bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme and associated factors in Gondar administrative city, northwest Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Molla Sisay , Feleke Amsalu , Tsehay Chalie Tadie
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Ethiopia is a developing country striving to achieve universal health coverage using the health extension programme. There is limited evidence about Ethiopian women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing the level of women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension services and associated factors in Gondar administrative city of northwest Ethiopia and elucidate factors associated with its access and use.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Community.

Participants

Randomly selected 744 women were interviewed using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Outcome

Satisfaction of women over 17 years of age with their urban health extension programme (use and services).

Results

Some 29.4% (95% CI 26.2 to 32.5) of women were satisfied with their urban health extension programme. Divorced women (adjusted OR (AOR): 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85), women in the age group of 45–53 years (AOR: 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85), private employees (AOR: 0.35, 95% CI 0.14 to 0.85), unsatisfactory knowledge (AOR: 0.13, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.25) and perceived accessibility of health extension workers (AOR: 0.99, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.17) were factors associated with women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme.

Conclusions

Women’s satisfaction with their urban health extension programme was low. This finding was associated with age, marital status, occupation, knowledge of participants and women’s perceived accessibility of services. Therefore, increasing awareness about the programme, promoting and improving accessibility of services, particularly by mothers, may augment the utilisation of the programme ultimately leads to efficient use of scarce healthcare resources in Ethiopia.
Exact Kantowski–Sachs spacetimes in Einstein–Aether scalar field theory
Authors: Leon Genly , Paliathanasis Andronikos , Dimakis N.
Published: December 2020

Exact and analytic solutions in Einstein–Aether scalar field theory with Kantowski–Sachs background space are determined. The theory of point symmetries is applied to determine the functional form of the unknown functions which defines the gravitational model. Conservation laws are applied to reduce the order of the field equations and write the analytic solution. Moreover, in order to understand the physical behaviour of the cosmological model a detailed analysis of the asymptotic behaviour for solutions of the gravitational field equations is performed.
Efficient Hardware Implementation of Pseudo-Random Bit Generator Using Dual-CLCG Method
Authors: Gupta Mangal Deep , Chauhan R. K.
Published: December 2020

In this work, the architecture of a dual-coupled linear congruential generator (dual-CLCG) for pseudo-random bit generation is proposed to improve the speed of the generator and minimize power dissipation with the optimum chip area. To improve its performance, a new pseudo-random bit generator (PRBG) employing two-operand modulo adder and without shifting operation-based dual-CLCG architecture is proposed. The novelty of the proposed dual-CLCG architecture is the designing of LCG based on two-operand modulo adder rather than a three-operand one and without using shifting operation as compared to the existing LCG architecture. The aim of the work is to generate pseudo-random bits at a uniform clock rate at the maximum clock frequency and achieve maximum length of the random bit sequence. The power dissipation with the optimum chip area of PRBG is also observed for the proposed architecture. The generated sequence passes all the 15 tests of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard. Verilog HDL code is used for the design of the proposed architecture. Its simulation is done on commercially available Spartan-3E FPGA (ISE Design Suite by Xilinx) as well as on 90-nm CMOS technology (Cadence tool).
A STRONG ALLEE EFFECT AND PARASITOID AGGREGATION IN A DISCRETE HOST–PARASITOID SYSTEM
Authors: JANG SOPHIA R.-J. , HU XIAOCHUAN
Published: December 2020

We study a discrete-time model of host–parasitoid interactions, where the host is subject to a strong Allee effect and the parasitoid is aggregated. The system may have multiple coexisting steady states and there are two host population thresholds. The hosts become extinct if it is below the Allee threshold. The other threshold depends on the Allee threshold beyond which the host also becomes extinct due to overcompensated density dependence. When the initial host population size is between the two thresholds, we derive a critical parasitoid population size above which both populations become extinct. The critical size depends on the degree of aggregation of parasitoids. It is shown that both populations are more likely to become extinct if parasitoid aggregation is increased. Numerical simulations reveal that a strong Allee effect on the host can stabilize the host–parasitoid interactions on one hand but may drive both populations to extinction on the other hand. Further, aggregation of the parasitoid can promote population persistence when the host is subject to a strong Allee effect with a large Allee threshold. However, a more aggregated parasitoid population is more vulnerable to extinction if the growth rate of hosts is large.
Humanoid Robots and Autistic Children: A Review on Technological Tools to Assess Social Attention and Engagement
Authors: Alnajjar Fady , Cappuccio Massimiliano Lorenzo , Mubin Omar , Arshad Rabiah , Shahid Suleman
Published: December 2020

Recent studies suggest that robot-based interventions are potentially effective in diagnosis and therapy of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), demonstrating that robots can improve the engagement abilities and attention in autistic children. While methodological approaches vary significantly in these studies and are not unified yet, researchers often develop similar solutions based on similar conceptual and practical premises. We systematically review the latest robot-intervention techniques in ASD research (18 research papers), comparing multiple dimensions of technological and experimental implementation. In particular, we focus on sensor-based assessment systems for automated and unbiased quantitative assessments of children’s engagement and attention fluctuations during interaction with robots. We examine related technologies, experimental and methodological setups, and the empirical investigations they support. We aim to assess the strengths and limitations of such approaches in a diagnostic context and to evaluate their potential in increasing our knowledge of autism and in supporting the development of social skills and attentional dispositions in ASD children. Using our acquired results from the overview, we propose a set of social cues and interaction techniques that can be thought to be most beneficial in robot-related autism intervention.
Impact of Patent Quality on Firm Performance: A Case of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry
Authors: Danish Mohd Shadab , Sharma Ruchi , Dhanora Madan
Published: December 2020

This study examines the relationship between 287 pharmaceutical firms’ patent quality and their performance, measured by the profitability ratio and return on assets (ROA) in India. ROA measures the economic efficiency in relation to its overall resource, whereas the profitability ratio measures how much a firm can earn a profit on a rupee of sales. Based on the theoretical model, this study hypothesized that the quality of both product and process innovation positively impacts the firm performance. The quality of patent (innovation) is measured through Revealed Technology Advantage (RTA) and Relative Patent Position (RPP) in the most important technology, i.e. a technology where firms have a maximum patent. RTA measures the technological competencies in one particular technological field compared to other firms. On the other hand, RPP measures the firms leading position in a technological field compared to leader firms in that technology. The results drawn for both quality indicators (RTA and RPP) using quantile regression find significant differences among product and process innovation. Moreover, this study indicates that pharmaceutical firms should enhance their R&D capabilities and the leading position in the most important technology to increase their performance.
Further factorization of xn − 1 over a finite field (II)
Authors: Wu Yansheng , Yue Qin
Published: December 2020

Let [Formula: see text] be a finite field with [Formula: see text] elements. Let [Formula: see text] be a positive integer with radical [Formula: see text], namely, the product of distinct prime divisors of [Formula: see text]. If the order of [Formula: see text] modulo [Formula: see text] is either 1 or a prime, then the irreducible factorization and a counting formula of irreducible factors of [Formula: see text] over [Formula: see text] were obtained by Martínez, Vergara and Oliveira, Explicit factorization of [Formula: see text], Des. Codes Cryptogr. 77(1) (2015) 277–286 and Wu, Yue and Fan, Further factorization of [Formula: see text] over a finite field, Finite Fields Appl. 54 (2018) 197–215. In this paper, we explicitly factorize [Formula: see text] into irreducible factors in [Formula: see text] and calculate the number of the irreducible factors when the order of [Formula: see text] modulo [Formula: see text] is a product of two primes.
Some Remarks on Fixed Point Theorems for Interpolative Kannan Contraction
Authors: Errai Youssef , Marhrani El Miloudi , Aamri Mohamed
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we use interpolation to obtain fixedpoint and common fixed point results for a new type of Kannan contraction mappings in complete metric and

b

-metric spaces. Our results extend and improve some results on fixed point theory in the literature. We also give some examples to illustrate the given results.
Effects of Strong Acidic Electrolyzed Water in Wound Healing via Inflammatory and Oxidative Stress Response
Authors: Fadriquela Ailyn , Sajo Ma Easter Joy , Bajgai Johny , Kim Dong-Heui , Kim Cheol-Su , Kim Soo-Ki , Lee Kyu-Jae
Published: December 2020

Strong acidic electrolyzed water (StAEW) is known to inactivate microorganisms but is not fully explored in the medical field. This study is aimed at exploring StAEW as a potential wound care agent and its mechanism. StAEW (pH: 2.65, ORP: 1159 mV, ACC: 32.1 ppm) was sprayed three times a day to the cutaneous wounds of hairless mice for seven days. Wound morphological and histological features and immune-redox markers were compared with saline- (Sal-) and alcohol- (Alc-) treated groups. Results showed that the StAEW group showed a significantly higher wound healing percentage than the Sal group on days 2, 4, 5, and 6 and the Alc group on day 4. The StAEW group also showed earlier mediation on proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-1β, and keratinocyte chemoattractant. In addition, basic fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor were found to be significantly changed in favor of the fibroblast synthesis and angiogenesis. In line, the StAEW group showed a controlled amount of ROS and significantly decreased compared to the Alc group. The StAEW group also favored oxidative stress balance through antioxidant responses. Additionally, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 9 and MMP1 were also modulated for keratinocyte and cell migration. Taken together, this study has proven the wound healing effect of StAEW and its earlier mediation through oxidative and inflammatory responses.
Berberine for Appetite Suppressant and Prevention of Obesity
Authors: Park Hyun-Jung , Jung EunYee , Shim Insop
Published: December 2020

Berberine (BBR), a natural plant product, has been shown to have antidiabetic, cholesterol‐reducing effects. To investigate the action of BBR as appetite suppressants, two experimental protocols were performed. In the first experiment, the mice were fed either a normal‐chow diet or a high‐fat diet (HF). The mice received daily intraperitoneal injections of BBR (10 mg/kg or saline at 1 ml/kg) for 3 weeks. To determine the antiobesity effects of BBR, the food consumption, body weight, fat contents, serum leptin, and glucose level were investigated. In the second experiment, we set out to validate the effect of BBR on central neuropeptide Y (NPY) stimulated rats. Experiments were carried out in 24‐hour fasted rats, and then food intake and glucose level were subsequently recorded for 1 hour. The experimental groups were subdivided into the intra‐3rd ventricular microinjections of ACSF (artificial cerebrospinal fluid), neuropeptide Y (NPY; 100 nM), NPY+BBR (10 nM), and NPY+BBR (100 nM) group. And then the blood glucose level was examined. In the first experiment, treatment with BBR in the HF diet mice reduced food intake, body weight, fat contents, serum leptin, and glucose level. In the second experiment, the NPY‐injected group increased food intake by 39.3%, and food intake was reduced in the BBR group by 47.5%, compared with the ACSF‐injected group. Also, the serum glucose level in the NPY+BBR (100 nM) group was significantly lower than that in the NPY (100 nM) group. The results suggest that BBR improved lipid dysregulation in obesity by controlling the central obesity related pathway.
Nicotine Synergizes with High-Fat Diet to Induce an Anti-Inflammatory Microenvironment to Promote Breast Tumor Growth
Authors: Jimenez Thalia , Friedman Theodore , Vadgama Jaydutt , Singh Vineeta , Tucker Alexandria , Collazo Javier , Sinha Satyesh , Hikim Amiya Sinha , Singh Rajan , Pervin Shehla
Published: December 2020

Breast cancer results from a complex interplay of genetics and environment that alters immune and inflammatory systems to promote tumorigenesis. Obesity and cigarette smoking are well-known risk factors associated breast cancer development. Nicotine known to decrease inflammatory signals also modulates immune responses that favor breast cancer development. However, the mechanisms by which nicotine and obesity contribute to breast cancer remain poorly understood. In this study, we examined potential mechanisms by which nicotine (NIC) and high-fat diet (HFD) promote growth of HCC70 and HCC1806 xenografts from African American (AA) triple negative (TN) breast cancer cells. Immunodeficient mice fed on HFD and treated with NIC generated larger HCC70 and HCC1806 tumors when compared to NIC or HFD alone. Increased xenograft growth in the presence of NIC and HFD was accompanied by higher levels of tissue-resident macrophage markers and anti-inflammatory cytokines including IL4, IL13, and IL10. We further validated the involvement of these players by in vitro and ex vivo experiments. We found a proinflammatory milieu with increased expression of IL6 and IL12 in xenografts with HFD. In addition, nicotine or nicotine plus HFD increased a subset of mammary cancer stem cells (MCSCs) and key adipose browning markers CD137 and TMEM26. Interestingly, there was upregulation of stress-induced pp38 MAPK and pERK1/2 in xenografts exposed to HFD alone or nicotine plus HFD. Scratch-wound assay showed marked reduction in proliferation/migration of nicotine and palmitate-treated breast cancer cells with mecamylamine (MEC), a nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAchR) antagonist. Furthermore, xenograft development in immune-deficient mice, fed HFD plus nicotine, was reduced upon cotreatment with MEC and SB 203580, a pp38MAPK inhibitor. Our study demonstrates the presence of nicotine and HFD in facilitating an anti-inflammatory tumor microenvironment that influences breast tumor growth. This study also shows potential efficacy of combination therapy in obese breast cancer patients who smoke.
Using the Atherogenic Index of Plasma to Estimate the Prevalence of Ischemic Stroke within a General Population in a Rural Area of China
Authors: Wang Chang , Du Zhi , Ye Ning , Liu Songyue , Geng Danxi , Wang Pengbo , Sun Yingxian
Published: December 2020

Objective. To investigate the relationship between the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and ischemic stroke. Design. We collected a range of data from 11,495 residents (aged ≥35 years; 54.28% female) residing in rural areas of northeast China between January and August 2013, including fasting lipid profile and anthropometric parameters. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the correlation between AIP and ischemic stroke. Category‐free analysis was used to determine whether AIP enhanced our capacity to estimate ischemic stroke. Results. Irrespective of gender, AIP was independently associated with the occurrence of ischemic stroke. The prevalence of ischemic stroke increased significantly from the lowest quartile to the highest quartile (females: 10.5%‐48.7%, P < 0.001; males: 22.0%‐36.5%, P = 0.08). After adjusting for age, gender, income, education, smoking, drinking, exercise, hypertension, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and a family history of stroke, we found that for every 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in AIP, there was a 34.8% and 20.9% increase in the prevalence of stroke for females and males, respectively. Curve fitting was also used to evaluate the linear relationship between AIP and the occurrence of ischemic stroke. Category‐free analysis indicated that AIP significantly enhanced our ability to estimate ischemic stroke in both females (NRI (95% confidence interval (CI)): 0.188 (0.105‐0.270)) and males (NRI (95% CI): 0.175 (0.017‐0.333)). Conclusion. Analyses detected a significant and positive linear relationship between AIP and the prevalence of ischemic stroke. This relationship was independent of a range of conventional risk factors.
Time to Start Delivering Iron Chelation Therapy in Newly Diagnosed Severe β‐Thalassemia
Authors: Susanah Susi , Idjradinata Ponpon S. , Sari Nur M. , Rakhmilla Lulu E. , Sribudiani Yunia , Trisaputra Jessica O. , Moestopo Octawyana
Published: December 2020

Background. Iron overload is still a major complication of severe β‐thalassemia. Indication to start iron chelation therapy is based on serum ferritin (SF) or transferrin saturation (TS) level or the amount of transfusion. The goal of this study is to analyse the pattern of iron status, the amount of transfusion regarding the time to start iron chelator, and serum hepcidin levels in newly diagnosed severe β‐thalassemia. Methods. A prospective cohort study was performed at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital on newly diagnosed severe β‐thalassemia patients. Subjects had not received any blood transfusion with normal liver function test, CRP, and IL‐6 levels who consumed normal diet according to age. The SF and TS levels indicate iron status, while hepcidin level indicates iron regulator status. Main indicator to start iron chelation therapy when SF level ≥1.000 ng/mL, TS level ≥70%, or after receiving transfusion at least 10 times. Statistical analysis used Mann–Whitney and Spearman. Results. Forty‐two newly severe β‐thalassemia, 30 (71.4%), were diagnosed before 1 year old, mean 9.9 ± 6.4 months, range 2–24 months. Range amount of transfusion until SF level reached ≥1,000 ng/mL were 4‐12 times, mean 7 ± 2 times. Mean SF and TS level at diagnosis were 365.6 ± 194.9 ng/mL and 67.3 ± 22.5%, while hepcidin level was normal, mean 242.6 ± 58 ng/mL. 36/42 patients have reached SF >1000 ng/mL with amount of transfusion less than 10 times. There was no significant difference of SF, TS, and hepcidin levels when SF >1000 ng/mL in the group with amount of transfusion 7–12 and less than 7 (p = 0.454, p = 0.084, p = 0.765), respectively. A significant positive correlation between SF and amount of transfusion was observed (p < 0.001; r = 0.781). Conclusion. Iron overload in severe β‐thalassemia patients might occur earlier even before they received 10 times transfusion. Hepcidin serum level tends to increase when iron overload just started.
The Effect of Lecithins Coupled Decorin Nanoliposomes on Treatment of Carbon Tetrachloride‐Induced Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Chen Guojun , Zhu Yiping , Liang Xiao , Wang Xianfa , Yu Weihua , Guo Junping , Zhu Linghua , Ma Rui
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to investigate the effect of bile duct‐targeting lecithins‐ (PC‐) coupled decorin (DCN) (PC‐DCN) nanoliposomes against liver fibrosis in vitro and in vivo. We prepared PC‐DCN nanoliposomes by using rat astrocytes, HSC‐T6, to verify the antifibrosis effect of PC‐DCN in vitro. First, we established a rat model of carbon tetrachloride‐induced fibrosis. PC‐DCN nanoliposomes were then injected into fibrotic rats via the portal vein or bile duct. The EdU assay was performed to analyze cell proliferation. Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) expression. Western blot was performed to examine the expression of α‐SMA, collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), and transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) protein. The levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBIL) were examined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) analysis. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and Masson trichrome staining were used to determine liver tissue lesions and liver fibrosis. Compared with TGF‐β group, PC‐DCN treatment could significantly reduce cell proliferation. Western blot analysis indicated that the expression of α‐SMA, COL1A1, and TGF‐β was downregulated after treatment with PC‐DCN in vitro and in vivo. Immunofluorescence staining confirmed that α‐SMA expression was reduced by PC‐DCN. Furthermore, H&E staining and Masson trichrome staining showed that the administration of PC‐DCN nanoliposomes via the bile duct could reduce the extent of liver fibrosis. PCR analysis showed that PC‐DCN administration could reduce proinflammatory cytokines IL‐6, TNF‐α, and IL‐1β expression via the bile duct. The administration of PC‐DCN nanoliposomes also significantly downregulated liver function indicators ALT, AST, and TBIL. The results of our study indicated that PC‐DCN could effectively reduce the extent of liver fibrosis.
Growth and Performance of Baby Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Grown under Different Organic Fertilizers
Authors: Parwada C. , Chigiya V. , Ngezimana W. , Chipomho J.
Published: December 2020

Spinacia oleracea L. (baby spinach) is a relatively new leaf vegetable crop in Zimbabwe, so the agronomic performance is unknown. A 3-year field experiment was done at the Seke Teachers College research farm, Zimbabwe. The research evaluated the response of baby spinach to different types of organic manure sources, days after fertilizer application (DAS), and growing season. A 3 × 2 factorial in a completely randomized block design (CRBD) with three replicates was used. Baby spinach cultivar, Dash, was grown on three organic manures (goat applied at 14.894 t ha−1, cattle at 17.789 t ha−1, and poultry at 13.807 t ha−1) in winter 2018, 2019, and 2020. Compound D (7% N, 14% P, and 7% K) at 300 kg ha−1 was included as a control. Crop growth rate, leaf area index, leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate, total dry matter production, and harvest index were measured on 7-day intervals from 14 to 35 days after transplanting. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) to compare the effects of the treatments on the baby spinach growth parameters was done. Significant

p
<
0.
05

interactions on the type of organic manure × DAS × growing season were observed on all the measured response variables. There were varied effects of organic manures on growth performance at 14 to 28 DAS where poultry manure had higher growth performance compared to cattle and goat manure. Generally, there was a significant

p
<
0.
05

gradual increase in growth from 14 to 35 DAS on the organic manures and a decline from day 28 to 35 DAS under compound D. Low quality (large C/N) cattle and goat manure had lower effects than high quality (small C/N) poultry manure at early growth stages of the baby spinach. Unlike compound D, organic manure continuously supplied adequate nutrients throughout the life cycle (35 DAS) of the baby spinach.
Multistability in a Fractional-Order Centrifugal Flywheel Governor System and Its Adaptive Control
Authors: Yan Bo , He Shaobo , Wang Shaojie
Published: December 2020

In this paper, a 4D fractional-order centrifugal flywheel governor system is proposed. Dynamics including the multistability of the system with the variation of system parameters and the derivative order are investigated by Lyapunov exponents (LEs), bifurcation diagram, phase portrait, entropy measure, and basins of attraction, numerically. It shows that the minimum order for chaos of the fractional-order centrifugal flywheel governor system is q = 0.97, and the system has rich dynamics and produces multiple coexisting attractors. Moreover, the system is controlled by introducing the adaptive controller which is proved by the Lyapunov stability theory. Numerical analysis results verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Atypical Lipomatous Tumor/Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma with Intramuscular Lipoma-Like Component of the Thigh
Authors: Burusapat Chairat , Wongprakob Nuttadon , Wanichjaroen Nutthapong , Pruksapong Chatchai , Satayasoontorn Kantang
Published: December 2020

Atypical lipomatous tumor/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDLPS) is a locally aggressive mesenchymal neoplasm composed either entirely or partly of an adipocytic proliferation showing at least focal nuclear atypia in both adipocytes and stromal cells. ALT most frequently occurs in deep soft tissue of proximal extremities (thigh and buttock) and usually presents as a deep-seated, painless mass that can slowly attain a very large size, which is one of the most common sarcomas of extremity. In the patients who presented with deep-seated tumor, distinction between intramuscular lipoma and well-differentiated liposarcoma is important due to the differences in treatment and prognosis. However, atypical well-differentiated liposarcoma with intramuscular lipoma-like component of the thigh is extremely rare. Moreover, the infiltrative growth pattern or intramuscular component may lead to a misinterpretation as intramuscular lipoma on a small biopsy. We present an unusual case of a female who presented with symptomatic mass at the thigh which has rarely been reported in English literature as an infiltrative intramuscular lipoma-like growth pattern of well-differentiated liposarcoma. Therefore, preoperative diagnosis is necessary, and correlation with imaging studies is required when one encounters with a large deep-seated mass. Atypical lipomatous tumor or well-differentiated liposarcoma should be kept in mind in the patient who presents with abnormal thigh mass.
Privacy-Preserving Blockchain-Based Nonlinear SVM Classifier Training for Social Networks
Authors: Jia Nan , Fu Shaojing , Xu Ming
Published: December 2020

With the development of social networks, there are more and more social data produced, which usually contain valuable knowledge that can be utilized in many fields, such as commodity recommendation and sentimental analysis. The SVM classifier, as one of the most prevailing machine learning techniques for classification, is a crucial tool for social data analysis. Since training a high-quality SVM classifier usually requires a huge amount of data, it is a better choice for individuals and small enterprises to conduct collaborative training with multiple parties. Nevertheless, it causes privacy risks when sharing sensitive data with untrusted people and enterprises. Existing solutions mainly adopt the computation-intensive cryptographic methods which are not efficient for practical applications. Therefore, it is an urgent and challenging task to realize efficient SVM classifier training while protecting privacy. In this paper, we propose a novel privacy-preserving nonlinear SVM classifier training scheme based on blockchain. We first design a series of secure computation protocols which can achieve secure nonlinear SVM classifier training with minimal computation overheads. Then, leveraging these building blocks, we propose a blockchain-based secure nonlinear SVM classifier training scheme that realizes collaborative training while protecting privacy. We conduct a thorough analysis of the security properties of our scheme. Experiments over a real dataset show that our scheme achieves high accuracy and practical efficiency.
3D Face Image Inpainting with Generative Adversarial Nets
Authors: Wei Tongxin , Li Qingbao , Liu Jinjin , Zhang Ping , Chen Zhifeng
Published: December 2020

In the process of face recognition, face acquisition data is seriously distorted. Many face images collected are blurred or even missing. Faced with so many problems, the traditional image inpainting was based on structure, while the current popular image inpainting method is based on deep convolutional neural network and generative adversarial nets. In this paper, we propose a 3D face image inpainting method based on generative adversarial nets. We identify two parallels of the vector to locate the planer positions. Compared with the previous, the edge information of the missing image is detected, and the edge fuzzy inpainting can achieve better visual match effect. We make the face recognition performance dramatically boost.
Morphological and Mechanical Properties of Poly (Butylene Terephthalate)/High‐Density Polyethylene Blends
Authors: Pham Nga Thi-Hong , Nguyen Van-Thuc
Published: December 2020

Poly (butylene terephthalate) (PBT) is a popular thermoplastic polyester resin but has low strength and low melting point. To improve its properties, PBT is often mixed with other resins, such as high‐density polyethylene (HDPE). In this study, PBT/HDPE samples with 100% PBT, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 100% HDPE are generated and tested. The samples are analyzed by tensile strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and SEM tests. Adding HDPE will reduce tensile strength compared to pure PBT, in which 5%, 10%, and 15% PBT/HDPE samples obtain the values 40.23, 38.11, and 27.77 MPa, respectively. These values are lower than that of pure PBT but still higher than that of HDPE. Improving the HDPE portion mostly results in decreasing flexural strength. The flexural strengths of these samples are 87.79, 70.47, 55.3, 58.98, and 19.14 MPa corresponding to 100% PBT, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 100% HDPE samples, respectively. Moreover, the SEM microstructure of PBT and HDPE indicates a two‐phase heterogeneous mixture with little or no adhesion between these phases.
Implementacija i metodološki okvir studije SHARE u Hrvatskoj
Authors:   Katedra za makroekonomiju i gospodarski razvoj, Ekonomski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Smolić Šime , Čipin Ivan ,   Katedra za demografiju, Ekonomski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Fabijančić Margareta ,   Katedra za makroekonomiju i gospodarski razvoj, Ekonomski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Mustač Dario ,   Katedra za demografiju, Ekonomski fakultet, Sveučilište u Zagrebu, Zagreb
Published: December 2020

SHARE – Istraživanje o zdravlju, starenju i umirovljenju u Europi je istraživačka podatkovna infrastruktura koju je Europska komisija pozicionirala kao jedan od prioritetnih projekata u europskom istraživačkom prostoru. U ovoj multidisciplinarnoj i transnacionalnoj bazi mikropodataka o zdravlju, socioekonomskom statusu te društvenim i obiteljskim mrežama nalaze se informacije o više od 140.000 osoba u dobi od 50 ili više godina iz 27 europskih zemalja i Izraela. Cilj ovog rada jest prikazati metodološki profil studije SHARE s posebnim osvrtom na razdoblje od priključenja Hrvatske 2015. U radu se analizira proces provedbe ankete SHARE u Hrvatskoj s detaljnim prikazom modula i pitanja iz šestog i sedmog vala studije. Svrha rada jest omogućiti hrvatskoj znanstvenoj zajednici bolji uvid u sadržaj ankete SHARE. U radu se daje i poseban osvrt na osmi val, u kojem je zbog pandemije koronavirusa prekinuto anketiranje licem u lice i napravljen metodološki zaokret, tj. prelazak na CATI anketu, tzv. SHARE Corona. Studija SHARE danas se suočava s brojnim izazovima, od kojih valja istaknuti zadržavanje europske pokrivenosti zbog nedostatnog financiranja, ali i budućeg načina provedbe ankete zbog utjecaja bolesti COVID-19.
In-Hospital Mechanical Thrombectomy: A Case Report
Authors: Lee Tsong-Hai
Published: December 2020

We report on a case of a 59-year-old female patient with atrial fibrillation who received edoxaban. She withdrew edoxaban before tooth extraction. She was brought to our emergency department due to acute onset of left-side weakness. Under the impression of acute ischemic stroke, edoxaban was replaced with aspirin. However, the patient suffered from recurrent cerebral embolism with conscious disturbance. Urgent mechanical thrombectomy was performed due to left internal carotid artery occlusion. Remarkable recovery was noted on the second day after thrombectomy. She was discharged with mild neurological deficit. We suggest that early recognition, assessment, and interventional treatment for patients with in-hospital strokes are favorable for stroke outcome.
Cough-Induced Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Dissection
Authors: Tai Mei-Ling Sharon , Sia Sheau Fung , Kadir Khairul Azmi Abdul , Idris Mohamad Imran , Tan Kay Sin
Published: December 2020

Background: Coughing due to respiratory tract infections may lead to internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection. Aim: We are presenting a patient with an unusual cough-induced ICA dissection. Case Report: A 42-year-old health care worker presented with bilateral hand numbness which resolved spontaneously. This initial episode was followed 9 days later with intermittent episodes of right hand and leg weakness with speech difficulty. Two days later, he had another episode of speech difficulty. One week prior to the first presentation, he had upper respiratory tract infection with ongoing strong bouts of coughing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of the brain showed early ischaemic changes at the left frontal and left parietal regions. MR angiography (MRA) showed high signal intensity at the left proximal ICA and poor flow beyond the left carotid bulb. Cerebral angiography revealed left ICA dissection. Conclusion: Proper identification of cough-induced extracranial ICA dissection is important because this is treatable.
10-Year Follow-Up of a Patient with Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy
Authors: Kang Min Kyoung , Yoon Byung-Woo
Published: December 2020

We report the case of long-term follow-up of brain magnetic imaging of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is often considered a major cause of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage in the elderly. This case illustrates the markedly progressive clinical and radiological features of the vasculopathic process in 10 years.
A Case of Occlusive Radiation Vasculopathy Presenting as Bilateral Internal Carotid Artery, Left Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion and Literature Review
Authors: Huang Yung-Chuan , Huang Shin-Leh , Liu Hon-Man , Chiu Hou-Chang
Published: December 2020

Radiation vasculopathy is one of the rare causes of ischemic stroke. Carotid stenosis with large volume infarction may occur years after radiation therapy for head or neck cancer. We report a case of a patient with bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion presenting with left middle cerebral artery infarct 10 years after receiving treatment for tongue cancer. A literature review and discussion of treatment for such patients are presented.
“Cortical” Wrist Drop due to a Cerebral Peduncle Infarct
Authors: Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Hegde Amogh Narayan , Lim Yeow Wai
Published: December 2020

Wrist drops are usually due to a peripheral neuropathy affecting the radial nerve. Cortical wrist drops may occur, usually due to a lesion in the contralateral hand area of the motor cortex. We report a unique case of “cortical” wrist drop due to an acute infarction of the contralateral cerebral peduncle. The patient is a 70-year-old gentleman with the vascular factors of hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, and prior cerebellar strokes, who developed sudden onset of right wrist weakness without numbness. Neurological examination showed a right wrist and finger drop. Nerve conduction study of the radial nerve was normal. MRI brain revealed an acute infarct in the medial part of the left cerebral peduncle, extending slightly to the medial thalamus; there were also old medial posterior cerebellar infarcts. Time of flight MR angiography was normal, with hypoplastic right vertebral artery. Echocardiography was normal but for a dilated right atrium. Electrocardiogram was normal, and 24-hour Holter monitoring detected infrequent atrial and ventricular ectopics. X-ray wrist showed an old ulnar styloid fracture. Nerve conduction study of the radial nerve was normal. He was switched from aspirin to clopidogrel and underwent rehabilitation. The cerebral peduncle should not be forgotten when attempting to anatomically localise the site of the lesion when evaluating a patient with a wrist drop.
Transcranial Doppler in the Detection and Management of Arterial Vasospasm after Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage
Authors: Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Taneja Manish , Choy David
Published: December 2020

Delayed cerebral ischaemia (DCI) and cerebral infarction is a much-feared complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH). It has been largely attributed to focal hypoperfusion from reversible cerebral arterial narrowing, “vasospasm,” from the effects of prolonged exposure of the arteries to perivascular blood and oxy-haemoglobin. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) provides a non-invasive method for detecting and monitoring vasospasm. We report a 38-year-old lady who developed sudden dizziness and catastrophic generalised headache with neck pain (Pain Score 10/10) while voiding her bowels. She subsequently became drowsy and was brought to hospital. On examination, she was already alert and orientated. Blood pressure was 175/109 mm Hg. Her neurological examination was normal but for severe neck stiffness to passive flexion. Computed tomography of the brain showed extensive SAH. Cerebral angiography revealed a 6 × 3 mm aneurysm along the posteromedial aspect of the supraclinoid left internal carotid artery. She underwent aneurysm coiling that night. She was given intravenous and then oral nimodipine. TCD monitoring of the circle of Willis on day 14 detected very high velocities in the right and left middle cerebral arteries, mean velocity 187 and 141 cm/s, middle cerebral artery/internal carotid artery ratio 6.03 and 4.15, suggestive of severe and moderate vasospasm, respectively. She did not develop any related neurological symptoms or deficits. She was maintained in a euvolemic state and given high volumes of intravenous saline (2.4 L/day). Repeat TCD 7 days later was normal. The intravenous saline was gradually tailed off and she was subsequently discharged. TCD has an important role in the non-invasive detection and monitoring of vasospasm after aSAH.
Transcranial Color-Coded Duplex Ultrasound for Assessing Cerebrovascular Reserve in Intracranial Dissection with Aneurysm
Authors: Venketasubramanian Narayanaswamy , Tan Andrew Eik Hock , Neo Wee Thong , Taneja Manish
Published: December 2020

Intracranial artery dissection (IAD) is an uncommon cause of cerebral ischemia. It may lead to symptoms due to rupture of subadventitial aneurysms or thromboembolism from subintimal disruption. Severe stenosis may lead to reduced cerebrovascular reserve (CVR). While there are many methods of assessing CVR, we report a case of IAD with hemodynamic complications diagnosed by transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD) ultrasonography. Our patient is a 38-year-old female who presented with a 2-month history of nausea, then feeling faint whenever she got up suddenly. On the day of admission, she had gotten up to walk, felt nauseous, and the left upper limb felt “funny,” after which she lost consciousness. Clinical and neurological examination was normal. Brain magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was normal. MR angiogram and subsequent computed tomography (CT) angiogram showed flow attenuation in the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery (RMCA), with a possible flap. Catheter angiography was suggestive of a dissection with 2.7 mm pseudoaneurysm. TCCD showed very high velocities in the RMCA. The Breath-Holding Index (BHI) was 0.56, suggestive of reduced CVR in the RMCA territory. Acetazolamide-enhanced single-photon emission CT showed reduced right frontal CVR. She was given clopidogrel for secondary prevention, and has remained well. BHI as measured by TCCD is a new method for assessing CVR in patients with cerebral ischemia.
Acute Ischemic Stroke in Term Pregnancy Treated with Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator
Authors: Aaron Sanjith , Mannam Pavitra Ratna , Shaikh Atif , Mani Arun Mathai , Bal Deepti , Pandian Jeyaraj Durai
Published: December 2020

Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) may be considered in acute ischemic strokes (AIS) occurring in pregnancy. This recommendation is based on case reports which had demonstrated the efficiency and safety of rtPA in early pregnancy. However, most of the pregnancy-related strokes occur in the peripartum period. There is a paucity of literature on the management of AIS in this clinically relevant period of pregnancy; with only 2 case reports describing the use of IV rt-PA in the last trimester. Here, we report a case of AIS in a full-term pregnancy treated successfully with intravenous rt-PA. The patient went on to have an uncomplicated vaginal delivery after 72 h post thrombolysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third such case in the English literature.
A Challenging Case: Endovascular Treatment in a Patient with Large Ischemic Core and Dramatic Recovery
Authors: Nguyen Trung Quoc , Dang Tinh Quang , Phan Hoang Thi , Nguyen Thang Huy
Published: December 2020

Uncertainty exists over the efficacy and safety of endovascular treatment in patients with large ischemic cores in anterior circulation. Several trials have shown some potential benefits in selected patients despite their late presentation. In particular, perfusion imaging modalities equipped with automatic software has been proven useful in identifying patients with large ischemic cores that are at risk of infarct core expansion, meaning that this specific patient group could still benefit from reperfusion treatment. We reported a case of late-presenting and progressing acute ischemic stroke who was selected by perfusion imaging with RAPID software and successfully underwent endovascular thrombectomy. On admission, her National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 7. Computed tomography angiography showed complete occlusion of the proximal right middle cerebral artery. Subsequent advanced perfusion imaging with automatic software showed that the ischemic core was 88 mL, Tmax >6 s volume was 131 mL, and mismatch volume was 43 mL. She was rapidly transferred to the Cath lab for thrombectomy with a stent retriever. Her NIHSS score was 15 before the endovascular procedure. She had a dramatic recovery with an NIHSS score of 4 at 24-h after the procedure. She was discharged on day 9 with a modified Rankin Score of 1. Our findings suggest that endovascular treatment can be beneficial to the patients, particularly younger ones, with large ischemic cores with the aid of perfusion imaging.
Endovascular Recanalization in Early Recurrent Ischemic Stroke: A Treatment Challenge
Authors: Nguyen Huong Bich Thi , Nguyen Thang Huy
Published: December 2020

Reperfusion therapy is the most effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke. At present, many clinical studies have shown that mechanical thrombectomy is efficient and safe for acute ischemic stroke of large artery occlusion disease in the time window of 24 h. However, there is limited information on the safety and effectiveness of this technique in cases of recurrent ischemic stroke. We report a case of early recurrent stroke of the anterior circulation after a week of the first stroke. Imaging examinations showed that there existed occlusion of corresponding vessels and obvious ischemic penumbra. Symptoms of the patient were progressive worsening and medical treatment failed; therefore, the corresponding vessel was opened. The low perfusion status in brain tissue and clinical defect symptoms of the patients have improved a lot. In conclusion, thrombectomy for early recurrent ischemic stroke may be effective. Moreover, there may be a wider reperfusion time window for ischemic stroke patients.
Nonbacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis Related to Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix
Authors: Kijpaisalratana Naruchorn , Chutinet Aurauma , Travanichakul Suporn , Kitjawijit Teeraparp , Yokumporn Pajaree , Duangjino Kotchakorn , Suwanwela Nijasri C.
Published: December 2020

We report a 66-year-old female patient who presented with acute onset of visual loss with relative afferent pupillary defect, hemineglect, hemihypesthesia, and apraxia. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated different stages of ischemic stroke in different vascular territories, suggesting cardiogenic embolism. Past history was significant for advanced-stage adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix under chemoradiation treatment. On echocardiogram, vegetation at the aortic valve was observed. With the absence of evidence of infectious endocarditis, diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis was made, and the patient was treated by long-term anticoagulant. This case is unique in terms of the adenocarcinoma cell type of cervical cancer, which is uncommon and has been rarely reported to be related to nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis.
Endoscopic Diagnosis of Bouveret Syndrome
Authors: Hesse Felix , Abdelhafez Mohamed , Schlag Christoph , Schmid Roland M. , Lahmer Tobias
Published: December 2020

Bouveret syndrome is a form of gallstone ileus and a rare complication of chole(cysto)lithiasis. It describes gastric outlet obstruction secondary to an impacted gallstone. Here, we report a case of an 82-year-old female patient with gastric outlet obstruction and penetration of gallstones into the duodenal bulb on endoscopic imaging. Based on these findings Bouveret syndrome was diagnosed and confirmed by computed tomography.
Health Literacy of the Inland Population in Mitigation Phase 3.2 of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Portugal: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: da Silva Joana Gomes , Silva Carla Sofia , Alexandre Bárbara , Morgado Pedro
Published: December 2020

Background: COVID-19 is a respiratory disease transmitted through respiratory droplets and has a high transmission rate. There is still no effective and approved antiretroviral treatment or vaccine, so preventative measures remain the key to contain this pandemic. Portugal is now in phase 3.2 of the mitigation of COVID-19, with it being imperative to understand the health literacy of our country and prevent a lack of information through community empowerment. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional study with a sample from a primary care facility was conducted. We collected demographic and epidemiological data and carried out a questionnaire by phone call. Descriptive statistics and nonparametric tests were used to assess associations between the independent variables and the level of health literacy. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Our sample included 222 subjects (median age 62 years), mostly females (n = 131), undergraduates (n = 193), and with at least 1 risk factor for COVID-19 (n = 144). Overall, younger individuals, females, graduates and the nonrisk group appeared to have higher levels of health literacy, with some exceptions. Conclusions: We observed a well-informed population. However, it being a pandemic situation, our intention was to identify and correct outliers/misconceptions. This work allowed a perspective of the current state/pattern of health literacy as well as its possible predictors. Furthermore, it raised awareness of the relevance of specific communication approaches. Further studies to understand the predictors of health literacy are necessary.