bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Regulation of myeloid and lymphoid cell development by O-glycans on Notch
Authors: Stanley Pamela , Tanwar Ankit
Published: November 2022

Notch signaling via NOTCH1 stimulated by Delta-like ligand 4 (DLL4) is required for the development of T cells in thymus, and NOTCH2 stimulated by Notch ligand DLL1 is required for the development of marginal zone (MZ) B cells in spleen. Notch signaling also regulates myeloid cell production in bone marrow and is an essential contributor to the generation of early hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). The differentiation program in each of these cellular contexts is optimized by the regulation of Notch signaling strength by O-glycans attached to epidermal growth factor-like (EGF) repeats in the extracellular domain of Notch receptors. There are three major types of O-glycan on NOTCH1 and NOTCH2 - O-fucose, O-glucose and O-GlcNAc. The initiating sugar of each O-glycan is added in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) by glycosyltransferases POFUT1 (fucose), POGLUT1/2/3 (glucose) or EOGT (GlcNAc), respectively. Additional sugars are added in the Golgi compartment during passage through the secretory pathway to the plasma membrane. Of particular significance for Notch signaling is the addition of GlcNAc to O-fucose on an EGF repeat by the Fringe GlcNAc-transferases LFNG, MFNG or RFNG. Canonical Notch ligands (DLL1, DLL4, JAG1, JAG2) expressed in stromal cells bind to the extracellular domain of Notch receptors expressed in hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid and lymphoid progenitors to activate Notch signaling. Ligand-receptor binding is differentially regulated by the O-glycans on Notch. This review will summarize our understanding of the regulation of Notch signaling in myeloid and lymphoid cell development by specific O-glycans in mice with dysregulated expression of a particular glycosyltransferase and discuss how this may impact immune system development and malignancy in general, and in individuals with a congenital defect in the synthesis of the O-glycans attached to EGF repeats.
Design of experiments to investigate multi-additive cellulose nanocrystal films
Authors: Nilsson Patrik , Engström Åsa , Kaschuk Joice Jaqueline , Vapaavuori Jaana , Larsson Arvid , Abitbol Tiffany
Published: November 2022

Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspensions can self-assemble into chiral nematic films upon the slow evaporation of water. These films are brittle, as indicated by their fracturing instead of plastically deforming once they are fully elastically deformed. This aspect can be mediated to some extent by plasticizing additives, such as glucose and glycerol, however, few reports consider more than one additive at a time or address the influence of additive content on the homogeneity of the self-assembled structure. In this work, design of experiments (DoE) was used to empirically model complex film compositions, attempting to relate additive concentrations in dilute suspension to film properties, and to understand whether outcome specific predictions are possible using this approach. We demonstrate that DoE can be used to predict film properties in multi-additive systems, without consideration given to the different phenomena that occur along the drying process or to the nature of the additives. Additionally, a homogeneity metric is introduced in relation to chiral nematic organization in CNC films, with most of the additive-containing compositions in this work found to reduce the homogeneity of the self-assembly relative to pure CNC films.
Automatic measurements of fetal intracranial volume from 3D ultrasound scans
Authors: Caspi Yaron , de Zwarte Sonja M. C. , Iemenschot Iris J. , Lumbreras Raquel , de Heus Roel , Bekker Mireille N. , Hulshoff Pol Hilleke
Published: November 2022

Three-dimensional fetal ultrasound is commonly used to study the volumetric development of brain structures. To date, only a limited number of automatic procedures for delineating the intracranial volume exist. Hence, intracranial volume measurements from three-dimensional ultrasound images are predominantly performed manually. Here, we present and validate an automated tool to extract the intracranial volume from three-dimensional fetal ultrasound scans. The procedure is based on the registration of a brain model to a subject brain. The intracranial volume of the subject is measured by applying the inverse of the final transformation to an intracranial mask of the brain model. The automatic measurements showed a high correlation with manual delineation of the same subjects at two gestational ages, namely, around 20 and 30 weeks (linear fitting R2(20 weeks) = 0.88, R2(30 weeks) = 0.77; Intraclass Correlation Coefficients: 20 weeks=0.94, 30 weeks = 0.84). Overall, the automatic intracranial volumes were larger than the manually delineated ones (84 ± 16 vs. 76 ± 15 cm3; and 274 ± 35 vs. 237 ± 28 cm3), probably due to differences in cerebellum delineation. Notably, the automated measurements reproduced both the non-linear pattern of fetal brain growth and the increased inter-subject variability for older fetuses. By contrast, there was some disagreement between the manual and automatic delineation concerning the size of sexual dimorphism differences. The method presented here provides a relatively efficient way to delineate volumes of fetal brain structures like the intracranial volume automatically. It can be used as a research tool to investigate these structures in large cohorts, which will ultimately aid in understanding fetal structural human brain development.
Physicochemical properties of dietary fiber of bergamot and its effect on diabetic mice
Authors: Liu Huifan , Liang Jiaxi , Liang Churong , Liang Guiqiang , Lai Jiacong , Zhang Renying , Wang Qin , Xiao Gengsheng
Published: November 2022

Bergamot (Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis) contains different bioactive compounds, and their effects remain unclear. Therefore, the structural and bio-function of bergamot dietary fiber were investigated. A sequential extraction procedure was utilized to obtain soluble dietary fiber (SDF) and insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) from bergamot. The main monosaccharide in SDF and IDF is arabinose. SDF had a porous structure, which enhanced the water and oil holding capacity, as well as the cholesterol and glucose adsorption capacity, which was superior to that of IDF. In db/db diabetic mice, SDF and IDF regulated glucose tolerance and controlled blood glucose levels. Reduction of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in SDF and IDF could be observed. In summary, SDF and IDF from bergamot effectively promoted health in patients with diabetes.
Clinical characteristics and long-term outcomes of 12 children with vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1A: A retrospective study
Authors: Lin Yunting , Guan Zhihong , Mei Huifen , Zhang Wen , Zhou Zhizi , Su Ling , Cheng Jing , Zheng Ruidan , Liang Cuili , Cai Yanna , Yin Xi , Wu Dongyan , Liu Li , Zeng Chunhua
Published: November 2022

Purpose

Vitamin D-dependent rickets type 1A (VDDR1A) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by deficiency of the CYP27B1 gene. This study aims to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic features of VDDR1A children in southern China and evaluate the long-term therapeutic effects.

Methods

Twelve children from southern China with VDDR1A were enrolled in this study. Their clinical, radiological, biochemical, and molecular findings were analyzed retrospectively. The rickets severity score (RSS), biochemical parameters, and height standard deviation score (HtSDS) were used to evaluate clinical outcomes.

Results

Six males and six females were included in this VDDR1A cohort. The age of onset was from 6 months to 1.8 years, and the age at diagnosis was 2.1 ± 0.8 years. The most common clinical symptoms at diagnosis were delayed walking (10/12) and severe growth retardation (9/12). HtSDS at diagnosis was negatively associated with age (p < 0.05). All patients presented with hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, increased serum alkaline phosphatase and parathyroid hormone, and high RSS at diagnosis. Two allelic variants of the CYP27B1 gene were identified in all patients, including nine different variants, four known and five novel, with c.1319_1325dupCCCACCC(p.Phe443Profs*24) being the most frequent. All patients were treated with calcitriol and calcium after diagnosis, and all patients but one were followed-up from 6 months to 15.6 years. HtSDS, RSS, and biochemical parameters were found to be improved during the first few years of the treatment. However, only five patients had good compliance. Although RSS and biochemical parameters were significantly improved, the HtSDS change was not significant from the time of diagnosis to the last visit, and seven patients remained of a short stature (HtSDS < −2).

Conclusion

Our study extends the mutational spectrum of VDDR1A and finds a hotspot variant of the CYP27B1 gene in southern China. The results reconfirm the importance of early diagnosis and treatment compliance and reveal the challenge of height improvement in VDDR1A patients.
Relationship between miRNA and ferroptosis in tumors
Authors: Dai Shang-Ming , Li Feng-Jiao , Long Hui-Zhi , Zhou Zi-Wei , Luo Hong-Yu , Xu Shuo-Guo , Gao Li-Chen
Published: November 2022

Malignant tumor is a major killer that seriously endangers human health. At present, the methods of treating tumors include surgical resection, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy. However, the survival rate of patients is still very low due to the complicated mechanism of tumor occurrence and development and high recurrence rate. Individualized treatment will be the main direction of tumor treatment in the future. Because only by understanding the molecular mechanism of tumor development and differentially expressed genes can we carry out accurate treatment and improve the therapeutic effect. MicroRNA (miRNA) is a kind of small non coding RNA, which regulates gene expression at mRNA level and plays a key role in tumor regulation. Ferroptosis is a kind of programmed death caused by iron dependent lipid peroxidation, which is different from apoptosis, necrosis and other cell death modes. Now it has been found that ferroptosis plays an important role in the occurrence and development of tumors and drug resistance. More and more studies have found that miRNAs can regulate tumor development and drug resistance through ferroptosis. Therefore, in this review, the mechanism of ferroptosis is briefly outlined, and the relationship between miRNAs and ferroptosis in tumors is reviewed.
The development of speechreading skills in Chinese students with hearing impairment
Authors: Zhang Fen , Lei Jianghua , Gong Huina , Wu Hui , Chen Liang
Published: November 2022

The developmental trajectory of speechreading skills is poorly understood, and existing research has revealed rather inconsistent results. In this study, 209 Chinese students with hearing impairment between 7 and 20 years old were asked to complete the Chinese Speechreading Test targeting three linguistics levels (i.e., words, phrases, and sentences). Both response time and accuracy data were collected and analyzed. Results revealed (i) no developmental change in speechreading accuracy between ages 7 and 14 after which the accuracy rate either stagnates or drops; (ii) no significant developmental pattern in speed of speechreading across all ages. Results also showed that across all age groups, speechreading accuracy was higher for phrases than words and sentences, and overall levels of speechreading speed fell for phrases, words, and sentences. These findings suggest that the development of speechreading in Chinese is not a continuous, linear process.
Transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Beijing, China: An epidemiological and genomic analysis
Authors: Yin Jinfeng , Zhang Hongwei , Gao Zhidong , Jiang Hui , Qin Liyi , Zhu Chendi , Gao Qian , He Xiaoxin , Li Weimin
Published: November 2022

Background

Understanding multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) transmission patterns is crucial for controlling the disease. We aimed to identify high-risk populations and geographic settings of MDR-TB transmission.

Methods

We conducted a population-based retrospective study of MDR-TB patients in Beijing from 2018 to 2020, and assessed MDR-TB recent transmission using whole-genome sequencing of isolates. Geospatial analysis was conducted with kernel density estimation. We combined TransPhylo software with epidemiological investigation data to construct transmission networks. Logistic regression analysis was utilized to identify risk factors for recent transmission.

Results

We included 241 MDR-TB patients, of which 146 (60.58%) were available for genomic analysis. Drug resistance prediction showed that resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQs) was as high as 39.74% among new cases. 36 (24.66%) of the 146 MDR strains were grouped into 12 genome clusters, suggesting recent transmission of MDR strains. 44.82% (13/29) of the clustered patients lived in the same residential community, adjacent residential community or the same street as other cases. The inferred transmission chain found a total of 6 transmission events in 3 clusters; of these, 4 transmission events occurred in residential areas and nearby public places. Logistic regression analysis revealed that being aged 25–34 years-old was a risk factor for recent transmission.

Conclusions

The recent transmission of MDR-TB in Beijing is severe, and residential areas are common sites of transmission; high levels of FQs drug resistance suggest that FQs should be used with caution unless resistance can be ruled out by laboratory testing.
Regional differences of COVID-19 pandemic prevention in China: Especially from the perspective of political leaders
Authors: Li Jingli , Zhang Jianjun , Han Zhiyong
Published: November 2022

Since emergency management capabilities with respect to COVID-19 differ across different regions of China, it is necessary to adopt a more comprehensive perspective to study the reasons for these differences and propose corresponding policies. By investigating 287 prefectural-level administrative regions, this study explores the reasons for different levels of COVID-19 prevention performance. The results lead to the following conclusions. The factors influencing pandemic prevention include both structural factors, such as economic and social factors, and the experiences and characteristics of prefectural-level government leaders (party secretaries and mayors), such as grassroots work experience and level of education, which are significantly positively correlated with the progress of pandemic prevention. Based on these findings, we propose suggestions to improve governance capacity in terms of three aspects: the improvement of emergency management capacity, the appointment of cadres in the context of new challenges and missions, and the establishment collocation of prefectural-level leader teams.
Influence of social distancing on physical activity among the middle-aged to older population: Evidence from the nationally representative survey in China
Authors: Zhou Wuping , Zhang Lanyue , Wang Ting , Li Qiaosheng , Jian Weiyan
Published: November 2022

Background

Group-based physical activity is an important positive factor assisting the middle-aged to older population to be regularly physically active, especially inside a society with a large population and highly sociable environment. However, when group-based physical activity is restricted during a public health crisis such as the infectious disease pandemic, the influence of social distancing on physical activity among this vulnerable group needs to be recognized.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the influence of social distancing on physical activity among the middle-aged to older Chinese population at the national level.

Methods

Data from a nationally representative social follow-up survey (China Family Panel Studies, CFPS) for 2018 and 2020 were used. Physical activity level in year 2018 was set as the baseline to be compared with that for each individual in 2020, when China implemented social distancing during the COVID-19. Chinese population with an age greater than 45 years were included, and three levels of physical activity were established. Logistic models were developed to identify sociodemographic characteristic that may be associated with a higher probability of worse PA behaviors during the social distancing.

Results

Over 46% respondents could be described as being Physically Inactivity during 2018 and this proportion increased to 67.2% in 2020. Respondents who live in the Northeast or rural regions, having a spouse, being employed, having a low level of education, and being of low-income level showed a higher decrease in physical activity compared to other groups. However, individuals living with chronic diseases emerge as being more likely to maintain positive habits with respect to physical activity in this context.

Conclusion

Social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced the extent of physical activity among middle-aged to older Chinese residents. This is especially true in respect to middle-aged and elderly people who are at increased risk of chronic diseases. Given this, there is a clear need to consider effective modalities for physical activity in the context of social distancing based on home quarantine and city lockdown. Furthermore, specific health-related strategies need to be considered in relation to different regions and populations.
Metagenomic next-generation sequencing assists in the diagnosis of Cryptococcus pneumonia: Case series and literature review
Authors: Wang Huifen , Yan Su , Liu Ying , Li Yaoguang , Cui Guangying , Ma Xiaoxu
Published: November 2022

Background

Pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) was once thought to occur only in patients with immune deficiencies, such as tested positive for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). However, in recent years, it has been discovered that more than half of the patients with PC in our nation are individuals with normal immune function. As more and more PC cases are recorded, our diagnosis and treatment approaches, as well as our understanding of PC, are gradually improving. In reality, most PC patients still have a high incidence of misdiagnosis on their initial visit. It is primarily linked to the diverse clinical manifestations, atypical imaging findings, and inaccurate diagnostic approaches.

Methods

The research was conducted from 2019 to 2020. We performed traditional microbiological testing and mNGS on sample from patients with fever of Pulmonary nodules or lung infections. Furthermore, we collected patients' baseline information, clinical features, laboratory and imaging examination results, diagnosis, treatment and outcome. In the end, we confirmed three cases of PC using biopsy and mNGS.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrates that mNGS can be utilized as an auxiliary method for PC diagnosis. Early mNGS aids in the identification of pathogens, enabling early diagnosis and treatment, as well as a reduction in the rate of misdiagnosis and illness progression.
Accessibility of essential anticancer medicines for children in the Sichuan Province of China
Authors: Chen Zhe , Li Siyu , Zou Kun , Li Hailong , Zeng Linan , Lu Xiaoxi , Jia Zhi-Jun , Cheng Guo , Zhang Lingli
Published: November 2022

Background

Compared with high-income countries, the survival rate of childhood cancer is lower in low- and middle-income countries. Access to essential anticancer medicines is an indispensable component of pediatric cancer treatment, which is still a big challenge in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective

To assess the accessibility of essential anticancer medicines for children in public hospitals in the Sichuan Province of China.

Methods

Based on the data of the Sichuan Province Drug Use Monitoring Platform in 2020, a retrospective study was conducted to investigate the original brands and generics of 34 anticancer and three supportive essential medicines for children (a total of 97 specific strengths) in Sichuan Province. The availability, price, and affordability of surveyed medicines were evaluated in all 152 tertiary public hospitals (120 general hospitals, 31 children's hospitals, and one cancer hospital) that could diagnose and treat cancer for children.

Results

The average availability of generics and original brands was 18.5% and 2.6%, respectively. In regions with different gross domestic product (GDP) per capita levels, the average availability was similar, but the city with lower GDP per capita levels had fewer tertiary public hospitals. The prices of most original brands were higher than the lowest-priced generics, and the median price ratios of 31 lowest-priced generics and 16 original brands were 0.744 (P25~P75, 0.446~2.791) and 2.908 (1.719~6.465). After paying medical insurance for medicines, the affordability of essential anticancer medicines was improved. The monthly medicine cost did not exceed 10% of the monthly household income for 78.9% (30/38) of the lowest-priced generics and 50.0% (8/16) of the original brands.

Conclusion

The availability of lowest-priced generics was higher than original brands in public hospitals, but the availability of both was low, which was similar to previous studies in low- and middle-income countries. About half of the lowest-priced generics and 87.5% of the original brands cost more than 1.5 times the International Reference Price. Although the National Basic Medical Insurance greatly improved the affordability of essential anticancer medicines for children, higher subsidies for essential medicines for cancer treatment to limit catastrophic health expenditures are still recommended.
Classification of user queries according to a hierarchical medical procedure encoding system using an ensemble classifier
Authors: Deng Yihan , Denecke Kerstin
Published: November 2022

The Swiss classification of surgical interventions (CHOP) has to be used in daily practice by physicians to classify clinical procedures. Its purpose is to encode the delivered healthcare services for the sake of quality assurance and billing. For encoding a procedure, a code of a maximal of 6-digits has to be selected from the classification system, which is currently realized by a rule-based system composed of encoding experts and a manual search in the CHOP catalog. In this paper, we will investigate the possibility of automatic CHOP code generation based on a short query to enable automatic support of manual classification. The wide and deep hierarchy of CHOP and the differences between text used in queries and catalog descriptions are two apparent obstacles for training and deploying a learning-based algorithm. Because of these challenges, there is a need for an appropriate classification approach. We evaluate different strategies (multi-class non-terminal and per-node classifications) with different configurations so that a flexible modular solution with high accuracy and efficiency can be provided. The results clearly show that the per-node binary classification outperforms the non-terminal multi-class classification with an F1-micro measure between 92.6 and 94%. The hierarchical prediction based on per-node binary classifiers achieved a high exact match by the single code assignment on the 5-fold cross-validation. In conclusion, the hierarchical context from the CHOP encoding can be employed by both classifier training and representation learning. The hierarchical features have all shown improvement in the classification performances under different configurations, respectively: the stacked autoencoder and training examples aggregation using true path rules as well as the unified vocabulary space have largely increased the utility of hierarchical features. Additionally, the threshold adaption through Bayesian aggregation has largely increased the vertical reachability of the per node classification. All the trainable nodes can be triggered after the threshold adaption, while the F1 measures at code levels 3–6 have been increased from 6 to 89% after the threshold adaption.
Which vaginal douching agent is the best choice before oocyte retrieval? A systematic review and network meta-analysis
Authors: Meng Ying , Wen Gui H. , Luo Hong , Tan Xiu C. , Wang Li , Liao Juan , Peng Hong , Lan Ling , Yang Na , Zhao Ying
Published: November 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate six vaginal douching agents (Iodine, Saline, Iodine followed by saline, chlorhexidine acetate followed by saline, Ozone, Potassium permanganate) on oocytes pick-up related pelvic infection (OPU-PI) and IVF outcome in patients underwent assisted reproduction technology (ART).

Design

Through searching PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Ovid, CINAHL CNKI, only human clinical trials were collected to study the effects of the six vaginal douching agents on OPU-PI and IVF outcomes. The included studies were evaluated for methodological quality by the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool, and the data analysis software was used to analyze the data accordingly.

Results

The clinical trials were collected between the earliest available date and June 2022. Eight studies were included, the total sample size used in the study was 12,567. The results of the network meta-analysis showed that Ozone can significantly decrease OPU-PI; Iodine followed by saline can be a antiseptic protocol ranked first without affecting the quality of oocytes and Chlorhexidine acetate followed by saline can improve patients' clinical pregnancy rate.

Conclusion

Based on Ranking Plot of the Network, this review reports the best evidence available regarding different vaginal douching agents used before OPU.
Rediscovering life after being diagnosed with HIV: A qualitative analysis of lived experiences of youth living with HIV in rural Rwanda
Authors: Uwamariya Josée , Nshunguyabahizi Marcel , Nshimyumuremyi Jean Népomuscène , Mukesharurema Gerardine , Ndayishimiye Emmanuel , Kamali Innocent , Ndahimana Jean d’Amour , Hedt-Gauthier Bethany , Cubaka Vincent K. , Barnhart Dale A.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

In sub-Saharan Africa, youth living with HIV, especially those who have lost one or both parents, face economic, socially and psychological challenges that hinder adherence to ART, ultimately leading to poor health outcomes. Partners In Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima implemented an Adolescent Support Group (ASG) to support HIV-positive youth aged 15–25 years. During the evaluation of the ASG program, we sought to better understand youths' lived experiences to improve our delivery of HIV care.

Methods

We conducted qualitative in-depth, semi-structured individual interviews with youth enrolled in the ASG program. All interviews were conducted in-person or by telephone. Thematic analysis applying the framework approach with parallel inductive coding in Kinyarwanda and English was used.

Results

We interviewed 35 youth who ranged in age from 16 to 29 years. The main themes related to the lived experiences of youth were (a) Experiences living with HIV, including disclosure, stigma, interactions with the health care system, and medication adherence; (b) external challenges, defined as challenges that were not related to the implementation of the ASG program; and (c) personal vision. Almost all youth reported acquiring HIV from their mothers and disclosure of HIV status occurred around the age of 10. Disclosure was often unintentional and followed by internalized and enacted stigma. Many reported poor past medication adherence which improved following enhanced counselling. External challenges were overwhelmingly economic in nature, and orphanhood was a root cause of other challenges such as difficulty accessing education, lack of transport to health facility, and lack of insurance fees. Despite these challenges, youth have an optimistic view of the future with dreams of health, economic attainment, marriage, and children.

Conclusion

Healthcare providers should empower caregivers to support HIV disclosure. Supporting youth as they face many economic challenges could help address socio-economic barriers to good health and promote holistic well-being.
Characteristics of lung metastasis in testicular cancer: A large-scale population analysis based on propensity score matching
Authors: Guo Aiyuan , Gu Jie , Yang Jiayi
Published: November 2022

Background

This study aims to systematically evaluate predictive factors for lung metastasis (LM) in patients with testicular cancer (TC) and to investigate cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) of LM in TC patients based on a large population-cohort.

Methods

A total of 10,414 patients diagnosed with TC during 2010–2015 were adopted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). After propensity score matching (PSM), 493 patients with LM were included for subsequent analysis. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to identify risk factors, a nomogram was developed, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to confirm the validation of the nomogram. Prognostic factors for OS and CSS among TC patients with LM were estimated via Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

Postmatching indicated that 11 parameters were successfully balanced between both groups (P > 0.05). After PSM, TC patients with LM presented an undesirable prognosis in both CSS and OS than those without LM (P < 0.001). The logistic regression model showed that tumor size; T stage; N stage; liver, brain, and bone metastases; and histology were positively associated with LM (P < 0.05). A nomogram was developed to predict diagnostic possibilities based on the independent risk variables, and the ROC curve verified the predictive capacity of the logistic regression model [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.910].

Conclusion

The selected variates in the nomogram can be predictive criteria for TC patients with LM. Brain metastasis, liver metastasis, and larger tumor size were prognostic factors for CCS and OS among TC patients with LM.
Hyponatremia after neuroendoscopic skull base tumor surgery: Clinical characteristics and nursing management
Authors: Yang Yanjun , Lv Chunmei , Zhang Jing , Zhao Yuanli
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The current study was conducted to explore the clinical characteristics of hyponatremia after neuroendoscopic skull base tumor resection, and to summarize the nursing experience and provide insight for nursing management.

Methods

In total, we enrolled 181 patients who underwent neuroendoscopic resection of skull base tumors in the Department of Neurosurgery of our hospital from 2016 to 2021. The patients' general data and parameters, including blood sodium level, polyuria, and other symptoms in different periods after surgery, were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Forty-four patients developed hyponatremia after Surgery. The total incidence of hyponatremia was 24.30%, including 38 cases of mild hyponatremia and 6 cases of moderate and severe hyponatremia. Most cases of moderate and severe hyponatremia occurred 6 days after surgery. The incidence of hyponatremia varied in different pathological types and periods in patients undergoing skull base tumors. After standardized sodium supplementation, water restriction, and urine volume control, hyponatremia was corrected in all patients, and no osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) and nursing-related events occurred.

Conclusion

Secondary hyponatremia after neuroendoscopic resection of skull base tumors can occur in various time periods after surgery. Early monitoring of manifestations and standardized intervention are thus necessary for clinical nursing practice to timely correct hyponatremia and avoid demyelination.
Involvement of testicular N-glycoproteome heterogeneity in seasonal spermatogenesis of the American mink (Neovison vison)
Authors: Zhang Yufei , Xu Baozeng
Published: November 2022

Spermatogenesis in the American mink is characterized by an annual cycle of transition involving completely inactive and fully activated stages. N-glycosylation of proteins has emerged as an important regulator as it affects protein folding, secretion, degradation, and activity. However, the function of protein N-glycosylation in seasonal spermatogenesis of the American mink remains unclear. In the present study, we established a proteome-wide stoichiometry of N-glycosylation in mink testes at various phases of spermatogenesis using N-linked glycosylated-peptide enrichment in combination with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. A total of 532 N-glycosylated sites matching the canonical Asn-X-Ser/Thr motif were identified in 357 testicular proteins. Both the number of glycoproteins and the sites of N-glycosylated proteins in mink testes were highly dynamic at different stages. Functional analyses showed that testicular proteins with different N-glycosylation might play a vital role in spermatogenesis by affecting their folding, distribution, stability, and activity. Overall, our data suggest that the dynamics of N-glycosylation of testicular proteins are involved in seasonal spermatogenesis in the American mink.
Technologies monitoring and improving biosecurity compliance in barn anterooms
Authors: Racicot Manon , Cardinal Anne-Marie , Tremblay Dominic , Vaillancourt Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2022

People can act as mechanical vectors, and introduce and spread infectious diseases on farms. Preventive measures, such as changing boots and washing hands, need systematic implementation to manage this risk. Unfortunately, biosecurity compliance regarding biosecurity measures in barn anterooms has been shown to be generally low in all animal production systems. Indeed, the main challenge with biosecurity is maintaining compliance. The development of an effective on-farm biosecurity program requires several elements. These include farm and barn designs facilitating implementation of biosecurity measures; consistently communicating with all personnel and visitors informing them about threats and biosecurity; training programs for all farm personnel, explaining why biosecurity is effective in preventing infectious disease transmission, which measures are needed, and how to best implement them. All these components would be further optimized if automated monitoring systems were implemented with feedback mechanisms. Technologies are now available and are being adapted to the farm context to monitor biosecurity compliance. Two pilot projects using radio-frequency-identification-based (RFID) real-time continuous automated monitoring system quantifying hand sanitizing and boot compliance were conducted. The first one (MediHand Trace system) was a system designed to monitor and provide real-time feedback for handwashing in a hospital environment. It was functional for this task, although not sturdy enough for long-term use in a farm environment. The second system was a prototype designed for barns and with foot mats allowing the monitoring of footwear management as well as handwashing. These pilot studies have shown that real-time feedback helps improve compliance. However, the efficacy of the systems was very dependent on the physical set-up of the anteroom.
Flow Mechanism of a New Concept Transonic Tandem Fan Stage under the Design and Off-Design Conditions
Authors: Zhou Chuangxin , Zhao Shengfeng , Lu Xingen
Published: November 2022

A detailed numerical simulation of a transonic tandem fan stage was conducted, and the change rule of the flow structure inside the fan stage under the design and off-design conditions was discussed to determine the internal flow mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the total pressure ratio of the fan stage steadily increases with the rotating speed, exhibiting an approximately quadratic growth rate. The peak efficiency reaches the maximum at 80% design speed and rapidly declines under the overspeed condition. Furthermore, the peak efficiency point for different rotating speeds was investigated. The changes in the flow features, such as shock wave/boundary layer interaction and radial migration of low-energy fluids, mainly determine the isentropic efficiency at the higher span. At the middle-lower span, higher or lower inflow relative Mach number increases the flow loss. Moreover, the strength of the tip vortex and wake affect the flow loss at the lower span, while the radial motion of the former flow structure dominated by the equivalent inertial force is another essential factor. Under the high-speed condition, the gain of a high-throughflow fan on choke mass flow can be exhibited. However, the throat position causes an abnormal change under the overspeed condition.
How Significant Are the Roles Moral Obligation and Formal Institutions Play in Participatory Irrigation Management?
Authors: Yang Liu , Rezitis Anthony , Ren Yang
Published: November 2022

Against the background of the agricultural tax reform and the disintegration of China’s rural collective agriculture system, participatory irrigation management (PIM) is the key to improving irrigation management performance. Based on the survey data of 712 peasant households in the Yellow River basin of China, this study employs multi-group structural equation modeling (SEM) to explore the impact of moral obligation and formal institutions on PIM. The results show that both moral obligation and formal institutions can significantly improve collective action. Collective action can markedly promote irrigation management performance, and the formal institution can significantly enhance the farmers’ moral obligation. Additionally, the results of the multi-group analysis show that the agricultural income level of households and their provinces can regulate the impact of moral obligation and formal institutions on PIM. Therefore, to improve irrigation management performance, strategies of intensifying moral obligation and refining formal institutions are recommended for governments and village committees.
A TRIZ-Integrated Conceptual Design Process of a Smart Lawnmower for Uneven Grassland
Authors: Kang Chun Quan , Ng Poh Kiat , Liew Kia Wai
Published: November 2022

Existing smart lawnmowers, while convenient to use, have significant limitations, such as a lack of manoeuvrability on uneven agricultural grassland (constraint 1), high charging frequency (constraint 2) and low local market penetration (constraint 3). Although the effectiveness of the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ) has been demonstrated in several design studies, there also seems to be a lack of research addressing the design difficulties of smart lawnmowers using this method. With the use of the TRIZ method, this study seeks to conceptually design a smart lawnmower for uneven grassland. Tools from TRIZ were used, including cause-effect chain analysis, technical contradictions, physical contradictions, and substance field modelling. In developing a design concept, constraints were solved by inventive principles, separation strategies and standard inventive solutions. For constraint 1, the following solutions were chosen with the appropriate principles: using larger wheels (#17, another dimension: using a second or third dimension), a pivot design (#30, flexible shell: replacing rigidity with flexibility and movability) and replacing the motor with one that has more power or torque. For constraint 2, the following solutions were chosen: to reduce weight, add holes in the mower housing (#31, porous materials: making an object porous or adding porous elements) and attach a solar panel to recharge batteries with solar energy (#28, mechanical substitution: using electric, magnetic or other fields to interact with object). Using other materials or technologies to minimise costs (#13, the other way around: using the opposite way) and a modular design concept to reduce maintenance costs (#1, segmentation: dividing an object into independent parts) were the chosen ways to solve constraint 3. Conceptualisation and design analysis were also performed. Although the effectiveness of the concept is unclear, these suggestions are supported by previous research and could potentially solve some of the problems with smart lawnmowers.
Growth, Yield, and Grain Quality of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Grown across South Korean Farmlands with Different Temperature Distributions
Authors: Kim Ye-Geon , Park Hyun-Hwa , Lee Hyo-Jin , Kim Hee-Kwon , Kuk Yong-In
Published: November 2022

Climate change has disrupted several aspects of food systems, but perhaps one of the most alarming effects on global nutrition is the decrease in grain production as well as the reduction in the protein content and quality of the grain. Over the last several decades, due to climate change, suitable areas in Korea for barley cultivation have been moving northward compared to the past. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine how different climatic factors such as temperature impact barley growth at different stages (December, February, and April) and the yield at harvest in four group areas (G1, G2, G3, and G4) with different climates. Differences in the temperatures between areas during the growing season and the variability in growth and yields were noted. Additionally, the chemical composition of the soils and the mineral content of the leaves at the heading stage as well as the main constituents and amino acid composition of the barley seeds grown in different areas were considered. On average, the tiller number/m2, plant height, and dry aboveground plant parts/m2 in G1 areas were lower than in other group areas when measured before overwintering (December), after overwintering (February), and at the heading stage (April). However, there was no difference in these parameters between G2 and G3 areas. In 2020, the order of yield levels was G4 > G2 = G3 > G1. The yield in G1 areas was 37% less than in G4 areas. In 2021, yield levels were similar with the order of yield being G4 = G3 > G1 = G2. Also similar to the prior year, yield in G1 areas was 39% less than in G4 areas. The minimum and daily average temperatures during the growing season (October to June) were in the order of G4 > G3 > G2 > G1. Growth parameters in the colder G1 areas were lower than in other group areas, which suggests that the minimum and daily average temperatures in December, February, and April may be responsible for the lower crop growth and yield. Crude protein, lipid, and ash contents in the G1 and G2 areas were higher than in G3 and G4 areas. There was no variation in most kinds of amino acids between the group areas. Organic matter, available phosphoric acid, potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and zinc (Zn) contents in the soil of G1 areas were higher than in soils elsewhere. In addition, there was no consistency among most other mineral contents in the plants between the group areas. Overall, the growth and yield in G1 areas were lower than in other areas. Thus, it was concluded that these areas were still not suitable for barley cultivation regardless of climate change.
Marble Chromatic Alteration Study Using Non-Invasive Analytical Techniques and Evaluation of the Most Suitable Cleaning Treatment: The Case of a Bust Representing Queen Margherita di Savoia at the U.S. Embassy in Rome
Authors: Macchia Andrea , Cerafogli Eleonora , Rivaroli Laura , Colasanti Irene Angela , Aureli Hélène , Biribicchi Chiara , Brunori Valeria
Published: November 2022

In spite of the application of different cleaning procedures, the marble used for the portrait bust of Queen Margherita di Savoia continued to show permanent discoloration, consisting of an unevenly distributed grayish alteration, mainly on the front part. In this work, a multi-analytical, non-invasive approach was proposed using spectrocolorimetry, reflectance spectroscopy and multispectral imaging. The initial assumption, suggesting the presence of altered protective materials based on organic products (such as waxes or oils,) applied in the past according to traditional practices, was excluded, revealing instead the presence of deposits of particulate matter, which penetrated inside the crystalline structure of the marble, leading to a variation in its shade. Cleaning tests were also carried out to define the best product, using sustainable chemicals such as Polar Varnish Rescue®, alkoxyde surfactant, disodium EDTA, GLDA and Politect® Base in order to identify the best methodology and materials for sustainable cleaning, respecting the integrity of the original matter. Politect® Base demonstrated better action in comparison to the other products tested, and similar results were obtained with GLDA, which could be applied in areas where the Politect® is less efficient (e.g., lace).
An in vitro Study of Betadine’s Ability to Eliminate Live Bacteria on the Eye: Should It Be Used for Protection against Endophthalmitis?
Authors: Nagle Alyssa , Kopel Jonathan , Reed John , Jacobo Unique , Tran Phat , Mitchell Kelly , Reid Ted W.
Published: November 2022

Background: Povidone-iodide (Betadine) is an antiseptic that is applied topically and has many uses in the medical community, such as in wound care and pre- and post-operative surgical procedures. This study was done to measure the effectiveness of Betadine solutions in inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Methods: The ability of 2.5 and 10% Betadine solutions to inhibit bacterial growth was measured against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. We grew the bacteria independently and together to simulate a hospital environment. Results: All the bacteria showed zones of inhibition. However, discs were also tested for live bacteria using the colony-forming unit assay. Complete killing was only seen for S. aureus with the 10% Betadine solution. All other bacteria showed growth on the disc. Conclusions: This study showed several things. First, the zone of inhibition assay does not give an accurate assessment of antimicrobial properties when used alone and should be followed by a colony-forming unit assay. Second, 2.5% and 5% Betadine do not have effective antimicrobial properties against any of the bacteria tested, and 10% Betadine is only effective against S. aureus and not effective against the other bacteria tested.