bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Source Tracking of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae Outbreaks in Neonatal Patients Revealed Rivers Contaminated with NDM Genes
Authors: Wang Jianshjeng , Yin Changfu , Lv Yuanpeng , Yang Weiwei , Zhao Peng
Published: July 2021

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) prevalence in neonatal patients continues to rise in china. However, very few epidemiological data are available to uncover the underlying mechanisms for the increase. This study aimed to elucidate their transmission modes and explore potential sources. Methods: The genotypic features of CRE isolates were analyzed by PCR and sequencing. The elucidation of transmission and sources involved in electronic medical record review, environmental cultures, screening cultures, and prospective case-control analysis. The transferability of carbapenem-resistant genes was performed by Conjugation experiments.Results: A total of 450 CRE isolates recovered from 369 infant patients were genotypically characterised. Carbapenemase genes NDM-1, KPC-2 and IMP-4 accounted for 86.22% (n = 388), 8.89% (n = 40) and 4.44% (n = 20), respectively. After implementation of intensified control measures, CRE rectal prevalence rates in both the 0-3 days and the 4-28 days age group were decreased from 15.53% (100/644) and 27.37% (52/190) to 11.78% (51/433) and 19.59% (19/97) (P = 0.082 and P = 0.148), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that gastric lavage (odds ratio [OR]) 3.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.49–6.39) and enema (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.65–4.91) were independent risk factors for rectal colonisation in the 0-3 days age group, whereas Cephalosporins (OR 2.12, 95% CI 1.14–3.94), gastric lavage (OR 3.44, 95% CI 1.44–8.22) and residence in rural area (OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.19–4.13) were independently associated with rectal colonization in the 4-28 days age group. The transmission tracking of neonatal NDM-1 strains outbreaks revealed rivers contaminated with NDM genes. Most isolates with NDM genes could be successfully transferred.Conclusion: Continued vigilance for importations should be maintained to reduce CRE threat.
An Integrated Routing Mechanism on Homogenous Wireless Sensor Networks using Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Danehchin Ramin
Published: July 2021

Data collection on Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is a significant challenge to satisfy the requirements of various applications. Providing an energy-efficient routing technique is the primary step in data collection over WSNs. The existing data collection techniques in the WSNs field struggle with the imbalance load distribution and the short lifetime of the network. This paper proposes a novel mechanism to select cluster-heads, cluster the wireless sensor nodes, and determine the optimal route from source nodes to the sink. We employ the genetic algorithm to solve the routing problem considering the hop-count of the cluster-heads to the sink, the number of each cluster member, residual energy of cluster-heads, and the number of cluster-heads connected to the sink as the fitness criteria. Our proposed mechanism uses a greedy approach to calculate the hop-count of each cluster-head to the sink for integrating the clustering and routing process on WSNs. The simulation results demonstrate that our proposed mechanism improves the energy consumption, the number of live nodes, and the lifetime of the network compared to other data collection approaches on WSNs.
Physiological And Proteomic Analyses Reveals That Brassinosteroids Application Improves The Chilling Stress Tolerance of Pepper Seedlings
Authors: Li Jie , Sohail Hamza , Nawaz Muhammad Azher , Liu Chaowei , Yang Ping
Published: July 2021

Brassinosteroids (BRs) are important in plant resistance to chilling stress. However, limited information is available regarding the specific mechanisms involved at proteomic level. We utilized iTRAQ proteomic approach, physiological assays and information obtained from cellular ultrastructure to clarify the underlying molecular mechanism of BRs to alleviate chilling stress in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.). Foliar application of 24-epibrassinolide (EBR) improved photosynthesis and improved cell structure by presenting a distinct mesophyll cell and chloroplast with well-developed thylakoid membranes in the leaves of pepper seedlings. We identified 346 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 217 up-regulated proteins and 129 down-regulated proteins in plants under chilling (Chill) and Chill + EBR treated plants. Most of the DEPs were related to multiple pathways, including photosynthesis, carbohydrates metabolism, energy metabolism, protein biosynthesis, amino acids synthesis, redox and stress defence (ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase). Up-regulated DEPs were associated with photosynthetic electron transfer chain, oxidative phosphorylation, GSH metabolism pathway, Calvin cycle and signaling pathway. The physiochemical analysis showed that EBR treatment improved the tolerance of pepper seedlings to chilling stress.
Presurgical fMRI Affecting the Extent of Resection and Outcome of the Supratentorial Gliomas; a Single-center Experience From a Developing Country
Authors: Mortazavi Abolghasem , Azad Mohammad Ali Suraki , Amirjamshidi Abbas , Shirani Mohammad , Ketabchi Seyed Ebrahim , Yarandi Kourosh Karimi , Pour-Rashidi Ahmad
Published: July 2021

BackgroundFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is one of the available non-invasive imaging to map the different brain areas, which has been used during the current years. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of fMRI on decision-making, the extent of resection, and the outcome of the patients with supratentorial gliomas.MethodsThis prospective study conducted from 2014 through 2017 to investigate how presurgical fMRI can help the neurosurgeon during glioma surgery. Baseline demographic and clinical data were collected, and standard fMRI protocol was used for each patient.Results Forty-one patients with supratentorial gliomas met inclusion criteria, including 29 males and 12 females ranging in age from 21 to 72. Our results showed a significant association between eloquent areas tumor and the EOR. Eight out of 41 (19.5%) experienced higher EOR than what the neurosurgeon expected after adjusting the fMRI findings with the intraoperative situation. Among these patients, postoperative KPS and motor indices reflected dropped levels accompanied by an instant language index level in the short-term period, whereas all indices improved after long-term follow-up. There was a significant association between increasing EOR and all indices in the 1-year follow-up.ConclusionsIn conclusion, we postulate that preoperative fMRI should be considered preoperatively, especially in the eloquent areas gliomas disregarding tumor grade. Moreover, it can lead to a positive outcome in supratentorial gliomas via giving useful data about the relation of the tumor and vital centers of the brain, although it may result in an unfavorable short-term outcome.
CircTP63 Promotes Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Regulating EZH2 via Sponging miR-217 in Gallbladder Cancer
Authors: Wang Shouhua , Tong Huanjun , Su Tingting , Zhou Di , Shi Weibin , Tang Zhaohui , Quan Zhiwei
Published: July 2021

Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is the most common biliary tract malignancy and has a poor prognosis in patients with GBC. CircRNA TP63 (circTP63) has been implicated in some tumor proliferation and invasion in some tumors. The study aims to investigate the clinical significance and functional role of circTP63 in GBC.Methods: The expression of circTP63 in GBC was detected by qRT-PCR and the association between circTP63 expression and prognosis of GBC patients was analyzed. CCK8 assay, flow cytometry analysis, transwell assay and in vivo studies were used to evaluated the cell proliferation and invasion after circTP63 knockdown in GBC cells. Luciferase reporter assays and RNA pull-down assay were used to determine the correlation between circTP63 and miR-217. Besides, western blot analysis was also performed.Results: In the present study, we showed that circTP63 expression was upregulated in GBC tissues and cells. Higher circTP63 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis and short overall survival (OS) in patients with GBC. In vitro, knockdown of circTP63 inhibited cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and invasion in GBC. Besides, we demonstrated that knockdown of circTP63 inhibited GBC cell EMT process. In vivo, knockdown of circTP63 inhibited tumor growth in GBC. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that circTP63 competitively bind to miR-217 and promoted EZH2 expression and finally facilitated tumor progression.Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that circTP63 sponge miR-217 and regulated EZH2 expression and finally facilitates tumor progression. Thus, targeting circTP63 may be a therapeutic strategy for the treatment of GBC.
Decreased Cases of Pediatric Intussusception During COVID-19
Authors: Park Jun Sung , Byun Young-Hoon , Choi Seung Jun , Lee Jong Seung , Ryu Jeong-Min , Lee Jeong-Yong
Published: July 2021

Objectives: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) changed the epidemiology of various diseases. The present study retrospectively investigated the epidemiologic and clinical changes of intussusception from before to after the COVID-19 outbreak, when communicable diseases other than COVID-19 have dramatically decreased due to social lockdown.Methods: The incidence of intussusception and the total monthly visits, including communicable and non-communicable diseases, aged ≤7 years, were investigated from February 2019 to January 2021 in a single pediatric emergency department of a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. The relationship between the incidence of communicable disease and intussusception was analyzed. The clinical characteristics of patients with intussusception were compared for the one-year periods before (February 2019–January 2020) and after (February 2020–January 2021) social lockdown due to COVID-19.Results: Incidence of communicable disease, non-communicable disease, and intussusception is decreased after COVID-19 outbreak (15,932 to 3,880 [24.4%], 12,994 to 8,050 [62.0%], and 87 to 27 [31.0%], respectively). The incidence of intussusception correlated significantly with the change in incidence of communicable diseases (Poisson log-linear regression, Odds ratio=2.15, 95% CI=1.08–4.26, P=0.029). Compared with non-pandemic period, patients of pandemic period showed higher proportions of pathologic leading point and hospitalization (14.8% vs. 2.3%, 18.5% vs. 4.6%, respectively), lower base excess (-4.8 mmol/L vs. -3.6 mmol/L), and higher lactate concentration (1.7 mmol/L vs. 1.5 mmol/L).Conclusions: The incidence of pediatric intussusception decreased after the COVID-19 pandemic. This reduced incidence may be related to the reduced incidence of communicable diseases. However, the proportions of more severe disease and PLPs were higher after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multifocal Electroretinogram Changes after Vitrectomy in Patients with Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Elsalhy Fathy , Khalil Hisham Fawzy , Ibrahim Mohamed Mohamed-Aly
Published: July 2021

Purpose: was to assess the results of vitrectomy with and without internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on retinal function and anatomy in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME). Methods: Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was done in 40 eyes of 40 patients with DME (15 male, 25 female). Patients were enrolled randomly into two different groups. Group A- comprised (20) eyes who underwent vitrectomy without ILM peeling. Group B- comprised (20) eyes who underwent vitrectomy with ILM peeling. For each patient, visual acuity (VA) examination (in decimal charts), assessment of central macular thickness (CMT) with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multifocal eletroretinogram (MF-ERG) were done before and 3 months post vitrectomy. Results: Postoperative mean VA increased significantly (from 0.17 to 0.27 in group A and from 0.21 to 0.38 in group B). Mean CMT decreased significantly after surgery (from 493 μm to 315 μm in group A and from 502 μm to 299 μm in group B). Mean P1 wave amplitude (nV/ deg2) in the macular area increased after surgery (from 32.15 to 41.10 in group A and from 35.5 to 40.8 in group B). Mean P1 wave latency (millisecond) in the macular area decreased after surgery (from 50.30 to 36.40 in group A and from 49.5 to 39.2 in group B).Conclusion: Vitrectomy with and without ILM peeling improve VA and macular edema in diabetic patients moreover an increase of amplitude and reduction of the latency of the macular mf-ERGs indicated an improvement of the macular visual function.
Assessment of Neonicotinoid Insecticide Imidacloprid LC50 And Their Toxicity Parameters Against Earthworm (Eisenia Fetida)
Authors: Gill Parveen , Rao Sudhakara , Gupta Rajender , Singh Dharambir , Dahiya Tejpal , Lather Deepika , Kumar Naresh
Published: July 2021

Because of their high biomass in the soil, earthworms are used as bio-indicator species for assessing soil toxicity against pesticides. The regular observed sensitivity to relatively low pesticide concentrations exits in soils is a significant ecological observation. Insecticide residues harm the flora of beneficial invertebrates and harm the physiological functions of earthworms, resulting in death. They affect morphological parameters as well as internal organs, and eight different imidacloprid concentrations (0.050 µl/cm2, 0.100 µl/cm2, 0.150 µl/cm2, 0.200 µl/cm2, 0.250 µl/cm2, 0.300 µl/cm2, 0.350 µl/cm2, 0.400 µl/cm2) were prepared with water during the procedure. To establish the LC50 value, earthworms of Eisenia fetida were exposed to various concentrations of imidacloprid using the usual paper contact toxicity method, and their toxicity levels are established. The mortality percentage was estimated after 24 hours of imidacloprid exposure, and a dosage of 0.195 µl/cm2 resulted in 50% mortality of earthworms. When higher concentrations of imidacloprid were used, negative effects were observed. For ecotoxicological evaluations, the following morphological and behavioural changes were observed during the experiment: Preclittelar bulging, body constriction, blackening of the body, segment swelling, oozing of coelomic fluid, body constriction, cuticle rupture, and oozing of fluid from the body are all common side effects.
Awareness on Risk Factor for Obstetric Fistula and Associated Factors Among Reproductive Age Women in South Eastern Zone of Tigray,Ethiopia,2020.Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Teklay Berhane Asfaha , Gebru Haftu Berhe , Belay Desta Siyoum , Gebremeskel Teferi Gebru
Published: July 2021

Background: Worldwide, around one million girls and women are currently living with fistula. Less than 20,000 women with obstetric fistula are treated each year. Lack of awareness is a frequently mentioned barrier to seeking fistula treatment; many women suffering from obstetric fistula do not know what fistula is, as it is treatable, or where to get treatment. Even though obstetric fistula has likely weighed down women since the beginning of time, few researches proportionally exists.Methods: A community based quantitative cross-sectional survey was undertaken in south eastern zone of Tigray. A multistage random sampling technique was implemented to select total participants of 605 reproductive age women. Two districts were randomly selected and from those districts, 12 kebels were selected randomly and the calculated sample size (605) was proportionally allocated to each selected kebeles. The data were collected by using face to face/interview with structured questionnaire from February 26-Murch 24/2020 after ensuring that all requirements of ethical considerations were fulfilled. The collected data were entered in to Epidata version 4.2 then exported to SPSS version20 for analysis. Descriptive statistics with frequency, percentage, table and graph and cross tabulation were used for presentation of result. Bivariable and multivariable analysis were used to examine the association. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval and P-value <0.05 were used to determine the statistical association.Results: Overall, about 42.15%, of respondents had good awareness on risk factors of obstetric fistula. The major determinant factors identified to awareness on risk factors of obstetric fistula were, level of education(above secondary) [AOR (95%CI=2.7(1.189-6.24)], having history of modern family planning use [AOR (95%CI=2.22(1.14-4.34)], institutional delivery (for the index child)[AOR (95%CI=2.3(1.1-4.99)] and prior information about obstetric fistula[AOR (95%CI=6.1(2.65-14.1)].Conclusion: In this study majority of reproductive age women in the study area had poor awareness regarding risk factors of obstetric fistula. Several interventions like health education and information should be implemented to enhance the awareness of the community towards risk factors for obstetric fistula.
Cut-Off Low Patterns and Its Simultaneous Precipitation Over Iran
Authors: Azizi Ghasem , Rezaei Hossein
Published: July 2021

Iran located in arid and semiarid area of the earth with low precipitation. Iran's rainfall is mainly received in the cold period of the year. Although the total annual precipitation is low but sometime, the country receives heavy rainfall. One of the conditions that lead to heavy rainfall is cut-off low patterns. Cut-off low-pressure systems are defined as closed lows in the upper troposphere that have become completely detached from the main westerly current. The characteristics of Cut-off Lows in Iran are studied for the period of 1976–2015. To identify these systems, the Raul Nieto algorithm was used with automatic detection capabilities. The systematic identification of Cut-off Lows is realized by applying an original automated scheme using mean daily geo-potential height, wind and air temperature at 500 hPa NCEP. Cut-off Lows are more frequent during spring in the Iran, with a maximum of frequency in March. Over the period of 1976–2015, the annual Cut-off Lows frequency exhibits a weak positive trend. In this study, the most cut-off lows lasted only 2 days. Simultaneous precipitation with cut-off low pressures was compared with annual precipitation of stations. Northwest of Iran has a larger share of Cut-off low precipitation. Different Cut-off Low patterns were identified under 6 separate patterns. The highest frequency of cut-off lows are the eastern arm of omega pattern.
Effect of Land Cover Change and Elevation on Decadal Trend of Land Surface Temperature: A Linear Model with Sum Contrast Analysis
Authors: Abdulmana Sahidan , Lim Apiradee , Wongsai Sangdao , Wongsai Noppachai
Published: July 2021

Land surface temperature (LST) is a significant factor in surface energy balance and global climatology studies. Land cover (LC) and elevation are two factors that affect the change of LST, and their effects depend on different geography. This study aims to demonstrate an alternative approach to examine the change of LST during 20 years (2001 to 2020) on Taiwan Island and to investigate the effect of LC change and elevation on a decadal trend of LST using a linear model that adjusting for each determinate factor. MODIS LST and LC data, as well as GMTED2010 elevation product, were downloaded available website. The natural cubic spline function was used to model annual seasonal patterns in LST. Linear regression model was used to estimate decadal change of long-term LST time series. Weighted sum contrasts linear regression was used to assess the effect of LC transformation and elevation on the decadal LST change by comparing adjusting mean of all factors. The adopted analysis method was an appropriate approach to assess categorical factors than those based on treatment contrasts, requiring specifying a control group to compare means and confidence intervals. Results showed that there was an increase in LST for most of the island. The average daytime and nighttime LST trends were 0.12 and 0.31°C/decade, respectively. However, areas in the southern part of the north-south direction mountain range show a statistically significant increase in LST in both daytime and nighttime. The major landslides caused this noticeable change of surface temperature due to the catastrophic damage of typhoon Morakot in 2009. The results also revealed that the different pattern of LC change has a significant effect on daytime LST, but not on nighttime LST trends. The elevation above 600 m had affected both daytime and nighttime LSTs.
The Construction And Analysis of ceRNA Network And Patterns of Immune Infiltration In Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Li Jinglong , Liu Wenyao , Dong Xiaocheng , Dai Yunfeng , Chen Shaoshen , Zhao Enliang , Liu Yunlong , Bao Hongguang
Published: July 2021

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common one of lung cancer. Competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) may be closely associated with tumor progression. However, studies on ceRNAs and immune cells in LUAD are scarce. Method: The profiles of gene expression and clinical data of LUAD patients were extracted from the TCGA database and separated into two categories: LUADs and adjacent normal tissues. Bioinformatics methods were used to evaluate differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and form a ceRNA network. Preliminary verification of clinical specimens was employed to detect the expressions of key biomarkers at the tissue level. Cox and Lasso regressions were used to screen the key genes and halt overfitting, upon which the prognosis prediction nomograms were formed. The interconnection between the risk score and immune components was evaluated using the CIBERSORT algorithm, while the conformation of notable tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) in the LUAD tissues of the high- and the low-risk group was assessed using the RNA transcript relative subgroup for identifying the tissue types. Finally, co-expression study was used to examine the interconnection between the key genes in the ceRNA networks and the immune cells.Result: A ceRNA network of 115 RNAs was established, and nine key genes were screened to construct a Cox proportional-hazard model for making a prognostic nomogram. This risk-assessment model might serve as an unconstrained factor to forecast the prognosis of LUAD, and it was consistent with the preliminary verification of clinical specimens. The CIBERSORT algorithm was used to screen four highly expressed LUAD-related immune infiltrating cells, identifying five immune cells with significant differences in the LUAD tissues of the high- and low-risk groups. Besides, two pairs of biomarkers associated with the growth of LUAD were found, i.e., E2F7 and macrophage M1 (R = 0.419, p = 1.4e-08) and DBF4 and macrophage M1 (R = 0.282, p < 2.2 e-16); they appeared to be co-expressed.Conclusion: This study identified several important ceRNAs (E2F7 and BNF4) and TIICs (macrophage M1), which might be related to the development and prognosis of LUAD. The established risk-assessment model might help better clinical management.
The Road Map From Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Deep Learning Techniques Towards Image Captioning System.
Authors: S. revathi B. , Kowshalya A. Meena
Published: July 2021

Image Captioning is the process of generating textual descriptions of an image. These descriptions need to be syntactically and semantically correct. Image Captioning has potential advantages in many applications like image indexing techniques, devices for visually impaired persons, social media and several other natural language processing applications. Image Captioning is a popular research area where numerous scopes for new findings exist in preparation of datasets, generating language models, developing the models and evaluating the same. This paper extensively surveys very early literature that includes the advent of Artificial Intelligence, the Machine Learning pathway, the photography era, the early Deep Learning and the current Deep Learning methodology for image Captioning. This survey will definitely help novice researchers to understand the roadmap to current techniques.
An Informationally Complete Wigner Function For The Tavis-Cummings Model: Visualization of Cat Swapping and Quantum Correlations in Field-Many Atom Systems
Authors: Rundle Russell , Everitt Mark J
Published: July 2021

Here we consider an informationally complete Wigner function approach to look at multiple atoms (qubits) coupled to a field mode. We consider the Tavis-Cummings interaction between a single field mode with two qubits and then with five
Genome-scale top-down reduction of phages to generate viable minimal phage genomes
Authors: Yuan Shengjian , Shi Juan , Jiang Jianrong , Ma Yingfei
Published: July 2021

Reduction of tailed-phage genomes to generate viable minimal genome phages is important for expanding our understanding of phage biology, providing insights for phage synthetic biology. Many efforts have been made to minimize living cells, but such work remains a challenge for phages due to the extraordinary genomic diversity and lack of genome-scale editing techniques. Here, we developed a CRISPR/Cas9-based iterative phage genome reduction (CiPGr) approach to detect the nonessential gene set of phages and minimize phage genomes. By CiPGr, inactivated genes accumulated on the phage genome, and mutant progeny with robust growth gradually arose, eventually becoming predominant in the populations. CiPGr was applied to four distinct tailed phages (model phages T7 and T4; wild-type phages seszw and selz), resulting in mutants of these phages with deletion of 8–20% (3.3–33 kbp) sequences, and leading to minimal genomes. Metagenomic sequencing of the mutant phage populations generated showed that 46.7 to 65.4% of genes of these phages were removed. Loss of some genes (39.6%-50%) in the removable gene sets was likely severely detrimental to phage growth. This made the corresponding mutant progenies recede in the populations, leading to the failure of detection of these genes in the genomes of the isolated mutants. In summary, our results for these four distinct tailed phages demonstrated that CiPGr is a generic yet effective approach suitable for use in novel phages without prior knowledge.
Meander And Koch Hybrid Fractal Curve Based Dual Hexagonal Radiating Patch Antenna For Quad Band Wireless Applications
Authors: Sivia Jagtar Singh , Bhatia Sumeet Singh
Published: July 2021

A unique dual hexagonal-shaped radiating patch design with hybrid fractal curves (Meander and Koch) is presented for quad-band wireless applications. Initially, the antenna from 0th to 2nd iteration of hybrid fractal curves with PGP (Partial Ground Plane) is designed and investigated. Further, to get better results of the designed antenna in respect of Bandwidth (BW) and coefficient of reflection these hybrid curves are superimposed on the limited ground plane of 1st and 2nd iteration of the antenna, and the generated antennas are designated as Antenna – 1 and Antenna – 2. A comparison between both the antennas has been made and it is observed that antenna -2 shows better results in respect of improved BW and coefficient of reflection. The proposed antenna exhibits four resonant frequency bands 1.6, 4.8, 6.9, and 8.8GHz with improved corresponding impedance BW of 2.09, 1.36, 0.86, and 1.51GHz. The designed antenna is simulated and made on FR4 glass epoxy substrate with an overall size of 20×40×1.6 mm3. The fabricated proposed antenna is tested experimentally for the authentication of simulated results with experimental results and these are compatible with each other. The other performance indicators like radiation pattern, peak realized gain, and radiation efficiency are also determined for the proposed Hybrid Fractal Antenna (HFA) and all are found satisfactory. Due to the improved operational parameters, the designed HFA can be considered as a suitable applicant for distinct wireless applications in anticipated operational frequency ranges.
Potential Implications of Future Climate Change And Extremes On Health, Agriculture, Water, And Cryosphere Sectors In The Kabul River Basin
Authors: Khatiwada Kabi Raj , Pradhananga Saurav , Nepal Santosh
Published: July 2021

Increasing temperature and variability in precipitation are affecting different sectors in the Himalayan region. This study aims to quantify the future scenario and related extreme indices in the Kabul River Basin of the western Himalaya using high-resolution climate data sets. We selected the representative global climate model simulations for RCP4.5 and 8.5, based on their abilities to represent the historical climate cycle. By using a three-step methodology, we selected four models for RCP4.5 and four for RCP8.5. The analysis shows that, overall, precipitation will increase by 4 and 12 per cent for RCP4.5 and 8.5 respectively by the end of the 21st century, and the seasonal analysis shows decreasing pattern during the winter and pre-monsoon seasons. However, temperatures will increase consistently by 3OC to 5OC in RCP4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. The extreme indices were calculated based on the selected models. The extremes, like consecutive summer days, warm days, and heatwave will increase, whereas the frost days, cold nights, and cold waves will decrease towards the end of this century. Notably, more warm days and heatwaves than the baseline period are projected in future scenarios. Besides, the extremes are not homogenous in time and space. We also discussed the potential implications of these climatic extremes as related to human health, agricultural productivity, water availability, and the cryosphere. We strongly urge prompt climate actions in order to increase the adaptive capacity against these extreme changes and to build a resilient livelihood in the Kabul River Basin.
Experience of Women with High-Risk Pregnancy Regarding Receiving Prenatal Care in COVID-19 Pandemic: a Qualitative Content Analysis
Authors: Mirzakhani kobra , Shorab Nahid Jahani , Akbari Azam , Khadivzadeh Talaat
Published: July 2021

Background: As a global health threat, the COVID-19 pandemic has a significant impact on maternity care reception in mothers with high-risk pregnancies. Women with high-risk pregnancies are among the most vulnerable groups that require additional precautionary measures against the spread of Covid-19 plus receiving prenatal care. Due to limited information on the status of prenatal care in women with high-risk pregnancies, a qualitative study was conducted to explore the perceptions and experiences of women with high-risk pregnancy regarding receiving prenatal care reception during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The present qualitative study was conducted on mothers with high-risk pregnancies from September 2020 to March 2021. Purposeful sampling continued until achieving data saturation. Ghaem, Ommolbanin, and Imam Reza (AS) government and educational hospitals in Mashhad served as the research environment. Face-to-face and semi-structured interviews were effective data collection methods. Each interview lasted between 20 to 45 minutes (on average 30). The total number of participants was 31. Data analysis was carried out simultaneously with data collection using the qualitative content analysis method developed by Granheim and Landman (2004).Results: Following data analysis and reduction, eight subcategories and three main categories were identified. These included “Negative psychological responses,” “Thinking-based behavior against double danger,” and” Adjustment of health services in the mutual protection”.Conclusion: Receiving prenatal care in women with high-risk pregnancies is associated with challenges in women in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This causes negative psychological responses and affects their health-seeking behaviors. Preventive and supportive care can lead to optimum prenatal care for women with high-risk pregnancies focusing on COVID-19 prevention and minimizing pregnancy risk and complications.
Climate mitigation averts corrosive acidification in the upper ocean
Authors: Schlunegger Sarah , Rodgers Keith , Hales Burke , Dunne John , Ishii Masao , Yamaguchi Ryohei , Slater Richard
Published: July 2021

The invasion of anthropogenic carbon into the global ocean poses an existential threat to calcifying marine organisms1–4. Observations indicate that conditions corrosive to aragonite shells, unprecedented in the surface ocean, are already occurring in mesoscale upwelling features of the North Pacific2,5,6 and Southern Ocean7, and modeling experiments indicate that large volumes of the global ocean8 including the polar ocean’s surface might become corrosive to aragonite by 20304,9–13. Such changes are expected to compress important marine habitats, but the pathways by which habitat compression manifests over global scales, and their sensitivity to mitigation, remain unexplored. Using a suite of large ensemble projections from an Earth system model14,15, we assess the effectiveness of climate mitigation for averting habitat loss at the ecologically-critical horizon of the base of the ocean’s euphotic zone. We find that without mitigation, 40-42% of this sensitive horizon experiences conditions corrosive to aragonite by 2100, with moderate mitigation this reduces to 16-19%, and with aggressive mitigation to 6-7%. Mitigation has a stronger effect on the eastern relative to western domains of the northern extratropical ocean with some of the greatest benefits in the ocean’s most productive Large Marine Ecosystems, including the California Current and Gulf of Alaska. This work reveals the significant impact that mitigation efforts compatible with the Paris Agreement target of 1.5°C could have upon preserving marine habitats that are vulnerable to ocean acidification.
Single-shot ranging and velocimetry far beyond the coherence length of CW lasers
Authors: Bayer Mustafa , Li Xun , Guentchev George , Torun Rasul , Velazco Jose E. , boyraz Ozdal
Published: July 2021

The spectral linewidth of the continuous-wave (CW) lasers is one of the key limitations on the coherent lidar systems, which defines the maximum detection range. Furthermore, precise phase or frequency sweeping requirements is a deterrent in many applications. Here, we present the Phase-Based Multi-Tone Continuous Wave (PB-MTCW) lidar measurement technique that eliminates the necessity of using high coherence laser sources as well as any form of phase or frequency sweeping while employing coherent detection. In particular, we modulate a CW laser source with multiple radio-frequency (RF) tones to generate optical sidebands. Then we utilize the relative phase variations between the sidebands that are free from laser phase noises to calculate the target distance via post-processing and triangulation algorithms. We prove that the PB-MTCW technique is capable of performing single-shot ranging and velocimetry measurements at more than 500× the coherence length of a CW laser in a benchtop experimental demonstration.
Association of Depression with Sperm Quality: a Multicentre Cross-Sectional Study in China During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Wang Yongfeng , Zhang Yuan , Yang Yunyi , Tu Lihui , Yang Jigao , Zhang Zhou , Meng Tianqing , Jiang Xianglong , Zhu Wenbing , Li Yushan , Zhang Huiping , Zhao Kai , Zhang Xinzong , Liu Chunyan
Published: July 2021

Background: Depression is a potential factor affecting semen quality. However, the relationship between depression and semen quality remains to be fully elucidated. We investigated the association between depression and semen quality in men during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Cross‐sectional, participants completed a questionnaire assessing lifestyle factors the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to evaluate the psychological depression status of subjects. Semen quality assessment implements the requirements of the fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO )manual ,multivariable logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted to assess the associations between depression and semen quality.Results: Of the 896 participants, 173 were depressed (19.30%). A Linear regression model was fitted to assess the strength and significant level of the association between depressive symptoms and semen quality. After adjusting for potential confounders, depression was significantly associated with 9.27 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.39, 15.15), 0.57(95% CI 0.27, 0.87), 62.20 (95% CI 32.93, 91.48), and 12.96 (95% CI 10.55, 15.37) reduction in sperm concentration, sperm volume, total sperm count, and progressive motility, respectively. Which are consistent with the logistic regression analysis results. The semen concentration and total sperm count were linearly correlated with depression scores, whereas the semen volume and progressive motility of sperm were nonlinearly correlated with depression scores.Conclusions: Depression were associated with lower levels of semen concentration, semen volume, total sperm count, and progressive motility, which could affect male reproductive health.
Driving chemical reactions with polariton condensates
Authors: Pannir-Sivajothi Sindhana , Campos-Gonzalez-Angulo Jorge , Martínez-Martínez Luis , Sinha Shubham , Yuen-Zhou Joel
Published: July 2021

When molecular transitions strongly couple to photon modes, they form hybrid light-matter modes called polaritons. Collective vibrational strong coupling is a promising avenue for control of chemistry, but this can be deterred by the large number of quasi-degenerate dark modes. The macroscopic occupation of a single polariton mode by excitations, as observed in Bose-Einstein condensation, offers promise for overcoming this issue. Here we theoretically investigate the effect of vibrational polariton condensation on the kinetics of electron transfer processes. Compared with excitation with infrared laser sources, the condensate changes the reaction yield significantly due to additional channels with reduced activation barriers resulting from the large accumulation of energy in the lower polariton, and the many modes available for energy redistribution during the reaction. Our results offer tantalizing opportunities to use condensates for driving chemical reactions, kinetically bypassing usual constraints of fast intramolecular vibrational redistribution in condensed phase.
Multi-Objective Optimized Immune Algorithm For Computing Offloading Problem In Edge Computing Scenes of Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Si-feng Zhu , Jiang-hao Cai , En-lin Sun , Qing-hua Zhang
Published: July 2021

With the development of 5G technology, the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has also received worldwide attention. IoV edge computing achieves the goal of low latency by offloading tasks to the Mobile Edge Computing Server (MECS). However, it is still a challenge to reduce the computing delay of mobile terminal devices while ensuring the low energy consumption and load balancing of servers. In order to solve this problem, the system model, delay model, load balancing model, energy consumption model and objective optimization model are established in this paper. A computational unloading scheme based on multi-objective immune optimization algorithm is proposed. Finally, this scheme is compared with the reference scheme and the literature scheme. Simulation experiments show that the proposed scheme can effectively reduce the average unload delay of users, optimize the workload between servers, and effectively reduce energy consumption. Its performance is better than the schemes in the literature.
A Public Health Value-Based Healthcare Paradigm for HIV
Authors: Vermeersch Sebastian , Demeester Rémy P. , Ausselet Nathalie , Callens Steven , De Munter Paul , Florence Eric , Goffard Jean-Christophe , Henrard Sophie , Lacor Patrick , Messiaen Peter , Libois Agnès , Seyler Lucie , Uurlings Françoise , Vandecasteele Stefaan J. , Wijngaerden Eric Van , Yombi Jean-Cyr , Annemans Lieven , De Wit Stéphane
Published: July 2021

Background: HIV patients face considerable acute and chronic healthcare needs and battling the HIV epidemic remains of the utmost importance. By focusing on health outcomes in relation to the cost of care, value-based healthcare (VBHC) proposes a strategy to optimize quality of care and cost-efficiency. Its implementation may provide an answer to the increasing pressure to optimize spending in healthcare while improving patient outcomes. This paper describes a pragmatic value-based healthcare framework for HIV care. Methods: A value-based HIV healthcare framework was developed during a series of roundtable discussions bringing together clinical stakeholder representatives from the Belgian HIV reference centers and VBHC specialists. Each round of discussions was focused on a central question translating a concept or idea to the next level of practical implementation: 1) how can VBHC principles be translated into value-based HIV care drivers; 2) how can these value-based HIV care divers be translated into value-based care objectives and activities; and 3) how can value-based HIV care objectives and activities be translated into value-based care indicators. Value drivers were linked to concrete objectives and activities using a logical framework approach. Finally, specific, measurable, and acceptable structure, process and outcomes indicators were defined to complement the framework.Results: Our framework identifies 10 core value drivers focusing on 4 key areas where HIV care benefits most from improvements: Prevention, improvement of the cascade of care, providing patient-centered HIV care and sustaining a state-of-the-art HIV disease management context. Value drivers are further developed into objectives and activities. For each level of the framework (drivers, objectives and activities), process and outcome-based indicators are suggested.Conclusions: This framework approach outlines how to define a patient- and public health centered value-based HIV care paradigm. . It proposes how to translate core value drivers to practical objectives and activities and suggests defining indicators that can be used to track and improve the framework’s implementation in practice.
Potentiality of caro’s acid in leaching of uranium and radioactive measurements from Abu-Rusheid mylonitic gneiss rocks, South Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Nagar M S , morsy W M , Bayoumi M B , Shalan A S
Published: July 2021

Abu Rusheid area is located at the Southern Eastern Desert of Egypt and composed of Mylonitic gneiss rocks (mineralized rock), Serpentinite rocks, Ophiolitic metagabbro, Ophiolitic mélange, Monzogranites, post- granitic dykes (lamprophyre and dolerite), veins and recent alluvial deposits. This paper is concerned with the study of potentiality of sulphuric and caro’s acid in uranium dissolution from Abu Rusheid mineralized rocks. For this purpose, many batch dissolution experiments were conducted. The obtained results showed that 91.5% and 52% uranium leachability for Caro’s acid and dilute sulfuric acid respectively. The reaction mechanism was described using shrinking core models.
Survey of Deep-learning Techniques in Big-Data analytics
Authors: Goswami Shubhashish , Kumar Abhimanyu
Published: July 2021

The present elaboration of Big-data research studies relying upon Deep-learning methods had revitalized the decision-making mechanism in the business sectors and the enterprise domains. The firms' operational parameters also have the dependency of the Big-data analytics phase, their way of managing the data, and to evolve the outcomes of Big-data implementation by using the Deep-learning algorithms. The present enhancements in the Deep-learning approaches in Big-data applications facilitate the decision-making process such as the information-processing to the employees, analytical potentials augmentation, and in the transition to having more innovative work. In this DL-approach, the robust-patterns of the data-predictions resulted from the unstructured information by conceptualizing the Decision-making methods. Hence this paper elaborates the above statements stating the impact of the Deep-learning process utilizing the Big-data to operate in the enterprise and Business sectors. Also this study provides a comprehensive survey of all the Deep-learning techniques illustrating the efficiency of Big-Data processing on having the impacts of operational parameters, concentrating the data-dimensionality factors and the Big-data complications rectifying by utilizing the DL-algorithms, usage of Machine-learning or deep-learning process for the decision-making mechanism in the Enterprise sectors and business sectors, the predictions of the Big-data analytics resulting to the decision parameters within the organisations, and in the management of larger scale of datasets in Big-data analytics processing by utilizing the Deep-learning implementations. The comparative analysis of the reviewed studies has also been described by comparing existing approaches of Deep-learning methodologies in employing Big-data analytics.
Reliable Disease Prediction System Based on Association Rule Mining and Pyramid Data Structure
Authors: Jeyasheela Y. , Jinny S. Vinila
Published: July 2021

Data mining rules the world of data, as it is the base for analysing and relating the data with each other. Now-a-days, association rule mining concepts are applicable to almost all domains and the healthcare domain is in strong need of that. Taking this into account, this work attempts to propose a reliable disease prediction system with the help of association rule mining and pyramid data structure. This work processes a symptom dataset which is comprised of twelve health attributes. The health attributes with respect to four different diseases are clustered independently and are organised with the help of pyramid data structure. The process of clustering is carried out by Generalized Hierarchical Fuzzy C Means (GHFCM) and the strong association rules are built for predicting the disease. Finally, the effectiveness of disease prediction is evaluated with respect to the standard performance measures such as accuracy, precision, recall, F-measure and time consumption analysis. The performance of the proposed approach is observed to be satisfactory, which when compared to the existing techniques.
Common Mycorrhizal Networks Asymmetrically Contribute to Increased N and P Acquisition by Millet/Chickpea Mixture
Authors: Li Chunjie , Li Haigang , Hoffland Ellis , Zhang Fusuo , Zhang Junling , Kuyper Thomas W.
Published: July 2021

Aim Cereal/legume intercropping is known to increase yield, partly because of increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition. The aim of this paper was to investigate the role of common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs) in overyielding by the crop species mixture and to find out if the effect of a CMN depends on which of the two species was colonized by AM fungi.Methods Microcosms with two compartments were used, separated by a 30-μm nylon mesh. Both compartments contained either chickpea or millet, in monoculture or mixed. One or none of the two compartments was inoculated with the AMF species Funneliformis mosseae. The plant in the inoculated compartment was referred to as the AMF donor, and the plant in the neighboring, non-inoculated compartment as the AMF receiver. Results Inoculation in one compartment resulted in mycorrhiza formation in the other compartment, providing evidence for the formation of CMNs. Inoculation of chickpea in the mixture increased N and P acquisition and biomass of both chickpea (AMF donor) and millet (AMF receiver), whereas inoculation of millet increased biomass of chickpea (AMF receiver) only, but did not increase N or P acquisition by any of the two species. Chickpea as AMF donor had higher numbers of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria in its rhizosphere compared to chickpea as receiver. The shoot N:P ratio of chickpea as AMF donor was lower than as receiver. Conclusion Our study demonstrated asymmetry in nutrient gains by a mixture of cereal and a legume, dependent on which plant species was the AMF donor or receiver. This suggests that initiating mycorrhizal networks by legumes in intercropping could be an important factor contributing to the magnitude of the intercropping effect.