bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Isolation of Iranian Bacillus thuringiensis strains and characterization of lepidopteran-active cry genes
Authors: Rashki Maryam , Maleki Mahmood , Torkzadeh-Mahani Masoud , Shakeri Shahryar , Nezhad Pariya Soltani 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background
Insecticidal crystal proteins (encoded by cry genes) produced by Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are fatal for insects of different orders such as Lepidoptera. The genes that encoded these crystal proteins can be detected on plasmids and chromosomal DNA and show different types in various strains. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine molecular characteristics of Iranian Bt strains as well as their toxicity against Ephestia kuehniella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).

Results
The collection sites included fields, gardens, and desert and semi-desert areas in 8 provinces of Iran. For crystal formation, each isolate was cultured in T3 medium. The results showed that the Bt isolates produced different types of crystals including spherical (73.33%), bipyramidal (53.33%), irregular (40%), cubical (33.33%), and elliptical (13.33%). Plasmid DNA extraction was performed and showed that most of the strains exhibited similar pattern in the number and the size of the plasmid bands to those of Bt kurstaki (Btk). Some specific primers were used for PCR amplification to distinguish different crystal genes including cry1 (A, C, and D) and cry2A (a and b). The primers related to cry1D and cry2Aa1 genes produced no amplicons. The results revealed that the most abundant gene was cry1-type. All strains analyzed for the cry2Ab2 gene presented unexpected bands. Electrophoretic profile of the protein crystals showed bands with different diversity in number, and size ranged from about 16 to 140 KDa. The bioassay result of some more toxic strains exhibited that the pathogenicity of 1019 was higher than the rest, even the reference strain, Btk. However, the toxicity of other strains was the same as Btk. According to the phylogenetic tree, 1019 was located in the same group with Bt subspecies coreanensis, Bt subspecies indiana and Bt subspecies tolworthi.

Conclusions
The investigated Iranian strains had the lepidopteran-active cry genes. The strains with the same toxicity to E. kuehniella had various cry genes, plasmid, and crystal protein profiles and vice versa. Therefore, characterization of cry genes of native strains could lead to access potent isolates as biocontrol agents against native insect pests.
The effect of serum D-dimer levels on the cognitive outcome of patients with moderate traumatic brain injury
Authors: Ali Mohammed F.A , Ghoul Ahmed M.F , Refaat Mohamed I 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background
Cognitive impairment after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a main source of morbidity for affected individuals, their family members, and their community. There are numerous serum biomarkers, which are elevated after TBI; one of these is D-dimer. Several studies have related that trauma-related coagulopathy, marked by elevated D-dimer levels, is associated with poor prognosis.

Objective
The aim of this study was to find if there is a correlation between elevated serum levels of D-dimer and impairment of final cognitive outcome in case suffering of Moderate TBI. Patients and method
This is a prospective cohort study with a random sample of 87 patients suffering from moderate TBI. Serum level of D-dimer was requested for all cases after confirming the diagnosis of moderate TBI with post-traumatic GCS 9–12. Head trauma treatment protocols were followed according to each case diagnosis and then at the time of discharge cognitive outcome was assessed for all cases. Neurocognition was assessed by Montreal cognitive assessment-Basic (MoCA-B).

Results
Eighty-seven cases were included in this trial with a mean age 28 years. 48.3% of cases were treated conservatively while the remaining 51.7% needed surgical interventions for different pathologies. Seventy-five cases had elevated levels of serum D-dimer (86.2%) whereas only 12 cases have within normal levels (13.8%). A twofold increase in the serum D-dimer level was found in 41% of cases, while 34.5% of cases had three- to sixfold increases, and 10% of cases had more than sixfold increase. The mean MoCA-B score was 24 points (range 13–27). Correlating the D-dimer levels statistically with the MoCA scores, age, admission and discharge GCS, and durations of hospital stay did not show any statistical significance with any of these variables.

Conclusion
The role played by D-dimer in the pathophysiology of cognitive deficits and its correlation with post moderate TBI cognitive outcome was not proven.
Association between GABRG2 rs211037 polymorphism and idiopathic generalized epilepsies: a meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Xiaohui , Ding Hongyun , Wei Hongyun , Liu Jia , Liao Pingping , Zhang Yuzhu , Wang Xiaomeng , Chi Xiaosa 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe performed this meta-analysis to investigate the association betweenGABRG2rs211037polymorphism and the risk for idiopathic generalized epilepsies (IGEs).MethodsMedline, Embase, Cochrane Library and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were searched for eligible studies (until May 5, 2020) on the association betweenGABRG2rs211037 polymorphism and IGE. The odds ratios were calculated using a fixed or random model in STATA 15.0 software. Subgroup analyses for ethnicity, age, source of controls, type of seizure syndrome and therapeutic responses were conducted.ResultsWe found no significant associations betweenGABRG2rs211037 polymorphism and the susceptibility to IGEs. In addition, no significant association was detected betweenGABRG2rs211037 polymorphism and drug resistance in IGE patients. The results did not change after stratification by Asian population, healthy controls, children, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, and childhood absence epilepsy.ConclusionThe current studies indicated that theGABRG2rs211037 polymorphism was not related to susceptibility or drug resistance of IGE. Further well-designed studies are needed to verify the results.
rs2253310 and rs4946936 common variants of FOXO3 gene in octogenarians and cancer: a pilot study in north India
Authors: Tia Neelam , Lal Moti , Gambhir I. S. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundHealthy aging perceives human longevity probably due to carrying the defensive genes. Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors provide the most convincing example of a conserved genetic pathway at the point between aging and cancer. This pilot study was performed to examine the single nucleotide variants rs2253310 and rs4946936 of the Forkhead box O 3 (FOXO3gene) in octogenarians and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) cancer patients in the north Indian population.Main bodyIn silico mutational analysis of theFOXO3gene in 25 participants. Two single nucleotide variants (SNVs) g.7556C>G (rs2253310) heterozygous and g.122284T>C (rs4946936) homozygous observed and reported previously. However, there is a common association of these SNVs in different ethnic groups. No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies for the study groups observed.Short conclusionThis study observes two single nucleotide variants, g.7556C>G (rs2253310) and g.122284T>C (rs4946936), of theFOXO3gene in the study groups which influence human longevity. Longevity-associatedFOXO3variants may be associated with GIT cancer in the north Indian population. As a result, looking for genes linked to longevity will lead to discovering new cancer targets. Further studies with a large population are necessary to elucidate the role of theFOXO3gene in octogenarians.
Estimating Physical Properties of Confirmed Exoplanets: I. Calculation of essential planetary properties-Possible M-R cataloging of exoplanets
Authors: Nikouravan Bijan 
Published: May 2021

The discovery of extrasolar planets outside our solar system and around other stars is now well underway. In the presented paper, calculations of some physical properties for confirmed exoplanets have been done. We have estimated physical properties such as the semi-major axis for potentially habitable exoplanets, the mass of planets by applying Kepler's third law around the mass of solar, Jupiter, and Earth-mass, stellar luminosity, habitability zone for the inner center and outer regions, radial velocity amplitude, planetary equilibrium temperature (PET) or effective radiation emission temperature and planet density. The mass-radius (MR) relationship of planets was investigated for potentially habitable exoplanets of three different groups of extrasolar planets: Subterran (Mars-size), Terran (Earth-size), and Superterran (Super-Earths or Mini-Neptunes); introduced in PHL, and found well coefficient values for each group. The minimum and maximum values for the mass and radius of exoplanets have been selected from 0.1< M < 10 M⊕ and 0.4 < R < 2.5 R⊕ . The same MR relationship has also estimated the same properties for a larger number of confirmed exoplanets with a mass and radius of 0.1< M <100 M⊕ and 0.4< R < 15 R⊕ , respectively, resulting their classification within 7 groups of mass and radius, with good coefficient values for each group. This is a new, possible cataloging that may need more effort for concluding a better understanding of the properties and varieties of the exoplanets.
The Effect of Brimonidine 0.15% on the Development of Bulbar Redness Following Femtosecond Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery
Authors: Tai Felicia , Jaki Nistha , Somani Sohel , Chiu Hannah , Tam Eric 
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To assess the effect of brimonidine tartrate 0.15% on reducing subconjunctival hemorrhage, measured with a bulbar redness score, following femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS).
Patients and Methods: A prospective, masked randomized controlled study was done using single-blinded simple randomization. All FLACS cases completed between June and August 2019 were included except those on anticoagulation or with prior conjunctival surgery. All operated eyes received usual preoperative eye drops, while Study group received added brimonidine. Exclusion criteria included >1 vacuum attempt during FLACS and any intraoperative complications. All subjects received Bulbar Redness (BR) Score and Analyzed Area (AA) imaging by Oculus 5M Keratograph preoperatively and postoperatively. AA including non-conjunctival structures, <25mm2, or postoperative AA values >10% different from preoperative values were excluded from final analysis. Absolute values and differences between mean postoperative and preoperative BR and AA were compared using Student’s t-test.
Results: 62 eyes (Study group=25, Control group=37) of 56 patients were randomized and included for analysis. Baseline demographic comparison between the two groups were similar. Preoperative BR score in the Study group trended higher (1.62) than Control (1.40, p=0.07), while postoperative BR score remained similar between groups (p=0.70). Difference in postoperative and preoperative BR score was significantly larger in the study group (-0.21±0.56) than controls (+0.06±0.43, p=0.036).
Conclusions: The use of preoperative brimonidine in FLACS reduces the amount of postoperative subconjunctival hemorrhage following FLACS, as observed by reduced bulbar redness. Oculus 5M BR scoring has potential to be used as an objective method of quantifying subconjunctival hemorrhage after ophthalmic surgeries and procedures.
A Comparative analysis of global competences within the framework of internationalized curricula
Authors: Beneitone Pablo , Yarosh Maria 
Published: May 2021

An agreement seems to exist that graduates must be equipped with competences required to act successfully and appropriately in a global context. Many authors have proposed lists of competences that could form part of such a graduate profile which must be taken into account when designing internationalized curricula. However, merely listing of a competence does not guarantee that students develop it to the level expected by society. The present article reports on a meta-study based on eight Tuning studies. This meta-study compared the findings across the eight Tuning studies in terms of the different stakeholder groups’ ratings of importance and achievement of 11 global competences – generic competences valued by over 71,000 graduates, employers, students and academics in more than 100 countries and across four continents (Europe, Latin America, Africa and Asia). The contribution of the meta-study presented consists in offering a possibility to identify commonalities and differences among the perceptions of the four key stakeholder groups, not only across all the individual studies but also at the level of the four continents – something never accomplished until the present date. In addition, it will help identify the competences that might require particular attention of curriculum designers and teaching teams for students to develop these competences to the level perceived as optimal in different regions of the world. Future research questions are identified with the aim to enrich and validate or fine-tune these initial findings and compensate for the limitations related to the general timeline of the 8 individual Tuning studies that the meta-study built on.
Received: 31 March 2021Accepted: 06 May 2021
VALIDAÇÃO DO ESCORE DE ALVARADO NO DIAGNÓSTICO DE APENDICITE AGUDA NOS PACIENTES DO HOSPITAL GERAL DE PALMAS: ANÁLISE RETROSPECTIVA DE 100 CASOS
Authors: Milhomem Luisa Coelho , Amorim Luiz Antônio Gomes , Cuellar Pedro Manuel González 
Published: May 2021

RESUMO
Objetivos: determinar a sensibilidade e especificidade do escore de Alvarado para o diagnóstico de apendicite aguda nos pacientes admitidos na emergência do Hospital Geral de Palmas. Métodos: o estudo foi realizado com a validação de método diagnóstico através do escore clínico-laboratorial para diagnóstico de apendicite aguda. A amostra estudada consistiu de 100 pacientes admitidos na emergência do HGP com dor abdominal e suspeita de apendicite aguda, no período de março a outubro de 2017. Os pacientes foram atendidos na emergência e avaliados quanto ao escore de Alvarado pelo cirurgião responsável, o residente de cirurgia e os internos. Resultados: tomando como ponto de corte o valor >7 pontos, encontramos uma sensibilidade de 71,05 % e especificidade de 84,93 %. Conclusões: o escore de Alvarado é um método pouco invasivo para diagnóstico, simples, rápido, que utilizando o ponto de corte >7 pontos, apresentou-se como um instrumento de alto valor na triagem dos nossos pacientes com suspeita diagnóstica de apendicite aguda.
Palavras-chave: apendicite, diagnóstico, emergência.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Alvarado score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis in patients admitted to the Emergency Hospital of Palmas. Methods: The study was performed with the validation of the diagnostic method through the clinical-laboratory score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis. The sample consisted of 100 patients admitted to the emergency room of the HGP with abdominal pain and suspected of acute appendicitis, from March to October 2017. The patients were treated in the emergency room and evaluated for the Alvarado score by the surgeon in charge, the resident of surgery and the inmates. Results: taking as a cutoff value> 7 points, we found a sensitivity of 71.05% and specificity of 84.93%. Conclusions: The Alvarado score is a simple, fast, noninvasive method for diagnosis, which, using the cutoff point> 7 points was presented as a high-value instrument for the screening of our patients with suspected diagnosis of acute appendicitis.
Keywords: appendicitis, diagnosis, emergency.
FREQUENCY OF HEPATIC STEATOSIS IN A RADIOLOGY CLINIC IN PALMAS
Authors: Dias Filho David Ailton , Martins Reis Júnior Paulo , Andraus Wellington 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Recent studies suggest that hepatic steatosis is a worldwide distribution pathology that can progress to chronic liver disease with a highly unfavorable outcome resulting in the need for liver transplantation. That’s why early diagnosis is important. The liver biopsy’s considered a "gold standard" in its diagnosis, but the use of ultrasonography helps to detect steatosis in a non-invasive manner and is a very accessible method for the population. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency of steatosis in patients treated at a radiological clinic in Palmas using abdominal ultrasonography; observing its distribution in genders and age groups and its difference between 2010 and 2016. Methods: It was used ultrasound reports of abdomen of 3.222 patients made in 2010 and of 2.346 patients made in 2016. A longitudinal analysis was performed, between these two years, regarding the frequency of hepatic steatosis at the people and also between the genders and the age groups. Results: In 2010, 25,67% of people had hepatic steatosis in the ultrasound report, while in 2016 were 31,67%. In 2010, of the total number of people with steatosis, 52,48% were women and 47,52% were men; however in 2016, 51,94% were women and 48,06% were men. Regarding the age groups, in both periods, as in men and in women, steatosis was lower at the extremes of age and more frequent around the 5th to 7th decades of life. Discussion: The frequency of hepatic steatosis has increased in the period from 2010 to 2016. It was, as seen in the literature, quite high in the 5th and 6th decades of life, besides being more frequent in females. Unlike 2010, in 2016 begins to have children under 20 with signs of steatosis. Conclusion: In the year 2010 the frequency of hepatic steatosis was 25,67%, whereas in 2016 it was 31,84%.
Keywords: Steatosis; ultrasonography; liver.
GRANULOMATOSE LINFOMATOIDE
Authors: Seraiedine Raissa Chagas , Mori Monise Marques , Guimarães Lucinda Calheiros 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACT
Lymphomatoid granulomatosis (LYG) is a rare extranodal Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder. Most cases occur between the fourth and sixth decades of life and the male-to-female ratio is 2:1. The lung is the most frequently involved organ. Radiographically, pulmonary disease is characterized by multiple variable size nodules. Histologically, the lesions show angiocentricity, are rich in T cells, have large atypical B cells, lymphocytic infiltration of the vascular wall and a variable necrosis. LYG is a distinct entity that can usually be differentiated from other EBV-associated B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders on the basis of the combination of clinical presentation and histology. The authors described the case of a 53-year-old woman who was previously diagnosed with sarcoidosis, histoplasmosis, and later with non-Hodgikin B Lymphoma. The lungs presented diffuse alveolar damage, exsudative phase, and infiltration by lymphomatoid granulomatosis. The patient became unstable and died. Grading of these lesions is important because it dictates the treatment choice.
Keywords: Lymphomatoid granulomatosis, Epstein-Barr virus, pulmonary nodules.
MIOCARDIOPATIA NÃO COMPACTADA - UMA REVISÃO DA LITERATURA
Authors: Sousa Danilo Silva , I Eduardo Akio Pereira , Júnior Carlos Roberto de Oliveira , Paula Ricardo Mendonça de , Nunes Genildo Ferreira 
Published: May 2021

RESUMO
Introdução - A miocardiopatia não compactada (MNC) é uma patologia de ocorrência familiar com histórico relevante de morte súbita e insuficiência cardíaca; é considerada como uma miocardiopatia não classificada pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Segundo a Associação Americana de Cardiologia, é uma cardiomiopatia primária. Desenvolvimento - A MNC resulta de uma alteração genética que leva a uma parada do processo de compactação miocárdica, caracterizada pela persistência de trabeculações e recessos profundos que se comunicam com a cavidade ventricular. A apresentação clínica inicial varia de assintomático a apresentação de sintomas relacionados à dor torácica, insuficiência cardíaca e arritmias. Os principais métodos de diagnóstico para MNC são estudos ecocardiográficos e ressonância magnética cardíaca, tendo como principais diagnósticos diferenciais a forma apical de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica, a combinação de cardiomiopatia hipertrófica apical e MNC, cardiomiopatia hipertensiva, fibroelastose endocárdica, trombo apical ou tumores entre outros. Considerações finais - A terapêutica disponível inclui tratamento para insuficiência cardíaca, arritmias e eventos tromboembólicos, mas é necessário particularizar a terapêutica relacionada à anticoagulação e prevenção primária de morte súbita cardíaca.
Palavras-chave: Cardiomiopatias; insuficiência cardíaca; arritmias cardíacas.
ABSTRACT
The left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a patology with a familiar occurrence and relevant historic of sudden death and heart failure; it's considered an unclassified cardiomyopathy by World Health Organization (WHO). According to American Heart Association (AHA), it's a primary cardiomyopathy. Development - The LVNC results in a genetic alteration which leads to stop miocardial compaction process, characterized by persistence of trabeculation and deep intertrabecular recesses communicating with the ventricular cavity. The initial clinical findings may vary from asymptomatic to chest pain, heart failure and arrhythmias. The main diagnosis methods for LVNC are echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, having as main differential diagnosis the apical form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a combination of both apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and LVNC, hypertensive cardiomyopathy, endocardial fibroelastosis, apical thrombus, or tumours among others. Final considerations - The menagement available includes the treatment for heart failure, arrhythmias and thromboembolic events, but it's neceassary particularize the therapeutics related to anticoagulation and primary prevention of sudden death.
Keywords: Cardiomyopathies; heart failure; cardiac arrhythmias.