bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective effects of dexmedetomidine against the ketamine-induced disturbance of proliferation and differentiation of developing neural stem cells in the subventricular zone
Authors: Sha Huanhuan , Peng Peipei , Li Bing , Wei Guohua , Wang Juan , Wu Yuqing , huang he 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Recent years, the number of neonatal patients receiving surgery under general anesthesia is increasing. Previous studies have indicated that ketamine can disturb the proliferation and differentiation of developing neural stem cells (NSCs). Therefore, the safe use of ketamine in pediatric anesthesia has drawn great concern among anesthesiologists and children’s parents. Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is widely used in sedation, antianxiety and analgesia. Recent studies have shown that DEX could provide neuroprotection against anesthetic-induced neurotoxicity in the developing brain. The aim of this in vivo study was to investigate whether DEX had neuroprotective effects on the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) following neonatal ketamine exposure. Methods: Postnatal day 7 (PND-7) male Sprague-Dawley rats were equally divided into the following 5 groups: Control group (n=8), ketamine group (n=8), 1 μg/kg DEX+ketamine group (n=8), 5 μg/kg DEX+ketamine group (n=8) and 10 μg/kg DEX+ketamine group (n=8). The proliferation and differentiation of NSCs in the SVZ were assessed by immunostaining with BrdU incorporation. Results: Neonatal ketamine exposure significantly inhibited NSC proliferation and astrocytic differentiation in the SVZ, and neuronal differentiation was markedly promoted. Furthermore, DEX pretreatment reversed the ketamine-induced disturbances in the proliferation and differentiation of NSCs at moderate (5 μg/kg) or high doses (10 μg/kg). Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that DEX may have neuroprotective effects on NSCs in the SVZ of neonatal rats in a repeated ketamine anesthesia model.
Brain structural abnormalities in migraine patients: an observational study
Authors: Bonanno Lilla , Buono Viviana Lo , Corallo Francesco , Ruvolo Claudio , Torre Viviana , Bramanti Placido , Marino Silvia 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Migraine is a common neurological disorder, characterized by a complex physiopathology. We analyzed brain structural differences in migraine and the possible pathogenetic mechanism underlying this disease.Methods: We assessed brain structure in migraine patients, 14 with aura (MA) and 14 migraine without aura, (MO) compared with health subjects (HS) by using (VBM) approach.Results: Total cerebral GMV showed a significant difference between MA and HS (p=0.03), and between MO and HS (p=0.003). In addition, there was a significative difference trend between MA and MO (p=0.05) groups. We found three clusters of regions which showed significant GMV reduction in MA compared with MO. MA subjects showed a decrease of GMV in 4 clusters if compared with HS, and MO subjects showed a decrease of GMV in 3 clusters if compared with HS. We observed that MA and MO patients had a significant reduction of GMV in the frontal and temporal lobe and the cerebellum, if compared to HS. The bilateral fusiform gyrus and the cingulate gyrus were increased in MO patients compared with HS.Conclusion: Our findings could provide a new instrumental approach to understand possible differences in the pathogenesis of 2 type of migraine.
An investigation on using MDCs for an efficient desalination process as pretreatment of reverse osmosis
Authors: Habibi Avin , Abbaspour Madjid , Javid Amir H. , Hassani Amir H. 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a new bio-electrochemical technique which converts chemical energy into electrical energy, and at the same time desalinates water and treats wastewater. In this study, MDC performance and water biofouling conditions were tested as an efficient pretreatment desalination process of reverse osmosis (RO). The experiments were designed in a three-chamber reactor to compare the performance of batch and continuous fed modes, using bio-cathode and synthetic wastewater in four different hydraulic retention times and 17 and 35 g/L NaCl concentrations. According to the results, maximum salt removal of about 52.3% was obtained in the continuously fed MDC at 35 g/L NaCl concentration. The maximum salt removal at 17 g/L NaCl was also observed in continuous mode. The anolyte pH in both batch and continuous modes dropped from 7 to 6.32, 6.47 and 6.37, 6.48 in 17 and 35 g/L NaCl concentrations respectively. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal values in the continuous mode were 61 and 65% in the anolyte and catholyte respectively, higher than those of fed-batch MDC. The biofouling of the middle chamber solution was confirmed by conducting bio-microbial tests. Our results suggest that the type of hydraulic flow can improve the performance of MDC in different concentrations of NaCl.
Context and intentions: practical associations for fecal sludge management in rural low-income Cambodia
Authors: Harper James , Bielefeldt Angela , Javernick-Will Amy , Veasna Toeur , Nicoletti Chris 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Finite storage capacities of household pit latrines make safely managing fecal sludge a recurring challenge for 2.7 billion people globally. Frequently without guidance from standards or regulation, rural latrine owners choose how to manage their own fecal sludge. However, their intentions – what behavioral science says are the best predictors of future behaviors – when pits fill are poorly understood, inhibiting the development of safe fecal sludge management (FSM) solutions and deteriorating public and environmental health. Using survey data commonly measured by development practitioners, we analyze response frequencies and their associations with contextual factors, such as location, month that the survey was administered, and poverty level. We also use binomial logistic regression to determine if contextual factors can be used to predict the intentions of rural Cambodian latrine owners when pits fill. We found that four in ten rural latrine owners intend to manage their fecal sludge unsafely (41%), and one in six did not have a plan (16%). Desirable FSM intentions increased markedly after rice harvest and varied markedly across provinces. Many predictors of desirable FSM intentions, such as location and satisfaction with the household's latrine, were also identified. Associations between FSM intentions and contextual factors can be used to help predict FSM behaviors and improve FSM service delivery, behavior change campaigns, and product design. However, future work should seek to characterize the complete decision-making processes of rural latrine owners when pits fill.
This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.
Seawater intrusion vulnerability evaluation and prediction: a case study of Qeshm Island, Iran
Authors: Zeynolabedin Amin , Ghiassi Reza , Dolatshahi Pirooz Moharram 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Seawater intrusion is one of the most serious issues to threaten coastal aquifers. Tourian aquifer, which is selected as the case study, is located in Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf. In this study, first the vulnerability of the region to seawater intrusion is assessed using chloride ion concentration value, then by using the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model, the vulnerability of the region is predicted for 14 wells in 2018. The results show that the Tourian aquifer experiences moderate vulnerability and the area affected by seawater intrusion is wide and is in danger of expanding. It is also found that 0.95 km2 of the region is in a state of high vulnerability with Cl concentration being in a dangerous condition. The prediction model shows that ARIMA (2,1,1) is the best model with mean absolute error of 13.3 mg/L and Nash–Sutcliffe value of 0.81. For fitted and predicted data, mean square error is evaluated as 235.3 and 264.3, respectively. The prediction results show that vulnerability is increasing through the years.
Biofilms in premise plumbing systems as a double-edged sword: microbial community composition and functional profiling of biofilms in a tropical region
Authors: De Sotto Ryan , Tang Rena , Bae Sungwoo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
To understand distributions of opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) and microbial community structures governed by sample location, pipe materials, water temperature, age of property and type of house, 29 biofilm samples obtained from faucets, pipes, and shower heads in different households in Singapore were examined using next-generation sequencing technology. Predictive functional profiling of the biofilm communities was also performed to understand the potential of uncultivated microorganisms in premise plumbing systems and their involvement in various metabolic pathways. Microbial community analysis showed Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Acidobacteria, Nitrospira, and Actinobacteria to be the most abundant phyla across the samples which was found to be significantly different when grouped by age of the properties, location, and the type of house. Meanwhile, opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens such as Mycobacterium, Citrobacter, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Methylobacterium were observed from the samples at 0.5% of the total reads. Functional prediction using 16S gene markers revealed the involvement of the biofilm communities in different metabolic pathways like nitrogen metabolism, biodegradation of xenobiotics, and bacterial secretion implying diverse functionalities that are yet to be studied in this environment. This study serves as a preliminary survey on the microbial communities harboring premise plumbing systems in a tropical region like Singapore.
This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.
Water management in the high mountain watersheds of the Sierra Nevada National Park (southern Spain). An example of ancestral Integrated Water Management
Authors: Martos-Rosillo Sergio , González-Ramón Antonio , Ruiz-Constán Ana , Marín-Lechado Carlos , Guardiola-Albert Carolina , Moral Martos Francisco , Jódar Jorge , Pedrera Parias Antonio 
Published: February 2020

Sierra Nevada is the main mountain range in the southern Iberian Peninsula and has been catalogued as a Biosphere Reserve (1986), a Natural Park (1989) and a National Park (1999). Apart from its ecological, geomorphological and landscape singularities, there are other remarkable hydrological, historical and cultural features, such as the ancestral water management performed at the headwaters of the rivers. A dense network channels excavated in the ground, the so-called acequias de careo, allows the derivation of melt water from of the river water head towards the higher zone of the hillsides, where it infiltrates. It slowly flows down through the weathered zone of the metamorphic rocks, until reaching the rivers and springs used for supply and irrigation. This water management system, implemented since the Muslim conquest of southern Spain (VIII century), has led to a remarkable transformation of the landscape, where agricultural terraces and pastures coexist with ecosystems of high ecological value. This paper describes the careos water-management technique in a pilot basin, the Bérchules watershed, recently studied during 2014 and 2015 by the Geological Survey of Spain. Migration, the abandonment of cultivated lands and, consequently, of the acequias de careo are affecting the dynamics of the rivers, endangering the delicate balance reached between man and nature in the Sierra Nevada, after many centuries of harmonious coexistence.
Development of Poly (Methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) Microneedles for Transdermal Delivery of Atorvastatin Calcium
Authors: Castañeda Pablo S. , Domínguez Delgado Clara L. , Cruz Isabel M.R. , Contreras Luz M.M. , Trinidad Eva M.M. , Cervantes Miriam L. , Escobar-Chávez José J. 
Published: February 2020

Aims:
Biodegradable polymeric microneedles containing atorvastatin calcium were developed
in order to improve the percutaneous absorption of the drug, useful for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.

Background:
The use of physical enhancers like microneedles have shown good results to increase the
delivery of drugs through the skin, the use of microneedles has very important advantages for transdermal
drug delivery, for example, they are painless, easy to use and safe, they increase time interval
of drug activity, dose, and reductions in adverse reactions, they also offer, the facility to remove the
system instantly of the skin.

Objective:
Develop polymer microneedles loaded with a calcium atorvastatin and evaluate them by
Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), bioadhesion, postwetting-
bioadhesion, breaking strength, drug release test and in vitro percutaneous absorption studies
to demonstrate the use of microneedles atorvastatin is able to cross the skin.

Methods:
The microneedles were made with poly (methyl vinyl ether-alt-maleic acid) as biodegradable
polymer using the technique of casting in solution in a mold. After solidification these microneedles
were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy
(SEM), bioadhesion, post-wetting-bioadhesion, breaking strength, drug release test and in vitro percutaneous
absorption studies.

Results:
In general, the performances were satisfactory for optimal formulation in terms of DSC with
no interactions between drug and excipients, SEM shows microneedles with a conical shape, bioadhesion
of 1570 g.f, post wetting-bioadhesion of 1503.4 g.f, breaking strength of 1566.7g.f that is sufficient
to disrupt Stratum corneum, good drug release and a flux of 33.4 μg/cm2*h with a tLag of 15.14
h for the in vitro percutaneous absorption.

Conclusion:
The results indicate that it is possible to generate microneedles to increase the percutaneous
absorption of calcium atorvastatin transdermally, with the potential to be used as an alternative to
the oral route for the treatment of dyslipidemias.
Feasibility Study for Bedside Production of Recombinant Human Acid α-Glucosidase: Technical and Financial Considerations
Authors: Aldosari Mohammed H. , den Hartog Marcel , Ganizada Hubertina , Evers Martijn J.W. , Mastrobattista Enrico , Schellekens Huub 
Published: February 2020

Objective:
The high cost of orphan drugs limits their access by many patients, especially in
low- and middle-income countries. Many orphan drugs are off-patent without alternative generic or biosimilar
versions available. Production of these drugs at the point-of-care, when feasible, could be a
cost-effective alternative.

Methods:
The financial feasibility of this approach was estimated by setting up a small-scale production
of recombinant human acid alpha-glucosidase (rhGAA). The commercial version of rhGAA is
Myozyme™, and Lumizyme™ in the United States, which is used to treat Pompe disease. The rhGAA
was produced in CHO-K1 mammalian cells and purified using multiple purification steps to obtain a
protein profile comparable to Myozyme™.

Results:
The established small-scale production of rhGAA was used to obtain a realistic cost estimation
for the magistral production of this biological drug. The treatment cost of rhGAA using bedside
production was estimated at $3,484/gram, which is 71% lower than the commercial price of Myozyme
™.

Conclusion:
This study shows that bedside production might be a cost-effective approach to increase
the access of patients to particular life-saving drugs.
Endocannabinoid Receptors in the CNS: Potential Drug Targets for the Prevention and Treatment of Neurologic and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Estrada José Antonio , Contreras Irazú 
Published: February 2020

:
The endocannabinoid system participates in the regulation of CNS homeostasis and functions,
including neurotransmission, cell signaling, inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as
neuronal and glial cell proliferation, differentiation, migration and survival. Endocannabinoids are
produced by multiple cell types within the CNS and their main receptors, CB1 and CB2, are expressed
in both neurons and glia. Signaling through these receptors is implicated in the modulation
of neuronal and glial alterations in neuroinflammatory, neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions,
including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis, stroke, epilepsy, anxiety and depression. The therapeutic potential of endocannabinoid
receptors in neurological disease has been hindered by unwelcome side effects of current drugs
used to target them; however, due to their extensive expression within the CNS and their involvement
in physiological and pathological process in nervous tissue, they are attractive targets for drug
development. The present review highlights the potential applications of the endocannabinoid system
for the prevention and treatment of neurologic and psychiatric disorders.
History of Alcohol Consumption and HIV Status Related to Functional Connectivity Differences in the Brain During Working Memory Performance
Authors: Bryant Vaughn E. , Gullett Joseph M. , Porges Eric C. , Cook Robert L. , Bryant Kendall J. , Woods Adam J. , Williamson John , Ennis Nicole , Cohen Ronald A. 
Published: February 2020

Background:
Poorer working memory function has previously been associated with alcohol
misuse, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) positive status, and risky behavior. Poorer working
memory performance relates to alterations in specific brain networks.

Objective:
The current study examined if there was a relationship between brain networks involved
in working memory and reported level of alcohol consumption during an individual’s period of
heaviest use. Furthermore, we examined whether HIV status and the interaction between HIV and
alcohol consumption was associated with differences in these brain networks.

Methods:
Fifty adults, 26 of whom were HIV positive, engaged in an n-back working memory task
(0-back and 2-back trials) administered in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The Kreek-
McHugh-Schluger-Kellogg (KMSK) scale of alcohol consumption was used to characterize an individual’s
period of heaviest use and correlates well with their risk for alcohol dependence. Connectivity
analyses were conducted using data collected during n-back task.

Results:
Functional connectivity differences associated with greater alcohol consumption included
negative connectivity, primarily from parietal attention networks to frontal networks. Greater alcohol
consumption was also associated with positive connectivity from working memory nodes to the precuneus
and paracingulate. HIV positive status was associated with more nodes of negative functional
connectivity relative to alcohol consumption history alone, particularly in the frontoparietal networks.
The HIV positive individuals with heavier drinking history related to negative fronto-parietal connectivity,
along with positive connectivity from working memory nodes to mesolimbic regions.

Conclusion:
Findings allow for a better understanding of brain networks affected by HIV and alcohol
and may provide avenues for interventions.
Evaluating the Relationship Between Serum Level of Interleukin-6 and Rheumatoid Arthritis Severity and Disease Activity
Authors: Rajaei Elham , Mowla Karim , Hayati Qodratollah , Ghorbani Ali , Dargahi-Malamir Mehrdad , Hesam Saeed , Zayeri Zeinab Deris 
Published: February 2020

Aim:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between Interleukin-6 (IL-6)
serum level and the severity and activity of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Methods:
In this cross-sectional study, 120 RA patients referred to the rheumatology clinic, the patients
were diagnosed by rheumatologists according to ACR / EULAR 2010 criteria. Based on
DAS28 score the patients were divided into 4 groups: Remission, Mild, Moderate and Severe. Each
group contained 30 patients. Serum levels of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-Reactive
Protein (CRP), anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide (anti-CCP) and Rheumatoid Factor (RF) and serum
levels of IL-6, were measured. The relationship between these factors was measured and compared
to the relationship between IL-6 and these factors, and the activity of the disease was evaluated
based on DAS-28.

Results:
This study showed that the serum level of IL-6 has a significant relationship with RA activity
according to DAS-28 (P value <0.001). There is also a significant relationship between the
ESR level, the number of painful joints, and the number of swollen joints, and the severity of the
disease based on VAS.

Conclusion:
Generally the findings of this study indicate that serum level of IL-6 plays an important
role in the severity and activity of RA disease and can be considered as a determining factor in
evaluating the severity of RA in RA patients and it is a good guide for a step up or down of treatment.
Bacterial Profile and Antibiotic Use in Pneumonia Patients at Dr. Soetomo General Hospital
Authors: Yulia Rika , Mariza Josephine Witha , Soedarsono  , Herawati Fauna 
Published: February 2020

Background:
Pneumonia is one of the causes of morbidity and mortality in children and
adults worldwide. WHO report in 1999 stated that the main cause of death due to infectious disease
is pneumonia. The rising mortality rate among severe pneumonia patients is because they do not
receive empirical antibiotic treatment according to the infecting pathogens.

Objective:
The purpose of this study is to identify the bacterial profile and the use of antibiotic
treatment on pneumonia patients admitted to the pulmonology ward of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital
in Surabaya, Indonesia.

Methods:
This descriptive observational study used the data from pneumonia patients admitted to the
pulmonology ward of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital, Surabaya, from February to April 2018. The
data was collected from the patients’ medical records, antibiotic use notes, and culture results of
bacterial antibiotic sensitivity test. The total of antibiotic use was calculated using a defined daily
dose (DDD) per 100 bed days. The quality of antibiotics was assessed using Gyssens method. The
microbial mapping was acquired from a sputum culture test result.

Results:
The most prevalent bacteria in pneumonia patients were the Gram-negative bacteria and the
most common species was Acinetobacter baumannii followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae. In contrast,
the most common Gram-positive bacteria species was Streptococcus viridans. The total antibiotic use
was 35.53 DDD/100 bed days, and ceftriaxone was the most commonly used antibiotic with 9.23
DDD/100 bed days. Fifty percent of the antibiotic use was in category wise use of antibiotic.

Conclusion:
The Gram-negative bacteria were the most common cause of pneumonia and
ceftriaxone was the most commonly used antibiotic for its cure. Fifty percent of the patients received
ceftriaxone appropriately.