bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internacionalización de la Educación Superior y movilidad académica en la universidad pública uruguaya
Authors: Viera-Duarte Patricia , Chiancone Adriana , Martínez Larrechea Enrique
Published: May 2020

En el artículo se propone describir las bases conceptuales con las que la Universidad de la República del Uruguay (Udelar) aborda el fenómeno de la internacionalización de la Educación Superior. Se intenta describir las políticas y los programas de inserción regional y de internacionalización en el período que va desde 1985 a 2019. El trabajo se organizó a partir de datos recogidos en el marco del Grupo Internacional de Estudos e Pesquisas em Educação Superior (GIEPES). Complementariamente, se empleó el análisis documental. Se considera que Universidad de la República desarrolló desde 1990 respuestas proactivas a los cambios del contexto regional y global que se expresaron en políticas y prácticas de internacionalización, las cuales priorizaron el contexto regional. Dada la peculiar conformación de la Educación Superior uruguaya, en la que la Udelar fue históricamente la única universidad pública, dichas políticas y prácticas contribuyeron a configurar la política nacional en la materia, así como configurar en forma estable algunos de los actuales mecanismos regionales en la Educación Superior. También se da cuenta de iniciativas de internacionalización e integración en la frontera uruguayo-brasileña. Se concluye en que la internacionalización de la Udelar es el resultado de su agenda política de transformación interna, desarrollada desde 1985, en la que se incluye el proceso de descentralización, especialmente relevante en la zona de frontera. Al mismo tiempo que permitía reconvertirse a la institución, fue también una respuesta a algunos desafíos externos estratégicos.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Wardani Nurul Kusuma , Masduchi Reni Hendrarati
Published: May 2020

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, systemic, inflammatory disorder that primarily affects small peripheral joints.  The average annual incidence of RA in the United States is 0.5 per 1000 persons per year. Female : male ratio of 3:1. Onset of the disease can occur at age ranging 20–60 years old. The precise cause of RA is unknown.Major theories mention it’s caused by environmental factors, genetic predisposition or immunogenic.Diagnosis of RA include morning stiffness at least one hour before maximal improvement, arthritis of three or more joints, arthritis of the hand joints, symmetric arthritis, rheumatoid nodules, positive serum rheumatoid factor and radiographic changes (hand and wrist). Rheumatoid arthritis is defined by the presence of four or more criteria and criteria 1 through 4 must be present for at least six weeks.A 44 year-old woman with pain and stiffness in her hand on and off since 10 years ago. She had difficulty doing her daily living activities (ADL) such as taking a bath and vocational activities such as cooking and washing clothes. On examination there were range of motion (ROM) limitation of the elbow, wrist and fingers, boutonnière deformity on left middle finger and right little finger. On X-ray examination we found erosion on finger joints.The rehabilitation program given were ROM exercises, gentle stretching exercises, finger splint and ADL modifications. We advised her to take the rheumatoid medication regularly (meloxicam, methylprednisolon and chloroquin), do exercises, wear the splint, and do the joint protection program. The goals of treatment were pain relief, maintenance of joint range of motion and mobility, further deformity prevent with joint motion modification therefore improving the quality of life.
Effect of High Frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on Extensor Digitorum Communis Muscle Strength in Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Juatmadja Bastianus Alfian , Andriana Meisy , Satyawati Rwahita
Published: May 2020

Abstract Background: Stroke may disrupt a patient’s motor function, consequently affecting the quality of life. A stroke surviving brain has the ability to repair itself through neuroplasticity mechanism. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive device which can be used to stimulate the lesioned part of the brain in hope of triggering neuroplasticity.Aims: To find prove of the repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) effect on extensor digitorum communis muscle strength improvement in ischemic stroke patients.Methods: Subjects suitable with the inclusion criteria (N=18) were divided into two groups,  control group and intervention group. The control group underwent conventional therapy exclusively every day for 5 days in a row, while the intervention group underwent rTMS therapy and conventional therapy every day for 5 days in a row. Extensor digitorum communis muscle strength was measured using surface electromyography (sEMG) before and after treatment.Result: Significant increase of sEMG numbers were found on control group (p=0,003) and intervention group (p=0,001). The increase from the intervention group was not different when compared to the control group (p=0,067).Conclusion: TMS can increase extensor digitorum communis muscle strength but with no difference with a conventional therapy.
Correlation Between Quadriceps, Hamstring, Tibialis Anterior, and Gastrocnemius Muscle Activation, With Knee Flexion Angle In Basketball Athlete While Performing Double-Leg Landing Task
Authors: Utami Ditaruni Asrina
Published: May 2020

ABSTRACTBackground: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury cause great disability for athlete. Recent focus of ACL injury management is on prevention by identifying the risk factors. Most of basketball injury mechanism is non-contact, related to landing process with small knee flexion angle. Muscle activation and its ratio, which control movement pattern in sagittal plane, are said to play a role in dynamic movement such as landing.Aims: The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between muscles activation and their activation ratio of quadriceps, hamstring, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius with knee flexion angle of basketball athlete while performing double-leg landing task.Material and methods: This study was an observational analytic, cross sectional study. Study subjects was basketball athletes age 16 – 25 years in Surabaya. Measurements of knee flexion angle done with digital measurements of reflective marker, and muscle activation was measured with sEMG while performing double-leg landing task.Result: There was no significant correlation between maximum knee flexion angle and muscle activation of quadriceps (p=0,562), hamstring (p=0,918), tibialis anterior (p=0,394) and gastrocnemius (p=0,419). There was also no significant correlation between maximum knee flexion angle and the muscle activation ratio of quadriceps-hamstring (p=0,347), quadriceps-tibialis (p=0,139), quadriceps-gastrocnemius (p=0,626), hamstring-tibialis anterior (p=0,365), hamstring-gastrocnemius (p=0,867), and tibialis anterior-gastrocnemius (p=0,109).Conclusions: There was no correlation between muscle activation and muscle activation ratio of quadriceps, hamstring, tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius with maximum knee flexion angle in basketball athlete while performing double-leg landing task.
The mid-summer drought spatial variability over Mesoamerica
Authors: García-Oliva Lilian C. , Pazos Enrique
Published: May 2020

The region that includes southern Mexico and Central America is known as Mesoamerica. The annual cycle of precipitation characteristic of the Pacific slope of this region presents a bimodal distribution on summertime, with two maxima and a relative intraseasonal minimum, known as the Mid-Summer Drought (MSD). In this study, the small-scale (tens of kilometers) variability of the MSD is analyzed. Numerical simulations are performed using the regional climate model RegCM4 over a Mesoamerican domain for a six-year period. ERA Interim reanalysis data is used as initial and lateral boundary conditions. The domain is subdivided into smaller areas and the average annual cycle of precipitation distribution is computed for each of them. The MSD pattern is found to present a high spatial variability in the intensity of its two maxima and even the total absence of its characteristic minimum. Such behavior is attributed to soil-atmosphere and terrain topography interactions that are better resolved with a regional climate model.
Pan-artifact Removing with Deep Learning, on ISEs
Authors: Ban Byunghyun , Ryu Donghun , Lee Minwoo
Published: May 2020

This paper presents a signal-processing method to remove pan-artifact on ISEs with artificial neural networks. An Ion Selective Electrode is used to investigate the concentration of a specific ion from aqueous solution, by measuring the Nernst potential along the glass membrane. However, Application of ISE on a multi-ion solution has problem. First problem is a chemicophysical artifact which is called ion interference effect. Electrically charged particles interact with each other and flows through the glass membrane of different ISEs. Second problem is that movement of liquid directly interfere the glass membrane, causing inaccurate voltage measurement. When multiple ISEs are dipped into same solution, a sensor’s signal emission interference voltage measurement of other sensors. Therefore, an ISE is recommended to applied on single-ion solution, without any other sensors applied at the same time. Deep learning approach can remove both artifacts at the same time. The proposed method is designed to remove complex artifacts with one-shot calculation, with MAPE less than 1.8%, and R2 as 0.997. A randomly chosen value of AI-predicted value has MAPE less than 5% (p-value 0.016).
Optimistic Prediction Model for the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic Based on the Reported Data Analysis
Authors: Aloufi Khalid
Published: May 2020

The world is facing new challenges every day; however, with the spread of the pandemic around the world, this new challenge is different. The pandemic is increasing and concentrating various challenges simultaneously. Although different sectors are facing consequences, the most important sectors, that is, health and economy are the most affected. When the pandemic began, it was not known how long it would last, which complicated health and economic planning. Therefore, it is important for decision makers and the public to know the predictions and expectations of the future of these challenges. In this work, the current situation is analyzed. Then, an expectation model is developed based on the statistics of the pandemic using a growth rate model based on an exponential and logarithmic rate of increase. Based on the available open data about the pandemic spread, the model can successfully predict future expectations, including the duration and maximum number of cases of the pandemic. The model uses the equilibrium point as the day the cases decrease. The model can be used for planning and the development of strategies to overcome these challenges.
Augmenting Maneuverability of UUVs with Cycloidal Propellers
Authors: Desai Manavendra , Gokhale Ruddhi , Halder Atanu , Benedict Moble , Young Yin Lu
Published: May 2020

This paper investigates the novel concept of augmenting the maneuverability of underwater vehicles with cycloidal propellers. Cycloidal propellers have the potential of providing agile manoeuvring capabilities to an underwater vehicle such as enabling pure heave motion and spot turns. They will also enable the vehicle to surge in forward and backward directions with equal ease. Such manoeuvres are not possible with the more conventional screw propeller and control fin combinations. Moreover, cycloidal propellers can enable precise dynamic positioning in low speed applications like station-keeping, underwater surveying and maintenance, minesweeping and teaming activities. In this paper, manoeuvring capabilities of an underwater vehicle with conventional screw propeller and control fins only are compared with one augmented with cycloidal propellers. The cases considered include a turning circle manoeuvre, a low speed 180o turn and a low speed heave manoeuvre. A six degrees-of-freedom non-linear hydrodynamic motion prediction model was developed and validated. Simulation results demonstrated that compared to conventional propulsion systems, cycloidal propeller augmented underwater vehicles can be more swift and compact in low speed manoeuvres, making a case for further investigation into this concept.
Coronal Hamate Fractures with Carpometacarpal Dislocation Treated Effectively Using Headless Compression Screws with Percutaneous Pinning Fixation by Using the 2-Directional Approach
Authors: Shimizu Hirokazu , Matsuhashi Tomoya , Fukushima Akira , Menjo Yusuke , Hojo Yoshihiro , Iwasaki Norimasa
Published: May 2020

Case:

Coronal shear fractures of the hamate are relatively rare injuries. Surgical intervention is recommended for displaced fractures. However, there is no established surgical procedure for the displaced coronal shear fractures of the hamate. Therefore, we present 2 cases of the displaced coronal hamate fracture with metacarpal dislocations, which were successfully managed with open reduction and internal fixation, using the headless compression screw by the 2-directional approach.

Conclusion:

Our procedure ensured that the screw's distal end captured the hamate hook, and the displaced bone fragments were reduced considerably in both cases.
Provenance of lower Cambrian quartz arenite on southwestern Baltica: Weathering versus recycling
Authors: Lorentzen Sanne , Braut Tonje , Augustsson Carita , Nystuen Johan P. , Jahren Jens , Schovsbo Niels H.
Published: May 2020

Lower Cambrian quartz arenite deposits have a world-wide occurrence and are also present on Baltica. However, the processes influencing the deposits from source to sink have not been accordingly investigated. The provenance of these deposits is crucial for the understanding of the extent of chemical weathering in the cratonic drainage area and reworking at the broad shallow shelves of Baltica during early Cambrian time. Provenance analysis and study of weathering effects was done for lower Cambrian sandstone from southern Scandinavia, including southern Norway, southern Sweden, and Bornholm (Denmark). For the quartz-arenite sandstone of the Ringsaker Member and the Hardeberga Formation, predominantly moderately weathered felsic–intermediate plutonic and meta-igneous source terranes are suggested from negative Eu anomalies, high LaN/YbN, and low to moderate Ti/Nb ratios, as well as trace amounts of plutonic lithoclasts. Similarly, a felsic–intermediate igneous and metamorphic signature is indicated in the heavy-mineral assemblage and a dominance of dark cathodoluminescence of quartz in a special study of samples from Bornholm, thus suggesting a mixed provenance of local granitoid–orthogneissic Mesoproterozoic basement and distant sources from the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt for the Hardeberga Formation on Bornholm. High percentages of mostly rounded ultra-stable heavy-mineral grains, quartz, and extremely high SiO2/Al2O3 ratios indicate a compositionally and texturally mature sand that was subjected to extensive to moderate weathering following removal of detritus from the source area. The main controls on the alteration of framework composition and the heavy-mineral assemblage are interpreted as surface weathering, based on moderate Chemical Index of Alteration values and meteoric flushing, and reworking by waves, based on an estimated low amount of feldspar before burial. Thus, the maturation of lower Cambrian quartz arenite on southwestern Baltica can be ascribed to a combination of processes including weathering in the source-rock area, extensive reworking, and early diagenesis. This study also highlights the importance of understanding alteration processes affecting the deposits from source to sink, and to be careful to describe quartz-rich rocks as simply recycled deposits.
Guidelines for assessing the provenance of Mesozoic and Cenozoic clastic successions sourced by pre-Jurassic basement complexes in southernmost North America
Authors: Martini Michelangelo , Solari Luigi , Peña-Guerrero Mariana , Zepeda-MartÍnez Mildred , Montomoli Chiara
Published: May 2020

Mexico is an attractive place for provenance studies focused on reconstructing the tectonic evolution of North America. This is because Mexico hosts a well-preserved clastic record associated with some of the major Mesozoic and Cenozoic tectonic processes that shaped the face of this continent. However, the available information on Mexican pre-Mesozoic source terranes is presently insufficient for provenance analysis. With the aim of drawing the guidelines for provenance determination, we present here detrital modes, geochemical data, and zircon U-Pb ages for detritus derived from pre-Jurassic basement complexes of Mexico. Our data show that the various basement complexes produce distinctive detrital modes and supply diagnostic and compositionally different detrital heavy minerals that represent powerful provenance tracers. The Oaxacan Complex, Ayú Complex, and East Mexico Arc are the main sources of quartzo-feldspathic and feldspatho-quartzose detritus. Quartz with rutile needles, mesoperthitic K-feldspar, orthopyroxene, augitic to diopsidic clinopyroxene, and Mg- to Ca-rich almandine (Alm71–52Grs7–3Prp43–23Sps3–1Alm74–56Grs21–19Prp23–2Sps5–2) are common minerals in detritus from the Oaxacan Complex. The Ayú Complex supplies detritus marked by the occurrence of sagenitic biotite and white mica, as well as Mn-rich almandine (Alm69–66Grs4–3Prp18–11Sps19–10). Detritus from the East Mexico Arc contains any of these mineral phases ubiquitous in the Oaxacan and Ayú complexes. The Acatlán Complex is the main source of detritus dominated by metamorphic lithic grains and quartz, with minor amounts of feldspar. Lithic grains are rank 2–4 metabasitic, metapelitic, and metapsammitic–metafelsitic fragments. Diagnostic mineral phases are schorl–dravitic tourmaline, Na-amphibole, and helycitic garnet varying from a Ca- to Mn-rich almandine (Alm74–55Grs34–15Prp16–3Sps12–1-Alm70–46Grs20–15Prp3–1Sps32–12). Zircon U-Pb geochronology proves to have some virtues but also major limitations because: 1) the zircon U-Pb age signature of many different sources in Mexico is similar and 2) zircon documents a limited number of sources because of variations in zircon fertility.
Performance Improvement of Heat Supply Systems Through the Implementation of Wind Power Plants
Authors: Bezhan A. V.
Published: May 2020

The current growth of energy consumption, which is directly related to the use of a large number of fossil fuels, and, as a result, causes environmental pollution, requires the search for ways to conserve energy and use traditional energy resources economically, as well as to preserve environmental well-being. In such a situation, a good solution to this problem can be the use of energy production technologies based on the use of non-traditional and renewable energy sources, and, in particular, the use of wind energy. In heat supply systems, wind energy can be involved in heat production technologies and then used for heating cities and towns. The method of heat supply of buildings through the use of a combined system of energy sources, consisting of a boiler house and wind power plants, is considered. The methodical basis of a very specific heat supplying system has been developed. The specificity of this system is that the boiler comes into operation, complementing the wind turbine operation, only if the wind is weak or absent at all. In other cases, the heat supply is provided by wind turbines, and the boiler house is waiting for the heating load. An assessment of the possible use of wind power facilities together with a boiler house in providing a heating load schedule for consumers located in an area with an increased potential of the wind which average annual speed is at the level of ~7 m/s is presented. The duration of the heating season in this area is 9–10 months a year. It is shown that the joint use of the boiler house and wind power plants for heat supply purposes during the year can reduce the share of the boiler house in the heat supply of consumers by 50–70 % or more.
Changes in soil microbial communities at Jinsha earthen site are associated with earthen site deterioration
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Xiaoyue , Xiao Lin , Liu Ke , Li Yue , Zhang Ziwei , Chen Qiang , Ao Xiaolin , Liao Decong , Gu Yunfu , Ma Menggen , Yu Xiumei , Xiang Quanju , Chen Ji , Zhang Xiaoping , Yang Tao , Penttinen Petri , Zhao Ke
Published: May 2020

Background: Earthen sites are immobile cultural relics and an important part of cultural heritage with historical, artistic and scientific values. The deterioration of features in earthen sites result in permanent loss of cultural information, causing immeasurable damage to the study of history and culture. Most research on the deterioration of earthen sites has concentrated on physicochemical factors, and information on microbial communities in earthen sites and their relationship with the earthen site deterioration is scarce. We used high-throughput sequencing to analyze bacterial and fungal communities in soils from earthen walls with different degree of deterioration at Jinsha earthen site to characterize the microbial communities and their correlation with environmental factors, and to compare microbial community structures and the relative abundances of individual taxa associated with different degree of deterioration for identifying possible marker taxa.Results: The relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Firmicutes were higher and that of Actinobacteria lower with higher degree of deterioration. At the genus level, the relative abundances of Rubrobacter were highest in all sample groups except in the most deteriorated samples where that of Bacteroides was highest. The relative abundance of the yeast genus Candida was highest in the severely deteriorated sample group. The bacterial phylum Bacteroidetes and genus Bacteroides, and fungal class Saccharomycetes that includes Candida sp. were specific for the most deteriorated samples. For both bacteria and fungi, the differences in community composition were associated with differences in EC, moisture, pH, and the concentrations of NH4+, K+, Mg2+, Ca2+ and SO42-. Conclusion: The microbial communities in soil with different degree of deterioration were distinctly different, and deterioration was accompanied with bigger changes in the bacterial than in the fungal community. In addition, the deteriorated soil contained higher concentrations of soluble salts. Potentially, the accumulation of Bacteroides and Candida plays an important role in the deterioration of earthen features. Further work is needed to conclude whether controlling the growth of the bacteria and fungi with high relative abundances in the deteriorated samples can be applied to alleviate deterioration.
Estimating Utility value for Female Genital Mutilation
Authors: Alinia Cyrus , Piroozi Bakhtiar , Jahanbin Fariba , Safari Hossein , Mohamadi-Bolbanabad Amjad , Kazemi-Karyani Ali , Moradi Ghobad , Farhadifar Fariba , Ebrahimi Mohammad
Published: May 2020

Background: Female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is a clear violation of women's rights and can have adverse and irreversible health effects as well. Worldwide, more than 200 million women and girls have undergone FGM/C. Utility value of FGM/C has not been estimated yet, so we designed this study to extract the health utility value of FGM/C for the first time in the world.Methods: In a cross-sectional study in Iran, 125 girls and women who underwent FGM/C procedure were examined by the trained midwives in order to determine its type. In addition, a questionnaire was completed for identifying the socio-demographic factors and extracting the health utility of these individuals. Health utility was measured using Time Trade-off method and also to determine the effects of the socio-demographic factors on the health utility a two-limit censored regression model was applied.Results: The mean and median of the health utility of women with FGM/C were 0.971 (SE: 0.003) and 0.968 (IQR: 1-0.95), respectively. Number of non-traders was 58 (46.4%) who reported perfect health utility. However, the mean of health utility among traders was 0.946 (SE: 0.002). Only type 1 (Clitoridectomy) and type 2 (Excision) FGM/C were seen in this study. Women with Type 1 FGM/C had significantly lower health utility value (Mean: 0.968, Median: 0.957) than their type 2 counterparts (Mean: 0.987, Median: 1.00). Moreover, women in the age group of 31-45 years (Mean: 0.962, Median: 0.956), single (Mean: 0.950, Median: 0.954), divorced (Mean: 0.951, Median: 0.950), employed (Mean: 0.959, Median: 0.956), and with supplementary insurance (Mean: 0.962, Median: 0.950) had significantly lower health utility than their counterparts.Conclusion: FGM/C affects physical and psychological well-being of these individuals, resulting in a lack of personal and marital satisfaction, which ultimately leads to a 3% reduction in their health related quality of life. Therefore, preventing from this practice is very important and should be considered by health system policy makers more than before.
An in situ approach to characterizing photosynthetic gas exchange of rice panicle
Authors: Chang Tiangen , Song Qing-Feng , Zhao Honglong , Chang Shuoqi , Xin Changpeng , Qu Mingnan , Zhu Xinguang
Published: May 2020

Background: Photosynthesis of reproductive organs in C3 cereals is generally regarded as important to crop yield. Whereas, photosynthetic characteristics of reproductive organs are much less understood as compared to leaf photosynthesis, mainly due to methodological limitations. To date, many indirect methods have been developed to study photosynthesis of reproductive organs and its contribution to grain yield, such as organ shading, application of herbicides and photosynthetic measurement of excised organs or tissues, which might be intrusive and cause biases. Thus, a robust and in situ approach needs to be developed.Results: Here we report the development of a custom-built panicle photosynthesis chamber (P-chamber), which can be connected to standard infrared gas analyzers to study photosynthetic/respiratory rate of a rice panicle. With the P-chamber, we measured panicle photosynthetic characteristics of seven high-yielding elite japonica, japonica-indica hybrid and indica rice cultivars. Results show that, 1) rice panicle is photosynthetically active during grain filling, and there are substantial inter-cultivar variations in panicle photosynthetic and respiratory rates, no matter on a whole panicle basis, on an area basis or on a single spikelet basis; 2) among the seven testing cultivars, whole-panicle gross photosynthetic rates are 17 – 54 nmol s-1 5 days after heading under photon flux density (PFD) of 2000 μmol (photons) m-2 s-1, which represent some 20-38% of that of the corresponding flag leaves; 3) rice panicle photosynthesis has higher apparent CO2 compensation point, light compensation point and apparent CO2 saturation point, as compared to that of a typical leaf; 4) there is a strong and significant positive correlation between gross photosynthetic rate 5 days after heading on a single spikelet basis and grain setting rate at harvest (Pearson correlation coefficient r = 0.93, p-value < 0.0001). Conclusions: Rice panicle gross photosynthesis is significant, has great natural variation, and plays an underappreciated role in grain yield formation. The P-Chamber can be used as a tool to study in situ photosynthetic characteristics of irregular non-foliar plant organs, such as ears, culms, leaf sheaths, fruits and branches, which is a relatively less explored area in current cereal breeding community.
Hemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration reduces free light chains without albumin loss in multiple myeloma patients.
Authors: de Mier M. Victoria Pendon-Ruiz , Ojeda Raquel , Álvarez-Lara M. Antonia , Navas Ana , Alonso Corona , Caballero-Villarraso Javier , Aljama Pedro , Álvarez Miguel A. , Soriano Sagrario , Rodríguez Mariano , Martín-Malo Alejandro
Published: May 2020

Background. Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 12-20% of multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Several studies have shown a reduction of free light chains (FLC) using hemodialysis with High-Cut-Off membranes. However, this technique entails albumin loss. Hemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration is a technique that includes a process of adsorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of hemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration in reducing FLC levels without causing albumin loss. Methods. This is an observational study (2012 to 2018) including nine patients with MM (5 kappa, 4 lambda) and AKI. All patients were treated with chemotherapy and hemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration. Blood Samples (pre and post-dialysis) and ultrafiltrate were collected pre and post-resin at 5 minutes after initiation of the session and 5 minutes before the end of the procedure. Results. The serum levels of kappa and lambda were reduced by a 57.6±10% and 33.5±25% respectively. Serum albumin concentration remained unchanged after the procedure. In the ultrafiltrate, the mean FLC reduction ratio shortly after initiation of the dialysis procedure was: 99.2% and 97.06% for kappa and lambda respectively, and only 0.7% for albumin; and at the end of the session the percent reduction was: 63.7% and 33.62% for kappa and lambda respectively, and 0.015% for albumin. Patients clinical outcome was: 33.3% recovered renal function, 22.2% died during the first year and 44.4% required maintenance dialysis. Conclusions. Hemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration reduces FLC levels without producing a significant loss of albumin; and, FLC removal is maintained throughout the session. Therefore, hemodiafiltration with ultrafiltrate regeneration may be considered an effective adjunctive therapy in patients with MM.
Identifying public stakeholders effective on mental health promotion in Iran
Authors: Damari Behzad , Esmaili Mohammad Reza Amir , Rafiee Noora , Hajebi Ahmad
Published: May 2020

Background: It is not always easy to put mental health on the agenda of sectors other than the health sector. However, it is now confirmed that mental health promotion policies need innovations beyond the scope of the health sector to be efficient. Thus, in this study, an attempt was made to identify the most effective stakeholders of the public sector in the field of mental health promotion in Iran to help the policy-makers of said sector and to encourage the inter-sectoral cooperation and further involvement of these effective sectors in mental health promotion plans. Methods: This was a mixed-methods study. From the data of the first step (literature review and a survey involving professors of relevant disciplines), the names of government agencies related to the domain of mental health were extracted. In the second step, a checklist was developed, the horizontal axis of which was the relevant organizations and the vertical axis was the social risk factors effective on mental health promotion. The data of this step were analyzed by the simple additive weighting method. In the final step, a table was plotted in the form of institutional mapping in order to summarize the organizations affecting each risk factor. Results: The Islamic Consultative Assembly, the Ministry of Interior, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting, the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare, and the Ministry of Education were identified as five organizations with the greatest impacts on the social determinants of mental health promotion in Iran. Conclusions: Significant impacts can be exerted by institutions such as the Islamic Consultative Assembly (as the legislator), the Ministry of Interior and its subsidiary entities such as municipalities and governors (as the administrators of homeland security and support for safe and appropriate urban and local facilities), the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (as the national media), the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare (as the institution in charge of employment, job security, and social welfare), and the Ministry of Education (as the educational institution of the country).
Relationships between menstrual status and obesity phenotypes in women: a cross-sectional study in northern China
Authors: Chen Xueyu , Liu Huamin , Liu Weihua , Chen Yanru , Wang Xiaohui , Zhang Wenran , Shi Fengxue , Sui Xinxia , Wang Xiaojun , Zhang Haitao , Ji Long , Xi Hui , Li Dong
Published: May 2020

Background: One of most important concerns of postmenopausal women is obesity. The relationships between menstruation status and obesity phenotypes are unclear. This study aimed to assess the associations between menstrual status and different obesity phenotypes in women.Methods: In total, 5373 women aged ≥40 years were recruited from the Jidong and Kailuan communities. Basic information was collected via clinical examination, laboratory testing and standardized questionnaires. The women were stratified into the following three groups: menstrual period, menopausal transition period and postmenopausal period. General obesity was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of ≥28 kg/m2. Central obesity was defined as a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) of >0.85. Visceral obesity was defined as the presence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and increased pericardial fat volume (PFV). Results: The numbers of women in the menstrual, menopausal transition, and postmenopausal periods were 2807 (52.2%), 675 (12.6%) and 1891 (35.2%), respectively. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for central obesity among women in the menopausal transition and postmenopausal periods compared with women in the menstrual period were 1.34 (0.87-2.05) and 0.87 (0.57-1.33), respectively. The OR for NAFLD among postmenopausal women was 1.78 (1.44-2.20). The adjusted β-coefficient (standard error, SE) for PFV among postmenopausal women was 41.25 (7.49). The adjusted OR for general obesity among postmenopausal women was 1.01 (0.77-1.34). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that menopause is an independent risk factor for central and visceral obesity but not general obesity.
Treatment of supraventricular tachycardias in patients with non-cardiac surgery by dexmedetomidine during the perioperative period
Authors: Xu Yan , Hu CuiWen , Guo Xuan , Hu ZhiHong , Shi Hui , zhang JunLong
Published: May 2020

Background: Supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) can increase the risk of adverse events in perioperative period. Previous studies have shown that application of dexmedetomidine (DEXm) combined anesthesia during surgery can significantly reduce postoperative cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications and mortality in patients with cardiac disease. In fact, many anesthetic drugs have cardiac protection effects. However, it is a pity that these findings are not well applied in clinical practice to treat cardiac disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the therapeutic effect of DEXm on perioperative SVTs in adult patients with non-cardiac surgery. Methods: Forty-two patients with SVTs, aged between 35 and 61 years, were randomly divided into DEXm group (group D) and midazolam group (group M). The patients undergoing elective surgery in two groups were infused intravenously DEXm 0.5-1µg/kg or midazolam 0.06-0.08mg/kg using a micro-pump for 10 minutes, respectively. The the Observer’s Assessment of Alertness/Sedation (OAA/S) score, heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), pulse oxygen saturation (SpO2) and occurrence of SVTs, heart rate variability (HRV) including normalized low frequency power (LFnorm), normalized high frequency power (HFnorm) and the balance ratio of sympathetic to vagal tone (LF/HF) in two groups were recorded at T0 (before the infusion DEXm or midazolam), T1 (5 minutes after the infusion), T2 (at the end of the infusion), T3 (5 minutes after the end of the infusion), and T4 (10 minutes after the end of the infusion). Results: The OAA/S score in two groups at T4 was obviously decreased compared with T0. And the OAA/S score in group M was lower than in group D at T4 (P<0.05). Compared to T0, HR and MAP in two groups were obviously decreased, and HR and MAP in group D were apparently lower than group M from T1 to T4 (P<0.05). Three patients developed mild hypotension in group D. However, none of patients developed clinically significant bradycardia, hypotension, and anoxia. There was no significant difference for SpO2 from T0 to T4 in group D. Compared to T0 or group D, SpO2 in group M obviously decreased at T2 (P<0.05). In addition, SVTs in all patients were terminated until T4 in group D after DEXm infusion. However, only two patients were finally improved in group M. Compared to T0, HFnorm were elevated, and LFnorm and LF/HF were decreased from T1 to T4, furthermore, the changes in HFnorm, LFnorm and LF/HF had statistical significance (P<0.05) in group D. However, there was no significant difference for HFnorm, LFnorm and LF/HF in group M from T0 to T4.Conclusions: Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine had a significant therapeutic effect for supraventricular tachycardias without significant adverse effects in adult patients .Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Registration Number: NCT04284150 on 26th February 2020
Determinants of quality of life and life satisfaction of urban residents
Authors: Kotarski Hubert
Published: May 2020

The aim of the study was to investigate the quality of life of Rzeszow residents aged 18-75 using a WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire which consists of 26 questions and analyses 4 basic domains of quality of life: physical, psychological, social relationships, functional environment of the respondent and a global quality of life and self-assessment of one’s health. The survey was conducted on a representative sample of 618 adult residents of Rzeszow. Respondents were randomly selected through systematic random sampling with latent layer division from the population register shared by Rzeszow Municipal Office. The analysis of factors differentiating the residents’ assessment of quality of life was based on socio-demographic variables such as gender, age and education and variables representing social factors - financial situation and body mass index (BMI). The results indicate that gender does not differentiate the quality of life of Rzeszow residents. However, the quality of life is affected by age, education, financial situation, and body mass index.
Identification of acute myeloid leukemia-driven genes by multi-dimensional approach
Authors: Jian Jimo , Hao Hongyuan , Liu Qian , Dong Wenhao , Li Lu , Liu Yalu , Feng Gege , Wang Juan , Gao Sheng , Chen Lai , Lu Fei , Yuan Chenglu
Published: May 2020

Background

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), which is characterized by the uncontrolled proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells in the bone marrow and other hematopoietic tissues, and is highly heterogeneous. While with the progress of sequencing technology, understanding of the AML-related biomarkers are still incomplete. The purpose of this study is to identify potential biomarkers for diagnosis of AML.

Methods

Based on WGCNA analysis of gene mutation expression, methylation level distribution, mRNA expression and AML-related genes in public databases, were employed for investigating potential biomarkers for prognosis of AML.

Results

This study screened a total of 6,383 genes by analyzing various changes in 103 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) samples, including gene mutation expression, methylation level distribution, mRNA expression, and AML-related genes in public databases. Moreover, seven AML-related co-expression modules were mined by WGCNA analysis and twelve biomarkers associated with the AML prognosis were identified from each top 10 genes of the seven co-expression modules. The AML samples were then classified into two subgroups, the prognosis of which is significantly different, based on the expression of these twelve genes. The differentially expr essed genes are mainly involved in glucose metabolism, glutathione biosynthesis, small G protein-mediated signal transduction, and the Rap1 signaling pathway.

Conclusions

With the utilization of WGCNA mining, seven gene co-expression modules were identified from TCGA database and there are unreported genes that may as potential driven genes of AML and may be the direction to identify the possible molecular signatures to predict survival of AML patients and help guide experiments for potential clinical drag targets.
A machine learning model for the prediction of drug permeability across the Blood-Brain Barrier: a comparative approach
Authors: Saber Ralph , Mhanna Rami , Rihana Sandy
Published: May 2020

Background: Drug permeability across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a critical challenge for successful drug discovery which has led to multiple efforts to develop in silico predictive models. Most of the in silico models are based on the molecular descriptors of the drugs. In this work, we compare the ability of sequential feature selection and genetic algorithms in selecting the most relevant descriptors and hence enhancing the permeability prediction accuracy.Methods: Five different classifiers were initially trained on a dataset using eight molecular descriptors. Then, sequential feature selection and genetic algorithms were performed separately and the same classifiers were trained using the descriptors chosen by each algorithm.Results: The highest overall accuracy obtained without feature selection was 94.98%. This accuracy increased with sequential feature selection and genetic algorithms on multiple classifiers. However, the highest accuracy (96.23%) was obtained after performing genetic algorithm on the feature vector. Moreover, genetic algorithm with a fitness function based on the performance of a support vector machine led to an increase in the accuracy of all the tested classifiers unlike sequential feature selection.Conclusions: The findings show that genetic algorithm is a more robust approach than sequential feature selection in choosing the most relevant molecular descriptors involved in the permeability across the blood-brain barrier. The results also highlight the importance of the polar surface area of drugs in crossing the BBB.
Optimal risk classification with statistical evidence in endometrial cancer
Authors: Chang Chung , Chiang An Jen , Chiu Yi Chieh , Hsu Li-Chuan , Hsu Pei-Hua , Kan Yuen-Yee , Chen Jiabin
Published: May 2020

Background

It is often clinically useful to classify tumor markers into risk groups. This study was aimed to investigate whether beginning with a statistically sound method would find cut points more reasonable than conventional ones.
Methods

We used data of endometrial cancer including 442 patients. The optimal number of cutoffs was based on the Akaike criterion and statistical algorithms were adapted to find the best locations. Codes were provided as a package.
Results

Myometrium invasion was an independent risk factor for lymph nodal metastasis when stratified into three groups by 0.41 and 0.89. Tumor size was an independent risk factor for overall survival when stratified into two groups by 4.11 cm. Both had better prediction than conventional choices and clinical relevance.
Conclusion

A statistically sound algorithm should be used to stratify patients into risk groups.
Pretreatment C-reactive protein and neutrophil counts as a predictor of metastasis in patients with osteosarcoma
Authors: Araki Yoshihiro , Yamamoto Norio , Hayashi Katsuhiro , Takeuchi Akihiko , Miwa Shinji , Igarashi Kentaro , Higuchi Takashi , Abe Kensaku , Taniguchi Yuta , Yonezawa Hirotaka , Morinaga Sei , Asano Yohei , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki
Published: May 2020

Background: Systemic inflammation responses have been associated with cancer development, progression and metastasis. However, little is known about the risk of metastasis based on inflammatory-based scores in patients with osteosarcoma before treatment. We therefore estimated the predictive value of these parameters for metastasis in osteosarcoma.Methods: A total of 54 osteosarcoma patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. All had been diagnosed histologically, and their laboratory data at the first visit were collected from medical records. The lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-neutrophil ratio (MNR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), Glasgow prognostic score (GPS), neutrophil-platelet score (NPS), neutrophil counts (NC), lymphocyte counts (LC), monocyte counts (MC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were evaluated.Results: High values of CRP, PLR, MNR, and NPS and a low NC were significantly associated with metastasis of osteosarcoma patients in the univariate analysis. A multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that a high CRP level (>0.6mg/dL) (hazard ratio=9.7, 95% confidence interval=3.0-31 ; p=0.00010) and low NC (<4087/µL) (hazard ratio=0.13, 95% confidence interval =0.040-0.42 ; p=0.00080) were risk factors significantly associated with metastasis of osteosarcoma patients.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that the combination of a high CRP level and low NC before treatment was a useful inflammatory-based prognostic indicator for metastasis in patients with osteosarcoma.
Flexion Dysfunction of Atlanto-occipital Joint as a Risk Factor for Cervical Spondylosis
Authors: Long Gong , Ping Yi , Mingsheng Tan
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND: There exist varied craniocervical flexion angles from the teenagers to the elderly. To our best knowledge, there is no prior study to examine the role of range of motion (ROM) of the atlanto-occipital joint in the pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis (CS). The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between atlanto-occipital radiographic alignment in flexion and CS.METHODS: 232 CS patients, including 45 patients who accepted surgical treatment, were retrospectively reviewed. The angle between McGregor’s line and C1 line (O-C1 angle) was evaluated on images taken in flexion (F-OC) and neutral positions (N-OC) independently. The relationship between the FOC (FOC=F-OC—N-OC) and Neck Disability Index (NDI) was examined, and the involvement of the FOC in the onset of CS was analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal cut-off for detecting an increased risk of CS.RESULTS: The FOC showed a significant correlation with NDI(P<0.05). The mean FOC was significantly lower in the CS groups than in the control group (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed involvement of the FOC in the onset of CS, and the threshold value according to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was 4.2 degree, with the odds ratio of 8.2 (95% CI:6.4–10.0; P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Stiff atlanto-occipital joint, represented by low FOC, is an independent risk factor in the incidence of CS compared with healthy individuals. This parameter can help spine surgeons to identify these people to implement appropriate preventive and management steps.