bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Early-Life Gut Microbiota and Long-Term Health and Diseases
Authors: Sarkar Anujit , Yoo Ji Youn , Valeria Ozorio Dutra Samia , Morgan Katherine Hope , Groer Maureen
Published: November 2020

Abstract: Early life gut microbiota have been increasingly recognized as major contributors to short and/or long-term human health and diseases. Numerous studies have demonstrated that human gut microbial colonization begins at birth but continues to develop a succession of taxonomic abundances for two to three years until the gut microbiota reaches adult-like diversity and proportions. Several factors, including gestational age (GA), delivery mode, birth weight, feeding types, antibiotic exposure, maternal microbiome and diet influence the diversity, abundance and function of the early life gut microbiota. Gut microbial life is essential for assisting with the digestion of food substances to release nutrients, exerting control over pathogens, stimulating or modulating the immune system and influencing many systems such as the liver, brain, and endocrine system. Microbial metabolites play multiple roles in these interactions. Furthermore, studies provide evidence supporting that imbalances of the gut microbiota in early life, referred to as dysbiosis, are associated with specific childhood or adult disease outcomes, such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, diabetes, allergic diseases, obesity, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and neurological disorders. These findings support that the human gut microbiota may play a fundamental role in the risk of acquiring diseases that may be programmed during the early life stage. In fact, it is critical to explore the role of the human gut microbiota in early life. In this review, we summarize the general understanding of the colonization and development of the gut microbiota in early life, highlighting the recent findings regarding the relationship between the gut microbiota composition and their metabolites, and immune functions, which could significantly influence long-term health and disease. We then review known pathophysiological interactions of the early gut microbiome with a number of well characterized diseases and pose potential etiological mechanisms.
Electrodynamic Coherence as a Physical Basis for Emergence of Perception, Semantics, and Adaptation in Living Systems
Authors: Renati Paolo
Published: November 2020

Despite the successes earned in cataloguing and finding the role of the most of molecular components in living matter, the “biochemical and molecular” perspective, popular in biology, medicine and genetics, is unable to give account for crucial topics as the faculty of living systems to “feel”, to “perceive” what a given stimulus implies (means, indeed) for their survival. Condensed matter physics too, if bounded to a local, short-range, and perturbative approach, fails dramatically. This is also due to the role commonly assigned to water – actually the main constituent of living matter – deemed for long time to be merely chemical (as “solvent” or a reactant/product). Nonetheless, today many evidences show how living matter can be right conceived as a super-structured coherent water-based matrix, suggesting that the characterization of bio(electro)chemical and physical processes undertaken at molecular level in living matter, would let us unable to answer a question like this: what allows an amoeba, moreover without any neurons, to “know” to get closer to a nutrient or escape away from a toxin? I propose that to pursue such a fundamental inquiry it’s necessary an essentially relational approach, that is: to consider the living being at its grounding as the outcome of a physical history of relationships where symmetry-breakings, dissipation and coherence yield the emergence of the living state of matter, conceivable only as a time-dependent open process, and not as a portraited “body”. The effective tools to build up such an approach may be retrieved in far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics (TD), symmetry-breakings and gauge-fields theory, science of complexity, within the framework of a Quantum Field Theory. Indeed, within a field-view of matter, and of water especially, as it has been developed by a Quantum Electrodynamic (QED) description of condensed matter, it’s possible to give account for a physical basis too such an epistemologically elusive, though crucial, feature of living systems (i.e.: perception and meaning). The emerging landscape allows some important meditations about adaptation, evolution, ecodynamics, and about different conceptions of complexity and “information” in living realm. Furthermore, some neuroscientific themes like consciousness, qualia and their links to artificial intelligence could be supplied with due insights.
Light Management in Single Rectangular Silicon Nanowires for Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Liu Wenfu
Published: November 2020

Light management in single nanowires (NWs) is of great importance for photovoltaic applications. However, square NWs (SNWs) can limit their light-trapping ability due to high geometrical symmetry. In this work, we present a detailed study of light management in single silicon NWs with a rectangular cross-section (RNWs). We demonstrate that the RNWs exhibit significantly enhanced light-harvesting compared with the SNWs, which can be attributed to the symmetry-broken structure that can orthogonalize the direction of light illumination and the leaky mode resonances (LMRs). That is, the rectangular cross-section can simultaneously increase the light path length by increasing the vertical side and reshape the LMR modes by decreasing the horizontal side. We found that the light absorption can be engineered via tuning the horizontal and vertical sides, the photocurrent is significantly enhanced by 276.5% or 82.9% in comparison with that of the SNWs with the same side length as the horizontal side of 100 nm or the vertical side of 1000 nm, respectively. This work advances our understanding of how to improve light-harvesting based on the symmetry breaking from the SNWs to RNWs and provides an effective way for designing high-efficiency single NW photovoltaic devices.
Cluster Flows and Multiagent Technology
Authors: Granichin Oleg , Uzhva Denis , Volkovich Zeev
Published: November 2020

Multiagent technologies give a new way to study and control complex systems. Local interactions between agents often lead to group synchronization also known as clusterization, which usually is a more rapid process in comparison with relatively slow changes in external environment. Usually, the goal of system control is defined by the behaviour of a system on long time intervals. When these time intervals are much longer than the time of cluster formation, clusters may be considered as new variables in a ``slow'' time model. We call such variables ``mesoscopic'' to emphasize their scale laying between the level of the whole system (macroscopic scale) and the level of individual agents (microscopic scale). Thus, it allows us to reduce significantly the dimensionality of a system by omitting considerations of each separated agent, so that we may hope to reduce the required amount of control inputs. Thus, we are often able to consider a system as a collection of ``flowing'' (morphing) clusters emerged form behaviour of a huge amount of individual agents. In this paper, we contrast such approach to the one where a system is considered as a network of elementary agents. We develop a mathematical framework for analysis of cluster flows in multiagent networks and use it to analyze the Kuramoto model as an attracting example of a complex networked system. In this model, a clusterization leads to sparse representation of dynamic trajectories in the whole quantized state space. With that in mind, compressive sensing allows to restore the trajectories in a high-dimensional discrete state space based on significantly lower amount of randomized integral mesoscopic observations. We propose a corresponding algorithm of quantized dynamic trajectory compression. It could allow us to efficiently transmit the state space data to a data center for further control synthesis. The theoretical results are illustrated for a simulated multiagent network with multiple clusters.
Rekayasa Dosis Nutrisi Melalui Drip Irrigation System terhadap Produksi Tomat Cherry (Solanum pimpinellifolium) Lokal Subang
Authors: Sobari Enceng
Published: November 2020

Tomatoes are easily damaged horticultural products, so that further handlings are needed in food production in the industry today. In order to keep availability, there is an increase in tomato fruit volume as raw material. Among them with increasing types and varieties of tomatoes that need to be continuously developed to supply the industry's needs. The research aimed to increase local tomato cherry production in Subang through an engineering strategy of nutrient feeding with a drip irrigation system. Research conducted from April to December 2019 at Cigadung Subang, West Java. The research was conducted using the Completely Randomized Design (CRD) one factor and the Duncan’s test at 7 nutritional dose treatment consists of P1 = dose 5 ml, P2 = dose 7 ml, P3 = dose 10 ml, P4 = dose 15 ml, P5 = dose 20 ml, P6 = dose 25 ml, P7 = Control with 5 repetition. The results concluded that two applications of nutritional doses at 7 and 10 ml could give different responses that increase the diameter and thickness of the fruits.
Pengaruh berbagai Asal Benih Induk dan Media Tanam terhadap Pertumbuhan Jambu Mete
Authors: Pujiasmanto Bambang , Pardono Pardono , Triharyanto Eddy , Harsono Puji , Sulandjari Sulandjari , Widijanto Hery , Sulistyo T D , Supriyono Supriyono , Putra Wisnu Adi Nugraha Permana
Published: November 2020

Common problems in cashew tree development are low plant productivity caused by the use of unqualified seeds and limited knowledge of seed handling. This research was aimed to study the role of the mother tree on the growth of cashew seeds and study the seedling and growth of cashew trees in several planting media. The method used was Completely Randomized Design (CRD), consisting of two treatment factors and 4 replications. The first factor was the planting medium consists of 4 types: soil; soil: manure (2: 1); husk charcoal: manure (2: 1); soil: charcoal husk: manure (1: 1: 1). While the second factor was the origin of the seeds from the parent tree with fruit colors red, green, yellow, pink. The results showed that the planting soil medium was very significantly affected by increasing plant growth, namely plant height, number, and leaf area. The interaction between media and seed origin was not significantly affected plant growth. The best seed growth was found on soil media, plant height reaches 31.750 cm, number of leaves with 19 leaves, with an area of 48.437 cm2.
Presenting the Sixth JDR Award
Authors: Nakada Setsuya ,   Center for Integrated Volcano Research, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience, Japan
Published: November 2020

It is our great pleasures to present the sixth JDR Award to Prof. Masato Iguchi. Prof. Iguchi, as the top guest editor, published two JDR special issues entitled “Integrated Study on Mitigation of Multimodal disasters caused by Ejection of Volcanic Products.” These special issues, vol.11, no.1 in 2016 and vol.14, no.1 in 2019, were results of a project (2013–2018) of the Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development (SATREPS). The second special issue set a record for the highest annual download. In addition, he was the first author or co-author of 11 papers published by JDR in 2019.

Professor Iguchi, as one of most recognized volcanologists in the world, has been leading observation research of active volcanoes as the Director of the Sakurajima Volcano Research Center of Kyoto University’s Disaster Prevention Research Institute. He has promoted geophysical research on volcanic activity not only in Japan but also in Indonesia, evaluating volcanic activity by incorporating the results of material science and demonstrating the effectiveness of long-term, multi-item observations in those processes. He has made a significant contribution to the promotion of Indonesian volcano research, taking over the strong will of former Kyoto University professors, and his contributions have culminated in the aforementioned two special issues.

On behalf of the JDR editorial board, I wish to thank Prof. Iguchi for his efforts and to congratulate him as the winner of the sixth JDR Award.
Measurement of Disaster Damage Utilizing Disaster Statistics: A Case Study Analyzing the Data of Indonesia
Authors: Sasaki Daisuke ,   International Research Institute of Disaster Science (IRIDeS), Tohoku University 468-1 Aza-Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-0845, Japan, Okumura Makoto , Ono Yuichi
Published: November 2020

The Global Centre for Disaster Statistics (GCDS) in Tohoku University was established in April 2015. One of its main missions is to support the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) in the monitoring and evaluation of progress by providing support at a national level for building the capacity to develop nationwide statistics on disaster damage and by establishing an improved global database for such statistics. The objective of this study was to find clues for the effective measurement of disaster damage utilizing disaster statistics. In disaster loss databases, we often encounter so many observed variables that it is difficult to establish how severe each disaster was in total. Thus, it was considered that introducing a whole new compound indicator to estimate the scale of each disaster properly would be beneficial. In this context, the authors conducted a principal component analysis (PCA) to introduce new compound indicators. The material data for the analysis were retrieved via the global disaster-related database (GDB) provided by the GCDS. Consequently, it was posited that the score of the first principal component, calculated by a PCA, could be an effective indicator to estimate the specific impact of a disaster. We believe that the findings and proposal of a new indicator in this study will contribute to the literature in that new clues to establish an evidence-based criteria and threshold of disaster data collection are provided.
Анализ использования кодонов в кодирующих последовательностях подсемейства Coronavirinae.
Authors: Тюлько Жанна , Якименко Валерий
Published: November 2020

Проведены анализ и сравнение особенностей использования синонимичных кодонов у вирусов подсемейства Coronavirinae родов Alphacoronavirus, Betacoronavirus, Gammacoronavirus, Deltacoronavirus, в том числе у вирусов SARS-CoV-2 в открытых рамках считывания ORF1ab и ORF2. Для всех изучаемых кодирующих последовательностей рассчитывались показатели относительного использования синонимичных кодонов которые в дальнейшем использовались при проведении дискриминантного анализа для выявления характерных особенностей каждой изучаемой группы последовательностей. В результате были выявлены достоверные различия в использовании синонимичных кодонов, как разными родами, так и отдельными видами коронавирусов причем SARS-CoV-2 значительно дистанцируется от большинства других бетакоронавирусов. Показано, также, что коронавирусы летучих мышей и птиц, часто занимают промежуточное положение по отношению к видам, относящимся к разным родам коронавирусов.
Edward Churton and Hugh James Rose: Two Victorian Hispanophiles
Authors: Murphy Martin
Published: November 2020

For some curiosos impertinentes of the Victorian era Spain offered a means of escape and self-discovery. Edward Churton, an Archdeacon and theologian, was a hispanist a distancia who fell in love with Spanish poetry and, in his remote Yorkshire rectory, wrote the first scholarly study of Gongora to be published in England. By contrast, Hugh James Rose, no intellectual, lived «among the Spanish people» (the title of one of his two books), first at Linares and later at Cadiz and Madrid, learning lessons in the art of living. His wide-ranging and sympathetic observations are of value to social historians.
Connectedness Among Economic Policy Uncertainties: Evidence from the Time and Frequency Domain Perspectives
Authors: Cui Jinxin , Zou Huiwen
Published: November 2020

This paper investigates the frequency connectedness among economic policy uncertainties of G20 countries using the novel frequency connectedness proposed by Barunik and Krehlik (2018) which can depict the dynamic connectedness not only over time but also across different frequencies. The empirical results obtained in this paper demonstrate that, firstly, the connectedness among economic policy uncertainties is significant, and the spillover effects during the financial crisis and the post-financial crisis period are stronger than the pre-financial crisis period. Secondly, the United States, France, and Australia are the main net-transmitters of the economic policy uncertainty spillovers while Brazil, Italy, Mexico, and Russia act as the main net-recipients of the spillovers. Thirdly, the major international events may significantly enhance the spillover transmissions of economic policy uncertainty among different countries, thus increasing the magnitude of the total connectedness. Finally, the economic policy uncertainty spillovers are mainly transmitted in the short term, i.e., 1∼4 months instead of longer time horizons in terms of the magnitude of the frequency connectedness measures. The findings of this paper not only have profound theoretical and practical significance but also provide several significant implications for the policymakers, supervision agents, international traders, and various investors.
Geriatricians’ Standpoint of the Informed Consent Process Among Patients with Alzheimer's Disease: The Lebanese Context
Authors: Fakhro MPH DPT PT Mohammed Ali
Published: November 2020

BackgroundDespite the existence of laws that ensure that patients’ capacity to consent is assessed systematically, many gray areas remain with that regard. As dementia progresses, some patients lose their capacity to make decisions. This study aimed to investigate the geriatricians’ understanding of the principle of autonomy and their perception of the decision-making capacity (DMC) testing as part of the informed consent (IC) process among patients with Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Proposing an algorithm for a reliable, comprehensive, and valid assessment of DMC was the secondary aim of this study.MethodsA cross-sectional descriptive study was designed to empirically collect data via an e-survey. Accordingly, a comprehensive list of geriatricians was provided by the Lebanese Order of Physicians. Geriatricians were approached via a phone call, to provide them with study-specific information. Those who accepted to participate received a link to the study’s survey via e-mail.ResultsAmong the eligible geriatricians, 75% had completed the e-survey, with a mean of 14.7 ± 9.6 years of experience. More than half of the geriatricians failed to recognize that assessing the patients’ DMC is an integral component of the IC process. Yet, 88.9% assessed the DMC of their patients with AD using different modalities. However, the majority were unable to justify their judgment of DMC based on the tools they have selected.ConclusionLebanese geriatricians have demonstrated a poor understanding of the concept of autonomy and failed to recognize the need for the DMC assessment as a component of the IC’s process. Moreover, they were unable to select adequate tools to assess and judge the DMC of their patients with AD.
Impact of meteorological conditions and air pollution on Covid-19 pandemic transmission in Lombardy region, Northern Italy
Authors: Lolli Simone , Chen Ying-Chieh , Wang Sheng-Hsiang , Vivone Gemine
Published: November 2020

Italy was the first, among all the European countries, to be strongly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2). The virus, proven to be very contagious, infected more than 9 million people worldwide (in June 2020). Nevertheless, it is not clear the role of air pollution and meteorological conditions on virus transmission. In this study, we quantitatively assessed how the meteorological and air quality parameters are correlated to the Covid-19 transmission in Lombardy (Northern Italy), the region epicenter of the virus outbreak. Our main findings highlight that temperature and humidity related variables are negatively correlated to the virus transmission, whereas air pollution (PM2.5) shows a positive correlation. In other words, Covid-19 pandemic transmission prefers dry and cool environmental conditions, as well as polluted air. For these reasons, the virus might easier spread in unfiltered air-conditioned environments. Those results will be supporting decision makers to contain new possible outbreaks.
Protocol for the pig liver ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Felli Eric , Al-Taher Mahdi , Felli Emanuele , Cinelli Lorenzo , Diana Michele
Published: November 2020

Liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is a dreadful vascular complication, which leads to liver damage. It is often associated with graft loss in liver transplantation and with a higher morbidity and mortality. IRI can have different causes, such as inflow clumping during surgical procedures in hepatic resection, liver transplantation, trauma, as well as during the stenosis of the vasculature caused by cancer. Here, we show a detailed IRI protocol in a porcine model.
The effect of listening to loud music in the performance of three higher-level cognitive functions
Authors: Villamizar Carlos Domínguez , Arenas Coral Guerrero , Bustamante Felipe Orduña , Moyeda Iris Galicia
Published: November 2020

For some people, listening to music can be a pleasant collateral activity during working hours. Occasionally considered to be an important stress reducing strategy in situations when planning, and decision making are required. For that reason, in this work we seek to assess the effect of listening to music at sound pressure levels Leq of 74 to 78 dB-A, in three higher-level cognitive functions: planning, inhibition and visuospatial working memory, in a group of 22 young adults 22 to 39 years old from Mexico City using a two-phase quasi experimental design. During phase 1, all participants were screened for good hearing health through a standard pure-tone audiometry, and then performed four neuropsychological tests while listening to loud music. During phase 2, participants performed the same neuropsychological tests applied during phase 1, but without presenting the musical stimulus in a quiet laboratory environment with a background noise level Leq of 24 to 30 dB-A. In both phases participants were also physiologically tested for possible stress markers. The results demonstrate that listening to loud music might negatively affects daily life cognitive abilities like planning, inhibition, and visuospatial working memory.
HIV Populations Shift After Tuberculosis Associated Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome: Implications For HIV Remission
Authors: Lange Camille , Manion Maura , Lindo Natalie , Gorelick Robert , Ortega-Villa Ana , Huik Kristi , Gonsalves Christian , Roby Gregg , Sheikh Virginia , Cai Catherine , Pei Luxin , Laidlow Elizabeth , Rote Paula , Bell Jennifer , Rupert Adam , Adelsberger Joseph , Shao Wei , Nason Martha , Maldarelli Frank , Sereti Irini
Published: November 2020

Tuberculosis associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is a serious complication of starting combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). TB-IRIS emerges early after cART initiation and is characterized by rapid expansions of TB-specific CD4+ T cells and high levels of inflammatory mediators driven by CD4+ T cells. The effects of TB-IRIS on HIV populations are unknown, but could result in profound expansion and elimination of HIV infected cells via cellular activation and acute inflammation. We investigated immediate and long-term effects of TB-IRIS on HIV infected cells with and without TB-IRIS. We measured plasma HIV RNA, cell-associated HIV RNA and HIV DNA levels and compared genetic characteristics of HIV populations after prolonged cART. We found that TB-IRIS was associated with more diverse HIV DNA populations and HIV reservoirs after IRIS were distinct from pre-therapy populations, suggesting that TB-IRIS can shape the HIV reservoir with detrimental implications for HIV remission strategies.
Can role models help encourage young people to apply to (selective) universities? Evidence from a large scale English field experiment
Authors: Sanders Michael , Chande Raj , Kozman Eliza , Leunig Tim
Published: November 2020

Under-participation in selective universities lowers social mobility in England, the United States, and elsewhere. English universities have standardized tuition costs, and strongly heterogeneous graduate earnings. Attending a selective university is therefore strongly incentivized, yet under-participation is extensive. The British Government sent 11,104 “nudge” letters to school students whose prior attainment made them competitive for entry into selective universities, urging them to consider that option. We evaluate this RCT and find it effective at raising the number of students who apply to, and accept offers from, selective universities. We find the cost to be low relative to outcomes.
Associations Between Dental Care Approachability and Dental Attendance Among Women Pregnant With an Indigenous Child: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Gao Yuan , Ju Xiangqun , Jamieson Lisa
Published: November 2020

Background Oral health during pregnancy is vital for both mother and child. Indigenous Australians face many barriers in accessing dental care. Service approachability is one of the key domains in accessing health services. There is little empirical evidence of the association between service approachability and dental care attendance or oral health outcome. The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between dental service approachability on dental care attendance and self-reported gum disease among South Australian women pregnant with an Aboriginal child.Methods Four hundred and twenty-seven women pregnant with an Aboriginal child completed questionnaires in both metropolitan and regional health settings in South Australia in 2011. Four variables related to approachability of dental services: (1) perception of need; (2) service-related health literacy; (3) oral health beliefs and; (4) trust and expectation of dental service. The association between service approachability-related factors, dental utilisation and self-reported gum disease during pregnancy were assessed using Generalised Poisson regression models, after adjusting for age, remoteness, employment status and education. Estimates were presented as adjusted prevalence ratios (APR).Results Most participants (85.8%) reported a need for dental care, had positive oral health beliefs (88.3%) and had expectations towards dental care (86.2%). Dental service utilisation during pregnancy was low (35.7%). Many participants (78.0%) expressed knowing what to do if they needed dental care, while most (39.8%) doubted that dental care would be available the next day. Poor health service literacy was identified as a risk factor for non-optimal dental attendance (APR=0.86, 95%CI: 0.74-0.99). Perceived need for dental care was positively associated with self-reported gum disease (APR= 1.24 95%CI 1.06-1.45).Conclusion Inability to navigate the dental care system was a risk factor for poor dental attendance among South Australian women pregnant with an Aboriginal child. Perceived need for dental care was associated with gum disease.
Disease-Related Risk Factors for CVC-Related Symptomatic Thrombosis in Surgical ICU Inpatients
Authors: Liu Xiaochun , Zhu Yunlin , Kuang Zhiming , Zheng Guofu , Liu Yuanfei
Published: November 2020

To report the rate of symptomatic catheter-related venous thrombosis (CRVT) in surgical intensive care unit patients receiving central venous catheters (CVC) and analyze the disease-related risk factors for symptomatic CRVT in SICU patients. A retrospective analysis was performed on 1643 critically ill patients admitted to the SICU from January 2015 to December 2019. Cases were divided into two groups based on the presence of symptomatic CRVT, and the variables of interest were extracted from the electronic medical record system. Logistic univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to determine the risk factors of SCRVT. A total of 209 symptomatic CRVT events occurred among 2114 catheters. Multivariate analysis showed that trauma (odds ratio [OR], 2.046; 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.325-3.160], P = 0.001), major surgery (OR, 2.457; 95% CI [1.641-3.679], P = 0.000), and heart failure (OR, 2.087; 95% CI [1.401-3.111], P = 0.000) were independent risk factors for symptomatic CRVT in SICU. The AUROC for this model was 0.610 (95% CI [0.569-0.651], P=0.000). The incidence rate was 9.89%. For patients hospitalized in the SICU, especially those admitted with these three conditions, thromboprophylaxis and/or mechanical prophylaxis should be actively provided to reduce the occurrence of symptomatic CRVT.
Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate facilitates the progression of alcoholic fatty liver via mediating oxidative stress injury and lipid peroxidation in rats
Authors: Xu Qiang , Ji Ke , Zhao Zongbiao , Huang Song , Zhang Xiang , Xu Weiping , Wei Wei
Published: November 2020

Background: Long-term excessive drinking can cause various harms to the human body. Alcoholic fatty liver is the manifestation of early liver lesions mainly induced by alcohol. Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, as one of the environmental internal-secretion interfering-substance, is widely used in industrial processing and various consumer goods. Large quantities of epidemiological investigations and studies have shown that frequent exposure to high concentrations of DEHP may be a potential risk factor for liver function. Methods: We used DEHP to expose alcohol-induced fatty liver rats to study the effect of DEHP on alcoholic fatty liver. Results: The results found that DEHP exposure prominently accelerated hepatic steatosis, inflammation and oxidant stress, and activates signaling pathways involved in liver inflammation and oxidative stress-related proteins expression. Studies have suggested that cytochrome P450 2E1 and silent information regulator-1 are closely related to the occurrence of alcoholic fatty liver disease. Interestingly, the trend observed in the LO-2 cells assay was consistent with the in vivo conditions. Conclusions: DEHP may promote or aggravate the progression of alcoholic fatty liver disease through CYP2E1, SIRT1 and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) / nuclear factor-kappa B signaling pathways. And this experimental study warns us that the environmental pollutants DEHP and its potential toxicity hazards to the human body are worthy of attention.
Cancer Related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Among Community Health Care Providers and Health Assistants in Rural Bangladesh
Authors: Mubin Nazirum , Baten Redwan Bin Abdul , Jahan Sayeeda , Zohora Fatema Tuz , Chowdhury Naim , Faruque Golam
Published: November 2020

Background: Cancer remains one of the primary causes of death in Bangladesh. The success of cancer control in rural areas depends on the ability of the health care system and workforce to identify and manage cases properly at early stages. Community Health Workers (CHW) can play a vital role in this process. The present study aims to assess cancer related Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) among 2 categories of CHWs - Community Health Care Providers (CHCP) and Health Assistants (HA) in rural Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire from July 2019 to June 2020. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to determine the sample. One Upazilla Health Complex (UHC) from each of the eight administrative divisions of Bangladesh were randomly chosen as study sites, from which 325 CHCPs and HAs were in the final sample. Multivariate logistic regression models were developed to determine the association between KAP scores and demographic variables. Results: Our study shows that a modest number of respondents scored above average in the knowledge (54.15%), attitude (58.15%), and practice (65.54%) sections. Majority CHCPs (90.91%) and HAs (96.06%) did not receive govt. training on cancer. Only 20.71% HAs and 25.2% CHCPs knew about the availability of cancer treatment options in Bangladesh. Uncertainty about the availability of relevant treatments or vaccinations at public facilities was also high. Having cancer in the family, income, duration of employment and workplace locations were important predictors of cancer related KAP scores. Conclusion: Healthcare workforce’s knowledge gap and unfavorable attitude towards cancer may result in poor delivery of care at the rural level. For many people in rural areas, CHCPs and HAs are the first point of contact with the healthcare system and thus effective cancer control strategies must consider them as key stakeholders. Targeted training programs must be adopted to address the cancer related KAP gaps among CHCPs and HAs.
Orthotic Treatment of Idiopathic Toe Walking with A Circular Lower Leg Orthosis
Authors: Bauer Magdalena , Hapfelmeier Alexander , Prodinger Peter , Salzmann Maya , Berger Nina
Published: November 2020

Background: There is no universally accepted treatment standard for idiopathic toe walking patients (ITW) in the current literature. None of the established methods provide homogenous satisfying results. In our department we treat ITW patients with lower leg orthoses with a circular foot unit for a total of 16 weeks. In this study we reviewed our database to evaluate the success of our treatment protocol for 24 months. Results: 22 patients were included in the study. Age at the beginning of treatment was 7.0 years +/-2.9 (range 2.5-13.1). Percentage of ITW at the beginning of treatment according to the perception of the parents was 89% +/-22.2 (range 50-100). Immediately after the treatment with our device, percentage of ITW dropped to 11% +/-13.2 (range 0-50). After 12 months, 73% of the patients (16/22) walked completely normal or showed ITW less than 10% of the day. After 24 months, 64% of the patients kept a normal gait (14/22). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that the treatment of idiopathic toe walking with lower leg orthoses with a circular foot unit results in satisfying long-term results in two thirds of the patients.
Long-Term Follow-Up Results of Day Surgery for Lumbar Disc Herniation Using Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Discectomy: A Single-Center Experience of 267 Cases.
Authors: Song Zhaojun , Ran Maobo , Luo Juan , Zhang Kai , Ye Yongjie , Zheng Jiazhuang , Zhang Zhi
Published: November 2020

Background: Although numerous studies have shown good clinical results of percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy (PELD) for hospitalized patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH), there are few articles that report on the day surgery patients undergoing PELD.Methods: Atotal of 267 patients with LDH received PELD during day surgery were followed up for at least 3 years. Relevant data and clinical outcomeswere recorded and assessed. Meanwhile, we compared the clinical effects between patients treated by PELD during day surgery and microendoscopic discectomy (MED) for contemporaneous hospitalized patients with LDH (116 patients).Results: Patients treated by PELD had lower blood loss (10.8 ± 4.1 mL, 71.3 ± 23.3 mL,respectively; P < 0.001) and shorter hospital stay ( 22.7 ± 4.2 hours, 48.1 ± 22.6 hours, respectively; P < 0.001 ) compared with patients treated by MED. The visual analogue scale (VAS) for leg and back pain (VAS-L and VAS-B, respectively) and Oswestry disability index (ODI) decreased significantly after PELD than those before the operation at 3 years postoperative, and the postoperative VAS-B in PELD group was significantly decreased from the MED group ( P = 0.001). The complications rate was 9.4% (25/267) in the PELD group and 12.1% (14/116) in the MED group, without significant difference ( P = 0.471). The 1-year postoperative recurrence rate in PELD group ( 5.2%, 14/267) was much higher than that in MED group ( 0.9%, 1/116) ( P = 0.042). The postoperative lumbar lordosis（LL）(34.0 ±10.3 ), and sacral slope（SS) (27.5 ± 5.6) in PELD group improved significantly compared with the values in MED group (26.9 ± 9.8, 23.6 ± 6.8, respectively; all P < 0.001). The disc-height ratio at 3-year follow-up was ( 85.7 ± 6.4) % of the preoperative disc height in PELD group while ( 81.9 ± 7.0) % in MED group，with significant height loss in MED group ( P = 0.014).Conclusions: Day surgery for LDH undergoing PELD has favorable long-term outcomes.
Rapid Discovery of Self-Assembling Peptides with One-Bead One-Compound Peptide Libraries
Authors: Yang Peipei , Li Yi-Jing , Cao Yan , Zhang Lu , Wang Jia-Qi , Lai Zi-Wei , Zhang Kuo , Xiao Wenwu , Cao Hui , Wang Lei , Wang Hao , Liu Ruiwu , Lam Kit
Published: November 2020

Self-assembling peptides have shown tremendous potential in the fields of material sciences, nanoscience, and medicine. Because of the vast combinatorial space of even short peptides, identification of self-assembling sequences remains a challenge. Herein, we develop an experimental method to rapidly screen a huge array of peptide sequences for self-assembling property, using the one-bead one-compound (OBOC) combinatorial library method. In this approach, peptides on beads are N-terminally capped with nitro-1,2,3-benzoxadiazole, a hydrophobicity-sensitive fluorescence molecule. Beads displaying self-assembling peptides would fluoresce under aqueous environment. Using this approach, we identified eight pentapeptides, all of which were able to self-assemble into nanoparticles or nanofibers. Some of them were able to interact with and taken up efficiently by HeLa cells. Intracellular distribution varied among these non-toxic peptidic nanoparticles. This novel but very simple screening strategy, has enabled rapid identification of self-assembling peptides suitable for the development of nanostructures for various biomedical and material applications.
How Do Pain-Response Patterns Influence the Course of Acute Low Back Pain? A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Surbeck Ursula , Pfeiffer Fabian , Hotz-Boendermaker Sabina
Published: November 2020

Background Pain-response patterns influence the daily activities and behavior of patients with low back pain (LBP). They are also a potential risk factor for pain persistence. Previous studies identified three subgroups of pain-response patterns: avoidance, endurance, and adaptive. In this study, we investigated the interaction effects of distinct pain-response patterns on pain intensity, disability and movement control impairment (MCI). Methods The 66 participants in this prospective cohort study had acute LBP, assessed at four time points over 6 months. Demographic, clinical and psychosocial data were collected, and MCI was examined.Results The results showed no significant between-group interactions of the different pain-response patterns with pain intensity, disability or MCI. However, within-group decreases in pain intensity and the disability level from the acute to the subacute phase were identified. In addition, the relative risk of persistent LBP was higher in the endurance response subgroup than in the adaptive subgroup at 6 months. MCI remained stable and at a low level throughout the observation period and did not correlate with pain or disability.Conclusions Screening for pain-response patterns may lead to a better understanding of patients’ underlying motivation in the broader context of their valued goals. Our findings provide further evidence of altered movement control throughout the course of LBP and thus the importance of early interventions. However, MCI tests allowing more subtle assessments of movement control are needed. Finally, patients with an acute episode of LBP may benefit from a multidimensional clinical approach that takes into account both physical and psychological health.
Human Molecular Evolutive Rate, Time Dependency and Transient Polymorphism Effects Viewed Through Ancient and Modern Mitochondrial DNA Genomes.
Authors: Cabrera Vicente
Published: November 2020

Human evolutionary genetics gives a chronological framework to interpret the human history. It is based on the molecular clock hypothesis that suppose a straightforward relationship between the pace of the mutation rate and the evolutive rate with independence of other factors as demography dynamics. Analyzing ancient and modern human complete mitochondrial genomes we constate here that, along the time, the evolutive rate can be significantly slower or faster than the average germline mutation rate confirming a time dependence effect mainly attributable to changes in the effective population size of the human populations, with an exponential growth in recent times. We also detect that transient polymorphisms play a slowdown role in the evolutive rate deduced from haplogroup intraspecific trees. Finally, we propose the use of the most evolved lineages within haplogroups as a practical approach to correct these molecular clock mismatches.
The Association of Healthy Behaviors and Metabolic Factors With Dyslipidemia Among Miao Adults: The China Multi-Ethnic Cohort (CMEC) Study
Authors: Nie Fang , Wang Ziyun , Zeng Qibing , Guan Han , Yang Jingyuan , Luo Peng , Du Lunwei , Wang Junhua , Hong Feng
Published: November 2020

Background: Behavioral and metabolic risk factors will increase the risk of dyslipidemia, the association of behaviors and metabolic factors with dyslipidemia among Miao adults are still unclear. Objective: To evaluate the association between behaviors, metabolic factors and dyslipidemia.Methods: Based on the CMEC study, a representative samples of 5,559 Miao participants aged 30 to 79 years old who were included in the baseline survey from 2018 to 2019 were analyzed. A binary logistic regression model was utilized to evaluate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the associations of healthy behaviors and metabolic factors with dyslipidemia.Results: In both sexes, only a small percentage of females with ideal levels of waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (27.2%). However, participants were more likely to have ideal levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG). In addition, males with dyslipidemia had poor levels of body mass index (BMI) (60.3%), WHR (59.2%) and FBG (65.8%). While females with dyslipidemia had poor levels of FBG (60.0%). Notably, our study found that WHR, BMI, FBG, and blood pressure were major risk factors for almost all dyslipidemia components. Conclusions: The rate of dyslipidemia cannot be ignored, particularly high TG levels. In addition, healthy behaviors and metabolic factors, especially WHR, BMI, FBG levels, and blood pressure were significantly associated with dyslipidemia, which may have become a major challenge to public health problems in the ethnic minority areas of Guizhou.
Peginterferon Lambda-1a for treatment of outpatients with uncomplicated COVID-19: a randomized placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Jagannathan Prasanna , Andrews Jason , Bonilla Hector , Hedlin Haley , Jacobson Karen , Balasubramanian Vidhya , Purington Natasha , Kamble Savita , de Vries Christiaan , Quintero Orlando , Feng Kent , Ley Catherline , Winslow Dean , Newberry Jennifer , Edwards Karlie , Hislop Colin , Choong Ingrid , Maldonado Yvonne , Glenn Jeffery , Bhatt Ami , Blish Catherine , Wang Taia , Khosla Chaitan , Pinsky Benjamin , Desai Manisha , Parsonnet Julie , Singh Upinder
Published: November 2020

Type III interferons have been touted as promising therapeutics in outpatients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a randomized placebo-controlled trial in 120 patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 to determine whether a single, 180 mcg subcutaneous dose of Peginterferon Lambda-1a (Lambda) could shorten the duration of viral shedding (primary endpoint) or symptoms (secondary endpoint, NCT04331899). In both the 60 patients receiving Lambda and 60 receiving placebo, the median time to cessation of viral shedding was 7 days (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56 to 1.19). Symptoms resolved in 8 and 9 days in Lambda and placebo, respectively (HR 0.94; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.39). At enrollment; 41% of subjects were SARS-CoV-2 IgG seropositive; compared to placebo, lambda tended to delay shedding cessation in seronegatives (aHR 0.66, 95% CI 0.39-1.10) and to hasten shedding cessation in seropositives (aHR 1.58, 95% CI 0.88-2.86; p for interaction = 0.03). Liver transaminase elevations were more common in the Lambda vs. placebo arm (15/60 vs 5/60; p = 0.027). In this study, a single dose of subcutaneous Peginterferon Lambda-1a neither shortened the duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding nor improved symptoms in outpatients with uncomplicated COVID-19.
Examining Changes in Personality Following Shamanic Ceremonial Use of Ayahuasca
Authors: Weiss Brandon , Miller Joshua , Carter Nathan , Campbell W. Keith
Published: November 2020

The present study examines the association between the ceremonial use of ayahuasca – a decoction combining the Banistereopsis caapi vine and N,N Dimethyltryptamine-containing plants – and changes in personality traits as conceived by the Five-Factor model (FFM); as well as the degree to which demographic characteristics, baseline personality, and acute post-ayahuasca experiences affect personality change. Method: Participants recruited from three ayahuasca healing and spiritual centers in South and Central America (N=256) completed self-report measures of personality at three timepoints (Baseline, Post, 3-Month Follow-up). Informant-report measures of the FFM were also obtained (N=110). Results: Linear mixed models were used to examine changes in personality and the moderation of those changes by covariates. The most pronounced change was a reduction in Neuroticism dself-reportT1-T2=1.00; dself-reportT1-T3=.85; dinformant-reportT1-T3=.62), reflected in self- and informant-report data. Moderation of personality change by baseline personality, acute experiences, and purgative experiences was also observed.
Age-Stratified Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Medical and Surgical Treatments in Patients with Unilateral Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Nakamaru Ryo , Yamamoto Koichi , Akasaka Hiroshi , Rakugi Hiromi , Kurihara Isao , Yoneda Takashi , Ichijo Takamasa , Katabami Takuyuki , Tsuiki Mika , Wada Norio , Yamada Tetsuya , Kobayashi Hiroki , Tamura Kouichi , Ogawa Yoshihiro , Kawashima Junji , Inagaki Nobuya , Fujita Megumi , Watanabe Minemori , Kamemura Kohei , Okamura Shintaro , Tanabe Akiyo , Naruse Mitsuhide
Published: November 2020

Although adrenalectomy (ADX) is an established treatment for unilateral primary aldosteronism (uPA), the influence of age on the surgical outcomes is poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate how age affects the clinical outcomes after treatments. We analyzed 153 older (≥65 years) and 702 younger patients (<65 years) with uPA, treated either with ADX or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in the Japan PA Study, and compared the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or blood pressure over a 36-month period after treatments. ADX-treated patients showed severer biochemical indicators than MRA-treated patients. During 6 and 36 months, the eGFR decreased more prominently in older but not in younger patients with ADX than in those with MRA, which remained significant after adjustment with the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW). There was a significant interaction between the age-groups and the treatment choices in the change of the eGFR with IPTW-adjusted analysis. The post-treatment dose of antihypertensive medication was lower in younger and higher in older patients with ADX than those with MRA. The clinical benefit of ADX differed between younger and older patients with uPA. These findings indicate the need for further validation on whether ADX can benefit older patients with uPA.