bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monitoring Cyanobacteria in Grahamstown Dam
Authors: Shah Vikas , Turner Dave , O’Donoghue Pam , Sneddon Ashley , Morrow Abigail , Lundmark Anna , Bates Jordi , Hanson Axel , Hancock Colin , Stanmore John
Published: March 2021

Grahamstown Dam (capacity about 182,000 ML), Hunter Water’s largest dam, is a broad, relatively shallow, man-made, off-river storage that is primarily used to store water extracted from the Williams River. The Dam also receives runoff from its own small 73 km2 catchment area and direct rainfall on its 28 km2 surface area. The key components of the Grahamstown Dam supply scheme are Seaham Weir (limits the upstream movement of tidal saltwater), Balickera Canal and pumping station (transfer water from the Williams River to Grahamstown Dam), Campvale Pumping Station (pumps run off from the developing Medowie area located on the eastern margins of the Dam), George Schroder Pumping Station and delivery mains (delivers water from the Dam to water treatment plant), and Grahamstown Water Treatment Plant (WTP).
Association between Nutritional Status and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in Women with Breast Cancer undergoing Chemotherapy: A Prospective Study
Authors: Machado Andressa Miranda , Custódio Isis Danyelle Dias , Mazzutti Fernanda Silva , Fuzissaki Marceila de Andrade , Marinho Eduarda da Costa , Paiva Carlos Eduardo , Maia Yara Cristina de Paiva
Published: March 2021

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the association between chemotherapy (CT) time, nutritional status and the effect of the interaction between these variables on the symptoms and domains of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Despite the adverse effects CT, it’s common the gain weight and unfavorable changes in the body composition of women during and after the treatment. And an inadequate nutritional status can negatively impact the HRQoL and can influence the prognosis of breast cancer (BC).Methods This study was carried out with 55 women with BC over three periods of CT, T0, before the first cycle; T1, intermediate period; and T2, after the end of CT. HRQoLwas assessed using the 30-Item Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30) and its BC module, the Quality of Life Questionnaire Breast Cancer − 23 (QLQ-Br23).Results Overweight, waist circumference (WC) indicative of increased risk and substantially increased risk of metabolic complications, waist-hip ratio (WHR) indicative of risk of developing chronic diseases, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) indicative of excess abdominal fat and longer CT times (T1 and T2), each separately, as well as the interaction of these anthropometric variables with CT time, were associated with worse symptom and HRQoL domains scores.Conclusion The course of treatment and a worse nutritional status, have negative effects on HRQoL, and it is relevant to encourage women with BC undergoing CT to adopt a healthy diet and to practice physical activity in order to maintain an adequate nutritional status, that could contribute to a better HRQoL.
The Role of LncRNA MALAT-1 and MiRNA-9 in Psoriasis
Authors: elamir azza , Shaker Olfat G. , El-Komy Mohamed HM. , Aboraia Nesreen M. , sharabi Mai
Published: March 2021

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic skin disorder manifested by recurrent episodes of scaly, red, itchy skin patches that occur within apparently normal skin. Objectives: This study was performed to detect the expression of serum and tissue (lesion and non-lesion) LncRNA MALAT-1 and MiRNA-9 that might be used as biomarkers for psoriasis. Methods: 100 subjects were included in this study, 60 psoriatic patients as well as 40 controls, blood samples were taken from all subjects, 4 mm punch biopsy was taken from lesional and non lesional skin of psoriatic patient and controls. Expression of LncRNA MALAT-1 and miRNNA-9 in Serum and tissues was detected by real time qRT-PCR.Results: our results revealed a statistically significant increase in the expression of MALAT-1 in lesional and non-lesional skin and serum of psoriatic patients than controls. Also there was statistically significant increase in serum MiRNA-9 in patients than controls. Meanwhile, its tissue level was significantly decreased in patients than controls.Conclusion: This study highlights the contribution of LncRNA MALAT-1and miRNA-9 in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Elevated expression of MALAT-1 in lesional skin of psoriatic patients compared to non-lesional skin is probably an important factor in the development of psoriatic plaques.
Kidney Stone Composition in Various Country Around the World
Authors: Halinski Adam , Popov Elenko , Bhattikam Kamran Hassan , Boeri Luca , Cloutier Jonathan , Davidoff Kaloyan , Elqady Ayman , Fryad Goran , Gadelmoula Mohamed Gadelmoula Mohamed , Hui Hongyi , Petkova Kremena , Rawa Bapir Rawa Bapir , Saltirov Iliya , Hameed Belthangady Monu Zeeshan , Trinchieri Alberto , Buchholz Noor
Published: March 2021

To compare urinary stone composition patterns in different populations around the world in relation to the structure of their population, dietary habits, and climate. 1204 adult patients with urolithiasis and stone analysis was included . International websites were searched to obtain data. We observed 710(59%) patients with calcium oxalate, 31(1%) calcium phosphate, 161(13%) mixed calcium oxalate/calcium phosphate, 15(1%) carbapatite, 110(9%) uric acid, 7(<1%) urate, 100(9%) mixed uric acid/ calcium oxalate, 56(5%) struvite and 14(1%) cystine stones. Calcium stones were the most common in all countries (up to 91%) with the highest rates in Canada and China. Oxalate stones were more common than phosphate or mixed phosphate/oxalate stones except Egypt and India. The rate of uric acid stones, being higher in Egypt, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Poland, and Bulgaria. Struvite stones occurred in less than 5% except India (23%) and Pakistan (16%). Cystine stones occurred in 1%. The frequency of different types of urinary stones varies from country to country. Calcium stones are prevalent in all countries. Uric acid stones seems to depend mainly on climatic factors, being higher in countries with desert or tropical climates. Dietary patterns can also lead to an increase it. Struvite stones are decreasing in most countries.
In situ lymphoma imaging in a spontaneous mouse model using the Cerenkov Luminescence of F-18 and Ga-67 isotopes
Authors: Ritter Zsombor , Zámbó Katalin , Balogh Péter , Szöllősi Dávid , Jia Xinkai , Balázs Ákos , Taba Gabriella , Horváth Ildikó , Alizadeh Hussain , Tuch David , Vyas Kunal , Hegedűs Nikolett , Kovács Tibor , Szigeti Krisztián , Dezső Dániel , Máthé Domokos , Schmidt Erzsébet
Published: March 2021

We aimed to study lymphoma diagnostics by Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI). We monitored the dissemination of a spontaneous high-grade mouse lymphoma (Bc.DLFL1) in early stage; advanced stage; and terminal stage with in vivo 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose ([18F]FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) / magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 67Ga-citrate single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) / MRI. In vivo imaging was combined with ex vivo high resolution CLI. The use of CLI with Fluorine-18 and Gallium-67 to select infiltrated lymph nodes for tumor staging pathology was thus tested. At advanced stage, [18F]FDG PET/MRI plus ex vivo CLI allowed accurate detection of [18F]FDG accumulation in lymphoma-infiltrated tissues. At terminal stage we detected tumorous lymph nodes with SPECT/MRI and we could report the Cerenkov light emission of 67Ga. CLI with 67Ga-citrate revealed lymphoma accumulation in distant lymph node locations, unnoticeable with only MRI. Flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry confirmed these imaging results. Our study promotes the combined use of PET and CLI in preclinical studies and clinical practice. Heterogeneous [18F]FDG distribution in lymph nodes detected at sampling surgery has implications for tissue pathology processing and could direct therapy. The results with 67Ga also point to the opportunities to further apply suitable SPECT radiopharmaceuticals for CLI.
The mechanisms of the impact of high-tech product export trade on regional carbon performance
Authors: Han Miao , Zhou Yan
Published: March 2021

Export trade is a driving force of economic development, but it is also an important source of increasing carbon dioxide emissions. Against the background of suggestions of conflicts between economic development and environmental health, the proportion of high-tech products in the export trade of various countries has been rising, leading governments and scholars to focus on identifying the appropriate export structure for countries. While there is some knowledge on how high-tech product exports affect carbon dioxide emissions, the mechanisms involved in that link have not been adequately addressed in previous studies. This study is based on China’s inter-provincial panel data from 2006 to 2017, and uses the fixed effects model stepwise regression method and the bootstrap method to systematically investigate the mediating effects of industrial structure supererogation, low-carbon technological innovation and human capital accumulation, operating in the impact of high-tech product export trade on regional carbon performance. The research results show that high-tech product exports can help improve regional carbon performance. The mediating variables, industrial structure supererogation, low-carbon technological innovation and human capital accumulation, separately have positive and partially mediating effects on the link between high-tech products export trade and regional carbon performance. After considering the alternative indicator of regional carbon performance and the replacement of test method, the results of this study are still robust. The research results are instructive for an understanding of the relationship between high-tech product export trade and regional carbon performance. They highlight the important role of high-tech product exports in improving regional carbon performance, and have significance in promoting China’s green and low-carbon transition.
Role of Low-carbon Technology Innovation in Environmental Performance of Manufacturing: Evidence From Oecd Countries
Authors: Shi Rui , Cui Yu , Zhao Minjuan
Published: March 2021

Climate change disrupts the balance of natural ecosystems and threatens the sustainable development of human society. As the leading industry in many countries, manufacturing promotes economic development; unfortunately, it also emits large quantities of greenhouse gases. Thus, it is necessary to transform the production pattern of manufacturing into green production. Although technology innovation is the only way to tackle the issue, different types of technology innovation may lead to different environmental performances. We argue that low-carbon technology innovation (LCTI) is the key to green production. Using data of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries from 1990 to 2014, we use the patent-stock method to measure LCTI levels and analyze its development trend in OECD countries. Based on the shepherd distance function, we measure carbon efficiency and carbon productivity by the fixed-effect Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) model. Then we investigate the effect of LCTI on carbon emission efficiency in manufacturing by the fixed-effect regression model. After controlling some variables, evidence shows a significant positive influence of LCTI on the environmental performance of manufacturing. The level of LCTI constantly increased in OECD countries during the study period. Among these countries, the level of low-carbon technology in the chemical industry is the highest; and in most of the countries, the low-carbon technology of production process grows fastest. Policy implications are further discussed.
Kinetic Study of Low Temperature Sulfur Dioxide Removal Reaction By Sodium Carbonate Using Random Pore Model
Authors: Omidi Iman , Ebrahim Habib Ale
Published: March 2021

An experimental investigation of low temperature SO2 removal by porous sodium carbonate was carried out by thermogravimetry. As well as, applied mathematical modeling based on the random pore model was employed to kinetic study of this reaction. The experiments were performed at various temperatures (100-250 oC) and different SO2 concentrations (0.13-1.12 vol%). The initial slopes procedure was used to determine dependency of the reaction rate constants versus temperature. First-order kinetic with respect to gaseous reactant was found and value of activation energy was attained as 22.5 kJ mol-1. Product layer diffusion coefficients were evaluated by the best fitting of experimental data with the model predictions. These random pore model predictions indicated good agreement with experimental conversion-time data at various conditions. The resulted kinetic parameters were avail abled for engineering calculations of SO2 abatement from the coal-based power plants by low-temperature flue gas desulfurization.
Baihe, Dihuang and Baihe Dihuang Tang ameliorates PCPA-Induced Insomnia
Authors: Lu Qin , Wang Li-kang , Qi Cairong , Ri Wang , pingping chen , Wang Xi , Chu Liuxi
Published: March 2021

Clinical evidence from the practice of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has shown that Baihe (BH), Dihuang (DH), and their compatibility, Baihe Dihuang Tang (BDT) can treat insomnia. However, the sedative and hypnotic mechanisms of these therapies have not been established. This study evaluated the sedative-hypnotic mechanisms of BH, DH and BDT in terms of their effects on neurotransmitters, the neuroendocrine system and cation-chloride co-transporters in a p -chlorophenylalanine (PCPA)-induced insomnia mice model. The insomnia mice model was established by intraperitoneal injection of PCPA. Mice were randomly assigned into four groups that were treated with BH, DH and BDT (2.25 g/kg, 2.25 g/kg, 4.5 g/kg) and saline solution (wt., 0.9%). Behavioral analyses showed that, compared to mice in the control group, motion activities of mice with insomnia were significantly reduced, sleep latency was prolonged while sleep duration was shortened. Compared to control mice, 5-HT and KCC2 levels were decreased, whereas CRH and ACTH levels were elevated in the insomniac mice. Treatment with BH, DH and BDT ameliorated the symptoms of insomnia and significantly reversed the abnormal levels of the aforementioned neurotransmitters. Notably, BDT effects were the most obvious. These results indicate that BH, DH and BDT improves insomniac symptoms by modifying neurotransmitters levels, the neuroendocrine system and cation-chloride co-transporters.
Enhanced rhizodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in corn straw-amended soil related to changing of bacterial community and functional gene expression
Authors: Bao Huanyu , Wang Jinfeng , Zhang He , Li Jiao , Wu Fuyong
Published: March 2021

Root exudates can stimulate microbial degradation in rhizosphere, but it remains unclear whether the rhizodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurs in corn straw-amended soil. Hence, in the present study, either citric acid, a common low molecular weight organic acid in the root exudates, or corn straw was added into aged PAHs-contaminated soil to investigate their effectiveness in the biodegradation of PAHs. The present study showed that either corn straw (Y) or combined application of corn straw and citric acid (YN100) significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the degradation of total PAHs in soil after 28 days incubation, which increased by 8.43% and 18.62% compared with control (CK), respectively. High-throughput sequencing suggested that both Y and YN100 treatments led to a shift in bacterial community in soil and increased the abundance of PAHs degraders. Interestingly, the copies of PAHs ring-hydroxylating-dioxygenase (PAH-RHD) Gram-negative bacteria (GN) genes under YN100 treatment was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those under Y treatment in the soil. Network analysis showed that the potential hosts of PAH-RHDα genes were Lysobacter, Rhizobium, Bacillus, Devosia, Ohtaekwangia, Ramlibacter, Massilia, Steroidobacter, Phenylobacterium and Microvirga. Bacillus, Lysobacter, Rhizobium and Ohtaekwangia and all ten genera obviously increased under Y and YN100 treatments. These results indicate that combined application of corn straw and citric acid increased the PAH-degrading bacteria and PAH-RHDα genes, thus improving the biodegradability of PAHs in the soil. As these results verified, a combined corn straw-rhizosphere approach should be a feasible remediation strategy for PAHs-contaminated soil.
Large-scale literature mining to assess the relation between anti-cancer drugs and cancer types.
Authors: Bauer Chris , Herwig Ralf , Lienhard Matthias , Prasse Paul , Scheffer Tobias , Schuchhardt Johannes
Published: March 2021

Background There is a huge body of scientific literature describing the relation between tumor types and anti-cancer drugs. The vast amount of scientific literature makes it impossible for researchers and physicians to extract all relevant information manually. Methods In order to cope with the large amount of literature we apply an automated text mining approach to assess the relations between 30 most frequent cancer types and 270 anti-cancer drugs. We apply two different approaches, a classical text mining based on named entity recognition and an AI-based approach employing word embeddings. The consistency of literature mining results is validated with 3 independent methods: first, using data from FDA approval, second, using experimentally measured IC-50 cell line data and third, using clinical patient survival data. Results We demonstrate that the automated text mining is able to successfully assess the relation between cancer types and anti-cancer drugs. All validation methods show a good correspondence between the results from literature mining and independent confirmatory approaches. The relation between most frequent cancer types and drugs employed for their treatment are visualization in a large heatmap. All results are made accessible in an interactive web-based knowledge base using the following link: https://knowledgebase.microdiscovery.de/heatmap Conclusions Our approach is well suited to assess the relations between compounds and cancer types in an automated manner. Both, cancer types and compounds can be grouped into different clusters. Researchers can use the interactive knowledge base to inspect the presented results and follow their own research questions.
Biportal endoscopic posterior lumbar decompression and vertebroplasty for extremely elderly patients affected by lower lumbar delayed vertebral collapse with lumbosacral radiculopathy
Authors: Kang Min-Seok , Heo Dong-Hwa , Chung Hoon-Jae , You Ki-Han , Kim Hyong-Nyun , Choi Jun-Young , Park Hyun-Jin
Published: March 2021

Background: Lower lumbar osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture in extremely elderly patients can often lead to lumbosacral radiculopathy (LSR) due to delayed vertebral collapse (DVC). Surgical intervention requires posterior instrumented lumbar fusion as well as vertebral augmentation or anterior column reconstruction depending on the cleft formation and intravertebral instability. However, it is necessary to decide surgery in consideration of the patient’s frail status, surgical invasiveness, and rehabilitation. In the lower lumbar DVC without intravertebral instability, biportal endoscopic posterior lumbar decompression and vertebroplasty (BEPLD+VP) can be simultaneously attempted. In particular, in high-risk elderly patients, BEPLD+VP can be performed under regional anesthesia, can reduce the need for spinal fusion, and can provide good clinical results such as rapid functional recovery. This study aimed to assess clinical outcomes of BEPLD+VP for the treatment of DVC-related LSR. Methods: This retrospective case series enrolled 18 consecutive extremely elderly (aged ≥ 75-year-old) patients (6 men and 12 women) who had lower lumbar (at or below L3) DVC-related LSR. Patients who require anterior column reconstruction, such as cleft formation accompanied by intravertebral instability, and patients who have not been followed for more than 6 months were excluded from this study. All patients underwent BEPLD+VP under epidural anesthesia. Clinical results were evaluated by the visual analog scale (VAS) score and the modified Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA) scores. Results: Most of the patients had DVC affecting level L4, with the deformation being flat type or concave type rather than wedge type. The VAS score decreased from 8.1 preoperatively to 3.1 postoperatively (p<0.001). The mJOA score significantly improved from 4.72 ± 1.27 preoperatively to 8.17 ± 1.15 in the final follow-up (p<0.001). The mean RR in the last follow-up was 56.07% ± 9.98. Incidental durotomy was reported in two patients and epidural hematomas in another two patients; however, all patients improved with conservative treatment and no re-operation was required.Conclusions: BELPD+VP was a type of salvage therapy that reduces surgical morbidity, requires major spine surgery under general anesthesia, and provides good clinical outcomes in extremely elderly patients with DVC-related LSR.
Variation in the Inter-Node Length During Plant Growth Influences the Tensile Strength of Maize Stem Fibres.
Authors: Ramasawmy Hareenanden , Chummun Jaykumar , Emrith Piyushaa Devi
Published: March 2021

This study describes an investigation of the evolution of the mechanical and chemical properties of maize stem fibres with the growth stages of the plant, and how the tensile strength is influenced by the presence of nodes along the fibre length. Furthermore the variation of the tensile strength and chemical functional groups among four common maize varieties were determined. In this context, the fibres were characterised by performing tensile test, density & linear density tests, Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and surface morphology (SEM image analysis). The fibres were all extracted manually, and in some cases preceded by a water retting process for ten days. The thermal analysis, FTIR and x-ray results showed that in general the fibres from the different maize varieties and from the different growth stages are semi-crystalline in nature. The SEM micrographs revealed the presence of equi-spaced nodes along the fibre length, which are believed to be due to the growth stresses induced in the plant stem. The inter-node distance varied in relation to the growth stage of the plant, and yielded a good correlation (coefficient of 0.91) with the tensile strength of the fibres. Finally a better fibre yield was obtained from the stem at the senescence stage of the maize plant.
Excellent Mechanical Properties of the Silicate Glasses Modified by CeO2 and TiO2: A New Choice for High-Strength and High-Modulus Glass Fibers
Authors: Chen Chao , Zhu Qingong , Wang Huanping , Huang Feifei , Yang Qinghua , Xu Shiqing
Published: March 2021

As is well known, silicate glass has a stable glass-forming region and mature drawing processes into fibers. In this study, to obtain enhanced mechanical properties, glasses with a composition of SiO2-Al2O3-MgO-CaO-B2O3-Fe2O3 were synthesized using TiO2 and CeO2. When the amount of TiO2 and CeO2 is less than 2 wt%, the mechanical properties increase with increases in the TiO2 and CeO2. However, as the amount of TiO2 and CeO2 increases from 2 to 3.5 wt%, the mechanical properties decrease. Co-doping with 1 wt% TiO2 and 1 wt% CeO2 was found to be the optimum approach, with a density, bending strength, compression strength, and compression modulus of 2.626 g/cm3, 108.36 MPa, 240.18 MPa, and 115.03 GPa, respectively. The optical band gap and Raman spectroscopy proved that, as long as the content of oxygen bonds reaches the maximum level, a kind of best structural stability and mechanical properties will be achieved. Hence, this type of high-strength silicate glass can be used in optical fibers for military defense, wind power generation, and transportation.
PDCD4–MAPK–NF-κB Positive Loop Simultaneously Promotes Microglia Activation and Neuron Apoptosis During Neuroinflammation
Authors: Chen Quan , Lu Hongjian , Duan Chengwei , Zhu Xiangyang , Zhang Yi , Li Mengmeng , Zhang Dongmei
Published: March 2021

Neuroinflammation and neuron injury are common features of the central nervous system (CNS) diseases. It is of great significance to identify their shared regulatory mechanisms and explore the potential therapeutic targets. Programmed cell death factor 4 (PDCD4), an apoptosis-related molecule, extensively participates in tumorigenesis and inflammatory diseases, but its expression and biological function during CNS neuroinflammation remain unclear. In the present study, utilizing the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation model in mice, we reported an elevated expression of PDCD4 both in injured neurons and activated microglia of the inflamed brain. A similar change in PDCD4 expression was observed in vitro in the microglial activation model. Silencing PDCD4 by shRNA significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of MAPKs (p38, ERK, and JNK), prevented the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65, and thus attenuated the LPS-induced microglial inflammatory activation. Interestingly, LPS also required the MAPK/NF-κB signaling activation to boost PDCD4 expression in microglia, indicating the presence of a positive loop. Moreover, a persistent elevation of PDCD4 expression was detected in the H2O2-induced neuronal oxidative damage model. Knocking down PDCD4 significantly inhibited the expression of proapoptotic protein BAX, suggesting the proapoptotic activity of PDCD4 in neurons. Taken together, our data indicated that PDCD4 may serve as a hub regulatory molecule that simultaneously promotes the microglial inflammatory activation and the oxidative stress-induced neuronal apoptosis within CNS. The microglial PDCD4–MAPK–NF-κB positive feedback loop may exaggerate the vicious cycle of neuroinflammation and neuronal injury and thus may become a potential therapeutic target for neuroinflammatory diseases.
Shades of Grey: Host Phenotype Dependent Effect of Urbanization on the Bacterial Microbiome of a Wild Mammal
Authors: Stothart Mason R , Newman Amy E.M.
Published: March 2021

Background
Host-associated microbiota are integral to the ecology of their host and may help wildlife species cope with rapid environmental change. Urbanization is a globally replicated form of severe environmental change which we can leverage to better understand wildlife microbiomes. Does the colonization of separate cities result in parallel changes in the intestinal microbiome of wildlife, and if so, does within-city habitat heterogeneity matter? Using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we quantified the effect of urbanization on the microbiome of eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). Eastern grey squirrels are ubiquitous in rural and urban environments throughout their native range, across which they display an apparent coat colour polymorphism (agouti, black, intermediate).
Results
Grey squirrel microbiomes differed between rural and city environments; however, comparable variation was explained by habitat heterogeneity within cities. Our analyses suggest that operational taxonomic unit (OTU) community structure was more strongly influenced by local environmental conditions (rural and city forests versus human built habitats) than urbanization of the broader landscape (city versus rural). The bacterial genera characterizing the microbiomes of built-environment squirrels are thought to specialize on host-derived products and have been linked in previous research to low fibre diets. However, despite an effect of urbanization at fine spatial scales, phylogenetic patterns in the microbiome were coat colour phenotype dependent. City and built environment agouti squirrels displayed greater phylogenetic beta-dispersion than those in rural or forest environments, and null modelling results indicated that the phylogenetic structure of urban agouti squirrels did not differ greatly from stochastic expectations.
Conclusions
Habitat heterogeneity at fine spatial scales affects host-associated microbiomes, however, we found little evidence that this pattern was the result of similar selective pressures acting on the microbiome within environments. Further, this result, those of phylogeny-independent analyses, and patterns of beta-dispersion lead us to suggest that microbiota dispersal and ecological drift are integral to shaping the inter-environmental differences we observed. These patterns were partly mediated by squirrel coat colour phenotype. Given a well-known urban cline in squirrel coat colour melanism, grey squirrels provide a useful free-living system with which to study how host genetics mediate environment x microbiome interactions.
Differing Benefits of Artificial Intelligence-based Computer-aided Diagnosis (AI-CAD) for Breast US According to Workflow and Experience Level
Authors: Lee Si Eun , Han Kyunghwa , Youk Ji Hyun , Lee Jee Eun , Hwang Ji-Young , Rho Miribi , Yoon Jiyoung , Kim Eun-Kyung , Yoon Jung Hyun
Published: March 2021

Background: To evaluate how artificial intelligence-based computer-assisted diagnosis (AI-CAD) for breast ultrasound (US) influences diagnostic performance and agreements between radiologists with varying experience levels in different workflows.Methods: From Apr 2017 to Jun 2018, images of 492 breast lesions (200 malignant and 292 benign masses) in 472 women were included. Six radiologists (3 inexperienced with < 1 year of experience, 3 experienced with 10-15 years of experience) individually reviewed US images with and without the aid of AI-CAD, first in sequential and then in independent reading. Diagnostic performances and interobserver agreements were calculated and compared between radiologists and AI-CAD. Results: After implementing AI-CAD, specificity, PPV and accuracy significantly improved, regardless of experience and workflow (all P<0.001, respectively). Overall area under the receiving operator characteristics curve (AUC) significantly increased in independent reading, but only for inexperienced radiologists. Agreements for BI-RADS descriptors generally increased when AI-CAD was used (κ=0.29-0.63 to 0.35-0.73). Inexperienced radiologists tended to concede to AI-CAD results more easily than experienced radiologists, especially in independent reading (P<0.001). Conversion rates for final assessment changes from BI-RADS 2 or 3 to BI-RADS higher than 4a or vice versa were also significantly higher in independent reading than sequential reading (overall: 15.8% and 6.2%, respectively, P<0.001) for both inexperienced and experienced radiologists. Conclusions: Using AI-CAD to interpret breast US improves the specificity, PPV and accuracy of radiologists regardless of experience level. AI-CAD may work better in independent reading to improve diagnostic performance and agreements between radiologists, especially for inexperienced radiologists.Trial registration: retrospectively registered
Tonic Downward Movement of Eyes and Its Eccentric Positioning in Downgaze Under General Anaesthesia 
Authors: Chaurasia Shweta , Soni Shiv Lal , Ram Jagat , Sukhija Jaspreet , Chaurasia Swati , Takkar Aastha
Published: March 2021

Objectives. To summarize abrupt eccentric eye positioning in downgaze following the downward movement of eyes encountered in patients undergoing ophthalmic surgeries under general anesthesia (GA) and analyze the relationship between the fluctuation in the depth of anesthesia (DOA) and eccentric eye positioning in downgaze. Subjects and Methods. Patients undergoing ophthalmic surgeries under GA without nondepolarizing muscle relaxant between January 2018-December 2019 in a tertiary-eye-care who witnessed a sudden tonic hypo-tropic movement of eyes were included in the retrospective, cross-sectional study. Results. A total of 8 patients out of 199 were enrolled in this study with an average age of 1.13±0.40years. All cases (3 pediatric cataracts, 4 strabismus, and 1 pseudophakia with posterior capsular opacification) were performed under GA with sevoflurane as an inducing agent. Downward movement was seen before the start of surgery in 4 cases and during surgery in 4 cases. Downward drift of eyes appeared tonic as the strong tug was felt in an extreme downward eccentric position. It was preceded by an eccentric upward drift of eyes following which sevoflurane concentration was increased to optimize DOA when this downward drift was encountered (mean minimal alveolar concentration/MAC 1.63±0.25). Downward movement was quick but return movement of eyes to the central position was gradual (mean 1.55±0.48minutes) when DOA was decreased (mean MAC 1.3±0.09).Conclusions. Tonic-downward movement of eyes or its eccentric positioning in downgaze is not an uncommon entity in children under GA without muscle-relaxant and fluctuations in DOA should be avoided to circumvent inadvertent complications during ocular surgery.
Study of Cracking Susceptibility in Similar and Dissimilar Welds Between Carbon Steel and Austenitic Stainless Steel Through Finger Test and FE Numerical Model
Authors: Alcantar-Modragón Nereyda , Garcia Victor Garcia , Reyes-Calderon Francisco , Villalobos-Brito Julio César , Vergara-Hernández Héctor Javier
Published: March 2021

Hot cracking susceptibility and the formation of brittle martensite phase are the main factors that limit the weldability of a dissimilar joint between carbon steel (CS) and austenitic stainless steel (SS). In this study, the self-constraint finger test was used to correlate the welding thermo-mechanical field with the crack susceptibility of a dissimilar weld between the CS ASTM A36 and SS AISI 304L. The finger test allowed to intercalate fingers (portions) of tested materials in the weld samples to produce dissimilar welds. The heat dissipation and the distortion behavior were related to the crack susceptibility, critical weld regions extension and chemical species diffusion. Four samples were welded (two similar welds and two dissimilar welds) using the filler metals ER70S-6 and EC410NiMo. Welds were analyzed through light optical microscopy (LOM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to characterize phases, detect cracks, microstructural changes and element diffusion. A finite element (FE) numerical model was applied to simulate the welding thermo-mechanical field. Additionally, electrochemical tests were carried out to assess the corrosion susceptibility of the dissimilar welds. The observed cracks were produced due to different factors such as residual stress distribution, the formation of brittle and untempered martensitic phase in the fusion zone (FZ) and hot cracking associated with the weld sample distortion behavior. The dilution contributed to the formation of d-ferrite in the FZ, which limited the growth of cold and hot cracks. The decarburization and sensitization were not observed in dissimilar welds due to the low element diffusion.
CpG di-nucleotide Odds Ratio Measures Drive Unsupervised Clustering to Characterize the Andes Hantavirus
Authors: Mastriani Emilio , Liu Shu-Lin
Published: March 2021

Hantaviruses belong to the Bunyaviridae family with small mammals hosting them. Humans are infected either by inhaling virus-containing aerosols or through contact with animal droppings. Even if rodents host the pathogenic species and humans are dead-end hosts, they still get accidentally infected. The Andes Orthohantavirus (ANDV) seems to be the only species with documented person-to-person transmission. Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) and Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) are both serious syndromes associated with hantavirus infections. For both syndromes, the mortality rate is near 40%. Decades of studies have already highlighted the CpG repression in RNA viruses, and both the estimation of the CpG odds ratio and the correlation with their genome polarity were dominant factors in figuring out the CpG bias. We conducted the differential analysis of the CpG odds ratio for all the orthohantaviruses on the full segmented genomes (L, M, S). The results suggested the statistical significance of the three groups. The “Small” genomes were more informative from the CpG odd ratio point of view. We calculated the CpG odds ratio for all the Orthohantaviruses within these segments and furthermore estimated the correlation coefficient with the relative coding sequences (CDS). Preliminary results first confirmed the CpG odds ratio as the lowest among all the nucleotides. Second, the Andes virus was highlighted as the one with the highest CpG odds ratio within CDS. The use of these two measures as features for unsupervised clustering algorithms has allowed us to identify four different sub-groups within the Orthohantaviridae family. The evidence is that the Andes Hantavirus exhibits a peculiar CpG odds ratio distribution, probably linked to its unique characteristic of passing from person to person.
Application of a new percutaneous multi-function pedicle locator in minimally invasive spine surgery
Authors: Liu Xiaojian , Liu Hairun , Wang Yushan
Published: March 2021

A new percutaneous multi-function pedicle locator was designed to be used for personalized three-dimensional positioning of a pedicle in minimally invasive spine surgery without computer-assisted navigation technology. This article instructed the method and advantages of using a new percutaneous multi-function pedicle locator in minimally invasive surgery of the spine. Based on the position of a pedicles suggested by CT and X-ray images of a patient, 6 lines and 2 distances were used to determine the puncture point of a pedicle screw, while 2 angles were used to determine the inserting direction of a pedicle guide needle from the patient's body surface. The result of application of the locator was roughly compared with that of the conventional freehand technique. The potential benefits of using the locator included enhancing surgical accuracy, reducing the operation time, mitigating the harmful intra-operative radiation exposure, saving the costs and shortening the learning curve of young orthopedists. It was hoped that more doctors and patients will benefit from it.
A Novel Implementation of Machine Learning for the Efficient, Explainable Diagnosis of COVID-19 from Chest CT
Authors: Liu Justin
Published: March 2021

Background: In a worldwide health crisis as severe as COVID-19, there has become a pressing need for rapid, reliable diagnostics. Currently, popular testing methods such as reversetranscription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) can have high false negative rates. Consequently, COVID-19 patients are not accurately identified nor treated quickly enough to prevent transmission of the virus. However, the recent rise of medical CT data has presented promising avenues, since CT manifestations contain key characteristics indicative of COVID-19. Findings: This study aimed to take a novel approach in the machine learning-based detection of COVID-19 from chest CT scans. First, the dataset utilized in this study was derived from three major sources, comprising a total of 17,698 chest CT slices across 923 patient cases. Additionally, image preprocessing algorithms were developed to reduce noise by excluding irrelevant features. Transfer learning was also implemented with the EfficientNetB7 pre-trained model to provide a backbone architecture and save computational resources. Lastly, several explainability techniques were leveraged to qualitatively validate model performance by localizing infected regions and highlighting fine-grained pixel details. The proposed model attained an overall accuracy of 92.71% and a sensitivity of 95.79%. Explainability measures showed that the model correctly distinguished between relevant, critical features pertaining to COVID-19 chest CT images and normal controls.Conclusions: Deep learning frameworks provide efficient, human-interpretable COVID-19 diagnostics that could complement a radiologist’s decision or serve as an alternative screening tool. Future endeavors could provide insight into infection severity, patient risk stratification, and more precise visualizations
Size-Controlled Facile Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles by Chemical Reduction Method and Their Antibacterial Performance Against Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli
Authors: Halder Sanjoy , Ahmed Aninda Nafis , Gafur M A , Seong Gimyeong , Hossain Muhammad Zamir
Published: March 2021

This article describes the size-controlled one-pot facile synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their antibacterial response against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria. AgNPs coated with and without trisodium citrate (TSC) were synthesized using silver nitrate aqueous precursor and hydrazine as a reducing agent. The appearance of yellowish color with surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with maximum absorbance (λmax) at 416 nm from the ultraviolet-visible (UV–vis) spectrum of the product indicated primarily the formation of the desired product. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed the crystallinity of those products. Field emission scanning microscopy (FESEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated only spherical AgNPs formation. The existence of a functional group of chemically bonded surface capping agents is confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and the themogravimetric analysis (TGA) weight loss assessment proved the attachment of good amount of capping agents. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopic analysis of products revealed the existence of high percentage (96.36%) of silver. Exposing the synthesized AgNPs to Gram-positive S. aureus and Gram-negative E. coli bacteria, the zone inhibition was found to be 8 mm and 6 mm at a concentration of 50 mgL− 1, respectively. These results imply that TSC capped AgNPs can be considered as effective human pathogens for S. aureus and E. coli which is very inspiring.
Cerebrospinal Tau Levels Predict Early Disability in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Virgilio Eleonora , Vecchio Domizia , Crespi Ilaria , Serino Roberto , Cantello Roberto , Dianzani Umberto , Comi Cristoforo
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease, displaying inflammation and neurodegeneration as neuropathological hallmarks. Nonetheless, the exact mechanisms underlying axonal and neuronal loss remain unclear. Several biomarkers have been investigated, with serum neurofilaments light chain (NFLs) being the most promising. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of Tau and Beta-amyloid (Abeta) are currently used as biomarkers in other neurodegenerative diseases. Conversely in MS, investigation of CSF Tau and Abeta levels so far were reported to provide information on disease prognosis, but these results have not been replicated. Aim of this work was to assess whether CSF Tau and Abeta levels could predict early disability accumulation in MS patients at diagnosis. Methods: 100 MS patients underwent CSF analysis during their diagnostic work-up. Demographic, clinical, radiological features, and CSF were collected at baseline. MS severity score (MSSS) and age-related MSSS (ARMSS) were calculated at last follow-up. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann–Whitney test for comparisons between groups, Spearman’s coefficient and multiple regression analysis for significant predictors.Results: Baseline CSF Tau levels correlated with MSSS (p=0.0001) and ARMSS (p=0.0176) after a mean two years follow-up. Predictors of early disability evaluated with MSSS and ARMSS were CSF Tau (p=0.009 and p=0.01), spinal cord involvement (p=0.029 and p=0.008), age at MS diagnosis (p=0.001), and high brain lesion load (p=0.02) at baseline. Conclusion: CSF Tau levels showed a predictive value comparable to MRI features and age at diagnosis. We hypothesize that CSF Tau levels express chronic axonal damage, contributing to early MS disability.
Emergence of Phenotypic and Genotypic Resistance in the Intestinal Microbiota of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) Exposed Long-term to Sub-inhibitory Concentrations of Sulfamethoxazole
Authors: Labitt Rachael N. , Ren Jennifer , Marquis Helene
Published: March 2021

Natural waters are contaminated globally with pharmaceuticals including many antibiotics. In this study, we assessed the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance in the culturable intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed for six-months to sub-inhibitory concentrations of sulfamethoxazole (SMX), one of the most prevalent antibiotics in natural waters. SMX was tested at three concentrations: 3000 µg/L, a concentration that had no observed effect (NOEC) on the in vitro growth of fish intestinal microbiota; 3 µg/L, a theoretical predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) for long-term studies in natural environments; and 0.3 µg/L, a concentration detected in many surveys of surface waters from various countries including the USA. In two independent experiments, the emergence of phenotypic resistance and an increased prevalence of bacteria carrying a sulfonamide-resistance gene (sul1) were observed in SMX-exposed fish. The emergence of phenotypic resistance to1000 mg/L SMX was significant in fish exposed to 3 µg/L SMX and was in large part independent of sul resistance genes. The prevalence of bacteria carrying the sul1 resistance gene increased significantly in the culturable intestinal microbiota of SMX-exposed fish, but the sul1-positive population was in large part susceptible to 1000 mg/L SMX, suggesting that the gene confers a lower resistance level or a growth advantage. The increased prevalence of sul1 bacteria was observed in all groups of SMX-exposed fish. Overall, this study suggests that fish exposed long-term to waters contaminated with low levels of antibiotics serve as reservoir of antimicrobial resistant genes and of resistant bacteria, a potential threat to public health.