bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NATURAL RADIATION EXPOSURE TO THE PUBLIC IN MINING AND ORE BEARING REGIONS OF CAMEROON
Authors: Saïdou  , Tokonami Shinji , Hosoda Masahiro , Joseph Emmanuel Ndjana Nkoulou II , Akata Naofumi , Flore Tchuente Siaka Yvette , Modibo Oumar Bobbo , Samuel Bineng Guillaume , Didier Takoukam Soh Serge
Published: July 2019

Within the framework of a joint research project on natural radiation exposure and its health effects in Cameroon from 2014 to 2017, the Institute of Geological and Mining Research and the Hirosaki University worked together to carry out natural radiation survey in mining and ore bearing regions of Cameroon. Air kerma rates were measured using car-borne survey method. In-situ gamma spectrometry was used to determine activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th and 40K in soil. A total of 450 RADUET detectors and 350 thoron progeny monitors were deployed in dwellings of the study areas for 2–3 months, collected and analysed. Although natural radioactivity level seems to be normal in most of the surveyed areas, there are many points where activity concentrations of natural radionuclides are largely above the world average values. Indoor radon, thoron and thoron progeny results show the importance to put in place the national radon plan in Cameroon. It was also pointed out that thoron cannot be neglected when assessing inhalation dose.
Prevalence of Clostridium difficile and its toxins in hospital patients with diarrhoeal diseases in Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Nehanda Shepherd , Mulundu Gina , Kelly Paul
Published: July 2019

Background

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has emerged as an important nosocomial and antibiotic-associated diarrhoeal problem leading to increasing morbidity and mortality, especially in resource-privileged regions. CDI varies in incidence, pathogenicity and risk factors across geographical locations, yet little information is available on CDI in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Clostridium difficile and related toxin expression in stool specimens from patients with diarrhoeal disease at the University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods

Between June and September 2017, patients presenting with acute or persistent diarrhoea provided stool samples that were cultured anaerobically on cycloserine cefoxitin fructose agar. Isolates were identified by Gram staining, C. difficile latex agglutination and confirmed by PCR targeting of the tpi housekeeping gene. Toxins A or B were detected by ELISA.

Results

Of 135 participants enrolled, 13 (10%) were C. difficile positive, of which four (31%) were toxigenic by ELISA. Among HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants, the frequency of culturable C. difficile (19% vs 12%; p=0.17) and of toxigenic isolates (15% vs 0%, p=0.19) did not differ.

Conclusions

We can now revise previous research and confirm that CDI contributes to diarrhoea among hospitalised adult patients irrespective of HIV status.
Impact of Inoculum Concentration on Goss’s Wilt Development in Corn and Alternative Hosts
Authors: Campbell Taylor M. , Ikley Joseph T. , Johnson William G. , Wise Kiersten A.
Published: July 2019

Goss’s bacterial wilt and blight of corn (Zea mays L.) is caused by Clavibacter nebraskensis (Cn). Research on Cn has confirmed alternative hosts for the disease, yet little is known about disease development in these alternative hosts. A greenhouse study was conducted to determine the inoculum concentration at which disease occurred for annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi Herrm.), and johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense L.), compared with Goss’s wilt susceptible and moderately resistant corn hybrids. Inoculum concentrations from 1 × 100 to 1 × 107 CFU/ml were compared for each individual species. Time for initial lesion development to occur was measured and compared among the hosts and inoculum concentrations. At 21 days after inoculation, both corn hybrids had higher disease severity than the alternative hosts, and disease severity increased for both corn hybrids when inoculum concentrations increased. Alternative hosts had no differences in disease severity as inoculum concentrations increased. Days required for initial lesion development to occur were similar for all hosts, and lesion development occurred sooner when inoculum concentration increased. Results demonstrate corn contributes more to the inoculum potential of Cn, but alternative hosts can still be a refuge for Cn.
Efficacy of Fungicide Seed Treatments in Controlling Blackleg of Canola
Authors: GC Upadhaya Sudha , Chapara Venkataramana , Rahman Mukhlesur , del Río Mendoza Luis E.
Published: July 2019

The efficacy of five fungicide seed treatments as a management tool against blackleg on spring canola was evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions in North Dakota. Blackleg, caused by Leptosphaeria maculans, inflicts the greatest yield losses when infecting seedlings before they reach the six-leaf growth stage. In greenhouse studies, 10-day-old seedlings were inoculated with L. maculans spore suspensions and evaluated 12 days later and at maturity or inoculated 12, 20, or 28 days after planting and evaluated at maturity. In field trials conducted in 2017 and 2018, severity was assessed at maturity. In the greenhouse, all fungicide seed treatments reduced (P = 0.05) disease severity at the seedling stage, but only the protection provided by Obvius (fluxapyroxad + pyraclostrobin + metalaxyl) and Helix Vibrance (mefenoxam + fludioxonil + sedaxane + difenoconazole + thiamethoxam) reduced (P < 0.05) severity at the adult stage; however, none of them provide effective protection when plants were inoculated 20 days after planting or later. In field trials, none of the treatments significantly (P > 0.05) improved plant stand and yield or reduced disease incidence and severity. Although fungicide seed treatment is a valuable tool, it should not be used as the only method to manage blackleg disease.
The TrueCPR device in the process of teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Authors: Smereka Jacek , Szarpak Lukasz , Czekajlo Michael , Abelson Anna , Zwolinski Piotr , Plusa Tadeusz , Dunder Dominika , Dabrowski Marek , Wiesniewska Zuzanna , Robak Oliver , Frass Michael , Sivrikaya G. Ulufer , Ruetzler Kurt
Published: July 2019

Background:

International resuscitation guidelines emphasize the importance of high quality chest compressions, including correct chest compression depth and rate and complete chest recoil. The aim of the study was to assess the role of the TrueCPR device in the process of teaching cardiopulmonary resuscitation in nursing students.

Methods:

A prospective randomized experimental study was performed among 94 first year students of nursing. On the next day, the participants were divided into 2 groups—the control group practiced chest compressions without the use of any device for half an hour, and the experimental group practiced with the use of TrueCPR. Further measurement of chest compressions was performed after a month.

Results:

The chest compression rate achieved the value of 113 versus 126 (P < .001), adequate chest compression rate (%) was 86 versus 68 (P < .001), full chest release (%) 92 versus 69 (P = .001), and correct hand placement (%) 99 versus 99 (P, not significant) in TrueCPR and standard BLS groups, respectively. As for the assessment of the confidence of chest compression quality, 1 month after the training, the evaluation in the experimental group was statistically significantly higher (91 vs 71; P < .001) than in the control group.

Conclusions:

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training with the use of the TrueCPR device is associated with better resuscitation skills 1 month after the training. The participants using TrueCPR during the training achieved a better chest compression rate and depth with in international recommendations and better full chest release percentage and self-assessed confidence of chest compression quality comparing with standard cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.
Sarcomatoid carcinoma after radiotherapy for early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Kim Bo Young , Cho Kyoung Rai , Sohn Jung Heob , Kim Jung Yeon
Published: July 2019

Rationale:

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) with poor prognosis. Previous radiation has been reported as one of the etiologic factors.

Patient concerns:

We describe a case of a 57-year-old man presented with a painless mass in the left supraclavicular area. Five years before, he was diagnosed with SCC in floor of mouth (FOM) and underwent radiotherapy (RT).

Diagnoses:

Sonography-guided biopsy on the supraclavicular lymph node revealed diffuse spindle cell proliferation with a focus of squamous differentiation. Local recurrence on primary site or distant metastasis was not obvious on both computed tomography (CT) of the neck and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography CT. The final diagnosis was confirmed as sarcomatoid carcinoma via surgery.

Interventions:

The patient underwent surgery including explorative resection of the mouth floor, excision of the submandibular gland, and modified radical neck dissection. Following surgery, the patient received adjuvant radiation therapy.

Outcomes:

There were no complications according to the surgery. Six months after adjuvant therapy, distant metastasis to liver was identified. The patient is currently undergoing palliative chemotherapy.

Lessons:

This may be the first reported case of sarcomatoid carcinoma arising from early-stage SCC in FOM that was previously treated with RT alone. When RT is performed as a single modality for oral SCC, even in an early stage, rigorous follow-up should be performed.
The clinical application of partial removal periodontal surgery in the therapy of epulis
Authors: Zhu Yaqiao , Zhang Huihui , Li Chengzhang
Published: July 2019

Background:

The aim of this study was to compare the clinical effects between traditional surgery and minimally invasive periodontal surgery in the treatment of epulis.

Methods:

A total of 33 cases of patients diagnosed with fibrous epulis were randomly divided into traditional surgery group and minimally invasive periodontal surgery group. After the different procedures, several parameters were detected to evaluate the effects of minimally invasive periodontal surgery.

Results:

Preoperative bleeding index and plaque index, adopt rank, and test showed no significant differences between the 2 groups. After 12 weeks, gingival papilla filling index in experiment group is statistically higher than control group, and shows the statistical differences (P < .05). The width of keratinized gingiva in experiment group grew more than that in control group, and showed the statistical differences (4.68 ± 0.30 vs 3.00 ± 0.28 mm, P < .05). No recurrence of fibrous epulis was found during the subsequent 6 months to 2 years follow-up after the surgeries.

Conclusion:

Minimally invasive periodontal surgery that reserved tumor epithelium could have a better effect than the traditional surgery in the selected patients.
A borderline form of empty follicle syndrome treated with a double-trigger of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist and human chorionic gonadotropin
Authors: Song Jingyan , Sun Zhengao
Published: July 2019

Rationale:

The borderline form of empty follicle syndrome (EFS) is a phenomenon where only a few mature or immature oocytes are retrieved despite adequate response to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). It is a rare phenomenon with an unclear underlying mechanism, and there is currently no effective treatment.

Patient concerns:

The patient received 3 assisted reproductive technology cycles, and although her follicular development and estrogen levels were normal during COH, the outcome with respect to the oocytes obtained was unsatisfactory.

Diagnoses:

Borderline form of EFS.

Interventions:

In the context of undergoing GnRH-antagonist protocol, we implemented a double-trigger with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) after 6 hours of gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH-a) administration.

Outcomes:

Eleven oocytes were obtained (M I × 3, M II × 8), which underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). After 18 hours, 7 oocytes showed normal fertilization, with 2 embryos formed 72 hours later (embryo rating, 6C II × 1, 9C II × 1); the embryos were then frozen.

Lessons:

Oocyte maturation and ovulation are time-dependent processes, and that different patients require different lengths/intervals of time for treatment. Therefore, the borderline form of EFS, in general, may be treatable, and our novel trigger method provides a new treatment option for such patients in the future.
Physical activity programs for balance and fall prevention in elderly
Authors: Thomas Ewan , Battaglia Giuseppe , Patti Antonino , Brusa Jessica , Leonardi Vincenza , Palma Antonio , Bellafiore Marianna
Published: July 2019

Background:

Due to demographic changes the world's population is progressively ageing. The physiological decay of the elderly adult may lead to a reduction in the ability to balance and an increased risk of falls becoming an important issue among the elderly. In order to counteract the decay in the ability to balance, physical activity has been proven to be effective. The aim of this study is to systematically review the scientific literature in order to identify physical activity programs able to increase balance in the elderly.

Methods:

This review is based on the data from Medline-NLM, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, and SPORTDiscuss and includes randomized control trials that have analyzed balance and physical activity in healthy elderly over 65 years of age during the last decade. A final number of 8 manuscripts were included in the qualitative synthesis, which comprised 200 elderly with a mean age of 75.1 ± 4.4 years. The sample size of the studies varied from 9 to 61 and the intervention periods from 8 to 32 weeks.

Results:

Eight articles were considered eligible and included in the quantitative synthesis. The articles investigated the effects of resistance and aerobic exercise, balance training, T-bow© and wobble board training, aerobic step and stability ball training, adapted physical activity and Wii Fit training on balance outcomes. Balance measures of the studies showed improvements between 16% and 42% compared to baseline assessments.

Conclusions:

Balance is a multifactorial quality that can be effectively increased by different exercise training means. It is fundamental to promote physical activity in the aging adult, being that a negative effect on balance performance has been seen in the no-intervention control groups.
Identification of miRNAs-genes regulatory network in diabetic nephropathy based on bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Yang Fengying , Cui Zhenhai , Deng Hongjun , Wang Ying , Chen Yang , Li Huiqing , Yuan Li
Published: July 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a great contribution to the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to explore potential miRNAs-genes regulatory network and biomarkers for the pathogenesis of DN using bioinformatics methods.

Gene expression profiling data related to DN (GSE1009) was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and then differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between DN patients and normal individuals were screened using GEO2R, followed by a series of bioinformatics analyses, including identifying key genes, conducting pathway enrichment analysis, predicting and identifying key miRNAs, and establishing regulatory relationships between key miRNAs and their target genes.

A total of 600 DEGs associated with DN were identified. An additional 7 key DEGs, including 6 downregulated genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor α (VEGFA) and COL4A5, and 1 upregulated gene (CCL19), were identified in another dataset (GSE30528) from glomeruli samples. Pathway analysis showed that the down- and upregulated DEGs were enriched in 14 and 6 pathways, respectively, with 7 key genes mainly involved in extracellular matrix–receptor interaction, PI3K/Akt signaling, focal adhesion, and Rap1 signaling. The relationships between miRNAs and target genes were constructed, showing that miR-29 targeted COL4A and VEGFA, miR-200 targeted VEGFA, miR-25 targeted ITGAV, and miR-27 targeted EGFR.

MiR-29 and miR-200 may play important roles in DN. VEGFA and COL4A5 were targeted by miR-29 and VEGFA by miR-200, which may mediate multiple signaling pathways leading to the pathogenesis and development of DN.
Childhood pneumonia due to brucellosis
Authors: Xie Songsong , Zhou Yan , Zheng Rongjiong , Zuo Weize , Zhang Yan , Wang Yuanzhi , Zhang Yuexin
Published: July 2019

Rationale:

Childhood brucellosis is a significant community health problem. It may imitate other conditions and may be misdiagnosed. Pulmonary involvement is a rare complication of childhood brucellosis.

Patient concerns:

A 23-month-old child was referred to our hospital with a 3-week history of fevers and cough. He was initially diagnosed with pneumonia.

Diagnoses and Interventions:

Conventional antibiotic treatment was ineffectual. Total leukocyte count was 10,300/mm3, hemoglobin was 8.5 g/dL, and platelet count was 250,000/mm3. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate and procaicltonin were 25 mm/h and 0.12 ng/mL, respectively. Chest radiography showed pneumonic infiltrate in both lungs.

The initial bacteriologic test results were negative. Ten days after admission, Brucella melitensis were isolated from the second blood culture. This child was cured with the 2-drug regimen (rifampin+trimethopicin-sulfamethoxazole) for 6 weeks.

Outcomes:

The child recovered well with no occurrence of complications. The child remained asmptomatic without any signs or symptoms at a follow-up of 1 year.

Lessons:

Non-specific findings of pulmonary brucellosis in children often make diagnosis difficult. The second blood culture is essential. In endemic areas, children with fevers and cough should be included in the diagnosis in cases of pulmonary brucellosis.
Evaluation of the treatment of halitosis with photodynamic therapy in older patients with complete denture
Authors: Vale Katia Llanos do , Horliana Anna Carolina Ratto Tempestini , Romero Sergio dos Santos , Deana Alessandro de Melo , Gonçalves Marcela Leticia Leal , Ferrari Raquel Agnelli Mesquita , Bussadori Sandra Kalil , Fernandes Kristianne Porta Santos
Published: July 2019

Background:

Halitosis is the term used to define an unpleasant odor emanating from the mouth. However, no studies have evaluated the causes and treatment of halitosis in the population of older adults with denture.

Methods:

A randomized, controlled trial is proposed. The patients will be divided into 2 groups: G1: older adults who wear complete dentures and will be treated with tongue scraper (n = 20); G2 older adults who wear complete dentures and will be treated with PDT (n = 20). If the halitosis persists, the participants will be submitted to hygiene procedures for the mucosa and dentures. The evaluation of halitosis will be made before and after treatments, with OralChromaTM. If the halitosis is solved, the participants will return after 1 week for an additional evaluation. Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) will be administered by a calibrated examiner on the day the patient history is taken (baseline) and 1 week after treatment for halitosis.

Discussion:

This protocol will determine the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy regarding the reduction of halitosis in older adults with complete denture.

Trial registration:

This protocol was registered in ClinicalTrial.gov, under number NCT03960983. It was first posted and last updated in May 23, 2019. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03960983.
Bioinformatics analysis of key biomarkers and pathways in KSHV infected endothelial cells
Authors: Gong Hai-Bo , Wu Xiu-Juan , Pu Xiong-Ming , Kang Xiao-Jing
Published: July 2019

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) is an endothelial tumor etiologically related to Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus (KSHV) infection. The aim of our study was to screen out candidate genes of KSHV infected endothelial cells and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms by bioinformatics methods. Microarray datasets GSE16354 and GSE22522 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between endothelial cells and KSHV infected endothelial cells were identified. And then, functional enrichment analyses of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were performed. After that, Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes (STRING) was used to investigate the potential protein–protein interaction (PPI) network between DEGs, Cytoscape software was used to visualize the interaction network of DEGs and to screen out the hub genes. A total of 113 DEGs and 11 hub genes were identified from the 2 datasets. GO enrichment analysis revealed that most of the DEGs were enrichen in regulation of cell proliferation, extracellular region part and sequence-specific DNA binding; KEGG pathway enrichments analysis displayed that DEGs were mostly enrichen in cell cycle, Jak-STAT signaling pathway, pathways in cancer, and Insulin signaling pathway. In conclusion, the present study identified a host of DEGs and hub genes in KSHV infected endothelial cells which may serve as potential key biomarkers and therapeutic targets, helping us to have a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of KS.
Pseudotumor mimicking iliacus muscle abscess following a total hip arthoplasty with metal on metal articulation
Authors: Cho Myung Rae , Jun Chung Mu , Oh Tae Bum , Kwon Jae bum , Choi Won Kee
Published: July 2019

Rationale:

Cases of pseudotumor complicated after THA with metal-on-metal articulation as a bearing surface have been reported. Most of the pseudotumors occurred near or inside the hip joint, and usually have similar features with the infectious condition. We herein report a case of pseudotumor with huge size in the pelvic cavity mimicking features of iliacus muscle abscess.

Patients concerns:

A 70-year-old female was referred to our emergency department due to huge mass in her right pelvic area on abdominal CT. She complained of mild febrile sensation, generalized weakness, and pain in her right leg for several months. The patient underwent metal-on-metal bearing THA 11 years ago for treatment of right-sided hip pain due to avascular necrosis.

Diagnosis:

Percutaneous catheter drainage was performed for both therapeutic and diagnostic reasons. No microbes were cultured from the drained fluid, and signs of chronic inflammation were shown on pathology slide samples. The patient showed positive allergic reactions to cobalt and captan on allergic patch test, and serum cobalt levels was increased as 46.78 μg/L (normal value, 0.11–0.64 μg/L). Biopsy samples of the cyst were consistent with the histological findings of pseudotumor reported by Willert et al.

Intervention:

For the treatment of infection, primarily, the patient was surgically treated by irrigation, debridement, and bone bead insertion. Then, after 4 weeks of antibiotic treatment, revision surgery changing the metal-on-metal articulation into poly-on-metal articulation was performed.

Outcomes:

CT scan at 1 year after surgery showed no findings of cyst inside the pelvic cavity. Although the patient complained of right sided hip pain (VAS score 2), she was able to perform activities of daily living.

Lessons:

In patients who underwent metal-on-metal THA, pseudotumor mimicked the feature of periprosthetic infection may occur not only inside the hip joint but also in the pelvic cavity.
Anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 drugs treatment-related adverse events for patients with cancer
Authors: Li Jing , Liu Ming , Wang JianShu , Liu Zhao , Xue JinXu , Wang JianCheng , Jia JunHai
Published: July 2019

Background:

Anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) drugs treatment-related adverse events (AEs) are not uniform based on current study for patients with cancer. The study aimed to provide a complete toxicity profile and toxicity spectrum for anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 drugs.

Methods:

All systematic reviews (SRs) with meta-analyses (MAs) relate to the anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 drugs and SRs will be searched in the database of PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from inception to February 2019. Eligible publications must have reported site, organ, or system level data on treatment-related AEs. The following will extract from each SRs: first author, year of publication, country of origin, number of origin study, number of patients enrolled, participant characteristics, duration of cancer diagnosis, cancer types, detailed description of treatment, and occurrence of AEs. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) and A Measurements Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews 2 (AMSTAR-2) will be used to assess the reporting and methodological quality of SRs/MAs. The characteristics of the included SRs/MAs and their quality will descriptively summarized using systematically structured tables. A network meta-analysis (NMAs) approach versus a narrative synthesis will be used to examine data synthesis considered. Odds ratios and 95% credibility intervals will be used as summary statistics. Evidence mapping (EM) method will to present the evidence landscape related to anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1 drugs treatment-related AEs for patients with cancer.

Discussion:

The results of the overview will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.

Ethics and dissemination:

Because this study is not a clinical study, and we will search and evaluate only existing sources of literature. So, ethical approval is not required.
Simulated directed-learning in life-education intervention on the meaning of life, positive beliefs, and well-being among nursing students
Authors: Tsai Fu-Ju , Hu Yih-Jin , Chen Cheng-Yu , Yeh Gwo-Liang , Tseng Chie-Chien , Chen Si-Chi
Published: July 2019

Nursing educators have the responsibility to equip nursing students with knowledge about the meaning of life, positive beliefs, and well-being in order to enhance their physical, psychological, spiritual, and social health education and promotion. The purpose of this study was to explore nursing students’ simulated directed-learning in a life-education intervention on the meaning of life, positive beliefs, and well-being in regard to immediate and delayed effects in improving physical, psychological, spiritual, and social health education and promotion.

The method of this study was constituted a quasi-experimental design with experimental and control groups for pre-test, post-test, and post-post-test. Purposive sampling and non-random distribution were used in the study. Assigned to the experimental group, 54 participants were third-year nursing students enrolled in a health education course with simulated directed-learning in a life-education intervention. Assigned to the control group, 56 participants were third-year nursing students enrolled in a caring care course without simulated directed-learning in a life-education intervention. A 56-item questionnaire was utilized, and the content validity index (CVI) was 0.95, as determined by seven expert scholars. The reliability of the questionnaire (n = 45) on Cronbach's α were: meaning of life 0.96, positive beliefs 0.95, and well-being 0.96. The statistical package SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze all of the data in the study. Frequencies, percentages, pre-test mean and SD, post-test mean and SD, post-post-test mean and SD, chi-squared test, t test, and generalized estimating equation (GEE) were employed for data analysis.

Nursing students in the experimental group compared with the control group exhibited significant differences in meaning of life on the pre-post-test (β = 16.40, P < .001) and pre-post post-test (β = 25.94, P < .001), positive beliefs on the pre-post-test (β = 5.64, P < .01) and pre-post post-test (β = 9.21, P < .001), and well-being on the pre-post-test (β = 14.33, P < .001) and pre-post post-test (β = 23.68, P < .001).

Nursing students in the experimental group showed a significant improvement in the simulated directed-learning with a life-education intervention on meaning of life, positive beliefs, and well-being in the immediate and delayed effects that enhanced their physical, psychological, spiritual, and social health education and promotion.
A “coughed up” tissue diagnosed as type A thymoma in an 80-year-old man
Authors: Zhang Rui , Li Junqiu , Zhang Hongkai
Published: July 2019

Rationale:

Thymoma is the most common primary tumor in the anterior mediastinum. All major subtypes of thymoma can be clinically aggressive. However, type A thymoma is usually benign and rarely invasive, let alone invasive to the trachea. There are no published reports of thymoma diagnosed in a “coughed up’ tissue”. Here, we report an 80-year-old man who coughed up a piece of tissue which was histopathologically diagnosed as type A thymoma.

Patient concerns:

An 80-year-old man who had a history of thymoma for 8 years was admitted in our hospital with his severe cough and dyspnea and his “coughed up” something. He felt much better after coughing up the piece of tissue. He saved the tissue and sent it to the pathology department.

Diagnoses:

The clinical diagnosis was lung cancer. But the final pathological diagnosis was type A thymoma.

Interventions:

The patient refused to get chemotherapy, or surgery, and only would like to get the traditional Chinese medicine.

Outcomes:

The patient is stable for 19 months after he coughed up some of the tumor tissue.

Lessons:

The type A thymoma could be slowly aggressive. If left untreated, it would also invade into the trachea. When treat a patient with history of even a benign tumor, we should always bear the rare possibility in mind to avoid misdiagnosis. For an elderly patient, a “wait and see” policy may be acceptable.
Efficacy of melanoma patients treated with PD-1 inhibitors
Authors: Li Jing , Shi Shu-Zhen , Wang Jian-Shu , Liu Zhao , Xue Jin-Xu , Wang Jian-Cheng , Jia Jun-Hai
Published: July 2019

Background:

Melanoma is a malignant tumor of melanocytes that produces pigments and can occur in the whole body. It is characterized by strong invasiveness, high metastasis rate and poor prognosis, and brings heavy burden to patients and society. In order to find the most effective and safe treatment measures, in this study, a network meta-analysis (NMA) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of advanced melanoma treated with PD-1 inhibitors will be conducted based on the existing systematic reviews (SRs) of PD-1 inhibitor in the treatment of advanced melanoma.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library were searched on December 18, 2018 to obtain systematic reviews of PD-1 inhibitor in the treatment of advanced melanoma. Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR2) will be used to assess the methodological quality of systematic reviews, Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach will be applied to evaluate the evidence quality of outcome measures, and the Cochrane's risk of bias tool will be utilized to appraise risks of bias of each embedded RCTs. And the outcomes are overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and objective response rate (ORR). Hazard ratio (HR) or odds ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to synthesize dichotomous outcomes, while the mean difference (MD) for the continuous variables. R3.5.1 will be used to create a network evidence map for direct and indirect comparative analysis.

Results:

This study will provide a comprehensive summary of the current evidences related to the efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitor in advanced melanoma.

Conclusion:

Our findings will be useful to assist clinicians make reasonable decisions to the treatment of advanced melanoma.

Ethics and Communication:

It is unnecessary for this NMA to acquire an ethical approval, because it is based on published researches.

PROSPERO registration number:

CRD42019120017
Feeding arteries and arteriovenous shunt for discrimination of soft tissue tumors
Authors: Wu Gang , Yang Hao , Li Xiaoming
Published: July 2019

Time resolved magnetic resonance angiography with interleaved stochastic trajectories (TWIST) allows for identification of tumor feeding arteries and arteriovenous shunt (AVS). We used TWIST to obtain number of feeding arteries (NFA) and detect AVS for 43 cases of pathology-confirmed soft tissue tumors. We compared normalized number of feeding arteries (nNFA) and AVS between malignant and benign tumors, and found nNFA was significantly greater in malignant tumors versus benign tumors (2.1 vs 1.3, P < .05). The incidence of AVS was significantly higher in malignant tumors versus benign tumors (87.5% vs 10.5%, P < .05). TWIST derived nNFA and AVS could be useful in the discrimination of benign and malignant soft tissue tumors.
First cycad seedling foliage from the fossil record and inferences for the Cenozoic evolution of cycads
Authors: Erdei Boglárka , Coiro Mario , Miller Ian , Johnson Kirk R. , Griffith M. Patrick , Murphy Vickie
Published: July 2019

The morphology of the early ontogenetic stages of cycad foliage may help resolve the relationships between extinct to extant cycad lineages. However, prior to this study, fossil evidence of cycad seedlings was not known. We describe a compression fossil of cycad eophylls with co-occurring fully developed leaves of adult specimens from the early Palaeocene (
ca
63.8 Ma) Castle Rock flora from the Denver Basin, CO, USA and assign it to the fossil genus
Dioonopsis
(Cycadales) based on leaf morphology and anatomy. The new fossil seedling foliage is particularly important because fully differentiated pinnate leaves of adult plants and the eophylls belong to the same species based on shared epidermal micromorphology, therefore, increasing the number of morphological characteristics that can be used to place
Dioonopsis
phylogenetically. Significantly, the seedling fossil has a basic foliage structure that is very similar to seedlings of extant cycads, which is consistent with a cycadalean affinity of
Dioonopsis
. Nevertheless, the set of morphological characters in the seedling and adult specimens of
Dioonopsis
suggests a distant relationship between
Dioonopsis
and extant
Dioon
. This indicates that extinct lineages of cycads were present and widespread during the early Cenozoic (Palaeogene) coupled with the subordinate role of extant genera in the Palaeogene fossil record of cycads.
Termites manipulate moisture content of wood to maximize foraging resources
Authors: Oberst Sebastian , Lenz Michael , Lai Joseph C. S. , Evans Theodore A.
Published: July 2019

Animals use cues to find their food, in microhabitats within their physiological tolerances. Termites build and modify their microhabitat, to transform hostile environments into benign ones, which raises questions about the relative importance of cues. Termites are desiccation intolerant and foraging termites are attracted to water, so most research has considered moisture to be a cue. However, termites can also transport water to food, and so moisture may play other roles than previously considered. To examine the role of moisture, we compared
Coptotermes acinaciformis
termite foraging decisions in laboratory experiments when they were offered dry and moist wood, with and without load. Without load, termites preferred moist wood and ate it without any building, whereas they moistened dry wood after wrapping it in a layer of clay. For the ‘With load’ units, termites substituted some of the wood for load-bearing clay walls, and kept the wood drier than on the unloaded units. As drier wood has higher compressive strength and higher rigidity, it allows more of the wood to be consumed. These results suggest that moisture plays a more important role in termite ecology than previously thought. Termites manipulate the moisture content according to the situational context and use it for multiple purposes: increased moisture levels soften the fibre, which facilitates foraging, yet keeping the wood dry provides higher structural stability against buckling which is especially important when foraging on wood under load.
The origin of platelets enabled the evolution of eutherian placentation
Authors: Martin John F. , Wagner Günter P.
Published: July 2019

Invasive placentation with extended pregnancy is a shared derived characteristic unique to eutherian mammals that possess a highly effective system of haemostasis, platelets. These are found in all mammals but no other group of animals. We propose that platelets and megakaryocytes (large polyploid nucleated bone marrow cells that produce platelets) evolved from an ancestral 2 N thrombocyte by polyploidization and that the possession of platelets enabled the evolution of invasive placentation. This could explain why invasive placentation is limited to mammals.
Bumblebees learn foraging routes through exploitation–exploration cycles
Authors: Kembro Jackelyn M. , Lihoreau Mathieu , Garriga Joan , Raposo Ernesto P. , Bartumeus Frederic
Published: July 2019

How animals explore and acquire knowledge from the environment is a key question in movement ecology. For pollinators that feed on multiple small replenishing nectar resources, the challenge is to learn efficient foraging routes while dynamically acquiring spatial information about new resource locations. Here, we use the behavioural mapping t-Stochastic Neighbouring Embedding algorithm and Shannon entropy to statistically analyse previously published sampling patterns of bumblebees feeding on artificial flowers in the field. We show that bumblebees modulate foraging excursions into distinctive behavioural strategies, characterizing the trade-off dynamics between (i) visiting and exploiting flowers close to the nest, (ii) searching for new routes and resources, and (iii) exploiting learned flower visitation sequences. Experienced bees combine these behavioural strategies even after they find an optimal route minimizing travel distances between flowers. This behavioural variability may help balancing energy costs–benefits and facilitate rapid adaptation to changing environments and the integration of more profitable resources in their routes.
How vision governs the collective behaviour of dense cycling pelotons
Authors: Belden J. , Mansoor M. M. , Hellum A. , Rahman S. R. , Meyer A. , Pease C. , Pacheco J. , Koziol S. , Truscott T. T.
Published: July 2019

In densely packed groups demonstrating collective behaviour, such as bird flocks, fish schools or packs of bicycle racers (cycling pelotons), information propagates over a network, with individuals sensing and reacting to stimuli over relatively short space and time scales. What remains elusive is a robust, mechanistic understanding of how sensory system properties affect interactions, information propagation and emergent behaviour. Here, we show through direct observation how the spatio-temporal limits of the human visual sensory system govern local interactions and set the network structure in large, dense collections of cyclists. We found that cyclists align in patterns within a ± 30° arc corresponding to the human near-peripheral visual field, in order to safely accommodate motion perturbations. Furthermore, the group structure changes near the end of the race, suggesting a narrowing of the used field of vision. This change is consistent with established theory in psychology linking increased physical exertion to the decreased field of perception. Our results show how vision, modulated by arousal-dependent neurological effects, sets the local arrangement of cyclists, the mechanisms of interaction and the implicit communication across the group. We furthermore describe information propagation phenomena with an analogous elastic solid mechanics model. We anticipate our mechanistic description will enable a more detailed understanding of the interaction principles for collective behaviour in a variety of animals.
‘Preserve or perish’: food preservation practices in the early modern kitchen
Authors: Havard Lucy J.
Published: July 2019

Early modern manuscript recipe books have become increasingly popular sources for historical research over recent years. Extensive compilations of food recipes, medicinal remedies and household tips, these manuscripts provide rich, multi-faceted opportunities for historical study and discussion. This paper utilizes recipe books as a means to examine contemporary food preservation practices. Through detailed textual analysis of these manuscripts, and the reconstruction of early modern preserving recipes, I explore the explicit and tacit ‘domestic knowledge’ required for food preservation. I argue that, rather than being a straightforward activity, this was a complex process requiring significant judgement, intuition and experience on the part of the housewife. Preservation was an experimental practice that might be considered under the umbrella of early modern natural philosophy, and the housewife was a legitimate actor in the associated knowledge production.
Translational control of antibiotic resistance
Authors: Witzky Anne , Tollerson Rodney , Ibba Michael
Published: July 2019

Many antibiotics available in the clinic today directly inhibit bacterial translation. Despite the past success of such drugs, their efficacy is diminishing with the spread of antibiotic resistance. Through the use of ribosomal modifications, ribosomal protection proteins, translation elongation factors and mistranslation, many pathogens are able to establish resistance to common therapeutics. However, current efforts in drug discovery are focused on overcoming these obstacles through the modification or discovery of new treatment options. Here, we provide an overview for common mechanisms of resistance to translation-targeting drugs and summarize several important breakthroughs in recent drug development.
Homeostasis and systematic ageing as non-equilibrium phase transitions in computational multicellular organizations
Authors: Lou Yuting , Chen Ao , Yoshida Erika , Chen Yu
Published: July 2019

Being a fatal threat to life, the breakdown of homeostasis in tissues is believed to involve multiscale factors ranging from the accumulation of genetic damages to the deregulation of metabolic processes. Here, we present a prototypical multicellular homeostasis model in the form of a two-dimensional stochastic cellular automaton with three cellular states, cell division, cell death and cell cycle arrest, of which the state-updating rules are based on fundamental cell biology. Despite the simplicity, this model illustrates how multicellular organizations can develop into diverse homeostatic patterns with distinct morphologies, turnover rates and lifespans without considering genetic, metabolic or other exogenous variations. Through mean-field analysis and Monte–Carlo simulations, those homeostatic states are found to be classified into extinctive, proliferative and degenerative phases, whereas healthy multicellular organizations evolve from proliferative to degenerative phases over a long time, undergoing a systematic ageing akin to a transition into an absorbing state in non-equilibrium physical systems. It is suggested that the collapse of homeostasis at the multicellular level may originate from the fundamental nature of cell biology regarding the physics of some non-equilibrium processes instead of subcellular details.
Physical origin of a complicated tactile sensation: ‘
shittori
feel'
Authors: Kikegawa Kana , Kuhara Rieko , Kwon Jinhwan , Sakamoto Maki , Tsuchiya Reiichiro , Nagatani Noboru , Nonomura Yoshimune
Published: July 2019

Shittori
feel is defined as a texture that is moderately moisturized; however, many people experience ‘
shittori
feel’ when they touch a dry solid material containing little liquid. Here,
shittori
feel was evaluated for 12 materials. We found that the highest score of
shittori
feel was achieved by powders. Multiple regression analysis showed that
shittori
feel is a complex sense of moist and smooth feels. We analysed the relationship between the physical properties and the moist/smooth feels to show how subjects felt certain feels simultaneously. The moist and smooth feels are related to the surface roughness and friction characteristics of the materials. The moist and smooth feels can be perceived when the finger starts to move on the material surface and when the finger moves and rubs the material surface, respectively.
Players acting as leaders in turn improve cooperation
Authors: Nie Pu-yan , Wang Chan , Cui Ting
Published: July 2019

Cooperation behaviour is an important topic in society as well as in the biological field, and many factors yield cooperation. Many social phenomena constitute Stackelberg games, but there is little literature on the relationship between Stackelberg games and cooperation. This article shows that in the repeated dynamic Stackelberg games, players acting as leaders in turn yields cooperation. Moreover, social welfare is improved correspondingly when players act as leaders in turn. Therefore, for dynamic Stackelberg games, this paper proposes that the institution of players acting as leaders in turn promotes cooperation.
Influence of head morphology and natural postures on sound localization cues in crocodilians
Authors: Papet L. , Grimault N. , Boyer N. , Mathevon N.
Published: July 2019

As top predators, crocodilians have an acute sense of hearing that is useful for their social life and for probing their environment in hunting situations. Although previous studies suggest that crocodilians are able to localize the position of a sound source, how they do this remains largely unknown. In this study, we measured the potential monaural sound localization cues (head-related transfer functions; HRTFs) on alive animals and skulls in two situations, both mimicking natural positions: basking on the land and cruising at the interface between air and water. Binaural cues were also estimated by measuring the interaural level differences (ILDs) and the interaural time differences (ITDs). In both conditions, HRTF measurements show large spectral variations (greater than 10 dB) for high frequencies, depending on the azimuthal angle. These localization cues are influenced by head size and by the internal coupling of the ears. ITDs give reliable information regarding sound-source position for low frequencies, while ILDs are more suitable for frequencies higher than 1.5 kHz. Our results support the hypothesis that crocodilian head morphology is adapted to acquire reliable localization cues from sound sources when outside the water, but also when only a small part of their head is above the air–water interface.
Mid-Devensian climate and landscape in England: new data from Finningley, South Yorkshire
Authors: Buckland Philip I. , Bateman Mark D. , Bennike Ole , Buckland Paul C. , Chase Brian M. , Frederick Charles , Greenwood Malcolm , Murton Julian , Murton Della , Panagiotakopulu Eva
Published: July 2019

While there is extensive evidence for the Late Devensian, less is known about Early and Middle Devensian (approx. 110–30 ka) climates and environments in the UK. The Greenland ice-core record suggests the UK should have endured multiple changes, but the terrestrial palaeo-record lacks sufficient detail for confirmation from sites in the British Isles. Data from deposits at Finningley, South Yorkshire, can help redress this. A channel with organic silts, dated 40 314–39 552 cal a BP, contained plant macrofossil and insect remains showing tundra with dwarf-shrub heath and bare ground. Soil moisture conditions varied from free draining to riparian, with ponds and wetter vegetated areas. The climate was probably low arctic with snow cover during the winter. Mutual climatic range (MCR), based on Coleoptera, shows the mean monthly winter temperatures of −22 to −2°C and summer ones of 8–14°C. Periglacial structures within the basal gravel deposits and beyond the glacial limits indicate cold-climate conditions, including permafrost. A compilation of MCR reconstructions for other Middle Devensian English sites shows that marine isotope stage 3—between 59 and 28 ka—experienced substantial variation in climate consistent with the Greenland ice-core record. The exact correlation is hampered by temporal resolution, but the Finningley site stadial at approximately 40 ka may correlate with the one of the Greenland stadials 7–11.