bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of the development of nab-paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients: post hoc analysis of a prospective, phase II, self-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Kanbayashi Yuko , Sakaguchi Koichi , Ishikawa Takeshi , Tabuchi Yusuke , Takagi Ryo , Yokota Isao , Katoh Norito , Takayama Koichi , Taguchi Tetsuya
Published: April 2022

In a previous study, we showed that cryotherapy and compression therapy have comparable efficacy in preventing nab-paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. However, even with cryotherapy or compression therapy, there were patients with National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0 grade ≥ 2 and/or Patient Neurotoxicity Questionnaire (PNQ) grade ≥ D peripheral neuropathies. Therefore, this post hoc analysis was performed to identify predictors of nab-paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy. The clinical data in this post hoc analysis were the data of 38 breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) at our outpatient chemotherapy center from August 2017 to March 2019. The number of patients was analyzed assuming that there were data for 76 hands. Variables related to the development of nab-PTX-induced peripheral neuropathy were used for regression analysis. Multivariate ordered logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors for the development of nab-PTX-induced peripheral neuropathy. Significant factors included smoking history [odds ratio (OR) = 4.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.60–13.5; P = 0.0048] with neuropathy evaluated by CTCAE, body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.01–1.26; P = 0.039) with neuropathy evaluated by PNQ (sensory), and smoking history (OR = 3.80, 95% CI = 1.40–10.30; P = 0.0087) and age (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01–1.11; P = 0.012) with neuropathy evaluated by PNQ (motor). In conclusion, smoking history, BMI and age were identified as significant predictors of the development of nab-PTX-induced-peripheral neuropathy.
A high-fat diet enriched with fish oil affects metabolic pathways in the hypothalamus of rats: a proteomic approach
Authors: de Souza Adriana Pereira , Pedroso Amanda Paula , de Andrade Maria Claudina Camargo , Telles Mônica Marques , Boldarine Valter Tadeu , Oyama Lila Missae , Tashima Alexandre Keiji , Ribeiro Eliane Beraldi
Published: April 2022

Background: Fatty acids of the n-3 series are recognized as a healthy type of fat but the effects of excess n-3 consumption have not been fully explored. The hypothalamus is a key site in the control of energy homeostasis and a better understanding of the effects of dietary challenges on this brain site is necessary.Objective: To evaluate whether the long-term intake of a high-fat diet enriched fish-oil, rich in n-3 fat, modify the proteins content of the hypothalamus.Methods: Male rats received for 8 weeks either a Control normolipidic diet or a hyperlipidic Fish oil diet. The hypothalami were dissected and processed for proteomic analysis, performed by LC-MS/MS. False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction for multiple testing was performed. Enriched pathways were determined using the Panther online platform.Results: Twenty-nine proteins were significantly altered between the Control and the Fish groups, of which 15 were down-regulated and 14 were up-regulated in the Fish group. Pathway-enrichment analysis showed that 10 of those proteins were related to “Metabolism of Carbohydrate” and “TCA Cycle and Respiratory Electron Transport” pathways. Of these, 7 proteins were upregulated (Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B1; Aspartate aminotransferase, mitochondrial; Glucose-6-phosphate isomerase; Malate dehydrogenase mitochondrial; L-lactate dehydrogenase A chain; Dihydrolipoyllysine-residue acetyltransferase component of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, mitochondrial; Alpha-enolase) and 3 were downregulated (Phosphoglycerate mutase 1; NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] flavoprotein 2, mitochondrial; NADH dehydrogenase [ubiquinone] 1 alpha subcomplex subunit 9, mitochondrial). Conclusions: The chronic intake of a hyperlipidic diet rich in fish oil led to modifications on the expression of several hypothalamic proteins related to metabolic pathways. There are indications of possible pro-inflammatory activation and impairment of respiratory chain Complex 1 function, probably due to the excess fat content of the diet. Also, a protective role played by the type of fat was suggested by the findings indicating possible decrease of reactive oxygen species production, maintenance of NADH delivery to the respiratory chain, and production of anorexigenic signals. The results suggest that, although n-3 fat has recognized healthy properties, its consumption in excess affects the hypothalamus with deleterious effects. Further studies are necessary to verify these effects.
Effects of community-based family planning education program on knowledge of family planning methods among married women in Khartoum state, Sudan
Authors: Sagiron Elwaleed , Jarelnape Ahmed
Published: April 2022

Background
Family planning (FP) is an important strategy in promoting maternal and child health. Although family planning was initiated in Sudan in 1965 and then incorporated into the Primary Health Care System in 1985, the utilization rate remains low, which is among the lowest countries in the region. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of a Community-based Family Planning Education Program on knowledge of family planning methods among Married Women in Aldaroshab and Alkadaro Areas, Khartoum State, Sudan.
Methods
This was a Quasi Community interventional study design. It was conducted in Sudan, Khartoum state, Aldaroshab and Alkadro areas. December, 2020. A Family planning program was invented as an intervention program. The population frame included all married women in age (15–49) years in research areas. The sample size was calculated by computerized method, the sample size 456 mothers. The data was collected by a questionnaire designed to measure mothers‟ knowledge, the questionnaire consisted of 30 questions covering the different aspects of family planning. Respondents were divided into two experimental and control groups randomly. The intervention group were women of Aldroshab area and the control group was women of Alkadro area. The data was collected by the researcher and assistants. A pre-evaluation was done on the knowledge of family planning using a structured questionnaire.
Results
The findings showed that knowledge of women has significantly increased (P = 0.01 < 0.05) from 40–85% after program intervention. The most source of family planning information for women was from the TV/Radio (51%). The study results showed most of the intervention and control groups were illiterate (40%)
Conclusion
The study concluded that a family planning program intervention has significantly increased the mother's knowledge regarding family planning.
Compliance to Complementary Feeding Guidelines in a Tertiary Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya
Authors: Njeru Catherine Muthoni , Mbuba Caroline Kathomi , Ngugi Anthony , Limbe Mary Slessor
Published: April 2022

Background:Appropriate complementary feeding is a practice with great potential for reduction of nutrition-related diseases and mortalities in children. However, uptake of the recommended World Health Organisation (WHO) infant and young child feeding practices in Kenya remains low. Most previous studies have been done in rural or urban poor populations hence the need to provide practical guidelines for the complementary feeding period in a typical middle-class urban setting. This study investigated complementary feeding practices by caregivers of infants and young children on follow up at Aga Khan University Hospital-Nairobi (AKUH-N) well-baby clinic and the factors influencing compliance with the WHO guidelines.Methods:A total of 290 caregivers of infants and young children aged between nine and twenty-four months were interviewed using a questionnaire. This questionnaire was adapted from that provided in the WHO Indicators for assessing Infant and Young Child Feeding Practices measurements booklet (1). Out of 290 participants, 21 were purposively sampled to participate in a qualitative study using in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data while descriptive statistics, univariate and multivariate regression analysis were used for quantitative data. A convergent parallel design was used to integrate the qualitative and quantitative data.Results:Out of 290 caregivers interviewed, 125 (43.1%) complied with WHO complementary feeding guidelines. Factors that significantly affected complementary feeding practices included education level of the caregiver, access to information, support from healthcare workers and fear of allergic reactions. Conclusions:Full compliance to WHO complementary feeding guidelines remained below 50%. Some of the factors positively associated with compliance with complementary feeding guidelines included access to multiple sources of information, and support from health workers and family members. Lack of tertiary education of the caregiver, absence of specific and practical guidelines, resource constraints and fear of allergies were found to negatively impact compliance with complementary feeding guidelines.
New validated LC-MS/MS simultaneous estimation of Lopinavir and Ritonavir in human plasma positive ion mode using Deuterated internal standards
Authors: Nalini Nalini Kanta Sahoo , Hung Bui Thanh Hung , Prasun Prasun Chakrabarti , Madhusmita Madhusmita Sahu , Shweta Shweta Singh Chauhan , Kiran P Chaitanya Kiran
Published: April 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Climate Change: North & South EU Economies. An application of dynamic asymmetric panel data models
Authors: Adam Christos , Drakos Periklis D
Published: April 2022

This paper investigates the effect of climate change on economic growth, using nonlinear dynamic panel methods, for 15 countries of European Union (EU), by the period 1981-2019. Specifically, it is examined the impact of temperature, precipitation and CO2 emissions on economic growth. So, ARDL (Autoregressive Distributed Lags) methods were employed, overcoming cross-dependency and also considering linearity and nonlinearity. In results is showed that economic growth has positive nonlinear relationship with long-run temperature, but in short-run they have a symmetric negative association. Moreover, precipitation has long-run negative and a short-run positive relationship with economic growth. However, when CO2 emissions are added, then precipitation has a positive effect on economic growth, but all others except from temperature increase, become insignificant. Finally, actions should be taken for more stable climate conditions and consistent environmental policies by EU countries.
Inhibiting IRE-1 RNase signaling decreases HIV-1 Tat-induced inflammatory M1 state in microglial cells
Authors: Silveira Douglas Bardini , Pinto Aguinaldo Roberto , Ferrary Monique , Terenzi Hernán
Published: April 2022

HIV-1 transactivator (Tat) protein plays a critical role in neurological disorders resulting from viral infection, commonly known as HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Previous studies have shown tha circulant Tat induces M1 microglial activation, one of the hallmark features of HAND, and this is coupled with ER stress and subsequent Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) deflagration. Here, we demonstrate that bystander stimuli of Tat in microglial cells result in the simultaneous overexpression of IRE1-related markers and production of M1-typed pro-inflammatory mediators. We also show that blocking IRE1/XBP-1 signaling using 4µ8C diminishes such inflammatory response. These findings reinforce a role for the IRE1/XBP-1 pathway in HIV-1 neuropathology and suggest that targeting IRE1 RNase activity using 4µ8C or analogue compounds may provide a therapeutic intervention to mitigate against neuroinflammation in HAND.
Estimated frequency of somatic symptom disorder in general practice: cross-sectional survey with general practitioners
Authors: Lehmann Marco , Pohontsch Nadine Janis , Zimmermann Thomas , Scherer Martin , Löwe Bernd
Published: April 2022

BackgroundSomatic symptom disorder (SSD) is the successor diagnosis of somatoform disorder in the 5th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). Relevance and frequency of SSD and its clinical symptoms in general practice are still unknown. We estimate frequencies of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria of SSD in general practice.MethodsMailed and online survey with general practitioners (GP) in Germany using a cross-sectional representative sample from registries of statutory health insurance physicians. GPs estimated percentages of their patients who show the clinical symptoms of SSD according to DSM-5; that is, one or more burdensome somatic symptoms (A criterion), excessive symptom- or illness-related concern, anxiety, or behaviour (B criterion), and persistence of the symptoms over at least 6 months (C criterion). Statistical analysis used means and confidence intervals of estimated patient proportions showing SSD symptoms. Frequency of full-blown SSD was based on the products of these proportions calculated for each GP.ResultsResponses from 1728 GPs were obtained. GPs saw the clinical symptoms of SSD fulfilled (A and B criteria) in 21.5% (95% CI: 20.6 to 22.3) of their patients. They further estimated that in 24.3% (95% CI: 23.3 to 25.2) of patients, symptoms would persist, yielding a total of 7.7% (95% CI: 7.1 to 8.4) of patients to have a full-blown SSD.ConclusionsGPs see the clinical symptoms of SSD fulfilled in a considerable patient proportion. This indicates a high clinical relevance of the clinical symptoms of SSD in general practice.Study registrationGerman Clinical Trials Register (Deutschen Register Klinischer Studien, DRKS)https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.doThe date the study was registered: October 2nd 2017The date the first participant was enrolled: February 9th 2018DRKS-ID: DRKS00012942
Matrix Stiffness and Architecture Drive Fibro-adipogenic Progenitors’ Activation into Myofibroblasts
Authors: Loomis Taryn , Hu Lin-Ya , Wohlgemuth Ross P. , Chellakudam Rosemary R. , Smith Lucas R.
Published: April 2022

Fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are essential in supporting regeneration in skeletal muscle but in muscle pathologies FAPs the are main source of excess extracellular matrix (ECM) resulting in fibrosis. Fibrotic ECM has altered mechanical and architectural properties, but the feedback onto FAPs of stiffness or ECM properties is largely unknown. In this study, FAPs’ sensitivity to their ECM substrate was assessed using collagen coated polyacrylamide to control substrate stiffness and collagen hydrogels to engineer concentration, crosslinking, fibril size, and alignment. FAPs on substrates of fibrotic stiffnesses had increased myofibroblast activation, depicted by αSMA expression, compared to substrates mimicking healthy muscle which correlated strongly YAP nuclear localization. Surprisingly, fibrosis associated collagen crosslinking and larger fibril size inhibited myofibroblast activation, which was independent of YAP localization. Additionally, collagen crosslinking and larger fibril diameters were associated with decreased remodeling of the collagenous substrate as measured by second harmonic generation imaging. This study is the first to demonstrate that fibrotic muscle stiffness can elicit FAP activation to myofibroblasts through YAP signaling. However, fibrotic collagen architecture actually inhibits myofibroblast activation through a YAP independent mechanism. These data expand knowledge of FAPs sensitivity to ECM and illuminate targets to block FAP’s from driving progression of muscle fibrosis.
Flood vulnerability mapping and urban sprawl suitability using FR, LR, and SVM models, Taif area, KSA
Authors: Youssef Ahmed M. , Pourghasemi Hamid Reza , Mahdi Ali M. , Matar Saleh S.
Published: April 2022

Flooding is a natural but inevitable phenomenon that occurs over time. It not only damages human lives, property, and resources but also slows down the economy of a country. In this study, an attempt was made to establish suitability map for future urban development based on flood vulnerability maps in Taif catchment area, Saudi Arabia. For this purpose, three models including, bivariate (FR), multivariate (LR), and machine learning (SVM) were used. Thirteen parameters were used as flood-contributing parameters. The inventory map was created using field surveys, historical data, analysis of RADAR (Sentinel-1A), and Google Earth images collected between 2013 and 2020. Generally, 70% flood locations were randomly selected from the flood inventory map to generate the flood susceptibility model, and the remaining 30% flood points were used to model validation. The flood susceptibility map was classified into five zones: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The AUC value used to predict the performance of the models, showed that the accuracy reached 89.5, 92.0, and 96.2% for the models FR, LR and SVM, respectively. Accordingly, the flood susceptibility map produced by the SVM model is accurate and was used to construct flood vulnerability map with the help of urban and road density maps. This step followed by integrating slope and elevation maps with the flood vulnerability model to produce the final suitability map that was classified into three zones, isolated zone, low suitable, and high suitable areas. Results indicated that the high suitable areas located in the east and northeast parts of the Taif Basins where flood risk is low and very low. The results of this work will improve land use planning by engineers and authorities and take possible action to reduce flood hazards in the area.
Identification and Characterization of pleiotropic and epistatic QDRL conferring partial resistance to Pythium irregulare and P. sylvaticum in soybean
Authors: Lin Feng , Li Wenlong , McCoy Austin G , Wang Kelly , Jacobs Janette , Zhang Na , Huo Xiaobo , Wani Shabir H , Gu Cuihua , Chilvers Martin I , Wang Dechun
Published: April 2022

Pythium root rot is an important seedling disease of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], a crop grown worldwide for protein and oil content. Pythium irregulare and P. sylvaticum are two of the most prevalent and aggressive Pythium species in soybean producing regions in the North Central U.S. A few studies have been conducted to identify soybean resistance against the two pathogens. In this study, a mapping population (derived from E13390 x E13901) with 228 F4:5 recombinant inbred lines were screened against P. irregulare isolate MISO 11 − 6 and P. sylvaticum isolate C-MISO2-2-30 for QDRL mapping. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations between soybean responses to the two pathogens, and a pleiotropic QDRL (qPirr16.1) was identified. Further investigation found that the qPirr16.1 imparts dominant resistance against P. irregulare, but recessive resistance against P. sylvaticum. In addition, two QDRL, qPsyl15.1, and qPsyl18.1 were identified for partial resistance to P. sylvaticum. Further analysis revealed epistatic interactions between qPirr16.1 and qPsyl15.1 for RRW and DRX, whereas qPsyl18.1 contributed resistance to RSE. Marker assisted resistance spectrum analysis using F6:7 progeny lines verified the resistance of qPirr16.1 against four additional P. irregulare isolates. Intriguingly, although the epistatic interaction of qPirr16.1 and qPsyl15.1 can be confirmed using two additional isolates of P. sylvaticum, the interaction appears to be suppressed for the other two P. sylvaticum isolates. An ‘epistatic gene-for-gene’ model was proposed to explain the isolate-specific epistatic interactions. The integration of the QDRL into elite soybean lines has been initiated containing all the desirable alleles.
Impact of anticancer therapy on the quality of life of Sudanese patients with breast cancer at Khartoum oncology hospital
Authors: Abdoon Iman Hassan , Aldaak Mawada , Suliman Hayat M.
Published: April 2022

Background: Cancer treatment-related side effects affect quality of life (QOL) of patients. QOL has increasingly become a primary outcome measure for treatment efficacy. This study aimed to assess the impact of various anticancer therapies on QOL of Sudanese patients with breast cancer. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Khartoum Oncology Hospital, Sudan, from November 2020 to March 2021. All patients diagnosed with breast cancer were included in the study. QOL was assessed using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C-30) and breast cancer supplementary module (QLQ-BR23). ANOVA, independent t-test and logistic regression analysis were used to assess the association between variables. Results: 200 patients were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 50±11.7 years. 52.5% of the patients were on a conventional therapy whereas 40.5% and 7% received hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies, respectively. In QLQ-C30 scale, the global health status score was (53. 2±1.9), with 54.0% of patients having poor global health status. In the functional scale, the cognitive functioning was the highest score (80.7±1.8). In QLQ-C30 symptom scale, the most distressing issue was financial difficulties (63.7±2.9). In QLQ-BR23scale, body image (47.7±2.7) scored the worse functioning, with 58.5% of patients having poor QOL. In QLQ-BR23 symptoms scale, "being upset by hair loss" was the highest disturbing symptom (62.1±3.3), with 68.5% of patients having poor QOL. Global health status (P=0.000), social (P=0.000), emotional (P=0.002) and role functioning (P=0.000) were significantly higher in patients taking HER2-targeted or hormonal therapy compared with conventional therapy. The level of symptomatology was significantly low in patients taking HER2-targeted therapy or hormonal therapy (P=0.000) when compared with conventional therapy. Hormonal (OR=3.88, p=0.005) and HER2-targeted therapies (OR=10.8, p=0.032) were positive predictors of QOL.Conclusion: Breast cancer survivors in Sudan had a low QOL/global health status. Hormonal and HER2-targeted therapies were predictors of good QOL.
Impacts of COVID-19 lockdown on traffic flow, active travel and gaseous pollutant concentrations; implications for future emissions control measures in Oxford, UK
Authors: Singh Ajit , Guo Tianjiao , Bush Tony , Abreu Pedro , Leach Felix C.P. , Stacey Brian , Economides George , Anderson Ruth , Cole Stuart , Thomas G. Neil , Pope Francis D. , Bartington Suzanne E.
Published: April 2022

This study provides valuable insight into impacts of COVID-19 emergency public health “lockdown” measures upon traffic flow, active travel and gaseous pollutant concentrations (NO, NO2, and O3) in Oxford city centre during 2020. Comparisons of traffic counts indicated pronounced changes in traffic volume associated with national lockdown periods. Car volume reduced by 77.5% (statistically significant) during the first national lockdown, with lesser changes in goods vehicles and public transport (bus) activity during the second lockdown. Cycle flow reduced substantively during the first lockdown only. These changes resulted in a reduction in nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations of 75.1% and 47.4%, respectively at roadside, and 71.8% and 34.1% at urban background during the first lockdown period. In contrast ozone (O3) concentrations increased at the urban background site by 22.3% during the first lockdown period, with no significant changes in gaseous concentrations during the second lockdown at either roadside or urban background location. The diurnal pattern of peak mean NO and NO2 concentrations reduced in magnitude and was shifted approximately 2 hours earlier in the morning and 2 hours later in the evening (roadside) and 3 hours earlier in the morning and 3 hours later in the evening (urban background). Our findings provide an example of how gaseous air quality in urban environments could respond to future urban traffic restrictions, suggesting benefits from reductions in peak and daily NO2 exposures may be offset by health harms arising from increases in ground level O3 concentrations in the summer months.
Differential food utilization of benthic amphipods of a tropical estuary : a stable isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) investigation
Authors: Srini Tatiparthi , Sukumaran Soniya , Kondamudi Ramesh Babu
Published: April 2022

Globally, stable isotopic methods are rapidly being employed in food web studies to quantify the relative proportions of diverse primary carbon sources in an animal diet. Tropical estuarine ecosystems, one of the vital marine habitats, harbour complex food webs due to the multiplicity of habitats and resources. The complex system of inputs and exchanges of organic matter sometimes complicate identification of the carbon sources that support the higher trophic levels. To assess the primary food sources of four abundant amphipod species in the anthropogenically influenced upper Vashishti estuary, Carbon and Nitrogen stable isotopes were employed. Seasonal variations were significant for δ13C and δ15N of suspended particulate organic matter (SPOM) and also for δ13C of sediment organic matter (SOM), but not for the isotopic signatures of individual amphipod species. Significant variations in the δ13C and δ15N values between amphipods suggested species-specific diets. Mixing model output indicated discrepancies in seasonal variations of food preferences between species. Trophic level values indicated that all amphipod species were primary consumers. The depleted δ15N values of SPOM, SOM and amphipod species and the negative relationship between δ15N values of SPOM with SS and NO2--N concentration and also between δ15N values of Gammaropsis megnae with increasing NO3--N and NO2--N concentrations were possibly due to the anthropogenic input of nitrogen in the estuary.
Heart-enriched long noncoding RNA NPPA-AS1 regulates pathological cardiac hypertrophy by initiating a EP300-GATA4 axis
Authors: zeng chunyu , Xu Zaicheng , Lan Cong , Chen Caiyu , Yang Yang , Cao Nian , Yu Junyi , Luo Hao , Chen Ken , Guo Li , Wang Hongyong , Liao Qiao , Li Chuanwei , Gong Xue , Chen Zhi , Jiang Jiahui , Yang Dezhong , Wang Da-zhi , Jose Pedro A , Wu Gengze
Published: April 2022

Aims: Cardiac hypertrophy, in the long-term, is a maladaptive response to the change in hemodynamics needed to maintain cardiac output that leads to heart failure and sudden death. However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms causing cardiac hypertrophy remain to be elucidated. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in many biological processes and diseases. However, knowledge of the role of lncRNAs in cardiac diseases is still limited. Methods and Results：We identified the role of NPPA-AS1 in cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling. NPPA-AS1 is a heart-enriched and -conserved lncRNA, located in the antisense strand of the atrial natriuretic peptide (NPPA) gene. The cardiac expression of NPPA-AS1 was markedly upregulated early and sustained, in response to stress caused by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in mice. NPPA-AS1 levels were also increased in failing human hearts. To determine the functional role of NPPA-AS1 in the heart in vivo, we inactivated NPPA-AS1 in mice using CRISPR-Cas9. Under basal conditions, there was no body or cardiac morphological or functional phenotype in NPPA-AS1-inactivated mice. However, in vivo germline inactivation of NPPA-AS1 minimized the TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis and normalized the cardiac size, weight, and function. GapmeR-mediated or AAV9-shRNA-mediated silencing of NPPA-AS1 could also block and attenuate TAC-induced pathological cardiac remodeling, which reveals its clinical translation potential. The beneficial cardiac effects of inhibition of NPPA-AS1 were related to the recruitment of transcriptional coactivator EP300 to bind with transcription factor GATA4 to promote GATA4 acetylation and inhibition of hypertrophic gene expression. Conclusions: Our studies show that NPPA-AS1 recruits the transcriptional factor GATA4, increasing EP300/GATA4 binding and subsequent GATA4 acetylation to promote pathological cardiac hypertrophy. Inhibition of NPPA-AS1 could serve as a potential therapeutic strategy in the treatment of maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy and remodeling.
Soil texture is a stronger driver of the maize rhizosphere microbiome and extracellular enzyme activities than soil depth or the presence of root hairs
Authors: Yim Bunlong , Ibrahim Zeeshan , Rüger Lioba , Ganther Minh , Maccario Lorrie , Sørensen Søren J. , Heintz-Buschart Anna , Tarkka Mika T. , Vetterlein Doris , Bonkowski Michael , Blagodatskaya Evgenia , Smalla Kornelia
Published: April 2022

AimsDifferent drivers are known to shape rhizosphere microbiome assembly. How soil texture (Texture) and presence or lack of root hairs (Root Hair) of plants affect the rhizosphere microbiome assembly and soil potential extracellular enzyme activities (EEA) at defined rooting depth (Depth) is still a knowledge gap. We investigated effects of these drivers on microbial assembly in rhizosphere and on potential EEA in root-affected soil of maize. MethodsSamples were taken from three depths of root hair defective mutant rth3 and wild-type WT maize planted on loam and sand in soil columns after 22 days. Rhizosphere bacterial, archaeal, fungal and cercozoan communities were analysed by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene, ITS and 18S rRNA gene fragments. Soil potential EEA of ß-glucosidase, acid phosphatase and chitinase were estimated using fluorogenic substrates. ResultsThe bacterial, archaeal and cercozoan alpha- and beta-diversity were significantly, and strongly altered by Texture, followed by Depth and Root Hair. Texture and Depth had a small impact on fungal assembly, and only fungal beta-diversity was significantly affected. Significant impacts by Depth and Root Hair on beta-diversity and relative abundances at taxonomic levels of bacteria, archaea, fungi and cercozoa were dependent on Texture. Likewise, the patterns of potential EEA followed the trends of microbial communities, and the potential EEA correlated with the relative abundances of several taxa.ConclusionsTexture was the strongest driver of rhizosphere microbiome and of soil potential EEA, followed by Depth and Root Hair, similarly to findings in maize root architecture and plant gene expression studies.
Enablers and barriers to post-discharge follow-up among women who have undergone a cesarean section: Experiences from a prospective cohort in rural Rwanda
Authors: Nkurunziza Theoneste , Riviello Robert , Kateera Frederick , Nihiwacu Edison , Nkurunziza Jonathan , Gruendl Magdalena , Klug Stefanie J. , Hedt-Gauthier Bethany
Published: April 2022

Background:Caesarean sections account for roughly one third of all surgical procedures performed in low-income countries. Due to lack of standardised post-discharge follow-up protocols and practices, most of available data are extracted from clinical charts during hospitalization and are thus sub-optimal for answering post-discharge outcomes questions. This study aims to determine enablers and barriers to returning to the hospital after discharge among women who have undergone a c-section at a rural district hospital in Rwanda. Methods:Women aged ≥ 18 years who underwent c-section at Kirehe District Hospital in rural Rwanda in the period March to October 2017 were prospectively followed. At discharge, consenting women were given an appointment to return for follow-up on postoperative day 10 (POD 10) (±3days) and provided a voucher to cover transport and compensation for participation to be redeemed on their return. Study participants received a reminder call on the eve of their scheduled appointment. We used a backward stepwise logistic regression, at an α=0.05 significance level, to identify enablers and barriers associated with post-discharge follow-up return. Results:Of 586 study participants, the majority were between 21-30 years old (62.6%, n=367), had primary education (70.0%, n=410), were farmers (86.7%, n=508), earned less than 31.8 Euro/month (92.7%, n=543), had a phone contact number (86.4%, n=506), and were discharged by POD3 (73.2% n=423). Of those eligible, 90.4% (n=530) returned for follow-up. The predictors of return were counseling by a female data collector (OR=9.85, 95%CI:1.43-37.59) and receiving a reminder call (OR=16.47, 95%CI:7.07-38.38). Having no insurance reduced the odds of returning to follow-up (OR=0.03, 95%CI:0.03-0.23), and those who spent more than 10.6 Euro for transport to and from the hospital were less likely to return to follow-up (OR=0.14, 95%CI:0.04- 0.50). Conclusion:mHealh interventions using calls or notifications can increase the post-discharge follow-up uptake. The reminder calls to patients and counselling by a gender-matching provider had a positive effect on return to care. Further interventions are needed targeting the uninsured and patients facing transportation hardship. Additionally, association between counseling of women patients by a female data collector and greater return to follow-up needs further exploration to optimize counseling procedures.
Planning the yaw correction trajectory based on the motor current detection
Authors: weiqiang ying , kuang cheng , Zhang Lingyan , Yao Cheng , Ying Fangtian , Luo Shijian
Published: April 2022

This paper describes distributed adaptive methods for solving the trajectory distortion control problem of intelligent lawnmowers. The strategy we have chosen is to use the association of motor current changes with changes in the movement patterns of the trajectory to try to modify the relationship between the fuzzy controller and the Proportional Integral Derivative(PID)controller based on traditional fuzzy PID control theory in order to Design a new low-cost control scheme that uses the differences between current detection and linearized models as data feedback, interpolates these linear models with the Takagi-Sugeno(T-S)fuzzy method\cite{1985Fuzzy} to approximate the entire non-linear model, and then the concept of parallel distributed compensation(PDC)synthesizes a state feedback controller. A linear quadratic regulator(LQR)is used to stabilize the system and achieve the desired response. A PID fuzzy control method is then used to form the control of the intelligent lawnmower motor.This strategy uses data feedback obtained by monitoring the left and right motor current fluctuations, and it can be seen from the practical results that the proposed method is effective in obtaining an ideal linear path with good tracking behavior in various situations.And this paper uses the current monitoring changes control method to determine whether the bias voltage tested and confirmed that the method can achieve stable path control.
Research on Object Detection of High Resolution Remote Sensing Image based on Improved YOLOV4 Algorithm
Authors: Li Zairui , Zheng Yongguo , Dong-ye Changlei , Wang Ping , Yasir Muhammad
Published: April 2022

Object detection is one of the fundamental tasks in computer vision. Although excellent progress has been made, there still exist challenges for objects with dense distribution, fuzzy feature, and small size. This paper presents a detector for object detection of small size in High-Resolution remote sensing images, namely SF-YOLOV4. The proposed SF-YOLOV4 exploits information for shallow layers and contextual information along with spatial attention to address the above challenges. Specifically, a shallow semantic information extraction network(SFN) is designed which introduces low-level semantic information into the backbone, to alleviate the loss of the small object features. Meanwhile, we replace the original Nick with multi-scale context feature pyramid (MSC-FPN) to improve the utilization of lower layers information and integrate the context information, we also add spatial attention module to find attention region at different scales. Experiments on two remote sensings public datasets DIOR and RSOD show the good detection performance of SF-YOLOV4.
Size of contralateral aneurysm: an indicator of Posterior Communicating artery mirror aneurysm management
Authors: Li Jiayao , Wang Chao , Chang Jia-Yi , Xu Dong-Mei , Zhou Han , Li Huanting , Li Shifang , Feng Yugong
Published: April 2022

Introduction: Intracranial mirror aneurysm is one of the subspecies of multiple intracranial aneurysms. The clear consensus on the treatment of mirror aneurysms has not come into existence. We investigated the preoperative value for radiographic data of Posterior Communicating artery (PComA) mirror aneurysms in operation choosing.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients with PComA mirror aneurysms treated with clipping from December 1997 to April 2019. The PComA mirror aneurysms were confirmed by computed tomographic angiography or digital substraction angiography and PComA mirror aneurysms patients with other aneurysms complicated were excluded. Patients’ radiographic data, general clinical data and Modified Rankin Score were analysed by R 4.1.2.Results: 33 PComA mirror aneurysm patients were analysed. Mirror aneurysms were clipped by one-stage unilateral craniotomy approach in 10 of 33. There was one factor that was statistically significant. In patients accepted unilateral approach, the size of silence aneurysm tended to be in the range of 5.1mm to 10mmDiscussion: The size of silent aneurysm performs as an indicator for neuro- surgeon in choosing management strategy of mirror aneurysms. Thus it is helpful to measure the size of silence aneurysm before operation.
Comparative Intra- and Inter-observer Reliability of Two Methods for Evaluating Intraoperative Ultrasonography-based Spinal Cord Hyperechogenicity Intensity in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy
Authors: Wu Huachuan , Chen Guoliang , Li Xianlong , Zhu Zhengya , Xu Zuofeng , Liu Xizhe , Liu Shaoyu
Published: April 2022

Objective: To acquire a higher-reliability method, and compare the in-observer and inter-observer reliability of two methods in evaluating the hyperechoic intensity of spinal cord ultrasound in degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).Materials and Methods: Totally 28 patients (20 males and 8 females) who had been followed up for 12 months were included. Their mean age at surgery was 61.2±10.8 years and the average symptom duration was 23.36±22.11 months. The gray values of circles 1, 2 and 3 were recorded as Gcompression, Gnorml and Gsac, respectively. The gray value ratio (GVR) was calculated as follows: GVR-A= Gcompression/Gnorml (method A), and GVR-B= Gcompression/Gsac (method B). The in-observer and inter-observer reliabilities of the two methods were compared. It is generally believed a reliability coefficient < 0.40 and > 0.75 indicate poor and good reliability respectively. The images-based GVR-B using this protocol demonstrates higher inter- and intraobserver reliabilities than GVR-A, and can be used as the basis for prognostic prediction and future studies.Results: All examination acquisitions were successfully completed. GVR-A averaged 2.043 (0.318–5.56), and GVR-B averaged 0.578(0.06–1.41). GVR-B has better repeatability of gray value measurement, smaller RSD% (0.298 vs. 0.32) and larger inter-group correlation coefficient compared with GVR-A. The mean value (MD) of the GVR difference calculated by GVR-B between the two clinicians was closer to 0.Conclusions: For DCM patients routinely using ultrasound for real-time cord visualization during spinal cord decompression by French-door laminoplasty, the images-based GVR-B using this protocol demonstrates better inter- and intraobserver reliabilities compared with GVR-A.
Circulating Tumor Cells Detected in Follow-up Predict Survival Outcomes in Tri- modality Management of Advanced Non-Metastatic Esophageal Cancer: A Secondary Analysis of the QUINTETT Randomized Trial
Authors: Yu Edward , Allan Alison L. , Sanatani Michael , Lewis Debra , Warner Andrew , Dar A. Rashid , Yaremko Brian P. , Lowes Lori E. , Palma David A. , Raphael Jacques , Vincent Mark D. , Rodrigues George B. , Fortin Dalilah , Inculet Richard I. , Frechette Eric , Bierer Joel , Law Jeffery , Younus Jawaid , Malthaner Richard A.
Published: April 2022

Background: Our aim was to establish if presence of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) predicted worse outcome in patients with non-metastatic esophageal cancer undergoing tri-modality therapy. Methods: We prospectively collected CTC data from patients with operable non-metastatic esophageal cancer from April 2009 to November 2016 enrolled in our QUINTETT esophageal cancer randomized trial (NCT00907543). Patients were randomized to receive either neoadjuvant cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) plus radiotherapy followed by surgical resection (Neoadjuvant) or adjuvant cisplatin, 5-FU, and epirubicin chemotherapy with concurrent extended volume radiotherapy following surgical resection (Adjuvant). CTCs were identified with the CellSearch® system before the initiation of any treatment (surgery or chemoradiotherapy) as well as at 6-, 12-, and 24-months post-treatment. The threshold for CTC positivity was one and the findings were correlated with patient prognosis. Results: CTC data were available for 74 of 96 patients and identified in 27 patients (36.5%) at a median follow-up of 13.1months (interquartile range:6.8-24.1 months). Detection of CTCs at any follow-up visit was significantly predictive of worse disease-free survival (DFS;hazard ratio [HR]: 2.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.41-4.24; p=0.002), regional control (HR: 6.18; 95% CI: 1.18-32.35; p=0.031), distant control (HR: 2.93; 95% CI: 1.52-5.65;p=0.001) and overall survival (OS;HR: 2.02; 95% CI: 1.16-3.51; p=0.013). After adjusting for receiving neoadjuvant vs. adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, the presence of CTCs at any follow-up visit remained significantly predictive of worse OS ([HR]:2.02;95% [Cl]:1.16-3.51; p=0.013) and DFS (HR: 2.49;95% Cl: 1.43-4.33; p=0.001). Similarly, any observed increase in CTCs was significantly predictive of worse OS (HR: 3.14; 95% CI: 1.56-6.34; p=0.001) and DFS (HR: 3.34; 95% CI: 1.67-6.69; p<0.001). Conclusion: The presence of CTCs in patients during follow-up after tri-modality therapy was associated with significantly poorer DFS and OS regardless of timing of chemoradiotherapy.
Worldwide seismic observations of low frequency signals related to the 15 January 2022 Hunga-Tonga volcanic eruption
Authors: Diaz Jordi
Published: April 2022

The eruption of the Hunga-Tonga volcano produced a high-energy explosion that was recorded globally by different scientific instruments, including broad-band seismometers. Seismic data recorded on global seismic networks is used to explore three main topics; the time evolution of the eruption, the atmospheric waves revolving around the Earth and the low-frequency, long-lasting signals recorded worldwide in the hours after the main event. From the inspection of the data we can assess that the eruption started on January 15 around 04:05 UTC, several minutes before the origin time reported in the seismic catalogs and included two large explosions at 05:30 and 08:35. As for the atmospheric waves, their energy was enough to be detected seismically during more than two complete circumambulations of the Earth, during a time span of three and a half days. The most notable seismic feature has been the low-frequency signals detected over several hours and interpreted as resulting from the excitation of Earth normal modes. To our knowledge, there are no previous examples of atmospheric-solid Earth coupling over such a long time interval and only two examples of normal mode excitation following volcanic eruptions, identified for the 1982 El Chinchón and the 1991 Mount Pinatubo eruptions.
Knocking down HIF-1α expression inhibits lung metastasis of breast cancer cell line 4T1 by attenuating EMT
Authors: Zhao Jinjin , Zhang Haiguang , Liu Yaqian , Lu Guangjian , Wang Zhaohui , Mo Qingjiang , Jiao Luyang
Published: April 2022

Background: Globally, women’s healthy and survival were threatened by breast cancer. Clarify the mechanism of distal metastasis of breast cancer will provide precise control and prolong patients’ lifetime. It’s well known that HIF-1α play important roles in breast cancer, however, few studies have directly examined the impact of knocking down HIF-1α on lung metastasis of breast cancer. In this study, HIF-1α was knocked down in mice breast cancer cell line 4T1 to explore its role on breast cancer lung metastasis.Methods: HIF-1Α knocked down lentivirus pHBL-U6-MSC-shHIF-1Α-GFP-PURO was transfected to 4T1 cells to construct HIF-1α low expression cells model while pHBL-U6-MSC-GFP-PURO was used as control. The transfection efficiency of lentivirus was observed by fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry, HIF-1α knock down was tested by Q-PCR and western blot. Would healing and transwell migration were used to detect the migration ability of cells in vitro. Mouse lung metastasis model was used to verify cells metastasis in vivo.Results: Lower expression of HIF-1α was detected in HIF-1Α knocked down 4T1 cells. Decreased HIF-1α expression repressed migration of 4T1 cells in vitro and reduced lung metastasis in mice breast cancer model. Moreover, HIF-1α’s down expression sponges E-cadherin up-regulation and Vimentin down-regulation to inhibit EMT, therefor reduced lung metastasis.Conclusions: our study revealed that HIF-1α knocked down inhibited lung metastasis of 4T1 breast cancer in vivo by suppressed EMT, thus inspiring a new treatment for breast cancer.
A European nudibranch new to the Gulf of Maine: Doris pseudoargus Rapp, 1827.
Authors: Harris Larry G. , Shure Alex , Kuzirian Alan , Gosliner Terrence M. , Donodoo Samantha A.
Published: April 2022

The Gulf of Maine has seen an increasing number of introduced species, some of which have had significant impacts on benthic community structure. In 2017, a number of specimens of the European dorid nudibranch, Doris pseudoargus, were observed on rocky ledges in waters off Cape Ann, Massachusetts. The presence of numerous specimens and egg masses suggested that the species had been established before 2017. Subsequent observations and collections have discovered specimens ranging from sites off Wedgeport, Nova Scotia to the northern end of the Cape Cod Canal. Genetic analysis has confirmed the species as Doris pseudoargus and similar to specimens from European locations. Historically, the Gulf of Maine had only one species of sponge feeding nudibranch. Unlike this endemic, stenotrophic feeding dorid, the introduction of a large sized, sponge predator known to feed on diverse sponge species has the potential to significantly impact community structure, as evidenced on vertical rocky substrates where its natural history has been observed.
Altered Functional Responses by PAR1 Agonist in Murine Dextran Sodium Sulphate-treated Colon
Authors: Sung Tae Sik , Moon Suk Bae , Perrino Brian A. , Sanders Kenton M. , Koh Sang Don
Published: April 2022

Protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1) is highly expressed in murine colonic smooth muscles. Responses to PAR1 activation are complex and result from responses in multiple cell types. We investigated whether PAR1 responses are altered in inflamed colon induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treatment. Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of 3% DSS in drinking water for 7 days. Measurements of isometric force, transmembrane potentials from impaled smooth muscle cells, quantitative PCR and Western blots were performed. Thrombin, an activator of PAR1, caused transient hyperpolarization and relaxation of untreated colons, but these responses decreased in DSS-treated colons. Apamin caused depolarization and increased contractions of muscles from untreated mice. This response was decreased in DSS-treated colons. Expression of Kcnn3 and Pdgfra also decreased in DSS-treated muscles. A second phase of thrombin responses is depolarization and increased contractions in untreated muscles. However, thrombin did cause depolarization in DSS-treated colon, yet it increased colonic contractions. The latter effect was associated with enhanced expression of MYPT1 and CPI-17. In summary, DSS treatment causes loss of transient relaxations due to downregulation of SK3 channels in PDGFRα+ cells and increases contractile responses due to increased Ca2+ sensitization of smooth muscle cells via PAR1 activation.