bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adoption of artificial insemination technology and its intensity of use in Eastern Tigray National Regional State of Ethiopia
Authors: Gebre Yemane Hailu , Gebru Gebrehiwot Weldegebrial , Gebre Kahsa Tadel 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
The study was focused on the adoption and intensity of adoption of artificial insemination (AI) Technology in Saesie-tsaedaemba District of Tigray Region, Ethiopia. AI is one of the most important and valuable dairy technology that has been used for genetic improvement for several years in the study area. However, there was little empirical information about major factors affecting adoption decision and intensity of AI in the study area. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the status of AI technology adoption and its intensity and to identify major factors influencing the adoption and intensity of use of AI technology.

Methods
A multistage sampling technique was applied to select study sites and sample households. A structured interview was used to collect data from a total of 204 sample farmers. Besides, key informants interview was used to triangulate, validate, and enrich the findings of the household interview.

Results
Results of the tobit model regression revealed that households’ level of literacy, milk yield, income, training, access to extension service, mobile ownership, supplementation of concentrated feed and hybrid cattle ownership were found to have a positive and statistically significant relationship with adoption and intensity of AI technology, whereas distance to farmer training centre (FTC) office had shown a negative relationship.

Conclusions
Adoption of context-based AI technology plays a paramount importance in achieving farm household's food security. The extension system should give more emphasis to the capacity building which is pivotal for introducing, adoption, and scaling out of best practices of dairy technologies. Besides the effort of the government, the participation of the private sector in AI technology is important to achieve wider adoption of AI technology.
Experimental Evaluation of Effect Factors on Seismic Performance of Concrete Columns Reinforced with HTRB630 High-Strength Steel Bars
Authors: Sun Chuanzhi , Zhuang Mei-Ling , Dong Bo 
Published: September 2022

AbstractHTRB630 steel bar is a new type of high-strength steel bars. To study the seismic performance and promote the application of concrete columns reinforced with HTRB630 high-strength steel bars, the pseudo-static test of 10 concrete columns reinforced with HTRB630 high-strength steel bars and 3 concrete columns reinforced with HRB400 was carried out. Test specimens were divided into five categories according to concrete grade, reinforcement strength, and degree of confinement. The effect of concrete strength (C45 and C60), axial load ratio (0.1 and 0.25), equal strength substitution of longitudinal reinforcements (HTRB630 and HRB400), equal strength and volume substitution of stirrups (HTRB630 and HRB400), equal strength substitution of confined reinforcements (HTRB630 and HRB400) on the seismic performance are analyzed and discussed from the failure mode, hysteresis loops, skeleton curves, lateral strength, ductility, energy dissipation capacity, stiffness and strength degradation. The failure mode of each specimen was bending failure. Reducing of the axial lo ratio or increasing the strength of reinforcements, the seismic performance of the specimen could be improved. C60 concrete can improve the seismic performance of HTRB630 reinforced columns. The lateral strength of the concrete column specimen with HTRB630 reinforcements was slightly increased, and the ductility and energy dissipation capacity were reduced, the stiffness degradation was more gradual, the strength degradation coefficient was greater than 0.94, but still met the requirements of the code for seismic design of buildings (GB50011-2010).
Metabolic cross-talk within the bone marrow milieu: focus on multiple myeloma
Authors: Oudaert Inge , Van der Vreken Arne , Maes Anke , De Bruyne Elke , De Veirman Kim , Vanderkerken Karin , Menu Eline 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCancer cells are well-known for their capacity to adapt their metabolism to their increasing energy demands which is necessary for tumor progression. This is no different for Multiple Myeloma (MM), a hematological cancer which develops in the bone marrow (BM), whereby the malignant plasma cells accumulate and impair normal BM functions. It has become clear that the hypoxic BM environment contributes to metabolic rewiring of the MM cells, including changes in metabolite levels, increased/decreased activity of metabolic enzymes and metabolic shifts. These adaptations will lead to a pro-tumoral environment stimulating MM growth and drug resistance In this review, we discuss the identified metabolic changes in MM and the BM microenvironment and summarize how these identified changes have been targeted (by inhibitors, genetic approaches or deprivation studies) in order to block MM progression and survival.
Impaired mitochondria of Tregs decreases OXPHOS-derived ATP in primary immune thrombocytopenia with positive plasma pathogens detected by metagenomic sequencing
Authors: Zhan Yanxia , Cao Jingjing , Ji Lili , Zhang Miaomiao , Shen Qi , Xu Pengcheng , Zhuang Xibing , Qin Shanshan , Hua Fanli , Sun Lihua , Li Feng , Chen Hao , Cheng Yunfeng 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an autoimmune disease. Some ITP patients are associated with pathogen infection undetected with conventional technologies. Investigating the changes of T cells and potential metabolic mechanism are important for better understanding of ITP.

Methods
The study enrolled 75 newly diagnosed ITP patients. The pathogens of patients were detected by metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS). Plasma lipids were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS). CD4 T cell and CD8 T cell were analyzed using flow cytometry. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential were measured by flow cytometry. Seahorse XF real-time ATP rate assay was used to investigate the change of cellular metabolism.

Results
Positive plasma pathogens were detected in seven ITP patients. Of them, 5 (71.4%) positive pathogen-ITP patients were no response (NR) after first-line treatment with corticosteroids. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) increased significantly in positive pathogen-ITP patients compared to negative pathogen-ITP patients and healthy controls (HC). Mitochondrial membrane potential of Th17 and Tregs were decreased in positive pathogen-ITP and negative pathogen-ITP patients, compared to HC (all p < 0.05). The overall metabolism flux of positive pathogen-ITP patients was decreased, as compared to HC (p = 0.004), of them a higher proportion of glycolysis-derived ATP and a smaller proportion of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-derived ATP were found in Tregs. The ATP rate index of Tregs was decreased significantly in positive pathogen-ITP patients compared to negative pathogen-ITP patients and HC (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
Impaired mitochondria function of Tregs in positive pathogen-ITP patients caused a decrease of OXPHOS-derived ATP and overall metabolism flux that might be the cause of steroid resistance in ITP patients.
Global contribution of pelagic fungi to protein degradation in the ocean
Authors: Breyer Eva , Zhao Zihao , Herndl Gerhard J. , Baltar Federico 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Fungi are important degraders of organic matter responsible for reintegration of nutrients into global food chains in freshwater and soil environments. Recent evidence suggests that they are ubiquitously present in the oceanic water column where they play an active role in the degradation of carbohydrates. However, their role in processing other abundant biomolecules in the ocean in comparison with that of prokaryotes remains enigmatic. Here, we performed a global-ocean multi-omics analysis of all fungal-affiliated peptidases (main enzymes responsible for cleaving proteins), which constitute the major fraction (> 50%) of marine living and detrital biomass. We determined the abundance, expression, diversity, taxonomic affiliation, and functional classification of the genes encoding all pelagic fungal peptidases from the epi- and mesopelagic layers.

Results
We found that pelagic fungi are active contributors to protein degradation and nitrogen cycling in the global ocean. Dothideomycetes are the main fungi responsible for protease activity in the surface layers, whereas Leotiomycetes dominate in the mesopelagic realm. Gene abundance, diversity, and expression increased with increasing depth, similar to fungal CAZymes. This contrasts with the total occurrence of prokaryotic peptidases and CAZymes which are more uniformly distributed in the oceanic water column, suggesting potentially different ecological niches of fungi and prokaryotes. In-depth analysis of the most widely expressed fungal protease revealed the potentially dominating role of saprotrophic nutrition in the oceans.

Conclusions
Our findings expand the current knowledge on the role of oceanic fungi in the carbon cycle (carbohydrates) to the so far unknown global participation in nitrogen (proteins) degradation, highlighting potentially different ecological niches occupied by fungi and prokaryotes in the global ocean.
Policy and public communication methods among U.S. state prisons during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Zielinski Melissa J. , Cowell Mariah , Bull Chelsey E. , Veluvolu Manasa , Behne M. Forrest , Nowotny Kathryn , Brinkley-Rubinstein Lauren 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Throughout the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, our research team monitored and documented policy changes in United States (U.S.) prison systems. Data sources included prison websites and official prison social media accounts. Over 2500 data sources relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic in U.S. prisons were located and summarized in to five different categories: 1) prevention, 2) case identification and intervention, 3) movement, 4) social communication and connection, and 5) programming, recreation, and privileges.

Results
All state prison systems reportedly enacted multiple policies intended to limit the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Document analysis revealed that the most commonly released policies were restrictions on social contacts and privileges, basic preventive measures (e.g., distribution of masks), and basic case identification measures (e.g., verbal screening and temperature checks). Utilization of social media for policy communication varied significantly across states, though relevant data was more often released on Facebook than Twitter.

Conclusions
Together, our work provides foundational knowledge on the wide breadth of policies that were reportedly enacted in the first year of the pandemic that may be used as a base for quantitative work on policy effectiveness and examinations of implementation.
Condylar morphology and position changes after miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion in skeletal Class III malocclusion adult patients with mandibular deviation and unilateral posterior crossbite
Authors: Chen Shuai , Zhang Chunxi , Zhang Kaili , Tan Xiaoming , Xi Xun , Zhao Yi , Liu Dongxu 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
To evaluate the morphological and positional changes of mandibular condyle after miniscrew-assisted rapid palatal expansion (MARPE) in skeletal Class III malocclusion adult patients with horizontal mandibular deviation (MD).

Methods
The sample consisted of 15 patients with MD (6 males and 9 females, mean age 21.58 ± 3.12 years). The CBCT scans were taken before and after MARPE immediately. The pre- and post-registered images of the cranial base and mandible were measured, respectively, by Mimics.

Results
After expansion, the distance between superior condylar point and the Frankfort horizontal plane on the deviated side and the non-deviated side increased by 0.96 ± 0.60 mm (P = 0.011) and 0.70 ± 0.65 mm (P = 0.046); coronal condylar angle of the deviated side increased by 0.39° ± 0.34 (P = 0.028) and 0.06° ± 0.49 (P = 0.917) on the non-deviated side. No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the condylar position on both sides before and after treatment. The degree of mandibular deviation decreased 0.43 mm (P = 0.270).

Conclusions
This study suggested that for skeletal Class III malocclusion adult patients with horizontal MD, the condyle on the deviated side rotated toward the non-deviated side in the coronal direction; the condylar remodeling occurred mainly on the deviated side after MARPE in the vertical direction.
The shift in sensory eye dominance from short-term monocular deprivation exhibits no dependence on test spatial frequency
Authors: Chen Yiya , Mao Yu , Zhou Jiawei , He Zhifen , Hess Robert F. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Studies have shown that short-term monocular deprivation induces a shift in sensory eye dominance in favor of the deprived eye. Yet, how short-term monocular deprivation modulates sensory eye dominance across spatial frequency is not clear. To address this issue, we conducted a study to investigate the dependence of short-term monocular deprivation effect on test spatial frequency.

Methods
Ten healthy young adults (age: 24.7 ± 1.7 years, four males) with normal vision participated. We deprived their dominant eye with a translucent patch for 2.5 h. The interocular contrast ratio (dominant eye/non-dominant eye, i.e., the balance point [BP]), which indicates the contribution that the two eyes make to binocular combination, was measured using a binocular orientation combination task. We assessed if BPs at 0.5, 4 or 6 cycles/degree (c/d) change as a result of monocular deprivation. Different test spatial frequency conditions were conducted on three separate days in a random fashion.

Results
We compared the BPs at 0.5, 4 and 6 c/d before and after monocular deprivation. The BPs were found to be significantly affected by deprivation, where sensory eye dominance shift to the deprived eye (F1.86, 16.76 = 33.09, P < 0.001). The changes of BP were consistent at 0.5, 4, and 6 c/d spatial frequencies (F2,18 = 0.15, P = 0.57).

Conclusion
The sensory eye dominance plasticity induced by short-term deprivation is not dependent on test spatial frequency, suggesting it could provide a practical solution for amblyopic therapy that was concerned with the binocular outcome.
Visual acuity, near phoria and accommodation in myopic children using spectacle lenses with aspherical lenslets: results from a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Huang Yingying , Li Xue , Wang Chu , Zhou Fengchao , Yang Adeline , Chen Hao , Bao Jinhua 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate the short- and long-term effects of myopia control spectacle lenses with highly aspherical lenslets (HAL) and slightly aspherical lenslets (SAL) on visual function and visual quality using data obtained from a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Methods
This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, and double-blinded study; 170 myopic children aged 8–13 years were randomly assigned to the HAL, SAL, or single-vision spectacle lenses (SVL) groups. Distance and near visual acuity (VA) at high (100%) and low (10%) contrast in photopic and scotopic conditions, near phoria, stereoacuity, and accommodative lag, microfluctuations (AMFs), amplitude (AA) were measured after wearing lenses for 10 min, 6 months, and 12 months.

Results
In total, 161 subjects completed all follow-up in 12 months and were included in the analysis. After 10 min of wearing, the HAL and SAL groups had lower scotopic and low-contrast VA than the SVL group (decreased 0.03–0.08 logMAR and 0.01–0.04 logMAR in different VAs in the HAL and SAL groups, respectively, all P < 0.05). The reduction in VA was recovered at 12 months as the HAL and SAL groups exhibited significant VA improvements, and the VA was not different among the three groups (all P > 0.05). The HAL and SAL groups had significantly larger AMFs than the SVL group (HAL vs. SAL vs. SVL: 0.21 ± 0.08 D vs. 0.16 ± 0.05 D vs. 0.15 ± 0.06 D at baseline, 0.19 ± 0.07 D vs. 0.17 ± 0.05 D vs. 0.13 ± 0.07 D at 12 months, all P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in accommodative lag, AA, or phoria between the groups (all P > 0.05). The HAL and SAL groups had reduced stereoacuity compared to the SVL group at baseline (70’ vs. 60’ vs. 50’, P = 0.005), but no difference was observed at 12 months (70’ vs. 70’ vs. 70’, P = 0.11).

Conclusions
HAL and SAL have no significant influence on accommodation and phoria except had larger AMF than SVL. Scotopic VA and low-contrast VA are reduced with short-term HAL and SAL use but recovered to be at same level with the SVL after 1 year of use.
Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1800017683. Registered on 9 August 2018. http://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=29789
Laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy with laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy for superior mesenteric artery syndrome with dysphagia: a case report
Authors: Kimura Akiharu , Morinaga Nobuhiro , Wada Wataru , Ogata Kyoichi , Morishita Akiko , Okuyama Takayuki , Kato Hiroyuki , Sohda Makoto , Shirabe Ken , Saeki Hiroshi 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome denotes a mechanical duodenal obstruction between the SMA and aorta. Total parenteral or enteral nutrition is the treatment of choice. However, surgical intervention is indicated if the patient’s condition does not improve with conservative treatment. Here, we describe a case of SMA syndrome with dysphagia treated by laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy with laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.

Case presentation
A 64-year-old man was admitted to another hospital because of appetite loss and vomiting. There, he was diagnosed as having superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome after appropriate investigation. He had had a cerebral infarction at age 57 years, since which he had lived in social housing because of complications of that infarction. A nasogastric tube was inserted into the third portion of the duodenum beyond the constricted section. He was discharged 2 months after admission his condition having improved. He was subsequently referred to our hospital for gastrostomy because the nasogastric tube had been in place for a long time and his condition had not improved. Additionally, gastrostomy was needed as a route for enteral nutrition because he had dysphagia, which had persisted despite attempts at rehabilitation, restricting his food intake to small amounts. Computed tomography (CT) revealed compression of the third portion of the duodenum between the SMA and aorta. After obtaining informed consent, we planned an operative procedure. We performed laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy under general anesthesia, followed by laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. The operation time was 156 min and there was little blood loss. Contrast radiography on postoperative day 3 revealed no evidence of leakage or stenosis. Enteral nutrition via the gastrostomy was started. He was discharged from our hospital on the 27th postoperative day. The gastrostomy was well tolerated and there has been no evidence of recurrence of SMA syndrome during follow-up.

Conclusion
Gastrostomy is often performed to provide a route for administering enteral nutrition in patients with dysphagia. Development of SMA syndrome in patients with dysphagia necessitates operative management of the obstruction. Here, we describe a case of SMA syndrome with dysphagia treated by laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy with laparoscopic-assisted percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy.
Estimating social contacts in mass gatherings for disease outbreak prevention and management: case of Hajj pilgrimage
Authors: Tofighi Mohammadali , Asgary Ali , Tofighi Ghassem , Najafabadi Mahdi M. , Arino Julien , Amiche Amine , Rahman Ashrafur , McCarthy Zachary , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Thommes Edward , Coudeville Laurent , Grunnill Martin David , Bourouiba Lydia , Wu Jianhong 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Most mass gathering events have been suspended due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. However, with vaccination rollout, whether and how to organize some of these mass gathering events arises as part of the pandemic recovery discussions, and this calls for decision support tools. The Hajj, one of the world's largest religious gatherings, was substantively scaled down in 2020 and 2021 and it is still unclear how it will take place in 2022 and subsequent years. Simulating disease transmission dynamics during the Hajj season under different conditions can provide some insights for better decision-making. Most disease risk assessment models require data on the number and nature of possible close contacts between individuals.

Methods
We sought to use integrated agent-based modeling and discrete events simulation techniques to capture risky contacts among the pilgrims and assess different scenarios in one of the Hajj major sites, namely Masjid-Al-Haram.

Results
The simulation results showed that a plethora of risky contacts may occur during the rituals. Also, as the total number of pilgrims increases at each site, the number of risky contacts increases, and physical distancing measures may be challenging to maintain beyond a certain number of pilgrims in the site.

Conclusions
This study presented a simulation tool that can be relevant for the risk assessment of a variety of (respiratory) infectious diseases, in addition to COVID-19 in the Hajj season. This tool can be expanded to include other contributing elements of disease transmission to quantify the risk of the mass gathering events.
Effect of defatted rice bran supplementation on metabolic parameters and inflammatory status in overweight/obese adults with hypercholesterolemia: a randomized, placebo-controlled intervention
Authors: Saphyakhajorn Weeraya , Sirirat Rawiwan , Sapwarobol Suwimol 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundDefatted rice bran (DRB) is a byproduct of rice bran oil production rich in fiber, protein, and antioxidant compounds that may confer beneficial effects on metabolic profiles in humans. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of DRB supplementation on anthropometric and blood biochemical indices, dietary intake, and inflammatory status in overweight/obese subjects with hypercholesterolemia.MethodsIn a 12-week-randomized placebo-controlled trial, 61 overweight/obese participants with a total cholesterol level > 200 mg/dL were randomly assigned either to 30 g/d DRB (n = 30) or to 10 g/d maltodextrin (n = 31).ResultsDRB intervention significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 4.27 and 4.50%, respectively (126.20 ± 13.63 to 120.60 ± 13.72 mmHg,p = 0.0003and 80.87 ± 7.38 to 77.17 ± 9.83 mmHg,p = 0.0035). HbA1c also decreased significantly by 3.59% (5.89% ± 0.76% to 5.66% ± 0.62%,p = 0.0001) after DRB supplementation. Total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels also decreased insignificantly by 3.12, 1.32, and 1.53%, respectively, after DRB supplementation. Insignificant differences in fasting blood glucose, insulin, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, quantitative insulin sensitivity check index, hs-CRP and homocysteine levels were also observed after DRB intervention. Reduction in caloric and fat intake were reported in DRB groups.ConclusionsDRB supplementation improved blood pressure and HbA1c levels. It also lowered blood cholesterol, albeit insignificantly. Caloric and fat intake were also significantly lower after DRB supplementation. Further study is needed to evaluate the mechanisms by which DRB improves these metabolic indices.Trial registrationThai Clinical Trial Registration (https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/.) Thai Clinical Trial Registration number: TCTR20191020003. Registered 20 October 2019.