bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carriage of mutations R462Q (rs 486907) and D541E (rs 627928) of the RNASEL gene and risk factors in patients with prostate cancer in Burkina Faso.
Authors: Kadanga Essonan , ZOURE Abdou Azaque , Zohoncon Théodora M. , Traoré Lassina , Ky Bienvenu Désiré , Yonli Albert Théophane , Bazié Bapio , Sombié Hermann Karim , Sorgho Pegdwendé Abel , Frida Tovo , Ouédraogo Clarisse , Djigma Florencia W. , Simpore Jacques , Traoré Aida , Traoré Kalifou
Published: November 2021

Background

Prostate cancer (Pca) is a public health problem that affects men, usually of middle age or older. It is the second most common cancer diagnosed in men and the fifth leading cause of death. The RNASEL gene located in 1q25 and identified as a susceptibility gene to hereditary prostate cancer, has never been studied in relation to prostate cancer in Burkina Faso. The aim of this study was to analyze the carriage of RNASEL R462Q and D541E mutations and risks factors in patients with prostate cancer in the Burkina Faso.
Methods

This case-control study included of 38 histologically diagnosed prostate cancer cases and 53 controls (cases without prostate abnormalities). Real-time PCR genotyping of R462Q and D541E variants using the TaqMan® allelic discrimination technique was used. Correlations between different genotypes and combined genotypes were investigated.
Results

The R462Q variant was present in 5.3% of cases and 7.5% of controls. The D541E variant was present in 50.0% of cases and 35% of controls. There is no association between R462Q variants (OR= 0.60; 95%IC, 0.10 - 3.51; p= 0.686) and D541E variants (OR=2.46; 95%IC, 0.78 - 7.80; p= 0.121) and genotypes combined with prostate cancer. However, there is a statistically significant difference in the distribution of cases according to the PSA rate at diagnosis (p ˂ 0.001). For the Gleason score distribution, only 13.2% of cases have a Gleason score greater than 7. There is a statistically significant difference in the Gleason score distribution of cases (p ˂ 0.001)
Conclusions

These variants, considered in isolation or in combination, are not associated with the risk of prostate cancer.
Causes, Effects And Prevention of Global Financial Crisis In Viewpoint of Islam
Authors: Ghutai Gul , Ansari Sanaullah
Published: November 2021

Global financial crisis is not a new phenomenon. The world has witnessed financial crisis since many centuries. The repetition of global financial crisis reveals that global financial setup is not stable thus, prone to frequent financial crisis. However, zero interest rate policy has been launched by developed countries in order to offset the effects of global financial crisis but to date the issue of financial and monetary instability has not been overcome. Interest rate as the main component of financial setup has adversely affected the permanent solution to global financial crisis. The study is undertaken to analyze the effect of interest rate (riba) in propagation of global financial crisis and to analyze the alternate financial mechanism to prevent global financial and economic crisis on permanent basis. However, the qualitative research methodology is pursued to build a conceptual framework by applying inductive paradigm to address the issue of understanding the rationale behind the prohibition of interest based financial paradigm particularly in regard to Islamic perspective. The expected outcome suggests that man-made laws in order to subside divine laws in financial paradigm have given rise to financial, ethical and economic crisis. Global financial crisis is the outcome of easy access to credit, abundance of loans upon interest, speculation, greed as well as corruptive motives to exploit each other.
Factors Associated with Changes in the Objectively Measured Physical Activity among Japanese Adults: A Longitudinal and Dynamic Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Watanabe Daiki , Murakami Haruka , Gando Yuko , Kawakami Ryoko , Tanisawa Kumpei , Ohno Harumi , Konishi Kana , Sasaki Azusa , Morishita Akie , Miyatake Nobuyuki , Miyachi Motohiko
Published: November 2021

Background: Factors of dynamic changes associated with changes in the objectively measured physical activity have not been well understood. We aimed to 1) evaluate the longitudinal change in the physical activity trajectory associated with age according to sex and to 2) determine the dynamic changes factors associated with the change in physical activity-related variables across a wide age range among Japanese adults.Methods: This longitudinal prospective study included 689 Japanese adults (3914 measurements) aged 26–85 years, whose physical activity data in at least two surveys were available. Physical activity-related variables, such as intensity (inactive, light [LPA; 1.5 to 2.9 metabolic equivalents (METs)], moderate to vigorous [MVPA; ≥3.0 METs]), total energy expenditure (TEE), physical activity level (PAL), and step count, were evaluated using a validated triaxial accelerometer. The inactive times were calculated by subtracting the sum of sedentary (<1.5 METs) and non-wearing periods from 1440 minutes. Statistical analysis involved the latent growth curve models and random-effect panel data multivariate regression analysis. The covariates for multivariate analysis included the age, sex, region, body mass index, waist/hip ratio, comorbidity score, smoking status, alcohol intake, energy intake, diet quality score, hemoglobin, heart rate, hand grips, leg power, and trunk flexibility.Results: During a mean follow-up period of 6.8 years, physical activity was assessed 5.1 times in men and 5.9 times in women on average. The profiles for the inactive time, LPA (only men), MVPA, step count, PAL, and TEE showed clear curvature, indicating an accelerated rate of change around the age of 70. In contrast, other variables exhibited minimal or no curvature over the age span. The MVPA trajectory was positively associated with alcohol consumption, hand grips, leg power, and trunk flexibility, and negatively associated with age, local area, BMI, comorbidity score, and heart rate over time.Conclusions: Our results indicated that the physical activity trajectory showed clear curvature, accelerated rate of change around the age of 70, and determined physical health and fitness and BMI as dynamic changes factors associated physical activity changes. These findings may be useful to help support populations to achieve and maintain the recommended level of physical activity.
Predictors of neonatal mortality in Ghana: evidence from 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey
Authors: Adongo Emmanuel Ayire , Ganle John Kuumuori
Published: November 2021

Background
Neonatal mortality contributes about 45% of under-5 mortality globally; 35% in Sub-Saharan Africa; and over 50% of under-5 deaths in Ghana. Though there are existing studies on the determinants of neonatal mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa, limited population level analysis has been done in Ghana to understand the factors affecting neonatal mortality.
Objectives
The objective of the study was to examine the predictors of neonatal mortality in Ghana.
Method
Data from the 2017 Ghana Maternal Health Survey (GMHS) were analysed. The data used in the analysis included only responses from women who delivered live babies in the five years preceding the 2017 GMHS and the children lived for at least 28 days. A total of 10,624 respondents were included in the study after data cleaning. Descriptive statistical techniques (frequency and percentage distribution) were used to describe important background characteristics of the women included in the study. Pearson’s Chi-squares (χ2) test was used to assess association between the outcome (neonatal death) and independent variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to estimate odds ratios and control for potential confounders. Confidence level was held at 95%, and a p< 0.05 was considered statistically significant. All the data analysis was done using STATA 15.
Results
The prevalence of neonatal mortality was 1.8% i.e. 18 per 1000 live births. Three factors predicted neonatal mortality: ANC attendance, sex of baby, and baby being put on mother’s chest immediately after birth. Women with at least one ANC visit were less likely to experience neonatal mortality as compared to women with no ANC visit prior to delivery (AOR=0.11; CI=0.02-0.56, p=0.01). Baby girls were less likely (COR=0.68; CI=0.48-0.20; p=0.03) to die during the neonatal period as compared to boys and this did not change when potential confounders were controlled for in a multiple logistic regression model (AOR=0.68, CI=0.47-0.98; p=0.04). The odds of a baby dying within the neonatal period when a baby was not put on the mother’s chest immediately after birth were 2.5 times higher than those who were put on their mother’s chest immediately after birth (COR=2.46; CI=1.66-3.65, p=0.00).
Conclusion
Community level and sociodemographic factors were not significant predictors of neonatal mortality in this study. Rather, neonatal, and maternal characteristics did. Education on the importance of timely and adequate antenatal care should be intensified. Also, targeted social and behaviour change communication emphasizing the importance of immediate skin-to-skin kangaroo mother care to prevent neonatal hypothermia and promote successful breastfeeding should intensified.
Barrier Lyapunov Function-Based Fixed-Time FTC for High-Order Nonlinear Systems with Predefined Tracking Accuracy
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Xu Jihui , Lv Maolong , Zhang Lei , Zhao Zilong
Published: November 2021

This article proposes a fixed-time adaptive fault-tolerant control methodology for a larger class of high-order nonlinear systems subject to full-state constraints and actuator faults. In contrast with the stateof-the-art results, the distinguishing feature of our control design consists in proposing a novel high-order tantype barrier Lyapunov function (BLF) which ensures state variables to be some asymmetric time-varying compact sets under tan-type constraints and expands the application range of tan-type BLF (i.e., from low-order to high-order, from symmetric time-invariant to asymmetric time-varying). Apart from this, the proposed control design ensures the tracking errors converge to specified residual sets within fixed-time and makes the size of the convergence regions of tracking errors adjustable a priori by means of a new BLF-based tuning function and a projection operator. A variable-separable lemma is delicately embedded into the control design to extract the control terms in a linear-like fashion which not only overcomes the difficulty that virtual control signals appear in a non-affine manner, but also solves the problem of actuator faults. Comparative simulations results finally validate the e ectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Devosia litorisediminis sp. nov., isolated from a sand dune
Authors: Park Sooyeon , Seo Min Ju , Kim Wonyong , Yoon Jung-Hoon
Published: November 2021

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated BSSL-BM10T, was isolated from a sand dune that was collected from the Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea. It was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain BSSL-BM10T fell phylogenetically within the radiation comprising type strains of Devosia species. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain BSSL-BM10T shared sequence similarities of 98.2% with the type strain of D. naphthalenivorans and 93.5-97.7% with type strains of other Devosia species. ANI and dDDH values between strain BSSL-BM10T and type strains of 18 Devosia species were 71.0-78.4% and 18.8-21.5%, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain BSSL-BM10T was 60.9% based on its genomic sequence data. Strain BSSL-BM10T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and 11-methyl C18:1 ω7c, C18:1 ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), and C16:0 as its major fatty acids. Major polar lipids of strain BSSL-BM10T were phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified glycolipids. Strain BSSL-BM10T showed distinguished phenotypic properties with its phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness separated from recognized Devosia species. Based on data presented in this study, strain BSSL-BM10T should be placed in the genus Devosia. The name Devosia litorisediminis sp. nov. is proposed for strain BSSL-BM10T (= KACC 21633T = NBRC 115152T).
Chronic Enteropathy Associated with SLCO2A1-Associated Primary Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy in Female Patients: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Long Bangce , Tang Hui , Zhao Xueru , Yang Chao , He Tian , Zhang Wen , Tang Ming , Chen Jin , Wan Ping
Published: November 2021

This paper reports a case of chronic enteropathy associated with the SLCO2A1 gene (CEAS) combined with primary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (PHO). The patient was a 25-year-old woman with a normal onset of puberty who was admitted to our hospital four times due to intractable oedema and anaemia. She had a history of hyperhidrosis since childhood, and her parents were close relatives (cousins). Enteroscopy revealed stenotic ulcers on the ileocecal valve and the terminal ileum. Computed tomography enterography (CTE) and magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) showed segmental thickening of the ileum and terminal intestinal wall and centripetal narrowing of some intestinal cavities. MRE also showed a marked "comb sign" in the adjacent mesentery, and X-rays of both lower limbs showed thickening of the tibiofibular cortex. The CEAS pathogenic genes were screened by whole exome sequencing, and a homozygous missense mutation of p. Gly222Asp (c.664G>A) was found in the fifth exon of the SLCO2A1 gene, which was verified by Sanger sequencing. In conclusion, the patient was identified as CEAS with PHO associated with a SLCO2A1 gene mutation, but the patient is a young woman, which has rarely been reported in previous studies. In addition to reporting her case, the relevant literature was reviewed to improve clinicians' understanding of diseases associated with the SLCO2A1 gene.
Transport of Polymer-Coated Metal-Organic Framework Nanoparticles in Porous Media
Authors: Nune Satish K. , Miller Quin R.S. , Schaef H. Todd , Jian Tengyue , Song Miao , Li Dongsheng , McGrail B. Peter
Published: November 2021

Injecting fluids into deep underground geologic structures is a critical component to development of long-term strategies for managing greenhouse gas emissions and facilitating energy extraction operations. Recently, we reported that metal-organic frameworks are low-frequency absorptive acoustic metamaterial that may be injected into the subsurface enhancing geophysical monitoring tools used to track fluids and map complex structures. A key requirement for this nanotechnology deployment is transportability through porous geologic media without being retained by mineral-fluid interfaces. Flow-through column studies were used to estimate transport and retention properties of five different polymer-coated MIL-101(Cr) nanoparticles in siliceous porous media. Nanoparticle transport experiments revealed that nanoparticle surface characteristics play a critical role in nanoparticle colloidal stability and as well the transport.
Mitogenome of the Extinct Desert ‘Rat-Kangaroo’ Times the Adaptation to Aridity in Macropodoids
Authors: Westerman Michael , Loke Stella , Tan Mun Hua , Kear Benjamin
Published: November 2021

The evolution of Australia’s distinctive marsupial fauna has long been linked to the onset of continent-wide aridity. However, how this profound climate change event affected the diversification of extant lineages is still hotly debated. Here, we assemble a DNA sequence dataset of Macropodoidea — the clade comprising kangaroos and their relatives — that incorporates a complete mitogenome for the Desert ‘rat-kangaroo’, Caloprymnus campestris. This enigmatic species went extinct nearly 90 years ago and is known from a handful of museum specimens. Caloprymnus is significant because it was the only macropodoid restricted to extreme desert environments, and therefore calibrates the group’s specialisation for increasingly xeric conditions. Our robustly supported phylogenies nest Caloprymnus amongst the bettongs Aepyprymnus and Bettongia. Dated ancestral area optimisations further reveal that the Caloprymnus-Bettongia lineage originated in nascent arid zone settings from the later-middle to early-late Miocene, ~12 million years ago (Ma), but subsequently dispersed into mesic habitats during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. This coincides with ancestral divergences amongst kangaroos in disparate woodland-forest and shrubland settings, but predates their adaptive radiation into proliferating grasslands during the late Miocene to Pliocene, after ~7 Ma. We thus demonstrate that protracted changes in both climate and vegetation likely staged the emergence of modern arid zone macropodoids.
Australian podiatrists scheduled medicine prescribing practices and barriers and facilitators to endorsement: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: graham kristin , Matricciani Lisa , Banwell Helen , Kumar Saravana , Causby Ryan , Martin Saraid , Nissen Lisa
Published: November 2021

BackgroundNon-medical prescribing is one healthcare reform strategy that has the potential to create savings in the health system as well as offer equitable and timely access to scheduled medicines. Currently there is a lack of information about prescribing practices of Australian podiatrists, making it difficult to assess if endorsement for scheduled medicines (endorsement) for podiatrists provides health system efficiencies or improved patient access and outcomes. Further, the uptake for endorsement remains low among Australian podiatrists. The aim of this research was to investigate the prescribing practices among Australian podiatrists as well as to explore barriers and facilitators that influence participation in endorsement. MethodsParticipants in this quantitative, cross-sectional study were registered and practicing Australian podiatrists and podiatric surgeons who were recruited through a combination of professional networks, social media, and personal contacts. Respondents were invited to complete a customised self-reported online survey. The survey was developed using previously published research, research team’s expertise and piloted with podiatrists. The survey contained three sections: demographic data including clinical experience, questions pertaining to prescribing practices, and barriers and facilitators of the endorsement pathway. ResultsRespondents (n = 225) were predominantly female, aged 25-45, working in the private sector. Approximately one quarter were endorsed (15%) or in training to become endorsed (11%). Of the 168 non-endorsed respondents, 66% reported that they would like to undertake training to become an endorsed prescriber. The medications most frequently prescribed include local anaesthetics, antimycotics, antibacterial agents, and analgesia. The most common indications reported for prescribing these medications include nail surgery (71%), foot infections and ulcerations (88%), post-operative pain (67%), and mycosis (95%). The most prescribed Schedule 2 medications were ibuprofen, paracetamol, and topical terbinafine. The most prescribed Schedule 4 medicines among endorsed podiatrists included lignocaine (84%), Cephalexin (68%), Flucloxacillin (68%), and Amoxicillin with Clavulanic acid (61%). ConclusionWhile podiatrists predominantly prescribe to assist pain, inflammatory, or infectious conditions, lack of public funding and pathology testing access limit podiatrists’ ability to maximise prescribing opportunities. Many barriers exist in the current endorsement for podiatrists, particularly related to training processes, including mentor access and supervised practice opportunities, requiring targeted enabling strategies.
Silent Strokes May Be Involved in Neurocognitive Impairment in Children With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Silva Bruno , dos-Santos Ândrea Ribeiro , Ribeiro Diana Oliveira , Cruz Tamara Tavares da , Carvalho Ana Emília Vita , Lopes Larissa Nobre , Rodrigues Alessandro Cardoso , Paschoal-Junior Fernando Mendes
Published: November 2021

Neurological complications are frequent occurrences in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD). This research has investigated the prevalence of neurovascular and neurocognitive impairments in 17 patients with SCD from Northern Brazil, with aged 6-16 years. Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound (TDU) examinations were performed on patients employing the STOP protocol as a risk score to predict stroke. Neuropsychological assessments were also performed: the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - 4th Edition (WISC-IV). Fisher's Exact Test was used for statistical analyses (p ≤0.05) of the collected dataset. Frequent headaches were a common clinical finding, occurring in over 75% of the children. There were no alterations in cerebral hemodynamics on TDU for over 70% of the patients. In general, patients had below-average scores on most cognitive domains. There was a tendency for correlation between transcranial Doppler results and the WISC-IV indices of total Intelligence Quotient (p = 0.069) and Processing Speed Index (p = 0.082). Conclusion: Most SCD patients showed impairments on cognitive tests, but there was no statistically significant correlation between the presence of neurovascular damage and worse performance on the tests.
Comparison of OPD-Referral and Self-Referral Patients In The Emergency Department
Authors: Chou Yu-Rung , Ma Mi-Chia , Lee Ching-Chi , Hsieh Chih-Chia , Lin Chih-Hao
Published: November 2021

Background: To compare outpatient department (OPD) referral patients and self-referral patients in the emergency department (ED) in terms of hospitalization, mortality, and length of stay.Methods: We collected ED patients of a tertiary teaching hospital over a 3-month period. We excluded pediatric patients and patients with certain inconsistent characteristics, such as trauma and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, or referral from other facilities. After propensity score matching, we compared the hospitalization, mortality, and length of stay in the ED of the OPD-referral patents and self-referral patients. We categorized the patients as “emergency” or “urgency” according to their triage information and then analyzed the effects of different severity levels.Results: The OPD-referral ED patients, compared with the self-referral patients, had a higher admission rate (49.8% vs. 28.9%, p < 0.001; odds ratio [OR] = 2.44, 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 1.91 - 3.12). Among the emergency patients, there was no significant difference regarding the admission rate (62.6% vs. 55.8%, p = 0.257) or the mortality rate (4.6% vs. 8%, p = 0.253). Among the urgent patients, the admission rate was significantly different between the OPD-referral and self-referral groups (46% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.001; OR = 3.36, 95% CIs: 2.48 - 4.55). The urgent patients who were referred from OPD tended to have a higher mortality rate (2.1% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.064). Regarding the length of ED stay, only the discharge and urgent subgroups differed according to OPD- and self-referral status (p < 0.001), with a median of 5.8 hours versus 2.3 hours.Conclusions: The OPD-referral ED patients have a higher admission rate and a longer length of stay than self-referral patients in urgent triage. The OPD-referral ED patients might have more severe and complex conditions. We should be more alert to OPD-referred patients even when they initially appear not severely ill.
Preoperative Evaluation of Pulmonary Hypertension in Lung Transplant Candidates: Echocardiography Versus Right Heart Catheterization
Authors: Abu Tal , Levi Amos , Hasdai David , Kramer Mordechai R. , Bental Tamir , Bdolah-Abram Tali , Shyovich Arthur , Samara Abed , Vaknin-Assa Hana , Perl Leor , Rosengarten Dror , Shapira Yaron , Kornowski Ran , Skalsky Keren
Published: November 2021

Background - Right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiography are both routinely used for pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) assessment in lung transplantation (LT) candidates, although this is not mandated by current guidelines. We aimed to explore the correlation between PASP estimated by echocardiography to that measured by RHC, in this population in order to assess the necessity of RHC. Methods - From a retrospective registry of 393 LT candidates undergoing RHC and echocardiography during 2015-2019, patients were assessed for the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) above 20 mmHg, according to two methods – echocardiography and RHC. The primary outcome was the correlation between the PASP estimated by echocardiography to that measured by RHC. Secondary outcomes were the prediction value of the echocardiographic evaluation and its accuracy. Results - The mean value of PASP estimated by echocardiography was 49.5±20.0 mmHg, compared to 42.5±18.0 mmHg measured by RHC. The correlation between the two measurements was moderate (Pearson’s correlation: r=0.609, p<0.01). Echocardiography PASP measurements were moderately discriminative to diagnose PH, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.72 (95% CI 0.66-0.76). Echocardiographic overestimation of PASP of more than 10 mmHg was found in 35.0% of the patients, and underestimation was found in 11.6% of the patients.Conclusion - In the pre-surgical evaluation of LT candidates, echocardiographic estimation of PASP had moderate correlation and limited accuracy compared to the PASP measured by RHC. We thus recommend performing routine RHC to all LT candidates, regardless of the echocardiographic estimation of PASP.
Technology Adaption As Survival Strategy For Small And Medium Enterprises During COVID-19
Authors: Mishrif Ashraf , Khan Asharul
Published: November 2021

Globally, business and operational capabilities of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) have been enormously affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, forcing many to use technology and innovation rather than the more traditional methods of operations. Although we do not yet know to the extent to which Oman’s SMEs have adopted these technological transformations, we investigate this, and assess the impact of it, in this study. We empirically examine how Covid-19 accelerated technology use in the SMEs in Oman and test nine hypotheses applying paired t-test and Pearson correlation. The results show strong correlations between technology use before and during Covid-19 (r = .823, p < 0.01); technology use during Covid-19 and in future (r = .659, p < 0.01); and technology use before Covid-19 and in future (r = .612, p < 0.01). We conclude that this use of technology has been a survival strategy during the pandemic and that highly digitized SMEs are more likely to adopt Industry 4.0 technology.
Time series analysis and forecasting of China’s energy production during Covid-19: statistical models vs machine learning models
Authors: Lu Zekai , Liu Nian , Xie Ying , Xu Junhui
Published: November 2021

COVID-19 is a huge catastrophe of global proportions, and this catastrophe has had far-reaching effects on energy production worldwide. In this paper, we build traditional statistical models and machine learning models to forecast energy production series in the post-pandemic period based on Chinese energy production data and COVID-19 Chinese epidemic data from 2018 to 2021. The experimental results showed that the optimal models in this study outperformed the baseline models on each series, with MAPE values less than 10. Further studies found that the LightGBM, NNAT and LSTM machine learning models worked better in unstable energy series, while the ARIMA statistical model still had an advantage in stable energy time series. Overall, the machine learning models outperformed the traditional models during COVID-19 in terms of prediction. Our findings provide an important reference for energy research in public health emergencies, as well as a theoretical basis for factories to adjust their production plans and governments to adjust their energy decisions during COVID-19.
Correlation Factors and a Predictive Model of Serum Ceruloplasmin Normalized Wilson’s Disease
Authors: Chen Lin , Hu Wenbin , Wang Nan , Lou Zhuoqi , Wu Chensi , Pan Liya , Xu Xiaolan , Yang Renmin , Han Yongzhu , Ruan Bing
Published: November 2021

Background: The false increase of ceruloplasmin (Cp) in some Wilson’s disease (WD) patients, which overlaps with those in non-WD liver disease patients, decrease the diagnostic accuracy. The aims of our study was to understand the factors affecting WD patients’ Cp normalization, and develop a model using routine predictors to identify WD patients with ambiguous serum Cp.Results: The mixed effects model analysis which executed in longitudinal study revealed that the WD patients’ Cp normalization were significantly associated with the copper burden and liver function indexes, like urinary copper treated with dimercaptopropansulfonate sodium (P=0.000), aspartate aminotransferase (P=0.011), γ-glutamyltransferase (P=0.000), albumin (P=0.000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis in case-control study showed age (P=0.000) and serum creatine (P=0.000) were independent risk factors associated with WD. Based on their regression coefficients, a simplified WD index was derived: 0.001 × age [yr] × Creatine [umol/L]. The AUC value of WD index in total cohort were 0.923 (P=0.000). At a WD index cutoff value of ≤ 1.9 and ≤ 2.5, the positive and negtive predictive value are 88.2% and 89.9% for WD, respectively.Conclusions: The increase of serum Cp in WD patients is related to their excessive copper burden and hepatic injury, common tests can effectively foretell those WD patients with nearly normal serum Cp from other liver injury patients.
Isolation of Novel Vincristine and Vinblastine Producing Streptomyces Species from Catharanthus Roseus Rhizospheric Soil
Authors: Andriambeloson Onja Herivony , Noah Rabenandrasana Mamitiana Alain , Rigobert Andrianantenaina , Jean-Marc Collard , Luciano Ramaroson , Rado Rasolomampianina
Published: November 2021

Microorganisms could be used as efficient tools to protect high value therapeutic plants against overexploitation and climate change. This work aimed to isolate alkaloids producing endophytic and rhizospheric soil actinomycetes and fungi of Catharanthus roseus. From a total of eleven actinomycetes and eight fungi strains isolated by dilution and plate methods, six telluric actinomycetes were revealed to produce alkaloids according to the precipitation test of their extracts. Revelation by Thin Layer Chromatography method using vinblastine and vincristine standards on the basis of frontal reference values showed that the strain SC8 and the vinblastine, the strain SC7 and the vincristine displayed the same frontal references (0,89 and 0,88, respectively). Whole genome sequencing method showed that both strains belong to the genus Streptomyces with novel species.Moreover, metabolic pathways analysis from their genomes allowed to detect three enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of terpenoid backbone leading to that of terpenoid indole alkaloids.
Roller Design and Optimization Based on RSM with Categoric Factors in Power Spinning of Ni-Based Superalloy
Authors: Li Zixuan , Shu Xuedao
Published: November 2021

Power spinning is a single point high pressure forming process which is usually studied with ideal regular billet. However, in some cases, the billet adopted in this process is from conventional spinning process with non-uniform wall thickness and springback. Therefore, the forming accuracy is low because this unpredictable spun billet. In this paper, cone, step and arc rollers are compared and the length change of deformation zone is calculated to further understand the forming mechanism of different roller shapes. Multi-step process simulation considering conventional spinning and power spinning is established. The influence of roller parameters such as roller nose radius, straightening zone in step roller and bite angle on the maximum roller force are discussed. In addition, the continuous factors such as installation angle and discrete factor roller shape are studied based on the response surface method (RSM) with categoric factors. The results show that roller shape have a big influence on the workpiece forming quality in power spinning process. Step roller is more suitable for use in this work. The roller nose radius and installation angle have great impacts on the maximum roller force.
Angiogenesis, Metabolism, Endothelial And Platelet Markers In Diabetes And Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Blann AD , Brown JE , Heitmar R
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Diabetes is a leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), the pathophysiology of both being linked to metabolic, endothelial, renal, angiogenic and platelet abnormalities. We hypothesised that abnormalities in these systems are more adverse in those whose CVD is compounded by diabetes, compared to those with diabetes or CVD alone.Materials and methods: Serum or plasma from 66 patients with diabetes alone, 76 with CVD alone, and 70 with both diabetes and CVD i.e. diabetic cardiovascular disease, was probed for markers of angiogenesis [angiopoietin 1 and 2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endoglin], metabolic [sRAGE, leptin, lipocalin-2, interleukin-8, and cystatin-C], the endothelium (von Willebrand factor, endothelial microparticles and soluble E selectin]), and the platelet (platelet microparticles and soluble P selectin) by ELISA, Luminex or flow cytometry.Results: VEGF (p=0.04), von Willebrand factor (p=0.001) and endothelial microparticles (p=0.042) were all higher in diabetic cardiovascular disease than in diabetes alone and cardiovascular disease alone. Soluble E selectin was higher in diabetic cardiovascular disease than in diabetes alone (p=0.045), whilst cystatin-C (p=0.004) and soluble P selectin (p<0.001) were higher in diabetes and diabetic cardiovascular disease than in cardiovascular disease alone. There were no differences in angiopoietin 1 or 2, endoglin, sRAGE, leptin, lipocalin-2, or interleukin-8.Conclusion: Angiopoietin 1 or 2, endoglin, sRAGE, leptin, lipocalin-2, interleukin-8, and cystatin-c cannot differentiate diabetes from cardiovascular disease, or both conditions combined. Our data point to a more adverse endothelial (von Willebrand factor, endothelial microparticles), and angiogenic profile (VEGF) in those with diabetic cardiovascular disease, supporting the view that this group should be targeted more aggressively.
Imprisonment for South Ethiopian people living with HIV presents a double health burden: exploring the barriers and facilitators of optimal HIV care
Authors: Fuge Terefe Gone , Tsourtos George , Miller Emma R
Published: November 2021

Background

Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial for ensuring treatment benefits as well as prevention of further transmission. However, whilst the prevalence of ART non-adherence in prison populations is considered to be high in many countries, little information is available about its predisposing circumstances in resource limited countries. We explored the barriers to and facilitators of ART adherence amongst inmates living with HIV (ILWHA) in South Ethiopia with the aim of contextualising this significant public health problem and to make advances towards optimal HIV care.
Methods

We conducted qualitative in-depth interviewing with eleven ILWHA (eight male and three female ILWHA) and eleven service providers (seven male and four female service providers). Audio recorded interview data were transcribed verbatim in Amharic language, translated into English and coded based on emerging themes. A phenomenological approach was employed to abstract meaning attributed to the prisoners’ lived experiences in relation to ART adherence and service providers’ experiential account regarding HIV care provision.
Findings:

Several themes emerged in relation to barriers of ART adherence amongst ILWHA in South Ethiopia: limited access to standard HIV care, insufficient health staff support, uncooperative security system, loss of patient privacy, a lack of status disclosure due to social stigma, depression related to imprisonment and food supply insufficiency appeared to negatively influence adherence. In addition to a unique opportunity offered by an imprisonment for some ILWHA to refrain from health damaging behaviours, the presence of social support in the prison system facilitated ART adherence.
Conclusions

This study identified important structural, social and behavioural factors that can both hinder and enhance ART adherence amongst ILWHA in South Ethiopia. Given the high prevalence of HIV infection in prisoners and the potential of transmission to others during and after incarceration, policy and practice development is required to address the barriers to ART adherence and to also strengthen the enablers with regard to an asset-based approach.
Dynamic tracking of a magnetic micro-roller using ultrasound phase analysis
Authors: Pane Stefano , Iacovacci Veronica , Ansari Mohammad Hasan Dad , Menciassi Arianna
Published: November 2021

Microrobots (MRs) have attracted significant interest for their potentialities in diagnosis and non-invasive intervention in hard-to-reach body areas. Fine control of biomedical MRs requires real-time feedback on their position and configuration. Ultrasound (US) imaging stands as a mature and advantageous technology for MRs tracking, but it suffers from disturbances due to low contrast resolution. To overcome these limitations and make US imaging suitable for monitoring and tracking MRs, we propose a US contrast enhancement mechanism for MR visualization in echogenic backgrounds (e.g., tissue). Our technique exploits the specific acoustic phase modulation produced by the MR characteristic motions. By applying this principle, we performed real-time visualization and position tracking of a magnetic MR rolling on a lumen boundary, both in static flow and opposing flow conditions, with an average error of 0.25 body-lengths. Overall, the reported results unveil countless possibilities to exploit the proposed approach as a robust feedback strategy for monitoring and tracking biomedical MRs in-vivo.
Impact of Human Capital Underutilization on Economic Growth: the Case of India
Authors: M Vijaya Kumar , B Balu
Published: November 2021

This study investigated the effect of human capital underutilization on the economic growth of India. It has used time-series data accessed from the International Labor Organization (ILO) and World Bank database. This paper estimated the relationship between the underutilization of human capital on economic growth by applying the econometric tests like Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) Test, Johansen Integration Test, and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The results revealed that in the long run human capital underutilization has a negative relationship on GDP and labor productivity and it does not in the short run. The study recommends that specific policy legislations in the Indian labor markets are required for addressing the problem of human capital underutilization and thereby accelerating the economic growth and productivity for the current and future generations.
Effects of a 3-Week Inpatient Multidisciplinary Body Weight Reduction Program on Body Composition and Physical Capabilities in Adolescents and Adults with Obesity.
Authors: Lazzer Stefano , D'Alleva Mattia , Vaccari Filippo , Tringali Gabriella , De Micheli Roberta , Sartorio Alessandro
Published: November 2021

Background
The aim of the present study was to examine the short-term changes in body composition and physical capabilities in subjects with obesity during a multidisciplinary inpatient body weight reduction program (BWRP).
Methods
One hundred thirty-nine adolescents (56 boys and 83 girls; BMI: 37.1±6.5 kg/m2; Fat Mass, FM: 45.3±7.2 %) and 71 adults (27 males and 44 females; BMI: 44±4.7 kg/m2; FM: 51.4±4.7 %) followed a 3-week inpatient BWRP consisting of regular physical activity, moderate energy restriction, nutritional education and psychological counseling. Before (T0) and after the end of the BWRP (T21), body composition was assessed with an impedancemeter, lower limb muscle power with Margaria Stair Climbing Test (SCT), lower limb functionality with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and the capacity of performing activity of daily living (ADL) with Physical Performance Test (PPT).
Results
At T21, obese adolescents showed a 4% reduction in body mass (BM) (p<0.001), associated with a FM (kg) reduction in boys (-10%) and girls (-6%) (p<0.001) and with a 3% reduction in fat-free mass (FFM, kg) recorded only in boys (p=0.013). Obese adults showed a 5% BM reduction (p<0.001), associated with a 2% FFM (kg) reduction (p<0.001) and a reduction of 9% FM (kg) in males and 7% in females (p<0.001). Regarding physical capabilities, at T21 in obese adolescents, PPT score increased by ~4% (p<0.001), SCT (s) decreased by ~5% (boys) and ~7% (girls) (p<0.001), while SPPB score did not significantly change. In obese adults at T21, PPT score increased by 9% (p<0.001), SCT (s) decreased by ~16% (p<0.001) only in females, and SPPB score increased by ~7% (males) and ~10% (females) (p<0.01).
Conclusions
In conclusion, moderate energy restriction and regular physical activity determine a 4-5% BM reduction during a 3-week inpatient BWRP, improve physical capabilities and induce beneficial changes in body composition in adolescents and adults with obesity.
Trial registration:
This study was was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Istituto Auxologico Italiano (Milan, Italy; research code: 01C124; acronym: PRORIPONATFIS). Registered 11 November 2020 - Retrospectively registered.
The Correlation Between Bacterial Vaginosis, High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection, and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Progression
Authors: Xu Xiaolin , Zhang Yichan , Yu Liqun , Shi Xingxian , Min Min , Xiong Lijuan , Pan Jia , Liu Peipei , Wu Guizhen , Gao Guolan
Published: November 2021

Persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is an important reason for the progression of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a genital infection that frequently presents in women infected with HPV, but the correlation between BV and HPV during CIN development is still elusive. In this study, we enrolled 624 participants and obtained 423 samples of vaginal secretions from them, including 193 HPV-negative samples and 230 HPV-positive samples. We used 16S rRNA sequencing to measure the vaginal microbiota diversity in women with or without BV and HPV co-infection and then calculated risk factors for CIN progression by logistic regression. We found that condom use (OR=3.480; 95% CI=1.069-11.325; P < .05) was a protective factor against CIN, whereas BV (OR=0.358; 95% CI=0.195-0.656; P < .05) and HR-HPV infection (OR= 0.016; 95% CI=0.004-0.072; P < .001) were risk factors for CIN. BV and HPV infection could trigger an increase in the diversity of vaginal microbiota and decrease Lactobacillus domination, which is conducive to CIN regression. The depletion of the carbohydrate metabolism pathway may induce Lactobacillus reduction. Treating BV in the clinical setting could block CIN development and L. iners may be a crucial species during this process.
Differentialdiagnostik der frühen primären Myelofibrose (präPMF) gemäß der neuen WHO-Klassifikation
Authors:   , Rummel Annika
Published: November 2021

Die vorliegende Arbeit stützt sich auf die retrospektive Begutachtung von 348 Knochenmarkbiopsien, welche anhand der WHO-Klassifikation von 2016 erneut reevaluiert wurden. Insbesondere widmeten wir uns der Differentialdiagnostik der „echten ET“ und der thrombozythämisch verlaufenden Form der PMF (präPMF). Die Einteilung erfolgte anhand morphologischer Kriterien, wie sie in der WHO-Klassifikation von 2016 aufgeführt sind. Zusammengefasst ist eine richtungsweisende diagnostische Entscheidung der Patienten mit ET und präPMF nur möglich, wenn man sowohl die molekulargenetischen und klinischen Parameter in Kombination mit histologischen Kriterien und deren charakteristischen Mustern betrachtet. Eine repräsentative Knochenmarkbiopsie und deren standardisierte Befundung ist daher von absoluter diagnostischer Wichtigkeit für die Subtypisierung der MPN. Augenmerk sollte auf das typisch dargebotene morphologische Muster gelegt werden und nicht auf einzelne Merkmale. Die vorliegende Knochenmarkbiopsie muss nicht, wie früher praktiziert, anhand vieler einzelner Merkmale detailliert betrachtet und bewertet werden. Durch eine kombinierte Betrachtung von nur wenigen morphologischen Schlüsselparametern ist bereits eine Diagnose mit hoher Reproduzierbarkeit möglich. Mit dieser Arbeit wird der Stellenwert der WHO-Klassifikation unterstrichten, da die hier vorgegebenen Kriterien absolut essentiell und trotzdem in ihrem Umfang ausreichend sind, um die Differentialdiagnostik der MPN in Zukunft zu verbessern.
Examination of Reynolds number effect on the development of round jet flow
Authors: Oyewola Olanrewaju Miracle , Okediji Adebunmi , Ajide Olusegun Olufemi , Adaramola Muyiwa Samuel
Published: November 2021

In this study, the Reynolds number effect on the development of round jet flow is presented. The jet is produced from a smoothly contracting round nozzle and the flow structure is controlled by varying the air blower speed in order to obtain various Reynolds numbers (Re). The flow Reynolds number considered varies between 1140 and 9117. Mean velocity measurements were taken using hot-wire probe at different axial and lateral distances (0≤x/d≤50, where x is the downstream distance and d is the nozzle diameter) for the jet flow and at for 0≤x/d≤30 in long pipe attached to the nozzle. Measurements reveal that Reynolds number dictate the potential core length such that the higher the Reynolds number, the lower the potential core which is a measure of mixing of jet and ambient fluid. It shows that further away from the jet exit section, potential core decreases as Reynolds number increases, the velocity profile has a top hat shape very close to the nozzle exit and the shape is independent of Reynolds number. It is found that potential core extends up to x/d=8 for Reynolds number of 1140 as against conventional near field 0≤x/d≤6. This may suggest effect of very low Reynolds number. However, further investigation is required to ascertain this at extremely low Reynolds numbers. It is also observed that further away from the jet exit section, the higher the downstream distance, the higher the jet half-width (R1/2). Furthermore, the flow in the pipe shows almost constant value of normalised axial centerline velocity for a longer distance and this clearly indicates that there is mass redistribution rather than entrainment of ambient fluid. Overall, the Reynolds number controls the magnitude rather than the wavelength of the oscillation