bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retrospective analysis of Clostridioides difficile and other intestinal infections in patients with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis in the tertiary hospital in Poland. POLIBD survey results
Authors: Gruszecka Jolanta , Filip Rafał 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
There are several studies which evaluated the number of infections caused by enteric pathogens, including Clostridioides difficile in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Our aim was to assess the prevalence of intestinal infections among patients suffering from IBD, when admitted to the hospital due to exacerbation of the disease.

Results
The performed, retrospective analysis covered test results for C. difficile toxins A and B along with rectal swab cultures sampled from patients, treated in a tertiary IBD center in Poland, between 2017 and 2019. Main objective was to estimate the presence of any infection, which could imitate or co-exist along with the exacerbation of the IBD. All in all 1471 patients had microbiological tests performed, including 1112 tested for C. difficile toxins A and B; and 359 patients who had rectal swab culture. Positive test results for C. difficile toxins A and B were reported in 358 cases, positive results from rectal swab culture were confirmed altogether in case of 25 samples. As far as patients with IBD are concerned, positive results for C. difficile toxins A and B were detected in 82 cases, positive results in rectal swab culture from patients with IBD were reported in 20 cases.

Conclusion
Intestinal infections were reported in 14.9% of patients (102/685) with IBD symptoms. Positive test results for C. difficile toxins A and B and rectal swab cultures among patients without IBD symptoms were reported in 35.7% of cases (281/786). Intestinal superinfections may complicate the clinical picture of IBD patients, increasing the diagnostic and therapeutic burden. Appropriate early procedures are thus needed in these patients.
CSACI position statement: transition recommendations on existing epinephrine autoinjectors
Authors: Li Lucy Dong Xuan , Abrams Elissa M. , Lavine Elana , Hildebrand Kyla , Mack Douglas Paul 
Published: December 2021

AbstractEpinephrine is the first line treatment for anaphylaxis, an acute potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. It is typically administered intramuscularly in the anterolateral thigh at a dose of 0.01 mg/kg of 1:1000 (1 mg/ml) solution to a maximum initial dose of 0.5 mg. Currently in Canada, epinephrine autoinjectors (EAI) are available in three doses, 0.15 mg, 0.30 mg, and 0.50 mg. There are currently no published studies comparing 0.3 mg and 0.5 mg EAIs in the paediatric or adult populations to compare clinical effectiveness. However, as weight increases above 30 kg, the percentage of the recommended 0.01 mg/kg epinephrine dose from an existing 0.3 mg EAI decreases resulting in potential underdosing. As such, The Canadian Society of Allergy and Immunology (CSACI) recommends that for those who weigh ≥ 45 kg, physicians could consider prescribing the 0.50 mg EAI based on shared decision making with patients.
Can fecal calprotectin levels be used to monitor infant milk protein allergies?
Authors: Qiu Liyan , Wang Junli , Ren Fang , Shen Lixiao , Li Feng 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Milk protein allergy is one of the most common food allergies in infants. We aimed to test whether fecal calprotectin can be used to monitor food allergies in infants by comparing the fecal calprotectin levels in infants with a milk protein allergy before and after an intervention treatment.

Methods
The study was designed as a prospective case–control trial. Stool samples were collected at follow-up, and the concentration of fecal calprotectin was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The infant’s weight and length were measured.

Results
The allergic group comprised 90 milk-allergic infants (41 boys, 49 girls), and the nonallergic group comprised 90 nonallergic infants (51 boys, 39 girls). Compared with the fecal calprotectin level in the nonallergic group (median: 141 μg/g), that in the allergic group (median: 410 μg/g) was significantly higher (z = − 9.335, p < 0.001). After two dietary interventions and treatments, the fecal calprotectin levels of the infants with a milk protein allergy at the first (median: 253 μg/g) and second follow-up visits (median: 160 μg/g) were significantly lower than those before the intervention (z = − 7.884, p < 0.001 and z = − 8.239, p < 0.001, respectively). The growth index values (LAZ and WAZ) of the infants with a milk protein allergy at the first and second follow-up visits were significantly higher than those before dietary intervention (p < 0.05). Fecal calprotectin was negatively and significantly correlated with the WLZ and WAZ at the second follow-up visit (Spearman’s rho = − 0.234, p = 0.01 and Spearman’s rho = − 0.193, p = 0.03, respectively).

Conclusion
The level of fecal calprotectin in infants with a milk protein allergy decreased after dietary intervention and seems to be a promising biological indicator for monitoring intestinal allergies.
Prominent rash and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in a 29-year-old patient with COVID-19: a case report
Authors: Gao Catherine A. , Walter James M. , Dematte D’Amico Jane E. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Adult patients with coronavirus disease present primarily with respiratory symptoms, but children and some adults may display a more systemic inflammatory syndrome with rash, fever, mucosal changes, and elevated inflammatory biomarkers.

Case presentation
Here, we report the case of a 29-year-old Hispanic patient presenting with significant rash and multisystem inflammation. We describe his clinical course, review dermatological manifestations of coronavirus disease, and summarize the pathophysiology of coronavirus disease-associated multisystem inflammation.

Conclusion
This case should alert physicians to the atypical nature of presenting rash with minimal respiratory symptoms in coronavirus disease.
Metarhizium robertsii protease and conidia production, response to heat stress and virulence against Aedes aegypti larvae
Authors: Ferreira Juliana M. , Pinto Salorrane M. N. , Soares Filippe E. F. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractNutritional factors exert significant influence on the growth of entomopathogenic fungi, one of the main agents employed commercially in the biological control of arthropods. Thus, the objective of this work is to optimize the culture medium and solid fermentation time for production of proteases and conidia of Metarhizium robertsii ARSEF 2575 and to evaluate the interference of riboflavin and salts on virulence and resistance to abiotic stress factors. In the first step, nine groups were separated: negative control, positive control, and seven supplementation groups: ammonium nitrate, ammonium chloride, potassium nitrate, sodium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate, urea. Sodium nitrate showed significant difference in protease production at the time of 20 days of solid fermentation. Then, different concentrations of sodium nitrate and riboflavin as supplement were evaluated. Response surface methodology demonstrated that riboflavin and sodium nitrate influence proteolytic activity and conidia production, but without synergism. Supplementation of the medium with the optimal concentration of sodium nitrate and riboflavin did not interfere with the germination of conidia without exposure to abiotic stress, but did increase the thermotolerance of conidia. The presence of riboflavin and sodium nitrate at optimal concentrations in the culture medium did not alter fungal virulence with and without exposure to heat stress, varying according to the presence or absence of the supernatant during exposure, evidencing that resistance to heat exposure is multifactorial and dependent on intra- and extracellular factors. Moreover, the supplementation increased the larvicidal activity of the supernatant against Aedes aegypti.
Numerical analysis of doubly-history dependent variational inequalities in contact mechanics
Authors: Xu Wei , Wang Cheng , He Mingyan , Chen Wenbin , Han Weimin , Huang Ziping 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis paper is devoted to numerical analysis of doubly-history dependent variational inequalities in contact mechanics. A fully discrete method is introduced for the variational inequalities, in which the doubly-history dependent operator is approximated by repeated left endpoint rule and the spatial variable is approximated by the linear element method. An optimal order error estimate is derived under appropriate solution regularities, and numerical examples illustrate the convergence orders of the method.
Advancement and practical applications of rhizobacterial biofertilizers for sustainable crop production in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Aloo B. N. , Mbega E. R. , Tumuhairwe J. B. , Makumba B. A. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractAgricultural intensification continues in Africa in attempts to meet the rising food demands of the equally rising population. However, most arable lands in the region are characterized by nutrient deficiency and over-reliance on synthetic fertilizers which consequently contributes to increased production costs, environmental pollution, and global warming. Decades of research on plant–rhizobacterial interactions have led to the formulation and commercialization of rhizobacterial biofertilizers globally for sustainable soil and crop health. Nevertheless, this promising technology has not received much attention in Africa and remains largely unexplored due to several constraints. This article discusses the practical applications of rhizobacterial biofertilizers for sustainable crop production in sub-Saharan Africa. The challenges of soil infertility and the use of conventional synthetic fertilizers in crop production in Africa are critically evaluated. An overview of the potential of rhizobacteria as biofertilizers and alternatives to synthetic fertilizers for soil fertility and crop productivity in the continent is also provided. The advantages that these biofertilizers present over their synthetic counterparts and the status of their commercialization in the African region are also assessed. Finally, the constraints facing their formulation, commercialization, and utilization and the prospects of this promising technology in the region are deliberated upon. Such knowledge is valuable towards the full exploitation and adoption of this technology for sustainable agriculture for Africa’s food security.
Driving powers of the globalization on the urban ecology, a comparative study
Authors: Ebrahimi M. , Khalesi B. , Mansouri Daneshvar M. R. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
The present study investigates the driving effects of globalization on the urban environment in two countries of Italy and Japan, which have the regular amplified economy among the advanced countries. For this purpose, a model with the collaboration of two main subjects of globalization coverage and urbanization and the methodological procedures of correlation test and structural analysis was constructed. A globalization index, namely the Maastricht globalization index (MGI), was assumed based on the integrated values of ten factors [HDI, ITA, GDP, FDI, TEI, GEE, GME, MCS, and IUI] besides three ecological indicators as the baseline of the urban environment, namely carbon dioxide emission (CDE), municipal solid wastes (MSW), and wastewater treatment plants (WTP).

Results
Results revealed the positive associations between globalization and wastewater treatment of urban areas in both countries, exposing the influential role of globalization in connecting the urban population to the sewage plants. The results confirmed the positive role of globalization in decreasing carbon dioxide emissions and overall its practical influences to mitigate urban air pollution. However, the overall globalization effect on urban waste production was estimated differently in both countries.

Conclusions
Based on the MICMAC analysis, only three factors, namely HDI, ITA, GDP, and FDI, can express driving powers and a significant share of globalization coverage. Consequently, enhancing such indicators that belong to globalization’s social and economic domains certainly can act as driver powers to mitigate the environmental issues of urbanization in the study areas.
Transcriptome sequencing analysis for the identification of stable lncRNAs associated with bovine Staphylococcus aureus mastitis
Authors: Mi Siyuan , Tang Yongjie , Dari Gerile , Shi Yuanjun , Zhang Jinning , Zhang Hailiang , Liu Xueqin , Liu Yibing , Tahir Usman , Yu Ying 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) mastitis is one of the most difficult diseases to treat in lactating dairy cows worldwide. S. aureus with different lineages leads to different host immune responses. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are reported to be widely involved in the progress of inflammation. However, no research has identified stable lncRNAs among different S. aureus strain infections. In addition, folic acid (FA) can effectively reduce inflammation, and whether the inflammatory response caused by S. aureus can be reduced by FA remains to be explored.

Methods
lncRNA transcripts were identified from Holstein mammary gland tissues infected with different concentrations of S. aureus (in vivo) and mammary alveolar cells (Mac-T cells, in vitro) challenged with different S. aureus strains. Differentially expressed (DE) lncRNAs were evaluated, and stable DE lncRNAs were identified in vivo and in vitro. On the basis of the gene sequence conservation and function conservation across species, key lncRNAs with the function of potentially immune regulation were retained for further analysis. The function of FA on inflammation induced by S. aureus challenge was also investigated. Then, the association analysis between these keys lncRNA transcripts and hematological parameters (HPs) was carried out. Lastly, the knockdown and overexpression of the important lncRNA were performed to validate the gene function on the regulation of cell immune response.

Results
Linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between the expression levels of lncRNA shared by mammary tissue and Mac-T cells (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.3517). lncRNAs PRANCR and TNK2–AS1 could be regarded as stable markers associated with bovine S. aureus mastitis. Several HPs could be influenced by SNPs around lncRNAs PRANCR and TNK2–AS1. The results of gene function validation showed PRANCR regulates the mRNA expression of SELPLG and ITGB2 within the S. aureus infection pathway and the Mac-T cells apoptosis. In addition, FA regulated the expression change of DE lncRNA involved in toxin metabolism and inflammation to fight against S. aureus infection.

Conclusions
The remarkable association between SNPs around these two lncRNAs and partial HP indicates the potentially important role of PRANCR and TNK2–AS1 in immune regulation. Stable DE lncRNAs PRANCR and TNK2–AS1 can be regarded as potential targets for the prevention of bovine S. aureus mastitis. FA supplementation can reduce the negative effect of S. aureus challenge by regulating the expression of lncRNAs.
Estimating prevalence of human traits among populations from polygenic risk scores
Authors: Graham Britney E. , Plotkin Brian , Muglia Louis , Moore Jason H. , Williams Scott M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe genetic basis of phenotypic variation across populations has not been well explained for most traits. Several factors may cause disparities, from variation in environments to divergent population genetic structure. We hypothesized that a population-level polygenic risk score (PRS) can explain phenotypic variation among geographic populations based solely on risk allele frequencies. We applied a population-specific PRS (psPRS) to 26 populations from the 1000 Genomes to four phenotypes: lactase persistence (LP), melanoma, multiple sclerosis (MS) and height. Our models assumed additive genetic architecture among the polymorphisms in the psPRSs, as is convention. Linear psPRSs explained a significant proportion of trait variance ranging from 0.32 for height in men to 0.88 for melanoma. The best models for LP and height were linear, while those for melanoma and MS were nonlinear. As not all variants in a PRS may confer similar, or even any, risk among diverse populations, we also filtered out SNPs to assess whether variance explained was improved using psPRSs with fewer SNPs. Variance explained usually improved with fewer SNPs in the psPRS and was as high as 0.99 for height in men using only 548 of the initial 4208 SNPs. That reducing SNPs improves psPRSs performance may indicate that missing heritability is partially due to complex architecture that does not mandate additivity, undiscovered variants or spurious associations in the databases. We demonstrated that PRS-based analyses can be used across diverse populations and phenotypes for population prediction and that these comparisons can identify the universal risk variants.
Handgun purchasing characteristics and firearm suicide risk: a nested case–control study
Authors: Schleimer Julia P. , Kagawa Rose M. C. , Laqueur Hannah S. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Firearms are the most lethal method of suicide and account for approximately half of all suicide deaths nationwide. We describe associations between firearm purchasing characteristics and firearm suicide.

Methods
Data on all legal handgun transactions in California from 1996 to 2015 were obtained from the California Department of Justice Dealer’s Record of Sale database. Handgun purchasers were linked to mortality data to identify those who died between 1996 and 2015. To account for variation in timing and duration of observation time, analyses were stratified by birth cohort. The primary analysis focused on those aged 21–25 in 1996. A secondary analysis tested associations among those aged 50–54 in 1996. Using incidence density sampling, purchasers who died by firearm suicide (cases) were each gender-matched to 5 purchasers (controls) who remained at risk at the case’s time of death. We examined the characteristics of purchasers and transactions, focusing on the transaction closest in time to the case’s death. Data were analyzed with conditional logistic regression.

Results
There were 390 firearm suicides among the younger cohort and 512 firearm suicides among the older cohort. Across both cohorts, older age at first purchase and the purchase of a revolver were associated with greater risk of firearm suicide. For example, among the younger cohort, those who purchased a revolver versus semiautomatic pistol had 1.78 times the risk of firearm suicide (95% CI 1.32, 2.40) in multivariable models. Other associations varied across cohorts, suggesting cohort or age effects in purchasing patterns.

Conclusions
Findings add to the evidence on firearm suicide risk and may help inform prevention strategies and future research.
Increased susceptibility of cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells to ferroptosis
Authors: Maniam Pramila , Essilfie Ama-Tawiah , Kalimutho Murugan , Ling Dora , Frazer David M. , Phipps Simon , Anderson Gregory J. , Reid David W. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Defective chloride transport in airway epithelial cells (AECs) and the associated lung disease are the main causes of morbidity and early mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF). Abnormal airway iron homeostasis and the presence of lipid peroxidation products, indicative of oxidative stress, are features of CF lung disease.

Results
Here, we report that CF AECs (IB3-1) are susceptible to ferroptosis, a type of cell death associated with iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Compared to isogenic CFTR corrected cells (C38), the IB3-1 cells showed increased susceptibility to cell death upon exposure to iron in the form of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) and the ferroptosis inducer, erastin. This phenotype was accompanied by accumulation of intracellular ferrous iron and lipid peroxides and the extracellular release of malondialdehyde, all indicative of redox stress, and increased levels of lactate dehydrogenase in the culture supernatant, indicating enhanced cell injury. The ferric iron chelator deferoxamine (DFO) and the lipophilic antioxidant ferrostatin-1 inhibited FAC and erastin induced ferroptosis in IB3-1 cells. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) expression was decreased in IB3-1 cells treated with FAC and erastin, but was unchanged in C38 AECs. Necroptosis appeared to be involved in the enhanced susceptibility of IB3-1 AECs to ferroptosis, as evidenced by partial cell death rescue with necroptosis inhibitors and enhanced mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) localisation to the plasma membrane.

Conclusion
These studies suggest that the increased susceptibility of CF AECs to ferroptosis is linked to abnormal intracellular ferrous iron accumulation and reduced antioxidant defences. In addition, the process of ferroptotic cell death in CF AECs does not appear to be a single entity and for the first time we describe necroptosis as a potential contributory factor. Iron chelation and antioxidant treatments may be promising therapeutic interventions in cystic fibrosis.

Graphical Abstract
Fabrication of a light-emitting device based on the CdS/ZnS spherical quantum dots
Authors: Hasanirokh Kobra , Asgari Asghar , Mohammadi Saber 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn this work, we focus on the colloidal quantum dot based light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) performance. First, we synthesize the spherical QDs with a CdS core that covered with a wider band gap II–VI semiconductor acting as a shell (ZnS). In order to synthesize this nano crystal QDs with structure of CdS/ZnS/CdS/ZnS, we use a reverse micelle process. These four-layer quantum well quantum dots (QWQDs) can generate the white light emission. The positional design of different layers i.e., core/shell QD emitters is a critical factor for white emissive devices. The blue emission generated by CdS core mixes with green/orange components originating from ZnS inner shell and creates an efficiency white light emission. Then, we fabricate a white-QDLED with a device structure of FTO/ ZnO / QD / CBP/ MoO3 / Al films. A thin film of CdS/ZnS/CdS/ZnS QDs is deposited by electrostatically assembled colloidal QD solutions. The experimental results show that the emission spectra of QDs and current density through the LED are controlled by varying the particle sizes. The peaks of absorbance and Photoluminescence (PL) spectrums for core/shell structures get the red shifted as the dot size increases. Furthermore, this QD-LED with a smaller nano particle layer has a higher current density.