bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Better before–better after: efficacy of prehabilitation for older patients with osteoarthritis awaiting total hip replacement—a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial in South-Eastern Norway
Authors: Svinøy Odd-Einar , Bergland Astrid , Risberg May Arna , Pripp Are Hugo , Hilde Gunvor
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Health professions need to prepare for the increase of older patients with osteoarthritis requiring health services including those requiring total joint arthroplasty (TJA). The primary objective of this study is to assess the effect of a tailored prehabilitation programme of older patients awaiting primary surgery for total hip replacement on physical function measured by walking speed within 1 week after intervention as well as 6 weeks and 3 months after TJA surgery.

Methods and analysis

This is a single-blinded randomised controlled trial. The participants are 70 years or older, scheduled for primary total hip replacement due to late stage osteoarthritis. The intervention group will receive patient education and exercise for 6–12 weeks. The control group will receive care as usual. The primary outcome is gait speed. Secondary outcomes are lower body strength, mobility, aerobic capacity, activity of daily living, length of stay at the hospital, referral to an inpatient rehabilitation clinic, pain, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Estimated sample size is 150 participants randomised into the two arms. The data will be analysed following the intention-to-treat principle with methods for repeated measurements.

Ethics and dissemination

The project proposal has been approved by The Regional Committee for Medical Research Ethics in South Norway (ref no. 2018/503). The results will be published in peer-reviewed articles.

Trial registration number

NCT03602105
Dynamic balance and ankle injury odds: a prospective study in 196 Dutch physical education teacher education students
Authors: Bliekendaal Sander , Stubbe Janine , Verhagen Evert
Published: December 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate whether dynamic balance, measured with the anterior component of the Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT-ANT), is a risk factor for ankle injuries in physical education teacher education (PETE) students.

Design and setting

A prospective monocentre study in first-year PETE students.

Participants

A total of 196 subjects, of which 137 men (70%) and 59 women (30%).

Outcome measures

This study consisted of measures of the SEBT-ANT at baseline (September 2015) and an injury registration procedure during a follow-up period (September 2015–June 2016). The association between the SEBT-ANT score and subsequent ankle injury was analysed with generalised estimating equations analysis at the leg level.

Results

Men and women had an average SEBT-ANT score of, respectively, 65.1% and 67.7% of leg length. In 20 (15%) subjects, the first injured body site involved the ankle. Across all participants, a below average SEBT-ANT score was not associated with increased ankle injury odds (OR OR=2.43, 95% CI: 0.94 to 6.29, p=0.07). In men, a below average SEBT-ANT score indicated sevenfold increased odds for ankle injury (OR=7.06, 95% CI: 1.43 to 34.92, p=0.02). In women, this relationship was not significant (OR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.19 to 2.71, p=0.62).

Conclusions

Below average normalised SEBT-ANT scores were associated with sevenfold likelihood for ankle injuries in men. In contrast, no relationship was found for the SEBT-ANT score and ankle injuries in woman. These results may provide directions for the implementation of screening tools, as part of an injury prevention programme, to identify male PETE students with an increased likelihood for ankle injuries.
Multidimensional impact of severe mental illness on family members: systematic review
Authors: Fekadu Wubalem , Mihiretu Awoke , Craig Tom K J , Fekadu Abebaw
Published: December 2019

Objective

The impact of severe mental illnesses (SMIs) is not limited to the person with the illness but extends to their family members and the community where the patient comes from. In this review, we systematically analyse the available evidence of impacts of SMI on family members, including parents, grandparents, siblings, spouses and children.

Data sources

PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase and Global Index Medicus were searched from the inception of each database up to 9 November 2019. We also did manual searches of grey literature.

Eligibility criteria

We included studies that assessed the impacts of SMI on any family member. We excluded studies in admitted clinics and acute wards to rule out the acute effect of hospitalisation.

Data extraction

Two reviewers extracted data independently using the Cochrane handbook guideline for systematic reviews and agreed on the final inclusion of identified studies.

Risk of bias

The quality of the included studies was assessed using effective public health practice project quality assessment tool for quantitative studies.

The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database.

Results

We screened a total of 12 107 duplicate free articles and included 39 articles in the review. The multidimensional impact of SMI included physical health problems (sleeplessness, headache and extreme tiredness.), psychological difficulties (depression and other psychological problems) and socioeconomic drift (less likely to marry and higher divorce rate and greater food insecurity). Impacts on children included higher mortality, poor school performance and nutritional problems. However, the quality of one in five studies was considered weak.

Conclusions

Our review indicated a high level of multidimensional impact across multiple generations. The serious nature of the impact calls for interventions to address the multidimensional and multigenerational impact of SMI, particularly in low/middle-income countries. Given the relatively high number of studies rated methodologically weak, more robust studies are indicated.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018064123.
Standardising neonatal and paediatric antibiotic clinical trial design and conduct: the PENTA-ID network view
Authors: Folgori Laura , Lutsar Irja , Standing Joseph F , Walker A Sarah , Roilides Emmanuel , Zaoutis Theoklis E , Jafri Hasan , Giaquinto Carlo , Turner Mark A , Sharland Mike
Published: December 2019

Antimicrobial development for children remains challenging due to multiple barriers to conducting randomised clinical trials (CTs). There is currently considerable heterogeneity in the design and conduct of paediatric antibiotic studies, hampering comparison and meta-analytic approaches. The board of the European networks for paediatric research at the European Medicines Agency (EMA), in collaboration with the Paediatric European Network for Treatments of AIDS—Infectious Diseases network (www.penta-id.org), recently developed a Working Group on paediatric antibiotic CT design, involving academic, regulatory and industry representatives. The evidence base for any specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials for children is very limited and will evolve over time as further studies are conducted. The suggestions being put forward here are based on the adult EMA guidance, adapted for neonates and children. In particular, this document provides suggested guidance on the general principles of harmonisation between regulatory and strategic trials, including (1) standardised key inclusion/exclusion criteria and widely applicable outcome measures for specific clinical infectious syndromes (CIS) to be used in CTs on efficacy of antibiotic in children; (2) key components of safety that should be reported in paediatric antibiotic CTs; (3) standardised sample sizes for safety studies. Summarising views from a range of key stakeholders, specific criteria for the design and conduct of efficacy and safety antibiotic trials in specific CIS for children have been suggested. The recommended criteria are intended to be applicable to both regulatory and clinical investigator-led strategic trials and could be the basis for harmonisation in the design and conduct of CTs on antibiotics in children. The next step is further discussion internationally with investigators, paediatric CTs networks and regulators.
Identifying patient concerns during consultations in tertiary burns services: development of the Adult Burns Patient Concerns Inventory
Authors: Gibson John Alexander Gerald , Yarrow Jeremy , Brown Liz , Evans Janine , Rogers Simon N , Spencer Sally , Shokrollahi Kayvan
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Identifying the issues and concerns that matter most to burns survivors can be challenging. For a number of reasons, but mainly relating to patient empowerment, some of the most pressing concerns patients may have during a clinical encounter may not naturally be the focal point of that encounter. The Patient Concerns Inventory (PCI) is a tried and tested concept initially developed in the field of head and neck cancer that empowers patients during a clinical encounter through provision of a list of prompts that allows patients to self-report concerns prior to consultation. The aim of this study was to develop a PCI for adult burns patients.

Design

Content for the PCI was generated from three sources: burns health-related quality of life tools, thematic analysis of one-to-one interviews with 12 adult burns patients and 17 multidisciplinary team (MDT) members. Content was refined using a Delphi consensus technique, with patients and staff members, using SurveyMonkey.

Setting

Within outpatient secondary care.

Participants

Twelve adult burns patients and MDT members from two regional burns centres.

Results

A total of 111 individual items were generated from the three sources. The Delphi process refined the total number of items to 58. The main emergent domains were physical and functional well-being (18 items), psychological, emotional and spiritual well-being (22 items), social care and social well-being (7 items) and treatment-related concerns (11 items).

Conclusions

The Adult Burns Patient Concerns Inventory is a 58-item, holistic prompt list, designed to be used in the outpatient clinic. It offers a new tool in burn care to improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients, empowering them to identify their most pressing concerns and hence deliver a more focused and targeted patient-centred clinical encounter.
Research priorities in children requiring elective surgery for conditions affecting the lower limbs: a James Lind Alliance Priority Setting Partnership
Authors: Vella-Baldacchino Martinique , Perry Daniel C , Roposch Andreas , Nicolaou Nicholas , Cooke Stephen , Ellis Patricia , Theologis Tim
Published: December 2019

Objective

To identify and prioritise research questions concerning the elective surgical management of children with conditions affecting the lower limb by engaging patients, carers and healthcare professionals.

Design

A modified nominal group technique.

Setting

UK.

Participants

388 individuals (29 patients, 155 parents/carers, 204 healthcare professionals) were recruited through hospital clinics, patient charities and professional organisations and participated in the initial prioritisation survey; 234 individuals took part in the interim prioritisation survey. 33 individuals (3 patients, 9 parents/carers, 11 healthcare professionals, 7 individuals representing the project’s steering group and 3 James Lind Alliance (JLA) facilitators) attended the final face-to-face workshop to rank the top 10 research priorities.

Interventions

Surveys were distributed using various media resources such as newsletters, internet messaging boards and the ‘Paediatric Lower Limb Surgery Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) website. Printed copies of the questionnaire were also made available to families in outpatient clinics.

Outcome measures

Survey results, top 10 and top 26 priority rankings

Results

The process took 18 months to complete (July 2017–January 2019); 388 people generated 1023 questions; a total of 801 research questions were classified as true uncertainties. Following the JLA methodology, 75 uncertainties were developed from the initial 801 questions. Twenty six of those were selected through a second survey and were taken to the final face-to-face workshop where the top 10 research priorities were selected. The top10 priorities included questions on cerebral palsy, common hip conditions (ie, Perthes’ disease and developmental dysplasia of the hip) as well as rehabilitation techniques and methods to improve shared decision-making between clinicians and patients/families.

Conclusions

This is the first JLA PSP in children’s orthopaedic surgery, a particularly under-researched and underfunded area. We have identified important research topics which will guide researchers and funders and direct their efforts in future research.
Internal deterministic record linkage using indirect identifiers for matching of same-patient hospital transfers and early readmissions after acute coronary syndrome in a nationwide hospital discharge database: a retrospective observational validation study
Authors: Rocha Afonso , Azevedo Luıs Filipe , Silva Cardoso J C , Allison Thomas G , Freitas Alberto
Published: December 2019

Objectives

To assess validity of record linkage using multiple indirect personal identifiers to identify same-patient hospitalisations and definition of episode of care (EC) due to acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

Using national hospital discharge data to identify all admissions due to ACS, we used six different linkage rules using indirect identifiers with increasing level of detail and compared validity against a pseudonymised unique identifier used as gold standard (GS). Contiguous hospitalisations within each matched group of hospitalizations occurring within 28 days of each other were considered one EC. We classified hospitalisations according to time between the first pair of hospitalisations as hospital transfer (HT: ≤1 day), early readmission (ER: 2–28 days) or recurrent cases (>28 days).

Results

There were 146 671 hospitalisations (unlinked), 121 987 ACS 28-day EC (linked GS), with 18 398 HTs (≤1 day), and 6286 ERs (≤28 days). Linkage rules using demographic and residence code variables produced linkage rates with highest validity for rule using sex, date of birth and four-digit residence code with sensitivity of 98.4 (95% CI: 98.4 to 98.5); specificity of 97.8 (95% CI: 97.6 to 98.0) and Cohen’s κ of 0.9 to detect ACS-EC, compared with GS linkage rule. Similarly, validity for HT and ER was high and of similar magnitude, with sensitivity ranging between 97.2% and 98.1%, and specificity between 98.8% and 99.9%, respectively.

Conclusions

Our internal linkage validation study using indirect patient identifiers will allow calibration of incidence rates and performance indicators, accounting for the effect of HT and readmissions.
Clinical evaluation of percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) and paraspinal minitubular microdiscectomy (PMTM) for lumbar disc herniation: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Liang Ze Yan , Zhuang Yuan Dong , Chen Chun Mei , Wang Rui
Published: December 2019

Introduction

For sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH), the standard surgical technique is conventional microdiscectomy. In recent years, minimally invasive techniques (eg, percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED), paraspinal minitubular microdiscectomy (PMTM)) have gained increasing interest. PTED and PMTM are considered alternative minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of LDH. Due to insufficient evidence, the differences in efficacy between PTED and PMTM have been debated. A pragmatic, multicentre, non-inferiority, randomised controlled trial has been designed to determine the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of PTED versus PMTM for the treatment of LDH.

Methods and analysis

A total of 280 patients (18–70 years) presenting with significant symptoms of sciatica and failure after 3 months of conservative treatment will be recruited. Patients must have an indication for surgery based on MRI demonstrating LDH with nerve root compression. Patients will be randomised to PTED or PMTM treatment. The primary outcome is Oswestry Disability Index scores. Secondary outcomes include Visual Analogue Scale scores, Short Form 36 health survey scores, physical examination, length of hospital stay, costs and complications. Outcomes will be measured the day following surgery, at 1 week, and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgical treatment. Physical examination will be conducted at 1 week, 1 month and 12 months after surgery. The non-inferiority margin for the primary outcome is 5.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been granted by the Ethics Committee of Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China (2018YF010-02). Results of the research will be published in an international peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated through presentation at scientific conferences.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR1800015727; Pre-results.
Do oncology researchers adhere to reproducible and transparent principles? A cross-sectional survey of published oncology literature
Authors: Walters Corbin , Harter Zachery J , Wayant Cole , Vo Nam , Warren Michael , Chronister Justin , Tritz Daniel , Vassar Matt
Published: December 2019

Objectives

As much as 50%–90% of research is estimated to be irreproducible, costing upwards of $28 billion in USA alone. Reproducible research practices are essential to improving the reproducibility and transparency of biomedical research, such as including preregistering studies, publishing a protocol, making research data and metadata publicly available, and publishing in open access journals. Here we report an investigation of key reproducible or transparent research practices in the published oncology literature.

Design

We performed a cross-sectional analysis of a random sample of 300 oncology publications published from 2014 to 2018. We extracted key reproducibility and transparency characteristics in a duplicative fashion by blinded investigators using a pilot tested Google Form.

Primary outcome measures

The primary outcome of this investigation is the frequency of key reproducible or transparent research practices followed in published biomedical and clinical oncology literature.

Results

Of the 300 publications randomly sampled, 296 were analysed for reproducibility characteristics. Of these 296 publications, 194 contained empirical data that could be analysed for reproducible and transparent research practices. Raw data were available for nine studies (4.6%). Five publications (2.6%) provided a protocol. Despite our sample including 15 clinical trials and 7 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, only 7 included a preregistration statement. Less than 25% (65/194) of publications provided an author conflict of interest statement.

Conclusion

We found that key reproducibility and transparency characteristics were absent from a random sample of published oncology publications. We recommend required preregistration for all eligible trials and systematic reviews, published protocols for all manuscripts, and deposition of raw data and metadata in public repositories.
Effect of social integration on the establishment of health records among elderly migrants in China: a nationwide cross-sectional study
Authors: Jing Zhengyue , Wang Yi , Ding Lulu , Tang Xue , Feng Yuejing , Zhou Chengchao
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Essential public health service use among the migrants is the key obstacle of the equalisation of public health service in China. This study aims to investigate the status of the establishment of health records, and explore the effect of social integration on the establishment of health records among elderly migrants in China.

Design and setting

This is a cross-sectional study of data from the 2015 National Internal Migrants Dynamic Monitoring Survey in China.

Participants and methods

Respondents who not clear about whether they had established health records and who lived in the inflow area for less than 6 months were excluded. A total of 3158 migrants aged over 60 years were included in this study. Univariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression were employed to explore the association between social integration and establishment of health records.

Results

Approximately 41.6% of elderly migrants established health records in their inflow communities. Those elderly migrants from higher-income households were less likely to establish health records (p<0.001; OR=0.64; 0.51–0.80). Elderly migrants with local medical insurance (p<0.001; OR=2.03; 1.60–2.57), long-term settlement intention (p<0.001; OR=1.37; 1.15–1.63), and had more than three local friends (p<0.001; OR=1.54; 1.27–1.86) were more likely to establish health records.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates a relationship between social integration and establishment of the health records among elderly migrants in China. Improving the social integration of elderly migrants might be helpful to enhance the equalisation of essential public health services.
Multi-dimensional resource integration concept and development path of traditional medicine in the new era
Authors: Jiang Zhilin , Wei Ying , Dong Jingcheng
Published: December 2019

With the transformation of health concepts and medical models, traditional medicine is receiving more and more attention from people all over the world. Traditional medicine has become an important part of health promotion and global health management improvement. This paper briefly describes the connotation and development trend of traditional medicine in the new era from the perspective of philosophical theory. Through a thorough analysis of the rational thinking and realistic basis for the integration and development of traditional medicine in the new era from the perspectives of time, space, content and technology, we come to the conclusion that, under the modern medical model supported by Big Health and Big Data, the deepening and improvement of the consolidation of multi-dimensional integration and multi-collaborative system of traditional medicine will play a more fundamental role in mankind’s health and hygiene. This paper also presents the paths of integrative development for the traditional medicine under the new circumstances, aiming to provide theoretical ideas for further promoting the systematic development of traditional medicine and helping the revival of traditional Chinese medical civilization.
Female sex and Western-style diet protect mouse resistance arteries during acute oxidative stress
Authors: Norton Charles E. , Jacobsen Nicole L. , Sinkler Shenghua Y. , Manrique-Acevedo Camila , Segal Steven S.
Published: December 2019

A Western-style diet (WD; high in fat and carbohydrates) increases vascular oxidative stress. We hypothesized that vascular cells adapt to a WD by developing resilience to oxidative stress. Male and female C57BL/6J mice (4 wk of age) were fed a control diet (CD) or a WD for 16–20 wk. Superior epigastric arteries (SEAs; diameter, ~125 µm) were isolated and pressurized for study. Basal reactive oxygen species production was greatest in SEAs from males fed the WD. During exposure to H2O2 (200 μM, 50 min), propidium iodide staining identified nuclei of disrupted endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs). For mice fed the CD, death of SMCs (21%) and ECs (6%) was greater ( P < 0.05) in SEAs from males than females (9% and 2%, respectively). WD consumption attenuated cell death most effectively in SEAs from males. With no difference at rest, H2O2 increased intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) to the greatest extent in SEAs from males, as shown by fura 2 fluorescence. Selective disruption of the endothelium (luminal air bubble) increased [Ca2+]i and SMC death during H2O2 exposure irrespective of sex; the WD reduced both responses most effectively in males. Nonselective transient receptor potential (TRP) channel inhibition (ruthenium red, 5 μM) attenuated the rise of [Ca2+]i, as did selective inhibition of TRP vanilloid type 4 (TRPV4) channels (HC-067047, 1 μM), which also attenuated cell death. In contrast, inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (diltiazem, 50 μM) was without effect. Thus, for resistance arteries during acute oxidative stress: 1) ECs are more resilient than (and can protect) SMCs, 2) vessels from females are inherently more resilient than those from males, and 3) a WD increases vascular resilience by diminishing TRPV4 channel-dependent Ca2+ entry.
Disparity in interaural time difference improves the accuracy of neural representations of individual concurrent narrowband sounds in rat inferior colliculus and auditory cortex
Authors: Luo Lu , Xu Na , Wang Qian , Li Liang
Published: December 2019

The central mechanisms underlying binaural unmasking for spectrally overlapping concurrent sounds, which are unresolved in the peripheral auditory system, remain largely unknown. In this study, frequency-following responses (FFRs) to two binaurally presented independent narrowband noises (NBNs) with overlapping spectra were recorded simultaneously in the inferior colliculus (IC) and auditory cortex (AC) in anesthetized rats. The results showed that for both IC FFRs and AC FFRs, introducing an interaural time difference (ITD) disparity between the two concurrent NBNs enhanced the representation fidelity, reflected by the increased coherence between the responses evoked by double-NBN stimulation and the responses evoked by single NBNs. The ITD disparity effect varied across frequency bands, being more marked for higher frequency bands in the IC and lower frequency bands in the AC. Moreover, the coherence between IC responses and AC responses was also enhanced by the ITD disparity, and the enhancement was most prominent for low-frequency bands and the IC and the AC on the same side. These results suggest a critical role of the ITD cue in the neural segregation of spectrotemporally overlapping sounds.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY When two spectrally overlapped narrowband noises are presented at the same time with the same sound-pressure level, they mask each other. Introducing a disparity in interaural time difference between these two narrowband noises improves the accuracy of the neural representation of individual sounds in both the inferior colliculus and the auditory cortex. The lower frequency signal transformation from the inferior colliculus to the auditory cortex on the same side is also enhanced, showing the effect of binaural unmasking.
Poole–Frenkel Emission Saturation and Its Effects on Time-to-Failure in Ta-Ta2O5-MnO2 Capacitors
Authors: Pan Q. F. , Liu Q.
Published: December 2019

I-V characterization of Ta-Ta2O5-MnO2 capacitors was investigated at different temperatures, and Poole–Frenkel (PF) emission saturation was experimentally observed. Under the saturation voltage, the I-V curves at different temperature converged, and the temperature dependency was vanished. Above the saturation voltage, the leakage current was decreasing as the temperature increased. In order to evaluate the effects of saturation voltages (VS) on time-to-failure (TTF) of the capacitors, VS were first determined at +2°C and +25°C, then voltage accelerating tests were conducted at 85°C under 1.6 times of rated voltage. The distribution of VS and TTF of the samples were plotted and compared. It was shown that samples with lower saturation voltage failed earlier in the distribution of time-dependent dielectric breakdown. Comparing conventional methods for evaluating the quality of tantalum capacitors by measuring the leakage current at elevated temperature, the nondestructive measurement of saturation voltage at +2°C and +25°C may provide a novel and practicing approach tool to screening out capacitors with defected Ta2O5 layers.
Hybrid Design of Optimal Capacitor Placement and Reconfiguration for Performance Improvement in a Radial Distribution System
Authors: Hussain Ali Nasser , Shakir Al-Jubori Waleed Khalid , Kadom Haider Fathi
Published: December 2019

Distribution System Reconfiguration (DSR) and Optimal Capacitor Placement (OCP) are the most alternative techniques for increasing the power system generation and covering the growth of power demands. These techniques reduce the Radial Distribution System (RDS) losses and enhance the voltage profile. Combining both techniques gives better performance than using the individual technique. In this paper, two operation modes were implemented. First, the individual mode of OCP is applied. Second, the dual mode of DSR after OCP process is applied. Multiobjective functions with considering the weighting factors are used for minimizing real losses, improving voltage profile, and increasing saving cost. The optimal selections of open switches, location, and size of capacitors in the individual and dual design for RDS are achieved using four different optimization algorithms. These algorithms are Modified Biogeography-Based Optimization (MBBO) algorithm, Cuckoo Search (CS) algorithm, Modified Imperialist Competitive (MIC) algorithm, and Modified Bacterial Foraging-Based Optimization (MBFBO) algorithm. These algorithms are applied for two standard networks (IEEE 33- and IEEE 69-bus). Comparisons among the proposed algorithms are done, and the results demonstrated that the MBBO algorithm is the most strong and fast algorithm to attain the optimum solution. In addition, comparisons with literature works are done to validate the effectiveness of proposed algorithms.
Astragalus Membranaceus Treatment Protects Raw264.7 Cells from Influenza Virus by Regulating G1 Phase and the TLR3-Mediated Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liang Yuxi , Zhang Qiuyan , Zhang Linjing , Wang Rufeng , Xu Xiaoying , Hu Xiuhua
Published: December 2019

Influenza is an acute respiratory infection disease caused by the influenza virus. At present, due to the high mutation rate of influenza virus, it is difficult for the existing antiviral drugs to play an effective antiviral effect continually, so it is urgent to develop a new anti-influenza drug. Recently, more and more studies have been conducted on the antiviral activity ofAstragalus membranaceus, but the specific antiviral mechanism of this traditional Chinese medicine is not clear. In this study, the results proved that theAstragalus membranaceusinjection showed obvious anti-influenza virus activity. It could improve the survival rate of Raw264.7 cells which were infected with influenza virus, while it improved the blocking effect of influenza virus on cell cycle after infection, increased the SOD activity, and reduced the MDA content. At the same time, the innate immunity was affected by regulating the expression of TLR3, TAK1, TBK1, IRF3, and IFN-βin the TLR3-mediated signaling pathway, thus exerting its antiviral effect in vitro.
A Novel Framework to Classify Malware in MIPS Architecture-Based IoT Devices
Authors: Phu Tran Nghi , Dang Kien Hoang , Quoc Dung Ngo , Dai Nguyen Tho , Binh Nguyen Ngoc
Published: December 2019

Malware on devices connected to the Internet via the Internet of Things (IoT) is evolving and is a core component of the fourth industrial revolution. IoT devices use the MIPS architecture with a large proportion running on embedded Linux operating systems, but the automatic analysis of IoT malware has not been resolved. We proposed a framework to classify malware in IoT devices by using MIPS-based system behavior (system call—syscall) obtained from our F-Sandbox passive process and machine learning techniques. The F-Sandbox is a new type for IoT sandbox, automatically created from the real firmware of the specialized IoT devices, inheriting the specialized environment in the real firmware, therefore creating a diverse environment for sandboxing as an important characteristic of IoT sandbox. This framework classifies five families of IoT malware with F1-Weight = 97.44%.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia Presenting as Myeloid Sarcoma with a Predisposition to the Gynecologic Tract
Authors: Kahn Ryan M. , Gordhandas Sushmita , Chapman-Davis Eloise , Margolskee Elizabeth , Matrai Cathleen , Chadburn Amy , Ritchie Ellen
Published: December 2019

Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a rare, extramedullary tumor consisting of immature white blood cells of myeloid lineage. MS is usually associated with the concurrent diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) but can also present in the absence of bone marrow disease or at relapse of AML. MS of the gynecologic tract is exceedingly rare; however, it is hypothesized that it is likely more prevalent than previously understood given postmortem findings and persistence in preserved ovarian tissue. There is minimal literature surrounding MS and extramedullary relapse with no clear guidelines. This is a case report of a 48-year-old woman with MS involving the uterine corpus, fallopian tubes, and left ovary followed by a literature review. The overall aim is to review data regarding leukemic immune evasion and sanctuary sites in order to raise awareness as this represents an important and underrecognized hematologic malignancy in an often misdiagnosed, underrecognized site.
Clinical Management of Children and Adolescents with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Like Phenotypes and Complex Behavioural Manifestations: A Multidisciplinary and Dimensional Approach
Authors: Moscoso Ana , Julien Aurélie , Tanet Antoine , Consoli Angèle , Pagnard Martine , Trevisan France , Kemlin Isabelle , Rodriguez Diana , Cohen David
Published: December 2019

Introduction. Cognitive and behavioural problems associated with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are common sources of distress and the reasons behind seeking help. Here we describe patients with NF1 or NF1-like phenotypes referred to a Tier 3 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department and highlight the benefits of a multidisciplinary assessment. Methods. Prospective data were gathered from NF1 patients aged 7–15 years, referred by the NF1 Referral Centre due to additional difficulties either in management or diagnosis. For the selected cases, we performed a psychiatric assessment, a tailored neuropsychological evaluation based on clinical demands and history, broad speech and motor skills evaluations if there were concerns regarding language, motor abilities and/or learning difficulties and autism specific evaluations, if clinically relevant. No exclusion criteria were applied. Results. Complex NF1 cases represented only 5% of the patients (11/224). Assessments revealed the complexity of NF1 phenotype and a variety of problems including learning difficulties, emotional problems and autism spectrum disorders. Specific evaluations of language, motor, attentional and neurovisual domains were essential to guide tailored intervention strategies. Conclusions. In terms of clinical implications, the heterogeneity of NF1 phenotypical manifestations needs to be considered when developing assessment and remediation approaches for children with complex NF1.
Coverage, Opportunity, and Challenges of Expanded Program on Immunization among 12–23-Month-Old Children in Woldia Town, Northeast Ethiopia, 2018
Authors: Abebe Ayele Mamo , Wudu Kassaw Mesfin , Zemariam Alemu Birara , Estifanos Shewangashaw Nathan
Published: December 2019

Background. Each year, immunization averts an estimated 2–3 million deaths from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and measles. In 2011, nearly 107 million infants (83%) worldwide received at least 3 doses of DTP vaccine; however, approximately 22.4 million failed to receive 3 doses, and this causes large numbers of children susceptible to vaccine-preventable diseases and death. Nearly 8.4 million received at least 1 DTP dose. The aim of this was to assess coverage, opportunity, and challenges of EPI among children of age 12–23 months in Woldia town, Amhara region, Northeast Ethiopia. Method. In this mixed community-based cross-sectional study, 389 study subjects were selected by using a multistage sampling method. Interviewer-administered structured questioners were used. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 20 and presented by using tables and figures. Documented/recorded file from the qualitative data were transcribed into word narrative. Finally, it was presented by thematic analysis. Result. A total of 389 mothers/caretakers were interviewed. Based on vaccination card and mothers/caretakers’ recall, 385 (99%) of the children took at least a single dose of vaccine. From total children, 4 (1%) were not immunized at all, 44 (11.3%) were partially immunized, and 343 (87.7%) were fully immunized. The dropout rate was 9% for BCG to measles, 2.4% for Penta1 to Penta3, 8.3% for penta1 to measles, and 1.6% for pcv1 to Pcv3. A qualitative study revealed that workload, shortage of vaccine, and noncompliance of the mother/caretaker for the next scheduled date was the major challenge faced by health professionals and health extension workers. Conclusion. Vaccination coverage was low compared with the Millennium Development Goals target. It is important to increase and maintain the immunization level to the intended target. Thus, the town health office and concerned stakeholders need to work more to improve the performance of the expanded program on immunization in this area.
Immunotherapy Deriving from CAR-T Cell Treatment in Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Chen Yuehong , Sun Jianhong , Liu Huan , Yin Geng , Xie Qibing
Published: December 2019

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells are T cells engineered to express specific synthetic antigen receptors that can recognize antigens expressed by tumor cells, which after the binding of these antigens to the receptors are eliminated, and have been adopted to treat several kinds of malignancies. Autoimmune diseases (AIDs), a class of chronic disease conditions, can be broadly separated into autoantibody-mediated and T cell-mediated diseases. Treatments for AIDs are focused on restoring immune tolerance. However, current treatments have little effect on immune tolerance inverse; even the molecular target biologics like anti-TNFαinhibitors can only mildly restore immune balance. By using the idea of CAR-T cell treatment in tumors, CAR-T cell-derived immunotherapies, chimeric autoantibody receptor T (CAAR-T) cells, and CAR regulatory T (CAR-T) cells bring new hope of treatment choice for AIDs.
Metastable One-Electron Excited States of Charged Fullerenes
Authors: Arutyunyan Rafael V. , Vasiliev Alexander D. , Obukhov Yuri N. , Osadchy Alexander V.
Published: December 2019

We study the spontaneous emission processes for the quantum transitions between electron states of a charged C60 fullerene. Lifetimes for the transitions between the volume-localized electron levels and the surface-localized electron levels are evaluated and compared with the transitions between two surface-localized electron levels. We find the lifetimes by computing the transition dipole moments on the basis of the numeric calculations of the three-dimensional electron wave functions of a charged fullerene by making use of the density functional theory method implemented in the QuantumEspresso package. We show that the lifetime of a volume-localized level is of order of 1 μs for a transition energy of about 5 eV. This suggests to consider the possibility of using charged fullerenes for generating short-wavelength radiation, including coherent radiation in this range.
Activator Protein-1 Transcriptional Activity Drives Soluble Micrograft-Mediated Cell Migration and Promotes the Matrix Remodeling Machinery
Authors: Balli Martina , Chui Jonathan Sai-Hong , Athanasouli Paraskevi , Abreu de Oliveira Willy Antoni , El Laithy Youssef , Sampaolesi Maurilio , Lluis Frederic
Published: December 2019

Impaired wound healing and tissue regeneration have severe consequences on the patient’s quality of life. Micrograft therapies are emerging as promising and affordable alternatives to improve skin regeneration by enhancing the endogenous wound repair processes. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the beneficial effects of the micrograft treatments remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified the active protein-1 (AP-1) member Fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1) to play a central role in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase- (ERK-) mediated enhanced cell migratory capacity of soluble micrograft-treated mouse adult fibroblasts and in the human keratinocyte cell model. Accordingly, we show that increased micrograft-dependent in vitro cell migration and matrix metalloprotease activity is abolished upon inhibition of AP-1. Furthermore, soluble micrograft treatment leads to increased expression and posttranslational phosphorylation of Fra-1 and c-Jun, resulting in the upregulation of wound healing-associated genes mainly involved in the regulation of cell migration. Collectively, our work provides insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the cell-free micrograft treatment, which might contribute to future advances in wound repair therapies.
A System Dynamics Model of the Modal Shift from Road to Rail: Containerization and Imposition of Taxes
Authors: Choi Bulim , Park Su-il , Lee Kang-Dae
Published: December 2019

Over the past decade, intermodal transport focused on reducing external cost, congestion, and carbon dioxide emissions, which have been caused by road transportation. Many policy measures for the modal shift from road to rail have been introduced to address these problems. This study aims at examining the impact of policy measures on promoting modal shift. In line with the previous research on modal shift, a system dynamics model, which can calculate both expected and real modal share, was developed. The proposed model was applied to the steel industry for steel rolled coils transport in South Korea. Under our analysis conditions, the modal shift by the containerization occurred more rapidly than taxations. The major contributions of this paper are as follows: (1) supporting the model to anticipate the modal shift from road to rail and (2) suggesting new insight to promote the modal shift using containerization.
Investigating the Affecting Factors of Speed Dispersion for Suburban Arterial Highways in Nanjing, China
Authors: Ma Yongfeng , Gu Xin , Lee Jaeyoung , Xiang Qiaojun
Published: December 2019

Suburban arterial highways are usually characterized by mixed traffic environments, which is a major contributor to traffic crashes. It has been known that speed dispersion as a surrogate safety measure has a strong correlation with safety. The objective of this study is to identify the influencing factors of speed dispersion for suburban arterial highways. Two definitions of speed dispersion are proposed for comparison: (1) an individual vehicle speed variation along a highway segment and (2) a vehicle speed variation at a cross-section. Vehicle speeds, traffic composition, and driving interference data were obtained from high-resolution videos from 20 segments of the G205 highway in Nanjing, China. An exploratory factor analysis was used to detect initial relationships between latent influencing factors and 13 candidate variables selected based on traffic condition, road condition, and driving behavior. A multivariable regression model was applied to identify the impacts of latent influencing factors on speed dispersion. The results from the two models showed substantial differences. The road condition factor was not significant in the cross-sectional speed dispersion model, but was interpretive in the segmented speed dispersion model. Driving interferences and illegal driving behaviors had a greater effect on the segmented speed dispersion. Consequently, segmented speed dispersion showed a better performance for the analysis of suburban arterial highways. On the other hand, traffic disturbance caused by driving interferences and illegal driving behaviors is the greatest contributor to high speed dispersion on suburban arterial highways, which may be mitigated by effective traffic management measures. It is expected that this work will help traffic managers better understand speed dispersion in mixed traffic environments and to develop effective safety improvement strategies.
Dihydroartemisinin Sensitizes Mutant p53 (R248Q)-Expressing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells to Doxorubicin by Inhibiting P-gp Expression
Authors: Yang Yue , He Jianxin , Chen Jing , Lin Li , Liu Yongqi , Zhou Cunmin , Su Yun , Wei Hulai
Published: December 2019

Mutant p53 (R248Q) induces doxorubicin (ADM) resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) can synergistically enhance anticancer effect of many chemotherapeutic agents. However, whether DHA could increase therapeutic efficacy of ADM in p53 (R248Q)-expressing HCC cells remains unknown. In the present study, we established mutant p53 (R248Q)-expressing Hep3B cells to study the effect and mechanism of DHA on ADM resistance and the synergistic effect of DHA with ADM. We found that P-gp was highly expressed in p53 (R248Q)-expressing Hep3B cells. As a result, cells expressing p53 (R248Q) displayed higher cell viability and lower cell apoptosis level upon ADM treatment. Meanwhile, phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and p65 were elevated in p53 (R248Q)-expressing Hep3B cells. However, combination of DHA and ADM treatment decreased cell viability and elevated cell apoptosis level in p53 (R248Q)-expressing Hep3B cells. Molecular dynamics simulations showed that DHA had the potential to bind with mutant p53 (R248Q) protein. Furthermore, DHA treatment decreased P-gp expression and inhibited phosphorylation levels of ERK1/2 and p65 in p53 (R248Q)-expressing Hep3B cells. Finally, DHA treatment could significantly reduce ADM efflux in p53 (R248Q)-expressing cells. Our results indicate that DHA could decrease P-gp expression via inhibiting the p53 (R248Q)-ERK1/2-NF-κB signaling pathway, which eventually confers sensitization of p53 (R248Q)-expressing HCC cells to ADM. Our study provides evidence for the potential application of DHA and ADM combination in treatment of mutant p53 (R248Q)-harbored HCC.
Analysis on Guide Vane Closure Schemes of High‐Head Pumped Storage Unit during Pump Outage Condition
Authors: Zhang Yuquan , Xu Yanhe , Zheng Yuan , Rodriguez E. Fernandez , Liu Huiwen , Feng Jun
Published: December 2019

When the pumping operation of pumped storage unit suffers from power outage, the hydraulic transient poses a serious threat to the safe operation of the unit and its pressure pipeline system. For high‐head pumped storage power station (PSPS), the water hammer pressure (WHP) and rotational speed rise ratio (RSRR) of each hydraulic unit will be increased during the pump outage condition. In order to limit the fluctuation of rotational speed and WHP in power‐off condition, optimizing and choosing a reasonable guide vane closure scheme (GVCS) is an economic and efficient means to improve the dynamic characteristics of pumped storage unit. On the basis of the calculation model of the transition process of single tube‐double unit type of a high‐head PSPS, an optimization model of GVCS balancing WHP and RSRR objectives is established. Furthermore, the two‐stage broken line and three‐stage delayed GVCSs are applied to the pump outage condition, and the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm‐II (NSGA‐II) is introduced to calculate the optimal solution set under different water heads and different closure schemes. For four typical water heads, the multiobjective optimization results of the closure law show that the two‐stage broken line law has a better Pareto front under high water head, while the three‐stage delayed law has a better performance under low water head. Furthermore, through the results of transition process of typical schemes, the adaptability of GVCS and water head is analyzed. The method proposed in this paper can make the RSRR not more than −0.89, and the three‐stage delayed law can even make the RSRR only −0.01. Methods of this paper provide a theoretical basis for optimum guide vane closure mode setting of PSPS.
Fixed Point Theorems for Ćirić Type Z-Contractions in Generating Spaces of Quasi-Metric Family
Authors: Cho Seong-Hoon
Published: December 2019

In this paper, the notions of Ćirić type (I) Z-contractions and Ćirić type (II) Z-contractions in generating spaces of quasi-metric family are introduced and new fixed point theorems for such two contractions are established. We give examples to illustrate main results.