bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Use of biomass-derived adsorbents for the removal of petroleum pollutants from water: a mini-review
Authors: Vahabisani Azar , An Chunjiang 
Published: April 2021

AbstractOver the past decades, a large amount of petroleum pollutants has been released into the environment resulting from various activities related to petrochemicals. The discharge of wastewater with petrochemicals can pose considerable risk of harm to the human health and the environment. The use of adsorbents has received much consideration across the environmental field as an effective approach for organic pollutant removal. There is a particular interest in the use of biomass adsorbent as a promising environmentally-friendly and low-cost option for removing pollutants. In this article, we present a review of biomass-derived adsorbents for the removal of petroleum pollutants from water. The features of different adsorbents such as algae, fungi, and bacteria biomasses are summarized, as is the process of removing oil and PAHs using biomass-derived adsorbents. Finally, recommendations for future study are proposed.
Phenolic compounds as natural feed additives in poultry and swine diets: a review
Authors: Mahfuz Shad , Shang Qinghui , Piao Xiangshu 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDue to ban on using antibiotics in feed industry, awareness of using natural feed additives have led to a great demand. The interest of plants phenolic compounds as a potential natural antioxidant source has been considered in research community due to their predictable potential role as feed additives in poultry and swine production. However, the mode of action for their functional role and dosage recommendation in animal diets are still remain indistinct. Taking into account, the present review study highlights an outline about the mode of action of phenolic compound and their experimental uses in poultry and swine focusing on the growth performance, antioxidant function, immune function, antimicrobial role and overall health status, justified with the past findings till to date. Finally, the present review study concluded that supplementation of phenolic compounds as natural feed additives may have a role on the antioxidant, immunity, antimicrobial and overall production performance in poultry and swine.
Coenzyme Q10 protected against arsenite and enhanced the capacity of 2,3-dimercaptosuccinic acid to ameliorate arsenite-induced toxicity in mice
Authors: Mwaeni Victoria K. , Nyariki James N. , Jillani Ngalla , Omwenga George , Ngugi Mathew , Isaac Alfred Orina 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundArsenic poisoning affects millions of people. The inorganic forms of arsenic are more toxic. Treatment for arsenic poisoning relies on chelation of extracellularly circulating arsenic molecules by 2,3-dimecaptosuccinic acid (DMSA). As a pharmacological intervention, DMSA is unable to chelate arsenic molecules from intracellular spaces. The consequence is continued toxicity and cell damage in the presence of DMSA. A two-pronged approach that removes extracellular arsenic, while protecting from the intracellular arsenic would provide a better pharmacotherapeutic outcome. In this study, Coenzyme Q10(CoQ10), which has been shown to protect from intracellular organic arsenic, was administered separately or with DMSA; following oral exposure to sodium meta-arsenite (NaAsO2) – a very toxic trivalent form of inorganic arsenic. The aim was to determine if CoQ10alone or when co-administered with DMSA would nullify arsenite-induced toxicity in mice.MethodsGroup one represented the control; the second group was treated with NaAsO2(15 mg/kg) daily for 30 days, the third, fourth and fifth groups of mice were given NaAsO2and treated with 200 mg/kg CoQ10(30 days) and 50 mg/kg DMSA (5 days) either alone or in combination.ResultsAdministration of CoQ10and DMSA resulted in protection from arsenic-induced suppression of RBCs, haematocrit and hemoglobin levels. CoQ10and DMSA protected from arsenic-induced alteration of WBCs, basophils, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils and platelets. Arsenite-induced dyslipidemia was nullified by administration of CoQ10alone or in combination with DMSA. Arsenite induced a drastic depletion of the liver and brain GSH; that was significantly blocked by CoQ10and DMSA alone or in combination. Exposure to arsenite resulted in significant elevation of liver and kidney damage markers. The histological analysis of respective organs confirmed arsenic-induced organ damage, which was ameliorated by CoQ10alone or when co-administered with DMSA. When administered alone, DMSA did not prevent arsenic-driven tissue damage.ConclusionsFindings from this study demonstrate that CoQ10and DMSA separately or in a combination, significantly protect against arsenic-driven toxicity in mice. It is evident that with further pre-clinical and clinical studies, an adjunct therapy that incorporates CoQ10alongside DMSA may find applications in nullifying arsenic-driven toxicity.
The efficacy of calcitriol treatment in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients with different genotypes of vitamin D receptor FokI polymorphism
Authors: Yaghooti Hamid , Ghanavati Fatemeh , Seyedian Seyed Saeed , Cheraghian Bahman , Mohammadtaghvaei Narges 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), but there are debates on the usefulness of vitamin D treatment. The interindividual variations in response may be due to different genetic backgrounds.
The present study evaluated the efficacy of calcitriol treatment in NAFLD patients with regard to the vitamin D receptor (VDR) genotypes of FokI polymorphism.

Methods
The study was conducted on 128 NAFLD patients randomly divided into two groups and were subjected to intervention with 0.25 mcg calcitriol/day or placebo for 4 months, while anthropometric parameters, glycemic status, lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, liver enzymes, and fatty liver indices were measured. The ARMS-PCR method was used to genotype the VDR FokI polymorphism.

Results
Calcitriol treatments along with weight loss and diet recommendations decreased the liver enzymes (AST, ALT, and ALP, p < 0.001 for all) and fatty liver indices (HSI, p < 0.01 and APRI, p < 0.001), compared to the baseline. But when the calcitriol effects were compared to the placebo group, only ALP decrease remained significant (17.5 IU. P = 0.02). The prevalent FokI variants in our population were FF (53.1%) and Ff genotype (45.3%). No significant interaction of FokI variants to the calcitriol effects was found except for ALP. The decrease in the ALP activity was higher in calcitriol-received patients with the Ff genotype (p = 0.05).

Conclusions
The FF and Ff variants of VDR FokI polymorphism did not interact with the effects of calcitriol on fatty liver, but the ALP was more responsive in subjects with the Ff variant.

IRCT registration number
IRCT2017053034222N1 Registration date: 2017-06-28 - Retrospectively registered, https://en.irct.ir/trial/26203
Molecular classification of a complex structural rearrangement of the RB1 locus in an infant with sporadic, isolated, intracranial, sellar region retinoblastoma
Authors: Schieffer Kathleen M. , Feldman Alexander Z. , Kautto Esko A. , McGrath Sean , Miller Anthony R. , Hernandez-Gonzalez Maria Elena , LaHaye Stephanie , Miller Katherine E. , Koboldt Daniel C. , Brennan Patrick , Kelly Benjamin , Wetzel Amy , Agarwal Vibhuti , Shatara Margaret , Conley Suzanne , Rodriguez Diana P. , Abu-Arja Rolla , Shaikhkhalil Ala , Snuderl Matija , Orr Brent A. , Finlay Jonathan L. , Osorio Diana S. , Drapeau Annie I. , Leonard Jeffrey R. , Pierson Christopher R. , White Peter , Magrini Vincent , Mardis Elaine R. , Wilson Richard K. , Cottrell Catherine E. , Boué Daniel R. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractRetinoblastoma is a childhood cancer of the retina involving germline or somatic alterations of the RB Transcriptional Corepressor 1 gene, RB1. Rare cases of sellar-suprasellar region retinoblastoma without evidence of ocular or pineal tumors have been described. A nine-month-old male presented with a sellar-suprasellar region mass. Histopathology showed an embryonal tumor with focal Flexner-Wintersteiner-like rosettes and loss of retinoblastoma protein (RB1) expression by immunohistochemistry. DNA array-based methylation profiling confidently classified the tumor as pineoblastoma group A/intracranial retinoblastoma. The patient was subsequently enrolled on an institutional translational cancer research protocol and underwent comprehensive molecular profiling, including paired tumor/normal exome and genome sequencing and RNA-sequencing of the tumor. Additionally, Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) Single Molecule Real Time (SMRT) sequencing was performed from comparator normal and disease-involved tissue to resolve complex structural variations. RNA-sequencing revealed multiple fusions clustered within 13q14.1-q21.3, including a novel in-frame fusion of RB1-SIAH3 predicted to prematurely truncate the RB1 protein. SMRT sequencing revealed a complex structural rearrangement spanning 13q14.11-q31.3, including two somatic structural variants within intron 17 of RB1. These events corresponded to the RB1-SIAH3 fusion and a novel RB1 rearrangement expected to correlate with the complete absence of RB1 protein expression. Comprehensive molecular analysis, including DNA array-based methylation profiling and sequencing-based methodologies, were critical for classification and understanding the complex mechanism of RB1 inactivation in this diagnostically challenging tumor.
Mechanical ventilation preserves diaphragm mitochondrial function in a rat sepsis model
Authors: Eyenga P. , Roussel D. , Rey B. , Ndille P. , Teulier L. , Eyenga F. , Romestaing C. , Morel J. , Gueguen-Chaignon V. , Sheu S-S. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
To describe the effect of mechanical ventilation on diaphragm mitochondrial oxygen consumption, ATP production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and cytochrome c oxidase activity and content, and their relationship to diaphragm strength in an experimental model of sepsis.

Methods
A cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) protocol was performed in 12 rats while 12 controls underwent sham operation. Half of the rats in each group were paralyzed and mechanically ventilated. We performed blood gas analysis and lactic acid assays 6 h after surgery. Afterwards, we measured diaphragm strength and mitochondrial oxygen consumption, ATP and ROS generation, and cytochrome c oxidase activity. We also measured malondialdehyde (MDA) content as an index of lipid peroxidation, and mRNA expression of the proinflammatory interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in diaphragms.

Results
CLP rats showed severe hypotension, metabolic acidosis, and upregulation of diaphragm IL-1β mRNA expression. Compared to sham controls, spontaneously breathing CLP rats showed lower diaphragm force and increased susceptibility to fatigue, along with depressed mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production and cytochrome c oxidase activity. These rats also showed increased mitochondrial ROS generation and MDA content. Mechanical ventilation markedly restored mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production in CLP rats; lowered mitochondrial ROS production by the complex 3; and preserved cytochrome c oxidase activity.

Conclusion
In an experimental model of sepsis, early initiation of mechanical ventilation restores diaphragm mitochondrial function.
In vivo comet assay in rabbit corneal epithelial cells following ocular instillation with genotoxic compounds
Authors: Tahara Haruna , Yamagiwa Yoshinori , Haranosono Yu , Kurata Masaaki 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
The in vivo comet assay is used to evaluate the genotoxic potential of compounds by detecting DNA strand breaks in cells isolated from animal tissue. The comet assay of hepatocytes is well established; however, the levels of systemic drug exposure following systemic administration are often insufficient to evaluate the genotoxic potential of compounds on the ocular surface following ocular instillation. To investigate the possibility of using the comet assay as a genotoxic evaluation tool for the ocular surface, we performed this assay on the corneal epithelial cells of rabbit eyes 2 h after the single ocular instillation of five genotoxic compounds, namely ethidium bromide, 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (paraquat), methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), acrylamide, and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4-NQO).

Results
The mean % tail DNA, as an indicator of DNA damage, in the corneal epithelial cells treated with ethidium bromide, MMS, and 4-NQO exhibited statistically significant increases compared with those in the negative controls (saline or 5 % dimethyl sulfoxide in saline). However, paraquat and acrylamide did not increase the mean % tail DNA, presumably because of the high antioxidant levels and low cytochrome P450 levels present in the corneal epithelium, respectively.

Conclusions
The comet assay was able to detect genotoxic potential on the ocular surface following ocular instillation with genotoxic compounds. The study findings indicate that the in vivo comet assay may provide a useful tool for assessing the genotoxicity of compounds topically administrated on the ocular surface under mimicking clinical condition.
Childhood overweight and obesity among the Saudi population: a case-control study among school children
Authors: Aljassim Hanan , Jradi Hoda 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundChildhood obesity is a global public health concern with major consequences. In Saudi Arabia, the percentage of children who are overweight or obese has significantly increased in the past two decades, raising concerns about the physical and psychosocial consequences of this burden. This study aimed at investigating the different risk factors contributing to childhood obesity in Saudi Arabia.MethodsA case-control study was conducted among 492 school children (246 overweight/obese children, and 246 normal weight control children aged 5-9 years). Using valid and reliable instruments, parental and child characteristics, behavioral practices, screen use, and other activities were assessed as risk factors for childhood obesity using logistic regression analysis.ResultsAn unemployed father (OR=11.90; 95% CI: 7.47-18.93), a father with overweight/obesity (OR=2.04; 95% CI: 1.40-2.96), an incorrect parental perception of child’s weight status (OR=2.54; 95% CI: 1.75-3.68), cesarean delivery (OR=2.52; 95% CI: 1.56-4.09), daily time in active play for less than 30 min (OR=2.18; 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), frequent snacking (OR=1.74; 95% CI: 1.05-2.93), and screen time use for more than 2 h per day outside of school (OR=1.62; 95% CI: 1.12-2.34) were all independent risk factors for being overweight or obese among the selected cases.ConclusionEfforts to prevent childhood overweight and obesity in this population should focus primarily on the early identification and confrontation of risk factors. Such risk factors include parental characteristics and awareness of the magnitude of the burden obesity poses, behavioral practices such as frequent snacking, screen time use, and physical activity.
Promoting Physical Activity Through Policy at a Single Safety-Net Clinic: A Pilot Study
Authors: Bowen Pamela G. , Opoku-Agyeman William , Clay Olivio J. , McCaskill Gina , Mixon Veronica , Sen Bisakha (Pia) , Pisu Maria , Martin Michelle Y. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT

Background
Physical inactivity is a major issue for African Americans that contributes to increased risk for chronic conditions including obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. The purpose of this single-clinic pilot study aimed to determine if a physical activity policy would increase primary care provider discussions of physical activity during clinic visits using the “Exercise is Medicine” initiative as a guide.

Methods
The study design involved data collection at three time points. Participants were recruited from a single clinic providing high-quality health care without regard to their ability to pay. Participants included 109 African American patients between the ages of 24 and 81 yr (39 before intervention, 40 at 6 wk after intervention, and 30 at 12 months after intervention). The primary outcome measure was participants’ answers related to whether a physical activity discussion occurred with their primary care provider.

Results
At baseline, 13% of participants reported a physical activity discussion with their provider; this increased to 33% at 6 wk after intervention. However, at 12 months after intervention, the percentage of participants who reported a physical activity discussion decreased to 23%.

Conclusion
Exercise is an underused evidence-based strategy that should be prescribed as a medicine to prevent and manage many chronic health conditions. This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of improving provider–patient communications related to the importance of daily physical activity behaviors. Further research is needed to determine how to use and sustain a clinic-level policy that will encourage physical activity discussions at every visit.
A “Dormição da Mãe de Deus”, a festa da ortodoxia e a representação pós-bizantina através da iconografia de Theophanis, o cretense, e da descrição de Dionísio de Furna
Authors: Lima Fernanda Lemos de 
Published: April 2021

O presente trabalho visa estudar como a representação da passagem de “A dormição da Mãe de Deus”, no contexto da ortodoxia grega por meio da comparação entre a iconografia realizada por Theophanis, o Cretense, no monastério de Stavronikita, em 1546; e do modo como o livro Interpretação da técnica de pintura bizantina, escrito entre 1730 e 1734, por Dionísio de Furna, descreve os elementos que deveriam aparecer na cena da “dormição dda Mãe de Deus”. Tal estudo comparativo visa observar como a pintor, anterior a Dinísio de Fourna, apresenta uma interpretação da passagem apócrifa e em que pontos ela difere ou não do modo como o livro indica os elementos a serem representados na imagem, refletindo, desse modo, sobre a liberdade de composição dos pintores, ao criarem imagens da iconografia cristã ortodoxa.
End-of-life care in a pandemic: a primary healthcare perspective
Authors: Armstrong Amanda 
Published: April 2021

Amanda Armstrong, Dr D. Aref, Dr S. Namuq, Riccardo Arduinin, Rebecca Evans, Dr Ajula Gunasekera, Dr K. Hochstein-Mintzel, Dr N Hilton, Kate Larden, Dr Christine Whitlow This article will explore end-of-life care in the COVID-19 pandemic in north east Essex from the perspective of general practice. This article shows the new approaches that have been adopted to support people in the community at the end of life. These new ways of working demonstrated the resilience of healthcare professionals working together with the use of video to ensure that patients received the optimum care and treatment in their home at the end of their lives. It demonstrated that community teams such as district nurses, hospice staff, GPs and the lead nurse for end of life care could implement new ways of working to ensure joined up care and treatment. It also shows new models of working in the future.
Infection control: current status. risks, research, rules and recycling
Authors: Haworth Jennifer , Sandy Jonathan , Ireland Anthony J 
Published: April 2021

We are living through a period of immense change following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in mainland China in December 2019. Even before the pandemic, the cost of managing healthcare-associated infections in the UK was considerable. The risk of acquiring any infection from the dental environment must be reduced to a minimum. As we have observed in recent years, new infectious agents emerge frequently, and the dental profession must be ready to respond appropriately and quickly. Orthodontic practice presents unique challenges in relation to infection control procedures. The impact of healthcare waste on the environment must also be considered. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This paper describes the range of infectious agents posing a risk to dental team members and patients. The aim is to place the recent coronavirus pandemic in the context of other recent emerging infections. Some of the latest research regarding infection control procedures is reviewed. Current best practice is described.
Open reduction, Dega osteotomy and proximal femoral osteotomy in delayed diagnosis of developmental hip dislocation: Outcome at 40-year follow-up
Authors: Woźniak Łukasz , Idzior Maciej , Jóźwiak Marek 
Published: April 2021

Purpose Late-diagnosed dislocated hips underwent open reduction, Dega osteotomy, and proximal femoral osteotomy between 1968 and 1988. The objectives of this study are to assess the survival of hips into adulthood, clinical and radiological outcome, patients’ life perspectives and the risk factors of failure. Methods An assessment of 67 hips treated when younger than five years (<age 5yr. group) and 71 hips in the group aged older than five years (+age 5yr.) was performed. All cases were evaluated clinically and radiographically, and survival was assessed, considering hip replacement as endpoints for failure (abbreviation HR+ refers to hips that underwent hip replacement surgery; HR- refers to hips that have not been replaced at the follow-up). The fertility rate and the social security disability benefits (SSDB) recipiency percentage were calculated. Results The 40-year survival rates were 73% (95% confidence (CI) 71% to 76%) in the <age 5yr. group, 54% (95% CI 51% to 57%) in the +age 5yr. group, 70% (95% CI 67% to 73%) in one-sided dislocations and 57% (95% CI 54% to 60%) in bilateral dislocations. At follow-up, the median Harris hip and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis scores were 90.0 and 13.0 (<age 5yr. group, HR-), 74.0 and 28.0 (+age 5yr. group, HR-), 90.0 and 16.0 (<age 5yr. group, HR+) and 84.5 and 11.5 (+age 5yr. group, HR+), respectively. The operation normalized the radiological parameters. The correlation between the grade of femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN) at a median 2.6 years after the operation and the grade of osteoarthritis at follow-up was 0.38 (p < 0.001). The fertility rate was 1.54. In total, 16.0% (aged under five years) and 38.5% (aged over five years) of patients were receiving SSDB (p = 0.003). Conclusion Early failure risk factors are older age at the surgical procedure, high AVN grade and bilateral hip involvement. Still, the results facilitate hip reposition whenever technically manageable, even in teenagers. Level of evidence III
Construction of a high-precision vector vortex field
Authors: Miao Yu , Wang Guanxue , Yu Dahai , Guo Ji , Li Ziyan , Gao Xiumin 
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a special adjustment method of the vector vortex optical field and constructs a high-precision vector vortex optical field. By applying the Debye vector diffraction method, the regulation laws of optical fields underlying the control of the topological charge, eccentricity parameter, and beam waist are obtained. The results show that these optical parameters have a serious effect on the optical field characteristics, especially that the adjustment of the topological charge can mainly transform the focus area range of the total and longitudinal fields (FWHM of the focal spot) from

0.8

λ

to

3.6

λ

. In the transverse field, by adjusting the eccentricity parameter

B

, the large spot profile gradually dissipates and is replaced by a newer, smaller central vortex field. The FWHM of the vortex field is about

0.3

λ

and contains two bright spots, each of which has a minimum size of

0.12

λ

−

0.13

λ

. The beam waist can significantly alter the beam propagation process. In particular, the specific value of the beam waist can cause the focus spot to split. The research in this paper supplements a new method of precise operation for the field of optical micromanipulation and has practical application significance in related fields.