bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Observer Agreement In Single Computerized Tomography Use For Diagnosing Paediatric Head And Neck Malignancies At A National Oncology Centre
Authors: Mugisha Alex Mwesigwa , Muyinda Zeridah , Kambugu Joyce Balagadde , Mubuuke Aloysius Gonzaga 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
BackgroundThe increase in the prevalence of paediatric head and neck malignancies (PHNM) has led to increased use of computerized tomography (CT), an ionizing radiation source. Children are at a risk of up to ten times more for radiation induced secondary malignancies. In the Ugandan setting, investigation for PHNM with CT uses a protocol with both unenhanced and contrast enhanced procedures hence doubling the ionizing radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of single CT procedures in diagnosing PHNM.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study using CT images from patients, aged fifteen years and below, investigated for head and neck malignancies at the Uganda Cancer Institute. Three radiologists; observer A, observer B and observer C, with 12, 5 and 2 years of experience, respectively, participated in the study. They independently reported contrast enhanced images (protocol A), unenhanced images (protocol B), then both unenhanced and contrast enhanced images (protocol C) in two months intervals. Gwen’s Agreement coefficient was used to determine intra- and inter-observer agreement.ResultsSeventy-three CT scans of 36 boys and 37 girls, with a median age of 9 (3-13) years, were used. Intra-and inter-observer agreement on primary tumour location ranged from substantial to almost perfect with the highest intra-observer agreement observed when protocols A and C were compared. Inter-observer agreement for tumour calcifications was substantial for protocol A. Observers A and C demonstrated an almost perfect intra-observer agreement when protocols A and C were compared. There was a substantial inter-observer agreement on diagnosis for all protocols. ConclusionsDouble CT procedures for diagnosis of PHNM do not show a significant advantage over the use of contrast enhanced single CT procedures. Contrast enhanced CT only procedures are sufficient in identifying presence of tumor calcifications when diagnosing PHNM.
Metformin prevents morphine-induced apoptosis in rats with diabetic neuropathy: a possible mechanism for attenuating morphine tolerance
Authors: Ozdemir Ercan , Avcı Onur , Taskiran Ahmet Sevki , Inan Zeynep Deniz Sahin , Gursoy Sinan 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Morphine is a drug of choice for the treatment of severe and chronic pain, but tolerance to the antinociceptive effect limits its use. The development of tolerance to morphine has recently been associated with neuronal apoptosis. In this study, our aim was to investigate the effects of metformin on morphine-induced neuronal apoptosis and antinociceptive tolerance in diabetic rats. Three days of cumulative dosing were administered to establish morphine tolerance in rats. The antinociceptive effects of metformin (50 mg/kg) and test dose of morphine (5 mg/kg) were considered at 30-min intervals by thermal antinociceptive tests. To induce diabetic neuropathy, streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. ELISA kits were used to measure caspase-3, bax and bcl-2 levels from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) tissue. Semi-quantitative scoring system was used to evaluate apoptotic cells with the the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method. The findings suggest that co-administration of metformin with morphine to diabetic rats showed a significant increase in antinociceptive effect compared to morphine alone. The antinociceptive tests indicated that metformin significantly attenuated morphine antinociceptive tolerance in diabetic rats. In addition, metformin decreased the levels of apoptotic proteins caspase 3 and Bax in DRG neurons, while significantly increased the levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2. Semiquantitative scoring showed that metformin provided a significant reduction in apoptotic cell counts in diabetic rats. These data revealed that metformin demonstrated antiapoptotic activity in diabetic rat DRG neurons and attenuated morphine tolerance. The antiapoptotic activity of metformin probably plays a significant role in reducing morphine tolerance.
Boosted Mask R-CNN algorithm for accurately detecting strawberry plant canopies in the fields from low-altitude drone images
Authors: Zhang Huazhe , Lin Ping , He Jianqiang , Wang Qianjin , Chen Yongming 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Aiming to solve the problem of low accuracy when detecting strawberry plant canopies using a traditional deep learning object detection algorithm in the fields, this research constructs a novel structure by integrating two parts of online object detection pipelines into the current state-of-the-art Mask R-CNN algorithm to improve the detection performance. The DJI Mavic Air drone is used to collect low-altitude sensing images of strawberry plant canopies. The data augmentation method is employed to feed more instances into the original image dataset to boost the generalization and robustness of the detection model in the training procedure. A ResNet50 backbone combined with a feature pyramid network is presented to extract the features of strawberry plant canopies. The online hard example mining algorithm is introduced to mine hard samples to learn rich features and update model weights. Soft non-maximum suppression based on recursive application on the remaining detection boxes within the predefined overlap threshold is proposed to improve the performance of identifying the large complex overlapping area of strawberry plant canopies. The qualitative results demonstrate that the improved detection model had an AP50 of 96.9 and an AR of 78.5 on the test set, which are approximately 30% higher than the original values. This system, which is developed for automatic and accurate strawberry plant canopy detection, provides an important and significant solution that enables subsequent applications to online rapid measurement of the canopy leaf area index and distribution of strawberry plants.
Experiences of social support among unmarried pregnant university students in South Africa
Authors: Phiri Thandiwe Msipu , Nyamaruze Patrick , Akintola Olagoke 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
Pregnant young women in an academic environment are susceptible to stressors associated with unintended pregnancy and academic demands of universities. The challenges they face may be exacerbated by lack of social support, putting them at risk of psychological disorders such as depression. Women who receive support from their partners both during pregnancy and postpartum experience less emotional distress and report greater maternal satisfaction. However, very little is known about the experiences of social support among pregnant adolescents and young women in tertiary institutions
Methods
Participants were purposively selected among pregnant students and those in the puerperal period at the time of the study. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were undertaken to explore the perceptions of pregnant students on the type of support that they need during pregnancy with particular focus on the role that their partners play (or do not play) in providing support during pregnancy and the puerperium. The data were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim, then analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
The findings show that social support (emotional, instrumental, informational, and financial) were highlighted as an important resource to cope with stressors during pregnancy and post birth. Emotional support from male partner was the most important type of support needed as it entailed a sense of being loved and cared for. Social support was identified as important throughout the different phases of pregnancy and post birth, with different support needs expressed at each of these phases.
Conclusion
This study identified support needs of pregnant women in their transition to motherhood. Given the several challenges that they are faced with, pregnant students need all the available support including male partner support to enhance wellbeing as they try to cope with academic and pregnancy-related stressors.
Extracellular histones induce inflammation and senescence of vascular smooth muscle cells by activating the AMPK/FOXO4 signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Hang , Luo Yong-Yan , Zhang Lue-Tao , He Kai-Ran , Lin Xiao-Jun 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Sepsis is an abnormal immune-inflammatory response that is mainly caused by infection. It can lead to life-threatening organ dysfunction and death. Severely damaged tissue cells will release intracellular histones into the circulation as damage-related molecular patterns (DAMPs) to accelerate the systemic immune response. Although various histone-related cytotoxicity mechanisms have been explored, those that affect extracellular histones involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction are yet to be determined. We found that extracellular histones induced senescence and inflammatory response in a dose-dependent manner in cultured VSMCs. Histone treatment significantly promoted apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) as well as NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) interaction of inflammasomes in VSMCs. Forkhead box protein O4 (FOXO4), which is a downstream effector molecule of extracellular histones, was found to be involved in histone-regulated VSMC inflammatory response and senescence. Furthermore, the 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway was confirmed to mediate extracellular histone-induced FOXO4 expression, and blocking this signaling pathway with an inhibitor can suppress vascular inflammation induced by extracellular histones in vivo and in vitro. These results suggest that the AMPK/FOXO4 pathway is a potential target in treating histone-mediated organ injury.
Clinicopathological significance of p27 kip1 expression in endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Qing , Zhang Guanghui , Tang Mingyang , Zheng Rumin , Wu Ligao 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Objectives
Endometrial carcinoma originates from the endometrium and is one of the most common gynecological malignancies worldwide. With appropriate treatment, the 5-year survival rate for endometrial carcinoma is approximately 80%. Therefore, recent studies have focused on finding tumor-specific markers that can predict the biological behavior of endometrial carcinoma in relation to cell motility and invasion.
Methods
The expression of p27kip1 gene between 130 endometrial carcinoma tissues and normal endometrial tissues were analyzed through immunohistochemistry. The endometrial carcinoma cell lines Ishikawa(ISK) were cultured, the p27kip1-saRNA expression vector was constructed, and the endometrial carcinoma cells interfering with the expression of p27kip1 gene was also established. Western blotting and RT-PCR were employed to verify whether saRNA could up-regulate the expression of p27kip1 gene. Additionally, the proliferation, migration and invasion capacities in cell line after activating with p27kip1 was detected through CCK-8 and Transwell assay respectively. Furthermore, MMP2 and MMP9 were detected by ELISA and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) related proteins including E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Vimentin were assessed by Western blotting analysis.
Results
Compared with normal endometrial tissues, the p27kip1 expression levels in endometrial carcinoma tissues were decreased remarkably. saRNAs transfection significantly up-regulated expressions in endometrial carcinoma cell lines. The proliferation, invasion and migration ability were inhibited considerably by p27kip1-saRNA compared with the control group. The expression of E-cadherin was increased while the expression of N-cadherin, Vimentin, MMP-2 and MMP-9 was decreased activated by the p27kip1-saRNA.
Conclusions
p27kip1 could be used as a prognostic factor of endometrial carcinoma. Activating the expression of p27kip1 in endometrial carcinoma cell line could effectively inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration, and its mechanism is related to the inhibition of EMT. p27kip1 is potential target for the treatment of endometrial carcinoma.
Effectiveness of a co-production with dialogue program for reducing stigma against mental illness: a quasi- experimental study with a pre- and post-test design
Authors: Nakanishi Eiichi , Tamachi Masahiro , Hashimoto Takeshi 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
BackgroundFor people with mental illness, stigma represents a barrier to social participation. To encourage social participation among such people, it is important that they do not perceive such barriers and that health professionals, including students, do not hold stigma-based perceptions of them. It is also crucial that people with mental illness do not have self-stigma. This study aimed to develop—and examine the effectiveness of—a new program based on co-production with dialogue for reducing stigma among both health-science students and people with mental illness.Methods This was a quasi-experimental study, with a pre- and post-test design and no control group. The sample comprised 28 university students majoring in occupational therapy and 20 community-dwelling people with mental illness. The Co-Production with Dialogue Program for Reducing Stigma (CPD-RS) was administered to this sample. Link’s Devaluation Discrimination Scale (DDS) was used to assess whether the program could reduce stigma. At two months after the intervention, participants anonymously evaluated the program using a questionnaire featuring a six-item scale (scored using a five-point Likert scale; 1 = “very negative,” 5 = “very positive”) and an open-ended question (“How did you feel about participating in the program?”).Results　When compared to their pre-intervention scores, the students’ post-intervention DDS scores showed a significant decrease (mean [standard deviation]: 30.21 [6.57] to 26.43 [6.29]; p = 0.00014); this reduction remained for at least one month. The DDS scores of the people with mental illness showed no significant change after the intervention. Both the students and the people with mental illness evaluated the program as “positive,” (median [interquartile range]: 4 [4–5] and 3.5 [3–4.5], respectively). In their responses to the open-ended question, the students and people with mental illness mentioned recognizing that both groups had similar methods of addressing daily life problems, and they also reported that they had enjoyed participating in the program.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the CPD-RS is effective for reducing health-science students’ stigma toward people with mental illness and for fostering mutual understanding among the two groups.
The influence of serum uric acid on patient global assessment of disease activity in male patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Shi Guixiu , Cai Meimei , Liu Wen , Wu Yuanhui , Zheng Qing 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Objectives: The aim was to investigate the temporal relationship between serum uric acid and disease activity in Chinese male patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). Methods: Two-year data from the NASA study cohort of male patients with axial spondyloarthritis were analyzed. Patients global assessment of disease activity(PtGA), BASDAI, ASDAS, BASFI, and SF-36 were used as the outcomes. The Generalized Estimation Equation (GEE) was used to test the relationship between serum uric acid and the above outcomes, with adjustment for confounding factors. The autoregressive GEE model was executed to analyze the longitudinal relationship. Results: In total, 102 male axSpA patients were included, 33.3% of whom were hyperuricemia at baseline. Over time, uric acid levels affected the global assessment of patient global assessment of disease activity(PtGA)([β (95% confidence interval): -2.059(-4.032,-0.086)], SF-36: Vitality(VT) [β(95% confidence interval): 1.751(0.415,3.087)], SF-36: Social Functioning(SF)[β(95% confidence interval): 2.968(1.067,4.869)]). Age, disease duration, baseline uric acid levels, and medication use were all considered in the model. Conclusions: In summary, higher uric acid levels were associated with PtGA, but not with age, disease duration, uric acid levels at baseline, or medication use.Exploring the relationship between uric acid levels and disease activity in axSpA patients over time suggests that uric acid levels during treatment could be one of the predictors of improvement in axSpA.
Experience in the clinical administration of ferrous sulfate for treating post-covid anemia in puerperas
Authors: Zaydieva Z. S. , Bezuglova E. S. , Medzhidova M. K. 
Published: April 2022

Introduction. According to domestic and foreign authors, most women have a greater or lesser level of iron deficiency by the end of pregnancy and deplete their depot iron reserves, and anaemia develops by the time of delivery. Erythrocyte destruction occurs in presence of acute inflammation, including that caused by COVID-19, which leads to a chaotic distribution of iron within tissues and a pronounced loss of its reserves and aggravation of the existing deficiency. Due to overlapping changes with underlying novel coronavirus infection, iron deficiency creates favourable conditions for the development of infectious and inflammatory complications in the postpartum period by the time of delivery.Aim. To assess the features of the postpartum period and hematological status in puerperas with post-COVID anemia, who receive the combination therapy including an anti-anemic ferrous iron drug.Materials and methods. The prospective study included 30 puerperas (treatment group) in the postpartum period, who had a coronavirus infection with a mild degree of IDA during the gestation period. Group 2 (comparison group) included 15 puerperas with mild IDA, who did not have a coronavirus infection during the gestation period. Group 3 (control group) included 15 conditionally healthy puerperas, who had no novel coronavirus infection and did not suffer from IDA during the gestation period.Results and discussion. The puerperas, who had COVID-19 in pregnancy, developed infectious and inflammatory diseases significantly more often in the postpartum period. Subinvolution of the uterus, postpartum endometritis and thyroiditis, disruption of perineal stitches and seromas (hematomas) of the suture after cesarean section, vaginal dysbiotic conditions occurred significantly more often in puerperas with IDA, who came through coronavirus infection, than in women from the comparison group and control group (SBI index, p < 0.05).Conclusion. Women who had COVID-19 in pregnancy should be spinned off into a separate infectious risk group due to the possibility of postpartum complications and timely management of concomitant pathologies and appropriate treatment of IDA.
Human source identification by using a human-associated Escherichia coli genetic marker in the Mae Klong River, Thailand
Authors: Nopprapun Pimchanok , Boontanon Suwanna Kitpati , Piyaviriyakul Pitchaya , Sweattatut Rawiwan , Fujii Shigeo , Harada Hidenori 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Contamination caused by microbial fecal pollution in water bodies is a serious problem in many countries, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, fecal source tracking is an important method used to understand the source of fecal contamination and to decrease the hazard of waterborne diseases that occurs in the environment. In this study, a human-associated genetic marker for Escherichia coli (H8) was used to investigate the source of fecal contamination in the Mae Klong River, Thailand. Real-time PCR was performed with this marker for 500 E. coli isolates collected from 10 sampling sites along the river, including MK10 (upstream) to MK1 (downstream). The results showed that the proportions of H8-positive isolates were 46, 14, 10, 18, 14, 38, 12, 26, 32, and 14% at MK10–MK1, respectively. All positive proportions were significantly different between the locations (p &lt; 0.001). The higher occurrence of E. coli with H8 marker detection indicated that domestic wastewater was largely discharged without proper treatment, which is attributable to the high population and the absence of proper sewage treatment in those areas.
Assessment of groundwater quality along cemeteries and associated potential health concerns in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Leonard Leopord Sibomana 
Published: April 2022

AbstractUrbanization and population growth have resulted in the increase of construction of housing and drilling boreholes around cemeteries causing potential public health and environmental concerns. Although cemeteries provide ecosystem services including green space, micrometeorology control and storm water infiltration, they pose a unique threat to the quality of groundwater as pollutants migrate from graves to aquifers. Thus, this study aimed at assessing the quality of water from boreholes around cemeteries in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania. The study involved groundwater sampling from 23 boreholes in five wards. DR/4000 Spectrophotometer was used to analyze nutrients in the laboratory, and data analysis involved univariate and multivariate analysis. Findings indicated that some boreholes located along cemeteries had elevated values of EC and nutrients. The value of EC ranged between (469.5 μS/cm–2,852.33 μS/cm), NH3-N (0.16 mg/L–6.9 mg/L) while NO3− ranged from 9.21 mg/L to 239.5 mg/L whereby, 91.3% of sampled boreholes had elevated concentration of NO3− above 50 mg/L permissible limit, NO2-N (0.01 mg/L–2.17 mg/L), which is also above the 0.5 mg/L TZS and WHO guidelines. These results are indicators that there is potential pollution from cemeteries that calls upon proper urban planning. This study recommends groundwater quality monitoring and alternative drinking water sources around cemeteries in the study area.
Regional agricultural drought risk assessment based on attribute interval identification: a study from Zhengzhou, China
Authors: Hao Huihui , Zhu Hanyu , Wang Fuqiang 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Agricultural drought risk assessment is helpful in quantitatively understanding agricultural drought and scientifically guiding disaster prevention and mitigation. Therefore, according to the characteristics of attribute uncertainty and index weight subjectivity in agricultural drought risk assessment, an attribute interval identification model combined with grey relational analysis was established to evaluate agricultural drought risk. Firstly, the agricultural drought risk evaluation index system was established from four aspects: disaster, exposure, vulnerability and resistance. Then, the objective weights of the indicators were calculated using the grey relational method. Finally, the agricultural drought risk in Zhengzhou was evaluated by qualitative analysis and probabilistic analysis. Qualitative analysis results showed that the agricultural drought risk in Zhengzhou is at the level of moderate drought. The probability analysis showed that the probability of Zhengzhou City being in a moderate drought is 79.5%, and the probability of being in a severe drought is 20.5%. In addition, the superiority of the attribute interval identification model in agricultural drought risk assessment was further verified by comparative analysis. This research provides a new method for regional agricultural drought risk assessment. Furthermore, it can provide support for management departments to further understand the regional drought risk level and improve the efficiency of drought risk management.