bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Under-five Mortality and Associated Factors among Children Born from 15-49 Years Old Mothers in Haramaya Town, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Ahmed Mohammed , Demena Melake , Teklemariam Zelalem , Desalew Assefa , Assefa Nega
Published: August 2021

Background: The global under-five mortality rate has dropped from almost 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 43 in 2015. The Ethiopian Mini Demographic Health Survey, 2019 shows 55 under-five deaths per 1,000 live births. In the eastern part of Ethiopia, evidence from the Kersa Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Kersa district of East Hararghe Zone, Oromia Region suggested the decline of under-five mortality rate from 131.8 per 1000 live births in 2008 to 77.4 per 1000 live births in 2013. The death rates still remain far from the Sustainable Development Goals’ target reduction to 25 or less per 1000 live births by 2030. However, the magnitude and determinants of under-five mortality is not studied in Haramaya town. Objective: To assess the under-five mortality rate and associated factors among children born during August 07, 2015- August 06, 2020 in Haramaya town, east Ethiopia by August 07–31/2020. Methodology: Quantitative cross-sectional population-based study was conducted on 391 pairs of 15-49 years old mothers and their live-born under-five children selected using systematic random sampling technique from Haramaya town to cmpare mortality between <=24 and >=25 mother’s age groups. Data were collected using interview-based questionnaire; double entered into EpiData 3.1; and then exported to statistical package for social sciences program version 20.0 for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis (p-value <0.20) was performed to examine crude association of predictors with under-five mortality, and then multiple logistic regression analysis (p-value <0.05) to measure the statistical association. Results: The death of 28 out of 372 live births gave an under-five mortality rate of 75 per 1000 live births. Children born in households with less than 6 members had 7. 98 times higher odds of dying than those born in households with at least 6 members (AOR =7.98, 95% CI =1.59-40.17). Those children who did not feed colostrum were associated with 17.45 times increased risk of under-five deaths compared to colostrum-fed ones (AOR =17.45, 95% CI =6.54-46.55). Conclusion: The study suggests that 75 per 1000 live births die before celebrating their fifth birth day. Household size and colostrum feeding are the significantly associated factors.Recommendation: All concerned should inform the mothers the role of identified factors like household size and colostrum feeding in child survival.
An Immune-related Lncrna Signature Predicts Prognosis and Adjuvant Chemotherapeutic Response in Patients With Small-cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhang Zhihui , Luo Yuejun , Zhang Chaoqi , Wu Peng , Zhang Guochao , Zeng Qingpeg , Wang Lide , Xue Liyan , Yang Zhaoyang , Zeng Hua , Zheng Bo , Tan Fengwei , Xue Qi , Gao Shugeng , Sun Nan , He Jie
Published: August 2021

BackgroundPatients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) are burdened by limited treatment options and the disease’s dismal prognosis. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are essential regulators of genetic alteration and are actively involved in tumor immunity. However, owing to the paucity of specimens, few studies have examined the interaction between immune genes and lncRNAs in SCLCs. MethodsThe immune-related lncRNAs (irlncRNAs) expression profiles and clinical significance were comprehensively explored. We enrolled 227 patients with SCLC, including 79 cases from GSE65002 and 148 cases from an independent cohort with corresponding qPCR data. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) was performed to identify the most prognostic irlncRNAs to construct an irlncRNAs-based signature in SCLC. We additionally investigated the potential and immune landscapes of the signature using bioinformatic methods. ResultsTotally, 316 irlncRNAs were filtered out in SCLCs. Then, an 8-irlncRNAs-based signature (ENOX1-AS1, AC005162, LINC00092, RPL34-AS1, AC104135, AC015971, AC126544, and AP001189) was established for patients with SCLC in the training cohort. The classifier successfully divided patients into high- or low-risk groups with dramatically different survival rates and chemotherapy benefit (both P<0.001). The signature was also well-validated in an independent cohort and various clinical subgroups. Compared to other important clinical parameters, this signature exhibited superior predictive performance for chemotherapy response and prognosis. Importantly, the signature also acts as an independent prognostic factor in the two cohorts after adjusting with other clinical parameters. Interestingly, functional analysis revealed that multiple activated immune-related pathways were abundant in the low-risk group. Additionally, the signature was found closely associated with inflammatory responses and various immune checkpoints. ConclusionWe constructed the first irlncRNAs-based signature for prognosis and survival benefit of chemotherapy outcome prediction for patients with SCLC. The irlncRNAs signature was a reliable and robust prognostic classifier that could be useful for clinical management and determination of potential chemotherapy benefit for patients with SCLC.
Prognostic Factors of Patients with Unexpected Pleural Dissemination During Thoracoscopic Surgery for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Liang Jinxiao , Wei Wei-tian , Gao Wei , Yang Xun , Liu Jin-shi
Published: August 2021

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with high degree of malignancy and early metastasis. A preoperative examination is undetectable when pleural dissemination of NSCLC occurs at an early stage, leading surgeons to detect pleural dissemination during surgery. However, there are few studies on the prognostic factors of NSCLC patients with pleural disseminated during surgery. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 54 patients with NSCLC with pleural dissemination found during video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to investigate the effects of clinical-pathological features, serum characteristics, surgical methods, and postoperative treatment on their prognosis. Results and conclusion: We found that squamous cell carcinoma (p=0.008), high level of serum GGT (p=0.046) and CA199 (p=0.001) were significantly correlated with the poor prognosis of NSCLC with pleural dissemination. Resection of the primary tumor was not necessary for patients who could receive targeted therapy after surgery, while for patients who receive chemotherapy after surgery, resection of the primary tumor, especially lobectomy, could obtain a better prognosis. Targeted therapy is preferred if there is a driving gene mutation after the operation, and immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy can be selected if there is no mutation. These results can provide a clinical basis for prognosis judgment and treatment decision of NSCLC patients with pleural dissemination found during the operation.
Single Extreme Strong Sequence Can Offset Decades of Shoreline Retreat by Sea-level Rise
Authors: Harley Mitchell , Masselink Gerd , de Alegría-Arzaburu Amaia Ruiz , Valiente Nieves , Scott Tim
Published: August 2021

Extreme storms cause extensive beach-dune erosion and are universally considered to enhance coastal erosion due to sea-level rise (SLR). However, extreme storms can also have a positive contribution to the nearshore sediment budget by exchanging sediment between the lower and upper shoreface and/or between adjacent headlands, potentially mitigating adverse SLR impacts. Here we use three high-resolution morphological datasets of extreme storm-recovery sequences from Australia, the UK and Mexico to quantify the nearshore sediment budget and relate these episodic volume changes to long-term coastal forecasts. We show that sediment gains over the upper shoreface and beach were very significant (58-140 m3/m) and sufficient to offset decades of predicted shoreline retreat due to SLR, even for an upper SSP5-8.5 scenario. It is evident that increased confidence in shoreline predictions due to SLR relies fundamentally on robust quantitative understanding of the sediment budget, in particular any long-term contribution of sediment transport from outside the nearshore region.
Increased Incidence of Adult Complicated Appendicitis in One Resource-Competent Community during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Time to Improve Health-Seeking Behaviors
Authors: Wu Jin-Ming , Ho Te-Wei , Yu Hsi-Yu , Lai I-Rue
Published: August 2021

BackgroundThe impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on medical services is overwhelming due to limited medical resources. During its initial surge in 2020, Taiwan’s government rapidly established diverse public actions, which helped maintain the medical supply without travel restrictions. However, whether the fear of being infected with COVID-19 interfered with health-seeking behavior (HSB) remains unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate whether acute complicated appendicitis (ACA) rates in adults were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsA retrospective analysis of acute appendicitis in adults was performed between January 1 and June 30, 2020 (COVID-19 period). The control period was collected from the first two quarters for the preceding 3 years. Outcome measures were ACA and length of hospital stays.ResultsA total of 145 patients with acute appendicitis presented to our institution during the COVID-19 era. Compared to a 3-year control cohort of 320 patients, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a higher rate of symptom duration until their presentation to the emergency room within >48 h (17.2% vs 9.1%, P = 0.011), a higher incidence of ACA (29.7% vs 19.4%, P = 0.014), and a longer length of hospital stays (5.0 days vs 4.0 days, P = 0.043) were observed. In the adjusted regression analysis, the COVID-19 period was significantly associated with a higher rate of ACA (odds ratio [OR] = 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–2.52; P = 0.008) and longer length of hospital stay (OR= 2.10; 95% CI: 0.92 to 3.31; P < 0.001).Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was significantly associated with increased ACA rates in one community with a normal medical supply. The fear of being infected with COVID-19 may prohibit patients from seeking medical needs. To improve HSB during the pandemic, a surgical community should attempt to provide scientific information to the public and maintain surgical services under the coverage of workplace safety.
Gaseous Pollutants From A Small-Scale Aerobic Biological Treatment Facility: Odor And Carcinogenic Risk Assessment
Authors: Xu Xinhong , Li Kexian , Lü Fan , He Pinjing , Fang Jingjing
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND: Biological treatment technology is good for the recovery of resources and energy from municipal solid waste (MSW) and cutting down biodegradable components in landfill waste. Recently, the aerobic biological treatment of MSW has increased in rural areas of China. These facilities are usually open setup and closed to nearby residents, and complaints tend to be received regarding odorous gases. A semi-in-vessel setup facility was occured in recent years, and its impact on the environment and personnel is not clear.RESULTS: Ammonia was the predominant compound released from the windrow and its concentration was one order of magnitude higher than those of other compounds. Terpenes and reduced sulfur compounds (RSCs) persisted throughout the entire active fermentation process, with only slight decreases. The biofilter pool had a greater odor impact on the surrounding neighborhood than the waste unloading and sorting operation. The concentrations of most compounds were reduced by the biofilter pool. Ten major substances that caused odors at the periphery of the facility were analyzed, where most comprised RSCs. The odor impact of the facility was low but it was associated with a carcinogenic risk to the operators, thereby indicating the need to improve personal protection.Conclusions: Large amounts of ammonia and volatile organic compounds were released from the composting units, but they had a low odor impact on the environment because of the semi-in-vessel setup. The odor impact of the facility was low but it was associated with a carcinogenic risk to the operators. This technology can be popularized in rural areas.
Isolation, Characterization, and Applicability of Helveticin 34.9, A Class Iii Bacteriocin Produced By Lactobacillus Helveticus 34.9
Authors: Angelescu Iulia-Roxana , Grosu-Tudor Silvia-Simona , Cojoc Lucia-Roxana , Maria Gabriel-Mihai , Zamfir Medana
Published: August 2021

Traditionally fermented foods and beverages are still produced and consumed at a large scale in Romania. They are rich sources for novel lactic acid bacteria with functional properties and with potential application in food industry or health. Lactobacillus helveticus 34.9, isolated from a home-made fermented milk is able to inhibit the growth of other bacteria, such as other lactic acid bacteria, but also strains of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Halobacillus hunanensis, a halobacterium isolated from the degraded wall of a Romanian monastery. L. helveticus 34.9 produces a large bacteriocin (35 KDa), active in a wide pH range, but inactivated by heat and proteinase K treatment. Bacteriocin production was enhanced under stress conditions, especially when combined stresses were applied. Its mode of action and degree of inhibition depended on the indicator strain and on the concentration of bacteriocin that was used. L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus LMG 6901T cells from a suspension were killed within 8 h, but the viability of H. hunanensis 5Hum cells was only reduced to 60%. However, the bacteriocin was able to prevent the bacterial growth of both indicator strains when added to the medium prior inoculation. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed morphological changes induced by the bacteriocin treatment in both sensitive strains, but more severe in the case of L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus. This class III bacteriocin, with inhibitory activity against various bacterial species, may find application in food and non-food related fields, including in the restoration of historical buildings.
Durable Response of Induction Sequential Chemotherapy Combined With Nimotuzumab and Consolidative Carbon Ion Radiotherapy With Non-V600 BRAF Mutation Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Chang Chen , Li Linjuan , He Du , Zhao Yaqin , Wang Zheng , Li Xiaofen , Cheng Ke , Dai Ruihong , Cao Dan
Published: August 2021

Background: Pancreatic cancer remains a highly fatal malignancy among the most common cancers. Multidisciplinary systemic treatment is the vital method to prolong the survival of patients with locally advanced and advanced disease. Case presentation: We report a patient presented to the hospital with upper abdominal pain with occasional diarrhea for 6 months, diagnosed as locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC). The patient was detected carrying with BRAF p.N486_P490del mutation and positive EGFR expression, receiving induction sequential chemotherapy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel and modified fluorouracil plus leucovorin, oxaliplatin and irinotecan, combined with nimotuzumab, followed by consolidative carbon ion radiotherapy. After the sequential treatment, the efficacy evaluation was partial response and progression-free survival was at least 20 months. Conclusions: LAPC patients with non-V600 BRAF mutation and positive EGFR expression might benefit from induction sequential chemotherapy combined with nimotuzumab and consolidative carbon ion radiotherapy. It is possible for patient with locally advanced disease to obtain better local control and further survival.
Regulating control of in-pipe intelligent isolation plugging tool based on adaptive dynamic programming
Authors: Miao Xingyuan , Zhao Hong
Published: August 2021

In-pipe intelligent isolation plugging tools (IPTs) are crucial in pipeline maintenance. During the plugging process, the flow field around the IPT changes drastically, resulting in vibration and instability of the plugging process. Therefore, three foldable spoilers were designed at the tail of the IPT to reduce the vibration of the IPT. First, a disturbing flow experiment of IPT with spoilers was designed. A mathematical model of the pneumatic spoiler control system was established to regulate the spoiler angles. Second, based on the experimental data, a Bi-LSTM (bidirectional long short-term memory) neural network predictor between the plugging states, the spoiler angles, and the pressure gradient was established. Then, an adaptive dynamic programming controller was designed to select the optimal control action for each plugging state, thereby reducing the pressure gradient. Finally, Python and Matlab/Simulink were used for simulation. The results showed that the controller could reduce the pressure gradient during the plugging process by an average of 25.94%, which alleviated the vibration of the IPT and achieved a smooth plugging operation.
Fractional Brownian motion analysis for epidemic spreading of diseases
Authors: Lima Leonardo
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we use the nonlinear fractional stochastic differential equation approach with Hurst parameter $H$ into the range $1/2< H< 1$ to perform the statistical analysis of public data of number of infected by coronavirus in countries where the number of cases is larger as Brazil and India. We analyze the rises and falls of novel daily cases of coronavirus, where the fluctuation in the official data is treated as a random term in the stochastic differential equation for the fractional Brownian motion. The projection of novel cases in the future is treated as quadratic mean deviation in the official data of novel cases daily since the beginning of the pandemic up the present. Additionally, statistical tests as skewness and kurtosis are performed with aim to estimate the shape of the probability density distribution of novel cases in long time, since the beginning of pandemic, in tentative to estimate the behavior of novel cases in the future.
The response of Hymenocrater longiflorus to water stress and proline application under in vitro cultivation
Authors: Saed-Moucheshi Armin , Mozafari Ali Akbar
Published: August 2021

Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. (surahalala) is a wild plant species having properties to be categorized as both pharmaceutical and ornamental plants. To date, the genomics of this plant is unknown and the gene expression profiling of the genes related to its metabolite has never been studied before. In order to study the responses of surahalala plant grown under in vitro conditions to abiotic stresses and the deferential expressions of the genes related to its essential oils under exogenous proline application; three levels of PEG6000 (0, 10, and 20%) and five levels of proline (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 µM) were applied in mixture with its culture medium. Accordingly, induced water deficit increased oxidant levels while decreased fresh weight of surahalala tissues; whereas, application of proline up to 15 µM was able to relatively compensate the negative effect of water deficit. Contrarily, high proline level (20 µM) showed negative effect surahalala plants which is probably due to the stress simulation (nutrition) in this plant under high proline concentration. Since PEG and proline applications increased essential oil contents, the best combination of proline and PEG treatment in the surahalala plant for achieving the highest content of its essential oils were 10 µM and 10% levels, respectively. The expression profiles of TPS27, L3H, TPS2, TPS1, OMT and GDH3 in this plant were successfully carried out and the results verified the involvement of these genes in 1,8-cineole, carvone, α-pinene, thymol, estragole, and β-Citronellol biosynthesis, respectively. In addition, our results indicated that these genes could get involved in the other metabolite synthesis under water deficit conditions.
Barium and Cadmium in Tropical Soils Cropped and Under Native Forest
Authors: Reis Iolanda Maria Soares , de Melo Wanderley José , Lima Erica Souto Abreu , Pereira Marcos Gervásio , Silva Ulisses Sidnei da Conceição , de Sousa Mateus Alves , Júnior José Marques , Camargo Lívia Arantes , de Melo Gabriel Maurício Peruca , Araújo Ademir Sergio Ferreira , Santos Otávio Augusto Queiroz dos
Published: August 2021

Toxic elements pose a high environmental risk because of their long persistence in soil, water, and food chain. This study aimed to estimated potentially available and pseudototal contents of barium (Ba) and cadmium (Cd) in tropical soil under native forest vegetation, sugarcane and maize crops. Soil samples were collected at 0.00–0.20 m depth in different municipalities in São Paulo State, Brazil, and analyzed for fertility, texture, total iron, iron oxides, pseudototal and available Ba and Cd contents. Heavy metals were extracted using different extraction solutions (Mehlich-1, Mehlich-3, and DTPA). Data were subjected to descriptive and multivariate analyses. Correlations between soil clay content, mineralogy, and fertility were also investigated. Of the three extraction solutions tested, Mehlich-3 was the most effective to estimate the potential availability of Ba and Cd. Ba extracted by Mehlich-3 was negatively correlated with goethite, and pseudototal barium was positively correlated with pH CaCl2. Cd extracted by Mehlich-3 was positively correlated with pH CaCl2, and pseudototal cadmium was strongly correlated with iron oxide, clay, and organic matter contents.
Analysis of Pathogenic Variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 Genes using Next-Generation Sequencing in Women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer from South India
Authors: Rajagopal Taruna , Seshachalam Arun , Jothi Arunachalam , Rathnam Krishna Kumar , Talluri Srikanth , Venkatabalasubramanian Sivaramakrishnan , Dunna Nageswara Rao
Published: August 2021

The frequency of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) incidence varies among different populations, suggesting the involvement of genetic component towards TNBC development. Previous studies have reported that BRCA1/2 germline mutations confer a lifetime risk of developing TNBC. However, there is hardly any information regarding the common pathogenic variants (PVs) in BRCA1/2 genes that contribute to TNBC in the Indian population. Hence, we screened for PVs in BRCA1/2 and their association with clinico-pathological features in TNBC patients. Among the 59 TNBC genomic DNA samples sequenced, 8 BRCA mutations were detected in 59 TNBC patients (13.6%). Almost 50% pre-menopausal TNBC patients had a BRCA mutation. Of the 8 BRCA mutations, we observed BRCA1 mutations in 6 TNBC patients, and BRCA2 mutations in 2 TNBC patients. Among the 6 BRCA1 mutations, three were c.68_69delAG (185delAG) mutation. Remarkably, all the TNBC patients with BRCA mutations exhibited higher-grade tumors (grade 2 or 3). However, among the BRCA mutation carriers, only one patient with a BRCA2 mutation (p.Glu1879Lys) developed metastasis in the observed cohort. Our data advocates that South Indian women with higher grade TNBC tumors and without hereditary breast and ovarian cancer should be considered for BRCA mutation screening, thereby enabling enhanced decision-making and preventive therapy.
A Simple and Effective Technique for Removing Broken Pedicle Screws
Authors: Deng Qian-xing , Zhang Rong , Yu Jian-quan , Tao Yong , Zhan Peng , Fan Hong-wu
Published: August 2021

Background: Different methods and tools had been developed to remove the broken pedicle screws. Removing a broken pedicle screws was not always easy. We reported a simple and effective technique to remove the broken pedicle screws in this study.Methods: The Institutional Review Board of the Fengdu people's Hospital of Chongqing approved the study. A total of 34 patients (aged 47.76±8.12 years) accepted first operation because of thoracolumbar fractures in our department and other departments were analyzed retrospectively. They accepted secondary surgery to remove the spinal instrumentations when they obtained bone fusion or bone healing from March 2017 to March 2020. We applied a high speed drill (with 2mm diameter), a three rhomboid pointed cone, an acutenaculum, and a larger forceps to remove the broken pedicle screws.Results: The spinal segment of broken pedicle screws was consist of L2 (3 cases), L3 (8 cases), L4 (17 cases), L5 (6 cases). The location of the broken pedicle screws was within the scope of pedicle. There were no complications about broken pedicle screws, such as injury of nerve roots, severe low back pain, and spinal cord injury. The average time of removing the broken pedicle screws was 13.79±3.52 minutes. The mean blood loss of surgery was 72.06±28.05 milliliters. No other complications happened during surgery.Conclusion: A simple and effective technique for removing broken pedicle screws is reported. This technique reserves the original nail road of pedicle, does not destroy the pedicle cortex, and averts producing the debris of spinal instrumentations.
The CoRisk-Index: Measuring economic risks related to COVID-19 in real time
Authors: Braesemann Fabian , Stephany Fabian , Neuhäuser Leonie , Stoehr Niklas , Darius Philipp , Teutloff Ole
Published: August 2021

The global spread of Covid-19 has caused major economic disruptions. Governments around the world provide considerable financial support to mitigate the economic downturn. However, effective policy responses require reliable data on the economic consequences of the corona pandemic. We propose the CoRisk-Index: a real-time economic indicator of Covid-19 related risk assessments by industry. Using data mining, we analyse all reports from US companies filed since January 2020, representing more than a third of all US employees. We construct two measures - the number of 'corona' words in each report and the average text negativity of the sentences mentioning corona in each industry - that are aggregated in the CoRisk-Index. The index correlates with U.S. unemployment data and preempts stock market losses of February 2020. Moreover, thanks to topic modelling and natural language processing techniques, the CoRisk data provides unique granularity with regards to the particular contexts of the crisis and the concerns of individual industries about them. The data presented here help researchers and decision makers to measure, the previously unobserved, risk awareness of industries with regard to Covid-19, bridging the quantification gap between highly volatile stock market dynamics and long-term macro-economic figures. For immediate access to the data, we provide all findings and raw data on an interactive online dashboard in real time.
Intraoperative and Postoperative Outcomes of Harmonic Focus Versus Monopolar Electrocautery after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Conservative Surgery: A Comparative Study
Authors: Khaled Islam , Saad Ihab , Soliman Hany , Faisal Mohammed
Published: August 2021

Background: Surgical devices are commonly used during breast conservative surgery (BCS) to provide better hemostasis. The Harmonic scalpel has recently gained momentum as an effective tool for intraoperative bleeding reduction. This comparative study was designed to determine the efficacy of Harmonic Focus in reducing postoperative complications of BCS after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCTH) compared to the conventional method using monopolar diathermy.Results: A prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study was conducted on patients scheduled to undergo BCS with axillary dissection after NCTH. Patients in the Harmonic Focus group had significantly shorter operative times than the monopolar electrocautery group (101.32 ± 27.3 vs. 139.3 ± 31.9 min, respectively; p < 0.001). Besides, blood loss was significantly lower in the Harmonic Focus group (117.14 ± 35.6 vs. 187 ± 49.8 mL, respectively; p < 0.001). Postoperatively, patients in the Harmonic Focus group had a significantly lower volume of chest wall drain (p < 0.001) and shorter time until drain removal (p < 0.001). Likewise, patients in the Harmonic Focus group had a significantly lower volume of axillary drain and shorter time until drain removal than monopolar electrocautery (p < 0.001). The incidence of postoperative complications was comparable between both groups (p = 0.128).Conclusions: This study confirmed the superiority of Harmonic Focus compared to monopolar electrocautery among patients receiving NCTH before BCS.
Tensiomyography Variable Trend of Changes After Acute Muscle Fatigue Induced by Acute Exercise: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Yeom Seunghyeok , Lee Hyungwoo , Jeon Kyoungkyu
Published: August 2021

Tensiomyography (TMG) has advantage in measuring fatigue. However, no studies have used a meta-analysis approach to analyze the trend of changes in TMG variables for acute muscle fatigue induced by an acute exercise. This study is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to establish criteria for measuring acute fatigue using TMG by quantifying trend of changes in TMG variables. Searches were conducted in Web of Science and Pubmed from December 6, 2020 to January 7, 2021. 16 studies were included that they used in TMG for measuring acute muscle fatigue that was caused by acute exercises in rectus femoris or biceps femoris. The meta-analysis results indicated that in the biceps femoris, showed a significant (p < .05) decrease in all TMG variables of the elite athletes. Also, in the overall effects of maximum displacement and mean velocity until 90% Dm (Vc90) showed significant (p < .05) decreasing trend. In the rectus femoris, showed a significant (p < .05) decreasing trend was found for maximum displacement (Dm) in the average person, while contraction time (Tc) showed a decreasing trend in elite athletes and overall. In conclusion, acute muscle fatigue was induced decreased Dm, Tc, Vc90 in the TMG measurement after an acute exercise. These results TMG could be used as a muscle fatigue indicator and help develop a more proper protocol for testing the response of body to muscle fatigue.
Capacitance Response of Concave Well Substrate MEMS Double Touch Mode Capacitive Pressure Sensor: Robust Design, Theoretical Modeling, Numerical Simulation and Performance Comparison
Authors: Kumar Guru Aathavan Alagu Uthaya , Jindal Sumit Kumar , K SREEKANTH P
Published: August 2021

Touch Mode Capacitive Pressure Sensor (TMCPS) is very suitable for industrial applications where pressure sensing is necessary because of their linearity, mechanical robust nature and large overload protection from harsh industrial condition. This work proposes an introduction of a notch in the concave substrate for further improvement of the sensitivity of the sensor. Small deflection mode is utilized for the mathematical analysis of the design proposed and MATLAB is utilized for all the software simulations. The sensitivity of the proposed model is very high compared to other models with flat substrate. The analysis and simulation show significant increase in sensitivity in touch mode. The pressure at which the value of the capacitance saturates is also much higher than the designs stated in the literature. The analysis of concave substrate Double Touch Mode Capacitive Pressure Sensor (DTMCPS) will be helpful in designing new sensor for performance increase and to evaluate the behaviour of it.
Does the sagittal spinal profile differ between the elderly Chinese populations with and without lumbar disc herniation?
Authors: Song Jipeng , Pan Fumin , Kong Chao , Sun Xiangyao , Wang Yu , Wang Wei , Lu Shibao
Published: August 2021

Background
The influence of spinopelvic morphology on the Chinese elderly LDH population was not clear. The purpose of this study is to explore its influence on the characteristics of lumbar disc herniation or degeneration.
Methods
212 elderly patients with LDH and 213 asymptomatic volunteers were involved. Spinal parameters were measured on full-length X-ray and compared between two populations. In herniated group, sagittal profiles were determined according to the Roussouly classification, the degenerative grades, the herniated location and the number of intervertebral lumbar disc degeneration were evaluated from the L1 to S1 on MRI scans. The differences on them among Roussouly types were analyzed.
Results
There were no significant differences in BMI, the mean value of age and sex distribution between two populations. Patients were found to have significantly smaller TK, LL, and SS than those volunteers (p < 0.05), while contradicting observations on PT and TPA were obtained (p < 0.05). Roussouly type 1 and type 2 ( 50.4% and 28.7% respectively) are predominant in the LDH population and the proportion of type 1 in elderly LDH is further increased. Subjects with LDH in type 1 and 2 had lower mean herniated locations and fewer mean herniated numbers than those with type 3 and 4.
Conclusions
Sagittal spinopelvic parameters were found to be significantly different in elderly LDH patients and asymptomatic volunteers. There were significant differences in the Roussouly distribution among different age groups of LDH. Different Roussouly subtypes have different effects on lumbar disc degeneration and herniation.
A solution for external costs beyond negotiation and taxation
Authors: Faria Alexandre Magno , Hdom Hélde
Published: August 2021

This article aims to launch light on the limitations of the Coase and Pigou approach in the solution of externalities. After contextualizing the need for integration of ecological and economic approaches, we are introducing a new conceptual proposal complementary to conventional economic approaches. Whose process is guaranteed by a set of diffuse agents in the economy that partially reverses entropy formation and marginal external costs generated by also diffuse agents? The approach differs in six fundamentals from traditional theory and proposes a new way of analyzing the actions of agents capable of reducing entropy and containing part of external costs in the market economy.
Assessing the external exposome of South African children using wearable passive samplers and high-resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Koelmel Jeremy P. , Lin Elizabeth Z. , DeLay Kayley , Williams Antony J. , Zhou Yakun , Bornman Riana , Obida Muvhulawa , Chevrier Jonathan , Pollitt Krystal
Published: August 2021

Children in low- and middle-income countries are often exposed to higher levels of, and more vulnerable to, the health effects of air pollution. Little is known about the diversity, toxicity, and dynamics of airborne chemical exposures at the molecular level. We developed a workflow employing state-of-the-art wearable passive sampling technology coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry to comprehensively measure 147 children’s personal exposures to airborne chemicals in Limpopo, South Africa, as part of the VHEMBE study. 637 environmental exposures were detected, many of which have never been measured in this population, including 50 airborne chemical exposures of concern in the children, including biocides, plasticizers, organophosphates, dyes, combustion products, and perfumes. Biocides detected in wristbands included p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE, propoxur, piperonyl butoxide, and triclosan. 27% of exposures were significantly different across seasons. Our study provides the first report covering hundreds of chemical exposures among African children, demonstrating chemical exposures warranting further study.
Effect of Body Mass Index on the outcomes of primary Total Knee Arthroplasty up to one year- a prospective cohort study
Authors: Mishra Ashish Kumar , Vaish Abhishek , Vaishya Raju
Published: August 2021

Background
Obesity is an important risk factor in development of knee osteoarthritis, and these cases suffer from complications following Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). The association between obesity and outcomes after TKA is ambiguous. Knowledge is scarce about a definite relation between the two. This study aims to establish a correlation between obesity and early outcomes of TKA.
Methods
This prospective cross-sectional study was done in cases undergoing primary knee arthroplasty between September 2019 to August 2020. Obesity was classified in all cases, and multiple variables like pain, functional status, Range of Motion, knee deformity, and Patient Response Outcome Measures were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Statistical Software version 22.0 and R.3.2.0. The level of statistical significance was taken as p < 0.05.
Results
We studied 100 knees (37 bilateral and 26 unilateral) in 63 cases. Pain score decreased maximally in the normal and overweight group and minimal in class III obesity (p < 0.001). KSS, FKSS, and PROMs gradually improved in all, except in morbidly obese (p < 0.001). Although the improvement in all variables was minimum in class III obesity compared to other classes of obesity, the margin of difference from the preoperative period was maximum in class III obese participants.
Conclusion
All cases, irrespective of class of obesity, experienced a comparable improvement in their knee function and improved quality of life. In addition, the TKA offered substantial benefits in terms of range of movement of the knee, pain relief, knee stability, walking distance, and stairs climbing.
Salivary bacterial signatures in depression-obesity comorbidity are associated with neurotransmitters and neuroactive dipeptides
Authors: Hong Suzi , Aleti Gajender , Kohn Jordan N. , Troyer Emily A. , Weldon Kelly , Huang Shi , Tripathi Anupriya , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Swafford Austin D. , Knight Rob
Published: August 2021

BackgroundDepression and obesity, both of which are highly prevalent and inflammation underlies, often co-occur. Microbiome perturbations are implicated in obesity-inflammation-depression interrelationships, but how microbiome alterations contribute to underlying pathologic processes remains unclear. Metabolomic investigations to uncover microbial neuroactive metabolites may offer mechanistic insights into host-microbe interactions. MethodsUsing 16S sequencing and untargeted mass spectrometry of saliva, and blood monocyte inflammation regulation assays, we determined key microbes, metabolites and host inflammation in association with depressive symptomatology, obesity, and depressive symptomatology-obesity comorbidity. ResultsGram-negative bacteria with inflammation potential were enriched relative to Gram-positive bacteria in comorbid obesity-depression, supporting the inflammation-oral microbiome link in obesity-depression interrelationships. Oral microbiome was highly predictive of depressive symptomatology-obesity co-occurrences than obesity and depressive symptomatology independently, suggesting specific microbial signatures associated with obesity-depression co-occurrences. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed significant changes in levels of signaling molecules of microbiota, microbial or dietary derived signaling peptides and aromatic amino acids among host phenotypes. Furthermore, integration of the microbiome and metabolomics data revealed that key oral microbes, many previously shown to have neuroactive potential, co-occurred with potential neuropeptides and biosynthetic precursors of the neurotransmitters dopamine, epinephrine and serotonin. ConclusionsTogether, our findings offer novel insights into oral microbial-brain connection and potential neuroactive metabolites involved.
Longitudinal Trajectories of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder(PTSD) in Medical Staff After Outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in China
Authors: Sheng Han , Wang Rong , Yao Ming , Zhou Qinghe , Zhu Zhihong , Fei Yeping , Zhou Xuyan , Liu Qifei
Published: August 2021

Background: In the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, medical staff is the main force for aiding in the control of the rapid spread. They have to risk lives to undertake the high-pressure task which may cause immediate and long-term psychological problems. This study aims to explore the trajectories of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) over time after the outbreak and determine predictors associated with each trajectory. Methods: 448 medical workers participated in the investigation and completed the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Self-Rating Scale (PTSD-SS) for the first PTSD screening at 1 month after the outbreak and 259 (57.81%) of them finished the second round at 12 months. According to whether the medical staff had close contact with the COVID-19 patient, participants were divided into close contact group (CC group) and non-close contact group (non-CC group). While in each group, subgroups were created based on the time-varying changes of developing PTSD. Distinct patterns of PTSD symptom trajectories were established according to the different development of PTSD in respective subgroup. Then, repeated-measure analysis of variance(ANOVA), bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine predictors for trajectory membership.Results: Four trajectories of PTSD symptoms were found both in CC and non-CC group, namely, resilience (25.28%, 45.24%, respectively), recovery (36.26%, 32.74%, respectively), chronic (16.48%, 10.71%, respectively), and delayed (21.98%, 11.31%, respectively). ANOVA revealed that PTSD scores were significantly changed through time both in CCs and non- CCs. With bivariate and multivariate analyses, several socio-demographic predictors and work experience related factors were found in the CC group, while limited ones in the non-CC group. This means that although the trajectory trends are similar between these two groups, the methods of psychological intervention may need to be treated differently. Furthermore, CC group had less resilient individuals (p=0.002) and more delayed PTSD sufferers (p=0.022) compared with non-CC medical staff, which suggest that CCs were more likely to experience PTSD course and encounter long-term psychological problems.Conclusions: A considerable number of medical personnel have long-term PTSD, both in CC group and non-CC group, which deserve public attention. Identified factors may indicate preventive and treatment interventions for medical workers with PTSD symptoms.
Nutritional Status and Associated Factors Among Children 6-59 months Who Attend IMNCI Departments in Bole Sub City Health Centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2021
Authors: Worku Lelisa , Bulcha Tesfaye , Taddesse Addisu , Hailu Sisay , Geletu Tadele , Taddesse Mintesinot
Published: August 2021

Background: Globally, 52 million children under 5-years of age were wasted and 155 million are stunted, while 41 million are overweight/obese. However, the contemporary rate of tumbling malnutrition is not fast ample to reach the World Health Organization global target for dropping malnutrition by 40% by 2025. Hence aimed to assess nutritional status and associated factors among under-five children IMNCI departments in the Bole Sub City Health centers, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: The study was conducted in the Bole sub-city at selected health centers through a cross-sectional study design. 385 Sample were selected by simple random sampling. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 25 was used for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of the study population. Binomial and multinomial logistic regression was fitted to identify factors associated with undernutrition. Result: The magnitude of normal nutrition was 69.6%, overweight/obese 3.2%, and undernutrition 27.2 %. Obese mothers increasing odd over nutrition (AOR=9.13, at 95%, CI: 1.05-79.79). While, having counseling about child nutrition (AOR= 18.37, at 95% CI: 4.06-83.08), who feed children (AOR=6.43, 95% CI: 1.11-37.43) and growth monitoring (AOR =0.50, at 95%, CI: 0.26-0.98) were statistically associated with undernutrition.Conclusion: The magnitude of normal nutrition was higher than both under-nutrition and obese/overweight. However, the magnitude of undernutrition chiefly stunting was remained high. Obese mothers, having counseling on nutrition, who feed children, and growth monitoring were statistically associated with nutritional status.
Development of Nanobodies against Mal de Río Cuarto virus major viroplasm protein P9-1 for diagnostic sandwich ELISA and immunodetection
Authors: Llauger Gabriela , Monti Demián , Adúriz Matías , Romão Ema , Dumón Analía Delina , Mattio María Fernanda , Wigdorovitz Andrés , Muyldermans Serge , Vincke Cécile , Parreño Viviana , Vas Mariana del
Published: August 2021

Mal de Río Cuarto virus (MRCV) is a member of the genus Fijivirus of the family Reoviridae that causes a devastating disease in maize and is persistently and propagatively transmitted by planthopper vectors. Virus replication and assembly occur within viroplasms formed by viral and host proteins. This work describes the isolation and characterization of llama-derived Nanobodies (Nbs) recognizing the major viral viroplasm component, P9-1. Specific Nbs were selected against recombinant P9-1, with affinities in the nanomolar range as measured by surface plasmon resonance. Three selected Nbs were fused to alkaline phosphatase and eGFP to develop a sandwich ELISA test which showed a high diagnostic sensitivity (99.12%, 95% CI: 95.21–99.98) and specificity (100%, 95% CI: 96.31–100) and a detection limit of 0.236 ng/ml. Interestingly, these Nanobodies recognized different P9-1 conformations and were successfully employed to detect P9-1 in pull-down assays of infected maize extracts. Finally, we demonstrated that fusions of the Nbs to eGFP and RFP allowed the immunodetection of virus present in phloem cells of leaf thin sections. The Nbs developed in this work will aid the study of MRCV epidemiology, assist maize breeding programs, and be valuable tools to boost fundamental research on viroplasm structure and maturation.Gabriela Llauger and Demián Monti equally contributed to this work.
Presence and concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments and organisms from Tampamachoco coastal lagoon and Tuxpan River, Veracruz; México.
Authors: Botello Alfonso V. , Ponce-Vélez Guadalupe , F. Susana Villanueva
Published: August 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have carcinogenic and mutagenic properties and their main origin in the environment is the burning of fossil fuels and organic material and they are considered high priority Persistent Organic Compounds (POPs). In the present study (March and August 2018) the concentrations of the 16 priority PAHs were analyzed in sediments and organisms (fish and oysters) in the estuarine-lagoon system Tuxpan-Tampamachoco, Veracruz; Mexico.The analysis of these compounds was carried out by means of gas chromatography-FID and mass spectrometry. In March (dry season) the average concentration of PAHs in sediments was 0.86 ± 0.39 μg/g and in August (rainy season) it was 1.14 ± 0.45 μg/g. During both collections, chrysene presented the highest total concentrations and a domain of the compounds with 4 benzene rings was observed, therefore, pyrolytic sources of contribution predominated. The highest concentrations of PAHs occurred in 2 stations located in the Tuxpan riverbed and both exceeded the threshold concentration to cause adverse effects to the benthic community.The analysis of PAHs in organism tissues was carried out in 4 species of fish and one mollusk. In march, the species with the highest concentration was Bagre marinus with 88.87 μg/g and in august it corresponded to the Caranx hippos species with 26.82 μg/g and the compound determined with the highest presence was benzo(b)fluoranthene.Finally, the tendency of accumulation of PAHs in the evaluated matrices was: fish> sediments> mollusks.