bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patients’ perception of the practice of anaesthesia in a Jordanian teaching hospital: A survey
Authors: Bataineh Adel M. , Qudaisat Ibraheem Y. , El-Radaideh Khaled , Alzoubi Rawand A. , Abu-Shehab Mohammad I 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background and Aim: Despite big leaps of progress in its scope, the practice of anesthesia is still suffering from poor public image worldwide, especially in developing countries. Little research investigated the public awareness of anesthesia in the Middle East. This study aimed to examine the perception of the practice of anaesthesia among Jordanian patients.Methods: A total of 505 patients admitted for elective surgery were interviewed using a standard questionnaire. In addition to demographic data, questions covered patients' awareness of anaesthetists qualifications, importance, and roles inside and outside the operating theatre. Awareness was measured using the frequency of correct answers to survey questions plus a patient’s total knowledge percentage score of his/her correct answers. Effects of demographic variables on results were also investigated. Appropriate statistical tests were used to summarize and compare results. Results: Most patients identified anesthesia as a separate practice from surgery (86%). The anaesthetist was identified as a physician by only 37% of patients. Equal importance to both anaesthetists and surgeons was assumed by 71.5% of patents. Only 15% of patients showed good level of total knowledge of anaesthetist roles, while 51% scored poorly. highest awareness was of anaesthetist’s preoperative roles (65.1%). Age was the only demographic factor affecting studied awareness (P=0.009).Conclusion: Although the importance of anesthesia is well perceived among Jordanian patients, there is still a deficient perception of the details of the practice. Active efforts of communication, and patient education by anesthetists are needed for improvement of the public status of the specialty.
Effects of Concentrated Growth Factor on the Proliferation, Migration, and Osteogenic Differentiation of Rat Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells: An in vitro study
Authors: Yu Xiang , Ren Hui , Shang Qi , Shen Gengyang , Tang Kai , Yu Fuyong , Chen Guifeng , Zhang Zhida , Zhao Wenhua , Zhang Peng , Liang De , Jiang Xiaobing 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background

Concentrated growth factor (CGF) has been reported to be effective in bone formation or soft/hard tissue healing in recent years. Despite a few studies regarding the effects of CGF on the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs, their underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects and possible mechanisms of CGF on the proliferation, migration, and osteogenic differentiation of rat-derived bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro.
Methods

CGF was extracted from the Sprague Dawley (SD) rats by venipuncture of the abdominal aortic vein, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used for the structural characterization. The release of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) from CGF was measured over the periods of 1 ~ 14 days, using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent (Elisa) assay. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay was used to measure cell proliferation. Migration capacity was analyzed using the transwell assay. The osteogenic differentiation and mineralization ability were determined by Alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) staining and Alizarin Red staining respectively. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), was used to evaluate the mRNA expression levels of Runx2, Ocn, Smad1, and Smad5 after culture for 14 days. Further, the protein expression of BMP-2, phosphorylated-Smad1/5 (p-Smad1/5), and Smad1/5/8 was determined by Western blot after a 14-day cell culture.
Results

The SEM analysis showed a porous and dense three-dimensional fibrin network in CGF. The Elisa assay showed that BMP-2 was released from CGF extract for more than 14d, and it reached a peak at the time point of 5d. The cell densities of the CGF group at the different concentrations (5%, 10%, and 20%) were significantly higher than that of the control group at the periods of day 1 to day 5 (p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of migratory cells of the CGF group was greater than that of the control group at 24 h. ALP activity analysis and Alizarin Red staining results demonstrated that CGF may successfully induce osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs. Moreover, the RT-qPCR results showed that CGF extracts dramatically enhanced the mRNA expression levels of Runx2, Ocn, Smad1, and Smad5 in BMSCs at days 14 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Western blot results showed that CGF extracts markedly up-regulated the protein expression levels of BMP-2, p-Smad1/5, and Smad1/5/8.
Conclusions

CGF can promote the proliferation, migration, and promote the osteogenic differentiation potential of BMSCs in vitro. The BMP-2/Smad signaling pathway was involved in the osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of BMSCs induced by CGF. Therefore, CGF has good application potential in tissue engineering for bone regeneration and repair.
Coronavirus mapping in scientific publications: when science advances rapidly and collectively, is access to this knowledge open to society?
Authors: Belli Simone , Mugnaini Rogério , Baltà Joan , Abadal Ernest 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating a global health emergency. Mapping this health emergency in scientific publications demands multiple approaches to obtain a picture as complete as possible. To progress in the knowledge of this pandemic and to control its effects, international collaborations between researchers are essentials, as well as having open and immediate access to scientific publications, what we called “coopetition”. The following questions have been addressed: Which are the countries with the most scientific publications, how do organizations collaborate (international scientific collaborations) and how much impact can be observed? What percentage of these publications and cited references are open access (identifying countries and organizations)?We have analyzed 18,875 articles indexed in Web of Science. We performed the descriptive statistical analysis in order to explore the performance of the more prolific countries and organizations, as well as paying attention to the last two years. Registers have been analyzed separately via the VOSviewer software, drawing a network of links among countries and organizations to identify the starred countries and organizations, and the strongest links of the net.We have explored the capacity of researchers to generate scientific knowledge about a health crisis emergency, and their global capacity to collaborate among them in a global emergency. We consider that science is moving rapidly to find solutions to international health problems but access to this knowledge by society is not so quick due to several limitations (open access policies, corporate interests, etc.). We have observed that papers from China in the last 3 months (from January 2020 to March 2020) have a strong impact compared with papers published in years before. The United States and China are the major producers of documents of our sample, followed by all European countries, especially the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, and France. At the same time, the leading role of Saudi Arabia, Canada or South Korea should be noted, with a significant number of documents submitted but very different dynamics of international collaboration.
Performance of Smallholder Soybean Farmers in Ghana; Evidence from Upper West Region of Ghana
Authors: Asodina Francis Akabo , Adams Faizal , Nimoh Fred , Asante Bright Owusu , Mensah Amos 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
The economic importance of soybean towards poverty alleviation and food security is gaining wider popularity and common acceptance among smallholder farmers in sub-Sahara Africa, especially in Ghana. Commercial soybean cultivation is relatively new in Ghana; hence it has recently benefited from several productivities enhancing innovation/technologies. However, despite these efforts, productivity has remained low. This paper investigates factors affecting production efficiency among commercial soybean farmers, across the three commercial districts of the Upper West region of Ghana. A cross-sectional data collected from 271 soybean farmers were used to investigate technical efficiency of soybean production. The overall mean technical efficiency estimate is 59% with a scale elasticity of 0.89-indicating a huge scope for efficiency improvement. The result shows that, factors affecting technical efficiency are dependent on the farmer’s socioeconomic status. With the existing technology and production recourses, soybean farmers can improve their current levels of soybean production by 41% through the adoption of best production practices.
Attitude of emergency doctors in providing palliative and end-of-life care in Hong Kong and education needs: A prospective cross-sectional analysis based on self-reported surveys.
Authors: Hang WONG Kwun , Yang Marc L.C. , Raymond WOO Kam Wing , Fung WONG Oi , Yan KWONG Wing , Fung TSE Choi , Tommy LAM Shing Kit , Man MA Hing , Albert LIT Chau Hung , Ngai SHIH Yau 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Introduction: In view of the growth of the aging population in Hong Kong, the importance and need of palliative care and end-of-life (EOL) care were brought into the spotlight. The Department of Accident and Emergency (AED) was one of first medical contacts for the public. Despite the urge to investigate this issue, there were no related studies involving emergency physicians in Hong Kong previously. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the attitude of emergency doctors in providing palliative and EOL care in Hong Kong, and to investigate the education needs for emergency doctors in palliative and EOL care. Methods: This research was a questionnaire study. Emergency physicians from 6 AED in Hong Kong were recruited. The questionnaires were designed to cover the attitudes of emergency physicians towards palliative and EOL care in terms of the role of palliative and EOL care in AED, the specific obstacles in providing it and the comfort level with the care; and further education needs.Results: 145 emergency physicians completed the questionnaires, in which 60 respondents from the service-providing hospitals. Significant proportions from both groups recognized palliative and EOL care was an important competence for them, but was uncertain about its role and priority in AED. Lack of time and access to palliative and EOL care specialists/ teams were the major barriers. Group 1 staff was more comfortable to provide the care and discuss it with patients and relatives. Further education needs, apart from the management of physical complaints like pain management, topics including communication skills and EOL care ethics were also emphasized.Conclusions: The study revealed several obstacles which required additional resources and manpower for overcoming them, in order to further promote the palliative and EOL care in Emergency Medicine. Further education, especially communication skills and ethical issues, were necessary as well. With the combination of elements of routine AED practice and the basic palliative medicine skill set, it would promote the development of this emerging field in Emergency Medicine in the future.
Epidemiology of Corona Virus Disease&nbsp;2019 (COVD-19)Outbreak Cases in Oyo State South West Nigeria March -April 2020
Authors: Usman Aishat Bukola , Ayinde Olubunmi , Akinyode Akinfemi , Gbolahan Abass , Lawal Wole , Bello Bashir 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Introduction: On March 17th, 2020, Oyo State recorded her first case of COVID-19 through a United Kingdom returnee. Oyo State Ministry of Health with the support of technical and development partners responded quickly and effectively to contain the outbreak. The outbreak was characterized by place, person and time.Methods: Field investigations were conducted and contact tracing and follow up done, all confirmed cases were identified, line-listed and analyzed using Epi-info version 7.Results: A total of 34confirmed cases were identified all within the capital city of Oyo State and two transferred from other states .The mean age was 49.1 ± 2.0 years with over 40% within the age group 50-59 years. There were 11(35.5%) health care workers infection. The case-fatality was 6.5%. The epidemic curve initially shows a typical propagated pattern, followed by a point source; though atypical.Conclusion: Outbreak of COVID-19 was confirmed in Oyo State. Field investigation provided information on the characteristics of persons, time and place. Intensified surveillance activities such as contact tracing and follow- up ,drive through testing and active case search were useful in early case detection and control of the outbreak
Shikonin ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis (EAE) via Immuno-modulatory, anti-apototic, and anti-oxidative activity
Authors: Sabet Mehrdad Nasrollahzadeh , Biglari Sajjad , Esmaeilzadeh Emran 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background Multiple sclerosis is a common auto-immuno-inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system in adults. There are several underlying mechanisms for pathogenesis of the disease, including inflammation, oligodendrocyte apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Methods We have investigated the mechanism of Shikonin action in C57BL/6 experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis. Results Our results revealed that EAE induction significantly increased the extent of demyelination in the corpus callosum tissues of the animals, while treatment of the mice with Shikonin, significantly decreased the extent of demyelination. Real-time PCR based analyzing the brain samples from the EAE mice, revealed a significant enhancement in the expression level of TNF-α , IFN-γ and Bax genes as well as a reduction in the expression level of TGF-β and Bcl2. Shikonin treatment significantly reduced the expression level of TNF-α , IFN-γ and Bax. On the other hand, the expression levels of TGF-β and Bcl2 as well as the Glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPX-1) enzyme were significantly increased following Shikonin treatment. Conclusion This study emphasizes the immune-modulatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-oxitive effects of Shikonin, which may have an important healing influence on the severity of EAE.
Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuate Acute Lung Injury Through Regulation of the Gut Microbiota in Septic Rats
Authors: Sun Junyi , Ding Xianfei , Liu Shaohua , Duan Xiaoguang , Liang Huoyan , sun tongwen 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background
We hypothesized that adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) may ameliorate sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) by increasing or decreasing microorganism populations in the gut microbiota, such as that of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes.
Methods
A total of 60 male adult Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were separated into three groups: the sham control (SC) group, the sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, and the ADMSC treatment (CLP-ADMSCs) group, in which rats underwent the CLP procedure and then received 1 × 106 ADMSCs. Rats were sacrificed 24 hours after the SC or CLP procedures. To investigate the relationship between sepsis-induced ALI and the gut microbiota, rat lungs were histologically evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, serum levels of pro-inflammatory factors were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fecal samples were collected and analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing.
Results
The serum levels of inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, were significantly increased in rats after the CLP procedure, but were significantly decreased in rats treated with ADMSCs. Histological evaluation of the rat lungs yielded results consistent with the changes in IL-6 levels among all groups. Treatment with ADMSCs significantly increased the diversity of the gut microbiota in rats with sepsis. The principal coordinates analysis (PCoA) results showed that there was a significant difference between the gut microbiota of the CLP-ADMSCs group and that of the CLP group. In rats with sepsis, the proportion of Bacteroides related to energy consumption and Escherichia–Shigella related to lipopolysaccharide production increased, and the proportion of Akkermansia related to the regulation of intestinal mucosal thickness and the maintenance of intestinal barrier function decreased. Furthermore, the proportion of Firmicutes related to energy storage, such as Verrucomicrobia, decreased. Intervention with ADMSCs increased the proportion of beneficial bacteria, reduced the proportion of harmful bacteria, and normalized the gut microbiota, thus, improving the sepsis-induced ALI.
Conclusions
Therapeutically administered ADMSCs may improve CLP-induced ALI by regulating the gut microbiota, providing a potential mechanism by which mesenchymal stem cells treat sepsis.
Resveratrol Attenuates High-Fat Diet Induced Hepatic Lipid Homeostasis Disorder and Decreases m6A RNA Methylation
Authors: Wu Jiamin , Li Yi , Yu Jiayao , Gan Zhending , Wei wenyao , Wang Chao , Zhang Lili , Wang Tian , zhong xiang 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Purpose: N 6 -methyladenosine (m6A) mRNA methylation is affected by dietary factors and associated with lipid metabolism, however, whether the regulatory role of resveratrol in lipid metabolism is involved in m6A mRNA methylation remain unknown. Here, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of resveratrol on hepatic lipid metabolism and m6A RNA methylation in the liver of mice.Methods: A total of 24 male mice were randomly allocated to LFD (low-fat diet), LFDR (low-fat diet + resveratrol), HFD (high-fat diet), and HFDR (high-fat diet + resveratrol) groups for 12 weeks (n = 6/group).Results: Compared to the HFD group, dietary resveratrol supplementation reduced the body weight, relative abdominal, epididymal, and perirhemtric fat weight, however, significantly increased average daily feed intake in mice given high-fat diet. The amounts of serum low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), liver total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG) were significantly decreased by resveratrol supplementation. In addition, Resveratrol significantly enhanced the levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARβ/δ), cytochrome P450 family 4 subfamily a polypeptide 10/14 (CYP4A10/14), acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1), and fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4) mRNA, and inhibited acyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) mRNA levels in the liver. Furthermore, the resveratrol in high-fat diet increased the transcript levels of methyltransferase like 3 (METTL3), alkB homolog 5 (ALKBH5), fat mass and obesity associated protein (FTO), and YTH domain family 2 (YTHDF2), whereas decreased the level of YTH domain family 3 (YTHDF3) and m6A abundance in mice liver.Conclusion: The beneficial effect of resveratrol on lipid metabolism disorder under high-fat diet may be due to decrease of m6A RNA methylation and increase of PPARα mRNA, providing mechanistic insights into the function of resveratrol in alleviating the disturbance of lipid metabolism in mice.
Selective role of the translin/trax RNase complex in hippocampal synaptic plasticity
Authors: Park Alan Jung , Shetty Mahesh Shivarama , Baraban Jay M. , Abel Ted 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Activity-dependent local protein synthesis is critical for synapse-specific, persistent plasticity. Abnormalities in local protein synthesis have been implicated in psychiatric disorders. We have recently identified the translin/trax microRNA-degrading enzyme as a novel mediator of protein synthesis at activated synapses. Additionally, mice lacking translin/trax exhibit some of the behavioral abnormalities found in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Therefore, identifying signaling pathways interacting with translin/trax to support persistent synaptic plasticity is a translationally relevant goal. Here, as a first step to achieve this goal, we have assessed the requirement of translin/trax for multiple hippocampal synaptic plasticity paradigms that rely on distinct molecular mechanisms. We found that mice lacking translin/trax exhibited selective impairment in a form of persistent hippocampal plasticity, which requires postsynaptic PKA activity. In contrast, enduring forms of plasticity that are dependent on presynaptic PKA were unaffected. Furthermore, these mice did not display exaggerated metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated long-term synaptic depression, a hallmark of the mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that translin/trax mediates long-term synaptic plasticity that is dependent on postsynaptic PKA signaling.
Integrated Puncture Score: Force-Displacement Weighted Rind Penetration Tests Improve Stalk Lodging Resistance Estimations in Maize
Authors: Stubbs Christopher J , McMahan Christopher , Seegmiller Will , Cook Douglas D , Robertson Daniel J 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Background: Stalk lodging (breaking of agricultural plant stalks prior to harvest) is a multi-billion dollar a year problem. Rind penetration resistance tests have been used by plant scientists and breeders to estimate the stalk lodging resistance of maize for nearly a hundred years. However, the rind puncture method has two key limitations: (1) the predictive power of the test decreases significantly when measuring elite or pre-commercial hybrids, and (2) using rind penetration measurements as a breeding metric does not necessarily create stronger stalks. In this study, we present a new rind penetration method called the Integrated Puncture Score, which uses a modified rind penetration testing protocol and a physics-based model to provide a robust measure of stalk lodging resistance.Results: Two datasets, one with a diverse array of maize hybrids and one with only elite hybrids, were evaluated by comparing traditional rind penetration testing and the Integrated Puncture Score method to measurements of stalk bending strength. When evaluating the diverse set of hybrids, both methods performed well, but when evaluating the elite hybrids, the integrated Puncture Score outperformed the traditional rind penetration method. Additionally, the Integrated Puncture Score was able to differentiate the best- and worst-performing hybrids, even in the elite hybrid data set. Additional experiments revealed strong evidence in favor of the data aggregation steps utilized to compute the Integrated Puncture Score.Conclusions: This study presents a new method for evaluating rind penetration resistance that highly correlates with stalk bending strength and can possibly be used as a breeding index for assessing stalk lodging resistance. This research lays the foundation required to develop a field-based high-throughput phenotyping device for stalk lodging resistance.