bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient Centred Medical Home (PCMH) transitions in western Sydney, Australia: A qualitative study
Authors: Metusela Christine , Usherwood Tim , Lawson Kenny , Angus Lisa , Kmet Walter , Ferdousi Shahana , Reath Jennifer
Published: July 2019

Objectives

Patient Centred Medical Homes (PCMHs), increasingly evidenced to provide high quality primary care, are new to Australia. To learn how this promising new healthcare model works in an Australian setting we explored experiences of healthcare providers in outer urban Sydney, where a number of practices are transitioning from traditional Australian general practice models to incorporate elements of PCMH approaches.

Design

We collected qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with healthcare providers working in a range of transitioning practices and thematically analysed the data.

Setting and participants

We interviewed 35 participants including general practitioners, practice managers and practice nurses from 25 purposively sampled general practices in western Sydney, Australia, seeking maximal variation in practice size, patient demographics and approaches to PCMH transitions.

Results

Interviewees described PCMH transformation highlighting the importance of whole of practice engagement with a shared vision; key strategies for transformation to PCMH models of care including leadership, training and supportive information technology; structures and processes required to provide team-based, data-driven care and constraints such as lack of space and the current Australian fee-for-service general practice funding model. They also reported early outcomes of the PCMH model of care, in particular enhanced patient and staff satisfaction and fewer hospital admissions which were described as likely to reduce the costs of care.

Conclusions

Our study exploring the experience of early adopters of PCMH models of care in Australia, informs the international movement towards PCMH Primary Health Care approaches. Our findings provide guidance for practices considering similar transitions and describe the challenges of such transitions within a fee-for-service payment system.
A qualitative study of old patients’ experiences of the quality of the health services in hospital and 30 days after hospitalization
Authors: Lilleheie Ingvild , Debesay Jonas , Bye Asta , Bergland Astrid
Published: July 2019

Background

The number of people aged 80 years and above is projected to triple over the next 30 years. People in this age group normally have at least two chronic conditions (multimorbidity). The impact of multimorbidity is often significantly greater than expected from the sum of the effects of each condition. The World Health Organization has indicated that health care systems must prepare for a change in the focus of clinical care for older people. The WHO defines health care quality as care that is effective, efficient, integrated, patient centered, equitable and safe. The degree to which health care quality can be defined as acceptable is determined by services’ ability to meet the needs of users and adapt to patients’ expectations and perceptions.

This study explores experiences of the quality of the health services in hospital and the first 30 days at home after discharge by patients over 80 years of age.

Method

We took a phenomenological perspective to explore older patients’ subjective experiences and conducted semistructured individual interviews. Eighteen patients (aged from 82 to 100 years) were interviewed twice after discharge from hospital. The interview transcriptions were analyzed thematically.

Results

The patients found their meetings with the health service to be complex and demanding. They reported attempting to restore a sense of security and meaning in everyday life, balancing their own needs against external requirements. Five overarching themes emerged from the interviews: hospital stay and the person behind the diagnosis, poor communication and coordination, life after discharge, relationship with their next of kin, and organizational and systemic determinants.

Conclusion

According to the WHO, to deliver quality health care, services must include all six of the dimensions listed above. Our findings show that they do not. Health care focused on measurable values and biomedical inquiries. Few opportunities for participation, scant information and suboptimal care coordination left the patients with a feeling of being in limbo, where they struggled to find balance in their everyday life. Further work must be done to ensure that integrated services are provided without a financial burden, centered on the needs and rights of older people.
Patient Satisfaction with Clinical Laboratory Services and Associated Factors among Adult Patients attending Outpatient Departments at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Alelign Asmamaw , Belay Yihalem Abebe
Published: July 2019

Objectives: There is limited evidence on patient satisfaction with clinical laboratory services in Northwest Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess patient satisfaction with clinical laboratory services and associated factors among adult patients attending outpatient department at Debre Markos hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Cross-sectional study was conducted among 391 patients from April 09-16, 2019 using interviewer-administered questionnaire. Systematic random sampling technique was used. Data were entered into Epi-Data 3.1, and analyzed using SPSS 20. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed. Variables having p-value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.
Results: Overall level of patient satisfaction towards clinical laboratory services was 48.3%. Patients with no occasion of missing laboratory results [AOR: 2.10; 95% CI (1.13, 3.83)], had diplomas and above educational level [AOR: 0.38; 95% CI (0.15, 0.96)], and who reported no place in the laboratory to put personal things [AOR: 0.37; 95% CI (0.21, 0.54)] were significantly associated with patient satisfaction. Hospital administration and laboratory department in Debre Markos hospital should strengthen their effort to improve patient satisfaction focusing on educated patients, missing laboratory results, and the availability of places to put personal things in the blood drawing room.
Key words: Debre Markos hospital; Patient satisfaction; Laboratory services
A shared susceptibility locus in p53 for both gastric cancer and esophageal cancer in a northwestern Chinese population
Authors: Cao Juan , Chen Zhiqiang , Chen Jing , You Yanjie , Tian Chaoyong , Yu Jia , Zhang Hongfei , Yang Jingwen , Yang Wenjun
Published: July 2019

Background Upper gastrointestinal cancers are the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Northwest China and share many similarities in terms of histological type, risk factors and genetic variants. We hypothesized that shared common genetic SNPs among eight SNPs in the p53 pathway existed among Ningxia gastric cancer (GC) and esophageal cancer (EC) patients. Methods A total of 180 GC cases, 113 EC cases and 358 cancer-free control subjects from a high-incidence area for upper gastrointestinal cancers in Ningxia, China, were enrolled in this study. The genotyping of 8 SNPs was performed using PCR direct sequencing. P53 expression in GC and EC tissues was examined using the S-P immunohistochemical method. Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the association between genotypes and GC or EC risks. Kaplan-Meier and multivariate Cox regression analyses were carried out to evaluate the associations between genetic variants and overall survival. Result rs1042522 was a common genetic locus shared by both Ningxia GC and EC patients. Compared with the rs1042522 Pro allele, the rs1042522 Arg allele increased the GC risk by 1.810 times and the EC risk by 2.285 times. Additionally, patients who carried the rs1042522 Arg allele and who also smoked or consumed alcohol had an increased risk for GC and EC. Cox survival analysis showed that neither p53 nor rs1042522 had an effect on the prognosis of GC and EC patients. Conclusion rs1042522 was a common genetic locus responsible for susceptibility shared by both northwestern GC and EC Chinese patients. Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking further enhanced the cancer risk in our study.
Alterations of plasma glutamine and surgical stress in gastric cancer surgery
Authors: Hayashi Tsutomu , Aoyama Toru , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Yamada Takanobu , Sato Tsutomu , Rino Yasushi , Masuda Munetaka , Cho Haruhiko , Tsuburaya Akira , Ogata Takashi , Yoshikawa Takaki
Published: July 2019

Background: The plasma glutamine levels are known to decrease after major surgery, which is related to a negative clinical outcome. However, the influence of surgical stress on the decrease in the plasma glutamine concentration is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the change in glutamine in relation to the types of gastrectomy and approaches as well as the amount of surgical stress evaluated by serum interleukin-6(IL-6) as an objective indicator.
Methods: This was a prospective observational study. The eligibility criteria were (1) gastric adenocarcinoma of the stomach confirmed by pathology and (2) patients scheduled to receive gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy for gastric cancer. Blood samples were taken at 7 AM on the day of surgery and at 12 h after surgery to measure the plasma glutamine and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels.
Results: Between May 2011 and December 2011, 81 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study. The plasma glutamine level was significantly decreased in all patients, regardless of distal or total gastrectomy and laparoscopic or open surgery. No significant differences were observed in the IL-6 level between total and distal gastrectomy patients or between patients treated via a laparoscopic or open approach. Decreases in the plasma glutamine level were positively correlated with the logarithmically transformed-plasma IL-6 (logIL6) (r =0.471, p<0.001) overall.
Conclusions: Decreases in the glutamine concentration depended on the amount of surgical stress. When conducting a clinical trial to evaluate glutamine administration, personalized adjustment may be key to avoiding glutamine depletion in response to surgical stress.
Therapeutic Effect of Exogenous Treg Cells on Collagen-Induced Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Li Shutong , Wang Hongxing , Wu Hui , Zhang Guoqing , Chang Xiaotian
Published: July 2019

Background

Regulatory T (Treg) cells have anti-inflammatory and anti-autoimmune functions. The proportion and functions of Treg cells are perturbed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods

Human Treg cells were induced to amplify in vitro and cocultured with RA synovial fibroblast cells (RASFs). The proliferation and apoptosis of RASFs were determined by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Human Treg cells were also injected to collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats via the tail vein. Changes in lymphocyte subtypes and cytokines in the peripheral blood and spleen were observed by flow cytometry.

Results

After coculture with the Treg cells, the proliferation of RA synovial fibroblast cells decreased (p<0.01), and the rate of apoptosis increased (p=0.037). The human Treg cells were injected into the tail veins of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats. The severity of the CIA was reduced (p<0.01) following the injection, the percentages of rat endogenous Treg cells in the peripheral blood and spleen increased significantly (p=0.007 and p<0.01, respectively), and the proportion of B cells decreased (p=0.031). The levels of interleukin IL-5 and IL-6 and the Th1/Th2 ratio in the peripheral blood were significantly decreased (p=0.013, 0.009 and 0.012, respectively). The number of NK cells and the levels of IL-4, IL-13, TNF-α, IFN-γ and GM-CSF in the peripheral blood and spleen did not change significantly.

Conclusion

These results suggest that exogenous Treg cells play a therapeutic role in RA and CIA. Treg cell treatment could serve as a therapy for RA.
Efficacy and safety of extended depth of focus intraocular lenses in cataract surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Jing , Dong Yi , Wang Yan
Published: July 2019

Background

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of extended depth of focus (EDOF) intraocular lenes (IOLs) in cataract surgery.

Methods

All comparative clinical trials that involved bilaterally implanting EDOF IOLs in patients with cataract were retrieved from the literature database. We used random effects models to pool weighted mean differences (WMD) and risk ratio (RR) for continuous and dichotomous variables, respectively.

Results

Nine studies with a total of 1336 eyes were identified. The subgroup analysis was conducted according to the type of IOLs used in the control group. Compared with monofocal IOLs, EDOF IOLs produced better uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (WMD: -0.17, 95% CI: -0.26 to -0.08, P = 0.0001) and uncorrected near visual acuity (WMD: -0.17, 95% CI: -0.21 to -0.12, P < 0.00001). EDOF IOLs resulted in reduced contrast sensitivity, more frequent halos, however, higher spectacle independence (RR: 2.81, 95% CI: 1.06 to 7.46, P = 0.04) than monofocal IOLs. Compared with trifocal IOLs, EDOF IOLs produced worse near visual acuity (MD: 0.10, 95% CI: 0.07 to 0.13, P<0.0001). EDOF IOLs performed better than trifocal IOls in contrast sensitivity, and there were no significant difference in halos and spectacle independence.

Conclusions

Increasing the risk of contrast reduction and more frequent halos, EDOF IOLs provided better intermediate and near VAs than monofocal IOLs. At the expense of near vision, patients receiving EDOF IOLs have better contrast sensitivity than those receiving trifocal IOLs. Halo incidence and spectacle independence of EDOF IOLs were similar to those of trifocal IOLs.
Sequential dual-site High-Definition transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) treatment in chronic subjective tinnitus: study protocol of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Cardon Emilie , Rompaey Vincent Van , Jacquemin Laure , Mertens Griet , Vermeersch Hanne , Joossen Iris , Beyers Jolien , Vanderveken Olivier , de Heyning Paul Van , Topsakal Vedat , Gilles Annick
Published: July 2019

Background

Chronic tinnitus is a highly prevalent symptom, with many patients reporting considerable effects of tinnitus on quality of life. No clear evidence-based treatment options are currently available. While counseling-based methods are valuable in some cases, they are not sufficiently effective for all tinnitus patients. Neuromodulation techniques such as high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) are proposed to have positive effects on tinnitus severity but, to date, these effects have not been proven conclusively. The proposed trial will investigate the hypothesis that chronic tinnitus patients receiving HD-tDCS will report a positive effect on the impact of tinnitus on daily life, as compared to patients receiving sham stimulation.

Methods

This study proposes a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with parallel group design. A total of 100 chronic tinnitus patients will be randomly allocated to an experimental group or a sham group, with allocation stratified according to gender and tinnitus severity. Patient and researcher will be blinded to the patient’s allocation. Patients will undergo six sessions of sequential dual-site HD-tDCS of the left temporal area and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Evaluations will take place at baseline, immediately following treatment, and at three and six months after the start of the therapy. The primary outcome measure is the change in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) score. Secondary outcome measures include audiological measurements, cortical auditory evoked potentials, the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status adjusted to test Hearing impaired individuals (RBANS-H), and supplementary questionnaires probing tinnitus severity and additional symptoms. By use of a linear regression model, the effects of HD-tDCS compared to sham stimulation will be assessed.

Discussion

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether HD-tDCS can reduce the impact of tinnitus on daily life in chronic tinnitus patients. To date, published trials on the effects of HD-tDCS on tinnitus suffer from a lack of standardization, and few randomized controlled trials exist. The proposed study will be the first adequately powered trial to investigate the effects of sequential dual-site HD-tDCS on tinnitus severity.
Effect of short-term blood pressure variability on functional outcome after intra-arterial treatment in acute stroke patients with large-vessel occlusion
Authors: Zhang Tianli , Wang Xiaolong , Wen Chao , Zhou Feng , Gao Shengwei , Zhang Xiaodong , Lin Shiqin , Shi Jing , Li Weirong
Published: July 2019

Background: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is advocated for acute ischemic stroke with large-vessel occlusion (LVO), but perioperative periods are challenging.This study investigated the relationship between post-EVT short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) and early outcomes in LVO patients.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 72 LVO patients undergoing EVT between June 2015 and June 2018. Hourly systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP, respectively) were recorded in the first 24 hours post-EVT. BPV were evaluated as standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and successive variation (SV) separately for SBP and DBP. Three-month functional independence was defined as a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2.
Results: For 58.3% patients with favorable outcomes, median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and Alberta Stroke Program Early CT scores on admission were 14 and 8, respectively. The maximum SBP ([154.3±16.8] vs. [163.5±15.6], P=0.02), systolic CV ([8. 8%±2.0%] vs. [11.0%±1.8%], P<0.001), SV ([11.4±2.3] vs. [14.6±2.0], P<0.001), and SD ([10.5±2.4] vs. [13.8±3.9], P<0.001) were lower in patients with favorable outcomes. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, systolic SV (OR: 4.273, 95% CI: 1.030 to 17.727, P=0.045) independently predicted unfavorable prognosis. The area under the curve was 0.868 (95% CI: 0.781 to 0.955, P<0.001), and sensitivity and specificity were 93.3% and 73.8%, respectively, showing excellent value for 3-month poor-outcome predictions.
Conclusions: Decreased systolic SV following intra-arterial therapies result in favorable 3-month outcomes. Systolic SV may be a novel predictor of functional prognosis in LVO patients.
Investigating the Balance Status of Nutrients in Wheat Plant Using Isometric Log Ratio and Field Validation of Balances
Authors: Geikloue Abolfazl , Reyhanitabar Adel , Najafi Nosratollah
Published: July 2019

Nutrient status of plants is determined by using critical nutrient range and nutrient ratios. The obtained data may not be generally error‐free due to the nature of compositional data is not taken into account Here, nutrient status of wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) in Entisols and Aridisols soils is investigated by isometric log ratio (ILR) technique. Leaf samples collected from 96 fields at booting stage. To validate the obtained ILR balances, two separate filed experiments were conducted employing a factorial experiment based on CRBD design with three replications. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cu, and B in the flag leaf tissue were determined at both fields. Nutrients were arranged into ad hoc balances and computed ILR and classified into four groups as balanced, misbalanced, high and low yielders by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The ROC classification applied to the data from survey fields and validation test respectively showed 4.67 and 4.02 as the critical Mahalanobis distance and 5034 and 6559 kg ha−1as yield cut‐off for separating balanced and imbalanced samples at area under curve (AUC = 0.83 and 0.88). Comparing nutrient balance between reference (TN) and nonreference (TP) groups in the survey fields by Tukey's test showed that the balances of [Fe,Mn,Zn,Cu|B,Mg,Ca,K,P,N], [B|Mg,Ca,K,P,N], [Mg,Ca,K|P,N], [Mg,Ca|K], and [Mn|Zn,Cu] were negative. The [Fe|Mn,Zn,Cu] and [Zn|Cu] balances were positive. In the low yielding of survey fields, the balances of [Fe|Mn,Zn,Cu], [Mn|Zn,Cu], [Zn|Cu], [Fe,Mn,Zn,Cu|B,Mg,Ca,K,P,N], and [Ca,Mg|K] were imbalanced, but they become balanced through fertilizer treatments in the validation test.

Core Ideas

Nutrient balances can be interpreted simultaneously using pan balance approach.

The values of isomeric log ratio represent the balances between two or more nutrients.

Mahalanobis distance was set as a criterion for nutrient misbalance.
Managing Tillage Operation and Manure to Restore Soil Carbon Stocks in Wheat–Maize Cropping System
Authors: Khan Ahmad , Fahad Shah , Khan Aziz , Saud Shah , Adnan Muhammad , Wahid Fazli , Noor Muhammad , Nasim Wajid , Hammad Hafiz Mohkum , Bakhat Hafiz Faiq , Ahmad Shakeel , Habib ur Rehman Muhammad , Wang Depeng , Sönmez Osman
Published: July 2019

Increasing soil organic matter (SOM) contents improve the resilience of productive soil for future sustainability particularly in poor soil (<1% SOM). This study sought to elucidate how tillage and N fertilizer sources affect soil bulk density, soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total N (TN) in 0‐ to 20‐cm soil depth. Treatments included minimum till (MT), conventional till (CT), deep till (DT), and twelve N treatments (60 and 120 kg urea N ha−1, 10 and 20 Mg farmyard manure [FYM] ha−1, 10 Mg soybean residue [SR] ha−1and their combinations along with a control). The experiment was designed in randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement. Soil bulk density increased for DT toward the end of the experiment than CT or MT. The sequestration rates of SOC of MT was 22% higher than DT. The FYM retuned more SOC than SR, however SR returned more TN than FYM. Application of FYM as well as SR sequestered more C than urea or control. Conclusively, SOC returned was increased with 10 Mg FYM ha−1along with 30 kg urea N ha−1but TN with 10 Mg SR ha−1in CT plots. This practice can therefore increase soil quality and productivity, and thus is considered a sustainable approach for soils deficient in organic matter.

Core Ideas

Minimum tillage improved C stock than shallow or deep tillage.

The addition of urea increased SOC contents in SR plots than FYM.

C Stocks in FYM and SR fertilized plots was about 3‐ to 4‐fold greater than control.

Soybean residue build N stock principally in less plowed plots.
QuCumber: wavefunction reconstruction with neural networks
Authors: Beach Matthew J. S. , De Vlugt Isaac , Golubeva Anna , Huembeli Patrick , Kulchytskyy Bohdan , Luo Xiuzhe , Melko Roger , Merali Ejaaz , Torlai Giacomo
Published: July 2019

As we enter a new era of quantum technology, it is increasingly
important to develop methods to aid in the accurate preparation of
quantum states for a variety of materials, matter, and devices.
Computational techniques can be used to reconstruct a state from data,
however the growing number of qubits demands ongoing algorithmic
advances in order to keep pace with experiments. In this paper, we
present an open-source software package called QuCumber that uses
machine learning to reconstruct a quantum state consistent with a set of
projective measurements. QuCumber uses a restricted Boltzmann machine to
efficiently represent the quantum wavefunction for a large number of
qubits. New measurements can be generated from the machine to obtain
physical observables not easily accessible from the original data.
Is There An Association Between Kisspeptin Levels And Gestational Diabetes Mellitus?
Authors: Arslan Emine , Gorkem Umit , Togrul Cihan
Published: July 2019

Objective: To find out the relationship of maternal serum levels of kisspeptin with gestational diabetes mellitus status.Study Design: A total of 158 pregnant women between 24 and 28 weeks of gestation were divided into two groups according to gestational diabetes mellitus status: (i) Pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus (gestational diabetes mellitus group, n=76) and (ii) Healthy pregnant women (control group, n=82). Maternal serum concentrations of kisspeptin, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance were assessed.Results: In both groups, there were no difference in terms of age and gestational age (p=0.058 and p=0.820, respectively). The median of body mass indices of both groups at 24 to 28 weeks of gestation were statistically similar (p=0.062). The serum concentrations of kisspeptin did not demonstrate significant differences between the gestational diabetes mellitus and control groups (p=0.28). There was a significant difference in terms of serum level of insulin and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance between the gestational diabetes mellitus and control groups (p<0.001).Conclusion: No differences were found in serum kisspeptin levels between pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women. Further prospective studies will be essential to elucidate the contribution of kisspeptin to gestational diabetes mellitus.
Catalytic activity of CuxMnxFe3-2xO4/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) nanocomposites for p-nitrophenol degradation in catalyst/H2O2 system
Authors: Yu Jiye , Tian Xiaojun , Liu Mingwang , Jia Zhenzhen , Fang Hongqin , Liu Yunfang , Yu Changyuan
Published: July 2019

Heterogeneous Fenton oxidation has become a very important wastewater-treatment method and its catalyst is crucial for good treatment effect. In order to improve the catalytic properties, the Cu and Mn elements were doped for CuxMnxFe3-2xO4/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CuxMnxFe3-2xO4/MWCNTs) nanocomposites (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.1) by co-precipitation method. The structure, morphology and surface properties of the nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD), N2-physisorption analysis, transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The CuxMnxFe3-2xO4/MWCNTs nanocomposites were used as heterogeneous Fenton catalysts for p-nitrophenol (p-NP) degradation. The catalytic performances of the Cu and/or Mn doped nanocomposites have remarkable improvement compared with Fe3O4/MWCNTs nanocomposite, especially for both Cu and Mn doped catalyst. For CuxMnxFe3-2xO4/MWCNTs nanocomposites, the catalytic performance increases with increasing x value and reaches a maximum at 0.075 of x value. At optimal condition, the p-NP conversion rate reaches 96.4% in 10 min for Cu0.075Mn0.075Fe2.85O4/MWCNTs nanocomposite. However, the mentioned rate for Fe3O4/MWCNTs catalyst is only 14.5%. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rates in 120 min for Cu0.075Mn0.075Fe2.85O4/MWCNTs and Fe3O4/MWCNTs catalysts are 82.7% and 67.3%, respectively. Furthermore, the p-NP conversion and COD removal rates of Cu0.075Mn0.075Fe2.85O4/MWCNTs nanocomposite still keep at 94.4% and 70.3% after five-time reuse, respectively. This catalyst shows good reusability for p-NP degradation and is very easy to recover from the treated water.
Chemo-catalytic Esterification and Transesterification over Organic Polymer-Based Catalysts for Biodiesel Synthesis
Authors: Zhang Heng , Xu Chunbao (Charles) , Zhou Kaichen , Yang Song
Published: July 2019

The major sources of fuels in today's world predominantly come from traditional
fossil resources such as coal, petroleum and natural gas, which are limited and nonrenewable.
Meanwhile, their consumption releases large undesirable greenhouse gas and
noxious gases. Therefore, the development of renewable and sustainable feedstocks to replace
traditional fossil resources has attracted great interest. Biodiesel, mainly produced
through esterification and transesterification reaction from renewable oil resources using
acids and bases as catalysts, is deemed as a green and renewable biofuel that shows enormous
potential to replace fossil diesel. Compared to homogeneous catalytic systems, the
development of efficient and stable heterogeneous catalysts is vital to synthesizing biodiesel
in an efficient and green manner. Among the developed solid catalysts, organic polymer-
based catalytic materials are an extremely important topic, wherein distinct advantages of higher concentration
of active sites and better stability of active groups are associated with each other. In this review, effective
catalytic valorization of sustainable feedstocks into biodiesel via transesterification and esterification reactions
mediated by functionalized organic polymer-based catalysts is discussed. Special emphasis has been
given to the synthetic routes to the versatile organic polymers-based catalytic materials, and some other interesting
catalytic roles derived from physicochemical property, like adjustable hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity
along with swelling property in transesterification and esterification, are also illustrated.
Effective Antiviral Medicinal Plants and Biological Compounds Against Central Nervous System Infections: A Mechanistic Review
Authors: Malekmohammad Khojasteh , Rafieian-Kopaei Mahmoud , Sardari Samira , Sewell Robert D.E.
Published: July 2019

Background and Objective:

Infectious diseases are amongst the leading causes of death in the world and central nervous system infections produced by viruses may either be fatal or generate a wide range of symptoms that affect global human health. Most antiviral plants contain active phytoconstituents such as alkaloids, flavonoids, and polyphenols, some of which play an important antiviral role. Herein, we present a background to viral central nervous system (CNS) infections, followed by a review of medicinal plants and bioactive compounds that are effective against viral pathogens in CNS infections.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on scientific databases including: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. The relevant keywords used as search terms were: “myelitis”, “encephalitis”, “meningitis”, “meningoencephalitis”, “encephalomyelitis”, “central nervous system”, “brain”, “spinal cord”, “infection”, “virus”, “medicinal plants”, and “biological compounds”.

Results:

The most significant viruses involved in central nervous system infections are: Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV), West Nile Virus (WNV), Enterovirus 71 (EV71), Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), and Dengue Virus (DENV). The inhibitory activity of medicinal plants against CNS viruses is mostly active through prevention of viral binding to cell membranes, blocking viral genome replication, prevention of viral protein expression, scavenging reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and reduction of plaque formation.

Conclusion:

Due to the increased resistance of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, and parasites) to antimicrobial therapies, alternative treatments, especially using plant sources and their bioactive constituents, appear to be more fruitful.
Synthesis of N-Substituted Benzamide Derivatives and their Evaluation as Antitumor Agents
Authors: Chen Taiping , Jiang Hongwu , Zhou Jianjun , Li Zicheng , Huang Wencai , Luo Youfu , Zhao Yinglan
Published: July 2019

Background:

Histone deacetylases inhibitors (HDACIs) with different chemical structures
have been reported to play an important role in the treatment of cancer.

Objective:

The study aims to modify the structure of Entinostat (MS-275) to discover new compounds
with improved anti-proliferative activities and perform SAR studies on this class of bioactive
compounds.

Methods:

Fourteen N-substituted benzamide derivatives were synthesized and their antiproliferative
activities were tested with four cancer cell lines (MCF-7, A549, K562 and MDA-MB-
231) by MTT assay.

Results:

Compared with MS-275, six compounds exhibited comparable or even better antiproliferative
activities against specific/certain cancer cell lines.

Conclusion:

The preliminary SARs showed that (ⅰ) the 2-substituent of the phenyl ring in the R
group and heteroatoms of amide which can chelate with zinc ion are critical to the antiproliferative
activity and (ⅱ) chlorine atom or nitro-group on the same benzene ring largely decreases
their anti-proliferative activity. Molecular docking study illustrated the interaction (binding
affinity) between the synthesized compounds and HDAC2 was observed to be similar to that of
MS-275.
4-Aminocoumarin based Aroylthioureas as Potential Jack Bean Urease Inhibitors; Synthesis, Enzyme Inhibitory Kinetics and Docking Studies
Authors: Fattah Tanzeela A. , Saeed Aamer , Ashraf Zaman , Abbas Qamar , Channar Pervaiz A. , Larik Fayaz A. , Hassan Mubashir
Published: July 2019

Background:

Urease enzyme catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia and CO2,
excess ammonia causes global warming and crop reduction. Ureases are also responsible for certain
human diseases such as stomach cancer, peptic ulceration, pyelonephritis, and kidney stones.
New urease inhibitors are developed to get rid of such problems.

Objective:

This article describes the synthesis of a series of novel 1-aroyl-3-(2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-
yl)thiourea derivatives (5a-j) as Jack bean urease inhibitors.

Methods:

Freshly prepared aryl isothiocyanates were reacted with 4-aminocoumarin in the same
pot in an anhydrous medium of acetone. The structures of the title thioureas (5a-j) were ascertained
by their spectroscopic data. The inhibitory effects against jack bean urease were determined.

Results:

It was found that compounds 5i and 5j showed excellent activity with IC50 values 0.0065
and 0.0293, µM respectively. Compound 5i bearing 4-methyl substituted phenyl ring plays a vital
role in enzyme inhibitory activity. The kinetic mechanism analyzed by Lineweavere-Burk plots
revealed that compound 5i inhibits the enzyme non-competitively. The Michaelis-Menten constant
Km and inhibition constants Ki calculated from Lineweavere-Burk plots for compound 5i are
4.155mM and 0.00032µM, respectively. The antioxidant activity results displayed that compound
5j showed excellent radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxic effects determined against brine
shrimp assay showed that all of the synthesized compounds are non-toxic to shrimp larvae. Molecular
docking studies were performed against target protein (PDBID 4H9M) and it was determined
that most of the synthesized compounds exhibited good binding affinity with the target protein.
Molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) results revealed that compound 5i forms a stable
complex with target protein showing little fluctuation.

Conclusion:

Based upon our investigations, it is proposed that 5i derivative may serve as a lead
structure for devising more potent urease inhibitors.
Virological Quality of Urban Rivers and Hospitals Wastewaters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Bedada Tesfaye L. , Eshete Teshome B. , Gebre Samson G. , Dera Firehiwot A. , Sima Waktole G. , Negassi Tigist Y. , Maheder Rahel F. , Teklu Shiferaw , Awoke Kaleab , Feto Tatek K. , Tullu Kassu D.
Published: July 2019

Background:

Polluted rivers and hospital wastewater become a greater concern because of their public health and environmental hazards with high tendency to result in epidemics.

Methods and Materials:

The current study investigated 84 samples of Urban rivers and 30 samples of hospitals wastewaters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia between February and April, 2017. The simultaneous detection of male-specific and somatic Coliphages from the samples was carried out usingEscherichia coliCB390 as the host according to the single agar layer plaque assay at public health microbiology laboratory of Ethiopian Public Health Institute.

Results:

Of the total 114 samples tested, coliphages were detected in 44 (52.4%) and 3 (10%) samples of urban rivers and hospital waste waters, respect ively. Total coliphages enumerations ranged from <1pfu/100ml to 5.2×103pfu/100ml for urban rivers and <1pfu/100ml to 4.92×103pfu/100ml for hospitals wastewaters.

Conclusion:

The detection of total coliphages in our study settings warrants the possibility that the pollution of urban rivers and hospital wastewaters may be a source for pathogenic viral infections. Unless coliphages, viral and fecal indicators are also examined in the waters by public health agencies, waterborne infections cause a major risk to public health.
Agriculture Development, Employment Generation and Poverty Reduction in West Africa
Authors: Osabohien Romanus , Matthew Oluwatoyin , Gershon Obindah , Ogunbiyi Toun , Nwosu Ebere
Published: July 2019

Background:

The problem of poverty eradication has been limited to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region, which accounts for more than 40% of the world's poor population. The majority of these people are rural farmers who depend solely on agriculture for livelihood. Agriculture in West Africa remains the largest means of employment in which more than 60% of the sub-region’s active labour force is involved.

Objective:

This study examined the potentials of agriculture to generate employment for the people, thereby reducing the level of poverty in West Africa.

Methods:

The Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) econometric technique was employed in this study for the panel data covering the period of 17 years (2000 to 2016).

Results:

Results from the study showed that agriculture provides the opportunity for the poor to increase their earnings to escape the poverty trap, whether the poor can seize these agricultural opportunities depends on their human capital development.

Conclusion:

The study, therefore, concluded that effective policies (e.g. social protection) should be formulated in the agricultural development plans that will prioritize sustainable land and water management, access to markets, and the food security. To achieve this, the use of modern methods should be encouraged through farm incentives to boost agricultural production and increase farmer’s income which is earned through the sale of agricultural commodities, and thus; in the long run, increase the revenue accruing to the government and reduce the rate of poverty.
FractWhale-DSR: Fractional Whale Optimization Based Secure Dynamic Source Routing Algorithm for Mobile Ad-hoc Network
Authors: Suma Putra , Hussain Mohammed Ali
Published: July 2019

Background:

Nodes in the mobile Ad-hoc network (MANET) have the dynamic nature
due to their vast separation distance. The dynamic nature of the MANET nodes changes the routing
path established for the communication. The dynamic secured routing (DSR) has gained popularity
since they provide the routing path based on the demand provided by the source and destination
nodes. Various literature works have discussed the DSR strategy for routing path establishment, but
faces challenges since it consumes high energy during the route discovery phase.

Objective:

To overcome the challenges in the existing works, a DSR strategy based on the Fractional
Whale optimization algorithm (FWOA) is introduced in this work.

Methods:

The proposed algorithm uses the C 2 TE based selection criteria which depend on the
connectivity, congestion, trust, and energy for selecting the suitable nodes for the communication.
The proposed FractWhale-DSR algorithm finds the secured routing path in three phases.

Results:

The parameters, such as throughput, delay, Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR), and the energy
define the performance of the proposed model. From the simulation results, the proposed FractWhale-
DSR algorithm has an overall better performance with the values of 0.57265, 0.005118,
0.786325, and 75.88636% for throughput, delay, PDR, and energy respectively at the round of 25
for the MANET with 100 nodes.

Conclusion:

The proposed DSR strategy has the advantage of adaptability and scalability. Also, the
router selects the alternate paths, when there is a link failure in the current network.
The Kernel Rough K-Means Algorithm
Authors: Meng Wang , Hongyan Dui , Shiyuan Zhou , Zhankui Dong , Zige Wu
Published: July 2019

Background:

Clustering is one of the most important data mining methods. The k-means
(c-means ) and its derivative methods are the hotspot in the field of clustering research in recent
years. The clustering method can be divided into two categories according to the uncertainty, which
are hard clustering and soft clustering. The Hard C-Means clustering (HCM) belongs to hard clustering
while the Fuzzy C-Means clustering (FCM) belongs to soft clustering in the field of k-means
clustering research respectively. The linearly separable problem is a big challenge to clustering and
classification algorithm and further improvement is required in big data era.

Objective:

RKM algorithm based on fuzzy roughness is also a hot topic in current research. The
rough set theory and the fuzzy theory are powerful tools for depicting uncertainty, which are the
same in essence. Therefore, RKM can be kernelized by the mean of KFCM. In this paper, we put
forward a Kernel Rough K-Means algorithm (KRKM) for RKM to solve nonlinear problem for
RKM. KRKM expanded the ability of processing complex data of RKM and solve the problem of
the soft clustering uncertainty.

Methods:

This paper proposed the process of the Kernel Rough K-Means algorithm (KRKM). Then
the clustering accuracy was contrasted by utilizing the data sets from UCI repository. The experiment
results shown the KRKM with improved clustering accuracy, comparing with the RKM algorithm.

Results:

The classification precision of KFCM and KRKM were improved. For the classification
precision, KRKM was slightly higher than KFCM, indicating that KRKM was also an attractive alternative
clustering algorithm and had good clustering effect when dealing with nonlinear clustering.

Conclusion:

Through the comparison with the precision of KFCM algorithm, it was found that
KRKM had slight advantages in clustering accuracy. KRKM was one of the effective clustering algorithms
that can be selected in nonlinear clustering.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF STRUCTURAL HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEMS
Authors: Emelianov M. V.
Published: July 2019

Objectives. The aim of the study is to develop information technology design systems for monitoring load-bearing structures of buildings and structures of a higher category of responsibility based on the initial data on the construction object and the results of engineering surveys.

Method. The article discusses the approach to the formalization of the description of the procedure for developing projects for monitoring buildings and structures, based on the design features of the SMC building structures, the engineering experience of designing these systems.

Result. The article presents the conceptual foundations of the developed information technology, the algorithm for determining the monitoring mode based on information about the construction object, the algorithm for the macro to determine the most loaded nodes and elements in the complex finite element modeling. Recommendations are given for determining the control parameters, the composition of the measuring equipment.

Conclusion. The conceptual foundations of information technology developed in the course of the research allow for the further development of algorithms and programs for the automated analysis of information about the object and the construction site in order to obtain the automatic mode of the results necessary for developing monitoring systems for buildings and structures of a higher category of responsibility.
UNIVERSAL INFORMATION BLOCKS AS PART OF THE DATABASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM OF THE OPERATIONAL DUTY SHIFT OF THE СONTROL СENTER IN CRISIS SITUATIONS
Authors: Popov A. L.
Published: July 2019

Objectives. The aim of the study is to develop a set of interconnected information blocks for the formation, subsequent processing and application of data in the preparation of reporting and functional documents.

Method. The choice of regularly used templates as a basis for the development of information blocks. Based on the structure and forms of the selected templates, software modules for information block interfaces have been developed.

Result. Based on the results of identifying and analyzing problematic issues in the activities of the operational duty shift for the automation and intellectualization of the activities of specialists, the idea of developing and using universal information blocks as part of a database management system for automated workplaces was proposed. Interfaces of information blocks are included in the composition of each workstation and provide for the processes of: entering, changing, searching and filtering data; Previewing, printing and saving documents. In the development of algorithms, original software solutions were applied: combining data prepared by several specialists, generating document details, transferring information between different workstations, monitoring the availability of documents, accessing the necessary reference information.

Conclusion. The introduction of the developed information blocks: “Schedule of SLM duty”, “Requisites”, “Journal of Carriage of Duty”, “Control”, “Reference book” into the complex of automated workplaces of operational duty shift in the Crisis Management Center allows you to refuse as a result of automation from manual filling of text templates and, as a result, reduce labor intensity, increase resource and improve the quality of preparation of operational reporting documents in the event of accidents, emergencies, fires and functions national documents in the mode of daily activities in accordance with the regulatory, job and functional duties of specialists.
WIND ENERGY IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PENOSTEKL AND KERAMZIT
Authors: Kokoev M. N. , Fedorov V. T. , Hadgishalapov G. N.
Published: July 2019

Objectives. Foamglass and expanded clay are absolutely fireproof, reliable and environmentally friendly heat insulators. But in the cost of their production, energy costs reach 40 ... 60%.

Method. A part of the thermal energy required for the production of building materials was proposed to be developed by a wind power station (WPP).

Result. A heating plant with a Darya turbine capable of operating in severe climatic conditions has been developed. The bearing part of the wind power installation consists of three simple masts, working mainly in compression. The masts are symmetrically placed relative to the center of the wind farm. The design feature is that the vertical shaft with the turbine is suspended at the top of the swivel at the point where the three almost horizontal cables meet. The free ends of the ropes pass through the blocks on the tops of the masts and are secured with anchors at ground level. Therefore, the shaft works mainly in tension and torsion and is well opposed to transverse vibrations. A simple generator without equipment for voltage and frequency regulation operates at WPPs, as for electric heaters of furnaces to which the generator current is supplied, power conditioning is not required. With a decrease in wind speed and a drop in HPP power, the automation supplies more fuel to the burners to maintain the temperature according to the regulations.

Conclusion. Thus, the WPP capacity fills a part of the required heat output of the furnaces, and the missing part of the heat output is compensated by burning gas or fuel oil. If the WPP is located near the enterprise, then electricity is supplied to the consumer without transformers. It is cheaper to lay cables of a larger section than to complete a wind farm with two power transformers.