bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Arthroscopic triangular fibrocartilage complex reconstruction with free tendon graft for chronic distal radioulnar joint instability
Authors: Yeh Kuang-Ting , Shih Jui-Tien 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Tears in the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) often manifest as ulnar wrist pain and limited wrist function. In chronic cases, the treatment of large tears with irreparable TFCC degeneration combined with distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) instability is difficult. In the current report, we describe the outcomes of a minimally invasive technique for TFCC reconstruction using the free palmaris longus (PL) tendon via arthroscopy.

Methods
We examined the cases of 67 adult patients [54 men and 13 women; age range, 19–34 years (mean age, 26.4 years)] treated for chronic and irreparable TFCC tears from 2001 to 2019. We used the arthroscopic TFCC reconstruction method with the free PL tendon for all chronic and irreparable TFCC injuries with DRUJ instability in our clinic. Thereafter, the patients underwent the rehabilitation program, which included wrist motion and occupational therapy. The mean time period from the event causing the tear to the operation was 22.6 months.

Results
The function results of these patients significantly improved, and the ulnar wrist pain significantly decreased at postoperative follow-up. Of the 67 patients, 38 rated their wrists as “excellent,” 26 as “good,” and 3 as “fair.” None of the patients developed wound infections or complications.

Conclusions
The results of this study suggest that arthroscopic TFCC reconstruction using the free PL tendon is an effective method for treating chronic and irreparable TFCC tears with DRUJ instability.
A systematic review of the effect of sleep interventions on presenteeism
Authors: Takano Yuta , Iwano Suguru , Aoki Shuntaro , Nakano Norihito , Sakano Yuji 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Sleep problems interfere with work performance. Decreased work productivity due to health problems is defined as presenteeism. Although empirical data on the improvement of presenteeism by sleep interventions have been published, a systematic review elucidating whether there is a difference in the improvement of presenteeism across various types of sleep interventions has not yet been published. This systematic review of studies aimed to clarify which sleep interventions are more likely to be effective in improving presenteeism.

Methods
The electronic databases PubMed, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE were used to perform a literature search (the start and end search dates were October 20, 2019, and March 11, 2020, respectively). A combination of terms such as “employee*,” “sleep,” “insomnia,” and “presenteeism” was used for the search. Both randomized and non-randomized control trials were included in this systematic review.

Results
Six types of sleep interventions were identified, including cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), sleep hygiene education, yoga, mindfulness, weight loss program, and changing the color temperature of fluorescent lights in the workplace. Only CBT-I improved both sleep problems and presenteeism compared with a control group. The results of this review also show that there is heterogeneity in the measurement of presenteeism.

Conclusions
The results of this systematic review suggested that CBT-I could be adapted for workers with sleep problems and presenteeism. We discussed whether CBT-I improved both sleep problems and presenteeism compared with other interventions. In addition, methods for measuring presenteeism in future research are proposed.
CXCL14 facilitates the growth and metastasis of ovarian carcinoma cells via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Gao Li-Na , Hao Man , Liu Xiao-Hui , Zhang Li , Dong Yan , Zhang Yu-Fang , He Xiao-Chun 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
There is an urgent need to identify potential targets in anticancer therapy to improve the survival and prognosis of patients with ovarian cancer (OC). Herein, we investigated the functional significance of chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14 (CXCL14) in OC cell growth and epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT).

Methods
qRT PCR and western blotting was used to detect CXCL14 mRNA level and protein expression, respectively. The functional mechanism of CXCL14 in OC was investigated by CCK-8, colony formation and transwell assays. The migration ability of OC cell was determined using wound healing. The protein expressions of CXCL14 and β-catenin in OC tissues were determined by immumohistochemical staining.

Results
We demonstrated that high levels of CXCL14 were associated with a worse prognosis in patients with OC. CXCL14 knockdown considerably restrained the growth, migration and invasion of OC cell in vitro. In contrast, ectopic CXCL14 overexpression yielded the opposite results. Investigations to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms revealed that the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is involved in CXCL14-facilitated OC cell invasiveness.

Conclusion
These data collectively demonstrate that CXCL14 contributes to OC cell growth and metastatic potential by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Background frequency can enhance the prognostication power of EEG patterns categories in comatose cardiac arrest survivors: a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study
Authors: Kim Youn-Jung , Kim Min-Jee , Kim Yong Hwan , Youn Chun Song , Cho In Soo , Kim Su Jin , Wee Jung Hee , Park Yoo Seok , Oh Joo Suk , Lee Dong Hoon , Kim Won Young ,   the Korean Hypothermia Network Investigators, Kim Ji Hoon , Park Kyu Nam , Jeong Won Jung , Choi Seung Pill , Lee Mi Jin , Lee Jong-Seok , Kim Su Jin , Jang Tae Chang , Kim Inbyung , Kim Yong Hwan , Kim Won Young , Shin Jonghwan , Lee Ji Hwan , Moon Hyung Jun , Kim Giwoon , Choi Wook-jin , Oh Joo Suk , Han Chul , Lee Byung Kook , Jeong Taeoh , Lee Dong Hoon , Hong Min Jin , Cho Gyu Chong , Lee Young Hwan , Sohn Youdong , Cho In Soo , You Je Sung , Kim Changsun , Cha Kyoung-Chul , Cho Soo Hyung 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
We assessed the prognostic accuracy of the standardized electroencephalography (EEG) patterns (“highly malignant,” “malignant,” and “benign”) according to the EEG timing (early vs. late) and investigated the EEG features to enhance the predictive power for poor neurologic outcome at 1 month after cardiac arrest.

Methods
This prospective, multicenter, observational, cohort study using data from Korean Hypothermia Network prospective registry included adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) treated with targeted temperature management (TTM) and underwent standard EEG within 7 days after cardiac arrest from 14 university-affiliated teaching hospitals in South Korea between October 2015 and December 2018. Early EEG was defined as EEG performed within 72 h after cardiac arrest. The primary outcome was poor neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category score 3–5) at 1 month.

Results
Among 489 comatose OHCA survivors with a median EEG time of 46.6 h, the “highly malignant” pattern (40.7%) was most prevalent, followed by the “benign” (33.9%) and “malignant” (25.4%) patterns. All patients with the highly malignant EEG pattern had poor neurologic outcomes, with 100% specificity in both groups but 59.3% and 56.1% sensitivity in the early and late EEG groups, respectively. However, for patients with “malignant” patterns, 84.8% sensitivity, 77.0% specificity, and 89.5% positive predictive value for poor neurologic outcome were observed. Only 3.5% (9/256) of patients with background EEG frequency of predominant delta waves or undetermined had good neurologic survival. The combination of “highly malignant” or “malignant” EEG pattern with background frequency of delta waves or undetermined increased specificity and positive predictive value, respectively, to up to 98.0% and 98.7%.

Conclusions
The “highly malignant” patterns predicted poor neurologic outcome with a high specificity regardless of EEG measurement time. The assessment of predominant background frequency in addition to EEG patterns can increase the prognostic value of OHCA survivors.
Trial registration KORHN-PRO, NCT02827422. Registered 11 September 2016—Retrospectively registered.
Promotech: a general tool for bacterial promoter recognition
Authors: Chevez-Guardado Ruben , Peña-Castillo Lourdes 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPromoters are genomic regions where the transcription machinery binds to initiate the transcription of specific genes. Computational tools for identifying bacterial promoters have been around for decades. However, most of these tools were designed to recognize promoters in one or few bacterial species. Here, we present Promotech, a machine-learning-based method for promoter recognition in a wide range of bacterial species. We compare Promotech’s performance with the performance of five other promoter prediction methods. Promotech outperforms these other programs in terms of area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC) or precision at the same level of recall. Promotech is available at https://github.com/BioinformaticsLabAtMUN/PromoTech.
Experimental induction of necrotic enteritis with or without predisposing factors using netB positive Clostridium perfringens strains
Authors: Mohiuddin Mudassar , Yuan Weikang , Song Zhongfeng , Liao Shenquan , Qi Nanshan , Li Juan , Lv Minna , Wu Caiyan , Lin Xuhui , Hu Junjing , Cai Haiming , Sun Mingfei 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Poultry necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease caused by C. perfringens. The disease causing ability of this bacterium is linked with the production of a wide variety of toxins. Among them, necrotic enteritis B-like (NetB) toxin is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of NE; in addition there is some circumstantial evidence that tpeL toxin may enhance virulence, but this is yet to be definitely shown. The situation becomes more complicated in the presence of a number of predisposing factors like co-infection with coccidia, type of diet and use of high protein diet. These co-factors alter the intestinal environment, thereby favoring the production of more toxins, leading to a more severe disease. The objective of this study was to develop a successful animal model that would induce clinical signs and lesions of NE using C. perfringens type G strains obtained from field outbreaks. A separate trial was simultaneously considered to establish the role of dietary factor with coccidial co-infection in NE.

Results
The results have shown that use of net-B positive C. perfringens without predisposing factors induce moderate to severe NE (Av. Lesion score 1.79 ± 1.50). In a separate trial, addition of fish meal to a feed of C. perfringens challenged birds produced higher number of NE cases (Av. Lesion score 2.17 ± 1.28). However, use of less virulent E. necatrix strain along with fish meal in conjunction with net-B positive strain did not alter the severity of NE lesions in specific pathogen free chicken (Av. Lesion score 2.21 ± 1.13).

Conclusions
This study suggests that virulent C. perfringens type G strains can induce NE lesions in the absence of other predisposing factors. Birds in the clostridia challenged group showed moderate to severe NE lesions. Use of less virulent coccidia strain contributed to a lesser extent in increasing the severity of disease. Maize based diet along with fishmeal (1:1) increased the severity of lesions but statistically it was non-significant. The NE lesions in all experimental groups were found to be present more frequently in the duodenum. In this way, this study provided an effective model for in vivo production of NE in poultry birds.
Collecting quantitative experimental data from a non-WEIRD population: challenges and practical recommendations from a field experiment in rural Sierra Leone
Authors: Luetke Lanfer Hanna , Reifegerste Doreen , Kargbo Sorie Ibrahim 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Objective
Standardized pretest–posttest experimental designs with quantitative surveys are frequently applied to evaluate the effectiveness of health programs. However, this method is strongly informed by research on samples from Western, Educated, Industralized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) societies and may not produce meaningful results in a distinct cultural, educational and socioeconomic context.

Results
This paper reports several methodological challenges encountered along the research process of collecting quantitative survey data (i.e., during recruitment, obtaining informed consent, matching pretest–posttest data and data collection) for a mixed-methods field experiment on domestic handwashing in Sierra Leone. Ethical dilemmas of certain research practices are pointed out and potential solutions or alternatives are recommended for each challenge. Analysis of these challenges highlights the importance of reflecting on the aptness of research methodologies for non-WEIRD samples. While this is not to say that quantitative surveys are not suitable in a non-WEIRD context, their employment require considerable time for extensive pilot testing, involving local interviewers and participants in designing research projects and the modification of data collection strategies.
Epigenetic modelling of former, current and never smokers
Authors: Langdon Ryan J. , Yousefi Paul , Relton Caroline L. , Suderman Matthew J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundDNA methylation (DNAm) performs excellently in the discrimination of current and former smokers from never smokers, where AUCs > 0.9 are regularly reported using a single CpG site (cg05575921;AHRR). However, there is a paucity of DNAm models which attempt to distinguish current, former and never smokers as individual classes. Derivation of a robust DNAm model that accurately distinguishes between current, former and never smokers would be particularly valuable to epidemiological research (as a more accurate smoking definition vs. self-report) and could potentially translate to clinical settings. Therefore, we appraise 4 DNAm models of ternary smoking status (that is, current, former and never smokers): methylation at cg05575921 (AHRR model), weighted scores from 13 CpGs created by Maas et al. (Maas model), weighted scores from a LASSO model of candidate smoking CpGs from the literature (candidate CpG LASSO model), and weighted scores from a LASSO model supplied with genome-wide 450K data (agnostic LASSO model). Discrimination is assessed by AUC, whilst classification accuracy is assessed by accuracy and kappa, derived from confusion matrices.ResultsWe find that DNAm can classify ternary smoking status with reasonable accuracy, including when applied to external data. Ternary classification using only DNAm far exceeds the classification accuracy of simply assigning all classes as the most prevalent class (63.7% vs. 36.4%). Further, we develop a DNAm classifier which performs well in discriminating current from former smokers (agnostic LASSO model AUC in external validation data: 0.744). Finally, across our DNAm models, we show evidence of enrichment for biological pathways and human phenotype ontologies relevant to smoking, such as haemostasis, molybdenum cofactor synthesis, body fatness and social behaviours, providing evidence of the generalisability of our classifiers.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that DNAm can classify ternary smoking status with close to 65% accuracy. Both the ternary smoking status classifiers and current versus former smoking status classifiers address the present lack of former smoker classification in epigenetic literature; essential if DNAm classifiers are to adequately relate to real-world populations. To improve performance further, additional focus on improving discrimination of current from former smokers is necessary.
Evaluating volatile organic compounds from Chinese traditional handmade paper by SPME-GC/MS
Authors: Ding Li , Yang Qin , Liu Jianhui , Lee Zheng 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Once printed, books are always accompanied by the smells of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are continuously emitted not only by inks but also by papers themselves throughout their lives. Although the VOCs from papers may bring mild discomfort to readers, they are considered as very important factors that feature the degradation of papers and show potential applications in cultural relic appraisal. In this study, an analytical approach based on solid phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC/MS) was proposed for the evaluation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by Chinese traditional handmade papers. The VOCs evaluations and artificial aging processes were both applied to recent-made papers and naturally aged papers from a traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting scroll (collected by the National Museum of China). To be noticed, a large number of aliphatic acids, aldehydes, ketones, furan derivatives, benzene series and terpenoid substances indicated that the VOCs signals not only reveal the degradation of paper but also tentatively reflect the storage environment along hundreds of years ago. The semi-quantitative evaluation of markers indicated that the historical paper is under a serious degradation due to the high capacity it releases. Our results provided a path way to get the degradation information of ancient paintings as well as potential realistic applications such as the conservation of paper-based relics and the environmental protection in libraries and museums.
CRISPR/Cas9 mediated editing of the Quorn fungus Fusarium venenatum A3/5 by transient expression of Cas9 and sgRNAs targeting endogenous marker gene PKS12
Authors: Wilson Fiona M. , Harrison Richard J. 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 is a widely used tool for precise gene modification, modulating gene expression and introducing novel proteins, and its use has been reported in various filamentous fungi including the genus Fusarium. The aim of this study was to optimise gene editing efficiency using AMA1 replicator vectors for transient expression of CRISPR constituents in Fusarium venenatum (A3/5), used commercially in the production of mycoprotein (Quorn™).

Results
We present evidence of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene editing in Fusarium venenatum, by targeting the endogenous visible marker gene PKS12, which encodes a polyketide synthase responsible for the synthesis of the pigment aurofusarin. Constructs for expression of single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) were cloned into an AMA1 replicator vector incorporating a construct for constitutive expression of cas9 codon-optimised for Aspergillus niger or F. venenatum. Vectors were maintained under selection for transient expression of sgRNAs and cas9 in transformed protoplasts. 100% gene editing efficiency of protoplast-derived isolates was obtained using A. niger cas9 when sgRNA transcription was regulated by the F. venenatum 5SrRNA promoter. In comparison, expression of sgRNAs using a PgdpA-ribozyme construct was much less effective, generating mutant phenotypes in 0–40% of isolates. Viable isolates were not obtained from protoplasts transformed with an AMA1 vector expressing cas9 codon-optimised for F. venenatum.

Conclusions
Using an AMA1 replicator vector for transient expression of A. niger cas9 and sgRNAs transcribed from the native 5SrRNA promoter, we demonstrate efficient gene editing of an endogenous marker gene in F. venenatum, resulting in knockout of gene function and a visible mutant phenotype in 100% of isolates. This establishes a platform for further development of CRISPR/Cas technology in F. venenatum for use as a research tool, for understanding the controls of secondary metabolism and hyphal development and validating prototypes of strains produced using traditional methods for strain improvement.
Compromised maternal nutritional status in early pregnancy and its relation to the birth size in young rural Indian mothers
Authors: Gokhale Devaki , Rao Shobha 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Low birth weight is highly prevalent in rural India. As a chronic undernutrition problem, poor birth outcomes are closely related to various nutritional factors more prominently the poor maternal anthropometry at conception. The purpose of the study was to identify how compromised maternal nutritional status in early pregnancy affects the birth size of rural Indian mothers.

Methods
It was a prospective observational study on singleton pregnant women (n = 204) from 14 villages in Mulshi Taluka of Pune District, Maharashtra, India. Maternal weight (Wt), height (Ht), body fat percent (BF%), head circumference (HC), and sitting height (SHT) were measured at early pregnancy (< 13 weeks of gestation) and infants’ weight and length were measured within 24 h of birth. Groups means were tested using a ‘t’ test while the trend in means was tested using ANOVA.

Results
Mothers were young (21.46 ± 2.09 yrs), thin (46.46 ± 6.1 kg), short (153.39 ± 5.79 cm), and poorly nourished (19.74 ± 2.41 kg/m2). Mean birth weight was low (2655 ± 507 g) and prevalence of LBW and stunting at birth was highest among mothers in the lower tertile of each of the anthropometric indicators. In particular, stunting was significantly higher for mothers in lower tertile compared to higher tertile of Wt (44.6 Vs 64.6%) and was also true for HC (43.7 Vs 60.6%). Risk for LBW and stunting at birth was almost similar and was significant (p < 0.01) for mothers in the lower tertile of Wt, Ht, BMI, SHT, HC, and BF% as compared to those in the higher tertile of these measurements.

Conclusion
All the anthropometric indicators of current undernutrition at first trimester as well as that in utero reflected by smaller HC, impose risk for LBW and stunting at birth especially among young rural mothers.
An open-access and inexpensive 3D printed otoscope for low-resource settings and health crises
Authors: Capobussi Matteo , Moja Lorenzo 
Published: November 2021

AbstractLimited access to key diagnostic tools is detrimental to priority health needs of populations. Ear pain, tenderness, itching, and different degree of hearing loss are common problems which require otoscopy as first diagnostic assessment. Where an otoscope is not available because of budget constraints, a self-fabricated low-cost otoscope might represent a feasible opportunity. In this paper, we share the design and construction process of an open-source, 3D printed, otoscope. The prototype was compared to a commercial solution, demonstrating similar overall quality between the instruments.