bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
PREVALENCE OF Echinococcucus granulosus IN STRAY AND HOME OWNED DOGS IN ADAMAWA STATE, NIGERIA
Authors: Mathias A. , Pukuma S. M. , Enock N. 
Published: March 2023

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic larval infection affecting both domestic animals and human with serious health and economic impacts. A study to determine the prevalence of E. granulosus was carried out on dogs from six Local Government Areas (LGA) of Adamawa State. Faecal samples from 384 dogs were collected and screened for the presence of E. granulosus cyst microspically. A structured questionnaire was used and obtained native and exotic data from dog owners. Out of the 384 dog faecal samples, 171 had E. granulosus cyst with overall prevalence of 44.5% where Guyuk LGA had highest prevalence of 53.1% and Michika LGA had a lowest prevalence of 39.1%). With regards to gender, male and female dogs had a prevalence of 30.5% and 32.4% respectively. In terms of season, highest prevalence of 42.7% and lowest prevalence of 33.3% was recorded during rainy and dried season respectively with a significant association (P< 0.05). Un-restricted dogs recorded a prevalence of 66.1% and 38.1% was recorded in restricted dogs with significant relationship (P< 0.05). Dogs living in suburban areas and kept for security purposes, hunting or guarding have higher chances of infection. Therefore, right and regular treatment of dogs with praziquantel is highly recommended to reduce risk of E. granulosus transmission to humans.
ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION AND PHYLOGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF POTASSIUM-SOLUBILIZING RHIZOBACTERIA ISOLATED FROM THE ROOTS OF Mimosa indica WEED
Authors: Nwokeh U. J. , Okoro I. G. , Orodeji C. U. 
Published: March 2023

Most microorganisms residing within plant rhizosphere are of great importance to soil fertility. The either release plant nutrient into soil solution and make it available for plant absorption directly or indirectly, excrete enzymes or organic acids that facilitate the solubilization of insoluble minerals, such as potassium (K). A laboratory analysis was carried out at the Soil Science Laboratory in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, to isolate potassium-solubilizing rhizobacteria from Mimosa indica a weed that have invaded most agricultural land in the southeastern Nigeria. It was observed that the roots of Mimosaindica had nodules, which is peculiar to legume plants. Two cultivable isolates possessed the ability to solubilize K. DNA extraction was done and the two bacteria were identified as: Ochrobactrum anthropi and Comamonas testosteroni. Biochemical tests and Phylogenetic characterization were carried out. Comamonas testosterone gave the highest solubilization efficiency of 650 compared to Ochrobactrum anthropi (325).
PENGEMBANGAN ARAH HADAP ROBOT DAN LINTASAN PERENCANAAN UNTUK KRAKATAU MSL
Authors: Roni Muhammad Noor Azwar 
Published: March 2023

Dalam ilmu robotika telah berkembang pesat seiring dengan kemajuan teknologi di Indonesia, dengan kemajuan tersebut dunia robotika mulai banyak yang diminati salah satunya Kontes Robot Sepak Bola Beroda Indonesia yang mengangkat lomba yang bertemakan sepakbola dengan Mobile Robot. Masalah terpenting dalam kontes ini adalah robot harus mampu mencapai sebuah target lintasan tertentu. Robot harus mampu mengetahui besarnya gangguan sehingga robot mampu bergerak kembali ke arah yang aman dan berusaha mendekati target lintasan. Kebanyakan mobile robot tidak mengetahui dimana ia bergerak, bagaimana bergerak di lintasan robot untuk mencapai tujuan dan robot dapat sampai tujuan. Salah satu metode yang populer digunakan untuk mengetahui posisi adalah odometry. Metode odometry penggunaan data dari pergerakan aktuator untuk memperkirakan posisi dari waktu ke waktu. Sensor yang digunakan adalah rotary encoder yang memerlukan roda untuk dapat menentukan posisi dan orientasi robot. Sensor rotary encoder digunakan untuk mencacah pergerakan robot omni pada koordinat x dan y pada proses perhitungan odometry. Namun terdapat kekurangan dalam sensor tersebut yaitu pada saat roda berputar akan mengalami kesalahan perhitungan jika terjadi slip pada roda robot. Oleh karena itu peneliti mengajukan pengembangan arah hadap robot dan lintasan perencanan menggunakan metode dead-reckoning. Dead-reckoning adalah salah satu teknik lokalisasi yang termasuk ke dalam kategori relative localization. Teknik dead-reckoning banyak digunakan sebagai penelitian fundamental robot bergerak. Teknik ini memanfaatkan hasil data dari sensor optical mouse. Sensor optical mouse merupakan salah satu pilihan untuk mendapatkan hasil yang presisi dari perhitungan yang digunakan. Terdapat beberapa pengujian diantara nya gerak lurus, kekiri, kekanan dan mundur. Hasil dari pengujian dari kelima gerakan bahwa menggunakan prinsip dead-reckoning robot dapat bergerak sesuai dengan target lintasan yang diinginkan dan sama dengan trajectory yang dilewati robot sesungguhnya.
Post-pandemic planning: Do we have enough and efficient access to parks?
Authors: Alkhaja Nour , Alawadi Khaled , Ibrahim Hasan Manan 
Published: March 2023

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has placed neighborhood parks as a key asset in mitigating the negative implications of extended lockdowns, when parks turned into a sanctuary for residents. With increased scholarly work focusing on developing pots-pandemic neighborhoods, providing access to community parks via efficient routes, is central to such debate. Network connectivity provides a comprehensive assessment of the efficiency of network systems.Methods: A total of 16 samples, from the city of Abu-Dhabi, have been selected to study their network connectivity, with regard to accessing parks. Three distance-based connectivity measures are used: the pedestrian route directness (PRD), the count of redundant routes Redundancy Count (RC), and the route redundancy index (RI). The samples reflect different street’s typologies and their urban form attributes are quantified.Results and Discussion: Connectivity analyses results are interrupted with regard to the quantified physical attributes. Findings indicate that gridded, and semi-gridded layouts provide more direct routes to parks, but less route’s redundancy. Conversely, interlocked, and fragmented networks, when having sufficient intersection densities, have less direct routes but more redundancy. The inclusion of alleyways proved to alter typologies into gridded ones and improve both route directness and redundancy. The majority of the selected samples reported sufficient levels of route directness. The current design and planning guidelines, implemented by the Department of Transport and Municipalities are overly descriptive with regard to how neighborhood parks are accessed; therefore, the study’s methodology provides a possible more evidence-based approach to policy development.
Genetic deficiency of protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 suppresses experimental abdominal aortic aneurysms
Authors: Fu Weilai , Liu Haole , Wei Panpan , Xia Congcong , Yu Qingqing , Tian Kangli , Li Yankui , Liu Enqi , Xu Baohui , Miyata Masaaki , Wang Rong , Zhao Sihai 
Published: March 2023

AimSignal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling is critical for the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Though protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) negatively modulates STAT3 activity, but its role in AAA disease remains undefined.MethodAAAs were induced in PIAS3 deficient (PIAS3−/−) and wild type (PIAS3+/+) male mice via transient intra-aortic elastase infusion. AAAs were assessed by in situ measurements of infrarenal aortic external diameters prior to (day 0) and 14 days after elastase infusion. Characteristic aneurysmal pathologies were evaluated by histopathology.ResultsFourteen days following elastase infusion, aneurysmal aortic diameter was reduced by an approximately 50% in PIAS3−/− as compared to PIAS3+/+ mice. On histological analyses, PIAS3−/− mice showed less medial elastin degradation (media score: 2.5) and smooth muscle cell loss (media score: 3.0) than those in PIAS3+/+ mice (media score: 4 for both elastin and SMC destruction). Aortic wall leukocyte accumulation including macrophages, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells and B cells as well as mural neovessel formation were significantly reduced in PIAS3−/− as compared to PIAS3+/+ mice. Additionally, PIAS3 deficiency also downregulated the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 by 61% and 70%, respectively, in aneurysmal lesion.ConclusionPIAS3 deficiency ameliorated experimental AAAs in conjunction with reduced medial elastin degradation and smooth muscle cell depletion, mural leukocyte accumulation and angiogenesis.
Body composition and mortality in a cohort study of Chinese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Zhou Ke , Xiang Jie , Li Guo-yong , Pu Xiao-bo , Zhang Li 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveTo analyse the characteristics and mortality of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) patients with different body compositions.MethodsIn this study, 530 consecutive patients with HCM at West China Hospital were studied from November 2008 to May 2016. An equation based on body mass index (BMI) was used to obtain the Percent body fat (BF) and lean mass index (LMI). Patients were divided into five sex-specific BMI, BF and LMI quintiles.ResultsThe average BMI, BF and LMI were 23.1 ± 3.2 kg/m2, 28.1 ± 7.3% and 16.5 ± 2.2 kg/m2, respectively. Patients with higher BMI or BF were older and had more symptoms and adverse cardiovascular conditions; those with higher LMI were younger and had less coronary artery disease and lower serum NT-proBNP and creatine. BF correlated positively with resting left ventricular (LV) outflow tract gradient, mitral regurgitation (MR) degree and left atrial diameter but was inversely associated with septal wall thickness (SWT), posterior wall thickness (PWT), LV mass, and E/A ratio; LMI was positively correlated with SWT, LV end diastolic volume and LV mass but was negatively associated with MR degree.48 all-cause deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 33.8 months. Reversed J-shape associations of BMI and LMI with mortality were observed. A lower BMI or LMI was significantly associated with high mortality, especially for low-moderate BMI and LMI. No significant difference in mortality was found across BF quintiles.ConclusionsThe associations of BMI, BF and LMI with baseline characteristics and cardiac remodelling are different in HCM patients. In Chinese HCM patients, low BMI and LMI predicted mortality but not BF.
Causal relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and chronic kidney disease: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Du Yufei , Li Fengao , Li Shiwei , Ding Li , Liu Ming 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivePolycystic ovary syndrome is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of childbearing age. The relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome and chronic kidney disease remains unclear and controversial. In this study, we investigated the causal role of polycystic ovary syndrome in the development of chronic kidney disease using the two-sample Mendelian randomization method.MethodsPublic shared summary-level data was acquired from European-ancestry genome wide association studies. We finally obtained 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables, which were associated with polycystic ovary syndrome in European at genome-wide significance (P &lt; 5 × 10−8). Inverse-variance weighted method was employed in the Mendelian randomization analysis and multiple sensitivity analyses were implemented. Outcome data were obtained from the Open GWAS database.ResultsA positive causal association was observed between polycystic ovary syndrome and chronic kidney disease (odds ratio [OR]=1.180, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.038-1.342; P=0.010). Further analyses clarified that causal relationship exist between polycystic ovary syndrome and some serological indicators of chronic kidney disease (fibroblast growth factor 23: OR= 1.205, 95% CI: 1.031-1.409, P=0.019; creatinine: OR= 1.012, 95% CI: 1.001-1.023, P=0.035; cystatin C: OR= 1.024, 95% CI: 1.006-1.042, P=0.009). However, there was no causal association of polycystic ovary syndrome with other factors in the data sources we employed.ConclusionsOur results indicate an important role of polycystic ovary syndrome in the development of chronic kidney disease. This study suggests that regular follow-up of renal function in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome is necessary for the early treatment of chronic kidney disease.
Molecular HLA mismatching for prediction of primary humoral alloimmunity and graft function deterioration in paediatric kidney transplantation
Authors: Kim Jon Jin , Fichtner Alexander , Copley Hannah C. , Gragert Loren , Süsal Caner , Dello Strologo Luca , Oh Jun , Pape Lars , Weber Lutz T. , Weitz Marcus , König Jens , Krupka Kai , Tönshoff Burkhard , Kosmoliaptsis Vasilis 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionRejection remains the main cause of allograft failure in paediatric kidney transplantation and is driven by donor-recipient HLA mismatching. Modern computational algorithms enable assessment of HLA mismatch immunogenicity at the molecular level (molecular-mismatch, molMM). Whilst molMM has been shown to correlate with alloimmune outcomes, evidence demonstrating improved prediction performance against traditional antigen mismatching (antMM) is lacking.MethodsWe analysed 177 patients from the CERTAIN registry (median follow-up 4.5 years). molMM scores included Amino-Acid-Mismatch-Score (AAMS), Electrostatic-Mismatch-Score (EMS3D) and netMHCIIpan (netMHC1k: peptide binding affinity ≤1000 nM; netMHC: binding affinity ≤500 nM plus rank &lt;2%). We stratified patients into high/low-risk groups based on risk models of DSA development.ResultsDonor-specific HLA antibodies (DSA) predominantly targeted the highest scoring molMM donor antigen within each HLA locus. MolMM scores offered superior discrimination versus antMM in predicting de novo DSA for all HLA loci; the EMS3D algorithm had particularly consistent performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) &gt;0.7 for all HLA loci vs. 0.52-0.70 for antMM). ABMR (but not TCMR) was associated with HLA-DQ molMM scores (AAMS, EMS3D and netMHC). Patients with high-risk HLA-DQ molMM had increased risk of graft function deterioration (50% reduction in baseline eGFR (eGFR50), adjusted HR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.6-8.2 high vs. low EMS3D). Multivariable modelling of the eGFR50 outcome using EMS3D HLA-DQ stratification showed better discrimination (AUC EMS3D vs. antMM at 2 years: 0.81 vs. 0.77, at 4.5 years: 0.72 vs. 0.64) and stratified more patients into the low-risk group, compared to traditional antMM.ConclusionMolecular mismatching was superior to antigen mismatching in predicting humoral alloimmunity. Molecular HLA-DQ mismatching appears to be a significant prognostic factor for graft function deterioration in paediatric kidney transplantation.
Establishing a human bone marrow single cell reference atlas to study ageing and diseases
Authors: Lee Nicole Yee Shin , Li Mengwei , Ang Kok Siong , Chen Jinmiao 
Published: March 2023

IntroductionAgeing in the human bone marrow is associated with immune function decline that results in the elderly being vulnerable to illnesses. A comprehensive healthy bone marrow consensus atlas can serve as a reference to study the immunological changes associated with ageing, and to identify and study abnormal cell states.MethodsWe collected publicly available single cell transcriptomic data of 145 healthy samples encompassing a wide spectrum of ages ranging from 2 to 84 years old to construct our human bone marrow atlas. The final atlas has 673,750 cells and 54 annotated cell types.ResultsWe first characterised the changes in cell population sizes with respect to age and the corresponding changes in gene expression and pathways. Overall, we found significant age-associated changes in the lymphoid lineage cells. The naïve CD8+ T cell population showed significant shrinkage with ageing while the effector/memory CD4+ T cells increased in proportion. We also found an age-correlated decline in the common lymphoid progenitor population, in line with the commonly observed myeloid skew in haematopoiesis among the elderly. We then employed our cell type-specific ageing gene signatures to develop a machine learning model that predicts the biological age of bone marrow samples, which we then applied to healthy individuals and those with blood diseases. Finally, we demonstrated how to identify abnormal cell states by mapping disease samples onto the atlas. We accurately identified abnormal plasma cells and erythroblasts in multiple myeloma samples, and abnormal cells in acute myeloid leukaemia samples.DiscussionThe bone marrow is the site of haematopoiesis, a highly important bodily process. We believe that our healthy bone marrow atlas is a valuable reference for studying bone marrow processes and bone marrow-related diseases. It can be mined for novel discoveries, as well as serve as a reference scaffold for mapping samples to identify and investigate abnormal cells.
Examination of brain area volumes based on voxel-based morphometry and multidomain cognitive impairment in asymptomatic unilateral carotid artery stenosis
Authors: Duan Wei , Lu Li , Cui Chun , Shu Tongsheng , Duan Dazhi 
Published: March 2023

ObjectiveRecent evidence has demonstrated that unilateral carotid artery stenosis (CAS) can contribute to the development of cognitive impairment. However, the features of cognitive dysfunction induced by unilateral CAS remain unclear.MethodsSixty asymptomatic patients with unilateral CAS were divided into mild, moderate and severe stenosis groups. These patients and 20 healthy controls provided clinical data and serum, which was used to assess the levels of certain vascular risk factors. Then, they participated in a battery of neuropsychological tests. Additionally, all participants underwent a 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the brain. Chi-square tests and one-way ANOVA were used to determine significant differences in the risk factors and cognitive test scores between groups. Multiple logistic regression analysis and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were performed to identify the independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with CAS. Finally, fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) T1-weighted MRI images were processed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) analysis using the Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) 8 software.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, the scores of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Digital Span Test backward, and Rapid Verbal Retrieve were significantly reduced in patients with left CAS. The scores in all cognitive scales were significantly lower in patients with right CAS than in controls. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the degree of carotid stenosis was an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment in asymptomatic patients with unilateral CAS. Furthermore, VBM analysis showed that, compared with those in healthy controls, gray matter and white matter volumes in specific brain areas were markedly decreased in patients with severe unilateral CAS. However, in patients with moderate right CAS, there was a significant decline in the volume of gray matter in the left parahippocampal gyrus and supplementary motor area. Additionally, the volume of white matter in the left insula was obviously lower in patients with moderate right CAS than in healthy controls.ConclusionUnilateral asymptomatic CAS, especially on the right side, contributed to cognitive impairment, including memory, language, attention, executive function and visuospatial function. In addition, based on VBM analysis, both gray matter atrophy and white matter lesions were found in patients with unilateral asymptomatic CAS.
A qualitative study of barriers and facilitators to pediatric early warning score (PEWS) implementation in a resource-limited setting
Authors: Reuland Carolyn , Shi Galen , Deatras Mark , Ang Mellinor , Evangelista Paula Pilar G. , Shilkofski Nicole 
Published: March 2023

ObjectivesGlobally, pediatric hospitals have implemented Pediatric Early Warning Scores (PEWS) to standardize escalation of care and improve detection of clinical deterioration in pediatric patients. This study aims to utilize qualitative methodology to understand barriers and facilitators of PEWS implementation at Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC), a tertiary care hospital in Manila, Philippines.MethodsSemi-structured interviews querying current processes for clinical monitoring, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) transfer, and clinician attitudes towards PEWS implementation were audio recorded. In-person hospital observations served to triangulate interview findings. The Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) framework guided content coding of interviews to characterize work systems, processes, and outcomes related to patient monitoring and care escalation. Thematic coding was performed using Dedoose software. This model allowed identification of barriers and facilitators to PEWS implementation.ResultsBarriers within PCMC workflow included: limited bed capacity, delay in referral, patient overflow, limited monitoring equipment, and high patient to staff ratio. Facilitators of PEWS implementation included support for PEWS adaptation and existence of systems for vital sign monitoring. Observations by study personnel confirmed validity of themes.ConclusionUtilizing qualitative methodology to understand barriers and facilitators to PEWS in specific contexts can guide implementation at resource-limited hospitals.
Study on machine learning of molar incisor hypomineralization in an endemic fluorosis region in central China
Authors: Zhang Yimeng , Wang Yu , Zhang Zhaoxin , Wang Yuqi , Jia Jie 
Published: March 2023

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop a machine learning model to predict the risk of molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) and to identify factors associated with MIH in an endemic fluorosis region in central China.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,568 schoolchildren from selected regions. The clinical examination included an investigation of MIH based on the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry (EAPD) criteria. In this study, supervised machine learning (e.g., logistic regression) and correlation analysis (e.g., Spearman correlation analysis) were used for classification and prediction.Results: The overall prevalence of MIH was 13.7%. The nomograph showed that non-dental fluorosis (DF) had a considerable influence on the early occurrence of MIH and that this influence became weaker as DF severity increased. We examined the association between MIH and DF and found that DF had a protective correlation with MIH; the protective effect became stronger as DF severity increased. Furthermore, children with defective enamel were more likely to experience caries, and dental caries were positively correlated with MIH (OR = 1.843; 95% CI: 1.260–2.694). However, gender, oral hygiene, and exposure to poor-quality shallow underground water did not increase the likelihood of developing MIH.Conclusions: DF should be considered a protective factor within the multifactorial etiology of MIH.