bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward productive complicity: Applying ‘traditional ecological knowledge’ in environmental science
Authors: Singleton Benedict E , Gillette Maris Boyd , Burman Anders , Green Carina
Published: December 2021

Culture and tradition have long been the domains of social science, particularly social/cultural anthropology and various forms of heritage studies. However, many environmental scientists whose research addresses environmental management, conservation, and restoration are also interested in traditional ecological knowledge, indigenous and local knowledge, and local environmental knowledge (hereafter TEK), not least because policymakers and international institutions promote the incorporation of TEK in environmental work. In this article, we examine TEK usage in peer-reviewed articles by environmental scientists published in 2020. This snapshot of environmental science scholarship includes both critical discussions of how to incorporate TEK in research and management and efforts to do so for various scholarly and applied purposes. Drawing on anthropological discussions of culture, we identify two related patterns within this literature: a tendency toward essentialism and a tendency to minimize power relationships. We argue that scientists whose work reflects these trends might productively engage with knowledge from the scientific fields that study culture and tradition. We suggest productive complicity as a reflexive mode of partnering, and a set of questions that facilitate natural scientists adopting this approach: What and/or who is this TEK for? Who and what will benefit from this TEK deployment? How is compensation/credit shared? Does this work give back and/or forward to all those involved?
Dependent Stress Generation Mediates the Relation Between Poor Cognitive Control and Repetitive Negative Thinking in Emerging Adults
Authors: Taylor Morgan M. , Snyder Hannah R.
Published: December 2021

Poor cognitive control has been associated with maladaptive thinking, like rumination and worry, that increase risk for internalizing psychopathology. However, little research has investigated how cognitive control is associated with commonalities between rumination and worry (i.e., repetitive negative thinking; RNT). The current study aimed to investigate how cognitive control predicts engagement in a common component of RNT over time via an indirect mechanism of dependent stress generation in a one-semester longitudinal study of emerging adult college students ( N = 224). Executive functioning task performance and self-reported attentional control (not working memory capacity task performance) prospectively predicted RNT, mediated by dependent stress, but did not predict change in stress or RNT from baseline. These findings suggest that aspects of cognitive control relevant for successful goal pursuit may be involved with maintaining levels of stressful life events and subsequent RNT.
Does remnant tissue preservation in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction influence the creation of the rectangular femoral tunnel?
Authors: Asai Kazuki , Nakase Junsuke , Yoshimizu Rikuto , Kimura Mitsuhiro , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: December 2021

Purpose

We have previously described anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a rounded rectangular femoral tunnel created using a rounded rectangular dilator designed to enable a more anatomical and wider tendon-bone junction. However, the influence of remnant tissue preservation on the creation of the rounded rectangular femoral tunnel is not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of remnant tissue preservation on the creation of the rounded rectangular femoral tunnel.

Methods

A total of 198 patients who underwent primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a rounded rectangular femoral tunnel were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were categorized into a remnant preservation group (group P) and a non-preservation group (group N). Computed tomography images taken 1 week postoperatively were analyzed. The location of the rounded rectangular femoral tunnel evaluated using the quadrant method, its rotation angle, and the graft bending angle were compared between the two groups. The differences and the variance in femoral tunnel assessment were compared using the two-sample t-test and Levene’s test.

Results

Although there was no significant difference in the location of femoral tunnel for the deep/shallow direction along the Blumensaat’s line (difference, p = .326; variances, p = .970), the tunnel was significantly lower in group P than in group N, with no variances (difference, p = .001; variances, p = .326). There were no significant differences and no variances in the tunnel rotation angle and the graft bending angle (difference, p = .727 and 0.514, respectively; variances, p = .827 and .445, respectively). Blow out of the posterior wall of the medial aspect of the femoral lateral condyle was an intraoperative complication that occurred in one case in group N.

Conclusion

The remnant preservation approach creates a lower femoral tunnel compared to the non-preservation technique. However, a rounded rectangular femoral tunnel can be created safely and is reproducible with remnant tissue preservation.
Ethical Duty of a Lawyer to Defend His Client in a Criminal Case: Issues and Challenges in India
Authors: Mishra Pravin , Tiwari Vijay Pratap
Published: December 2021

The fate of a criminal case to a large extent depends upon choosing the right lawyer. But the choice of a right lawyer requires some amount of experience and expertise, which a layman intending to hire a lawyer may not be equipped with. Even if the client has made a smart choice in identifying a right lawyer for him, the lawyer so identified might not be willing to accept a brief for the reasons best known to the lawyer. At times a peculiar situation may arise before the lawyer where the lawyer seeks to withdraw from representing the accused. There are various pitfalls to the client’s right from the stage of making a choice of a competent lawyer to defend the accused up to the end of the legal battle. The article deals with the professional ethics involved when a counsel accepts a brief or seeks to withdraw from representing an accused and terminate the advocate–client relationship.
Effect of Surface Texture on Tensile Shear Strength of 1060Al-PET Welding Joints
Authors: Liu Jia , Dai Yuchi , Shi Yan , Cui Wenfu , Jiang Tao
Published: December 2021

Joining metal to plastic can lighten weight of products to reduce energy consumption. However, it is difficult to achieve high-strength welding between metal and plastic. To address this problem, the methods of surface texture pretreatment and laser irradiation welding was proposed to achieve the high-strength connection of metal and plastic. In this study, with different parameters of laser power and texture morphology, 1060 Al with surface texture treatment was joined to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by laser irradiation welding from metal side. Study showed that as the laser power increased, the tensile shear strength of joints increased first, and decreased thereafter. Tensile shear tests demonstrated that the mechanical force of joint was strengthened contributed to mechanical anchorage formed by surface texture. The depth-width ratio of the texture grooves affected the tensile shear process of the joint. According to the result of temperature simulation, the existence of texture grooves reduced the heat transfer efficiency, and the heat dissipation at interface was also impeded in course of laser welding. Finally, the maximum tensile strength of 1060Al-PET joint reached 48.4 MPa, which was close to the strength of PET matrix. The bonding mechanism of the 1060Al-PET joints was composed of mechanical bonding and chemical bonding. This study proposes an effective method to join metal to plastic which achieved high-strength connection between metal and plastic.
Target Vehicle Selection Algorithm for Adaptive Cruise Control Based on Lane-changing Intention of Preceding Vehicle
Authors: Yao Jun , Chen Guoying , Gao Zhenhai
Published: December 2021

To improve the ride comfort and safety of a traditional adaptive cruise control (ACC) system when the preceding vehicle changes lanes, it proposes a target vehicle selection algorithm based on the prediction of the lane-changing intention for the preceding vehicle. First, the Next Generation Simulation dataset is used to train a lane-changing intention prediction algorithm based on a sliding window support vector machine, and the lane-changing intention of the preceding vehicle in the current lane is identified by lateral position offset. Second, according to the lane-changing intention and collision threat of the preceding vehicle, the target vehicle selection algorithm is studied under three different conditions: safe lane-changing, dangerous lane-changing, and lane-changing cancellation. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm is verified in a co–simulation platform. The simulation results show that the target vehicle selection algorithm can ensure the smooth transfer of the target vehicle and effectively reduce the longitudinal acceleration fluctuation of the subject vehicle when the preceding vehicle changes lanes safely or cancels their lane change maneuver. In the case of a dangerous lane change, the target vehicle selection algorithm proposed in this paper can respond more rapidly to a dangerous lane change than the target vehicle selection method of the traditional ACC system; thus, it can effectively avoid collisions and improve the safety of the subject vehicle.
Integrated Optimization of Structure and Control Parameters for the Height Control System of a Vertical Spindle Cotton Picker
Authors: Chen Xingzheng , Li Congbo , Hu Rui , Liu Ning , Zhang Chi
Published: December 2021

Vertical picking method is a predominate method used to harvest cotton crop. However, a vertical picking method may cause spindle bending of the cotton picker if spindles collide with stones on the cotton field. Thus, how to realize a precise height control of the cotton picker is a crucial issue to be solved. The objective of this study is to design a height control system to avoid the collision. To design it, the mathematical models are established first. Then a multi-objective optimization model represented by structure parameters and control parameters is proposed to take the pressure of chamber without piston, response time and displacement error of the height control system as the optimization objectives. An integrated optimization approach that combines optimization via simulation, particle swarm optimization and simulated annealing is proposed to solve the model. Simulation and experimental test results show that the proposed integrated optimization approach can not only reduce the pressure of chamber without piston, but also decrease the response time and displacement error of the height control system.
Preventive treatment with CGRP monoclonal antibodies restores brain stem habituation deficits and excitability to painful stimuli in migraine: results from a prospective case-control study
Authors: Thiele Anne , Klehr Lara , Strauß Sebastian , Angermaier Anselm , Schminke Ulf , Kronenbuerger Martin , Naegel Steffen , Fleischmann Robert
Published: December 2021

Background & Objectives

Calcitonin gene-related peptide ligand/receptor (CGRP) antibodies effectively reduce headache frequency in migraine. It is understood that they act peripherally, which raises the question whether treatment merely interferes with the last stage of headache generation or, alternatively, causes secondary adaptations in the central nervous system and might thus possess disease modifying potential. This study addresses this question by investigating the nociceptive blink reflex (nBR), which is closely tied to central disease activity, before and after treatment with CGRP antibodies.

Methods

We enrolled 22 patients suffering episodic migraine (21 female, 46.2 ± 13.8 years of age) and 22 age-/gender-matched controls. Patients received assessments of the nBR (R2 component, 10 trials, 6 stimuli/trial) before (V0) and three months (V3) after treatment with CGRP antibodies started, controls were assessed once. The R2 area (R2a) and habituation (R2h; gradient of R2a against stimulus order) of the stimulated/non-stimulated side (_s/_ns) following repeated supraorbital stimulation provide a direct readout of brainstem excitability and habituation as key mechanisms in migraine.

Results

All patients showed a substantial reduction of headache days/month (V0: 12.4±3.3, V3: 6.6 ± 4.9). R2a_s (Fglobal=5.86, p<0.001; block 1: R2a_s: -28%, p<0.001) and R2a_ns (Fglobal=8.22, p<0.001, block 1: R2a_ns: -22%, p=0.003) were significantly decreased, and R2h_ns was significantly enhanced (Fglobal=3.07, p<0.001; block 6: R2h_ns: r=-1.36, p=0.007) from V0 to V3. The global test for changes of R2h_s was non-significant (Fglobal=1.46, p=0.095). Changes of R2h significantly correlated with improvement of headache frequency (R2h_s, r=0.56, p=0.010; R2h_ns: r=0.45, p=0.045). None of the nBR parameters assessed at baseline predicted treatment response.

Discussion

We provide evidence that three months of treatment with CGRP antibodies restores brain stem responses to painful stimuli and thus might be considered disease modifying. The nociceptive blink reflex may provide a biomarker to monitor central disease activity. Future studies should evaluate the blink reflex as a clinical biomarker to predict treatment response at baseline and to establish the risk of relapse after treatment discontinuation.

Trial registration

This trial was prospectively registered at clinicaltrials.gov (ID: NCT04019496, date of registration: July 15, 2019).
OmicsOne: associate omics data with phenotypes in one-click
Authors: Zhang Hui , Ao Minghui , Boja Arianna , Schnaubelt Michael , Hu Yingwei
Published: December 2021

Background

The rapid advancements of high throughput “omics” technologies have brought a massive amount of data to process during and after experiments. Multi-omic analysis facilitates a deeper interrogation of a dataset and the discovery of interesting genes, proteins, lipids, glycans, metabolites, or pathways related to the corresponding phenotypes in a study. Many individual software tools have been developed for data analysis and visualization. However, it still lacks an efficient way to investigate the phenotypes with multiple omics data. Here, we present OmicsOne as an interactive web-based framework for rapid phenotype association analysis of multi-omic data by integrating quality control, statistical analysis, and interactive data visualization on ‘one-click’.

Materials and methods

OmicsOne was applied on the previously published proteomic and glycoproteomic data sets of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and the published proteome data set of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) to confirm its performance. The data was analyzed through six main functional modules implemented in OmicsOne: (1) phenotype profiling, (2) data preprocessing and quality control, (3) knowledge annotation, (4) phenotype associated features discovery, (5) correlation and regression model analysis for phenotype association analysis on individual features, and (6) enrichment analysis for phenotype association analysis on interested feature sets.

Results

We developed an integrated software solution, OmicsOne, for the phenotype association analysis on multi-omics data sets. The application of OmicsOne on the public data set of ovarian cancer data showed that the software could confirm the previous observations consistently and discover new evidence for HNRNPU and a glycopeptide of HYOU1 as potential biomarkers for HGSOC data sets. The performance of OmicsOne was further demonstrated in the Tumor and NAT comparison study on the proteome data set of LSCC.

Conclusions

OmicsOne can effectively simplify data analysis and reveal the significant associations between phenotypes and potential biomarkers, including genes, proteins, and glycopeptides, in minutes to assist users to understand aberrant biological processes.
Prophylactic role of ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone in prostate biopsy-related infection: randomized comparative study of bacterial spectrum and antibiotic sensitivities
Authors: Odo Chinonso , Afogu Emmanuel Nwali , Odoemene Charles Azuwuike , Obi Anselm Okwudili , Mbaeri Timothy Uzoma , Obiesie Emmanuel Ahuizechukwu , Okeke Chike John , Nnadozie Ugochukwu Uzodimma , Ulebe Augustine Obasi
Published: December 2021

Background

The mainstay for the diagnosis of prostate cancer is transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy.However, prostate biopsy is associated with a significant risk of complications including urinary tract infection. This study aims to compare the bacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern in urinary tract infection after prostate biopsy between patients on 2 different antimicrobial prophylactic regimens.

Methods

This was a comparative cross-sectional study done at the urology unit of our institution, over 13 months. Fifty-six patients who met the inclusion criteria made up the study population and were randomly assigned to two groups. Those in group 1 (28) received intravenous ciprofloxacin (Juhel) 400 mg at induction of anesthesia, while those in group 2 (28) received intravenous ceftriaxone (Rocephin) 1 g at induction of anesthesia. All patients received bisacodyl (dulcolax) rectal suppositories 20 mg nocte starting 2 nights before the procedure as well as intravenous metronidazole (Juhel) at induction of anesthesia. Urine samples were taken for urine culture and sensitivity three days after biopsy. Isolated organisms and their antibiotics sensitivities were documented. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0 with the level of significance set atP < 0.05.

Results

In group 1 the prevalence of urinary tract infection was 61%.Escherichia coliwas isolated in 11(64.71%) cases,Klebsiella speciesin 3(17.65%),staphylococcus aureusin 1(5.88%), Proteus speciesin 1(5.88%), and non-hemolyticstreptococcus speciesin 1(5.88%). In this group, all isolated bacterial organisms were resistant to ciprofloxacin. In group 2 the prevalence of urinary tract infection was 43%.Klebsiella sppwas isolated in 6(50%) cases,Pseudomonas aeruginosain 3(25%),E. coliin 2(16.67%), Staphylococcusin 1(8.33%). In group 2 all isolated bacterial organisms were resistant to ceftriaxone.

Conclusion

Ciprofloxacin and ceftriaxone are both associated with a high rate of urinary tract infection when used as prophylaxis for prostate biopsy. The bacterial etiology of prostate biopsy-related urinary tract infection is dependent on the prophylactic antibiotics used. Based on the high rate of urinary tract infection associated with the use of either ciprofloxacin or ceftriaxone, we recommend a combination of both drugs as prophylaxis for prostate biopsy.
Impact of surgical intervention on progression to end-stage renal disease in patients with posterior urethral valve
Authors: Velhal Rishikesh , Jain Aadhar , Nayan Anveshi , Patwardhan Sujata , Patil Bhushan
Published: December 2021

Background

Posterior urethral valve patients present with varied presentations at any age of life and have significant associated morbidity and require long-term follow-up and care.

Methods

This was a single-center ambispective cohort study carried out over a period of 2 years. Patient data regarding the symptoms, investigations, interventions, secondary complications were recorded and were followed up regularly during the study till either normalization of their creatinine level which was maintained up to one-year post-fulguration (non-CKD) or progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring renal transplant. Various clinical factors were then compared between these groups.

Results

The age of presentation varies from 6 months antenatal period to a maximum of 34 years. Most common symptom was of lower urinary tract obstruction, followed by recurrent febrile UTI. The interval between disease presentation detection and PU valve fulguration ranged from 6 days to more than 5 years, median duration being 1 month. 85.7% patients had hydroureteronephrosis on initial USG. In VCUG, there was no significant difference found between the presence of reflux and poor renal outcome. Age of presentation greater than 2 years was seen in 52% of patients with CKD compared to only 10% patients in non-CKD group (significant, p value 0.02). Among patients who developed CKD, 60% of patients had PU valve fulguration after one month of disease presentation, while in contrast, among the non-CKD group, 80% of patients had it done within one month of disease presentation. (significant, p value 0.03).

Conclusions

Late age of presentation, delayed fulguration with high initial creatinine, and failure of serum creatinine to return to normal after one-month post-fulguration are important risk factors in the progression of the disease to ESRD. Symptomatic improvement after interventions does not correlate with progression to ESRD. The number of interventions also does not predict progression to ESRD. Interventions should be chosen wisely on case to restore near-normal physiology and delay progression to ESRD.
Exercise-induced ruptured renal tumour in a young patient with hereditary leiomyomata-associated renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC): a case report
Authors: Mohamad Sharin Mohamad Fairuz , Pushpanathan Mugialan , Jagwani Arvind Vashdev , Mohd Ghani Khairul Asri , Mohd Zainuddin Saiful Azli , Omar Noorjehan , Hayati Firdaus
Published: December 2021

Background

Hereditary leiomyomatosis-associated renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is rare with only 300 families reported to date worldwide. Despite highlighting renal malignancy, it is infamous for its cutaneous and leiomyomatosis component as the more common cause of presentation. This report is to highlight the rare presentation of HLRCC which occurs in a teenager which is unfortunately complicated with exercise-induced renal tumour rupture.

Case presentation

A 22-year-old gentleman presented with severe right lower abdominal pain for 4 days, associated with fever and nausea following a session of strenuous exercise. He has first-degree relatives and second-degree relatives from his maternal side who were genetically tested positive for HLRCC. Clinical examination revealed a tender right lumbar and right iliac fossa region. A computed tomography of the kidneys demonstrated a ruptured right renal tumour with a large right renal subcapsular and contained right retroperitoneal hematoma. An emergency right radical nephrectomy was performed, and he recovered well. The histopathological examination was consistent with HLRCC associated ruptured right renal cell carcinoma.

Conclusion

Identification of this underreported familial malignancy is paramount as the onset of neoplasia occurs much earlier in life. This necessitates screening of family members at a younger age, and the management is followed by life-long surveillance.
Phycoremediation of contaminated water by cadmium (Cd) using two cyanobacterial strains (Trichormus variabilis and Nostoc muscorum)
Authors: El-Hameed Mona M. Abd , Abuarab Mohamed E. , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Mottaleb Shady Abdel , Bakeer Gomaa A. , Gyasi-Agyei Yeboah , Mokhtar Ali
Published: December 2021

Background

Water pollution with heavy metals is a severe dilemma that concerns the whole world related to its risk to natural ecosystems and human health. The main objective was to evaluate the removal efficiency of Cd of various concentrations from contaminated aqueous solution by use of two cyanobacterial strains (Nostoc muscorum and Trichormus variabilis). For this purpose, a specially designed laboratory pilot-scale experiment was conducted using these two cyanobacterial strains on four different initial concentrations of Cd (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg L−1) for 21 days.

Results

N. muscorum was more efficient than T. variabilis for removing Cd (II), with the optimum value of residual Cd of 0.033 mg L−1 achieved by N. muscorum after 21 days with initial concentration of 0.5 mg L−1, translating to removal efficiency of 93.4%, while the residual Cd (II) achieved by T. variabilis under the same conditions was 0.054 mg L−1 (89.13% removal efficiency). Algal growth parameters and photosynthetic pigments were estimated for both cyanobacterial strains throughout the incubation period.

Conclusions

High Cd concentration had a more toxic impact on algal growth. The outcomes of this study will help to produce treated water that could be reused in agrarian activities.
Hindrances in port digitalization? Identifying problems in adoption and implementation
Authors: Brunila Olli-Pekka , Kunnaala-Hyrkki Vappu , Inkinen Tommi
Published: December 2021

Digitalization has an impact on all domains of maritime transport and logistics. Ports’ ability to act as a part of digital networks and information chains is vital for its competitiveness. This requires means and prerequisites to integrate with contemporary technology platforms and system architectures. Such readiness should exist in different parallel processes taking place in organizations of port communities. Successful digitalization requires focused technology management ensuring system and data transfer interoperability. The paper addresses problems, obstacles, and hindrances that ports are currently facing in their digitalization efforts. Interoperability and stakeholder interaction is significant, particularly between the port management, municipal ownership, and business operators and vendors. In the contemporary port development, environmental regulations have an effect on the level and effectiveness of digitalization. The future development of port digitalization will be dependent on the port capabilities to adopt and implement reliable and adoptable technologies with clear vision of the future.
Combining heterogeneous subgroups with graph-structured variable selection priors for Cox regression
Authors: Madjar Katrin , Zucknick Manuela , Ickstadt Katja , Rahnenführer Jörg
Published: December 2021

Background

Important objectives in cancer research are the prediction of a patient’s risk based on molecular measurements such as gene expression data and the identification of new prognostic biomarkers (e.g. genes). In clinical practice, this is often challenging because patient cohorts are typically small and can be heterogeneous. In classical subgroup analysis, a separate prediction model is fitted using only the data of one specific cohort. However, this can lead to a loss of power when the sample size is small. Simple pooling of all cohorts, on the other hand, can lead to biased results, especially when the cohorts are heterogeneous.

Results

We propose a new Bayesian approach suitable for continuous molecular measurements and survival outcome that identifies the important predictors and provides a separate risk prediction model for each cohort. It allows sharing information between cohorts to increase power by assuming a graph linking predictors within and across different cohorts. The graph helps to identify pathways of functionally related genes and genes that are simultaneously prognostic in different cohorts.

Conclusions

Results demonstrate that our proposed approach is superior to the standard approaches in terms of prediction performance and increased power in variable selection when the sample size is small.
Genome-wide characterization, evolution, structure, and expression analysis of the F-box genes in Caenorhabditis
Authors: Wang Ailan , Chen Wei , Tao Shiheng
Published: December 2021

Background

F-box proteins represent a diverse class of adaptor proteins of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) that play critical roles in the cell cycle, signal transduction, and immune response by removing or modifying cellular regulators. Among closely related organisms of the Caenorhabditis genus, remarkable divergence in F-box gene copy numbers was caused by sizeable species-specific expansion and contraction. Although F-box gene number expansion plays a vital role in shaping genomic diversity, little is known about molecular evolutionary mechanisms responsible for substantial differences in gene number of F-box genes and their functional diversification in Caenorhabditis. Here, we performed a comprehensive evolution and underlying mechanism analysis of F-box genes in five species of Caenorhabditis genus, including C. brenneri, C. briggsae, C. elegans, C. japonica, and C. remanei.

Results

Herein, we identified and characterized 594, 192, 377, 39, 1426 F-box homologs encoding putative F-box proteins in the genome of C. brenneri, C. briggsae, C. elegans, C. japonica, and C. remanei, respectively. Our work suggested that extensive species-specific tandem duplication followed by a small amount of gene loss was the primary mechanism responsible for F-box gene number divergence in Caenorhabditis genus. After F-box gene duplication events occurred, multiple mechanisms have contributed to gene structure divergence, including exon/intron gain/loss, exonization/pseudoexonization, exon/intron boundaries alteration, exon splits, and intron elongation by tandem repeats. Based on high-throughput RNA sequencing data analysis, we proposed that F-box gene functions have diversified by sub-functionalization through highly divergent stage-specific expression patterns in Caenorhabditis species.

Conclusions

Massive species-specific tandem duplications and occasional gene loss drove the rapid evolution of the F-box gene family in Caenorhabditis, leading to complex gene structural variation and diversified functions affecting growth and development within and among Caenorhabditis species. In summary, our findings outline the evolution of F-box genes in the Caenorhabditis genome and lay the foundation for future functional studies.
Longitudinal alterations of the cisternal segment of trigeminal nerve and brain pain-matrix regions in patients with trigeminal neuralgia before and after treatment
Authors: Chen Tai-Yuan , Ko Ching-Chung , Wu Te-Chang , Lin Li-Ching , Shih Yun-Ju , Hung Yi-Chieh , Chou Ming-Chung
Published: December 2021

Background

Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is the most common type of chronic neuropathic facial pain, but the etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms after treatment are still not well understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal changes of the cisternal segment of the trigeminal nerve and brain pain-related regions in patients with TN before and after treatment using readout segmentation of long variable echo-train (RESOLVE) diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and transverse relaxation (T2)-weighted sampling perfection with application-optimized contrast at different flip angle evolutions (T2-SPACE).

Methods

Twelve patients with TN and four healthy controls were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent assessment of the visual analog scale (VAS), and acquisition of RESOLVE DTI and T2-SPACE images before and at 1, 6, and 12 months after treatments. Regions-of-interest were placed on the bilateral anterior, middle, and posterior parts of the cisternal segment of the trigeminal nerve, the bilateral root entry zone (REZ), bilateral nuclear zone, and the center of pontocerebellar tracts, respectively. Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis was conducted with T2-SPACE images, and gray matter volumes (GMV) were measured from brain pain-matrix regions.

Results

The results demonstrated that the VAS scores, the axial diffusivity of the middle part of the affected cisternal trigeminal nerve, the fractional anisotropy of the bilateral nuclear zones, and the mean diffusivity of the center of pontocerebellar tract significantly changed over time before and after treatment. The changes of GMV in the pain-matrix regions exhibited similar trends to the VAS before and after treatment.

Conclusion

We conclude that magnetic resonance imaging with RESOLVE DTI and VBM with T2-SPACE images were helpful in the understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms in patients with TN before and after treatment.
Response to Revisiting: “Prevalence of and factors associated with sarcopenia among multi-ethnic ambulatory older Asians with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a primary care setting”
Authors: Fung Foon Yin , Tan Ngiap Chuan
Published: December 2021

To address and clarify the concerns of fellow researchers of “Revisiting: “Prevalence of and factors associated with sarcopenia among multi-ethnic ambulatory older Asians with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a primary care setting”. While chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may be a contributing factor, it is our study limitation to capture a significant number of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease for analyses. Also, ethnicity is not associated with sarcopenia.
Satisfaction with life among university students from nine countries: Cross-national study during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Rogowska Aleksandra M. , Ochnik Dominika , Kuśnierz Cezary , Jakubiak Monika , Schütz Astrid , Held Marco J. , Arzenšek Ana , Benatov Joy , Berger Rony , Korchagina Elena V. , Pavlova Iuliia , Blažková Ivana , Konečná Zdeňka , Aslan Imran , Çınar Orhan , Cuero-Acosta Yonni Angel
Published: December 2021

Background

A cross-sectional study was performed to examine life satisfaction differences between university students from nine countries during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-national comparison of the association between life satisfaction and a set of variables was also conducted.

Methods

Participants in the study were 2349 university students with a mean age of 23 years (M = 23.15, SD = 4.66). There was a predominance of women (69.26%) and individuals studying at the bachelor level (78%). The research was conducted between May and July 2020 in nine countries: Slovenia (n=209), the Czech Republic (Czechia)(n=308), Germany (n=267), Poland (n=301), Ukraine (n=310), Russia (n=285), Turkey (n=310), Israel (n=199), and Colombia (n=153). Participants completed an online survey involving measures of satisfaction with life (SWLS), exposure to COVID-19, perceived negative impact of coronavirus (PNIC) on students' well-being, general self-reported health (GSRH), physical activity (PA), and some demographics (gender, place of residence, level of study). A one-way ANOVA was used to explore cross-national differences in life satisfaction. The χ2 independence test was performed separately in each country to examine associations between life satisfaction and other variables. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to identify life satisfaction predictors among a set of demographic and health-related variables in each of the nine countries.

Results

The level of life satisfaction varied between university students from the nine countries. The results for life satisfaction and the other variables differed between countries. Numerous associations were noted between satisfaction with life and several variables, and these showed cross-national differences. Distinct predictors of life satisfaction were observed for each country. However, poor self-rated physical health was a predictor of low life satisfaction independent of the country.

Conclusions

The association between life satisfaction and subjective assessment of physical health seems to be universal, while the other variables are related to cross-cultural differences. Special public health attention should be focused on psychologically supporting people who do not feel healthy.
Efficacy of antifibrotic drugs, nintedanib and pirfenidone, in treatment of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in both idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and non-IPF: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Finnerty James Patrick , Ponnuswamy Aravind , Dutta Prosjenjit , Abdelaziz Ammar , Kamil Hafiz
Published: December 2021

Background

Research questions To compare the efficacy of nintedanib and pirfenidone in the treatment of progressive pulmonary fibrosis; and to compare the efficacy of anti-fibrotic therapy (grouping nintedanib and pirfenidone together) in patients with IPF versus patients with progressive lung fibrosis not classified as IPF.

Study design and methods

A search of databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and clinicaltrials.gov was conducted. Studies were included if they were randomised controlled trials of pirfenidone or nintedanib in adult patients with IPF or non-IPF patients, and with extractable data on mortality or decline in forced vital capacity (FVC). Random effects meta-analyses were performed on changes in FVC and where possible on mortality in the selected studies.

Results

13 trials of antifibrotic therapy were pooled in a meta-analysis (with pirfenidone and nintedanib considered together as anti-fibrotic therapy). The change in FVC was expressed as a standardised difference to allow pooling of percentage and absolute changes. The mean effect size in the IPF studies was − 0.305 (SE 0.043) (p < 0.001) and in the non-IPF studies the figures were − 0.307 (SE 0.063) (p < 0.001). There was no evidence of any difference between the two groups for standardised rate of FVC decline (p = 0.979). Pooling IPF and non-IPF showed a significant reduction in mortality, with mean risk ratio of 07.01 in favour of antifibrotic therapy (p = 0.008). A separate analysis restricted to non-IPF did not show a significant reduction in mortality (risk ratio 0.908 (0.547 to 1.508), p = 0.71.

Interpretation

Anti-fibrotic therapy offers protection against the rate of decline in FVC in progressive lung fibrosis, with similar efficacy shown between the two anti-fibrotic agents currently in clinical use. There was no significant difference in efficacy of antifibrotic therapy whether the underlying condition was IPF or non-IPF with progressive fibrosis, supporting the hypothesis of a common pathogenesis. The data in this analysis was insufficient to be confident about a reduction in mortality in non-IPF with anti-fibrotic therapy.

Trial Registration PROSPERO, registration number CRD42021266046.
Chloroplast genome sequencing based on genome skimming for identification of Eriobotryae Folium
Authors: Li Fang , Xie Xuena , Huang Rong , Tian Enwei , Li Chan , Chao Zhi
Published: December 2021

Background

Whole chloroplast genome (cpDNA) sequence is becoming widely used in the phylogenetic studies of plant and species identification, but in most cases the cpDNA were acquired from silica gel dried fresh leaves. So far few reports have been available to describe cpDNA acquisition from crude drugs derived from plant materials, the DNA of which usually was seriously damaged during their processing. In this study, we retrieved cpDNA from the commonly used crude drug Eriobotryae Folium (Pipaye in Chinese, which is the dried leaves of Eriobotrya japonica, PPY) using genome skimming technique.

Results

We successfully recovered cpDNA sequences and rDNA sequences from the crude drug PPY, and bioinformatics analysis showed a high overall consistency between the cpDNA obtained from the crude drugs and fresh samples. In the ML tree, each species formed distinct monophyletic clades based on cpDNA sequence data, while the phylogenetic relationships between Eriobotrya species were poorly resolved based on ITS and ITS2.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that both cpDNA and ITS/ITS2 are effective for identifying PPY and its counterfeits derived from distantly related species (i.e. Dillenia turbinata and Magnolia grandiflora), but cpDNA is more effective for distinguishing the counterfeits derived from the close relatives of Eriobotrya japonica, suggesting the potential of genome skimming for retrieving cpDNA from crude drugs used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for their identification.
Menstrual characteristics, menstrual anxiety and school attendance among adolescents in Uganda: a longitudinal study
Authors: Tanton Clare , Nakuya Kevin , Kansiime Catherine , Hytti Laura , Torondel Belen , Francis Suzanna C. , Namirembe Prossy , Nakalema Shamirah , Nalugya Ruth , Musoke Saidat Namuli , Neema Stella , Ross David A. , Bonell Chris , Seeley Janet , Weiss Helen A.
Published: December 2021

Background

Qualitative data show negative impacts of menstruation on health and education in many settings, but there are few longitudinal quantitative studies of the impact of menstruation. We analyse associations with menstrual anxiety and school attendance in a study of Ugandan secondary school students.

Methods

Data were from a longitudinal pilot study of a menstrual health intervention (MENISCUS), conducted in two secondary schools in Entebbe sub-district, Uganda. Self-completed menstrual-related data, including menstrual anxiety, were collected from 232 participants pre- and post-intervention. A sub-cohort of 100 randomly-selected post-menarcheal girls were asked to self-complete daily diaries during 10 months of follow-up, with data on menstrual flow, pain, and school attendance. We used multivariable logistic regression to estimate associations with menstrual anxiety among all girls at baseline, and random-effects logistic regression to estimate associations of menstrual characteristics with school non-attendance for 3 months pre-intervention in the sub-cohort, adjusting for within-girl clustering.

Results

Overall, 130/222 (58.6%) of menstruating girls reported being anxious about their next period. Menstrual anxiety was higher in those not living with their mother (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.91; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–3.60), believing menstrual myths (aOR = 1.83; 0.95–3.50 for not agreeing that it is healthy for a girl to run, dance or cycle during her period; aOR = 1.97; 1.04–3.73 for agreeing that when a girl has her period she is unclean), lower menstrual confidence (aOR = 2.49; 1.33–4.65 for avoiding physical activity during her period; aOR = 1.68; 0.89–3.17 for not feeling comfortable to talk to other girls about her period; aOR = 2.89; 1.28–6.54 for agreeing that boys/girls tease them about their periods; and aOR = 2.27; 1.21–4.27 for worrying about being teased during her period). Those with lower knowledge about menstruation were less likely to report anxiety (aOR = 0.44; 0.23–0.84). During the pre-intervention period of the sub-cohort, school non-attendance was associated with menstrual pain, with 21.7% of girls missing school on days when they reported pain vs. 8.3% on days when no pain was reported (aOR = 3.82; 1.66–8.77).

Conclusions

Menstruation causes substantial anxiety in Ugandan schoolgirls, and menstrual pain is associated with missing school on period-days. Menstrual health interventions should address socio-cultural aspects of menstruation to reduce anxiety, and provide education on pain management strategies to support school attendance.
Validation of Internal structure of Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale among Indian Medical Students using factor analysis and the Structural equation Modelling Approach
Authors: Kumar Archana Prabu , Omprakash Abirami , Mani Prabu Kumar Chokkalingam , Swaminathan Narasimman , Maheshkumar K. , Maruthy K. N. , Sathiyasekaran B. W. C. , Vijayaraghavan P. V. , Padmavathi R
Published: December 2021

Background

The Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) is a tool that helps in the assessment of the readiness of the students to pursue Self-Directed Learning (SDL). There are no documented studies on the validation of internal structure of the SDLRS among Indian medical students. Hence, the objective of this study is to validate the internal structure of SDLRS among Indian medical students using factor analysis and the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) approach.

Methods

We administered Fisher’s 40-item SDLRS to 750 students after receiving the ethics clearance and the author’s permission and taking written informed consent from all the study participants (response rate: 92%). The exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and Cronbach’s alpha were performed using SPSS version 25 and the Lavaan package of R version 3.1.2.

Results

The values of the comparative fit index (CFI), standardised root-mean-square residual (SRMR), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) were ≥ 0.9, ≤ 0.08, and ≤ 0.08, respectively, for a model fit to be acceptable. EFA showed that except for Q2 (loading score: 0.210), Q12 (loading score: 0.384), Q13 (loading score: 0.362), and Q25 (loading score: -0.219), all the items loaded well. After the exclusion of the aforementioned items, the factor loading scores for the items in the self-management, desire for learning, and self-control factors ranged from 0.405 to 0.753 (Cronbach α: 0.775), 0.396 to 0.616 (Cronbach α: 0.730), and 0.427 to 0.556 (Cronbach α: 0.799), respectively. The updated model was used for CFA, which displayed a good model fit.

Conclusions

The resultant model consisting of 36 items is shown to have internal structure validity for Indian version of SDLRS, which can be used to assess medical students.
For-profit hospitals as anchor institutions in the United States: a study of organizational stability
Authors: Franz Berkeley , Cronin Cory E. , Rodriguez Vanessa , Choyke Kelly , Simon Janet E. , Hall Maxwell T.
Published: December 2021

Background

Anchor institutions, by definition, have a long-term presence within their local communities, but it is uncertain as to whether for-profit hospitals meet this definition; most research on anchor institutions to date has been limited to nonprofit organizations such as hospitals and universities. Accordingly, this study aims to determine whether for-profit hospitals are stable enough to fulfill the role of anchor institutions through a long-term presence in communities which may help to stabilize local economies.

Methods

This longitudinal study analyzes national, secondary data between 2008 and 2017 compiled from the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, the American Hospital Association Annual Survey, and County Health Rankings. We use descriptive statistics to calculate the number of closures and mergers of hospitals of different ownership type, as well as staffing levels. Using logistic regression, we also assessed whether for-profit hospitals had higher odds of closing and merging, controlling for both organization and community factors.

Results

We found for-profit hospitals to be less stable than their public and nonprofit hospital counterparts, experiencing disproportionately more closures and mergers over time, with a multivariable analysis indicating a statistically significant difference. Furthermore, for-profit hospitals have fewer full-time employees relative to their size than hospitals of other ownership types, as well as lower total payroll expenditures.

Conclusions

Study findings suggest that for-profit hospitals operate more efficiently in terms of expenses, but this also may translate into a lower level of economic contributions to the surrounding community through employment and purchasing initiatives. For-profit hospitals may also not have the stability required to serve as long-standing anchor institutions. Future studies should consider whether for-profit hospitals make other types of community investments to offset these deficits and whether policy changes can be employed to encourage anchor activities from local businesses such as hospitals.