bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A comparative study of parasitic fauna in Amietophrynus regularis (Reuss, 1833) from natural habitats and dumpsites within Lagos Metropolis, Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Okeagu Okechukwu Martin , Akinsanya Bamidele , Uzoka Tolulope 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Amphibian parasites have been used as models for understanding important issues about host activity and sensitivity to environmental perturbations and amphibian decline. With the aim of comparing the parasitic fauna in Amietophrynus regularis from natural habitat and dumpsites within Lagos metropolis, a total of 172 toads were sampled to determine the occurrence of the gastrointestinal tract and blood parasites.

Methods
The liver, lungs, intestine and intestinal fluids, and blood were collected for parasitological determination. Histopathological analysis was carried out on the intestinal tracts.

Results
Helminths recovered from the gastrointestinal tract belonged to the family Nematoda, and they included Cosmocerca spp., Amplicaecum spp., Strongyloides spp., and oxyurides. Cosmocerca spp. was most abundant with a parasite load of 2304 and a prevalence of 70.93%. Protozoans recovered from the gastrointestinal fluids include Opalina spp. (7.5%) and Balantidium spp. (11.05%). The only protozoan recovered from blood was a species of Hepatozoon. Although parasite intensity was higher in larger females, comparison of parasites prevalence with morphometrics of Amietophrynus regularis was not significant at p = 0.05. There was also no significant difference (p = 0.05) between the parasite abundance and the location of collection. Histopathological findings revealed stunting of the villi with a high level of intestinal tissue alterations in infected Amietophrynus regularis from the natural habitat.

Conclusions
The high levels of parasitic infection together with the histopathological findings are indicative that the natural habitats of Amietophrynus regularis are being perturbed and this is of concern considering the prevailing issues of amphibian decline.
Multi-detector computed tomography and 3Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in assessment of COVID-19 intracranial complications
Authors: Ibrahim Ghada Sobhy , Alkandari Buthaina M. , Elzeneini Ahmed Mahmoud , Shady Islam Ahmed Abo , Housseini Ahmed Mohamed , Abdelmohsen Mohsen Ahmed 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
The novel worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, first appearing in Wuhan, China, has allured immense global attention. To our comprehension, this research work accommodates the largest isolation hospital-conducted cohort of coronavirus patients in which neuro-radiological complications were retrospectively assessed. To the present day, our full understanding of COVID-19 and its spectrum of diverse complications still remains insufficient. Moreover, the number of reported neurological complications albeit the global spread of the coronavirus pandemic is also widely lacking due to the constrained implementation of MR neuro-imaging in COVID-19 patients.

Results
Forty-eight males and 26 females met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age 60.55 (ranged from 22 to 88 years old). The frequent clinical manifestation has impaired level of consciousness 55.4%. Most commonly recurring radiological findings were ischemic stroke 54.06% and parenchymal hematomas and hemorrhage 25.69%. Other less imaging brain findings were certain diagnostic entities, i.e., PRES, cerebral edema, leuko-encephalopathic WM abnormalities, microhemorrhages, vascular thrombosis and acute necrotizing encephalopathy. Soaring mortality rates correlated with serious neuro-radiological manifestations, being highest with infarction 57.5%, p = 0.908 and hemorrhage/hematomas 63.2%, p = 0.604.

Conclusions
Intra-cranial complications were significantly detectable in COVID-19 infection and correlated with severity of illness. Outstanding higher mortality rates were associated with worsening neuro-radiological complications.
Mailed fecal testing and patient navigation versus usual care to improve rates of colorectal cancer screening and follow-up colonoscopy in rural Medicaid enrollees: a cluster-randomized controlled trial
Authors: Coronado Gloria D. , Leo Michael C. , Ramsey Katrina , Coury Jennifer , Petrik Amanda F. , Patzel Mary , Kenzie Erin S. , Thompson Jamie H. , Brodt Erik , Mummadi Raj , Elder Nancy , Davis Melinda M. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Screening reduces incidence and mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC), yet US screening rates are low, particularly among Medicaid enrollees in rural communities. We describe a two-phase project, SMARTER CRC, designed to achieve the National Cancer Institute Cancer MoonshotSM objectives by reducing the burden of CRC on the US population. Specifically, SMARTER CRC aims to test the implementation, effectiveness, and maintenance of a mailed fecal test and patient navigation program to improve rates of CRC screening, follow-up colonoscopy, and referral to care in clinics serving rural Medicaid enrollees.

Methods
Phase I activities in SMARTER CRC include a two-arm cluster-randomized controlled trial of a mailed fecal test and patient navigation program involving three Medicaid health plans and 30 rural primary care practices in Oregon and Idaho; the implementation of the program is supported by training and practice facilitation. Participating clinic units were randomized 1:1 into the intervention or usual care. The intervention combines (1) mailed fecal testing outreach supported by clinics, health plans, and vendors and (2) patient navigation for colonoscopy following an abnormal fecal test result. We will evaluate the effectiveness, implementation, and maintenance of the intervention and track adaptations to the intervention and to implementation strategies, using quantitative and qualitative methods. Our primary effectiveness outcome is receipt of any CRC screening within 6 months of enrollee identification. Our primary implementation outcome is health plan- and clinic-level rates of program delivery, by component (mailed FIT and patient navigation). Trial results will inform phase II activities to scale up the program through partnerships with health plans, primary care clinics, and regional and national organizations that serve rural primary care clinics; scale-up will include webinars, train-the-trainer workshops, and collaborative learning activities.

Discussion
This study will test the implementation, effectiveness, and scale-up of a multi-component mailed fecal testing and patient navigation program to improve CRC screening rates in rural Medicaid enrollees. Our findings may inform approaches for adapting and scaling evidence-based approaches to promote CRC screening participation in underserved populations and settings.

Trial registration
Registered at clinicaltrial.gov (NCT04890054) and at the NCI’s Clinical Trials Reporting Program (CTRP #: NCI-2021-01032) on May 11, 2021.
Circulating Tumor-Macrophage Fusion Cells and Circulating Tumor Cells Complement Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer Screening in Patients With Suspicious Lung-RADS 4 Nodules
Authors: Manjunath Yariswamy , Suvilesh Kanve Nagaraj , Mitchem Jonathan B. , Avella Patino Diego M. , Kimchi Eric T. , Staveley-O'Carroll Kevin F. , Pantel Klaus , Yi Huang , Li Guangfu , Harris Peter K. , Chaudhuri Aadel A. , Kaifi Jussuf T. 
Published: April 2022

PURPOSE Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening of high-risk patients decreases lung cancer–related mortality. However, high false-positive rates associated with LDCT result in unnecessary interventions. To distinguish non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from benign nodules, in the present study, we integrated cellular liquid biomarkers in patients with suspicious lung nodules (lung cancer screening reporting and data system [Lung-RADS] 4). METHODS Prospectively, 7.5 mL of blood was collected from 221 individuals (training set: 90 nonscreened NSCLC patients, 74 high-risk screening patients with no/benign nodules [Lung-RADS 1-3], and 20 never smokers; validation set: 37 patients with suspicious nodules [Lung-RADS 4]). Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), CTC clusters, and tumor-macrophage fusion (TMF) cells were identified by blinded analyses. Screening patients underwent a median of two LDCTs (range, 1-4) with a median surveillance time of 30 (range, 11-50) months. RESULTS In the validation set of 37 Lung-RADS 4 patients, all circulating cellular biomarker counts ( P < .005; Wilcoxon test) and positivity rates were significantly higher in 23 biopsy-proven NSCLC patients (CTCs: 23 of 23 [100%], CTC clusters: 6 of 23 [26.1%], and TMF cells: 15 of 23 [65.2%]) than in 14 patients with biopsy-proven benign nodules (6 of 14 [42.9%], 0 of 14 [0%], and 2 of 14 [14.3%]). On the basis of cutoff values from the training set, logistic regression with receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve analyses demonstrated that CTCs (sensitivity: 0.870, specificity: 1.0, and area under the curve: 0.989) and TMF cells (0.652; 0.880; 0.790) complement LDCT in diagnosing NSCLC in Lung-RADS 4 patients. CONCLUSION Cellular liquid biomarkers have a potential to complement LDCT interpretation of suspicious Lung-RADS 4 nodules to distinguish NSCLC from benign lung nodules. A future prospective, large-scale, multicenter clinical trial should validate the role of cellular liquid biomarkers in improving diagnostic accuracy in high-risk patients with Lung-RADS 4 nodules.
Intraoperative Inspiratory Oxygen Fraction and Myocardial Injury After Noncardiac Surgery: Results From an International Observational Study in Relation to Recent Controlled Trials
Authors: Pedersen Sofie S. , Holse Cecilie , Mathar Clara E. , Chan Matthew T. V. , Sessler Daniel I. , Liu Yingzhi , Zhang Lin , Kurz Andrea , Jacka Mike , Torborg Alexandra , Biyase Thuli , Montes Felix R. , Wang Chew Yin , Pettit Shirley , Devereaux P. J. , Meyhoff Christian S. 
Published: April 2022

BACKGROUND:
Two trials reported that a high inspiratory oxygen fraction (Fio
2) does not promote myocardial infarction or death. Observational studies can provide larger statistical strength, but associations can be due to unobserved confounding. Therefore, we evaluated the association between intraoperative Fio
2 and cardiovascular complications in a large international cohort study to see if spurious associations were observed.

METHODS:
We included patients from the Vascular events In noncardiac Surgery patIents cOhort evaluatioN (VISION) study, who were ≥45 years of age, scheduled for overnight hospital admission, and had intraoperative Fio
2 recorded. The primary outcome was myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery (MINS), and secondary outcomes included mortality and pneumonia, all within 30 postoperative days. Data were analyzed with logistic regression, adjusted for many baseline cardiovascular risk factors, and illustrated in relation to findings from 2 recent controlled trials.

RESULTS:
We included 6588 patients with mean age of 62 years of whom 49% had hypertension. The median intraoperative Fio
2 was 0.46 (5%–95% range, 0.32–0.94). There were 808 patients (12%) with MINS. Each 0.10 increase in median Fio
2 was associated with a confounder-adjusted increase in odds for MINS: odds ratio (OR), 1.17 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–1.23; P < .0001). MINS occurred in contrast with similar frequencies and no significant difference in controlled trials (2240 patients, 194 events), in which patients were given 80% vs 30% oxygen. Mortality was 2.4% and was not significantly associated with a median Fio
2 (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.97–1.19 per 0.10 increase; P = .18), and 2.9% of patients had pneumonia (OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.95–1.15 per 0.10 increase; P = .34).

CONCLUSIONS:
We observed an association between intraoperative Fio
2 and risk of myocardial injury within 30 days after noncardiac surgery, which contrasts with recent controlled clinical trials. Fio
2 was not significantly associated with mortality or pneumonia. Unobserved confounding presumably contributed to the observed association between Fio
2 and myocardial injury that is not supported by trials.
Effects of ocean acidification over successive generations decrease resilience of larval European sea bass to ocean acidification and warming but juveniles could benefit from higher temperatures in the NE Atlantic
Authors: Howald Sarah , Moyano Marta , Crespel Amélie , Kuchenmüller Luis L. , Cominassi Louise , Claireaux Guy , Peck Myron A. , Mark Felix C. 
Published: April 2022

ABSTRACT
European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is a large, economically important fish species with a long generation time whose long-term resilience to ocean acidification (OA) and warming (OW) is not clear. We incubated sea bass from Brittany (France) for two generations (&gt;5 years in total) under ambient and predicted OA conditions (PCO2: 650 and 1700 µatm) crossed with ambient and predicted OW conditions in F1 (temperature: 15–18°C and 20–23°C) to investigate the effects of climate change on larval and juvenile growth and metabolic rate. We found that in F1, OA as a single stressor at ambient temperature did not affect larval or juvenile growth and OW increased developmental time and growth rate, but OAW decreased larval size at metamorphosis. Larval routine and juvenile standard metabolic rate were significantly lower in cold compared with warm conditioned fish and also lower in F0 compared with F1 fish. We did not find any effect of OA as a single stressor on metabolic rate. Juvenile PO2,crit was not affected by OA or OAW in both generations. We discuss the potential underlying mechanisms resulting in the resilience of F0 and F1 larvae and juveniles to OA and in the beneficial effects of OW on F1 larval growth and metabolic rate, but contrastingly in the vulnerability of F1, but not F0 larvae to OAW. With regard to the ecological perspective, we conclude that recruitment of larvae and early juveniles to nursery areas might decrease under OAW conditions but individuals reaching juvenile phase might benefit from increased performance at higher temperatures.
Women’s literacy and children’s mortality rate among Southeast Asia countries 1991-2020: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Satria Fauzi Budi , Lubis Rahayu , Hsu Yi-Hsin Elsa , Iqbal Usman 
Published: April 2022

Background: Women’s literacy is often associated with the health status of family members, especially children. Unfortunately, in some regions of Southeast Asia, the rates of women’s literacy (WL) are still very low, and in these areas, children’s mortality rates (CMR) are also very high. This study aims to identify the changes and correlation between women's literacy and children’s mortality rate among Southeast Asian Countries in the last 3 decades. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we included 11 Southeast Asian countries; Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, and Vietnam. The WL and CMR were the independent and dependent variables respectively. The CMR was measured by mortality rates in infant (IMR), neonatal (NMR), and under-fives (UFMR). We collected data for all variables from the World Bank website, and used the data from 1991 to 2020 for analysis. Kruskal–Wallis and Pearson correlation test were performed to identify the significant difference between variables and its correlation respectively. Then, we conducted linear regression analysis to identify how the WL affected the CMR in 11 Southeast Asian countries from 1991 to 2020. Results: In the last 30 years period, we found that the CMR trends in Southeast Asian countries vary. Moreover, during the same period, WL and CMR were changed significantly. Across these 11 countries, the correlation between WL and IMR was the highest (R=0.805). However, only 65% of IMR can be explained by WL ​​(R2=0.65). Conclusion: This study found that women's literacy had a significant impact on CMR in Southeast Asian countries. However, improvement in multiple sectors including governance, economy, freedom, health system, education, and gender equality is required to help countries in this region achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals target by 2030.
Maltitol based sugar-free chocolates may not promote dental caries: An open-label clinical study
Authors: Mehta Arti , Bapna Arohi , Joshi Parth , Arora Tarun , Raghavan Govindarajan 
Published: April 2022

Background: Sugar substitutes like maltitol are reported to be noncariogenic ingredients and may not lead to the development of dental caries (DC), in contrast to sugars and other fermentable carbohydrates. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of maltitol-based sugar-free chocolates on factors associated with DC. Methods: This was an open-label study involving healthy human volunteers. A total of 15 healthy human subjects were screened and enrolled in the study after obtaining their signed informed consent. The subjects were administered the test product, maltitol-based sugar-free chocolate, which contains no added sugar (sucrose). Sucrose was completely replaced with the sweeteners maltitol (minimum 45%) and steviol glycoside (0.05%). Salivary pH was measured using a digital pH meter at baseline and 0 h, 1 h, 2 h, and 4 h after test product consumption. The saliva samples were collected for measurement of Streptococcus mutans colonies at baseline and at 0 h and 4 h after test product consumption. The data were subjected to two-sided tests, at a 5% level of significance using Statistical Analysis System (SAS) 9.4 software (SAS Institute Inc., NC Cary). Results: A statistically significant increase in the salivary pH level from the baseline at 0 h measurement (p = 0.0181) and a reduction in S. mutans formation from baseline to 0 h and 4 h, respectively (p = 0.0001) were noted. Conclusion: Maltitol-based sugar-free chocolates were found to be safe for consumption and were devoid of cariogenic potential.
Anti-inflammatory activity and toxicity evaluation of 1,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)urea
Authors: Waruwu Syukur Berkat , Harahap Urip , Yuandani Yuandani , Purnomo Hari , Satria Denny 
Published: April 2022

Background: Inflammation is a normal protective response caused by an injury or tissue damage, through physical trauma, damaging chemicals, or invasion of pathogenic microorganisms. One of the modified p-aminophenol compounds is 1,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)urea, which was estimated to have more potent analgesic activity and fewer hepatotoxic side effects than paracetamol. When the lipophilicity of this compound increases between 1.8 to 4.4, it is observed to serve as an anti-inflammatory agent. Therefore, the determination of safety precaution is very necessary while testing for the toxicity effect of 1,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)urea. This is due to the effectiveness and safety of suitable drugs. Methods: An anti-inflammatory test was carried out by measuring the percentage of inflammation in rats, after the administration of 1,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)urea was previously induced by the carrageenan solution intraplantar and the analysis of neutrophil values through a plethysmometer and Hematoxylin-Eosin method. Also, an acute toxicity test was performed by administering this p-aminophenol compound to female rats for 24 h and observed for 14 days. In addition, a subchronic toxicity test was conducted on male and female rats for 28 days, with continuous observations carried out for 42 days. Results: The doses of 1,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)urea at 50, 100, and 200 mg/Kg BW, had anti-inflammatory activity compared to diclofenac sodium at 2.25 mg/Kg BW. Also, there is no toxicity and animal death symptoms were observed in the acute and subchronic tests. Conclusion: This 1,3-bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)urea compound had an anti-inflammatory activity and relatively low toxicity.
Compact thermal imager: a flight demonstration of infrared technology for Earth observations
Authors: Jennings D. E. , Jhabvala M. D. , Tucker C. J. , Lunsford A. W. , La A. T. , Flatley T. P. , Choi K. K. , Wu D. L. , Morton D. C. , Holmes T. R. , Fitts Y. , Cappelaere P. G. , Cillis A. N. , Turck K. A. , Hewagama T. 
Published: April 2022

During 2019, an infrared camera, the compact thermal imager (CTI), recorded 15 million images of the Earth from the International Space Station. CTI is based on strained-layer superlattice (SLS) detector technology. The camera covered the spectral range from 3 to 11 µm in two spectral channels, 3.3–5.4 and 7.8–10.7 µm. Individual image frames were

26

×

21

k
m

2

projected on the ground, with 82 m pixel resolution. A frame time of 2.54 s created continuous image swaths with a 13% along-track image overlap. Upper limits determined on the ground and in flight for the electronic offset, read noise, and dark current demonstrated the stability of the SLS detector and camera over many months. Temperature calibration was established using a combination of preflight and in-flight measurements. A narrowband approximation of temperature as a function of photon counts produced an analytic relationship covering a temperature range of 0°–400°C. Examples of CTI images illustrate temperature retrievals over sea ice, urban and agricultural areas, desert, and wildfires.
Fabrication of a fractal pattern device for focus characterizations of
X-ray imaging systems by Si deep reactive ion etching and bottom-up Au
electroplating
Authors: Shi Zhitian , Josell Daniel , Jefimovs Konstantins , Romano Lucia , Moffat Thomas P. , Stampanoni Marco , Schlepütz Christian M. 
Published: April 2022

Precisely aligned optical components are crucial prerequisites for X-ray tomography at high resolution. We propose a device with a fractal pattern for precise automatic focusing. The device is etched in a Si substrate by deep reactive ion etching and then filled by a self-terminating bottom-up Au electroplating process. The fractal nature of the device produces an X-ray transmission image with globally homogeneous macroscopic visibility and high local contrast for pixel sizes in the range of 0.165 µm to 11 µm, while the high absorption contrast provided between Au and Si enables its use for X-ray energies ranging from 12 keV to 40 keV.
Separating single- and multiple-scattering components in laser speckle contrast imaging of tissue blood flow
Authors: Zhang Yifan , Wang Cheng , Tong Shanbao , Miao Peng 
Published: April 2022

Random matrix theory provides new insights into multiple scattering in random media. In a recent study, we demonstrated the statistical separation of single- and multiple-scattering components based on a Wishart random matrix. The first- and second-order moments were estimated with a Wishart random matrix constructed using dynamically backscattered speckle images. In this study, this new strategy was applied to laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) of in vivo blood flow. The random matrix-based method was adopted and parameterized using electric field Monte Carlo simulations and in vitro blood flow phantom experiments. The new method was further applied to in vivo experiments, demonstrating the benefits of separating the single- and multiple-scattering components, and the method was compared with the traditional temporal laser speckle contrast analysis (LASCA) method. More specifically, the new method separates the stimulus-induced functional changes in blood flow and tissue perfusion in the superficial (<2l
t
, l
t
is the transport mean free path) and deep layers (1l
t
∼ 7l
t
), extending LSCI to the evaluation of functional and pathological changes.