bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nucleases as molecular targets for cancer diagnosis
Authors: Balian Alien , Hernandez Frank J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractEarly cancer diagnosis is a crucial element to improved treatment options and survival. Great research efforts have been made in the search for better performing cancer diagnostic biomarkers. However, the quest continues as novel biomarkers with high accuracy for an early diagnosis remain an unmet clinical need. Nucleases, which are enzymes capable of cleaving nucleic acids, have been long considered as potential cancer biomarkers. The implications of nucleases are key for biological functions, their presence in different cellular counterparts and catalytic activity led the enthusiasm towards investigating the role of nucleases as promising cancer biomarkers. However, the most essential feature of these proteins, which is their enzymatic activity, has not been fully exploited. This review discusses nucleases interrogated as cancer biomarkers, providing a glimpse of their physiological roles. Moreover, it highlights the potential of harnessing the enzymatic activity of cancer-associated nucleases as a novel diagnostic biomarker using nucleic acid probes as substrates.
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin does not originate from the kidney during reperfusion in clinical renal transplantation
Authors: Passov Arie , Ilmakunnas Minna , Pihlajoki Marjut , Hermunen Kethe , Lempinen Marko , Helanterä Ilkka , Kailari Villemikko , Heikinheimo Markku , Andersson Sture , Pesonen Eero 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a common clinical complication. Plasma/serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been proposed as a rapid marker of AKI. However, NGAL is not kidney-specific. It exists in three isoforms (monomeric, homo-dimeric and hetero-dimeric). Only the monomeric isoform is produced by renal tubular cells and plasma NGAL levels are confounded by the release of all NGAL isoforms from neutrophils. Our aim was to investigate whether NGAL is released into blood from injured renal tubules.

Methods
Kidney transplantation (n = 28) served as a clinical model of renal ischaemic injury. We used ELISA to measure NGAL concentrations at 2 minutes after kidney graft reperfusion in simultaneously taken samples of renal arterial and renal venous blood. Trans-renal gradients (venous–arterial) of NGAL were calculated. We performed Western blotting to distinguish between renal and non-renal NGAL isoforms. Liver-type fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) and heart-type fatty acid binding protein (HFABP) served as positive controls of proximal and distal tubular damage.

Results
Significant renal release of LFABP [trans-renal gradient 8.4 (1.7–30.0) ng/ml, p = 0.005] and HFABP [trans-renal gradient 3.7 (1.1–5.0) ng/ml, p = 0.003] at 2 minutes after renal graft reperfusion indicated proximal and distal tubular damage. NGAL concentrations were comparable in renal venous and renal arterial blood. Thus, there was no trans-renal gradient of NGAL. Western blotting revealed that the renal NGAL isoform represented only 6% of the total NGAL in renal venous blood.

Conclusions
Ischaemic proximal and distal tubular damage occurs in kidney transplantation without concomitant NGAL washout from the kidney graft into blood. Plasma/serum NGAL levels are confounded by the release of NGAL from neutrophils. Present results do not support the interpretation that increase in plasma NGAL is caused by release from the renal tubules.
Condition analysis of a multicopter carried with passive skid for rough terrain landing
Authors: Xu Maozheng , Senoo Taku , Takaki Takeshi 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis paper describes the condition analysis of a multicopter carried with a proposed device for rough terrain landing. Based on a multicopter carried with an electrical robot arm for grasping, we proposed a method to determine whether the skid-carried multicopter can land on an arbitrary slope or not. We established the static model of the entire device, and analyzed the conditions under which the arm and skid can contact the arbitrary plane and the COG (Center of Gravity), which includes the mass of passive skid, multicopter body and each link of the robot arm. Further, we proposed a method to analyze whether the entire device can land stably. By analyzing that the projection of the entire device’s COG is inside or outside the triangle, that comprises the contact point between the device and the uneven ground, we can determine whether the device can land successfully and the condition for capable landing is concluded. After the numerical analysis, the verification experiment is conducted, and by comparing the result of analysis with the experiment, the accuracy of the analysis can be demonstrated.
Bilberry/red grape juice decreases plasma biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage in aged men with subjective memory impairment –a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Bøhn Siv K. , Myhrstad Mari C. W. , Thoresen Magne , Erlund Iris , Vasstrand Ann Kristin , Marciuch Anne , Carlsen Monica H. , Bastani Nasser E. , Engedal Knut , Flekkøy Kjell M. , Blomhoff Rune 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Few randomized clinical trials have explored the health effects of bilberries in humans. The aim was to test the effect of bilberry and red grape-juice consumption on visual memory, motor speed and dexterity as well as inflammatory and tissue damage biomarkers of plasma in aged men with subjective memory impairment.

Methods
Nine-week double-blind, placebo-controlled, dietary intervention study of aged men (n = 60, age ≥ 67 years) with subjective memory impairment randomized to consume a 50/50 mix of bilberry/red grape-juice or an iso-caloric placebo juice. A selection of Cambridge Cognition Test Battery (CANTAB), Grooved Pegboard tests and blood-sampling for biomarker analysis were performed before and after the intervention.

Results
Compared to placebo the selected memory and motor test scores were un-affected by the bilberry/red grape intervention. However, the plasma levels of tissue damage biomarkers decreased significantly more in the bilberry/red grape group. In particular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased from 362 U/L (median, baseline) to 346 U/L (median, post intervention) in the bilberry/red grape group. Also, several biomarkers of inflammation (EGF, IL6, IL9, IL10 and TNFα) decreased significantly more in the bilberry/red grape group. Furthermore, several plasma polyphenols; p-coumaric acid, hippuric acid, protocatechuic acid, 3HPAA and vanillic acid, increased significantly more in the bilberry/red grape group compared to placebo with the largest increase in p-coumaric acid with 116%; from 2.2 [1.0,5.5] to 4.7 [2.8,8.1] μM/L (median [95% CL]).

Conclusions
The results indicate that a nine-week bilberry/red grape juice intervention has no measurable effects on the selected memory scores in aged men experiencing memory problems but decreases the level of biomarkers of inflammation and tissue damage. Whether the dampening effects on inflammation and tissue damage biomarkers have relevance for neuroinflammatory brain pathology remains to be established.

Trial registration
Registration number (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00972972), September 9, 2009.
Designing an ideal alcohol-based hand sanitizer: in vitro antibacterial responses of ethanol and isopropyl alcohol solutions to changing composition
Authors: Nzekwe Ifeanyi T. , Agwuka Onyedika I. , Okezie Moses U. , Fasheun Daniel O. , Nnamani Petra O. , Agubata Chukwuma O. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to achieve an in vitro quantification of the effects of composition and formulation factors on the killing rates of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. The killing rates of 85% ethyl alcohol (ET) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) were studied under different conditions such as pH, electrolyte concentration, or inclusion of herbal extracts (cucumber, carrot, and aloe vera), a quaternary ammonium compound, or thickener over different time intervals. Changes in the activities were retested after 3 months as an indication of stability. From two-way ANOVA, both the time of exposure and the sanitizer type affected the activity against Staphylococcus aureus (P = 0.001 for both alcohols), whereas for Escherichia coli, time of exposure was significant (P = 0.027), while sanitizer type was less significant (P = 0.063). Extreme pHs, the presence of ions, and the inclusion of additives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAC), plant extracts, or carbomer impacted the 3-month activity of the samples differently. Important differences existing in the activities of ET and IPA, as a function of formulation factors or use conditions have been quantified using in vitro methods. Formulations should best be tailored for particular purposes and the all-purpose hand sanitizer may not exist.
Graphic Abstract
Potential distribution of the primary malaria vector Anopheles gambiae Giles [Diptera: Culicidae] in Southwest Nigeria under current and future climatic conditions
Authors: Olabimi Isaac Omotayo , Ileke Kayode David , Adu Babasola Williams , Arotolu Temitope Emmanuel 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Mosquitoes are key vectors for the transmission of several diseases. Anopheles gambiae is known to transmit pathogens of malaria and filariasis. Due to several anthropogenic factors such as climate change and population growth leading to diverse land use, their distribution and disease spreading pattern may change. This study estimated the potential distribution and climatic suitability of An. gambiae under the present-day and future conditions across Southwest Nigeria using Ecological Niche Modelling (ENM). The future scenarios assessed were based on two general circulation models (GCMs), namely community climate system model 4 (CCSM4) and geophysical fluid dynamics laboratory-climate model 3 (GFDL-CM3), in two representative concentration pathways (RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5).

Methodology
The occurrence data were obtained from literatures that have reported the presence of An. gambiae mosquito species in locations within the study area. Ecological niche modelling data were processed and analysed using maximum entropy algorithm implemented in MaxEnt.

Result
Fifty-five (55) unique occurrences of An. gambiae were used in the model calibration after data cleaning. Data analysis for the present-day habitat suitability shows that more than two-thirds (81.71%) of the study area was observed to be suitable for An. gambiae population. However, the two future GCMs showed contrasting results. The CCSM4 models indicated a slight increase in both RCPs with 2.5 and 8.5 having 81.77 and 82.34% suitability, respectively. The reverse was the case for the GFDL-CM3 models as RCPs 2.5 and 8.5 had 78.86 and 76.86%.

Conclusion
This study revealed that the study area is climatically suitable for An. gambiae and will continue to be so in the future irrespective of the contrasting results from the GCMs used. Since vector population is often linked with their disease transmission capacity, proper measures must be put in place to mitigate disease incidences associated with the activities of An. gambiae.
Impact of dexamethasone added to intra-articular morphine and bupivacaine for postoperative analgesia after knee arthroscopy
Authors: Toulan Heba Fouad , Hammad Raafat Abdel-Azim , Talaat Amr Mohammed , Abd El-Haq Ahmed Abd El-Daeem 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Pain relief after knee arthroscopy is very important for early recovery and rehabilitation. The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of adding dexamethasone (8 mg) to intra-articular morphine (10 mg) and bupivacaine (25 mg) combination on postoperative pain after knee arthroscopy.

Results
We enrolled 40 patients, 18–65 years-old of both sexes, ASA I and II scheduled for minor arthroscopic knee surgeries. The study group showed a lower visual analog score at rest and movement, prolonged postoperative analgesia, and decreased total analgesic consumption compared with the control group (P value < 0.05).

Conclusions
Adding dexamethasone to intra-articular combination of morphine and bupivacaine after knee arthroscopy prolongs the duration of analgesia, lowers pain scores, and decreases total analgesic consumption with no detected adverse effects.
Development of the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool: Item Generation and Content Validity Testing
Authors: Handley Nathan R. , Binder Adam F. , Heyer Arianna , Granberg Rachel E. , Davis Garrison , Nord Garrison , Gentsch Alexzandra T. , Rising Kristin L. 
Published: November 2021

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop the Oncology Opportunity Cost Assessment Tool (OOCAT), a survey instrument to evaluate the opportunity costs patients experience when seeking medical oncology care. METHODS: Development of the OOCAT involved extensive patient engagement through both focus groups and interviews. First, the study team developed a list of opportunity cost concepts, which included patients' logistical and financial considerations related to seeking care. We conducted focus groups with patients to expand upon this list of concepts, and then developed a set of questions that incorporated all the concepts generated during the focus groups. To refine these questions, we next performed cognitive interviews with another set of patients to ensure content validity and clarity of instrument items, refining the OOCAT iteratively on the basis of feedback. RESULTS: We engaged 23 participants (17 patients and six caregivers) across four focus groups and 17 participants in cognitive interviews. Focus group participants generated 112 concepts, which resulted in an initial OOCAT with 16 questions. Cognitive interviews resulted in modification of 12 questions and addition of two questions (related to coordination of transportation and impact on home responsibilities). The final OOCAT consisted of 18 items examining time requirements for appointments, financial implications of traveling to appointments for the patient and the caregiver, and logistical and quality-of-life challenges associated with traveling for appointments. CONCLUSION: We developed the OOCAT, an instrument designed to evaluate patient-level opportunity costs of seeking medical oncology care. Further studies to validate the OOCAT are underway.
What's Really New about the Neoliberal University? The Business of American Education Has Always Been Business
Authors: Shermer Elizabeth Tandy 
Published: November 2021

AbstractJournalists, academics, and ordinary Americans wrongly bemoan the student debt and college financing crises as two separate unhappy endings to a mythical story of unprecedented postwar federal and state support for higher education. Rarely have they considered that either catastrophe has anything to do with the labor question. Yet the thousands of Americans in debt and the many colleges facing bankruptcy (even before the pandemic) are intertwined disasters, which reveal that Americans never had genuine economic security or basic social welfare, a basic truth that has historically hurt and still overwhelmingly harms residents of color, particularly women, who disproportionately hold the most debt. Colleges and universities have always had to rely on tuition and business support because they never received adequate sustained funding from lawmakers, who had far more interest in offering young people and their families ways to creatively finance tuition in order to get the credentials needed to just compete for well-paying work. Business needs and demands did a lot to shape postsecondary schools before the emergency of the neoliberal university, supposedly a late twentieth-century phenomenon. As such, seemingly radical solutions, like forgiving debts and unionizing adjuncts, are not enough to transform universities into the progressive strongholds that they never really were. Lawmakers, taxpayers, and faculty would have to embrace a complete overhaul of how higher education is funded as well as how students are assisted in studying.
Convergent validity and reliability of a novel repeated agility protocol in junior rugby league players
Authors: Nicholls Anthony , Leicht Anthony , Connor Jonathan , Halliday Aaron , Doma Kenji 
Published: November 2021

Background: : Rugby league involves repeated, complex, and high intensity change-of-direction (COD) movements with no existing test protocols that specifically assesses these multiple physical fitness components simultaneously. Thus, the current study examined the convergent validity of a repeated Illinois Agility (RIA) protocol with the repeated T-agility protocol, and the repeatability of the RIA protocol in adolescent Rugby League players. Furthermore, aerobic capacity and anaerobic and COD performance were assessed to determine whether these physical qualities were important contributors to the RIA protocol. Methods: Twenty-two junior Rugby League players completed 4 sessions with each separated by 7 days. Initially, physical fitness characteristics at baseline (i.e., Multi-stage Shuttle test, countermovement jump, 30-m sprint, single-effort COD and repeated sprint ability [RSA]) were assessed. The second session involved a familiarisation of RIA and repeated T-agility test (RTT) protocols. During the third and fourth sessions, participants completed the RIA and RTT protocols in a randomised, counterbalanced design to examine the validity and test-retest reliability of these protocols. Results: For convergent validity, significant correlations were identified between RIA and RTT performances (r= >0.80; p<0.05). For contributors to RIA performance, significant correlations were identified between all baseline fitness characteristics and RIA (r = >0.71; p < 0.05). Reliability of the RIA protocol was near perfect with excellent intra-class correlation coefficient (0.87-0.97), good ratio limits of agreement (×/÷ 1.05-1.06) and low coefficient of variations (1.8-2.0%). Conclusions: The current study has demonstrated the RIA to be a simple, valid and reliable field test for RL athletes that can provide coaches with information about their team’s ability to sustain high intensity, multi-directional running efforts.
Estimating the duration of seropositivity of human seasonal coronaviruses using seroprevalence studies
Authors: Rees Eleanor M. , Waterlow Naomi R. ,   Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Working Group, Lowe Rachel , Kucharski Adam J. 
Published: November 2021

Background: The duration of immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is still uncertain, but it is of key clinical and epidemiological importance. Seasonal human coronaviruses (HCoV) have been circulating for longer and, therefore, may offer insights into the long-term dynamics of reinfection for such viruses. Methods: Combining historical seroprevalence data from five studies covering the four circulating HCoVs with an age-structured reverse catalytic model, we estimated the likely duration of seropositivity following seroconversion. Results: We estimated that antibody persistence lasted between 0.9 (95% Credible interval: 0.6 - 1.6) and 3.8 (95% CrI: 2.0 - 7.4) years. Furthermore, we found the force of infection in older children and adults (those over 8.5 [95% CrI: 7.5 - 9.9] years) to be higher compared with young children in the majority of studies. Conclusions: These estimates of endemic HCoV dynamics could provide an indication of the future long-term infection and reinfection patterns of SARS-CoV-2.
Ultrasound investigation in pregnant women with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Medvedeva M. , Tertyshnyk D. , Safonova I. , Lazurenko V. , Borzenko I. 
Published: November 2021

Introduction. Ultrasound (US) has been used in obstetrics for more than 30 years and is considered to be reliable, simple, quick in results, painless and cheap method. The aim: to optimize the use of US in childbirth in pregnant women with diabetes and determine the outcome of childbirth, taking into account the condition of the fetus and newborn. Materials and methods. 52 pregnant women, among them 32 with diabetes mellitus (pre-gestational diabetes was in 20 persons and 12 persons had gestational diabetes) have been examined. The average age of pregnant women in the main group was 29.8 ± 5.4 years, in the control group - 25.7 ± 4.3 years. All women in the main and control groups were primiparous. The gestation period in the main group was 39.1 ± 0.5 weeks [38.0; 39.6], in the control group - 39.5 ± 0.7 [38.4; 40.5] weeks. Clinical-laboratory and instrumental examinations were made. Control group consisted of 20 physiologically pregnant women. To determine the condition and size of the fetus and its progress in labor, immediately at the end of the first and during the second staage of labor, transabdominal and transperineal US and Doppler examination were performed with device HD 11 XE Phillips (USA). Results. Pregnant women with diabetes are more likely to have a pathological second stage of labors due to macrosomia and problems with the birth of the fetus, as evidenced by the lack of increased angle of progress and decreased head-perineal distance. The data obtained indicate the prospects of using ultrasound in childbirth as an objective non-invasive method for predicting the likelihood of vaginal birth, which will reduce operative delivery and perinatal pathology. Conclusions. The use of ultrasound in childbirth in women with diabetes and diabetic fetopathy can determine the possibility of complications in the promotion of the fetus, including clinical narrow pelvis, shoulder dystocia, the occurrence of distress, as evidenced by the Apgar scale and CLS. Intraparietal ultrasound helps to guide the plan of childbirth, reduce the frequency of cesarean delivery, perinatal morbidity and mortality, and birth trauma.
Experience of psychiatry distance teaching to english speaking international students
Authors: Oprya Ye. , Melnyk E. , Pustovoyt M. , Chernova T. , Goryachev P. 
Published: November 2021

The article describes the difficulties of transition to distance learning (DL) at a medical university when students pass clinical disciplines, using the example of the subject of "psychiatry". The negative impact of the pandemic on international cooperation in the field of education and science was also noted, in particular, attracting foreign students to further education.
Based on the above, the following tasks were set: to study the features of the transition to distance learning the subject of "psychiatry" at the Odessa National Medical University, to identify the features of distance work with English-speaking foreign students during their learning of this discipline and to present proposals for optimizing this process.
During the transition to DL, a significant decrease in the quality of education was noticed during the absence of an existing learning management system, since this transition was a certain stress for all participants in the educational process, both students and teachers. Significant problems have arisen in the DL of clinical disciplines for English-speaking students. The greatest difficulty is the teaching of psychiatry, since it is difficult to explain to students in English not only the description of psychopathological symptoms and syndromes, but also the mental characteristics of people with other nationalities. It is proposed to use movies, with the main heroes suffering from mental disorders, as a thematic guide for mastering practical skills. Although some of the positive aspects of DL have been noted by medical students, they agree to DL only as a forced short-term measure.