bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of the IcanSDM scale to assess primary care clinicians’ ability to adopt shared decision-making
Authors: Giguère Anik , Bogza Laura-Mihaela , Coudert Laëtita , Carmichael Pierre-Hugues , Renaud Jean-Sébastien , Légaré France , Lindig Anja , Voyer Philippe
Published: April 2020

Objective: To support studies on the implementation of shared decision making (SDM), we sought to develop and validate the IcanSDM scale that assesses clinicians’ perceptions of their ability to adopt SDM. Results : An expert panel reviewed the literature on clinician-reported barriers to SDM adoption, to create an 11-item preliminary scale. A convenience sample of 16 clinicians from Québec (Canada) completed the IcanSDM and the Belief about capabilities subscale of the CPD-Reaction instrument (BCap), before and after SDM training. We audio-recorded their comments as they completed the scale. We measured IcanSDM’s internal consistency, sensitivity to change and correlation with BCap. Partial correlation coefficients and item analyses suggested removing three items. In the 11-item IcanSDM version, three items lacked clarity or responsiveness, or showed negative partial correlations with the whole instrument. We thus removed these items. The revised 8-item version gave Cronbach’s alphas of 0.63 before and 0.71 after training, and a 16% improvement in IcanSDM total score after training, compared to before training (p<0.0001). We also found a significant correlation between IcanSDM and the BCap before training (p=0.02), but not after (p=0.46).
Dual hit rat models of diabetic cardiomyopathy and nephropathy: pancreatectomy combined with isoprenaline treatment or uninephrectomy
Authors: Thisted Louise , Østergaard Mette V , Pedersen Annemarie A , Pedersen Philip J , Lindsay Ross T , Murray Andrew J , Fink Lisbeth N , Pedersen Tanja X , Secher Thomas , Johansen Thea T , Thrane Sebastian T , Skarsfeldt Torben , Jelsing Jacob , Thomsen Morten B , Zois Nora E
Published: April 2020

Background Cardiovascular and renal complications are the predominant causes of morbidity and mortality amongst patients with diabetes. Development of novel treatments have been hampered by the lack of available animal models recapitulating the human disease. We hypothesized that experimental diabetes in rats combined with a cardiac or renal stressor, would mimic diabetic cardiomyopathy and nephropathy, respectively. Methods Diabetes was surgically induced in male Sprague Dawley rats by 90% pancreatectomy (Px). Isoprenaline (Iso, 1 mg/kg, sc., 10 days) was administered five weeks after Px with the aim of inducing cardiomyopathy, and cardiac function and remodeling was assessed by echocardiography ten weeks after surgery. Left ventricular (LV) fibrosis was quantified by Picro Sirius Red and gene expression analysis. Nephropathy was induced by Px combined with uninephrectomy (Px-UNx). Kidney function was assessed by measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and urine albumin excretion, and kidney injury was evaluated by histopathology and gene expression analysis. Results Px resulted in stable hyperglycemia, hypoinsulinemia, decreased C-peptide, and increased glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) compared with sham-operated controls. Moreover, Px increased LV mass and dimensions, and caused a shift from α-myosin heavy chain (MHC) to β-MHC gene expression. Isoprenaline treatment, but not Px, decreased ejection fraction and induced LV fibrosis. There was no apparent interaction between Px and Iso treatment. The superimposition of Px and UNx increased GFR, indicating hyperfiltration. Compared with sham-operated controls, Px-UNx induced albuminuria and increased urine markers of kidney injury, including neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and podocalyxin, concomitant with upregulated renal gene expression of NGAL and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1). Conclusion Whereas Px and isoprenaline separately produced clinical endpoints related to diabetic cardiomyopathy, the combination of the two did not accentuate disease development. Conversely, Px in combination with UNx resulted in several clinical hallmarks of diabetic nephropathy indicative of early disease development.
Access to and use of sexual and reproductive health services among street children in Uganda: Does Migration matter?
Authors: Bwambale Mulekya Francis , Bukuluki Paul , Moyer Cheryl A. , Borne Bart H.W Van den
Published: April 2020

Background

While the nexus of migration and health outcomes is well acknowledged, the effect of rural-urban migration on uptake of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services has received less attention. We assessed the effect of rural-rural urban migration on uptake of SRH services and whether there is a difference in uptake of SRH services among migrant and non-migrant street children.

Methods

Data were collected among 513 street children aged 12-24 years using face‐to‐face interviews. Participants were recruited by venue-based time-space sampling (VBTS). Using STATA 16.00, we performed multivariate binary logistic regression to identify correlates of SRH service uptake with migration status as the main predictor while controlling for confounding. In this study, migrants are defined as children who had moved to settle in the city for at least 24 months preceding the survey.

Results

Overall, two-thirds (66.82%) of children had moved to the city in the last 2 years, 20% in the last 3-5 years and 13.18% in 6 years or longer. Only 18.13% of the street children had ever used contraception/family planning, 45.89% had ever tested for HIV and knew their status while 34.70% had ever been screened for sexually transmitted infections. Multivariate analysis shows that migrant street children had reduced odds of using sexual and reproductive health services (HIV testing, use of contraception and screening for STIs) compared to the lifelong native street children (aOR=0.59, 95%CI 0.36- 0.97). Other factors associated with use of SRH services among street children include age (aOR=4.51; 95%CI 2.78-7.33), schooling status (aOR=0.34; 95%CI -1.830 0.15-0.76), knowledge of place of care (OR=3.37,95%CI 2.04-5.34) and access to SRH education information (aOR=2.7, 95%CI 1.67- 4.53).

Conclusion

Rural-urban migration is associated with low SRH service uptake. Access to and use of SRH services among migrant street children is low compared to non-migrant street children. Our findings point to the need for urban health systems to design effective interventions to improve equitable access to and use of quality SRH services among street children while taking into consideration their migration patterns.
Full chloroplast genome assembly and phylogeny of “red and “yellow” Bixa orellana, “achiote”; popular source of food coloring and traditional medicine.
Authors: Vallejo Jorge Villacres , Ventura José Aranda , Wallis Anna , Cagle Robin , Handy Sara M. , Davis Jeffery , Pava-Ripoll Monica , Erickson David , Ramachandran Padmini , Ottesen Andrea
Published: April 2020

BackgroundSeeds from Bixa orellana, commonly known as “achiote” and “annatto” produce bixin and norbixin apocarotenoids which impart bright red and orange colors that have been used for thousands of years for food, medicine and body painting by indigenous Americans, and by Europeans for ~ 500 years as food coloring, especially for cheeses. Use of Bixa colorants continues to grow as synthetic dyes come under increased scrutiny for toxicity to human and environmental systems. There is a wide range of color variation in pods of Bixa orellana for which genetic loci that delineate phenotypes have not yet been identified. Whole chloroplast genomes and raw genome skims provide a wide variety of genetic markers that can be used for identification purposes as well as phylogenetic inference of broad scale evolutionary relationships. Here we apply whole chloroplast genome sequencing of “red” and “yellow” individuals of Bixa orellana for phylogenetic analyses to explore the position of Bixaceae relative to other families within the Malvales as well as to underpin future work that may delineate diverse color phenotypes.ResultsFully assembled chloroplast genomes were produced for both red and yellow Bixa orellana accessions (158,918 and 158,823 bp respectively). Synteny and gene content was identical to the only other previously reported full chloroplast genome of Bixa orellana (NC_041550). We observed a 17 base pair deletion at position 58399-58415 in both of our accessions, relative to NC_041550 and a 6 base pair deletion at position 75531-75526 in the accession of “red” Bixa. A phylogeny based on alignment free kmer distance metrics was used to confirm monophylly of Bixa accessions, and to place Bixaceae relative to other families within the Malvales.ConclusionsOur data support Bixaceae as sister to Malvaceae and identified several potentially diagnostic insertion-deletion mutations that may with future work, reliably distinguish between red and yellow phenotypes. In addition to utility for phylogenic questions and development of identity markers, we demonstrate that chloroplast genomes can be used in conjunction with modern bioinformatic search tools (kmer based) to provide rapid and precise identification of Bixa orellana for Next Generation Sequencing approaches to natural product authentication.
Increased E2F2 predicts poor prognosis in patients with HCC based on TCGA data
Authors: Zeng Zhili , Cao Zebiao , Tang Ying
Published: April 2020

Background E2F transcription factor 2(E2F2) plays an important role in the development and progression of various tumors, but its association with hepatocellular carcinoma remains unknown.The aim of our study was to investigate the role and clinical significance of E2F2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods HCC raw data were extracted from TCGA. Wilcoxon signed-rank test, Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression was applied to analyze the the relationship between the expression of E2F2 and clinicalpathologic charateristics. Cox regression and Kaplan-Meier was employed to evaluate the correlation between clinicopathologic features and survial. The biological function of E2F2 was annotated by Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Results The expression of E2F2 was increased in HCC samples. The expression of elevated E2F2 in HCC samples was prominentlly correlated with tumor grade (OR =2.62 for G3-4 vs. G1-2, p=1.80E-05), tumor stage (OR =1.74 for III-IV vs. I-II, p=0.03), topography (OR =1.64 for T3-4 vs.T1-2, p=0.04), tumor status (OR =1.88 for with tumor vs. tumor free, p= 3.79E-03), plasma AFP value (OR =3.18 for AFP≥400 vs AFP<20, p= 2.16E-04; OR=2.50 for 20≤AFP<400 vs AFP<20, p=2.56E-03). Increased E2F2 had a unfavorable OS (p=7.468e−05), PFI (p=3.183e−05), DFI (p=0.001), DSS (p=4.172e−05). Elevated E2F2 was independently bound up with OS (p = 4.4E-04, HR = 2.4 (95% CI [1.5-3.8])) and DSS (p = 7.6E-04, HR = 3.0, (95% CI [1.6-5.6])). GSEA disclosed that cell circle, RNA degradation, pyrimidine metabolism, base excision repair, aminoacyl tRNA biosynthesis, DNA replication, p53 signalling pathway, nucleotide excision repair, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, citrate cycle TCA cycle were notably enriched in E2F2 high expression phenotype. Conclusions Elevated E2F2 can be a promissing independent prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for HCC. Additionally, cell cycle, pyrimidine metabolism, DNA replication, p53 signalling pathway, ubiquitin mediated proteolysis, the citrate cycle TCA cycle may be the key pathway by which E2F2 participate in the initial and progression of HCC.
Sex differences in the association of abdominal adipose tissue measurements by using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) with untreated hypertension in a Chinese population
Authors: Chen Youzhou , Zhang Zhuoli , Wang Jihong , Sun Huayi , Zhao Xingshan , zhao qiong , Cheng Xiaoguang
Published: April 2020

Background: There are inconsistent results regarding the relationships of adiposity anthropometric indices and blood pressure (BP) and hypertension, and whether these relationships differ by sex is unclear. We aimed to elucidate the associations of adiposity indices measured using quantitative computed tomography (QCT) with BP and hypertension and to determine the effect of sex on the relationships in a Chinese population. Methods: Abdominal adipose fat, including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) area, was measured by QCT in 1488 participants. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC) and systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured. Results: Compared to women, men had significantly greater VAT but less SAT regardless of hypertension status. VAT, SAT and WC correlated more with SBP in men than in women. After controlling for body weight, height and age, VAT area and WC in women and VAT area in men were positively associated with SBP and DBP level. VAT area correlated more with the increased risk of hypertension in men than in women [men: odds ratio (OR) = 1.013, women: OR = 1.011]. WC had a significant correlation with an increased risk of hypertension in women but a borderline association in men (P = 0.059) when adjusted for VAT area and SAT area. Conclusions: The association of abdominal adiposity with blood pressure components and hypertension differs qualitatively by sex. WC may be an important determinant of hypertension and may be used for risk stratification for hypertension among Chinese individuals.
Potential impact of climate change on the spatial distribution of key forest tree species in Italy under RCP4.5 for 2050s
Authors: Pecchi Matteo , Marchi Maurizio , Moriondo Marco , Forzieri Giovanni , Ammoniaci Marco , Bernetti Iacopo , Bindi Marco , Chirici Gherardo
Published: April 2020

Background: Forests provide a range of ecosystem services essential for the human wellbeing and their ability is influenced by climate background and further connected to forest management strategies. Italy is a well-known biodiversity hotspot but an uncertainty assessment of the potential impact of climate change is still missing in this country. The aim of this paper is model the potential impact of climate change on 19 tree species occurring across the Italian forests using a species distribution modelling approach, six different Global Circulation Models (GCMs) and one Regional Climate Models (RCMs) for 2050s under an intermediate forcing scenario (RCP 4.5). Results: While no sensible variation in the spatial distribution of the total forested area has been predicted with some tree species gaining space and covering the spatial contractions of others, results showed substantial differences between each species and different climate models. The analyses reported an unchanged amount of total land suitability to forest growth in mountain areas while smaller values were predicted for valleys and floodplains than high-elevation areas. Pure woods were predicted as the most influenced when compared with mixed stands which are characterized by a greater species richness and therefore a supposed higher level of biodiversity and resilience to climate change threatens. Pure softwood stands (e.g. Pinus, Abies) were more sensitive than hardwoods (e.g. Fagus, Quercus), probably due to their artificial origin which established pure stands with tree species generally more prone to admixture with others in (semi)-natural ecosystems.Conclusions: Forest management could play a fundamental role to reduce the potential impact of climate change on forest ecosystems. Silvicultural practices should be aimed at increasing the species richness and favouring hardwoods currently growing as dominating species under conifers canopy, stimulating the natural regeneration, gene flow and supporting (spatial) migration processes.
Impairment-driven cancer rehabilitation in patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression using minimally invasive spine stabilization: A single-center retrospective study
Authors: Ishida Yukako , Shigematsu Hideki , Tsukamoto Shinji , Morimoto Yasuhiko , Iwata Eiichiro , Okuda Akinori , Kawasaki Sachiko , Tanaka Masato , Fujii Hiromasa , Tanaka Yasuhito , Kido Akira
Published: April 2020

Background: Neoplastic spinal cord compression is a cause of severe disability in cancer patients. To prevent irreversible paraplegia, a structured strategy is required to address the various impairments present in cancer patients. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 consecutive patients with neoplastic spinal compression who were treated with minimally invasive spine stabilization (MISt). We classified the impairments of patients through our multidisciplinary tumor board based on spine-specific factors, skeletal instability and tumor growth. The neurological deficits, ambulation status, progress of pathological fracture, incidence of vertebral collapse, postoperative implant failure were examined. Changes of the Barthel index (BI) scores before and after surgery were investigated throughout the clinical courses. Results: The average duration to ambulation was 7.19±11 days, and we observed no collapse or progression of paralysis except in four cases of complete motor paraplegia before the surgery. We noted good functional prognosis in patients capable of ambulation within seven days and in patients who could survive longer than three months after the surgery. Conclusions: In various cancer patients with neoplastic spinal cord compression, skeletal instability as the primary impairment is a good indication for MISt, as the patients showed early ambulation with improved BI scores.
Using behavioral insights to design implementation strategies in public mental health settings: a qualitative study of clinical decision-making
Authors: Last Briana Shiri , Schriger Simone H , Timon Carter E. , Frank Hannah E , Buttenheim Alison M. , Rudd Brittany N , Fernandez-Marcote Sara , Comeau Carrie , Shoyinka Sosunmolu , Beidas Rinad S.
Published: April 2020

Background : Most studies evaluating the barriers and facilitators to evidence-based practice (EBP) implementation tend to overrely on stakeholder perspectives; underuse theory; and evaluate implementation of entire packages or protocols rather than specific, essential components of EBPs. These approaches make it challenging to generate implementation strategies that mechanistically target the core causes of behavior change. The present study seeks to leverage behavioral insights to identify factors that affect clinical decision-making surrounding the use of the trauma narrative (TN), the most active component of trauma focused-cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT)—the gold standard EBP for youth with posttraumatic stress disorder—and to generate implementation strategies informed by these insights. Methods : Through semi-structured qualitative interviews, we sought the perspectives of trained TF-CBT therapists working in community mental health settings across the city of Philadelphia ( n =17) surrounding their clinical decision-making around when and why they use TNs. We used an iterative process of structured brainstorming and rapid validation informed by behavioral insights to uncover the barriers and facilitators to TN use and to generate implementation strategies using the “Easy Attractive Social Timely” (EAST) framework to increase TN implementation. Results : We generated and validated 9 hypothesized barriers to and facilitators of implementation of the trauma narrative that mapped onto 18 behavioral insights. Hypothesized barriers linked therapist perspectives (i.e., the barriers and facilitators they described) and behavioral insights to design 9 implementation strategies. Conclusions : The study responds to the growing need to identify implementation barriers and facilitators and to design implementation strategies that are informed by stakeholder perspectives, causal theories and that target specific components of EBPs. Our results reveal that behavioral insights of TN implementation can generate strategy designs. In the future, we will test the implementation strategies we designed to evaluate whether this process of developing implementation strategies is effective.
Schizocladia ischiensis organellar genomes: estimating the origin of multicellularity in heterokonts and the emergence of shallow ocean ecosystems
Authors: Phillips Naomi , Braun Edward L. , Boore Jeffrey , Cheda Brian , Salomon Mathew P. , Kawai Hiroshi , Yamagishi Takahiro
Published: April 2020

Background

Brown algae are key members of coastal marine ecosystems and the most recent eukaryotic lineage to transition to multicellularity. Browns are members of a heterogeneous assemblage of organisms, heterokonts, that include photosynthetic plankton, (e.g. diatoms) and non-photosynthetic taxa like the pseudofungi or labyrinthulas. We hypothesized that the origin of brown algae would coincide with the assembly of shallow coastal ecosystems. Testing this hypothesis required a robust estimate of the timeframe for the origin of multicellularity in the Gyristan (lineage including Oomycota and Ochrophyta) heterokonts and the diversification of the brown algae. A relaxed clock analysis that included organellar data from the closest sister of brown algae, Schizocladia ischiensis and other heterokonts enabled a robust estimation of this timeframe.

Results

Consistent with Gyristan heterokonts, the plastid and mitochondrial genomes of S. ischiensis were circular (cp ~138,101 bp, mt ~ 41,773 bp) with similar genes and genome architecture. The comparison of its organellar protein-coding genes with those of other heterokonts (21 cpDNA, 28 mtDNA) including outgroups were used to estimate the following divergence times: (1) The Gyristan assemblage split into autotrophic (Ochrophyta) and heterotrophic (Oomycetes) clades in the Paleozoic (~ 457 Ma) with the transition to multicellularity early in the Mesozoic. (2) Several phytoplankton lineages (e.g., Diatoms) diversified toward the end of the Mesozoic into the Cenozoic consistent with paleontological records and estimated stable oceanic conditions. (3) The brown algae, main architects of key coastal benthic ecosystems, arose toward the end of the Mesozoic with main lineages like the kelps or rockweeds diversifying into the Cenozoic. These divergences were consistent with fossil records and physical data for the emergence of shallow water coastal environments.

Conclusions

S. ischiensis’ organellar genomes combined with robust multigene phylogenomic molecular clock analyses placed the origin of brown algae late in the Mesozoic consistent to paleontological time estimates and plate tectonic models for the emergence of shallow coastal environments. These data robustly supported the hypothesis that the origin and diversification of brown algae was central to the assembly of rocky shallow coastal ecosystems. Furthermore, important communities like kelps forests or rockweed beds are relatively recent marine ecosystems.
Chest CT for Detecting COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy
Authors: Xu Buyun , Xing Yangbo , Peng Jiahao , Zheng Zhaohai , Tang Weiliang , Sun Yong , Xu Chao , Peng Fang
Published: April 2020

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article was to perform a systematic review and meta- analysis regarding the diagnostic test accuracy of chest CT for detecting Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and CNKI were searched up to March 12, 2020. We included studies providing information regarding diagnostic test accuracy of chest CT for COVID-19 detection. The methodologic quality was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies–2 tool. Sensitivity and specificity were pooled.RESULTS: Ten studies (n = 2657 patients) were included. The risks of bias in all studies were moderate in general. Pooled sensitivity was 93% (95% CI: 85 - 97%), and only one study reported specificity (25%, 95% CI:22-30%). There was substantial heterogeneity according to the Cochran Q test (p < 0.01) and Higgins I2 heterogeneity index (96% for sensitivity). After dividing the studies into two groups based on the study site, we found that the sensitivity of chest CT was great in Wuhan (the most affected city by the epidemic) and the sensitivity values were very close to each other (97%, 96% and 99%, respectively). In the regions other than Wuhan, the sensitivity varied from 69% to 98%.CONCLUSION: Chest CT offers the great sensitivity for detecting COVID-19, especially in region with severe epidemic situation. However, the specificity is low. In the context of emergency disease control, chest CT provide a fast, convenient and effective method to early recognize suspicious cases and might contribute to confine epidemic.
Estimation of Bulk Permittivity of the Moon’s Surface Using Lunar Radar Sounder On-board Selenological and Engineering Explorer
Authors: Hongo Keigo , Toh Hiroaki , Kumamoto Atsushi
Published: April 2020

Site-dependent bulk permittivities of the lunar uppermost media were estimated based on the data from Lunar Radar Sounder onboard the Selenological and Engineering Explorer (SELENE). It succeeded in sounding almost all over the Moon’s surface in a frequency range around 5 MHz to detect subsurface reflectors beneath several lunar maria such as Mare Imbrium. However, it is necessary to estimate the permittivity of the surface regolith of the Moon in order to determine the actual depths to those reflectors instead of apparent depths assuming a speed of light in the vacuum. In this study, we determined site-dependent bulk permittivities by two-layer models consisting of a surface regolith layer over a half-space with uniform but different physical properties from the layer above. Those models consider the electrical conductivity as well as the permittivity, whose trade-off was resolved by utilizing the correlation between titanium content and measured physical properties of lunar rock samples. Distribution of the titanium content on the Moon’s surface had already been derived by spectroscopic observation from SELENE as well.Four lunar maria, viz., Mare Serenitatis, Oceanus Procellarum, Mare Imbrium, and Mare Crisium, were selected as regions of evident reflectors, where we estimated the following four physical properties of each layer, i.e., bulk permittivity, porosity, loss tangent and electrical conductivity to conclude the actual depths of the reflectors are approximately 200m on average. The bulk permittivity ranges from 2.96 at Mare Imbrium to 6.37 at Oceanus Procellarum, whereas the porosity takes the values between 1.8% to 41.1% in the respective maria. It was found that although the bulk permittivity of the four lunar maria differs from a mare to a mare, it shows a good correlation with their composition, viz., their titanium content.
MiR-3622a-3p acts as a tumor suppressor in colorectal cancer by reducing stemness features and EMT through targeting spalt-like transcription factor 4
Authors: Chang Shuchen , Sun Guangli , Zhang Dan , Li Qing , Wan Yemin , Zhou Xi , Lu Qiulu , Han Xiuxiu , Chen Xue , Xing Ting , Liu Qiaoling , Ren Yumeng , Zhang Shuoqiu , Qian Haihua
Published: April 2020

Background MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs which act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors through targeting specific mRNAs. MiR-3622a-3p is found to be decreased in colorectal cancer (CRC) in TCGA database and there are few reports about the role of miR-3622a-3p in cancers. Our research aimed to explore the effect of miR-3622a-3p in CRC. Methods MiR-3622a-3p expression in CRC tissues and cells was examined by qRT-PCR. The effect of miR-3622a-3p on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration and invasion of CRC cells were investigated by a serious of biological function assays. We performed dual luciferase assay to confirm the interaction between miR-3622a-3p and its potential target gene. Western blot was carried out to determine the effect of miR-3622a-3p on stemness features and EMT. Tumor xenograft model and in vivo metastasis model were established using nude mice. The CRC organoid model was constructed with fresh CRC tissues. Results MiR-3622a-3p was down-regulated in CRC tissues and cells. Biological function assays revealed that miR-3622a-3p could inhibit the malignant biological properties of CRC. MiR-3622a-3p suppressed stemness features and EMT of CRC cells by SALL4 mRNA degradation. The results of animal experiments showed miR-3622a-3p could inhibit CRC cell proliferation and metastasis in vivo . The growth of organoids was also suppressed by miR-3622a-3p. Conclusions Taken together, the results of our study indicate miR-3622a-3p exerts antioncogenic role in CRC by downregulation of SALL4. The research on miR-3622a-3p might provide a new insight into treatment of CRC.
Evaluation of the contribution of tropical cyclone seeds to changes in tropical cyclone frequency due to global warming in high-resolution multi-model ensemble simulations
Authors: Yamada Yohei , Kodama Chihiro , Satoh Masaki , Sugi Masato , Roberts Malcolm J , Mizuta Ryo , Noda Akira T , Nasuno Tomoe , Nakano Masuo , Vidale Pier Luigi
Published: April 2020

Previous projections of the frequency of tropical cyclone genesis due to global warming, even in terms of sign of the change, depends on the chosen model simulation. Here, we systematically examine projected changes in tropical cyclones using six global atmospheric models with medium-to-high horizontal resolutions included in the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project/High-Resolution Model Intercomparison Project. Changes in the frequency of tropical cyclone genesis could be broken down into the contributions from (i) the tropical cyclone seed, a depression having a closed contour of sea level pressure with a warm core and (ii) the survival rate, the ratio of the frequency of tropical cyclone genesis to that of tropical cyclone seeds. The multi-model ensemble mean indicates that tropical cyclone genesis frequencies are significantly decreased during the period 1990–2049, which is attributable to changes in tropical cyclone seeds. Analysis of the individual models shows that although most models project a more or less decreasing trend in tropical cyclone genesis frequencies and seeds, the survival rate also contributes to the result in some models. This study indicates the usefulness of decomposition into the frequency of the tropical cyclone seeds and the survival rate to understand the cause of uncertainty in projected frequencies of tropical cyclone genesis.
Prevalence and incidence of cancer related lymphedema in low and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Torgbenu Eric , Luckett Tim , Buhagiar Mark A. , Chang Sungwon , Phillips Jane L
Published: April 2020

Background Little is known about the prevalence and incidence in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) of secondary lymphedema due to cancer. This study aims to estimate the prevalence and incidence in LMICs of secondary lymphedema related to cancer and/or its treatment(s) and identify risk factors. Method A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Medline, EMBASE and CINAHL were searched in June 2019 for peer-reviewed articles that assessed prevalence and/or incidence of cancer-related lymphedema in LMICs. Risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies. Estimates of pooled prevalence and incidence estimates were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CI), with sub-group analyses grouping studies according to: country of origin, study design, risk of bias, setting, treatment, and lymphedema site and measurement. Heterogeneity was measured using X ² and I 2 , with interpretation guided by the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews. Results Of 8766 articles, 36 were included. Most reported on arm lymphedema secondary to breast cancer treatment (n=31), with the remainder reporting on leg lymphedema following gynecological cancer treatment (n=5). Arm lymphedema was mostly measured by arm circumference (n=16/31 studies), and leg lymphedema through self-report (n=3/5 studies). Eight studies used more than one lymphedema measurement. Only two studies that measured prevalence of leg lymphedema could be included in a meta-analysis (pooled prevalence =10.0%, 95%CI 7.0 – 13.0, I 2 =0%). The pooled prevalence of arm lymphedema was 27%, with considerable heterogeneity (95%CI 20.0 – 34.0, I 2 =94.69%, n =13 studies). The pooled incidence for arm lymphedema was 21%, also with considerable heterogeneity (95%CI 15.0 – 26.0, I 2 =95.29%, n =11 studies). There was evidence that higher BMI (>25) was associated with increased risk of arm lymphedema (OR: 1.98, 95%CI 1.45 – 2.70, I 2 =84.0%, P< 0.0001, n =4 studies). Conclusion Better understanding the factors that contribute to variability in cancer-related arm lymphedema in LMICs is an important first step to developing targeted interventions to improve quality of life. Standardising measurement of lymphedema globally and better reporting would enable comparison within the context of information about cancer treatments and lymphedema care.
IoT-Flock: An Open-source Framework for IoT Traffic Generation
Authors: Ghazanfar Syed , Hussain Faisal , Rehman Atiq Ur , Fayyaz Ubaid U. , Shahzad Farrukh , Shah Ghalib A.
Published: April 2020

Network traffic generation is one of the primary techniques that is used to design and analyze the performance of network security systems. However, due to the diversity of IoT networks in terms of devices, applications and protocols, the traditional network traffic generator tools are unable to generate the IoT specific protocols traffic. Hence, the traditional traffic generator tools cannot be used for designing and testing the performance of IoT-specific security solutions. In order to design an IoT-based traffic generation framework, two main challenges include IoT device modelling and generating the IoT normal and attack traffic simultaneously. Therefore, in this work, we propose an open-source framework for IoT traffic generation which supports the two widely used IoT application layer protocols, i.e., MQTT and CoAP. The proposed framework allows a user to create an IoT use case, add customized IoT devices into it and generate normal and malicious IoT traffic over a real-time network. Furthermore, we set up a real-time IoT smart home use case to manifest the applicability of the proposed framework for developing the security solutions for IoT smart home by emulating the real world IoT devices. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed framework can be effectively used to develop better security solutions for IoT networks without physically deploying the real-time use case.
Professional Image of Nursing and Midwifery in East Africa: An Exploratory Analysis
Authors: Ndirangu Eunice Wambui , Sarki Ahmed , Mbekenga Columba , Edwards Grace
Published: April 2020

Background: Evidence suggests that there is a negative image of nursing and midwifery that does not promote nursing and midwifery as attractive career options. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies documenting how nursing and midwifery is perceived in East Africa, and where such studies exist they are country-specific. The aim of this study was to explore views regarding the image of nursing and midwifery among nurses and midwives in three East African countries, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.Methods: An exploratory descriptive cross-sectional study administered online using Survey Monkey Questionnaires assessed the views and perceptions of nurses, midwives and doctors regarding the image of nursing and midwifery professions. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Chi square tests were used to analyse the data. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 24.Results: A total of 551 participants took part in the study. The majority were females (61.8%), registered nurses/midwives (45.8%), and aged 30-39 years (34.2%). The majority of the respondents were from Kenya (39.7%) and Uganda (32.9%). About two-thirds of the nurses and midwives in this study perceived nursing/midwifery as both trusted and respected professions and expressed having a level of control over how their image was portrayed. Conversely, the nurses and midwives were conscious that the public had mixed responses about the nursing/midwifery professions specifically, some members of the public described nurses/midwives as professionals, knowledgeable and caring, others perceived nurses/midwives to be rude, cruel, unkind, lazy, unkempt, and maids.Conclusion: This study offers an interesting insight about the image of nursing/midwifery in East Africa. Findings from this study will inform policy makers and educators about key concepts that affect the image of nursing and midwifery in East Africa. The findings will be used to design marketing materials to help improve the image of nursing and midwifery in the region and other African countries.
Truncated Inception Net: COVID-19 Outbreak Screening using Chest X-rays
Authors: Das Dipayan , Santosh KC , Pal Umapada
Published: April 2020

Since December 2019, the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has caused world-wide turmoil in less than a couple of months, and the infection, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is spreading at an unprecedented rate. AI-driven tools are used to identify Coronavirus outbreaks as well as forecast their nature of spread, where imaging techniques are widely used, such as CT scans and chest X-rays (CXRs). In this paper, motivated by the fact that X-ray imaging systems are more prevalent and cheaper than CT scan systems, a deep learning-based Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) model, which we call Truncated Inception Net, is proposed to screen COVID-19 positive CXRs from other non-COVID and/or healthy cases. To validate our proposal, six different types of datasets were employed by taking the following CXRs: COVID-19 positive, Pneumonia positive, Tuberculosis positive, and healthy cases into account. The proposed model achieved an accuracy of 99.96% (AUC of 1.0) in classifying COVID- 19 positive cases from combined Pneumonia and healthy cases. Similarly, it achieved an accuracy of 99.92% (AUC of 0.99) in classifying COVID-19 positive cases from combined Pneumonia, Tuberculosis and healthy CXRs. To the best of our knowledge, as of now, the achieved results outperform the existing AI-driven tools for screening COVID-19 using CXRs.
Cases Report of Cured Novel Coronavirus-infected Pneumonia Patients with Viral Nucleic Acid Test Positive in Fecal Specimens
Authors: Han Mei , Zou Jingbo , Tian Wenguang , Wei Xiaoyu , Zhou Yang , Qiao Jie , Li Xia , Zhou Jing , Sun Tiangyuan , Ou Yiheng , Zhou Zongyu , Chen Yaokai , Pan Pingliang , zhang junjie
Published: April 2020

Background: The outbreak of the novel coronavirus in China (COVID-19) represents a significant and urgent threat to global health. We report here five cases of COVID-19 infection patients in our clinical practices who are medically stable and presumed to successfully “cleared” the virus after antiviral treatments. Case presentation: The clinical evaluation depends on the viral nucleic acid test in respiratory specimens by real-time PCR reverse transcription (RT-PCR) assays according to the authorized guidance. We found that the stool samples of these cured patients remain positive in RT-PCR assay while the virus is undetectable in respiratory specimens. RT-PCR molecular diagnostic assay was designed to specifically detect the presence of viral RNA. Thus, the positive result in the fecal specimens implies the existence of viable virions with the patients. Conclusions: This highlights the importance to look closely at the assessment standard of medical treatment, as well as the need for reevaluation of the criteria for the initial screening, prevention, and care of patients with this emerging infection.
Urinary MCP-1 and TWEAK as non-invasive markers of disease activity and treatment response in patients with lupus nephritis in South Africa
Authors: Moloi Mothusi W , Rusch Jody A , Omar Fierdoz , Ekrikpo Udeme , Dandara Collet , Bello Aminu K , Jayne David , Okpechi Ikechi
Published: April 2020

Background:
Treatment of patients with lupus nephritis (LN) requires judicious use of immunosuppression. Novel biomarkers may be useful for monitoring disease activity and treatment response. We assessed the utility of urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (uMCP-1) and urinary tumour necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (uTWEAK) for disease activity and treatment response monitoring in South Africans with LN.
Methods:
We recruited consenting patients with active LN confirmed on kidney biopsy. Urinary levels of MCP-1 and TWEAK were assayed at baseline and after completion of induction therapy using ELISA methods. We also collected relevant demographic, clinical and biochemical data for patients included in this study.
Results:
The mean age of patients in this study was 29.8 ± 10.7 years, 60% were patients of mixed ancestry, 70% had proliferative LN and mean spot urine proteinuria at baseline was 0.37 (0.18-0.59) g/mmolCr. At completion of induction therapy, the level of uMCP-1 had reduced to 314.5 (IQR: 197.0 – 622) pg/mgCr from a baseline of 1092.7 (IQR: 578.6-1848) pg/mgCr (P=0.06) while uTWEAK had reduced to 36.0 (IQR: 17.0-88.0) pg/mgCr from 159.0 (IQR: 88.5-295.5) pg/mgCr (P=0.03). For patients reaching early complete or partial remission, both biomarkers had significantly declined in their urine: uMCP-1 (p=0.018) and uTWEAK (p=0.015). There was no reduction of both biomarkers in patients not achieving remission and no association between uMCP-1 or uTWEAK with renal histological features.
Conclusion:
Our study shows that uMCP-1 and uTWEAK are elevated in patients with active LN, correlated with the remission status (response to treatment) at the end of induction therapy and can therefore be useful for monitoring disease activity and treatment response.
THE EFFECT OF N-STEAROYLETHANOLAMINE ON THE ADIPOCYTE FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF DIFFERENT AGE RATS WITH OBESITY-INDUCED INSULIN RESISTANCE
Authors: Tkachenko Oksana , Kosiakova Halyna , Klimashevsky Vitalii , Berdyshev Andrii , Hula Nadiia
Published: April 2020

Chronic hypernutrition and high fat diet (HFD), rich in saturated fatty acids leads to molecular changes in insulin sensitive tissues and is followed by dyslipidemia. That is why the aim of our study was to investigate the fatty acid (FA) composition of phospholipids (PL), free fatty acids (FFA), triacylglycerol (TAG) and cholesterol esters (CE) of adipocytes in different age rats with HFD-induced insulin resistance (IR) and its changes under N-stearoylethanolamine (NSE) administration.

The experimental model was induced on rats in age 10-month-old and 24-month-old by 6-month HFD and confirmed by the oral glucose tolerance test. NSE was administrated as water suspension per os in a dosage 50 mg/kg daily during 2 weeks. Adipocytes were isolated from abdominal fat using Type 1 Collagenase solution. Adipocytes lipid extract was separated on the fractions by thin-layer chromatography. The fatty acid composition of lipid fractions was analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Experimental data were processed statistically using Student’s t-test.

It was demonstrated, that prolonged HFD induces IR and leads to changes in FA profile of adipocytes PL, TAG, CE and composition of FFA in rats from two age groups. The results we obtained shoved that the aging process affects the fatty acid composition of adipocytes. Particularly, there was a significant decrease in the amount of fatty acids in the fractions of phospholipids, triacylglycerols and cholesterol esters together with a decrease in the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids. It was also demonstrated, that HFD significantly alters the fatty acid composition of all investigated adipocytes lipid fractions of younger age group rats, while similar changes were much less manifested in older age group of animals. NSE administration had a positive effect on the normalization of the fatty acid composition of the studied lipid fractions of both age group rat adipocytes.

This study demonstrated that prolonged HFD induces obesity, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes development and leads to changes in adipocytes FA profile in rats from two age groups. As far as NSE administration had a positive effect on normalization of FA composition of adipocytes, we can consider NSE as a prospective agent for the treatment of obesity-induced complications and correction of age-related dyslipidemia.
Studi Karakteristik Sarang Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) di Resort Sangatta dan Resort Sangkima Taman Nasional Kutai
Authors: Allo Marcelina Tikurara Londong , Kisworo  , Suhendra
Published: April 2020

Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) merupakan satwa langka yang harus dikonservasi melalui pelestarian Taman Nasional Kutai (TNK). Studi karakteristik sarang orangutan merupakan bagian dari upaya pelestarian. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah menggunakan jalur transek dengan menghitung sarang orangutan serta mencatat karakteristik sarang orangutan yang meliputi kelas sarang, posisi sarang, tinggi sarang, tinggi pohon, diameter pohon dan jenis pohon sarang. Pada lokasi penelitian ditemukan sebanyak 173 sarang orangutan yang terdiri dari 84 sarang di resort Sangatta dan 89 sarang di resort Sangkima. Jenis sarang didominasi oleh kelas sarang C dan D dengan posisi sarang sebagian besar terdapat pada ujung dahan (UD) di resort Sangatta, posisi sarang terbanyak ada pada ujung dahan (UD) dan pucuk pohon (PP) di resort Sangkima. Rata-rata tinggi sarang orangutan adalah 12,2 - 40,2 m, diameter pohon 17,4 - 110 cm, dan tinggi pohon 12,2 - 40,2 m di resort Sangatta. Pada resort Sangkima rata-rata tinggi sarang orangutan adalah 10,2 - 24,2 m dengan diameter pohon 20 - 109,4 cm dan rata-rata tinggi pohon 14-28,6 m. Karakteristik sarang orangutan menjadi indikator kondisi habitat orangutan yang ada di TNK.

Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus morio) is a rare animal that must be conserved through the preservation of the Kutai National Park (KNP). Study of orangutan nest characteristics is part of conservation efforts. The method used in this study is to use a transect line by counting orangutan nests and noting orangutan nest characteristics which include nest class, nest position, nest height, tree height, tree diameter and nest tree species. At the study site, 173 orangutan nests were found, consisting of 84 nests at Sangatta resort and 89 nests at Sangkima resort. The nest type is dominated by the nest classes C and D with the nest position mostly found at the tip of the branch (UD) at Sangatta resort, the position of most nests is at the tip of the branch (UD) and tree tops (PP) at the Sangkima resort. The average height of orangutan nests is 12.2 - 40.2 m, tree diameter 17.4 - 110 cm, and tree height 12.2 - 40.2 m at Sangatta resort. At Sangkima resort, the average height of orangutan nests is 10.2 - 24.2 m with a tree diameter of 20 - 109.4 cm and an average tree height of 14-28.6 m. The characteristics of orangutan nests are an indicator of the condition of orangutan habitat in KNP.