bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatio-temporal Bamboo Forest Dynamics in the Lower Beles River Basin, North-western Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Shiferaw , Minale Amare Sewnet , Teketay Demel 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Introduction: Bamboo forests, which are an integral part of the eco-system and an important source of socio-economic life for rural communities in the vast savannah lowlands of Ethiopia, are experiencing significant changes. Therefore, examining bamboo forest cover changes and identifying responsible drivers for the changes are of the greatest importance for sustainable management of these useful resources. This study was intended to examine the spatio-temporal bamboo forest dynamics in the Lower Beles River Basin, north-western Ethiopia. Method: A combination of pixel-based hybrid classification techniques and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was employed to analyze bamboo forest cover changes from 1985 – 2019. Focus group discussions, questionnaire, key informant interview and observation were used to identify the drivers for bamboo forest cover change. Results: The study findings indicate that bamboo has experienced significant spatio-temporal change over the study period (1985 - 2019) in the study District. In the base year (1985), bamboo covered 5.1% (5,277.1 ha) of the study area. Significant decline in bamboo forest had occurred in 2001 when the bamboo forests suffered the greatest devastation and shirked to 1.6%. In 2019, the bamboo has been rehabilitated from degradation and increased significantly. However, the net change over the study periods was negative where the bamboo forests declined by 0.8% (831.14 ha). Conclusion: In conclusion, the observed changes in bamboo forest cover was driven by an interplay of multiple factors. Agricultural land expansion, wildfire, free grazing, lack of regulatory mechanisms and improper harvesting and expansion of settlement areas were the top five drivers respectively while conflict, mass flowering and tenure contributed for the change. Therefore, the bamboo forests deserve great attention, and the results from this study imply the need for the concerted efforts of stakeholders for sustainable management, utilization and conservation of the bamboo resources.
A synthetic RNA editing factor edits its target site in chloroplasts and bacteria
Authors: Royan Santana , Gutmann Bernard , des Francs-Small Catherine Colas , Honkanen Suvi , Schmidberger Jason , Soet Ashley , Sun Yueming , Sanglard Lilian Vincis Pereira , Bond Charles , Small Ian 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Targeted cytidine to uridine RNA editing is a widespread phenomenon throughout the land plant lineage. Members of the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) protein family act as the specificity factors in this process. These proteins consist of helix-turn-helix domains, each of which recognises a single RNA nucleotide following a well-elucidated code. A cytidine deaminase-like domain (present at the C-terminus of some PPR editing factors or provided in trans via protein-protein interactions) is the catalytic domain in the process. The huge expansion of the PPR superfamily in land plants provides the sequence variation required for design of novel consensus-based RNA-binding proteins. We used this approach to construct a synthetic RNA editing factor designed to target one of the two sites in the Arabidopsis chloroplast transcriptome naturally recognised by the RNA editing factor CHLOROPLAST BIOGENESIS 19 (CLB19). We show that this designed editing factor specifically recognises the target sequence in in vitro binding assays and can partially complement a clb19 mutant. The designed factor is specific for the target rpoA site and does not recognise or edit the other site recognised by CLB19 in the clpP1 transcript. We show that the designed editing factor can function equally specifically in the bacterium E. coli, and shows some activity even in the absence of the editing cofactors that are often required for natural editing factor activity in plants. This study serves as a successful pilot into the design and application of programmable RNA editing factors based on plant PPR proteins.
Graphene Nano-Fiber Composites for Enhanced Neuronal Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells†
Authors: Mohanty Sujata , Jain Krishan Gopal , Rawat Sonali , Gupta Deepika , Raghav Pawan , Chaudhuri Rituparna , . Pinky , Shakeel Adeeba , Arora Varun , Sharma Harshita , Debnath Debika , kalluri Ankarao , Agrawal Ashwini , Jassal Manjeet , Dinda Amit Kumar , Patra Prabir 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Graphene-based nanocomposites have been extensively employed to design biomimetic platforms epitomizing the structural and functional complexity of the tissue with increased robustness and physiological relevance. The adhesive and mechanical cues provided by such nanocomposite microenvironment kindles the cell fate decisions. Owing to their differentiation and regenerative potential, Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs) have proven to be a promising candidate for treating several neurodegenerative disorders. However, their degree of differentiation and its reproducibility is often jeopardized by multiple levels of heterogeneity, thereby compromising their translational utilization. Baffled at this crossroad, we designed a one-step approach to electrospin Poly-caprolactone (PCL) nanocomposite, with varying graphene concentrations, to capture, for the first time, the realms of their biocompatible and anisotropic characteristics, providing biomimetic platforms for improved differentiation of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSCs) into neurons. Interestingly, PCL having 0.05% graphene (PCL-G0.05) showcased an ideal nano-topography with an unprecedented combination of guidance stimuli and substrates cues, aiding in enhanced differentiation of hMSCs into dopaminergic neurons (DA). These newly differentiated DA neurons were characterized at gene, protein, and functional levels and were seen to exhibit unique neuronal arborization, enhanced intracellular Ca2+ influx, and dopamine secretion, thereby opening new horizons for pre-clinical and clinical applications.
Evaluating the Effects of Duloxetine on oxaliplatin Induced Peripheral Neuropathy Prophylaxis in Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients, randomized double-blind placebo controlled clinical Trial
Authors: soufi rokhsareh , Ardakani Maria Tavakoli , haghighi shirin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Backgroundoxaliplatin is a key drug in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer treatment. Peripheral Neuropathy is a troublesome and dose-dependent adverse effect of oxaliplatin. It can occur in two distinct forms: acute and chronic. Its incidence is estimated about 65-98 percent, of which 22 percent needed to stop chemotherapy. In some cases peripheral neuropathy has a long lasting impact on patient’s quality of life. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of duloxetine on the prevention of oxaliplatin induced peripheral neuropathy in GI cancer patients.MethodsIn this randomized and double blind study, which was conducted in a tertiary teaching hospital, eligible patients were divided in to two groups. Treatment group was received Duloxetine the day before chemotherapy regimen initiation with the dose of 30 mg/day for one week and then was titrated up to 60 mg/day until 12 weeks. One placebo capsule daily for one week then two capsules daily until 12 weeks was prescribed for placebo group. In every chemotherapy courses peripheral neuropathy was assessed by using NCI-CTCAE v4.03. Also chemotherapy related quality of life (QOL) at the baseline and 12 weeks was assessed by using FACT/GOG-NTX.ResultsForty patients were randomized to the treatment and placebo group which were similar with chemotherapy regimen, type and stage of cancer. Data analysis of NCI-CTCAE showed duloxetine could prevent worsening of paresthesia more than placebo (P = 0.025) and patients in duloxetine group experience less peripheral sensory neuropathy (P = 0.001) than placebo. FACT/GOG-NTX analysis showed significant worsening of tingling and discomfort in hands (respectively P = 0.002, 0.001) and feet (respectively P = 0.017, 0.019), having pain in hands and feet (P = 0.001) and difficulty breathing in cold temperature exposure (P = 0.023) in placebo compared with duloxetine group. In the other hand, duloxetine could not improve QOL (P = 0.06) and hadn’t significant effects on Trouble feeling the shape of small objects in hand (P = 0.420) or Trouble buttoning buttons (P = 0.086).Conclusion﻿Duloxetine can consider as a safe and effective medication for the prevention of oxaliplatin induced peripheral neuropathy in GI cancer. Nonetheless, more studies with larger population are needed.Trial registrationIRCT20100127003210N15. Registered 25 Jun 2018, https://fa.irct.ir/user/trial/3256/view
Abnormal Rat Cortical Development Induced by Ventricular Injection of rHMGB1 Mimicked the Pathophysiology of Human Cortical Dysplasia
Authors: Yang Xiaolin , Xiaoqing Zhang , Wang Zhongke , Liu Guolong , Shen Kaifeng , Zhu Gang , Wang Tingting , Lv Shengqing , Zhang Chunqing , Yang Hui , Liu Shiyong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background Cortical dysplasia (CD) is a common cause of drug-resistant epilepsy. Increasingly, innate immunity is involved in CD with epilepsy. However, it is unclear whether innate immune factors contribute to induce epileptogenic CD. Here, we injected recombinant human HMGB1 (rHMGB1) into the embryonic rat ventricle to determine whether rHMGB1 can induce epileptogenic CD with pathophysiological characteristics similar to those of human CD.Methods At gestational day 14.5, rHMGB1 was injected into the ventricles of Sprague Dawley (SD) rat embryos. At 2 months postnatal, the effects of rHMGB1 on cortex construction were examined by Nissl staining; the alterations of nerve tissue were detected using immunostaining. At 3 months postnatal, the susceptibility and severity of pilocarpine-induced seizures and the spontaneous epileptic discharges were evaluated by EEG. Open-field tests, novel object recognition tests, and Morris water maze tests were performed to observe the behavior of rHMGB1-treated rats.Results The results showed cortical organization was severely disrupted in the rHMGB1-treated rats, and microgyria and heterotopia also emerged; additionally, disoriented neurons, dysmorphic neurons, and dysplastic neurons were found in the cortical lesions and heterotopias. Subcortical heterotopia also appeared in the white matter and the gray-white junction of the rHMGB1-treated rats. Moreover, the numbers of neurons and astrocytes were increased in the cortical lesions; the neuronal dendrites were thickened, randomly oriented, and frequently crossed each other. Moreover, the immunoreactivity of NR2A, NR2B, NR1, GAD65/67, EAAT1 and EAAT2 indicated that the excitation of cortical lesions and heterotopia were significantly increased. Furthermore, EEG showed more susceptibility and severity of seizures in rHMGB1-treatment rats compared with the control rats. Intriguingly, spontaneous nonepileptic seizure discharges were also detected in the rHMGB1-treated rats after 5 months of age, and spike-wave discharges of approximately 8 Hz were the most significantly increased synchronously propagated waves throughout the general brain cortex.Conclusions These results indicated that rHMGB1 exposure during pregnancy can modify the cerebral structure of offspring, which results in increased susceptibility to seizures and mimics the pathophysiological characteristics of human CD. Those results suggested that HMGB1 upregulation resulting from various insults could contribute to the development of epileptogenic CD during pregnancy.
A Major Outbreak of COVID-19 in the Diamond Princess Cruise Ship
Authors: Chou Yu-Ching , Lin Yu-Ju , Shie Shian-Sen , Tsai Hung-Bin , Sheng Wang-Huei 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Wuhan, China, and declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization in 2019. It mainly manifests as symptoms of respiratory infections, and severe cases can cause pneumonia and death. The Diamond Princess cruise ship outbroke cluster infection outside China during the early pandemic. The incident occurred on February 1, 2020, and an 80-year-old Hong Kong man was diagnosed with COVID-19. The cruise docked in Yokohama, Japan, for 14 days on-board quarantine; however, cluster infection outbroke rapidly. The results show that after 14 days of quarantine, 634 (17.1%) cases were diagnosed with a total of 3,711 population, and 328 (51.7%) cases were asymptomatic. As of April 24, 2020, 712 cases have been diagnosed and 14 deaths have occurred. A cumulative mortality rate reaches 1.96%. Using a nonlinear least-squares curve fitting with Microsoft Excel Solver, we obtain the parameters of the SIR mathematical model of infectious disease and the reproduction number (R0) of the COVID-19 outbreak is 2.37±0.26. Without an emergency evacuation plan, the total infection rate will reach 88.47%. These data show “only one” COVID-19 case could still outbreak cluster infection on large cruise ships. The possible causes and countermeasures are discussed.
Investigation of the clinical significance and pathological features of lanthanum deposition in the gastric mucosa
Authors: Nishida Shinya , Ota Kazuhiro , Hattori Kimiaki , Iwatsubo Taro , Kawaguchi Shimpei , Kojima Yuichi , Takeuchi Toshihisa , Maeda Tamaki , Sakaguchi Masahiro , Higuchi Kazuhide 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: There are often specific endoscopic findings caused by deposition of lanthanum (La) in the gastric mucosa of patients taking lanthanum carbonate (LaC), a novel phosphate binder for patients on hemodialysis. We conducted a retrospective study to investigate the clinical significance of La deposition in the gastric mucosa, and the association between endoscopic features and histologic findings in the same population.Methods: We compared background factors in patients taking LaC with and without La deposition in their gastroscopic biopsy specimen. We also investigated the relationship between gastric endoscopic biopsy specimens with La deposition and the concurrent endoscopic images.Results: There was a significant difference in the total dose of LaC between the La-positive and La-negative groups (990 g [180–3150 g] vs. 480 g [225–1328 g]; p=0.013). In 27 biopsy specimens with specific whitish mucosa, 10 showed mild histiocytic infiltration and 17 showed severe infiltration. In contrast, among 24 specimens with non-whitish mucosa, 5 showed no histiocytic infiltration, 10 showed mild infiltration, and 9 showed severe infiltration. There was a significant relationship between endoscopic features and the degree of histiocytic infiltration (p=0.026).Conclusions: We demonstrated that La deposition in the gastric mucosa depended on the total dose of LaC and was not affected by background factors. The specific endoscopic features of La deposition are associated with the infiltration of histiocytes, which represents the body’s normal response to foreign bodies.
Promoting the propensity for blood donation through the understanding of its determinants.
Authors: Mugion Roberta Guglielmetti , Giovina Pasca Maria , Laura Di Pietro , Renzi Maria Francesca 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background. The paper is aimed at understanding the main antecedents related to the blood donation propensity related to both donors and non-donors. With our research, we are going to analyze the two perspectives in order to identify similarities and differences concentrating on the Italian context. Our findings can be useful also in the COVID-19 epoch in which blood availability continues to be a primary need for hospitals. Blood is a vital resource that strongly affects the efficacy and sustainability of every national healthcare system and the system's ability to achieve the goal of universal coverage. Methods. The purpose of this paper is to understand the main antecedents of citizens’ blood donation intention and the propensity to encourage communication about blood donation among both donors and non-donors. To fulfil this purpose, the Theory of Planned Behaviour is adopted as a theoretical lens. An empirical investigation was performed in Italy, adopting a mixed methods research design. First, a qualitative analysis was carried out through 30 in-depth interviews. Then, a survey was used to quantitatively investigate the intention to donate among both donors (N=173) and non-donors (N=87). A conceptual model was developed and tested through Structural Equation Modelling, developing a multi-group approach. Results. The present study confirms the relations proposed by the Theory of Planned Behaviour, even though some differences between the two groups are shown. The construct Information and Communication is crucial for donors, non-donors, and non-donor inhibitors. Service quality has an impact on the propensity to recommend and communicate the value of blood donation.Conclusion. This paper reveals the main differences between donor and non-donor perspectives. Fruitful insights for enhancing blood donation awareness are provided. Our findings can also be useful in the COVID-19 epidemic, in which there is more need for blood in hospitals.
A systematic and meta-analysis review on the diagnostic accuracy of antibodies in the serological diagnosis of COVID-19.
Authors: Vengesai Arthur , Midzi Herald , Kasambala Maritha , Mutandadzi Hamlet , Mduluza-Jok Tariro L. , Rusakaniko Simbarashe , Mutapi Francisca , Naicker Thajasvarie , Mdul Takafira 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Serological testing based on different antibody types are an alternative method being used to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 and has the potential of having higher diagnostic accuracy compared to the current gold standard rRT-PCR. Therefore, the objective of this review was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of IgG and IgM based point-of-care (POC) lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA), chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (CLIA), fluorescence enzyme-linked immunoassay (FIA) and ELISA systems that detect SARS-CoV-2 antigens.Method: A systematic literature search was carried out in PubMed, Medline complete and MedRxiv. Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of serological assays for SARS-CoV-2 were eligible. Study selection and data-extraction were performed by two authors independently. QUADAS-2 checklist tool was used to assess the quality of the studies. The bivariate model and the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curve model were performed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the serological tests. Subgroup meta-analysis analyses was performed to explore the heterogeneity. Results: The pooled sensitivity for IgG, IgM and IgG-IgM based LFIA tests were 0.5856, 0.4637 and 0.6886, respectively compared to rRT-PCR method. The pooled sensitivity for IgG and IgM based CLIA tests were 0.9311 and 0.8516, respectively compared to rRT-PCR. The pooled sensitivity the IgG, IgM and IgG-IgM based ELISA tests were 0.8292, 0.8388 and 0.8531 respectively compared to rRT-PCR. All tests displayed high specificities ranging from 0.9693 to 0.9991. Among the evaluated tests, IgG based CLIA expressed the highest sensitivity signifying its accurate detection of the largest proportion of infections identified by rRT-PCR. ELISA and CLIA tests performed better in terms of sensitivity compared to LFIA. IgG based tests performed better compared to IgM except for the ELISA. Conclusions: We report that IgG-IgM based ELISA tests have the best overall diagnostic test accuracy. Moreover, irrespective of the method, a combined IgG/IgM test seems to be a better choice in terms of sensitivity than measuring either antibody type independently. Given the poor performances of the current LFIA devices there is need for more research on the development of highly sensitivity and specific POC LFIA that are adequate for most individual patient applications and attractive for large sero-prevalence studies.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO Registration Number is: CRD42020179112
Do Household Perceptions Influence Enrolment Decisions into Community-Based Health Insurance Schemes in Tanzania?
Authors: Kagaigai Alphoncina , Anaeli Amani , Mori Amani Thomas , Grepperud Sverre 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: Several countries including Tanzania, have established voluntary non-profit insurance schemes, commonly known as community-based health insurance schemes (CBHIs), that typically target rural populations and the informal sector. This paper considers the importance of household perceptions towards CBHIs in Tanzania and their role in explaining the enrolment decision of households. Methods: This was a cross-sectional household survey that involved 722 households located in Bahi and Chamwino districts in the Dodoma region. A three-stage sampling procedure was used, and the data were analyzed using both factor analysis (FA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Statistical tests such as Bartlett’s test of sphericity, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) for sampling adequacy, and Cronbach’s alpha test for internal consistency and scale reliability were performed to examine the suitability of the data for PCA and FA. Finally, multivariate logistic regressions were run to determine the associations between the identified factors and the insurance enrolment status. Results: The PCA identified seven perception factors while FA identified four factors. The quality of healthcare services, preferences (social beliefs), and accessibility to insurance scheme administration (convenience) were the most important factors identified by the two methods. Multivariate logistic regressions showed that the factors identified from the two methods differed somewhat in importance when considered as independent predictors of the enrollment status. The most important perception factors in terms of strength of association (odds ratio) and statistical significance were accessibility to insurance scheme administration (convenience), preferences (beliefs), and the quality of health care services. However, age and income were the only socio-demographic characteristics that were statistically significant. Conclusion: Household perceptions were found to influence households’ decisions to enroll in CBHIs. Policymakers should recognize and consider these perceptions when designing policies and programs that aim to increase the enrolment into CBHIs.