bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors affecting uncertain radiologic reports for pediatric abdominal ultrasound in pediatric emergency departments
Authors: Hwang Soyun , Chung Hyun Jung , Park Joong Wan , Lee Eui Jun , Lee Ha Ni , Kim Jin Hee , Jue Jie Hee , Choi Young Hun , Jung Jae Yun 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Backgrounds
Abdominal pain is a common cause for children presenting to pediatric emergency department (PED), which often requires ultrasound (US). However, uncertain reports can lead to additional imaging, which
Objective
In this study, we evaluated the factors affecting uncertain reports in pediatric abdominal ultrasound in the PED.
Materials and Methods
This is a retrospective cohort study. Children younger than 18 years at the study hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 who underwent an abdominal US in the PED were eligible. After exclusion, researchers manually reviewed every US report and classified. To identify factors that lead to an uncertain report, univariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed.
Results
A total of 1006 patients was included in the final analysis. After review, 796 patients were tagged as certain reports, and 210 were tagged as uncertain reports. Children with uncertain reports were more likely to have undergone an additional CT scan (31.0% vs. 2.5%, p <0.001), and had a longer PED length of stay (321 minutes vs. 284.5 minutes, p =0.042). After logistic regression, US performed by a radiology resident (odds ratio [OR] 5.01, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.63-7.15) was the most significant factor.
Conclusion
Several factors are responsible for uncertain radiologic reports of abdominal US in the pediatric population. Uncertain radiologic reports increase the likelihood of additional CT scans. Measures to improve the clarity of radiologic reports must be considered to improve the quality of care in children visiting the PED.
Inequalities in willingness to pay for Zambia’s National Social Health Insurance Scheme
Authors: Mulenga Kabaso , Booysen Frederik 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
This paper investigates socioeconomic inequalities in household willingness to pay for National Social Health Insurance. The paper used data from the nationally representative Zambia Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey. Contingent Valuation was used to elicit willingness to pay using a bidding game technique. A concentration curve and a concentration index were used to measure inequalities in willingness to pay, while Wagstaff et al. decomposition was used to identify the factors that contribute to these inequalities. The concentration index for socioeconomic inequalities in willingness to pay was estimated at 0.161, indicating that willingness to pay was concentrated among affluent households. The Wagstaff et al. decomposition results suggested that the ability to pay, proxied by per capita expenditure, contributed most to the inequalities in willingness to pay. Thus, policy makers should target programs that create employment and income generating activities that absorb everyone regardless of their socioeconomic status.
JEL Classification Codes: I12, I13, I14, I15, I18 and I19
Characterization of tungiasis infection and morbidity in Kenya reveals increase in disease burden during COVID-19 school closures.
Authors: Elson Lynne , Matharu Abneel K , Riithi Naomi , Ouma Paul , Mutebi Francis , Feldmeier Herman , Krücken Jürgen , Fillinger Ulrike 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background: Tungiasis is a common but extremely neglected tropical skin disease caused by the sand flea Tunga penetrans. Female sand fleas penetrate the skin, particularly at the feet, and cause severe inflammation with pain and itching, acute and chronic morbidity. This study aimed to characterize disease burden in two highly affected regions in Kenya, to test the use of simple thermography to detect tungiasis-associated inflammation and to create a new two-level classification of disease severity that may be used for mapping, targeting, and monitoring interventions in future.
Methods: From February 2020 to April 2021, 3,532 pupils age 8-14 years were randomly selected in 35 public primary schools and examined for tungiasis and associated pathology. Of the infected pupils, 266 were randomly selected and their households visited. An additional 1,138 family members were examined. Infra-red thermography was used to assess inflammation. An all-pathology score was created combining the number of locations on the feet with acute and chronic pathologies and infra-red hotspots.
Results: Based on multilevel mixed effects logistic models, the odds of infection with tungiasis among school pupils was three times as high in Kwale than in Siaya (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)0.28, 95% CI 0.1-0.6); three times higher in males than in females (AOR2.9, 95%CI 2.2-3.7) and three times lower among pupils sleeping in a house with a concrete floor (AOR0.32,95%CI 0.24-0.44). The odds of finding an infected person among the household population during active school terms was approximately a half of that when schools were closed due to COVID-19 (AOR0.44, 95% CI 0.3-0.7). Infection intensity was positively correlated with inflammation (Spearman’s rho =0.68, p<0.001) and all-pathology score (rho 0.86, p<0.001). Based on the two-level classification, severe cases were associated with a threefold higher level of pain (OR2.99, 95% CI 2-4.4) and itching (OR3.31, 95% CI 2.2-4.9) than mild cases.
Conclusions: Thermography was a valuable addition for assessing morbidity and the proposed two-level classification of disease severity clearly separated patients with mild and severe impacts. The burden of tungiasis severely increased during COVID-19 restrictions and reinforced that underlying risks are found in the home environment more than in school.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence as a reliable annotator of archaeal promoter regions
Authors: SganzerlaMartinez Gustavo , Perez-Rueda Ernesto , Kumar Aditya , Sarkar Sharmilee , Silva Scheila Avila e 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Motivation
Archaea are a vast and unexplored cellular domain that thrive in a high diversity of environments, having central roles in processes mediating global carbon and nutrient fluxes. For these organisms to balance their metabolism, the appropriate regulation of their gene expression is essential. A key momentum in regulating genes responsible for the life maintenance of archaea is when transcription factor proteins bind to the promoter element. This DNA segment is conserved, which enables its exploration by machine learning techniques.
Results
Here, we trained and tested a support vector machine with 3935 known archaeal promoter sequences. All promoter sequences were coded into DNA Duplex Stability. After, we performed a model interpretation task to map the decision pattern of the classification procedure. We also used a validation dataset of known-promoter sequences. Our results showed that an AT rich region around position − 27 upstream (relative to the start TSS is the most conserved in the analyzed organisms. In addition, we were able to identify the BRE element (-33), the PPE (at -10) and a position at + 3, that provides a more understandable picture of how promoters are organized in all the archaeal organisms. Finally, we used the interpreted model to identify potential promoter sequences of 135 unannotated organisms, delivering regulatory regions annotation of archaea in a scale never accomplished before (https://pcyt.unam.mx/gene-regulation/). We consider that this approach will be useful to understand how gene regulation is achieved in other organisms apart from the already established transcription factor binding sites.
New constraints of terrestrial and oceanic global gross primary productions from the triple oxygen isotopic composition of atmospheric CO2 and O2
Authors: Liang Mao-Chang , Laskar Amzad H. , Barkan Eugeni , Newman Sally , Thiemens Mark H. , Rangarajan Ravi 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Representations of the changing global carbon cycles under climatic and environmental perturbations require highly detailed accounting of all atmosphere and biosphere exchange. These fluxes remain unsatisfactory, as a consequence of data with limited spatiotemporal coverage and precision and restrict accurate assessments. Through the nature of intimate coupling of global carbon and oxygen cycles via O2 and CO2 and their unique triple oxygen isotope compositions in the biosphere and atmosphere, greater insight is available. We perform analysis of their isotopic compositions with the widest geographical and temporal coverage (123 new measurements for CO2) and constrain, on an annual basis, the global CO2 recycling times (1.5±0.2 yr) and gross primary productivities of terrestrial (~170-200 PgC/yr) and oceanic (~90-120 PgC/yr) biospheres. Observed inter-annual variations in CO2 triple oxygen isotopic compositions were observed at a magnitude close to the largest contrast set by the terrestrial and oceanic biospheres. The seasonal cycles between the east-west Pacific Ocean were found to be drastically different. This intra-annual variability implies that the atmospheric CO2 turnover time is not much longer than the tropospheric mixing time (less than ~5 months), verifying the derived recycling time. The new measurements and analyses and incorporation of other global data sets develop an independent approach, providing a strong constraint to biogeochemical models.
The embryology, metamorphosis, and muscle development of Schizocardium karankawa sp. nov. (Enteropneusta) from the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Jabr Noura , Gonzalez Paul , Kocot Kevin M. , Cameron Christopher 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Schizocardium karankawa n. sp. has been collected from subtidal muds of the Laguna Madre, Texas, and the Mississippi coast, Gulf of Mexico. The Texas population is reproductive from early February to mid-April. Gametes are liberated by a small incision in a gonad. Oocyte germinal vesicle breakdown is increased in the presence of sperm, and the highest fertilization success was in the artificial seawater Jamarin U. Manually dechorionated embryos develop normally. Development was asynchronous via a tornaria larva, metamorphosis and maintained to the juvenile worm 6 gill-pore stage. Phalloidin-labeled late stage tornaria revealed retractor muscles that connect the pericardial sac with the apical tuft anteriorly, and the oesophagus ventrally, and muscles cells of the early mesocoels. The muscle development of early juvenile worms began with dorso-lateral trunk muscles, lateral trunk bands, and sphincters around the gill pores and anus. Adult worms are characterized by a stomochord that bifurcates anteriorly into paired vermiform processes, gill bars that extend almost the entire dorsal to ventral branchial region resulting in a narrow ventral hypobranchial ridge, and an elaborate epibranchial organ with six zones of discrete cell types. The trunk has up to three rows of liver sacs, and lateral gonads. The acorn worm evo-devo model species Saccoglossus kowalevskii, Ptychodera flava, and Schizocardium californicum are phylogenetically distant with disparate life histories. Differences of S. karnakawa from S. californicum include larval anal cilia, the number of gill pores and hepatic sacs, and elaborations of the heart-kidney-stomochord complex. Further comparative study of S. karankawa and S. californicum could help shed light on how development evolves at large and fine scales.
Functional characterization of a soybean GmSUT4 gene reveals its involvement in plant growth and development regulation through sugar metabolism
Authors: Chen Peng , Wu Xia , Yue Jiao , Nie Jingzhi , Mubeen Samavia , Luo Dengjie , Cao Shan , Wang Caijin , Wu Qijing , Zhang Hui , Pan Jiao , Chen Channi , Wang Meng 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Soybean sucrose transporter GmSUT4 regulated plant growth and development through sugar metabolism
Predictors of Long-term Muscle Weakness in Survivors of Covid-19 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Benedini Marco , Cogliati Marta , Lulic-Kuryllo Tea , Peli Elena , Mombelli Stefano , Calza Stefano , Guarneri Bruno , Cudicio Alessandro , Rizzardi Andrea , Bertoni Michele , Renzi Stefania , Gitti Nicola , Rasulo Frank A. , Goffi Alberto , Pozzi Matteo , Orizio Claudio , Negro Francesco , Latronico nicola , Piva simone 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
Long-term weakness is common in survivors of COVID-19–associated acute respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS). We assessed the predictors of muscle weakness in patients evaluated at 3, 6, and 12 months after intensive care unit discharge with in-person visits.
Methods
Muscle strength was measured by isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the tibialis anterior muscle. Candidate predictors of muscle weakness were follow-up time, sex, age, mechanical ventilation duration, use of steroids in the intensive care unit, compound muscle action potential of the tibialis anterior muscle (CMAP-TA-S100), severe fatigue, depression and anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, cognitive assessment, and body mass index. We also compared the clinical tools currently available for the evaluation of muscle strength (handgrip strength, Medical Research Council sum score) and electrical neuromuscular function (simplified peroneal nerve test [PENT]) with more objective and robust measures of force (MVC) and electrophysiological evaluation of the neuromuscular function of the tibialis anterior muscle (CMAP-TA-S100) for its essential role in ankle control.
Results
MVC improved at 12 months compared with 3 months. Sex (P < 0.001), age (P = 0.012), duration of mechanical ventilation (P = 0.044), and CMAP-TA-S100 (P < 0.001) were independent predictors of MVC. MVC was strongly associated with handgrip strength, whereas CMAP-TA-S100 was strongly associated with PENT.
Conclusions
Female sex, increasing age, increased duration of mechanical ventilation, and electrical neuromuscular abnormalities are independently associated with reduced MVC and can be used to predict the risk of long-term muscle weakness in CARDS survivors.
Trial registration
: The present study was registered at ClinicalTrial.gov (NCT: ​​NCT04608994). Registered on October 30, 2020. Retrospectively registered.
Hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome and posterior reversible encephalopathy secondary to unilateral renal artery stenosis - a case report
Authors: Ghwas Mohamed Ezzat Al , Kamel Ashraf Sayed , Sayed Muhammad Adel , Awad Remon Magdy Yousef 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackground Renal artery stenosis is one of the secondary causes of hypertension in children. Hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome (HHS) is an uncommon disorder usually seen in adults with unilateral renal artery stenosis and atherosclerosis but it’s rarely reported in children. Case presentation A 5-year-old male child presented with generalized tonic clonic convulsions associated with severe hypertension, hyponatremia, hypokalemia, and polyuria. Laboratory tests revealed elevated plasma renin activity, and aldosterone level. The diagnosis of hyponatremic hypertensive syndrome secondary to unilateral renal artery stenosis was made. MRI of the brain was consistent with posterior reversible leukoencephalopathy syndrome (PRES). The patient responded to left renal artery stenting with control of blood pressure. Conclusions Findings of hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypertension, polyuria can be attributed to unilateral renal artery stenosis with associated HHS. Early recognition is important for early management of such treatable condition to prevent irreversible renal damage.
Initiating the transition from open-canopy lichen woodland to productive forest by transplanting moss, results from a 10-year experiment
Authors: Gao Lei , Paré David , Chavardès Raphaël D , Bergeron Yves 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background and aims
Low productivity open lichen (Cladonia spp.) woodlands have been rapidly expanding in the closed-crown feather moss (Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt.) boreal forest in eastern Canada. While open-woodland areas are progressing, there is little information on the recoverability of open lichen woodlands back to closed-canopy forests.
Methods
An experimental set-up using moss transplantation was installed in a poor jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stand with a lichen ground cover in 2011. Treatments included: 1) lichen cover removed (No Lichen), 2) lichen cover removed and transplantation of a feather moss cover (Moss Transplanted), 3) lichen control (No Treatment) and 4) a natural jack pine site with feather moss cover (Moss Control). We extracted tree stem increment cores and collected needles and soil samples for nutrient analyses.
Results
The transplanted-moss treatment can counteract the adverse effects of lichen on jack pine growth, and this treatment enhanced foliar nutrition and soil nutrients, especially ammonium (N-NH4+), nitrate (N-NO3-). With this treatment, the soil conditions (e.g., soil nutrients, soil moisture) and foliar nutrition were closer to that of the moss control. Surprisingly, lichen removal treatment not only does not improve growth but appears to result in poorer jack pine growth and harsher soil conditions.
Conclusion
Feather moss can establish, survive, and remain healthy in an environment previously occupied by lichen. The replacement of lichen by feather moss establishes soil conditions that appear conducive to better tree growth and that has the potential of restoring the productivity of boreal forests in open-canopy lichen woodlands.
Association between sarcopenia and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis in middle-aged and elderly adults: data from CHARLS
Authors: Zhang Kai , Jiang Xu , Zeng Li-ting , Qiao Han , Chen Chen , Cao Xian-kun , Zhou Tang-jun , Wang Liao , Zhao Jie 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background
The current study aimed to investigate the association between sarcopenia and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in middle-aged and older adults using nationally representative data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). However, no causal relationships (i.e., whether symptomatic KOA is a risk factor or direct consequence of sarcopenia) were established.
Methods
We conducted cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses using baseline (from 2011) and follow-up CHARLS data (from 2018). Sarcopenic status was defined according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS 2019) consensus. Symptomatic KOA was based on participant self-reports of physician diagnoses. Symptomatic KOA events were defined as participants without symptomatic KOA at baseline (2011) and diagnosed with symptomatic KOA at follow-up (2018). The cross-sectional analysis included CHARLS 2011 data from 7,071 participants aged > 45 years. The longitudinal analysis included CHARLS data from 4,785 participants without KOA recruited in 2011 and followed-up in 2018. A Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to examine the effect of sarcopenia on KOA.
Results
The prevalence rates of symptomatic KOA in the general population and in individuals without sarcopenia, with probable sarcopenia, and with sarcopenia were 11.3% (798/7,071), 10.4% (524/5,031), 13.6% (191/1,403), and 13.0% (83/637), respectively. In the general population, probable sarcopenia [odds ratio (OR):1.33; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–1.59] was associated with symptomatic KOA. In the cross-sectional analyses, age, sex, educational attainment, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and self-reported physician diagnoses of diabetes, hypertension, and other chronic diseases were associated with sarcopenic status. At follow-up, 451 (9.4%) KOA events were identified, but the longitudinal analysis did not identify possible sarcopenia, and sarcopenia increased KOA risk.
Conclusion
Possible sarcopenia, assessed using the AWGS 2019 criteria, was associated with the risk of symptomatic KOA among middle-aged and older Chinese adults, but no longitudinal association was detected between sarcopenia and the onset of KOA due to the small sample size and insufficient statistical power.
Long-term monitoring, and hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: Huang Cui-Ling , Yang Hua , Gao Jian , Yu Ying , Lan Cheng-Dian 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Background: Guidelines reported that the patients infected with hepatitis B (HBV) need monitoring of disease progression and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) screening to reduce the risk of decompensated cirrhosis and HCC. The present study aimed to examine the rates and risk factors of adherence to guideline-recommended long-term monitoring and HCC surveillance in patients with chronic hepatitis B Virus (CHB) infection.
Methods: We performed a retrospective study of outpatients with CHB infection who from the outpatient database of a Chinese hospital in 2018 by using the International Classification of Diseases revision 10 code and computer queries. The guideline-recommended long-term monitoring and HCC surveillance require to monitor ≥2 times during the2-year follow-up period.
Results: We analyzed 402 eligible outpatients with CHB infection. The number and rates of guideline-recommended long-term monitoring and HCC surveillance annually were as follows: 171 (42.54%) for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV-DNA), 107 (26.62%) for HCC surveillance, and 103 (25.62%) for all examinations which including ALT, HBV-DNA, and HCC surveillance. Age (P=0.018), gender (P=0.010), outpatient visit times (P=0.036), and antiviral treatment (P=0.044) were associated with the guideline-recommended long-term monitoring of ALT and HBV-DNA. Antiviral treatment (P=0.003, P=0.002) and initial liver imaging (P<0.001, P<0.001) were associated with the guideline-recommended HCC surveillance and also the monitoring of all examination.
Conclusions: The present study observed poor adherence to the guideline-recommended long-term monitoring and HCC surveillance in patients with CHB infection. Additional measures are needed to promote disease monitoring and achieve optimal HBV management.
Modeling of Fabry disease nephropathy using patient derived human induced pluripotent stem cells and kidney organoid system
Authors: Cui Sheng , Fang Xianying , Shin Yoo Jin , Lee Hanbi , Koh Eun Sil , Chung Sungjin , Park Hoon Suk , Lim Sun Woo , Lee Kang In , Lee Jae Young , Yang Chul Woo , Chung Byung Ha 
Published: November 2022

Abstract
Objectives: To explore the possibility of kidney organoids generated using patient derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC) for modeling of Fabry disease nephropathy (FDN).
Methods: First, we generated hiPSC line using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from two male FD-patients with different types of GLA mutation: a classic type mutation (CMC-Fb-001) and a late-onset variant (CMC-Fb-003) mutation. Second, we generated kidney organoids using wild-type (WT) hiPSC (WTC-11) and mutant hiPSCs (CMC-Fb-001 and CMC-Fb-003). We then compared alpha-galactosidase A (α-GalA) activity, deposition of globotriaosylceremide (Gb-3), and zebra body formation under electromicroscopy (EM).
Results: Both FD patients derived hiPSCs had the same mutations as those detected in PBMCs of patients, showing typical pluripotency markers, normal karyotyping, and successful tri-lineage differentiation. Kidney organoids generated using WT-hiPSC and both FD patients derived hiPSCs expressed typical nephron markers without structural deformity. Activity of α-GalA was decreased and deposition of Gb-3 was increased in FD patients derived hiPSCs and kidney organoids in comparison with WT, with such changes being far more significant in CMC-Fb-001 than in CMC-Fb-003. In EM finding, multi-lammelated inclusion body was detected in both CMC-Fb-001 and CMC-Fb-003 kidney organoids, but not in WT.
Conclusions: Kidney organoids generated using hiPSCs from male FD patients might recapitulate the disease phenotype and represent the severity of FD according to the GLA mutation type.