bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Controlling the Impact of Bentonite Microbial Communities in Disposal of Radioactive Wastes
Authors: Rose Max , Bailey Matt , Boothman Chris , Engelberg Dirk , Morris Katherine , Shaw Sam , Lloyd Jonathan 
Published: October 2023

Disposal in a geological disposal facility (GDF) is the preferred route for the world’s growing inventory of nuclear wastes. Bentonite clay is a common component of the engineered barrier system, serving to isolate and stabilise the high heat-generating waste packages in the geosphere (Stroes-Gascoyne et al. 2010).
Bentonites naturally contain sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) (Haynes et al. 2021), which in the presence of the correct substrates, produce H2S that is highly corrosive to metals (such as steel waste packages). Sulfate, the electron acceptor, is present in most groundwaters, and the corrosion of steel produces hydrogen, an electron donor (Bagnoud et al. 2016). Compacting bentonite on deposition can restrict GDF microbial activity, since swelling pressures upon saturation restrict the available porosity for microbes (Masurat et al. 2010). Additionally, groundwater chemical conditions may impact bentonite mechanical properties (e.g., the effect of salinity on swelling capacity (He et al. 2019), and the energetics of bacterial metabolism (Oren 1999).
This work uses bentonite SRB enrichment cultures to assess parameters that control microbial metabolism, and the relative contribution of microbially influenced corrosion (MIC), versus chemical corrosion of steel (Fig. 1). This will provide evidence to underpin lines of argument and models used in the safety assessments for geological disposal. Experiments described include microcosm incubations containing bentonite slurries across a range of salinity, and pressure cell bioreactors to evaluate the above conditions in the context of a compacted bentonite barrier system. Initial results show that in the presence of lactate as an electron donor, slurry systems with bentonite, low-carbon steel and sulfate-containing groundwater provide the essential nutrients for the proliferation of an MIC-inducing community (Fig. 2). Experiments have also shown that in such systems, increasing the groundwater NaCl concentration inhibits microbial activity during the 3-month experimental duration.
Additionally, SRB have been shown to reduce priority radionuclides, such as selenium (Nancharaiah and Lens 2015). Selenium is a priority radionuclide in high-level waste, and in its highest oxidation states, selenate (Se(VI)) and selenite (Se(IV)), it is highly soluble and therefore mobile in the environment. Early experiments have shown that when an electron donor is present in microcosms containing bentonite and groundwater, bentonite-native SRB may be capable of reducing soluble selenium down to insoluble Se(0), restricting its environmental mobility.
Integrative Genomics Sheds Light on Global Deep Terrestrial Biosphere Communities
Authors: González-Rosales Carolina , Rezaei Somee Maryam , Bertilsson Stefan , Mehrshad Maliheh , Dopson Mark 
Published: October 2023

Active microbial lineages inhabit the deep terrestrial subsurface (Fry et al. 1997, Lopez-Fernandez et al. 2018) with estimates suggesting deep subsurface ecosystems to host ca. 90% of the total bacterial and archaeal biomass on Earth and about 10-20% of all terrestrial biomass (McMahon and Parnell 2014, Bar-On et al. 2018, Magnabosco et al. 2018, Drake and Reiners 2021). This highlights deep subsurface ecosystems as a vast reservoir of genetic innovation that remains poorly characterized. The biological diversity of deep subsurface ecosystems seem to be influenced by parameters such as temperature, pressure, water residence times, and geochemistry (Drake and Reiners 2021).
The deep subsurface environment remains underrepresented in metagenomic databases, and yet the publicly available datasets are not synoptically analyzed in an integrated way. In this project, we collected a large set of publicly available and published metagenomes, published metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) as well as single cell amplified genomes (SAGs) originating from global deep oligotrophic terrestrial subsurface samples (&gt;70 m). Reconstructed MAGs/SAGs from this survey were integrated in to our own existing Fennoscandian Shield Genomic Database (FSGD) (Holmfeldt et al. 2021, Mehrshad et al. 2021). This expanded global database of the deep oligotrophic terrestrial subsurface contains &gt;4000 MAGs/SAGs. In this dataset, representatives of phyla Firmicutes, Desulfobacterota, Patescibacteria, and Chlroflexota were the most prevalent taxa. The presence of Candidatus Desulforudis audaxviator across different continents and samples highlighted its adaptation to different deep biosphere environments. In addition, novel bacterial lineages at the class level were identified in several locations, pointing to the importance and necessity of further studies to characterize deep biosphere microbial diversity.
This extensive study of the global deep oligotrophic terrestrial subsurface will reveal whether deep terrestrial populations are ubiquitous and how their distribution patterns are affected by different physicochemical variables such as water types and geology. By Identifying key populations present across multiple global groundwaters, our study will advance our understanding of the global diversity hosted in deep oligotrophic terrestrial subsurface ecosystems.
12-Month Outcomes of Small Incision Lenticule Extraction With Proper Head Positioning but No Reference Marking for the Correction of Astigmatism
Authors: Chuckpaiwong Varintorn , Chansue Ekktet , Lekhanont Kaevalin , Tanehsakdi Morakot , Jongkhajornpong Passara , Nonpassopon Manachai 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
To investigate the 12-month outcomes of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) with proper head positioning but no reference marking for correcting astigmatism.

Methods:
This was a retrospective cohort study of 3,541 patients (5,953 eyes) who underwent SMILE between July 2010 and April 2021. Patient positioning on the treatment bed was meticulously done in every patient to avoid face turn, head tilt, and chin-up or chin-down posture. The corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), manifest refraction, astigmatic outcomes, and adverse events were evaluated at 1, 3, and 12 months postoperatively.

Results:

The mean preoperative manifest spherical equivalent and manifest cylinder were −5.15 ± 2.24 diopters (D) (range: −0.13 to −12.88 D) and −1.00 ± 0.77 D (range: −0.25 and −6.00 D), respectively. Of all eyes, 88.4% and 98.6% had the spherical equivalent within ±0.50 and ±1.00 D of emmetropia at 12 months. The percentage of eyes with UDVA of 20/20 or better was 92.5%. Six eyes (0.1%) lost two or more lines of CDVA at the 12-month visit. The predictability of cylinder correction was excellent, with 88.1% within ±0.50 D and 98.9% within ± 1.00 D of astigmatism correction at 12 months. The mean correction index (CI) at 12 months was 1.09 ± 0.45 (range: 0.17 to 4.99), indicating a slight astigmatism overcorrection. The high cylinder group tended to have undercorrection with greater residual astigmatism, whereas the low cylinder group was likely to have overcorrection with lesser residual astigmatism (
P
< .001). No serious adverse events were observed.

Conclusions:
SMILE with proper head positioning but no reference marking produces safe, efficient, predictable, and stable outcomes for astigmatism correction over a 12-month period.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2023;39(10):683–692.]
New Nitinol-based Thermomechanically Adjustable IOL Technology
Authors: Lapid-Gortzak Ruth , Kohnen Thomas , Israeli Nir , Mitsel Philip , Shmukler Vadim 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
To evaluate the feasibility of new adjustable intraocular lens (IOL) technology.

Methods:
The foldable adjustable IOL consists of a nitinol mechanism placed in a haptic-optic cradle. Heating actuators on the nitinol mechanism with a continuous green laser achieve controlled movement of the mechanism and optic. Activation occurs in controlled steps: rotation in 1-degree steps over 360 degrees, and anterior posterior movement in 0.25-diopter (D) steps with a range of +1.50 D. The IOL was tested in vitro and in vivo in a rabbit eye. Foldability and unfolding were demonstrated through a 2.6-mm cartridge.

Results:
The adjustable lens mechanism was successfully tested in vitro and in vivo. Activation resulted in a change in optic position relative to the haptics and the capsular bag. Activation of the lever and ratchet mechanism showed radial advancement of the IOL clockwise and counterclockwise. In vivo rotatory movement was achieved after activation by the argon laser at 1 week after implantation. Anterior to posterior movement was accomplished by activating the circular spring actuator mechanism in the laboratory model. Uneventful folding and unfolding were performed.

Conclusions:
A new adjustable IOL with a mechanism that responds in measured steps had been shown to move as planned after activation by argon laser. This was successful in the laboratory in both radial and anterior posterior movement. The radial movement was also proven in vivo in an animal model. Further refinement of the prototype is currently being undertaken.

[
J Refract Surg
. 2023;39(10):662–667.]
Health-related quality of life among children/adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Osuolale Kazeem , Salako Abideen , Musa Adesola , Odubela Oluwatosin , Adepoju-Olajuwon Fatimah , David Agatha , Gbaja-Biamila Tiitilola , Ezechi Oliver , Salako Babatunde 
Published: October 2023

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is commonly used to assess the impact of health status on quality of life. The HRQL data obtained does not follow the assumption of normality and a non-parametric test was used to make inference in this study. This study compares the characteristics of children with HRQL classified as good, intermediate, and poor quality of life. The children and adolescents that have a good health-related quality of life had a mean rank of 75.5, intermediate, 27.0 while children and adolescents with poor HRQL had a mean rank of 8.5. The health -related quality of life differs significantly across the demographic characteristics. However, tertiary education does not differ significantly on HRQL. The Kruskal-Wallis’s chi-squared was 76.95 with two degrees of freedom and p-value < 2.2e-16. The p-value < 0.05 indicates sufficient evidence that HRQL of children and adolescents differs significantly across the three categories. Conclusively, children and adolescents in the three categories have different quality of life. It is clear that most of the children and adolescents had a good health-related quality of life once they have been taking their drugs regularly as prescribed by the physician.
Keywords: Quality of life; Kruskal-Wallis analysis; children.
Associations of blood glucose, helper T cells and cytokine levels with degree of periodontal lesion in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients accompanied by chronic periodontitis
Authors: Wang Cheng , Zhou Bing 
Published: October 2023

Background: To explore the associations of blood glucose with degree of periodontal lesions in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accompanied by chronic periodontitis (CP).
Methods: Sixty-five eligible patients were included as a T2DM+CP group, another 65 patients with T2DM alone were included as a T2DM group, and another 65 patients with CP alone were included as a CP group. Their blood glucose, insulin, Th cells and cytokine levels and periodontal indices were compared. The correlations between each index and periodontal indices were analysed. The influencing factors for T2DM accompanied by CP were explored.
Results: The levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting insulin (FINS) and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) of T2DM+CP, T2DM and CP groups followed a descending order (P<0.05). FPG, HbA1c, FINS, CD4+ Th1 cell, CD4+ Th17 cell, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-17 (IL-17) all had positive correlations with gingival index, bleeding index, probing depth and attachment loss in T2DM patients accompanied by CP (P<0.05). Periodontal lesions were more severe in T2DM patients accompanied by CP, and the severity was positively correlated with the levels of FPG, HbA1c, Th1, Th17, IFN-γ and IL-17.
Conclusion: High levels of FPG, HbA1c, IFN-γ and IL-17 are independent risk factors for T2DM accompanied by CP.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus; chronic periodontitis; blood glucose; helper T cell; cytokine; periodontal lesion.
Study on effectiveness analysis of multi-media combined with PBL teaching in breast surgery
Authors: Zhang Xusheng , Guo Yiqing , Wang Ji , Zhang Xudong , Cheng Junsheng , Chen Haoqiang , Pi Qixing 
Published: October 2023

Objective: To explore the effectiveness of multi-media combined with PBL teaching in breast surgery.
Methods: 56 interns who came to our hospital for breast surgery from January 2019 to December 2020 were randomly divided into two groups: traditional teaching control group (n = 28) and multi-media PBL teaching observation group (n = 28). Two groups' theoretical knowledge, skill operation, teaching quality, student's evaluation and satisfaction with the teaching model were compared before ending the internship.
Results: The total scores of breast examination, differential diagnosis, imaging reading, diagnosis and treatment scheme and total scores of the students in the observation group were higher than those of the students in the control group, and the total scores of body position, surgical site selection, disinfection and local anesthesia, surgical operation, postoperative treatment and clinical operation skills were also higher than those of the students in the control group (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between the two groups in medical history collection, professional knowledge and preoperative preparation (P > 0.05). The teaching quality of the students in the observation group was also significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the students' satisfaction with the teaching method, the teaching effect and the overall satisfaction in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: Multi-media combined with PBL teaching can effectively improve students' professional knowledge theory level, operation skills, enhance students' enthusiasm and initiative, develop good clinical thinking habits, and have high teaching satisfaction. It is worthy of being popularized in the clinical teaching of breast surgery.
Keywords: Multi-media; PBL; clinical teaching; breast surgery.
Colorectal cancer in a region of western of Algeria: results of 581 cases in 5 years
Authors: Dahmani Bouchra , Boublenza Lamia , Chabni Naffissa , Behar Dalale , Hassaine Hafida , Masdoua Nabila , Nahet Amira , Meguenni Kaouel , Zetla Ilyes 
Published: October 2023

Aims: The objective of this work is to evaluate the epidemiological profile of colorectal cancers, histologically proven over a 5-year period (2012-2016) in the Tlemcen region.
Methods: A retrospective study of 581 cases of colorectal cancer collected at the epidemiology department of the UniversityHospital Center (UHC) of Tlemcen between January 2012 and December 2016 was performed. Epidemiological data were processedusing SPSS version 25 and Microsoft Excel 2010.
Results: The epidemiological profile has shown that colorectal cancer in our region ranks 3rd in both sexes. There were 322 men(55.4%) affected compared to 259 women (44.6%) with a sex ratio of 1.2. A predominance of males is noted in 50-60 age group, while for the female sex, the dominance is between 60-70 years old. The mean age of CRC occurrence was 60±13 years, with an extremity ranging from16 to 90. A significantly higher rate was recorded for rectal cancer (43.7%) followed by sigmoid colon (5.7%). Variable rates were recorded during the 5 years with a peak in 2014 (27.9%).
Conclusion: Regular analysis of these data, if supplemented with additional data on diagnostic modalities like circular RNA diagnostic, will contribute to the assessment of the impact over time of public policies on nationally organized CRC screening.
Keywords: Colorectal cancer; epidemiology; Algeria; Tlemcen province.
Garlic supplementation for the treatment of chronic liver disease: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Xiaohui Liu , Jinqi Li , Xiaofang Xie , Zhiqiang Shi , Renxiu Niu 
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The efficacy of garlic supplementation for chronic liver disease remains controversial. We conduct a meta-analysis to explore the influence of garlic supplementation versus placebo on the treatment of chronic liver disease.
Methods: We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through September 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the efficacy of garlic supplementation versus placebo for chronic liver disease. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.
Results: Four RCTs and 212 patients are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with control group for chronic liver disease, garlic supplementation is associated with significantly reduced alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and weight, but demonstrates no substantial impact on the incidence of adverse events.
Conclusions: Garlic supplementation is effective to treat chronic liver disease.
Keywords: Garlic; chronic liver disease; randomized controlled trials; meta-analysis.
An epidemiological investigation of gallstone disease among patients admitted to Shahid Rahimi teaching hospital in Khorramabad in 2016-2020
Authors: Azadbakht Saleh , Parvaee Raziyeh , Darabian Samad 
Published: October 2023

Background: Gallstones are a significant global health issue, imposing enormous costs to patients and the healthcare system, annually.
Objectives: This epidemiological study aimed to explore the prevalence of gallstones among inpatients who were admitted toShahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad City, Iran, from 2016 to 2020.
Methods: This was a retrospective and descriptive-analytical study. The study population included patients who were admitted to Shahid Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad City, Iran, who underwent abdominal ultrasounds from 2016 to 2020. The required data were collected using a checklist and patients' records. The logistic regression analysis method was used to analyse the obtained data in SPSS at the significance level of P<0.05.
Results: Of the 927 explored subjects, 232(25%) presented gallstones. The mean age of the patients with gallstones was 62.9 years. The most frequent symptom in individuals with gallstones was right upper quadriceps abdominal pain (63%). There was a significant relationship between gallstone and age, gender, epigastric pain, upper quadrant pain, hypertension, anemia, and family history.
Conclusion: The present study findings indicated that increasing age, female gender, the lack of epigastric pain, upper quadrant pain, anemia, hypertension, and a family history of this disease increased the risk of generating gallstone disease.
Keywords: Gallstones; epidemiology; risk factors; Khorramabad.
Inflammatory bowel disease associated knowledge in South Indian populations: rational Study
Authors: Gopalan Sathyaprabha , Nagarajan Srinivasan , Somasundaram Aravindh , Kulanthaivelu Thiyagarajan Manisenthilkumar 
Published: October 2023

Objectives: The pivotal of the study was to compare the effectiveness of education in disease-associated knowledge of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) patients between pre-test and post-test using the IBD-KNOW questionnaire and patient educational resources.
Methods: This study used a patient proforma and IBD- KNOW questionnaire to perform the study prospectively by interviewing method. The patient selection was based on inclusion and exclusion criteria by convenient sampling technique from November 2018 to July 2019 at a multispecialty hospital. Knowledge scores and inter-item correlation were calculated between the pre-test and post-test by R Programming software with p<0.05.
Results: Among 40 patients with IBD diagnosis, the baseline sociodemographic characteristics were recorded. The response rate of IBD knowledge between the pre-test and post-test resulted in significant differences with varying scales but the response rate was lesser in the domains of management and pregnancy-based questions in the pre-test and post-test.
Conclusions: Recently there was a swift in IBD incidence, this may be improved by affording suitable patient education and counseling for further knowledge level in managing the disease by coping strategy. On comparison between the pre-test and post-test, this study recommends innovative educational methods to enable continuing education for chronic disease which can be easily accessible and reliable for IBD patients.
Keywords: Inflammatory bowel disease; South Indian populations.
Risk factors for hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus after intensive insulin therapy and blood glucose monitoring strategy
Authors: Cai Ling , Wang Weiping , Dai Lian 
Published: October 2023

Background: To explore the risk factors for hypoglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after intensive insulin therapy and the blood glucose monitoring strategy.
Methods: A total of 172 T2DM patients diagnosed from March 2019 to March 2021 were randomly divided into training (n=115) and test sets (n=57), and given intensive insulin therapy. After treatment, the training set was divided into hypoglycemia (n=35) and non-hypoglycemia groups (n=80). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Then 120 patients were divided into instantaneous scanning glucose test system monitoring (observation) and glucometer monitoring (control) groups. The diagnostic values of the two methods were validated using receiver operator characteristic curves.
Results: Course of disease, body mass index, fasting C-peptide and creatinine were independent risk factors for hypoglycemia, while instantaneous scanning glucose test system monitoring and glucometer monitoring were protective factors (P<0.05). The model had high predictive value. The observation group had shorter time of blood glucose reaching the standard, smaller insulin dose, and lower risk of hypoglycemia than those of the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusion: During intensive insulin therapy by multiple subcutaneous injections, the clinical effect of instantaneous scanning glucose test system on T2DM patients is better than that of glucometer.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; glucose monitoring; hypoglycemia; insulin therapy; risk factor.