bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methodology for eliminating imbalance of image data sets
Authors: Biloborodova Tatyana , Skarga-Bandurova Inna , Koverga Mark
Published: December 2021

The methodology of solving the problem of eliminating class imbalance in image data sets is presented. The proposed methodology includes the stages of image fragment extraction, fragment augmentation, feature extraction, duplication of minority objects, and is based on reinforcement learning technology. The degree of imbalance indicator was used as a measure to determine the imbalance of the data set. An experiment was performed using a set of images of the faces of patients with skin rashes, annotated according to the severity of acne. The main steps of the methodology implementation are considered. The results of the classification showed the feasibility of applying the proposed methodology. The accuracy of classification on test data was 85%, which is 5% higher than the result obtained without the use of the proposed methodology. Key words: class imbalance, unbalanced data set, image fragment extraction, augmentation.
Comparison of Kernel Equating and Kernel Local Equating in Item Response Theory Observed Score Equating
Authors: YILDIRIM SEHERYELİ Merve , YAHSİ SARI Hasibe , KELECİOĞLU Hülya
Published: December 2021

The present study aims to compare the Kernel equating and Kernel local equating methods in observed score equating. Functions and error estimates regarding the difference between raw and equated scores and the scores equated by Stocking-Lord and Haebara true-score equating methods in Kernel local equating and Kernel equating were examined in Item Response Theory Observed Score Equating. Therefore, 5, 10, and 15 external anchor items were used, and scores were obtained from two forms based on the 2PL model. R (version 3.5.3.) programming software was used for IRT assumptions, item parameters, calibration, and equating analyses. The results revealed that Stocking-Lord and Haebara true-score equating methods yielded similar results. Moreover, if the equating method is the same, estimation errors decreased when the number of anchor items increased. The mean scores obtained by Kernel equation 5 and 15 anchor items were lower than Kernel local equating, while means of Kernel equating of 10 anchor items were higher. As the number of items increased, estimation errors decreased, and Kernel local equating revealed the lowest errors in the medium score scale. Kernel equating can be used based on the related ability level if the individual’s ability distribution is known.
In silico and in vitro analysis of recombinant arginine deiminase from Pseudomonas furukawaii as a potential anticancer enzyme
Authors: Dhankhar Rakhi , Gupta Vatika , Mohanty Aparajita , Gulati Pooja
Published: December 2021

Arginine deiminase (ADI) is a promising anticancer enzyme that can be employed in amino acid deprivation therapy for the treatment of various arginine auxotrophic tumors. In our previous work, Pseudomonas furukawaii was identified as a potent producer of ADI with optimum activity at physiological pH and temperature. The 3D structure of PfADI was modeled. Immunoinformatics analysis was also carried out to compare the immunogenicity of PfADI with MhADI (Mycoplasma hominis ADI, which is in phase III clinical trials). The PfADI was found to be less immunogenic in terms of number of linear and conformational B cell epitopes and T cell epitope density. The overall antigenicity and allergenicity of PfADI was also lower as compared to MhADI. Thus, the ADI coding arcA gene was cloned and expressed in E. coli BL21. Recombinant ADI of P. furukawaii (PfADI) was purified using affinity chromatography and its molecular mass was estimated to be ~46KDa. PfADI was found to effectively inhibit the HepG2 cells with an IC50 value of 0.1950 IU/ml. PfADI was characterized and the enzyme was found to be stable at human physiological conditions (pH 7 and 37 ⁰C temperature). The Km and Vmax values were found to be 1.90 mM and 1.83 µmol ml-1min-1 respectively. Thus the present in vitro and in silico studies establish PfADI as a potential anticancer drug candidate with improved efficacy and low immunogenicity.
The Impact of Corruption On Economic Growth: A Nonlinear Evidence
Authors: Trabelsi Mohamed Ali
Published: December 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Accurate Impressive Optical Solitons For Nonlinear Refractive Index Cubic-Quartic through Birefringent Fibers
Authors: Zahran Emad H.M. , Bekir Ahmet
Published: December 2021

The main target of this work implements new accurate impressive optical solitons for four forms of the nonlinear refractive index cubic-quartic through birefringent fibers which play a vital role in all modern telecommunications process. These four different forms listed under whose profile names which are the cubic-quartic in polarization-preserving fibers with its different forms which are the kerr-law, the quadratic-law, the parabolic-law and the non-local-law NLSE. These new accurate optical solitons for these different forms are extracted in the framework of the solitary wave ansatz method (SWAM) which is powerful technique that achieves accurate results for all problems that are solved in the framework of it. The achieved results will be compared by the previous results which are achieved via other authors.
Energy Consumption Delay Evaluation of NB-IoT Terminal Based on Markov Model
Authors: Xie Tairong , Zhang Xianyong , Liu Jun
Published: December 2021

The energy consumption of terminal of Internet of Things has attracted much attention in the study of smart Internet of Things. How to simulate the energy consumption process of the terminal from the theoretical level, so as to analyze the energy consumption and delay of the terminal are important issues. In this paper, taking the power monitoring terminal as an example, a Markov model is established for the Narrow-Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) terminal with periodic automatic reporting. The working state of the terminal includes PSM (Power Saving Mode), random access (RACH), data transport and receive (Tx/Rx), short eDRX (Extended Discontinuous Reception), long eDRX and terminal disconnection (ERROR). According to the proposed model, the effects of network quality, maximum possible number of RACH request times (Rmax ) and data retransmission times (N1, N2) on terminal energy consumption and delay are analyzed. The numerical results show that network quality, maximum number of random access and maximum number of data retransmission directly affect the energy consumption and service quality of the terminal. Reasonable configuration of the above indicators can effectively improve the service life of the terminal and meet the customer’s requirements for the terminal service quality under the condition of maximum power saving. The model provides a reference for energy consumption and delay optimization of NB-IoT terminal.
Prevalence and Patterns of EGFR Mutations in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer in the Middle East and North Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Boustany Youssra , Laraqui Abdelilah , Rhaffouli Hicham El , Bajjou Tahar , Mchichi Bouchra El , Anaz Hicham El , Amine Idriss Lahlou , Chahdi Hafsa , Oukabli Mohammed , Souhi Hicham , Ouazzani Hanane El , Rhorfi Ismail Abderrahmani , Abid Ahmed , Mahfoud Tarik , Tanz Rachid , Ichou Mohammed , Ennibi Khaled , Belkadi Bouchra , Sekhsokh Yassine
Published: December 2021

To summarize current evidence and estimate the prevalence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation frequency and its association with ethnicity and clinic-pathological features in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients in the Middle East (ME) and North Africa (NA), a systematic literature review was undertaken. We conducted a literature search of original articles published in six databases (PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and Google scholar) from the time of inception until April 2021. Search terms included “lung cancer”, “NSCLC”, “EGFR mutation”, “Middle East”, “North Africa”, and specific country names belonging to the considered region. The included studies had to meet the following criteria: the study must relate to the role of the EGFR gene in NSCLC, analyze mutations in exon 18, 19, 20, and 21 or select exons of the EGFR gene, and provide sufficient information on the clinic-pathological characteristics of the included NSCLC patients. A total of 24 eligible studies were included [(66.6%) in the ME and (34.4%) in NA]. Overall, 6544 patients with NSCLC were analyzed for EGFR mutations [(55.1%) in the ME and (44.8%) in NA]. The overall prevalence of EGFR mutations was 17.9%. In the ME, the reported frequency was 17.3%, whereas in NA, the prevalence of EGFR mutations was 18.5%. The most frequently encountered mutations were the exon 19 deletions (45.2%) and exon 21 substitutions (30.9%). Exon 20 alterations were detected in 11.2%, of which, the T790M resistance mutation was the most prevalent (45.5%). Exon 18 mutations were reported in 3.8%. In the ME, 50.5% of NSCLC patients were positive for exon 19 deletions versus 48.3% in NA. Exon 21 mutations were slightly more commonly detected in the ME (36.3%) than NA (31.3%). There was 1.2% of patients that had concurrent EGFR mutations. Overall, EGFR mutations prevalence was higher in females, non-smokers, and patients with adenocarcinoma. Our systematic literature review concurs that EGFR mutation prevalence among MENA populations is slightly higher than that seen in NSCLC patients of Caucasian ethnicity but is lower than that identified in Asian NSCLC patients. The distribution of these mutations varies significantly throughout the MENA region.
Single-Base Resolution Methylomes of Somatic Embryogenesis in Theobroma Cacao L. Reveal Epigenome Modifications Associated With Somatic Embryo Abnormalities
Authors: Garcia Claudia , de Almeida Alex-Alan Furtado , Costa Marcio , Britto Dahyana , Correa Fabio , Mangabeira Pedro , Silva Lidiane , Silva Jose , Royaert Stefan , Marelli Jean-Philippe
Published: December 2021

Propagation by somatic embryogenesis in Theobroma cacao has some issues to be solved, as many morphologically abnormal somatic embryos that do not germinate into plants are frequently observed, thus hampering plant production on a commercial scale. For the first time the methylome landscape of T. cacao somatic embryogenesis was examined, using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing technique, with the aim to understand the epigenetic basis of somatic embryo abnormalities. We identified 873 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in the CpG context between zygotic embryos, normal and abnormal somatic embryos, with important roles in development, programmed cell death, oxidative stress, and hypoxia induction, which can help to explain the morphological abnormalities of somatic embryos. We also identified the role of ethylene and its precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate in several biological processes, such as hypoxia induction, cell differentiation and cell polarity, that could be associated to the development of abnormal somatic embryos. The biological processes and the hypothesis of ethylene and its precursor involvement in the somatic embryo abnormalities in cacao are discussed.
Accuracy, Precision, And Agreement Statistical Tests For Bland-Altman Method
Authors: Silveira Paulo S.P. , Vieira Joaquim E. , Ferraro Alexandre A. , Siqueira Jose O.
Published: December 2021

Background: Bland and Altman plot method is a widely cited graphical approach to assess equivalence of quantitative measurement techniques. Perhaps due to its graphical output, it has been widely applied, however often misinterpreted by lacking of inferential statistical support. To compare data sets obtained from two measurement techniques, researchers may apply Pearson’s correlation, ordinal least-square linear regression, or the Bland-Altman plot methods, failing to locate the weakness of each measurement technique. We aim to develop and distribute a statistical method in R in order to add robust and suitable inferential statistics of equivalence. Methods: Three nested tests based on structural regressions are proposed to assess the equivalence of structural means (accuracy), equivalence of structural variances (precision), and concordance with the structural bisector line (agreement in measurements of data pairs obtained from the same subject) to reach statistical support for the equivalence of measurement techniques. Graphical outputs illustrating these three tests were added to follow Bland and Altman’s principles of easy communication. Results: Statistical p-values and robust approach by bootstrapping with corresponding graphs provide objective, robust measures of equivalence. Five pairs of data sets were analyzed in order to criticize previously published articles that applied the Bland and Altman’s principles, thus showing the suitability of the present statistical approach. In one case it was demonstrated strict equivalence, three cases showed partial equivalence, and one case showed poor equivalence. Package containing open codes and data is available with installation instructions on SourceForge for free distribution. Conclusions: Statistical p-values and robust approach assess the equivalence of accuracy, precision, and agreement for measurement techniques. Decomposition in three tests helps the location of any disagreement as a means to fix a new technique.
Clinical Outcomes in Locally Advanced Prostate Cancer Between Radical Prostatectomy and Radiotherapy With Androgen Deprivation Therapy: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis
Authors: Lu Yu-Cheng , Huang Chao-Yuan , Cheng Chia-Hsien , Huang Kuo-How , Lu Yu-Chuan , Chow Po-Ming , Chang Yi-Kai , Pu Yeong-Shiau , Chen Chung-Hsin , Lu Shao-Lun , Lan Keng-Hsueh , Chen Pei-Ling , Hong Jian-Hua
Published: December 2021

To compare clinical outcomes between the use of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RP) and radiotherapy (RT) with long-term androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) in locally advanced prostate cancer (PC), we enrolled 315 patients with locally advanced PC (clinical T-stage 3/4). Propensity score-matching at a 1:1 ratio was performed. The median follow-up period was 59.2 months (IQR: 39.8-87.4). There were 117 (37.1%) patients in the RP group and 198 (62.9%) patients in the RT group. RT patients were older and had higher PSA at diagnosis, higher Gleason score grade group and more advanced T-stage (all p<0.001). After propensity score-matching, there were 68 patients in each group. Among locally advanced PC patients, treatment with RP had a higher risk of biochemical recurrence compared to the RT group. In multivariate Cox regression analysis, treatment with RT plus ADT significantly decreased the risk of biochemical failure (HR: 0.162, p<0.001), but there was no significant difference in local recurrence, distant metastasis and overall survival (p=0.470, p=0.268 and p=0.509, respectively). This information may provide insight for clinicians and patients for decision-making regarding their preference for either treatment strategy.
Frozen Hybrid Kernelised Expectation Maximisation For Bremsstrahlung SPECT Reconstruction
Authors: Deidda Daniel , Denis-Bacelar Ana M. , Fenwick Andrew J. , Ferreira Kelley M. , Heetun Warda , Hutton Brian F. , Robinson Andrew P. , Scuffham James , Thielemans Kris
Published: December 2021

Background: Selective internal radiation therapy with Yttrium-90 microspheres is an effective therapy for liver cancer and liver metastases. Yttrium-90 is mainly a high-energy beta particle emitter. These beta particles emit Bremsstrahlung radiation during their interaction with tissue making post-therapy imaging of the radioactivity distribution feasible. Nevertheless, image quality and quantification is difficult due to the continuous energy spectrum which makes resolution modelling, and attenuation and scatter estimation challenging. Methods: In this study, a modified hybrid kernelised expectation maximisation is used to improve resolution and contrast and reduce noise. The iterative part of the kernel was frozen at the 72nd sub-iteration to avoid over-fitting of noise and background. A NEMA phantom with spherical inserts was used for the optimisation and validation of the algorithm, and data from 5 patients treated with Selective internal radiation therapy were used as proof of clinical relevance of the method. Results: The results suggest a maximum improvement of 56% for region of interest mean recovery coefficient at fixed coefficient of variation and better identification of the hot volumes in the NEMA phantom. Similar improvements were achieved with patient data, showing 47% mean value improvement over the gold standard used in hospitals. Conclusions: Such quantitative improvements could facilitate improved dosimetry calculations with SPECT when treating patients with Selective internal radiation therapy, as well as provide a more visible position of the cancerous lesions in the liver.
A Novel Mri-Method Allows a Rapid and Robust Assessment of Muscle Quantity and Quality in Hemodialysis Patients.
Authors: Indurain Ainhoa , Linge Jennifer , Petersson Mikael Petersson , Romu Thobias , Uhlin Fredrik , Fernström Anders , Segelmark Mårten , Leinhard Olof Dahlqvist
Published: December 2021

BackgroundSarcopenia is a prevalent condition in patients on maintenance hemodialysis and associates with mortality. Research using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated the importance of a proper body size-adjustment in the assessment of muscle mass, and that a muscle composition assessment including measurements of both muscle volume and fat infiltration improves the prediction of comorbidity and survival related to sarcopenia. Such combined muscle composition assessment has not previously been performed in hemodialysis patients.MethodsEleven hemodialysis patients were scanned using whole-body fat and water separated MRI and followed regarding survival and comorbidity for five years. Muscle composition was assessed using AMRA® Researcher. Using data from 9615 UK Biobank participants, sex and BMI-matched muscle volume z-scores and sex-adjusted muscle fat infiltration values were calculated for each patient. These measurements were then used for the calculation of a combined muscle score. Resulting three muscle measurements were associated with survival and comorbidity index.ResultsSix patients exhibited low muscle volume (muscle volume z-score <25th percentile (population wide)), and six patients presented with high muscle fat infiltration (>75th percentile (population wide)). During a 68-months follow-up, five patients died, four were transplanted and two remained on hemodialysis treatment. The combined muscle score was significantly associated with comorbidity index (p<0.05) and was highly predictive of survival (AUROC 0.97).ConclusionsThe combined assessment including both body size-adjusted muscle volume and muscle fat infiltration can be used to analyze muscle composition in hemodialysis patients. MRI based muscle composition assessment reflected comorbidity and predicted survival in hemodialysis patients.
Fewer Early Surgical Site Infections After Hip Fracture and Lessons Learned From the Safe Hands Project: A Five-Year Longitudinal Study of 3,553 Patients
Authors: Erichsen Annette , Gillespie Brigid M , Karlsson Magnus , Malchau Henrik , Nellgård Bengt , Wikström Ewa , Rogmark Cecilia , Tillander Jontan
Published: December 2021

Background: Surgical site infection after acute hip fracture surgery is a devastating complication associated with increased suffering and mortality. The aim of the study was to investigate early SSI, sepsis, pneumonia and urinary tract infections over five years, before and after the implementation of the Safe Hands project.Methods: This was a single-centre observational study with a five-year longitudinal design, investigating the effects of an infection-prevention intervention targeting the clinical care pathway of individuals with acute hip fracture. Statistical analyses were based on routinely collected patient outcome data comprising 3,553 patients. The study conforms to the criteria of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE).Results: The incidence of early SSIs decreased from 2.5% in years 1-2 to 1.1% in years 4-5. Similar results were observed for sepsis (2.7% to 1.3%) and urinary tract infections (14.2% to 4.2%). The multivariable regression shows that, for every observed year, the odds of early SSIs decreased. Male gender, procedure time, sepsis and preoperative skin damage increased the odds significantly.Conclusions Our preventive bundle, based on partnership between researchers, managers and clinicians and a strong commitment to change from the involved professions, appear to be effective in reducing the frequency of potentially devastating SSIs and other HAIs after hip fractures surgery. The use of external and internal facilitators was crucial to enable individual and organisational learning and overcoming barriers to improvements.Trial registration: Clinical Trials.gov ID: NCT02983136 Registered 6 December 2016 - Retrospectively registered.
Reliability And Validity of The Psychiatric Inpatient Patient Experience Questionnaire – Continuous Electronic Measurement (PIPEQ-CEM)
Authors: Iversen Hilde Hestad , Haugum Mona , Bjertnaes Oyvind
Published: December 2021

BackgroundThe increasing emphasis on patient-centred care has accelerated the demand for high-quality assessment instruments, but the development and application of measures of the quality of care provided for mental health have lagged behind other areas of medicine. The main objective of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Psychiatric Inpatient Patient Experience Questionnaire – Continuous Electronic Measurement (PIPEQ-CEM), which consists of large-scale measurements from a Norwegian population. The change from cross-sectional surveys to continuous measurements necessitated further validation of the instrument. The secondary objective was to develop a short version of the PIPEQ-CEM. MethodsThe data included responses from the first year of continuous measurement, and included adult inpatients (age ≥18 years) who received specialized mental healthcare from 191 different sections in Norway (n=3,249). Missing data, ceiling effects, factor structure and internal consistency levels were assessed. The short scale was developed by exploring missing items, ceiling effects, results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and item performance from item response theory (IRT) analyses.Results Psychometric testing supported previous results and illustrated that the PIPEQ-CEM comprises three empirically based scales with good internal consistency, reliability and validity, and covers structure and facilities, patient-centred interactions, and outcomes. A seven-item short form was developed, which provides an efficient approach for brief yet comprehensive measurements that can be applied in the future. ConclusionThe PIPEQ-CEM can be recommended for use in future national surveys that assess patient experience with inpatient psychiatric care in Norway and in other countries with similar healthcare systems. The short form can be applied where respondent burden and cognitive load are crucial issues. The obtained results illustrate the detailed information about an instrument that can be obtained using a combination of EFA, CFA and IRT.
Composite Scoring System and Optimal Tumor Budding Cut-Off Number for Estimating Lymph Node Metastasis in Submucosal Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Kim Jeong-ki , Rhee Ye-Young , Bae Jeong Mo , Kim Jung Ho , Koh Seong-Joon , Lee Hyun Jung , Im Jong Pil , Kim Min Jung , Ryoo Seung-Bum , Jeong Seung-Yong , Park Kyu Joo , Park Ji Won , Kang Gyeong Hoon
Published: December 2021

Background

Tumor budding is associated with lymph node (LN) metastasis in submucosal colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the rate of LN metastasis associated with the number of tumor buds is unknown. Here, we determined the optimal tumor budding cut-off number and developed a composite scoring system (CSS) for estimating LN metastasis of submucosal CRC.
Methods

In total, 395 patients with histologically confirmed T1N0–2M0 CRC were evaluated. The clinicopathological characteristics were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses. The Akaike information criterion (AIC) values of the multivariate models were evaluated to identify the optimal cut-off number. A CSS for LN metastasis was developed using independent risk factors.
Results

The prevalence of LN metastasis was 13.2%. Histological differentiation, lymphatic or venous invasion, and tumor budding were associated with LN metastasis in univariate analyses. In multivariate models adjusted for histological differentiation and lymphatic or venous invasion, the AIC value was lowest for five tumor buds. Unfavorable differentiation (odds ratio [OR], 8.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.80–36.89), lymphatic or venous invasion (OR, 5.91; 95% CI, 2.91–11.97), and five or more tumor buds (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.21–7.69) were independent risk factors. In a CSS using these three risk factors, the rates of LN metastasis were 5.6%, 15.5%, 31.0%, and 52.4% for total composite scores of 0, 1, 2, and ≥ 3, respectively.
Conclusions

For the estimation of LN metastasis in submucosal CRC, the optimal tumor budding cut-off number was five. Our CSS can be utilized to estimate LN metastasis.
Differences in Preoperative Gastric Ultrasound Findings Between Old and Young Surgical Patients: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Ahn Jin Hee , Shim Jae-Geum , Lee Sung Hyun , Ryu Kyoung-Ho , Lee Mi Yeon , Kim Sinae , Gahng Tae-Ryun , Cho Eunah
Published: December 2021

Background: Most gastric ultrasound studies have been conducted in young middle-aged patients. Although age is known to influence gastric ultrasound, comparisons of gastric ultrasound in elderly patients with young patients have not been well elucidated. This study aimed to 1) compare gastric ultrasound assessments between young and elderly patients, 2) determine whether the CSA cutoff values for elderly and young patients should be different, and 3) suggest CSA cutoff values for elderly patients.Methods: This retrospective case-control study evaluated the data of 120 patients who underwent elective surgery under general anesthesia between July 2019 and August 2020. Demographic and gastric ultrasound assessment data were retrieved. Patients were divided into the elderly group (n = 58, age: ≥65 years) and young group (n = 62, age: <65 years). The antral cross-sectional area (CSA) in the supine and right lateral decubitus positions (RLDP), semiquantitative three-point Perlas grade (grades 0, 1, and 2), and gastric volume were determined. CSAs according to different Perlas grades were compared between the two groups. The CSA cutoff values for predicting a high risk of pulmonary aspiration in both the groups were determined. Results: Among patients with Perlas grade 0 (empty stomach), the CSA supine and CSA RLDP were greater in the elderly group than in the young group (CSA supine: 5.12 ± 1.99 cm2 vs. 3.92 ± 0.19 cm2, P = 0.002, and CSA RLDP: 6.24 ± 0.43 cm2 vs. 4.58 ± 0.21 cm2, P = 0.002). The specificity, positive predictive value, and accuracy of the CSA decreased when the CSA cutoff value for the young group (CSA RLDP: 6.92 cm2) was applied to the elderly group. The CSA cutoff values for the elderly group were: CSA supine, 6.92 cm2 and CSA RLDP, 10.65 cm2.Conclusions: The CSA of the empty stomach was greater in elderly patients than in young patients. The CSA cutoff values for predicting pulmonary aspiration risk in elderly and young patients should be differentiated. We suggest that the following CSA cutoff values should be used for predicting pulmonary aspiration risk in elderly patients: CSA supine, 6.92 cm2 and CSA RLDP, 10.65 cm2.
Incidence and Risk Factors of In-hospital Prosthesis-Related Complications Following Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Yang Qinfeng , Xie Hao , Liu Shencai , Wu Xuanping , Shi Zhanjun , Wang Jian
Published: December 2021

BackgroundThe occurrence of prosthesis-related complications after total shoulder arthroplasty is devastating and costly. The purpose was to determine the incidence and risk of in-hospital prosthesis-related complications after total shoulder arthroplasty utilizing a large-scale sample database.MethodsA retrospective database analysis was performed based on Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2014. Patients who underwent total shoulder arthroplasty were included. Patient demographics, hospital characteristics, length of stay, economic indicators, in-hospital mortality, comorbidities, and peri-operative complications were evaluated.ResultsA total of 34,198 cases were capture from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database. There were 343 cases of in-hospital prosthesis-related complications after total shoulder arthroplasty and the overall incidence was 1%, with a more than 2.5-fold decrease from 2010 to 2014. Dislocation was the most common category among prosthesis-related complications (0.1%). The occurrence of in-hospital prosthesis-related complications was associated with significantly more total charges and slightly longer length of stay while less usage of Medicare. Risk factors of prosthesis-related complications were identified including younger age (<64 years), female, the native American, hospital in the South, alcohol abuse, depression, uncomplicated diabetes, diabetes with chronic complications, fluid and electrolyte disorders, metastatic cancer, neurological disorders, and renal failure. Interestingly, advanced age (≥65 years) and proprietary hospital were found as protective factors. Furthermore, prosthesis-related complications were associated with aseptic necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, rotator cuff tear arthropathy, Parkinson’s disease, prior shoulder arthroscopy, and blood transfusion.ConclusionsIt is of benefit to study risk factors of prosthesis-related complications following total shoulder arthroplasty to ensure the appropriate management and optimize consequences although a relatively low incidence was identified.
Antimicrobial Activity of Pinus Wallachiana Against Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Cubense and Analysis of its Fractions by HPLC
Authors: Ain Qurat Ul , Asad Shahzad , Ahad Karam , Safdar Muhammad Naeem , Jamal Atif
Published: December 2021

Fusarium wilt has ruined banana production and poses a major threat to its industry because of highly virulent Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) race 4. The present study focused on the efficacy of Pinus wallachiana and its organic fractions against Foc in in vitro and greenhouse experiments. The presence of polyphenols in the fractions was also investigated using High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The in vitro tests carried out for the leaf extract of P. wallachiana showed its inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth and based on this evidence, further characterization of fractions were done. Complete mycelial inhibition and the highest zone of inhibition against Foc was observed for the n-butanol fraction in vitro, while the n-hexane and dichloromethane fractions showed lower disease severity index (DSI) in greenhouse experiments. The fractions were further analysed by HPLC using nine polyphenolic standards, namely quercitin, myrecitin, kaempferol, rutin, gallic acid, trans-ferulic acid, coumeric acid, epicatechin and catechin. The highest content of polyphenols, based on standards used, was quantified in the n-butanol fraction followed by the ethyl acetate fraction of the leaf extract. This is the first report of antimicrobial activity of Pinus wallachiana against Foc to the best of our knowledge.
Ab-initio DFT simulation of electronic and magnetic properties of Tin+1and FeTin clusters
Authors: Haichour Rachida , MAHTOUT Sofiane
Published: December 2021

We report a computational investigation of the electronic and magnetic properties of neutral Tin+1and FeTin (n=1-10) clusters using ab-initio calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) within the generalized gradient approximation (GGA). The best structures for Tin+1and FeTin clusters are planar for size n<5, while from n = 5, they showed a compact three dimensional cage structure. For the best structures of the FeTin clusters, the Fe atoms favors the peripheral position with highest coordination with the neighboring Ti atoms. The evolution as a function of the size of the average binding energies (Eb/atom) and HOMO–LUMO gaps of Tin+1 and FeTin (n=1-10) clusters are studied. The stability results show that the Tin+1 clusters have relatively higher stability than the FeTin cluster with the same size. In addition, the vertical ionization potentials and electron affinities, chemical hardness and atomic magnetic moment of Tin+1and FeTin (n=1-10) clusters are also investigated.
Clinical use of Anti-Müllerian Hormone to Monitor Resumption of Ovarian Activity following Removal of a 4.7 mg Deslorelin Implant in Queens.
Authors: Dolcet Lluis Ferré , Ferro Silvia , Contiero Barbara , Fontaine Christelle , Badon Tamara , Gelli Donatella , Romagnoli Stefano
Published: December 2021

Objective: The use of deslorelin implantsto control reproduction in cats is increasing but because of its prolonged duration, cat breeders oftenrequest implant removal before the end of the treatment. Assaying Anti Mullerian Hormone (AMH) concentrations might be useful to predict time of resumption of ovarian activity in deslorelin-treated queens following implant removal. In queens a minimum of 3 weeks during increasing photoperiod after implant removal has been described for resumption of ovarian activity but no information about AMH concentrations were observed for determining ovarian activity.Animals: Sixteen queens in whichdeslorelinimplants were surgically removed after3, 6 or 9 months (n= 6, 4 and 6 queens, respectively) were used in this study. Procedures: A general and reproductive health check with a GnRH stimulation test were performed before the treatment.After implant removal queens were checked every 1-2 weeks withreproductive ultrasonography, a vaginal smear and blood collection to assay AMHconcentrations. Results: AMH concentrations decreased significantly during treatment to < 2.5+0.6 ng/ml (p<0.05) and reached a nadir at 1.9+0.9 (p<0.05) one-week post-removal.Following implant removal AMH concentrations started to rise reaching a value of 4.3+1.2 ng/ml on the third week and were not different from pre-treatment levels on week 6 post-removal (5.8 ng/ml +0.9, p>0.05).AMH values did not differ depending on duration of deslorelin treatment but were lower in adult queens (p<0.05).Clinical relevance: AMH assay can be a useful tool to follow resumption of feline ovarian function following a deslorelin treatment.
Association Among Calf Circumference, Physical Performance, and Depression in the Elderly Chinese Population: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Tan Jian-Yu , Zeng Qing-Lian , Ni Meng , Zhang Ying-Xiao , Qiu Tian
Published: December 2021

Background: Depression and sarcopenia are common diseases in the elderly population. However, the association between them is controversial. Based on the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) database, a cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the relationship between calf circumference, physical performance, and depression.Methods: From the 8th wave of CLHLS conducted in 2018, data on calf circumference, physical performance, depressive symptoms, and demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related characteristics were collected. A statistical analysis was conducted to explore the relationship between calf circumference, physical performance, and depressive symptoms. Confounding factors were adjusted for in the multiple logistic regression analysis.Results: A total of 12,227 participants, including 5689 (46.5%) men and 6538 (53.5%) women (mean age, 83.4 years), were included in this study. After adjusting for confounding factors, the association between calf circumference and depression disappeared (odds ratio [OR] = 1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–1.17, p = 0.58). However, a significant inverse correlation persisted between physical performance and depressive symptoms (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.13–1.20, p＜0.001). The subgroup analysis revealed a significant association of calf circumference (OR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.04–1.62, p = 0.02) and physical performance (OR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08–1.22, p < 0.001) with depression in the regular exercise group.Conclusions: Physical performance was significantly associated with depression in the elderly Chinese population. Attention should be paid to assess depressive symptoms in patients with poor muscle condition.
Comparison of the Effectiveness of Carotid Artery Endarterectomy and Carotid Endarterectomy + Patch Plasty in Preventing Restenosis and Stroke in Carotid Artery Occlusions.
Authors: Yıldız Ziya , Özkara Taha
Published: December 2021

BackgroundCarotid artery stenosis is one of the most important causes of stroke, and atherosclerosis plays a role in one third of all strokes. It has been reported in some studies that the patency rate of carotid endarterectomies performed with patplasty is better than standard surgical treatment. In this retrospective study, we investigated vascular patency rates and strokes due to postoperative restenosis in patients who underwent classical carotid endarterctomy and patch plasty endarterctomy due to carotid artery stenosis.We investigated 126 patients diagnosed with carotid artery occlusion between January 2015 and January 2021. We retrospectively analyzed and compared 44 patients who were operated on using carotid endarterectomy (CAE) with patch technique and 82 patients who underwent only carotid endarterectomy in terms of risk factors, restenosis and stroke. Color Doppler Ultrasonography (CDUS) and Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) were used in the diagnosis of carotid artery occlusions and the evaluation of restenosis.Results:The characteristics of the risk factors of the patients were examined and recorded. PTFE graft was used as a patch in patients. There were no significant complications during or after the operation. Restenosis and stroke were investigated at the 10th day, third month, sixth month, and first year after discharge, and mostly by imaging with CDUS. Restenosis was detected in one patient in the study group and in thirteen patients in the control group. Stroke was detected in none of the patients in the study group and in four patients in the control group.Conclusion: In our clinic, patch-based CAE is preferred to primary CAE due to its successful results and very low risk of restenosis. We think that CAE with the patch is a much more effective method in protecting patients from neurological pathologies.
Comparative Study on Microwave Absorbing Heating Characteristics and Microwave Deicing Performance of Airport Pavement Modified Concrete
Authors: Huang He , Xu Jinyu , Liu Junliang , Chen Haowen
Published: December 2021

In this paper, the airport pavement concrete has been taken as the main research object, three kinds of absorbing materials, namely silicon carbide (SiC), iron oxide (Fe3O4) and graphite, have been respectively mixed into the concrete, and an open microwave testing system has been established. Based on this system, the basic mechanical properties, microwave heating characteristics, microwave deicing effect and its influencing factors of modified concrete are systematically studied. In addition, a comparative analysis of the influence mechanism of different absorbing materials on the strength and absorbing performance of pavement concrete is carried out. The results showed that the addition of SiC, Fe3O4, and graphite could effectively enhance the microwave effect of pavement concrete, and the more the addition, the more obvious the improvement. Furthermore, under the same mixing amount, the degree of improvement of microwave deicing performance of each absorbing material from large to small is graphite, Fe3O4, SiC. However, the addition of graphite will form several weak links in concrete, thereby reducing its overall mechanical properties. SiC can slightly improve the mechanical properties of pavement concrete, but it has no significant effect on the microwave absorption properties. With the addition of Fe3O4, the strength of concrete changes little, and the effect of microwave absorbing heating and microwave deicing is remarkable. In general, the comprehensive performance of microwave deicing of Fe3O4 modified concrete is optimal. This study has high scientific and practical significance, and can be widely applied to deicing projects on airports and high-grade highways.
M-CSF-Stimulated CD11b+ Myeloid Cells Induce Alopecia Areata in C3H/HeJ Mice
Authors: Li Yunyuan , Kilani Ruhangiz T. , Alamdaran Rana , Shokravi Arveen , Ghahary Aziz
Published: December 2021

Alopecia areata (AA) is a T cell-mediated autoimmune skin disease with clinical features of hair loss and skin inflammation. It is unclear whether other immune cells except T lymphocytes are also involved in the development of AA. Here, our results reveal that dermal injection of either CD11b+ myeloid cells isolated from AA-affected skin or non-AA splenocyte-derived CD11b+ cells treated with macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) induces AA in C3H/HeJ mice. The functional similarity of these cells in induction of AA seems to be due to a higher expression of M-CSF in AA affected skin. To explore the mechanism by which dermal injection of CD11b+ cells induce AA, we co-culture either AA derived skin cells or M-CSF-stimulated CD11b+ cells with naïve splenocytes. The results of splenocyte proliferation assay and immunoglobulin release in conditioned medium show a significant increase of splenocyte proliferation and IgG level in conditioned medium under both conditions as compared to controls. Most activated splenocytes induced by M-CSF-stimulated myeloid cells are B lymphocytes. B cell activation are further confirmed in AA-affected skin and skin draining lymph nodes of AA mice. In conclusion, in this study, we have provided evidence that M-CSF stimulated CD11b+ cells are able to induce AA in C3H/HeJ mice through a possible mechanism by activating B lymphocytes. This finding may provide insight for understanding the pathogenesis of AA.
Improving the Effects of Salt Stress by β -carotene and Gallic Acid Using Increasing Antioxidant Activity and Regulating Ion Uptake in Lepidium Sativum L.
Authors: Babaei Marziyeh , Shabani Leila , shahraki shahla hashemi
Published: December 2021

Background: Plant growth, physiological and biochemical processes are severely affected by soil salinity. In the present study, toward investigating the interaction of antioxidants and salt stress in Lepidium sativum seedlings, two antioxidants (β-carotene and gallic acid) were sprayed on the plants. Results: The findings revealed that total dry and fresh weight were adversely affected by 25 mM NaCl salinity stress. Moreover, K+ content decreased while Na+ content increased significantly. The application of β-carotene and gallic acid significantly improved tolerance to salt stress by regulating ion uptake, reducing H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, as well as increasing enzymatic antioxidant activity and phenolic, glutathione, and chlorophyll content. Conclusions: Our findings are indicative of β-carotene and gallic acid in the induction of salt tolerance in economically important crops.
Cellular Distribution of C-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2 Like Immunoreactivities in Frontal Cortex and Corpus Callosum of Normal and Lipopolysaccharide Treated Animal
Authors: Shi Xue , Gong Xinrui , Xiong Huangui , Zhang Jingdong
Published: December 2021

Background: C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of various neurological and/or psychiatric diseases. Tissue or cellular expression of CCL2, in normal or pathological condition, may play an essential role in recruiting of monocytes or macrophages into the targeted organs, and be involved in a certain pathogenic mechanism. However, only a few studies focused on tissue and cellular distribution of the CCL2 peptide in the brain’s grey and white matters (GM, WM), and the changes of the GM and WM cellular CCL2 level in septic or endotoxic encephalopathy was not explored. Hence, the CCL2 cellular distribution in the front brain cortex and the corpus callosum (CC) WM was investigated in the present work by using immunofluorescent staining. Results: 1) Normally, CCL2 like immunoreactivity (CCL2-ir) in the CC is significantly higher than the cortex, especially when the measurement includes ependymal layer attached to the CC. 2) Structures surrounding the vasculatures contribute major CCL2-ir positive profiles in both GM and WM, but significantly more in the CC WM, in which they are bilaterally distributed and predominantly located in the lateral CC between the cingulate cortex and the lateral ventricles. 3) Following systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the number of neuron-like CCL2-ir positive cells are increased significantly in the cortex, but not in the CC. 4) More CCL2-ir positive elements are accumulated inside microvasculature like structures in the CC WM, compared to those found in the cortex following systemic LPS. 5) Few macrophage/microglia marker-Iba-1 labeled structures exhibit CCL2-ir in normal cortex and CC, but the co-localization is significantly increased following systemic LPS. 6) Following saline or LPS injection, CCL2-ir and GFAP or Iba-1 double labeled structures are observed within the ependymal layer between the lateral ventricles and the CC. No accumulation of neutrophils was detected.Conclusion: there exist differences in the cellular distribution of the CCL2 peptide in the front brain cortex GM and the subcortical WM - the CC, in both the physiological condition and experimental endotoxemia. Which might cause different pathological change in the GM and WM.
11C-metomidate PET CT versus Adrenal Vein Sampling for diagnosing surgically curable primary aldosteronism: prospective test validation, and impact of somatic genotype and ethnicity on outcomes
Authors: Wu Xilin , Senanayake Russell , Goodchild Emily , Bashari Waiel , Salsbury Jackie , Cabrera Claudia , Argentesi Giulia , O'Toole Samuel , Matson Matthew , Koo Brendan , Parvanta Laila , Hilliard Nick , Kosmoliaptsis Vasilis , Marker Alison , Berney Daniel , Wen Wilson Tan Lek , Foo Roger , Mein Charles , Wozniak Eva , Savage Emmanuel , Sahdev Anju , Bird Nicholas , Laycock Kate , Boros Istvan , Hader Stefan , Warnes Victoria , Gillett Dan , Dawnay Anne , Adeyeye Elizabeth , Prete Alessandro , Taylor Angela , Arlt Wiebke , Bhuva Anish , Aigbirhio Franklin , Manisty Charlotte , McIntosh Alasdair , McConnachie Alex , Cruickshank J. Kennedy , Cheow Heok , Gurnell Mark , Drake William , Brown Morris
Published: December 2021

Primary aldosteronism (PA) due to a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) is a common, curable cause of hypertension, but invasive methods of diagnosis and treatment contribute to <1% of patients being offered the chance of cure. The primary objective of our prospective within-patient study in 143 patients with PA was to compare accuracy of 11C-metomidate (MTO) PET-CT scanning with adrenal vein sampling (AVS) in predicting biochemical cure from PA and resolution of hypertension. Secondary outcomes addressed heterogeneity of underlying pathogenesis and prediction of patients most likely to achieve complete cure of hypertension. 128 patients reached 6-9 month follow-up. 77/78 surgical patients achieved one or more of the four hierarchically analysed Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcome (PASO) criteria for biochemical and clinical success. MTO was not superior to AVS but all four differences in accuracy favored MTO, with 95% CIs >-17%, the pre-specified margin of non-inferiority. The best univariate predictors of complete clinical cure were home systolic blood pressure (SBP) <135 mmHg after one month of spironolactone 100 mg daily (odds ratio 13.0 (3.72, 45.24) p<0.001) and KCNJ5 genotype of the APA (odds ratio 10.37 (2.50, 42.99) p=0.001). The latter remained significant in logistic regression on age, gender, ethnicity, and was itself predicted by elevated urine 18-hydroxycortisol:cortisol ratio. Our findings validate 11C-metomidate PET-CT for accurate, non-invasive detection of patients with unilateral PA, and identify patients most likely to benefit from adrenalectomy.