bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hematologycal and blood biochemistry parameters of captive big-headed amazon river turtles, Peltocephalus dumerilianus (Testudines: Podocnemididae)
Authors: Anselmo Neiana Pereira , França Mônica Ferreira de Lima , Santos Marcio Quara de Carvalho , Pantoja-Lima Jackson , Silva Cleide Karoline Pereira da , Aride Paulo Henrique Rocha , De Oliveira Adriano Teixeira 
Published: June 2021

The determination of hematological values is used to obtain knowledge about the health conditions of animal species. The big-headed Amazon River turtles, (Peltocephalus dumerilianus)are considered one of the least known testudine species concerning their biology and health status. Herein, we determined the hematological and plasma biochemical parameters of 17 (eight males and nine females) adult P. dumerilianusto provide reference interval values for clinically healthy individuals. We collected the blood samples by puncturing the femoral vein using long heparinized hypodermic syringes. Sexual dimorphism for individuals was determined by external observation of the shape of the plastron. The average values obtained for the ten hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed were red blood cell count = 0.32 million µL-1; hematocrit = 20.6 %; hemoglobin = 8.5 g dL-1; mean corpuscular volume = 681.6 fL; mean corpuscular hemoglobin = 267.8 pg; mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration = 41.9 g dL-1; glucose = 80.6 mg dL-1, total protein = 4.1 g dL-1, triglycerides = 388.9 mg dL-1, and total cholesterol = 79.3 mg dL-1. Despite the sexual dimorphism evidenced for the species, there was no significant statistical difference between males and females for both hematological and biochemical parameters analyzed herein. Based on these results, the population is considered healthy, with parameter values coinciding with previously reported reference ranges for testudines species in the region. The results obtained in this study can be used for assessing the health status of other Amazonian turtle populations, especially in actions aimed at cultivation strategies, management, and species conservation.
Structural Transphobia, Homophobia, and Biphobia in Public Health Practice: The Example of COVID-19 Surveillance
Authors: Sell Randall L. , Krims Elise I. 
Published: June 2021

Public health surveillance can have profound impacts on the health of populations, with COVID-19 surveillance offering an illuminating example. Surveillance surrounding COVID-19 testing, confirmed cases, and deaths has provided essential information to public health professionals about how to minimize morbidity and mortality. In the United States, surveillance has also pointed out how populations, on the basis of geography, age, and race and ethnicity, are being impacted disproportionately, allowing targeted intervention and evaluation. However, COVID-19 surveillance has also highlighted how the public health surveillance system fails some communities, including sexual and gender minorities. This failure has come about because of the haphazard and disorganized way disease reporting data are collected, analyzed, and reported in the United States, and the structural homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia acting within these systems. We provide recommendations for addressing these concerns after examining experiences collecting race data in COVID-19 surveillance and attempts in Pennsylvania and California to incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity variables into their pandemic surveillance efforts.
Evaluation of Natural Radioactivity Levels and Potential Radiological Hazards of Common Building Materials Utilized in Mediterranean Region, Turkey
Authors: Turhan Şeref , Kurnaz Asli , Karataşlı Muhammet 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Radiometric measurement of building materials is very important to assess the internal and external exposure caused by the ionizing radiation emitted from terrestrial radionuclides in building materials. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in fifty-eight samples of fifteen different structural and covering building materials commonly used in Osmaniye province located in the Mediterranean region of Turkey were measured by using gamma-ray spectroscopy. The activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K varied from 2.5 ± 0.1 (marble) to 145.7 ± 4.4 (clay brick), 1.3 ± 0.1 (marble) to 154.3 ± 4.1 (marble) and 8.6 ± 0.2 (sand) to 1044.1 ± 70.3 (granite), respectively. Radiological parameters (activity concentration index, alpha index, indoor absorbed gamma dose rate and the corresponding annual effective dose rate, and excess lifetime cancer risk) were estimated to evaluate the health hazards associated with these building materials. Since the estimated values of these parameters are within the recommended safety limits or criteria values, the use of the studied building materials in the construction of dwellings can be considered to be safe for the residents of the region.
Ecotoxicity of Binary Mixtures of ILs and Inorganic Salts of Electrochemical Interest
Authors: Parajó Juan José , Vallet Pablo , Varela Luis Miguel , Villanueva María , SALGADO Josefa 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The applicability of ionic liquids (ILs) has been increased during the last years and even new opportunities are becoming a reality, i.e. mixtures of pure IL and inorganic salt as electrolytes for smart electrochemical devices, but the effects on environment are almost unknown. In this work, the ecotoxicity of two pure protic ILs (Ethylammonium nitrate and Ethylimidazolium nitrate) and two pure aprotic ILs (butylmethylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide and butyldimethylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and that of their binary mixtures with inorganic salts with common cation was tested towards changes on the bioluminescence of the bacteria Aliivibrio fischeri, using the Microtox® standard toxicity test. EC50 of these mixtures was determined over three standard periods of time and compared with the corresponding values to pure ILs. Results indicate that the aprotic ILs are more toxic than protic and that aromatic are more toxic than non-aromatic. The addition of inorganic mono (LiNO3), di (Ca(NO3)2·4H2O, Mg(NO3)2·6H2O) and trivalent (Al(NO3)3·9H2O) salts in binary mixtures with EAN was firstly analysed, obtaining that the latter induces an important increase on toxicity. Finally, mixtures of IL- inorganic lithium salt (LiNO3, for the protic ILs and LiTFSI for the aprotic ILs) toxicity was also studied, which resulted strongly dependent on the IL of the mixture.
Impact of COVID-19 on the health of the general and more vulnerable population and its determinants: Health care and social survey-ESSOC, study protocol
Authors: Sánchez-Cantalejo Carmen , Rueda Mª del Mar , Saez Marc , Enrique Iria , Ferri-García Ramón , Fuente Miguel De la , Villegas Román , Castro Luis , Barceló Maria Antònia , Daponte-Codina Antonio , Lorusso Nicola , Cabrera-León Andrés 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This manuscript describes the rationale and protocol of a real-world data (RWD) study entitled Health Care and Social Survey (ESSOC, Encuesta Sanitaria y Social). The study’s objective is to determine the magnitude, characteristics, and evolution of the COVID-19 impact on overall health as well as the socioeconomic, psychosocial, behavioural, occupational, environmental, and clinical determinants of both the general and more vulnerable population. The study integrates observational data collected through a survey using a probabilistic, overlapping panel design, and data from clinical, epidemiological, demographic, and environmental registries. The data will be analysed using advanced statistical, sampling, and machine learning techniques. The study is based on several measurements obtained from three random samples of the Andalusian (Spain) population: general population aged 16 years and over, residents of disadvantaged areas, and people over the age of 55. Given the current characteristics of this pandemic and its future repercussions, this project will generate relevant information on a regular basis, commencing from the beginning of the State of Alarm. It will also establish institutional alliances of great social value, explore and apply powerful and novel methodologies, and produce large, integrated, high-quality and open-access databases. The information described here will be vital for health systems in order to design tailor-made interventions aimed at improving the health care, health, and quality of life of the populations most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Isolation and Characterization of Microsatellites Markers in Centaurium Grandiflorum ssp. Boissieri
Authors: Jiménez-Lobato Vania , Escudero Marcial , Lifante Zoila Díaz , Camacho Cristina Andrés , de Castro Alejandra , Arroyo Juan 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Estimation of outcrossing/selfing rates and characterization of genetic diversity with microsatellite markers are crucial to understand the evolution of mating system in plant species. We developed, optimized and characterized eight new primers pairs for Centaurium grandiflorum ssp. boissieri and transferred them to three subspecies of Centaurium quadrifolium. Two SSR loci were transferred from Sabatia campestris to the four mentioned taxa of Centaurium. Polymorphisms, He, Ho and H-W deviations were estimated in two populations of C. grandiflorum ssp. boissieri, and in seven individuals of C. quadrifolium ssp. barrelieri, C. quadrifolium ssp. parviflorum and C. quadrifolium ssp. quadrifolium. A total of 80 individuals were used in these experiments. The number of polymorphic loci varied among species from one to ten. A total number of 127 alleles were scored. The average number of alleles per locus was 12.7. He was higher than Ho in all sampled populations. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was found for some loci in different species. This is the first report of microsatellites successfully amplified in the whole Centaurium genus. They will be valuable for estimation of mating system parameters, genetic diversity and explore its relationship with the wide flower morphology, especially anther-stigma separation, found along the genus.
Circulating Transthyretin is a Systems Biomarker: Retrospective Clinical Evaluations in 48 Types of Human Diseases
Authors: Wang Zhiliang , Zhang Meng , Zhang Yiran , He Yixiong , Qu Fengxiang , Bai Cui , Zhang Lijuan , Guo Yachong , Chang Hong 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Most human diseases are systems diseases, and systems biomarkers will be powerful tools in facilitating the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment effect monitoring of systems diseases. Circulating transthyretin (TTR) or prealbumin, one of the commonly ordered blood tests, has been indicated as a biomarker for cancers and non-cancer diseases. To test if TTR were a systems biomarker and the mechanisms of its regulation, TTR concentrations in 48 different types of human diseases and healthy controls were systematically analyzed in the current study.Methods: Serum TTR concentration was determined by the standard "Immune turbidimetric method" in the clinical laboratory of our hospital. TTR data from 137,305 independent tests of patients with 48 clinically defined diseases and 3,387 tests from healthy individuals who came to the hospital for physical examination during the past five years were retrieved. All data were statistically analyzed with SPSS v26, RStudio V.1.3.1073, and python libraries 3.8.Results: The mean and median values of serum TTR concentrations were significantly decreased (p<0.001) in 47 out of 48 diseases. However, the dynamic TTR concentration ranges were far exceeded that in healthy controls, including patients suffering uremia, the only disease that had significantly increased (p<0.001) TTR mean and median values. ROC analyses showed that TTR was a decent biomarker (AUC > 0.6) for 40 out of 48 diseases, and the highest AUCs were observed in sepsis (AUC 0.97), cirrhosis (AUC 0.97), and pancreatitis (AUC 0.94). Remarkably, the eight diseases with AUC < 0.6 were mainly kidney- and blood-related diseases with unconventional ROC curves and broad TTR concentration ranges. Furthermore, similar TTR concentration distributing patterns were present in the same category of diseases, such as different types of cancers, liver-related diseases, blood-related cancers and diseases, vascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, and kidney diseases.Conclusions: Significantly decreased TTR mean and median values were common in 47 out of 48 human diseases. The liver, kidney, blood, and pancreas were the major organs involved in regulating TTR concentrations. Systems swings between catabolic and anabolic phases explained the different dynamic TTR concentration ranges in different diseases. Overall facts plus ROC analysis indicated that TTR was a systems biomarker instead of a prognosis or malnutrition indicator used clinically during the past.
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in Rivers Under the Influence of Mining Activities
Authors: Rico-Sánchez Axel Eduardo , Rodríguez-Romero Alexis Joseph , Sedeño-Díaz Jacinto Elías , López-López Eugenia , Sundermann Andrea 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Mining is one of the main pollution issues worldwide, causing the greatest disturbances to the environment. Industrial and artisanal mining activities are widespread in Mexico, being a major global producer of various metals. This study aimed to assess the ecological impairments resulting from mining activities using the aquatic macroinvertebrates assemblages (MA). A multiple co-inertia analysis (MCOA) was applied to determine the relationships between environmental factors, habitat quality, heavy metals, and aquatic macroinvertebrates in two rivers of the Central Plateau, Mexico. The results revealed three contrasting environmental conditions and different MA. High concentrations of heavy metals, nutrients, and salinity limit the presence of various families of seemingly sensitive macroinvertebrates, these factors were identified as the drivers of structural changes in the MA, showing that not only mining activities, but also agriculture, and villages in the basin, exert negative effects to the macroinvertebrate communities. Diversity indices showed that the lowest diversity matched with both, the most polluted and the most saline rivers. The rivers studied displayed a high alkalinity and hardness, which can lead to the formation of metal precipitates and thus acting as a protection to aquatic biota. Aquatic biomonitoring in rivers, impacted by mining and other human activities, is critical for detecting the effect of metals and other pollutants to improve management and conservation strategies. This study supports the design of cost-effective and accurate water quality biomonitoring protocols in developing countries.
Foot Care Practice and Associated Factors among Patients with Lymphoedema in Boreda District, Gamo Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia, 2020. Implications for Elimination of Podoconiosis and Lymphatic Filariasis
Authors: Churko Chuchu , Yohanes Tsegaye , Kassahun Alemayehu Bekele , Desalign Nathan , Endashaw Gisila , Asfaw Mekuria Asnakew 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Lymphatic filariasis is ranked as the second leading cause of disability world-wide. The current global programme to eliminate lymphatic filariasis is based on the interruption of transmission and the alleviation of disability and suffering. Objective: to assess foot care practice and associated factors among lymphoedema patients in Boreda district, Gamo zone Southern Ethiopia.Methods: a community based cross sectional study was employed from December 2020 to June 2021 in Boreda district. Simple random sampling technique was used for selecting participants. Pretested structured interviewer administered questionnaire was prepared in English and translated to local language. Findings: a total of 280 lymphedema patients were involved in this study. More than half 153 (54.6%) had poor practice towards foot care practice with 95% CI (48.7%, 60.4%). Patients who fetched 50 litres or below and wore shoes at the age above 20 years were negatively associated with foot care practice, (AOR=0.383, 95%CI: 0.155, 0.945) and (AOR=0.261, 95%CI: 0.107, 0.63), respectively. Patients who owned only one pair and two pairs were negatively associated with foot care practice (AOR=0.04, 95%CI: 0.009, 0.182) and (AOR=0.27, 95%CI: 0.087, 0.85), respectively. On the other hand, attending LMMDP service and frequency of adenolymphangitis once and twice or more per month were positively associated with foot care practice (AOR= 3.339, 95%CI: 1.53, 7.285) and (AOR=8.15, 95% CI: 3.157, 21.058) and (AOR=9.35, 95% CI: 3.118, 28.059), respectively.Conclusion: this study indicated foot care practice among lymphedema patients in Boreda district was poor. Number of litre of water fetched per day, age at which shoes first worn, number of shoes owned, attending LMMDP and frequency of adenolymphangitis were significantly associated with foot care practice. Standard foot care practice should be emphasized to control progression of lymphedema.
Cross-neutralizing antibodies bind a SARS-CoV-2 cryptic site and resist to circulating variants
Authors: Li Tingting , Xue Wenhui , Zheng Qingbing , Song Shuo , Yang Chuanlai , Xiong Hua-Long , Zhang Sibo , Hong Minqing , Zhang Ya-Li , Yu Hai , Zhang Yuyun , Sun Hui , Huang Yang , Deng Tingting , Chi Xin , Li Jinjin , Wang Shaojuan , Zhou Lizhi , Chen Tingting , Wang Yingbin , Cheng Tong , Zhang Tian-Ying , Yuan Quan , Zhao Qinjian , Zhang Jun , McLellan Jason , Zhou Z. Hong , Zhang Zheng , Gu Ying , Li Shaowei , Xia Ningshao 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The emergence of numerous variants of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, has presented new challenges to the global efforts to control the still ravaging COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we obtain two cross-neutralizing antibodies (7D6 and 6D6) that target Sarbecoviruses’ receptor binding domain (RBD) with sub-picomolar affinities and potently neutralize authentic SARS-CoV-2. Crystal structures show that both antibodies bind a cryptic site different from that recognized by existing antibodies and highly conserved across Sarbecovirus isolates. Binding of these two antibodies to the RBD clashes with the adjacent N-terminal domain and disrupts the viral spike. Significantly, both antibodies confer good mutation resistance to the currently circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants. Thus, our results have direct relevance to public health as options for passive antibody therapeutics and even active prophylactics, and can also inform the design of pan-sarbecovirus vaccines.
A Novel Long-Range Deletion Spanning CDC73 and Upper-Stream Genes Discovered in a Kindred of Familial Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Yang Yi , Song An , Nie Min , Jiang Yan , Li Mei , Xia Weibo , Xing Xiaoping , Wang Ou , Hu Ya 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
PurposeTo confirm the exact break-point of a novel long-range deletion discovered in one female parathyroid carcinoma (PC) patient who has a strong family history suggesting familial hyperparathyroidism, and to investigate the expression of parafibromin in the patient’s affected lesion.MethodsClinical information of one female patient as well as five of her relatives were collected. Their genomic DNA extracted from peripheral blood went through Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA). After completing whole genome sequencing (WGS), clone sequencing was also performed, whose result was aligned with standard human genome database after Sanger sequencing.ResultsThe medical history of recurrent hypercalcemia after parathyroidectomy and histopathological investigation confirmed that the female patient with the diagnosis of PC. WGS displayed a novel 130kb long-range deletion spanning UCHL5 to CDC73 which was later confirmed by clone sequencing. MLPA showed similar results in four of her five relatives, suggesting these people to be carriers of the same long-range deletion, and three among them had a history of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) ahead of the proband’s first visit.Conclusion﻿We discovered a novel 130kb long-range deletion spanning CDC73 in a family of five-person, and the existence of the deletion was related to PHPT and PC. Our discovery validated the role of CDC73 mutation in the occurrence of PHPT and PC, which provided new information to the genetic studies of PC.
Nursing Managers’ Perspectives on Facilitators of and Barriers to Evidence-based Practice: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Hosseini-Moghaddam Fatemeh , Mohamadpour Ali , Bahri Narges , Mojalli Mohamad 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Evidence-based practice (EBP) is one of the most important ways to empower nursing. The perspective of nursing managers about EBP plays an important role in the process of accepting the use of EBP by nurses. On the other hand, identifying facilitator of and barriers to EBP is necessary to improve its implementation. This study aimed to determine the facilitators of and barriers to EBP from the perspective of Iranian nursing managers.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 335 top nursing managers, who were selected by stratified random sampling from Iranian universities of medical sciences, was studied. The research instruments included three electronic questionnaires for demographics, barriers and facilitators of EBP. Data were analyzed in SPSS software using descriptive statistics and appropriate analytical tests.Results: A total of 277 individuals participated in the study (response rate of 80%), 51.6% of them were female (n=143) with an average age of 43/6±7 years. Iranian nursing managers believed that organizational factors were the most important domain for both EBP facilitators (34.7± 9.2) and barriers (28.37±6.2). Furthermore, the most important facilitator of EBP was manager’s increased support and encouragement (4.23±1.19) and the most important barrier was physicians’ not cooperating with nurses in applying research results (3.80±1.29).Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed the most important facilitator of and barriers to EBP, and especially emphasized the key role of organizational factors in the implementation of EBP. Identifying facilitator and barriers and creating an organizational culture supporting evidence-based practice are effective interventions that result in improving the quality of nursing care.
Electroacupuncture inhibits hippocampal neuronal apoptosis and improves cognitive dysfunction in mice with vascular dementia via modulating JNK signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Yaru , Li Chunyan , Yan Zhenyang , Ren Yafei , Wang Woyu , Ke Yinze , Wang Yifan , Qi Rongming 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Nerve cell apoptosis is an important pathological mechanism of vascular dementia (VaD). There are evidences that Electroacupuncture (EA) can reduce cognitive impairment in VaD patients and protect nerve cells. However, the mechanism remains unknown. JNK signaling pathway play an important role in apoptosis. And JNK induces cell apoptosis in two main ways, namely JNK transcription-dependent pathway and JNK transcription-independent route. We focus on whether EA can inhibit apoptosis and alleviate cognitive impairment by regulating JNK signaling pathway.Method: In this study, Bilateral common carotid artery clipping (BCCAo) was used as a method to establish VaD mouse model. Longa scoring method and Morris water maze were used to evaluate whether EA could improve the behavioral score of VaD mice. The neuroprotective effects of EA were evaluated by the Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) staining, TUNEL and Flow Cytometry (FCM). Western blot and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of JNK-3, AP-1, P53, Bcl -2, Bax, and Caspase-3.Results: Our findings indicated that EA could improve the behavioral scores of VaD mice. VaD mice treated with EA reduced hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. In addition, EA could reduce the expression of JNK-3, AP-1, P53, Bax and Caspase-3 proteins and mRNA in the hippocampus of VaD mice, and increase the expression of Bcl-2.Conclusion: Our findings suggested that the mechanism of action of EA to treat VaD may be related to its regulation of JNK transcription-dependent pathway and JNK transcription-independent route.