bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Performance of the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) in Detecting Undiagnosed Type 2 Diabetes among Kenyan adults aged 18–69 years
Authors: Mugume Innocent Bambeiha , Wafula Solomon T , Kadengye Damazo T , Olmen Josefien Van 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Diabetes mellitus is growing to epidemic proportions especially in LMICs. The disease is often undiagnosed until clinical manifestation of related complications. Africa, has the highest proportion of undiagnosed diabetes and in Kenya, is estimated at 53%. Studies have however demonstrated that early diagnosis & prevention delays its onset and related complications. Diagnosing & screening diabetes in Kenya, is however costly and not readily available. The alternative use of diabetes screening risk score tools advocated such as FINDRISC have not been validated for use in Kenya. We therefore aimed to measure the performance of the FINDRISC as a screening tool for undiagnosed type 2 diabetes among Kenya adults. Methods: A secondary analysis of a Kenya STEPwise cross-sectional survey conducted between April and June 2015 was carried out. The modified FINDRISC and simplified FINDRISC versions were created based on available secondary data and regression analyses performed. Non-parametric analyses of the areas under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), and statistics of the modified FINDRISC and simplified FINDRISC diagnostic tests were analyzed. Results: A total of 4,027 data observations of individuals aged 18−69 years were analyzed. The prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes were estimated at 1.8% and 2.6% respectively. The AUC of the modified FINDRISC and simplified FINDRISC in detecting undiagnosed diabetes were 0.7481 and 0.7486 respectively, with no statistically significant difference (p=0.9118). With an optimal cut-off ≥ 7, the simplified FINDRISC had a higher PPV (7.9%) and diagnostic odds (OR:6.65, CI: 4.43 – 9.96) of detecting undiagnosed T2D than the modified FINDRISC. Conclusion: The simple and non-invasive modified FINDRISC and simplified FINDRISC tools performed well in detecting undiagnosed diabetes and may be useful in the Kenyan population and other similar population settings. Considering the context of the Kenyan population settings, the simplified FINDRISC is preferred.
Insights into bioassessment of water quality status using functional units of protozoan periphytons in marine ecosystems
Authors: Kazmi Syed Shabi Ul Hassan , Uroosa Uroosa , Xu Henglong 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Protozoan periphytons with their ecological features are considered as a robust bioindicator for bioassessment of both environmental stress and anthropogenic impacts in aquatic ecosystems. Keeping in view the ability of protozoan fauna for discriminating water quality status, a 1-year baseline survey was conducted using glass slides as an artificial substratum in coastal waters of Yellow sea, northern China. Four sampling sites (A–D) were selected from a clean area to a polluted station, and samples were collected monthly at a depth of 1 m. Environmental variables such as salinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), dissolved oxygen (DO), soluble reactive phosphates (SRP), ammonium nitrogen (NH4-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N) were measured synchronically to compare with biotic factors. From a total of 144 identified protozoan species, 53 functional units (FUs) were proposed based on four biological traits: feeding type, resource of food supply, body size and movement type. These FUs represented a clear variability in spatial distribution among four study sites. The relative abundances of the sessile colonial bacterivores (e.g., BOS5s) showed an increasing trend from sites A to D. Multivariate analysis revealed that the patterns of the protozoan FUs showed a significant variation among four sampling sites, and were driven by the increasing levels of nutrients (e.g., NH4-N) and decreasing ranks of DO (P < 0.05). The bacterivorous FUs (e.g., BOS5s and BIS3v) were significantly positively related to NH4-N, while the vagile algivorous FUs (e.g., AIS8v, AOS3v, AOS6v) and sessile predators (e.g., RIS4s) were significantly positively correlated with transparency. These findings suggested that FUs of protozoan periphytons may be used as a useful bioindicators of water quality status in marine ecosystems.
Baicalin Promotes Chondrocyte Viability and the Synthesis of Extracellular Matrix through TGF-β/Smad3 Pathway in Mouse Chondrocytes
Authors: Wang Pengzhen , Zhang Shaoheng , Yu Chaosheng , Xiong Xifeng , Li Aiguo , Liu Zhihe 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is epidemic in the elderly people as a common chronic joint disease. By now, drug and surgical treatments are two main therapies for OA worldwidely. Baicalin (BA) is a flavonoid monomer extracted from Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and is reported that BA has anti-inflammatory, anti-deformation and anti-bacterial effects. Methods: Micromass culture, alcian blue and Safran O (SO)/fast green staining were used to investigate chondrocyte viability and ECM synthesis in chondrocytes of all groups. The expression of SOX9 and Smad3 in chondrocytes of all groups were detected by western blot and RT-qPCR, the expression of aggrecan (AGG), type II collagen (Col2α), MMP9/13 and ADAMTS5 were detected by RT-qPCR. In current study, we demonstrated that BA neutralized the down-regulation of chondrocyte viability and extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion, including AGG and Col2α, induced by IL-1β. As the key regulators of ECM, the down-regulation of SOX9, and the up-regulation of MMP9/13 and ADAMTS5 induced by IL-1β were abolished by BA. Moreover, BA increased the nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of Smad3, one key mediator of TGF-β/Smads pathway. Interestingly, the addition of Smad3 inhibitor SIS3 reversed the promotions of BA on chondrocyte viability, ECM secretion, SOX9 expression, Smad3 nuclear translocation and Smad3 phosphorylation, and the down-regulation of BA on the expressions of MMP9/13 and ADAMTS5. Conclusions: These results imply that BA can protect chondrocytes against IL-1β-induced inflammatory injury through the acceleration of Smad3 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation in chondrocytes. This study demonstrates that BA may be a potential drug for OA clinical treatment.
WITHDRAWN: Numerical &amp; Analytical Modeling of Plasmonic Filter with High Q-Factor Based on "Nanostructured Resonator"
Authors: Afroozeh Abdolkarim 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In this paper, to achieve high quality filters, nanostructured plasmon resonators are proposed. The structure of proposed resonator is based on metal-dielectric-metal configuration and is designed in the range of 1550 nm telecommunication wavelength. To evaluate the proposed structure, finite difference time domain method as well as analytical method of coupled mode theory have been used. To obtain optimal results, the effects of the number of waveguides as well as the radius of circular and ring waveguides were investigated. The appropriate results will be obtained by considering a strong coupling between the incoming light and the surface plasmon. In addition, two transient and static wave structures have been used to evaluate the structure. The simulation results show that besides filtering behavior of the structure, it is possible to control the surface plasmon propagation speed in the proposed structure. Therefore, it is expected that the proposed structure will be used in many parts of a telecommunications link, including multiplexers, and multiplexers.
Polysaccharide of Atractylodes Macrocephala Koidz(PAMK) Enhance the Immunomodulatory Activity of RAW264.7 Through TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB Pathway
Authors: Li Wanyan , Xiang Xuelian , Cao Nan , Tian Yunbo , Chen Wenbin , Zhang Xumeng , Liu Wenjun , Fu Xinliang , Liu Jia , Xu Danning 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The Polysaccharide of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz (PAMK) has been reported to play an important role in improving the immune function of mammals and poultry. But the molecular mechanism in cell is still not unclear. For investigating the mechanism in mice, RAW264.7 were cultured and divided into six groups (cell, NC, siTLR4, NC + PAMK, PAMK, siTLR4 + PAMK). The serum cytokines, mRNA relative expression level of cytokines and TLR4 signal pathway, the protein expression level of TLR4 signal pathway were measured. The results showed PAMK could increase the level of IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and increase the mRNA relative expression level and protein expression level of TLR4, MyD88, IKK, NF-κB. In conclusion, PAMK may regulate the immue activity of RAW264.7 through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway.
A Critical Appraisal of the Legal and Institutional Arrangement for Wetlands Management in South Africa.
Authors: Belle Johanes Amate 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Policies and institutional frameworks are some of the entering points in mainstreaming the sustainable management of ecosystems such as wetlands. Wetlands are ecological systems that have been internationally acclaimed as natural and cost-effective mechanisms to mitigate disaster risks and address the negative impacts of climate change while providing local livelihoods. However, the continuous degradation of wetlands in many parts of the world including South Africa is concerning and this can be linked to ineffective legislative and institutional arrangements for wetlands management. Using questionnaires, key informant interviews and field observation, this paper assessed the legal and institutional frameworks for the sustainable management and conservation of protected, private and communal wetlands in South Africa. The results indicated that fundamentally there was no direct wetland legislation in South Africa and this is happening more than 47 years after South Africa signed and ratified the Ramsar Convention on the wise-use and conservation of wetlands. The results also indicated that there was poor coordination of important wetland stakeholders. Thirdly, there were many Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWPs) with overlapping functions in the management of wetlands in South Africa The key recommendations were that a national policy on wetlands should be enacted in South Africa like is the case in Uganda and that all the EPWPs be unified under a single control structure with defined roles and monitoring systems like the case with Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in the USA. The study further recommend that effective wetlands forums be put in place and the dysfunctional ones be rejuvenated. Lastly, policy makers should be made more conscious on the beneficial functions of wetlands in providing livelihoods, reducing disaster risks and adapting to climate change in South Africa
Antibiotic Bone Cement Combined With Other Comprehensive Interventions in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis
Authors: Bu Fanyu , Guo Xiaofeng , Xu Peng , Wang Jin , Xue Mingyu , Pan XiaoYun 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
BackgroundDiabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is serious chronic complication that causes disability or death in diabetic patients. Antibiotic-loaded bone cement is an effective sustained-release system for the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis and induces biofilm formation. This study aimed to valuate the outcomes and summarize the experiences of bone cement loaded with vancomycin combined with other comprehensive interventions in the treatment of DFO.MethodsOne hundred and twelve involved feet in 93 patients (43–92 years old) with DFO treated with antibiotic-loaded bone cement combined with other comprehensive interventions were retrospectively analyzed. The durations of oral and intravenous antibiotics and hospitalization, ulcer healing times, recurrence and rehospitalization rates, and the rates of amputation above the ankle were evaluated at the last follow-up. One hundred and forty four pathogenic bacteria were co-cultured from the secretions of deep wounds from foot ulcers. The Maryland criteria were used to evaluate the recoveries of foot functions. ResultsEighty seven patients with 105 involved feet were followed up successfully over an average period of 14 months. All wounds exhibited good union on follow up, and DFO was cured. The average durations of oral and intravenous antibiotic administrations were 12.2 ± 1.5 and 10.8 ± 2.5 days, respectively. The average duration of hospitalization was 14.0 ± 2.7 days and the healing time for the ulcers was 37.8 ± 6.3 days. Rehospitalization presented in 21 (18.8％) foot ulcers among those with ulcer recurrence. No patients required amputation above the ankle. According to the Maryland criteria, 31, 45, 26, and three feet were rated as excellent, good, fair, and failures, respectively. Overall, 72% were rated as excellent-good. ConclusionsThe rate of amputation above the ankle was significantly reduced with the use of comprehensive interventions to retain foot function and improve quality of life. This management strategy in the treatment of DFO is effective and comprehensive comprehensive; therefore, it should be more frequently used in clinical settings.
Views and experiences on lockdown as a response to the prevention and control of COVID-19 crisis among residents of Uganda
Authors: Muzyamba Choolwe , Makova Ogylive Mphanza , Mushibi Geofrey 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: While lockdowns have become a gold standard response to the Covid-19 pandemic, debates on its usefulness still continue. There is currently good amount of research work originating from western countries on the usefulness of lockdowns, however, similar research is still missing in low income countries like Uganda which implemented stricter lockdowns. More importantly, not much is known about the views of the residents of Uganda for which such a measure was meant for. Despite the implementation of lockdowns, it is still not yet known how relevant residents of Uganda view the lockdown. Research has demonstrated that interventions are most successful when they resonate with the target population This study fills this identified gap by investigating the views and lived experiences of residents of Uganda with regards to the usefulness of the lockdown as a response to the prevention and control of COVID-19.Methods: This was a cross sectional survey using qualitative methods of data collection. Data will was collected from 1000 participants in the four regions of Uganda on the views and experiences on lockdown as a response to the prevention and control of COVID-19 crisis among residents of Uganda. Data collection was down through use of a Qualtrics Survey Tool. Thematic analysis with the help of the Social representation theory was then used to analyze the data. Findings: The study demonstrated that there was visible nuance in the manner in which the lockdown was characterized. On one hand it was seen as useful in slowing down the spread, protecting the fragile healthcare system and giving government enough time to learn about the novel virus and thus respond efficiently. On the other hand, our participants were critical of its devastative nature on the livelihoods of people. Particularly, the lockdown closed down economic survival opportunities for the most vulnerable in society, increased unemployment and poverty levels. The lockdown also contributed to worsening mental health conditions and simultaneously provided fertile ground for domestic abuse including sexual abuse especially among girls.Conclusion: Ultimately, our study questions the narrow view of branding the lockdown as unequivocally good or bad. It rather sheds light on the complexities of its effect on society in Uganda by pointing out its multicapillary-like consequences in society wherein it can, in various ways protect lives and at the same time destroy livelihoods. Our study thus highlights that responding to such complexities defies the logic of implementing the lockdown as a ‘one-size-fits-all magic bullet’, but rather that it must be contextualized, localized and appropriated to the realities of Uganda.
The Routine Use of Preoperative Non-Contrast Chest Computerized Tomography and Carotid Arteries Doppler Prior to Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Nates Ron , Arazi Mattan Mattan , Grosman-Rimon Liza , Israel Roy Israel Roy , Gohari Jacob Gohari Jacob , Sternik Leonid , Kachel Erez 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Introduction: There is no consensus as to which patients should undergo Non-Contrast Chest Computerized Tomography (NCCCT) and carotid arteries Doppler (CD) prior to cardiac surgery. The objective of this study was to examine whether preoperative imaging modalities provide clinical benefits and a change in surgical strategy.Methods: We routinely performed NCCCT and CD in all non-urgent cardiac surgery patients. Major NCCCT/CD findings related to cardiovascular findings (aortic calcification/atherosclerosis, carotid artery plaque/stenosis), or other incidental findings (lung kidney, thyroid, adrenal, gastrointestinal sites etc.) were documented. The results were divided into 3 categories: (A) findings requiring both changes in surgical strategy and post-operative evaluation/treatment; (B) findings requiring changes in surgical strategy, but not requiring a specific post-operative evaluation/treatment; (C) findings not requiring changes in surgical strategy but requiring post-operative evaluation/treatment. Results: In this cohort, 93 (18.6%) out of 500 patients had significant cardiac and extra-cardiac findings on NCCCT and/or CD. Among the 93 patients with significant findings, 33.33% (31 patients, 6.2% of all patients) were in group A, 7.5% (7 patients, 1.4% of all patients) were in group B, and 59.14% (55 patients, 11% of all patients) were in group C. Change in surgical strategies included, for example, switching from planned on-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery (CABG) to off-pump CABG and performing additional procedures to the originally planned heart surgery. Conclusion: Routine preoperative NCCCT and CD evaluation in all non-urgent cardiac surgical patients is an effective measure for uncovering cardiac and extra-cardiac findings prior to surgery.
TLK1-MK5 axis drives prostate cancer cell motility and pathologic features of aggressiveness
Authors: Khalil Md Imtiaz , Singh Vibha , King Judy , De Benedetti Arrigo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Majority of prostate cancer (PCa) related fatalities occur due to metastasis of cancer cells to adjacent and distal organs. We identified the novel interaction between two kinases (TLK1-MK5) that in part may initiate a signaling cascade promoting PCa metastasis. In PCa, TLK1-MK5 signaling might be crucial as androgen deprivation therapy leads to increased expression of TLK1 and compensatory activation of MK5 in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. Methods: We performed scratch wound repair and 3D chemotactic migration assays to determine the motility rates of different TLK1 and MK5 perturbed cells. Co-IP, His, and GST pull down, in vitro kinase (IVK) assays and mass spectrometry (MS) were conducted to determine TLK1-MK5 interaction and phosphorylation. Western blotting (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and bioinformatic analysis were used to examine TLK1 and pMK5 levels in PCa cell lines, mice prostate tumors and PCa tissue microarray (TMA). Results: Both genetic depletion and pharmacologic inhibition of TLK1 and MK5 can significantly reduce wound healing rate in MEF and LNCaP cells. However, TLK1 overexpression alone in the MK5 −/− MEF cells did not increase the wound healing which suggested that TLK1 cannot enhance cellular migration in absence of MK5. Our reciprocal co-IPs, His- and GST pull down assays confirmed TLK1-MK5 interaction in cultured cells. Incubation of purified recombinant TLK1B and MK5 increases the phosphorylation of MK5 and its kinase activity. MS analysis identified three unique phosphorylation sites in MK5 (S160, S354, S386) by TLK1B. While our WB detected substantial amount of pMK5 S354 and TLK1 in all major PCa cell lines, anti-androgen treatment increased pMK5 S354 level in a dose-dependent manner and pharmacologic inhibition of TLK1 reduces pMK5 S354 level in LNCaP cells. IHC staining of TRAMP mice prostate tissues also exhibited increased pMK5 S354 level in aggressive tumor compared to benign regions. Finally, IHC analysis of PCa TMA indicated a correlation between elevated pMK5 S354 level and generally higher Gleason scores as well as nodal metastatic status of the tumors. Conclusion: Our data support that TLK1-MK5 signaling is functionally involved in driving PCa cell motility and clinical aggressiveness, hence, disruption of this axis may inhibit the metastasis of PCa.
Topical Gel Based Nanoparticles for the Controlled Release of Oleanolic Acid: Design and In Vivo Characterization of a Cubic Liquid Crystalline Anti-Inflammatory Drug
Authors: shi zhiqi , Pan Shugang , Wang Luolin , Li Sha 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Oleanolic acid (OA) has multiple pharmaceutical applications, but low permeability of the molecule limits its widespread use. Methods：A cubic liquid crystalline nanoparticle (LCNP)-based gel was prepared as a potential topical delivery system for OA. The LCNP-based gel was optimized using rheological, drug release kinetic, and ex vivo permeation studies.Results: The studies showed that the OA was trapped in the interior of the LCNP with a crystal form of Pn3m space. The optimized LCNP formulation performed well using in vitro release studies for up to 12 h (85.49 ± 0.21 %). Ex vivo permeation studies showed that the LCNP-based gel formulation was superior to a standard gel formulation. The r2 value from the Peppas equation indicated good linearity, but showed irregular (non-Fickian) diffusion, suggesting that drug release was controlled by multiple processes.Conclusions: In this study, OA-loaded LCNPs were prepared by the precursor method, resulting in a well-characterized OA-LCNP gel preparation. The gel was shown to be effective in a rodent carrageenan-induced hind paw inflammation model with sustained efficacy after a single application.
Effects of Organic Acids on the Chemotaxis Profiles and Biocontrol Traits of Antagonistic Bacterial Endophytes Against Root-Rot Disease in Panax Notoginseng
Authors: Ma Li , Wang Wu-Qin , Shi Rui , Zhang Xue-Mei , Li Xin , Yang Yu-Sen , Mo Ming He 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Understanding the role of chemotaxis in ecological interactions between plants and microbes in the rhizosphere is necessary to optimize biocontrol strategies targeting plant soil-borne diseases. Therefore, we examined and profiled the antagonistic endophytic bacteria (AEB) population with chemotaxis potential in the medicinal plant Panax notoginseng using a cheA gene-based approach coupled with 16S rRNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the chemotactic AEB (CAEB) community in P. notoginseng enabled the identification of 56 CAEB strains affiliated with 30 species of Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria; Actinobacteria, especially Bacillus, were predominant. We then systematically quantified the chemotactic response profiles of CAEB toward five organic acid (OA) attractants: citric acid (CA), fumaric acid (FA), malic acid (MA), oxalic acid (OX), and succinic acid (SA). Further hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the chemotaxis of CAEB to the same attractant exhibited different patterns among not only genera but also species and even strains of the same species. Following chemotaxis and hierarchical analysis, we selected the strongest chemoattractant, fumaric acid (FA), as the target for evaluating the effects of OAs on the representative CAEB strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens subsp. plantarum YP1. Application of FA significantly stimulated the chemotaxis ability and growth of YP1, and increased the transcript levels of cheA and biocontrol-related genes in YP1. This is the first study to characterise the diversity of chemotaxis profiles toward OAs in natural bacterial assemblages of P. notoginseng and to highlight how FA promotes the biocontrol-related traits of P. notoginseng-associated CAEB.