bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Media composition on Asymbiotic Seed Culture of Vanda tessellata : An Approach to In vitro Conservation
Authors: Aditya Sumana , Mondal Tustu , Banerjee Nirmalya 
Published: January 2021

For initiation of seed germination and protocorm growth in Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G. Don different media, namely Knudson’s C basal medium, modified Knudson’s C basal medium, Murashige and Skoog basal medium, Vacin and Went basal medium and Lindeman basal medium either alone or supplemented with vitamin or 0.1% peptone (w/v) were used. Vitamin mixture was consisted of nicotinic acid, pyridoxine and thiamine HCl at 1 : 1 : 10, respectively. For the initiation of germination, all the treatments exhibited promising results without showing significant variation. But the rate of survival of the germinated seedlings was remarkably low in all the basal media. Maximum survival rate of germinated seedlings was recorded in MS + 0.1% peptone. Necrosis of protocorms was a common phenomenon in all the treatments and 100% necrosis was recorded in LM basal medium and LM + vitamin. Addition of vitamin mixture and peptone in the basal media increased the rate of survival as well as differentiation of the germinated protocorms. Maximum rooted plantlets were recorded in VW + 0.1% peptone
Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 30(2): 285-295, 2020 (December)
THE INTERFERENCES OF SASAK LANGUAGE ON ENGLISH VOCABULARY MASTERY
Authors: Sugianto Sugianto , Kamarudin Kamarudin 
Published: January 2021

The article is aimed at revealing some crucial languags interferences that happened to Sasak students who were learning English. The Sasak itself is a sub-Austronesian language spoken by most citizens who live in Lombok and half of western Sumbawa. These language interferences play very important roles either in helping the students mastering eng English or challenging them. The positive interferences brought easiness to the students of Sasak to master English vocabularies. On the other hand, the negative interferences caused difficulties for students to learn English as their second language.The article say that defining the language interferences between Sasak and English brought some positive effects, particularly it is a real endeavor to help the lecturers, teachers, and instructors of English in conducting the teaching and learning practices. The research was conducted for the sake of findingpieces of evidences of these interferences issues. The interview was conducted by involving Sasak students who were learning English. Moreover, a writing test of vocabulary was also conducted to confirm the existance of language interferences when they are producing English words. Went through the research, it was concluded that some morphemes that exited in the Sasak were a lot similar to morphemes existed in English. Positively, this fact brought good effects on students who were learning English. Unfortunately, the accent in pronouncing those words was completely different, which then challenged the students to master the English vocabularies.
Prospective Evaluation of Aspergillus fumigatus-Specific IgG in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Eschenhagen Patience , Grehn Claudia , Schwarz Carsten 
Published: January 2021

BackgroundIn Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the airways are often colonized by opportunistic fungi. The most frequently detected mold is Aspergillus fumigatus (Af). Af diseases are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The most common clinical picture caused by Af is allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), triggered by an immunological reaction against Af. Af bronchitis and invasive aspergillosis rarely occur in CF as a result of spore colonization and germination. Since pulmonary mycoses and exacerbations by other pathogens overlap in clinical, radiological, and immunological characteristics, diagnosis still remains a challenge. The search for reliable, widely available biomarkers for Af diseases is therefore still an important task today.ObjectivesAf-specific IgG m3 is broadly available. Sensitivity and specificity data are contradictory and differ depending on the study population. In our prospective study on pulmonary Af diseases in CF, we determined specific IgG m3 in order to test its suitability as a biomarker for acute Af diseases and as a follow-up parameter.MethodsIn this prospective single center study, 109 patients with CF were screened from 2016 to 2019 for Af-associated diseases. According to diagnostic criteria, they were divided into four groups (control, bronchitis, ABPA, pneumonia). The groups were compared with respect to the level of Af-specific IgG (ImmunoCAP Gm3). We performed a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to determine cut-off, sensitivity and specificity. Twenty-one patients could be enrolled for a follow-up examination.ResultsOf the 109 patients, 36 were classified as acute Af-disease (Af bronchitis, ABPA, Af pneumonia). Of these, 21 patients completed follow up-screening. The median Af-specific Gm3 was higher in the acute Af-disease groups. There was a significant difference in Af-specific IgG m3 compared to the control group without acute Af-disease. Overall, there was a large interindividual distribution of Gm3. A cut-off value of 78.05 mg/L for Gm3 was calculated to discriminate controls and patients with ABPA/pneumonia with a specificity of 75% and a sensitivity of 74.6%. The follow up examination of 21 patients showed a decrease of Gm3 in most patients without statistical significance due to the small number of follow up patients.ConclusionAf specific IgG may be a useful biomarker for acute ABPA and Af pneumonia, but not for Af bronchitis in CF. However, due to the large interindividual variability of Gm3, it should only be interpreted alongside other biomarkers. Therefore, due to its broad availability, it could be suitable as a biomarker for ABPA and Af pneumonia in CF, if the results can be supported by a larger multicenter cohort.
CO2 Capture for Dry Reforming of Natural Gas: Performance and Process Modeling of Calcium Carbonate Looping Using Acid Based CaCO3 Sorbent
Authors: Zubir Muhammad Afiq , Afandi Nurfanizan , Manap Abreeza , Hamid Awaluddin Abdul , Ayodele Bamidele Victor , Liu Wen , Abd Hamid Mohd Kamaruddin 
Published: January 2021

Several industrial activities often result in the emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane (a principal component of natural gas). In order to mitigate the effects of these greenhouse gases, CO2 can be captured, stored and utilized for the dry reforming of methane. Various CO2 capture techniques have been investigated in the past decades. This study investigated the performance and process modeling of CO2 capture through calcium carbonate looping (CCL) using local (Malaysia) limestone as the sorbent. The original limestone was compared with two types of oxalic acid-treated limestone, with and without aluminum oxide (Al2O3) as supporting material. The comparison was in terms of CO2 uptake capacity and performance in a fluidized bed reactor system. From the results, it was shown that the oxalic acid-treated limestone without Al2O3 had the largest surface area, highest CO2 uptake capacity and highest mass attrition resistance, compared with other sorbents. The sorbent kinetic study was used to design, using an Aspen Plus simulator, a CCL process that was integrated with a 700 MWe coal-fired power plant from Malaysia. The findings showed that, with added capital and operation costs due to the CCL process, the specific CO2 emission of the existing plant was significantly reduced from 909 to 99.7 kg/MWh.
Genetics Influences Drug Consumption in Medication Overuse Headache, Not in Migraine: Evidence From Wolframin His611Arg Polymorphism Analysis
Authors: Di Lorenzo Cherubino , Di Lorenzo Giorgio , Coppola Gianluca , Parisi Vincenzo , Grieco Gaetano S. , Santorelli Filippo Maria , Pascale Esterina , Pierelli Francesco 
Published: January 2021

Background: The Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism can influence drug consumption in psychiatric patients with impulsive addictive behavior. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the prevalence of the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism in MOH, a secondary headache belonging to the spectrum of addictive disorders, episodic migraine (EM), and healthy subjects (HS), and its influence on drug consumption.Methods: One-hundred and seventy-two EM, 107 MOH, and 83 HS were enrolled and genotyped for the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism. Subjects were classified as homozygous for allele His (H/H subjects), homozygous for allele Arg (R/R subjects), and heterozygous (H/R subjects), regrouped as R/R and carriers of allele H (non-R/R), and matched for clinical data.Results: There were no differences in allelic distributions between the three groups (p = 0.19). Drug consumption and other clinical characteristics were not influenced by the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism (p = 0.42; β = 0.04) in the EM group. Among the MOH population, R/R subjects consumed more analgesics (p &lt; 0.0001; β = −0.38), particularly combination drugs (p = 0.0001; d = 2.32).Discussion: The Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism has a similar prevalence between the MOH, EM, and HS groups. The presence of the R/R genotype does not influence symptomatic drug consumption in EM, whereas it determines an increased use of symptomatic drugs in the MOH group, in particular combination drugs (i.e., drugs containing psychoactive compounds).Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the Wolframin His611Arg polymorphism plays its effect only in the MOH population, influencing the impulsivity control underlying addictive behavior.
Retinal Vascular Assessment in Psoriasis: A Multicenter Study
Authors: Castellino Niccolò , Longo Antonio , Fallico Matteo , Russo Andrea , Bonfiglio Vincenza , Cennamo Gilda , Fossataro Federica , Fabbrocini Gabriella , Balato Anna , Parisi Guglielmo , D’urso Rosa Maria , Lacarrubba Francesco , Musumeci Maria Letizia , Alosi Pietro , Petrillo Francesco , Micali Giuseppe , Avitabile Teresio , Reibaldi Michele 
Published: January 2021

PurposeTo investigate the vascular status of the macula in psoriasis patients without history of ocular inflammation by Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography (OCTA).MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional multicenter study included 55 psoriasis patients and 55 control healthy subjects. A complete eye examination and 6 mm × 6 mm OCTA imaging were performed. Retinal vascular status was evaluated by analyzing vascular density (VD) of superficial vascular plexus (superficial wVD) and deep vascular plexuses (deep wVD) in a 6 mm × 6 mm area and in foveal (superficial fVD and deep fVD) and parafoveal sectors (superficial pVD and deep pVD). In addition, foveal thickness (FT) and foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and clinical variables, including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure and refractive condition, were collected.ResultsBCVA, intraocular pressure and refractive condition were comparable between cases and controls. OCTA imaging showed that superficial wVD and superficial pVD were lower in the psoriasis group in comparison with controls (p = 0.009 and p = 0.01, respectively). Similarly, deep wVD and pVD were lower in the psoriasis group in comparison with control subjects (p = 0.03 and p = 0.01, respectively). In a sub-analysis of 47 patients affected by psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis, lower values of wVD and pVD in both superficial and deep capillary plexuses were registered.ConclusionOCTA is a useful tool which provides data on vascular status of the retina in psoriasis with no ocular involvement. VD data may suggest that vascular changes may occur earlier than clinical onset of posterior inflammation.
The Impact of Unplanned Excision on the Outcomes of Patients With Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Trunk and Extremity: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis
Authors: Liang Yao , Guo Tian-Hui , Xu Bu-Shu , Hong Dong-Chun , Qiu Hai-Bo , Zhou Zhi-Wei , Zhang Xing 
Published: January 2021

BackgroundUnplanned excision (UPE) of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is often chosen in the early phase by general physicians without any radiological evaluation.PurposeThe present study aimed to evaluate the impact of UPE on the clinical outcomes of patients with STS of the trunk and extremity.Materials and MethodsPatients with STS of the trunk and extremity who underwent R0 resection between 1998 and 2016 were included and divided into the UPE and planned excision (PE) groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to control the selection bias. The endpoints were disease-specific survival (DSS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS).ResultsIn total, 458 patients (277 males, 181 females; median age: 43 years) were included: 329 (71.8%) in the PE group and 129 (28.2%) in the UPE group. The follow-up time ranged from 7.1 to 313.78 months, with a median of 112.18 months. UPE patients were more likely to have a smaller or superficial lesion and were more frequently administered adjuvant therapy. After PSM, compared with the PE group, the UPE group had a longer LRFS (P=0.015), but there was no difference between the two groups regarding DSS and MFS. Residual disease was observed in 77.5% of the re-resected specimens in the UPE group and was a risk factor for DSS (P = 0.046) and MFS (P = 0.029) but was not associated with local recurrence (LR) (P=0.475) or LRFS (P=0.334). Moreover, we found no difference in DSS, LRFS or MFS according to the interval from UPE to definitive resection.ConclusionSTS treated with UPE had distinct characteristics. Patients who undergo UPE followed by an additional wide R0 resection have similar oncological survival compared to patients who undergo an initial PE, although the high incidence of residual tumor in the UPE group leads to an unfavorable clinical course.
Efficacy and Safety of Immunosuppressive Monotherapy Agents for IgA Nephropathy: A Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Han Shisheng , Yao Tianwen , Lu Yan , Chen Min , Xu Yanqiu , Wang Yi 
Published: January 2021

Background: The efficacy and safety of immunosuppressive monotherapy agents were evaluated for immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) using a network meta-analysis approach.Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published prior to October 1, 2019, using immunosuppressive agents for treating IgAN, were systematically searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. Relative risks (RRs) or standard mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using the random-effects model. The primary outcomes were clinical remission, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and serious adverse events (SAEs). The secondary outcomes were urinary protein excretion and serum creatinine.Results: Twenty-five RCTs with 2,005 participants were deemed eligible. Six medications were evaluated: corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), tacrolimus (TAC), cyclosporine, leflunomide, and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Steroids (RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.17–1.93), MMF (RR 2.05, 95% CI 1.15–3.65), TAC (RR 3.67, 95% CI 1.06–12.63), and HCQ (RR 3.25, 95% CI 1.05–10.09) significantly improved clinical remission rates compared to supportive care alone. Only steroids reduced the risk of ESRD (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.12–0.98); however, there were significantly more SAEs than in the control group (RR 2.90, 95% CI 1.37–6.13). No significantly different effects in serum creatinine levels were found among the therapies. MMF showed no significant improvement in remission when excluding studies with a follow-up of fewer than 2 years in the sensitivity analysis (RR 1.41, 95% CI 0.40–4.92). The effect of TAC in the decrease of proteinuria was reversed after discontinuing medication for 3 months; the long-term effects of HCQ could not be evaluated due to the short follow-up duration.Conclusion: Corticosteroids might induce remission and increase renal survival in IgAN; however, adverse reactions should be taken into consideration. MMF, TAC, and HCQ might improve the remission of proteinuria when treating IgAN, but showed no superiority compared to steroids, and the long-term effects require further study.
Cataract Surgery Outcomes in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Dubey Rahul , Chan Kenny , Lertsumitkul Somsak , Grigg John , McCluskey Peter Joseph 
Published: January 2021

Aim: To prospectively assess the visual acuity outcomes of phacoemulsification surgery in 2 tertiary referral hospitals over an 8-year period, and to compare the outcomes achieved by ophthalmology consultants and registrars in routine clinical practice to assess the appropriateness of patient allocation.Methods: This prospective/retrospective case series of phacoemulsification surgery recruited patients from 1 July 2000 to 30 Dec 2008. Patients underwent detailed ophthalmic examination before and after surgery.Phacoemulsification and insertion of intraocular lens was performed by consultants and senior and junior registrars, who were allocated by the treating consultant. Postoperative review was conducted 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.Results: Of the 1812 cases, 1596 (88.1%) were complication free. The mean postoperative visual acuity was 0.17 LogMAR (6/9 Snellen equivalent), with 1630 cases (90.0%) achieving 0.30 LogMAR (6/12) or better. Consultants, and senior and junior registrars all achieved similar postoperative visual acuities of 0.15 to 0.17 LogMAR (p = 0.5). There was a significantly different rate of vitreous loss between the 3 groups (p = 0.002), with consultants at 2.9% (9/309), senior registrars at 1.9% (15/804) and junior registrars at 5.3% (37/699).Conclusions: The visual acuity outcomes and complication rates confirm that quality care is being delivered to patients. The different complication rates between consultants and registrars reflect consultants allocating themselves more complicated cases and the training of junior registrars. The similar postoperative visual acuities achieved showed that allocation of patients among consultants and registrars was appropriate and good visual acuity outcomes were delivered to all patients.
Serum Immunoglobulin E Levels in Patients with Allergic Conjunctivitis and Contact Lens Wearers
Authors: Sahin Ozlem Gurses , Taheri Nusret 
Published: January 2021

Aim: To determine the differences between total and serum-specific immunoglobulin E levels in patients with type 1 allergic conjunctivitis and asymptomatic contact lens wearers. The correlation of total serum immunoglobulin E level of asymptomatic contact lens wearers with contact lens wearing time, and total duration of contact lens use was also evaluated.Methods: This was a case-control study involving 25 asymptomatic contact lens wearers, 25 patients with type 1 allergic conjunctivitis, and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Total serum immunoglobulin E levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum-specific IgE analysis against the listed indoor, food, and outdoor allergens were studied by immunofluorescence assay for participants whose total serum immunoglobulin E levels were >100 IU/mL. Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlations were used for bivariate analysis. Statistical significance was accepted at the 0.05 level.Results: The mean level of total serum immunoglobulin E was greater for patients with type 1 allergic conjunctivitis than for contact lens wearers and controls. Serum-specific immunoglobulin E detected in patients with type 1 allergic conjunctivitis was against indoor, food, and outdoor allergens, while serum-specific immunoglobulin E detected in contact lens wearers was only against outdoor allergens. A statistically significant correlation was found for total serum immunoglobulin E levels of contact lens wearers with contact lens wearing time.Conclusions: These results suggest that differences in serum total and specific immunoglobulin E levels exist between patients with type 1 allergic conjunctivitis and CL wearers and controls. Further research in a larger group of patients is needed to validate these findings.
Ahmed Valve Implantation in an Eye with Choroidal Haemangioma
Authors: Din Norshamsiah Md , Yueh Lee M , Kala Sumugam S , Rahman Ropilah A 
Published: January 2021

Sturge Weber syndrome is a rare phakomatoses characterised by vascular hamartomas affecting the leptomeninges, and cutaneous and ocular structures. Glaucoma results from angle anomalies, overproductionfrom ciliary body haemangioma, or reduction in aqueous outflow secondary to increased episcleral venous pressure. The presence of a choroidal haemangioma in an eye with advanced glaucoma adds to the complicated postoperative recovery. This report is of a 9-year-old girl with a right-sided facial naevus flammeus who was referred for advanced glaucoma in the right eye. The eye was buphthalmic, her intraocular pressure was 25 mm Hg while using 4 topical antiglaucoma medications, and the visual acuity was 6/36. The optic disc had advanced cupping with a pale neuroretinal rim. Her visual field was severely constricted with fixation splitting. She underwent Ahmed valve implantation with controlled filtration via nylon stenting of the tube. Her postoperative recovery was complicated, and she needed further ligation of the tube to reduce drainage. Six weeks later, her intraocular pressure was controlled at 14 mm Hg without any antiglaucoma medication after removal of the nylon stent. Managing an eye with advanced glaucoma in the presence of a choroidal haemangioma needs meticulous controlled drainage to prevent detrimental postoperative complications.
Total White Hypopyon: an Unusual Presentation of Phacolytic Glaucoma
Authors: Khialdin Safinaz Mohd , Zahidin Aida Z. Mohd , Hamzah Jemaima Che , Rahman Ropilah Abdul 
Published: January 2021

Phacolytic glaucoma normally presents with clinical features of eye pain and redness, anterior chamber inflammation, and increased intraocular pressure. This report is of a patient with phacolytic glaucoma, which presented as a total white hypopyon in a non-inflamed eye. Other possible causes of pseudohypopyon in this age group such as endogenous endophthalmitis or Masquerade syndrome were excluded before the patient underwent extracapsular cataract extraction with secondary posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. She achieved satisfactory visual acuity postoperatively.
Surgical Repair of Descemet’s Membrane Detachment Following Phacoemulsification by Intracameral Air Injection and Suture Fixation
Authors: Kannan Balaji , Balaji Vijayalakshmi , Gonvindarajan Kummararaj , Kummararaj Shereen 
Published: January 2021

Post-surgical Descemet’s membrane detachment is a rare complication that has a serious visual impact if not treated adequately. This report is of a 74-year-old patient with Descemet’s membrane detachment after phacoemulsification who underwent successful repair by intracameral air injection and suture fixation.
Cavernous haemangioma of the retina
Authors: Lusthaus Jed , Wong James , Horowitz Greg 
Published: January 2021

A 29-year-old man was found to have an incidental finding of peripheral cavernous haemangioma of the retina (CHR). Fundus examination revealed peripheral retinopathy with fine haemorrhage. Traditional appearance of CHR was demonstrated by fluorescein angiography. OCT showed the saccular appearance with an overlying epiretinal membrane, consistent with CHR. All other investigations were negative and there was no suggestion of systemic dermatological or neurological involvement.CHR is a rare and usually incidental finding associated with a small risk of associated systemic vascular and neurological involvement. We have demonstrated the fundal and OCT appeaance of peripheral CHR, which is an important clinical and diagnostic finding.