bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Herbal and Nutritional Medicines for Improving Cognition in Older Adults With and Without Subjective Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Cave Adele E. , Chang Dennis H. , Münch Gerald W. , Steiner-Lim Genevieve Z.
Published: May 2022

Background: Subjective cognitive impairment (SCI), is conceptualised as the preclinical phase of dementia, and is characterised by a worsening of cognitive functioning, particularly within the area of memory. Due to the increased risk of developing future objective decline, and the lack of pharmacological interventions available to treat SCI, complementary medicines (CMs) are becoming more widely used by older adults, particularly herbal and nutritional medicines. The aim of this systematic review was to describe the study characteristics, methodologies, and intervention efficacy of studies on herbal and nutritional medicines for older adults with and without SCI. Method: Four databases (Cochrane, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycInfo) were searched from database inception until 20 February 2022. Articles were included in the review if they met the following criteria: study population of older adults with and without SCI, herbal and nutritional medicines as an intervention, evaluated cognitive outcomes, and were randomised control trials. Results: Data was extracted from 20/6,006 eligible full-text articles, and risk of methodological bias in accordance with the Cochrane review process for randomised trials, (ROB 2) was assessed. Nine studies used an SCI population, with the remaining eleven, older adults without SCI. Most studies employed parallel, randomised, placebo-controlled designs, and were 12 weeks in length. Sixteen out of twenty studies used a herbal supplement, with most of these using a form of Ginkgo biloba or Bacopa monnieri. Measures of cognition varied across the studies, with 13/20 studies reporting improvements in at least one area of cognitive functioning across time, in the intervention group (compared to placebo). A total of 14/20 studies were deemed as having an overall high methodological risk of bias, 5/20 had some concerns, and only one study (using an SCI population) was assessed as having a low risk of methodological bias. Conclusions: This was the first review to conduct an extensive search of randomised control trials using herbal and nutritional medicines, to improve cognitive functioning in older adults with, and without SCI. Further work needs to be done in classifying and understanding SCI, before future studies can more accurately determine the efficacy of these interventions.
Monitoring the past and future trends of urban thermal comfort conditions through a new methodology
Authors: Çağlak Savaş , Toy Süleyman , Bahadır Muhammet
Published: May 2022

Human thermal comfort representing the satisfaction of mind with ambient air conditions has significant effects on socioeconomic activities. Climate change is affecting thermal comfort conditions (TCCs) negatively. Therefore, it is important to estimate their past and future trends to take accurate measures for mitigation and adaptation efforts in especially urban areas. However, it is difficult to calculate TCCs for future since they are the combined effect of several meteorological parameters on a person outdoor together with her/his own physiological characteristics, which must be evaluated individually. This study aims to determine the TCCs trends in the past compared to the present while estimating the future conditions using a new methodology in the case of Kayseri city in the Interior Anatolia Region of Turkey. As the result of the study, all the change trends considering temporal and spatial results show that thermal comfort conditions signal warmer and higher heat stress in past and future trends. This means human thermal sensation ranges (e.g. very cold) have replaced with the next warmer range and their spatial distribution in percentage has also changed towards warmer. Future predictions have also implied the same change trend and the level of heat stress which has never been experienced in the study area e.g. strong heat stress. Increase in the prevalence of unfavourable thermal comfort conditions causes the decrease in the liveability indicators in especially urban areas, including serious economic loses based on energy consumption, health care expenses and efficiency of activities. It is required that both past and expected future trends be considered in the planning and design works to make cities resilient and have higher adaptive capacity to climate change.
A single center study of two types of upper kidney preservation surgery for complete duplicate kidney in children
Authors: Chu Han , Zhang Xiansheng , Cao Yongsheng , Qifei Deng
Published: May 2022

Objective
To compare the efficacy, advantages and disadvantages of insertable ureteral reimplantation (UC group) and ureteral end-to-side anastomosis (UU group) in the treatment of duplicate kidney, and summarize the clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment.
Methods
Retrospective analysis was performed on 20 cases of duplicate kidney in our hospital from April 2016 to June 2021, including 11 cases of insertable ureteral reimplantation and 9 cases of end-to-side ureteral anastomosis. There were 8 boys, 12 girls, 12 left and 8 right. There were 3 cases of urinary tract infection and 9 cases of urinary incontinence, all of the rest were found by B ultrasound in physical examination. The median age was 33.5 months. Preoperative and postoperative renal pelvis separation, ureteral dilation, operation time and drainage tube indwelling time were compared.
Results
There was no significant difference in the degree of renal pelvis separation and ureter tortuosity before operation between the two groups (P > 0.05), and there was significant difference in the operative time between the two types of operation and in the duration of indwelling drainage tube (P < 0.05), there were significant differences in the degree of hydronephrosis and ureteral dilation before and after the two operations (P < 0.05), while there were no significant differences in the recovery of kidney and ureter after the two operations (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
The two methods have their own advantages and disadvantages, both can be used as the choice of renal sparing therapy for complete duplicate kidney, it is necessary to choose the appropriate method according to the situation of children and the surgical experience of the doctors. Double J tube placement is helpful for finding and protecting ureter intraoperative, without increasing the difficulty of operation, and can prevent anastomosis or ureteral orifice stenosis.
Burden of risks in the analogue and digitally-supported medication use process and potential for solutions to increase patient safety in the hospital: a mixed method study
Authors: Kopanz Julia , Lichtenegger Katharina M. , Schwarz Christine , Motschnig Melanie , Kamolz Lars-Peter , Pieber Thomas , Sendlhofer Gerald , Mader Julia K. , Hoffmann Magdalena
Published: May 2022

Background: Medication errors are common in hospitals. Our aim was to investigate risks of the analogue and digitally-supported medication use process and potential for solutions.Methods: A mixed-method study including a structured literature search, and questionnaires based on the Delphi method was conducted. To identify major risks, a literature search was supplemented by risks from Critical-Incident-Reporting-System cases and risks from experts’ know-how. First, all risks were structured into main and sub-risks and second, risks were grouped into risk clusters. Third, experts were asked to assess risk clusters regarding likelihood of occurrence and impact on patient safety and regarding potential for solutions to strengthen the competence of health care professionals and potential for solutions in digitalization.Results: Overall, 160 main risks and 542 sub-risks were identified. Main risks were grouped into 43 risk clusters. In total, 33 experts (56% female, 50% with >20 years professional-experience) ranked the likelihood of occurrence and the impact on patient safety to 15 top risk clusters regarding the following process steps: admission (n=4), prescribing (n=3), verifying (n=1), preparing/dispensing (n=3), administering (n=1), discharge (n=1), health care professional competence (n=1), and patient (n=1). In total 28 experts (64% female, 43% with >20 years professional-experience) mostly suggested awareness building and training, strengthening of networking, and involvement of pharmacists at point-of-care as solutions to strengthen health care professional competence. For solutions in digitalization a digital medication list, digital warning systems, barcode-technology, and digital support in integrated care were suggested.Conclusions: A multitude of different risks was identified in the medication use process. To increase patient safety and to minimize potential errors, different solutions to strengthen health care professional competence as well as digital solutions exist. As a next step, health care professional competence and digital solutions will be investigated more deeply to derive specific recommendations for intra-hospital clinical practice use.
Exchanges of economic plants along the Land Silk Road
Authors: Wang Guangyan , Chen Qian , Yang Ya , Duan Yuanwen , Yang Yongping
Published: May 2022

Background: The greatest contribution of the Silk Road is to communicate among different countries and nationalities, and promote two-way cultural exchanges between the East and the West. We now have clearer understanding about how material civilization and religious culture of Central Asia and West Asia spread eastward along the Land Silk Road. However, there is controversial about how crops migrate along the Land Silk Road.Results: we summarize archaeology, genetics, and genomics data to explore crop migration patterns. Of the 207 crops that were domesticated along the Land Silk Road, 19 for which genomic evidence was available were selected for discussion.Conclusions: There were conflicting lines of evidence for the domestication of Tibetan barley, mustard, lettuce, buckwheat, and chickpea. The main reasons for the conflicting results may include incomplete early knowledge, record differences in different period, sample sizes, and data analysis techniques. There was strong evidence that Tibetan barley, barley, wheat, and jujube were introduced into China before the existence of the Land Silk Road; and mustard, lettuce, buckwheat, chickpea, alfalfa, walnut, cauliflower, grape, spinach, apple, cucumber, mulberry, and pea spread to China via trade and human migration along the Land Silk Road.
A theory-informed, rapid cycle approach to identifying and adapting sustainability strategies: Optimizing depression treatment in primary care clinics seeking to sustain collaborative/integrated care (The Transform DepCare Study)”
Authors: Moise Nathalie , Paniagua-Avila Maria Alejandra , Barbecho Jennifer Mizhquiri , Blanco Luis , Dauber-Decker Katherine , Flores Samantha , McElhiney Martin , Serafini Maria , Straussman Darlene , Patel Sapana , Ye Siqin , Duran Andrea
Published: May 2022

Background: Few if any examples exist of how best to select and adapt sustainability strategies. We used a collaborative/integrated care use case to describe a novel, theory-informed, stakeholder engaged process for operationalizing sustainability strategies. Methods: Informed by the Behavior Change Wheel, we used mixed methods to identify key sustainability behaviors and determinants of sustainability before conducting a “sustainability mapping” phase to identify acceptable and equitable intervention functions and behavioral change techniques. Drawing on user centered design principles, we enlisted 22 national and local stakeholders to operationalize and adapt (e.g., content, functionality, workflow) a multi-level sustainability strategy to maximally target behavioral determinants of sustainability. Results: We identified ongoing provider treatment optimization and patient initiation as key sustainability behaviors in settings receiving external facilitation and fiscal implementation strategies. The most acceptable, equitable and feasible intervention functions included environmental restructuring, education, training, modeling, persuasion, and enablement. We determined that a waiting room delivered shared decision making and psychoeducation patient tool (DepCare) the results of which are delivered to providers as well as ongoing problem-solving/implementation team meetings with care managers would be the most acceptable and equitable multi-level strategy in diverse settings seeking to sustain CC programs. Key adaptations in response to contextual factors included expanding the DepCare tool to incorporate anxiety/suicide screening, triage support, multi-modal delivery, and patient activation (vs. shared decision making); pairing preference reports with decisional support as well as yearly onboarding/motivational provider and staff educational videos; shifting problem solving meetings from billing support to triage/reducing inappropriate referrals. Conclusion: We provide a roadmap for designing theory-informed, sustainability strategies and employing user centered design principles to adapt strategies to changing mental health landscapes.
FDI and Economic Growth in Indonesia: A Provincial and Sectoral Analysis
Authors: Fazaalloh Al Muizzuddin
Published: May 2022

Foreign direct investment (FDI) plays an essential role in growing the economy, where this role runs through two things, namely capital accumulation and technology transfer. However, in the literature, previous research findings are still inconclusive to show positive contributions of FDI on economic growth. Furthermore, while the impact of FDI on economic growth has been studied using sectoral data, there has been less research done using data at the provincial and sectoral levels. This study aims to analyze the impact of foreign direct investment (FDI) on economic growth employing sectoral data at the provincial level (33 provinces) in Indonesia over 2010-2019. Based on the fixed effects estimator (reghdfe), our estimation results prove that, in general, FDI significantly positively impacts economic growth in the Indonesian provinces. We also find that FDI in the mining, manufacturing, water, gas and electricity, hotels and restaurants, and real estate sectors has a significant positive effect on economic growth. Meanwhile, only FDI in the agricultural sector has a significant negative impact. Our estimation results confirm that FDI in the manufacturing sector contributes positively and has a considerable impact. The results are robust to the GMM System estimator, which considers the endogeneity problem.
Cost of Peer Mystery Shopping to Increase Cultural Competency in Community Clinics Offering HIV/STI Testing to Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: Results from the Get Connected trial
Authors: Phillips Victoria , Xue Zheng , Castillo Marne , Santiago Dalia , Wimbly Taylor , Hightow-Weidman Lisa , Stephenson Rob , Bauermeister Jose
Published: May 2022

Background: Cultural competency has been identified as a barrier to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) populations seeking care. Mystery shopping has been widely employed in the formal health care sector as a quality improvement (QI) tool to address specific client needs. The approach has had limited use in community-based organizations (CBO) due in part to lack of knowledge and resource requirement concerns. Several mystery shopping initiatives are now being implemented which focus on the LGBT population with the goal of reducing barriers to accessing care. One subset targets men who have sex with men (MSM) to increase uptake of HIV testing. No intervention investigates costs of these initiatives, a key aspect of sustainability. The Get Connected randomized control trial used peer-led, high intensity, mystery shopping to identify and help develop culturally competent HIV testing sites for young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in high incidence urban areas. Mystery shopping modelled use of centralized CBO, such as a public health department (PHD), to spearhead shopping in community clinics. Our objective was to determine the resource requirements and costs of using high-intensity, peer mystery initiated in the trial to inform sustainability. Methods: Through consultation with study staff, we identify a resource inventory for undertaking a mystery shopping program. We used activity-based costing to price each of the resource inputs. We classified costs as start-up and on-going implementation costs. We calculated costs for each category, total costs and cost per mystery shopper visit for the four-month trial and annually to reflect standard budgeting periods. Results: Recruitment and training of peer mystery shoppers were the most expensive tasks. Average start-up costs were $10,001 (SD $38,8). Four-month average implementation costs per visit were $228 (SD $1.97). Average annual implementation costs per visit were 33% lower at $151 (SD $5.60). Conclusions: Peer-led, mystery shopping of HIV-testing sites is feasible, and is likely affordable for medium to large public health departments.
Eoarchean/Hadean melts reveal arc-like trace element and isotopic chemistry
Authors: Chowdhury Wriju , Trail Dustin , Miller Martha , Savage Paul
Published: May 2022

Constraining the lithological diversity and geodynamic regime(s) of the earliest Earth is critical to understanding how our planet has evolved, and the discovery of Hadean- and Eoarchaean-age zircons has allowed us to directly analyse material from these eons. Here we use Jack Hills Zircon (JHZ) (3.3 - 4.2 Ga) analyses coupled with new experimental partitioning data to model the SiO2 wt.%, Si+O isotopic composition, and trace element (TE) contents of their parent melts; i.e., the composition of the Earth’s earliest crust. Comparing our derived JHZ parent melt Si+O isotopic compositions (-1.96≤ δ30SiNBS28 ≤0.39 ‰; 5.28 ≤δ18OVSMOW≤10.03 ‰) to younger continental crust lithologies, we conclude that the chemistry of the JHZ parent melts was influenced by the assimilation of serpentinites, cherts and silicified basalts, followed by igneous differentiation, leading to the formation of intermediate to felsic melts in the early Earth. Trace element measurements also show that the formational regime had an arc-like chemistry, consistent with the presence of mobile-lid tectonics in the Hadean. Moreover, based on the similarity of isotopic data derived for Eoarchaean and Hadean melts, we propose these continental-crust forming processes operated continuously, and uniformly, from the Hadean into the Archaean.
A prediction of the paths to equalization of basic public health services based on Gragh Neural Network(GNN)
Authors: Duan Min , Tan Tao , Zhang Binzhe , Zhou Xun
Published: May 2022

The contradiction between supply and demand of China's health resources has become increasingly prominent under the strategic requirement of “High-quality public health development”. Especially in the context of accelerated population aging and changes in the disease spectrum, chronic diseases and other health issues are increasingly concerned. The government, as the main supplier, have to solve the outstanding conflicts of imbalance in resource allocation in the region. Our study aims to analyze inequalities in the utilization behavior of basic public health services for chronic diseases, to explore the influence of both supply and demand elements, and to assess whether the balanced allocation of resources at different levels within a region can contribute to equalization of basic public health services. This study collected the health insurance swipe records of diabetic patients in S city, and visualizes the supply and demand of medical resources on a map. Secondly, we construct a heterogeneous graph neural network(GNN) of hospital-patient medical resource utilization to explore the combinatorial effects of unequal utilization. Finally, we predict the changes in patients' behavior after two supply optimization means of improving the service quality of primary care institutions and sinking of high-quality medical resources. The analysis shows that the utilization of regional healthcare resources is also influenced by the center-edge supply structure, and the concentration of high-quality resources in urban centers not only squeezes the utilization space of primary hospitals, but also causes difficulties in access to high-quality resources for patients in shortage areas, which results in an unreasonable trend of patient mobility. We predict that a balanced allocation of medical resources at all levels in the region will significantly reduce the need for chronic disease patients to seek high-quality medical resources over long distances, but the siphoning effect of regional medical centers still remains. The policy should further continue to increase the investment in primary health institutions while improving the radiation range of regional medical centers, and establish “close medical associations” to achieve equalization of basic public health services.
Development and validation of a surgical drill with a haptic interface in spine surgery
Authors: Yamanouchi Kento , Takano Shunya , Mima Yuichiro , Matsunaga Takuya , Ohnishi Kouhei , Matsumoto Morio , Nakamura Masaya , Shimono Tomoyuki , Yagi Mitsuru
Published: May 2022

Summary of Background Data.Real haptics is a technology that reproduces the sense of force and touch by transmitting contact information with real objects by converting human movements and the feel of objects into data. In recent years, real haptics technology could be installed in several surgical devices. Methods. A custom-made surgical drill was used to drill into the posterior lamina to verify the time required for penetration detection and the distance the drill advanced after penetration. The surgeon operated the drill, and the same aspects were measured and verified. All experiments were performed on female miniature pigs at 9 months of age with a mean body weight of 23.6 kg (range 9-10 months and 22.5-25.8 kg, n = 12) .Results.There were statistically significant differences in both the average reaction time and the distance travelled after penetration between a handheld drill and the drill with the penetration detection function (p<0.001, respectively). The reaction time to detect penetration and the distance after penetration were both significantly improved when compared with those of the handheld surgical drill without the penetration detection function, with mean differences of 0.049 ± 0.019 s [95% CI: 0.012, 0.086 s] and 2.511 ± 0.537 mm [95% CI: 1.505, 3.516 mm].Conclusions.In this study, we successfully conducted a performance evaluation test of a custom-made haptic interface surgical drill. A prototype high-speed drill with a haptic interface successfully detected the penetration of the porcine posterior lamina more accurately.
Dissecting the inheritance pattern of anemone type and the relevant floral traits of chrysanthemum in multiple segregating F1 populations
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Su Jiangshuo , Qu Yixin , Jiang Jiafu , Guan Zhiyong , Fang Weimin , Chen Fadi , Zhang Fei
Published: May 2022

Anemone type, featuring prominent and colored in tubular florets, is an attractive flower shape in chrysanthemums and thus desired by breeders and consumers. Understanding the genetic basis of anemone-type flowers in chrysanthemum is crucial for breeding success. The current study conducted nine cross combinations from seven parents to investigate segregation patterns, parental effect, and the relationships between the heterosis of six tubular floral traits and parental genetic distance. The results showed significant (P < 0.05) differences between the parents and crosses in various tubular floral traits, and transgressive segregation was observed in both directions for most traits. The considerable variation was revealed for almost floral traits, thus indicating the substantial potential for selecting lines with the desirable traits. The segregation ratio of anemone to nonanemone followed 3:1 in anemone × anemone crosses and 1:3 in either nonanemone × anemone or anemone × nonanemone crosses, except for two reciprocal crosses derived from the parents ‘Nannong Xuefeng’ and ‘QX096’. The F1 hybrids’ performance was more inclined towards a vulnerable parent and involved less influence of maternal or paternal effects, displaying some extended declines and negative mid-parent heterosis (MPH). The phenotypic genetic distance was significantly negatively correlated with MPH for floral traits except for style length and disk flower diameter. In contrast, we observed no significant correlation between molecular marker-based genetic distance and MPH for all floral characteristics. The findings of the current work provide insights into the complex inheritance pattern of flower shapes and help achieve desirable improvement in anemone-type chrysanthemums.
Validation study of a nomogram for predicting probability of low risk of MammaPrint results in women with clinically high-risk breast cancer
Authors: Hwang Young Sol , Kim Hwa Jeong , Kim Jisun , Chung Il Yong , Ko Beom Seok , Kim Hee Jeong , Lee Jong Won , Son Byung Ho , Ahn Sei-Hyun , Lee Sae Byul
Published: May 2022

Purpose
MammaPrint (MMP) helps clinicians identify the ideal time for adjuvant treatment for patients with early HR+/HER2- breast cancer. We aimed to externally validate a nomogram designed to predict probability of low risk of MMP results and to evaluate the difference in survival outcome between two groups stratified by nomogram score.
Methods
In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated 172 patients from Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea, who underwent breast cancer surgery and MMP during 2020–2021. We internally validated the nomogram by calculating the area under the curve (AUC) and using calibration. With the data of 1,835 T1-3N0-1M0 HR+/HER2- patients from Asan Medical Center during 2010–2013, we compared the disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) rates by Kaplan-Meier analysis between the two groups divided by nomogram total point (TP) for externally validation.
Results
The AUC calculated by internal validation of 172 patients was 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.77–0.87). The discrimination and calibration of the prediction model were satisfactory following external validation. The high-risk and low-risk groups had different 5-year OS (97.9% vs 98.1%, p = 0.056), DFS (98.6% vs 99.4%, p = 0.008), and BCSS rates (98.6% vs 99.4%, p = 0.002).
Conclusion
For treatment decision-making among clinically high-risk patients with HR+/HER2- and node-positive disease, the nomogram showed satisfactory performance in predicting patients with low genomic risk. Survival outcome significantly differed between two groups divided by nomogram TP. More studies are needed to validate this model in international cohorts and large prospective cohorts from other institutions.
Correlation of serum Nesfatin 1 level with metabolic and clinical parameters in Indian women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome
Authors: Faeza Fatima , Pikee Saxena , Anju Jain
Published: May 2022

ObjectiveTo compare serum Nesfatin 1 levels in Indian women with and without PCOS and to evaluate the association of serum Nesfatin 1 with metabolic and clinical parameters.Methods and Material40 PCOS and 40 age and BMI matched non PCOS controls were enrolled. Comparison of hormonal (serum Nesfatin 1, AMH, FSH, LH, prolactin, testosterone, estadiol) metabolic (blood pressure, fasting and post prandial blood glucose and insulin, HOMA-IR ) and clinical (acne, acanthosis nigricans and hirsutism) parameters was done between two groups. Student’s t test, Mann Whitney test, Pearson’s correlation test were used. P value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsThere was a significant difference in levels of serum Nesfatin 1 in PCOS subjects and controls (8.6 ng/ml v.s 0.75 ng/ml, p < 0.01). Positive correlation was present between serum nesfatin 1 levels and post prandial plasma glucose (r = 0.009; p < 0.009). A positive correlation was also present between serum Nesfatin 1 levels and AMH (r = 0.512;p < 0.01). No correlation was found between serum Nesfatin 1 and other endocrine, cardiovascular and metabolic parameters. Serum LH levels, LH/FSH ratio, post prandial plasma glucose and post prandial insulin were significantly higher (P < 0.05). in PCOS subjects compared to controlsConclusionNesfatin1 levels were ten times higher in PCOS subjects compared to controls irrespective of age and BMI. A positive correlation was observed between serum Nesfatin 1 and post prandial plasma glucose levels which indicates Nesfatin 1 may be a reliable marker of PCOS suggesting energy homeostasis imbalance in these women.
Exploring the challenges faced by Kurdish migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: khazaee-pool Maryam , Taymoori Parvaneh , Bahmani Afshin , ponnet koen , pashaei Tahereh
Published: May 2022

Background: With the outbreak of Covid-19, migrant workers have faced new and intensified problems. The present qualitative study aims to explore the challenges faced by Kurdish migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.Methods: Applying a qualitative approach, we conducted 29 semi-structured in-depth qualitative interviews with Kurdish migrant workers who had temporarily migrated to Iraqi Kurdistan to find work. Inductive qualitative content analysis was employed to converge and compare themes in participant data.Results: The following five main themes emerged from the analysis: sociocultural challenges, economic challenges, psychological challenges, job challenges, and individual challenges. The findings revealed that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative effect on the physical, financial, psychological, and social well-being of migrant workers.Conclusions: This study emphasizes the importance of support measures for migrant workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, including insurance coverage and the provision of health services, such as access to vaccinations and border health screening, as well as the development of socio-economic support, the legislation of labor laws, and the obligation of employers to create a safe workplace during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The safety of time-lapse incubation system for embryo culture in assisted reproductive laboratory: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Yongxiang , Shi Gaohui , Huang Guilan , Hou Wenhui , Cai Bing , Zhou Shaohu , Xu Yanwen
Published: May 2022

Background: To date, time-lapse incubation system (TLI) is widely used in assisted reproductive laboratory for continuously embryo observe and selection. But only few randomized controlled trials (RCT) have been published that evaluated the safety of TLI, especially the neonatal outcomes. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analyses to evaluate the neonatal outcomes between TLI and standard incubators (SI).Methods: A literature search up to October 2021 was carried out to search for clinical trials from electronic databases comparing TLI versus SI on neonatal outcomes. The summary measures were reported as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence-interval (CI). Results: A total of 5905 live-born infants were included from fresh embryos transfer cycles. Only singleton pregnancies were analyzed, no statistical differences were found with respect to gestational weeks at delivery (Mean difference=0.09; 95%CI, -0.18 to 0.35; I2=33%; P=0.52), preterm births (<37weeks) (OR=0.98; 95%CI 0.78 to 1.24; I2=0%; P=0.86), and early preterm birth (<32 weeks) (OR=0.41; 95%CI, 0.11 to 1.50; I2=50%; P=0.18). Besides, no statistical significances were also observed in TLI group on birth weight (Mean difference=71.61; 95%CI, -30.55 to 173.77; I2=62%; P=0.17), low birth weight rate (<2,500g) (OR=0.85; 95%CI, 0.64 to 1.13; I2=0%; P=0.26), very low birth weight rate (<1,500g) (OR=0.58; 95%CI, 0.17 to 1.96; I2=50%; P=0.38), and macrosomia rate (≥4,000g) (OR=1.11; 95%CI, 0.84 to 1.47; I2=0%; P=0.48). Moreover, incidences of malformations of babies delivered from TLI and SI groups were also similar (OR=1.19; 95%CI, 0.66 to 2.14; I2=0%; P=0.56). And finally, sex ratio analysis still showed no differences between the two groups (OR=2.16; 95%CI, 0.53 to 8.81; I2=96%; P=0.28). Conclusions: The strategy of culturing embryo in time-lapse incubation systems would not increase adverse risks of neonatal outcomes comparing to SI. Trial registration: PROSPERO (2018: CRD42020186807)
A missense variant in the nuclear localization signal of DKC1 causes Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome
Authors: TSENG Chi-Kang , Lee Ni-Chung , Chu Chia-Mei , Tsai Meng-Ju , Yu Hsin-Hui , Wu En-Ting , Yang Yun-Li , Lin Chin-Hsien , Lin Shin-Yu , Chien Yin-Hsiu , Hwu Wuh-Liang , Chen Wen-Pin
Published: May 2022

Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson syndrome (HHS) is the most severe form of dyskeratosis congenita (DC) and is caused by genes involved in telomere maintenance. Here, we identified male siblings from a family with HHS carrying a hemizygous mutation (c.1345C>G, p.R449G), located in the C-terminal nuclear localization signal (NLS) of the DKC1 gene. These patients exhibit progressive cerebellar hypoplasia, recurrent infections, pancytopenia due to bone marrow failure, and short leukocyte telomere lengths. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis suggested defects in the NLRP3 inflammasome in monocytes and the activation and maturation of NK cells and B cells. In experiments using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from patients, DKC1_R449G iPSCs had short telomere lengths due to reduced levels of human telomerase RNA (hTR) and increased cytosolic proportions of DKC1. Treatment with dihydroquinolizinone RG7834 and cordycepin rescued telomere length in patient-derived iPSCs. Together, our findings not only provide new insights into immunodeficiency in DC patients but also provide treatment options for telomerase insufficiency disorders.
Image encryption based on chaos, elliptic curve, dynamic S-boxes and variable permutations
Authors: Garcia Victor Manuel Silva , Garcia-Cuahutle Kevin Brando , Flores-Carapia Rolando , Gonzalez-Ramirez Marlon David , Chimal-Eguia Juan Carlos
Published: May 2022

The proposed algorithm called Image encryption based on chaos, elliptic curve, dynamic S-boxes and variable permutations (IECC) is a symmetric cryptosystem for encrypting bmp images, in this case 512 × 512 pixel figures are used for testing. This algorithm consists of 15 rounds with a different S-box for each round and each set of S-boxes is different for each image encryption. Based on the above, a permutation is applied before the first round, additionally, in round 15 the inverse permutation of the first round intervenes. Both the S-boxes and the permutations are built using the E. Lorenz equations, which obtain solutions with two different points of the elliptic curve chosen randomly in each process. To measure the resistance to differential attack of the proposed cryptosystem, the following measurements are carried out: Number of Pixels Change Rate - NPCR, Unified Average Changing Intensity - UACI. Also, taking into account that the generation of the boxes is dynamic, the algebraic attack is avoided; furthermore, with this symmetric cryptosystem it is possible to distribute keys and sign, since an asymmetric system is used in its construction. On the other hand, four types of noise are applied to the encrypted images to evaluate the resistance of the encryption algorithm to this type of attack. Ten instruments are used to measure the quality of encryption; namely: entropy, correlation, discrete Fourier transform, NPCR, UACI, Avalanche Criteria - AC, contrast, energy, homogeneity and a goodness of fit test is proposed using the χ2 distribution.
Empathetic, old, and disgust-sensitive vs. comfort-seeking, misinformed, and rationalizing: Predictors and motives for mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Binter Jakub , Pešout Ondra , Pieniak Michał , Martínez-Molina Judit , Noon Edward John , Stefanczyk Michal Mikolaj , Eder Stephanie Josephine
Published: May 2022

Containing a pandemic requires that individuals adhere to measures such as wearing face-masks and get vaccinated. Therefore, identifying predictors and motives for both behaviors is of importance. Here, we study the decisions made by a cross-national sample in randomized hypothetical scenarios during the COVID-19 pandemic.Our results show that mask-wearing was predicted by empathic tendencies, germ aversion, and higher age, whilst belief in misinformation and presentation of an interaction partner as a family member lowered the safety standards. The main motives associated with taking the mask off included: rationalization, facilitating interaction, and comfort.Vaccination intention was positively predicted by empathy, and negatively predicted by belief in misinformation and higher costs of the vaccine. We found no effect of immunization status of the surrounding social group. The most common motive for vaccination was protection of oneself and others, whereas undecided and anti-vaccine groups reported doubts about the effectiveness and fear of side effects.Together, we identify main social and psychological predictors and motives of mask-wearing behavior and vaccination intention. The results highlight the importance of social context for mask-wearing, easy access to vaccines, empathy, and trust in publicly distributed information.
Germplasm variation among wild populations of the southernmost highland papayas (Vasconcellea quercifolia and V. glandulosa): implications for conservation
Authors: Urtasun María Manuela , Lamas Carola Yanina , Cornejo Isabel , Giamminola Eugenia Mabel
Published: May 2022

Species of Vasconcellea are promising for the agricultural industry as a source of genes for papaya improvement because many of them have edible fruits with favorable organoleptic properties. Vasconcellea quercifolia and V. glandulosa are the southernmost species and have recently been categorized as species of high conservation priority in Argentina. Although seeds of both species can be stored in genebanks, no specific studies have been conducted on their germplasm variation, which is a key aspect to designing a conservation strategy. In this work, we assess morphological, physiological, and biochemical variability at the species and population levels and propose a conservation strategy. In four wild populations of each species located at different elevations in northwest Argentina, vegetative and reproductive material was collected from 110 individuals of V. glandulosa and 70 of V. quercifolia. Twenty-seven morphological, two biochemical and four physiological descriptors were determined to characterize each species. Then, variance decomposition, differences between populations (with ANOVA) and a principal component analysis were performed using morphological quantitative fruit and seed data, to assess variability between populations. Although both species showed a wide range of phenotypic variability, it was higher in V. quercifolia than in V. glandulosa and within each population than between them. Leaves, female flowers and physiological descriptors were the most variable, while seed morphological descriptors were the least variable. Variance analysis revealed differences between populations in the majority of morphological descriptors. We recommend collecting germplasm from the entire natural distribution range of each species and from many individuals in each population.
Identification of the most suitable reference genes for nanoparticle stress response in Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary) produced under in vitro conditions
Authors: Bharati Rohit , Sen Madhab Kumar , Kumar Ram , Gupta Aayushi , Sur Vishma Pratap , Melnikovová Ingrid , Fernández-Cusimamani Eloy
Published: May 2022

Salvia rosmarinus L. (rosemary) is known to have a wide range of pharmacological effects including antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, and antitumorigenic properties owing to its secondary metabolites. Studies aiming for the elevation of these metabolites have utilized various elicitors and stresses under in vitro conditions, although underlying molecular mechanisms remain unexplored. Gene expression studies using qRT-PCR might provide valuable information regarding how plant and plant cells interact and perceive various treatments and elicitors. Although, despite being able to calculate accurate fold changes, the accuracy of the qRT-PCR data highly depends on the expression of housekeeping (H.K.) genes. To the best of our knowledge, there is no information available on the stable H.K. genes in rosemary under in vitro conditions. Thus, in this paper, we assessed the stability of seven commonly used H.K. genes with qRT-PCR. Thereafter, the five most commonly used software (comparative ΔCt, BestKeeper, NormFinder, geNorm, and RefFinder) were used to rank the candidates based on their expression stabilities. We recommend using a combination of F1-ATPase and 18S rRNA to normalize the gene expression experiments in rosemary under in vitro conditions. The selected H.K. genes were verified using 4-coumarate-CoA ligase i.e., a pharmacologically important gene, whose expression might alter under nanoparticle treatment. Additionally, reference genes for several plant tissues, elicitors, and stresses are also proposed. The conclusions obtained from this current study will accelerate the future molecular work in S. rosmarinus and other related species.
Finite element analysis of intraosseous distal radioulnar joint prosthesis
Authors: Gholamian Farzaneh , Ashrafi Mehran , Moradi Ali
Published: May 2022

Background
Joint replacement is one of the options to retrieve the DRUJ function. Interosseous DRUJ prosthesis has recently been introduced clinically to treat DRUJ instability. The stability and biomechanical behavior of the prosthesis during different loadings have been analyzed by the finite element method in this article.
Methods
CT images of a healthy 33 years old man were used to construct the three-dimensional geometry of the forearm bone. Then two models, which include a healthy foreman (Model A) and a damaged model with an inserted interosseous prosthesis (Model B) constructed to analyze and compare the foreman's stability and biomechanical behavior under different loading conditions using the finite element method. Both models were examined during pronation and supination movements with 500, 1000, 2000, and 5000 N.mm values. Also, both models were subjected to volar and dorsal loads with values of 10, 30, and 50 N and traction force with 100, 150, and 200 N.
Results
Maximum and minimum principal stress in all conditions performed during movements was extracted for the bones, and Von Mises stress was considered for the prosthesis and its fixing screws. In supination, the maximum stress in Model A is significantly higher than the Model B. The maximum principal stress of both models is similar during volar and dorsal loading. In traction force, in Model A, the maximum principal stress is about 68 MPa, while in Model B, it is about 850 MPa. In Model B, the absolute value of minimum principal stress is in pronation, and supination is higher than Model A. the prostheses and screws are subjected to higher stresses during pronation than supination. Also, the amount of stress created in prostheses and screws during volar and dorsal loading is almost equal. In traction loading, screws are subjected to very high stresses.
Conclusion
In conclusion, our study indicated that the interosseous DRUJ prosthesis looks stable. This prosthesis provides the ability to function similarly to a normal hand. Differences from the normal state can be eliminated, if necessary, with minor modifications in the prosthesis geometry.
The number of social support providers enhances the mediating role of resilience between life satisfaction and depression tendency
Authors: Chang Yun-Hsuan , Yang Cheng-Ta , Hsieh Shulan
Published: May 2022

BackgroundThe contribution of psychosocial characteristics, including life satisfaction, resilience, and social support, to depression tendency in adults has been proposed, because the age of onset of depressive disorders, i.e., adolescence to early adulthood, is associated with various impairments in psychosocial functioning. In this study, a psychosocial model is introduced to verify a psychosocial network for the prevention of depression tendency. MethodsFor this study, 370 participants were recruited. They completed several questionnaires to assess their depression tendency: Conner-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SwLS), Peace of Mind (PoM) scale, Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). ResultsA negative association was found between depression tendency and all other variables, including PoM and CD-RISC scores, life satisfaction, and social support. Such factors can be considered as protective against increased depression tendency. In addition, an indirect effect was found for PoM and resilience on the negative association between SwLS and depression tendency. Moreover, social support was found to mediate the correlation between PoM and resilience, implying the mediating role of social support between an individual’s inner state of mind and resilience.ConclusionsA psychosocial model for depression prevention involves not only the individual’s inner state of mind and subjective view of events and their life, but also outside factors, including social support.
Integrating Pharmacokinetics and Network Analysis to Investigate the Mechanism of Moutan Cortex in Blood-Heat and Blood Stasis Syndrome
Authors: Ye Qiuli , Zhang Ying , Yan Donghui , Sun Yue , Cao Hui , Wang Shumei , Meng Jiang
Published: May 2022

Background: Raw Moutan Cortex (RMC) has been used in China and other Asian countries for thousands of years. Its medical application is the treatment of cooling blood and promoting blood circulation; however, its therapeutic mechanism is still undefined. Methods: In this study, the pharmacokinetics strategy that integrated network analysis was employed to explore the mechanism of RMC in blood-heat and blood stasis syndrome (BHS) model rats. Firstly, Ultra -High -Pressure Liquid Chromatography coupled with Diode Array Detector (UHPLC-DAD) method was developed to determine nine absorbed compounds in rat serum in BHS and normal rats after oral administration of RMC extract respectively. Then the pharmacology network was established based on the relationship between nine compounds absorbed into the blood and BHS targets. Finally, the predicted hub targets were validated experimentally in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).Results: Pharmacokinetic study showed that the pharmacokinetic parameters of nine absorbed compounds had significant differences between BHS and normal groups(P<0.05). Network analysis showed that 8 target genes, namely, F2, F10, F7, PLAU, MAPK14, MAPK10, AKT1, and NOS3 may be the primary targets regulated by RMC for the treatment of BHS. Among them, targets (F2, F10, F7 and MAPK14, MAPK10, AKT) and 4 active ingredients (paeonol, paeoniflorin, quercetin and oxypaeoniflorin) were selected for evaluating the reliability in vitro experiments, which revealed that the mechanism of RMC against BHS syndrome may inhibit inflammatory pathways and regulate coagulation cascades pathway for cooling and promoting blood circulation. Conclusion: The proposed pharmacokinetics study integrated network analysis strategy provides a combination method to explore the therapeutic mechanism of RMC on BHS.