausência e a comportamental. Conclui-se que ambos os constructos se encontram interligados e que são vários os fatores que contribuem para a sua manutenção.