bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Dilemma of the Great Development of Rural Tourism from the Sustainable Environment Perspective
Authors: Yang Qin , Li Jian , Tang Youlin
Published: May 2022

Demand and motivation are powerful indicators of people’s decisions and behaviors. Based on the in‐depth interviews with 190 relevant stakeholders, the study found that the rural tourism industry is facing three kinds of pressures for continued growth. Under these three pressures, the rural tourism industry tends to “copy” and plunder resource‐based development, which restricts the industry’s sustainable growth path. Therefore, to continue the development of the rural tourism industry, we need to create a development path suitable for the sustainable development of rural tourism from three aspects: system, atmosphere construction, and market orientation.
Application of GPR Underground Pipeline Detection Technology in Urban Complex Geological Environments
Authors: Liang Xiaoqiang , Hu Da , Li Yongsuo , Zhang Yunyi , Yang Xian
Published: May 2022

In the process of the continuous construction of underground pipelines, underground pipe network systems have become increasingly complex, which puts forward higher requirements for normal operation and maintenance. To address different kinds of complex conditions, this experiment in the present paper takes ground penetrating radar as the research basis and uses a self-correction and screening algorithm to innovatively detect underground pipelines. The results show that urban underground pipeline detection technology based on ground penetrating radar (GPR) can obtain a highly reliable number of pipelines and track predefined pipelines when detecting different numbers of verification pipelines. When detecting underground pipelines in different sections, the vertical and horizontal errors are no more than 0.199 m and 0.248 m, respectively, which means that the detection technology of urban underground pipelines based on GPR has high detection accuracy and can be performed on high-level detection tasks under various complex conditions. This research applies bottom detection radar to urban underground pipeline detection technology under complex conditions for the first time, innovatively uses the action mechanism of bottom detection radar, integrates its high precision and high efficiency into underground pipeline detection technology, and ensures the effectiveness of the detection work.
Expression, Purification, and In Silico Characterization of Mycobacterium smegmatis Alternative Sigma Factor SigB
Authors: Singh Rakesh Kumar , Jaiswal Lav Kumar , Nayak Tanmayee , Rawat Ravindra Singh , Kumar Sanjit , Rai Sachchida Nand , Gupta Ankush
Published: May 2022

Sigma factor B (SigB), an alternative sigma factor (ASF), is very similar to primary sigma factor SigA (σ70) but dispensable for growth in both Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msmeg) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). It is involved in general stress responses including heat, oxidative, surface, starvation stress, and macrophage infections. Despite having an extremely short half-life, SigB tends to operate downstream of at least three stress-responsive extra cytoplasmic function (ECF) sigma factors (SigH, SigE, SigL) and SigF involved in multiple signaling pathways. There is very little information available regarding the regulation of SigB sigma factor and its interacting protein partners. Hence, we cloned the SigB gene into pET28a vector and optimized its expression in three different strains of E. coli, viz., (BL21 (DE3), C41 (DE3), and CodonPlus (DE3)). We also optimized several other parameters for the expression of recombinant SigB including IPTG concentration, temperature, and time duration. We achieved the maximum expression of SigB at 25°C in the soluble fraction of the cell which was purified by affinity chromatography using Ni-NTA and further confirmed by Western blotting. Further, structural characterization demonstrates the instability of SigB in comparison to SigA that is carried out using homology modeling and structure function relationship. We have done protein-protein docking of RNA polymerase (RNAP) of Msmeg and SigB. This effort provides a platform for pulldown assay, structural, and other studies with the recombinant protein to deduce the SigB interacting proteins, which might pave the way to study its signaling networks along with its regulation.
Smart Farming System Based on Intelligent Internet of Things and Predictive Analytics
Authors: Ferehan Nourelhouda , Haqiq Abdelkrim , Ahmad Mohd Wazih
Published: May 2022

The Internet of Things (IoT) makes it conceivable to communicate among distinctive things. The use of IoT in the farming industry is critical for increasing utility. Smart agricultural practices may boost crop yield while also creating more output with the same amount of input. The majority of farmers, however, are still unaware of the most recent technologies and procedures. In this study, a revolutionary wireless mobile robot based on the Internet of Things (IoT) is created and installed to perform a variety of outdoor tasks. The benefits of this work include more accurate and efficient data, as well as a reduction in manpower. This research has applications in agriculture, arrival, and water division. Keen agrarian frameworks have been built up in different parts of the world utilising the Internet of Things (IoT) and remote sensor systems. One of the branches that springs to intellect in this respect is exactness cultivating. Numerous analysts have made checking and robotization frameworks for different cultivating capacities. Information collection and transmission between IoT gadgets set in ranches will be basic utilising WSN. The Kalman Filter (KF) is used with expectation investigation within the proposed method to get high-quality information free of commotion and exchange it with cluster-based WSNs. The quality of information utilised for examination is progressed as a result of this strategy, and information transport overhead within the wireless sensor network application is decreased. A decision tree is used for forecast analytics decision making for trim surrender expectation, trim classification, soil classification, climate expectation, and trim malady expectation. IoT components integrated with IoT cloud are coordinates in proposed framework to supply keen arrangement for edit development observing to clients.
Aflatoxin M1 Contamination of Ghanaian Traditional Soft Cottage Cheese (Wagashie) and Health Risks Associated with Its Consumption
Authors: Kortei Nii Korley , Annan Theophilus
Published: May 2022

Wagashie is an unripened traditional cheese consumed in West Africa including Ghana. Being a milk product, it is unfortunately susceptible to aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) contamination, which is indeed a grave health challenge globally. This study evaluated AFM1 levels and health risk characterization associated with wagashie (n = 182) sampled from different locations in Ghana. AFM1 was measured with high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD). Risk assessments were also conducted using models prescribed by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). Out of the 182 samples analyzed for AFM1, 93/182 (51.1%) tested positive between the range 0.00 ± 0.00–3.60 ± 0.99 µg/kg. Risk assessments of AFM1 using deterministic models produced outcomes that ranged between 0.11 and 3.60 ng/kg bw/day, 0.09–1.54, 0–0.0323 ng aflatoxins/kg bw/day, and 3.5 x 10−3 −0.06 cases/100,000 person/yr for estimated daily intake (EDI), margin of exposure (MOE), average potency, and cancer risks, respectively, for the age categories investigated. It was established that the consumption of wagashie posed adverse health effects on all age categories in the selected regions of the study because all calculated MOE values were less than 100,000. Therefore, contamination of wagashie with AFM1 should be a serious public health concern and as such considered a high precedence for Ghana’s risk management actions.
Preparation of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon-Based Bimetallic Copper-Cobalt Catalysis Based on Deep Learning and Its Monitoring Application in Furfural Hydrogenation
Authors: Pei Xiaojun , Shu Haojun , Feng Yisi
Published: May 2022

In the field of catalysis, the support of the catalyst is often composed of hollow carbon materials. In order to monitor the preparation of nitrogen-doped carbon-based bimetallic copper-cobalt catalysis and its hydrogenation reaction in furfural, using m-aminophenol as the nitrogen source, formaldehyde as a carbon source, and P123 as a template agent, a nitrogen-doped bimetallic copper-cobalt mesoporous carbon catalyst Cu-Co@N-MPC-500 was synthesized by the hydrothermal method. The morphology, structure, and chemical composition of the catalyst were analyzed by means of TEM, XRD, BET, and XPS, respectively. The results show that the nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon has a stable structure, uniform pore size distribution, and the nano-copper-cobalt particles are uniformly dispersed in the mesoporous carbon surface. Through furfural hydrogenation, the catalyst selectivity and cycle stability were discussed. Under the furfural conversion rate of 96.1%, the yield of cyclopentanone could reach 76.2%. After 5 cycles, the catalytic efficiency of the catalyst did not decrease significantly. It shows that Cu-Co@N-MPC-500 has excellent application prospects in the field of industrial production.
Depolymerization of Rice Straw Lignin into Value-Added Chemicals in Sub-Supercritical Ethanol
Authors: Tran Viet T , Le Tan M. , Vu Phu V. , Nguyen Hien M. , Duong Yen H.P , Le Phung K.
Published: May 2022

Depolymerization of lignin is an important step to obtain a lignin monomer for the synthesis of functional chemicals. In the context of more lignin produced from biomass and pulp industry, converting real lignin with low purity is still required more studies. In this study, the influence of solvent composition and reaction parameters such as binary solvents ratio, time, and temperature, the solvent-to-lignin ratio on the depolymerization of rice straw lignin was investigated carefully. Essential lignin-degraded products including liquid product (LP), char (solid), and gas were obtained, and their yields were directly influenced by reaction conditions. Results show that the maximum lignin conversion rate of 92% and LP yield of 66% was under the condition of 275°C, 30 min, 75 : 1 (mL solvent/1 g lignin), and ethanol 50%. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis was used for the analysis of the depolymerization products and identified 11 compounds which are mainly phenolic compounds such as 2-ethylphenol, 3-ethylphenol, phenol, methyl 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoate. The structure changes of LP and char in various conditions were analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR).
Construction and Application of Psychological Quality Assessment Model for College Students Based on Extensive Data Analysis
Authors: Zou Ping , Wu Yanjun , Zhang Jingdan
Published: May 2022

This paper constructs a platform framework for extensive data analysis of college students’ psychological quality with the help of the thinking mode of big data and related technologies and proposes the construction principles, data sources, data processing methods, data platform construction, and platform application of big data analysis platform for college students’ psychological quality assessment. This paper combines the application methods of big data technology, collects the management data related to the psychological quality assessment of college students, saves them into the system database with certain storage logic, and realizes the function of psychological quality assessment through the design of selected psychological quality assessment data, data management and data resource management and other parts based on the data results of extensive data analysis. This study provides some insights into the psychological quality assessment of college students. The strength of association between the variables of psychological quality assessment of college students changes over time, but the overall psychological structure is more stable. This stable psychological structure characteristic is conducive to constructing the policy of constant psychological education in large universities.
Recent Advances and the Mechanism of Astaxanthin in Ophthalmological Diseases
Authors: Yang Ming , Wang Yanling
Published: May 2022

Astaxanthin (AST) is a naturally occurring carotenoid that has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptosis effects and is used for the prevention of cancer. There is growing evidence that AST has multiple protective effects against various eye diseases. This article reviews the function and the potential mechanism of AST in dry eye syndrome, keratitis, cataract, diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, high intraocular pressure, and other ocular diseases. It provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of AST as a potential nutraceutical.
Machine Learning-Based Integration Develops a Pyroptosis-Related lncRNA Model to Enhance the Predicted Value of Low-Grade Glioma Patients
Authors: Wu Jie , Lu Lichun , Wang Chen , Jiang Feng
Published: May 2022

Background. Molecular features have been included in the categorization of gliomas because they may be excellent predictors of tumor prognosis. Lower-grade glioma (LGGs, which comprise grade 2 and grade 3 gliomas) patients have a wide variety of outcomes. The goal of this research is to investigate a pyroptosis-based long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) profile and see whether it can be used to predict LGG prognosis. Methods. The Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) and Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) datasets were utilized to get RNA data and clinical information for this research. Six considerably related lncRNAs (AL355574.1, AL355974.2, Z97989.1, SNAI3-AS1, LINC02593, and CYTOR) were selected using Cox regression (univariate and multivariate) and LASSO Cox regression. A variety of statistical techniques, including ROC curves, nomogram, and Kaplan-Meier curves, were utilized to verify the risk score’s accuracy. Following that, bioinformatics studies were carried out to investigate the possible molecular processes that influence LGG prognosis. The variations in pathway enrichment were investigated using GSEA. The immune microenvironment inconsistencies were investigated using CIBERSORT, ESTIMATE, MCPcounter, TIMER algorithms, and ssGSEA. Results. We discovered six lncRNAs with distinct expression patterns that are linked to LGG prognosis. Kaplan-Meier studies showed a signature of high-risk lncRNAs associated with a poor prognosis for LGG. Furthermore, the AUC of the lncRNA signature was 0.763, indicating that they may be used to predict LGG prognosis. In predicting LGG prognosis, our risk assessment approach outperformed conventional clinicopathological characteristics. In the high-risk group of people, GSEA identified tumor-related pathways and immune-related pathways. Furthermore, T cell-related activities such as T cell coinhibition and costimulation, check point, APC coinhibition and costimulation, CCR, and inflammatory promoting were shown to be substantially different between the two groups in TCGA analysis. Immune checkpoints including PD-1, CTLA4, and PD-L1 were expressed differentially in the two groups as well. Conclusion. This study found that pyroptosis-based lncRNAs were useful in predicting LGG patients’ survival, suggesting that they may be used as a therapeutic target in the future.
Mitochondrial Calcium Disorder Affects Early Embryonic Development in Mice through Regulating the ERK/MAPK Pathway
Authors: Zhang Luyao , Liu Kexiong , Zhuan Qingrui , Liu Zhiqiang , Meng Lin , Fu Xiangwei , Jia Gongxue , Hou Yunpeng
Published: May 2022

The homeostasis of mitochondrial calcium ([Ca2+]mt) in oocytes plays a critical role in maintaining normal reproductive cellular progress such as meiosis. However, little is known about the association between [Ca2+]mt homeostasis and early embryonic development. Two in vitro mouse MII oocyte models were established by using a specific agonist or inhibitor targeting mitochondrial calcium uniporters (MCU) to upregulate or downregulate [Ca2+]mt concentrations. The imbalance of [Ca2+]mt in MII oocytes causes mitochondrial dysfunction and morphological abnormity, leading to an abnormal spindle/chromosome structure. Oocytes in drug-treated groups are less likely to develop into blastocyst during in vitro culture. Abnormal [Ca2+]mt concentrations in oocytes hindered epigenetic modification and regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling that is associated with gene expression. We also found that MAPK/ERK signaling is regulating DNA methylation in MII oocytes to modulate epigenetic modification. These data provide a new insight into the protective role of [Ca2+]mt homeostasis in early embryonic development and also demonstrate a new mechanism of MAPK signaling regulated by [Ca2+]mt that influences epigenetic modification.
A Collaborative Filtering Method for Operation Maintenance Behavior in Power Monitoring Systems
Authors: Wu Jinyu , Tao Wenwei , Zhang Wenzhe , Jiang Zeming , Chen Gang
Published: May 2022

As an important part of power infrastructure, a power monitoring system provides real-time data acquisition, state detection, and remote control of power equipment for the power grid and can deal with sudden anomalies in time. The operation and maintenance of the power monitoring system are very important to ensure the stable operation of power grid. The current mainstream remote operation and maintenance mode has internal threats such as misoperation of operation and maintenance personnel or malicious damage caused by attackers stealing operation and maintenance authority. Meanwhile, the existing operation and maintenance audit has the problems of high human resource cost and limited supervision of operation and maintenance personnel. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a collaborative filtering method for operation and maintenance behavior of power monitoring system called CFomb. Exploiting a keyword matching algorithm, CFomb determines the power resources accessed by operation and maintenance users from multiple operation instructions and extracts operation and maintenance behaviors. Referring to the collaborative filtering idea, the feature matrix decomposition scheme is introduced to train the access probability model based on the historical normal behavior of multiple operation and maintenance users, which provides a basis for real-time prediction of the access behavior probability of target operation and maintenance users. The OTSU binarization technique is used to determine the probability threshold of abnormal operation and maintenance behaviors, identify abnormal behaviors through threshold comparison, and send real-time alarms to operation and maintenance audit. The simulation experiment results show that the method in this paper can effectively identify the abnormal behavior of operation and maintenance users, reduce the overhead of manual audit, and help improve the power monitoring system’s ability to respond to internal threats of operation and maintenance.
Starlikeness Associated with Tangent Hyperbolic Function
Authors: Tang Huo , Arif Muhammad , Ullah Khalil , Khan Nazar , Haq Mirajul , Khan Bilal
Published: May 2022

The primary objective of this study is to establish a class of starlike functions (symmetric under rotation) that are related to a tangent hyperbolic. Integral preserving properties along with the sufficiency criteria involving coefficients are investigated for the same class. Differential subordinations problems, which are linked to Janowski and tangent hyperbolic functions, are also discussed. We also utilize these findings to find sufficient conditions for the starlike functions.
[Retracted] Model Value of Taiji Curve Algorithm in Economic Geographic and Natural Game Management Information System
Authors: Xu Chengqi , Chen Kegong
Published: May 2022

In order to study the role of tai chi curve algorithm in economic geography and natural ecological management and explore the application value of tai chi curve algorithm and its model, this study discusses the principle of Chinese tai chi diagram, using mathematical model construction method by the previous tai chi map and Pythagoras theorem clever results, produced the tai chi graph s curve algorithm, and discusses the application value of tai chi curve algorithm and its model from different angles; this study takes Zhangye geography as an example, which provides an applied research direction for the future scientific research of Chinese economic geography and also provides a clever connection with ecological correlation and nature; finally, it is found that the Taiji graph s curve algorithm can calculate the corresponding Yin and Yang values according to the balance point and relative deviation amount of the attribute state, and the results have an extraordinary influence in economic geography, information management system, natural ecology, and other aspects.
Fatigue Analysis of a Light Truck Rear Axle Based on Virtual Iteration Method
Authors: Zhou Donglong , Chang Jianlong
Published: May 2022

Firstly, the MBD (multi-body dynamics) model of the whole vehicle is built according to the measured vehicle parameters. Then, the road spectra acquisition test is carried out. Under the test road conditions, the acceleration, displacement, and force signals of multiple positions of the whole vehicle are collected. Taking the road test signals as the iterative target and the vehicle MBD model as the iterative carrier, the vehicle equivalent excitation is obtained by using the VIM (virtual iteration method). By applying the equivalent excitation obtained by VIM to the vehicle MBD model, the load spectra of key points of the driving rear axle are obtained. The accuracy of the model is verified by comparing the measured signals with the iterative signals, and the reliability of the key points load spectra is enhanced. Secondly, the FEA (finite element analysis) model of the rear axle is built, and the static analysis results of each key point under unit load are obtained with the help of FEA software. Thirdly, the FEA results, key points load spectra, and material fatigue characteristic curve of the rear axle are input into the fatigue software to conduct the fatigue simulation of the rear axle. According to the fatigue analysis results, the position where the fatigue life does not meet the set goal is accurately located. Finally, the structure is optimized based on the above results. The fatigue life evaluation of the optimized rear axle shows that its durability has been significantly improved.
Lightweight AAC Audio Steganalysis Model Based on ResNeXt
Authors: Wei Zhongyuan , Wang Kaixi
Published: May 2022

Traditional AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) audio steganalysis methods rely on manual feature extraction, which results in low detection accuracy and low efficiency. Nowadays, the new steganalysis model based on neural network is very attractive, but its scale is large and its detection accuracy needs further improvement. Aiming at the above problems, this paper proposes a lightweight AAC audio general steganalysis model based on ResNeXt network. Firstly, the residual signal of QMDCT (Quantized Modified Discrete Cosine Transform) coefficients is calculated through a fixed convolution layer composed of multiple sets of high-pass filters. Then, based on the original structure of ResNeXt network, two ResNeXt blocks are designed to form a residual learning module, by which the steganalysis features in the QMDCT coefficients are further extracted. Finally, the classification module consisting of the fully connected layer and the Softmax layer is designed to obtain the classification result. The experimental results show that the model detection accuracy can reach more than 94% under all relative embedding rates when it operates on both the steganography algorithm based on the small value area of the QMDCT coefficient and the steganography algorithm based on the Huffman code sign bit. For the algorithm based on Huffman codeword mapping, even with the relative embedding rate of 0.1, the detection accuracy of the model can reach 85.5%, which is obviously better than the existing steganalysis schemes. Compared with other steganalysis schemes based on neural network, the model in this paper has fewer parameters, and reduces the scale by more than 40%, which is more lightweight and more efficient.
Learning a Robust Hybrid Descriptor for Robot Visual Localization
Authors: Shi Qingwu , Wu Junjun , Lin Zeqin , Qin Ningwei
Published: May 2022

Long-term robust visual localization is one of the main challenges of long-term visual navigation for mobile robots. Due to factors such as illumination, weather, and season, mobile robots continuously navigate with visual information in a complex scene, which is likely to lead to failure localization within a few hours. However, semantic segmentation images will be more stable than the original images against considerable drastically variable environments; therefore, to make full use of the advantages of both semantic segmentation image and its original image, this paper solves the above problems with the latest work of semantic segmentation and proposes the novel hybrid descriptor for long-term visual localization, which is generated by combining a semantic image descriptor extracted from segmentation images and an image descriptor extracted from RGB images with a certain weight, and then trained by a convolutional neural network. Our experiments show that the localization performance of our method combining the advantages of semantic image descriptor and image descriptor is superior to those long-term visual localization methods with only an image descriptor or semantic image descriptor. Finally, our experimental results mostly exceed state-of-the-art 2D image-based localization methods under various challenging environmental conditions in the Extended CMU Seasons and RobotCar Seasons datasets in specific precision metrics.
Application Research for Fusion Model of Pseudolabel and Cross Network
Authors: Gan Junying , Wu Bicheng , Zou Qi , Zheng Zexin , Mai Chaoyun , Zhai Yikui , He Guohui , Bai Zhenfeng
Published: May 2022

Datasets usually suffer from supervised information missing and weak generalization ability in deep convolution neural network. In this paper, pseudolabel (PL) of Weakly Supervised Learning (WSL) was used to address the problem of supervised information missing, while Cross Network (CN) of Multitask Learning (MTL) was used to solve the problem of weak generalization ability in deep convolution neural network. In PL, the data of supervised information missing was predicted; thus, PL of the corresponding data was generated. In CN, PL data and labeled data were taken as two tasks to train together. Firstly, the labeled data was divided into training dataset and testing dataset, respectively, and image preprocessing was carried out. Secondly, the network was initialized and trained, and the model with high accuracy and good generalization was selected as the optimal model. Then, the optimal model was used to predict the unlabeled data and generate PL. Finally, the steps above were repeated several times to find a better optimal model. In the experiments of the fusion model of PL and CN, Facial Beauty Prediction was regarded as main task and the others as auxiliary tasks. Experimental results show that the model was suitable for multitask training of different tasks in different or similar datasets, and the accuracy of the main task of Facial Beauty Prediction reaches 64.76%, higher than the highest accuracy by conventional methods.
Early Physiological and Adrenal Effects of Budesonide Mixed with Surfactant in Large Observational Preterm Cohort Study
Authors: Becker Samantha A. , Kothe T. Brett , Josephsen Justin B. , Jackson Kathryn , Williams Howard L. , Hillman Noah H.
Published: May 2022

Background: The combination of surfactant and budesonide has been shown to decrease BPD rates and severity. Budesonide may be released systemically from lungs, and the effects on the immature adrenal glands are not known. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if adrenal suppression rates are higher in preterm infants receiving budesonide with surfactant compared to surfactant alone. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 608 infants ≤1,250 g received intubation for surfactant therapy from 2013 through 2020. In August 2016, budesonide was added to surfactant for these infants. Indicators of adrenal suppression, including mean blood pressures, plasma electrolyte levels, hydrocortisone use, and the use of vasoactive medications, were analyzed for the first 14 days after birth. Respiratory variables, biochemical signs of adrenal insufficiency, and neonatal morbidities were analyzed. Results: There was no difference in hydrocortisone administration in the first 14 days between infants receiving budesonide with surfactant (n = 314) or surfactant alone (n = 294) (23% vs. 19%, p = 0.38). Budesonide exposed infants received hydrocortisone 3 days later than surfactant only infants (median DOL 5 vs. 2, p < 0.001). Infants receiving budesonide had higher blood pressures, required less dopamine (19% vs. 39%, p < 0.001) and dobutamine (2% vs. 6%, p = 0.02). Budesonide exposed infants were discharged home after a shorter NICU stay (85 days vs. 94 days, p = 0.02) and at a younger gestational age (39 vs. 40 weeks, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The use of surfactant and budesonide does not alter the rate of hydrocortisone use, but does delay the timing of treatment initiation and decreases the use of vasoactive medications.
Waning of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine-Induced Immune Response over 6 Months in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients and the Role of a Booster Dose in Maintaining Seropositivity
Authors: Murt Ahmet , Dinc Harika Oyku , Altiparmak Mehmet Riza , Yalin Serkan F. , Yadigar Serap , Parmaksiz Ergun , Kocazeybek Bekir , Pekpak Meltem , Ataman Muveddet Rezzan
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Although lower than general population, newly developed SARS-CoV-2 vaccines generate immune responses in end-stage kidney disease patients. However, the persistence of immune responses in the long term is not known yet. This study aimed to evaluate humoral immune responses in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients over 6 months and to analyze the effects of the booster dose. Methods: Humoral immune responses of PD patients were measured after initial SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations and after 6 months following initial vaccinations. Immune responses were compared between patients who received and did not receive booster doses. PD patients were compared with 41 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 61 healthy controls. Humoral immune responses were measured by a commercial test that detects antibodies toward the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Results: Twenty PD patients were evaluated over 6 months. The initial seropositivity rate was 90.9% with inactivated vaccine and 100% with mRNA vaccine. Seropositivity decreased to 44.4% after 6 months, and a booster dose helped in maintaining the 100% of seropositivity (p = 0.005). Magnitude of humoral response at the 6th month was also higher in patients who received the third dose (1,132.8 ± 769.6 AU/mL vs. 400.0 ± 294.6 AU/mL; p = 0.015). Among patients who did not receive the third dose, those who got mRNA vaccine could maintain higher seropositivity than others who got inactivated vaccine (75% vs. 40% for PD, 81.8% vs. 50% for HD). Seropositivity and antibody levels were similar for PD and HD patients after 6 months (p = 0.24 and 0.56) but lower than healthy controls (p = 0.0013). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-induced antibody levels and seropositivity of PD patients significantly fall after 6 months. A booster dose after around 3 months following initial immunization might help in maintaining seropositivity.
Wirksamkeit einer Familientherapie im Vergleich zu einer verhaltenstherapeutisch orientierten Gruppentherapie bei Kindern mit Adipositas
Authors: Laessle Reinhold , Lehrke Sonja
Published: May 2022

Theoretischer Hintergrund: In den aktuellen Modellen zur Entwicklung und Aufrechterhaltung von Adipositas bei Kindern und Jugendlichen wird familiären Faktoren eine bedeutsame Rolle zugeschrieben. Die Einbeziehung der Eltern im Rahmen einer Therapie sollte daher zur Optimierung von Therapieeffekten beitragen. Fragestellung: In der vorliegenden Studie soll daher geprüft werden, ob eine verhaltenstherapeutisch orientierte Familientherapie, innerhalb derer systemische Elemente zur Modifikation der familiären Kommunikations- und Interaktionsmuster eingesetzt werden, bessere Therapieeffekte erbringt als eine verhaltenstherapeutisch orientierte multimodale Gruppentherapie, in deren Rahmen die Eltern lediglich ausführlich über Ziele und Inhalte der Behandlung aufgeklärt werden. Methode: Es wurde eine Therapievergleichsstudie mit 71 adipösen Kindern durchgeführt, von denen 32 einer multimodalen Gruppentherapie und 39 einer Familientherapie zugewiesen wurden. Beide Therapiebedingungen umfassten jeweils neun Sitzungen innerhalb von drei Monaten. Gemessen wurden sowohl anthropometrische als auch psychologische Kriteriumsvariablen jeweils vor und nach der Therapie. Ergebnisse: Kinder mit Adipositas, die im Rahmen einer verhaltenstherapeutisch orientierten Gruppentherapie behandelt wurden, zeigten nach Beendigung der Therapie eine signifikante Reduktion Ihres Körpergewichts und ihres Körperfettanteils. Ihre durchschnittliche tägliche Kalorienaufnahme war signifikant niedriger als vor Beginn der Therapie. Die wahrgenommene Ängstlichkeit hatte abgenommen, das Selbstwertgefühl zugenommen. Eine als Vergleich durchgeführte systemisch orientierte psychologische Therapie erwies sich nicht als effektiver, weder im Hinblick auf anthropometrische noch auf psychologische Kriteriumsmaße. Diskussion: Die Ergebnisse der Studie sprechen nicht unbedingt gegen die Einbeziehung familiärer Interaktionsmuster bei der Therapie von Kindern mit Adipositas, sondern müssen im Hinblick auf studienimmanente Beschränkungen interpretiert werden, die eine Aufdeckung differenzieller Therapieeffekte möglicherweise verhindert haben.
Germline-Restricted Chromosomes and Autosomal Variants Revealed by Pachytene Karyotyping of 17 Avian Species
Authors: Malinovskaya Lyubov P. , Slobodchikova Anastasia Y. , Grishko Ekaterina O. , Pristyazhnyuk Inna E. , Torgasheva Anna A. , Borodin Pavel M.
Published: May 2022

Karyotypes of less than 10% of bird species are known. Using immunolocalization of the synaptonemal complex, the core structure of meiotic chromosomes at the pachytene stage, and centromere proteins, we describe male pachytene karyotypes of 17 species of birds. This method enables higher resolution than the conventional analyses of metaphase chromosomes. We provide the first descriptions of the karyotypes of 3 species (rook, Blyth’s reed warbler, and European pied flycatcher), correct the published data on the karyotypes of 10 species, and confirm them for 4 species. All passerine species examined have highly conservative karyotypes, 2n = 80–82 with 7 pairs of macrochromosomes (including the ZZ sex chromosome pair which was not unambiguously distinguished from other macrochromosomes in most species) and 33–34 pairs of microchromosomes. In all of them, but not in the common cuckoo, we revealed single copies of the germline-restricted chromosomes varying in size and morphology even between closely related species. This indicates a fast evolution of this additional chromosome. The interspecies differences concern the sizes of the macrochromosomes, morphology of the microchromosomes, and sizes of the centromeres. The pachytene cells of the gouldian finch, brambling, and common linnet contain heteromorphic synaptonemal complexes indicating heterozygosity for inversions or centromere shifts. The European pied flycatcher, gouldian finch, and domestic canary have extended centromeres in several macro- and microchromosomes.
Development and Validation of a Mortality Prediction Model in Extremely Low Gestational Age Neonates
Authors: Moreira Alvaro , Benvenuto Domenico , Fox-Good Christopher , Alayli Yasmeen , Evans Mary , Jonsson Baldvin , Hakansson Stellan , Harper Nathan , Kim Jennifer , Norman Mikael , Bruschettini Matteo
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Understanding factors that associate with neonatal death may lead to strategies or interventions that can aid clinicians and inform families. Objective: The aim of the study was to develop an early prediction model of neonatal death in extremely low gestational age (ELGA, <28 weeks) neonates. Methods: A predictive cohort study of ELGA neonates was derived from the Swedish Neonatal Quality Register between the years 2011 to May 2021. The goal was to use readily available clinical variables, collected within the first hour of birth, to predict in-hospital death. Data were split into a train cohort (80%) to build the model and tested in 20% of randomly selected neonates. Model performance was assessed via area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and compared to validated mortality prediction models and an external cohort of neonates. Results: Among 3,752 live-born extremely preterm infants (46% girls), in-hospital mortality was 18% (n = 685). The median gestational age and birth weight were 25.0 weeks (interquartile range [IQR] 24.0, 27.0) and 780 g (IQR 620, 940), respectively. The proposed model consisted of three variables: birth weight (grams), Apgar score at 5 min of age, and gestational age (weeks). The BAG model had an AUC of 76.9% with a 95% confidence interval (CI) (72.6%, 81.3%), while birth weight and gestational age had an AUC of 73.1% (95% CI: 68.4%,77.9%) and 71.3% (66.3%, 76.2%). In the validation cohort, the BAG model had an AUC of 68.9%. Conclusion: The BAG model is a new mortality prediction model in ELGA neonates that was developed using readily available information.
Influence of Estradiol-Producing Ovarian Tumors on the Maturation Index of Cervical Cytology in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Matsuoka Ayumu , Tate Shinichi , Otsuka Satoyo , Nishikimi Kyoko , Shozu Makio
Published: May 2022

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of estradiol-producing ovarian tumors, including surface epithelial-stromal tumors, on the cervical cytology of postmenopausal women. Methods: This case-controlled study included 160 postmenopausal women who underwent a gynecological surgery between January 2009 and December 2016. The relationship between serum estradiol levels and the maturation index of cervical cytology was examined. Patients with ovarian tumors and a high estradiol level (≥28 pg/mL) constituted the estradiol-producing ovarian tumor group (30 women, including 23 with surface epithelial-stromal tumors). The maturation index of this group was compared with that of the control group (130 women with normal estradiol levels [<28 pg/mL] with either ovarian tumors or uterine tumors). Results: For all patients, the serum estradiol levels were significantly correlated with the maturation index (p < 0.001, r = 0.65). The maturation index of the estradiol-producing ovarian tumor group was significantly higher than that of the control group (0.67 ± 0.21 vs. 0.075 ± 0.16, p < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the maturation index was 0.94. The best maturation index cut-off level for estradiol-producing ovarian tumors was 0.20. Using this cut-off, the sensitivity and specificity were 94% and 82%, respectively. Conclusion: Estradiol-producing ovarian tumors influence cervical epithelial maturation in postmenopausal women. An increased maturation index may trigger the early detection of asymptomatic ovarian tumors.
Intraoperative Placement of an Absorbable Spacer Prior to Radiation Therapy for a Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor
Authors: Endo Yuki , Fukuzawa Taichi , Irie Masahiro , Sasaki Hideyuki , Kudo Hironori , Ando Ryo , Okubo Ryuji , Katayama Saori , Hashimoto Masatoshi , Sato Kosuke , Tachibana Masahito , Aoki Hidekazu , Araya Masayuki , Hirabayashi Koichi , Saito Shoji , Masaki Hidekazu , Nakazawa Yozo , Sasahara Yoji , Wada Motoshi
Published: May 2022

A 7-year-6-month-old female was diagnosed with a pelvic malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and lymph node metastases. Tumorectomy was performed after four cycles of chemotherapy. A 33-mm cystic lesion was observed around the left iliac muscle after three cycles of postoperative chemotherapy, and proton beam therapy (PBT) was recommended. She was referred for absorbable spacer (AS) placement. The left ovarian appendage (OA) was resected due to the direct tumor infiltration. The right OA was fixed to the uterosacral ligament. The AS was fixed to the lateral pelvis. The PBT (70.3 Gy relative biological effectiveness) was performed successfully with the AS, and she also had the reproducing possibility due to prevention of severe irradiation damage of the right OA. AS eliminated the surgical removal of spacers and enabled us high-dose PBT for residual tumor without severe irradiation damage including infertility.
Sentinel Node Biopsy by Transvaginal Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery in a Patient with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: A Case Report
Authors: Hurni Yannick , Huber Daniela E.
Published: May 2022

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as an accurate tool to identify lymph node metastases in patients with cervical cancers. This procedure is generally performed by conventional or robotic-assisted laparoscopy, but SLNB by transvaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) has been described for the surgical staging of endometrial cancer. This transvaginal approach seems to be associated with reduced surgical morbidities and could be of particular interest in managing cancer patients. In this article, we report the use of a retroperitoneal vNOTES approach to perform SLNB in a patient with cervical cancer, and we provide a step-by-step description of the surgical technique. This surgical approach seems to be the least invasive way to perform pelvic SLNB and could represent a valuable approach to properly managing patients with early-stage cervical cancers after a free-margin conization. However, more studies are needed before expanding the use of this surgical approach outside study settings.
El aprendizaje como acto cotidiano en tiempos de pandemia
Authors: Muñoz Rojo Mónica Patricia
Published: May 2022

En el presente ensayo se presentan algunas reflexiones sobre el concepto de aprendizaje y los efectos que ha tenido la pandemia por el Covid-19 iniciada en el año 2020 en relación con el contexto educativo, específicamente, en el proceso de aprendizaje de los estudiantes del grado tercero de la Institución Educativa Presbítero Antonio José Bernal Londoño, así como algunas de las estrategias utilizadas tanto en la institución, como por las educadoras del grado, para contrarrestar los efectos negativos en las emociones de los estudiantes y en los vacíos académicos, evidenciados en los procesos de lectura, escritura y resolución de problemas.
Afectos Colonizados: Interacciones familiares desde una mirada Decolonial
Authors: Aya-Angarita Sandra Liliana , García-Suárez Carlos Iván
Published: May 2022

En este ensayo de reflexión, resultado de la tesis doctoral Tejiendo prácticas y saberes afectivos con familias monoparentales de Bogotá, Colombia, se analizan las maneras en que las ideologías hegemónicas impuestas por la modernidad europea tras la colonización de las Américas, desvirtúan, rechazan e invisibilizan la presencia de las emociones en las relaciones íntimas de las familias. Se argumenta que las prácticas y los saberes sobre los sentires en las interacciones familiares, se ven permeados por la visión inequitativa sobre los géneros, la violencia y el desconocimiento de las emociones como parte de la naturaleza humana. Tales imposiciones son asumidas como «normales» por muchos adultos y adultas y se entretejen en los ejercicios de cuidado y crianza. Se finaliza con algunas recomendaciones para la descolonización de los afectos.
Duration of Ischemia Affects Outcomes Independent of Infarct Size in Stroke
Authors: Kim Youngran , Khose Swapnil , Zaidat Osama O. , Hassan Ameer E. , Fifi Johanna T. , Nanda Ashish , Atchie Benjamin , Woodward Britton , Doerfler Arnd , Tomasello Alejandro , Yoo Albert J. , Sheth Sunil A.
Published: May 2022

Background

Delays in endovascular reperfusion for patients with large vessel occlusion stroke are known to worsen outcomes, and the mechanism is believed to be time‐dependent expansion of the ischemic infarction. In this study, we hypothesize that delays in onset to reperfusion (OTR) assert an effect on outcomes independent of effects of final infarct (FI).

Methods

We performed a subgroup analysis from the prospective multicenter COMPLETE (International Acute Ischemic Stroke Registry With the Penumbra System Aspiration Including the 3D Revascularization Device; Penumbra, Inc) registry for 257 patients with anterior circulation large vessel occlusion who underwent endovascular therapy with successful reperfusion (modified treatment in cerebral infarction score 2b/3). FI was measured by Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score and volume on 24‐ to 48‐hour computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The likelihood of 90‐day good functional outcome (modified Rankin scale 0–2) was assessed by OTR and absolute risk difference (ARD) was estimated using multivariable logistic regressions adjusting for patient characteristics including FI.

Results

In univariable analysis, longer OTR was associated with a decreased likelihood of good functional outcome (ARD –3% [95% CI –4.5 to –1.0]/h delay). In multivariable analysis accounting for FI, the association between OTR and functional outcome remained significant (ARD –2% [95% CI –3.5 to –0.4]/h delay) with similar ARD. This finding was maintained in the subset of patients with FI imaging using CT only, using Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score or volumetric FI measurements, and also in patients with larger versus smaller FIs.

Conclusions

The impact of OTR on outcomes appears to be mostly through a mechanism that is independent of FI. Our findings suggest that although the field has moved toward imaging infarct core definitions of eligibility for endovascular treatment, time remains an important predictor of outcome, independent of infarct core.
Do spider monkeys use artificial canopy bridges to cross linear infrastructure?
Authors: Aureli Filippo , Hutschenreiter Anja , Gamboa Daniela Araya , Arévalo-Huezo Esmeralda , Atagua Tamara Avila , Boiledieu Colline , Gallina Alberto González , Lindshield Stacy , Rivera Giselle M. Narváez , Rufray Vincent , Thurber Mark , Spaan Denise
Published: May 2022

Deforestation impacts canopy connectivity when landscapes are fragmented due to roads and other types of linear infrastructure. Natural canopy bridges become vital to arboreal animals, especially for animals that are reluctant to use the ground. When canopy regrowth cannot occur, artificial canopy bridges have been implemented to mitigate the consequences of linear infrastructure. The aim of our study was to evaluate the evidence for the use of artificial canopy bridges by spider monkeys (Ateles spp.) to cross linear infrastructure that interrupts canopy connectivity. We report details of five cases in which the absence of evidence for spider monkeys using artificial canopy bridges to cross linear infrastructure was based on systematic monitoring. We examined the factors that may constrain spider monkeys to use artificial faunal overpasses and made recommendations for effective artificial faunal overpasses for spider monkeys.