bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Availability of medical abortion medicines in eight countries: a descriptive analysis of key findings and opportunities
Authors: Grossman Amy , Prata Ndola , Williams Natalie , Ganatra Bela , Lavelanet Antonella , Läser Laurence , Asmani Chilanga , Elamin Hayfa , Ouedraogo Leopold , Rahman Md. Mahmudur , Conneh-Duworko Musu Julie , Tehoungue Bentoe Zoogley , Chanza Harriet , Phiri Henry , Bhattarai Bharat , Dhakal Narayan Prasad , Ojo Olumuyiwa Adesanya , Afolabi Kayode , Kabuteni Theopista John , Hailu Binyam Getachew , Moses Francis , Dlamini-Nqeketo Sithembile , Zulu Thembi , Rehnström Loi Ulrika
Published: April 2023

Background

In recent years a growing number of manufacturers and medical abortion products have entered country markets and health systems, with varying degrees of quality and accessibility. An interplay of factors including pharmaceutical regulations, abortion laws, government policies and service delivery guidelines and provider’s knowledge and practices influence the availability of medical abortion medicines. We assessed the availability of medical abortion in eight countries to increase understanding among policymakers of the need to improve availability and affordability of quality-assured medical abortion products at regional and national levels.

Methods

Using a national assessment protocol and an availability framework, we assessed the availability of medical abortion medicines in Bangladesh, Liberia, Malawi, Nepal, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and South Africa between September 2019 and January 2020.

Results

Registration of abortion medicines—misoprostol or a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol—was established in all countries assessed, except Rwanda. Mifepristone and misoprostol regimen for medical abortion was identified on the national essential medicines list/standard treatment guidelines for South Africa as well as in specific abortion care service and delivery guidelines for Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, and Rwanda. In Liberia, Malawi, and Sierra Leone—countries with highly restrictive abortion laws and no abortion service delivery guidelines or training curricula—no government-supported training on medical abortion for public sector providers had occurred. Instead, training on medical abortion was either limited in scope to select private sector providers and pharmacists or prohibited. Community awareness activities on medical abortion have been limited in scope across the countries assessed and where abortion is broadly legal, most women do not know that it is an option.

Conclusion

Understanding the factors that influence the availability of medical abortion medicines is important to support policymakers improve availability of these medicines. The landscape assessments documented that medical abortion commodities can be uniquely impacted by the laws, policies, values, and degree of restrictions placed on service delivery programs. Results of the assessments can guide actions to improve access.
A nomogram model based on pre-treatment and post-treatment MR imaging radiomics signatures: application to predict progression-free survival for nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Sun Mi-Xue , Zhao Meng-Jing , Zhao Li-Hao , Jiang Hao-Ran , Duan Yu-Xia , Li Gang
Published: April 2023

Background

To establish a novel model using radiomics analysis of pre-treatment and post-treatment magnetic resonance (MR) images for prediction of progression-free survival in the patients with stage II–IVA nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in South China.

Methods

One hundred and twenty NPC patients who underwent chemoradiotherapy were enrolled (80 in the training cohort and 40 in the validation cohort). Acquiring data and screening features were performed successively. Totally 1133 radiomics features were extracted from the T2-weight images before and after treatment. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression, recursive feature elimination algorithm, random forest, and minimum-redundancy maximum-relevancy (mRMR) method were used for feature selection. Nomogram discrimination and calibration were evaluated. Harrell’s concordance index (C-index) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were applied to appraise the prognostic performance of nomograms. Survival curves were plotted using Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

Integrating independent clinical predictors with pre-treatment and post-treatment radiomics signatures which were calculated in conformity with radiomics features, we established a clinical-and-radiomics nomogram by multivariable Cox regression. Nomogram consisting of 14 pre-treatment and 7 post-treatment selected features has been proved to yield a reliable predictive performance in both training and validation groups. The C-index of clinical-and-radiomics nomogram was 0.953 (allP < 0.05), which was higher than that of clinical (0.861) or radiomics nomograms alone (based on pre-treatment statistics: 0.942; based on post-treatment statistics: 0.944). Moreover, we received Rad-score of pre-treatment named RS1 and post-treatment named RS2 and all were used as independent predictors to divide patients into high-risk and low-risk groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that lower RS1 (less than cutoff value, − 1.488) and RS2 (less than cutoff value, − 0.180) were easier to avoid disease progression (allP < 0.01). It showed clinical benefit with decision curve analysis.

Conclusions

MR-based radiomics measured the burden on primary tumor before treatment and the tumor regression after chemoradiotherapy, and was used to build a model to predict progression-free survival (PFS) in the stage II–IVA NPC patients. It can also help to distinguish high-risk patients from low-risk patients, thus guiding personalized treatment decisions effectively.
Fissureless technique of robotic left lingular segmentectomy for primary lung cancer with incomplete fissure: a case report
Authors: Yanagiya Masahiro , Nagano Masaaki , Nakajima Jun
Published: April 2023

Background

Pulmonary segmentectomy for a lung with an incomplete interlobar fissure may complicate persistent air leakage. The fissureless technique is often used in lobectomy to prevent persistent air leakage. We herein describe successful use of the fissureless technique for segmentectomy with the aid of a robotic surgical system.

Case presentation

A 63-year-old man was clinically diagnosed with early-stage lung cancer for which lingular segmentectomy was indicated. A preoperative image revealed a lung with an incomplete fissure. Based on three-dimensional reconstruction imaging, we planned to divide the hilum structures in the order of the pulmonary vein, bronchus, and pulmonary artery and finally resect the lung parenchyma by dividing the intersegmental plane and interlobar fissure. This fissureless technique was successfully conducted using a robotic surgical system. The patient did not develop persistent air leakage and was alive without recurrence 1 year after segmentectomy.

Conclusions

The fissureless technique may be a useful option in segmentectomy for a lung with an incomplete interlobar fissure.
Stabilization of after-traumatic flail chest by minimally invasive modified NUSS procedure in patient with starting respiratory insufficiency
Authors: Chudzik Robert , Buczyński Krzysztof , Rybojad Paweł , Sawicki Marek
Published: April 2023

A flail chest is one of the possible medical conditions suffered by individuals who were injured in traffic accidents, caused by multiple fractures of the ribs and sternum. Which often results in paradoxical chest movements. The consequence may be respiratory failure and need for long-term mechanical ventilation. Such treatment require Intensive Care Unit and may be associated with the possibility of numerous complications.

Modified Nuss procedure was performed in 79-year-old man, a victim of a car crash to obtain stabilization of the flail chest. After compensation of paradoxical movements on the third day it was possible to end mechanical ventilation. A quick procedure dedicated to the congenital deformation of the chest made it possible to avoid long, expensive intensive therapy with possible respiratory complications.

The NUSS procedure enables the effective and safe treatment of a flail chest in a selected group of patients.
Benefits of sacubitril/valsartan use in patients with chronic heart failure after cardiac valve surgery: a single-center retrospective study
Authors: Zheng Jian , Wu Qingsong , Li Qianzhen , Tang Mirong , He Jian , Qiu Zhihuang , Xie Linfeng , Chen Liangwan
Published: April 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of sacubitril/valsartan for the treatment of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) after cardiac valve surgery (CVS).

Methods

Data were collected from 259 patients who underwent CVS due to valvular heart disease and were admitted to the hospital with CHF from January 2018 to December 2020. The patients were divided into Group A (treatment with sacubitril/valsartan) and Group B (treatment without sacubitril/valsartan). The duration of treatment and follow-up was 6 months. The two groups’ prior and clinical characteristics, post-treatment data, mortality, and follow-up data were analysed.

Results

The effective rate of Group A was higher than that of Group B (82.56% versus 65.52%, P < 0.05). The left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF, %) was improved in both groups. The final value minus the initial value was (11.14 ± 10.16 versus 7.15 ± 11.18, P = 0.004). The left ventricular end-diastolic/-systolic diameter (LVEDD/LVESD, mm) in Group A decreased more than in Group B. The final value minus the initial value was (-3.58 ± 9.21 versus − 0.27 ± 14.44, P = 0.026; -4.21 ± 8.15 versus − 1.14 ± 12.12, P = 0.016, respectively). Both groups decreased the N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, pg/ml). The final value minus initial value was [-902.0(-2226.0, -269.5) versus − 535.0(-1738, -7.0), P = 0.029]. The systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP/DBP, mmHg) in Group A decreased more than in Group B. The final value minus the initial value was (-13.13 ± 23.98 versus − 1.81 ± 10.89, P < 0.001; -8.28 ± 17.79 versus − 2.37 ± 11.41, P = 0.005, respectively). Liver and renal insufficiency, hyperkalaemia, symptomatic hypotension, angioedema, and acute heart failure had no statistical differences between the two groups.

Conclusions

Sacubitril/valsartan can effectively improve the cardiac function of patients with CHF after CVS by increasing LVEF and reducing LVEDD, LVESD, NT-proBNP, and BP, with good safety.
Early ambulation and postoperative recovery of patients with lung cancer under thoracoscopic surgery—an observational study
Authors: Ding Xiaoyun , Zhang Huijun , Liu Huahua
Published: April 2023

Background

Enhanced recovery after surgery guidelines in China recommend early ambulation within 24 h after surgery. The aims of this audit were to investigate the early ambulation of patients with lung cancer under thoracoscopic surgery, and to explore the influence of different ambulation time on postoperative rehabilitation of patients.

Methods

Using observational study method, observe and record of 226 cases under the thoracoscope surgery early ambulation of patients with lung cancer. Data collected included postoperative bowel movements, chest tube extubation time, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain and the incidence of postoperative complications.

Results

The time of first ambulation was (34.18 ± 17.18) h, the duration was (8.26 ± 4.62) min, and the distance was (54.94 ± 46.06) m. The time of first postoperative defecation, the time of chest tube extubation and the length of hospital stay were significantly shortened in patients who ambulate within 24 h, and the pain score on the third day after surgery was decreased, and the incidence of postoperative complications was reduced, with statistical significance (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Early ambulation within 24 h after thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer patients can promote the recovery of intestinal function, early removal of chest tube, shorten the length of hospital stay, relieve pain, reduce the incidence of complications, and facilitate the rapid recovery of patients.
Decentralized clinical trials and rare diseases: a Drug Information Association Innovative Design Scientific Working Group (DIA-IDSWG) perspective
Authors: Ghadessi Mercedeh , Di Junrui , Wang Chenkun , Toyoizumi Kiichiro , Shao Nan , Mei Chaoqun , Demanuele Charmaine , Tang Rui , McMillan Gianna , Beckman Robert A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Traditional clinical trials require tests and procedures that are administered in centralized clinical research sites, which are beyond the standard of care that patients receive for their rare and chronic diseases. The limited number of rare disease patients scattered around the world makes it particularly challenging to recruit participants and conduct these traditional clinical trials.

Main body

Participating in clinical research can be burdensome, especially for children, the elderly, physically and cognitively impaired individuals who require transportation and caregiver assistance, or patients who live in remote locations or cannot afford transportation. In recent years, there is an increasing need to consider Decentralized Clinical Trials (DCT) as a participant-centric approach that uses new technologies and innovative procedures for interaction with participants in the comfort of their home.

Conclusion

This paper discusses the planning and conduct of DCTs, which can increase the quality of trials with a specific focus on rare diseases.
Toxic effect window of ovarian development in female offspring mice induced by prenatal prednisone exposure with different doses and time
Authors: Huang Jing , Wu Tiancheng , Li Yating , Zhang Yuanzhen , Yu Xingjiang , Xu Dan , Wang Hui
Published: April 2023

Background

Prednisone is one of the most used synthetic glucocorticoids during pregnancy. Epidemiological investigations suggested that prenatal prednisone therapy could affect fetal development, but systematic studies on its effects on ovarian development and the “toxic effect window” remained scarce.

Methods

In this study, by simulating clinical application characteristics, Kunming mice were given prednisone by oral gavage with different doses (0.25 or 1.0 mg/kg·d) or at different time gestational days (GD) (GD0-9, GD10-18, or GD0-18). Blood and ovaries of fetal mice were collected on GD18, and the serum estradiol level and the related function indexes of ovarian granulosa cells and oocytes were detected.

Results

Compared with the control group, prenatal prednisone exposure (PPE) induced pathological injury and enhanced cell proliferation in fetal mice ovary. Furthermore, the expression of steroid synthesis functional genes in pre-granulosa cells, the oocyte function markers, and developmentally related genes was enhanced with different doses or at different time of PPE. The Hippo signaling was activated in the fetal ovary of PPE groups. The above changes were most significant in the low or high-dose and full-term PPE groups.

Conclusion

PPE caused various cell developmental toxicity in the fetal ovary, especially in the low or high-dose, full-term exposure groups. The potential mechanism might be related to the activation of the Hippo signaling pathway.
PhyloMed: a phylogeny-based test of mediation effect in microbiome
Authors: Hong Qilin , Chen Guanhua , Tang Zheng-Zheng
Published: April 2023

Microbiome data from sequencing experiments contain the relative abundance of a large number of microbial taxa with their evolutionary relationships represented by a phylogenetic tree. The compositional and high-dimensional nature of the microbiome mediator challenges the validity of standard mediation analyses. We propose a phylogeny-based mediation analysis method called PhyloMed to address this challenge. Unlike existing methods that directly identify individual mediating taxa, PhyloMed discovers mediation signals by analyzing subcompositions defined on the phylogenic tree. PhyloMed produces well-calibrated mediation testp-values and yields substantially higher discovery power than existing methods.
Adipose-derived stem cells promote the repair of chemotherapy-induced premature ovarian failure by inhibiting granulosa cells apoptosis and senescence
Authors: Ai Guihai , Meng Meng , Guo Jing , Li Caixia , Zhu Jihui , Liu Li , Liu Biting , Yang Wenhan , Shao Xiaowen , Cheng Zhongping , Wang Lian
Published: April 2023

Background

Chemotherapeutic drugs, particularly alkylating cytotoxics such as cyclophosphamide (CTX), play an important role to induce premature ovarian failure (POF). Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a widely used treatment to improve hormone secretion. However, the long-term HRT increases the risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular disease are attracting concerns. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a safe and effective treatment for POF.

Method

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) were isolated and identified from human adipose tissue. For POF modeling, CTX were intraperitoneal injected into CTX-acute group, CTX-chronic group, CTX-acute + ADSCs group and CTX-chronic + ADSCs group rats; For transplantation, ADSCs were transplanted into POF rats through tail-vein. The control group rats were injected with PBS. The effects of POF modeling and transplantation were determined by estrous cycle analysis, histopathological analysis, immunohistochemical staining and apoptosis-related marker. To evaluate the effects of ADSC on granulosa cells in vitro, CTX-induced senescent KGN cells were co-cultured with ADSCs, and senescent-related marker expression was investigated by immunofluorescent staining.

Results

In vivo studies revealed that ADSCs transplantation reduced the apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone. The number of total follicles, primordial follicles, primary follicles, and mature follicles and secretion of anti-Müllerian hormone and estradiol (E2) were also increased by ADSCs. The estrous cycle was also improved by ADSC transplantation. Histopathological analysis showed that CTX-damaged ovarian microenvironment was improved by ADSCs. Furthermore, TUNEL staining indicated that apoptosis of granulosa cells was decreased by ADSCs. In vitro assay also demonstrated that ADSC markedly attenuated CTX-induced senescence and apoptosis of granulosa cell. Mechanistically, both in vivo and in vitro experiments proved that ADSC transplantation suppressed activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis.

Conclusion

Our experiment demonstrated that a single injection of high-dose CTX was a less damaging chemotherapeutic strategy than continuous injection of low-dose CTX, and tail-vein injection of ADSCs was a potential approach to promote the restoration of CTX-induced POF.
iPSC-derived cells lack immune tolerance to autologous NK-cells due to imbalance in ligands for activating and inhibitory NK-cell receptors
Authors: Bogomiakova Margarita E. , Sekretova Elizaveta K. , Anufrieva Ksenia S. , Khabarova Polina O. , Kazakova Anastasia N. , Bobrovsky Pavel A. , Grigoryeva Tatiana V. , Eremeev Artem V. , Lebedeva Olga S. , Bogomazova Alexandra N. , Lagarkova Maria A.
Published: April 2023

Background

Dozens of transplants generated from pluripotent stem cells are currently in clinical trials. The creation of patient-specific iPSCs makes personalized therapy possible due to their main advantage of immunotolerance. However, some reports have claimed recently that aberrant gene expression followed by proteome alterations and neoantigen formation can result in iPSCs recognition by autologous T-cells. Meanwhile, the possibility of NK-cell activation has not been previously considered. This study focused on the comparison of autologous and allogeneic immune response to iPSC-derived cells and isogeneic parental somatic cells used for reprogramming.

Methods

We established an isogeneic cell model consisting of parental dermal fibroblasts, fibroblast-like iPSC-derivatives (iPS-fibro) and iPS-fibro lacking beta-2-microglobulin (B2M). Using the cells obtained from two patients, we analyzed the activation of autologous and allogeneic T-lymphocytes and NK-cells co-cultured with target cells.

Results

Here we report that cells differentiated from iPSCs can be recognized by NK-cells rather than by autologous T-cells. We observed that iPS-fibro elicited a high level of NK-cell degranulation and cytotoxicity, while isogeneic parental skin fibroblasts used to obtain iPSCs barely triggered an NK-cell response. iPSC-derivatives withB2Mknockout did not cause an additional increase in NK-cell activation, although they were devoid of HLA-I, the major inhibitory molecules for NK-cells. Transcriptome analysis revealed a significant imbalance of ligands for activating and inhibitory NK-cell receptors in iPS-fibro. Compared to parental fibroblasts, iPSC-derivatives had a reduced expression of HLA-I simultaneously with an increased gene expression of major activating ligands, such asMICA,NECTIN2, andPVR. The lack of inhibitory signals might be due to insufficient maturity of cells differentiated from iPSCs. In addition, we showed that pretreatment of iPS-fibro with proinflammatory cytokine IFNγ restored the ligand imbalance, thereby reducing the degranulation and cytotoxicity of NK-cells.

Conclusion

In summary, we showed that iPSC-derived cells can be sensitive to the cytotoxic potential of autologous NK-cells regardless of HLA-I status. Thus, the balance of ligands for NK-cell receptors should be considered prior to iPSC-based cell therapies.

Trial registrationNot applicable.
Osteoporosis treatment using stem cell-derived exosomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies
Authors: He Xiaoyu , Wang Yangbin , Liu Zhihua , Weng Yiyong , Chen Shupeng , Pan Qunlong , Li Yizhong , Wang Hanshi , Lin Shu , Yu Haiming
Published: April 2023

Background

The increasing incidence of osteoporosis in recent years has aroused widespread public concern; however, existing effective treatments are limited. Therefore, new osteoporosis treatment methods, including stem cell transplantation and exosome therapy, have been proposed and are gaining momentum. Exosomes are considered to have greater potential for clinical application owing to their immunocompatibility. This study summarises the latest evidence demonstrating the efficacy of exosomes in improving bone loss in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Main text

This systematic review and meta-analyses searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases from inception to 26 March 2022 for osteoporosis treatment studies using stem cell-derived exosomes. Six endpoints were selected to determine efficacy: bone mineral density, trabecular bone volume/tissue volume fraction, trabecular number, trabecular separation, trabecular thickness, and cortical thickness. The search generated 366 citations. Eventually, 11 articles that included 15 controlled preclinical trials and 242 experimental animals (rats and mice) were included in the meta-analysis.

Conclusion

The results were relatively robust and reliable despite some publication biases, suggesting that exosome treatment increased bone mass, improved bone microarchitecture, and enhanced bone strength compared with placebo treatments. Moreover, stem cell-derived exosomes may favour anabolism over catabolism, shifting the dynamic balance towards bone regeneration.
Anxiety among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Ludwig-Walz Helena , Dannheim Indra , Pfadenhauer Lisa M. , Fegert Jörg M. , Bujard Martin
Published: April 2023

Background

A growing number of studies point to a high mental health burden among children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly concerning anxiety. However, the study quality and effect direction are heterogeneous in the existing primary studies with a lacking overview for the European continent. Therefore, this systematic review aims to critically synthesise the evidence regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on anxiety among children and adolescents in Europe compared to a pre-pandemic baseline.

Methods

A systematic literature search will be performed in six databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and WHO COVID-19 database) with a peer reviewed search strategy according to the evidence-based checklist Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS). Inclusion criteria are children and adolescents ≤ 19 years living in Europe and data report during the COVID-19 pandemic with an appropriate pre-pandemic baseline. Primary outcomes are general anxiety symptoms and clinically relevant anxiety rates. Risk of bias will be assessed using the ‘Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Exposure’ (ROBINS-E). Data extraction will systematically include information on study design, population characteristics, COVID-19 determinants, pre-pandemic baseline, diagnostic instruments and outcome. The certainty of evidence for each outcome will be evaluated by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach adapted to the use of non-randomised studies. All process steps will be performed independently by two reviewers; any discrepancies will be discussed and, if necessary, resolved by a third author. Also, subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, publication bias analysis, and meta-regression analysis, if applicable, will be performed. The systematic review was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) and the protocol was prepared in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement.

Discussion

This systematic review will address the lack of a critical and comprehensive summary of findings on the COVID-19 pandemic impact on anxiety among children and adolescents in Europe. In addition, it aims to identify pandemic-policy differences, such as the effect of school-closures, and identify particularly vulnerable risk groups.

Systematic review registration

CRD42022303714 (PROSPERO).
Pointwise convergence of sequential Schrödinger means
Authors: Cho Chu-Hee , Ko Hyerim , Koh Youngwoo , Lee Sanghyuk
Published: April 2023

We study pointwise convergence of the fractional Schrödinger means along sequences $t_{n}$

t
n

that converge to zero. Our main result is that bounds on the maximal function $\sup_{n} |e^{it_{n}(-\Delta )^{\alpha /2}} f| $

sup
n

|

e

i

t
n

(
−
Δ
)

α
/
2

f
|
can be deduced from those on $\sup_{0< t\le 1} |e^{it(-\Delta )^{\alpha /2}} f|$

sup

0
<
t
≤
1

|

e

i
t

(
−
Δ
)

α
/
2

f
|
, when $\{t_{n}\}$
{

t
n

}
is contained in the Lorentz space $\ell ^{r,\infty}$

ℓ

r
,
∞

. Consequently, our results provide seemingly optimal results in higher dimensions, which extend the recent work of Dimou and Seeger, and Li, Wang, and Yan to higher dimensions. Our approach based on a localization argument also works for other dispersive equations and provides alternative proofs of previous results on sequential convergence.
Changes in soil fertility and microbial communities following cultivation of native grassland in Horqin Sandy Land, China: a 60-year chronosequence
Authors: Tang Jiao , Yin Jinzhong , Davy Anthony J. , Pan Feifei , Miao Renhui , Han Xu
Published: April 2023

Background

Grassland conversion to cropland is a prevailing change of land use in traditionally nomadic areas, especially in the Mongolian Plateau. We investigated the effects of grassland conversion followed by continuous cultivation on soil properties and microbial community characteristics in Horqin Sandy Land, a typical agro-pastoral transition zone of Northern China. Soil samples were collected from the topsoil (upper 20 cm) across a 60-year cultivation chronosequence (5, 15, 25, 35 and 60 years) and unconverted native grassland. Soil physico-chemical properties were determined and high-throughput sequencing was used to assess microbial community diversity and composition.

Results

Grassland cultivation resulted in changes to soil properties in both the short and longer term. Initially, it significantly increased soil bulk density (BD), electrical conductivity (EC), soil total nitrogen (TN), available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK) concentrations, while reducing soil water content (SWC) and soil organic carbon content (SOC). Over the next 35–55 years of continuous cultivation, the trend for most of these characteristics was of reversion towards values nearer to those of native grassland, except for SOC which remained highly depleted. Cultivation of grassland substantially altered soil microbial communities at phylum level but there was no significant difference in microbial α-diversity between native grassland and any cropland. However, soil bacterial and fungal community structures at phylum level in the croplands of all cultivation years were different from those in the native grasslands. Heatmaps further revealed that bacterial and fungal structures in cropland tended to become more similar to native grassland after 15 and 25 years of cultivation, respectively. Redundancy analysis indicated that SOC, EC and BD were primary determinants of microbial community composition and diversity.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that agricultural cultivation of grassland has considerable effects on soil fertility and microbial characteristics of Horqin Sandy Land. Intensive high-yield forage grass production is proposed as an alternative to avoid further native grassland reclamation, while meeting the grazing development needs in the ethnic minority settlements of eco-fragile regions.
Global pattern in hunger and educational opportunity: a multilevel analysis of child hunger and TIMSS mathematics achievement
Authors: Canbolat Yusuf , Rutkowski David , Rutkowski Leslie
Published: April 2023

In low-income countries, there exists a common concern about the effect of hunger and food insecurity on educational outcomes. However, income inequalities, economic slowdown, conflict, and climate change have raised those concerns globally. Yet, little is known about how widespread the problem of hunger in schools is worldwide. This study examines child hunger and student achievement internationally, using data from the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019. To examine the relationship between hunger and student achievement, we fitted multilevel models to the data and controlled for student SES, class SES, teacher experience, and teacher educational attainment.  The results suggest that hunger among students is not exclusive to low-income countries. Instead, child hunger is a common issue around the world, affecting about one-third of children and exacerbating unequal education opportunities globally. Controlling for other variables, the achievement gap between students who never come to school hungry and those who come to school always or almost always hungry is significant and deserves our attention. A clear policy recommendation from our results suggests that all countries that participated in TIMSS need to examine their school meal programs and explore ways to feed the students who show up to school hungry.
Nurse-to-family telehealth for pediatric transfers: protocol for a feasibility and pilot cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rosenthal Jennifer L. , Hoyt-Austin Adrienne E. , Ketchersid Audriana , Sanders April , Harper Thomas A. , Tancredi Daniel J. , Young Heather M. , Romano Patrick S. , Marcin James P.
Published: April 2023

Background

Children presenting to emergency departments of community hospitals may require transfer to a children’s hospital for more definitive care, but the transfer process can be distressing and burdensome to patients, families, and the healthcare system. Using telehealth to bring the children’s hospital nurse virtually to the bedside of the child in the emergency department has the potential to promote family-centered care and minimize triage issues and other transfer-associated burdens. To explore the feasibility of the nurse-to-family telehealth intervention, we are conducting a pilot study.

Methods

This parallel cluster randomized controlled feasibility and pilot trial will randomize six community emergency departments to use either nurse-to-family telehealth (intervention) or usual care (control) for pediatric inter-facility transfers. All eligible children presenting to a participating site during the study period who require inter-facility transfer will be included. Eligibility requires that there be an English-speaking adult parent or guardian at the emergency department bedside. We will examine feasibility objectives that assess protocol assignment adherence, fidelity, and survey response rates. We will measure subject-level exploratory outcome data to test feasibility of data collection and to obtain effect size estimates; exploratory outcomes include family-centered care, family experience, parent acute stress, parent distress, and change in level of care. Additionally, we will conduct a mixed methods implementation evaluation using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework.

Discussion

The findings from this trial will increase our understanding about nurse-to-family telehealth during pediatric transfers. The mixed methods implementation evaluation will provide relevant insight about the contextual factors that influence the implementation and rigorous evaluation of our intervention.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05593900. First Posted: October 26, 2022. Last Update Posted: December 5, 2022.
In vivo mutagenicity assessment of styrene in MutaMouse liver and lung
Authors: Murata Yasumasa , Natsume Masakatsu , Iso Takako , Shigeta Yoshiyuki , Hirose Nozomu , Umano Takaaki , Horibata Katsuyoshi , Sugiyama Kei-ichi , Masumura Kenichi , Hirose Akihiko , Matsumoto Mariko
Published: April 2023

Background

Styrene (CAS 100-42-5) is widely used as polystyrene and acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene resin such as plastic, rubber, and paint. One of the primary uses of styrene is food utensils and containers, but a small amount of styrene transferred into food can be ingested by eating. Styrene is metabolized into styrene 7,8-oxide (SO). SO is mutagenic in bacteria and mouse lymphoma assays. It is clastogenic in cultured mammalian cells. However, styrene and SO are not clastogenic/aneugenic in rodents, and no rodent in vivo gene mutation studies were identified.

Methods

To investigate the mutagenicity of orally administered styrene, we used the transgenic rodent gene mutation assay to perform an in vivo mutagenicity test (OECD TG488). The transgenic MutaMouse was given styrene orally at doses of 0 (corn oil; negative control), 75, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day for 28 days, and mutant frequencies (MFs) were determined using the lacZ assay in the liver and lung (five male mice/group).

Results

There were no significant differences in the MFs of the liver and lung up to 300 mg/kg/day (close to maximum tolerable dose (MTD)), when one animal with extremely high MFs that were attributed to an incidental clonal mutation was omitted. Positive and negative controls produced the expected results.

Conclusions

These findings show that styrene is not mutagenic in the liver and lung of MutaMouse under this experimental condition.
Growing Older Urbanism: exploring the nexus between ageing, the built environment, and urban ecosystems
Authors: Grey Thomas , Xidous Dimitra , O’Neill Desmond , Collier Marcus
Published: April 2023

Background

Some of the main urban issues we currently face include ageing populations, the impact of the built environment, and the treatment of urban ecosystems. Yet the dynamic relationships and synergies between these issues, and how they are influenced by urban growth and evolution, receives little attention.

Research focus

We explore the nexus between people, the urban built environment, and ecosystems as they grow, age, change, and evolve and propose an integrated approach to examine the relationships, synergies, and challenges that may emerge over time within urban neighbourhoods. We argue that this should draw on the lived-experience and wisdom of older people as part of an intergenerational approach underpinned by local, traditional, and ecological knowledge. We propose Growing Older Urbanism as an ecological, co-evolutionary, and complex-adaptive-systems-based framework to explore the nexus between ageing, the built environment, and urban ecosystems and to reveal the synergies and antagonisms that might exist between these three elements. This framework is designed to be used for various types of urban neighbourhoods, and by a diverse range of stakeholders. As part of this approach we provide a preliminary visual canvas to illustrate how the framework might be used within a selected neighbourhood over an agreed timespan.

Conclusion

This paper presents some early thinking around the Growing Older Urbanism concept, while also outlining questions and a proposed transdisciplinary research programme to further develop the framework. We argue that understanding the relationship between ageing and the co-evolution of people, place, and ecosystems may teach us about our past, present, and future, and help us grow towards inclusive and sustainable communities.
GNSS rapid precise point positioning enhanced by low Earth orbit satellites
Authors: Hong Ju , Tu Rui , Zhang Pengfei , Zhang Rui , Han Junqiang , Fan Lihong , Wang Siyao , Lu Xiaochun
Published: April 2023

The Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites can be used to effectively speed up Precise Point Positioning (PPP) convergence. In this study, 180 LEO satellites with a global distribution are simulated to evaluate their contribution to the PPP convergence. LEO satellites can give more redundant observations and improve satellite geometric distributions, particularly for a single Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The convergence speed of the PPP float solution using the Global Positioning System (GPS, G) or BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS, C) single system as well as the G/C/Galileo navigation satellite system (Galileo, E)/GLObal NAvigation Satellite System (GLONASS, R) combined system with LEO satellites added is improved by 90.0%, 91.0%, and 90.7%, respectively, with respect to the system without LEO satellites added. We introduced LEO observations to assist GNSS in PPP-AR (Ambiguity Resolution) and PPP-RTK (Real Time Kinematic). The success fix rate of a single system is significantly improved, and the Time-To-First-Fix (TTFF) of G and G/C/E is reduced by 86.4% and 82.8%, respectively, for the PPP-AR solution. We analyzed the positioning performance of LEO satellite assisted G/C/E PPP-RTK in the reference networks of different scales, namely different atmospheric delay interpolation accuracies. The success fix rate of the G/C/E combined system is improved from 86.8 to 94.9%, and the TTFF is reduced by 36.8%, with the addition of LEO satellites in the 57 km reference network. In the 110 km reference network, the success fix rate of the G/C/E combined system is improved from 64.0 to 88.6%, and the TTFF is reduced by 32.1%. GNSS PPP-RTK with adding the LEO satellites in the reference networks of different scales shows obvious improvement because the atmospheric correlation decreases with increasing distance from the reference networks.
Joint denoising and classification network: Application to microseismic event detection in hydraulic fracturing distributed acoustic sensing monitoring
Authors: Wu Shaojiang , Wang Yibo , Liang Xing
Published: April 2023

Deep learning has been applied to microseismic event detection over the past few years. However, it is still challenging to detect microseismic events from records with low signal-to-noise ratios (S/Ns). To achieve high accuracy of event detection in a low-S/N scenario, we have developed an end-to-end network that jointly performs denoising and classification tasks (JointNet) and applied it to fiber-optic distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) microseismic data. JointNet consists of 2D convolution layers that are suitable for extracting features (such as moveout and amplitude) of the dense DAS data. Moreover, JointNet uses a joint loss, rather than any intermediate loss, to simultaneously update the coupled denoising and classification modules. With the preceding advantages, JointNet is capable of simultaneously attenuating noise and preserving fine details of events and therefore improving the accuracy of event detection. We generate synthetic events and collect real background noise from a real hydraulic fracturing project and then expand them using data augmentation methods to yield sufficient training data sets. We train and validate the JointNet using training data sets of different S/Ns and compare it with the conventional classification networks visual geometry group (VGG) and deep VGG (DVGG). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of JointNet: it consistently outperforms the VGG and DVGG in all S/N scenarios and it has a superior capability to detect events, especially in a low-S/N scenario. Finally, we apply JointNet to detect microseismic events from the real DAS data acquired during hydraulic fracturing. JointNet successfully detects all manually detected events and has a better performance than VGG and DVGG.
Efficient fully coupled 3D poroelastic modeling of geomechanical deformation during depletion and reinjection: An asymptotic transformation of Biot’s poroelasticity from a dynamic to a quasistatic response
Authors: Shabelansky Andrey H. , Nihei Kurt T. , Fradelizio Gian , Tracey Sinead , Bevc Dimitri
Published: April 2023

We develop an approach for efficient 3D simulation of the quasistatic fully coupled poroelastic response of a reservoir during depletion and subsequent reinjection. The approach uses a scaling of the solid and fluid densities in Biot’s poroelastic equations. This scaling impacts the critical frequency [Formula: see text] of Biot’s slow wave that defines diffusive flow ([Formula: see text]) and wave propagation ([Formula: see text]). We find the criterion for the density scaling range over which the poroelastic response is accurately modeled and benchmark the approach against Terzaghi’s 1D and Rudnicki’s 3D analytic solutions. The density scaling approach is presently limited to single-phase fluid flow. To illustrate the utility of this approach, we simulate microseismic depletion delineation (MDD) in a fractured unconventional reservoir. The reservoir, which is subjected to an anisotropic stress field, is first produced for 1000 days, and then a reinjection (below the in situ pressure) is performed for 100 days. We find that stress reorientation during production produces favorable conditions for the generation of Mohr-Coulomb slip-related microseismicity. The locations of these microseismic events are found to be consistent with depleted portions of the fracture system, in accordance with the MDD concept.
Water contact mapping and saturation estimation using simultaneous inversion of time-lapse seismic data constrained by fluid substitution and Leverett J-function analysis
Authors: Mu Yang , Castagna John , Bedle Heather
Published: April 2023

The integration of a Leverett J-function analysis with the Gassmann and mass-balance equations allows the time-lapse change of seismic reflectivity to be expressed explicitly in terms of the change of the free water-contact (WC) level, reservoir porosity, and initial water saturation. Given the initial 3D distribution of water saturation and porosity and a well-log derived height-saturation-porosity function as a hard inversion constraint, synthetic modeling suggests that time-lapse seismic data can potentially be directly inverted for the change in free-water level, and time-lapse changes in the spatial variation of water saturation can thus be predicted. This integrated inversion approach is applied to a real time-lapse seismic difference volume from the Maui-B field in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand, where the change of WC level from a baseline model is the only free parameter to be inverted and is obtained by searching for the global error minimum between tmodeled and real time-lapse seismic differences as the modeled WC level is varied. The method correctly predicts the gas depletion and a measurable rise of the water contact on the southern flank of the field.
Management of medically assisted withdrawal from alcohol in acute adult mental health and specialist addictions in-patient services: UK clinical audit findings
Authors: Sinclair Julia , Barnes Thomas R. E. , Lingford-Hughes Anne , Drummond Colin , Loubser Ignatius , Rendora Olivia , Paton Carol
Published: April 2023

Background

Medically assisted alcohol withdrawal (MAAW) is increasingly undertaken on acute adult psychiatric wards.

Aims

Comparison of the quality of MAAW between acute adult wards and specialist addictions units in mental health services.

Method

Clinical audit conducted by the Prescribing Observatory for Mental Health (POMH). Information on MAAW was collected from clinical records using a bespoke data collection tool.

Results

Forty-five National Health Service (NHS) mental health trusts/healthcare organisations submitted data relating to the treatment of 908 patients undergoing MAAW on an acute adult ward or psychiatric intensive care unit (PICU) and 347 admitted to a specialist NHS addictions unit. MAAW had been overseen by an addiction specialist in 33 (4%) of the patients on an acute adult ward/PICU. A comprehensive alcohol history, measurement of breath alcohol, full screening for Wernicke's encephalopathy, use of parenteral thiamine, prescription of medications for relapse prevention (such as acamprosate) and referral for specialist continuing care of alcohol-related problems following discharge were all more commonly documented when care was provided on a specialist unit or when there was specialist addictions management on an acute ward.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the quality of care provided for medically assisted withdrawal from alcohol, including the use of evidence-based interventions, is better when clinicians with specialist addictions training are involved. This has implications for future quality improvement in the provision of MAAW in acute adult mental health settings.
A Rare Case of Thyroglossal Duct Cyst Cancer and Literature Review
Authors: Mittal Ashima , Sandhu Ariel , Chhetri Mamta , Jaiswal Gayatri
Published: April 2023

Thyroglossal duct cyst is the most common thyroid developmental abnormality with a prevalence of 7%, but thyroglossal duct cyst cancer is rare. The incidence of thyroglossal duct cyst cancer is about 1%. The diagnosis is limited by low yield on fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB), and most cases are diagnosed after surgery. There is a paucity of data on the utility of thyroglobulin washout for diagnosis of thyroglossal duct cyst cancer, and it has not been mentioned in previous case reports/series. Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common pathology. Preoperative planning is important as the decision about total thyroidectomy with the Sistrunk procedure (excision of the thyroglossal duct cyst, middle part of hyoid bone, and surrounding tissue around the thyroglossal tract) depends on the presence of clinical or radiological thyroid abnormality. Thyroglossal duct cyst cancer has an excellent prognosis. However, owing to a lack of standard of care for this type of thyroid cancer, there is institutional variability in management. We present a case of thyroglossal duct cyst cancer in a man presenting with painless midline neck swelling. Imaging was suspicious for thyroglossal duct cyst cancer. FNAB was benign. The patient underwent the Sistrunk procedure and pathology was positive for papillary thyroid cancer.