bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BRANEnet: Embedding Multilayer Networks for Omics Data Integration
Authors: Jagtap Surabhi , Pirayre Aurélie , Bidard Fréderique , Duval Laurent , Malliaros Fragkiskos D.
Published: April 2022

Background: Gene expression is regulated at different molecular levels, including chromatin accessibility, transcription, RNA maturation, and transport. These regulatory mechanisms have strong connections with cellular metabolism. In order to study the cellular system and its functioning, omics data at each molecular level can be generated and efficiently integrated. Here, we propose BRANEnet, a novel multi-omics integration framework for multilayer heterogeneous networks. BRANEnet is an expressive, scalable, and versatile method to learn node embeddings, leveraging random walk information within a matrix factorization framework. Our goal is to efficiently integrate multi-omics data to study different regulatory aspects of multilayered processes that occur in organisms. We evaluate our framework using multi-omics data of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a well-studied yeast model organism. Results: We test BRANEnet on transcriptomics (RNA-seq) and targeted metabolomics (NMR) data for wild-type yeast strain during a heat-shock time course of 0, 20, and 120 minutes. Our framework learns features for differentially expressed bio-molecules showing heat stress response. We demonstrate the applicability of the learned features for targeted omics inference tasks: transcription factor (TF)-target prediction, integrated omics network (ION) inference, and module identification. The performance of BRANEnet is compared with existing network integration methods. Our model outperforms baseline methods by achieving high prediction scores for a variety of downstream tasks.
Preoperative and Postoperative Factors Affecting Functional Success in Anatomically Successful Retinal Detachment Surgery
Authors: Guner Mehmet Eren , Guner Melis Kabaalioglu , Cebeci Zafer , Kır Nur
Published: April 2022

Purpose
To investigate preoperative and postoperative factors affecting functional success in anatomically successful retinal detachment surgery.
Methods
75 eyes of 75 patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) who underwent anatomically successful surgery, from 2014 to 2019 with more than one year follow up were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, ocular examination findings, preoperative and postoperative Spectral Domain Optic Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) images were retrospectively evaluated.
Results
The mean age was 53.9 ± 17 (range: 11–85). The mean follow-up period was 36.7 ± 16 (range: 14–72) months. The mean best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) of the patients before surgery was 1.35 ± 1.24, and at postoperative 12 months was 0.66 ± 0.5 logMAR. Patients who were operated in 7 days of visual symptoms onset were found to have better visual acuity at the first and subsequent postoperative exams. Preoperative proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), vitreous hemorrhage (VH) and extent of retinal detachment were found to have a negative effect on functional success at 12 months. Regeneration of the outer retinal layers had a positive effect on visual acuity at 12 months but did not significantly increase visual acuity after 12 months. Multivariate analysis showed that preoperative external limiting membrane (ELM) integrity was significantly associated with better functional outcomes.
Conclusion
Early intervention, presence of preoperative ELM integrity and restoration of postoperative outer retinal layers positively affected functional success. The presence of preoperative VH, PVR and the extent of retinal detachment had a negative effect on prognosis at 12 months.
Multi-class differentiation feature representation guided joint dictionary learning for facial expression recognition
Authors: Sun Zhe , Bai Jiatong , Zhang Hehao
Published: April 2022

The limitation of the small-scale expression samples generally causes the performance degradation for facial expression recognition-based methods. Also, the correlation between different expression is always ignored when performing feature extraction process. Given above, we propose a novel approach that develops multi-class differentiation feature representation guided joint dictionary learning for FER. The proposed approach mainly includes two steps: firstly, we construct multi-class differentiation feature dictionaries corresponding to different expressions of training samples, aiming to enlarge inter-expression distance to mitigate the problem of nonlinear distribution in training samples. Secondly, we joint learn the multiple feature dictionaries by optimizing the resolutions of each feature dictionary, aiming to establish the strong relationship and enhance the representation ability among multiple feature dictionaries. To sum up, the proposed approach has more discriminative ability from the representation perspective. Comprehensive experiments carried out using three public datasets, including JAFFE, CK+, and KDEF datasets, demonstrate that the proposed approach has strong performance for small-scale samples compared to several state-of-the-art methods.
Identification and prediction algorithm of water-gushing sources in adjacent limestone aquifer driven by data model: with strontium isotope as constraint
Authors: Wu Dun , Wei Chao , GAO Xia
Published: April 2022

Water gushing in mines is one of the most threatening geological disasters in the process of coal mine production, so the key to prevent water gushing disaster in mines is to quickly and effectively identify the water-gushing sources (WGS). In view of the problem that it is difficult to effectively identify the WGS from adjacent limestone aquifer by conventional technical approaches, the Group A coal seams in Panji-2 coal mine, a typical coal mine in Huainan coalfield, was selected as the object of investigation in this study. A total of 60 water samples from two adjacent aquifers (Taiyuan formation limestone aquifer and Ordovician dolomitic-limestone aquifer) were systematically collected by using underground hydrological long-distance observation hole. On the basis of analyzing the hydro-chemical properties of the water samples, the hydrochemistry types of each aquifer were obtained. The results indicate that there is a certain hydraulic connection between Taiyuan formation limestone water (TLW) and Ordovician limestone water (OLW). In order to characterize and trace the similarities and differences between the two types of water sources, the concentration of strontium (γSr2+) and its isotope value (87Sr/86Sr, δ87Sr) were first determined, and it was found that γSr2+ had a significant discrimination between the two types of water sources, and accounted for the major contribution rate in the results of principal component analysis (PCA). Therefore, in conjunction to PCA, four identification models of WGS based on strontium isotope were established successively (Fisher discrimination analysis model (δ87Sr-F model), Distance discrimination analysis model (δ87Sr-D model), BP neural network analysis model (δ87Sr-B model) and Grey relational analysis model (δ87Sr-G model)). First, the stability and reliability of four models were trained according to the data of 40 water samples, and then the trained model was used to identify the source of the remaining 20 water samples. From the results, the δ87Sr-B model has the best discrimination effect, and its accuracy rate reaches 95%. In the actual production process of Panji-2 coal mine in the future, it is suggested to adopt the δ87Sr-B model to carry out the theoretical model of WGS identification of Group A coal seams floor, which provides a guarantee for coal mine safety production.
Recent cooling in the lower Pacific Ocean based on dynamically-consistent ocean syntheses
Authors: Liao Fanglou , Zhan Peng , Wang Xiao Hua , Liu Zhiqiang , Hoteit Ibrahim
Published: April 2022

The thermal state from 1993–2017 in the lower Pacific Ocean (below 2 km) was investigated using two dynamically-consistent syntheses. We show a robust and bottom-intensified cooling. This Pacific cooling is mainly determined by the meridional heat exchange with the Southern Ocean and the vertical heat advection. The abyssal Pacific Ocean loses heat by way of westward heat advection in the northwest ocean. Mixing is found to play a negligible role. This study is to some extent consistent with a recent study that presented a deep Pacific cooling as an adjustment to the last Little Ice Age. However, it contradicts with most recent studies, which argued the abyssal Pacific Ocean was warming over the recent two decades. Our study suggests that special caution is needed when auditing variations in the deep ocean and more work is in need for a better understanding of the deep ocean state.
Numerical Methods for Unsteady Convection-diffusion Problems Based on Combining Compact Difference Schemes with Runge-Kutta Methods
Authors:   Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, 2000 Century Avenue, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, People's Republic of China, Zhu Zhenwei , Chen Junjie ,   Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, 2000 Century Avenue, Jiaozuo, Henan, 454000, People's Republic of China
Published: April 2022

The convection-diffusion equation is of primary importance in understanding transport phenomena within a physical system. However, the currently available methods for solving unsteady convection-diffusion problems are generally not able to offer excellent accuracy in space and time. The one-dimensional unsteady convection-diffusion equation was solved by combing a compact difference scheme with the Runge-Kutta method. The combined method has fourth-order accuracy in space and time. To check the accuracy of the combined method, numerical experiments were carried out and comparisons were performed with the Crank-Nicolson method. The analysis results indicated that the combined method is numerically stable at low wave numbers and small Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy numbers. The combined method has higher accuracy than the Crank-Nicolson method.
Characterization of vandenbrandeite: A potential alteration product of spent nuclear fuel
Authors: Frankland Victoria L. , Milodowski Antoni E. , Lawrence Robert A. , Sacchi Marco , Read David
Published: April 2022

The use of copper canisters in the Swedish KBS-3 concept for spent nuclear fuel disposal could result in the formation of copper-bearing uranyl phases should a canister suffer from defects or if the containment were to fail before reducing conditions are established in the repository. Most uranyl species would be expected to display higher solubility than the original uranium(IV) dioxide fuel, leading to enhanced release, though this would depend on the phase and prevailing groundwater conditions. Secondary alteration products may also be poorly crystalline or even amorphous, making characterization difficult during the pre-closure period owing to the high radiation field close to the canister. Vandenbrandeite, [CuUO2(OH)4], is a rare mineral in nature but known to form by alteration of primary uraninite through interaction with oxidizing groundwater containing dissolved copper. Consequently, an attempt has been made to characterize two vandenbrandeite specimens of varying crystallinity by luminescence and multiple-laser Raman spectroscopy; techniques amenable to remote, robotic deployment and which have proved useful in discriminating other uranyl oxy-hydroxides, silicates, and phosphates. The first reported luminescence emission and excitation spectra for vandenbrandeite revealed near-negligible luminescence, with a slightly enhanced signal for the specimen displaying poorer crystallinity. This observation agrees well with density functional theory calculations. The simulated projected density of state and band structure show an unlikely transition from the U f-orbitals to Cu d-orbitals, or O states, would be required for luminescence to be detectable; this probably improves for poorly crystalline specimens as the spatial overlap between the orbitals increases. Furthermore, negligible differences in the number of peaks and peak positions were detected in the laser wavelength-dependent Raman spectra although again, variation in background noise and peak shape was observed based on the degree of crystallinity. Good agreement was obtained between experimental and simulated Raman spectra, particularly with the environmentally sensitive axial uranyl stretching modes, validating the crystal system derived in this study. The findings of this study suggest luminescence spectroscopy, when combined with Raman spectroscopy, may be able to both identify vandenbrandeite and distinguish between crystalline and amorphous forms based on their relative luminescence intensity.
Investigation of affective traits affecting mathematics achievement by SEM and MARS methods
Authors: KUDDAR Çağla , ÇETİN Sevda
Published: April 2022

The purpose of the study is to analyze the affective traits that affect mathematics achievement through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) as a traditional regression model and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines (MARS), as one of the data mining methods. Structural Equation Modeling, one of the regression-based methods, is quite popular for social sciences due to the various advantages it offers; however, it requires very intensive assumptions. MARS method, on the other hand, is a multivariate and adaptive nonparametric statistical regression method used for data classification and modeling. MARS does not need any assumptions such as normality, linearity, homogeneity. It allows variables that do not provide linearity to be included in the analysis. The present study examines whether it is possible to use the MARS method, which is a more flexible method compared to SEM, taking both methods into account. Regarding this goal, the SEM model was created with the program R using the affective data and the achievement variable picked from TIMMS 2019 data. Then, the MARS method was created using the SPM (Salford Predictive Modeler) program. The results of the study showed that at certain points the MARS model gave similar results to the SEM model and MARS model is more compatible with the literature.
Stormwater Management and the Assessment of Green Infrastructure Implementation in New Orleans
Authors: Mallum Faisal
Published: April 2022

Located on a flood-prone delta, the city of New Orleans is faced with several challenges and hazards caused by stormwater runoff that affects the built environment. The inundation of stormwater impacts the normal use of facilities, floods the environment, carries unwanted pollutants to nearby watersheds, and affects the purity of its water system. In New Orleans, stormwater runoff impacts are felt every time there is heavy rain. There is a vital need to implement a more sustainable drainage system for effective stormwater management. Green infrastructure (GI) mimics the dynamics of the natural ecosystem by managing stormwater runoff through a regenerative process. This article assesses the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the implementation of green infrastructure in New Orleans, looking at the strategies employed, and challenges faced by the city government, non-governmental organizations, and neighbourhoods. The paper engages local stakeholders on the implementation of GI. Local practitioners’ points of view are then juxtaposed with the scientific literature on stormwater management to provide a nuanced understanding between practice and literature, and suggest how to improve the implementation of GI in the city.
Floating Ground: Wetness, infrastructure, and envelopment in Kochi, India
Authors: Barlow Matt
Published: April 2022

The oceanic city of Kochi on the southwest coast of India is known for its abundance of water and as a hub of tourism and urban development. This abundance of water effects the ways in which urban infrastructures, often designed in the temperate climates of the Global North, can operate, and be maintained. In this article, I suggest that infrastructures such as sewers, roads, and rivers tend to separate water from land, thereby containing one to produce the other. In doing so, they render solid surfaces from which urban infrastructures are imagined. To imagine infrastructure otherwise, I attune to wetness, rather than water. I argue that attuning to wetness as an affective quality, changes the way one conceptualises infrastructure. To bring wetness and infrastructure together, I turn to the concept of envelopment where an object and its atmosphere can be brought into conversation. By drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in Kochi during the devastating floods of 2018, this article provides insights into how infrastructures might be reimagined in tropical urban settlements.
The Opacity of Desire: Queerness, Postcolonialism and Diasporic Belonging in Guadeloupe
Authors: Davennes Aurélien
Published: April 2022

This article addresses the seemingly invisibility of queerness in the Caribbean context, which is often believed to result from a deeply homophobic and bigoted insular milieu. This invisibility has less to do with self-loathing, shame, and hiding than with a voluntary gesture toward ambiguity, subtleness, and alteration. I demonstrate that queerness in Guadeloupe is generally not conceived as a sexual and political identity that should be loudly and proudly reclaimed, but rather as both a practice and an effect of an uncertain and impure reading that I call the peu-dit (little is said) or ‘PD’. This ‘little said’ opens up meaning more than it forecloses it as it traces an affective and alternative cartography that irremediably correlates racial and queer formation with continent and island-making. This ethnography is both an inspiration and a call to decontinentalise our standpoint, and to orient ourselves towards an archipelagic and counter-imperial queer thinking.
Characterizing the groundwater storage–discharge relationship of small catchments in China
Authors: Yan Hong , Hu Hongchang , Liu Yaping , Tudaji Mahmut , Yang Ting , Wei Zhongwang , Chen Lajiao , Khan Mohd Yawar Ali , Chen Zhenghao
Published: April 2022

Baseflow recession is an essential part of the hydrological cycle, as it transfers unconfined aquifer storage to runoff. This study derived the parameterization of the baseflow recession from recession curves extracted from 382 catchments in China. The recession parameters of recession curves in power-law form, which control the shape of the curves and reflect the net effects of hillslope on the runoff decline process, are estimated by the baseflow recession analysis. The results show that the ranges of recession coefficient α and recession exponent β across China are 0–0.70 and 0.57–3, respectively. Most of the α values range between 0 and 0.20, and most of the β values range between 1 and 2. Generally, the α values of relatively dry catchments are higher than that of the wet catchments, and the distribution pattern of β values is opposite to that of α values. Statistical analysis is used to construct parametric equations for the recession parameters, indicating that catchment area, field capacity, etc., are essential for predicting α and β. In addition, the transplantation results of parametric equations show that equations can be applied to the estimation of α and β in other catchments. The results provide data support for storage estimation of data-scarce catchments.
Modeling the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater or sludge and COVID-19 cases in three New England regions
Authors: Anneser Elyssa , Riseberg Emily , Brooks Yolanda M. , Corlin Laura , Stringer Christina
Published: April 2022

Background: We aimed to compare statistical techniques estimating the association between SARS-CoV-2 RNA in untreated wastewater and sludge and reported coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations (copies/mL) were measured from 24-h composite samples of wastewater in Massachusetts (MA) (daily; 8/19/2020–1/19/2021) and Maine (ME) (weekly; 9/1/2020–3/2/2021) and sludge samples in Connecticut (CT) (daily; 3/1/2020–6/1/2020). We fit linear, generalized additive with a cubic regression spline (GAM), Poisson, and negative binomial models to estimate the association between SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration and reported COVID-19 cases. Results: The models that fit the data best were linear [adjusted R2=0.85 (MA), 0.16 (CT), 0.63 (ME); root-mean-square error (RMSE)=0.41 (MA), 1.14 (CT), 0.99 (ME)), GAM (adjusted R2=0.86 (MA), 0.16 (CT) 0.65 (ME); RMSE=0.39 (MA), 1.14 (CT), 0.97 (ME)], and Poisson [pseudo R2=0.84 (MA), 0.21 (CT), 0.52 (ME); RMSE=0.39 (MA), 0.67 (CT), 0.79 (ME)]. Conclusions: Linear, GAM, and Poisson models outperformed negative binomial models when relating SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater or sludge to reported COVID-19 cases.
The pH of bottled water commercially available in Australia and its implications for oral health
Authors: Schmidt Jeremiah , Huang Boyen
Published: April 2022

With a higher pH level and being unlikely to erode the tooth, bottled water has been considered a safe alternative to acidic beverages. However, recent studies have reported some bottled water products in different countries to be acidic. The present paper aimed to examine the pH values of 42 bottled waters commercially available in Australia, using a pH meter and probe, and classify their risks to cause erosive tooth wear in comparison with the critical pH of enamel and dentine. Of the 42 bottled water samples collected, 81.0 and 73.8% were considered erosive to tooth dentine and enamel, respectively. Flavoured waters were the most acidic, followed by sparkling waters, spring waters, artesian waters, mineral waters, and alkaline waters. All sparkling waters and flavoured waters showed an erosive risk to the enamel and dentine. A portion of spring waters and artesian waters was also acidic enough to erode tooth structures. The findings of this work were of concern given the risk of sustaining erosive tooth wear from consuming bottled waters. Health promotion strategies including public awareness and education on oral health consequences related to the consumption of bottled water are needed. Future epidemiological and in vivo investigations are also warranted.
Cloning and Expression of An Engineered Human Pancreatic Ribonuclease
Authors: Tarragona-Fiol A. , Taylorson C.J. , Rabin B.R.
Published: April 2022

The coding sequence for the human pancreatic ribonuclease (HP-RNase) gene has been obtained from genomic DNA extracted from buccal epithelial cells. In order to direct the expression of the recombinant human pancreatic enzyme to the periplasmic space of E.coli, the bovine pancreatic RNase signal sequence has been fused 5' to the human gene. Initial attempts to express the recombinant enzyme were not successful, consequently site-directed mutagenesis tehniques were used to genetically engineer the HP-RNase gene to enable expression in E.coli. The resultant engineered enzyme shows similar kinetic characteristics to the homologous bovine enzyme.
Carboxypeptidase A-Dependent Inactivitation of Thymidylate Synthase from a Variety of Sources: Evidence for Intersubunit Communication
Authors: Reilly R. Todd , Dunlap R. Bruce
Published: April 2022

The carboxypeptidase A-dependent removal of one equivalent of C-terminus from the thymidylate synthase homodimer resulted in the formation of a subtly-modified heterodimer which was incapable of deoxythyrnidylate production, but catalyzed inhibitory ternary complex (ITC) formation at the intact subunit .
(Kd = 0.85 JlM). The further removal of the C-terminus from the remaining intact subunit occurred at a 15-fold
slower rate and resulted in the formation of a modified homodimer which was incapable of covalent catalysis.
Role of Indole Derivatives in Agrochemistry: Synthesis and Future Insights
Authors: Rani Manisha , Utreja Divya , Sharma Shivali
Published: April 2022

Heterocycles constitute a wider class of organic compounds which contribute significantly
to every facet of pure and applied chemistry. Indole, one of the bicyclic heterocyclic
compounds containing nitrogen atom, witnessed unparalleled biological activity such as
antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, anti-depressant and antifungal activities. Different
biological activities exhibited by indole derivatives provide the impulsion to explore its
activity against anti-phytopathogenic microbes to save the plants from pests and disease, as
food security will once again become a rigid demand. This review mainly focuses on various
methods related to the synthesis of indole derivatives and its role in agriculture.
Reviewed and updated Algorithm for Genetic Characterization of Syndromic
Obesity Phenotypes
Authors: Rodríguez-López Raquel , Gimeno-Ferrer Fátima , do Santos David Albuquerque , Ferrer-Bolufer Irene , Luján Carola Guzmán , Alcalá Otilia Zomeño , García-Banacloy Amor , Ballesteros Cogollos Virginia , Juan Carlos Sánchez
Published: April 2022

Background:

Individuals with a phenotype of early-onset severe obesity associated with
intellectual disability can have molecular diagnoses ranging from monogenic to complex genetic
traits. Severe overweight is the major sign of a syndromic physical appearance and predicting the influence
of a single gene and/or polygenic risk profile is extremely complicated among the majority of
the cases. At present, considering rare monogenic bases as the principal etiology for the majority of
obesity cases associated with intellectual disability is scientifically poor. The diversity of the molecular
bases responsible for the two entities makes the appliance of the current routinely powerful genomics
diagnostic tools essential.

Objective:

Clinical investigation of these difficult-to-diagnose patients requires pediatricians and neurologists
to use optimized descriptions of signs and symptoms to improve genotype correlations.

Methods:

The use of modern integrated bioinformatics strategies which are conducted by experienced
multidisciplinary clinical teams. Evaluation of the phenotype of the patient’s family is also of importance.

Results:

The next step involves discarding the monogenic canonical obesity syndromes and considering
infrequent unique molecular cases, and/or then polygenic bases. Adequate management of the application
of the new technique and its diagnostic phases is essential for achieving good cost/efficiency
balances.

Conclusion:

With the current clinical management, it is necessary to consider the potential coincidence
of risk mutations for obesity in patients with genetic alterations that induce intellectual disability.
In this review, we describe an updated algorithm for the molecular characterization and diagnosis
of patients with a syndromic obesity phenotype.
Macrophage-Mediated Delivery of Fe3O4-Nanoparticles: A Generalized Strategy to Deliver Iron to Tumor Microenvironment
Authors: Shi Hongcan , Wu Cong , Zhang Guozhong , Wang Zhihao
Published: April 2022

Background:

Iron is used to alter macrophage phenotypes and induce tumor cell death. Iron
oxide nanoparticles can induce macrophage polarization into the M1 phenotype, which inhibits tumor
growth and can dissociate into iron ions in macrophages.

Objective:

In this study, we proposed to construct high expression of Ferroportin1 macrophages as carriers
to deliver Fe3O4-nanoparticles and iron directly to tumor sites.

Methods:

Three sizes of Fe3O4-nanoparticles with gradient concentrations were used. The migration
ability of iron-carrying macrophages was confirmed by an in vitro migration experiment and monocyte
chemoattractant protein-1 detection. The release of iron from macrophages was confirmed by determining
their levels in the cell culture supernatant, and we constructed a high expression of ferroportin strain
of macrophage lines to increase intracellular iron efflux by increasing membrane transferrin expression.
Fe3O4-NPs in Ana-1 cells were degraded in lysosomes, and the amount of iron released was correlated
with the expression of ferroportin1.

Results:

After Fe3O4-nanoparticles uptake by macrophages, not only polarized macrophages into M1
phenotype, but the nanoparticles also dissolved in the lysosome and iron were released out of the cell.
FPN1 is the only known Fe transporter; we use a Lentiviral vector carrying the FPN1 gene transfected
into macrophages, has successfully constructed Ana-1-FPN1 cells, and maintains high expression of
FPN1. Ana-1-FPN1 cells increase intracellular iron release. Fe3O4-nanoparticles loaded with engineered
Ana-1 macrophages can act as a “reservoir” of iron.

Conclusion:

Our study provides proof of strategy for Fe3O4-NPs target delivery to the tumor
microenvironment. Moreover, increase of intracellular iron efflux by overexpression of FPN1, cell
carriers can act as a reservoir for iron, providing the basis for targeted delivery of Fe3O4-NPs and iron
ions in vivo.
Perceptions on HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Among Urgent Care
Clinicians in the Southern United States
Authors: Burns Charles M. , Endres Kyle , Farrow Laura , Mhina Carl , Cooper Alexandra , Silverberg Benjamin , McKellar Mehri S. , Okeke Nwora Lance
Published: April 2022

Background:

Underutilization of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the Southern
United States (US) is well-documented. Urgent care (UC) centers are positioned as communityfacing
access points to PrEP, but the feasibility of integrating PrEP services into this setting is unclear.
We conducted a survey of UC clinicians in the Southern US to better understand their perceptions
of the feasibility of providing PrEP in their practice setting.

Objective:

The study aims to determine the feasibility and acceptability of providing PrEP services
in the UC setting through a cross-sectional survey of UC clinicians.

Methods:

We conducted a 48-item cross-sectional survey of UC clinicians in the Southern US, between
July and September 2020. The survey was distributed through the Urgent Care Association
(UCA) and American Academy of Urgent Care Medicine (AAUCM) professional listservs as well
as directly to publicly listed e-mail addresses.

Results:

Eighty-two clinicians responded to the survey. Most clinicians had familiarity with PrEP
(97%). All respondents rated PrEP as an effective way to prevent HIV. However, less than half felt
UC facilities were an appropriate place to prescribe PrEP. Few respondents (8%) expressed doubts
that expansion of PrEP access would decrease the incidence of HIV in their community.

Conclusion:

These findings show UC clinicians are familiar with PrEP, and many believe it would
benefit their patients; however, provider opinions on the appropriateness of providing PrEP in the
UC setting differ. Further studies on PrEP implementation in UC centers are needed.
Clinical and Paraclinical Predictive Factors for In-hospital Mortality in
Adult Patients with COVID-19: A Cross-sectional Study in Iran
Authors: Mousavi-Roknabadi Reyhaneh Sadat , Mousavi Seyed Alireza , Nemati Fateme , Pourteimoori Somaye , Ghorbani Arefeh , Pourgholamali Hesan , Ansari Kazem , Mousavi-Roknabadi Razieh Sadat , Yakhdani Abdolrahim Sadeghi
Published: April 2022

Background:

COVID-19, a type of coronavirus emerged in Wuhan, China in December 2019, causing an epidemic of pneumonia with unknown reasons.

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in one of the main hospitals in central Iran.

Methods:

This retrospective cross-sectional study (February-May 2020) was conducted on patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to Yazd Shahid Sadoughi Hospital in Iran. The patients with uncompleted or missed medical files were excluded from the study. Data were extract-ed from the patients' medical files and then analyzed. The patients were categorized as survivors and non-survivors groups, and they were compared.

Results:

Total 573 patients were enrolled and 356 (62.2%) were male. The mean±SD of age was 56.29±17.53 years, and 93 (16.23%) died. All the complications were more in non-survivors. Inten-sive care unit (ICU) admission was in 20.5% of the patients, which was more in non-survivors (P<0.001). The results of multivariate logistic regression test showed that pleural effusion in lung computed tomography (CT) scan (OR=0.055, P=0.019), white blood cell (WBC) (OR=1.418, P=0.022), serum albumin (OR=0.009, P<0.001), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (OR=34.351, P<0.001), and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (OR=66.039, P=0.003) were the predic-tive factors for in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion:

In-hospital mortality with COVID-19 was about 16%. Plural effusion in lung CT scan, increased WBC count, lower mount of serum albumin, non-invasive mechanical ventilation, and ARDS were obtained as the predictive factors for in-hospital mortality.
Colostrum Antibodies and Cytokines in Puerperal Women with Diabetes
Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review
Authors: Guerra Rosane Nassar Meireles , dos Santos Cunha Cláudia Regina Silva , Fort Marcela Patrícia Macêdo Belo , Rafael Eremita Val , Santos Rebeca Aranha Arrais e Silva , Lima-Aragão Mônica Virginia Viegas , Silva Mayara Cristina Pinto , Nascimento Flávia Raquel Fernandes
Published: April 2022

Background:

Breastfeeding maintains the maternal-fetal immune link after birth, favors
the transmission of immunological competence, and is considered an important contributing factor
to the development of the babies’ immune system.

Objective:

This study aimed to obtain data related to the effects of gestational diabetes on immunoglobulin
A (IgA) and cytokines levels in the colostrum, before and during the pandemic of the
new coronavirus, in order to study the possible outcomes regarding the immunological characteristics
of human milk.

Methods:

This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO CRD42020212397, and the question
elaborated using the PICO strategy was: does maternal hyperglycemia associated or not with
Covid-19 influence the immunological composition of colostrum? Electronic searching and reference
lists of published reports were used to identify studies that reported the influence of gestational
diabetes on colostrum and milk composition.

Results:

Seven studies were selected from the 51 found, six of them were cross-sectional and one
was a case report. Six studies included Brazilian groups and only one was conducted in USA. The
mothers with gestational diabetes presented a reduced level of IgA and other immunoreactive proteins
in colostrum. Those alterations could be related to changes in macronutrient metabolism and
cellular oxidative metabolism.

Conclusions:

It was possible to conclude that diabetes changes the immunological composition of
breast milk; however, data on the impact of the association between gestational diabetes and
Covid-19 infection on the composition of antibodies and cytokines present in human milk are still
scarce and inconclusive.
A Review on State-of-the-Art Techniques for Image Segmentation and
Classification for Brain MR Images
Authors: S. U Aswathy , Abraham Ajith
Published: April 2022

The diagnosis of tumors in the initial stage plays a crucial role in improving the clinical
outcomes of a patient. Evaluation of brain tumors from many MRI images generated regularly in a
clinical environment is a complex and time-consuming process. Therefore,there comes a need for an
efficient and accurate model for the early detection of tumors. This paper revolves around the current
strategies used for brain tumor segmentation and classification from MRI images of the brain. This
approach also tries to pave the way for the significance of their performance measure and quantitative
evaluation of forefront strategies. This state of the art clearly describes the importance of several brain
image segmentation and classification methodsduring the past 13 years of publication by various researchers.
In this instance, new calculations are being made for potential clients to analyze the concerned
area of research. This review acknowledges the key accomplishments expressed in the diagnostic
measures and their success indicators of qualitative and quantitative measurement. This research
study also explores the key outcomes and reasons for finding the lessons learned.
A Novel Biosensor for Detecting Vitamin C in Milk Powder Based on Hg2+-
Mediated DNA Structural Changes
Authors: Zhang Xingping , Wang Jiujun , Yang Hualin , Zhou Yu
Published: April 2022

Background:

Detection of Vitamin C (Vc) is very important to protect human health. A
lot of methods have been developed for the detection of Vc. However, many methods require complex
material preparation and skilled operators. Thus, a simple, label-free biosensor is still urgently
needed.

Methods:

In this work, N-methylmesoporphyrin IX (NMM)/G-quadruplex pair was used as a labelfree
signal reporter. Without Vc, the G-quadruplex DNA and its incomplete complementary chain
could form a duplex structure by T-Hg(II)-T mismatch. In this case, the G-quadruplex structure
could not be formed. When Vc was added, the Hg2+ was reduced to Hg(0). Then, the G-quadruplex
DNA became free and formed a G-quadruplex structure to emit fluorescence signals.

Results:

Under optimal conditions, this biosensor showed a good linear response in the range of 0.2
- 4.0 μM and a low limit of detection (19.9 nM). This biosensor also had good selectivity towards
Vc. Meanwhile, the satisfactory recovery rates (93.2%-102.8%) suggested that this biosensor had
potential for measuring Vc in real samples.

Conclusion:

In this work, a simple label-free fluorescent biosensor for the detection of Vc based on
Hg2+-mediated DNA structural changes had been developed. The whole experiment was simple and
all reagents were commercialized. The label-free detection was realized by NMM/G-quadruplex as
a signal reporter. This biosensor was very sensitive with a low limit of detection. It had a potential
practical application for Vc detection in milk powder.
Nanotechnology as a Promising Approach for Detection, Diagnosis and Treatment of Food Allergens
Authors: Rai Mahendra , Ingle Avinash P. , Yadav Alka , Golińska Patrycja , Trzcińska-Wencel Joanna , Rathod Sanjay , Bonde Shital
Published: April 2022

Food allergy is one of the world's most serious health problems, which needs new and safer approaches to resolve it. The rapid progress of nanotechnology to tackle the problem of food allergen has generated a new hope. Nanoparticles can be used as a unique system to detect allergens. Furthermore, nanotechnology offers allergen-delivery systems based on nanoparticles as potential adjuvants for allergen-specific immunotherapy. In addition, the use of novel adjuvants using nanoparticles provides a harmless and potentially more effective way of treatment for allergic diseases. For therapeutic applications, nanotechnology-based delivery systems provide increased bioavailability and targeted delivery of food allergens. In addition, nano-based allergen-delivery approaches are mainly aimed at devising a novel and promising approach for allergy vaccines. This review discusses the potential role of nanotechnological strategies for detection, drug delivery, and the treatment of allergies.
Comprehensive Analysis of the Differentially Expressed Transcriptome
with ceRNA Networks in a Mouse Model of Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Zhang Yichi , Nie Xinsheng , Jiang Yanan , Wang Lijuan , Wan Zhuzhi , Jin Hao , Pu Ronghui , Liang Meihui , Zhang Hailong , Liu Qi , Chang Yuan , Gao Yang , Yang Ningning , Jin Shizhu
Published: April 2022

Background:

Hepatic cirrhosis is the consequence of various chronic liver disease for which there is no curative treatment. In this study, based on RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and subsequent bioinformatic analysis, we aim to explore the biological function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in hepatic cirrhosis.

Methods:

The hepatic cirrhosis models were induced by the intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The transcriptome profile was aquired by RNA-seq, of which result was verified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks were visualized by Cytoscape software. The enrichment analyses of Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were conducted.

Results:

The differentially expressed transcript of liver cirrhosis is consist of 2369 mRNAs, 374 lncRNAs, 91 circRNAs and 242 miRNAs (|log2(fold change)|≥1 and P<0.05). The RNA-seq results were highly consistent with qRT-PCR validation of DEGs (four upregulated and four down-regulated, including ENSMUSG00000047517, ENSMUST00000217449, novel-circ-001366, miR-383-5p, ENSMUSG00000078683, ENSMUST00000148206, novel-circ-002669 and miR-216a-5p). Based on ceRNA theory, a circRNA-lncRNA co-regulated ceRNA network was established. Enrichment analysis revealed the potential key regulatory process during the liver cirrhosis progression.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the present study comprehensively analyzed differentially expressed transcripts in CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis. Our findings explored the gene signatures for liver cirrhosis’ diagnosis and precise treatment.
An Overview of Conventional Drugs and Nanotherapeutic Options for the Treatment
and Management of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Yohan Andre , Jacques Christopher , Fletcher Tafaswa , Suk-in Thanaphorn , Campbell Robert B.
Published: April 2022

:

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common form of pediatric cancer affecting the lymphoblast, a
type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. In this disease, the normal lymphoblast cells transform into leukemic
cells and subsequently enter the bloodstream. Leukemic cells found in patients with ALL have shown differences
in cholesterol uptake and utilization. Current treatment consists of chemotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)
therapy, and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In addition, minimal residual disease (MRD) has become
an effective tool for measuring treatment efficacy and the potential for relapse.

:

Chemotherapy resistance remains a significant barrier in the treatment of ALL. Biomarkers such as an upregulated Akt
signaling pathway and an overexpressed VLA-4 integrin-protein have been associated with drug resistance. Nanoparticles
have been used to favorably alter the pharmacokinetic profile of conventional drug agents. These drug-delivery
systems are designed to selectively deliver their drug payloads to desired targets. Therefore, nanoparticles offer advantages
such as improved efficacy and reduced toxicity.

:

This review highlights conventional treatment options, distinctive characteristics of pediatric ALL, therapeutic challenges
encountered during therapy, and the key role that nanotherapeutics play in the treatment of ALL.
An Evolutionary Algorithm in Static Airport Gate Assignment Problem
Authors: Chow Y. T. , NG Kam K.H. , Keung K. L.
Published: April 2022

Background and Objectives:

Gate Assignment Problem is an existing issue at modern airports. Gate assignment is a complex issue in which different airports have their own demographic and geographic features although the gate and flight pattern are identical, and flights may not be assigned precisely to the gates.

Methods:

The gate assignment model would be a suitable and an appropriate tool for airport authorities to assign aircraft to gates in an effective and efficient way. The aim of the model is to assign each aircraft to an available gate to maximise both efficient operations for airports and airlines, and convenience for passengers. The model would benefit airports by improving efficiency of operations and convenience for travellers. The model illustrates how the resources are fully utilised, achieving an optimal result. This model applies the evolutionary approach to handle the gate assignment problem. The smart and generative algorithm speeds up the solving process for providing the solution within a reasonable time.

Results:

This model can reduce the business class travellers’ total walking distance by optimising the utilisation of gate resources. This has been was applied at the Taiwan Taipei Taoyuan International Airport and the results have shown an improvement in minimising the total walking distances, and the results for business class travellers are promising.

Conclusion:

A metropolitan airport usually handles more than thirty boarding gates and hundreds of flights every day. Gate assignment can help an airport to assign the gates to the flights more effectively, with the advancement of genetic algorithms. The gate assignment problem model performed a successful assignment solution within an acceptable timeframe. The proposed evolutionary algorithm gate assignment model could reduce the business class passengers’ total walking distances.
Examining Housing as a Determinant of Health: Closing the ‘Poverty Gap’ to Improve Outcomes for Women in Affordable Housing
Authors: Katrina Milaney , Meaghan Bell , Kaylee Ramage , Christina Screpnechuk , Courtney Petruik
Published: April 2022

Background:

Access to housing is an important social determinant of health and has a positive influence on health outcomes. In one large municipal city in Western Canada, over 12,000 units of affordable housing are available to support low-income individuals.

Objectives:

However, little is known about resident experiences living in affordable housing, how affordable housing affects their movements through the housing continuum (i.e., from housing instability to stability), how affordable housing affects their lives and the lives of their families, and how gender factors into these questions.

Methods:

The current study, part of the larger quantitative project, involved a survey with 160 residents of affordable housing units in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Results:

The results show that few gender differences exist in demographic factors such as age, income, and ethnicity. However, important differences exist in the experiences of women versus men, including employment status, barriers to employment, parenting, trajectory of affordable housing residency, and reasons for accessing affordable housing in the first place.

Conclusion:

We argue that gendered supports to reduce barriers to sustainable employment must be embedded in affordable housing programs and coupled with low or no cost childcare and supports to heal from trauma in order to break cycles of dependency for women and their children. This research builds on the scant Canadian literature that examines characteristics and experiences in affordable housing using a gender-lens.
Risk Factors Associated with Tuberculosis Among Men; A Study of South Africa
Authors: Mlondo Muziwandile Nhlakanipho , Melesse Sileshi Fanta , Mwambi Henry G
Published: April 2022

Background:

One of the public health problems all over the world is tuberculosis. An important factor for human well-being is good health. Worldwide, there are more cases of men with tuberculosis than women. Therefore, identifying risk factors associated with tuberculosis among men is essential. This study uses a survey logistic regression model to identify risk factors associated with tuberculosis in South Africa using the 2016 South African Demographic Health Survey data.

Methods:

Based on the fact that tuberculosis status is a binary variable, logistic regression and survey logistics were used for analysis.

Results and Conclusion:

The findings using the survey logistic model are presented. The results suggest that a survey logistic model that accounts for complex sampling design is better than logistic regression. The findings from the study show that the risk factors associated with tuberculosis are: chronic disease, current age, region, race, number of times away from home, marital status, weight, smoking status, the interaction effect of chronic disease and age, and the interaction effect of smoking status and number of household members. These factors can be used to implement strategies for reducing the risk of having tuberculosis.