bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical manifestations of familial hypercholesterolemia: a case series
Authors: Shankar Rao Subramani K. , Chikkabasavaiah Nagamani A. , Hathi Varshit D. , Jadhav Santosh , Noorain Saleha , Gowda Ravinandan , Nanjappa Manjunath C.
Published: May 2021

Familial hypercholesterolemia is a rare, monogenic, co-dominant, life-threatening disorder resulting from loss of function mutations in the genes responsible for synthesis of low-density lipoprotein receptors or apo-B genes or gain of function mutations in PCSK9 genes in the liver which affects 0.2% of the population. It is characterized by severe lifelong elevation of LDL cholesterol and by development of xanthelasma, xanthomas, premature coronary artery disease and peripheral artery occlusive disease. Most patients develop PCAD and aortic stenosis before the age of 20 years and die before 30 years of age. The diagnosis of FH is usually based on clinical presentation and commonly used criteria are the Dutch lipid clinic network criteria, Simon Broome criteria or the WHO criteria. We encountered four cases of familial hypercholesterolemia over last 10 years. All the four patients presented with effort angina and all were found to have obstructive coronary artery disease oncoronary angiogram and two of them had severe supravalvular aortic stenosis. All four patients were on dietary modifications, high intensity statin and cholesterol absorption inhibitor. Two patients underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with aortoplasty, one patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and one patient underwent percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.  Familial hypercholesterolemia leads to development of life-threatening manifestations early in the second and third decades of life. Early diagnosis, aggressive treatment and control of risk factors and cascade screening are important in management and will help to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.
Domestic Violence against Infertile Women
Authors: Sharifi Farangis , Jamali Jamshid , Larki Mona , Roudsari Robab L.
Published: May 2021

Domestic violence (DV) against infertile women is an important health concern, which affect their well-being. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the prevalence of DV against infertile women. The study was done based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) on international electronic databases. Inclusion criteria were cross-sectional studies published in English and Persian journals, which investigated the prevalence of DV against infertile women up to May 2020. Out of 634 studies, 26 cross-sectional studies were systematically reviewed, from which 16 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Violence varied widely in infertile women, from 14.987 to 88.918%. The results of meta-analysis showed that the prevalence of violence was equal to 47.163% (95% CI 34.660 to 59.850%). Psychological and emotional violence was the most common types of violence. Considering high rate of DV, policymakers are recommended to address the problem by providing supportive cares including educational and counseling services.

Keywords: Women's Infertility, Violence, Domestic Violence, Intimate Partner Violence
Utilização de batata doce (Ipomea batatas l.) para produção de uma forma sólida efervescente
Authors: Santos Jucenir , Almeida Castro Pagani Alessandra
Published: May 2021

O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver uma forma sólida efervescente (comprimido) de batata doce roxa e realizar a caracterização físico-química e dos compostos bioativos da batata e do comprimido. Inicialmente as batatas foram pesadas, sanitizadas e fatiadas em um mini processador industrial. Em seguida as batatas seguiram para secagem em secador de bancada a 65ºC por duas horas. Após a secagem os chips foram triturados e a farinha seguiu para formulação do comprimido. Os ingredientes foram pesados em seguida foi realizada a prensagem do pó em uma prensa manual. Para dar a forma ao comprimido, foi utilizado molde de botão. Foram realizadas análises de umidade, cor, cinzas, sólidos solúveis, carotenoides, vitamina C e compostos fenólicos para a batata e para o comprimido. A farinha de batata doce apresentou rendimento de 28,31%. A caracterização físico-química e dos compostos bioativos da batata apontou esta como uma matéria prima potencialmente nutritiva para a elaboração de novos produtos. Frente a uma grande produção e um restrito uso, o desenvolvimento de uma forma sólida efervescente de batata doce surge como uma opção inovadora e nutritiva.
F. D. Kryukov - Teacher, Public Figure, Writer. Evolution of Political Views
Authors: Kislitsyn Sergey A. , Kislitsyna Inna G.
Published: May 2021

The article analyzes the socio-political activities of the writer F. Kryukov and the evolution of his views. While working as a history and geography teacher, he sharply criticized and publicly evaluated the capabilities of the state education system. During the 1905 revolution, he was a Deputy of the 1st State Duma, the founder of the party of People's Socialism, and opposed the participation of the Cossacks in suppressing the revolution. During the Stolypin reaction, he published his stories about the Cossacks in the neonational magazine “Russian Wealthˮ and was criticized by V. I. Lenin. During the First world war, Kryukov acted as a supporter of “war to the bitter endˮ and became a supporter of conservative political views. After February, he re-entered political life. In April 1917, he was a delegate to the Military Congress in Novocherkassk and a candidate for the Constituent Assembly from the Don Army. Kryukov did not accept the October revolution and the idea of social equality and categorically condemned it. He became a Deputy and Secretary of the Military Circle and editor of the newspaper “Don Statementsˮ, where he published more than 30 articles and essays about the White Movement and the Cossacks. His journalism of the period demonstrated the ultra-pedigree position of the representative of the vendean part of the Cossacks. Kryukov became a counterrevolutionary, abandoning the people's socialist ideals. This transformation of worldview values was logical, since it was based on the Cossack self-consciousness and self-perception laid down from childhood and youth. At every stage of evolution as a politician, Kryukov was a prominent figure in public life, which makes him one of the most prominent figures of the Don land.
Cultural Barries to the Labor Integration of Refugees in Bulgaria
Authors: Mantarova Anna I.
Published: May 2021

The paper examines the situation in Bulgaria after the arrival of large numbers of immigrants from the Middle East, in terms of their ability to enter the labor market. The purpose of this study is to analyze the potential and obstacles for the labor integration of refugees and asylum seekers, taking into account the attitude of the Bulgarian society towards this group and its inclusion in the labor market. The proposed analysis uses statistics from the National Statistical Institute, the State Agency for Refugees, data from two nationally representative empirical studies, and interviews with citizens of Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan in the refugee centers. The objective and subjective prerequisites of labor integration of immigrants have been considered - the situation on the labor market, incl. taking into account changes in the age structure of the population in the country, the socio-demographic characteristics of immigrants, their subjective intentions, the attitude of the local population towards them, opinions on equality in the labor market. Particular attention has been paid to the dependence of these attitudes on the perception of threats associated with the presence of immigrants in the country, socio-demographic characteristics, value systems. As a result of the analysis, it was concluded that a low educational level, as a rule, accompanied by a lack of any professional skills, combined with a previous life in a completely different material and organizational environment, is a serious problem in the process of adaptation to new material and cultural living conditions, to new standards and behavioral patterns of the host society. In addition, for the majority of immigrants, Bulgaria is not the ultimate goal, but is only a transit corridor to Western and Northern Europe, and they do not intend to build their future in the country. As for the locals and their attitudes towards immigrants, a significant part of the population does not accept them. Discriminatory attitudes are quite common, including employment. But it should be said that over time the sense of threat weakens, and in general, when forming attitudes towards refugees, more and more importance is attached to their social qualities, and not so much to their religious and ethnicity. In this situation, value systems acquire key importance for the formation of a favorable environment that will motivate immigrants to settle, adapt, develop and realize themselves in the Bulgarian society. The general conclusion is that a systematic approach is required, covering all elements and interactions of the system of immigrants - institutions - local population.
Mortality in Belarus During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Zlotnikov Anatoly G.
Published: May 2021

The author analyzes the influence of demographic factors on the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. The basis of the analysis is the use of the Big Data methodology. The influence and consequences of urbanization, migration, demographic structure, and information sources on the state and prospects of mortality are considered. The article provides an analysis of the state of mortality processes in the Republic of Belarus for the period 1990-2019, and shows the influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the state of mortality processes and demographic losses in the Republic of Belarus in 2020. The association of the spread of COVID-19, migration and its consequences with the process of urbanization and the growth of agglomerations is revealed. The article formulates the position on the dominance of various types of migration in the spread of viral diseases. Various types of international migration are the carriers of the covid pandemic. The article describes the relationship of the Belarusian labor migration to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. Within the country, the carriers of the virus and the magnitude of the incidence are associated with the pendulum and, above all, with labor migration. The article presents comparable information on the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Belarus in comparison with the countries bordering it – Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. The article substantiates the position on the influence of changes in the age structure of the population on the dynamics of total mortality. The influence of the coronavirus pandemic on the structure of causes of death was studied. The obvious and latent consequences of the coronavirus pandemic on demographic processes and their underlying factors are revealed. The conclusion is made about the trends and the state of total mortality in Belarus in the future.
Development of Virtual Migration in the Context of the Ongoing Digitalization
Authors: Glushchenko Galina I.
Published: May 2021

The global trends of the constant increase in the digital component indicate that the economy is increasingly tilting into the “virtual plane”. Digital technologies are fundamentally changing almost all existing professional areas. Digitalization is not only fundamentally transforming labor relations, but also requires and facilitates the development of new forms of migration. A “transnational virtual space” is emerging, in which vast amounts of data across national borders without the physical movement of workers. With an aging population, virtual migration is becoming one of the most important conditions for the dynamic development of the digital economy. The purpose of this report is to investigate the algorithmic organization of work, combined with flexible labor relations and contributing to the inclusion of mobile labor in a stratified global labor market focused on the penetration of digital technologies into all sectors and spheres of life. The method used by the author is the analysis of the main trends in the development of virtual migration. The novelty of the study lies in examining the impact of digitalization not only on labor relations, but also, in terms of the development of new forms of mobility.
Migration Crisis on the Russian-Chinese Border in the Early 1917-1920s: Regional Aspect of the Global Migration Processes of the XX Century
Authors: Nazemtseva Elena N.
Published: May 2021

The publication analyzes the reasons and particular qualities of the migration crisis on the Russian-Chinese border in 1917–1922. This crisis was caused by the revolution and the Civil War in Russia. A huge mass of former subjects of the Russian Empire, who disagreed with the new system, were forced to leave their homeland and in the early 1920s formed one of the largest emigrant diasporas in the world in China. The bulk of the White Army’s remnants the civilian population crossed the Russian-Chinese border in the Far East, forming Russian refugee camps in the Chinese border area. A significant number of Russians crossed the border in western China, in the region of Xinjiang province, where several refugee camps also emerged. The composition of Russian refugees has raised serious concerns in both the central and border authorities of China: the bulk of the refugees were well-armed experienced military men who had gone through not only the Russian Civil War, but also the First World War and refused to surrender their weapons, the Cossacks and their chieftains, peasants and merchants from the border regions who did not want to obey anyone, who needed help. A small part of the Russians who left for China were nobles and intellectuals, who settled mainly in Harbin and Shanghai. The peculiarity of the migration situation in the Far East, as well as on the Russian-Chinese border in Central Asia, was not only in the huge number of Russians who arrived in China, but also in the fact that a severe internal political crisis had been developing in China itself for several years. The Chinese authorities were unable to control the situation in the country, and Russian refugees aggravated the situation. In addition, the Chinese authorities did not want to aggravate relations with Soviet Russia, which repeatedly threatened to send troops to eliminate the remnants of the White Army, which had settled in the Chinese border area. This could seriously aggravate the political situation in the Far East and Central Asia. Therefore, the Chinese authorities actively took measures to regulate the flow of Russian refugees and prevent a possible crisis: they blocked the border with Russia in some areas, expelled refugees back, did not issue permits to cross the border, etc.
RAW MATERIAL INVENTORY PLANNING OF PATIENT MENU USING MATERIAL REQUIREMENT PLANNING (MRP) IN RSIA KENDANGSARI MERR SURABAYA
Authors: Sri Dewi
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Material Requirement Planning (MRP) is a technique or a logical procedure to translate the Master Production Schedule (MPS) of the finished goods or end item into the net requirements for some of the components needed to implement the MPS. MRP is used to determine the amount of material needs to support the Master Production Schedule and when the material needs to be scheduled.Methods: The study is conducted on 13 August 2018 until 12 September 2018 at the installation Nutrition RSIA Kendangsari Merr Surabaya. Collecting data in this study using several methods, including: observation- This stage is conducted in all parts related to the object of study, starting from the Purchase Order (PO) by a head cook up to raw material stored in the storage, discussion- author interviews and collects data to communicate and discuss with the respondents. Respondents in this study are the head of the nutrition unit and head cook of RSIA who have the authority doing the purchasing.Results: Planning of procurement of raw materials to the menu rawon in RSIA can use the Exponential Smoothing method. The discussion has compared two methods of forecasting and the results are consistent with the demand’s patterns of Simple Moving Average method, Exponential Smothing. Forecasting has the lowest error rate by using Exponential Smoothing. The second conclusion is a technique of determining the appropriate Material Requirement Planning in raw material procurement to menu rawon in RSIA is using Lot for Lot.
The Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Randomised Cross-Over Pilot Study
Authors: Byrne Jennifer , Murphy Caitriona , Keogh Jennifer B. , Clifton Peter M.
Published: May 2021

Evidence supports an association between low magnesium (Mg) intake and coronary heart disease and between Mg intake and endothelial function. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of one week of Mg supplementation on endothelial function, assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Nineteen healthy men and women completed this cross-over pilot study in which participants were randomised to take an over-the-counter magnesium supplement for one week or to follow their usual diet. Weight, FMD and blood pressure (BP) were taken on completion of each intervention and 24hour urine collections and blood samples were taken to assess compliance. Baseline serum Mg was within normal range for all participants. Urinary Mg and urinary magnesium-creatinine ratio (Mg/Cr) significantly increased between interventions, (p = 0.03, p = 0.005 respectively). No significant differences in FMD or BP were found between the interventions. A significant negative correlation was seen between age and FMD (r = -0.496, p = 0.031). When adjusted for age, saturated fat was negatively associated with FMD (p = 0.045). One week of Mg supplementation did not improve FMD in a healthy population.
High Survivorship of First-generation Monarch Butterfly Eggs and Larvae Associated with a Diverse Arthropod Community
Authors: Stevenson Misty , Hudman Kalynn L. , Scott Alyx , Contreras Kelsey , Kopachena Jeffrey G.
Published: May 2021

The eastern migratory population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) in North America has declined by over 80% in the last 20 years, prompting the implementation of numerous conservation strategies. However, there is little information on the survivorship of first-generation monarchs in the core area of occupancy in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana where overwinter population recovery begins. The purpose of this study was to determine the survivorship of first-generation eggs to third instars at a site in north Texas and to evaluate host plant arthropods for their effect on survivorship. Survivorship to third instar averaged 13.4% and varied from 11.7% to 15.6% over three years. The host plants harbored 77 arthropod taxa, including 27 predatory taxa. Despite their abundance, neither predator abundance nor predator richness predicted monarch survival. However, host plants upon which monarchs survived often harbored higher numbers of non-predatory arthropod taxa and more individuals of non-predatory taxa. These results indicate that indirect top-down effects improved monarch survival in our study. The creation of diverse functional arthropod communities should be considered for effective monarch conservation, particularly in southern latitudes.
Full-Scale Municipal Sludge Pyrolysis in China: Design Fundaments, Environmental and Economic Assessments, and Future Perspectives
Authors: Luo Hongxi , Cheng Fangwei , Yu Bin , Hu Lei , Zhang Junfa , Qu Xiangpeng , Yang Hai , Luo Zhen
Published: May 2021

The increasing amount of municipal sludge in China requires safe and effective management to protect human health and ensure environmental sustainability. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical process that that decompose organic matter at elevated temperature and under anaerobic conditions, and it has attracted an increasing attention in sludge treatment in the recent years. However, comprehensive environmental and economic assessment of sludge pyrolysis in China's context is rare, due to the small quantities of full-scale sludge pyrolysis plant. In this paper, we applied our design and operation parameters of full-scale sludge pyrolysis plants to generate the material and energy consumptions of the pyrolysis system under various of conditions, including sludge organic content and moisture content, system size, system energy distribution, and whether or not heat substitution is applied. Life cycle assessment and techno-economic assessment were then applied to investigate the environmental and economic performance of the system Our results demonstrate the significant environmental and economic impacts associated with sludge properties and system size. Generally, sludge with higher organic content and lower moisture content requires less natural gas consumption, which leads to a simultaneous improvement of the system environmental and economic performance. The system economic performance is more sensitive to the system size, and centralized sludge handling using a larger pyrolysis is more economic favorable. In the most ideal case, the average global warming potential and minimum sludge handling price of sludge pyrolysis could be as low as -32.5 kg CO2-Eq/t DS and 188.8 $/t DS, respectively. Based on these results, we discussed the pathways that could be taken to further optimize the environmental and economic performances of the pyrolysis system.
Optimal Life Extension Management of Offshore Wind Farms Based on the Modern Portfolio Theory
Authors: Yeter Baran , Garbatov Yordan
Published: May 2021

The present study aims to develop a risk-based approach to find optimal solutions for life extension management for offshore wind farms based on Markowitz’s modern portfolio theory, adapted from finance. The developed risk-based approach assumes that the offshore wind turbines (OWT) can be considered as cash-producing tangible assets providing positive return from the initial investment (capital) with a given risk attaining the targeted (expected) return. In this regard, the present study performs a techno-economic life extension analysis within the scope of the multi-objective optimisation problem. The first objective is to maximise the return from the overall wind assets, while the latter aims to minimise the risk associated with obtaining the return. In formulating the multi-dimensional optimisation problem, the life-extension assessment considers the results of a detailed structural integrity analysis, free-cash-flow analysis, and probability of project failure, local and global economic constraints. Further, the risk is identified as the variance from the expected mean of return on investment. The risk-return diagram is utilised to classify the OWTs of different classes using an unsupervised machine learning algorithm. The optimal portfolios for the various required rate of return are recommended for different stages of life extension.
Long-term performance of sustainable pavements using ternary blended concrete with recycled aggregates
Authors: Lomboy Gilson , Cleary Douglas , Wagner Seth , Mehta Yusef , Kennedy Danielle , Watts Benjamin , Bly Peter , Oren Jared
Published: May 2021

Dwindling supplies of natural concrete aggregates, the cost of landfilling construction waste, and interest in sustainable design have increased the demand for recycled concrete aggregates (RCA) in new portland cement concrete mixtures. RCA repurposes waste material to provide useful ingredients for new construction applications. However, RCA can reduce the performance of the concrete. This study investigated the effectiveness of ternary blended binders, mixtures containing portland cement and two different supplementary cementitious materials, at mitigating performance losses of concrete mixtures with RCA materials. Concrete mixtures with different ternary binder combinations were batched with four recycled concrete aggregate materials. For the materials used, the study found that a blend of portland cement, Class C fly ash, and blast furnace slag produced the highest strength of ternary binder. At 50% replacement of virgin aggregates and ternary blended binder, some specimens showed comparable mechanical performance to a control mix of only portland cement as a binder and no RCA substitution. This study demonstrates that even at 50% RCA replacement, using the appropriate ternary binder can create a concrete mixture that performs similarly to a plain portland cement concrete without RCA, with the added benefit of being environmentally beneficial.
Characterization of the Microstructure of the Cement-Rock Interface Using Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy and Micro-Computed Tomography Scan
Authors: Yang Xinxiang , Kuru Ergun , Gingras Murray , Iremonger Simon , Biddle Sara , Lin Zichao
Published: May 2021

Cement-rock interface is a major component of the wellbore barrier system. Leakage may result from the poor bonding between cement and rock interface. In this paper we investigate possible factors that may affect the cement-rock interface bonding. More specifically, integrity of the cement-rock interface was characterized using micro-computed tomography (CT) and environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM).

Hollow cylinder rock samples were prepared by using rock samples (e.g., Banff dolostone, Pekisko limestone, Doig sandstone, Notikewin siltstone, Montney siltstone, and Wilrich siltstone) collected from different Alberta wells at various depths. Two abandonment cement blends were injected into the rock open hole. After curing the cement-rock samples in water at ambient temperature (≈21°C) and 1,500 psi for 7 days, the samples were then processed into thin sections. By using ESEM (0.05-µm resolution) and micro-CT (11.92-µm resolution) techniques, the 2D and 3D models of the cement-rock interface were developed. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was conducted to analyze chemical characteristic of the cement-rock samples. Using the CT images, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models were built to simulate fluid flow through the cement-rock samples.

For both cement and rock, there is a nonuniform porosity distribution in radial and axial directions. For most of the cement-rock samples, the highest porosity region in the cement column was found at the cement-rock interface. Optimizing the chemistry of the cement system enhances the cement-rock interface bond by effectively reducing the gap between cement and rock observed in ESEM images. Although cement migration was observed in the rough rock surface in porous rocks, the rock interface and matrix zones have almost identical element concentrations. For the investigated samples, the chance for significant chemical reaction at the cement-rock interface is minimal. CFD simulation based on digital cement models showed that the cement-rock interface has more chance to act as the main flow pathway when intact (low permeability) caprock exists.

The sample preparation, image analysis and simulation methods used in this study can be also applied to other cement interface studies (e.g., cement-casing, casing-cement-rock). From the practical field application point of view, the results presented here would help to have a better understanding of the requirements for designing optimum cement formulations to establish effective zonal isolation and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas wells.
Improving Relative Bioavailability through Drug-in-Adhesive Transdermal Patch of Duloxetine:MeβCD
Authors: Kumar Rajiv , Sinha Vivek Ranjan , Dahiya Lalita , Sohajda Tamas , Sarwal Amita
Published: May 2021

Aim of the study was to develop optimised drug-in-adhesive (DIA) transdermal patch of duloxetine HCl. It is known that acrylic polymers having different functional groups play significant role in enhancing drug permeation. Among various permeation enhancers (PEs), Transcutol P exhibited most enhanced permeation (ER≈1.99) in terms of flux and Q24 compared to control group having no PE. Hence, a transdermal DIA patch having DURO-TAK 87-2287 as DIA polymer and TP as PE loaded with 40% DLX previously complexed with MeβCD and duly characterised (FTIR, DSC and SEM) was developed for in vivo study. Mean of maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and area under time-concentration curve (AUC0-72) in Wistar rats (n=6) for transdermal patch (10 mg/kg) was found to be 70.31±11.2 ng/ml and 2997.29±387.4 ng/ml*h respectively and these values were considerably higher than oral dose of DLX (20 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg). Albeit, T1/2 was higher in case of transdermal delivery but this was due to sustained behaviour of delivery system. These findings highlight the significance of both inclusion complexation and transdermal delivery of DLX using DIA patch for efficient drug absorption and thus reducing the dose of drug and related side effects.
The Changes of PM2.5, BC, Elements and Pollution Sources Using Nuclear Technology in Xinzhen, Beijing Over the Past Decade
Authors: Yang Junkai , Yao Yonggang , Zhang Hui , Zhang Yangmei , Xiao Caijin , Ni Bangfa
Published: May 2021

The concentrations of PM2.5, black carbon (BC), elements as well as sources of pollution in Beijing from 2003 to 2018 were investigated. The results show that the concentrations of PM2.5 and BC had similar annual and seasonal trends, especially in autumn-winter, which with declining trends in recent years. The proportion of BC in PM2.5 reduced from 13% in 2013(max) to 8.5% in 2018(min), indicating the reducing measure of replacing coal boiler with gas boilers worked well. In this study, annual trends of 15 elements were also discussed, it is found that the concentrations of S, K, Mn, Ca, Pb, Cu, Mn and Fe displayed remarkable decrease these years. Br, Zn and Cl was growing overall and Cl was more concentrated in PM2.5 in autumn and winter. Moreover, the In detected by NAA with high sensitivity may be a new and crucial fingerprint element associated with coal combustion, industry emission or biomass combustion because of correlation with BC, Na, K, Cu and halogen elements well. Finally, 6-factor solution was identified during 2007 and 2016-2017 by EPA PMF, and the proportions of some pollution sources changed a lot in PM2.5. Soil management in north China reduced the soil and dust source by 9.2%; The contribution of Industry-S or secondary S showed decrease from 27.5% to 22.5% due to industries relocating , gasoline with sulfur optimization and coal burning restriction; Banning straw burning and waste incineration in 2007 kept biomass and waste combustion out gradually. However, initial stage of some policies maybe the main reasons for a small increase of coal combustion source despite some steps taken.
Controlling CH4 Emissions from Integrated Vertical-Flow Constructed Wetlands by Using Potassium Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as Oxidant
Authors: Luo Hongbing , Guo YaLi , Liu Xiaoling , Pu Aiping , Zhang Ke , Jiang Bing , Xue Ru , Li Mei , Li Xiaoting , Huang Bo , Chen Wei , Fan Liangqian , Chen Fenghui , Zhang Xiaohong
Published: May 2021

It is very important to control methane emissions to reduce global warming. In this study, an attempt was made to adjust the oxidation-reduction potential (Eh) by adding different mass of potassium peroxymonosulfate (PMS) (0 g, 31.25 g, 62.5 g, 125 g, 250 g and 500 g) to reduce methane from integrated vertical-flow constructed wetlands (IVCW). Results show that the reduced CH4 emission from IVCW was the highest with decreased by 43.5% compared to blank group (PMS=0), when adding 125g PMS. Importantly, the reduced CH4 from the root-water system of IVCW was higher than that of the stem-leaf system of IVCW, when adding PMS. It’s found that Eh not only has a significant correlation with CH4 flux, but also has a significant relationship between PMS quality, DO, water temperature and sampling time (yEh= -0.44XPMS + 6.82XDO + 0.38t - 264.1, R2 = 0.99). It concludes that PMS, as an oxidant, is a very feasible method for controlling methane emissions from IVCW. Further research may combine other methods such as microbiology, physical control and hydrology control for mitigating the CH4 emissions from constructed wetlands.
Urine Transferrin as an Early Endothelial Dysfunction Marker in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Without Nephropathy: A Case Control Study.
Authors: Sánchez-Hidalgo José Juan , SUÁREZ-CUENCA Juan Antonio , Lozano-Nuevo José Juan , García-López Vìctor Hugo , Leal-Gutierrez María Graciela , León-Angel Sein Antonio , Ramírez-Villa María Leslye , Rodea-Rubio Martha Elena , González-Hernández José Enrique , Canela-Mayoral José Antonio , Murillo-Heredia Eduardo , Vera-Gómez Eduardo , Hernández-Patricio Alejandro , Zamora-Alemán Carlos Ramiro , Domínguez-Pérez Gabriela Alexandra , Gutiérrez-Buendia Juan Ariel , Mondragón-Terán Paul
Published: May 2021

Background

Albumin, along with other proteins, is abnormally eliminated via the urine during early stages of diabetic nephropathy. Moreover, endothelial dysfunction (ED) accompanying early diabetic nephropathy may develop even before microalbuminuria is detectable. Transferrin has a molecular weight comparable to albumin, and transferrinuria and microalbuminuria in a 24-hour urine sample may comparably reflect early diabetic nephropathy. However, transferrin physiochemical properties may be related with ED, but these have not been elucidated yet. This case-control study was aimed to evaluate relation between ED and urinary transferrin concentration before early diabetic nephropathy is present.
Methods

Patients were enrolled from two study sites in Mexico City: Ticoman General Hospital to evaluate control patients; and Dr. Manuel Gonzalez Rivera Specialized Clinic for the Management of the Diabetic Patient for case patients. All patients provided written informed consent. The primary endpoint was the correlation between urinary transferrin concentration and endothelial dysfunction measured in type 2 diabetic patients without albuminuria. ED was evaluated by ultrasonographic validated measurements, which included carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and flow mediated dilation (FMD). A power calculation, to detect a statistical difference, with a p value of 0.05, mandated a sample of 60 patients. The patients were tested for serum biomarkers such as glycated hemoglobin, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides, and urinary dipstick for albuminuria and urinary tract infection; using inclusion, exclusion and elimination criteria as described.
Results

The group with type 2 diabetes was older and showed higher serum transferrin and lower urinary transferrin values. Likewise, the group with type 2 diabetes showed subclinical atherogenic risk characterized by lower FMD and higher CIMT and ABI values. Risk factors associated to endothelial dysfunction measured by CIMT were time from diagnosis of diabetes, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and male sex. Hba1c and time since diabetes diagnosis correlated both for risk associated to FMD and CIMT. CIMT was the only factor correlated with urinary transferrin values.
Conclusion

Urinary transferrin correlated to subclinical endothelial dysfunction measured by CIMT in type 2 diabetic patients without nephropathy and can be used to test for early nephropathy in patients without albuminuria.
The Effect of Intra- vs. Extramedullary Tibial Guides on the Alignment of Lower Extremity and Functional Outcomes following Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Razzaghof Mohammadreza , Mortazavi SM Javad , Moharrami Alireza , Irani Pouya Tabatabaei , Noori Abbas
Published: May 2021

Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been known as a definitive treatment of advanced knee osteoarthritis. Both intra- (IM) and extramedullary (EM) tibial guides have been used to restore the desired extremity alignment. However, controversy exists regarding the superiority of either technique. We aimed to compare their functional outcomes and accuracy in providing neutral alignment after TKA. Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, we studied 98 patients undergoing primary TKA in two groups of IM and EM. We measured the medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), varus angle (VA), and joint-line convergence angle with normal ranges of 90°±3°, 0-2°, and 0±3°, respectively, on a three-joint alignment view after three months. We also assessed functional outcomes at the last follow-up. Finally, we compared these outcomes between groups. Results: Eighty-four patients (IM=42, EM=42) were included in the final analysis (16 males, 68 females; mean age: 63.9±8.6 years; mean follow-up: 27±2.9 months). The mean postoperative alignment angles showed no significant difference, although MPTA outliers were significantly more frequent in the EM group (26.2% vs. 9.5% in IM, P=0.04). None of the functional outcomes showed a significant difference between groups. However, the mean ROM increase was significantly higher in VAs within ±3° of normal than those outside it (30.8 vs. 27.4, respectively; P=0.039). Conclusions: We conclude that both techniques were not different in terms of the mean alignment angles and functional outcomes. However, fewer MPTA outliers can be seen with IM. A postoperative mechanical axis within ±3° of neutral can result in a more ROM increase after one year. Trial registration: IRCT, IRCT20160809029286N5. Registered 21 April 2020, https://www.irct.ir/trial/46976
Clinical Validation of Automated and Rapid MariPOC SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Test
Authors: Koskinen Juha M. , Antikainen Petri , Hotakainen Kristina , Haveri Anu , Ikonen Niina , Savolainen-Kopra Carita , Sundström Kati , Koskinen Janne O.
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 diagnostics was quickly ramped up worldwide early 2020 based on the detection of viral RNA. However, based on the scientific knowledge for pre-existing coronaviruses, it was expected that the SARS-CoV-2 RNA will be detected from symptomatic and at significant rates also from asymptomatic individuals due to persistence of non-infectious RNA. To increase the efficacy of diagnostics, surveillance, screening and pandemic control, rapid methods, such as antigen tests, are needed for decentralized testing and to assess infectiousness. A novel automated mariPOC SARS-CoV-2 test was developed for the detection of conserved structural viral nucleocapsid proteins. The test utilizes sophisticated optical laser technology for two-photon excitation and individual detection of immunoassay solid-phase particles. We validated the new method against qRT-PCR. Sensitivity of the test was 100.0% (13/13) directly from nasopharyngeal swab specimens and 84.4% (38/45) from swab specimens in undefined transport mediums. Specificity of the test was 100.0% (201/201). The test's limit of detection was 2.7 TCID50/test. It showed no cross-reactions. Our study shows that the new test can detect infectious individuals already in 20 minutes with clinical sensitivity close to qRT-PCR. The mariPOC is a versatile platform for syndromic testing and for high capacity infection control screening of infectious individuals.
The Comparative Efficacy for Children and Young Adults With Internet Addiction/Internet Gaming Disorder: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chang Yue-Cune , Huang Yun-Chieh , Yang Luke , Tzang Ruu-Fen
Published: May 2021

Internet Game Disorder (IGD) is a formal mental disorder leading to bad outcomes for children and adolescents. While (Internet Addiction) IA/IGD is recognized, controversy remains about the treatment guidelines. This study comprehensively compares the estimated effect of various pharmacotherapy and psychosocial intervention for IGD from randomized controlled trials (RCT) by updated meta-analysis, meta-regression. A search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and Airiti Library between 2000 and 2017 was conducted for various IA/IGD intervention modals. 124 studies from 29 selected papers involving 5,601 children and young adults with IA/IGD were found. The preliminary random effect is 1.399 with 95% confidence interval of 1.272-1.527 by meta-analyzing pooled standardized mean difference (SMD), suggesting highly effective treatment of IA/IGD. After adjusting for the confounding risks of age, publication year, type of subjects, and type of study, this study reveals combining pharmacotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or multi-level counseling (MLC) is the most effective treatment option. Using scale of Online time spent scale or the severity of IA symptom scale were more effective measurement with p-values = 0.006 and 0.002, respectively. IA/IGD patients comorbid with depression showed worse outcomes than youth comorbid with another comorbidity. The corresponding model goodness-of-fit indices were τ2 = 1.188; I2-Residual=89.74%; and Adjusted- R2 = 16.10%. This systemic review provides clinicians with evidence that pharmacotherapy combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or multi-level counseling (MLC) is an effective treatment for gaming disorder in children and young adults.
TIMP-1 As a Promising Therapeutic Indicator for the Intestinal Inflammation and Fibrosis.
Authors: Sato Keisuke , Suzuki Hideyuki , Karasawa Hideaki , Yamamura Akihiro , Kajiwara Taiki , Kobayashi Minoru , Hatsuzawa Yuuri , Handa Tomoyuki , Kuroha Masatake , Masamune Atsushi , Kamei Takashi , Ohnuma Shinobu , Unno Michiaki
Published: May 2021

Background: Intestinal fibrosis is a major complication of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which can be prevented with anti-inflammatory therapies. However, inflammatory biomarkers do not necessarily reflect the progression of fibrosis, and hence, an indicator that reflects the therapeutic effects of available anti-inflammatory drugs on fibrosis is needed. This study shows that tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) is a potential therapeutic indicator for ongoing intestinal fibrosis in IBD patients.Methods: TIMP-1 mRNA levels in human myofibroblasts were measured, and TIMP-1 expression in the intestine of 10 Crohn’s disease (CD) patients was examined by immunohistochemistry. Colitis was induced in C57BL/6 mice by administration of 1.5% dextran sodium sulfate for 7 days; then, the mice were treated with anti-TNF-α antibody or phosphate-buffered saline for 14 days. Intestinal fibrosis was evaluated by Masson’s trichrome staining, and TIMP-1 mRNA levels in the intestinal tissue and plasma TIMP-1 levels were measured.Results: TIMP-1 expression in human fibroblasts increased after differentiation into myofibroblasts. TIMP-1 expression in CD intestinal tissue was significantly higher in the inflammation area than in the fibrotic or normal areas. In a murine colitis mode in which TIMP-1 mRNA levels were increased, anti-TNF-α antibody administration significantly attenuated inflammation and fibrosis assessed by a reduction in TIMP-1 mRNA levels in intestinal tissue and plasma TIMP-1 levels.Conclusions: The results in this study show that TIMP-1 is a potential new biomarker that could be used to assess the effectivity of different therapeutic strategies for intestinal inflammation and fibrosis in IBD patients.
Evaluation of Seasonal Variability of First-order Ionospheric Delay Correction at L5 and S1 Frequencies Using Dual-frequency Navic System
Authors: Bhardwaj Sharat chandra , Vidyarthi Anurag , Jassal Bhajan Singh , Shukla Ashish kumar
Published: May 2021

For the precise positioning application it is important to determine and eliminate the positioning error introduced by various sources such as the ionosphere. To develop a standalone precise navigation system, India has launched the seven satellite constellations of NavIC (Navigation with Indian Constellation) system to provide precision positioning over India and surrounded landmass. Since the ionospheric delay depends on the frequency of the satellite signal and NavIC systems work at different frequencies (L5 and S1) than GPS systems (L1 and L2), it is not possible to use the GPS data-driven study for NavIC based location calculations directly. Thus there is a need for a specialized ionospheric study for NavIC systems. In addition, the ionospheric delay is directly proportional to Slant Total Electron Content (STEC) which is dependent upon diurnal and seasonal solar activity. To achieve accurate positioning facilities, there is also a need for evaluation for seasonal variability of ionospheric delay correction for NavIC receivers. This paper deals with the STEC estimation; its smoothing, and removal of instrumental biases from STEC. The determined true STEC has been used to determine first-order ionospheric delay at L5 and S1 frequencies. The delay at S1 has been found less (2 to 7m) as compared to L5 (10 to 30m). Furthermore, the seasonal variability of ionospheric delay has been analyzed using about 19 months of data (from June 2017 to December 2018) and found that the ionospheric delay follows unique seasonal characteristics which can be utilized for delay modeling. It has been also observed that the geostationary satellites of the NavIC system are more appropriate than geosynchronous satellites for ionospheric related studies.
Gene expression levels tune germline mutation rates through the compound effects of transcription-coupled repair and damage
Authors: Xia Bo , Yanai Itai
Published: May 2021

Of all mammalian organs, the testis has long been observed to have the most diverse gene expression profile. To account for this widespread gene expression, we have proposed a mechanism termed ‘transcriptional scanning’, which reduces germline mutation rates through transcription-coupled repair (TCR). Our hypothesis contrasts with an earlier observation that mutation rates are overall positively correlated with gene expression levels in yeast, implying that transcription is mutagenic due to transcription-coupled damage (TCD). Here we report evidence that the compound effects of both TCR and TCD during spermatogenesis tune germline mutation rates in human, with TCR dominating in most genes, thus supporting the transcriptional scanning hypothesis. Our analyses address potentially confounding factors, distinguish the differential mutagenic effects acting on the highly expressed genes and the low-to-moderately expressed genes, and resolve concerns relating to the validation of the results using a de novo mutation dataset. We also discuss the theoretical possibility of transcriptional scanning hypothesis from an evolutionary perspective. Together, these analyses support a model by which the coupling of transcription-coupled repair and damage establishes the pattern of germline mutation rates and provide an evolutionary explanation for widespread gene expression during spermatogenesis.