bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The associations between TMAO-related metabolites and blood lipids and the potential impact of rosuvastatin therapy
Authors: Xiong Xiaowei , Zhou Jian , Fu Qiang , Xu Xiaowei , Wei Shaobin , Yang Shenghua , Chen Buxing
Published: July 2022

Background

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO)-related metabolites are associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and are known to disrupt lipid metabolism. The aims of this study were to evaluate the associations between TMAO-related metabolites and blood lipids and determine how lowering the lipid profile via rosuvastatin therapy influences TMAO-related metabolites.

Methods

A total of 112 patients with suspected ASCVD were enrolled in this study. The levels of plasma TMAO-related metabolites, including TMAO, choline, carnitine, betaine, and γ-butyrobetaine (GBB), were analyzed by stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) before and after rosuvastatin therapy in all patients. Statistical methods were used to detect the associations between TMAO-related metabolites and blood lipids and determine how rosuvastatin therapy alters the levels of these metabolites.

Results

A significant positive correlation was found between TMAO and triglycerides (TG) (r = 0.303, P < 0.05). Furthermore, significant negative correlations were found between TMAO and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) and between betaine and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (r = − 0.405 and − 0.308, respectively, both P < 0.01). Compared to baseline, significantly lower TMAO levels and higher carnitine, betaine and GBB levels were observed after rosuvastatin therapy, while the lipids decreased significantly (P < 0.05). The significant correlation between TMAO and TG or between betaine and LDL-c disappeared after rosuvastatin therapy (r = 0.050 and − 0.172, respectively, both P > 0.05). However, a significantly positive association between carnitine and TC and a negative association between carnitine and LDL-c or between betaine and TG were found after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and lipids (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study suggests that TMAO-related metabolites are significantly associated with blood lipids, although some of them are changed postrosuvastatin therapy. Lower TMAO and higher TMAO precursors were observed after rosuvastatin therapy compared to baseline. This study indicates that elevated TMAO precursors after rosuvastatin therapy and their potential impact on ASCVD should be considered in the clinic.
Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio as a potential marker for differential diagnosis between spinal tuberculosis and pyogenic spinal infection
Authors: Liu Hao , Li Yin , Yi Jiang , Zhou Wei , Zhao Shujie , Yin Guoyong
Published: July 2022

Objective

Distinguishing spinal tuberculosis and pyogenic spinal infection is extremely important. The neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a simple indicator, has been shown to be a novel inflammatory marker. The objective of our study was to determine whether the NLR could be a potential indicator for discriminating spinal tuberculosis (STB) from pyogenic spinal infection (PSI).

Methods

We compared the clinical and laboratory characteristics of 146 patients diagnosed with STB and 60 participants with PSI from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The NLR's diagnostic ability for differential diagnosis was assessed and compared to other hematological indicators, including the platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR).

Results

The NLR in STB patients was considerably lower than that in PSI patients [3.85 (2.70–5.71) vs. 10.82 (6.79–17.62), P < 0.001]. An NLR of 6.742 was proposed as an optimal cutoff value for distinguishing patients with STB from those with PSI (sensitivity 78.33%, specificity 83.56%). However, the NLR's area under the curve [0.87, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81–0.92] was considerably higher than that of the PLR (0.73, 95% CI 0.65–0.80; P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

NLR levels could be a valuable laboratory diagnostic for distinguishing patients with STB from those who have PSI.
The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt): shielding against toxicity to mitochondria in cancer
Authors: Inigo Joseph R. , Chandra Dhyan
Published: July 2022

Mitochondria are essential for tumor growth and progression. However, the heavy demand for mitochondrial activity in cancer leads to increased production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), accumulation of mutations in mitochondrial DNA, and development of mitochondrial dysfunction. If left unchecked, excessive mtROS can damage and unfold proteins in the mitochondria to an extent that becomes lethal to the tumor. Cellular systems have evolved to combat mtROS and alleviate mitochondrial stress through a quality control mechanism called the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt). The UPRmtsystem is composed of chaperones and proteases, which promote protein folding or eliminate mitochondrial proteins damaged by mtROS, respectively. UPRmtis conserved and activated in cancer in response to mitochondrial stress to maintain mitochondrial integrity and support tumor growth. In this review, we discuss how mitochondria become dysfunctional in cancer and highlight the tumor-promoting functions of key components of the UPRmt.
A novel initial wiring technique for chronic total occlusion of the superficial femoral artery using the structural features of a polymer jacket guidewire
Authors: Karashima Eiji , Soga Yoshimitsu , Arima Takeshi , Noda Hirotaka , Yasuda Shioto , Kaneko Takeo
Published: July 2022

Background

To evaluate the efficacy of the GLadIus MG drilLINg technique (GLIMGLIN), a novel initial wiring technique using the Gladius MG™ structural features, for crossing the superficial femoral artery (SFA) with chronic total occlusion (CTO).

Methods

This retrospective, single-center study enrolled 27 symptomatic patients (mean age 77.4 ± 8.5 years; 20 men) with de novo SFA CTO (mean CTO length 16.1 ± 8.9 cm) who underwent GLIMGLIN as the initial wiring between January 2020 and December 2021. The success of GLIMGLIN was defined when the wire crossing was completed using a Gladius MG™ and a microcatheter without any additional devices and techniques.

Results

The success rate of GLIMGLIN was 48.1%. Intravascular ultrasound findings showed complete true lumen passage in the GLIMGLIN success group. Compared to the failure group, the proximal (6.3 ± 0.8 vs. 5.5 ± 0.9 mm, p = 0.02) and distal (5.9 ± 0.5 vs. 5.4 ± 0.6 mm, p = 0.02) reference vessel diameters were significantly larger, and the rate of calcium angle > 180° was significantly lower (30.8 vs. 71.4%, p = 0.04) in the success group. No significant difference was shown in the CTO length between two groups. Total wiring time, total procedure time, and fluoroscopic time were significantly shorter in the success group.

Conclusions

GLIMGLIN may enable operators to perform CTO wiring easily and efficiently in selected cases.
COVID-19 and liver diseases
Authors: Elghannam Maged T. , Hassanien Moataz H. , Ameen Yosry A. , ELattar Gamal M. , ELRay Ahmed A. , Turky Emad A. , ELTalkawy Mohammed D.
Published: July 2022

Coronavirus causes an outbreak of viral pneumonia that spread throughout the world. Liver injury is becoming more widely recognized as a component of the clinical picture of COVID-19 infection. Hepatitis with serum ALT elevation has been reported in up to half of patients. Patients with CLD were at a higher risk of decompensation with liver failure, hospitalization, and mortality. The percentage of acute liver injury (ALI) varied from 5 to 28%. COVID-19 hinders HCV elimination by 2030. It is recommended to continue treatment of chronic HCV and chronic HBV if already receiving treatment. Consider using antiviral therapy to prevent viral flare-ups in patients with occult or resolved HBV and COVID-19 who are receiving immunosuppressive agents. Patients with AIH do not have an increased risk of adverse outcomes even in high-risk areas. There is an association between MAFLD and disease progression. Patients with any type of cancer are at a higher risk of infection and are more likely to develop more severe clinical outcomes. Most societies advise against immunosuppressant modifications in patients with mild COVID-19, whereas in rare cases such as severe lymphopenia, worsening pneumonia, or bacterial or fungal superinfection, reduction or discontinuation of antiproliferative agents and lymphocyte-depleting therapies has been suggested.
Role of Liver Enzymes in the Relationship Between Particulate Matter Exposure and Diabetes Risk: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Wang Xing , Guo Bing , Yang Xianxian , Li Jingzhong , Baima Yangji , Yin Jianzhong , Yu Jianhong , Xu Huan , Zeng Chunmei , Feng Shiyu , Wei Jing , Hong Feng , Zhao Xing
Published: July 2022

Context

Particulate matter (PM) is an important risk factor for diabetes. However, its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Although liver-derived biological intermediates may play irreplaceable roles in the pathophysiology of diabetes, few studies have explored this in the association between PM and diabetes.

Objective

We investigated the role of liver enzymes in mediating the relationship between PM exposure and diabetes.

Methods

We included a total of 7963 participants from the China Multi-Ethnic Cohort. Residential exposure to PM was assessed using a validated spatial-temporal assessment method. Diabetes was diagnosed according to the criteria from American Diabetes Association. Associations between PM, liver enzyme [including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT)], and diabetes were estimated using multivariable regression models. The function of liver enzymes in the relationship between PM and diabetes was assessed using mediation analysis.

Results

PM exposure was positively associated with the odds of diabetes, with odds ratios of 1.32 (95% CI 0.83, 2.09), 1.33 (95% CI 1.07, 1.65), and 1.18 (95% CI 1.02, 1.36) for every 10-μg/m3 increment in ≤1 μm (PM1), ≤2.5 μm (PM2.5), and ≤10 μm (PM10) PM, respectively. ALT (4.47%) and GGT (4.78%) exhibited statistically significant mediation effects on the association between PM2.5 and diabetes, and the ALT (4.30%) also had a mediating role on PM10. However, none of the liver enzymes had a significant mediating effect on PM1.

Conclusion

The relationship between PM and diabetes is partially mediated by liver enzymes, suggesting that lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation in the liver may be involved in its pathogenesis.
Case Report: posterior approach with sub-laminar wiring as management of comminuted fracture of the odontoid process of the axis
Authors: Novondo Carlos , Alas-Pineda César , Reyes-Guardado Clarisa L. , Gaitán-Zambrano Kristhel
Published: July 2022

Background: Odontoid fractures (OF) account for 5-18% and 10-19% of all injuries at C2 and in the cervical region, respectively. According to the Anderson and D'Alonzo classification, there are three main types of OF: Type I, II and III. Most cases involving OF of the axis by high impact trauma result in death.

Case presentation: A 21-year-old male patient, with comminuted OF caused by a high impact traffic accident. On admission, the patient reported moderate to severe pain in the posterior craniocervical junction, with significant limitation to lateral rotation of the head and severe cervical muscle spasm. There was evidence of comminuted OF of C2 without apparent displacement in the cervical region. The patient underwent surgery via a posterior approach with double sub-laminar wiring between C1 and C2. The procedure was considered to be completely resolutive with no postoperative complications or sequelae, with total recovery of the patient's functionality.

Discussion: The posterior approach is a viable option when the anterior approach is not possible due to the nature of the comminuted fracture and risks of complications, even when it involves a degree of compromise in the rotation of the C1-C2 joint. OF is a medical emergency, requiring individualized treatment tailored to the characteristics of the patient. There are currently no standardized treatment guidelines for OF.
Likely community transmission of COVID-19 infections between neighboring, persistent hotspots in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Mucaki Eliseos J. , Shirley Ben C. , Rogan Peter K.
Published: July 2022

Introduction: This study aimed to produce community-level geo-spatial mapping of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Ontario Canada in near real-time to support decision-making. This was accomplished by area-to-area geostatistical analysis, space-time integration, and spatial interpolation of COVID-19 positive individuals.

Methods: COVID-19 cases and locations were curated for geostatistical analyses from March 2020 through June 2021, corresponding to the first, second, and third waves of infections. Daily cases were aggregated according to designated forward sortation area (FSA), and postal codes (PC) in municipal regions Hamilton, Kitchener/Waterloo, London, Ottawa, Toronto, and Windsor/Essex county. Hotspots were identified with area-to-area tests including Getis-Ord Gi*, Global Moran’s I spatial autocorrelation, and Local Moran’s I asymmetric clustering and outlier analyses. Case counts were also interpolated across geographic regions by Empirical Bayesian Kriging, which localizes high concentrations of COVID-19 positive tests, independent of FSA or PC boundaries. The Geostatistical Disease Epidemiology Toolbox, which is freely-available software, automates the identification of these regions and produces digital maps for public health professionals to assist in pandemic management of contact tracing and distribution of other resources. 

Results: This study provided indicators in real-time of likely, community-level disease transmission through innovative geospatial analyses of COVID-19 incidence data. Municipal and provincial results were validated by comparisons with known outbreaks at long-term care and other high density residences and on farms. PC-level analyses revealed hotspots at higher geospatial resolution than public reports of FSAs, and often sooner. Results of different tests and kriging were compared to determine consistency among hotspot assignments. Concurrent or consecutive hotspots in close proximity suggested potential community transmission of COVID-19 from cluster and outlier analysis of neighboring PCs and by kriging. Results were also stratified by population based-categories (sex, age, and presence/absence of comorbidities).

Conclusions: Earlier recognition of hotspots could reduce public health burdens of COVID-19 and expedite contact tracing.
Contexts and mechanisms relevant to General Practitioner (GP) based interventions to reduce adverse drug events (ADE) in community dwelling older adults: a rapid realist review
Authors: Waldron Catherine , Hughes John , Wallace Emma , Cahir Caitriona , Bennett K.
Published: July 2022

Background: Older adults in Ireland are at increased risk of adverse drug events (ADE) due, in part, to increasing rates of polypharmacy. Interventions to reduce ADE in community dwelling older adults (CDOA) have had limited success, therefore, new approaches are required.

A realist review uses a different lens to examine why and how interventions were supposed to work rather than if, they worked. A rapid realist review (RRR) is a more focused and accelerated version.

The aim of this RRR is to identify and examine the contexts and mechanisms that play a role in the outcomes relevant to reducing ADE in CDOA in the GP setting that could inform the development of interventions in Ireland.

Methods: Six candidate theories (CT) were developed, based on knowledge of the field and recent literature, in relation to how interventions are expected to work. These formed the search strategy. Eighty full texts from 633 abstracts were reviewed, of which 27 were included. Snowballing added a further five articles, relevant policy documents increased the total number to 45. Data were extracted relevant to the theories under iteratively developed sub-themes using NVivo software.

Results: Of the six theories, three theories, relating to GP engagement in interventions, relevance of health policy documents for older adults, and shared decision-making, provided data to guide future interventions to reduce ADEs for CDOA in an Irish setting. There was insufficient data for two theories, a third was rejected as existing barriers in the Irish setting made it impractical to use.

Conclusions: To improve the success of Irish GP based interventions to reduce ADEs for CDOA, interventions must be relevant and easily applied in practice, supported by national policy and be adequately resourced. Future research is required to test our theories within a newly developed intervention.
A comparative wordlist for the languages of The Gran Chaco, South America
Authors: Brid Nicolás , Messineo Cristina , List Johann-Mattis
Published: July 2022

Home to more than twenty indigenous languages belonging to six linguistic families, the Gran Chaco has raised the interest of many linguists from different backgrounds. While some have focused on finding deeper genetic relations between different language groups, others have looked into similarities from the perspective of areal linguistics. In order to contribute to further research of areal and genetic features among these languages, we have compiled a comparative wordlist consisting of translational equivalents for 326 concepts — representing basic and ethnobiological vocabulary — for 26 language varieties. Since the data were standardized in various ways, they can be analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. In order to illustrate this in detail, we have carried out an initial computer-assisted analysis of parts of the data by searching for shared lexicosemantic patterns resulting from structural rather than direct borrowings.
Adhesion-independent topography-based leukocyte migration
Authors: Friedl Peter , Konstantopoulos Konstantinos , Sahai Erik , Weiner Orion
Published: July 2022

Cells need to couple intracellular actin flows with the substrate to generate forward movement. This has traditionally been studied in the context of specific transmembrane receptors, particularly integrin adhesion receptors, which link extracellular adhesive molecules to the actin cytoskeleton. However, leukocytes and other cells can also migrate using integrin-independent strategies both in vivo and in vitro, though the cellular and environmental requirements for this mode are not fully understood. In seminal recent work, Reversat et al.1 develop a range of innovative 2D and 3D engineered microdevices and probe the biophysical mechanisms underlying T lymphocytes and dendritic cells in conditions of limited substrate adhesion. They identify a physical principle of mechano-coupling between retrograde actin flow and irregular extracellular confinement, which allows the cell to generate mechanical resistance and move in the absence of receptor-mediated adhesion. Through the combined use of experiments and theoretical modeling, this work resolves a long-standing question in cell biology and establishes mechanical interaction with an irregular-shaped 3D environment which may be relevant to cell migration in a range of tissue contexts.
Analysis of the vulnerability of tourism and leisure to jellyfish swarms on the eastern Costa del Sol. A multiscalar and multi-temporal perspective
Authors: Cantarero-Prados Francisco José , Fuente-Roselló Ana de la , Reyes-Corredera Sergio Jesús
Published: July 2022

A methodological essay is presented to assess vulnerability of beaches´ human activity caused by jellyfish blooms arrivals. The pilot study area are the beaches of Torre del Mar and Caleta de Vélez (Velez-Málaga, Spain). The methodology proposes various criteria to assess the vulnerability of the tourism sector at various levels of scale, both in spatial and temporal dimensions. There are three spatial levels: scale of detail (the beach itself), socioeconomic influence area and municipal scale. On the other hand, the short and long-term consequences are estimated at a temporary level. Fundamentally, user surveys, interviews with economic actors in the area and analysis of statistical records are used. In general, it is observed that part of the economic activity related to the beaches improves in the short term with the presence of jellyfish while in the long term it suffers.
Inserción financiera y comercial del Ecuador en el mundo internacional: un análisis histórico y 4 actua
Authors: López-Sánchez Michelle
Published: July 2022

La historia económica ecuatoriana ha sido fundamentalmente inestable, generando bajos rendimientos en el área comercial y financiera. En este contexto, el trabajo examina los antecedentes relacionados con la inserción comercial y financiera de la historia económica ecuatoriana, con enfoque cualitativo y usando el método histórico. El análisis de antecedentes muestra que el aspecto comercial tiene una alta dependencia de las exportaciones, acreditándolo a la falta de autonomía generada en la época colonial y a la necesidad de una matriz productiva con valor agregado. En cuanto al aspecto financiero, el endeudamiento y el gasto público han tenido efectos negativos en el desarrollo económico, y para contrarrestarlos se propone una integración económica y un cambio de ideología productiva.
Cluster Component of Sustainable Regional Development: Romanian Practice and Ukrainian Realities
Authors:   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine, Liashenko V. , Trushkina N. ,   Institute of Industrial Economics of the NAS of Ukraine
Published: July 2022

At present, the problems of improving the management of cluster structures in the economic regions of Ukraine, taking into account the best Romanian experience in accordance with modern challenges related to smart specialization, modernization of production and digitalization of organizational and managerial processes, are especially relevant. For the further development of clusters in Romania it is necessary to develop a set of measures, namely: stimulating exports through internationalization; formation of fundamentally new value chains integrated into vertical industries; business strategy; assistance in financing innovative projects for technology transfer based on the mechanism of public-private partnership and with the involvement of private investment; use of cluster management tools; developing tools that can support efficient resource allocation processes among cluster members; training; formation of proper organizational culture. The implementation of these measures should be carried out with the help of the European Cluster Cooperation Platform and the European Cluster Improvement Program, the EU Action “Cluster Go International”, and the Eurocluster Program for the period 2021-2027. Based on the generalization of the best Romanian experience, it is established that in order to increase the competitiveness of national and regional economies, it is necessary to create cluster structures as effective forms of partnership. However, the study revealed that the current legislation of Ukraine does not pay due attention to the formation and functioning of clusters. To do this, it is necessary to make changes and additions to the Concept of creating clusters in Ukraine, Regional Development Strategies until 2027, and Action Plans for their implementation for 2021-2023 to create cluster structures as a business entity. It is expedient to develop and approve the Concepts of cluster policy and the Target Program “Formation and development of clusters in the regions of Ukraine for 2021-2023”, which should provide for the creation of clusters as a special type of enterprise association in various fields and taking into account regional specifics.
To Connect and Educate: Why Families Engage in Family-Professional Partnership Training Experiences
Authors: Baumann Stephanie D. , Ronkin Emily , Roach Andrew T. , Crenshaw Mark , Graybill Emily C. , Crimmins Daniel B.
Published: July 2022

Successful family-professional partnerships (FPP) have been shown to positively impact both satisfaction with care and health outcomes for children with disabilities and their families. Many healthcare training programs have recognized the benefit of FPP training and often include learning experiences that feature families as teachers or mentors. However, most research on FPP training has focused on professionals' experiences, and not on families' experience in the roles of mentors and experts. The Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) program is a graduate-level interdisciplinary training program with sites across the country. LEND programs train future healthcare and service professionals in the disability field and often utilize a Family Mentor Experience (FME) as one aspect of their training. This study used qualitative interviews to examine the experiences of eight family mentors who worked with trainees in one LEND program. Overall, the family mentors expressed positive views regarding the FME, describing how it allowed them to connect with trainees, other families, and community resources, as well as educating trainees. Family mentors also identified several facilitators and barriers to participation. Study findings provide information on the FFP's impact on family mentors and guidance on how programs can support sustainable, effective FPP experiences.
Automatic digital optical heterodyne phase locking loop in the
milliradian domain for spaceborne laser interferometry
Authors: Li Hao-Jie , Qi Hong-Xing , Liang Xin-Dong , Zeng Li-Xiao , Yao Wei-Lai , Yang Yi-Chao , Wang Jian-Yu
Published: July 2022

We developed a digital optical phase locking loop (OPLL) with three advantages,
including high precision of phase locking, high control bandwidth up
to 2.8 MHz, and automatic laser locking strategy. Spaceborne laser
interferometers will be used to measure tiny displacements caused by
gravitational waves in millions of kilometers range. A slave laser
will be heterodyne phase locked to the incoming weak light at the end
of an arm, emitting a higher power light back to the other satellite
to measure pathlength variations at the picometer level. Such accuracy
requires extremely precise OPLL. We report an experiment to
demonstrate a digital OPLL that can automatically lock two independent
free-running Nd:YAG lasers with residual phase error below

1

m
r
a
d

/

H
z

above 0.01 Hz, which is the best
performance recorded for digital servos, to our knowledge. Such
performance tested under a normal laboratory environment will be
highly improved in a vacuum environment with temperature and vibration
well controlled. Both the digital OPLL and the automatic strategy were
implemented on a field programmable gate array that could be
potentially used for future gravitational-wave detection. Our
experiment might change the thinking of scientists who study
phasemeters of gravitational-wave detection because we are aware that
the digital phase locking loop used for “optical phase tracking” is
differently designed from “optical phase locking.”
Signal recovery in optical wireless communication using photonic convolutional processor
Authors: Lu Qiuyi , Li Zwei , Li Guoqiang , Niu Wenqing , Chen Jiang , Chen Hui , Shi Jianyang , Shen Chao , Zhang Junwen , Chi Nan
Published: July 2022

Deep neural networks (DNNs) have been applied to recover signals in optical communication systems and have shown competence of mitigating linear and nonlinear distortions. However, as the data throughput increases, the heavy computational cost of DNNs impedes them from rapid and power-efficient processing. In this paper, we propose an optical communication signal recovery technology based on a photonic convolutional processor, which is realized by dispersion delay unit and wavelength division multiplexing. Based on the photonic convolutional processor, we implement an optoelectronic convolutional neural network (OECNN) for signal post-equalization and experimentally demonstrate on 16QAM and 32QAM of an optical wireless communication system. With system parameters optimization, we verify that the OECNN can achieve accurate signal recovery where the bit error ratio (BER) is below the 7% forward error correction threshold of 3.8×10−3 at 2Gbps. With adding the OECNN-based nonlinear compensation, compared with only linear compensation, we improve the quality (Q) factor by 3.35 dB at 16QAM and 3.30 dB at 32QAM, which is comparable to that of an electronic neural network. This work proves that the photonic implementation of DNN is promising to provide a fast and power-efficient solution for optical communication signal processing.
Near-field radiative heat transfer in three-body Weyl semimetals
Authors: Yu Ziqi , Li Xiaopeng , Lee Taehwa , Iizuka Hideo
Published: July 2022

We investigate the near-field radiative heat transfer in a three-body system made of Weyl semimetals. At infinitesimal temperature gradient, the rotation of the middle and the right bodies leads to heat transfer suppression, enabling thermal switching with considerably enhanced heat flux but slightly smaller ratio than two-body system without the middle body, due to stronger cavity surface plasmon polariton modes and their mismatch caused by relative rotation. By further moving the middle body to induce asymmetric cavity sizes, the three-body system can achieve a switching ratio exceeding the two-body counterpart due to asymmetric cavity modes coupling. As the temperature gradient increases to 200 K, the highest switching ratio by optimally tuning the rotation and cavity size asymmetry decreases slightly yet still outperforms the two-body system. Our results provide important understanding of the near-field radiative heat transfer in many-body systems consisting of Weyl semimetals.
Stochastic fluctuations promote ordered pattern formation of cells in the Notch-Delta signaling pathway
Authors: Galbraith Madeline , Bocci Federico , Onuchic José N.
Published: July 2022

The Notch-Delta signaling pathway mediates cell differentiation implicated in many regulatory processes including spatiotemporal patterning in tissues by promoting alternate cell fates between neighboring cells. At the multicellular level, this "lateral inhibition” principle leads to checkerboard patterns with alternation of Sender and Receiver cells. While it is well known that stochasticity modulates cell fate specification, little is known about how stochastic fluctuations at the cellular level propagate during multicell pattern formation. Here, we model stochastic fluctuations in the Notch-Delta pathway in the presence of two different noise types–shot and white–for a multicell system. Our results show that intermediate fluctuations reduce disorder and guide the multicell lattice toward checkerboard-like patterns. By further analyzing cell fate transition events, we demonstrate that intermediate noise amplitudes provide enough perturbation to facilitate “proofreading” of disordered patterns and cause cells to switch to the correct ordered state (Sender surrounded by Receivers, and vice versa). Conversely, high noise can override environmental signals coming from neighboring cells and lead to switching between ordered and disordered patterns. Therefore, in analogy with spin glass systems, intermediate noise levels allow the multicell Notch system to escape frustrated patterns and relax towards the lower energy checkerboard pattern while at large noise levels the system is unable to find this ordered base of attraction.
Menstrual health challenges in the workplace and consequences for women’s work and wellbeing: A cross-sectional survey in Mukono, Uganda
Authors: Hennegan Julie , Bukenya Justine N. , Makumbi Fredrick E. , Nakamya Petranilla , Exum Natalie G. , Schwab Kellogg J. , Kibira Simon P. S.
Published: July 2022

This study describes women’s menstrual health needs at work in Uganda and explores the associations between unmet needs and women’s work and wellbeing. We undertook a cross-sectional survey of women working in marketplaces, public primary schools, and health care facilities in Mukono district, central Uganda. Survey questions were designed to capture women’s experiences of managing menstrual bleeding, pain, social support, and the social environment. A total 435 women working in markets, 45 teachers and 45 health care facility workers participated. Of these, 15% missed work due to their last period, and 41% would prefer not to work during menstruation. Unmet menstrual health needs were associated with consequences for women’s work and psychological wellbeing. Experiencing menstrual pain (aPR 3.65 95%CI 1.48–9.00), along with the use of improvised menstrual materials (aPR 1.41 95%CI 1.08–1.83), not feeling comfortable to discuss menstruation at work (aPR 1.54 95%CI 1.01–2.34) and the expectation that women should stay home when menstruating (aPR 2.44 95%CI 1.30–4.60) were associated with absenteeism due to menstruation. In contrast, not having menstrual management needs met (aPR 1.45 95%CI 1.17–1.79) and the attitude that menstruating women are dirty (aPR 1.94 95%CI 1.50–2.51), along with pain (aPR 1.59 95%CI 1.12–2.24) and norms around absenteeism were associated with wanting to miss work. After adjustment for age and poverty, unmet menstrual management needs (b = -5.97, 95%CI -8.89, -2.97), pain (b = -3.89, 95%CI -7.71, -0.08) and poor social support (b = -5.40, 95%CI -9.22, -1.57) were associated with lower wellbeing measured using the WHO-5. Attitudes that menstruation should be kept secret (b = 4.48, 95%CI 0.79, 8.17) and is dirty (b = 4.59, 95%CI 0.79, 8.40) were associated with higher wellbeing. Findings suggest that supporting care for menstrual pain, addressing secrecy surrounding menstruation and the perception of menstruation as dirty, and improving access to materials and facilities for managing menstrual bleeding are avenues for programs and policies to support working women.
Level of satisfaction and associated factors among patients attending outpatient departments of south Wollo health facilities, Ethiopia
Authors: Ayele Wolde Melese , Ewunetu Abdurahman , Chanie Muluken Genetu
Published: July 2022

Background

Patient satisfaction is a key metric for determining how efficient healthcare is delivered. When patients visit health care facilities, they express a clear desire for high-quality services. Inadequately meeting their anticipated needs and expectations may lead to disappointment. This study sought to investigate the level of satisfaction expressed by participants regarding services provided by outpatient departments of selected health facilities in the south Wollo zone of Ethiopia and associated predictors.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study with a total sample of 540 patients was conducted from May 13 to 25, 2019. A multistage sampling technique was used to select participants. Data were collected an interviewer-administered structured validated questionnaire. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS version 20 to identify predictor variables, applying bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis to determine variables that most significantly predicted the outcome variable of the level of patient-satisfaction at 5% level of significance and 95% confidence interval.

Results

There were 537 participants in the study consisting of males (50.6%) and females (49.4%). An estimated 35.6% of respondents were between the ages of 28 and 37 years. The proportion of respondents high educational attainment was 179 (33.3%), and 155 (28.9%) of respondents reported having receive free health service of charge.

Conclusion

The study’s results revealed that overall client satisfaction was low. Furthermore, the politeness of health service providers, the convenience of the environment for asking questions, and the availability of all prescription drugs were found to have a significant relationship with level of satisfaction with the health center. Health managers and service providers should come up with creative ways to improve health workers’ caring behavior, protect patients’ privacy, and increase patient satisfaction by making all necessary drugs available.
Beyond body size—new traits for new heights in trait-based modelling of predator-prey dynamics
Authors: Wootton Kate L. , Curtsdotter Alva , Jonsson Tomas , Banks H. T. , Bommarco Riccardo , Roslin Tomas , Laubmeier Amanda N.
Published: July 2022

Food webs map feeding interactions among species, providing a valuable tool for understanding and predicting community dynamics. Using species’ body sizes is a promising avenue for parameterizing food-web models, but such approaches have not yet been able to fully recover observed community dynamics. Such discrepancies suggest that traits other than body size also play important roles. For example, differences in species’ use of microhabitat or non-consumptive effects of intraguild predators may affect dynamics in ways not captured by body size. In Laubmeier et al. (2018), we developed a dynamic food-web model incorporating microhabitat and non-consumptive predator effects in addition to body size, and used simulations to suggest an optimal sampling design of a mesocosm experiment to test the model. Here, we perform the mesocosm experiment to generate empirical time-series of insect herbivore and predator abundance dynamics. We minimize least squares error between the model and time-series to determine parameter values of four alternative models, which differ in terms of including vs excluding microhabitat use and non-consumptive predator-predator effects. We use both statistical and expert-knowledge criteria to compare the models and find including both microhabitat use and non-consumptive predator-predator effects best explains observed aphid and predator population dynamics, followed by the model including microhabitat alone. This ranking suggests that microhabitat plays a larger role in driving population dynamics than non-consumptive predator-predator effects, although both are clearly important. Our results illustrate the importance of additional traits alongside body size in driving trophic interactions. They also point to the need to consider trophic interactions and population dynamics in a wider community context, where non-trophic impacts can dramatically modify the interplay between multiple predators and prey. Overall, we demonstrate the potential for utilizing traits beyond body size to improve trait-based models and the value of iterative cycling between theory, data and experiment to hone current insights into how traits affect food-web dynamics.
High prevalence of p16 staining in malignant tumors
Authors: De Wispelaere Noémi , Rico Sebastian Dwertmann , Bauer Marcus , Luebke Andreas M. , Kluth Martina , Büscheck Franziska , Hube-Magg Claudia , Höflmayer Doris , Gorbokon Natalia , Weidemann Sören , Möller Katharina , Fraune Christoph , Bernreuther Christian , Simon Ronald , Kähler Christian , Menz Anne , Hinsch Andrea , Jacobsen Frank , Lebok Patrick , Clauditz Till , Sauter Guido , Uhlig Ria , Wilczak Waldemar , Steurer Stefan , Burandt Eike , Krech Rainer , Dum David , Krech Till , Marx Andreas , Minner Sarah
Published: July 2022

p16 (CDKN2A) is a member of the INK4 class of cell cycle inhibitors, which is often dysregulated in cancer. However, the prevalence of p16 expression in different cancer types is controversial. 15,783 samples from 124 different tumor types and 76 different normal tissue types were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in a tissue microarray format. p16 was detectable in 5,292 (45.0%) of 11,759 interpretable tumors. Except from adenohypophysis in islets of Langerhans, p16 staining was largely absent in normal tissues. In cancer, highest positivity rates were observed in uterine cervix squamous cell carcinomas (94.4%), non-invasive papillary urothelial carcinoma, pTaG2 (100%), Merkel cell carcinoma (97.7%), and small cell carcinomas of various sites of origin (54.5%-100%). All 124 tumor categories showed at least occasional p16 immunostaining. Comparison with clinico-pathological data in 128 vulvar, 149 endometrial, 295 serous ovarian, 396 pancreatic, 1365 colorectal, 284 gastric, and 1245 urinary bladder cancers, 910 breast carcinomas, 620 clear cell renal cell carcinomas, and 414 testicular germ cell tumors revealed only few statistically significant associations. Comparison of human papilloma virus (HPV) status and p16 in 497 squamous cell carcinomas of different organs revealed HPV in 80.4% of p16 positive and in 20.6% of p16 negative cancers (p<0.0001). It is concluded, that a positive and especially strong p16 immunostaining is a feature for malignancy which may be diagnostically useful in lipomatous, urothelial and possibly other tumors. The imperfect association between p16 immunostaining and HPV infection with high variability between different sites of origin challenges the use of p16 immunohistochemistry as a surrogate for HPV positivity, except in tumors of cervix uteri and the penis.
A cardiac-null mutation of Prdm16 causes hypotension in mice with cardiac hypertrophy via increased nitric oxide synthase 1
Authors: Kang Ji-One , Ha Tae Woong , Jung Hae-Un , Lim Ji Eun , Oh Bermseok
Published: July 2022

Hypertension or hypotension prevails as a comorbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). Although blood pressure (BP) is an important factor in managing the mortality of HF, the molecular mechanisms of changes in BP have not been clearly understood in cases of HF. We and others have demonstrated that a loss in PRDM16 causes hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, leading to HF. We aimed to determine whether BP is altered in mice that experience cardiac loss ofPrdm16and identify the underlying mechanism of BP-associated changes. BP decreased significantly only in female mice with a cardiac-null mutation ofPrdm16compared with controls, by an invasive protocol under anesthesia and by telemetric method during conscious, unrestrained status. Mice with a cardiac loss ofPrdm16had higher heart-to-body weight ratios and upregulated atrial natriuretic peptide, suggesting cardiac hypertrophy. Plasma aldosterone-to-renin activity ratios and plasma sodium levels decreased inPrdm16-deficient mice versus control. By RNA-seq and in subsequent functional analyses,Prdm16-null hearts were enriched in factors that regulate BP, includingAdra1a,Nos1,Nppa, andNppb. The inhibition of nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) reverted the decrease in BP in cardiac-specificPrdm16knockout mice. Mice with cardiac deficiency ofPrdm16present with hypotension and cardiac hypertrophy. Further, our findings suggest that the increased expression of NOS1 causes hypotension in mice with a cardiac-null mutation ofPrdm16. These results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of hypotension in subjects with HF and contribute to our understanding of how hypotension develops in patients with HF.
Translation and performance of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score for detecting undiagnosed diabetes and dysglycaemia in the Indonesian population
Authors: Rokhman M. Rifqi , Arifin Bustanul , Zulkarnain Zulkarnain , Satibi Satibi , Perwitasari Dyah Aryani , Boersma Cornelis , Postma Maarten J. , van der Schans Jurjen
Published: July 2022

A diabetes risk score cannot directly be translated and applied in different populations, and its performance should be evaluated in the target population. This study aimed to translate the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) instrument and compare its performance with the modified version for detecting undiagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and dysglycaemia among the Indonesian adult population. Forward and backward translations were performed and followed by cultural adaptation. In total, 1,403 participants were recruited. The FINDRISC-Bahasa Indonesia (FINDRISC-BI) was scored according to the original FINDRISC instrument, while a Modified FINDRISC-BI was analyzed using a specific body mass index and waist circumference classification for Indonesians. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, and the optimal cut-offs of both instruments were estimated. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detecting undiagnosed T2DM was 0.73 (0.67–0.78) for the FINDRISC-BI with an optimal cut-off score of ≥9 (sensitivity = 63.0%; specificity = 67.3%) and 0.72 (0.67–0.78) for the Modified FINDRISC-BI with an optimal cut-off score of ≥11 (sensitivity = 59.8%; specificity = 74.9%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for detecting dysglycaemia was 0.72 (0.69–0.75) for the FINDRISC-BI instrument with an optimal cut-off score of ≥8 (sensitivity = 66.4%; specificity = 67.0%), and 0.72 (0.69–0.75) for the Modified FINDRISC-BI instrument with an optimal cut-off score ≥9 (sensitivity = 63.8%; specificity = 67.6%). The Indonesian version of the FINDRISC instrument has acceptable diagnostic accuracy for screening people with undiagnosed T2DM or dysglycaemia in Indonesia. Modifying the body mass index and waist circumference classifications in the Modified FINDRISC-BI results in a similar diagnostic accuracy; however, the Modified FINDRISC-BI has a higher optimal cut-off point than the FINDRISC-BI. People with an above optimal cut-off score are suggested to take a further blood glucose test.
Research on capital allocation efficiencies with four-dimensional factor capitals from China’s intelligent manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Wang Qiong , Geng Chengxuan , E. Hai-tao , Song Jiarui
Published: July 2022

Compared with traditional manufacturing enterprises, intelligent manufacturing enterprises pay more attention to the investment of knowledge capital and technological capital. Taking 258 intelligent manufacturing listed companies in China from 2015 to 2020 as research samples, the paper selects the material capital, human capital, knowledge capital and technological capital of enterprises as the input variables of Cobb-Douglas production function. Considering that enterprises are often affected by spatial correlation, stochastic frontier panel model, spatial lag stochastic frontier panel model and dynamic spatial lag stochastic frontier panel model are constructed to measure capital allocation efficiencies of enterprises. The results show that all the factor capitals in the three models have a significant positive impact on enterprises’ performance, and the dual lag effect of time and space is significant. Moreover, it is more reasonable to use the dynamic spatial lag stochastic frontier panel model to estimate the parameters and measure capital allocation efficiencies. The development of intelligent manufacturing industry has significant space-time spillover effect among provinces. About 52.98% of intelligent manufacturing enterprises have high capital allocation efficiencies, but 12.04% still need to further optimize capital allocation. The gap between the actual performance of the sample enterprises and efficiency frontier is mainly due to technical ineffectiveness. From a regional perspective, the top ten enterprises with high capital allocation efficiencies are all in the eastern region, but the average of capital allocation efficiency is the highest in the western region, followed by the eastern and central regions.