bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Additional Value of 99mtc-mdp Single-photon Emission Computed Tomography-computed Tomography for Detection and Characterization of Bone Lesions in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients
Authors: Yang Yingzhuo , Yang Wen , Wang Qiao , He Wenguo , Shu Bin , Duan Yun 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: 99mTc-labelled methylene diphosphonate (99mTc-MDP) uptake can diagnose bone metastasis in patients. The purpose of our study was to assess the additional value of single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) over whole-body planar scintigraphy (WBS) and SPECT in detecting bone lesions in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.Methods: Data from 126 patients (169 lesions) with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who underwent WBS, SPECT, and SPECT/CT in this 2-year prospective study. These scans of patients were directly compared for detection and characterization of bone lesions. McNemar’s multistep analysis was performed in patient-based and lesion-based.Results: On patient-based analysis, SPECT/CT significantly reduced the number of equivocal diagnosis than WBS and SPECT (p＜0.004), and SPECT significantly reduced the number of equivocal diagnosis than WBS (p＜0.004). The diagnostic coincidence rate of SPECT/CT (90.2%) is significantly higher than WBS (45.5%) and SPECT (61.6%). On lesion-based analysis, SPECT/CT significantly decreased the number of equivocal lesions than WBS and SPECT. SPECT/CT interpretation revealed 98 benign lesions and 37 malignant lesions, more than WBS and SPECT. For all the 112 patients, 32 equivocal patients were diagnosed definitely based on SPECT/CT findings, and received specific treatment and management.Conclusion: SPECT/CT can add incremental value to whole‑body bone imaging by significantly improves diagnostic sensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and decrease the number of equivocal lesions that do not contribute to diagnosis. Moreover, SPECT/CT can contribute to change the clinical management of patient and identify a more accurate metastatic range.
Exosome-delivered miR-15a/16 target PD-L1 to inhibit immune escape in gastric cancer
Authors: Yang Changliang , Zhang Haiyang , Zhang Qiumo , ning Tao , Deng Ting , Liu Rui , Bai Ming , Ying guoguang , Ba Yi 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: The programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway plays crucial role in various types of cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of PD-L1 expression dysregulation in GC has not been revealed. High expression of PD-L1 and low expression of miR-15a/16 often leads to poor prognosis of gastric cancer, therefore PD-L1 was regarded as a key target for the treatment of gastric cancer. This study aims to determine whether exosomes with miR-15a/16 could target PD-L1 and inhibit immune escape in gastric cancer (GC).Methods: The protein expression levels of PD-L1 in tumor tissues and normal tissues of patients were evaluated by Western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), then confirmed that PD-L1 was a target of miR-15a/16 by luciferase reporter assay. HEK293T cells were transfected with miR-15a/16, exosomes were isolated by sequential differential centrifugation then cultured with gastric cancer cell lines, the protein and RNA levels of the PD-L1 were determined by western blotting and real-time qPCR. A mouse xenograft model was adopted to assess the association between exosome loaded miR-15a/16 and tumor growth in vivo. Flow cytometry was performed to analysis the effect of exo-miR-15a/16 on CD8+T lymphocytes and INFγ+ of mice.Results: We found that compared to adjacent noncancerous tissues, PD-L1 protein expression was significantly increased while miR-15a/16 expression level was significantly inhibited in tumor tissues. In addition, we found that miR-15a/16 mimics could downregulate PD-L1 expression, while miR-15a/16 inhibitors enhanced PD-L1 expression in human gastric cancer cell line SGC7901. Exo-miR-15a/16 could target PD-L1 and inhibit immune escape in gastric cancer.Conclusions: Our study confirmed that miR-15a/16 in exosomes could suppress tumor growth and inhibit immune escape by targeting PD-L1 in vivo and in vitro, which might serve as a potential biomarker in monitoring the activity of gastric cancer.
Prevalence of Excess Weight Gain and Associated Risk Factors Among Postmenopausal Women: A Population-based Study in Ghana
Authors: BONSU ISAAC MENSAH , Myezwa Hellen , Brandt Corlia , Omoniyi Moses M. , Ajidahun Tunde A. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background:Excess weight (obesity and overweight) is a pervasive condition that is considered a global epidemic and a threat to public health. Furthermore, numerouschanges in fat deposits occur with the advent of menopause, leading to a change in the distribution of body fat. Therefore this study determined the prevalence of excess weight gain and associated risk factors among postmenopausal women (PW) in Ghana.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over five months at Bono-East regional capital, Techiman in Ghana. A total of 378 postmenopausal women were recruited for this study. Validated questionnaires were administered to obtain the socio-demographic data from each study participant. Anthropometrics such as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) among participants were also determined. Data were inputted into excel, and analysis was done using IBM SPSS 25.Results: The mean age of study participants was 60.09±6.24 years with the 51-60 years age group having the highest frequency (48.8%). Out of the total study participants, 26.8%, 8.2% and 9.0% with desirable weight were recorded using BMI, WHtR, and WHR respectively. And there was no significant difference (P=0.999) between the proportions for WHtR and WHR. However, the distribution of study participants with desirable weight by BMI was significantly higher than that of WHtR (P=0.0031) and WHR (P=0.0063). BMI, WHtR and WHR recorded participants with the excess weight of 73.2%, 91.8%, and 91.0% respectively out of the total study participants and there was no significant difference among the stratified study participants. Participants age ≤50 years were at a high risk of been obese even though it was not significant. Study participants with > 15 years of the postmenopausal stage have a high chance of been obese for BMI and WHtR but not WHR.Conclusions: The prevalence rates of obesity and overweight were higher among postmenopausal women using the WHR than BMI and WHtR. Participants age ≤ 50 years, parity and those from the Ga tribe were also at a higher risk of having abdominal obesity.
Evaluation of Sample Pooling for Screening of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Mulu Andargachew , Alemayehu Dawit Hailu , Alemu Fekadu , Tefera Dessalegn Abeje , Wolde Sinknesh , Aseffa Gebeyehu , Seyoum Tamrayehu , Habtamu Meseret , Abdissa Alemseged , Bayih Abebe Genetu , Beyene Getachew Tesfaye 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has revealed the global public health importance of robust diagnostic testing. To overcome the challenge of nucleic acid (NA) extraction and testing kit availability efficient method is urgently needed.Objectives: To establish an efficient, time and resource-saving and cost-effective methods, and to propose an ad hoc pooling approach for mass screening of SARS-CoV-2 Methods: Direct clinical sample and NA pooling approach was used for the standard reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test of the SARS CoV-2 targeting the envelop (E) and open reading frame (ORF1ab) genomic region of the virus. In this approach, experimental pools were created using SARS CoV-2 positive clinical samples spiked with up to 9 negative samples prior to NA extraction step to have a final extraction volume of 200μL (maximum dilution factor of 10). Viral NA was also subsequently extracted from each pool and tested using the SARS CoV-2 RT-PCR assay.Results: We found that a single positive sample can be amplified and detected in pools of up to 7 samples depending on the ct value of the original sample, corresponding to high, medium, and low SARS CoV-2 viral copies/reaction. However, to minimize false negativity of the assay with pooling strategies and with unknown false negativity rate of the assay under validation, we recommend poling of 4 in 1 using the standard protocols of the assay, reagents and equipment. The predictive algorithm indicated a pooling ratio of 4 in 1 was expected to retain accuracy of the test irrespective of the ct value (relative ribonucleic acid RNA copy number) of the sample spiked and result in a 237% increase in testing efficiency. Conclusions: The approaches showed its concept in easily customized and resource-saving manner and would allow expanding of current screening capacities and enable the expansion of detection in the community.
Association between neck circumference and the risk of decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate in the general population of China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Xue Jing , Li Bing , Wang Jie , Yu Songyan , Wang Anping , An Ping , Mu Yiming 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: The burden of chronic kidney disease is increasing substantially worldwide. Neck circumference (NC), an anthropometric index for upper-body adiposity, has been recognized as an indicator of cardiometabolic diseases. However, the association between NC and renal dysfunction has not been fully disclosed. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between NC and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in the general population in China. Methods: A total of 8805 participants (3322 men and 5483 women) were enrolled in this study. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between NC and eGFR. The male and female subjects were divided into four groups according to the neck circumference quartiles. The primary outcome was defined as an eGFR ≤ 90 mL/min/1.73 m2.Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed that in both sexes, higher neck circumference was significantly associated with a higher risk of decreased eGFR even after fully adjusting for age; other anthropometric indexes, including body mass index and waist to hip ratio; traditional risk factors for chronic kidney diseases; and sociologic risk factors (Quartile1 as a reference; the odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] were as follows: Quartile 2, 1.26[0.99-1.59]; Quartile 3, 1.40[1.07-1.83]; Quartile 4, 1.71[1.22-2.38] in men; Quartile 2, 1.14[0.95-1.37]; Quartile 3, 1.31[1.03-1.66]; Quartile 4, 1.32[1.04-1.68] in women.) Stratified analyses suggested that the association was significant among subjects with prediabetes and those with normal serum uric acid levels. When the subjects were stratified according to blood pressure or BMI, the association persisted among male subjects with abnormal blood pressure and was strengthened among male subjects who were overweight/obese, while the association disappeared among female subjects. Conclusions: NC is independently associated with the risk of decreased eGFR in the general population in China, indicating that NC could contribute to renal dysfunction risk assessment.
Optimizing our patient’s entropy production as therapy? Hypotheses originating from the physics of physiology
Authors: Seely Andrew Ervine 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Physical laws dictate that energy is preserved; yet energy gradients irreversibly dissipate, thus producing entropy. As living complex non-equilibrium systems, humans must produce entropy continuously over time to create healthy internal emergent order. Entropy production is measured by heat production divided by temperature. Several hypotheses are presented. First, human entropy production is due to both metabolism and consciousness, dissipating energy and information gradients. Second, the physical drive for maximal entropy production is responsible for spontaneous formation of fractal multi-scale self-similar structures in time and space, ubiquitous and essential for health. Third, the evolutionary drive for enhanced function and adaptability selects states with both robust basal and maximal entropy production (i.e. the capacity to augment it when required). Last, targeted focus on optimizing our patients’ entropy production will improve health and clinical outcomes. These hypotheses have implications for understanding health, metabolism and consciousness, and offer novel clinical treatment strategies.
Perceptions, Generalized Anxiety and Fears of Pregnant women about Corona Virus infection in the heart of Pandemic
Authors: Hossain Nazli , Samuel Mahwish , Sandeep Rekha , Imtiaz Sadaf , Zaheer Sidra 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: The current uncertainties and alarming situation of COVID-19 pandemic may cause anxiety, mental distress and fears among pregnant women, who otherwise may have been progressing well. Till date, there is no robust empirical evidence, how the COVID-19 pandemic might have influenced the generalized anxiety and fears among pregnant women.Objective: To determine the perceptions, anxiety and fears of current COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women during antenatal and immediate postpartum period.Setting: Pregnant women attending antenatal outpatient department, or women who recently delivered at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit II, Ruth Pfau KM Civil Hospital and Holy Family Hospital, Karachi were included in the study.Methods: A pre-designed, validated questionnaire was used by medical doctors through a face-to-face interview to collect the desired information. Associations were determined using parametric tests and a p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: A total of 286 pregnant women with a mean age of 26.47 ± 4.81 years were enrolled in the study. The mean gestational age of women was 33.04 ± 7.54 weeks. Majority of women 67.8% (n=194) perceived that COVID-19 can affect the pregnancy, it can be transmitted to newborn baby 83.2% (n=238), and can affect the child if mother has infected with this virus 84.6% (n=242). Most of the women 84.6% (n=242) were afraid of COVID-19 infection, and reported mean fear level of 5.86 ± 3.12 on a scale of 1 to 10. Women who perceived that COVID-19 can affect the child had significantly higher level of GAD scores (n=37, 15.3%, p-value 0.042). Similarly, women who were afraid of COVID-19 infection had significantly higher (n=40, 16.5%, p-value 0.046) GAD score. Women who had high GAD score (≥7) also had significantly higher (p-value 0.020) fear score (6.90 ± 3.23 vs 5.68 ± 3.07) compared with women who had normal GAD score (<7).Conclusion: High proportion of women had stronger belief that if mother have infection, child will also have it and it’s likely to be transmitted from mother to child. Although there is not enough evidence to support vertical transmission of infection as yet but it is still appearing as a major stressor among pregnant women.
A Perspective of Graduate Education in Soil Science: The Future
Authors: Black C. A. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTAn increase may be expected in the number of students who take some graduate work as an extension of undergraduate work. Nonresearch, nonthesis masters degrees will probably gain increasing popularity for such students. The subject matter of graduate curricula should see closer integration of the agricultural and engineering aspects of soil science and a trend toward environmental quality, particularly if this field is funded at the expense of agriculture. If the supply of money becomes tighter, the current high cost of teaching a first‐class set of graduate courses in soil science to the few Ph. D. students at most universities will probably be reduced by some kind of cooperative arrangement.The trend for the future will probably be an increase in recruitment of students for graduate study at the institution at which they received their B. S. degree.The enrollment of U. S. graduate students in soil science is probably now at a plateau or peak level. In view of the current tendency of the U. S. to reduce foreign commitments and in view of the current financial difficulties of the universities, a decrease in the number of foreign students whose graduate study is subsidized by the universities may be expected.Although no trend is evident in the universities to change the method of subsidizing graduate education in soil science, several forces now at work in the federal government may have a marked effect on financial support: (1) Bills have been proposed to provide institutional grants to support the universities. (2) The current national Administration is proposing a plan to share some of its revenue with the states. Both this and the institutional grants bills, if written into law, might include the federal funds now earmarked for agriculture. (3) The Administration is pushing a loan program that would shift much of the cost of education to the students.The buying power of support for research on the traditional agricultural applications of soil science may be expected to decrease. Support for newer applications will increase.Additional undergraduate teaching positions will probably become available in decreasing numbers to 1980, when undergraduate enrollments will decline, and the need for new teachers will disappear. An increasing proportion of the undergraduate teaching positions will be in junior colleges and 4‐year colleges. The universities will probably maintain their monopoly on graduate study in soil science unless they are debilitated by continued attack of the far‐left, antiscience members of society, whereupon government research organizations may be expected to add this function.
A Simple Classroom Demonstration of Differences in Photosynthetic Capacity Among Species
Authors: Moss Dale N. , Smith Lawrence H. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTPlant species differ markedly in their maximal rates of leaf photosynthesis. These differences can be demonstrated by having plants of these contrasting species compete for CO2 in a continuously illuminated, closed system. Under those conditions, species with the lower photosynthetic capacity succumb in about 1 week. A simple system suitable for classroom demonstrations of this phenomena consists of a transparent closed box into which are placed pots or flats containing plants of the two types growing in sand. Illumination can be by any convenient light source giving a continuous illumination at an intensity of 0.05 cal cm−2 min−1 (400 to 700 nm) or about 1000 ft‐c.
Use of Videotape Clips to Bring Contemporary Field and/or Laboratory Research to the Crop Science Classroom
Authors: Burger A. W. , Aleamoni L. M. 
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTStudent reactions to the use of black and white videotape clips to introduce or amplify subject matter areas in the introductory crop science course at the University of Illinois were taken on a pretest and two posttests during each of two semesters of the 1970–1971 academic year. The data indicate that as the semester progressed, students found the videotape clips: (i) increasingly useful; (ii) more easily adjusted to; (iii) less difficult to follow; (iv) more convincing regarding their usefulness in acquainting them with agronomy research staff and their wares; (v) more helpful in keeping crop science teaching modern; (vi) capable of accomplishing the course objective better than movies; (vii) increasingly less different from color videotapes; and (viii) increasingly free of mechanical difficulty with replay.Some differences in reaction to the use of videotape clips in crop science teaching were observed between course‐required and course‐elective enrollees.
Functional data analysis of models for predicting temperature and precipitation under climate change scenarios
Authors: Ghumman Abdul Razzaq , Ateeq-ur-Rauf  , Haider Husnain , Shafiquzamman Md. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Evaluating the impact of climatic change on hydrologic variables is highly important for sustainability of water resources. Precipitation and temperature are the two basic parameters which need to be included in climate change impact studies. Thirty years (1985–2015) climatic data of Astore, a sub-catchment of the Upper Indus River Basin (UIRB), were analyzed for predicting the temperature and precipitation under different climate change scenarios. The station data were compared with the results of two global climate models (GCMs) each with two emission scenarios, including Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5. The Mann–Kendall test and Sen's slope were applied to explore various properties of precipitation and temperature data series for a trend analysis. The commonalities and dissimilarities between the results of various GCMs and the trend of the station data were investigated using the functional data analysis. Two cross distances were estimated on the basis of Euclidean distances between the predicted time series; subsequently, the differences in their first derivatives were used to evaluate their mutual dissimilarities. The long-term predictions by GCMs show a decreasing trend in precipitation and a slight increase in temperature in some seasons. The result of GCMs under both the emission scenarios showed almost the same pattern of changes in the two hydrologic variables throughout the century with their values reporting slightly higher for the RCP8.5 scenario as compared to those for RCP2.6. Validation of the GCM results using GCM-CSIRO-Mk3.6 revealed an overall agreement between the different models. The dissimilarity analysis manifested the difference between the results of temperature predicted by various GCMs.
Hydrological drought risk recurrence under climate change in the karst area of Northwestern Algeria
Authors: Bouabdelli Senna , Meddi Mohamed , Zeroual Ayoub , Alkama Ramdane 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis study aims to estimate hydrological drought risk using probabilistic analysis of bivariate drought characteristics to assess both past and future drought severity and duration in three basins located in the widest karst massif of northern Algeria. The procedures entail: (1) identification of extent of meteorological drought that could trigger corresponding hydrological drought through their characteristics; (2) assessment of future risk of extreme drought according to two emission scenarios of the representative concentration pathway (RCP 4.5 and 8.5); and (3) estimation of drought return periods using bivariate frequency analysis and investigation of their future change rates under climate change. Hydrological droughts were computed by using the bias-corrected future climate projections from nine global climate models downscaled using the Rossby Centre Regional Climate model (RCA4), and GR2M hydrological model. The analysis revealed a connection between meteorological and hydrological drought occurrences and the response time depended on the memory effect of the considered basin. We also found strong consensus between past drought event return periods, determined by bivariate frequency analysis, and those determined by climate models under RCP8.5 scenario. Finally, in regards to drought return periods (10, 50 and 100 years), the risk of extreme drought recurrence in the future has been projected to be larger than the reference period.