bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics and acceptance factors of pharmacists’ interventions from the national Act-IP© observatory: a six-year longitudinal study
Authors: Bouzeid Mayssam , Clarenne Justine , Mongaret Céline , Pluchart Hélène , Chanoine Sébastien , Vermorel Céline , Bosson Jean-Luc , Bedouch Pierrick
Published: November 2022

Background
In France, hospital pharmacists perform medication order reviews during patients’ hospitalization process. This activity can be centralized in the pharmacy or carried out directly in the ward, in contact with the healthcare team. During this review, pharmacists can perform pharmacists’ interventions to optimize therapeutics. Since 2006, they can document their interventions, via the national Act-IP© observatory.
Aim
To assess the characteristics of pharmacists’ interventions and their acceptance by physicians in French hospitals between 2014 and 2019.
Method
Between 2009 and 2014, we performed a 6-year observational study of pharmacists’ interventions documented on the Act-IP© French observatory.
Results
A total 194,684 pharmacists’ interventions were documented on the observatory and concerned mainly a “dosage adjustment” (25.6%). These interventions were mainly related to drugs from the central nervous system (23.7%). Seventy percent of pharmacists’ interventions were accepted by physicians. Acceptance rate was higher when conducted by a pharmacist regularly practicing in the ward (ORa = 1.60, CI 95 [1.57–1.64]). Physicians’ acceptance was significantly associated with 1) ward specialty: emergency (ORa = 1.24, CI 95 [1.14–1.35]); 2) type of intervention: “drug discontinuation”, “drug switch” (ORa = 1.15, CI 95 [1.12–1.19]) and “addition of a new drug” (ORa = 1.15, CI 95 [1.12–1.19]); 3) drug group: antineoplastic and immunomodulators (ORa = 3.67, CI 95 [3.44–3.92]), as well as blood and blood-forming organs (ORa = 1.10, CI 95 [1.05–1.20]).
Conclusion
This 6-year longitudinal study highlights the role of clinical pharmacists, and particularly those integrated into wards to improve both intervention acceptance and collaboration with physicians in patient care and drug safety.
Engineering the Temporal Dynamics
of All-Optical Switching with ‘Fast’ and ‘Slow’ Materials
Authors: Saha Soham , Diroll Benjami , Ozlu Mustafa , Chowdhury Sarah , Peana Samuel , Kudyshev Zhaxylyk , Schaller Richard , Jacob Zubin , Shalaev Vladimir , Kildishev Alexander , Boltasseva Alexandra
Published: November 2022

All-optical switches offer advanced control over the amplitude, phase, and/or polarization of light at ultrafast timescales using optical pulses as both the carrying signal and the control. Limited only by material response times, these switches can operate at terahertz speeds which is essential for technology-driven applications, such as all-optical signal processing and ultrafast imaging, as well as for fundamental studies, such as frequency translation and novel optical media concepts such as photonic time crystals. In conventional systems, the switching time is determined by the relaxation response of a single active material, which is generally challenging to adjust dynamically. This work demonstrates that the zero-to-zero response time of an all-optical switch can instead be varied through the combination of so-called “fast” and “slow” materials in a single device. When probed in the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) operational regime of a material with a slow response time, namely, plasmonic titanium nitride, the proposed hybrid switch exhibits a relatively slow, nanosecond response time. The response time then decreases as the probe wavelength increases reaching the picosecond time scale when the hybrid device is probed in the ENZ regime of the faster material, namely, aluminum-doped zinc oxide. Overall, the response time of the switch is shown to vary by two orders of magnitude in a single device and can be selectively controlled through the interaction of the probe signal with the constituent materials. The ability to adjust the switching speed by controlling the light-matter interactions in a multi-material structure provides an additional degree of freedom in the design of all-optical switches. Moreover, the proposed approach utilizes “slower” materials that are very robust and allow to enhance the field intensities while “faster” materials ensure an ultrafast dynamic response. The proposed control of the switching time could lead to new functionalities and performance metrics within key applications in multiband transmission, optical computing, and nonlinear optics.
Clustered and Unclustered Group Testing for Biosecurity
Authors: Clark Robert Graham , Barnes Belinda , Parsa Mahdi
Published: November 2022

Group-testing is an important element of biosecurity operations, designed to reduce the risk of introducing exotic pests and pathogens with imported agricultural products. Groups of units, such as seeds, are selected from a consignment, and tested for contamination, with a positive or negative test returned for each group. These schemes are usually designed such that the probability of detecting contamination is high assuming random mixing and a somewhat arbitrary design prevalence. We propose supplementing this approach with an assessment of the distribution of the number of contaminated units conditional on testing results. We develop beta-binomial models allowing for between-consignment variability in contamination levels, with a further layer of nesting to allow for possible clustering within the groups for testing. The latent beta distributions can be considered as priors and chosen based on expert judgement, or estimated from historical test results. We show that the parameter controlling within-group clustering is, unsurprisingly, effectively non-identifiable. It can be handled by sensitivity analysis, but we demonstrate theoretically and empirically that the probability of a consignment with contamination evading detection is almost perfectly robust to mis-specification of this clustering. We apply the new models to large cucurbit seed lots imported into Australia where they provide important new insights for biosecurity regulation.
Long term anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor treatment impairs renal function in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Otake Kotaro , Naito Sei , Kato Tomoyuki , Narisawa Takafumi , Fukuhara Hiroki , Takai Yuki , Ushijima Masaki , Yagi Mayu , Nishida Hayato , Tsuchiya Norihiko
Published: November 2022

Background: The overall survival has been dramatically improving in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. Although anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) treatment is one of essential therapeutic strategies for mRCC, the impact on renal function during their lifetime remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the comparison between the duration of anti-VEGFR treatment and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression.
Methods:A total of 147 mRCC patients who started systemic therapy in Yamagata University Hospital from November 2005 to December 2018 were included in the study. We analyzed the probability of progression to CKD grades 4 and 5 using the Kaplan–Meier method and the log-rank test. To identify the factors independently associated with progression to CKD grade 4, multivariate analysis using logistic regression was performed with baseline eGFR, follow-up duration, duration with anti-VEGFR treatment, proteinuria, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus as the exposure variables.
Results: No patients with normal baseline renal function progressed to CKD grade 4 or 5. Two out of 85 patients with baseline CKD grade 3 progressed to grade 5 8 years after the start of the treatment. Three of five patients with baseline CKD grade 4 progressed to grade 5 within 2 years of starting the treatment. The estimated probability of the patients progressing to grade 4 was increased with worsening baseline CKD grade as determined by univariate analysis (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that baseline eGFR (P = 0.002), the duration of anti-VEGFR treatment (P = 0.014) and DM (P = 0.040) were independently correlated with progression to CKD grade 4.
Conclusions: Long-term anti-VEGFR treatment could impair renal function in mRCC patients with baseline CKD grade 3 or worse.
Naringin mitigates Bisphenol A-induced hepatotoxicity in cockerel chicks
Authors: Esuola Leah Oluwaseyanu , Esan Oluwaseun , Maikifi Adamu Shafiu , Ajibade Temitayo Olabisi , Adetona Moses Olusola , Oyagbemi Ademola Adetokunbo , Omobowale Temidayo Olutayo , Oladele Omolade Abodunrin , Oguntibeju Oluwafemi Omoniyi , Yakubu Momoh Audu
Published: November 2022

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental pollutant, a monomer used in the polymer industry to produce plastics. BPA has been reported to cause deleterious effects in both humans and animals. Naringin is one of the flavonoids with antioxidant and metal chelating properties. This study was carried out to assess the potential ameliorative effect of naringin on BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in cockerel chicks. Thirty-one-day old cockerel chicks used for this study were randomly divided into 6 groups of five chicks per group as follows: Group 1 (Control), Group 2 (BPA 100 mg/kg), Group 3 (BPA + 100 mg/kg naringin), Groups 4 (BPA + 200 mg/kg naringin), Group 5 (100 mg/kg naringin) and Group 6 (100 mg/kg naringin), respectively. The administration of BPA and naringin was through oral gavage. BPA intoxication precipitated significant (p < 0.05) increased ALT, ALP, AST, TC, TG, LDL, but decreased total protein and HDL-cholesterol when compared with the control. Also, there was a significant increase in hepatic H2O2 generation and MDA content with concomitant decrease in reduce glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase activity in BPA intoxicated chicks. Histology revealed a moderate diffuse sinusoidal congestion, with a severe periportal cellular infiltration in BPA intoxicated chicks. Immunohistochemistry results revealed a higher expression of hepatic caspase 3 and TNF-α in chicks exposed to BPA alone relative to the control and chicks treated with naringin (100 mg/g and 200 mg/kg). Findings from this study showed that naringin administration restored hepatoxicity, improved antioxidant status, and lowered exaggerated values of cholesterol, oxidative stress indices, and ameliorated ultrastructure anarchy. Combining all, the incorporation of naringin into poultry feeds could position the flavonoid as a novel antioxidant and metal chelator with beneficial effects in the reduction of toxicities associated with environmental pollutants such as bisphenol A, thereby boosting production efficiency in livestock production.
Effects of Drilling Fluid Rheology on Nonlinear ALTC Vibration Response Characteristic of Rotary Drill String
Authors: Liu Jun , Chen Yili , Liang Shuang , Cai Mengqi
Published: November 2022

The drilling mud shows strong non-Newtonian rheology due to mixing a large number of cuttings at well bottom during drilling, which has great influences on the vibration behavior of the drill string. To investigate this phenomenon, an axial-lateral-torsion coupling (ALTC) nonlinear dynamic model based on Hamilton's principle was established, taking into account the effect of drilling fluid viscous damping, Herschel-Bulkley non-Newtonian rheological (HBNR) damping, bit-rock interaction and drillstring-borehole contact. In the model, a Rayleigh damping matrix calculation method was proposed to describe the influence of drilling fluid on the damping of ALTC vibration, and the Newmark-β method was used to solved the nonlinear discrete equations of the system. The validity of the model was verified through the simulation data and the field measurement data. Using the nonlinear model, the effect of drilling fluid rheology on ALTC vibration response of rotary drill string was investigated. It was found that compared with viscous damping, HBNR damping can significantly suppress the axial, lateral and torsional vibration of drill string, maintain the stability of wellbore diameter and improve ROP. Both damping models indicate that lateral vibration signals are difficult to transmit to the wellhead, while axial vibration and torsional vibration signals can be observed near the wellhead. The results can provide a theoretically guidance for suppressing the drill string vibration and reducing the risk of premature failure of drill string.
Racial Disparity and Temporal Patterns in Time to Invasive Ventilation During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Jan 2020 to Feb 2022)
Authors: Menon Nirup , Antonescu Corneliu , Leslie Timothy , Frankenfeld Cara , Garcia-Filion Pamela
Published: November 2022

· Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly stressed the healthcare system since January 2020. There are questions whether there were racial disparities in the use of resources and procedures during this period and if so, did the disparities change over the pandemic. We focus on invasive ventilation (Mechanical Ventilation/MV and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation/ECMO) and racial identity of the patient for the pre-Delta and Delta timeframes.
· Methods: We used data available from the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C) of COVID positive patients across the US. Cox regression models were used to estimate time to MV and ECMO as the dependent variables and race, age, gender, Comorbidity index as covariates.
· Results: We did not find systematic patterns of racial disparity in time to MV. Asian and Hispanic patients, but not Black patients, received MV in a delayed manner compared to White patients in the pre-Delta period. These differences were not evident in the Delta period.
· Conclusions: The results show a temporal change from the pre-Delta and Delta timeframes for the time to invasive ventilation implying that any observed racial disparities improved over time. We did not find statistically significant differences in the time to ECMO across the races or over timeframes.
SCARB1 downregulation in adrenal insufficiency with Allgrove Syndrome
Authors: Bitetto Giacomo , Lopez Gianluca , Ronchi Dario , Pittaro Alessandra , Melzi Valentina , Peverelli Erika , Cribiù Fulvia Milena , Comi Giacomo Pietro , Mantovani Giovanna , Fonzo Alessio Di
Published: November 2022

Background
Allgrove disease is a rare genetic syndrome characterized by adrenal insufficiency, alacrimia, achalasia and complex neurological involvement. Allgrove disease is due to recessive mutations in the AAAS gene, which encodes for the nucleoporin Aladin, implicated in the nucleocytoplasmic transport. The adrenal insufficiency has been suggested to rely on adrenal gland-ACTH resistance. However, the link between the molecular pathology affecting the nucleoporin Aladin and the glucocorticoid deficiency is still unknown.
Results
By analyzing postmortem patient’s adrenal gland, we identified a downregulation of Aladin transcript and protein. We found a downregulation of Scavenger receptor class B-1 (SCARB1), a key component of the steroidogenic pathway, and SCARB1 regulatory miRNAs (mir125a, mir455) in patient’s tissues. With the hypothesis of an impairment in the nucleocytoplasmic transport of the SCARB1 transcription enhancer cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA), we detected a reduction of nuclear Phospho-PKA and a cytoplasmic mislocalization in patient’s samples.
Conclusions
These results shed a light on the possible mechanisms linking ACTH resistance, SCARB1 impairment, and defective nucleocytoplasmic transport.
Combination of contrast-enhanced ultrasound and serum CA125 to differentiate benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors
Authors: Liang Jingqing , lv Mingyi , Zhang Dingding , Liu Sufen , Shi Yanyun , Jia zhongzhi
Published: November 2022

Objective
To investigate the value of the combination of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and cancer antigen (CA) 125 in differentiating benign and malignant epithelial ovarian tumors (EOTs).
Methods
The study was performed in patients with pathology confirmed EOTs between June 2020 and April 2022 who underwent CEUS and serum CA125 measurements. The CEUS qualitative and quantitative features were evaluated. The accuracy of CEUS combined with CA125 for determining malignant and benign EOTs was analyzed.
Results
A total of 57 patients (mean age, 46.7 ± 14.2 years, 20 malignant EOTs and 37 benign EOTs) were included in the study. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of CEUS for differentiating malignant EOTs from benign EOTs were 80.0%, 86.5%, 76.2% and 88.9%, respectively; those of CA125 were 70.0%, 62.2%, 50.0% and 79.3%, respectively. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of CEUS combined with serum CA125 were 90.0% and 94.6%, which were significantly higher than those of CEUS (χ² = 8.889, 5.185, p = 0.003, 0.023) or serum CA125 alone (χ²=13.531, 4.405, p = 0.000, 0.036). The positive and negative predictive values of CEUS with serum CA125 in differentiating benign and malignant EOTs were also significantly higher than serum CA125 alone (χ²= 7.619, 4.163, p = 0.006, 0.041), but not significantly different (χ²=1.558, 0.725, p = 0.212, 0.394).
Conclusion
CEUS combined with serum CA125 can significantly improve the differential efficiency of benign and malignant EOTs.
Model selection for component network meta-analysis in connected and disconnected networks: a simulation study
Authors: Petropoulou Maria , Rücker Gerta , Weibel Stephanie , Kranke Peter , Schwarzer Guido
Published: November 2022

Background Network meta-analysis (NMA) allows to estimate and rank the effects of several interventions for a clinical condition. Component network meta-analysis (CNMA) is an extension of NMA which considers the individual components of multicomponent interventions. CNMA allows to "reconnect" a disconnected network with common components in subnetworks. An additive CNMA assumes that component effects are additive. This assumption can be relaxed by including interaction terms in the CNMA.
Methods We evaluate a forward model selection strategy for component network meta-analysis to relax the additivity assumption that can be used in connected or disconnected networks. In addition, we describe a procedure to create disconnected networks in order to evaluate the properties of the model selection in connected and disconnected networks. We apply the methods to simulated data and a Cochrane review on interventions for postoperative nausea and vomiting in adults after general anaesthesia. Model performance is compared using average mean squared errors and coverage probabilities.
Results CNMA models provide good performance for connected networks and can be an alternative to standard NMA if additivity holds. For disconnected networks, we recommend to use additive CNMA only if strong clinical arguments for additivity exist.
Conclusions CNMA methods are feasible for connected networks but questionable for disconnected networks.
Does vestibular motion perception correlate with axonal pathways stimulated by STN DBS in Parkinson's disease?
Authors: Beylergil Sinem Balta , Noecker Angela M. , Kilbane Camilla , McIntyre Cameron C. , Shaikh Aasef G.
Published: November 2022

Perception of our linear motion – heading – is critical for postural control, gait, and locomotion, and it is impaired in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has variable effects on vestibular heading perception, depending on the location of the electrodes within the subthalamic nucleus (STN). Here, we aimed to find the anatomical correlates of heading perception in PD. 14 PD participants with bilateral STN DBS participated in a two-alternative forced-choice discrimination experiment where a motion platform delivered translational forward movements with a heading angle varying between 0 and 30 degrees to the left or to the right (with respect to the straight-ahead direction). Using psychometric curves, we derived the heading discrimination threshold angle of each patient from the response data. We also created patient-specific DBS models and calculated the percentages of stimulated axonal pathways that are anatomically adjacent to the STN and known to play a major role in vestibular information processing. We performed correlation analyses to investigate the extent of these white matter tracts’ involvement in heading perception. Significant positive correlations were identified between improved heading discrimination for rightward heading and the percentage of activated streamlines of the contralateral hyperdirect, pallido-subthalamic, and subthalamo-pallidal pathways. The hyperdirect pathways is thought to provide top-down control over STN connections to the cerebellum. In addition, STN may also antidromically activate collaterals of hyperdirect pathway that projects to the precerebellar pontine nuclei. In select cases there was strong activation of the cerebello-thalamic projections, but it was not consistently present in all participants. Large volumetric overlap between the volume of tissue activation and the STN in the left hemisphere positively impacted rightward heading perception. Altogether, the results suggest heavy involvement of basal ganglia cerebellar network in STN induced modulation of vestibular heading perception in PD.
Health-promoting work schedules in nurses and nurse assistants. Results from the nationwide AMADEUS survey
Authors: FOND Guillaume , lucas guillaume , boyer laurent
Published: November 2022

Aim. To determine which long schedules are associated with the better self-reported work conditions and health risky behaviors in Healthcare workers (HCWs). Background. HCWs can work with 7-hour, 5 days/weeks or with long work schedules (ten to 12-hour, 3days/week). Methods. A survey was sent to public and private national healthcare facilities. The method followed the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement guidelines. Work environment was measured using the Job Content Questionnaire and Burnout using the French version of the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) scale. Results. 3133 HCWs were recruited: 2369(75.6%) nurses and 764(24.4%) nurse assistants, of those 1811 (57.8%) (1366 nurses and 445 nurse assistants) had a 7-hour schedule and 1322 (42.2%) (1003 nurses and 319 nurse assistants) had a long work schedule. In multivariate analyses, HCWs working with a long schedule reported significantly higher rates of High psychological demand, Burnout, number of daily smoked cigarettes, coffee consumption and reported more frequently sleeping less than 5 hours/night independently of working in public sector, Hospital (vs. medico-social facility), having a full-time job, constant schedules, planned schedules, night shift job, working in medical specialty/psychiatry/critical care department, age, being partnered or having children at home. Conclusions. Some HCWs may prefer long schedules to get more resting days. However, nurses and nurse assistants working with these schedules report higher burden of work conditions and worse health risky behaviors aiming at counteracting this burden. Implications for Nursing Management. Health-promoting work schedules should be taken into account to improve high psychological demand and burnout in HCWs with long schedules.
Identifying predictors of employee silence about patient safety based on environmental factors among nurses in Ardabil:A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hashemian Maryam , Aghamohammadi Masoumeh , Iranpour Sohrab , Soola Aghil Habibi
Published: November 2022

Background
Nurses can detect situations that threaten patient safety by providing direct care to patients. But sometimes, instead of speaking about it, they remain silent, which can harm patients. Examining the causes of silence has become a challenge in the nursing profession. Factors related to the work environment influence silence about patient safety, but how it is not fully understood. This study was conducted to investigate the predictors of employees' silence regarding patient safety based on environmental factors among nurses in Ardabil city.
Methodology
This research was descriptive and analytical, conducted cross-sectionally among 630 nurses working in five medical training centers in Ardabil, northwest Iran. This study used employee silence about patient safety questionnaire, Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI), psychological safety, leader-member exchanges (LMX), and Professional discrimination experienced by nurses. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and hierarchical regression analysis were used by SPSS 16.0 software.
Results
The average score of employee silence about patient safety was (2.62 ± 0.98). Nurse participation in hospital affairs (ß= 0.196, p = 0.002), nurse's role in the quality of care (ß= -0.352, p < 0.001), staff and facility adequacy (ß= 0.156, p = 0.001), communication with the physician (ß=-0.105, p = 0.015), LMX (ß=-0.284, p < 0.001) and job position (ß=-0.093, p = 0.018) were significant predictors of employees' silence about patient safety.
Conclusion
According to the findings, the participation of nurses as much as possible in decisions and matters related to the hospital, improving the relationship between physicians and nurses, providing sufficient resources and staff, proper communication between nursing leaders and staff, and also providing suitable conditions for providing quality and safe care, are necessary to reduce the amount of silence about patient safety.
The effect of different building orientations and different filling patterns on the mechanical properties and building time of PLA using FDM technology
Authors: Ahmed Mohamed Hamoud , Abdelmonam Hussein Mohamed
Published: November 2022

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a Layered Manufacturing (LM) process in which progressive 2D layers of material are kept making a 3D part. To optimize the building operation, investigation is necessary to study the effect of process parameters. This study examines the impact of three filling patterns “Triangles”, “Cross” and “Cross 3D” with three filling densities (25%, 50%, and 75%) in three orientations (“Flat”, “on long edge”, and “on short edge”) on Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS), hardness and the printing time of Polylactic Acid (PLA) material. In this work, tensile specimens were built according to ASTM D638 on an open-source 3D printer. The UTS were collected using WDW-2000 computer control electronic universal testing machine. Also, the hardiness value was measured using shore A hardness durometers DIN 53505 and ASTEM D2240. In addition, the building time was conducted by implementing “Cura 4.6.” slicer software. The results show that the filling pattern, orientation, and density, at which the part is built, have a significant effect on the strength, hardness, and building time of the part. for light structure parts 25% density, it is recommended to build part with “Triangles” “on long edge” to obtain the highest strength (31.02MPa) which improved by 74.3%, with (281HV) at min. time (1hr:10min) which reduced by 46.1%. For dense structure parts, “Triangles”, “on long edge” are recommended to give the highest strength (42.12MPa), which be improved by 69.8%, (282HV) at min. time (1hr:35min) which reduced by 36.2%. For medium construction 50% the parts can be built by the following parameters “Cross”, “on long edge” to obtain the highest strength (38.48MPa) with (283HV) at min. possible time (1hr:55min).
Symptoms of severe periodontitis are associated with lung function decline and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the Chinese population
Authors: Liu Zhiqiang , Zhou Xuan , Liang Lirong , Han Xiaozhe , Yang Ting , Huang Kewu , Lin Yingxiang , Wang Zuomin , Wang Chen
Published: November 2022

Background

The associations between periodontitis and post-bronchodilator lung function decline and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not clear. We aimed to determine the associations between symptoms of severe periodontitis and pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function decline and COPD in the Chinese population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in a large Chinese nationally representative sample of 49,202 participants aged 20–89 years. Data on demographic characteristics, symptoms of severe periodontitis included tooth mobility and natural tooth loss, frequency of tooth brushing and other information were collected. Pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function data were also collected.

Results

Symptoms of severe periodontitis were significantly associated with pre- and post- bronchodilator lung function variables decline in the multivariable adjusted multiple linear regression models (all p < 0.001), and were also associated with pre- and post-forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) / forced vital capacity (FVC) < 0.7 (odds ratios (OR) = 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05–1.19, p = 0.001 and OR = 1.08, 95%CI 1.01–1.16, p = 0.03) in the multivariable adjusted multiple logistic regression models. Never brush tooth is associated with pre- and post-FEV1/FVC decline and pre- and post-FEV1/FVC < 0.7 in the multivariable adjusted multiple regression models (all p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that symptoms of severe periodontitis included tooth mobility and natural tooth loss are both associated with pre- and post-bronchodilator lung function decline and COPD (post-FEV1/FVC < 0.7) in the Chinese population.
Association between blood transfusion and infections after spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Liu Yuting , Tang Xiaoming , Dai Jian , Jiang Haitao , You Jianguo
Published: November 2022

Background

Blood transfusion is a crucial replacement therapy in surgery as its side effects on the human immune system may cause postoperative infections. Infections after spinal surgery include surgical site infection (SSI), urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, and sepsis, which have a significant impact on mortality. Whether blood transfusion is a risk factor for postoperative infections in spinal surgery remains unclear. Hence, this meta-analysis aimed to reveal the association between infection after spinal surgery and blood transfusion in clinical trials.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were explored up to January 31, 2020, for studies related to postoperative infection and spinal surgery. Stata 14.0 was used to pool the estimates with a random-effects model and relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) in each study and I-square test to evaluate the heterogeneity.

Results

Eight cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising a total of 100,989 patients. We found that blood transfusion was significantly associated with postoperative infection (RR = 3.01; 95% CI, 2.74–3.31; p < 0.001) and played a critical role in different types of infections such as SSI, pneumonia, UTI, and sepsis.

Conclusion

Blood transfusion was a risk factor for postoperative infection in spinal surgery. Hence, efforts should be made to reduce bleeding during the operation, and more restrictive transfusion policies should be followed in the perioperative period.

Trial registration

This systematic review has been registered in PROSPERO. The registration number is CRD42020193853.
Family Hypercholesterolemia Revealed by Myocardial Infarction: Case Report and Literature Data.
Authors: mackonia Noel maschell Mahoungou
Published: November 2022

Introduction
Familial hypercholesterolemia is a monogenetic, autosomal dominant, predominantly heterozygous disease that affects 1/500 births and only 20% of cases are diagnosed. Diagnosis is based on family history, clinical manifestations and complications, hypercholesterolemia on biological tests with genetic confirmation of the mutation by the MedPed score. Complications occur early, before the age of 55 in men and 60 in women, and are even more virulent in the homozygous form
Case presentation
We report the case of a 36-year-old, nonobese patient with a history of HF in the mother at age 52 years, complicated by stroke, and acute coronary syndrome on two occasions at age 44 years in the older brother. He was admitted to the hospital for a revascularized myocardial infarction in the right coronary artery by primary angioplasty. Clinical examination was normal, lipid profile showed hypercholesterolemia (HCT) with LDL-CT = 3.64 g/L, HDL-CT = 0.32 g/L and TG = 2.1g/L. The MedPed score was 12 points with a copy of the LDL receptor gene on the genetic sample. The patient received a high-dose statin combined with adherence to healthy dietary measures. Genetic screening of the rest of the family was performed.
Conclusion
HF is a common but not well understood disease. Diagnosis should be made very early when the disease is suspected using the MedPed score of possible(3–5 points), probable(6–8 points) and certain(> 8 points) with genetic confirmation. Screening should be done very early in the family with drug treatment from the age of 8 years if the diagnosis is confirmed.
Impacts of Model Resolution on Responses of Western North Pacific Tropical Cyclones to ENSO in the HighResMIP-PRIMAVERA Ensemble
Authors: Liu Jingchan , Yuan Chaoxia , Luo Jing-Jia
Published: November 2022

The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is the major driver of interannual variations in the western North Pacific (WNP) tropical cyclones (TCs). Realistic reproduction of ENSO-WNPTC teleconnection in coupled models (CGCMs) is thus crucial for improved seasonal-to-interannual prediction of WNPTC activity. Here, basing on the outputs of six pairs of high-resolution (HR) and low-resolution (LR) CGCMs participating the HighResMIP-PRIMAVERA project, we showed that both HR and LR models can reproduce well the increased/decreased TC genesis and track in the southeastern WNP but the decreased/increased in the northwestern WNP in the developing years of El Niño/La Niña, but the HR models outperform the LR by simulating higher anomalous amplitudes closer to the observed. The better performance of HR than LR models is on one hand due to the generally increased frequency and variability of TCs in the HR models. On the other hand, the teleconnection of El Niño/La Niña to the WNP shows a dipole circulation difference between the HR and LR models with an anomalous cyclone/anticyclone in the southeastern WNP and anticyclone/cyclone in the northwestern WNP, which enhances the dipole TC genesis and track anomalies in the HR compared to the LR models. The teleconnection difference stems from the location differences in the ENSO-related SST and convection anomalies in the tropical Pacific, which may be ultimately linked to the reduced cold tongue biases in the HR compared to the LR models.
Experience with Apixaban Versus Acenocumarol in Usual Clinical Practice in Patients with Persistent Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Treated with Electric Cardioversion Ambulatory
Authors: Velasquez Eddi , Dominguez Eduardo , Fernandez Paloma , Cardinal Pablo , Perez Elena , Medina Juan , Rodriguez Francisco , Parra Javier , CASTELLANO JOSE M.
Published: November 2022

Background
The present work was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects on inflammatory factors and on the consumption of resources in health care, in anti-coagulated patients with apixaban or acenocoumarol, treated with electric cardioversion ambulatory (ECV).
Methods
236 patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), who underwent ambulatory CVE between April 2017 and October 2020, were prospectively analyzed. The levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10 and TGF-β were measured before cardioversion and one month after cardioversion.
Results
The mean age of the study population was 71 years, 52% with a history of NVAF prior to the index event. The procedure was successful in 90% of the patients (n = 210). The average number of shocks per patient was 1.39 joules. A transesophageal echocardiogram was performed in 236 patients (100%), which revealed thrombus in the left atrium in 2 of them. Among the anticoagulated patients with acenocoumarol (N 50), 7 patients (14%) with sub-optimal INR were registered, who were reprogrammed for ECV. The delay time until performing the CVE was 30 ± 7, with an impact on the waiting list of 2 months. A statistically significant decrease in the apixaban treatment arm was recorded in the assessment of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels.
Conclusions
Ambulatory ECV is a safe and effective method for the treatment of NVAF in patients anticoagulated with apixaban or acenocoumarol. An advantage of the use of DOAC (Direct Oral Anticoagulant) in the context of peri-cardioversion is to avoid inadequate control of the INR, a frequent reason for suspending scheduled electrical cardioversions, increased of waiting lists and healthcare costs. Apixaban showed a decrease in levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL6 - TNF-α). This effect could be related with prediction of mortality risk as other studies have shown.
A study on locomotion characteristics according to the level of cardiorespiratory endurance in adolescents
Authors: Choi Sanghyup , Son Minji , Jeon Jeanhong , Song Yonggwan , Lee Yongho
Published: November 2022

This study aims to investigate the differences in locomotion characteristics according to cardiorespiratory endurance in adolescents. The subjects were 51 students in the third grade of middle school, divided into the EG group (excellent group) and NEG group (non-excellent group) according to the cardiorespiratory endurance level. This study investigates the differences in locomotion characteristics according to cardiorespiratory endurance in adolescents. We used a 20-shuttle-run for cardiorespiratory endurance level, and a 1-minute walking test was performed for each speed by applying a differential speed. Cardiorespiratory endurance variables were based on VO2 Max, and locomotion variables were analyzed by spatial-temporal parameters and foot range of motion parameters. Regarding the locomotion spatial-temporal parameters, adolescents with excellent cardiorespiratory endurance showed a more regular pattern, while foot inversion showed a more abnormal pattern. In particular, when the locomotion speed was slow, these characteristics were more clearly distinguishable. Our results confirm the characteristics of locomotion according to the growth of adolescents and can mediate the difference in walking speed to use as a primary database for the locomotion of adolescents.
The extent of windfarm infrastructures on recognised European blanket bogs
Authors: Chico Guaduneth , Clewer Thomas , Midgley Nicholas , Gallego-Anex Pablo , Ramil-Rego Pablo , Ferreiro Javier , Whayman Eleanor , Goeckeritz Saskia , Stanton Thomas
Published: November 2022

Peatland environments are the Earth’s largest terrestrial carbon store1 and have the potential to act as carbon sinks2. However, the development of windfarms on peatlands is affecting their morphology3–6, hydrology6, ground-level climate conditions7, carbon functions8 and vegetation9–11. Blanket bogs are a rare type of ombrotrophic peatland that are typical of oceanic areas with high precipitation and low temperatures12. Their distribution has been mapped across Europe, where they are mainly located on hill summits where wind energy potential is higher, making them attractive sites for windfarm developments3,13. The promotion of renewable energy is currently a priority given the environmental and economic drive to increase low-carbon energy production14–16. Establishing windfarms on peatland in pursuit of greener energy therefore risks compromising and undermining the green-energy transition. Despite this, the extent of windfarm infrastructures on blanket bogs have not yet been reported at the European scale. Here we show the extent of windfarm infrastructures on recognised blanket bogs, with a geographical focus on Europe, where blanket bogs have been defined systematically. Under the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) there are 36 European regions NUTS level 2 with recognised blanket bogs. Of these 12 have windfarm developments, including 644 wind turbines, 253.4 km of vehicular access tracks and an affected area of 207.6 ha, mainly in Ireland and Scotland where the extent of blanket bogs is also higher. However, despite Spain having under 0.2% of Europe’s recognised blanket bogs area, this was the most affected country. In Scotland comparison of the Habitats Directive with blanket bogs recorded in national inventories indicates that the extent of windfarm developments was higher, with 1,063 wind turbines and 634.5 km of vehicular access tracks. Our results highlight the extent of windfarm developments on blanket bog habitat, both in areas where peatlands are broadly distributed across the landscape, and also in areas where this recognised habitat is particularly rare. There is a pressing need to assess the impacts of windfarms on peatlands to ensure that efforts to meet energy targets result only in carbon sequestration, and do not jeopardise ecosystem services. Blanket bogs represent a particularly vulnerable habitat, the study of which should be prioritised updating national and international inventories to protect and restore this habitat.
Theoretical estimation of longitudinal flexoelectric response in polar perovskite oxides
Authors: Shin Young-Han , Ali Asad , Kim Hye Jung , Kim Tae Heon
Published: November 2022

The quest for pure flexoelectricity has brought about various theoretical and experimental approaches to eliminate piezoelectric contributions from the flexoelectric measurements. Herein, we propose a first-principles approach to measure flexoelectricity. We compute the corresponding piezoelectric contribution and subtract it from the total local polarization rather than devising the system having the inversion symmetry to acquire the pure flexoelectric contribution. This approach is applied to experimentally accessible strain gradients in the order of ∼107 m−1 with sufficient structural relaxation and the precise Born effective charge tensors, which play a dominant role in probing the correct strain gradient and polarization responses. We validate the proposed approach by calculating the longitudinal flexoelectric coefficient μ3333 (−0.513±0.004 nC/m) for SrTiO3 (Pm-3m), which is comparatively closer (irrespective of their signs) to its experimental value of 0.2 nC/m with a smaller uncertainty than previous works. Its application is extended to other ABO3 perovskites in cubic (Pm-3m) phases and perovskite BaTiO3 in its tetragonal (P4mm) phase. The analysis of obtained results enables us to comment on the possible origin of flexoelectricity and its additive interaction with piezoelectricity in the local polarization response.
On the Economic Determinants of Prostitution: Marriage Compensation and Unilateral Divorce in U.S. States *
Authors: Ciacci Riccardo
Published: November 2022

Understanding the determinants of prostitution is key to regulate it. This paper studies the hypothesis that marriage conditions are an economic determinant of female prostitution. I exploit differences in the timing of entry into force of divorce laws across U.S. states to explore the effect of such laws on arrests of female prostitutes. Using a difference-indifference design, I find that unilateral divorce leads to a reduction of female arrested prostitutes between 5%-10%. Results are consistent with the notion that improving marriage opportunities can be a powerful force to deter entry into prostitution for a subset of the population who is inframarginal. Lack of alternatives are key to explain the choice to conduct this activity. To this extent, this work is part of a broader research agenda hinting at improvements in gender equality as a mean for tapering off female prostitution.
JEL codes: J12, J16, K14, K15, K36
Upregulation of tandem duplicated BoFLC1 genes is associated with the non-flowering trait in Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Authors: Kinoshita Yu , Motoki Ko , Hosokawa Munetaka
Published: November 2022

The non-flowering natural cabbage mutant ‘nfc’ was discovered from the breeding line ‘T15’ with normal flowering characteristics. In this study, we investigated the molecular basis underlying the non-flowering trait of ‘nfc’. First, the ‘nfc’ was induced to flower using the grafting floral induction method, and three F2 populations were generated. The flowering phenotype of each F2 population was widely distributed with non-flowering individuals appearing in two populations. QTL-seq analysis detected a genomic region associated with flowering date at approximately 51 Mb on chromosome 9 in two of the three F2 populations. Subsequent validation and fine mapping of the candidate genomic region using QTL analysis identified the quantitative trait loci (QTL) at 50,177,696–51,474,818 bp on chromosome 9 covering 241 genes. Additionally, RNA-seq analysis of ‘nfc’ and ‘T15’ plants identified 36 differentially expressed genes related to flowering. Based on these results, we identified tandem duplicated BoFLC1 genes, which are homologs of floral repressor FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), as the candidate genes responsible for the non-flowering trait of ‘nfc’. We designated the tandem duplicated BoFLC1 genes as BoFLC1a and BoFLC1b. Expression analysis revealed that the expression levels of BoFLC1a and BoFLC1b were downregulated during winter in ‘T15’ but were upregulated and maintained during winter in ‘nfc’. Additionally, the expression level of the floral integrator BoFT was upregulated in the spring in ‘T15’ but hardly upregulated in ‘nfc’. These results suggest that the upregulated levels of BoFLC1a and BoFLC1b contributed to the non-flowering trait of ‘nfc’.
Optimizing drug combination and detecting mechanism of drug combination based on pathway crosstalk in pan-cancer
Authors: Hu Congxue , Mi Wanqi , Li Feng , Zhu Lun , Ou Qi , Li Maohao , Li Tengyue , Ma Yuheng , Zhang Yunpeng , Xu Yingqi
Published: November 2022

The occurrence and development of cancer is a complex process involving multi-factor crosstalk. The low efficiency of drugs is an important problem for clinical treatment. Combination therapy is currently the most effective way to improve cancer treatment, but currently approved drug combinations result mainly from empirical clinical experience. Therefore, it is meaningful to present an approach to discover new drug combinations for cancer treatment. In this work, we integrated the pan-cancer and drugs high-throughput data to construct the miRNA-mediated crosstalk network between pathways of cancer and further construct the therapeutic networks for drug. Totally, 15416 crosstalks between 268 pathways in 21 cancers were identified. Base on the crosstalk inhibition, we developed a computational network biological approach to identify the effective drug which inhibition risk pathway crosstalk of cancer, and then filtrated and optimized the drug combination for cancer treatment. Ultimately, we obtained 687 optimized drug combinations of 83 first-line anticancer drugs in pan-cancers. Next, we analyzed the mechanism of drug combination, and confirmed that the targets of cancer-specific crosstalk network in drug combination were closely related to cancer prognosis by survival analysis. In addition, we developed a user-friendly web interface ODrugCP (http://bio-bigdata.hrbmu.edu.cn/oDrugCP/) that can be used to explore 687 optimized drug combination strategies related to 21 cancers. In conclusion, our study mined the key cascade pathways of drug action and analyzed the mechanism of drug combination. It can provide an effective method for screening precise drug combinations for various cancer treatments, which may have important scientific significance and clinical application value for revealing the regulatory mechanism of tumor pathogenesis and exploring new tumor treatment strategies.