bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crude extract and isolated bioactive compounds from Notholirion thomsonianum (Royale) Stapf as multitargets antidiabetic agents: in-vitro and molecular docking approaches
Authors: Mahnashi Mater H. , Alqahtani Yahya S. , Alqarni Ali O. , Alyami Bandar A. , Jan Muhammad Saeed , Ayaz Muhammad , Ullah Farhat , Rashid Umer , Sadiq Abdul
Published: October 2021

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a common disease effecting the lifestyles of majority world population. In this research work, we have embarked the potential role of crude extracts and isolated compounds of Notholirion thomsonianum for the management diabetes mellitus.

Methods

The crude extracts of N. thomsonianum were initially evaluated for α-glucosidase, α-amylase and antioxidant activities. The compounds were isolated from the activity based potent solvent fraction. The structures of isolated compounds were confirmed with NMR and MS analyses. The isolated compounds were tested for α-glucosidase, α-amylase, protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and DPPH activities. The molecular docking studies were carried out to find the binding interactions of isolated compounds for α-glucosidase, α-amylase and PTP1B.

Results

Initially, we screened out crude extracts and subfractions of N. thomsonianum against different in-vitro targets. Among all, Nt.EtAc was observed a potent fraction among all giving IC50 values of 67, 70, < 0.1, 89 and 16 μg/mL against α-glucosidase, α-amylase, DPPH, ABTS and H2O2 respectively. Three compounds (Nt01, Nt02 and Nt03) were isolated from Nt.EtAc of N. thomsonianum. The isolated compounds Nt01, Nt02 and Nt03 exhibited IC50 values of 58.93, 114.93 and 19.54 μM against α-glucosidase, while 56.25, 96.54 and 24.39 μM against α-amylase respectively. Comparatively, the standard acarbose observed IC50 values were 10.60 and 12.71 μM against α-glucosidase, α-amylase respectively. In PTP1B assay, the compounds Nt01, Nt02 and Nt03 demonstrated IC50 values of 12.96, 36.22 and 3.57 μM in comparison to the standard ursolic acid (IC50 of 3.63 μM). The isolated compounds also gave overwhelming results in DPPH assay. Molecular docking based binding interactions for α-glucosidase, α-amylase and PTP1B were also encouraging.

Conclusions

In the light of current results, it is obvious that N. thomsonianum is potential medicinal plant for the treatment of hyperglycemia. Overall, Nt.EtAc was dominant fraction in all in-vitro activities. Three compounds Nt01, Nt02 and Nt03 were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction. The Nt03 specifically was most potent in all in-vitro assays. The molecular docking studies supported our in-vitro results. It is concluded that N. thomsonianum is a rich source of bioactive antidiabetic compounds which can be further extended to in-vivo based experiments.
Academic experiences, physical and mental health impact of COVID-19 pandemic on students and lecturers in health care education
Authors: Idris Fazean , Zulkipli Ihsan Nazurah , Abdul-Mumin Khadizah Haji , Ahmad Siti Rohaiza , Mitha Shahid , Rahman Hanif Abdul , Rajabalaya Rajan , David Sheba Rani , Naing Lin
Published: October 2021

Background

In keeping with nation-wide efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) transformed fully its pedagogical delivery to online mode, where we investigated teaching and learning experiences, physical and mental health of undergraduate students and lecturers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study on undergraduate students and lecturers in a health science faculty using a self-developed pretested questionnaire through anonymous online data collection method.

Results

Fifty-six lecturers (100% response rate) and 279 students (93.3% response rate) participated. The positive experiences reported by students include becoming independent (72.8%) and adapting to online learning (67.4%), while lecturers learned new teaching techniques (50.0%) and became more innovative (50.0%) by learning new tools (48.2%). However, studying at home caused students to feel more distracted (72.0%) with a feeling of uncertainty towards examinations (66.7%), while lecturers felt that students’ laboratory skills were compromised (44.6%). Even though online delivery of assessments enabled lecturers to explore all options (50.0%), they found it difficult to maintain appropriate questions (41.1%) and fair assessments (37.5%). Majority of students missed eating out (68.8%) and felt a lack of participation in extracurricular activities (64.9%), while lecturers reported more time for exercise (51.8%), despite having more screen time (50.0%) and computer-related physical stress (44.6%). In terms of mental health, increased stress in students was reported (64.9%), though they had more time for self-reflection (54.8%). Although lecturers reported a closer relationship with family (44.6%), they also felt more stressed due to deadlines, unexpected disruptions and higher workloads (44.6%) as well as concerns related to work, family and self (39.3%).

Conclusion

In this abrupt shift to online teaching, students and lecturers in our study identified both positive and negative experiences including the impact on their physical and mental health. Our findings are important to provide the evidence for online pedagogical benefits and can serve to promote the enhancement and adaptation of digital technology in education. Our findings also aim to promote the importance of addressing physical and mental health issues of the university community’s well-being through provision of emotional and mental health support and appropriate programs.
Correction to: A comparison of orthopaedic surgery and internal medicine perceptions of USMLE Step 1 pass/fail scoring
Authors: Mun Frederick , Scott Alyssa R. , Cui David , Lehman Erik B. , Jeong Seongho , Chisty Alia , Juliano Paul J. , Hennrikus William L. , Hennrikus Eileen F.
Published: October 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Development and validity of the Korea psychiatric triage algorithm
Authors: Ha Jeongmin , Jang Kyeongmin , An Misuk
Published: October 2021

Background

Psychiatric emergencies require timely intervention because of the risk of harm to individuals and society, including others. The aim of the present study was to test the content validity of a psychiatric triage algorithm developed for use in South Korea.

Methods

The initial algorithm was developed through systematic literature review. Its validity was then verified by 10 experts. Based on results of expert validity, the algorithm was modified and the final algorithm was developed.

Results

Its clinical validity was then verified by 37 emergency room nurses who had used triage. Four questions of expert validity results with a CVI of 0.8 or less were revised to reflect expert opinion. The usefulness, adequacy, and convenience of the final modified algorithm was 2.98 ~ 3.53.

Conclusion

After sufficiently validated by follow-up studies, it is expected that the use of psychiatric classification algorithms in emergency room nurses will not only improve the quality of care, but also can improve patient outcomes and experience.
The role of patient navigators in ambulatory care: overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Budde Hannah , Williams Gemma A. , Winkelmann Juliane , Pfirter Laura , Maier Claudia B.
Published: October 2021

Background

Patient navigators have been introduced across various countries to enable timely access to healthcare services and to ensure completion of diagnosis and follow-up of care. There is an increasing evidence on the the role of patient navigation for patients and healthcare systems. The aim of this study was to analyse the evidence on patient navigation interventions in ambulatory care and to evaluate their effects on individuals and health system outcomes.

Methods

An overview of reviews was conducted, following a prespecified protocol. All patients in ambulatory care or transitional care setting were included in this review as long as it was related to the role of patient navigators. The study analysed patient navigators covering a wide range of health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and lay health workers or community-based workers with no or very limited training. Studies including patient-related measures and health system-related outcomes were eligible for inclusion. A rigorous search was performed in multiple data bases. After reaching a high inter-rater agreement of 0.86, title and abstract screening was independently performed. Of an initial 14,248 search results and an additional 62 articles identified through the snowballing approach, a total of 7159 hits were eligible for title/abstract screening. 679  articles were included for full-text screening.

Results

Eleven systematic reviews were included covering various patient navigation intervention in cancer care, disease screening, transitional care and for various chronic conditions and multimorbidity. Nine systematic reviews primarily tailored services to ethnic minorities or other disadvantaged groups. Patient navigators performed tasks such as providing education and counselling, translations, home visits, outreach, scheduling of appointments and follow-up. Eight reviews identified positive outcomes in expanding access to care, in particular for vulnerable patient groups. Two reviews on patient navigation in transitional care reported improved patient outcomes, hospital readmission rates and mixed evidence on quality of life and emergency department visits. Two reviews demonstrated improved patient outcomes for persons with various chronic conditions and multimorbidity.

Conclusions

Patient navigators were shown to expand access to screenings and health services for vulnerable patients or population groups with chronic conditions who tend to underuse health services.
Laser-triggered combination therapy by iron sulfide-doxorubicin@functionalized nanozymes for breast cancer therapy
Authors: Ning Shipeng , Zheng Yang , Qiao Kun , Li Guozheng , Bai Qian , Xu Shouping
Published: October 2021

Background

The use of magnetic nanozymes (NZs) with the ability to synchronize gas therapy through photodynamic and chemotherapy in the treatment of breast cancer has received much attention.

Results

Hence, in this study, we designed a bovine lactoferrin-coated iron sulfide NZs containing doxorubicin (abbreviated as: FeS-Dox@bLf NZs) by wet-chemical synthesis method. Then, the physicochemical characteristics of synthesized NZs were explored by several methods. Also, the level of Fe2+, H2S and Dox releases from FeS-Dox@Lf NZs. Also, the cytotoxic effects of FeS-Dox@Lf NZs were investigated by cellular assays. After intravenous injections of NZs and laser irradiation, significant effects of FeS-Dox@Lf NZs on mice weight and tumor status were observed. Afterwards, not only the distribution of Dox in the body was examined by fluorescent, but also the time of Fe clearance and the amount of Dox and Fe retention in vital tissues were determined. The findings confirm that FeS-Dox@Lf NZs, in addition to targeted drug distribution in tumor tissue, resulted in superior therapeutic performance compared to free Dox due to reduced Dox side effects in vital tissues, and increased level of free radicals in 4T1 cells.

Conclusion

Overall, FeS-Dox@Lf NZs with the ability to synchronize chemotherapy and gas therapy raised hopes for more effective treatment of breast cancer.

Graphic abstract
Aurora-A kinase is differentially expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm in normal Müllerian epithelium and benign, borderline and malignant serous ovarian neoplasms
Authors: Alkhateeb Khaled J. , Crane Jason E. , Sak Müge , Jorgensen Caitlin J. , O’Donnell James P. , Zumbar Cory T. , Wozniak Jason A. , Salazar Clarence R. , Parwani Anil V. , Lehman Norman L.
Published: October 2021

Background

Aurora-A kinase is important for cellular proliferation and is implicated in the tumorigenesis of several malignancies, including of the ovary. Information regarding the expression patterns of Aurora-A in normal Müllerian epithelium as well as benign, borderline and malignant epithelial ovarian neoplasms is limited.

Methods

We investigated Aurora-A expression by immunohistochemistry in 15 benign, 19 borderline and 17 malignant ovarian serous tumors, and 16 benign, 8 borderline, and 2 malignant ovarian mucinous tumors. Twelve fimbriae from seven patients served as normal Müllerian epithelium controls. We also examined Aurora-A protein expression by western blot in normal fimbriae and tumor specimens.

Results

All normal fimbriae (n = 12) showed nuclear but not cytoplasmic Aurora-A immunoreactivity by immunohistochemistry. Benign ovarian tumors also showed strong nuclear Aurora-A immunoreactivity. Forty-eight percent (13/27) of borderline tumors demonstrated nuclear Aurora-A immunoreactivity, while the remainder (52%, 14/27) lacked Aurora-A staining. Nuclear Aurora-A immunoreactivity was absent in all malignant serous tumors, however, 47% (8/17) demonstrated perinuclear cytoplasmic staining. These results were statistically significant when tumor class (benign/borderline/malignant) was compared to immunoreactivity localization or intensity (Fisher Exact Test, p < 0.01). Western blot analysis confirmed the greater nuclear Aurora-A expression in control Müllerian epithelium compared to borderline and malignant tumors.

Conclusion

Aurora-A kinase is differentially expressed across normal Müllerian epithelium, benign and borderline serous and mucinous ovarian epithelial neoplasms and malignant serous ovarian tumors., with nuclear expression of unphosphorylated Aurora-A being present in normal and benign neoplastic epithelium, and lost in malignant serous neoplasms. Further studies of the possible biological and clinical implications of the loss of nuclear Aurora-A expression in ovarian tumors, and its role in ovarian carcinogenesis are warranted.
Retraction Note: Long non-coding RNA LINC00968 attenuates drug resistance of breast cancer cells through inhibiting the Wnt2/β-catenin signaling pathway by regulating WNT2
Authors: Xiu Dian-Hui , Liu Gui-Feng , Yu Shao-Nan , Li Long-Yun , Zhao Guo-Qing , Liu Lin , Li Xue-Feng
Published: October 2021

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: 10.1186/s13046-021-02121-3
ZIP10 drives osteosarcoma proliferation and chemoresistance through ITGA10-mediated activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway
Authors: Li Hongyu , Shen Xin , Ma Mengjun , Liu Wenzhou , Yang Wen , Wang Peng , Cai Zhaopeng , Mi Rujia , Lu Yixuan , Zhuang Jiahao , Jiang Yuhang , Song Yihui , Wu Yanfeng , Shen Huiyong
Published: October 2021

Background

The zinc transporters Zrt- and Irt-related protein (ZIP/SLC39) are overexpressed in human tumors and correlate with poor prognosis; however, their contributions to carcinogenesis and chemoresistance in osteosarcoma (OS) remain unclear.

Methods

We collected 64 OS patient tissues with (n = 12) or without (n = 52) chemotherapy. The expression levels of ZIP10 were measured by immunohistochemistry and applied to prognostic analysis. ZIP10 was knocked down or overexpressed in OS cell lines to explore its effect on proliferation and chemoresistance. RNA sequencing, quantitative real-time PCR, and western blotting analysis were performed to explore ZIP10-regulated downstream target genes. A xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate the mechanisms by which ZIP10 modulates chemoresistance in OS cells.

Results

The expression of ZIP10 was significantly induced by chemotherapy and highly associated with the clinical outcomes of OS. Knockdown of ZIP10 suppressed OS cell proliferation and chemoresistance. In addition, ZIP10 promoted Zn content-induced cAMP-response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation and activation, which are required for integrin α10 (ITGA10) transcription and ITGA10-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway activation. Importantly, ITGA10 stimulated PI3K/AKT signaling but not the classical FAK or SRC pathway. Moreover, overexpression of ZIP10 promoted ITGA10 expression and conferred chemoresistance. Treatment with the CREB inhibitor 666–15 or the PI3K/AKT inhibitor GSK690693 impaired tumor chemoresistance in ZIP10-overexpressing cells. Finally, a xenograft mouse model established by subcutaneous injection of 143B cells confirmed that ZIP10 mediates chemotherapy resistance in OS cells via the ZIP10-ITGA10-PI3K/AKT axis.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that ZIP10 drives OS proliferation and chemoresistance through ITGA10-mediated activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, which might serve as a target for OS treatment.
Clinical foot measurements as a proxy for plantar pressure testing in people with diabetes
Authors: Chuter Vivienne H. , Spink Martin J. , David Michael , Lanting Sean , Searle Angela
Published: October 2021

Background

High plantar pressures are associated with increased foot ulcer risk in people with diabetes. Identification of high plantar pressures in people with diabetes is clinically challenging due to time and cost constraints of plantar pressure testing. Factors affecting foot biomechanics, including reduced joint range of motion and foot deformity, are implicated in the development of high plantar pressures and may provide a method to clinically identify those at risk of pressure related complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of joint range of motion and foot deformity measures on plantar pressures in a community dwelling group with diabetes.

Methods

Barefoot (Tekscan HR Mat™) and in‐shoe (Novel Pedar‐X®) plantar pressure variables, weight bearing ankle dorsiflexion, hallux range of motion, lesser toe deformities and hallux abductus (HAV) scale were assessed in 136 adults with diabetes (52.2% male; mean age 68.4 years). Multivariate multiple linear regression was used to assess the effect of the four biomechanical factors plus neuropathy and body mass index on plantar pressure variables. Non‐parametric bootstrapping was employed to determine the difference in plantar pressure variables for participants with two or more foot biomechanical pathologies compared to those with less than two pathologies.

Results

Almost one third (32%) of the cohort had two or more foot biomechanical pathologies. Participants with two or more foot biomechanical pathologies displayed significant increases in all barefoot plantar pressure regions (except forefoot), compared to those with less than two pathologies. No significant changes were found for the in‐shoe plantar pressure variables. The regression model explains between 9.9% (95%CI: 8.4 to 11.4%) and 29.6% (95% CI: 28.2 to 31%), and between 2.5% (1.0 to 4.0%) and 43.8% (95% CI: 42.5–44.9%), of the variance in the barefoot and in‐shoe plantar pressure variables respectively.

Conclusions

Participants presenting with two or more factors affecting foot biomechanics displayed higher peak pressures and pressure time integrals in all foot regions compared to those with less than two factors. The tests used in this study could help clinicians detect elevated plantar pressures in people with diabetes and present an opportunity for early preventative interventions.
phasebook: haplotype-aware de novo assembly of diploid genomes from long reads
Authors: Luo Xiao , Kang Xiongbin , Schönhuth Alexander
Published: October 2021

Haplotype-aware diploid genome assembly is crucial in genomics, precision medicine, and many other disciplines. Long-read sequencing technologies have greatly improved genome assembly. However, current long-read assemblers are either reference based, so introduce biases, or fail to capture the haplotype diversity of diploid genomes. We present phasebook, a de novo approach for reconstructing the haplotypes of diploid genomes from long reads. phasebook outperforms other approaches in terms of haplotype coverage by large margins, in addition to achieving competitive performance in terms of assembly errors and assembly contiguity.
Argus II retinal prosthesis for retinitis pigmentosa in the Middle East: The 2015 Pan-American Association of Ophthalmology Gradle Lecture
Authors: Arevalo J. Fernando , Al Rashaed Saba , Alhamad Tariq A. , Al Kahtani Eman , Al-Dhibi Hassan A. ,   for the KKESH Collaborative Retina Study Group, Mura Marco , Al Kahtani Eman , Nowilaty Sawsan , Al Rashaed Saba , Al-Dhibi Hassan A. , Al-Zahrani Yahya A. , Kozak Igor , Al-Sulaiman Sulaiman , Al-Abdullah Abdulelah , Al-Bar Ahmad , Al Dhafiri Yousef , Al Qahtani Abdullah , Al Rubaie Khalid , Al Shahrani Saeed , Al Shehri Maha , Al Ahmadi Badr , Al Hadlaq Abdulaziz , Al Harbi Majed , Al Oreany Abdulaziz , Fernando Arevalo J.
Published: October 2021

Background

To describe the outcomes of patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) who received the Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System.

Methods

This retrospective, interventional case series evaluated 10 consecutive patients who received the Argus II retinal implant and underwent visual function tests with the system on and system off. The main outcome measures were safety (the number, seriousness, and relatedness of adverse events), and visual function measured by computer-based objective tests, including square localization (SL) and direction of motion (DOM). Secondary measures included functional vision performance, including orientation and mobility (O&M) tasks.

Results

There were no intraoperative complications and all prostheses remained implanted at the end of follow up. The mean patient age was 41.3 years; mean duration of the implant in vivo was 2.1 years. One patient had a suture exposure over the coil suture tab and over the inferior case suture tab at 2 years postoperatively, which was managed successfully. One patient developed mild vitreous hemorrhage that resolved spontaneously. One patient developed high intraocular pressure postoperatively due to a tight scleral band (SB) that was managed successfully. Patients performed significantly better with the Argus II system on than off on all tasks.

Conclusion

Patients who received the Argus II had a safety profile out to 4 years post-implantation that was markedly better than that observed in the pre-approval phase of the Argus II. In this population of RP patients, the Argus II retinal prosthesis provided useful visual function over several years that likely translates into improved quality of life.

Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov identifier, NCT00407602.
Association Between Genetic Testing for Hereditary Breast Cancer and Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomy Among Multiethnic Women Diagnosed With Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: Ro Vicky , McGuinness Julia E. , Guo Boya , Trivedi Meghna S. , Jones Tarsha , Chung Wendy K. , Rao Roshni , Levinson Elana , Koval Carrie , Russo Donna , Chilton Ilana , Kukafka Rita , Crew Katherine D.
Published: October 2021

PURPOSE:

Increasing usage of multigene panel testing has identified more patients with pathogenic or likely pathogenic (P or LP) variants in low-moderate penetrance genes or variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Our study evaluates the association between genetic test results and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) among patients with breast cancer.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among women diagnosed with unilateral stage 0-III breast cancer between 2013 and 2020 who underwent genetic testing. We examined whether genetic test results were associated with CPM using multivariable logistic regression models.

RESULTS:

Among 707 racially or ethnically diverse women, most had benign or likely benign (B or LB) variants, whereas 12.5% had P or LP and 17.9% had VUS. Racial or ethnic minorities were twice as likely to receive VUS. Patients with P or LP variants had higher CPM rates than VUS or B or LB (64.8% v 25.8% v 25.9%), and highest among women with P or LP variants in high-penetrance genes (74.6%). On multivariable analysis, P or LP compared with B or LB variants were significantly associated with CPM (odds ratio = 4.24; 95% CI, 2.48 to 7.26).

CONCLUSION:

Women with P or LP variants on genetic testing were over four times more likely to undergo CPM than B or LB. Those with VUS had similar CPM rates as B or LB. Our findings suggest appropriate genetic counseling and communication of cancer risk to multiethnic breast cancer survivors.
Food preferences of the great ramshorn Planorbarius corneus (Linnaeus, 1758) allospecies (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Planorbidae) from the Ukrainian river system
Authors: Babych Yuliia , Uvayeva Olena , Stadnychenko Agnessa
Published: October 2021

The “western” and “eastern” allospecies of the superspecies complex Planorbarius corneus (Linnaeus, 1758) sensu lato includes the most widespread and abundant gastropods in the Ukrainian aquatic fauna. The range of the “western” allospecies includes the north and central parts of Right Bank Ukraine, while the range of the “eastern” allospecies comprises the north-eastern and eastern parts of Left Bank Ukraine, and the extreme south (as far as the Danube River) of the Ukrainian steppe zone. The food preferences of these snails were established for the first time. Such data may provide the basis for studying the role of both allospecies in the food webs of the river systems of Ukraine.
Uncovering familialism: cash-for-care schemes in England and Finland
Authors: Morgan Fiona , Zechner Minna
Published: October 2021

This article compares cash-for-care schemes supporting older people with health-related social care needs, as well as their informal carers, in England and Finland. The meso-level policy analysis drills down into the governance arrangements underpinning cash-for-care schemes, including their eligibility criteria, generosity and territorial variations. It explores their implicit and explicit intentions, function and effects in defamilialising, familialising or refamilialising families’ caring responsibilities. This reveals inconsistencies in the familialising and defamilialising effects of schemes according to individuals’ characteristics, choices and policy restrictions. It also exposes an overarching tendency to familialise or refamilialise the activity of caring for older people, which is exacerbated by austerity-related politics.
Dynamic white lighting to aid sleep and vision for persons living with dementia using off-the-shelf LED strips
Authors: Le Bao , White Aien Charity Grace , Chaudhari Apoorv , AL-Mutawaly Nafia , White Janette Elaine , Lee Wai-Keung , Hsu Yeh-Liang , White Jonathon David
Published: October 2021

Alzheimer disease and related dementias affect 15–20% of elderly people, and 60–70% of these suffer from sleep disturbances. Studies suggest that lighting can improve sleep. The key challenge is how to deliver light effectively. We have designed a lighting system that adjusts spectrum and irradiance on a 24-hour timetable to provide spatially uniform, shadow-free white light with CRI>85 and up to 1000 Lux for day vision and amber light for night vision. To aid sleep, melanopic illuminance varies over 3 orders of magnitude to enable strong suppression of melatonin in the morning/early afternoon, moderate suppression in the evening, and no suppression at night.
Compact magnetic field sensor based on plasmonic fiber-tip
Authors: Liu Yin , Liao Qiming , Wang Zhipeng , Bi Yu , Huang Lingling , Wang Yongtian , Li Xiaowei
Published: October 2021

A plasmonic fiber-tip based on the metallic metasurface and the multimode fiber (MMF) alleviates the limitation of the inevitable large sensing size caused by fiber side wall functionalization. Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) based on metasurface on the fiber-tip provides a promising way to manipulate and interrogate the transmitted and reflection light in sub-wavelength range. Combining the advantages of plasmonic fiber-tip and magnetic fluid, a compact magnetic field fiber-optic sensor is proposed and verified by experiments. The developed fiber-optic magnetic field sensor has linear response and high magnetic strength sensitivity of 0.532 nm/mT over a range of 0-20 mT. In addition, the results also prove the feasibility of pseudo-vector magnetic field sensing.
Determining travel fluxes in epidemic areas
Authors: Chen Daipeng , Xue Yuyi , Xiao Yanni
Published: October 2021

Infectious diseases attack humans from time to time and threaten the lives and survival of people all around the world. An important strategy to prevent the spatial spread of infectious diseases is to restrict population travel. With the reduction of the epidemic situation, when and where travel restrictions can be lifted, and how to organize orderly movement patterns become critical and fall within the scope of this study. We define a novel diffusion distance derived from the estimated mobility network, based on which we provide a general model to describe the spatiotemporal spread of infectious diseases with a random diffusion process and a deterministic drift process of the population. We consequently develop a multi-source data fusion method to determine the population flow in epidemic areas. In this method, we first select available subregions in epidemic areas, and then provide solutions to initiate new travel flux among these subregions. To verify our model and method, we analyze the multi-source data from mainland China and obtain a new travel flux triggering scheme in the selected 29 cities with the most active population movements in mainland China. The testable predictions in these selected cities show that reopening the borders in accordance with our proposed travel flux will not cause a second outbreak of COVID-19 in these cities. The finding provides a methodology of re-triggering travel flux during the weakening spread stage of the epidemic.
X-treme loss of sequence diversity linked to neo-X chromosomes in filarial nematodes
Authors: Mattick John , Libro Silvia , Bromley Robin , Chaicumpa Wanpen , Chung Matthew , Cook Darren , Khan Mohammad Behram , Kumar Nikhil , Lau Yee-Ling , Misra-Bhattacharya Shailja , Rao Ramakrishna , Sadzewicz Lisa , Saeung Atiporn , Shahab Mohd , Sparklin Benjamin C. , Steven Andrew , Turner Joseph D. , Tallon Luke J. , Taylor Mark J. , Moorhead Andrew R. , Michalski Michelle , Foster Jeremy M. , Dunning Hotopp Julie C.
Published: October 2021

The sequence diversity of natural and laboratory populations ofBrugia pahangiandBrugia malayiwas assessed with Illumina resequencing followed by mapping in order to identify single nucleotide variants and insertions/deletions. In natural and laboratoryBrugiapopulations, there is a lack of sequence diversity on chromosome X relative to the autosomes (πX/πA= 0.2), which is lower than the expected (πX/πA= 0.75). A reduction in diversity is also observed in other filarial nematodes with neo-X chromosome fusions in the generaOnchocercaandWuchereria, but not those without neo-X chromosome fusions in the generaLoaandDirofilaria. In the species with neo-X chromosome fusions, chromosome X is abnormally large, containing a third of the genetic material such that a sizable portion of the genome is lacking sequence diversity. Such profound differences in genetic diversity can be consequential, having been associated with drug resistance and adaptability, with the potential to affect filarial eradication.
Validation of a spatial agent-based model for Taenia solium transmission (“CystiAgent”) against a large prospective trial of control strategies in northern Peru
Authors: Pray Ian W. , Pizzitutti Francesco , Bonnet Gabrielle , Gonzales-Gustavson Eloy , Wakeland Wayne , Pan William K. , Lambert William E. , Gonzalez Armando E. , Garcia Hector H. , O’Neal Seth E. ,   for the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru.
Published: October 2021

Background

The pork tapeworm (Taenia solium) is a parasitic helminth that imposes a major health and economic burden on poor rural populations around the world. As recognized by the World Health Organization, a key barrier for achieving control of T. solium is the lack of an accurate and validated simulation model with which to study transmission and evaluate available control and elimination strategies. CystiAgent is a spatially-explicit agent based model for T. solium that is unique among T. solium models in its ability to represent key spatial and environmental features of transmission and simulate spatially targeted interventions, such as ring strategy.

Methods/Principal findings

We validated CystiAgent against results from the Ring Strategy Trial (RST)–a large cluster-randomized trial conducted in northern Peru that evaluated six unique interventions for T. solium control in 23 villages. For the validation, each intervention strategy was replicated in CystiAgent, and the simulated prevalences of human taeniasis, porcine cysticercosis, and porcine seroincidence were compared against prevalence estimates from the trial. Results showed that CystiAgent produced declines in transmission in response to each of the six intervention strategies, but overestimated the effect of interventions in the majority of villages; simulated prevalences for human taenasis and porcine cysticercosis at the end of the trial were a median of 0.53 and 5.0 percentages points less than prevalence observed at the end of the trial, respectively.

Conclusions/Significance

The validation of CystiAgent represented an important step towards developing an accurate and reliable T. solium transmission model that can be deployed to fill critical gaps in our understanding of T. solium transmission and control. To improve model accuracy, future versions would benefit from improved data on pig immunity and resistance, field effectiveness of anti-helminthic treatment, and factors driving spatial clustering of T. solium infections including dispersion and contact with T. solium eggs in the environment.
Schistosomiasis messaging in endemic communities: Lessons and implications for interventions from rural Uganda, a rapid ethnographic assessment study
Authors: Ssali Agnes , Pickering Lucy , Nalwadda Edith , Mujumbusi Lazaaro , Seeley Janet , Lamberton Poppy H. L.
Published: October 2021

Background

Over 240 million people are infected with schistosomiasis, the majority in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, high infection rates exist in communities on the shores of Lake Victoria. Praziquantel mass drug administration (MDA) delivered by village health teams is the mainstay of schistosomiasis control. However, treatment uptake remains suboptimal, with many people unaware of treatment or thinking it is only for children. Furthermore, people are often rapidly reinfected post-treatment due to continued exposure. In three Schistosoma mansoni high endemicity lake-shore communities in Mayuge district, Eastern Uganda, we investigated the sources of schistosomiasis information, remembered content of information, and the perception of information and related practices towards the control of schistosomiasis.

Methods and principal findings

Data were collected from September 2017 to March 2018 using a rapid ethnographic assessment that included transect walks, observations, individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analysed thematically using iterative categorisation. We found that the main sources of schistosomiasis information included health workers at government facilities, village health teams, teachers, and radio programmes produced by the Ministry of Health. These messages described the symptoms of schistosomiasis, but did not mention the side effects of praziquantel treatment. Despite this messaging, the main cause of the disease and transmission was unclear to most participants. The translation of schistosomiasis on the radio into the local language ‘ekidada’—meaning swollen stomach—increased, rather than reduced, confusion about the cause(s) of schistosomiasis, due to believed links between ekidada and witchcraft, and prompted a reluctance to engage with treatment or preventative efforts.

Conclusion and significance

This study highlights gaps in schistosomiasis messaging. We recommend MDA is complemented by effective, evidence-based messaging on schistosomiasis transmission, prevention, and treatment, that is sensitive to local language and context issues, resulting in clear, concise, and consistent messages, to increase effectiveness.
Data quality assessment and associated factors in the health management information system among health centers of Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Solomon Mastewal , Addise Mesfin , Tassew Berhan , Balcha Bahailu , Abebe Amene
Published: October 2021

Background

A well designed Health management information system is necessary for improving health service effectiveness and efficiency. It also helps to produce quality information and conduct evidence based monitoring, adjusting policy implementation and resource use. However, evidences show that data quality is poor and is not utilized for program decisions in Ethiopia especially at lower levels of the health care and it remains as a major challenge.

Method

Facility based cross sectional study design was employed. A total of 18 health centers and 302 health professionals were selected by simple random sampling using lottery method from each selected health center. Data was collected by health professionals who were experienced and had training on HMIS tasks after the tools were pretested. Data quality was assessed using accuracy, completeness and timeliness dimensions. Seven indicators from national priority area were selected to assess data accuracy and monthly reports were used to assess completeness and timeliness. Statistical software SPSS version 20 for descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression was used for quantitative data analysis to identify candidate variable.

Result

A total of 291 respondents were participated in the study with response rate of 96%. Overall average data quality was 82.5%. Accuracy, completeness and timeliness dimensions were 76%, 83.3 and 88.4 respectively which was lower than the national target. About 52.2% respondents were trained on HMIS, 62.5% had supervisory visits as per standard and only 55.3% got written feedback. Only 11% of facilities assigned health information technicians. Level of confidence [AOR = 1.75, 95% CI (0.99, 3.11)], filling registration or tally completely [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI (1.3, 8.7)], data quality check, supervision AOR = 1.7 95% CI (0.92, 2.63) and training [AOR = 1.89 95% CI (1.03, 3.45)] were significantly associated with data quality.

Conclusion

This study found that the overall data quality was lower than the national target. Over reporting of all indicators were observed in all facilities. It needs major improvement on supervision quality, training status to increase confidence of individuals to do HMIS activities.
Is physician implicit bias associated with differences in care by patient race for metastatic cancer-related pain?
Authors: Fiscella Kevin , Epstein Ronald M. , Griggs Jennifer J. , Marshall Mary M. , Shields Cleveland G.
Published: October 2021

Rationale

Implicit racial bias affects many human interactions including patient-physician encounters. Its impact, however, varies between studies. We assessed the effects of physician implicit, racial bias on their management of cancer-related pain using a randomized field experiment.

Methods

We conducted an analysis of a randomized field experiment between 2012 and 2016 with 96 primary care physicians and oncologists using unannounced, Black and White standardized patients (SPs)who reported uncontrolled bone pain from metastatic lung cancer. We assessed implicit bias using a pain-adaptation of the race Implicit Association Test. We assessed clinical care by reviewing medical records and prescriptions, and we assessed communication from coded transcripts and covert audiotapes of the unannounced standardized patient office visits. We assessed effects of interactions of physicians’ implicit bias and SP race with clinical care and communication outcomes. We conducted a slopes analysis to examine the nature of significant interactions.

Results

As hypothesized, physicians with greater implicit bias provided lower quality care to Black SPs, including fewer renewals for an indicated opioid prescription and less patient-centered pain communication, but similar routine pain assessment. In contrast to our other hypotheses, physician implicit bias did not interact with SP race for prognostic communication or verbal dominance. Analysis of the slopes for the cross-over interactions showed that greater physician bias was manifested by more frequent opioid prescribing and greater discussion of pain for White SPs and slightly less frequent prescribing and pain talk for Black SPs with the opposite effect among physicians with lower implicit bias. Findings are limited by use of an unvalidated, pain-adapted IAT.

Conclusion

Using SP methodology, physicians’ implicit bias was associated with clinically meaningful, racial differences in management of uncontrolled pain related to metastatic lung cancer. There is favorable treatment of White or Black SPs, depending on the level of implicit bias.
Chronic marijuana usage by human pancreas donors is associated with impaired islet function
Authors: Qi Meirigeng , Kaddis John S. , Chen Kuan-Tsen , Rawson Jeffrey , Omori Keiko , Chen Zhen Bouman , Dhawan Sangeeta , Isenberg Jeffrey S. , Kandeel Fouad , Roep Bart O. , Al-Abdullah Ismail H.
Published: October 2021

We investigated the effect of chronic marijuana use, defined as 4 times weekly for more than 3 years, on human pancreatic islets. Pancreata from deceased donors who chronically used marijuana were compared to those from age, sex and ethnicity matched non-users. The islets from marijuana-users displayed reduced insulin secretion as compared to islets from non-users upon stimulation with high glucose (AUC, 3.41 ± 0.62 versus 5.14 ±0.47, p<0.05) and high glucose plus KCl (AUC, 4.48 ± 0.41 versus 7.69 ± 0.58, p<0.001). When human islets from chronic marijuana-users were transplanted into diabetic mice, the mean reversal rate of diabetes was 35% versus 77% in animals receiving islets from non-users (p<0.01). Immunofluorescent staining for cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R) was shown to be colocalized with insulin and enhanced significantly in beta cells from marijuana-users vs. non-users (CB1R intensity/islet area, 14.95 ± 2.71 vs. 3.23 ± 0.87, p<0.001). In contrast, CB1R expression was not co-localized with glucagon or somatostatin. Furthermore, isolated islets from chronic marijuana-users appeared hypertrophic. In conclusion, excessive marijuana use affects islet endocrine phenotype and function in vitro and in vivo. Given the increasing use of marijuana, our results underline the importance of including lifestyle when evaluating human islets for transplantation or research.
Our unknown neighbor: A new species of rain frog of the genus Pristimantis (Amphibia: Anura: Strabomantidae) from the city of Loja, southern Ecuador
Authors: Székely Paul , Székely Diana , Ordóñez-Delgado Leonardo , Armijos-Ojeda Diego , Vörös Judit
Published: October 2021

We describe a new species of rain frog of the genus Pristimantis from the city of Loja, Southern Ecuador, based on an integrative taxonomy approach, combining molecular, morphological and bioacoustics data. Pristimantis lojanus sp. nov. is a medium sized species of the phylogenetically strongly supported P. phoxocephalus group, and its sister species is P. torresi. The new species can be easily distinguished from its closest congeners and morphologically similar species (that also have acuminate snout with a fleshy keel) by its characteristic advertisement call and morphological features (dorsum finely tuberculate with scattered larger tubercles, flanks without longitudinal lateral folds, no markings in axilla, groin or on concealed limb surfaces, and bronze iris). Additionally, we describe the advertisement call of its sister species, P. torresi. Finally, we detail the current situation of the amphibian species present in the city of Loja and its surroundings.
Non-invasive quantification of the mitochondrial redox state in livers during machine perfusion
Authors: de Vries Reinier J. , Cronin Stephanie E. J. , Romfh Padraic , Pendexter Casie A. , Jain Rohil , Wilks Benjamin T. , Raigani Siavash , van Gulik Thomas M. , Chen Peili , Yeh Heidi , Uygun Korkut , Tessier Shannon N.
Published: October 2021

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a critical problem in liver transplantation that can lead to life-threatening complications and substantially limit the utilization of livers for transplantation. However, because there are no early diagnostics available, fulminant injury may only become evident post-transplant. Mitochondria play a central role in IRI and are an ideal diagnostic target. During ischemia, changes in the mitochondrial redox state form the first link in the chain of events that lead to IRI. In this study we used resonance Raman spectroscopy to provide a rapid, non-invasive, and label-free diagnostic for quantification of the hepatic mitochondrial redox status. We show this diagnostic can be used to significantly distinguish transplantable versus non-transplantable ischemically injured rat livers during oxygenated machine perfusion and demonstrate spatial differences in the response of mitochondrial redox to ischemia reperfusion. This novel diagnostic may be used in the future to predict the viability of human livers for transplantation and as a tool to better understand the mechanisms of hepatic IRI.
Phylogeny of the damselfishes (Pomacentridae) and patterns of asymmetrical diversification in body size and feeding ecology
Authors: McCord Charlene L. , Nash Chloe M. , Cooper W. James , Westneat Mark W.
Published: October 2021

The damselfishes (family Pomacentridae) inhabit near-shore communities in tropical and temperature oceans as one of the major lineages in coral reef fish assemblages. Our understanding of their evolutionary ecology, morphology and function has often been advanced by increasingly detailed and accurate molecular phylogenies. Here we present the next stage of multi-locus, molecular phylogenetics for the group based on analysis of 12 nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences from 345 of the 422 damselfishes. The resulting well-resolved phylogeny helps to address several important questions about higher-level damselfish relationships, their evolutionary history and patterns of divergence. A time-calibrated phylogenetic tree yields a root age for the family of 55.5 mya, refines the age of origin for a number of diverse genera, and shows that ecological changes during the Eocene-Oligocene transition provided opportunities for damselfish diversification. We explored the idea that body size extremes have evolved repeatedly among the Pomacentridae, and demonstrate that large and small body sizes have evolved independently at least 40 times and with asymmetric rates of transition among size classes. We tested the hypothesis that transitions among dietary ecotypes (benthic herbivory, pelagic planktivory and intermediate omnivory) are asymmetric, with higher transition rates from intermediate omnivory to either planktivory or herbivory. Using multistate hidden-state speciation and extinction models, we found that both body size and dietary ecotype are significantly associated with patterns of diversification across the damselfishes, and that the highest rates of net diversification are associated with medium body size and pelagic planktivory. We also conclude that the pattern of evolutionary diversification in feeding ecology, with frequent and asymmetrical transitions between feeding ecotypes, is largely restricted to the subfamily Pomacentrinae in the Indo-West Pacific. Trait diversification patterns for damselfishes across a fully resolved phylogeny challenge many recent general conclusions about the evolution of reef fishes.