bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customer-Classified Intracity Fruit Distribution Path Optimization: A Case Study in Jining, China
Authors: Huiyi Pang , Qianyi Wang , Yiding Zhao
Published: September 2021

With the development of technology and economy, customer satisfaction is becoming increasingly important to businesses. Customers expect more in regard to product quality, personalised service and delivery date. This study randomly selected customers from a small-to-medium sized company in China as case study and used a K-Means cluster analysis approach to present the available management in logistics. The mileage saving method was also used to contribute the distribution path planning. This resulted in a more scientific distribution route based on comparative analysis, which helped the target company save resources and improve efficiency. This study helped companies effectively identify customer value by combining customer classification with intracity distribution path optimization. Simultaneously, it provides possible empirical reference to service quality improvement, the distribution path optimization, the resource wasting reduction and the companies’ operation efficiency enhancement. It enriches the current literature about food distribution path optimization for small and medium sized food company.
Jordanian EFL Students’ Types of Intelligence in Learning English
Authors: Ababneh Sana’
Published: September 2021

The present study investigated the types of intelligence BAU students prefer to use in learning English. This study used a quantitative method for collecting data via a questionnaire. The subjects of the study were 138 Jordanian students at Al-Huson University College, Al-Balqa Applied University. The results revealed that logical-mathematical and linguistic intelligence was the most dominant type of intelligence among the students. However, neither their gender nor their academic degree program had a significant effect on their learning type of intelligence. Nevertheless, the data showed substantial differences among the students in the interpersonal type of intelligence in favor of male students, while these differences were in favor of the females in the intrapersonal type. There were significant differences in the logical-mathematical type of intelligence between the bachelor’s degree students and their diploma colleagues in favor of the bachelor ones. The researcher attempts to shed light on Jordanian EFL students’ types of intelligence and their preferred types when learning English, in hopes that it becomes possible for teachers to recognize the types according to their students’ profiles and help match them with those present or assess whether they need to develop strategies to cover the full spectrum of the types found in MI Theory.
We the People? : A perszonalizáció nyelvészeti vizsgálata az Amerikai Egyesült Államok politikai kommunikációjában
Authors: Szabó Lilla Petronella
Published: September 2021

A politika egyre inkább perszonalizálódik, azaz a politikus személye kerül a középpontba szemben a pártokkal. A kutatás az 1960-tól 2020-ig terjedő időszakban vizsgálta, hogy milyen mértékben figyelhető meg a perszonalizáció az Amerikai Egyesült Államok politikai kommunikációjában a demokrata és republikánus elnökjelöltek jelölést elfogadó beszédeiben. A feltételezésem az volt, hogy a perszonalizálódás jegyében az egyes szám első személyű névmások használata gyarapodott, a pártot és az elnökjelöltet egybe foglaló többes szám első személyű névmások használata viszont csökkent az idő előrehaladtával. Az eredmények szerint az egyes szám első személyű névmás használata nem volt egyenletes a választási években. A jelöltre és pártjára vonatkozó többes szám első személyű névmások pedig csak az 1980-as választási évekhez képest mutattak csökkenést.
Krüppel-Homologue 1 Mediates Hormonally-Regulated Dominance Rank in a Social Insect
Authors: Pandey Atul , Bloch Guy
Published: September 2021

Dominance hierarchies are ubiquitous in invertebrates and vertebrates, but little is known on how genes influence dominance rank. Our gaps in knowledge are specifically significant concerning female hierarchies and in insects. To start filling these gaps we studied the social bumble bee Bombus terrestris, in which social hierarchies among females are common and functionally significant. Dominance rank in this bee is influenced by multiple factors, including juvenile hormone (JH) that is a major gonadotropin in this species. We tested the hypothesis that the JH responsive transcription factor Krüppel homologue 1 (Kr-h1) mediates hormonal influence on dominance behavior in the bumble bee. We first developed and validated a perfluorocarbon nanoparticles-based RNA interference protocol for knocking down Kr-h1 expression. We then used this procedure to show that Kr-h1 mediates the influence of JH not only on oogenesis and wax production, but also on aggression and dominance rank. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study causally linking a gene to dominance rank in social insects, and one of only a few such studies in insects or in female hierarchies. These findings are important for determining whether there are general molecular principles governing dominance rank across gender and taxa.
Intracellular Polyphosphate Length Characterization in Polyphosphate Accumulating Microorganisms (PAOs): Implications in PAO Phenotypic Diversity and Enhanced Biological Phosphorus Removal Performance
Authors: Wang Dongqi , Li Yueyun , Cope Helen , Li Xiaoxiao , He Peisheng , Liu Cong , Li Guangyu , Rahman Sheikh , Tooker Nicholas , Bott Charles , Onnis-Hayden Annalisa , Singh Jyoti , Elfick Alistair , Marques Ricardo , Jessen Henning , Oehmen Adrian , Gu April
Published: September 2021

Polyphosphate (polyP) accumulating organisms (PAOs) are the key agent to perform enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) activity, and intracellular polyP plays a key role in this process. Potential associations between EBPR performance and the polyP structure have been suggested, but are yet to be extensively investigated, mainly due to the lack of established methods for polyP characterization in the EBPR system. In this study, we explored and demonstrated that single-cell Raman spectroscopy (SCRS) can be employed for characterizing intracellular polyPs of PAOs in complex environmental samples such as EBPR systems. The results, for the first time, revealed distinct distribution patterns of polyP length (as Raman peak position) in PAOs in lab-scale EBPR reactors that were dominated with different PAO types, as well as among different full-scale EBPR systems with varying configurations. Furthermore, SCRS revealed distinctive polyP composition/features among PAO phenotypic sub-groups, which are likely associated with phylogenetic and/or phenotypic diversity in EBPR communities, highlighting the possible resolving power of SCRS at the microdiversity level. To validate the observed polyP length variations via SCRS, we also performed and compared bulk polyP length characteristics in EBPR biomass using conventional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (31P-NMR) methods. The results are consistent with the SCRS findings and confirmed the variations in the polyP lengths among different EBPR systems. Compared to conventional methods, SCRS exhibited advantages as compared to conventional methods, including the ability to characterize in situ the intracellular polyPs at subcellular resolution in a label-free and non-destructive way, and the capability to capture subtle and detailed biochemical fingerprints of cells for phenotypic classification. SCRS also has recognized limitations in comparison with 31P-NMR and PAGE, such as the inability to quantitatively detect the average polyP chain length and its distribution. The results provided initial evidence for the potential of SCRS-enabled polyP characterization as an alternative and complementary microbial community phenotyping method to facilitate the phenotype-function (performance) relationship deduction in EBPR systems.
From Maximal Force to the Field Equations of General Relativity
Authors: Sivaram C , Kenath Arun , Schiller Christoph
Published: September 2021

We point out that field equations of general relativity are implied by a maximal force given by c4/4G, analogous to the way that special relativity is implied by a maximal speed given by c. We present some of the arguments for this equivalence. The maxi-mal force naturally plays the role of an elastic constant for space-time. Implications of the maximal force for gravitational wave measurements, cosmology and black holes are highlighted. Quantum aspects of the maximal force are discussed.
Coats' disease
Authors:   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Sevostyanov V.K. ,   Research Institute of Health Care Organization and Medical Management, Moscow Federation, Obraztsova M.R. ,   National Medical Research Center ‘S.N.Fedorov Intersectoral Research and Technical Complex ‘Eye Microsurgery’, Moscow, Russian Federation, Davydov A.O. ,   National Medical Research Center ‘S.N.Fedorov Intersectoral Research and Technical Complex ‘Eye Microsurgery’, Moscow, Russian Federation,   National Research University ‘Higher School of Economics’, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: September 2021

In this article, we report a case of Coats' disease, a rare idiopathic disorder leading to complete or partial blindness in children who did not receive adequate and timely treatment for several years. We cover the hypotheses of pathogenesis, classification, basic principles of diagnosis (including differential diagnosis), and treatment of exudative hemorrhagic retinitis. Our case demonstrates a stable course of the disease that remained undiagnosed for a long time, as well as positive effect of laser coagulation of altered retinal vessels. Timely diagnosis and adequate treatment ensure rapid remission. Patients with Coats' disease should be examined in specialized institutions at least once every six months. Key words: children, laser coagulation, macular edema, Coats' disease, telangiectasias, exudative lesions
İç Hizmet Kalitesinin İşgören Performansı Üzerindeki Etkisinde Kurumsal Aidiyetin Aracı Rolü
Authors: SEYHAN Mehmet
Published: September 2021

Amaç: İç hizmet kalitesinin işgören performansı üzerindeki etkisi bilinen bir olgu iken bu ilişkide yer alan farklı değişkenlerin etkileri tüm boyutlarıyla incelenmiş olmaktan uzaktır. Bu bağlamda kurumsal aidiyetin aracı etkisinin olup olmadığının tespiti araştırmanın temel amacını oluşturmaktadır.
Tasarım/Yöntem: Araştırmanın örneklemini Gaziantep ilinde, gıda sektöründe faaliyet gösteren imalat firmalarında çalışan 161 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Derrlenen anketler ile oluşturulan veri seti yapısal eşitlik modeli analizine tabi turulmuştur.
Bulgular: İç hizmet kalitesinin kurumsal aidiyet ve iş gören performansını anlamlı olarak etkilediği tespit edilmiştir. Kurumsal aidiyetin de iş gören performansını anlamlı olarak etkilediği bulgusuna ulaşılmıştır. Yapılan aracılık testi neticesinde ise iç hizmet kalitesinin iş gören performansı üzerindeki etkisinde kurumsal aidiyetin aracılık rolü bulunduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Sınırlılıklar: Örneklemin sadece Gaziantep’te bulunan firmalardan oluşması ve anket yönteminin kullanılması araştırmanın sınırlılıklarıdır.
Özgünlük/Değer: Müşteri memnuniyetinin sürekli olarak incelendiği bir ortamda çalışan memnuniyetinin ele alınmış olması bu çalışmayı değerli kılan unsurlardan birisidir. Ayrıca analiz yöntemi olarak yapısal eşitlik modelinin ve Process Makro analizinin kullanılması modelin anlaşılabilirliğini arttırıcı bir unsur olarak çalışmada yer almaktadır.
Pengaruh Komitmen Organisasi, Budaya Organisasi dan Motivasi terhadap Kinerja Karyawan PT. Hantar Hamparan Hasil di Pasuruan
Authors: Rizal As’at , Pebrianggara Alshaf , Ansori Achmad
Published: September 2021

The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that influence the performance of employees at PT. Introduce Results Overlay which includes Organizational Commitment (X1) Organizational Culture (X2) and Work Motivation (X3). This study uses a quantitative method sample 60 employees at PT. Deliver Overlay Results as respondents. Data collection is done using questionnaires. The data were analyzed using statistical , namely by using multiple regression analysis, the processing of which was carried out with the SPSS version 25.0 program. 1) The results of the analysis prove that the Organizational Commitment, Organizational Culture and Motivation variables simultaneously affect the performance of employees at PT. Deliver Results Overlays. 2) The results of the analysis prove that Organizational Commitment and Motivation have a partial effect on Employee Performance, while Organizational Culture has no partial effect on Employee Performance. 3) Result prove that between Organizational Commitment, Organizational Culture and Motivation, Motivation variables have the most significant influence on Employee Performance at PT. Deliver Results Overlays.
The role of algae macrophyte in bioremediation of petroleum products of the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea
Authors: Voskoboinikov G. M. , Malavenda S. V. , Metelkova L. O.
Published: September 2021

The contribution of macroalgae to the removal process of diesel fuel from the Kola Bay of the Barents Sea was estimated. The calculations were based on the results of: 1) recent expeditionary observations of the reserves, spreading, and biomass of algae macrophyte of the phyla Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta, as well as the class Phaeophyceae of the phylum Ochrophyta, inhabiting three bay areas; 2) laboratory research of the ability of macroalgae Ascophyllum nodosum, Fucus vesiculosus, F. distichus, F. serratus, Saccharina latissima, Palmaria palmata, and Ulvaria obscura to neutralize the toxic effect of diesel fuel. As shown, the total contribution of the algae studied into bioremediation of diesel fuel in the bay was of 312 kg·day−1. The differences in the absorption capacity of algae macrophyte were revealed. This process was most efficiently carried out by S. latissima; the minimum efficiency of participation in bioremediation was determined for U. obscura. It was concluded that the existing littoral and sublittoral thickets of marine macroalgae of the Kola Bay can be considered as the key element in the implementation of the preventive, daily cleaning of coastal water from the petroleum products. The inclusion in the calculations of data on the ability of other representatives of the bay phytobenthos to neutralize diesel fuel may increase the role of algae macrophyte in cleaning the coastal marine areas from the petroleum products. As concluded, the thickets of brown algae can be considered as the key component of repair and homeostasis in coastal ecosystems. The destruction of even a part of algae natural communities can change the ecosystem balance.
Autecology of benthic diatom Striatella unipunctata (Lyngbye) C. A. Agardh, 1832 – indicator of organic water pollution (Black Sea and Sea of Japan)
Authors: Ryabushko L. I. , Begun A. A. , Shiroyan A. G. , Lishsaev D. N. , Miroshnichenko E. S.
Published: September 2021

Analysis of long-term data (1987–2019) was carried out on the morphology and autecology of the benthic colonial large-cell species Striatella unipunctata (Lyngbye) C. A. Agardh, 1832 in the microphytobenthos of the Black Sea and Sea of Japan, including water areas of specially protected natural areas of Russia. The species is widely found on natural and artificial substrates in the Black Sea year-round, and in the Sea of Japan, at a water temperature down to −1.5 °C. St. unipunctata quantitative data were determined by direct cell counting in the Goryaev camera under light microscopes (LMs) Biolam L-212, Axioskop 40, and Olympus BX41. Species morphology, phytogeography, and ecology are described. The cell size range of populations is presented: for the Black Sea, valves 25–148 µm long, 8–22 µm wide, frustules 36.3–50.4 µm wide, 18–24 fibulae in 10 µm, and 7–8 girdle bands in 10 µm; for the Sea of Japan, valves 85–125 µm long, 12–21 µm wide, 7–8 girdle bands in 10 µm, 20–25 fibulae in 10 µm, frustules 32.0–34.3 µm long, 10–11 µm wide, and 25 fibulae in 10 µm. For the first time, St. unipunctata valves and frustules were studied in vivo under LMs, and frustule ultrastructure, under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). For the first time, quantitative indicators of the species populations from the Black Sea and Sea of Japan were compared. The morphology of the frustule ultrastructure of St. unipunctata was studied under a Hitachi SEM, model SU3500 (Japan), in Leica EM ACE200 gold-palladium-coated samples. In the Kazachya Bay of the Black Sea near the Oceanarium, the absolute maximum abundance was recorded – 41.6·10³ cells·cm−2 with a biomass of 1.73 mg·cm−2 in January (t = +6.9 °C) in the epizoon of the cultured mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819 at a depth of 0.5 m at excessive organic pollution of water. The minimum values were of 0.26·10³ cells·cm−2 and 0.011 mg·cm−2, respectively, in July (t = +23.5 °C) at a depth of 2.5 m. In the Paris Bay (Russky Island) of the Sea of Japan in the water area of the Marine Mammal Research Base of the Primorsky Oceanarium (Vladivostok), the abundance in the asbestos plates periphyton was of 207·10³ cells·cm−2 in the summer. For the first time, unique micrographs of the species in vivo were obtained under a LM, and of purified frustules – under a SEM.
Status of plankton algocenosis in the water area of the port of Tuapse and beyond it in the spring-summer period of 2019
Authors: Yasakova O. N.
Published: September 2021

The article presents the research of qualitative structure and quantitative development of phytoplankton in the water area of the port of Tuapse and beyond it in the spring-summer period of 2019. In April 2019, 43 phytoplankton species of 5 divisions were found. In the port area, the mean values of abundance and biomass were of 568 thousand cells·L−1 and 206 mg·m−3, respectively; in the open sea area, the values were 1.5 times higher. In the port area and beyond it, diatoms developed abundantly: 98–99 % of the total phytoplankton abundance and 62–65 % of the biomass. Small-cell species Pseudo-nitzschia spp. and Skeletonema costatum s. l. formed the basis of the abundance; Pseudosolenia calcar-avis, Dactyliosolen fragilissimus, and Chaetoceros affinis formed the basis of the biomass as well. In June 2019, a decrease was recorded in qualitative (13 species from 4 divisions) and quantitative values of phytoplankton development. In the port area, the mean values of planktonic algae abundance and biomass were of 59 thousand cells·L−1 and 81 mg·m−3, respectively; in the open sea area, these values were more than 2 times lower. In the water area of the port, euglenids developed abundantly: % of the phytoplankton abundance and 83 % of the biomass; those were represented by a mesosaprobic species Eutreptia lanowii. Beyond the port of Tuapse, euglenids were not found; in terms of abundance, diatoms predominated (95 %): Skeletonema costatum s. l. and Thalassionema nitzschioides. The following Dinophyta species formed the basis of the phytoplankton biomass (82 %): Ceratium tripos, C. furca, Ensiculifera carinata, Glenodinium paululum, Prorocentrum micans, and Protoperidinium crassipes.
Positive Definiteness of Symmetric Rank 1 (H-Version) Update for Unconstrained Optimization
Authors: Mahmood Saad Shakir , Eidi Jaafer Hmood , Jasem Jinan Adel
Published: September 2021

Several attempts have been made to modify the quasi-Newton condition in order to obtain rapid convergence with complete properties (symmetric and positive definite) of the inverse of  Hessian matrix (second derivative of the objective function). There are many unconstrained optimization methods that do not generate positive definiteness of the inverse of Hessian matrix. One of those methods is the symmetric rank 1( H-version) update (SR1 update), where this update satisfies the quasi-Newton condition and the symmetric property of inverse of Hessian matrix, but does not preserve the positive definite property of the inverse of Hessian matrix where the initial inverse of Hessian matrix is positive definiteness. The positive definite property for the inverse of Hessian matrix is very important to guarantee the existence of the minimum point of the objective function and determine the minimum value of the objective function.
Fuzzy Real Pre-Hilbert Space and Some of Their Properties
Authors: Mohammedali Mayada N.
Published: September 2021

In this work, two different structures are proposed which is fuzzy real normed space (FRNS) and fuzzy real Pre-Hilbert space (FRPHS). The basic concept of fuzzy norm on a real linear space is first presented to construct  space, which is a FRNS with some modification of the definition introduced by G. Rano and T. Bag. The structure of fuzzy real Pre-Hilbert space (FRPHS) is then presented which is based on the structure of FRNS. Then, some of the properties and related concepts for the suggested space FRN such as -neighborhood, closure of the set  named , the necessary condition for separable, fuzzy linear manifold (FLM) are discussed. The definition for a fuzzy seminorm on  is also introduced with the prove that a fuzzy seminorm on  is FRNS. The relationship between the -convergent sequence, -Cauchy sequence and -completeness is then investigated in this work. The structure of FRPHS with some important properties concerning on this space are introduced and proved. In addition, the property of orthogonality with some important properties for these spaces is included, for example the annihilator of the set . The relation between FRPHS and FRNS is investigated in the present work. Finally, after introducing the structure of FRPHS, it leads naturally to the definition of the most important class of FRPHS, namely the fuzzy real Hilbert space (FRHS).
An Evolutionary Algorithm for Solving Academic Courses Timetable Scheduling Problem
Authors: Abduljabbar Israa Abdulameer , Abdullah Sura Mahmood
Published: September 2021

Scheduling Timetables for courses in the big departments in the universities is a very hard problem and is often be solved by many previous works although results are partially optimal. This work implements the principle of an evolutionary algorithm by using genetic theories to solve the timetabling problem to get a random and full optimal timetable with the ability to generate a multi-solution timetable for each stage in the collage. The major idea is to generate course timetables automatically while discovering the area of constraints to get an optimal and flexible schedule with no redundancy through the change of a viable course timetable. The main contribution in this work is indicated by increasing the flexibility of generating optimal timetable schedules with different copies by increasing the probability of giving the best schedule for each stage in the campus with the ability to replace the timetable when needed. The Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) utilized in this paper is the Genetic Algorithm (GA) which is a common multi-solution metaheuristic search based on the evolutionary population that can be applied to solve complex combinatorial problems like timetabling problems. In this work, all inputs: courses, teachers, and time acted by one array to achieve local search and combined this acting of the timetable by using the heuristic crossover to ensure that the essential conditions are not broken. The result of this work is a flexible scheduling system, which shows the diversity of all possible timetables that can be created depending on user conditions and needs.
Spectral Behaviour of the low concentrations of Coumarin 334 with Broadband Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Naif Hanan Auda , Saeed Asrar Abdulmunem , Al-Kadhemy Mahasin Fadhil Hadi
Published: September 2021

The current research is a spectroscopic study of Coumarin 334 dissolved in methanol. The range of concentrations of the prepared stock solution was (3.39x10-9 to 2.03x10-8) M. Some optical characteristics of this dye were investigated such as absorbance and transmission spectra, absorption coefficient, refractive and extinction coefficients, oscillation and dispersion energies, and energy band gap. The absorbance spectra were recorded at 452 nm using Broad Band Cavity Enhanced Absorption Spectroscopy (BBCEAS) which depends on increasing the path length of the traveling light from the source to the detector. The minimum absorbance amount was 0.07 with a low concentration of 3.39x10-9 M. As a result, the other optical properties were calculated on the basis of the lowest values of absorbance. The energy band gap, which is important to detect the electronic band structure of the material,  was determined; it was found to be equal to ~2.55 eV. The low values of the concentration made less collision between the molecules in the materials and the incident light. This led to a reduction in the background noise and in the percentages of losses. Furthermore, the dispersion and single oscillator energies, which help to calculate the average strength of the inter-band optical transitions and to prepare the quantifiable information about the band structure of the material, were calculated to reduce with the increasing concentrations. The refractive and extinction coefficients were determined because they are considered important factors for the optical materials and found to increase with the increasing concentrations. As a result, the study of the optical behavior of Coumarin 334 highlighted the promising materials for photonics applications at very low concentrations. All these properties are considered the main factors to determine the usefulness of the materials in advanced applications and to develop the performance of the devices which depend on the optical characteristics.
DICE: Study Protocol for a Randomised Trial Investigating a Novel Therapy Called TAK228 in Ovarian Cancer Resistant to Standard Treatment
Authors: Webber Lee , Fiorentino Francesca , Krell Jonathan , Rosa Consuelo Nohpal de la
Published: September 2021

Background:The standard initial treatment for ovarian cancer is surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy and potentially maintenance therapy with avastin or inhibitors of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). While a proportion of women are cured by this approach, the vast majority will relapse and become resistant to platinum chemotherapy either initially or on subsequent treatment. There is an unmet need to improve response to treatment and quality of life in these women. TAK228 is a novel therapy that can be added to standard treatment in the participant population and the aim of the DICE trial is to assess its effectiveness. Laboratory and clinical research has shown that these ovarian cancers may respond to the molecular target of a drug such as TAK228, and there have been studies using it in other advanced solid tumours including endometrial cancer. Methods: 124 eligible women will be recruited from participating research sites in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany. Randomised participants will receive either weekly paclitaxel alone (standard treatment, n=62) or TAK228 plus weekly paclitaxel (n=62) until the cancer significantly worsens, there are significant adverse events or any other protocol-defined stopping criteria. Participants will be monitored for response to treatment (using radiological imaging), adverse events and quality of life during both randomised treatment and subsequent follow up.Discussion:The primary objective/endpoint of the study is to compare the two treatments in terms of progression free survival, or the length of time that each participant is alive without the cancer significantly worsening according to defined assessment criteria. If the addition of TAK228 to weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy is shown to significantly improve this statistically, and adverse events and quality of life are not significantly worse than standard treatment, then TAK228 plus weekly paclitaxel could potentially be taken forward within the context of a larger phase III trial.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03648489. Registered 27th August 2018.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03648489
Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients and Families with Primary Immunodeficiency in Malaysia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Meelad Ruwaydah Ahmed , Hamid Intan Juliana Abd , Zainudeen Zarina Thasneem , Hashim Ilie Fadzilah , Azizuddin Muhd Nur Akmal , Mangantig Ernest , Taib Fahisham , Mohamad Norsarwany , Ismail Intan Hakimah , Latiff Amir Hamzah Abdul , Noh Lokman Mohd
Published: September 2021

Purpose: Primary immunodeficiency disease (PID) affects various aspects of a patient’s life. However, the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of PID patients in Malaysia patients is poorly described. This study aimed to determine the quality of life of Malaysian PID patients and parents. Method: This cross-sectional study was performed from August 2020 to November 2020. Patients with PID and their families were invited to answer the PedsQL Malay version (4.0) questionnaire, the tool used to assess the HRQOL. A total of 41 families and 33 patients with PID answered the questionnaire. A comparison was performed with the previously published value of healthy Malaysian children. Result: Parent of respondents recorded a lower mean of total score than the parents of normal healthy children (67.26±16.73 vs. 79.51±11.90, p-value = 0.001, respectively). PID patients reported lower mean total score to normal healthy children (73.68 ± 16.38 vs. 79.51 ± 11.90, p-value = 0.04), including psychosocial domain (71.67±16.82 vs. 77.58±12.63, p-value = 0.05), and school functioning, (63.94±20.87 vs. 80.00 ± 14.40, p-value = 0.007). No significant difference of reported HRQOL when comparing between subgroup of PID on immunoglobulin replacement therapy and those without immunoglobulin replacement (56.96±23.58 vs. 65.83±23.82, p-value 0.28). Socioeconomic status was found to be predictive of the lower total score of PedsQL in both parent and children reports. Conclusion: Parents and children with PID, especially those from middle socioeconomic status, have lower HRQOL and school function impairment than healthy children.
Twist1 Regulates Macrophage Plasticity To Promote Renal Fibrosis Through Galectin-3
Authors: Wu Qingfeng , Sun Shiren , Wei Lei , Liu Minna , Liu Hao , Liu Ting , Zhou Ying , Jia Qing , Wang Di , Yang Zhen , Duan Menglu , Yang Xiaoxia , Gao Peisong , Ning Xiaoxuan
Published: September 2021

Renal interstitial fibrosis is the pathological basis of end-stage renal disease, in which the heterogeneity of macrophages in renal microenvironment plays an important role. However, the molecular mechanisms of macrophage plasticity during renal fibrosis progression remain unclear. In this study, we found for the first time that increased expression of Twist1 in macrophages was significantly associated with the severity of renal fibrosis in IgA nephropathy patients and mice with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Ablation of Twist1 in macrophages markedly alleviated renal tubular injury and renal fibrosis in UUO mice, accompanied by a lower extent of macrophage infiltration and M2 polarization in the kidney. The knockdown of Twist1 inhibited the chemotaxis and migration of macrophages, at least partially, through the CCL2/CCR2 axis. Twist1 downregulation inhibited M2 macrophage polarization and reduced the secretion of the profibrotic factors Arg1, MR (CD206), IL-10, and TGF-β. Galectin-3 was decreased in the macrophages of the conditional Twist1-deficient mice, and Twist1 was shown to directly activate galectin-3 transcription. Up-regulation of galectin-3 recovered Twist1-mediated M2 macrophage polarization. In conclusion, Twist1/galectin-3 signaling regulates macrophage plasticity (M2 phenotype) and promotes renal fibrosis. This study could suggest new strategies for delaying kidney fibrosis in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Extraction, Identification And Determination of Antiviral And Anticancer Flavonoids By HPLC-DAD In Cell Suspension Culture of Melia Azedarach L.
Authors: Ahmadpoor Fatemeh , Zare Nasser , Asghari-Zakaria Rasool , Sheikhzadeh-Mosadeg Parisa
Published: September 2021

Melia azedarach L. from the Meliaceae, contains a wide range of secondary metabolites used as antibacterial, antiviral, antioxidant and anticancer in traditional medicinal. In the present study, the effect of PGRs and explant type on callus induction and cell suspension culture establishment and growth were investigated. We investigated the biochemical properties, and production and accumulation of secondary metabolites such as rutin, quercetin and kaempferol in M. azedarach L. cell cultures. The results showed that the inflorescence and petiole explants had a high percentage of callus induction compared to the leaf explants, but the highest callus growth were observed in leaf explants in MS+3 mg/L NAA+5 mg/L BAP/3 mg/L Kin and 5 mg/L 2,4-D+5 mg/L Kin (6.307, 5.152 and 3.977 g/explant, respectively). The establishment and growth of cell cultures were significantly influenced by PGRs combination and explant type. The highest cell growth were obtained from the leaf and inflorescence callus transferred into the liquid MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-D+1 mg/L Kin (8.489 g/50 mL suspension) and 1 mg/L 2,4-D+1 mg/L BAP (6.852 g/50 mL suspension), respectively. HPLC analysis showed that the cell cultures derived from inflorescence callus in MS+3 mg/L NAA+1 mg/L BAP showed the highest of rutin (47.536 mg/g FW). However, the highest amount of quercetin (8.570 mg/g FW) and kaempferol (5.420 mg/g FW) were obtained from the petiole cell cultures in the MS+1 mg/L 2,4-D+1 mg/L Kin.
Development of an Internet of Things (IoT) Enable Smart Parking System for Sri Lanka
Authors: Maduranga H.D.D. , Imendra K.G.T.U. , Prematilake R.D.D. , Samarasekara S.D. , Wanninayake R.B.S. , Perera A.
Published: September 2021

Although the smart parking system is not a new concept for Sri Lankans, the idea of booking parking slots in advance and then parking is a novice theme for our country. So, we decided to see that novice theme as a new opportunity and used this concept for our study title, As the first phase of the study, we agreed to design a remote reservation parking system for a public parking area. We designed an online parking reservation mobile application system that shows the available free parking slots to the users where the users can reserve a parking slot for any time they want. IoT-enabled mobile app technology was used to develop the system. Results show promising results applying such a system to local parking stations in Sri Lanka.
Low-grade Endometrial Stromal Sarcoma with Intracaval or Intracardiac Extension: A Retrospective Study of 8 Cases
Authors: Chen Junyu , Wang Jinhui , Cao Dongyan , Yang Jiaxin , Huang Huifang , Pan Lingya , Xiang Yang
Published: September 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to improve the knowledge of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS) with intracaval or intracardiac extension and tried to identify the potential risk factors and optimal treatment method influencing prognosis.Methods: We performed a retrospective review of eight LG-ESS patients with intracaval or intracardiac extension who underwent treatment at Peking Union Medical College Hospital between 2012 and 2020.Results: The median age at diagnosis was 44 years, ranging from 28 to 56 years. Abnormal uterine bleeding was the most common intimal symptom (3/8), followed by low back discomfort (2/8), edema of the lower limbs (2/8), abdominal pain (1/8), and dyspnea (1/8). All patients underwent resection of the intravascular and extravascular portions of the tumor. Two patients were in stage IIIC, and 6 were in stage IVB. After surgery, 4 patients received adjuvant radiotherapy, of whom 3 also received letrozole. One patient was treated with letrozole alone, and 1 patient received medroxyprogesterone. The average follow-up time was 34.5 months, ranging from 6 to 98 months. No patients died or relapsed during the follow-up period.Conclusions: LG-ESS with intracaval or intracardiac extension is an uncommon type of tumor which is easily misdiagnosed and can only be diagnosed by histological evaluation after surgery. Complete tumoral excision followed by adjuvant therapy may benefit patient survival time. Long-term follow-up is essential due to the high rate of late recurrence.
WITHDRAWN: Hybrid WOA-BAT Optimization for Performance Enhancement of Coexisting WBANs
Authors: Nandagopal Priyanka
Published: September 2021

The presence of multiple WBANs in any location leads to co-existence issues as multiple users occupy the same channel at the same time. In a real scenario due to mobility the co-existence issues arise intermittently depending on the closeness of the mobile WBAN and other static/mobile WBANs. Since WBAN’s are used for monitoring the vital parameters of the human body, the performance of the system consisting of multiple WBANs gets affected whenever co-existence issues arise. Existing work deals with interference issues that arise in Intra WBAN communication. Very limited work is present in literature dealing with coexistence issues that arise from Inter WBAN interference due to varying mobility. In this work we evaluate the performance of the system consisting of static/mobile WBANs subject to interference under varying mobility of other WBANs passing by, thereby creating Body to Body Networks for random, intermittent time durations depending on the speed of the mobile WBANs. We consider two cases, a park area with surrounding paths and an old age home located on a roadside with passersby. We propose an optimization technique using WOA to determine closeness between the WBANs and evaluate the performance of the system. We also consider the case of the impact of passer-by WBAN mobility on static WBANs (elderly occupants of an old age home) and develop a hybrid WOABAT approach to determine the optimal positions for the static WBANs such that the entire system performance is optimized.
Strain Range Dependence of Young’s Modulus and Size Effects of Mechanical Properties for Chiral Graphene by Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Du Yi-Xiu , Zhou Li-Jun , Guo Jian-Gang
Published: September 2021

The stress-strain response of pristine monolayer graphene under uniaxial loading/unloading over a larger size range (100nm×100nm) is studied by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, which proves that graphene is perfectly elastic prior to the failure strain. Young’s modulus of graphene is calculated by selecting different strain ranges in the elastic region. It is found that Young’s modulus is strongly dependent on the strain range. When the selected strain ranges are increased from 0.5% to 8%, Young’s modulus of the armchair and zigzag graphene is reduced by approximately 60 Gpa and 150 Gpa, respectively. Based on the Pearson correlation coefficient method, the linearity of the stress-strain curve during graphene stretching is studied. The elastic region of the tensile curve is divided into the linear elastic region and non-linear elastic region. simultaneously, the linear elastic limit strains for the armchair and zigzag graphene are defined to be about 2.5% and 1.5%, respectively, and they are independent of the size of graphene. On this basis, the chirality dependence and size effects of Young’s modulus, failure strain, and fracture strength of pristine monolayer graphene are investigated. The results show that Young’s modulus is dependent on the chiral angle but insensitive to size. The failure strain and fracture strength depend on the chiral angle and have obvious size effects, which decrease with the increase of size range and size ratio.
The Cognition and Flow Study (CogFlowS): A Mixed Method Evaluation of A Randomised Feasibility Trial of Cognitive Training in Dementia
Authors: Beishon Lucy , Haunton Victoria , Bradbury-Jones Caroline , Subramaniam Hari , Mukaetova-Ladinska Elizabeta B. , Panerai Ronney , Robinson Thompson , Evley Rachel
Published: September 2021

BackgroundCognitive training (CT) may bebeneficial in delaying the onset or slowing dementia progression. CT has been evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively, but none have used mixed methods approaches. The aim of this study was to use a mixed methods approach to identify those who may selectively benefit from CT.MethodsThis was an explanatory sequential mixed methods study involving a quantitative randomised trial of 12 weeks multi-domain CT in healthy older adults (n=20), and people living with mild cognitive impairment (MCI; n=12) and dementia (n=24). Quantitative outcomes included:cognition, mood, quality of life and activities of daily living.Subsequently, twenty-five training participants were invited to a semi-structured interview with their carer. Quantitative and qualitative data were integrated using joint displays of quantitative outcomes arrayed against themes from the qualitative interviews. ResultsDrop-outs and lower adherence to training were more common in dementia participants who had higher number of barriers, of which fewer were modifiable. High adherers were more resilient to negative emotions, and poorer or fluctuating performance. Quantitative and qualitative analysis demonstrated that the majority of participants (n=24) benefited across outcomes, with no clear profile of individuals who benefited more than others. Participants made a number of key recommendations to improve adherence and minimise drop-out to future CT studies. ConclusionReasons for drop-out and low adherence were identified, with recommendations provided for the design of future CT studies in dementia. An individual approach to training should be adoptedand low adherence should not preclude enrolment to CT programmes.
Machine Learning Techniques to Predict Daily Rainfall Amount
Authors: Liyew Chalachew Muluken , Melese Haileyesus Amsaya
Published: September 2021

It is crucial to predict the amount of daily rainfall to improve agricultural productivities to secure food, and water quality supply to keep the citizen healthy. To predict rainfall, various researches are conducted using data mining and machine learning techniques of different countries’ environmental datasets. The Pearson correlation technique is used to select relevant environmental variables which are used as an input for the machine learning model of this study. The main objective of this study is to identify the relevant atmospheric features that cause rainfall and predict the intensity of daily rainfall using machine learning techniques. The dataset is collected from the local meteorological office to measure the performance of three machine learning techniques as Multivariate Linear Regression, Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boost. Root mean squared error and Mean absolute Error are used to measure the performance of the machine learning model for this study. The result of the study shows that the Extreme Gradient Boost gradient descent machine learning algorithm performs better than others.
Establishment of Galectin-3 time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay and its application in idiopathic membranous nephropathy
Authors: Yu xiaomei , Chen Lingli , Lin Bo , Zhang Li , Yang Xue , Liu Xiaobin , Xia Pengguo , Liu Yueming , Zheng Shaoxiong , Zhou Xiumei , Wang Yigang , Qin Yuan , Wang Liang , Hu Zhigang , He Qiang , Huang Biao
Published: September 2021

Objectives
The aim of this study was to establish a time-resolved fluorescent immunoassay (TRFIA) for the detection of serum galactose agglutinin 3 (Gal-3) and apply this method to evaluate the clinical significance of serum Gal-3 in predicting Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy (IMN) progression.
Methods
The Gal-3-TRFIA was established using the double antibody sandwich method, with the capture antibodies coated on a 96-well microplate and the detection antibodies chelated to Europium (III) (Eu3+). Serum Gal-3 was detected in 81 patients with IMN and 123 healthy controls to further evaluate the value of the Gal-3 in staging of IMN.
Results
The sensitivity of the Gal-3-TRFIA assay was 0.85 ng/mL, and the detection range was 0.85–1000 ng/mL. The Gal-3 intra-batch and inter-batch coefficients of variation were 3.45% and 5.12%, respectively. The correlation coefficient (R) between the Gal-3-TRFIA assay and commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits was 0.83. The serum Gal-3 concentration was higher in patients with IMN (65.57 ± 55.90 ng/mL) compared to healthy controls (16.29 ± 9.91 ng/mL, P < 0.0001).
Conclusions
In this study, a wide detection range Gal-3-TRFIA assay was developed using lanthanide (Eu3+) chelates for the detection of Gal-3 concentrations in serum. The Gal-3-TRFIA also detected the severity of the IMN course.
Overcoming Language Barriers, Enhancing Collaboration With Interpreters – An Interprofessional Learning Intervention (Interpret2improve)
Authors: Krampe Franziska , Fabry Götz , Langer Thorsten
Published: September 2021

Background: Language barriers (LB) are common in patient care. They can negatively impact the quality of care, and increase costs. LB can be overcome by using interpreters. However, collaboration with interpreters is a professional activity which can and needs to be learnt. Interpret2Improve is an innovative educational intervention where medical and nursing students learn together how to address LB and effectively collaborate with interpreters.Methods: The three-hour course has two parts: After a short introduction on the relevance of LB and resulting issues of patient safety etc., students in interprofessional teams of two practice conversations with non-German-speaking simulated patients and professional interpreters. The course is evaluated in a pre-post format with the Freiburg Questionnaire for Interprofessional Learning Evaluation which has been validated in prior studies. Results: 51 students (thirty of the participants were medical students, 21 participants were students in nursing care) participated from 11/2016–07/2018. Overall, the course was very well received (mean 1.73 (SD 0,85) on a five point scale: 1= very good, 5=insufficient). The evaluation by medical and nursing students differed significantly. 14 out of 21 items show a self-assessed increase in interprofessional knowledge or skills. Conclusions: Students felt that their skills in adressing LB by effectively collaborating with interpreters increased during this interprofessional format. Further studies are needed to obtain further evidence beyond self-assessment and regarding the longterm outcomes.