bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Salivary pellicle modulates biofilm formation on titanium surfaces
Authors: Martínez-Hernández Miryam , Reyes-Grajeda Juan Pablo , Hannig Matthias , Almaguer-Flores Argelia 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Objectives.
The present study aimed to evaluate the potential of the salivary pellicle (SP) formed on titanium (Ti) surfaces to modulate the formation of a biofilm composed of Streptococcus gordonii, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis.
Materials and Methods.
Ti substrates were incubated for two hours with a pool of saliva samples obtained from 10 systemically and periodontally healthy subjects. Enamel substrates were included as a biological reference. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy analysis were used to analyze the formation of the salivary pellicle. After the SP formation, the surfaces were incubated for 12 hours with a mix of Streptococcus gordonii, Actinomyces naeslundii, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. The number of bacterial cells attached to each surface was determined by the XTT assay, while bacterial viability was analyzed by fluorescence microscopy using the LIVE/DEAD® BacLightTM kit.
Results.
The SEM and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the presence of a salivary pellicle formed on tested surfaces. Regarding the biofilm formation, the presence of the SP decreases the number of the bacterial cells detected in the test surfaces, compared with the uncover substrates. Even more, the SP-covered substrates showed similar bacterial counts in both Ti and enamel surfaces, meaning that the physicochemical differences of the substrates were less determinant than the presence of the SP. While on the SP-uncover substrates, differences in the bacterial adhesion patterns were directly related to the physicochemical nature of the substrates.
Conclusions.
The salivary pellicle was the main modulator in the development of the biofilm consisting of representative oral bacteria on the Ti substrates.
Clinical relevance:
The results of this study provide valuable information on the modulatory effect of the salivary pellicle on biofilm formation; such information allows us to understand better the events involved in the formation of oral biofilms on Ti dental implants.
Practical Strategies to Achieve Resilient Health Systems: Results from a Scoping Review
Authors: Bishai David , Saleh Basma , Huda Maryam , Aly Eman Mohammed , Hafiz Marwa , Ardalan Ali , Mataria Awad 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background: This paper presents the results of a systematic review to identify practical strategies to create the institutions, skills, values, and norms that will improve health systems resilience.
Methods: A PRISMA 2020 compliant systematic review identified peer-reviewed and gray literature on practical strategies to make health systems more resilient. Investigators screened 970 papers to identify 65 English language papers published since 2015.
Results: Practical strategies focus efforts on system changes to improve a health system’s resilience components of collective knowing, collective thinking, and collaborative doing. The most helpful studies identified potential lead organizations to serve as the stewards of resilience improvement, and these were commonly in national and local departments of public health. Papers on practical strategies suggested possible measurement tools to benchmark resilience components in efforts to focus performance improvement and ways to sustain their use. Essential Public Health Function (EPHF) measurement and improvement tools are well-aligned to the resilience agenda. The field of health systems resilience lacks empirical trials linking resilience improvement interventions to outcomes.
Conclusions: The rigorous assessment of practical strategies to improve resilience based on cycles of measurement should be a high priority.
Structural equation model of the relationship between depression with functional and nutritional status among Iranian older women: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Rezapour Vahideh , Papi Shahab , Matlabi Hossein , Tanjani Parisa Taheri 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
In this study we used the structural equation model (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to evaluate the relationship between the activities of daily living instrumental activities of daily living, and mini nutritional assessment with depression.
Methods
In this research, using a systematic random sampling method, 384 older women were selected from people covered by the health centers in Marand, Iran. To collect data, we used several tools, including Demographic Information Questionnaire, GDS, MNA, ADL, and IADL. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 28 was used for descriptive statistics and drawing figures, and AMOS software version 26 was used to analyze data. A P-value < 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results
According to the results, the obtained model had a good fit (P < 0.05, RMSEA = 0.071, CFI = 0.965, GFI = 0.934, IFI = 0.937, RFI = 0.918, χ^2/df = 1.46). Based on the CFA results, the MNA, IADL, and ADL constructs had an inverse and significant effect on the depression of the older people In addition, the IADL score had the highest effect on the depression of the elderly (P = 0.03), followed by ADL (P = 0.034) and MNA (P < 0.0013).
Conclusion
According to our results, functional disability and malnutrition are related to the risk of depression in older people.
Endogenous bile acids are associated with body lipid accumulation in non-diet induced obese pigs
Authors: Hu Yaolian , Wu Aimin , Yan Hui , Pu Junning , Luo Junqiu , Zheng Ping , Luo Yuheng , Yu Jie , He Jun , Yu Bing , Chen Daiwen 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Non-diet-induced obesity has been difficult to improve due to the complex etiology. Pigs can serve as an animal model for biomedical researches due to their physiological similarities to humans. This study first explored the differences in endogenous bile acids profiles (content and composition) between lean and obese pigs when they were fed to the same diet. Then, the effects of the characteristic bile acids within obese pigs on lipid accumulation were further verified by using 3T3-L1 adipocyte cells model.
Methods
Fourteen pigs including lean and obese pigs with body weight about 80 kg were fed the same diet with a level of feeding at approximately 3% of their respective body weight daily for 42d. The 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were cultured in a medium with high glucose levels, and then differentiated into mature adipocytes using differentiation medium.
Results
There was a significant difference in endogenous bile acids profiles between obese and lean pigs. The obesity had a strong correlation with isoallolithocholic acid and 3-oxodeoxycholic acid in colonic digesta of pigs, and isoallolithocholic acid enhanced lipid content in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The differential bile acids between obese and lean pigs may be caused by the differences in gut microorganisms.
Conclusion
The results provide evidences that the obesity of obese pigs is independent of dietary nutrients intake, but closely related to endogenous bile acids, implying that bile acids may be the targets to prevent non-diet-induced obesity.
Profound sex-specific differences of metabolic hormone and adipose tissue dynamics induced by moderate low-carbohydrate and ketogenic diet
Authors: Smolensky Ilya , Zajac-Bakri Kilian , Odermatt Timothy Sasha , Brégère Catherine , Cryan John F. , Guzman Raphael , Timper Katharina , Inta Dragos 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Low-carbohydrates diets are increasingly used to treat obesity and metabolic disorders. A very low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet is hard to follow and is linked to severe side effects. Therefore, a less restrictive unsaturated fat-based low-carbohydrate diet seems a promising alternative. Since neither sex differences, nor their effect on specific adipose tissue compartments have been investigated thoroughly in these diets, we aimed to analyze their dynamics and metabolic factors in mice. We found a significant sexual dimorphism with decreased body weight and subcutaneous fat only in males on ketogenic diet, while diminished insulin, elevated ghrelin and FGF-21 were present with a differential time course in both sexes. The non-ketogenic low-carbohydrate diet increased body weight and visceral fat in females, but induced leptin elevation in males. Both diets induced transient TNFɑ increase only in males and had no impact on behavior. Altogether, these results reveal complex sex-dependent effect of dietary interventions, indicating unexpectedly females as more prone to unfavorable metabolic effects of low-carbohydrate diets.
Research on the Appearance Size Detection Method of Highway Engineering Based on Tilt Photography Technology
Authors: Wang Fang , Liu Shixiao , Zhang Huiying , Huang Siping 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Based on the application research of UAV tilt photogrammetry technology in highway engineering design and construction compliance detection, this paper changes the shortcomings of traditional detection with low efficiency, poor overall evaluation level and high cost, and provides a new high-efficiency, high-precision and low-cost highway engineering design and construction compliance evaluation and detection method for design units. After constructing the inclined real scene model for the aerial photography of the test section of Uma expressway, the new LSV drawing software is used to integrate the three-dimensional real scene model with the design CAD drawing, extract and measure the virtual 3M ruler measurement method, EPS conversion two-dimensional model, and extract and measure the appearance storage quality inspection index in the standard for quality inspection and evaluation of Highway Engineering - Civil Engineering (JTGF80/1-2017). The advantages of the new system are verified by comparing with the traditional compliance detection in terms of index coverage, detection accuracy and cost. It provides a reference for the further study of highway engineering design compliance evaluation in the later stage.
Identification Of Platelet-related Biomarkers And Construction of Transcriptional Regulatory Network in Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Lu Mingzhi , Jiao Feng , Lu Xiulan , Huang Rong , Yang Wanju , Ren He , Xing YiQiao 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Objective: To identify the platelet-related biomarkers in Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR).
Methods: Two mRNA expression profiles of PDR (GSE102485 and GSE60436) were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database with the platelet-related genes from gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) database. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established to screen out hub genes based on the interaction between differentially expressed platelet-related genes (DEPRGs), followed by the prediction of the associated microRNAs (miRNAs), transcription factors (TFs) and drugs, which were taken to establish the regulatory networks of miRNA-hub gene, TF-hub gene and drug-hub gene. To verify the expression of Hub genes, both retinal samples from experimental diabetes mouse models and human retina microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) treated with high glucose (HG) were subjected to quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR).
Results: A total of 168 DEPRGs were determined, with 146 genes for upregulation and 22 for downregulation. 9 hub genes (CDC42, GNAI2, LCK, LCP2, LYN, PLCG2, PTPN6, RAC1 and SYK) were eventually screened. 446 miRNAs, 46 TFs and 138 hub gene targeted by drugs were presented after prediction. RAC1 and GNAI2 respectively targeted by 156 miRNAs and 19 TFs lied the most connected hub genes in the miRNA-hub gene and TF-hub gene regulatory networks. Based on the drug-hub gene regulatory network, LCK was targeted by 52 drugs. qRT-PCR results indicated that the expression of LPC2 and PTPN6 was upregulated in both diabetes mouse models and HRMECs treated with HG.
Conclusions: Nine hub genes were screened with the prediction of miRNAs, which were targeted by TFs and drugs, and may play an essential role in the progression of PDR, utilized as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Structural analysis and susceptibility inversion based on ground magnetic data to map the chromite mineral resources: A case study of the Koh Safi Chromite Ore Deposit, Parwan, Afghanistan
Authors: Rezayee Mohammad Hakim , Khalaj Mahdi , Mizunaga Hideki 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
The Koh Safi Chromite Ore Deposit is located in Afghanistan's northern-northeastern end of the Kabul-Kandahar ophiolite zone. Sedimentary formations, delayed volcanic, and ultramafic rock groups, including peridotites and serpentinites, could all have been found in the Koh Safi area, where structural discontinuities with the two trends of northwest-southeast and east-west can be identified. High-grade serpentinite units have many chromite deposits, whereas peridotite has a lot of medium-grade deposits. This paper performs a ground magnetic data analysis based on structural analysis and 3-D susceptibility inversion. The boundaries of structural faults and anomalous bodies are likely delineated in a northwest-to-southeast orientation using a series of derivative maps, including Total Horizontal Derivative, Analytical Signal, and Theta Map. For inversion, many regularization norms that included the range of smooth, intermediate, and compact models were used to examine a particular susceptibility value that occurred in a model cell. The sparse and blocky norms [0,1,1,1] were suggested for our inversion in field data based on synthetic data to determine an appropriate norm. A 3-D inversion of ground magnetic data shows that the highly magnetic zone supposed to be the host rocks seems to be where chromite occurs in the study area.
Tolerability of pulse high dose L-AmB as pre-emptive therapy in patients at high risk for intra- abdominal candidiasis: a phase 2 study (LAMBDA Study)
Authors: Rinaldi Matteo , Bartoletti Michele , Bonazzetti Cecilia , Caroccia Natascia , Gatti Milo , Tazza Beatrice , Horna Clara Solera , Giannella Maddalena , Viale Pierluigi 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background.
Intra-abdominal candidiasis (IAC) is burdened by high mortality rates. However, the correct management of a critically ill patient with suspected IAC is an issue still on debate. The aim of our study was to evaluate the safety of pulse high-dose of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) in patients with suspected IAC managed with a Beta-D-Glucan (BDG)-guided strategy.
Methods.
Phase 2 prospective study enrolling adult patients with intra-abdominal sepsis following surgery. Patients received a single dose of L-AmB 5mg/kg on day 1. At day 3, L-AmB was discontinued in case of negativity of basal serum (1, 3)-Beta-D-Glucan (BDG) and was continued (3 mg/kg/daily) in case of positive basal BDG, or microbiologically confirmed IAC. The main endpoint was occurrence of adverse events according with common toxic criteria definition.
Results.
Overall, 40 patients were enrolled from January 2019 until August 2022. Of them 15 (37.5%) were male, median age was 65 (49–76) years. Urgent surgery accounted for 31 (77.5%) cases, principal indication was secondary/tertiary peritonitis (22, 55%), half of patients had a previous surgical operation within 30 days. Five (12.5%) patients had criteria for septic shock at enrolment. The median APACHE II score at ICU admission was 12 (10–15). In 33 (85%) cases IAC was excluded, whereas 5 (12.5%) and 2 (5%) patients had a probable and proven IAC, respectively. The single dose of L-AmB 5 mg/Kg was well tolerated in all patients, no early and late severe adverse events related to the drug were reported. L-AmB was discontinued in 65% of patients following a negative basal BDG result. All-cause 30-day mortality rate was 15%, in none case death was related to L-AmB administration or uncontrolled IAC. More specifically, mortality rates between patients with and without proven IAC was 0% vs. 15.8%, p = 0.99.
Conclusions.
The rate of proven IAC among critically ill high-risk patients was low, attesting at 5%. A single dose of L-AmB 5 mg/Kg following prompt withdrawal in case of basal negative BDG result seems to be a safe and effective approach in such population.
Evaluating Professionalism in Residency Training: The Learning Environment for Professionalism Survey
Authors: Byszewski Anna , Pearson Alexander , Wood Timothy , Lochnan Heather , Johnston Donna , Whiting Sharon 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background Professionalism is a key competency in multiple medical education frameworks. The teaching and evaluation of professionalism is an accreditation standard for undergraduate and postgraduate medical training in Canada. As a result, there is a need for valid tools to assess professionalism in the learning environment (LE). One method that has demonstrated promise is the Learning Environment for Professionalism (LEP) survey. It is a brief and balanced tool consisting of 11 questions that assesses medical trainees' and attending physicians' positive and negative professionalism behaviours. Previous studies have shown it is an easily administered, reliable tool that produces valid results for assessing professionalism in both undergraduate and postgraduate LEs. This study aimed to expand the application of the LEP survey to more varied programs, across several institutions and to examine LEs longitudinally over a longer period of time.Methods All postgraduate medical programs at the University of Ottawa were approached to participate in this study. Seven training programs (anesthesiology, cardiac surgery, plastic surgery, urology, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics) agreed to facilitate the administration of the LEP survey at four hospitals in Ottawa (The Ottawa Hospital Civic and General campuses, the Ottawa Heart Institute, and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario). The LEP survey was carried out iteratively between 2013 and 2020. The LE ratings in each training program and hospital were assessed longitudinally using univariate linear regression. A Bonferroni corrected p-value of ≤ .0045 was used to account for multiple comparisons.Results 3783 survey responses over seven years were included in the analysis. Overall, positive professional behaviours were observed across time and programs. However, one negative item relating to attending physicians treating patients unfairly because of their financial status, ethnic background, sexual or religious preferences worsened.Conclusions This study demonstrated that applying the LEP survey longitudinally across diverse training programs is feasible. Furthermore, it can help program leaders identify areas that require attention and acknowledge areas of exemplary professionalism. Implementation of the LEP survey is an effective strategy to demonstrate continuous monitoring of the LE to accrediting bodies and can be considered an important quality improvement metric.
The potential biomass resources for a sustainable bioenergy planning in West Africa: insight from Niger
Authors: Mounkaila Hama Amadou , Soulé Moussa , Cecilia Eberechi Osuagwu 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Sub-Sahara Africa main energy supply comes from forest and coal mining. Indeed, wood is largely the most energy source that has been using in Niger, leading several environmental and climate impact. Consequence of the limited power Supply; and the weak alternative for upgrading existing energy production resources and technologies. This study aimed at: estimating the biomass resources, characterizing Niger bioenergy technologies and, assessing the potential sustainable biopower capacity. The method had involved a literature review, a survey; processing of spatial data (Land Use Land Cover, Plant Dry Matter, GIS. The results shown, a significant potential of biomass deposits of which respectively 651,788,458 tons/Ha/year, 6,935,764 tons/year, 20,876,240 tons/year, and 322,784,07 tons/year for forest resources, agricultural residues, livestock dung, and organic MSW. These resources should produce am significant sustainable bioenergy power and, resolve many conservation challenges. Therefore, deep investigations in the designing program, projects are important for sustainable perspectives regarding green bioenergy resources. And energy policy strategies must be developed, adapted promoted in order to help sustainable bioenergy well integration especially in rural area, despite all the potential barriers.
Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) to determine cut-off points of clinical and biomolecular markers to discriminate mortality in severe COVID-19 living at high altitude
Authors: Vélez-Páez Jorge Luis , Baldeón-Rojas Lucy , Herrera Cristina Cañadas , Montalvo Mario Patricio , Jara Fernando Esteban , Aguayo-Moscoso Santiago , Tercero-Martínez Wendy , Saltos Lenin , Jiménez-Alulima Glenda , Guerrero Verónica , Pérez-Galarza Jorge 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background
In 2020, Ecuador had one of the highest death rates because of COVID-19. The role of clinical and biomolecular markers in COVID disease prognosis, is still not well supported by available data. In order for these markers to have practical application in clinical decision-making regarding patient treatment and prognosis, it is necessary to know an optimal cut-off point, taking into consideration ethnic differences and geographic conditions.
Aim: To determine the value of clinical and biomolecular markers, to predict mortality of patients with severe COVID-19 living at high altitude.
Methods: In this study, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, area under the curve (AUC) of ROC, sensitivity, specificity and likelihood ratios were calculated to determine levels of clinical and biomolecular markers that best differentiate survivors versus non-survivors in severe COVID subjects that live at a high altitude setting.
Results: Selected cut-off values for ferritin (≥ 1225 ng/dl, p = 0.026), IL-6 (≥ 11 pg/ml, p = 0.005) and NLR (≥ 22, p = 0.008) at 24 hours, as well as PaFiO2 (≤ 164 mmHg, p = 0.015), NLR (≥ 16, p = p = 0.013) and SOFA (≥ 6, p = 0.031) at 72 hours, appear to have good discriminating power to differentiate survivors versus non-survivors. Additionally, odds ratios for ferritin (OR = 3.38); IL-6 (OR = 17.07); PaFiO2 (OR = 4.61); NLR 24h (OR = 4.95); NLR 72h (OR = 4.46), and SOFA (OR = 3.77) indicate increased risk of mortality when cut-off points were taken into consideration.
Conclusions: We proposed a straightforward and understandable method to identify dichotomized levels of clinical and biomolecular markers that can discriminate between survivors and non-survivors patients with severe COVID-19 living at high altitudes.