bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of knowledgebase transition of a clinical decision support system on medication order and alert patterns in an emergency department
Authors: Jung Weon , Yu Jaeyong , Park Hyunjung , Chae Minjung Kathy , Lee Sang Seob , Choi Jong Soo , Kang Mira , Chang Dong Kyung , Cha Won Chul
Published: August 2022

Objective
A knowledgebase (KB) transition of a clinical decision support (CDS) system occurred at the study site. The transition was made from one commercial database to another, provided by a different vendor. The change was applied to all medications in the institute. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of KB transition on medication-related orders and alert patterns in an emergency department (ED).
Methods
Data of patients, medication-related orders and alerts, and physicians in the ED from January 2018 to December 2020 were analyzed in this study. A set of definitions was set to define orders, alerts, and alert overrides. Changes in order and alert patterns before and after the conversion, which took place in May 2019, were assessed.
Results
Overall, 101,450 patients visited the ED, and 1,325 physicians made 829,474 prescription orders. Alert rates (alert count divided by order count) for periods A and B were 12.6% and 14.1%, and override rates (alert override count divided by alert count) were 60.8% and 67.4%, respectively. Of the 296 drugs that were used more than 100 times during each period, 64.5% of the drugs had an increase in alert rate after the transition. Changes in alert rates were tested using chi-squared test and Fisher’s exact test.
Conclusion
We found that the CDS KB transition was associated with a significant change in alert patterns at the medication level in the ED. Careful consideration is advised when such a transition is performed.
Experimental and Economic Evaluation of Nitrate Removal by a Nanofiltration Membrane
Authors: Alavijeh Hossein Nouri , Sadeghi Morteza , Ghahremanfard Ahmadreza
Published: August 2022

Membrane nanofiltration (NF) process was employed to remove nitrate from synthetic and natural waters. The optimum technical and economical ranges of governing parameters for the water treatment process were determined using Central Composite Design method and Verbernen's economic model. The results of nitrate removal from synthesized water showed the minimum and maximum rates of permeation were 16.5 and 84.3 L/m2h (Lmh), respectively. The minimum and maximum nitrate rejection were 44.1% and 78.4%, respectively. Increasing pH had no significant effect on permeation flux but increased the nitrate removal rate. In the case of natural water, the minimum and the maximum flow rate were 7.7 and 68.1 Lmh. Furthermore, the minimum and maximum rejection rates of nitrate were 22.1% and 74.8%. The effects of variables on the permeation flux and nitrate removal for natural water were similar to those for synthetic water. However, by increasing pH, the amount of water passing through the membrane decreased. In all experiments, natural water had less permeation flux and less nitrate rejection than synthesized water. Moreover, the total investment cost reduced as the pressure increased. The cost per m3 of treated water decreased from 3 to 7 bars, then increased as the pressure increased.
Developing and utilizing a tool for assessing the status of evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran (SASHA study)
Authors: Yazdizadeh Bahareh , Sajadi Haniye Sadat , Mohtasham Farideh , Mohseni Mahsa , Majdzadeh Reza
Published: August 2022

IntroductionIn order to promote evidence-informed health policy-making (EIHP) and address its challenges, it is necessary to measure it more objectively. In this study, as part of a bigger study entitled “A roadmap for strengthening evidence-informed health policy-making in Iran”, we tried to develop a tool to measure the instrumental use of evidence in health policy-making and to utilize it. MethodsWe performed literature review and in-depth interviews to develop and standardize the SASHA tool. The SASHA tool was developed based on the policy-making cycle and the evidence required for each cycle in five sections, clarifying the problem, identifying and selecting appropriate solutions, contextualizing, implementing, and monitoring & evaluation of the selected solutions. After standardizing the tool, we assessed 14 policies/programs using document review and semi-structured interviews with key persons related to each policy. Results Based on our results, the SASHA tool is an appropriate tool for guiding and measuring evidence-informed policy-making. SASHA has been successful in certain aspects and unsuccessful in others in objectively measuring the EIHP status. The most important limitation in this regard was the lack of policy-making documentation that makes policy-makers the only sources of data, which not only imposes information bias but also reduces the possibility of data triangulation. The role of evidence derived from systematic reviews and secondary data analysis was very poor.ConclusionThis study has shown that the feasibility of the SASHA tool in objectively measuring EIHP depends on the availability of data on decision-making processes throughout policy-making cycles. The policymaker’s experience is dominant in problem identification and agenda-setting and the roles of systematic reviews and secondary data analysis are weak in all policy cycle stages.
Sensitivity-Guided Iterative Parameter Identification and Data Generation with BayesFlow and PELS-VAE for Model Calibration
Authors: Zhang Yi , Mikelsons Lars
Published: August 2022

Calibration of complex system models with a large number of parameters using standard optimization methods is often extremely time-consuming and not fully automated due to the reliance on all-inclusive expert knowledge. We propose a sensitivity-guided iterative parameter identification and data generation algorithm. The sensitivity analysis replaces manual intervention, the parameter identification is realized by BayesFlow allowing for uncertainty quantification, and the data generation with the Physics-Enhanced Latent Space Variational Autoencoder (PELS-VAE) between two iteration steps enables inference of weakly identifiable parameters. A complete calibration experiment was conducted on a thermal model of an automotive cabin. The average relative error rate over all parameter estimations of 1.62% and the mean absolute error of calibrated model outputs of 0.108 ◦C validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the method. Moreover, the entire procedure accelerates up to one day, whereas the classical calibration method takes more than one week.
Magnetic Properties of La0.81Sr0.19Mn0.9Fe0.1−𝑥Zn𝑥O3 (𝑥 = 0, 𝑥=0.05)
Authors: Eremina R. M. , Yatsyk I. V. , Seidov Z. Y. , Vagizov F. G. , Shustov V. A. , Badelin A. G. , Karpasyuk V. K. , Abdinov D. S. , Tagiev M. M. , Estemirova S. Kh. , von Nidda H.-A. Krug
Published: August 2022

Magnetic properties of polycrystalline La0.81Sr0.19Mn0.9Fe0.1−𝑥Zn𝑥O3 (𝑥 = 0, 0.05) have been investigated by means of electron spin resonance, magnetic susceptibility, and Mössbauer measurements. Both samples show a clear ferromagnetic transition. The Curie temperature 𝑇C decreases on increasing Fe content. Mössbauer studies indicate that Fe in these compounds is in the trivalent high-spin state. The temperature evolution of the Mössbauer spectra at low temperatures (𝑇 < 𝑇C) is typical for ferromagnetic clusters with a wide distribution in size and magnetic correlation length. The inverse susceptibility of all the samples deviates from the Curie– Weiss law above 𝑇C, indicating the presence of fluctuations on approaching magnetic order. An anomalous downturn of the inverse susceptibility for 𝑥 = 0.05 significantly above 𝑇C and the concomitant observation of ferromagnetic resonance signals coexisting with the paramagnetic resonance up to approximately room temperature, is caused by a Griffiths-like behavior. This regime is characterized by the coexistence of ferromagnetic entities within the globally paramagnetic phase.
comparison of the root canal cleaning efficacy of three irrigation methods, XP-endo Finisher, EDDY, and PUI at different apical sizes: an in vitro study
Authors: Zheng Zhiguo , Cai Xiao , Hu Qi , Lu Yukang , Jiao Yutao , zhang Xiaoqin
Published: August 2022

Objectives To compare the effects of three irrigation methods (Passive Ultrasonic Irrigation (PUI), EDDY, and XP-endo Finisher (XPF)) in removing the smear layer of the curving root canals under different apical sizes.Material and methods Seventy-two mesial roots of mandibular molars were divided into nine groups according to different apical sizes and the irrigation protocols: group A1 (size 25, EDDY), group A2 (size 25, XPF), and group A3 (size 25, PUI); group B1 (size 30, EDDY),group B2 (size 30, XPF), and group B3 (size 30, PUI); group C1(size 35, EDDY),group C2 (size 35, XPF), and group C3 (size 35,PUI).The irrigation effect was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy at ×3000 magnification using a 5-point scoring system and statistically analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Results The application of PUI in mandibular molars should be prepared with the apical size of at least size 35(P＜0.05), and that of EDDY and XPF should only be prepared to size 25(P＜0.05).Conclusion Irrespective of the irrigation activation methods,none could completely remove the smear layer,while EDDY and XPF have a better cleaning effect than PUI under smaller apical size.Clinical relevance EDDY and XPF can be used as safer and more efficient irrigation activation devices.
Tongue depressor-assisted FDG PET/CT scans in oral cancer: a prospective study with a feasibility protocol
Authors: Wang Keh-Bin , Lin Yi-Ching , Kok Victor C. , Lai Jen-Tsung , Wang Hsin-Yi , Liu Ken-Liao , Tsai Shih-Chuan
Published: August 2022

Background
F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) is a powerful tool in oral cancer. However, the oral cavity is a small cavity with complex components. An invasive cancer or post-therapy change frequently cause difficulty in interpretation. In this study, we established a tongue depressor (TD)-assisted FDG PET/CT protocol to solve this problem.
Methods
We enrolled 264 patients with oral cancers. Early and delayed images were acquired in each FDG PET/CT examination. A wooden tongue depressor was placed either between buccal mucosa and teeth or between tongue border and teeth in delayed image. TD placed delayed image was compared with early images to analyze the extent of tumor. The discrimination ratio (DR) of the tumor was calculated as: (images that can clearly distinguish features /all images) × 100%.
Results
In tongue cancer group, the DR of the tumors were 26.1% on early images and 99.3% on TD placed delayed images (p < 0.001). In buccal cancer group, the DR of the tumors were 10.9% on early images and 98.2% on TD placed delayed images (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
The TD-assisted FDG PET/CT protocol is patient-friendly and effective in analyzing the tumor when evaluating oral cancer.
Change of monocytes/macrophages in ulcerative colitis patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression
Authors: Gao Xin , Duan Shihao , Cao Yubin , Zhang Yan
Published: August 2022

Background and aims:
Monocytes/Macrophages play important roles in Inflammatory bowel disease and depression, but few studies had focused on the change of monocytes/macrophages in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients with psychiatric disorders.
Methods
UC patients were divided into two groups based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Demographic and clinical data were captured. Peripheral blood samples and intestinal biopsies were collected for the analysis of monocyte immunophenotype, phagocytic function, and CD4 + T cell differentiation. Transmission electron microscopy was used to observe the ultrastructure of intestinal macrophages.
Results
A total of 139 UC patients were included. 37.41% and 32.37% of UC patients had symptoms of anxiety and depression. In patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression, mayo score, platelet count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and endoscopic score, histological scores were significantly higher than those in UC patients without. In patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression, the percentages of CD14 + + CD16 + monocytes and CD14 + CD16 + + monocytes were higher, and the phagocytosis was decreased. Patients with symptoms of anxiety/depression had more CD68 + cells and higher M1/M2 ratios in the intestine mucosal layer compared to those without.
Conclusions
Monocytes and intestinal macrophages from UC patients with anxiety/depression tended to polarize to pro-inflammatory subtypes, and their function was also impaired.
Determine a proper protocol for routine 18F-FDG uEXPLORER Total-Body PET/CT scan
Authors: Hu Huiran , Huang Yanchao , Sun Hongyan , Zhou Kemin , Jiang Li , Zhong Jinmei , Chen Li , Wang Lijuan , Han Yanjiang , Wu Hubing
Published: August 2022

Background
The axial length of a conventional PET/CT scanner is about 15–30 cm. However, uEXPLORER Total-Body PET/CT has an ultra-long axial field of view of 194 cm. By taking full use of all the scintillation photons, uEXPLORER has a 40 times higher sensitivity for photon detection relative to the conventional PET/CT. Ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) is a commonly used iterative algorithm in PET, however, it has a limitation that the image noise will increase when large number iteration is selected. A new penalized-likelihood iterative PET reconstruction, termed HYPER Iterative, was invented and now is available on the uEXPLORER Total-Body PET/CT. To date, its impact in lesion conspicuity in the patients with full injected dose or half injected dose was unclear. The goal of this study is to determine a proper protocol for routine 18F-FDG uEXPLORER Total-Body PET/CT scan.
Results
The quality of the 5 min PET image was excellent (score 5) for all the dose and reconstructed methods. Using the HYPER iterative method, PET image reached the excellent quality at 1 min with full-dose, and at 2 min with half-dose. While PET image reached a similar excellent quality at 2 min with full-dose and 3 min with half-dose using OSEM. The noise in OSEM reconstruction was higher than that by HYPER Iterative. Compared to OSEM, HYPER Iterative had slightly higher SUVmax and TBR of the lesions for large positive lesions (≥ 2cm) (SUVmax: up to 9% higher in full-dose and up to 13% higher in half-dose; TBR: up to 9% higher in full-dose and up to 23% higher in half-dose). For small positive lesions(≤ 10mm), HYPER Iterative had obviously higher SUVmax and TBR of the lesions (SUVmax: up to 45% higher in full-dose and up to 75% higher in half-dose; TBR: up to 45% higher in full-dose and up to 94% higher in half-dose).
Conclusions
Our study demonstrates that 1min scan with full dose and 2 min with half dose is proper for clinical diagnosis using HYPER Iterative, and 2 to 3 min scan for OSEM reconstruction. For detection of the small lesions, HYPER Iterative reconstruction is preferred.
A retrospective study of the safety and immunogenicity of MVC-COV1901 vaccine for people living with HIV
Authors: Cheng Shu-Hsing , Lien Chia En , Hsieh Szu-Min , Cheng Chien-Yu , Liu Wang-Da , Lo Ching-Lung , Ko Wen-Chien , Chen Yen-Hsu , Huang Ching-Tai , Chang Hsiao-Ting , Hwang Shinn-Jang , Wang Ning-Chi , Liu Ming-Che , Lee Yu-Lin , Tai I-Chen , Estrada Josue Antonio Garcia , Lin Tzou-Yien , Lee Wen-Sen
Published: August 2022

Safety and immunogenicity of MVC-COV1901, a recombinant COVID-19 protein vaccine, containing S-2P protein adjuvanted with CpG 1018 and aluminium hydroxide, was assessed for people living with HIV (PWH). A total of 57 PWH of ≥ 20 years of age who are on stable antiretroviral therapy were compared with 882 HIV-negative participants. Participants received 2 doses of MVC-COV1901 28 days apart. No vaccine-related serious adverse events (SAEs) were recorded. Seroconversion rates (SCRs) of 100% and 99.8% were achieved in PWH and comparators, respectively, 28 days after second dose. After adjusting for sex, age, BMI category, and comorbidity, the adjusted GMT ratio of comparator/PWH was 3.2 (95% CI 2.5-4). A higher CD4/CD8 ratio was associated with a higher GMT (R = 0.27, p = 0.039). MVC-COV1901 has shown robust safety but elicited weaker immune responses in PWH. As a result, a third dose or booster doses of MVC-COV1901 may be appropriate for PWH.ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT04695652.
Quality assessment of malaria microscopic diagnosis at the LPM-HALD of Dakar, Senegal, in 2020.
Authors: GARBA Mamane Nassirou , DEME Awa Bineta , DIALLO Mamadou Alpha , DIEDHIOU Younous , MBAYE Amadou M. , DIA Mareme , SECK Anna , ZOUMAROU Daba , NDIAYE Yaye D. , NDIAYE Lamine , NDIAYE Tolla , DIONGUE Khadim , SECK Mame Cheikh , NDIAYE Mouhamadou , BADIANE Aida S. , NDIAYE Daouda
Published: August 2022

Background
Following WHO guidelines, microscopy is the reference for malaria diagnosis in endemic countries. The Parasitology-Mycology laboratory (LPM) is the National Reference Laboratory and is currently undergoing ISO 15189 accreditation. In this perspective, we proceeded to laboratory verification through assessing the performance of the laboratory by confirming the reliability and the accuracy of the results obtained in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 15189 standards. This study aimed to verify the method of microscopic diagnosis of malaria at the LPM, in the Aristide Le Dantec hospital (HALD) in Dakar, Senegal.
Methods
This is a validation/verification study conducted from June to August 2020. Twenty (20) microscopic slides of thick/thin smear with known parasite densities (PD) selected from the Cheick Anta Diop University malaria slide bank in Dakar were used for this assessment. Six (6) were used to assess readers' ability to determine PD and fourteen (14) were used for detection and identification of parasites. Four (4) LPM-HALD microscopists read and recorded their results on prepared sheets. Data analysis was done with Microsoft Excel 2010 software.
Results
Of these twenty (20) slides read, a 100% agreement was obtained on eight (8) slides. Four (4) out of the six (6) parasite density evaluation slides obtained a concordance of less than 50%. Thirteen (13) out of the fourteen (14) identification slides obtained a concordance greater than 50%. Only one (1) identification slide obtained zero agreement from the readers. On the other hand, for species identification it was noted a score greater than 80% and the PD obtained a score between 0.20 and 0.4. Readers obtained 100% precision, sensitivity, specificity and both negative and positive predictive values.
Conclusion
This work demonstrated that the microscopic method of malaria diagnosis used in the LPM/HALD are in accoradance with all the reliability required by ISO 15189.
Functional architecture of M1 cells encoding movement direction
Authors: MAZZETTI Caterina , SARTI Alessandro , Citti Giovanna
Published: August 2022

In this paper we propose a neurogeometrical model for the behaviour of cells of the arm area of the primary motor cortex (M1). From Georgopoulos neural models [31, 29], we will provide a fiber bundle structure which is able to describe the hypercolumnar organization of the cortical area. On this structure, we will consider the selective tuning of M1 neurons of kinematic variables of positions and directions of movement. We will then extend this model to encode the direction of arm movement which varies in time, as experimentally measured by Hatsopoulos [37] by introducing the notion of movement fragments. This leads to consider a higher dimensional geometrical structure where fragments will be represented as integral curves. A fitting of parameters with neurophysiological data will be described, and a comparison with the curves obtained through numerical simulations and experimental data will be presented. Finally, we will compare our model with the area of V1 responsible for movement coding, which exhibits analogous time-dependent receptive profiles.
Cigarette smoke and tumor micro-environment co-promote aggressiveness of human breast cancer cells
Authors: Benoit Louise , Tomkiewicz Celine , Delit Maxime , Khider Hanna , Audouze Karine , Kowandy Flavie , Bortoli Sylvie , Barouki Robert , Coumoul Xavier , Koual Meriem
Published: August 2022

The role of the environment in breast cancer (BC) progression has recently been suggested. We aimed to assess if a mixture of pollutants, cigarette smoke, could favor its aggressivity. We also evaluated the impact of the micro-environment, largely represented by adipocytes, in mediating this.BC cells lines MCF-7 were cultured using a transwell co-culture model with preadipocytes hMADS cells or were cultured alone. Cells were treated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and the four conditions: control, CSE, co-culture and co-exposure (co-culture and CSE) were compared. We analyzed morphological changes, cell migration, resistance to anoikis, stemness, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and presence of hormonal receptors in each condition. A complete transcriptomic analysis was carried out to highlight certain pathways.Several hallmarks of metastasis were specific to the coexposure condition (cell migration, resistance to anoikis, stemness) whereas others (morphological changes, EMT, loss of hormonal receptors) could be seen in the coculture condition and were aggravated by CSE (coexposure). Moreover, MCF-7 cells presented a decrease in hormonal receptors, suggesting an endocrine treatment resistance. These results were confirmed by the transcriptomic analysis. Our in vitro results suggest that a common mixture of pollutants could promote BC metastasis in a co-culture model.
CuFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 @L-arginine@Cu(I) as a new magnetically retrievable heterogeneous nanocatalyst with high efficiency for 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles synthesis
Authors: Salehzadeh Fatemeh , Esmkhani Maryam , Zallaghi Mahsa , Javanshir Shahrzad , Dekamin Mohammad G.
Published: August 2022

A novel magnetic heterogeneous catalyst was synthesized through the immobilization of copper ions onto the l-arginine functionalized CuFe2O4@SiO2. The prepared catalyst was characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). The resulting catalyst was used in the ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles via a one-pot three-component reaction of alkynes, alkyl halides, and sodium azides under green conditions within a short time. The catalyst reusability was investigated after five cycles and no significant loss of activity was observed.
Agility, digitalization, and localization: a framework for supply chain resilience
Authors: Thekkoote Ramadas
Published: August 2022

The epidemic of COVID-19 exposed companies to the failure of typical manufacturing and consumption patterns and their long-term effects on supply chains. This conceptual paper discusses localization, agility, and digitalization factors that make the supply chain more resilient. From a theoretical perspective, this research intends to investigate how these characteristics interact to assist the supply chain in becoming resilient by using digitalization, localization, and agility as enablers through conceptual models.The methodology used in this study is an exploratory conceptual investigation to cover the theoretical gaps. A critical evaluation of the literature was conducted to develop a conceptual model to ascertain the current state of knowledge regarding the relationship between supply chain resilience, localization, agility, and digitization in management practice. The study's primary data are the responses to questionnaires issued to respondents, analyzed, and hypotheses were formed and tested using the structural equation modeling technique. The result indicates that agility, localization, and digitalization positively impact supply chain resilience. Additionally, the industry's size and type positively impact the supply chain resilience as a control variable.As a result of the research, a new understanding of supply chain resilience emerges that can assist firms to gain new possibilities to develop new ways to do business under stress.
Language Models Learn Sentiment and Substance from 11,000 Psychoactive Experiences
Authors: Friedman Sam , Ballentine Galen
Published: August 2022

With novel hallucinogens poised to enter psychiatry, we lack a unified framework for quantifying which changes in consciousness are optimal for treatment. Using transformers (i.e. BERT) and 11,816 publicly-available drug testimonials, we first predicted 28-dimensions of sentiment across each narrative, validated with psychiatrist annotations. Secondly, BERT was trained to predict biochemical and demographic information from testimonials. Thirdly, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) linked 52 drugs' receptor affinities with testimonial word usage, revealing 11 latent receptor-experience factors, mapped to a 3D cortical atlas. Together, these 3 machine learning methods elucidate a neurobiologically-informed, temporally-sensitive portrait of drug-induced subjective experiences. Different models’ results converged, revealing a pervasive distinction between lucid and mundane phenomena. MDMA was linked to "Love", DMT and 5-MeO-DMT to "Mystical Experiences", and other tryptamines to "Surprise", "Curiosity" and "Realization". Applying these models to real-time biofeedback, practitioners could harness them to guide the course of therapeutic sessions.
Porphyrin-based porous organic frameworks as efficient peroxidase mimics for selective detection of hydrogen peroxide and glucose
Authors: Wang Feiyan , Liao Linhong , Zhang Quanquan , Luo Xiaogang , Li Wei , Wu Fengshou
Published: August 2022

Glucose is regarded as a clinical biomarker, and the abnormal level of glucose in blood would cause endocrine metabolic diseases. Thus, it is of great significance to develop a simple, accurate, and sensitive method for glucose detection. In this work, we synthesized an iron porphyrin-based porous organic framework (Fe-POF) through a facile alkylation reaction between 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-aminophenyl) porphyrin (TAPP) and cyanuric chloride. Fe-POF exhibited excellent peroxidase-like activity and could be used to detect hydrogen peroxide and the molecules associated with hydrogen peroxide such as glucose. The structure of Fe-POF was confirmed through a series of methods, such as FT-IR, SEM, EDS, TEM, and XPS. Fe-POF exhibited excellent peroxidase-like activity, which could catalyze the oxidization of colorless 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) into blue product (ox-TMB) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Based on this phenomenon, a simple colorimetric assay was constructed for the detection of H2O2 and glucose with high selectivity and sensitivity. The detection limit of H2O2 and glucose was calculated to be 1.8 and 1.39 µM, respectively. Finally, Fe-POF was applied as a colorimetric sensor for rapid detection of glucose in diluted serum samples.
Association between neonatal uterine bleeding and endometriosis-related symptoms later in life
Authors: Ogawa Kanae , Khan Khaleque N , Kuroboshi Haruo , Koshiba Akemi , Horiguchi Go , Teramukai Satoshi , Fujishita Akira , Itoh Kyoko , Kitawaki Jo , Mori Taisuke
Published: August 2022

Background: Neonatal uterine bleeding (NUB) is reported to be involved in early onset endometriosis. There is no information whether young women with a history of NUB may manifest various symptoms related to endometriosis. In the present study we investigated the possible association between NUB and endometriosis-related symptoms later in life who are now adults. Methods: This is a retrospective case-controlled cohort study and prospective evaluation of questionnaire-based symptoms related to endometriosis among young women born with and without NUB. The prevalence of NUB was calculated and multiple logistic regression analysis with variable confounding factors was conducted to identify risk factors of NUB. The results of web-based questionnaire survey were analyzed by continuous variables using Wilcoxon rank sum test and categorical variables using Fisher’s exact test to compare endometriosis-related symptoms. Results: Among 807 female babies born at our hospital between 2013 and 2017, NUB occurred in 25 cases with a prevalence of 3.1%. Twenty-five NUB cases showed overt bleeding 4.5±1.8 days after birth (median 4 days, range 1-8 days) and it lasted for 1.4±0.8 days (median 1 day, range 1-4 days). Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that younger age of the mother ((OR, 0.92, 95% CI 0.85-1.00, P=0.048)) and longer gestational age of 39 weeks (OR 3.04, 95% CI 1.43-6.45, P=0.004) and ≥40 weeks (OR 4.54, 95% CI 2.20-9.39, P<0.0001) of gestation were significantly associated with the occurrence of NUB. Young women with or without a history of NUB during the period of 1996-2000 manifested various endometriosis-related symptoms.Conclusion: We confirmed the validity of the reported prevalence and risk factors of NUB. Young mothers and longer gestational age are the risk factors of NUB and newborn females with or without NUB similarly suffer from various endometriosis-related symptoms later in life. Future prospective cross-sectional study is warranted to confirm the endometriosis-related symptoms in NUB+ cases by physical examination/ultrasound/MRI or laparoscopy. Trial registration: not applicable
Plant-Extract-Assisted Eco-friendly synthesis of Iron oxide nanoparticles using cape gooseberry Extract and their Antibacterial study
Authors: Birusanti Arun Babu , Espenti Chandra Sekhar , Mala Sreenivasulu
Published: August 2022

Cape gooseberry plant leaf extract mediated iron oxide nanoparticles (CG-IONPs) were prepared for the antibacterial study. The optimum precursor salt concentration, pH of the reaction mixture, the ratio between reducing agent and precursor salt, and time for the synthesis of iron nanoparticles were found to be 5 mM, 9.0, 3:7, and 0th, respectively. The synthesized iron nanoparticles were characterized by UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy, Photoluminescence Spectroscopy (PL), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Thermal Analysis (TG/DTA), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A FTIR measurement was carried out to identify the possible molecules like carbonyl, CH, and OH bands which were responsible for the reduction and formation of the nanoparticles. From the X-ray diffraction (XRD) method, it was found that the average particle size of magnetite nanoparticles was found to be 24.18 nm. TEM analysis has been carried out to determine the size and shape of the synthesized CG-IONPs. The thermal stability of the synthesized CG-IONPs was tested by performing TG/DTA analysis, using a nitrogen atmosphere. XPS analysis was carried out to measure the elemental composition and oxidation states of the elements present in CG-IONPs. The PL analysis has been employed in the present study to explore the luminescent character of CG-IONPs. The synthesized CG-IONPs had antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica by the well diffusion method. This biosynthesis method has been found to be cost-effective, good for the environment, and likely to be useful in many fields.
Metabarcoding Inventory of an Arctic Tundra Soil Ecosystem Reveals Highly Endemic Communities
Authors: Jorna Jesse , Vandenbrink Bryan , Hogg Ian D. , Wall Diana H. , Adams Byron J.
Published: August 2022

Biodiversity surveys of Arctic soil ecosystems are limited. Here, we provide a sequence-based inventory of soil fauna from an Arctic tundra ecosystem near Iqaluktuutiaq (Cambridge Bay), Nunavut. Invertebrate communities were extracted from soil at three sites with vegetation cover and three non-vegetated sites and inventoried using 18S metabarcode sequencing. A total of 361 Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV) were identified and assigned to the closest matching taxonomic orders, most of which belonged to the Nematoda and Arthropoda. Vegetated soils showed no significantly higher ASV richness relative to non-vegetated soils although they contained a significantly higher diversity of arthropod taxa including insects, mites and springtails. The majority of taxa were found only at a single location and communities were distinct between soils even for sites with vegetation cover, suggesting that belowground species richness in Arctic tundra habitats is highly endemic and heterogeneous. Preserving endemicity is essential for Inuit communities who rely on intact tundra ecosystems for their health and wellbeing.
Handgrip strength conditional tolerance regions suggest the need for personalized sarcopenia definition: An analysis of the American NHANES database
Authors: Matabuena Marcos , Abdalla Pedro Pugliesi , Machado Dalmo Roberto Lopes , Bohn Lucimere , Mota Jorge
Published: August 2022

Background : Handgrip strength (HGS) is a well-established clinical biomarker that assesses functional capacity in older populations. In addition, HGS is a diagnostic tool that forecasts aging health conditions, such as sarcopenia. Aims : This paper provides HGS statistical tolerance regions and presents the need to establish HGS reference values according to patients' characteristics. Methods : For this purpose, we used a conditional tolerance algorithm for HGS, and we observed the tolerances regions in different age strata and sex of non-sarcopenic individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, wave 2011-2012). Results and Discussion : Our results have critical implications for sarcopenia since conventional and available HGS cut-offs do not consider age range. Conclusions : This paper offers new perspectives on the evolution of traditional definitions of sarcopenia according to the principles of precision medicine.
Performance of Taxonomically Diverse Native Isolates of Mycorrhizal Fungi in Symbiosis with Young Grapevines
Authors: Schreiner R. Paul , Tian Tian
Published: August 2022

Grapevines rely on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) to obtain ample phosphorus (P) from soils with low to moderate P like the Ultisols of western Oregon. Prior research indicated that nine species, or virtual taxa, of AMF colonized the roots of ‘Pinot noir’ at greater than 1% abundance in a single vineyard. However, little is known about how different taxa within a community vary in their capacity to function as symbionts with grapevines. The effectiveness of five native AMF species representing five genera to promote growth and nutrient uptake of ‘Pinot noir’ was examined in a fumigated Ultisol soil under well-watered and periodically dry conditions. Plants were grown with each of the different isolates alone or without AMF. After 8 and 16 weeks, whole vines were destructively harvested and biomass and nutrients were determined. Results showed that four of the isolates colonized roots extensively, increased root and shoot biomass, and predominantly increased P uptake. A Claroideoglomus isolate was superior in promoting shoot growth as compared with Rhizophagus irregularis, even though both isolates increased P uptake to the same extent, suggesting a higher carbon cost for R. irregularis. Scutellospora calospora failed to colonize roots beyond a trace and had no impact on vine performance. The ability to increase P uptake among the four effective fungi was not related to the frequency of arbuscules in roots suggesting that some P exchange occurs via hyphae within the cortex, particularly for Funneliformis mosseae. Water limitation reduced P uptake as a main effect across all mycorrhizal treatments, suggesting that the native isolates studied here have similar functionality under well-watered and periodically dry conditions.
Quantum Neural Network Classifiers: A Tutorial
Authors: Li Weikang , Lu Zhi-de , Deng Dong-Ling
Published: August 2022

Machine learning has achieved dramatic success over the past decade, with applications ranging from face recognition to natural language processing. Meanwhile, rapid progress has been made in the field of quantum computation including developing both powerful quantum algorithms and advanced quantum devices. The interplay between machine learning and quantum physics holds the intriguing potential for bringing practical applications to the modern society. Here, we focus on quantum neural networks in the form of parameterized quantum circuits. We will mainly discuss different structures and encoding strategies of quantum neural networks for supervised learning tasks, and benchmark their performance utilizing Yao.jl, a quantum simulation package written in Julia Language. The codes are efficient, aiming to provide convenience for beginners in scientific works such as developing powerful variational quantum learning models and assisting the corresponding experimental demonstrations.
MUNZUR VE ANA FATMA ÖRNEKLERİ ÜZERİNDEN TUNCELİ’DE SU KÜLTÜ
Authors: KÖSE Onur
Published: August 2022

Tunceli halk inancı içerisinde köklü bir geçmişe sahip su kültü, geçmiş inançların yörede yaşayan izlerine önemli bir örnektir. Eski Türk inanışlarından Anadolu’ya taşınan ve buradaki kadim inançlarla da harmanlanan su kültü, yörede pek çok kutsal mekânda ve ritüelde kendisini göstermektedir. Bu doğrultuda yapılan çalışma, yöre kutsal mekânları Munzur Gözeleri ve akarsuyu ile Ana Fatma ziyaretlerini inceleyerek, su kültünün İslam’la harmanlanarak, Alevi/Kızılbaş inancı içerisinde nasıl yeniden anlam kazandığını ve sürdüğünü ortaya koymaktadır. Yörede bu iki kutsal mekân inancı içerisindeki su kültü aydınlatılmaya çalışılmıştır. Bu amaçla çalışmamız içerisinde ilk olarak eski Türklerde mevcut su kültü incelenmiştir, ardından Tunceli yöresindeki su kültüne genel anlamda değinilmiştir. Son olarak Munzur ve Ana Fatma ziyaretleri, bu ziyaretlerdeki su kültü ve ilişkili olduğu diğer kültler ele alınmıştır. Eski Türklerde mevcut su iyesinin, Tunceli’de Munzur ve Ana Fatma üzerinden yeniden anlam kazandığı sonucuna varılmıştır. Akarsu kenarında yapılan kurban, saçı ve çıra ritüelleri gibi, eski Türk inanç dünyası içerisindeki ritüellerin Tunceli’deki yansımaları tespit edilmiştir. Bu anlamda söz konusu inançsal ve kültürel yansımalar, tarihsel verilerle birlikte açıklanmaya çalışılmıştır.
RUPEN HANEDANINDA SİYASETİN GÖLGESİNDE YAPILAN EVLİLİKLER
Authors: AKTAŞ Yasemin
Published: August 2022

Toplumun en küçük yapı birimi olan ailenin temelinin atıldığı evlilik, devletler tarafından siyasetin bir parçası hâline getirilerek uygulandı. Devletler arasında evlilik girişiminde pek çok gerekçe olup savaşların sonlandırılması, sulhun devamı, müttefik edinmek, varis bırakabilmek gibi bir çok etken sıralanabilir. XI. yüzyıldan itibaren Çukurova’da ortaya çıkan Rupen hanedanında da baron Konstantin’den itibaren güçlü müttefikler edinmek ve bölgede hâkimiyet kurabilmek için siyasî evlilikler yapıldı. Latin krallıkları, İznik Bizans Devleti ve Haçlı kontluklarıyla kız alıp vermek suretiyle akrabalıklar kuruldu. Çoğunluğu Haçlı kontları ve Latin krallarıyla olan evliliklerde siyasî ve askerî gerekçelerin yanı sıra Haçlı kontlarının çeyiz yoluyla maddi çıkar elde etme arzusu da etkili oldu. Keyfiyetin söz konusu olmadığı evlilikler, kilise kontrolünde belirli kurallar çerçevesinde başlayıp yine belirli şartlar dâhilinde sonlandırılabilirdi. Bu çalışmada Çukurova’da ortaya çıkan Rupen hanedanı tarafından gerçekleştirilen evliliklerin yapılış gayeleri, süreçleri ve sonlandırılmaları ele alındı.
Application of weather research and forecasting (WRF) model in evaluating depth–duration–frequency estimates under a future climate scenario
Authors: Mohebbi Amin , Adams Katlynn Rose , Akbariyeh Simin , Maruf Montasir , Hosseini Baghanam Aida
Published: August 2022

Point precipitation frequency estimates (PPFEs) are used in the design of stormwater drainage infrastructures. The PPFEs for 1-year to 1,000-year recurrence intervals with durations ranging from 5 min to 60 days are published in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Atlas 14. NOAA's published PPFEs are accepted as a reliable resource for the design of urban drainage infrastructures, yet they are based on the stationary climate assumption. However, future climate change may affect the distribution, frequency, and intensity of precipitation events. To evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on the stationary climate assumption, a weather research and forecasting (WRF) model was developed based on the medium climate change emission scenario. Then, the PPFEs were determined for 2010–2015, 2030–2035, 2050–2055, and 2070–2075 at six different locations in the state of Arizona. The comparison of the published and simulated PPFEs revealed a varying trend in depth and frequency values dependent on location and climate. Additionally, depth values were diminished for <3-h events at a majority of the stations.
Modern vision for critical ﬂow in an egg-shaped section (Part II)
Authors: Soraya Bouslah , Lamia Hachemi-Rachedi , Moussa Lakehal , Bachir Achour
Published: August 2022

The main aim of this research was to examine the simultaneous effects of all flow parameters on the critical regime occurrence frequency in an egg-shaped conduit. Furthermore, one may first study the impacts of the conduit's generator diameter, then the influence of the generator diameter/longitudinal slope, and finally the effect of all parameters: the generator diameter, longitudinal slope, roughness and viscosity. It has been concluded that all these parameters, combined, have limit values that can generate a single critical state from which a diagram can be drawn showing different states of the critical flow that can be observed. Notably, this diagram is established according to the following practical ranges: relative roughness 0 ≤ ε/D ≤ 5.10−2, generator diameter 0.25 m ≤ D ≤ 4 m and Galileo number 2.105 ≤ ≤ 4.107. This revealed that the critical regime can develop smooth, rough and transition domains. Critical flow is very unstable; therefore, it is to be avoided in practice, which means that the dimensions and the slope of the conduit must be such that they do not cause such a state of flow. This explains why knowledge of the characteristics of the critical flow, including the frequency of its occurrence for a given installation, is essential.
Cuidadores de personas con esclerosis múltiple: carga de cuidado, apoyo social y calidad de vida
Authors: Puerto-Guerrero Ana Helena , López-Díaz Lucero , Velásquez-Gutíerrez Vilma Florisa , Tovar-Roa Rubby Leonor , López-Reyes Lorena
Published: August 2022

Se describe la carga de cuidado, del apoyo social y la calidad de vida en relación con las características de los cuidadores familiares de personas con esclerosis múltiple. Estudio observacional con muestra por conveniencia con 41 cuidadores familiares de personas con esclerosis múltiple. La carga de cuidado se evaluó con la escala de carga del cuidador de Zarit, El apoyo social con el MOS y la calidad de vida con el cuestionario WHOQOL- BREF. El análisis de datos se realizó con estadística descriptiva y no paramétrica. Se encontró que 70,7% de cuidadores eran mujeres, 80,5% casados, 41,5% con estudios universitarios, 58,5% trabajan, la mayoría con ingresos bajos. Las principales actividades de cuidado eran acompañamiento (95,1%) y soporte emocional (75,6%). 82,6% con ausencia de carga de cuidado, 80,5% recibían apoyo para el cuidado con una mediana (Md) de 79 y desviación cuartil (Dc) de 11 en el MOS y buena calidad de vida. Se concluye que los cuidadores familiares, en su mayoría, están sin sobrecarga del cuidado, cuentan con apoyo social y buena calidad de vida probablemente por las características socioeconómicas favorables, motivación de amor para el cuidado y condiciones del familiar con EM recurrente y baja discapacidad.
Estado emocional de cuidadores y de niños preescolares: antes y durante la cuarentena por COVID-19
Authors: Romero-Acosta Kelly , Fonseca-Beltrán Leodanis , Doria-Dávila Daniela , Herazo-Chamorro Mónica , Pérez-Vásquez Diego
Published: August 2022

La cuarentena por la pandemia de COVID-19, trajo consigo diversos retos para las familias con niños pequeños. Muchos niños dejaron de ir al parque, a los centros de desarrollo infantil, a donde los abuelos. Por esa razón, el objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los síntomas depresivos de cuidadores(as), la percepción de la función familiar y los problemas internalizados y externalizados en niños(as) de dos a cinco años, en tres grupos entrevistados en tres momentos: 1) antes de la cuarentena por COVID-19 en Colombia, 2) durante las tres primeras semanas de cuarentena y 3) de la cuarta a la sexta semana de cuarentena. Los cuestionarios usados midieron: características sociodemográficas, la percepción del impacto del COVID-19 en la vida de los individuos, la percepción de la función-familiar, los síntomas depresivos de cuidadores, y el comportamiento y estado emocional de los niños. Se halló que el comportamiento agresivo (Media= 8,79; p=0,000), la ansiedad (3,85; p=0,025) y los problemas de atención (2,53; p=0,023) fueron más altos en el tercer grupo estudiado. La percepción de la función familiar fue más positiva en el tercer grupo (Media: 14,06; p=0,006).
The Mechanism of Action of Lactoferrin - Nucleoside Diphosphate Kinase
Complex in Combating Biofilm Formation
Authors: Sikarwar Juhi , Singh Jiya , Singh Tej P. , Sharma Pradeep , Sharma Sujata
Published: August 2022

Background:

The ESKAPE group of pathogens which comprise of multidrug resistant
bacteria, namely Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae,
Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species are the cause of
deadly nosocomial infections all over the world. While these pathogens have developed robust
strategies to resist most antibiotics, their ability to form biofilms is one of their most combative
properties. Hence there is an urgent need to discover new antibacterial agents which could prevent
or destroy the biofilms made by these bacteria. Though it has been established that lactoferrin (LF),
a potent iron binding antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral protein displays anti-biofilm properties,
its mechanisms of action, in addition to its iron chelation property, still remains unclear.

Objective:

The binding and inhibition studies of LF with the enzyme Nucleoside diphosphate
Kinase (NDK) and its elastase cleaved truncated 12 kDa fragment (12-NDK).

Methods:

The characterization studies of NDK and 12-NDK using florescence spectroscopy,
dynamic light scattering, size exclusion chromatography and ADP-glo Kinase Assay. Inhibition
studies of LF-NDK using ADP-glo kinase assay, Surface Plasmon Resonance and Biofilm
inhibition studies.

Results:

NDK and 12-NDK were cloned, expressed and purified from Acinetobacter baumannii and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The characterization studies revealed NDK and 12-NDK from both
species are stable and functional. The inhibition studies of LF-NDK revealed stable binding and
inhibition of kinase activity by LF.

Conclusion:

The binding and inhibition studies have shown that while LF binds with both the NDK
and their truncated forms, it tends to have a higher binding affinity with the truncated 12 kDa
fragments, resulting in their decreased kinase activity. This study essentially gives a new direction
to the field of inhibition of biofilm formation, as it proves that LF has a novel mechanism of action
in other than iron sequestration.