bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population-Level Counterfactual Trend Modelling to Examine the Relationship Between Smoking Prevalence and E-Cigarette Use among US Adults
Authors: Foxon Floe , Selya Arielle , Gitchell Joe , Shiffman Saul
Published: May 2022

Background: Studies have suggested that some adult smokers are switching away from smoking to e-cigarette use. Nationally representative data may reflect such changes by assessing trends in cigarette and e-cigarette prevalence.
Methods: Annual estimates of smoking and e-cigarette use in US adults varying in age, race/ethnicity, and sex/gender were derived from the National Health Interview Survey. Regression models were fitted to smoking prevalence trends before e-cigarettes became widely available (1999–2009) and trends were extrapolated to 2019 (counterfactual model). Smoking prevalence discrepancies, defined as the difference between projected and actual smoking prevalence from 2010–2019, were calculated to evaluate whether actual smoking prevalence differed from those expected from counterfactual projections. The correlation between smoking discrepancies and e-cigarette use prevalence was investigated.
Results: Actual overall smoking prevalence from 2010–2019 was significantly lower than counterfactual predictions. The discrepancy was significantly larger as e-cigarette use prevalence increased. In subgroup analyses, discrepancies in smoking prevalence were more pronounced for cohorts with greater e-cigarette use prevalence, namely adults ages 18–34, adult males, and non-Hispanic White adults.
Conclusions: Population-level data suggest that smoking prevalence has dropped faster than expected, in ways correlated with increased e-cigarette use.
Benefits of sacubitril/valsartan use in patients with chronic heart failure after cardiac valve surgery: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Zheng Jian , Wu Qingsong , Li Qianzhen , Tang Mirong , Qiu Zhihuang , Chen Liangwan
Published: May 2022

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) after cardiac valve surgery (CVS).Methods: Data of 259 patients who underwent CVS due to organic heart disease, and who were admitted to the hospital with CHF from January 2018 to December 2020, were collected. The patients were divided into Group A (treatment with sacubitril/valsartan) and Group B (treatment without sacubitril/valsartan). The duration of treatment and follow-up was 6 months. Prior-treatment clinical characteristics, post-treatment data, mortality, and follow-up data of the two groups were analyzed.Results: The total effective rate of Group A was higher than that of Group B (82.56% versus 65.52%, P < 0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was improved in both groups (11.14 ± 10.16 versus 7.15 ± 11.18, P = 0.004). The left ventricular end-diastolic/-systolic diameter (LVEDD/LVESD) in Group A decreased more than that in Group B (3.58 ± 9.21 versus 0.27 ± 14.44, P=0.026; 4.21 ± 8.15 versus 1.14 ± 12.12, P=0.016, respectively). The N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in both groups decreased (1305.65 ± 2000.85 versus 675.91 ± 1649.84, P=0.012). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP) in Group A decreased more than that in Group B (13.13 ± 23.98 versus 1.81 ± 10.89, P < 0.001; 8.28 ± 17.79 versus 2.37 ± 11.41, P = 0.005, respectively). Liver and renal insufficiency, hyperkalemia, symptomatic hypotension, Angioedema or acute heart failure have no statistical differences between the two groups.Conclusion: Sacubitril/valsartan can effectively improve the cardiac function of CHF patients after CVS by increasing LVEF, reducing LVEDD, LVESD, NT-proBNP and BP, with good safety.
Macromorphological, anatomical and molecular studies of some Araliaceae taxa in Egypt
Authors: Wahba Mai , Haider Ashraf Salah Al-Din , Morad Magdy M. , Mashaly Ibrahim A. , EL-Habashy Ihsan E.
Published: May 2022

This study investigated the morphological features (namely, whole plant, leaf and stem anatomy, leaf architecture, and epidermal characteristics) and molecular characteristics of Araliaceae taxa to explain the diversity and diagnostic significance of these attributes. The sum of both characteristic states of morphological and molecular criteria (182 traits and 78 bands, respectively) from the total (260 traits) of the examined taxa was subjected to a numerical analysis using the NTSYS-PC program (version 2.02). The generated dendrogram explained the similarities and differences between the examined taxa and the specific relationships are discussed and compared with current classification systems. The generated dendrogram from morphological attributes confirmed the separation of Aralieae and Schefflerieae as two tribes of Araliaceae and supported the separation of simple leaved taxa from compound-leaved ones.
Pathophysiology of COVID-19: SARS-CoV-2 mimics neoplastic cells, and long COVID-19 syndrome can be a Warburg effect and ACE-2 internalization consequence
Authors: Zanella Luiz Gonzaga Francisco de Assis Barros D'Elia
Published: May 2022

This article develops a theory involving SARS-CoV-2 pathophysiological mechanisms based on an extensive literature review and is reinforced by two years of dealing with COVID-19 patients in different footage of the natural history of the disease. SARS-CoV-2 mimics the Warburg effect (W.E. ), a well-described mechanism in neoplastic cells to obtain energy and substrates to enable cell growth. The W.E. is responsible for characteristic clinical and laboratory findings such as elevated lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), lactate, uraemia, and acidosis, in addition to explaining why a specific profile of patients evolves into severe forms of the disease. This article also exposes a hypothesis for maintaining the inflammatory status after acute SARS-COV-2 infection, "The Long COVID-19 Syndrome". Assessment of the PubMed platform followed by evaluation of articles that supported issues regarding COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 AND AEROBIC GLYCOLISIS/WARBURG EFFECT. COVID-19 is a biphasic infectious disease (such as yellow fever) that causes tenacious immune-metabolic changes that impact the inflammatory status. The hyperlactatemia (type B) in COVID-19 is due to the metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis (W.E. ), and it can differentiate chronic or acute COVID-19 inflammatory status from septic shock hyperlactatemia, especially when associated with negative cultures. This article sheds light on the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and possibilities for treatment and improvement in the clinical management of patients affected by this severe and catastrophic disease. The COVID-19 signature is the Warburg effect + ACE-2 + innate response + hypoxia + phenylalanine (Phe) and tryptophan (Try) metabolism. The disease’s magnitude is directly proportional to the patient's exposure to hypoxia.
Application of minimally invasive lateral auxiliary incision technique in AO-OTA 31-A1 intertrochanteric fracture
Authors: Zheng Yi , Wu Junlong , Yin Yihong , Yuan Xinhua , Zhang Jiakai
Published: May 2022

Objective
This study aimed to explore minimally invasive lateral auxiliary incision technique for the 31-A1 intertrochanteric fracture to correct the coronal plane deformity
Methods
Twelve patients with AO-OTA 31-A1 injury were treated with PFNA fixation using the minimally invasive lateral auxiliary incision. The blood loss, operation time, classification were observed and recorded. Patients were followed up retrospectively with routine post-operation visits for clinical and radiographic examination. The reduction quality was evaluated according to displacements of cortical thickness.
Results
The mean follow-up time was 15 months (range 12–21 months). The mean blood loss and operation time were 21.9 ± 5.7ml (range 15-28ml) and 45.4 ± 7.5 mins (range 38-52mins) respectively. Patients experienced early weight-bearing ability, no fracture reduction loss. Due to the fracture reduction criterion, the results were good in 9 cases, acceptable in 3 cases.
Conclusion
minimally invasive lateral auxiliary incision technique is helpful for the 31-A1 intertrochanteric fracture to correct coronal plane deformity, which could achieve a good reduction in the coronal plane.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with iron deficiency: a retrospective, monocenter study
Authors: Dörig Selina , Burkhardt Tilo , Hösli Irene , Bencaiova Gabriela Amstad
Published: May 2022

Purpose Our aim is to investigate the association between iron deficiency examined in the first trimester of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes.Materials and methods In a retrospective cohort study, 482 pregnant women were included. Blood samples were examined for hematological status and serum ferritin in the first trimester, and for hemoglobin before and after delivery. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between women with iron deficiency diagnosed in the first trimester (study group; n = 147), and women without iron deficiency (control group; n=335). The adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes were determined. Medical data were extracted from clinical records of pregnant women who attended antenatal care and delivered at the University Hospital Basel between 2017 and 2019. Results Excluding macrosomia, iron deficiency detected early in pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in women with iron supplements. Macrosomia was significant increased in women with iron deficiency without concomitant increase of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) (6.5% (10/153) vs. 1.7% (6/347); P=0.005). Emergency caesarean section doubled in women with normal iron status (8.2% (12/147) vs. 17.0% (57/335); P=0.011). Conclusion Excluding macrosomia, iron deficiency detected early in pregnancy was not associated with adverse maternal, and neonatal outcomes in iron supplemented women.
Prevalence and characteristics of tarsal coalition in East Asians: what are the differences compared to Caucasians?
Authors: Park Jeong Jin , Seok Hyun Gyu , Woo In Ha , Park Chul Hyun
Published: May 2022

Background
Previous studies have reported a prevalence of tarsal coalition of 1–2%. Calcaneonavicular coalition is known as main anatomical type. The bilateral occurrence of tarsal coalition is known to be 50–60%. These are the results of studies on Caucasians, there have been few studies targeting large number of East Asians so far. Also, there are not many analyzes of tarsal coalition on both feet especially in East Asia. This study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of tarsal coalition in the Korean population using both-side computed tomography. We hypothesized that the prevalence and characteristics of tarsal coalition in East Asians might differ from previously reported results from Caucasians.
Methods
The medical records of 839 patients who underwent bilateral computed tomography on foot and ankle in our hospital from January 2012 to April 2021 were reviewed. Fifty received a diagnosis of tarsal coalition. The overall prevalence of tarsal coalition and proportions of tarsal coalition patients by gender and age were assessed. Anatomical types of tarsal coalition were classified according to union locations and bilateral occurrence was evaluated for each anatomical type. In addition, proportions of symptomatic patients associated with tarsal coalition were evaluated by anatomical type.
Results
The overall prevalence of tarsal coalition among the 839 patients was 6.0%. Isolated talocalcaneal coalition was the most common anatomical type (50.0%). Bilateral occurrence was observed in 56.5% of those with tarsal coalition, talocalcaneal coalition had the highest bilateral occurrence (76.0%). Isolated union of the posterior facet was the most common subtype of talocalcaneal coalition (43.2%). Talocalcaneal coalition had a significantly higher proportion of symptomatic patients associated with tarsal coalition than calcaneonavicular coalition (p = 0.019).
Conclusion
The prevalence of tarsal coalition was found to be 6%. Talocalcaneal coalition was the most common, and most talocalcaneal coalitions involved the posterior facet. Talocalcaneal coalition was significantly more associated than CN coalition with bilaterality and coalition related symptoms. The possibility of tarsal coalition in foot and ankle patients in East Asians should always be considered, and bilateral examination is essential for diagnosis.
Trends and outcomes of Alcoholic Intoxication in Trauma Patients
Authors: Yeganeh Zhobin , Cuervo Catherine , Rahimi Murwarid , Kopatsis Anthony P , Kopatsis Anthony
Published: May 2022

Background:We sought to investigate the rate and trends of alcohol intoxication in different ages and sexes during last decade.Methods:Multivariate analysis was used to compare alcohol intoxication in different sexes and age groups and to investigate the trends present during the 2007-2019 period using TQP database.Results:We found 1,000,578 intoxicated trauma patients admitted to level I-III trauma centers during 2007-2019 within TQP database. Overall, 21.7% of intoxicated patients were women. The rate of intoxicated women increased significantly from 20.6% in 2007 to 33% in 2019. Intoxicated women have a significantly higher rate of self-inflicted trauma compared to intoxicated men (10.4% vs. 2.4%, P<0.01). Overall, 29.7% of intoxicated trauma patients had chronic alcohol abuse and the rate increased by age. Chronic alcohol abuse was higher in men (30.1% vs. 28.2%, OR: 1.09, CI:1.08-1.10, P<0.01) and elderly patients (age≥65) (39.8% vs. 28.9%, OR:1.62, CI: 1.60-1.65, P<0.01). Overall mortality for intoxicated trauma patients was 2.8%. Mortality of intoxicated men was higher than women (2.9% vs. 2.2%, OR: 1.32, CI: 1.28-1.37, P<0.01). Elderly intoxicated patients (age≥65) had a significantly higher mortality (4.9% vs. 2.6%, OR: 1.91, CI: 1.84-1.98, P<0.01). Also, elderly men had twice the mortality risk compared to elderly women (5.7% vs. 3%, OR: 1.96, CI: 1.80-2.14).Conclusion:There is a gradual increase in the rate of alcoholic intoxication in women with trauma during 2007-2019. Intoxicated women have a significantly higher rate of self-inflicted trauma compared to intoxicated men. Elderly patients with alcoholic intoxication, especially men, have a higher mortality. Further studies are needed to investigate preventive strategies for the increasing rate of alcoholic intoxication in women.
Anticancer Activity of Antigen B from hydatid cyst fluid of Echinococcus granulosus on melanoma cancer cell line
Authors: Barati Nastaran , Tanzadehpanah Hamid , Asl Sara Soleimani , Khazaei Salman , Motavallihaghi Seyedmousa
Published: May 2022

Objective: Worm parasites, including Echinococcus granulosus, contain compounds that exhibit antitumor activity. So, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of antigen B extracted from hydatid cyst fluid on melanoma B16F10 cell. Methods: Effects of different concentrations of antigen B on B16F10 and HEK293 cells proliferation were investigated using the MTT assay. Cell cycle analysis to measure cellular DNA content in the G0/G1, S and G2/M was done using Flow cytometry. Annexin-V/PI staining method was used to determine cells apoptotic rate. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic gene BAX and anti-apoptotic gene BCL2 was assessed by RT-PCR after exposure to antigen B.Results: The effect of antigen B on HEK293 and B16F10 cells showed that HEK293 cells as a normal cell line is less sensitive than cancer cell line B16F10 to antigen B, and IC50 values in HEK293 and B16F10 cells were 35 ± 4.3 and 15 ± 3.1 µM, respectively. In both cell lines, the antigen B induced anti-proliferative effect on the cells with increasing cell population at G0/G1, and decreasing the numbers of cells at the S and G2/M phases. Our results also showed antigen B can induce cell apoptosis in both HEK293 and B16F10 cell lines and increased the mRNA expression of BAX and decreased the mRNA expression of BCL2 thereby induction of cell apoptosis.Conclusion: this study confirmed that antigen B inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of HEK293 and B16F10 cells and can raise hopes in the treatment of melanoma cancer.
Fundamental competition of smooth and non-smooth bifurcations and their ghosts in vibro-impact pairs
Authors: Serdukova Larissa Ivanovna , Kuske Rachel , Yurchenko Daniil
Published: May 2022

A combined analysis of smooth and non-smooth bifurcations captures the interplay of different qualitative transitions in a canonical model of an impact pair, a forced capsule in which a ball moves freely between impacts on either end of the capsule. The analysis, generic for the impact pair context, is also relevant for applications. It is applied to a model of an inclined vibro-impact energy harvester device, where the energy is generated via impacts of the ball with a dielectric polymer on the capsule ends. While sequences of bifurcations have been studied extensively in single degree of freedom impacting models, there are limited results for two degree of freedom impacting systems such as the impact pair. Using an analytical characterization of impacting solutions and their stability based on the maps between impacts, we obtain sequences of period doubling and fold bifurcations together with grazing bifurcations, a particular focus here. Grazing occurs when a sequence of impacts on either end of the capsule are augmented by a zero velocity impact, a transition that is fundamentally different from the smooth bifurcations that are instead characterized by eigenvalues of the local behavior. The combined analyses allow identification of bifurcations also on unstable or unphysical solutions branches, which we term ghost bifurcations. While these ghost bifurcations are not observed numerically or experimentally, nevertheless they can influence the birth or death of complex behaviors and additional grazing transitions, as confirmed by comparisons with numerical results. The competition between the different bifurcations and their ghosts influences the parameter ranges for favorable energy output; thus the analyses of bifurcation sequences yields important design information.PACS: 05.45.-a , 34.50.Ez
Four-year visual outcomes and optical quality of SMILE and implantable collamer lens V4c (EVO-ICL) implantation for high myopia: a retrospective study
Authors: Luo Wuqiang , Aruma Aruma , Li Meiyan , Wang Jing , Xie Jing , Xiao Xin , Shen Yang , Niu Lingling , Wang Xiaoying , Zhou Xingtao
Published: May 2022

Background: To compare the 4-year visual outcomes of implantable collamer lens V4c (EVO-ICL) implantation and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for high myopia and astigmatism.Methods: This retrospective case study included 64 eyes of 40 patients. These patients with preoperative manifest refraction spherical equivalent (SE) between -6.00 and -10.00 diopters (D) were screened from the database of SMILE and EVO-ICL implantation procedures in 2015. The ICL group [32 eyes of 19 patients (mean age, 29.6±6.3 years); mean SE, -8.71±1.06 D] and SMILE group [32 eyes of 21 patients (mean age, 27.7±5.6 years); mean SE, -8.35±0.65D] were compared. All patients were then prospectively examined at a four-year follow-up for routine postoperative examinations, higher-order ocular aberrations, retinal image quality and a questionnaire.Results: The safety indexes were 1.15±0.14 and 1.22±0.21 (P=0.36) for the SMILE and ICL groups, respectively. No eyes lost two or more lines of CDVA in either group. The efficacy indexes were 0.97±0.16 and 0.96±0.19 (P=0.87), respectively. Twenty-three eyes (72%) in ICL and 26 eyes (81%) in SMILE groups were within ±0.5 D of the attempted SE (P<0.01). ICL-treated eyes had significantly less spherical aberration and coma (P<0.01 and <0.05, respectively) postoperatively. Halos were the prevalent visual disturbance in both groups.Conclusion: SMILE and EVO-ICL implantation provided safe and effective correction of high myopia. SMILE showed slightly better long-term predictability. Mild postoperative visual disturbances were observed after ICL and SMILE at 4-year follow-up.
Digital twinning of all forest and non-forest trees at national level via deep learning
Authors: Li Sizhuo , Brandt Martin , Fensholt Rasmus , Kariryaa Ankit , Igel Christian , Gieseke Fabian , Nord-Larsen Thomas , Oehmke Stefan , Holm-Carlsen Ask , Junttila Samuli , Tong Xiaoye , d’Aspremont Alexandre , Ciais Philippe
Published: May 2022

Intelligent forest management is the key to mitigating climate warming, fostering a green economy, and protecting valuable habitats. Detailed knowledge about forests is a prerequisite for such management but is conventionally based on costly plot-scale data, rarely available at resolution of relevance for management strategies. Here, we present a deep learning-based framework that provides location, crown area and height for each individual tree from aerial images at country scale. We quantify
and characterize all individual trees in Denmark and show that 26% of the trees grow outside forests, which is typically unrecognized in national inventories. Furthermore, we demonstrate that only marginal effort is needed to transfer our framework to Finland, despite markedly dissimilar landscapes and data sources. Our work lays the foundation for a global database, where every tree has its digital twin and is spatially traceable and manageable.
A Subpolar-focused Stratospheric Aerosol Injection Deployment Scenario
Authors: Smith Wake , Bhattarai Umang , Rice Christian , MacMartin Douglas , Visioni Daniele , Lee Walker Raymond , Kravitz Ben
Published: May 2022

Stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) is a prospective climate intervention technology that would seek to abate climate change by deflecting back into space a small fraction of the incoming solar radiation. While most consideration given to SAI assumes a global intervention, this paper considers an alternative scenario whereby SAI might be deployed only in the subpolar regions. Subpolar deployment would quickly envelope the poles as well and could arrest or reverse ice and permafrost melt at high latitudes. This would yield global benefit by retarding sea level rise. Given that effective SAI deployment could be achieved at much lower altitudes in these regions than would be required in the tropics, it is commonly assumed that subpolar deployment would present fewer aeronautical challenges. An SAI deployment intended to reduce average surface temperatures in both the Arctic and Antarctic regions by 2°C is deemed here to be feasible at relatively low cost with conventional technologies. However, we do not find that such a deployment could be undertaken with a small fleet of pre-existing aircraft, nor that relegating such a program to these sparsely populated regions would obviate the myriad governance challenges that would confront any such deployment. Nevertheless, given its feasibility and potential global benefit, the prospect of subpolar-focused SAI warrants greater attention.
Machine Learning Model for Early Prediction of Sepsis Outcomes Based on Immune Response
Authors: Deng Huiyin , Li Jiuyi , Shah Abid , Huang Lingkun , Ge Lite , Ouyang Wen
Published: May 2022

Background: Host immune dysregulation participates in the prognosis of sepsis with high morbidity and mortality. The contribution of sepsis to alive or dead, and the early immunologic signature to which they are preventable, is unknown. Therefore, knowing the immunogenomic landscape in blood samples is of paramount importance. This study develops a machine learning model to learn signature IRGs associated with the dysregulation of the host immune in sepsis and to predict sepsis survival up to 24 h at diagnosis that may be useful for planning individualized therapies in the future.Methods: A total of 142 sepsis patients with corresponding clinical information were retrieved and analyzed from January 1, 2022, to March 31, 2022, as a secondary analysis of public data. The variables used for analysis included demographic characteristics, clinical conditions, and the differentially expressed immune-related genes (IRGs). The machine learning methods used included logistic regression, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator (LASSO), random forest (RF). Prediction accuracy was randomly assigned to training, test, and validation sets. The performance of these models was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). We also utilized a calibration curve to explain the prediction model. Results: Our study cohort included 142 sepsis patients (mean [SD] age, 61.8 [15.8] years; 86 [60.6%] men; 104 [73.2%] survivor) downloaded from GEO database.The prognostic model based on IRGs and SOFA scores at diagnosis performed well in sepsis survival estimations (area under the curve, 0.842; 95% CI, 0.704-0.875). This model included a total of six survival-associated IRGs. Patients assigned to the high-risk group had worse survival than patients from the low-risk group (27 deaths [38%] vs 11 deaths [15.0%]; P < 0 .001). The cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), chemokine signaling, and antigen processing and presentation pathways were the associated pathways for survival (P < .001).Conclusions: This cohort study developed a prognostic modeling tool for sepsis survival based on IRG expression profiles, and has the capacity for early prediction of sepsis outcomes via monitoring the immunogenomic landscape, and also possibly the individualized therapies for sepsis survival.
Readiness of primary healthcare facilities for non-communicable diseases in Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir Ashraful , Karim Md Nazmul , Billah Baki
Published: May 2022

Background
The rapid rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has become a significant public health concern in Bangladesh. This study assesses the readiness of primary healthcare facilities to manage the following four major NCDs: diabetes mellites (DM), cervical cancer, chronic respiratory diseases (CRIs), and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted between May 2021 and October 2021 among 126 public and private primary healthcare facilities (nine Upazila health complexes (UHCs), 36 union-level facilities (ULFs), 53 community clinics (CCs), and 28 private hospitals/clinics). The NCD-specific service readiness was assessed using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) reference manual. The facilities’ readiness was assessed using the following four domains: guidelines and staff, basic equipment, diagnostic facility, and essential medicine. The mean readiness index (RI) score for each domain was calculated. Facilities with RI scores of above 70% were considered ‘ready’ to manage NCDs.
Results
The general services availability ranged between 47% for CCs and 83% for UHCs and the guidelines and staff accessibility were the highest for DM in the UHCs (72%). However, for cervical cancer they were unavailable in the ULFs and CCs. The availability of basic equipment was the highest for cervical cancer (100%) in the UHCs and the lowest for DM (24%) in the ULFs. The essential medicine for CRI was 100% in both UHCs and ULFs compared to 25% in private facilities. The diagnostic capacity for CVD and essential medicine for cervical cancer was unavailable at all levels of public and private healthcare facilities. The overall mean RI for each of the four major NCDs was below the cut-off value of 70%, with the highest (65%) for CRI in UHCs but unavailable for cervical cancer in CCs.
Conclusion
The primary healthcare facilities at all levels are currently not ready to manage major NCDs. The notable deficits were the shortage of trained staff and guidelines, diagnostic facilities, and essential medicine. This study recommends increasing service availability to address the rising burden of NCDs at primary healthcare levels in Bangladesh.
Technical and oncological safety of pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer in the elderly aged over 75 years old versus non-elderly: a single-center retrospective cohort study
Authors: Fujinaga Atsuro , Kawasaki Takahide , Hirashita Teijiro , Kawamura Masahiro , Masuda Takashi , Endo Yuichi , Ueda Yoshitake , Ohta Masayuki , Shiraishi Norio , Inomata Masafumi
Published: May 2022

Background: With the increase in the elderly and advances in surgical techniques of pancreatectomy, the number of surgeries performed for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in this age group has been rising. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the technical and oncological safety of pancreatectomy for the elderly aged ≥75 years with pancreatic cancer by retrospectively comparing their short- and long-term outcomes with those of non-elderly aged <75 years.Methods: Data were collected from 117 patients who underwent pancreatectomy for PDAC in our department. The indication for surgery in terms of patient characteristics was considered according to each patient’s American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA-PS) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status Scale. Data of the elderly (n=32) were compared with those of the non-elderly (n=85) and comprised patient background, surgical factors, postoperative course, histopathological factors, and prognostic factors. Additionally, prognostic nutritional index (PNI) values preoperatively and at 1 and 6 months postoperatively were compared between the two groups.Results: In terms of patient background, ASA-PS and comorbidities were worse in the elderly. However, there were no significant differences in surgical factors, postoperative courses, and histopathological factors between the two groups. There were no differences in lengths of recurrence-free survival and overall survival (non-elderly vs. elderly: median 9 vs. 8 months, p=0.725, and median 25 vs. 19 months, p=0.395, respectively) between the two groups. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in PNI preoperatively to 6 months after the surgery.Conclusion: With careful patient screening, the technical and oncological safety of pancreatectomy for the elderly appears to be comparable to that for the non-elderly.
Formation of bio-hybrid nanocomposite [P. oxalicum/P 2 O 5 +Ca 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ] BHC by Penicillium oxalicum and its application on the growth of canola
Authors: Shalaby Maysa G. , Attia M. , Mahmoud Yehia A.-G. , Shalaby Mai G. , Al-Hossainy Ahmed F.
Published: May 2022

The novel synthesis of biohybrid nanocomposite [P. oxalicum/P2O5 + Ca3(PO4)2]BHC by Penicillium oxalicum in presence of tricalcium phosphate and phosphorus pentoxide for phosphate rocks. Phosphorus elemental solubilization from insoluble rock phosphate by utilizing microorganisms is a promising approach for lowering production costs and increasing environmental sustainability. P. oxalicum was isolated and identified in NRC, Cairo, Egypt, and proved its ability of P highest phosphate solubilization potential by estimating clear zone and solubilization index in Pikovskaya’s agar medium and available P and phosphatase enzyme in broth media. The highest dry shoot is the inoculation treatment P. oxalicum + Extract (52.59 g) in presence of TCP and the highest dry root is the inoculation treatment P. oxalicum (6.72 g) in presence of RP. The highest phosphate content and uptake are extremely in the presence of rock phosphate and tricalcium phosphate. the results showed that significantly increased the total counts of PSM at all sources of mineral phosphate fertilizer and PSF count is increased in presence of RP and TCP more than SSP compared with control. The biohybrid nanocomposite showed an absorbance of 0.26 and 2.23 at the wavelength (λ) 378 nm and 465 nm. Also, significant changes in the absorption index and indirect/direct bandgap of the biohybrid nanocomposite have been detected. To perform frequency calculations for crystal models and isolated molecules and optimize the molecular structure, the materials Studio 7.0 program using TDDFT/DMol3 and CASTEP methodologies were utilized. The DFT-Gaussian09W-vibration values are quite similar to the experimental data either in the structure or in the optical properties.
Distribution, abundance and ecogenomics of the cosmopolitan Gemmatimonadota group PAUC43f
Authors: Aldeguer-Riquelme Borja , Antón Josefa , Santos Fernando
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe phylum Gemmatimonadota comprises mainly uncultured microorganisms and presents a high level of diversity, similar to that of Proteobacteria or Actinobacteria. This diversity reflects the phylum’s wide range of functional capabilities, which allows its members to inhabit different environments such as soils, freshwater lakes, marine sediments, sponges or corals. Some studies have focused on the Gemmatimonadota present in soils or freshwater lakes, however, to date, the information about this group in the marine environment is very scarce. One of the most frequently retrieved Gemmatimonadota from marine environments is PAUC43f, an uncultured group that has been detected only by 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, with not a single isolate or metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) affiliated with this group. ResultsHere, we carried out a broad study of the distribution, abundance, ecotaxonomy and potential metabolic capabilities of PAUC43f by mining information from 16S rRNA gene amplicon datasets, Gemmatimonadota MAGs, and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). We detected PAUC43f in 4,965 amplicon datasets mainly from marine sediments, sponges, corals and saline soils and lakes around the world, which indicated this group is cosmopolitan and adapted to saline environments. PAUC43f represented a substantial fraction of the microbial community, mainly in sediments, sponges and soils where, in some cases, it could account for up to 34.3% of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The potential metabolic capabilities inferred from the 39 PAUC43f MAGs suggested a facultatively aerobic and chemoorganotrophic metabolism, although some members could also oxidise hydrogen. Furthermore, PAUC43f could play a key environmental role as a N2O consumer as well as a supplier of cysteine, serine and thiamine. Finally, the design and test of a FISH probe provided experimental evidence of the presence, activity, and morphology of PAUC43f in marine sediments. We propose its renaming as “Candidatus Palaucibacterales”, in reference to the Republic of Palau where the first sequence of this group was recovered, and its classification as a new order within the Gemmatimonadota phylum and Gemmatimonadetes class.ConclusionsOur findings highlight the global distribution and the potentially relevant ecological roles of PAUC43f in different worldwide distributed environments, mainly as N2O scavengers as well as vitamin and amino acid suppliers.
Kinetic energy and fluence measurements correlated with self- generated electric and magnetic fields of spatially resolved laser ablated Zr-plasma at different irradiances
Authors: Javed Mubashir , Bashir Shazia , Akram Mahreen , Mahmood Khaliq , Ayub Rana , Hussain Fida , Fatma Nazli , Iqbal Muqaddas
Published: May 2022

Experimental investigations on spatially- resolved- laser-generated Zr-plasma parameters and their relationship with the Self-Generated- Electric and Magnetic- Fields (SGEMFs) at different irradiances have been performed. The Faraday Cup (FC) is employed to measure plasma species' kinetic energy (K.E) and fluence, while electric and magnetic probes are used to measure SGEMFs of Zr-plasma. The decreasing trends for evaluated values of plasma parameters and SGEMFs have been found with increasing FC axial distance from the target, whereas, increasing trends with increasing laser irradiance are observed. The kinetic energy of Zr ions increases from 1.8 keV to 11.8 keV, whereas, fluence increases from 1×1013cm-2 to 2×1013cm-2 by increasing the laser irradiance. Similarly, the electric field of Zr plasma increases from 107Vm-1 to 237Vm-1 and magnetic field increases from 235G to 590G. The generation of SGEF is attributed to charge-separation and double-layer-structure whereas, SGMF is attributed to anisotropic temperature (∇𝑇𝑒) and density (∇𝑛𝑒) gradients of plasma.
Transferred Local Fisher Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Zandifar Mozhdeh , Rezaie Samaneh , Tahmoresnezhad Jafar
Published: May 2022

Domain adaptation in machine learning and image processing aims to benefit from gained knowledge of the multiple labeled training sets (i.e. source domain) to classify the unseen test set (i.e. target domain). Therefore, the major issue emerges from dataset bias where the source and target domains have different distributions. In this paper, we introduce a novel unsupervised domain adaptation method for cross-domain visual classification. We suggest a unified framework that reduces both statistically and geometrically shift across domains, referred to as Transferred Local Fisher Discriminant Analysis (TLFDA). Specifically, TLFDA projects data into a shared subspace to minimize the distribution shift between domains and simultaneously preserves the discrimination across different classes. TLFDA maximizes the between-class separability and preserves the within-class local structure in form of an objective function metrics. The objective function is solved effectively in closed-form. Broad experiments demonstrate that TLFDA significantly outperforms many state-of-the-art domain adaptation methods on different cross-domain visual classification tasks.
Association of Adverse Childhood Experiences with Oral Health Status of children living in Rural Areas of Alexandria, Egypt: A household Survey
Authors: Moussa Hana , Rahman Ahmed Abdel , Esam Wafaa
Published: May 2022

Background: Scarce research assessed the link between Adverse childhood experiences and oral health status of Egyptian children whose level of oral diseases and Adverse childhood experiences may be different from western countries and who have high level of caries. This study aims to investigate the association between ACE and the oral health status of children living in rural areas in Alexandria, Egypt.Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was carried in North Western Delta, including 300 children 6-18 years old. Children were examined for dental caries and gingival condition then questioned about their oral hygiene habits and sugar consumption. Mothers/caregivers answered the adverse childhood experiences questionnaire. Three linear regression models were used to assess the relationship between dependent variables (primary caries experience, permanent caries experience, gingival score) and exposure (ACE) after adjusting for potential confounders. Furthermore, another 3 models were used to evaluate oral health behaviors (sugar consumption, plaque consumption, dental visits) effect on dependent variables. Results: Most children were females (57.2%), mean age was 9.81, SD= 3.06. 68.6% children had caries experience in their primary teeth (mean ± SD dft= 3.03± 3.14) and 27.9% had caries experience in their permanent teeth (mean ± SD DMFT= 0.60 ± 1.16) with mean ± SD gingival index score 1.14± 0.37. The mean ± SD ACE score was 4.15 ± 1.91. When comparing adjusted R2 of ACE models and oral health behaviors models; dft model of both had an identical value of 0.44. However, adjusted R2 of ACE models (DMFT =0.20, and gingival score =0.03) were different than those in oral health behaviors models (DMFT =0.22, gingival score =0.45).Conclusions: ACEs explained the same amount of variation in primary caries experience as sugar consumption, plaque accumulation and dental visits. Yet, it doesn’t have the same effect on permanent caries experience or the gingival condition. Therefore, ACEs might have the same effect on primary dental caries as oral health behaviors. Further research is needed to evaluate if a dose-response relationship is present between ACEs, oral health and oral health behaviors as suggested by previous research.
Do They Suffer More? Evidence from the Association between Short-term Exposure to PM10 and Cardiovascular Hospital Admissions in Persons with Disabilities
Authors: Kim Sera , Lee Jong-Tae
Published: May 2022

Background: Persons with disabilities (PwD), the world’s largest minority, can be more susceptible to particulate matter (PM) than persons without disabilities. Although numerous studies have addressed the population susceptible to PM, PwD have not been studied in air pollution epidemiology. This study investigated the association between short-term exposure to PM with an aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) and cardiovascular hospital admissions by the existence of a disability, while also considering individual-level effect modifiers (disability and socio-demographic characteristics) in South Korea.Methods: We used the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) to investigate the association between short-term exposure to PM10 and cardiovascular hospital admissions in seven metropolitan cities from 2002 to 2015. We conducted a time-stratified case-crossover analysis using conditional logistic regression and adjusted for daily temperature, relative humidity, air pressure, and national holidays. We conducted stratified analyses according to the existence of a disability, disability type and severity, and socio-demographic characteristics.Results: A 10 μg/m3 increase in the 0-3 moving average level of PM10 was associated with 1.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.7%, 3.2%) and 0.0% (95% CI: -0.5%, 0.5%) increase in cardiovascular admissions in persons with and without disabilities, respectively. Among PwD, the associations were pronounced in people with brain lesion disorders (percent change [PC]: 2.7%, 95% CI: 0.5%, 5.0%), people with visual impairment (PC: 3.0%, 95% CI: -1.0%, 7.1%), and people with severe disability (PC: 3.0%, 95% CI: 0.9%, 5.0%).Conclusions: We found that PwD may be more adversely affected by PM10 than their non-disabled counterparts. This suggests that PwD is a social identity reflecting the socially marginalized and disadvantaged population in air pollution epidemiology.
The earliest vascular land plants from the Upper Ordovician of China
Authors: Xu Honghe , Wang Kai , Huang Zhengliang , Tang Peng , Wang Yi , Liu Bingcai , Yan Wei
Published: May 2022

Land plants (embryophytes) on the Earth were inferred to originate in the Cambrian Period (Morris et al., 2018; Donoghue et al., 2021) and to evolve from algae through nonvascular forms to vascular plants. This evolutionary scenario is verified by progressive fossil records ranging from Middle Ordovician embryophyte-derived cryptospores (Strother et al., 1996, 2015) and spore-containing fragments (Wellman et al., 2003), to vascular plant debris, including Late Ordovician trilete spores (Rubinstein and Vajda, 2019; Steemans et al., 2009), branched axes, and late Silurian tracheids and stomata (Kenrick et al., 2012). Among these key characters of vascular land plants, tracheid crucially distinguishes them from nonvascular groups, yet its fossil record is much later than estimated origination time, and vascular plant sporophytes had fossil records till the Wenlock (c. 430 Ma) of the Silurian Period (Libertín et al., 2018). Here we demonstrate the earliest bona fide vascular plants by specific meso- and microfossils from the Upper Ordovician (early Sandbian, c. 458 Ma) of the Ordos Basin, Inner Mongolia, China. Our fossils include bifurcated axes up to 687 μm wide, stomata-bearing epidermis, laevigate trilete spores, and well-developed tracheids with distinct lateral wall facets. Combined with the small stature of these plants, our finds show an evolutionarily transitional link from pre-Darriwilian, cryptospore-producing, and gametophyte-dominant plants to crown tracheophytes. Late Ordovician might witnesses the first explosion of vascular land plants and there had been a widespread flora of both bryophyte-like and small vascular plants dwelling the seaside by the Late Ordovician Epoch, than which the terrestrialization of vascular plants started much earlier.
Administration of Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhanced CAR T-cell expansion and cellular immunity recovery without inducing cytokine release syndrome: a retrospective study
Authors: Jiang Ying , Feng Dan , Wang Chun , Zhang Yanlei , Zhao Chuxian , Li Su , Qin Youwen , Chang Alex H. , Zhu Jun
Published: May 2022

Background: Leukopenia and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are two major toxicities of CAR-T cell therapy. GM-CSF is an ideal candidate treatment for leukopenia except for its potential aggravation of CRS. We hypothesized that the optimal timing of supplemental with GM-CSF in a shortage of host immunity and CAR T-cell was chosen as avoidance of CRS. In the study we evaluated the safety and efficacy of GM-CSF intervention post-CAR T-cell therapy while circulating CAR T-cell declined. Methods: Nine patients received GM-CSF therapy who displayed moderate leukopenia with white blood cell counts (WBC) <3000 cells/mm3 and absolute neutrophil counts (ANC) <1500 cells/mm3 with concomitant declination of circulating CAR T-cell after CAR T-cell therapy. Results: The median duration of GM-CSF intervention was 15 days (4-30). CAR T-cell expansion was observed in eight patients (8/9), including cerebrospinal fluid of one patient and peripheral blood (PB) of other seven patients. And the peaks of CAR T-cell levels in cerebrospinal fluid and PB appeared in day 6 and day 7 (2-11) following the initiation of GM-CSF administration. Also, increased white blood cells in PB was observed in all patients. The median onset and duration time of WBC recovery were 9 (1-14) and 17(3-53) days. Moreover, the increment of WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte and CD3-CD16+CD56+ natural killer cell in PB was observed. In addition, no CRS or fatal infection occurred during GM-CSF treatment. Conclusion: This study provides evidence for the clinical feasibility of combining CAR T-cell therapy with the GM-CSF to treat leukopenia patients with concomitant declination of circulating CAR T-cell.
A new superposition between lump, breather and line waves of the (2+1)-dimensional generalized Korteweg–de Vries equation
Authors: ma hongcai , Yue Shupan , Deng Aiping
Published: May 2022

The work in this paper focuses on a new superposition between a single lump wave, breather waves and line solitons of the (2+1)-dimensional generalized Korteweg–de Vries(gKdV) equation. After deriving the N-soliton solutions, a new constraint, the long-wave limit and mode resonance method are used to construct a new hybrid solution. The hybrid solution consists of a single lump, breather waves and line solitons, where multiple line solitons and multiple breather waves are never collided by a single lump wave, or where at least one soliton in the breather waves and line solitons is always covered by a single lump wave. Further, a new velocity resonance condition is proposed to obtain a velocity resonance solution consisting of a single lump wave, one line soliton and breather waves, which remain relatively stationary and form a new bound state. Particularly, we find that two breather waves are generated when a line soliton and a breather wave touched. It is worth pointing out that in most of the previous literature, lump wave and other waves will separate after they collide, but this paper derives a different result. In this paper, other waves are never collided by lump wave or are always covered by lump wave, which means that these waves either never collide, or do not separate once they meet.