bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turcogammarus aralensis (Uljanin, 1875), a relict pontogammarid amphipod crustacean from the Aralo-Caspian paleobasin: redescription, phylogenetic position and biogeography
Authors: COPILAȘ-CIOCIANU DENIS , SARMANOV AIBEK , SERGALIYEV NURLAN , SIDOROV DMITRY
Published: December 2022

The Ponto-Caspian region harbours the world’s second most diverse lacustrine radiation of amphipod crustaceans. The taxonomic position of some of these species is unclear, due to incorrectly defined species limits, poor descriptions, and in some cases, poorly understood characters, such as armament of dorsal integuments. A pertinent example is Turcogammarus aralensis (Uljanin, 1875), which inhabits the Aral Sea and adjacent water bodies like the brackish lake Shalkar (Charkhal), lower reaches of the Syr Darya and Volga, and extends ca. 2500 km westwards in the Black Sea basin. This species has never been properly described, which has led to frequent taxonomic reshuffling. Herein, we provide a full re-description, ascertain its phylogenetic position using the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) marker, and review its geographical distribution. Our molecular analyses reveal T. aralensis as a sister species to the widespread Obesogammarus crassus (Sars, 1894), and its species status was further confirmed by three molecular species delimitation methods. Turcogammarus aralensis and O. crassus share many similarities such as the setation of the antennae and pereopods 3–4, and poorly setose posterior margin of pereopod 7 basis. Further study is needed to ascertain the validity of the genus Turcogammarus.
Redefinition of Physciolagria Pic, 1930 (Coleoptera: Mycteridae) with a new family placement, genus-rank synonymy, new description, and a key
Authors: TELNOV DMITRY
Published: December 2022

Physciolagria Pic, 1930, a monotypic genus erroneously attributed to Tenebrionidae incertae sedis was found to be congeneric with the eurypine genus Lacconotopedilus Pic, 1935 (Mycteridae Blanchard, 1845). The taxonomic position and comparative morphology of Physciolagria are reassessed and discussed. A new genus-rank synonym (Physciolagria Pic, 1930 = Lacconotopedilus Pic, 1935 syn. nov.), one species-rank synonym (Physciolagria liturata Pic, 1930 = Lacconotopedilus elongatus Pic, 1936 syn. nov.) and two new combinations are proposed. Physciolagria smithi sp. nov. from Senegal is described and P. liturata and P. singularicornis are redescribed and illustrated. An annotated checklist, key to species and new records are provided.
Exostoma dhritiae, a new sisorid catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from the Brahmaputra River drainage, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Authors: SINGH PRATIMA , KOSYGIN LAISHRAM , GURUMAYUM SHANTABALA DEVI , RATH SHIBANANDA
Published: December 2022

A new species of sisorid catfish of the genus Exostoma is described from the Siang River in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India. The new species, Exostoma dhritiae, can be distinguished from congeners by the condition of the posterior extremity of the adipose-fin base, the degree of tuberculation on the dorsal surface of the head, and the shape of striae on the anterolateral surface of lips. Further, it is distinguished by the morphometric data for the body depth at the anus, maxillary barbel length, adipose fin base length, caudal peduncle length, caudal peduncle depth and the number of branched pectoral-fin rays. It is the twentieth reported species of Exostoma.
Two new species of the genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Anomura: Galatheidae) from the Andaman Sea, India
Authors: TIWARI SHIVAM , PADATE VINAY P. , CUBELIO SHERINE SONIA , OSAWA MASAYUKI
Published: December 2022

Two new species of the galatheid squat lobster genus Galathea Fabricius, 1793 are described from the Andaman Sea, India. Galathea nicobarica sp. nov. closely resembles G. rubromaculata Miyake & Baba, 1967a, but differs in the armature of the branchial carapace margin and shape of the dactylus of the third maxilliped. Galathea tirmiziae sp. nov. is allied to G. consobrina De Man, 1902 and G. tagaro Macpherson & Robainas-Barcia, 2015, but is distinguished by the merus of the third maxilliped lacking a disto-extensor spine and the proportionally more slender merus of the second pereopod.
Two new species of the tribe Xylographellini (Coleoptera: Ciidae) from Yunnan Province, China
Authors: MO DA-RUI , XU JI-SHAN
Published: December 2022

Two new species of the tribe Xylographellini, Syncosmetus wuliangensis sp. nov. and Scolytocis multispinus sp. nov. are described and illustrated from Yunnan Province, China. Key to all known species of the genus Syncosmetus, and the key to the Australian and Oriental species of the genus Scolytocis are updated to include the two new species.
Migration, Demography, and Minority Language Learning: A Case of Wales
Authors: Rosiak Karolina
Published: December 2022

The present article discusses the role of adult migrants to Wales in the country’s demographics and maintenance and promotion of the Welsh language. The Welsh society is an ageing society, predicted in the long run to rely on immigration as a solution to the socio-economic problems of the demographic decline. At the same time, the Welsh Government (WG) is strongly invested in revitalising the Welsh language through legislation and policies. The WG acknowledges that immigration is a challenge for the Welsh language and emphasises the role of new speakers in its revitalisation and maintenance. Drawing on data from two ethnographic studies in Wales, I discuss the experiences of Polish adult migrants with Welsh, their motivations to learn it and their attitudes and ideologies towards the language. I also provide recommendations for adjustments in language planning on the micro-level.
On the (Re)construction of Identity in the Conditions of Russian-Jewish Borderland (Based on the Story “Apples from Shlitzbutter’s Garden” by Dina Rubina)
Authors: Lenart Agnieszka
Published: December 2022

This article is devoted to the issues of identity formed in the Russian-Jewish borderland. The study discusses Dina Rubina’s short story “Iabloki iz sada Shlitsbutera” (“Apples from Shlitzbutter’s Garden”) as an autobiographical tale that reflects the actual processes of reconstructing the identity of the author-hero, a representative of the Great Aliyah, a person living at the crossroads of cultures. The author concludes that there is no fixed and unchanging identity. Particularly in the conditions of a cultural borderland and in watershed moments (repatriation), identity evolves and is subject to constant reconstruction.
Minority Identities: Maintenance, Transmission and Revitalization
Authors: Mętrak Maciej
Published: December 2022

Introduction to the vol. 19th of Adeptus.
A Rapid Dual Feature Tracking Method for Medical Equipments Assembly and Disassembly in Markerless Augmented Reality
Authors: Roopa D. , Bose S.
Published: December 2022

Markerless Augmented Reality (MAR) is a superior technology that is currently used by the medical device assembler with aid in design, assembly, disassembly and maintenance operations. The medical assembler assembles the medical equipment based on the doctors requirement, they also
maintains quality and sanitation of the equipment. The major research challenges in MAR are as follows: establish automatic registration parts, find and track the orientation of parts, and lack of depth and visual features. This work proposes a rapid dual feature tracking method i.e., combination
of Visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) and Matched Pairs Selection (MAPSEL). The main idea of this work is to attain high tracking accuracy using the combined method. To get a good depth image map, a Graph-Based Joint Bilateral with Sharpening Filter (GRB-JBF with SF) is proposed
since depth images are noisy due to the dynamic change of environmental factors that affects tracking accuracy. Then, the best feature points are obtained for matching using Oriented Fast and Rotated Brief (ORB) as a feature detector, Fast Retina Key point with Histogram of Gradients (FREAK-HoG)
as a feature descriptor, and Feature Matching using Rajsk’s distance. Finally, the virtual object is rendered based on 3D affine and projection transformation. This work computes the performance in terms of tracking accuracy, tracking time, and rotation error for different distances
using MATLAB R2017b. From the observed results, it is perceived that the proposed method attained the least position error value about 0.1 cm to 0.3 cm. Also, rotation error is observed as minimal between 2.40 (Deg) to 3.10 and its average scale is observed as 2.7140. Further, the proposed
combination consumes less time against frames compared with other combinations and obtained a higher tracking accuracy of about 95.14% for 180 tracked points. The witnessed outcomes from the proposed scheme display superior performance compared with existing methods.
Synergistic Effects of Nanoclay and Furfuryl Alcohol on Performance of Wood/Polymer Nanocomposites (WPNCs)
Authors: Wang Yong , Li Yong-jin , Yang Shou-lu , Wu Hong , Deng La-yun , Li Xian-jun
Published: December 2022

This study proposes a green and facile method by combining furfuryl alcohol (FA) and organic montmorillonite (OMMT) to solve the undesirable intrinsic properties and improve the performance of fast-growing wood. Wood/FA/OMMT nanocomposites (WPNCs) were fabricated by vacuum-pressure impregnation of FA/OMMT solution into wood cavities with the followingin situpolymerization to generate an interpenetrating network structure in cell structures. The FA and OMMT were distributed inside cell walls and transition areas between cell walls and cell lumens through SEM-EDXA and CLSM analyses. The resultant WPNCs had enhanced dimensional stability and water resistance ability. The incorporation of FA and OMMT could further improve the mechanical performance and the thermal stability of WPNCs. Therefore, FA/OMMT could synergistically enhance the performance of fast-growing wood.
Heating Ability of γ-Fe2O3@ZnO/Al Nanocomposite for Magnetic Hyperthermia Applications
Authors: Madkhali Nawal , Algessair Saja , Lemine O. M. , Alanzi Ali Z. , Ihzaz N. , EL Mir L.
Published: December 2022

The development of nanocomposite for magnetic fluid hyperthermia applications is in high demand and has captivated the interest of researchers in recent years. Herein, we report the synthesis by sol–gel method, heating ability, and the characterization of γ-Fe2O3@ZnO/Al
nanocomposite with several techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transformer Infrared, Transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and vibrating sample magnetometer. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis showed the formation of the nanocomposite with the presence
of maghemite (γ-Fe2O3) and ZnO. The nanocomposite exhibits high crystallinity, small sizes, and superparamagnetic behavior. Langevin’s paramagnetism theory and the law of approach to saturation have been used to confirm superparamagnetism and to calculate
the effective anisotropy constant, respectively. Heating ability was investigated as a function of concentration and field amplitude in an alternating magnetic field. We found that the nanocomposite rapidly reached the hyperthermia temperature (42 °C) under an alternating magnetic field
in 160 s, and it could rise to 66 °C in 900 s with a specific absorption rate equal to 119 W · g−1 and intrinsic loss power equal to 1.95 nHm2 kg−1. The high crystallinity and intrinsic loss power values appear to be in the range of the
reported commercial ferrofluids (0.20–3.10 nHm2 kg−1), strongly suggesting that the synthesized nanocomposite is a promising candidate for the application of photo/magnetic fluid hyperthermia.
Triaxial Contact Stresses of the Green Bus Tire Including Complex Rubber Materials and Rim
Authors: Guo Minrui , Zhu Pan
Published: December 2022

The primary purpose of the research is to explore triaxial contact stresses of the green bus tire including complex rubber materials and rim. An accurate finite element model of the bus tire is constructed using ABAQUS software after verification. The measured and calculated values have good consistency under different tire loads and inflation pressures. The finite element model is applied for quantitative research by changing tire loads, inflation pressures, and rolling conditions. The analysis results show that higher inflation pressure increases vertical contact stress, which requires a reasonable balance between high load and high inflation pressure. When the inflation pressure increases, the position of the maximum longitudinal contact stress shifts forward, and the maximum transverse contact stress shifts inboard in the transverse direction. When the tire load becomes larger at the free rolling condition, the position of the maximum vertical contact stress moves forward, and the position at the full braking condition is more advanced under the same load conditions. Overload not only causes great damage to the tire during the braking condition but also accelerates the appearance of the rutting and shoving of the road.
A Facile Method for the Preparation of α-Fe2O3/Reduced Graphene Oxides Nanocomposites as Electrode Materials for High Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Ahmed Faheem , Hasan P. M. Z. , Kumar Shalendra , Shaalan Nagih Mohammed , Aljaafari Abdullah , Arshi Nishat , Albossed Mohammed , Almutairi Ghazzai , Alotaibi Bandar
Published: December 2022

In this work, a low-cost, fast, and environmental friendly microwave assisted chemical route to prepare hematite iron oxide (α-Fe2O3) nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxides (RGO) nanocomposites and their potential use as electrodes for the supercapacitors
was presented. The x-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman, FESEM and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) studies confirmed that the prepared nanostructures have pure rhombohedral symmetry of Fe2O3 with hematite phase and high crystallinity. Morphological
features obtained from Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses showed that the α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles possessed spherical shaped particles with size ranging from 10–20 nm, and the nanoparticles
of α-Fe2O3 were found to be anchored on the surface of RGO sheets. Electrochemical studies were carried out using α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and α-Fe2O3/RGO nanocomposites electrodes and their
performances were compared. It was observed that that α-Fe2O3/RGO nanocomposites electrodes displayed higher specific capacitance of 356 F g−1 measured at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1, while, α-Fe2O3
nanoparticles showed a specific capacitance of 123 F g−1 at a similar scan rate. Furthermore, α-Fe2O3/RGO nanocomposites exhibited excellent cyclic stability for 2500 cycles measured at a scan rate of 50 mV s−1 with ~92%
capacitance retention. The presented approach is promising for the mass production of high performance electrodes applied in energy storage device.
Visible and Ultraviolet Dual-Readout Detection of Cu(II) in Preserved Vegetables Based on Self-Assembly and Peroxidase Simulation Properties of Mb-AuNPs
Authors: Xin Jia-Ying , Li Yue , Liu Feng-Yuan , Sun Li-Rui , Wang Yan , Xia Chun-Gu
Published: December 2022

Cu(II) adulteration in preserved vegetables by unreliable producers to increase their visual appeal or compensate for natural colour changes is most common. Methanobactin (Mb) is a Cu(II)-coordinated peptide, which plays crucial role in Cu(II) capture and absorption and the catalysis
of Cu(II)-containing methane monooxygenase in methanotrophs. In this study, Mb-functionalized gold nanoparticles (Mb-AuNPs) was applied to develop a dual readout colorimetric detection for Cu(II) adulteration in preserved vegetables. In the presence of Cu(II), Mb-AuNPs was assembled into nanocluster
driven by Cu(II)/Mb coordination, and the assembly process was monitored by the visible spectrum on the variation of surface plasmon resonance peak. The results showed that, Mb-AuNPs possessed excellent peroxidase-like activity after Cu(II) coordination. In the presence of Mb-AuNPs, the amount
of Cu(II) obviously affected the rate of hydroquinone oxidation by H2O2 and the change of A246. The visible and ultraviolet dual-readout detection system containing Mb-AuNPs, hydroquinone and H2O2 exhibited high sensitivity and selectivity
for Cu(II). The linear range of visible and UV detection towards Cu(II) was 0.05–0.4 μmol/L, the limit of detection were 37.50 nmol/L and 4.48 nmol/L, respectively. In conclusion, the Cu(II) coordination driven Mb-AuNPs assembly makes it able to detect Cu(II) adulteration in
preserved vegetables by dual channel methods to eliminate the occurrence of false positives and improve the accuracy of measurement results. Such non-spatially separated Mb-AuNPs assembly and it catalyzed hydroquinone oxidation dual channel readout was simple, fast, reliable and significantly
facilitated the detection efficiency of Cu(II).
Evolutionary Artificial Intelligence Methods to Evaluate the Mechanical Strength of Cement Mortar Modified with Eggshell Powder
Authors: Al-Hashem Mohammed Najeeb , Amin Muhammad Nasir , Ahmad Waqas , Khan Kaffayatullah , Al-Ahmad Qasem M. S. , Qadir Muhammad Ghulam , Nazar Sohaib , Imran Muhammad
Published: December 2022

This study used machine learning (ML) methods to evaluate the strength and SHapley Additive ExPlanations (SHAP) technique to study the effect of raw materials of cement-based composites (CBCs) incorporating eggshell powder (ESP). Dataset needed for this research was developed from an experimental study. Two ML techniques were used for modeling, i.e., multilayer perceptron neural network (MLPNN) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB), for the strength evaluation of CBC containing ESP. The ML techniques were validated by examining the difference among actual and estimated strength, comparison of the coefficient of determination (R2), statistical tests, and k-fold methods. It was noted that the MLPNN prediction model had a satisfactory level of exactness, but the XGB technique forecasted the strength of ESP-based CBCs with a higher level of exactness. The SHAP evaluation revealed that the most positive impact on the strength was that of cement, whereas fine aggregate had a negative impact. Therefore, it may be concluded that using ESP as a replacement for fine aggregate will result in higher material strength than using it as a replacement for cement.
An Efficient Ensemble Technique for Hydrologic Forecasting Driven by Quantitative Precipitation Forecasts
Authors: Vergara Humberto , Gourley Jonathan J. , Erickson Michael
Published: December 2022

Uncertainty in quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) from numerical weather prediction (NWP) models manifests in errors in the amounts of rainfall, storm structure, storm location, and timing, among other precipitation characteristics. In flash flood forecasting applications, errors in the QPFs can translate into significant uncertainty in forecasts of surface water flows and their impacts. In particular, the QPF errors in location and structure result in errors on flow paths, which can be highly detrimental in identifying locations susceptible to flash flood impacts. To account for this type of uncertainty, the neighboring pixel ensemble technique (NPET) was devised and implemented as a postprocessing algorithm of deterministic or ensemble outputs from a distributed hydrologic model. The aim of the technique is to address displaced hydrologic responses resulting from location biases in QPFs using a probabilistic approach. NPET identifies a sampling region surrounding each forecast pixel and builds an ensemble of surface water flow values considering the pixel’s physiographic similarities. The probabilistic information produced with NPET can be calibrated through a set of tunable parameters that are adjusted to account for NWP-specific QPF error characteristics. The utility of NPET is demonstrated for the Ellicott City flash flood event on 27 May 2018, using products and tools routinely used in the U.S. National Weather Service for warning operations. Results from this case demonstrate that NPET effectively conveys uncertainty information about QPF precipitation location in a hydrologic context.

Significance Statement

This study introduces a new method suitable for operational use called the neighboring pixel ensemble technique (NPET). NPET is an algorithm that generates ensemble-based streamflow forecasts accounting for the location uncertainties in quantitative precipitation forecasts (QPFs) without the requirement of multiple hydrologic model runs. NPET is capable of this feat through probabilistic assimilation of a priori QPF displacement information and its uncertainty. The application of NPET with the Flooded Locations and Simulated Hydrographs (FLASH) project shows the technique could be beneficial for flash flood warning operations in the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS). It is envisioned that the application of NPET with Warn-on-Forecast System (WoFS)-forced FLASH outputs will further enhance the quality of flash flood forecasts that support NWS warning operations.
Enacting Special Education in a Digitalized School: Opening for New Understandings of a Digitalized Special Educational Practice
Authors: Holmgren Martin
Published: December 2022

As society has gotten increasingly digitalized, schools have made extensive efforts to accommodate to that development. With the digitalization of school, the special education practice and the roles of special education needs coordinators (SENCOs) and special education teachers (SETs) change. However, there is a lack of research examining this transformation, a gap which this exploratory study opens up for new understandings of. This mixed method study explores the special education practice in a municipality in Sweden, one of the most digitalized countries in the world. The findings show that SENCOs and SETs have highly positive beliefs about digital tools in special education, but at the same time their frequency of use varies greatly. Also, the study identifies special educational activities engaging with digital technology, describing a work practice with complex expectations of the special education professionals also in the area of digital teaching and learning. Furthermore, the competencies considered as necessary for handling the expectations are discussed.
Frequency of histologic lesions in the kidneys of cats without kidney disease
Authors: Quimby Jessica M , McLeland Shannon M , Cianciolo Rachel E , Lunn Katharine F , Lulich Jody P , Erickson Andrea , Barron Lara B
Published: December 2022

Objectives

In humans, renal aging is associated with an increased frequency of glomerulosclerosis, interstitial fibrosis, inflammation and tubular atrophy. The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency of renal histopathologic lesions in cats without kidney disease.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of archival kidney tissue from 74 cats without kidney disease (serum creatinine <1.6 mg/dl; urine specific gravity >1.035) was carried out: 0–4 years (young, n = 18); 5–9 years (mature, n = 16); 10–14 years (senior, n = 34), 15+ years (geriatric, n = 6). Glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy, interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, and the presence or absence of lipid in the interstitium and tubules were scored by a pathologist masked to clinical data. Statistical analyses were performed as appropriate.

Results

Geriatric cats had significantly more glomerulosclerosis than mature ( P = 0.01) and young cats ( P = 0.004). Senior cats had significantly more glomerulosclerosis than young cats ( P = 0.006). Glomerulosclerosis was weakly positively correlated with age ( r = 0.48; P <0.0001). Geriatric cats had significantly more tubular atrophy than mature ( P = 0.02) and young cats ( P <0.0001). Senior cats had significantly more tubular atrophy than young cats ( P <0.0001). Geriatric cats had significantly more inflammation than senior cats ( P = 0.02), mature cats ( P = 0.01) and young cats ( P <0.0001). Senior cats had significantly more inflammation than young cats ( P = 0.004). Geriatric and senior cats had significantly more fibrosis than young cats ( P = 0.01 and P = 0.04, respectively). Frequency of tubular lipid increased with age (young: 28%; mature: 56%; senior: 79%; geriatric: 100%) as did the frequency of interstitial lipid (young: 22%, mature: 56%, senior: 85%, geriatric: 100%).

Conclusions and relevance

Evidence of renal aging exists in cats. These changes imply that the aging kidney may be more susceptible to injury and impaired healing.
Genetic variation in histone modifications and gene expression identifies regulatory variants in the mammary gland of cattle
Authors: Prowse-Wilkins Claire P. , Lopdell Thomas J. , Xiang Ruidong , Vander Jagt Christy J. , Littlejohn Mathew D. , Chamberlain Amanda J. , Goddard Michael E.
Published: December 2022

Background

Causal variants for complex traits, such as eQTL are often found in non-coding regions of the genome, where they are hypothesised to influence phenotypes by regulating gene expression. Many regulatory regions are marked by histone modifications, which can be assayed by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP-seq). Sequence reads from ChIP-seq form peaks at putative regulatory regions, which may reflect the amount of regulatory activity at this region. Therefore, eQTL which are also associated with differences in histone modifications are excellent candidate causal variants.

Results

We assayed the histone modifications H3K4Me3, H3K4Me1 and H3K27ac and mRNA in the mammary gland of up to 400 animals. We identified QTL for peak height (histone QTL), exon expression (eeQTL), allele specific expression (aseQTL) and allele specific binding (asbQTL). By intersecting these results, we identify variants which may influence gene expression by altering regulatory regions of the genome, and may be causal variants for other traits. Lastly, we find that these variants are found in putative transcription factor binding sites, identifying a mechanism for the effect of many eQTL.

Conclusions

We find that allele specific and traditional QTL analysis often identify the same genetic variants and provide evidence that many eQTL are regulatory variants which alter activity at regulatory regions of the bovine genome. Our work provides methodological and biological updates on how regulatory mechanisms interplay at multi-omics levels.
Effects of adrenaline and vasopressin on cerebral microcirculation at baseline and during global brain ischemia and reperfusion in rabbits
Authors: Kondo Daisuke , Asano Nobumasa , Ishiyama Tadahiko , Shintani Noriyuki , Matsukawa Takashi
Published: December 2022

Background

During cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the brain becomes ischemic. Adrenaline and vasopressin have been recommended for use during cardiopulmonary resuscitation. We aimed to investigate the direct effects of adrenaline and vasopressin on the cerebral microvasculature at baseline and during ischemia and reperfusion in rabbits.

Methods

The closed cranial window method was used to visualize the cerebral microcirculation and changes in the pial arteriole diameter in rabbits. Adrenaline and vasopressin were administered topically on the brain tissue. First, the effects of adrenaline and vasopressin on pial arterioles were evaluated in 7 rabbits that were given 4 different concentrations of adrenaline, and another 7 rabbits that received 4 different concentrations of vasopressin. Second, the effects of adrenaline and vasopressin were determined during the global brain ischemia and reperfusion, which was induced by clamping the brachiocephalic, left common carotid, and left subclavian arteries for 15 min. An additional 21 rabbits were randomly assigned to receive artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) (n = 7), adrenaline 10–5 mol/L (n = 7), or vasopressin 10–7 mol/L (n = 7). Each drug was continuously infused from 5 min after the initiation of ischemia until 120 min after reperfusion. The pial arteriole diameters were recorded before and during ischemia, and after reperfusion.

Results

At baseline, adrenaline and vasopressin did not affect the cerebral pial arterioles. During ischemia, vasopressin, but not aCSF and adrenaline constricted the pial vessels. Late in the reperfusion phase, pial diameter became reduced in the vasopressin and aCSF groups whereas pial diameter was higher in the animals treated with adrenaline.

Conclusions

Adrenaline and vasopressin did not affect pial arterioles at baseline. During reperfusion, adrenaline may counteract the cerebral vasoconstriction.
The influences of timing of urgent endoscopy in patients with acute variceal bleeding: a cohort study
Authors: Yan Xiaohan , Leng Zhuyun , Xu Qinwei , Zhang Zehua , Xu Meidong , Li Jingze
Published: December 2022

Background

There has always been a debate on the optimal timing of endoscopy in patients with acute variceal bleeding (AVB).

Objective

This study aimed to examine the relation between the timing of endoscopy and the short-term outcomes of patients with AVB.

Methods

Patients with AVB who underwent endoscopy within 24 h after admission at our tertiary care center from 2014 to 2022 were evaluated retrospectively. The primary outcomes were the 6-week mortality and re-bleeding. The secondary outcomes included the total number of blood units transfused, the length of hospital stay, and the need for salvage therapy. We used Cox proportional hazards model to analyze the predictors of 6-week mortality in all patients as well as in those who were at high risk of further bleeding or death.

Results

A total of 312 patients were enrolled. Among them, 170 patients (54.49%) underwent urgent endoscopy (< 6 h), and 142 patients (45.51%) underwent early endoscopy (6–24 h). There were no significant differences between the urgent-endoscopy group and the early-endoscopy group, regarding the 6-week mortality (16.47% vs. 10.56%; P value = 0.132) and 6-week re-bleeding rate (11.2% vs. 16.2%; P value = 0.196). In multivariate analysis, time to endoscopy was independent of 6-week mortality (P value = 0.170), but the time between the beginning of bleeding and endoscopy (within 12 h) was significantly associated with low 6-week mortality (OR: 0.16; 95% CI: 0.06–0.46; P value = 0.001). Time to endoscopy was still not associated with 6-week mortality in patients at high risk for further bleeding or death (Glasgow-Blatchford score ≥ 12, n = 138, P value = 0.902).

Conclusions

Endoscopy performed within 6 h of admission, rather than within 6 to 24 h, did not improve six-week clinical outcomes in patients in stable condition with AVB and even those who were at high risk of further bleeding and death.
Why twin studies are important for health span science research: the case of maltreatment of aging adults
Authors: Boutwell Brian B. , Narvey Chelsey S. , Helton Jesse J. , Piquero Alex R.
Published: December 2022

Average life expectancies have lengthened across human history. As a result, there is an increased need to care for a greater number of individuals experiencing common age-related declines in health. This has helped to spur a rapidly increasing focus on understanding “health span”, the portion of the life-course spent functionally healthy. Yet to penetrate the science of health span, however, is a topic which seems fundamental to the ability to age in functional and healthy ways, and has received considerable attention in other fields. As more of the population ages, the risk of exposure to abuse and neglect among older citizens not only rises, but can manifest as bothcauseandeffectof declining health span. Among our goals here is to make a case for including this subject among the other central components of health span science. In so doing, we also outline reasons why quantitative genetic designs using samples of twins can be a versatile tool for improving causal inference when studying maltreatment among older persons specifically, but also on a range of other health span topics in general.
Global cognitive function is associated with sex, educational level, occupation type, and speech recognition rate in older Chinese adults: a single-center, prospective, cross-sectional study
Authors: Gu Hailing , Yao Xinyi , Diao Cong , Liu Min , Kong Weili , Liu Haotian , Zhao Yu , Meng Zhaoli
Published: December 2022

Background

The development of cognitive impairment may be delayed if its risk factors are identified and detected, if its developmental trend can be predicted, and if early intervention can be performed. This study primarily aimed to investigate the association between global cognitive function and hearing loss, educational level, and occupation type and to determine any differences in such associations according to sex among older Chinese adults.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, we prospectively recruited 219 individuals above 55 years old in an otolaryngology outpatient clinic who could write independently and had no severe vision impairment. Audiometric examinations included otoscopy, acoustic immittance, pure-tone audiometry, and speech audiometry for each ear. Cognitive function was evaluated by using the Chinese version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between variables and MMSE scores after adjusting for independent variables that were statistically significant in the univariable analyses.

Results

We enrolled 219 individuals: 98 men (mean ± standard deviation age, 63.08 ± 6.64 years) and 121 women (62.64 ± 7.17 years). The overall MMSE scores of the normal hearing group and the mild, moderate, and severe-to-profound hearing loss groups were 24.00 (5.00), 24.00 (5.00), 23.00 (5.00), and 23.00 (13.00), respectively. MMSE scores were higher among participants with higher educational levels (p < 0.001) and were significantly correlated with occupation type (p < 0.001). MMSE scores were significantly higher in men than in women (p < 0.001). However, after the analysis of the five subdomains, significant differences were only observed for attention and calculation (p < 0.001) and language (p = 0.011). We further compared the distribution of educational levels between men and women by using the chi-square test; there was no significant difference in educational level between the sexes (p = 0.070).

Conclusions

We reported statistically significant relationships between global cognitive function and sex, educational level, and occupation type. Sex-specific strategies may be required to improve healthcare policies.
Evaluating renal microcirculation in patients with acute kidney injury by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography: a protocol for an observational cohort study
Authors: Wang Xiangyu , Chen Luzeng , Su Tao
Published: December 2022

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients has poor renal outcome with high mortality. Changes in intra-renal microcirculation and tissue oxygenation are currently considered essential pathophysiological mechanisms to the development and progression of AKI. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) derived parameters in biopsy-proven AKI patients, and examine the predictive value of these markers for renal outcome.

Methods and design

This prospective observational study will enroll AKI patients who are diagnosed and staging following KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) criteria. All patients undergo a kidney biopsy and pathological tubulointerstitial nephropathy is confirmed. The CEUS examination will be performed at 0, 4 and 12 weeks after biopsy to monitor renal microcirculation. The percentage decrease of serum creatinine, 4-week and 12-week eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) will also be reviewed as renal prognosis. The relationship of CEUS parameters with clinical and pathological markers will be analyzed. We perform a lassologit procedure to select potential affecting variables, including clinical, laboratory indexes and CEUS markers, to be included in the logistic regression model, and examine their predictive performance to AKI outcomes.

Discussion

If we are able to show that CEUS derived parameters contribute to diagnosis and prognosis of AKI, the quality of life of patients will be improved while healthcare costs will be reduced.

Trial registration

This study is retrospectively registered on the Chinese Medical Research Registration information System(https://61.49.19.26/login) on December 31, 2021: MR-11–22-003,503. This study has been approved by the Ethics and Scientific Research Department of Peking University First Hospital.
Distribution of endotoxin in maternal and fetal body with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and its association with adverse fetal outcome
Authors: Huang Xiaomei , Lei Lei , Feng Fan , Shao Yong
Published: December 2022

Background

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy is a pregnancy-specific liver disease. In this study, we sought to explore the distribution of lipopolysaccharide in the maternal body, and its effect on the fetal body in the intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy mice. It provides a new sight for the clinical treatment of women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Methods

The serum levels of lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide binding protein in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy were analyzed. To assess the association between lipopolysaccharide levels and adverse fetal outcomes, ursodeoxycholic acid, resveratrol, and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase inhibitor were employed in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy mice, and we studied the fluorescence intensity and distribution of lipopolysaccharide in mice with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Results

Our data indicated significantly elevated levels of lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide binding protein in women with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. In vivo fluorescence imaging revealed that the intensity of lipopolysaccharide in mice with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy was higher than that in the control group, and decreased after ursodeoxycholic and resveratrol treatment. The fluorescence intensity analysis indicated that lipopolysaccharide levels in maternal liver, placenta, fetal brain and fetal liver were significantly higher in the intrahepatic cholestasis pregnancy mice group than in the control group.

Conclusions

This study provided evidence of endotoxin distribution in maternal liver, placenta, fetal liver and fetal brain in mice with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. Ursodeoxycholic acid and resveratrol treatment effectively reduced lipopolysaccharide levels in pregnant mice with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
Antimicrobial resistance of enteric pathogens in the Military Health System, 2009 – 2019
Authors: Ashbaugh Hayley , Pomeroy Connor D. , Baishya Mona , Creppage Kathleen , Bazaco Sara , Johnson Myles , Matsumoto Kenji , Bhattarai Upendra , Seliga Nicholas , Graf Paul , Chukwuma Uzo
Published: December 2022

Background

Acute diarrhea (AD) can have significant impacts on military troop readiness. Medical providers must understand current trends of enteropathogen antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in service members (SMs) to inform proper, timely treatment options. However, little is known of enteric pathogen profiles across the Military Health System (MHS). The primary objectives of this study were to identify gaps in enteric pathogen surveillance within the MHS, describe the epidemiology of AMR in enteric pathogens, and identify trends across the MHS both within the Continental United States (CONUS) and outside of the Continental United States (OCONUS).

Methods

Health Level 7 (HL7)-formatted laboratory data were queried for all specimens where Salmonella, Shigella, and Campylobacter species, as well as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) (STEC) were isolated and certified between 1 January 2009 - 31 December 2019. Antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) results were queried and summarized where available. Descriptive statistics were calculated for each organism by specimen source, year, and susceptibility testing availability.

Results

Among a total of 13,852 enteric bacterial isolates, 11,877 (86%) were submitted from CONUS locations. Out of 1479 Shigella spp. and 6755 Salmonella spp. isolates, 1221 (83%) and 5019 (74%), respectively, reported any susceptibility results through the MHS. Overall, only 15% of STEC and 4% of Campylobacter spp. specimens had AST results available. Comparing AST reporting at CONUS versus OCONUS locations, AST was reported for 1175 (83%) and 46 (78%) of Shigella isolates at CONUS and OCONUS locations, respectively, and for 4591 (76%) and 428 (63%) of Salmonella isolates at CONUS and OCONUS locations, respectively.

Conclusions

This study revealed inconsistent enteropathogen AST conducted across the MHS, with differing trends between CONUS and OCONUS locations. Additional work is needed to assess pathogen-specific gaps in testing and reporting to develop optimal surveillance that supports the health of the force.
COVID-19 vaccination acceptance in underserved urban areas of Islamabad and Rawalpindi: results from a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Kazmi Twangar , Abdullah Mujahid , Khan Adnan Ahmad , Safdar Rana Muhammad , Afzal Sabeen , Khan Ayesha
Published: December 2022

Background

Urban slums are home to a significant number of marginalized individuals and are often excluded from public services. This study explores the determinants of willingness and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines in urban slums in Pakistan.

Methods

The study uses a cross-sectional survey of 1760 respondents from five urban slums in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad carried out between June 16 and 26, 2021. Pairwise means comparison tests and multivariate logistic regressions were applied to check the associations of socio-demographic factors and COVID-19 related factors with willingness to get vaccinated and vaccination uptake.

Results

Only 6% of the sample was fully vaccinated while 16% were partially vaccinated at the time of survey. Willingness to receive vaccination was associated with higher education (aOR: 1.583, CI: 1.031, 2.431), being employed (aOR: 1.916, CI: 1.423, 2.580), prior infection in the family (but not self) (aOR: 1.646, CI: 1.032, 2.625), family vaccination (aOR: 3.065, CI: 2.326, 4.038), knowing of and living close to a vaccination center (aOR: 2.851, CI: 1.646, 4.939), and being worried about COVID-19 (aOR: 2.117, CI: 1.662, 2.695). Vaccine uptake was influenced by the same factors as willingness, except worriedness about COVID-19. Both willingness and vaccination were the lowest in the two informal settlements that are the furthest from public facilities.

Conclusions

We found low lived experience with COVID-19 infection in urban slums, with moderate willingness to vaccinate and low vaccination uptake. Interventions that seek to vaccinate individuals against COVID-19 must account for urban poor settlement populations and overcome structural barriers such as distance from vaccination services, perhaps by bringing such services to these communities.
It’s all not negative: a cross-section study on the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on Iranian population
Authors: Namdar Areshtanab Hossein , Hosseinzadeh Mina , Vahidi Maryam , Hurst Sheila K. , Soheili Soraya
Published: December 2022

Background

Covid-19 has had significant effects on the quality of life of individuals around the world. Research highlights many negative impacts related to Covid-19; however, there are also potential positive impacts. The current study aimed to identify both the perceived negative and positive effects of Covid-19 among the residents of Tabriz, Iran.

Materials & methods

The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 10 health centers in Tabriz city in 2021. Cluster random sampling was used to select the 861 study participants. A questionnaire was developed to collect demographic and Covid-19 impacts. Data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS 16 software.

Results

The mean (SD) of negative and positive impacts of Covid-19 was 37.7 (5.10) and 36.35 (5.31), respectively. Significant negative impacts included restriction in participation in cultural (90.4%) and religious (88.9%) activities. Positive impacts were increased attention to personal hygiene (88.7%) and attention to elders (87.6%). Gender (p = 0.006), work status (p = 0.004) and age (p = 0. 01) had significant association with the mean of negative impacts and work status (p = 0.01), age (p < 0.001), history of Covid-19 (p = 0.01) and family history of Covid-19 (p < 0.001) had the significant association with the mean of positive impacts of Covid-19.

Conclusion

The findings revealed that the general population experienced many negative impacts of Covid-19. This may be related to the priority of religious gatherings in Iranian culture. Despite the unfavorable effects of Covid-19, its positive effects and post-traumatic growth should not be ignored. Covid-19 may be used as an opportunity to develop personal growth and a positive outlook on life. Healthcare workers should reinforce the positive impacts of Covid-19 while taking into consideration the importance of spirituality among Iranian individuals during times of community lockdowns.
Comparison of the clinical outcomes after esophagectomy between intrathoracic anastomosis and cervical anastomosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ge Qi-Yue , Wu Yu-Heng , Cong Zhuang-Zhuang , Qiang Yong , Wang Yan-Qing , Zheng Chao , Shen Yi
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Esophageal cancer is a high-mortality disease. Esophagectomy is the most effective method to treat esophageal cancer, accompanied with a high incidence of post-operation complications. The anastomosis has a close connection to many severe post-operation complications. However, it remains controversial about the choice of intrathoracic anastomosis (IA) or cervical anastomosis (CA). The study was conducted to compare the clinical outcomes between the two approaches.

Methods

We searched databases for both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies comparing post-operation outcomes between IA and CA. Primary outcomes were the incidences of anastomotic leakage and mortality. Secondary outcomes were the incidences of anastomotic stenosis, pneumonia and re-operation.

Results

Twenty studies with a total of 7,479 patients (CA group: n = 3,183; IA group: n = 4296) were included. The results indicated that CA group had a higher incidence of anastomotic leakage than IA group (odds ratio [OR] = 2.05, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 1.61–2.60, I2 = 53.31%, P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed that CA group had higher incidences of type I (OR = 2.19, 95%CI = 1.05–4.57, I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.04) and type II (OR = 2.75, 95%CI = 1.95–3.88, I2 = 1.80%, P < 0.01) anastomotic leakage than IA group. No difference was found in type III anastomotic leakage (OR = 1.23, 95%CI = 0.82–1.86, I2 = 20.92%, P = 0.31). The 90-day mortality (OR = 1.66, 95%CI = 1.11–2.47, I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.01) in IA group were lower than that in CA group. No difference was found in in-hospital mortality (OR = 1.31, 95%CI = 0.91–1.88, I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.15) and 30-day mortality (OR = 1.08, 95%CI = 0.69–1.70, I2 = 0.00%, P = 0.74).

Conclusions

IA might be a better anastomotic approach than CA, with a lower incidence of anastomosis leakage and no increase in short-term mortality. Significant heterogeneity and publication bias might limit the reliability of the results. More high-quality studies are needed to verify and update our findings.