bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genotyping of Chlamydia Abortus Using Multiple Loci Variable Number of Tandem Repeats Analysis Technique
Authors: Barati Sara , Bakhtiari Naghmeh Moori , Shokoohizadeh Leili , Gorbanpoor Masoud , Momtaz Hassan
Published: October 2021

Background: The correlation between various factors (geographical region, clinical incidence, and host type) and the genomic heterogeneity has been shown in several bacterial strains including Chlamydia abortus. Methods: The aim of this study was to survey the predominant types of C. abortus strains isolated from ruminants in Iran by the multiple loci variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) method. C. abortus infection was evaluated in a total of 117 aborted fetuses by real-time PCR. The isolation was done via the inoculation of the positive samples in chicken embryo and the L929 cell line. Genotyping was carried out by MLVA typing technique. Results: Forty samples (34.2%) were detected with C. abortus infection; however, chlamydial infection in ruminants of Charmahal/Bakhtiari (3 bovines and 35 sheep) was higher than that of Khuzestan (2 sheep). All MLVA types (MT1-MT8) were detected in the collected samples from Charmahal/Bakhtiari but only 2 types (MT1 and MT3) were reported in samples from Khuzestan. The main MT type was MT1 (32% of samples). Although in this study only 9 cow samples were investigated, they possessed similar clusters to those obtained from sheep (MT1 and MT6).Variation of type in sheep samples (MT1 to MT8) was more than that of bovine samples (MT1, and MT6); this can be attributed to the fact that more samples of sheep were studied as against the bovine samples. Conclusion: Although the difference between the detected same MT types in several animal species or between 2 geographic areas is significant, comprehensive studies are still needed. In Iran, due to traditional intercourse between animals of different provinces, the spread of other types is typically highly probable.
“Beneficial Role of Skim Milk Against Drug Resistant Escherichia Coli Associated With Pediatric Diarrhoea"
Authors: Chellapandi Karuppasamy , Subbarayan Sarathbabu , De Mandal Surajit , Ralte Lalsanglura , Kumar Nachimuthu Senthil , Dutta Tapan Kumar , Sharma Indu
Published: October 2021

Background: Antibiotic-resistance in E. coli is a global issue affecting humans especially the pediatric population. Antibiotic-resistant E. coli is a pathogen frequently pediatric population as well as healthy adults. Methods: This study aimed to examine the antibiotic resistance of E. coli causing pediatric diarrhea and its drug-resistant rates, its adhering abilities to cell line in vitro, and inhibition efficiency of a few selected chemical compounds. Clinical strains were isolated from both the healthy and infected pediatric population of Mizoram. Results: Adhesion is a significant pathogenic process during bacterial infections, which has been employed for pathotyping of DEC by comparing adhesion efficiency in both normal (CHO-k1) and cancer (HeLa) cell lines. E. coli adherent pathotypes were identified by both PCR assay and in-vitro cell adhesion assays; the study also evaluated the adhesion inhibition ability of human skimmed milk, gentamicin, and cephalexin in-vitro. Of all isolates, 20.05% of adherent DEC (EPEC, DAEC, and EIEC) and 11.39 % of non-adherent DEC (STEC and ETEC) were found to be associated with pediatric diarrhoea in Mizoram. Human skimmed milk has a high potential adhesion inhibition against EAEC (50.25/90.90 µg/mL), EPEC (53.42/259.70 µg/mL), and EIEC (59.13/30.30 µg/mL) in both cell lines in comparison with gentamicin and cephalexin. Conclusion: This study concludes that as a dietary supplement- human skimmed milk has high potential to prevent adhesion of DEC pathotypes in cells in-vitro thus in in-vivo.
Facial Expression and Electrodermal Activity Analysis for Continuous Pain Intensity Monitoring On The X-ITE Pain Database
Authors: Othman Ehsan , Werner Philipp , Saxen Frerk , Al-Hamadi Ayoub , Gruss Sascha , Walter Steffen
Published: October 2021

Automatic systems enable continuous monitoring of patients' pain intensity as shown in prior studies. Facial expression and physiological data such as electrodermal activity (EDA) are very informative for pain recognition. The features extracted from EDA indicate the stress and anxiety caused by different levels of pain. In this paper, we investigate using the EDA modality and fusing two modalities (frontal RGB video and EDA) for continuous pain intensity recognition with the X-ITE Pain Database. Further, we compare the performance of automated models before and after reducing the imbalance problem in heat and electrical pain datasets that include phasic (short) and tonic (long) stimuli. We use three distinct real-time methods: A Random Forest (RF) baseline methods [Random Forest classifier (RFc) and Random Forest regression (RFr)], Long-Short Term Memory Network (LSTM), and LSTM using sample weighting method (called LSTM-SW). Experimental results (1) report the first results of continuous pain intensity recognition using EDA data on the X-ITE Pain Database, (2) show that LSTM and LSTM-SW outperform guessing and baseline methods (RFc and RFr), (3) confirm that the electrodermal activity (EDA) with most models is the best, (4) show the fusion of the output of two LSTM models using facial expression and EDA data (called Decision Fusion = DF). The DF improves results further with some datasets (e.g. Heat Phasic Dataset (HTD)).
Comparison of Cumulative Live Birth Rates Per Aspiration IVF/ICSI Cycle Between GnRH Antagonist Protocol and Progesterone-Primed Ovarian Stimulation Protocol for Infertility With Normal Ovarian Reserve: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Ye Hongjuan , Xue Xue , Shi Liya , Qian Ying , Wang Hui , Quan Xinxin , Tian Hui , Xue Songguo , Chen Qiuju , Sun Lihua
Published: October 2021

Background: Oral progestin has been used to prevent premature ovulation during follicle stimulation protocols performed in combination with a freeze-only strategy. However, no studies have determined how oral progestin clinically compares to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists in women with normal ovulation. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of controlled ovarian stimulation between progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol and GnRH antagonist (GnRH-ant) protocol.Methods: Young women with infertility and normal ovarian reserve who underwent in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments were screened and randomly allocated to the PPOS or GnRH-ant group. Women in the PPOS group underwent freeze-all and delayed embryo transfer, whilst fresh embryo transfer was preferred for those in the GnRH-ant group. The primary endpoint was the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR). Secondary endpoints included the incidence of premature luteinising hormone (LH) surge and the number of viable embryos.Results: CLBRs were similar in the PPOS and GnRH-ant group (55.75% vs. 52.87%, respectively, P > 0.05). No premature LH surge was observed during ovarian stimulation in the PPOS group, although six (3.45%) cases were observed in the GnRH-ant group. On the trigger day, LH level was lower in the PPOS group than in the GnRH-ant group (2.30 ± 1.78 mIU/ml vs. 3.66 ± 3.52 mIU/ml, P < 0.01). There were no differences in the number of retrieved oocytes, mature oocytes, or viable embryos between the two groups. Other clinical outcomes including implantation rates (37.27% vs. 36.77%), clinical pregnancy rates (55.75% vs. 55.89%), and miscarriage rates (12.28% vs. 13.76%) were comparable between the PPOS group and GnRH-ant group (P > 0.05). There was also no significant differences in newborn weights for singleton or twin births between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusion: Live birth outcomes are similar for PPOS and GnRH antagonist protocols in women with normal ovarian reserve. PPOS is likely to play a promising role in the freeze-only strategy given its simplicity and convenience for the patient. Trial registration: This trial was registered in the China Clinical Trial Registry on September 6, 2018 (number: ChiCTR1800018246).
External validation and comparison of the Glasgow-Blatchford bleeding score, the Rockall score and the AIMS65 score in upper gastro-intestinal hemorrhage: A cross-sectional observational study in Western Switzerland
Authors: Rivieri Sirio , Carron Pierre-Nicolas , Schoepfer Alain , Ageron Francois-Xavier
Published: October 2021

Background: Upper gastro-intestinal bleeding presents a high incidence in Emergency department. This study aims to externally validate and determine the performance of the Rockall score, the Glasgow-Blatchford bleeding, the modified Glasgow Blatchford score (mGBS) and the AIMS65 score in an Emergency department.Methods: We performed a retrospective cross-sectional observational study between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. We performed Receiver-Operating Characteristic curve and area under the curve (AUROC) to compare discrimination for each scores. The primary outcome was need for intervention or death, including transfusion, endoscopic or surgery intervention. The secondary outcome was in-hospital death.Results: We enrolled 1,521 patients with UIGB. Mean age was 68 [52 – 81] years old, 62 % were men. Melena and/or hematemesis were the most common complain at ED (73%). Primary outcome was positive for 422 patients (27.7%), 76 patients (5%) were positive for our secondary outcome. The Glasgow-Blatchford score and the modified Glasgow-Blatchford score shown the highest area AUROC, respectively 0.774 (95% CI=0.750-0.798) and 0.782 (95% CI=0.759-0.805). AIMS-65 and Pre-endoscopic Rockall score shown lower discrimination, respectively, 0.684 (95% CI=0.657-0.711) and 0.647 (95% CI=0.618-0.675).Conclusion: Regarding our primary outcome, the modified Glasgow-Blatchford score and the Glasgow-Blatchford score presented a good performance. A GBS or mGBS of 0 is safe to rule-out patients with UIGB from ED. Performance of AIMS-65 score and Pre-endoscopic Rockall score were moderate.
Paper Mulberry Fruit Juice: a Novel Biomass Resource For Bioethanol Production
Authors: Ajayo Pleasure Chisom , Huang Mei , Zhao Li , Tian Dong , Jiang Qin , Deng Shihuai , Zeng Yongmei , Shen Fei
Published: October 2021

By way of broadening the use of diverse sustainable bioethanol feedstocks, the potentials of Paper mulberry fruit juice (PMFJ), as a non-food, sugar-based substrate, was for the first time evaluated for fuel ethanol production. Without any external nutrient supplementation, the suitability of PMFJ was proven, as maximum ethanol concentration (56.4 g/L), and yield (0.39 g/g), were achieved within half a day of the start of fermentation, corresponding to a very high ethanol productivity of 4.7 g/L/hr. Using Response Surface Methodology, established potentials were further maximized through statistical optimization of process conditions of temperature (20 – 40 ⁰C), yeast concentration (0.5 – 2 g/L), and pH (4 – 6). At the optimal temperature of 30 ⁰C, inoculum size of 0.55 g/L, and pH of 5, ethanol concentration, productivity, and yield obtained were 73.69 g/L, 4.61 g/L/hr, and 0.48 g/g, respectively. Under this ideal process conditions, bioethanol from PMFJ compares favorably with typical sugar-based energy crops, highlighting its resourcefulness as a high value biomass resource for fuel ethanol production.
Experimental Validation of a Potential Circulating microRNA Panel for Non-Invasive Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Salehi Ali Seyed , Parsa Negar , Roshan-Farzad Farnaz , Behmanesh Ali , Fathi Mohadeseh , aghdaei Hamid Asaszadeh , Shams Roshanak
Published: October 2021

MicroRNA (miRNA) expression dysregulations in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) have been studied widely for their diagnostic and prognostic utility. By the use of Bioinformatics-based methods, in our previous study, we identified some potential miRNA panels for diagnosis of Pancreatic cancer patients from non-cancerous controls (the screening stage). In this report, we used 142 plasma samples from people with and without pancreatic cancer (PC) to conduct RT-qPCR differential expression analysis to assess the strength of the first previously proposed diagnostic panel (consisting of miR-125a-3p, miR-4530 and miR-92a-2-5p). For this aim the research was divided into two phases: testing, and external validation. A total of 92 PC plasma samples and normal controls (NCs) were evaluated in the testing stage to determine the ability of the considered miRNAs to discriminate cancer from non-cancer samples as a panel. Furthermore, in the external validation phase, a group of 25 PC serum samples vs. 25 NCs was employed to validate the diagnostic value of the panel. As the result, we identified significant up-regulation for all the three considered miRNAs in the serum of PC patients. After that, a three-miRNA panel in serum was developed. For the testing, validating and combined stages, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for the panel were 0.850, 0.910 and 0.86 respectively, indicating that it had a higher diagnostic value than individual miRNAs. Therefore, we detected a promising three-miRNA panel in the plasma for non-invasive PC diagnosis (miR-125a-3p, miR-4530 and miR-92a-2-5p).
A Dosimetric Comparison of CT- and Photogrammetry- Generated 3D Printed HDR Brachytherapy Surface Applicators
Authors: Bridger Corey , Reich Paul , Santos Alexandre M Caraça , Douglass Michael J.J
Published: October 2021

In this study, we investigate whether an acceptable dosimetric plan can be obtained for a surface applicator designed using photogrammetry and compare the plan quality to a CT-derived applicator. The nose region of a RANDO anthropomorphic phantom was selected as the treatment site due to its high curvature. Photographs were captured using a Nikon D5600 DSLR camera and reconstructed using Agisoft Metashape while CT data was obtained using a Canon Aquillion scanner. Virtual surface applicators were designed in Blender and printed with ABS plastic. Treatment plans with a prescription dose of 3.85 Gy x 10 fractions with 100 % dose to PTV on the bridge of the nose at 2 mm depth were generated separately using AcurosBV in the Varian BrachyVision TPS. PTV D98%, D90% and V100%, and OAR D0.1cc, D2cc and V50% dose metrics and dwell times were evaluated, with the applicator fit assessed by air-gap volume measurements. Both types of surface applicators were printed with minimal defects and visually fitted well to the target area. The measured air-gap volume between the photogrammetry applicator and phantom surface was 44 % larger than the CT-designed applicator, with a mean air gap thickness of 3.24 and 2.88 mm, respectively. The largest difference in the dose metric observed for the PTV and OAR was the PTV V100% of -1.27 % and skin D0.1cc of -0.28 %. PTV D98% and D90% and OAR D2cc and V50% for the photogrammetry based plan were all within 0.5 % of the CT based plan. Total dwell times were also within 5 %. A 3D printed surface applicator for the nose was successfully constructed using photogrammetry techniques. Although it produced a larger air gap between the surface applicator and phantom surface, a clinically acceptable dose plan was created with similar PTV and OAR dose metrics to the CT-designed applicator. Additional future work is required to comprehensively evaluate its suitability in a clinically environment.
Determinant of Pneumonia Among Children Aged 2-59 Months in Public Health Facilities in Worabe Town, Southern Ethiopia: Facility-Based Case Control Study
Authors: Seramo Roza kumdin , Awol Shikur Mohammed , Wabe Yasin Awol , Ali Musa Mohammed
Published: October 2021

Introduction:

Childhood pneumonia remains a major health problem in developing countries, including Ethiopia with significant morbidity and mortality. The determinants of pneumonia in children under –five years of age children are numerous and vary widely vary across the regions of the world. Taking the significance of the problem and variability of risk factors, a study is needed to identify the potential determinants of pneumonia in children under-five children years of age.
Methods

A facility-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 435 children (145 cases and 290 controls) aged 2-59 months at public health facilities in Worabe town from December 28, 2016 to January 30, 2017. Data were collected with a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire, and entered into Epi info and transferred to SPSS version 22 for analysis. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression was employed with a 95% CI, and a p- value of < 0.05 was used as a determinant of pneumonia.
Results

Among the factors assessed in this study, stunting [AOR=3.6, 95% CI: 1.9-6.9], carrying the child on the back during cooking [AOR= 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2-3.2], absence of chimney in the cooking room [AOR= 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3-3.7], having a history of asthma [AOR= 5.0, 95% CI: 2-12], and a previous upper respiratory tract infection [AOR= 3.7, 95% CI:2.3-6.1] were found to be determinants of pneumonia.
Conclusions

Children with stunting, a previous history of asthma, acute upper respiratory tract infection and carrying the child on back during cooking were at higher risk of pneumonia. Therefore, all health institutions should promote early treatment and provision of health education about the health risk of child exposure to biomass fuel smoke and early health-seeking for childhood illnesses.
Hif1α-Dependent Hypoxia Signaling Contributes to the Survival of Deep-Layer Neurons and Cortex Formation in A Mouse Model
Authors: Sakai Daisuke , Sugawara Takeru , Kurokawa Tomonori , Murakami Yuki , Tomosugi Mitsuhiro , Masuta Hiroko , Sakata-Haga Hiromi , Hatta Toshihisa , Shoji Hiroki
Published: October 2021

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 a (Hif1α) plays a crucial role in brain development. To study the function of Hif1α in early brain development, we generated neuroepithelial cell-specific Hif1α-knockout mice. Hif1α-knockout mice died soon after birth; these mice exhibited an abnormal head shape, indicating the presence of brain defects. Morphological analysis revealed that Hif1α ablation reduced the overall size of the brain, especially affecting the telencephalon. Neuronal apoptosis predominantly occurred in deep-layer neurons, consequently the alignment of cortical layers was severely disorganized in Hif1α knockout mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that Vegf signaling contributes to the survival of deep-layer neurons as a downstream effector of Hif1α-dependent hypoxia signaling. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Hif1α plays a critical role in the early stages of telencephalon development.
Brno University of Technology ECG Signal Database with Annotations of P Wave (BUT PDB)
Authors: Maršánová Lucie , Smíšek Radovan , Němcová Andrea , Smital Lukáš , Vítek Martin
Published: October 2021

Background: Brno University of Technology ECG Signal Database with Annotations of P Wave (BUT PDB) is an ECG signal database with marked peaks of P waves created by the cardiology team at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Brno University of Technology. Results: The database consists of 50 2-minute 2-lead ECG signal records with various types of pathologies. The ECGs were selected from 3 existing databases of ECG signal - MIT-BIH Arrhythmia Database, MIT-BIH Supraventricular Arrhythmia Database and Long Term AF Database. The P waves positions were manually annotated by two ECG experts in all 50 records. Each record contains also dominant diagnosis (pathology) present in the record and annotated positions and types of QRS complexes (from the original database). Conclusion: The database is created for the development, evaluation and objective comparison of P wave detection algorithms.
Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles from Pseudomonas fluorescens and their antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger and Fusarium udum
Authors: Sikka Aneesh , Sodimalla Triveni , NAGARAJU YALAVARTHI
Published: October 2021

In recent years, emerging plant diseases have posed a significant danger to global economies. Fungicide resistance and climate change are the two primary sources of pathogen outbreaks. The silver nanoparticles have been demonstrated to restrain pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and viruses with minimal risk of developing resistance and phytotoxicity. The synthesis of silver nanoparticles via chemical and physical methods raises concerns about environmental safety and production costs. The microbial bio-fabrication of silver nanoparticles is simple, cost-effective, and ready-to-use technology. In the current investigation, we used Pseudomonas fluorescens cell filtrates for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles were characterized using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential (ζ), UV-Vis spectroscopy, SPR analysis, Transmission Electron Microscopy. Both silver nanoparticles and AgNO3 were tested for their ability to inhibit two phytopathogenic fungi, i.e., Fusarium udum and Aspergillus niger. Potent inhibition of mycelial growth was observed when silver nanoparticles were used at a concentration of 150 ppm. However, further research is needed to assess the toxicity of AgNPs before they are mass-produced and used in agricultural applications.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Prosthetic Feet Designed Using the Lower Leg Trajectory Error Framework
Authors: Prost Victor , Johnson W. Brett , Kent Jenny A. , Major Matthew J. , Winter Amos G.
Published: October 2021

The walking pattern and comfort of a person with lower limb amputation are determined by the prosthetic foot’s diverse set of mechanical characteristics. However, most design methodologies are iterative and focus on individual parameters, preventing a holistic design of prosthetic feet for a user’s body size and walking preferences. Here we refined and evaluated the lower leg trajectory error (LLTE) framework, a novel quantitative and predictive design methodology that optimizes the mechanical function of a user’s prosthesis to encourage gait dynamics that match their body size and desired walking pattern. Five people with unilateral below-knee amputation walked over-ground at self-selected speeds using an LLTE-optimized foot made of Nylon 6/6, their daily-use foot, and a standardized commercial energy storage and return (ESR) foot. Using the LLTE feet, target able-bodied kinematics and kinetics were replicated to within 5.2% and 13.9%, respectively, 13.5% closer than with the commercial ESR foot. Additionally, energy return and center of mass propulsion work were 46% and 34% greater compared to the other two prostheses, which could lead to reduced walking effort. Similarly, peak limb loading and flexion moment on the intact leg were reduced by an average of 13.1%, lowering risk of long-term injuries. LLTE-feet were preferred over the commercial ESR foot across all users and preferred over the daily-use feet by two participants. These results suggest that the LLTE framework could be used to design customized, high performance ESR prostheses using low-cost Nylon 6/6 material.
A Possible Correlation between Facet Orientation and Development of Degenerative Cervical Spinal Stenosis
Authors: Wang Yalei , Ning Ning , Liu Hao , Chen Jiali , Wang Beiyu , Abudouaini Haimiti , Xie Jingying
Published: October 2021

Background

Previous studies have demonstrated the relationship between sagittal facet orientation and cervical degenerative spondylolisthesis. However, the associations between facet orientation and cervical spinal stenosis (CSS) have rarely been studied.
Methods

One hundred and twenty patients with CSS (CSS group) and 120 healthy participants (control group) were consecutively enrolled. The cervical facet angles and anteroposterior diameter (A-P diameter) of spinal canal at each subaxial cervical levels were measured using axial magnetic resonance imaging. The intersection angle of the midsagittal line of the vertebra to the facet line represents the orientation of the facet joint.
Results

The facet angles on the right side at C2- C3 and C3-C4 in CSS group and at C2- C3 in control group had significantly higher values than those of the other sides. Besides, the facet angles and A-P diameter of spinal canal in CSS group were significantly smaller than those in control group at all levels (p < 0.05).
Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that patients with CSS have smaller axial cervical facet joint angles compared to the healthy individuals. Further studies are needed to elicit the specific underlying mechanism between sagittalization of the cervical facet joints and the pathology of CSS.
“A place to be safe, feel at home and get better”: Including the experiential knowledge of potential users in the design of the first wet service in Montreal, Canada
Authors: OCHOA ROSSIO MOTTA , Incio-Serra Natalia , Poliquin Hélène , MacDonald Sue-Ann , Huỳnhe Christophe , Côté Philippe-Benoit , Fallu Jean-Sébastien , Flores-Aranda Jorge
Published: October 2021

BackgroundThe harmful use of alcohol is one of the leading health risk factors for people’s health worldwide, but some populations, like people who experience homelessness, are more vulnerable to its detrimental effects. In the past decades, harm reduction interventions that target these complex issues has been developed. For example, wet services include a wide range of arrangements (wet shelters, drop-in centers, transitory housing, etc.) that allow indoor alcohol use and Managed Alcohol Programs provide regulated doses of alcohol in addition to accommodation and services. Although the positive impacts of these interventions have been reported, little is known about how to integrate the knowledge of people experiencing homelessness and alcohol dependence into the design of such programs. The aim of this study is to present the findings of such an attempt in a first wet service in Montreal, Canada. MethodsCommunity based participatory research approach and qualitative methods–including semi-structured interviews and focus groups–were used to collect the knowledge of potential users (n = 34) of the wet service. The data collected was thematically analyzed. ResultsParticipants reported experiencing harsh living conditions, poverty, stigmatization and police harassment, which increased their alcohol use. The intersection between participants’ alcohol dependence and homelessness with the high barriers to access public services translated into their exclusion from several of such services. Participants envisioned Montreal’s wet service as a safe space to drink, a place that would provide multiple services, a home, and a site of recovery. ConclusionsIntegrating the knowledge of potential users into the design of harm reduction interventions is essential to develop better and more adapted services to meet complex needs. We propose that it could fosters users’ engagement and contribute to their sense of empower, which is crucial for a group that is typically discriminated against and suffers from marginalization.
Recovery of Hydrothermal Wustite-Magnetite Spherules from the Central Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean.
Authors: Agarwal Deepak K. , Palayil John Kurian
Published: October 2021

Not many studies have reported the hydrothermal-related origin of the magnetite-bearing spherules, and hardly any literature discusses the hydrothermal-related origin of wustite-magnetite-bearing spherules. A sediment sample with high abundance (19 spherules in ~85 g) of spherules is recovered from Central Indian Ridge (CIR) segment S2 (70°54′E, 25°14′S to 70°50′E, 24°41′S), ~85 km north of Rodrigues triple junction (RTJ). On the external surface of the spherules, magnetite appears as crystals, whereas wustite mostly appears as a homogenous glass phase. These spherules are composed of wustite and magnetite hosting Mn, unlike micrometeorites which essentially hosts Ni. Mn is more heterogeneously distributed with a relatively higher concentration in the wustite phase than the magnetite, suggesting hydrothermal origin. Furthermore, the presence of sulfide nano-particles in the wustite phase and a minor quantity of Pb and S in the ferrihydrite matrix points to the fact that CIR spherules are of hydrothermal origin. We propose that the CIR spherules originated by the interaction of the reduced hydrothermal fluids with the ultramafic/basaltic rocks or silica-undersaturated magmatic melts. The finding of Mn hosting wustite-magnetite assemblage suggests an active hydrothermal system in the near vicinity and can be considered as an additional proxy for locating hydrothermal vents.
Is Removal of the Internal Fixation After Successful Intervertebral Fusion Necessary? A Case–control Study Based on Patient-reported Quality of Life
Authors: Niu Shangbo , Yang Dehong , Ma Yangyang , Lin Shengliang , Xu Xuhao
Published: October 2021

BackgroundIntervertebral fusion and internal fixation are often applied to patients with lumbar spinal disease. Whether to remove the internal fixation after successful fusion remains uncertain, but such a question needs to be explored in light of concerns regarding patients’ quality of life and health insurance. We sought to probe if the removal of internal fixation after successful lumbar intervertebral fusion affects patients’ quality of life.MethodsThis was a real-world retrospective case–control study. Data of 102 patients who had undergone posterior lumbar fusion with cage and internal fixation to treat lumbar degenerative diseases were extracted from a single center from 2012 to 2020. Fifty-one patients had undergone internal fixation removal surgery, and 51 controls who retained internal fixations were matched according to demographic and medical characteristics. The quality of life of patients based on the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) scale and their self-assessment were surveyed.ResultsThere was no statistical difference in the overall score of the SF-36 questionnaire between the two groups, but the general health (GH) subscore was lower in the case group than in the control group (P = 0.0284). Among those patients who underwent internal fixation removal, the quality of life was improved after instrument removal as indicated by an increased overall score (P = 0.0040), physical functioning (PF) (P = 0.0045), and bodily pain (BP) (P = 0.0008). Among patients with pre-surgery discomfort, instrument removal generated better outcomes in 25% and poor outcomes in 4.2%. Among patients without pre-surgery discomfort, instrument removal generated better outcomes in 7.4% and poor outcomes in 11.1%.Conclusion﻿Among patients who achieved successful posterior lumbar internal fixation, whether or not to remove the fixation instruments should be evaluated carefully. In patients experiencing discomfort, instrument removal could improve their quality of life, but the benefits and risks should be comprehensively explained to these patients. Instrument removal should not be routinely performed due to its limited or even negative effect in patients who do not report discomfort before surgery.
Tapered wedge stems decrease early postoperative subsidence following cementless total hip arthroplasty in Dorr type C femurs compared to fit-and-fill stems
Authors: Ikemura Satoshi , Motomura Goro , Hamai Satoshi , Fujii Masanori , Kawahara Shinya , Sato Taishi , Hara Daisuke , Shiomoto Kyohei , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: October 2021

Background: To compare the degree of stem subsidence between two different femoral component designs and to determine the risk factors associated with stem subsidence after cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) in Dorr type C femurs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 91 consecutive hips in 87 patients with Dorr type C proximal femoral morphology who underwent primary cementless THA using a fit-and-fill stem or a tapered wedge femoral stem at our institution between January 2013 and June 2020. A fit-and-fill stem was used in 48 hips and a tapered wedge stem was used in 43 hips. Radiologically, the distance between the apex of the major trochanter and the stem shoulder were measured at three different time points (immediately [0W], one week [1W], and six weeks [6W] after surgery) and the degrees of stem subsidence were assessed by comparing the distance between 0W and 1W, 1W and 6W, and 0W and 6W, respectively. Results: The mean degree of stem subsidence (0W vs. 1W) was 0.25 mm (standard deviation [SD] 0.58) in the fit-and-fill stem group, and 0.24 mm (SD 0.43) in the tapered wedge stem group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P = 0.4493). However, the mean degrees of subsidence were significantly higher in the fit-and-fill stem group (1W vs. 6W, 0.38 mm [SD 0.81]; 0W vs. 6W, 0.64 mm [SD 1.17]) than in the tapered wedge stem group (1W vs. 6W, 0.17 mm [SD 0.29]; 0W vs. 6W, 0.25 mm [SD 0.35]) (P < 0.05 for both). In addition, the rates of >3 mm subsidence (in which instability can be observed) were 16.7% (8 of 48 hips) and 2.3% (1 of 43 hips), respectively. There was also a significant difference between the two stems (P = 0.0324). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that higher age and fit-and-fill stem were risk factors for >3 mm subsidence after THA in Dorr type C femurs (P = 0.0396 and 0.0227, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the tapered wedge stem is more suitable for Dorr type C femurs than the fit-and-fill stem to avoid early postoperative subsidence in cementless THA.
Plasma Levels of Bactericidal/Permeability-Increasing Protein Correlate with Systemic Inflammation in Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Yu Shicheng , Li Zheng , Li Miaonan , Xu Pan , Zhang Nana , Tian Yuan , Qian Fudong , Wang Hongju
Published: October 2021

Background: Neutrophils play important roles in atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is mainly expressed in the granules of human neutrophils in response to inflammatory stress. This observational, cross-sectional study investigated the plasma level of BPI in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and its correlation with blood neutrophil counts and circulating inflammatory biomarkers.Methods: A total of 367 patients who had acute chest pain and who were admitted to our hospital for coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from May 1, 2020 to August 31, 2020 were recruited. Among them, 256 had a cardiac troponin value above the 99th percentile upper reference limit and were diagnosed with ACS. The remaining patients (n = 111) were classified as non-ACS. The TIMI and GRACE scores were calculated at admission. The Gensini score based on CAG was used to determine atherosclerotic burden. Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, myeloperoxidase-DNA (MPO-DNA), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), S100A8/A9, and BPI were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Correlations of plasma BPI levels with examination scores and levels of circulating inflammatory biomarkers were explored. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the diagnostic efficacy of BPI for ACS and myocardial infarction. Results: Patients in the ACS group showed significantly higher plasma BPI levels compared to the non-ACS group (46.42 ± 16.61 vs. 16.23 ± 13.19 ng/mL, p < 0.05). Plasma levels of IL-1β, MPO-DNA, hs-CRP, and S100A8/A9 in the ACS group were also significantly higher than those in the non-ACS group (all p < 0.05). In addition, plasma BPI levels were positively correlated with the TIMI, GRACE, and Gensini scores (r = 0.176, p = 0.003; r = 0.320, p < 0.001; r = 0.263, p < 0.001, respectively) in patients with ACS. Plasma BPI levels were also positively correlated with blood neutrophil counts (r = 0.266, p < 0.001) and levels of circulating inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1β, r = 0.512; MPO-DNA, r = 0.452; hs-CRP, r = 0.554; S100A8/A9, r = 0.434; all p < 0.001) in patients with ACS. ROC curve analysis revealed that the diagnostic efficacy of BPI for ACS was not inferior to that of IL-1β, MPO-DNA, hs-CRP, S100A8/A9, or blood neutrophil counts. ROC analysis also showed that the diagnostic efficacy of BPI for myocardial infarction was not inferior to that of creatine kinase (CK)-MB or cardiac troponin I.Conclusion: BPI is associated with systemic inflammation in ACS and may be involved in the process of atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. The potential of BPI as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker for ACS should be investigated in clinical settings.
Soil Quality Indicators in Conventional and Conservation Tillage Systems in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Pinto Luiz Alberto da Silva Rodrigues , de Lima Sandra Santana , Silva Cristiane Figueira da , Gonçalves Rafael Gomes da Mota , Morais Igor de Sousa , Ferreira Robert , Junior Wanderson Farias da Silva , Torres José Luiz Rodrigues , Pereira Marcos Gervasio
Published: October 2021

Conventional and conservation tillage systems can alter soil aggregation and total and labile soil organic matter (SOM) contents. This study aimed to determine the degree of soil aggregation, quantify total carbon (TC), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), light organic matter (LOM), and potentially mineralizable carbon (CO2-C) contents in soils aggregates, and assess soil quality indices at sites under conventional and conservation tillage in the Cerrado region of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Four experimental areas were analyzed: a area under conventional tillage for 20 years, a area under no-till for 6 years, a area under no-till for 18 years, and a reference area of undisturbed Cerrado vegetation. Soil aggregates retained on 8.0 to 4.0 mm sieves were evaluated for size class distribution and mean weight diameter. TC, POXC, LOM, daily and total CO2-C emissions were also analyzed. These data were used to calculate the C/N ratio and sensitivity, carbon pool, and lability indices. The results of SOM compartments were in agreement with those obtained for the soil aggregation status. Environmental conditions at no-till areas promoted macroaggregate formation and preserved TC and LOM contents, resulting in a high degree of aggregate stability. Soil quality indices were sensitive to identify changes between the reference area and managed areas. Soil aggregates from no-till areas had higher CO2-C emissions and accumulations than those from the conventional tillage area.
Risk Factors and Prognostic Significance of Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Patients with Clinically Suspected Lateral Lymph Node Metastasis
Authors: Zhou Sicheng , Jiang Yujuan , Pei Wei , Liang Jianwei , Zhou Zhixiang
Published: October 2021

Aim It is still controversial whether the addition of lateral pelvic lymph node (LPN) dissection (LPND) to total mesorectal excision (TME) can provide a survival benefit after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) in rectal cancer patients with pathological lateral lymph node metastasis (LPNM).Methods Patients with clinically suspected LPNM who underwent nCRT followed by TME+LPND were systematically reviewed and divided into the positive LPN group (n=15) and the negative LPN group (n=58). Baseline characteristics, clinicopathological data and survival outcomes were collected and analysed.Results Of the 73 patients undergoing TME+LPND after nCRT, the pathological LPNM rate was 20.5% (15/73). Multivariate analysis showed that a post-nCRT LPN size ≥7 mm (OR: 55.43; 95% CI, 4.24-724.42; P=0.002) and lymphatic invasion (OR: 11.81; 95% CI, 1.75-79.59; P=0.011) were independent risk factors for pathological LPNM. The overall recurrence rate of patients with LPNM was significantly higher than that of patients without LPNM (60.0% vs 27.6%, P=0.018). Multivariate regression analysis identified that LPNM was an independent risk factor not only for overall survival (OS) (HR: 3.82; 95% CI, 1.19-12.25; P=0.024) but also for disease-free survival (DFS) (HR: 2.50; 95% CI, 1.05-5.92; P=0.038). Moreover, N1-N2 stage was another independent risk factor for OS (HR: 7.41; 95% CI, 1.63-33.75; P=0.010).Conclusions Post-nCRT LPN size ≥7 mm and lymphatic invasion were risk factors for pathological LPNM after nCRT. Furthermore, even if TME+LPND is performed after nCRT, patients with pathological LPNM still show an elevated overall recurrence rate and poor prognosis.Statement：For patients with pathological LPNM, whether the employment of nCRT can reduce the local recurrence rate and improve survival is still not clear. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for LPNM and investigate the oncological outcomes and prognostic values.
Spatio-temporal patterns of malaria in Nepal from 2005 to 2018: a country progressing towards malaria elimination
Authors: Bhattarai Shreejana , Blackburn Jason K. , McKune Sarah L. , Ryan Sadie Jane
Published: October 2021

Background

Nepal is attempting to eliminate malaria by 2026. Despite decreased malaria burden in Nepal between 2004 and 2018, studies have shown that some malaria indicators are increasing in certain parts of the country and that malaria has shifted to previously non-endemic areas. The objective of this study is to analyze the spatio-temporal patterns of malaria in Nepal from 2005 to 2018, following the introduction of Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) as vector control intervention.

Methods

Data describing five different malaria indicators were obtained from annual reports of the Department of Health Services of the Government of Nepal: incidence of Indigenous Malaria, Imported Malaria, PV ( Plasmodium vivax) Malaria, PF ( Plasmodium falciparum) Malaria, and Total Malaria. Spatial variation in temporal trend method was employed in SaTScan software to detect the unusually high or low temporal trends of malaria indicators, and to generate their spatio-temporal clusters.

Results

All five indicators revealed spatiotemporal clusters of increasing malaria. Indigenous Malaria increased by 113.71% in a cluster of three mountainous districts where malaria was previously non-endemic. Most clusters of Imported Malaria had an increasing trend. The most prominent cluster included Kathmandu, the capital, where Imported Malaria increased by 156.22%. PV and PF Malaria also had clusters with an increasing trend. There were two clusters of Total Malaria with an increasing trend. Even though some clusters had decreasing trends in malaria indicators, the rate of decrease incidence in the clusters was lower than that outside the clusters.

Conclusion

The overall malaria burden is decreasing in Nepal as the country progresses closer to the elimination deadline. However, several spatiotemporal clusters showed increasing trends of malaria incidence. Furthermore, in clusters where a decreasing incidence trend was observed, the rate of decrease was far lower than the rate outside the cluster. Thus, it is necessary to focus vector control interventions in all these clusters. This information can help public health officials to make decisions for implementing vector control interventions to successfully eliminate malaria form the country.
Six-Week Actual Use Study to Evaluate the Impact of Oral Tobacco-Derived Nicotine Pouches on Cigarette Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco Product Use Behaviors
Authors: McCaffrey Stacey , Lewis Jennifer , Becker Elizabeth , Vansickel Andrea , Larson Elsa , Sarkar Mohamadi
Published: October 2021

Background Oral tobacco-derived nicotine (OTDN) products are a rapidly emerging, innovative category of noncombustible tobacco products. These products are tobacco-leaf free and do not contain or generate many of the harmful and potentially harmful constituents (HPHCs) found in combustible cigarettes or smokeless tobacco (ST) products. OTDN products may therefore offer adult tobacco consumers a potentially reduced harm alternative. However, little is known about OTDN product use patterns or their ability to substitute for more harmful tobacco products.Methods We conducted an open-label, 2-phase, actual use study designed to characterize OTDN pouch product (on!® nicotine pouches - NP) use patterns, including impact on other tobacco use behaviors among adult tobacco consumers interested in using NP. Adult current cigarette smokers (AS) and/or adult ST users (ASTU) (n = 1,147 complete) who were not planning to quit were offered free choice of a portfolio of NP (seven flavors at five nicotine levels) to use at-home, ad-libitum, for 6-weeks following an initial 5-day trial. Participants responded to daily electronic surveys that captured the amount, frequency, and topography (e.g., time in mouth, placement in mouth) of NP and other tobacco product use. Results The majority (99 to 100%) of study participants used NP throughout the 6-week period. Participants used ~5-6 pouches/day of a variety of flavors and nicotine levels. At the end of 6 weeks, a modest proportion of AS (27%) and a substantial proportion of ASTU (71%) reported no use of cigarettes or ST respectively, while reporting continued use of NPs. Additionally, 39% of AS and 14% of ASTU reduced daily consumption of cigarettes or ST products, respectively by 50-99%. Conclusions Participants found NPs acceptable with a sizeable proportion completely switching away from or substantially reducing (50-99%) their cigarette or ST consumption by week 6. Availability of a variety of flavors and nicotine levels appeared to facilitate the conversion to NP. These data suggest that, under the conditions of the study, NP can be a potential substitute for cigarettes or ST products and may offer harm reduction potential for adult smokers and smokeless tobacco users not interested in quitting.Trial Registration Note: This study is an observational study with tobacco products currently available in the marketplace for adult tobacco consumers. Since there is no intervention per se and we did not collect any biosamples this is not a “clinical study” and there is no appropriate registry for such behavioral observational studies, we do not believe that this requirement is applicable.
Research on a Classification Method of Crop Planting Structures Based on Indexes and an Improved U-Net Network
Authors: Li Weidong , Meng Fanqian
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a method for extracting crop planting structures based on indexes, image fusions and an improved U-Net deep semantic segmentation network; this method can automatically and accurately extract multiple types of information regarding crop planting structures. Taking the Landsat 8 commercial multispectral satellite dataset as an example, three indexes are used to highlight the characteristics of vegetation, water and soil. The GS method is used to combine the indexes to fuse panchromatic bands and obtain 15-m high-resolution fused images, and the images are sliced to obtain training sets and test sets of images. When using different combinations of index-fused images and the improved U-Net network to classify the test set data, the overall accuracy rate reaches more than 92.4%, and the accuracy rate of the crop planting structure (wheat, cotton, and woodland) reaches up to 94.2%. The results showed that the participation of AWEI in the image synthesis process can significantly improve the classification effect of the crop planting structure by more than 1.2%, and the kappa coefficient of the NDVI-AWEI method reaches 0.886; thus, this method is the most stable and suitable for actual production. This method can assist relevant enterprises in adjusting and optimizing their regional planting structures, in the intelligent allocation of irrigation water and in other related decisions.