bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of a comprehensive tuberculosis control model on the quality of clinical services and the financial burden of treatment for patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis in China: a mixed-methods evaluation
Authors: Jiang Wei-Xi , Li Zhi-Peng , Zhao Qi , Gao Meng-Qiu , Long Qian , Wang Wei-Bing , Huang Fei , Wang Ni , Tang Sheng-Lan 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
The China National Health Commission-Gates TB Project Phase III implemented a comprehensive TB control model including multiple interventions to address the burden of drug-resistant TB (DRTB). This study aims to evaluate the quality of DRTB clinical services and assess the financial burden of DRTB patients during the intervention period.

Methods
A mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions in the three project provinces: Zhejiang, Jilin and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The quantitative data included de-identified DRTB registry data during 2015–2018 in project provinces from China CDC, medical records of DRTB patients registered in 2018 (n = 106) from designated hospitals, and a structured DRTB patient survey in six sample prefectures in 2019. The quality of clinical services was evaluated using seven indicators across patient screening, diagnosis and treatment. Logistic regression was conducted to explore factors associated with the extremely high financial burden. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with policymakers and focus group discussions with physicians and DRTB patients were conducted to understand the interventions implemented and their impacts.

Results
The percentage of bacterially confirmed patients taking a drug susceptibility test (DST) increased significantly between 2015 and 2018: from 57.4 to 93.6% in Zhejiang, 12.5 to 86.5% in Jilin, and 29.7 to 91.4% in Ningxia. The treatment enrollment rate among diagnosed DRTB patients also increased significantly and varied from 73 to 82% in the three provinces in 2018. Over 90% of patients in Zhejiang and Jilin and 75% in Ningxia remained in treatment by the end of the first six months’ treatment. Among all survey respondents 77.5% incurred extremely high financial burden of treatment. Qualitative results showed that interventions on promoting rapid DST technologies and patient referral were successfully implemented, but the new financing policies for reducing patients’ financial burden were not implemented as planned.

Conclusions
The quality of DRTB related clinical services has been significantly improved following the comprehensive interventions, while the financial burden of DRTB patients remains high due to the delay in implementing financing policies. Stronger political commitment and leadership are required for multi-channel financing to provide additional financial support to DRTB patients.
Behaviour-specific habitat selection patterns of breeding barn owls
Authors: Séchaud Robin , Schalcher Kim , Machado Ana Paula , Almasi Bettina , Massa Carolina , Safi Kamran , Roulin Alexandre 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
The intensification of agricultural practices over the twentieth century led to a cascade of detrimental effects on ecosystems. In Europe, agri-environment schemes (AES) have since been adopted to counter the decrease in farmland biodiversity, with the promotion of extensive habitats such as wildflower strips and extensive meadows. Despite having beneficial effects documented for multiple taxa, their profitability for top farmland predators, like raptors, is still debated. Such species with high movement capabilities have large home ranges with fluctuation in habitat use depending on specific needs.

Methods
Using GPS devices, we recorded positions for 134 barn owls (Tyto alba) breeding in Swiss farmland and distinguished three main behavioural modes with the Expectation-Maximization binary Clustering (EMbC) method: perching, hunting and commuting. We described barn owl habitat use at different levels during the breeding season by combining step and path selection functions. In particular, we examined the association between behavioural modes and habitat type, with special consideration for AES habitat structures.

Results
Despite a preference for the most common habitats at the home range level, behaviour-specific analyses revealed more specific habitat use depending on the behavioural mode. During the day, owls roosted almost exclusively in buildings, while pastures, meadows and forest edges were preferred as nocturnal perching sites. For hunting, barn owls preferentially used AES habitat structures though without neglecting more intensively exploited areas. For commuting, open habitats were preferred over wooded areas.

Conclusions
The behaviour-specific approach used here provides a comprehensive breakdown of barn owl habitat selection during the reproductive season and highlights its importance to understand complex animal habitat preferences. Our results highlight the importance of AES in restoring and maintaining functional trophic chains in farmland.
Testing coverage criteria for optimized deep belief network with search and rescue
Authors: Jammalamadaka Kiran , Parveen Nikhat 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA new data-driven programming model is defined by the deep learning (DL) that makes the internal structure of a created neuron system over a fixed of training data. DL testing structure only depends on the data labeling and manual group. Nowadays, a lot of coverage criteria have been developed, but these criteria basically count the neurons' quantity whose activation during the implementation of a DL structure fulfilled certain properties. Also, existing criteria are not adequately fine-grained to capture delicate behaviors. This paper develops an optimized deep belief network (DBN) with a search and rescue (SAR) algorithm for testing coverage criteria. For an optimal selection of DBN structure, the SAR algorithm is introduced. The main objective is to test the DL structure using different criteria to enhance the coverage accuracy. The different coverage criteria such as KMNC, NBC, SNAC, TKNC, and TKNP are used for the testing of DBN. Using the generated test inputs, the criteria is validated and the developed criteria are capable to capture undesired behaviors in the DBN structure. The developed approach is implemented by Python platform using three standard datasets like MNIST, CIFAR-10, and ImageNet. For analysis, the developed approach is compared with the three LeNet models like LeNet-1, LeNet-4 and LeNet-5 for the MNIST dataset, the VGG-16, and ResNet-20 models for the CIFAR-10 dataset, and the VGG-19 and ResNet-50 models for the ImageNet dataset. These models are tested on the four adversarial test input generation approaches like BIM, JSMA, FGSM, and CW, and one DL testing method like DeepGauge to validate the efficiency of the suggested approach. The simulation results proved that the proposed approach obtained high coverage accuracy for each criterion on four adversarial test inputs and one DL testing method as compared to other models.
Enhancement of photo-driven biomethanation under visible light by nano-engineering of Rhodopseudomonas palustris
Authors: Chen Meng-Yuan , Fang Zhen , Xu Li-Xia , Zhou Dao , Yang Xue-Jin , Zhu Hu-Jie , Yong Yang-Chun 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBiomethanation is of great interest as it can transform CO2 to methane under ambient conditions. In particular, genetically engineered bacterium of Rhodopseudomonas palustris showed great promise for one-step biomethanation powered by solar energy, which is attractive for CO2 fixation as well as solar energy storage. However, biomethanation with R. palustris under visible light is inefficient due to its poor visible light response. In this study, CdS quantum dots with excellent visible light response were prepared and R. palustris/CdS hybrid cells were constructed. Interestingly, this bio-nano-hybrid cells showed high cell viability without significant cell damage, and the biomethanation performance of was enhanced about ~ 79% compared to that of the bare R. palustris cells. Moreover, the effects of different parameters on the methane production of this bio-nano-hybrid cells were determined, and the methane production rate was further improved by parameter optimization. This work demonstrated an efficient approach to reinforce the biomethanation of bacteria under unfavorable light wavelength, which would be helpful to extend the light spectra for photo-driven biomethanation.
Biosilicated collagen/β-tricalcium phosphate composites as a BMP-2-delivering bone‐graft substitute for accelerated craniofacial bone regeneration
Authors: Lee Dong Keon , Ki Mi-Ran , Kim Euy Hyun , Park Chang-Joo , Ryu Jae Jun , Jang Hyon Seok , Pack Seung Pil , Jo Yun Kee , Jun Sang Ho 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Background
Bioceramic β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP) is used as a bone-grafting material and a therapeutic drug carrier for treatment of bone defects in the oral and maxillofacial regions due to the osteoconductivity and biocompatibility. However, the low mechanical strength and limited osteoinductivity of β-TCP agglomerate restrict bone regenerating performance in clinical settings.

Methods
Herein, a biomimetic composite is proposed as a bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2)-delivering bone graft substitute to achieve a robust bone grafting and augmented bone regeneration.

Results

The sequential processes of brown algae-inspired biosilicification and collagen coating on the surface of β-TCP enable the effective incorporation of BMP-2 into the coating layer without losing its bioactivity. The sustained delivery of BMP-2 from the biosilicated collagen and β-TCP composites promoted
in vitro
osteogenic behaviors of pre-osteoblasts and remarkedly accelerated
in vivo
bone regeneration within a rat calvarial bone defect.

Conclusions
Our multicomposite bone substitutes can be practically applied to improve bone tissue growth in bone grafting applications with further expansion to general bone tissue engineering.
Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 DNA methylation in type 2 diabetes
Authors: Hafez Sally M. , Abou-youssef Hazem. El-Sayed , Awad Mona Abdel-Kader , Kamel Solaf Ahmed , Youssef Rasha N. , Elshiekh Suzan Mahrous , Raslan Hala , Salah Nehal 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex trait in humans. Several environmental and hereditary factors contribute to the overall pathogenesis of this disease. The association between genes, environment, and T2D was unknown for decades until epigenetics was discovered. Epigenetics affects gene transcription, which, in turn, influences organ function. One of the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms is DNA methylation. This mechanism permits modification of gene function without changes in the DNA sequence.
There are several risk factors for type 2 diabetes such as harmful intrauterine environment, obesity, poor physical activity, increasing age, a family history of the disease, and an unhealthy diet. All these factors have been proven to influence the DNA methylation sequence in target tissues for insulin resistance in humans. We aimed to evaluate insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP1) gene methylation levels in T2D. In all, 100 Egyptian individuals were included in this study: 50 patients with T2D versus 50 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and IGFBP1 methylation levels were analyzed using pyrosequencing.

Results
DNA methylation levels in the IGFBP1 gene at each of the six CpG sites were significantly higher in the T2D patients than in the controls at P values of 0.001, 0.002, 0.010, 0.007, 0.014, and 0.001, respectively.

Conclusion
According to this study, T2D is due to interactions between genetics, epigenetics, and lifestyle. This study also revealed that DNA methylation levels of the IGFBP-1 gene are higher in T2D patients than in healthy control.
Systemic AL amyloidosis presenting with diffuse alveolar septal involvement and respiratory failure: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Mohammadien Hamdy Ali , Morsi Shimaa Nour , Al Shahat Moaz Atef 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Amyloidosis is the extracellular deposition of amyloid fibril protein in any tissue or organ. The clinical manifestations of pulmonary amyloidosis are variable and without specific symptoms. We report a rare case of diffuse alveolar septal amyloidosis which is an extremely rare pattern of involvement, with a very poor prognosis, to improve our understanding of the disease.

Case presentation
A 27-year-old man complained of shortness of breath and cyanosis. High-resolution computed tomography revealed diffuse ground-glass opacifications with interlobular septal thickening in both lungs. The immune-histochemistry showed monoclonal lambda light chains. This case also showed nephrotic syndrome and cardiac arrhythmia, suggesting an involvement of the kidney and the heart. Diagnosis: The diagnosis was finally established by tru-cut transthoracic sonar guided lung biopsy (TSLB), and histological examination revealed Congo red-positive amorphous eosinophilic deposits in the alveolar sept. Interventions: The patient was admitted to a respiratory intensive care unit and put on non-invasive ventilation, then discharged on domiciliary oxygen therapy, and started treatment with chemotherapy melphalan 2 mg daily plus prednisone 60 mg daily immediately after the result of histopathology. Outcomes: Three months after treatment, dyspnea and hypoxemia improved, and he continued treatment. The patient was in a good clinical condition after 10 months of follow-up, but he died suddenly.

Conclusion
As it is difficult to distinguish diffuse alveolar septal amyloidosis from other interstitial and granulomatous lung diseases because of their similar symptoms and imaging findings, thus, transthoracic sonar guided lung biopsy and histological examination is very important in the diagnosis of diffuse alveolar septal amyloidosis.
NAFLD and Liver Fibrosis Are Not Associated With Reduced Femoral Bone Mineral Density in the General US Population
Authors: Ciardullo Stefano , Muraca Emanuele , Zerbini Francesca , Manzoni Giuseppina , Perseghin Gianluca 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Context
It is still debated whether nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be a risk factor for reduced bone mineral density (BMD), and it is not known whether liver fibrosis, the major predictor of future development of liver-related events in NAFLD, has an influence on BMD.

Objective
To assess whether liver steatosis and fibrosis are associated with reduced BMD in the general US population.

Methods
We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the population-based 2017–2018 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), in which vibration-controlled transient elastography (VCTE) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) of the femoral neck were simultaneously available. Controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) ≥ 274 dB/m was considered indicative of liver steatosis, while a median liver stiffness measurement (LSM) ≥ 8 kPa indicated the presence of significant liver fibrosis. We included all participants older than 50 years with reliable VCTE and femoral neck DXA results (925 men and 859 women). The main outcome measures were femoral neck BMD values indicative of osteopenia or osteoporosis.

Results
Steatosis and significant fibrosis were highly prevalent in the studied population, being present in 53.1% and 9.6% of men and 44.2% and 8.0% of women, respectively. In univariate analysis, liver steatosis was associated with a lower prevalence of osteoporosis in both men and women, while no difference was noted according to the degree of liver fibrosis. After adjustment for potential confounders, including age, BMI, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking, and diabetes, neither CAP nor LSM were significantly associated with reduced BMD in both sexes.

Conclusion
Liver steatosis and fibrosis are not associated with femoral DXA-based diagnosis of osteopenia or osteoporosis in the US population older than 50 years.
X-Ray Methods in Histochemistry
Authors: Engström Arne 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
The aim of histo- and cytochemical studies is to identify and eventually to quantitate substances on a microscopic level. This necessitates isolating extremely small areas for analysis, preferably in the intact biological tissue. Physical methods have proven to be of value in this respect, in particular the radiant energy micro-absorption techniques (Fitzgerald & Engström, 1952).
Cyclic AMP waves during aggregation of Dictyostelium amoebae
Authors: Tyson John J. , Murray J. D. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
During the aggregation phase of their life cycle, Dictyostelium discoideum amoebae communicate with each other by traveling waves of cyclic AMP. These waves are generated by an interplay between random diffusion of cyclic AMP in the extracellular milieu and the signal-reception/signal-relaying capabilities of individual amoebae. Kinetic properties of the enzymes, transport proteins and cell-surface receptor proteins involved in the cyclic AMP signaling system have been painstakingly worked out over the past fifteen years in many laboratories. Recently Martiel & Goldbeter (1987) incorporated this biochemical information into a unified mathematical model of communication among Dictyostelium amoebae. Numerical simulations of the mathematical model, carried out by Tyson et al. (1989), agree in quantitative detail with experimental observations of cyclic AMP traveling waves in Dictyostelium cultures. Such mathematical modeling and numerical experimentation provide a necessary link between detailed studies of the molecular control mechanism and experimental observations of the intact developmental system.
Xenopus mesoderm induction: evidence for early size control and partial autonomy for pattern development by onset of gastrulation
Authors: Cooke Jonathan 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Experiments are described that examine the state of organisation of the presumptive mesoderm and ectoderm of the Xenopus embryo at stages up to the onset of gastrulation. It is shown that a process during blastula stages, establishing the normal proportions in which this cell population is partitioned to found the two outer ‘germ layers’, has a positive regulative property. An operation has been performed to excise the yolky endodermal core, at the beginning of gastrulation, leaving only the presumptive territories of mesoderm, neural tissue, epidermis and supra-blastoporal endoderm. This reveals that by this time a stable capacity exists within the induced tissue to express the craniocaudal sequence of the normal pattern, including the proper numbers of somite segments. The mediolateral organisation of such body patterns is however abnormal. The relevance of the observations to understanding mechanisms of axial pattern control is discussed.
Studies on Amphibian Metamorphosis
Authors: Helff O. M. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
The writer has previously shown that fully developed anuran dermal plicae undergo complete regression following heteroplastic transplantation to the larva. Subsequent retransplantation to the ear region of metamorphosing larvae results in the development of normal tympanic membranes. Whether such transformation will occur following direct transplantation of dermal plicae to the ear region was tested in the present work by the following operations :
Autoplastic R. clamitans and R. palustris transplantations resulted, in general, in little or no regression of dermal plicae.
Homoplastic transplantations resulted in complete regression in R. clamitans and partial regression in R. palustris. In the former species, partial, and in the latter, no tympanic membrane development occurred.
Heteroplastic transplantations from R. clamitans to R. palustris and R. catesbeiana resulted in complete regression in both cases, with the development of well-formed tympanic membranes.
Heteroplastic transplantations from R. palustris resulted in partial regression on R. clamitans hosts and usually no tympanic membrane development. Transplants on R. catesbeiana hosts underwent complete regression and tympanic membrane formation.
The conclusions are reached that autoplastic transplantations usually do not result in dermal plicae regression ; homoplastic transplantations result in partial to complete regression but without tympanic membrane formation; while heteroplastic transplantations usually involve complete regression and full tympanic membrane development.
Initial heteroplastic transplantation to larval hosts is thus not essential, in that direct heteroplastic transplantation from young frogs to the ear region of metamorphosing larvae will result in total regression of dermal plicae structure and complete membrane formation.
Behavioral Thermoregulation in the American Lobster Homarus Americanus
Authors: Crossin Glenn T. , Al-Ayoub Saud Abdulazziz , Jury Steven H. , Howell W. Huntting , Watson Winsor H. 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
It is generally accepted that water temperature has a strong influence on the behavior of the American lobster Homarus americanus. However, there is surprisingly little behavioral evidence to support this view. To characterize the behavioral responses of lobsters to thermal gradients, three different experiments were conducted. In the first, 40 lobsters acclimated to summer water temperatures (summer-acclimated, 15.5±0.2 °C, mean ± S.E.M.) were placed individually in an experimental shelter, and the temperature in the shelter was gradually raised until the lobster moved out. Lobsters avoided water warmer than 23.5±0.4 °C, which was an increase of 8.0±0.4 °C from ambient summer temperatures. When this experiment was repeated with lobsters acclimated to winter temperatures (winter-acclimated, 4.3±0.1 °C), the lobsters (N=30) did not find temperature increases of the same magnitude (ΔT=8.0±0.4 °C) aversive.
The second experiment was designed to allow individual summer-acclimated lobsters (N=22) to select one of five shelters, ranging in temperature from 8.5 to 25.5 °C. After 24 h, 68 % of the lobsters occupied the 12.5 °C shelter, which was slightly above the ambient temperature (approximately 11 °C). In a similar experiment, winter-acclimated lobsters (N=30) were given a choice between two shelters, one at ambient temperature (4.6±0.2 °C) and one at a higher temperature (9.7±0.3 °C). Winter-acclimated lobsters showed a strong preference (90 %) for the heated shelter.
In the final experiment, summer-acclimated lobsters (N=9) were allowed to move freely in a tank having a thermal gradient of approximately 10 °C from one end to the other. Lobsters preferred a thermal niche of 16.5±0.4 °C and avoided water that was warmer than 19 °C or colder than 13 °C. When standardized for acclimation temperature, lobsters preferred water 1.2±0.4 °C above their previous ambient temperature. Collectively, the results of these studies indicate that lobsters are capable of sensing water temperature and use this information to thermoregulate behaviorally. The implications of these findings for lobster behavior and distribution in their natural habitat are discussed.