bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Diabetic Foot Amputations at Central and Provincial Hospital in Gauteng. A Signpost for Inadequate Foot Health Services at Primary Healthcare Level in South Africa
Authors: Ntuli Simiso M. , Letswalo D M 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background

Diabetic foot amputations are the most devastating outcome for any diabetic patient and could be associated with failure to risk stratify the diabetic foot and create individualised treatment plans to lower risk at the primary healthcare level (PHC). In South Africa (RSA), PHC clinics are the first entry point to the public healthcare system. Failure to correctly identify, risk categorise, and refer diabetic foot complications may lead to poor clinical outcomes for diabetic patients. There is a need to highlight poor clinical outcomes and link them to limited access to foot health services at the PHC level. This approach may help drive the strategic allocation and deployment of limited podiatry force in RSA. This study looks at the incidence of diabetic-related amputations at central and tertiary hospitals in Gauteng to argue the case of the needed foot health services at the PHC level.
Methods

A cross-sectional retrospective study that reviewed theatre records. We reviewed records of all diabetic patients who had diabetic-related amputations between January 2017 and June 2019.
Results

There were 1862 diabetic-related amputations; however, only 1565 accurately recorded and met the inclusion criteria for the study. The first amputation was a major amputation in 73% of the cases, and an infected foot ulcer was a primary amputation cause in 75% of patients. Males had the most amputations, 62%. The majority, 71% of amputations, were in patients younger than 65 years. Nearly all patients (98%) came from a poor socio-economic background and are state-dependent; they earned ZAR 0.00- 70 000.00 or USD (0.00- 4754.41) per annum.
Conclusion

Amputations are a sign of poor clinical outcomes for diabetic patients and imply inadequate care of diabetic foot complications across the continuum of care, particularly at the PHC level in RSA. Due to the hierarchal nature of healthcare delivery in RSA, all patients in this study would have presented at a PHC facility to manage their diabetes and other chronic comorbidities. The findings show that most first amputations recorded in this study were major amputations. This finding is a significant signpost of the potential delay in recognising, treating and timely referral of diabetic-related foot complications. Arguably, a lack of access to structured foot health services at PHC levels impedes early identification of foot complication identification and appropriate referral resulting in the amputation in some of the patients.
Deciphering Expression Profiling and Functional Signatures of Individualized Obesity-Associated Genes in Ossification of Ligamentum Flavum Through RNA-Sequence Data Mining
Authors: Zhang Baoliang , Yuan Lei , Chen Guanghui , Chen Xi , Yang Xiaoxi , Fan Tianqi , Li Weishi , Sun Chuiguo , Chen Zhongqiang 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Obese individuals predispose to ossification of ligamentum flavum (OLF), whereas the underlying connections between obesity phenotype and OLF pathomechanism are not fully understood, especially during early life. This study aimed to explore obesity-associated genes and their functional signatures in OLF. Methods: Gene microarray expression data related to OLF were downloaded from the GSE106253 dataset in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The potential obesity-related differentially expressed genes (ORDEGs) in OLF were screened. Then, gene-ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were applied for these genes. Furthermore, protein-protein interactions (PPI) were used to identify hub ORDEGs, and Metascape was used to further verify the key signaling pathways and immune-related function signatures of hub ORDEGs. Finally, correlation analysis of hub ORDEGs and identified OLF-related infiltrating immune cells (OIICs) was constructed to understand the possible mechanical link among obesity, immune response and OLF. Results: OLF-related differentially expressed genes and 2051 obesity-related genes from four databases were intersected to obtain 99 ORDEGs, including 54 upregulated and 55 downregulated genes. GO and KEGG analysis revealed that these genes were mainly involved in metabolism, inflammation and immune-related biological functions and pathways. A PPI network was established to determine 14 hub genes (AKT1, CCL2, CCL5, CXCL2, ICAM1, IL10, MYC, PTGS2, SAA1, SOCS1, SOCS3, STAT3, TNFRSF1B and VEGFA). The co-expression network demonstrated that this module was associated with cellular response to biotic stimulus, regulation of inflammatory response, regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT protein. Furthermore, Metascape functional annotations showed that hub genes were mainly involved in receptor signaling pathway via JAK-STAT, response to TNF and regulation of defense response, and their representative enriched pathways were TNF, adipocytokine and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Subgroup analysis indicated that T cell activation might be potential immune function processes involved, and correlation analysis revealed that cDCs, memory B-cells and preadipocytes were highly correlated infiltrating immune cells. Conclusions: Our study deciphered individualized obesity-associated gene signature for the first time, which may facilitate exploring the underlying cellular and molecular pathogenesis and novel therapeutic targets of obesity-related early-onset OLF.
A Parameter Study of Ultrasound Assisted Enzymatic Esterification
Authors: Vartolomei Anamaria , Calinescu Ioan , Vinatoru Mircea , Gavrila Adina Ionuta 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
This work is focused on the study of esterification parameters for the ultrasound assisted synthesis of isoamyl acetate catalyzed by lipase Lipozyme 435 in a continuous loop reactor. Investigating the influence of different parameters shows that a higher concentration of ester (462 mg/gmixture) can be obtained at temperature 50 °C, flow rate 0.16 mL/min. The best ultrasonication conditions are: continuously applied sonication for a short time (20 minutes), ultrasound power 32 mW, and amplitude 20 %. The enzyme can be successfully reused tree times without loss of enzyme activity. Reaction kinetics for isoamyl acetate ultrasound assisted production showed that satisfactory reaction concentration (close to the equilibrium concentrations) could be reached in short reaction times (2 h). Ultrasound assisted enzymatic esterification is consequently a cleaner and a faster process.
Analysis On Short-Term Change of Macular Function and The Correlates After Intravitreal Conbercept for CRVO-ME
Authors: Wang Yun-Chang , Li Rong-Rong , Cai Yi , Wei Zi-Yi , Shao Chang-Liang 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
•AIM: To study the short-term change of macular function and the correlates after intravitreal conbercept for CRVO-ME•STUDY DESIGN: Prospective,clinical study.•METHODS: 23 patients(23 eyes) were recruited, who were non-ischemia central retinal vein occlusion dianosed by FFA (fundus fluorescein angiography) and treated with intravitreal conbercept for macular edema. best - corrected visual acuity ( BCVA ),central macular thickness(CMT), amplitude density of P1 wave and implicit time of P1,N1 wave from ring 1 and ring 2 of mf-ERG were measured before and 1week、2month after treatment.•RESULTS: Compared to the baseline, BCVA、CMT、amplitude density of P1 wave and implicit time of P1,N1 wave from ring 1 and ring 2 were greatly improved at 1W、2M after treatment; better results were gained at 2M compared to 1W; Pearson correlation analysis shows no significantly correlation between the improvement of mf-ERG with the change of BCVA、CMT.•CONCLUSION: The BCVA、the strcture and the function of macular were greatly improved after intravitreal conbercept for central retinal vein occlusion induced macular edema; therefore no significantly correlation between the improvement of the function of macular with the strcture of macular and BCVA.
Tumor-B-Cell Interactions Promote Isotype Switching to an Immunosuppressive IgG4 Antibody Response Through Upregulation of IL-10 in Triple Negative Breast Cancers
Authors: Toney Nicole J. , Opdenaker Lynn M. , Cicek Kader , Archinal Holly , Frerichs Lisa , Kennington Christopher Ryan , Oberly Samuel , Somasundaram Rajasekharan , Sims-Mourtada Jennifer 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer for which there is currently no targeted therapy. Tumor-infiltrating B-cells (TIB) have been observed in tumor tissues of TNBC patients, but their functional role is unclear. IgG4 is one of four antibody subclasses of IgG expressed and secreted by B cells. Unlike other IgG isotypes, IgG4 has an immunosuppressive function and is induced by Th2-type cytokines. In cancers such as melanoma, IgG4 has been linked with advanced disease and poor patient survival. Therefore, we sought to determine the role of IgG4 in TNBC. Methods: We performed co-culture assays to examine expression of Th2 cytokines by TNBC cells with and without the presence of B cells. We also performed in vitro class switching experiments with peripheral B cells with and without co-culture with TNBC cells in the presence or absence of an IL-10 blocking antibody. We examined expression of CD20 + TIB, IgG4 and Th2 cytokines by immunohistochemistry in 152 TNBC samples. Statistical analysis was done using Log-Rank and Cox-proportional hazards tests. Results: Our findings indicate that B cells interact with TNBC to drive chronic inflammatory responses through increased expression of inflammatory cytokines including the TH2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-10. In vitro class switching studies show that interactions between TNBC cell lines and B cells drive isotype switching to the IgG4 isotype in an IL-10 dependent manner. In patient tissues, expression of IgG4 correlates with CD20 and tumor expression of IL-10. Both IgG4 and tumor IL-10 are associated to shorter recurrence free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in TNBC. In a multi-variant analysis, IL-10 was associated with poor outcomes indicating that tumor IL-10 may drive immune escape. Conclusions: These findings indicate that interactions between TIB and TNBC results in activation of chronic inflammatory signals that suppress antibody driven immune responses
Familial cases of Mexican patients with Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
Authors: Rodríguez-Olivas Armando Odiseo , Zamora Edgar Hernández , Rosales-Cruz Erika , Casas-Ávila Leonora , Valdés-Flores Maragarita , Maldonado Elba Reyes 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
BackgroundLegg-Calvé-Perthes Disease (LCPD) is described as an avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Although its etiology is still not fully understood, evidences suggest heritable thrombotic disorders and other factors may be implicated in its onset and progress. Our objective is to describe, in three enrolled families, the genetic, biochemical and environmental factors that may be associated with the etiology and development of LCPD. MethodsTherefore, we set out to evaluate the following alterations of collagen genes: MTHFR rs1801133, CBS rs115742905, and PT rs1799963 and their relationship with LCPD. Thrombophilia associated markers (FI, FII, FV, FVII, FVIII, FIX, FX, FXI, FXII, FvW, PC, PS, AT, and homocysteine) were evaluated using coagulometry methods. Results: Seven LCPD patients and 14 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Concentrations in hemoglobin (p ≤ 0.0001), fibrinogen (P ≤ 0.0001), homocysteine (p = 0.0414), factor IX activity percentage (p ≤ 0.0001), and protein S (p = 0.0478) showed statistically significant differences. None of the evaluated polymorphisms showed statistically significant differences. However, all patients presented the mutated MTHFR C677T polymorphism in a homozygous (T/T) or heterozygous manner (C/T).ConclusionsOur results show environmental elements from every family and hemostatic disorders may be involved in suffering and developing LCPD. Also, heritable factors could contribute to the onset of the disease. Clearly, environmental, genetic, and prothrombotic factors are involved in this pathology.
Geochemistry of the Paleocene Clastic Rocks From the Southwestern Jianghan Basin, Central China Reveal Their Provenance, Tectonic Setting, and Palaeoenvironment
Authors: Yan Kai , Wang Chun-lian , Wang Jiu-yi , Yu Xiao-can , Teng Xiao-hua , Li Rui-qin , Liu Li-hong 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
This paper intends to learn about the provenance, tectonic setting and paleoenvironment of the Paleocene Shashi Formation in the southern Jianghan Basin by the bulk-rock geochemistry. The K2O/Al2O3 and SiO2/Al2O3 ratios indicate that the major proportion of samples are litharenite. The chondrite-normalized REE distribution pattern of the Shashi Formation’s mudstones are characterized by enriched LREE and flat HREE similar to those of UC with negative Eu anomalies. Combined with the geochemical element ratio discriminant diagram, such as Al2O3-TiO2, Zr-TiO2, La/Sc-Co/Th, and Hf-La/Th, so on, these samples were sourced from mixed felsic/basic rock. Moreover, the discriminant diagrams of K2O/Na2O-SiO2/Al2O3, La-Th-Sc, and Th-Co-Zr/10 suggest that the samples were formed under the tectonic settings of active continental margin and continental island arc. The values of CIA, CIW, PIA, ICV, Zr/Sc-Th/Sc, and ternary diagrams of A-(CN)-K and Al2O3-Zr-TiO2 indicate that weathering in the source area was weak and source rocks have not been reformed by depositional recirculation and hydraulic sorting. And the palaeoenvironmental indicators of C-value, Ni/Co, V/Cr, V/(V+Ni) and Sr/Cu, Ga/Rb indicate that the climate was cool and arid during the evaporite deposition period in the southern Jianghan Basin, and the water was in the condition of oxidation.
Influence of Education on Sexual and Reproductive Health Service Utilization for Persons with Disabilities in Nationwide Bangladesh: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Du Katherine Coral , Mohosin Arifa Bente , Amin Amina , Hasan Md Tanvir 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Persons with disabilities comprise more than one billion people in the world, yet they are one of the most discriminated groups and face significant health disparities. Particularly in developing countries, which contain 80% of the entire population with disabilities, these individuals experience major barriers in accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services.Education is an important factor that greatly affects individuals’ SRH service utilization. Hence, we sought to investigate the relationship between education and SRH service utilization for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh.Methods: Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, a total of 5,000 persons with disabilities were surveyed for the quantitative component and 15 mini-ethnographic case studies were conducted with persons with disabilities for the qualitative component. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression analyses were performed on the survey data, while the qualitative interviews were coded and their SRH themes synthesized accordingly.Results: Our quantitative findings show that education statistically significantly increases persons with disabilities’ SRH service utilization of antenatal care, delivery care, postnatal care, and family planning (P < 0.05). Interestingly, for persons with disabilities, primary education shows increased adjusted odds of family planning use but is likely not enough to increase antenatal care, delivery care, or postnatal care use; secondary or post-secondary education may be required to improve utilization of these latter services.Qualitative findings support the association between higher education levels and greater SRH service use. Persons with disabilities of lower educational attainment held misinformation and distrust in SRH services and experienced mistreatment by SRH healthcare providers, discouraging them from seeking future SRH services. Conclusions:We report that higher formal education level is associated with greater SRH service use for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh. Formally educating persons with disabilities expands their SRH knowledge and familiarity with SRH services, as well as leads to more economic opportunities so they can afford SRH services. Increasing formal education levels for persons with disabilities, paired with integrating comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in their schools, will likely help close the gap in SRH health disparities for this vulnerable population.
Secukinumab Attenuates Neuroinflammation and Neurobehavior Defect via PKCβ /ERK/NF-κB Pathway in a Rat Model of GMH
Authors: Liu Shengpeng , Deng Shuixiang , Ding Yan , Flores Jerry J. , Zhang Xiaoli , Jia Xiaojing , Hu Xiao , Peng Jun , Zuo Gang , Zhang John H. , Gong Ye , Tang Jiping 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
AimsGerminal matrix hemorrhage (GMH) is a disastrous clinical event for newborns. Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the development of neurological deficits after GMH. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-inflammatory role of secukinumab after GMH and its underlying mechanisms involving PKCβ/ERK/NF-κB signaling pathway.MethodsA total of 154 Sprague-Dawley P7 rat pups were used. GMH was induced by intraparenchymal injection of bacterial collagenase. Secukinumab was administered intranasally post-GMH. PKCβ activator PMA and p-ERK activator Ceramide C6 were administered intracerebroventricularly at 24h prior to GMH induction, respectively. Neurobehavioral tests, Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate the efficacy of secukinumab in both short-term and long-term studies.ResultsEndogenous IL-17A, IL-17RA, PKCβ and p-ERK were increased after GMH. Secukinumab treatment improved short- and long-term neurological outcomes, reduced the expression of MPO and Iba-1 in the perihematoma area, and inhibited the expression of proinflammatory factors, such as NF-κB, IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6. Additionally, PMA and ceramide C6 abolished the beneficial effects of secukinumab. ConclusionSecukinumab treatment suppressed neuroinflammation and attenuated neurological deficits after GMH, which was mediated through the downregulation of the PKCβ/ERK/NF-κB pathway. Secukinumab treatment may provide a promising therapeutic strategy for GMH patients.
Influence of 16S rRNA Reference Databases in Amplicon-Based Environmental Microbiome Research
Authors: Ramakodi Meganathan P. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Purpose: The reference databases play a pivotal role in amplicon microbiome research but the sequence content and taxonomic information available in common reference databases differ. Studies on mock community and human health microbiome have revealed the problems associated with the choice of reference database on the outcome. Nonetheless, the influence of reference databases in environmental microbiome studies is not explicitly illustrated. Methods: This study analyzed the amplicon (V1V3, V3V4, V4V5 and V6V8) data of 128 soil samples and evaluated the impact of 16S rRNA databases, Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), Ribosomal Database Project (RDP), SILVA and Consensus Taxonomy (ConTax), on microbiome inference. Results: The analyses showed that the distribution of observed amplicon sequence variants was significantly different (P-value < 2.647e-12) across four datasets, generated based on different databases for each amplicon region. In addition, the beta diversity was also found to be altered by different databases. Further investigation revealed that the microbiome composition inferred by different databases vary significantly (P-value=0.001), irrespective of amplicon regions. Importantly, the study found that the core-microbiome structure in environmental studies could be altered by the reference databases. Conclusion: In summary, this present study illustrates that the choice of reference database could influence the outcome of environmental microbiome research.
Doing Interventions
Authors: Otto Laura K. , Klausner Martina , Eitel Kathrin , Welz Gisela 
Published: October 2021

In dieser Einleitung zur 83. Ausgabe der Kulturanthropologie Notizen stellen wir das Konzept der Intervention ins Zentrum und betonen wie Forscher:innen und ihre Felder immer aufeinander bezogen sind. Während wir grundsätzlich davon ausgehen, dass ethnographische Studien per se als interventionistisch verstanden werden können, diskutieren wir ‚doing interventions‘ als einen spezifischen, ethnographischen methodischen Ansatz und reflektieren insbesondere Experimente und Kollaborationen sowie deren epistemischen Effekte. In diesem Sinne verweisen Interventionen mit/in der Ethnographie auf ethnographisches Wissen, das einen Effekt auf das Feld hat, während die Praxis des Intervenierens zugleich auch die ethnographische Wissensproduktion verändern kann. Die Autor:innen dieser Ausgabe der Kulturanthropologie Notizen zeigen anhand einer Vielzahl von Beispielen, wie sich Interventionen mit und in der Ethnographie in der Praxis ausgestalten lassen und wie diese Modi miteinander verflochten sind. Die Fallstudien reichen von ethnografischer Forschung im globalen Lebensmittelsektor und in der Rohstoffindustrie über Feldforschung in und mit der Sozialpsychiatrie bis hin zu neuen Formen der Zusammenarbeit während der COVID-19-Pandemie. Nicht zuletzt wird die Anthropologie als Veränderungswissenschaft diskutiert. Was die Texte eint, ist die Überzeugung, dass Interventionen mit/in der Ethnographie das Potential haben Etabliertes und Selbstverständliches in Frage zu stellen, normative und dominante Wahrnehmungen der Wissensproduktion zu transformieren, Diskurse zu irritieren und gleichzeitig die Re-Imagination und Re-Konzeptualisierung der ethnographischen Praxis zu fördern.
Improving the efficiency of cash collection operations with the help of modern information technologies
Authors: Fedets Andriy 
Published: October 2021

Despite the steady spread of non-cash payment technologies, especially now in the pandemic, cash remains the most common method of payment in all countries.
The availability of cash in banking institutions, cash centers, ATMs, various self-service devices is provided by the units of collection and transportation of currency values.
Collection of funds and transportation of currency values ​​is an integral part of the cash circulation of any banking system, which consists in the collection, delivery and movement of cash by vehicles, from enterprises, institutions, organizations of various forms of ownership to banking institutions and vice versa.
The cost of conducting cash collection, supporting cash registers, branches, and loading ATMs constitues a significant part of all operating expenses of banks and collection companies. Due to the high level of risk of attacks on the teams of collectors, the main task is to maintain an appropriate level of security to protect life and health of collectors, which requires significant financial costs. Business owners find a way out in the introduction of new innovative banking products and information technologies.
The article examines the processes of cash collection operations by classical and electronic methods as well as modern innovative technologies for cash collection, cash processing, and protection of valuables. The results of scientific research show that the reduction of operating costs for cash collection increases the level of security, and optimization of cash processing is possible only with the active implementation and use of modern information technology and automated software.
The article proves the need to improve the mechanism of state regulatory policy in the market of cash collection services in Ukraine, in particular, to amend the regulatory legal acts of the regulator, which is represented by the National Bank of Ukraine, in terms of refining and detailing legal norms that establish and determine the procedure operations on cash collection in electronic form and periodicity of collection units employees training.