bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation and Techno-Economic Analysis of On-Grid Battery Energy Storage Systems in Indonesia
Authors: Ramelan Agus , Adriyanto Feri , Hermanu Brillianto Apribowo Chico , Hamka Ibrahim Muhammad , Iftadi Irwan , Satria Ajie Gilang
Published: April 2021

The limited capacity of renewable energy sources in the grid utility is a challenge. Increasing the capacity of renewable energy sources is supported by energy storage in the grid. The Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) allows storing more electricity from New and Renewable Energy (EBT) sources to meet load requirements. This paper designs a techno-economic study of various battery technologies using HOMER (Hybrid Optimization Modeling Software) software simulation. Simulations are made for grid-connected photovoltaic systems in Indonesia. HOMER is used to find the energy cost ($ / kWh) for each type of battery technology and battery system size. The simulation is designed using 1MWp PV component parameters, inverter, energy storage to be compared, residental load, and connected to the grid. The results will help to determine which technology and battery size is more suitable for the system. The findings from this paper resulted in the lowest Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) of $ 1.03 in solar power generation.
Safety of a Noninvasive Expandable Electromagnetic Prosthesis with an In Situ Ventricular Assist Device
Authors: Gannon Nicholas P. , McHugh Kristy M. , Ameduri Rebecca K. , Ogilvie Christian M.
Published: April 2021

Case:

An 8-year-old girl was diagnosed with osteosarcoma of the distal femur. She underwent chemotherapy and wide resection with implantation of a noninvasive electromagnetic expandable distal femur prosthesis. Ninety-three days after chemotherapy, she developed anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy with heart failure for which a ventricular assist device was placed. Device compatibility was tested, and she was successfully lengthened.

Conclusion:

Expandable prostheses allow limb length maintenance in skeletally immature patients who undergo limb salvage. Chemotherapy for osteosarcoma involves anthracyclines with a dose-dependent side effect of cardiotoxicity. Patients can be successfully and safely lengthened with expandable electromagnetic prostheses with in situ ventricular assist devices.
JAVANES INTERPRETATION OF MODERNISM: Contribution of Tafsir Al-Ibriz on Moderate Understanding in Sharia and Mu’amalah
Authors: Abidin Ahmad Zainal , Aziz Thoriqul
Published: April 2021

Baru-baru ini, beberapa Muslim cenderung tetap dalam posisi ekstrem terkait dengan agama mereka. Mereka menganggap kitab suci sebagai sumber tekstual-eksklusif dari ajaran agama yang kemudian menghasilkan pemahaman radikal tentang Islam. Sementara itu, yang lain memahami Islam secara kontekstual dan bebas yang menyebabkan munculnya Islam liberal. Sebagian besar dari keduanya berperilaku berlebihan dalam menerapkan agama yang terkait dengan syariah andmu’amalah. Di antara keduanya, sebuah kelompok yang memiliki pandangan Islam moderat muncul dengan Bisri Mustofa, seorang penerjemah Jawa yang pemikirannya dapat ditemukan di Tafsiral-Ibriz, sebagai tokohnya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif-analitis yang lebih melihat pemahaman al-Qur'an dalam syariah dan mu'amalah. Tulisan ini menunjukkan bahwa: 1) Bisri Mustofa memiliki moderat meskipun penafsirannya tentang pesan Al-Qur'an dengan karakteristik yang adil, menengah, seimbang, dan toleran 2) Syariah moderat Bisri Mustofa dapat tercermin dalam beberapa aspek dalam melakukan lima shalat, dhikir, dan berdoa, dan pelafalan Al-Qur'an, tashbi> h, dan tahli> l. 3) Pemikiran moderat Bisri Mustofa tentang mu'amalah tercermin dalam etika kunjungan, kerja, dan manajemen ekonomi.Recently, some Muslims tend to stay in an extreme position related to their religion. They consider the scripturesas textual-exclusive source of religious teachings which then results in radical understanding of Islam. Meanwhile, others understand Islam contextulally and free which cause the emergence of liberal Islam. Most of the two behave excessively in applying religionrelated to sharia andmu’amalah. In between the two, a group having moderate view of Islam appears with Bisri Mustofa, a Javanese interpreter whose thought could be found inTafsiral-Ibriz, as its figure. This research utilizes descriptive-analytical method looking more on al-Qur’an understanding in sharia dan mu’amalah. This writing suggests that: 1) Bisri Mustofa has moderatethoughtin his interpretation of Qur’anic messages with fair, middle, balanced, and tolerantcharacteristics 2) Bisri Mustofa’s moderate thoughtof sharia could be reflected in some aspects in performing five prayers, dhikir, and pray, and recitingal-Qur’an, tashbi>h,and tahli>l. 3) Bisri Mustofa’s moderate thought of mu’amalah is reflected in the ethicsof visiting, working, and economic management.
Marriage for The Purpose of Obtaining Citizenship and Its Effects from A Sharia and Legal Point of View
Authors: Hussein Khawlah
Published: April 2021

The easiest way to obtain residency in developed countries is through marrying residents of developed countries. Nowadays, it is familiar instead of natural marriage, couples sign contracts only on paper. The parties do not intend the paper marriage to the marriage, but the parties agree on non-cohabitation either expressly or implicitly. Sharia is not permissible to conclude a marriage contract without marriage intention, and it is illegal and considered a crime in law. In case a man and a woman claim that they are a couple. This type is a claim that bears the truth and lies, and marriage is not held in both cases. Regarding visual marriage with affirmation and acceptance but without the intention of marriage, a group of contemporary scholars subjoined this type of marriage to the joking (hazl) marriage. The majority of the Hanafis scholars, Malikis, Shaafa'is, and Hanbalis, believe that it is a valid marriage that has its effects, the same as in the marriage of joking. However, another view of the Malikis in the joking marriage is that it is not valid and does not have any effects. Temporary marriage would be a mut'ah marriage if the man appeared his attempt to divorce. Finally, the researcher supports the fatwa that stated paper marriage is more like tahlil marriage, which is not meant to be valid. Cara termudah untuk mendapatkan tempat tinggal di negara-negara maju adalah melalui pernikahan dengan penduduk negara-negara maju. Saat ini, sudah umum terjadi fenomena bukan pernikahan nyata, namun pasangan menandatangani kontrak hanya di atas kertas. Akta nikah tidak dimaksudkan oleh para pihak sebagai fakta perkawinan, tetapi para pihak menyetujui bukan tentang tinggal serumah (kohabitasi) baik secara tersurat maupun tersirat. Dalam Syariah tidak diperbolehkan untuk menandatangani kontrak pernikahan tanpa niat menikah, hal itu dianggap ilegal dan dianggap sebagai kejahatan dalam hukum. Dalam kasus seorang pria dan wanita mengklaim bahwa mereka adalah pasangan. Jenis ini adalah klaim yang mengandung kebenaran dan kebohongan, dan pernikahan tidak dilakukan dalam kedua kasus tersebut. Mengenai pernikahan visual dengan penegasan dan penerimaan tetapi tanpa niat pernikahan, sekelompok sarjana kontemporer menundukkan jenis pernikahan ini dengan pernikahan bercanda (hazl). Mayoritas ulama dari Hanafi, Maliki, Syafi'i dan Hanbali percaya bahwa itu adalah pernikahan yang sah yang memiliki efek, sama seperti dalam pernikahan bercanda. Namun, pandangan lain dari Maliki dalam pernikahan candaan adalah bahwa itu tidak sah dan tidak memiliki efek apa pun. Pernikahan sementara adalah pernikahan mut'ah jika lelaki itu muncul dalam upayanya untuk bercerai. Akhirnya, peneliti mendukung fatwa yang menyatakan pernikahan di atas kertas lebih seperti pernikahan ‘penghalalan’ yang tidak dimaksudkan untuk pernikahan sejati
Canadian Operator Works To Transform an Oil Field Into a Hydrogen Factory
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: April 2021

As the oil and gas industry scans the known universe for ways to diversify its portfolio with alternative forms of energy, it might want to look under its own feet, too.

For inside every oil reservoir, there may be a hydrogen reservoir just waiting to get out.

The concept comes courtesy of Calgary-based Proton Technologies. Founded in 2015, the young firm is the operator of an aging heavy oil field in Saskatchewan.

There, on a small patch of flat farm-land, Proton has been producing oil to pay the bills. At the same time, it has been experimenting with injecting oxygen into its reservoir in a bid to produce exclusively hydrogen.

Proton says its process is built on a technical foundation that includes years of research and works at the demonstration scale. Soon, the firm hopes to prove it is also profitable.

While it produces its own hydrogen, Proton is licensing out the technology to others. In January, fellow Canadian operator Whitecap Resources secured a hydrogen production license of up to 500 metric tons/day from Proton. Whitecap produces about 48,000 B/D, and thanks to carbon sequestration, the operator has claimed a net negative emissions status since 2018.

Proton says it has struck similar licensing deals with other Canadian operators but that these companies have not yet made public announcements. Where these projects go from here may end up representing the ultimate test for Proton’s innovative twist on the in-situ combustion process known so well to the heavy-oil sector.

“In-situ combustion has been used in more than 500 projects worldwide over the last century. And, they have all produced hydrogen,” said Grant Strem, a cofounder and the CEO of Proton.

Strem is a petroleum geologist by back-ground who spent the majority of his career working on heavy-oil projects for Canadian producers and research analysis with the banks that fund the upstream sector. While his new venture remains registered as an oil company, the self-described explorationist has come to look at oil fields very differently than he used to.

“In an oil field, you have oil—hydrocarbons, which are made of hydrogen and carbon. The other fluid down there is H2O. So, an oil field is really a giant hydrogen-rich, energy-dense system that’s all conveniently accessible by wells,” Strem explained.

But, in those past examples, the hundreds of other in-situ combustion projects, hydrogen production was merely a byproduct, an associated gas of sorts. It was the result of several reactions generated by air injections that producers use an oxidizer to heat up the heavy oil and get it flowing.

What Proton wants to do is to super-charge the hydrogen-generating reactions by using the oil as fuel while leaving the carbon where it is.

That ambition includes doing so at a price point that is roughly five times below that of Canadian natural gas prices and an even smaller fraction of what other hydrogen-generation methods cost.
Thermodynamic Cost of Quantum transfers
Authors: Mirmasoudi Forouzan , Ahadpour Sodeif
Published: April 2021

In this work, we will study thermodynamic cost of dense coding. In this regard, a scheme is proposed for quantum channel where is induced from two initially uncorrelated thermal quantum systems. At first, the quantum Fisher information and spin squeezing is used to quantify the correlation dynamics over the system. The system reveals that the dynamics of quantum correlations depends crucially on specific energy and temperature. Also, they can be utilized as control parameters for optimal dense coding. Several interesting features of the variations of the energy cost and the dense coding capacity are obtained. It can keep its own valid capacity value in a broad range of temperature by increasing in the energy value of excited states. Also, we can identify valid dense coding with the help of calculating energy cost in the system. Using this approach, identifying a critical point of this model in dense coding capacity quality can be very effective.
Estimating High Mobility Group Box Protein 1 (HMGB1) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms Among Hepatitis B Virus Infected Patients of Pakistan Origin
Authors: Tabassum Sobia , Khalid Zanib , Piracha Zahra Zahid , Saeed Umar , Ashraf Muhammad , Aziz Hafsa
Published: April 2021

HMGB1 is nuclear non-histone protein and unique member of cytokines. In viral hepatitis infection HMGB1 serum level increases and translocates towards cytoplasm and extracellular spaces where it activates single stimulating hepatic stellate cell proliferation which induces fibrogenic protein expression and causes hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, total 150 subjects were recruited to assess the association between HMGB1 SNPs and HBV. Three types of genotypes were found visible in rs3742305 of HMGB1; wild type homozygous GG with 65%, homozygous minor type CC with 6% and heterozygous minor type GC with 26% frequency distribution. High prevalence of GG genotype in the selected population presenting that GG genotype may have higher risk for susceptibility to HBV infection. Our results showed significant correlation of HMGB1 polymorphism with HBV infection in the selected Pakistani population.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on aortic valve surgical service: a single centre experience
Authors: Vlastos Dimitrios , Chauhan Ishaansinh , Mensah Kwabena , Cannoletta Maria , Asonitis Athanasios , Elfadil Ahmed , Petrou Mario , De Souza Anthony , Quarto Cesare , Bhudia Sunil , Rosendahl Ulrich , Pepper John , Asimakopoulos George
Published: April 2021

Background The coronavirus-disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic imposed an unprecedented burden on the provision of cardiac surgical services. The reallocation of workforce and resources necessitated the postponement of elective operations in this cohort of high-risk patients. We investigated the impact of this outbreak on the aortic valve surgery activity at a single two-site centre in the United Kingdom.Methods Data were extracted from the local surgical database, including the demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of patients operated on from March 2020 to May 2020 with only one of the two sites resuming operative activity and compared with the respective 2019 period. A similar comparison was conducted with the period between June 2020 and August 2020, when operative activity was restored at both institutional sites. The experience of centres world-wide was invoked to assess the efficiency of our services. Results There was an initial 38.2% reduction in the total number of operations with a 70% reduction in elective cases, compared with a 159% increase in urgent and emergency operations. The attendant surgical risk was significantly higher [median Euroscore II was 2.7 [1.9-5.2] in 2020 versus 2.1 [0.9-3.7] in 2019 (p=0.005)] but neither 30-day survival nor freedom from major post-operative complications (re-sternotomy for bleeding/tamponade, transient ischemic attack/stroke, renal replacement therapy) was compromised (p>0.05 for all comparisons). Recommencement of activity at both institutional sites conferred a surgical volume within 17% of the pre-COVID-19 era.Conclusions Our institution managed to offer a considerable volume of aortic valve surgical activity over the first COVID-19 outbreak to a cohort of higher-risk patients, without compromising post-operative outcomes. A backlog of elective cases is expected to develop, the accommodation of which after surgical activity normalisation will be crucial to monitor. Trial registration Not applicable
Influence of Energy Parameters on Plasma Radius, Energy Fraction and Plasma Flushing Efficiency for a Single Discharge in EDM
Authors: Padhi Bibeka Nanda , Choudhury Sounak Kumar , Janakarajan Ramkumar
Published: April 2021

An electrical discharge forms a crater on the workpiece surface. The crater morphology estimates the performance parameters of the electrical discharge machining process. The energy parameters (gap voltage, discharge current and the pulse on time), the plasma channel radius and the energy fraction coming to the workpiece determine the molten cavity radius and depth. The plasma flushes away a portion of material from the molten cavity forming a crater and resolidification of the remaining molten material forms a recast layer. The plasma flushing efficiency determines the crater’s radius and depth. Few researchers have successfully expressed the plasma radius, energy fraction and plasma flushing efficiency in relation to two of the energy parameters, namely, discharge current and pulse on time but not as a gap voltage function. This work attempted to develop a thermo-physical model to express plasma radius, energy fraction and plasma flushing efficiency as a function of all three energy parameters, such as gap voltage, discharge current and pulse on time. Plasma flushing efficiency was calculated and plasma radius and energy fraction were estimated by inverse finite element method from the measured values of crater radius, crater depth and recast layer thickness. The expressions for plasma radius, energy fraction and plasma flushing efficiency were found out from the regression equations obtained from the designed data set using the Taguchi method. Validation shows that the modeled and experimental values of crater radius, crater depth, and recast layer thickness agree well.
Short follow-up of multisystem inflammatory syndrome after covid19 infection in children: case report
Authors: Acquafredda Angelo M. , Lorusso Chiara , Giovinazzo Anna L. S. Di , Pastoressa Anna Maria , Simone Maria , Mastromattei Stefania , Specchio Maurizio , Cialdella Pietro , Vitullo Pamela
Published: April 2021

Background: covid19 infection, in children compared to adults, often occurs in a pauci and/or asymptomatic manner, but in some cases, a multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS) may occur in the 4-6 weeks following the infection. There are few data on the features of MIS after the clinical recovery phase, therefore we have described three cases of children with post-covid19 infection syndrome. Case presentation: out of the three cases described, in two children the onset clinical symptoms were similar to Kawasaki syndrome, while in the other neurological impairment was prevalent. In none of the three there were gastrointestinal symptoms, while the signs of interstitial disease were constant on lung ultrasound. In all of them, there was an increase in the inflammatory markers, high levels of ferritin, lymphocytopenia and thrombocytopenia only in one case. The lipid profile at onset was characterized by an increase in triglyceride levels. In all cases the course was benign with resolution of the symptoms upon admission within 4-5 days. After 1 month from the clinical recovery phase, the patients showed normalization of cytokines, inflammatory markers and triglyceride levels, while the total cholesterol value increased. Covid19 infection leads to an acute phase response with increase of the triglyceride in addition to inflammatory markers and the signs of interstitial disease on lung ultrasound. Conclusions: the inflammatory markers and lung involvement normalize over 30 days, while an initial increase of the triglyceride - and later in total cholesterol - suggest a direct relationship between triglyceride and inflammatory markers at the beginning, and between total cholesterol and host immune response during the follow-up.
Analysis of Footprint of Uncertainty of the IT2 Mamdani Controllers Using Different Type-Reducers
Authors: Zhang Chaolong , Zhou Haibo , Li Zhiqiang , Ju Xia , Tan Shuaixia
Published: April 2021

Appropriate Footprint of Uncertainties (FOUs) are beneficial to the performance of Interval Type-2 (IT2) fuzzy controller, revealing the effect of FOUs is a key problem. In our published work, as the FOUs increase, the IT2 Mamdani and TS fuzzy controllers, using KM or EKM type-reducer (TR), approach the constant and piecewise linear controllers, respectively, while they finally become constant and piecewise linear controllers. To verify the validation of the above results, when a different TR is used, in this study, the effects of other popular TRs (i.e., Nie-Tan, Wu-Mendel, Iterative Algorithm with Stop Condition) on output of IT2 Mamdani fuzzy controller, are explored. We proven that, (1) as the FOUs increase, irrespectively of the TRs used, the IT2 Mamdani fuzzy controllers approach constant controllers, (2) when all the FOUs are equal to 1 (i.e., at their maximum ), the fuzzy controllers using Nie-Tan and Iterative Algorithm with Stop Condition TR become constant controllers. The FOUs of the controllers using Wu-Mendel TR can be infinitely approaching 1 and cannot be equal to 1 (otherwise, the denominator of the TR output expression are equal to 0), hence when FOUs are infinitely approaching 1, the controller will approach the constant controller infinitely. These results imply regardless of which popular TR is used, the IT2 Mamdani fuzzy controller, when using larger FOUs, the fluctuation of the input variables have a limited impact on the output, the ability to deal with system uncertainties will deteriorate. Laboratory control experiments are provided to demonstrate these findings.
Bioinformatic identification of the potential afatinib drug resistance gene BIRC5 in non-small- cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhu Xiaoxi , Lu Yuanzhi , Chen Qiang , Li Yin
Published: April 2021

Background Drug resistance inevitably limits the efficacy of the second-generation epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) afatinib, and the underlying causes of this resistance have not been determined.Methods In this study, we demonstrated that baculovirus IAP repeat protein 5 (BIRC5) may confer afatinib resistance in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via multiple mechanisms based on integrative bioinformatic analyses. Results Through bioinformatic analyses of microarray datasets, BIRC5 was overexpressed in both afatinib-resistant NSCLC cells and NSCLC tissues and was initially identified as a potential candidate gene causing poor survival in afatinib-resistant patients with NSCLC. The resistance function of BIRC5 in NSCLC was validated by performing protein/gene interactions and biological process annotation analyses and further validated by analyzing transcription factors targeting BIRC5 mRNA. Conclusions We applied our results to NSCLC and showed that BIRC5 was an important candidate gene for afatinib resistance.
Triptolide Enhances Chemotherapeutic Accumulation Through P-Gp Inhibition in Cisplatin-Resistant HNE1/DDP Nasopharyngeal Cancer Cells
Authors: Wang Xiu , Wang Yu-shuai , Zhang Jing-jing , Li Jian-chun
Published: April 2021

Background: We have previously shown that triptolide (TPL) could synergize with cisplatin (DDP) in drug-resistant nasopharyngeal cancer cells (NPC). However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Therefore, we hypothesized that TPL could inhibit P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression, reduce the chemotherapeutic agent efflux from tumor cells and increase their drug content, then by increasing drug efficiency against the tumor cells. So the study was performanced to elucidate the mechanism of triptolide (TPL) sensitization with chemotherapeutics in drug-resistant nasopharyngeal cancer cells. Methods and Results:Cell viability was analyzed by MTT. The apoptosis and intracellular concentration of doxorubicin/rhodanmine123 were determined by flow cytometry. The expression of P-gp, MRP1, Caspse-3, CAP1, and CAP2 were measured by western blot. The ATP level was examined by Cell Titer-Glo Luminescent Cell Viability Assay kit. The results showed that TPL inhibited cell viability, increased apoptosis, and intracellular doxorubicin accumulation. Furthermore, TPL inhibited the rhodanmine123 efflux, reduced the ATP level and the expression of P-gp, MRP1, and CAP1, while it increased the expression of CAP2 and Caspase-3. Conclusions:The results of this study confirm the role of TPL in restoring the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutics by down regulating P-gp expression and function in drug-resistant nasopharyngeal cancer cells.
Efficacy of fluid infusions on the recovery from acute kidney injury in patients administered liposomal amphotericin B: A nationwide observational study
Authors: Tashiro Masato , Obata Yoko , Takazono Takahiro , Ota Yuki , Wakamura Tomotaro , Shiozawa Yui , Tsuyuki Ai , Miyazaki Taiga , Nishino Tomoya , Izumikawa Koichi
Published: April 2021

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) often develops during the administration of liposomal amphotericin B (L-AMB), a broad-spectrum antifungal drug. However, clinical recovery approaches for AKI patients administered L-AMB have not been well established.Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data obtained from hospitals throughout Japan. AKI was defined as a ≥1.5-fold increase within 7 days or ≥0.3 mg/dL increase within 2 days in serum creatinine. Renal recovery was defined as a return to creatinine levels below those recorded before the onset of AKI.Results: Herein, 189 patients had developed AKI following L-AMB administration. Of them, 153 were subsequently assessed to determine the trend in creatinine level after AKI and 90 patients were assessed for renal recovery. Patients administered ≥10 mL/kg daily fluid for 7 consecutive days from the onset of AKI had a 63% recovery rate relative to patients that did not receive infusion (35% recovery rate (P = 0.053)). Although extending the fluid infusion period beyond 7 days did not result in consistent improvement in renal recovery rates, daily fluid volume was found to be positively correlated with renal recovery (P = 0.043). On average, patients administered daily fluid infusions of ≥10 mL/kg had greater reductions in minimum creatinine levels for the first 7 days after AKI compared to patients that did not receive daily fluid infusions. After 7 days of fluid infusion, the mean minimum creatinine levels decreased by 0.21 mg/dL relative to 0.16 mg/dL for patients that did not receive daily fluid infusions.Conclusions: Seven consecutive days of daily fluid infusion from the onset of AKI may promote renal recovery from AKI in patients administered L-AMB, with daily fluid volume positively correlating with the incidence of renal recovery.
In-house Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for detection of SARS-CoV2 with increased Sensitivity
Authors: Kalita Manash Jyoti , Dutta Kalpajit , Hazarika Gautam , Dutta Ridip , Kalita Simanta , Das Partha Pratim , Sarma Manash P , Banu Sofia , Idris Md. Ghaznavi , Talukdar Anjan Jyoti , Dutta Sangitanjan , Sharma Ajanta , Medhi Subhash
Published: April 2021

Background:With the increasing COVID-19 infection worldwide, economization of the existing RT-PCR based detection assay becomes the need of the hour. Methods: An assessment of optimal PCR conditions for simultaneous amplification for E, S and RdRp gene of SARS-CoV-2 has been made using both fast traditional and multiplex real time PCR using same primer sets. All variables of practical value were studied by amplifying known target-sequences from ten-fold dilutions of archived positive samples of COVID-19. Results: The designed primers for amplification of E, S and RdRp gene of SARS-Cov-2 in single tube Multiplex PCR amplifications have shown efficient amplification of the target region in 37 minutes using thermal cyclers and 169 minutes with HRM based Real time detection using SYBR green master mix, over a wide range of template concentration, and the results were in good concordance with the commercially available detection kits. Conclusion: This fast HRM based Real time multiplex PCR with SYBR green approach offers rapid and sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a cost effective manner apart from the added advantage of primer pair’s compatibility for use in Traditional multiplex PCR, which offers extended applicability of the assay protocol in resource limited setting.
Effects of Half-Dose and Full-Dose GnRH Antagonists on IVF-ET Outcomes: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhao Yingge , Lian Fang , Xiang Shan , Yu Yi , Pang Conghui , Qiu Yue
Published: April 2021

BackgroundGonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist(GnRH-ant) has been shown to have a negative effect on endometrial receptivity. Therefore, the use of GnRH-ant dose as small as possible during controlled ovarian stimulation(COS) may has an impact on improving endometrial receptivity and pregnancy rate. However, the GnRH-ant dose is relatively flexible and there is no fixed requirement for guidance. In this retrospective study, we tried to study the effects of half-dose or full-dose GnRH-ant on IVF-ET outcomes.MethodsOf the 316 cycles for 314 patients analyzed in this study, 149 received half-dose GnRH-ant(Group1) and 167 received full-dose GnRH-ant(Group2). According to age and BMI, the two groups were divided into four subgroups. Age subgroups, they were divided into age≤35(subgroupA)and age>35(subgroupB): 180 cycles in subgroup A(107 cycles in subgroupA1,73 cycles in subgroupA2), 136 cycles in subgroup B(42 cycles in subgroup B1,94 cycles in subgroupB2). BMI subgroups, they were divided into BMI<25 (subgroupC)and BMI≥25 (subgroupD):208 cycles in subgroupC(94 cycles in subgroup C1,114 cycles in subgroupC2), 108 cycles in subgroupD (55 cycles in subgroupD1,53 cycles in subgroupD2).ResultsNeither fertilized oocytes and the number of superior-quality embryos nor clinical pregnancy rate and live production rate significantly differed between the two groups. However, the number of retrieved oocytes and available embryos were significantly larger in Group 1 than in Group 2 (8.17±4.10vs.7.07±4.05,2.96±2.03vs.2.52±1.62, respectively,p＜0.05). Indicators in each age subgroups showed no statistical significance.However, in BMI subgroups, neither fertilized oocytes, available embryos and the number of superior-quality embryos nor live production rate significantly differed between the four subgroups. The number of retrieved oocytes was higher in subgroupC1 than in subgroupC2 (8.24±4.04vs.6.83±3.92,p < 0.05), In addition the clinical pregnancy rate was slightly higher in subgroupD1 than in subgroupD2(45.45vs.24.53%,P< 0.05). ConclusionsThe results showed that half-dose GnRH-ant was as effective as full-dose GnRH-ant for most patients. And patients with BMI≥25 may be more suitable for half-dose GnRH-ant. This retrospective analysis and the small sample size are the main limitations of this study, and a large sample RCT will be carried out in the future.Trial registration﻿Retrospectively registered
Four Decades of Intensifying Precipitation from Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Shearer Eric , Nguyen Phu , Gorooh Vesta Afzali , Hsu Kuolin , Sorooshian Soroosh
Published: April 2021

In this study, the Precipitation Estimates from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks (PERSIANN)-Dynamic Infrared Rain-rate model (PDIR) product, using a consistently measured 40-year archive of satellite-measured cloud-top infrared temperature data with a spatiotemporal resolution of 0.04° and 3-hourly as forcing data, is used to investigate the trends in TC precipitation from 1980 to 2019 using robust linear fitting over multi-year moving averages and accumulations of TC precipitation volume and rates. Trend analysis identifies significantly increasing trends of TC precipitation across intensity classifications. The mean and upper tail precipitation rates in hurricanes are shown to be rapidly increasing, with the greatest increases found in the most extreme precipitation rates of the strongest hurricanes. Increases in TC precipitation over land across TC intensities were observed. Increased counts of precipitation-containing pixels across of all intensities per TC are robustly shown across all but the strongest TC categories. Lastly, TC properties are significantly correlated with climate oscillation values from the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), North American Oscillation (NAO), and the Oceanic Nino Index (ONI) prior to the start of the hurricane season. These results suggest that an increase in TC precipitation can be observed and that the previous lack of consensus can be attributed to data with low spatiotemporal resolution, limited temporal extents, or limited coverage i.e., exclusively over land.
Construction of Cellulose/Carboxymethyl Chitosan Hydrogels for Potential Wound Dressing Application
Authors: Guo Yi , Zhao Chuanyin , Yan Chao , Cui Li
Published: April 2021

In this study, novel cellulose/carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCS) composite hydrogels were constructed by blending cellulose and CMCS in LiOH/urea aqueous solutions, and then cross-linking with epichlorohydrin. The structure and morphology of the composite hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WXRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results revealed that the chemical cross-linking reaction between cellulose and CMCS occurred in the hydrogel, and CMCS contributed to the enhancement of pore size, whereas cellulose as a strong backbone in the hydrogel to support the pore wall. The mechanical strength of the composite hydrogels increased with the cellulose content, while the equilibrium swelling ratio and antibacterial activity increased with the CMCS content. The composite hydrogels had no cytotoxicity towards L929 cells, suggesting good biocompatibility. All these results indicate that cellulose/CMCS composite hydrogels can be effectively used as a material in wound dressing.
Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in Patients With Clinically High-Risk Prostate Cancer: Surgical Feasibility and Long-Term Functional and Oncologic Outcomes
Authors: Lee Yong Seong , Shin Tae Young
Published: April 2021

Background

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is an acceptable procedure for localized prostate cancer. However, RARP has not been offered to patients with high-risk prostate cancer. We report long-term functional and oncologic outcomes of patients who underwent RARP for clinically high-risk prostate cancer and to assess the role of RARP in patients with high-risk prostate cancer.
Methods

This study included 90 patients with high-risk prostate cancer according to the D'Amico criteria who underwent RARP between January 2014 and December 2019. High risk was based on the presence of a clinical stage of ≥ T2c, a pretreatment prostate-specific antigen level > 20 ng/mL, or a biopsy Gleason score ≥ 8. Functional outcomes including postoperative continence and potency were assessed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after RARP. Oncologic outcomes comprised positive surgical margins (PSMs), biochemical recurrence (BCR), BCR-free survival, and clinical recurrence (CR)-free survival rates at 1 and 3 years.
Results

The median operative time was 185 (interquartile range [IQR], 140–250) minutes. Based on postoperative pathology, the rates of PSMs in the entire cohort and in those with stage pT2 disease were 27.8% and 8.9%, respectively. The continence and potency rates at 12 months were 87.8% and 56.7%, respectively. The BCR rate was 23.3%, and the median time to BCR was 10.5 (IQR, 3.5–26.9) months. The 1- and 3-year BCR-free survival rates were 91.5% and 85.5%, respectively, and the 1- and 3-year CR-free survival rates were 97.5% and 90.8%, respectively.
Conclusions

Most patients with clinically high-risk prostate cancer treated with RARP remained BCR-free and CR-free during the long-term follow-up. The optimal functional and oncologic outcomes indicating RARP as a safe and feasible approach in the present study should be confirmed in future studies.
The Analgesic Comparison of Supraclavicular and Interscalene Brachial Plexus Block for Shoulder Arthroscopy: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Huang Liangku , Li Peng , Zhang Liang , Kang Guangming , Zhou Haizhen , Zhao Zandong
Published: April 2021

Introduction:

The analgesic comparison of supraclavicular versus interscalene brachial plexus block (SCBB versus ISBB) for pain management of shoulder arthroscopy remains controversial. We conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to explore the influence of SCBB versus ISBB on the postoperative pain intensity of shoulder arthroscopy.
Methods

We have searched PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO, and Cochrane library databases through March 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effect of SCBB versus ISBB on pain control of shoulder arthroscopy. This meta-analysis is performed using the random-effect model.
Results

Six RCTs are included in the meta-analysis. Overall, compared with ISBB for shoulder arthroscopy, SCBB leads to similar pain scores at 24 h (SMD = 0.07; 95% CI=-0.14 to 0.28; P = 0.52) and additional analgesic requirement (SMD=-0.22; 95% CI=-0.52 to 0.09; P = 0.16), but results in increased onset time of block (SMD = 1.77; 95% CI = 0.21 to 3.34; P = 0.25), decreased incidence of horner’s syndrome (OR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.10 to 0.64; P = 0.003) and adverse events (OR = 0.25; 95% CI = 0.11 to 0.58; P = 0.001).
Conclusions

SCBB demonstrated comparable pain control after shoulder arthroscopy compared to ISBB, with lower incidence of adverse events.
GIS-Based Flood Hazard Mapping in Itang District of the Gambella Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Tadesse Dame , Karuturi Venkata Suryabhagavan , Nedaw Dessie
Published: April 2021

Flood is one of the natural disasters that affect societies around the world. Every year, flood claims hundreds of human lives and causes damage to the global economy and environment. Consequently, the identification of flood-vulnerable areas is important for comprehensive flood risk management. This study aims to delineate flood hazard areas in Itang District of Gambella Region, Ethiopia, applying the Gumbel probability distribution and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Distribution models applied in the study involve the generalized extreme value, Gumbel, Log-Normal, and Log Pearson type III. The Gumbel distribution provides the best fit according to the extreme value analyses. After obtaining discharge level through the method, the region's flood inundation area was mapped at 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100-year recurrence intervals. The developed methodology processes six parameters, namely, slope, elevation, land-use/land-cover, rainfall, discharge, and soil. Each criterion was evaluated with the aid of AHP and mapped by GIS. Data were assorted into five suitability classes, viz., very high, high, moderate, low, and very low flooding areas, representing 29.7%, 27.8%, 18.5%, 12.7%, and 11.4%, respectively. The outcome is extremely useful for evacuation planning, damage assessment, and losses estimation, thereby minimizing the natural disaster's effect in the study area.
Preparation, Properties and Applications of the Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Nanocomposite Based on Nanoporous Carbon Matrix
Authors: MANSOUR NABIL BEN , Djeridi Wahid , Mir Lassaad El
Published: April 2021

Nanoporous carbon matrix was prepared by the sol-gel process from pyrogallol-formaldehyde (PF) mixtures in water using picric acid as catalyst. For the second sample, nickel oxide nanoparticles were added in the PF matrix to get a PF/NiO hybrid nanocomposite. The samples were heat treated at the pyrolysis temperature of 650°C for two hours. The obtained materials have been characterized by different techniques such as: X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential thermalanalysis (DTA),nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, voltage-current characteristics, electrochemical measurementsand UV-Vis-IR absorption. The XRD analysis shows that PF matrix is amorphous while PF/NiO nanocomposite exhibited a metallic phase of nickel. The SEM and TEM images indicated the presence of nickel particles in the PF/NiO nanocomposite which are dispersed randomly in the carbon matrix. The adsorption-desorption of nitrogen revealed that the PF matrix is microporous and the PF/NiO nanocomposite is mesoporous. The adsorption capacities of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) show that the PF matrix has the highest adsorption at low pressures and the PF/NiO nanocomposite tends to adsorb gases better at high pressure. The V(I) characteristics showed that the PF/NiO nanocomposite can be considered as a smart material. Indeed, the characteristic behavior can be adjusted according to the maximum applied current. Electrochemical measurements have shown that the PF/NiO nanocomposite is very promising for the detection of non-enzymatic glucose. The absorption spectra showed that the addition of the NiO nanoparticles increased the disorder. The obtained materials are promoters for various applications such as gas storage, negatronic devices and glucose sensor.
Chronic Backpain Among Adolescents in Denmark: Socioeconomic Inequality and Trends 1991-2018
Authors: Holstein Bjørn E. , Damsgaard Mogens Trab , Madsen Katrine Rich , Pedersen Trine Pagh , Toftager Mette
Published: April 2021

Chronic backpain among adolescents is important because the prevalence and the burden of disability is high. Chronic backpain tracks into adulthood and is associated with several health problems. The objective was to study trends in the prevalence of chronic backpain among adolescents 1991-2018, to examine the association with socioeconomic status (SES) and whether this association changed over time. The study used data from eight comparable cross-sectional school-surveys of nationally representative samples of 11-15-year-olds in 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018, the Danish arm of the international Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. The participation rate was 88.0%, n=29,952. Chronic backpain was defined as self-reported backpain daily or several days a week during the last six months. The prevalence of chronic backpain was 11.1%, significantly increasing from 8.9% in 1991 to 11.7% in 2018. The OR for chronic backpain was 1.20 (1.10-1.31) in middle and 1.56 (1.41-1.73) in low compared to high OSC. Sensitivity analyses with two other cut-points for backpain frequency showed similar associations. Conclusion: Chronic backpain is common among adolescents and the prevalence increased from 1991 to 2918. The prevalence was highest in lower SES families. We recommend increased efforts to prevent chronic backpain.
Synergic Effect of Combined Therapy of Hyperbaric Oxygen and Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Improving Neurological Function After Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury in Rat
Authors: Yin Tsung-Cheng , Shao Pei-Lin , Chen Kuan-Hung , Lin Kun-Chen , Chiang John Y. , Sung Pei-Hsun , Wu Shun-Cheng , Li Yi-Chen , Yip Hon-Kan , Lee Mel S
Published: April 2021

Background: This study tested whether combined hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) and allogenic adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) would be superior to either one for improving the neurological function in rat after acute traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) in rat. Methods and Results: Adult-male SD rats (n=40) were equally categorized into group 1 (sham-operated control), group 2 (TSCI), group 3 (TSCI + HBO for 1.5h/day for 14 consecutive days after TSCI), group 4 (TSCI + ADMSCs/1.2x106 cells by intravenous injection at 3h and days 1/2 after TSCI) and group 5 (TSCI + HBO + ADMSCs), euthanized and spinal-cord tissue was harvested by day 49 after TSCI. The result showed that the protein expressions of oxidative-stress (NOX-1/NOX-2), inflammatory-signaling (TLR-4/MyD88/IL-1ß/TNF-α/substance-p), cell-stress signaling (PI3K/p-AKT/p-mTOR) and the voltage gated sodium channel (Nav1.3/1.8/1.9) biomarkers were highest in group 2, lowest in group 1 and significantly lower in group 5 than in groups 3/4 (all p<0.0001), but they did not differ between groups 3/4. The spinal cord-damaged area, the cellular levels of inflammatory/DNA-damaged (CD68+/GFAP+/γ-H2AX+ cells), MAPK family biomarkers (p-P38/p-JNK/p-ERK1/2) and cellular expressions of voltage gated sodium channel (Nav.1.3, Nav.1.8 and Nav.1.9 in NF200+ cells) as well as the pain facilitated cellular expressions (p-P38+/peripherin+ cells, p-JNK+/peripherin+ cells, p-ERK/NF200+ cells) exhibited an identical pattern of inflammation, whereas the neurological integrity displayed an opposite pattern of inflammation among the groups (all p<0.0001). Conclusion: Combined HBO-ADMSCs therapy offered additional benefits for protecting the neurological architectural and functional integrity against acute TSCI.
Prolonged Hemiplegic Migraine Associated with Irreversible Neurological Deficit and Cortical Laminar Necrosis in a Patient with Patent Foramen Ovale ：A case report
Authors: Hu Yacen , Wang Zhiqin , Zhou Lin , Sun Qiying
Published: April 2021

Background: Aura symptoms of hemiplegic migraine (HM) usually resolve completely, permanent attack-related deficit and radiographic change are rare. Case presentation: We reported a HM case presented with progressively aggravated hemiplegic migraine episodes refractory to medication. He experienced two prolonged hemiplegic migraine attacks that led to irreversible visual impairment and cortical laminar necrosis (CLN) on brain MRI. Patent foramen ovale (PFO) was found on the patient. PFO closure resulted in a significant reduction of HM attacks. Conclusions: Prolonged hemiplegic migraine attack could result in irreversible neurological deficit with neuroimaging changes manifested as CLN. We recommend screening for PFO in patients with prolonged or intractable hemiplegic migraine, for that closure of PFO might alleviate the attacks thus preventing patient from disabling sequelae.
Comprehensive Analysis of a lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA Competing Endogenous RNA Network in Heart Failure
Authors: Luo Xiaoqian , Lu Weina , Jiang Rufang , Hu Jun , Chen Enjiang , Weng Meiling , Fu Qinghui
Published: April 2021

Background: Acute heart failure caused by progressive heart failure is a common disease in intensive care units (ICU). The growing incidence rate of heart failure and its high mortality rate result are very important sociosanitary problems. Therefore, it is important to identify the molecular mechanism by which heart failure occurs and to identify treatment for this mechanism. Recently, the mechanism of ceRNA has attracted increasing attention. The aim of the present study was to identify the candidate ceRNA network in the progression of heartfailure.Method: Microarray datasets GSE9128, GSE61741 and GSE77399 were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and function enrichment analyses were performed. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed and identification of hub-genes was performed using STRING and Cytoscape. Furthermore, according to the ceRNA theory, network of ceRNA was constructed.Result: In the present study, based on the ceRNA theory and above series of analyses, network of ceRNA which include 7 mRNAs (BCL2A1, DUSP1, EGR1, MYC, NR4A2, PTGS2 and RAC2), 3 miRNAs (miR-20a, miR-129-59 and miR-185-5p) and 3 lncRNAs (GAS5, H19 and PCGEM1) were obtained.Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings can be used to carrying on further study to identify the important roles of the ceRNA, biological function, appropriate treatment targets and biomarkers in the progression of heart failure.