bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physiological Intracranial Calcifications in Children
Authors: Sirasanagandla Srinivasa R , Al Hajri Faiza , Boudaka Ammar , Al Dhuhli Humoud , Al Ajmi Eiman 
Published: September 2022

Objectives: Physiological intracranial calcifications (PICs) are benign in nature and related to aging. We aimed to study the frequency of physiological intracranial calcifications (PICs) in pediatric population using computed tomography (CT). Methods: The brain CT scans of consecutive patients (age range, 0-15 years) who had visited Sultan Qaboos University Hospital from January 2017 to December 2020 were retrospectively assessed for the presence of PICs. The presence of calcifications was identified using 3 mm thick axial images, and coronal and sagittal reformats. Results: A total of 460 patients were examined and the mean age was 6.54 ± 4.94 years. The frequency of PIC in boys and girls was 35.1% and 35.4%, respectively. PICs were most common in choroid plexus with 35.21% (age range 0.4 -15 years; median, 12 years), followed by the pineal gland in 21.08% (age range 0.5 -15 years; median, 12 years) and the habenular nucleus in 13.04% of subjects (2.9 -15 years; median, 12 years). PICs were less common in falx cerebri with 5.86% (age range 2.8-15 years; median, 13 years) and tentorium cerebelli in 3.04% (age range 7-15 years; median, 14 years) of subjects. PICs increased significantly with increasing age (p<0.001). Conclusion: Choroid plexus is the most frequent site of calcification. Choroid plexus and pineal gland calcifications may be present at less than 1 year of age. Recognizing PICs is clinically important for radiologists as they can be mistaken for hemorrhage or pathological entities like neoplasms or metabolic diseases.
Keywords: Calcification; Pineal gland; Dura Mater; Brain; Computed Tomography
Relationship Between Perceived Social Support and Mental Health among Chinese College Football Athletes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zhao Xiuhan , Liu Zongyu , Zhao Liangyu , Zhang Liguo 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Previous researches have confirmed that perceived social support has a profound effect on individuals' mental health. However, the effects and potential mechanisms of perceived social support on mental health of college athletes are still largely unknown, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate and understand the relationship between perceived social support and mental health of college football athletes, and tested whether hopelessness mediated, and psychological pressure moderated the link between them. A sample of 672 Chinese college football athletes (37.9% girls; Mage = 20.43 years; SDage = 1.68) were investigated with the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Surveys were voluntary and anonymous. The results showed that after controlling for demographic variables, hopelessness mediated the association between perceived social support and mental health among Chinese college football athletes. Further, psychological pressure moderated the association between perceived social support and mental health, and the negative association was stronger for athletes with high-level mental pressure. These findings highlight those targeted approaches are necessary for the prevention and intervention of mental health among Chinese college football athletes.
Changes in the mutational dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 main-protease substantiate the danger of emerging resistance to antiviral drugs.
Authors: Parigger Lena , Krassnigg Andreas , Schopper Tobias , Singh Amit , Tappler Katharina , Köchl Katharina , Hetmann Michael , Gruber Karl , Steinkellner Georg , Gruber Christian C. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The current coronavirus pandemic is being combated worldwide by nontherapeutic measures and massive vaccination programs. Nevertheless, therapeutic options such as SARS-CoV-2 main-protease (Mpro) inhibitors are essential due to the ongoing evolution toward escape from natural or induced immunity. While antiviral strategies are vulnerable to the effects of viral mutation, the relatively conserved Mpromakes an attractive drug target: Nirmatrelvir, an antiviral targeting its active site, has been authorized for conditional or emergency use in several countries since December 2021, and a number of other inhibitors are under clinical evaluation. We analyzed recent SARS-CoV-2 genomic data and discovered accelerated mutational dynamics in an eight-residue long consecutive region (R188-G195) near the active site of Mprosince early December 2021. The herein described increased mutational variability in close proximity to an antiviral-drug binding site may suggest the onset of the development of antiviral resistance. This emerging diversity urgently needs to be further monitored and considered in ongoing drug development and lead optimization.
The Construction of a Genomic Bacterial Artificial Chromosome (BAC) Library for Giant Panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Enables Reference Genome Improvement
Authors: Wang Ye , Wang Juan , Liu Jiawen , Xu Wei , Wang Shenfei , Kou Jie , Li Yan , Liu Hong , Zhang Liang , Shen Fujun 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: De novo assembly of reference genome is becoming a foundation work and playing a crucial role in extinction species conservation. But, whether to use BAC library for de novo sequencing remain disputed because of its laborious and expensive features.
Results: Here, we constructed a BAC library for giant panda with 9.1 genomic coverage and performed long-read sequencing on randomly chose 20 BAC clones. We found the combination of BAC library and long-read sequencing can further improve the reference genome of giant panda.
Conclusions: Our work provides the first BAC library of giant panda with full genomic coverage and demonstrate that BAC library is helpful in reference genome improvement.
Functionality Optimizing Study On Coal-bearing Soil Ecological Substrates
Authors: Huang Gang , Lu Xuesong , Zheng Mingxin 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Ecological restoration is of profound significance for protecting the ecology and engineering safety of coal-bearing soil (CBS) areas. However, the formulations of CBS ecological substrates have rarely been explored. The objective of this study was therefore to evaluate the effects of the CBS:soil ratio (1000:0 g, 750:250 g, 500:500 g, 250:750 g), fly ash content (0, 50 g·kg− 1, 100 g·kg− 1, 150 g·kg− 1), maize straw content (0, 20 g·kg− 1, 40 g·kg− 1, 60 g·kg− 1), and expanded polystyrene (EPS) content (0, 3 g·kg− 1,6 g·kg− 1, 9 g·kg− 1) in an orthogonal design to optimize an ecological substrate according to various physicochemical, nutrient content, mechanical, and vegetation parameters. The results indicated that the CBS:soil ratio had significant effects on the nutrient content and vegetation growth parameters; fly ash dramatically improved the mechanical parameters (shear strength, cohesion, and internal friction angle); maize straw significantly affected the physical parameters and improved the substrate nutrient content; and EPS was the most beneficial to the vegetation germination ratio. A CBS:soil ratio of 1:1 (500:500 g), fly ash content of 100 g·kg− 1, maize straw content of 50 g·kg− 1, and EPS content of 6 g·kg− 1 were determined to produce the optimal mix for the ecological restoration of CBS. The conclusions of this research provide theoretical and practical guidance for the ecological restoration and stabilization protection of CBS slopes.
Sustained improvement of appropriateness in surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis with the application of quality control circle
Authors: Zou Jian , Zhong Jia-yun , Liu Yan-xin , Liu Yu , Huang Dan , Xu Bian-tiao , Li Xi-wen , Gong Wen-jun , Tao Jia 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Administration of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) is considered one of the most effective measures to reduce the incidence of surgical site infection (SSI) after various surgical procedures. Quality control circle (QCC) has acquired success in many fields in healthcare industry as a process management tool, whereas its efficacy in SAP remains unknown. Our present study utilized the QCC activity to improve the appropriate administration of SAP. A QCC activity team was established to grasp the current situation of SAP in clean surgery procedure, set target, formulated corresponding countermeasures and implement and review them in stages. The plan-do-check-act (PDCA) method was cyclically applied. The appropriateness of SAP before (July to December 2018) and after (January to June 2019) the implementation of QCC activities were evaluated based on relevant international and Chinese SAP guidelines. The appropriate rate of SAP was significantly improved from 68.72% before QCC to 93.7% post QCC implementation (P༜0.01). A significant improvement (P༜0.05) was also determined for each category: selection (from 78.82 to 96.06%), duration (from 90.15 to 96.46%), indication (from 94.09 to 97.64%), timing of first dose (from 96.55 to 99.21%), antimicrobial usage (from 96.8 to 99.41%), re-dosing of antimicrobial (from 96.55 to 99.21%). The appropriate application of SAP is improved through QCC activities, providing a useful reference for the prevention of antimicrobial misuse and overuse.
Which Is More Effective in Hypertension?: Salt-Free Diet vs. Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet
Authors: çapar aslı , Yılmaz Müge 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: Although there is strong evidence that the DASH diet lowers blood pressure in national guideline recommendations, the studyresults are still uncertain.
Aims: In this randomized controlled intervention study, it was aimed to compare the effects of the DASH diet and salt-free diet on blood pressure.
Methods: This study was conducted on 60 volunteers with primary hypertension aged 51.8±9.2 years. The participants were randomly divided into two groups. One group (n=30) was given an individualized DASH diet, the other was given a salt-free diet (n=30). Three-day food consumption and physical activity levels and anthropometric measurements of individuals were collected. The participant’s blood pressure, biochemical parameters were monitored at the beginning of the study, in the first and second months.
Results: At the beginning of the study, the DASH diet group had higher intakes of energy, fiber, insoluble fiber, omega 3 fatty acids, PUFA, EPA, K, and Mg compared to the salt-free diet group (p<0.05) at the beginning of the study. While the group effect did not create a significant difference in systolic blood pressure values in all hypertensive patients, it was determined that systolic blood pressure values decreased statistically over time. At the end of the second month; the systolic blood pressure of the salt-free diet group (121.03±9.73 mmHg) was statistically significantly lower than the DASH diet group (126.81±8.91 mmHg) (p<0.05). (p<0.05).
Conclusions: In this study, the effect of a salt-free diet on lowering systolic blood pressure was found to be more positive than the individualized DASH diet.
A newly isolated lignin degradation bacterium Acinetobacter sp. B213 pretreatment effectively improved hydrolysis of corn straw by enhance cellulose retention and reduce lignin degradation inhibitor
Authors: Li Huanan , Zhang Xinyuan , Liu Jiashu , Chen Bixin , Ran Qiuping , Wang Rui , Yu Cairong , Ma Xiangdong , Song Huiting , Jiang Zhengbing 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
An improvement of lignin depolymerization while reducing cellulose losses during the pretreatment by microorganisms gains an interest in the highly efficient utilization of lignocellulosic biomass. Here, a strain isolated from activated sludge could utilize lignin as the sole carbon source and identify as Acinetobacter sp. B213. By measuring the growth curve, degradation characteristic and lignolytic enzymes activity of Acinetobacter sp. B213, the culture medium and inoculum size were optimized. The optimal medium was sodium lignosulfonate LB medium and the optimal inoculum size was 8%. After the biological pretreatment of corn straw under the optimized conditions, the cellulose retention rate and lignin degradation rate were 98.51% and 12.02%, respectively. Approximately 10.53% increase in cellulose retention rate and 20.36% decrease in lignin degradation rate was observed compared with the chemical pretreatment (87.98% and 32.38%), respectively. After 24 h hydrolysis, the glucose yield of biological pretreatment corn straw was 100%, which was 14.25% higher than that of the chemical pretreatment. These results indicated that the biological pretreatment with selective lignin degradation has an advantage in the hydrolysis of cellulose and produces glucose, although the lignin degradation efficiency was lower than chemical pretreatment.
Carbon quantum dots from biomass cicada sloughs as fluorescent probes for detection of enrofloxacin in aquatic products
Authors: Su Jiaxue , Zhou Chunyu , Du Jialing , Xiong Zhili , Zhao Longshan 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Enrofloxacin (ENR) is a widely used antibiotic because of its strong bactericidal effect. However, excessive use of ENR can harm the human body and the ecological environment. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a detection method. Here, we prepared novel carbon quantum dots (CQDs) by the one-step hydrothermal method which showed high sensitivity and selectivity. The precursor material is cicada sloughs, which is one of the traditional crude drugs. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the formation of CQDs. The average particle size of the prepared CQDs is 19.6 ± 0.2 nm, and the maximum excitation/ emission wavelength is 355/436 nm. Under the optimal conditions, the detection linear of ENR ranged from 0.13 to 16.67 µM, and the detection limit was 0.069 µM. The recovery rate was between 88.6% and 104.7% in aquatic products. Therefore, a simple and selective fluorescence analysis method was established and successfully applied to the determination of ENR residues in aquatic products.
The efficacy and safety of bedaquiline in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tong Enyu , Wu Qian , Chen Yiming , Liu Zhengwei , Zhang Mingwu , Zhu Yelei , Wu Kunyang , Tan Xiaohua , Pan Junhang , Jiang Jianmin 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends bedaquiline (BDQ) as a Group A drug for the treatment of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BDQ-containing regimens for the treatment of pulmonary TB patients.
Methods
MEDLINE (PubMed), EBSCO, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) were searched to identify eligible trials until September 8, 2022, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized studies (NRSs) where BDQ was administered to patients with TB. Outcomes of interest were: (1) efficacy, including the rate of sputum culture conversion at 8 weeks, 24 weeks, and follow-up, and the rate of complete, cure, death, failure, and lost to follow-up at end of the treatment. (2) safety, which includes the incidence of cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and grade 3–5 adverse events during the treatment.
Results
A total of 29 articles (N = 23,358) fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with the BDQ-unexposed patients, The BDQ-containing regimen improved the rate of sputum conversion in RCTs (24 weeks: RR = 1.27, 95%Cl:1.10 to 1.46, follow-up: RR = 1.33, 95%Cl:1.06 to 1.66) and increased cure rate (RR = 1.60, 95%Cl: 1.13 to 2.26), and it also decreased the failure rate by 0.56 (95%Cl: 0.56 to 0.88). In NRSs, BDQ-containing regimen improved the sputum culture conversion rate (follow-up: RR = 1.53, 95%Cl: 1.07 to 2.20) and the rate of cure (RR = 1.86,95%Cl:1.23 to 2.83), reduced the rate of all-cause death (RR = 0.68, M-H random-effects 95%Cl: 0.48 to 0.97) and failure (RR = 0.57, 95%Cl:0.46 to 0.71). In terms of safety, BDQ-containing regimen administration increased the incidence of cardiotoxicity (RR = 4.54, M-H random-effects 95%Cl: 1.74–11.87) and grade 3–5 adverse events (RR = 1.42, M-H random-effects 95%Cl: 1.17–1.73) in RCTs; NRSs showed cardiotoxicity was associated with BDQ-containing regimen (RR = 6.00, M-H random-effects 95%Cl: 1.32–27.19). In the other outcomes, there was no significant difference between the intervention and control groups.
Conclusions
RCTs and NRSs data support the efficacy of BDQ for pulmonary TB, but cardiotoxicity and serious adverse events of BDQ were frequent. Overall, there is a lack of comparative data on efficacy and safety. Due to the serious risk of bias and discrepancy, further confirmation is needed.
The infiltration of monocytes aggravates liver fibrosis in mice infected with Echinococcus granulosus
Authors: Yan Yi , Tian Fengming , Qi Xinwei , Liu Yumei , Ma Xiumin , Li Bin , Lv Jie , Zhou Xuan , Zhang Xue , Ma Yuyu 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) infection involves multicellular inflammatory responses and fibrous repair. The study aimed to observe the effect of monocytes’ infiltration on hepatic fibrosis in mice infected with E. granulosus.
Methods
The pathological changes and fibrosis changes in the liver of mice infected with E. granulosus were observed at different time points (DAY2, 8, 30, 90, 180, 300). Chemokines, fibrosis related cytokines were detected. LAMP-1 as a marker of phagosome maturation and PKC-α regulating diverse cellular responses including immune responses.
Results
Change of chemokines indicated monocytes infiltrated into the liver of E. granulosus-infected mice. The increased α-SMA and Desmin indicated the continuous aggravation of fibrosis. The expression of LAMP-1 increased in the early stage, then decreased gradually in the middle and late stages; PKC-α was significantly higher than before after 300 days infection.
Conclusions
Our study facilitated clarification of molecular mechanisms of E. granulosus infection and contributed to the development of novel therapies.
Dorsal hippocampal CA1 NMDA receptors mediate the interactive effects of quetiapine and lithium on memory retention in male rats
Authors: Jafari-Sabet Majid , Amiri Shiva , Emami Sahar , Aghamiri Helia , Fatahi Navid , Keyhanfar Fariborz 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Treatment of bipolar disorder with simultaneous lithium and quetiapine administrations is a prime medical topic due to the ambiguities surrounding the neurobiological mechanisms underlying learning and memory. To clarify the precise mechanisms involved, we evaluated the possible role of the dorsal hippocampal CA1 NMDA receptors in the interactive effects of lithium and quetiapine in memory consolidation. For this purpose, the dorsal hippocampal CA1 regions of adult male Wistar rats were bilaterally cannulated, and a single-trial step-through inhibitory avoidance apparatus was used to assess memory consolidation.
Post-training administration of certain doses of lithium (20, 30, and 40 mg/kg, i.p.) diminished memory consolidation. Post-training administration of higher doses of quetiapine (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg, i.p.) augmented memory consolidation.
Post-training administration of certain doses of quetiapine (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) dose-dependently improved lithium-induced memory impairment. Post-training microinjection of ineffective doses of the NMDA (10-5 and 10-4 µg/rat, intra-CA1) plus an ineffective dose of quetiapine (2.5 mg/kg) improved the lithium-induced memory impairment.
Post-training microinjection of ineffective doses of the noncompetitive the NMDA receptor antagonist, MK-801 (0.0625 and 0.0125 μg/rat, intra-CA1), diminished the quetiapine-induced (10 mg/kg) memory improvement in lithium-induced memory impairment.
These findings suggest a functional interaction between lithium and quetiapine through hippocampal CA1 NMDA receptor mechanisms in memory consolidation.
A new ZVT high step-down WCCI converter with low output current ripple
Authors: memarian Abdolghafar , Delshad Majid , Sajadieh Mahdi 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

In this paper, an interleaved step-down converter with zero voltage switching for the switches and low output current ripple is presented. Two ferrite cores with three windings are used in the proposed converter to reduce the voltage gain and the output current ripple. Therefore, the volume of the circuit does not change significantly. According to the structure of the proposed converter and the use of the ripple cancellation technique, the ripple of the output current is not high despite the use of coupled inductors. The auxiliary switch is also turned on under ZC condition and turned off under ZVZC condition. Therefore, the auxiliary circuit does not impose significant losses on the converter. To prove the correctness of the theoretical analyzes of the proposed converter, a 160W prototype has been implemented. The practical results show 95% efficiency at full load and 0.2A ripple in the output current.
Optimizing culture conditions and extraction methods to improve the yield and quality of small extracellular vesicles
Authors: Yuan Yue , Yang Liu , Tong Xuedong , Li Yan , Deng Kun 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) of nanoscale carry the biological information of parent cells, however, there is no consensus on the culture, collection, and purification of cell-derived EVs. We optimized the concentration of extracelluar vesicle (EV)-depleted serum (EDS), time of collection, and the extraction method for small EVs (sEVs) derived from A549 cells to improve the yield and quality of sEVs. Firstly, A549 cells were cultured in media containing a concentration gradient of EDS (10%, 5%, 3%, 1%, 0.5%, and 0%) for a prolonged time to increase sEV yield. The effects of ultracentrifugation and total exosome isolation kit(EI-kit) on EV-specific proteins were compared, and the biological activity of sEVs was evaluated. There were no significant differences in cell morphology and viability over the range of 1%-10% of the EDS concentration (p > 0.05). The sEVs collected continuously for five days from the cells cultured with 3% EDS were 40-200nm in diameter and of double-membrane, spherical structure with expression of the specific proteins TSG101 and CD9. The sEVs on fifth day could be endocytosed by A549cell which suggested that the sEVs were biologically active.The results of LC-MS/MS demonstrated 3%-sEVs (i.e., sEVs from cells cultured with 3% EDS) have a comprehensive profiling of sEV proteome. In conclusion, 3% EDS is suitable for cell culture, and the cell culture supernatants can be collected continuously for 5 days while maintaining the biological activity of sEVs, and ultracentrifugation is superior to EI in extracting sEVs derived from A549 cells.