bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The philosophy of peace
Authors: Zhuravlev Vitalii
Published: October 2021

The article deals with the issues of war and peace, international security, and the features of modern conflicts. It is noted that, although a powerful legal and organizational infrastructure has been constructed on the basis of the UN, which is engaged in conflict resolution, the problem of preventing war remains relevant. Russia, using its military and political resources, is actively acting as a peacemaker at the global level, but primarily in the post-Soviet space. According to the author, along with rapid response to current challenges and threats, it is necessary to consider the topic of peacekeeping at a fundamental philosophical level. The philosophy of peacemaking as a methodology implies an awareness of the deep unity of the world, with the inevitable presence of social contradictions and changes caused by them in political and socio-economic systems. Peace, understood as the absence of contradictions and conflicts caused by them, is impossible in principle. It is possible to minimize the negative consequences of conflicts, which is the meaning of peacemaking. The highest axiology of peacemaking, in the author's opinion, is ensuring security and comprehensive human development, protecting political and social rights, cultural and spiritual values. It is concluded that peacekeeping includes not only military operations to neutralize the sources of military threats, but also multifunctional and multidimensional systemic actions aimed at stabilizing the situation in the conflict region through political decisions and assistance in establishing peaceful life. Along with military and police contingents, qualified specialists in the field of political analysis and negotiation should participate in peacekeeping operations to assist in the transition to peace, security and development.
New Graduate Nursing Retention in 2020: A Multifactorial Analysis
Authors: Mitchell Abby , Maykut Colleen A.
Published: October 2021

The issue of new graduates prematurely exiting the profession has a long-standing, complicated history in nursing. Current retention is further complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The state of the global workforce and transition shock theory situate this issue. Ray's theory of bureaucratic caring frames the analysis with proposed recommendations for individual nurses, healthcare organizations, and academia. The sociocultural and political domains of Ray's theory offer guidance for nurse leaders in academic and practice settings. The importance of a collaborative relationship between academic and practice settings is vital to mitigate the phenomenon of early exit of new graduates.
Mental Health Literacy: An Essential Tool for Caring Post-Secondary Educators
Authors: McKendrick-Calder Lisa , Heuver Tanya , Pollard Cheryl Webster , Barrington-Moss Gabriel
Published: October 2021

The mental health needs of post-secondary students have been steadily increasing. Educators, particularly those who work in caring disciplines like the social and health sciences, are often compelled to assist students with their mental health, but may lack confidence in our abilities to support students. Relationally, this uncertainty may prohibit us from engaging in the caring relationships so important for role modelling professionalism. This paper describes the baseline mental health literacy of 122 educators in higher education which provides a starting point for educators and researchers studying caring practices, specifically as they relate to student mental health.
Supporting Students' Understanding of Caring Science as a Meaningful Basis for Practice
Authors: Gustin Lena Wiklund
Published: October 2021

Caring science has been described as abstract, difficult to apply, or unscientific common sense. An alternative view is that caring science knowledge does not pose a greater challenge because it is abstract, but because it challenges caregivers' existence. No matter how nursing faculty perceive these challenges, it is crucial to create a context where students are supported in the integration of theoretical knowledge. This article addresses teachers' responsibility for creating a caring learning environment. It further proposes how reflections on perspectives and concepts can be linked to experiential learning to contribute to students' embodied understanding of caring science.
IMPLIKASI PERGESERAN INSINYUR DARI SEKTOR PUBLIK KE SEKTOR SWASTA
Authors: Nasution Dirga Putra , Arifin Hassanul , Sembiring Nola Widya Putri B , Abrari Suci Zabran
Published: October 2021

Abstrak

Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui apakah ada implikasi ketika seorang insinyur teknik sipil pindah dari sektor publik ke sektor swasta. Menggunakan metode kualitatif dengan studi kepustakaan sebelumnya penelitian ini mengambil data sekunder dari artikel dan jurnal yang kredibel sebagai bahan utama penelitian. Setelah menyelesaikan penelitian dan juga tinjauan ilmiah, peneliti menemukan bahwa ada indikasi ketika seorang insinyur berubah dari publik ke sektor swasta. Ada perubahan struktur gaji, perubahan citra, jenis pekerjaan, keamanan kerja, dan lain-lain. Bagi masyarakat, ini adalah industri yang lebih efisien tetapi dengan kepercayaan yang lebih dipertanyakan

Kata kunci: Teknik Sipil, Insinyur, Implikasi, Sektor Publik, Sektor Swasta

 

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to know if there is any implication when a civil engineering engineer makes a move from the public sector to the private sector. Using qualitative methods with previous library studies this research takes data secondary from credible articles and journals as the main material of research. Upon completing research and also a scholarly review, researchers found that there were indications when an engineer changed from the public to the private sector. There are changes in salary structure, changes in image, kinds of work, job security, among other things. For society, it is primarily a more efficient industry but with more questionable trustworthiness.

Keywords: Civil Engineering, Engineer, Implication, Public sector, private sector
IDENTIFIKASI BAHAYA DAN PENILAIAN RISIKO PADA PROSES PEKERJAAN PEMASANGAN ATAP SANDWICH PANEL
Authors: Nabila Fira , Prihantono Prihantono , Anisah Anisah
Published: October 2021

Abstrak

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bahaya dan risiko pada proses pekerjaan pemasangan sandwich panel, proses identifikasi bahaya dan risiko menggunakan instrumen lembar Job Safety Analysis sedangkan penilaian risiko menggunakan metode semi kuantitatif W.T Fine J yang mengacu pada standar AS/NZS 4360:2004 tentang Risk Management. Pengambilan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode observasi lapangan, wawancara dan focus group discussion. Data yang diperoleh dianalisis dalam bentuk tabel identifikasi bahaya dan penilaian risiko kemudian dideskripsi secara objektif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa terdapat enam bahaya dalam proses pekerjaan pemasangan sandwich panel antara lain bahaya mekanis, listrik, fisik, biologi, ergonomis dan  biologis. Risiko yang teridentifikasi sebanyak 21 risiko dengan 7 level risiko Very High (33%), 5 level Priority 1 (24%), 6 level Substansial (29%) dan 3 level Priority 3 (14%).

Kata kunci: Identifikasi bahaya, penilaian resiko, JSA, sandwich panel

Abstract

This study aims to determine the hazards and risks in the work process of installing sandwich panels, the process of identifying hazards and risks using the Job Safety Analysis sheet instrument while the risk assessment uses the semi-quantitative W.T Fine J method which refers to the AS/NZS 4360:2004 standard on Risk Management. Data collection was carried out using field observations, interviews and focus group discussions. The data obtained were analyzed in the form of a table of hazard identification and risk assessment and then described objectively. The results showed that there were six hazards in the work process of installing sandwich panels, including mechanical, electrical, physical, biological, ergonomic and biological hazards. The identified risks were 21 risks with 7 levels of Very High risk (33%), 5 levels of Priority 1 (24%), 6 levels of Substantial (29%) and 3 levels of Priority 3 (14%).

Keywords: Hazard identification, risk assessment, JSA, sandwich panel
A Review of Studies on the Washback Effect of National Matriculation English Test (NMET) in China (2011-2020)
Authors: Rong Li , Yi Peng
Published: October 2021

This paper reviews the washback studies in National Matriculation English Test (NMET) in the past decade (2011-2020). There are 36 Chinese works of literature collected from CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), all of which are searched by keywords "National Matriculation English Test "(NMET) and "washback effect". And This literature is divided into two levels: micro level and macro level. The micro-level includes 5 categories, and the macro-level includes 3 categories. After analyzing and discussing, the researcher finds that: (1) The research has increased sharply before 2018 and is greatly influenced by policies; (2) The proportion of empirical research is equal to that of non-material research, which is dominated by empirical research at present; (3) The research mainly involves the washback effect of NMET, its reform and test typesetting at the macro level; Micro-level listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar filling washback. Through the analysis, it is found that the main problems of the research on the washback effect of NMET include lack of innovation, neglect of listening and speaking skills, lack of depth of research, little attention to students -the subject of the test, and neglect of the long-term effect of the washback. Finally, some suggestions are put forward based on the above problems.
Utilization of Molecular Markers for Rice Breeding
Authors: Tasliah Tasliah
Published: October 2021

Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world's population. Rice production in 2050 must increase by at least 50% to keep up with the population growth. Efforts to increase rice production continue using various strategies. Breeders apply multiple approaches including application of molecular markers in developing varieties better than the previous ones. Since the discovery of the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) markers in 1980s and the development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method, many types of molecular markers have been developed and applied to various crops including rice. Various molecular approaches to map genetic loci associated with rice superior traits were conducted. The mapped loci are very useful for rice breeding purposes. This paper reports the results of mapping and breeding economically important traits in rice, mainly those related to abiotic stresses, agronomic traits, yield, and yield quality. These included characters of semidwarf stature, aromatic grain, high yield potential, eating quality, higher Zn and Fe grain, more tolerant to abiotic stresses, such as salinity, drought, phosphate deficiency, Al toxicity and Fe toxicity, submergence, as well as early maturity character. The mapped characters can be transferred using marker-assisted backcrossing (MABC) method into cultivated rice genotypes well-adopted by farmers. Several countries including Indonesia have benefited from this breeding method, and Indonesia have released several rice varieties developed through MABC. These include rice varieties such as Code, Angke, Inpari 30, Inpari Blas, Inpari HDB, Bio Patenggang Agritan, and Bioni 63 Ciherang Agritan
Combined Usage of Different Geosteering Methods and Vendor Independent Bed Boundary Mapping in Complex Geological Environment on a Real-Life Example from West Kazakhstan
Authors: Mukanov Yerlan Muratovich , Chzhen Igor Victorovich , Tagirov Anzor Rizvanovich , Kurmanbayev Yerkin Zhumatovich , Zaripov Nurlan Slyamgazhievich , Utegulov Gaziz Kanatbekovich , Skorokhodov Damir Vyacheslavovich , Shafikova Yulia Rustemovna , Belousova Natalia Aleksandrovna
Published: October 2021

Drilling lateral wells nowadays is considered to be the most widely used method for producing hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves. Technologies used while geosteering the well are developing rapidly making high-level geosteering the key for cutting costs on drilling and enhancing well production.

Due to low prices for hydrocarbons, oil companies are trying to find new, up-to-date approaches that will allow them to reduce capital and operating expenses while still enhancing the efficiency of drilling wells in target zones. One of such technology will be shown in this abstract through the example of a successfully drilled well in Akingen oilfield, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Seismic Facies Analysis of Lower Productive Series of Gurgan-Deniz Field in South Caspian Basin with the Aid of Seismic Attributes
Authors: Zamanbayov Ulvi
Published: October 2021

Drilled for the first time in 1946 and one of the oldest fields in the South Caspian Basin located in the western part of Apsheron sill, Gurgan-Deniz has been subject to redevelopment. A 3D seismic survey, conducted over the area for the first time, has been interpreted, analysing the lower Productive Series with regard to seismic facies and prospectivity. The facies analysis allows for better understanding of eustatic levels in the region and depositional environments of lower Productive Series in the area.

A composite seismic attribute Sweetness and an RGB blend of Spectral Decomposition have been applied to the 3D volume, as well as to the interpreted stratigraphic surfaces. With the aid of the attributes and petrophysical well description, direct and indirect facies interpretation have been carried out. First, considering reflection parameters such as parallelism, continuity and hummockiness, as well as sedimentary features. Subsequently, reaching conclusions on depositional processes, environments, and geological evolution. Finally, analysing field prospectivity and migration pathways.

Eight seismic facies have been identified by analysing stratigraphic horizons representing the tops of Kalin Suite (KaS), Pre-Kirmaky Sand Suite (PK) and Kirmaky Suite (KS). Facies have been interpreted as mass-flow deposits, amalgamated channel systems, channel and bar systems, sheetflow and floodplain deposits in a varying lacustrine-fluvial environment. KaS has been deposited following a sea- level drop and increased sediment inflow from Palaeo-Volga. The origin of the mass-flow facies is thought to be related to the increase of sedimentation speed, as well as tectonics decreasing the terrace stability. PK shows evidence of further sea-level drop and shows mainly fluvial depositional environment. Starting from KS, sea level has started to rise, once again showing mixed depositional environment. Attribute anomalies have been explored in the lower wing of the anticline structure in PK and KaS. A 3-way trap and possible migration pathways generate considerable risks.
To Increase the Efficiency of Low Pressure Gas Transportation in the Gunashli Energy Sector
Authors: Shahlarli Mansur Elkhan
Published: October 2021

The role of the Caspian Sea in the development of the oil and gas industry for our country and the world is undeniable. The discovery of new fields creates conditions for the development of efficient and modern technologies. The need for energy causes us to move away from the shore day by day and encounter bigger obstacles with increasing depth. Gunashli field sites are located 120 km from the shore and at a depth of 80-150 m. Studies have shown that during the inter-site transport of low pressure gas, mechanical impurities and gas leaks accumulate in the part of the pipeline rising from the seabed to the platform, which prevents the flow of gas to the low pressure compressor station. Low-pressure gas enters the compressor station with liquids and mechanical mixtures, which leads to rapid wear and tear of the working parts of expensive compressor machines. Initially, according to d'Alambert principle, the forces acting on liquid and solid particles in a vertical pipe were investigated, then the results are shown. Due to this results, we have proposed a new design for cleaning the gas at the bottom of the sea and transferring it to the separator.
A New Approach to the Management of Functional Dyspepsia: Results of a Multicenter, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Authors: Ivashkin Vladimir T. , Shulpekova Yulia O. , Maev Igor V. , Grinevich Vladimir B. , Khlynov Igor B. , Shvarts Yury G. , Glazunov Alexey B.
Published: October 2021

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Kolofort (a complex medicine containing technologically processed forms of antibodies to S-100 protein, tumor necrosis factor-α and histamine) in the management of functional dyspepsia (FD) in outpatient clinical practice.Methods: 309 outpatients at the age of 18-45 in whom functional dyspepsia was diagnosed according to the Rome IV criteria were enrolled in a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. Patients were randomized in two groups receiving Kolofort or Placebo 2 tablets tid for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was a change in the FD symptoms severity score according to the Gastrointestinal symptom score (GIS) at week 8. The demand in accessory medications was also assessed.Results: at week 8 the reduction in GIS sum score was observed in Kolofort group and Placebo group (by 7.2±3.3 [7.2±3.4] and 6.3±4.6 [6.2±4.5], respectively, p=0.041 [0.039]). The proportion of cases with GIS score reduction by ≥4 was 88.1% [88.6%] and 79.1% [79.6%] in Kolofort group and Placebo group, respectively (p=0.051 [p=0.046]). None of the patients in Kolofort group had experienced progression of FD symptoms or required additional therapy. 29 AEs were recorded including 16 cases in 13 (8.6%) patients in Kolofort group and 13 AEs in 12 (7.6%) patients in Placebo group.Conclusion: the clinical trial demonstrates the positive effect of Kolofort in FD with a favorable safety profile.
Establishment of a Novel CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem Cell-derived Xenograft Model of Hyperleukocytic Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Jin Yanxia , Luo Ziyi , Ma Linlu , Chen Yanling , Zheng Yujia , Liang Yuxing , Tong Xiqin , Yang Qian , Wu Balu , Wu Sanyun , Shen Hui , Liu Li , Liu Yin , Yang Tian , Zhou Fuling
Published: October 2021

BackgroundHyperleukocytic acute myeloid leukemia (HLL) with high early mortality is difficult to therapy. The related research on HLL is still in its infancy, and the establishment of a patient derived xenograft (PDX) model of HLL has not been fully reported, especially the CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell-derived xenograft model of HLL. MethodsUsing the routine blood examination, smear analysis and bone marrow biopsy, flow cytometry, mutation analysis to evaluate the establishment of HLL model. And the correlation between the survival time in mice and in patients was analyzed by a linear regression model with variable selection “entered” with SPSS software.ResultsOur findings demonstrated that the leukocyte counts reached up to 37.35Í109/l, and the immunophenotypes of hCD45+, hCD15+ and hCD33+ cells were detected in peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) after inoculation with cells derived from PB for establishment of the HLL PDX model. The same results were demonstrated after inoculation with cells derived from BM of the patient. For the CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell derived xenograft model, the CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells more severely infiltrated the BM, liver and spleen. More importantly, human WT1 and NRAS mutants were detected in the liver, spleen and BM of the mouse. By performing a comparative analysis of multiple experiments, we found that mice receiving a higher irradiation dose of 2.5 Gy and higher injected cell counts derived from PB exhibited a shorter survival time. Furthermore, the constructed model mice injected with NRAS, DNMT3A, FLT3, or NMPM1 gene mutations had shorter survival times. The correlation analysis showed that the survival time in mice was significantly related with the survival status of the enrolled patients. ConclusionsWe successfully established a novel CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell-derived xenograft model of HLL, which shows great promise for mechanistic research, drug screening, individualized therapy, clinical efficacy assessment and precision medicine in HLL.
Improving the Performance of Organic Lead-tin Laminated Perovskite Solar Cells From the Perspective of Device Simulation
Authors: Hao liangsheng , Wu Xuefei , Wang Huaning , Song Yubao , Ma Xinxia , Zeng Zhuoxiong , Wu Jiang , Tao Yuting , Wang Zhongyu , Liu Yihao
Published: October 2021

The toxic lead in traditional perovskite solar cells (PSCs) poses a fatal threat to the environment, and it takes time and technology to complete the transition to lead-free perovskite solar cells. In this work, we introduce a lead-tin laminated perovskite solar cell, which can obviously reduce the toxicity of lead. Our ultimate goal is to study the factors that affect the performance of the device. On the basis of reducing the lead-based perovskite layer, use SACPS-1D (solar cell capacitor simulator) to optimize the parameters to maximize the performance of the entire device. Adjusting the physical parameters, we got the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 17.59% and 6.14% for single-cell lead-based and single-cell tin-based perovskite solar cells respectively, which are close to the experimental results. The simulation results show that under the laminated structure, the thickness of the two perovskite absorber materials based on lead and tin has a certain influence on the performance of the device. After optimization, it is determined that the best thicknesses of lead-based absorption layer (LBA) and tin-based absorption layer (TBA) are 20nm and 150nm respectively. Optimize the doping concentration of acceptor and donor of the laminated perovskite absorber layer to obtain higher PCE and open circuit voltage (VOC). The best values are 1015cm-3 and 1016cm-3 for LBA and TBA respectively. We also found that when adjusting the positions of LBA and TBA, the recombination rate under different defect densities verified that the laminated absorption layer close to the light source side dominates the device performance. Provide reference for future optimization of laminated perovskite solar cells. Considering these factors comprehensively, we optimized the device performance parameters as follows: VOC=0.9266V, JSC =19.5556 mA/cm2, FF=71.12 % and PCE=12.89%.
Comparative Risk of Incidence and Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19 among Proton Pump Inhibitor and Histamine-2 Receptor Antagonist Users: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Park Jimyung , You Seng Chan , Cho Jaehyeong , Park Chan Hyuk , Shin Woon , Park Rae Woong , Seo Seung In
Published: October 2021

Background: This study aimed to evaluate incidence risk and severe clinical outcomes in COVID-19 disease among short-term users of acid-suppressants in South Korea.Methods: This retrospective cohort study, conducted using a nationwide claims database for South Korea, used data from patients with COVID-19 tested between January 1 and May 15, 2020. Patients aged over 18 years and prescribed proton pump inhibitors (PPI) or histamine-2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) for more than 7 days were identified. Primary outcome was COVID-19 while secondary outcomes were all-cause mortality, hospitalization with respiratory disease, or intensive respiratory intervention. Large-scale propensity scores were used to match patients, while the Cox proportional hazard model was utilized to evaluate any association between exposure and outcome(s). The risk estimates were calibrated by using 123 falsification endpoints.Results: We identified 26,166 PPI users and 62,117 H2RA users. After propensity score matching, compared to H2RA use, PPI use was not significantly associated with lower risk of COVID-19 (calibrated hazard ratio [HR], 0.81 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.30–2.19]); moreover, PPI use was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes in COVID-19, namely, hospitalization with respiratory disease (calibrated HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.72–1.08]), intensive respiratory interventions (calibrated HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.46–1.82]), except for all-cause mortality (calibrated HR, 0.54 [95% CI, 0.31–0.95]).Conclusions: In this study, we found that the PPI user was not associated with risk of COVID-19 compared to H2RA users. There was no significant relationship between severe clinical outcomes of COVID-19 and exposure to PPI compared with H2RA, except for all-cause mortality.
Nexus of co2 emissions and economic growth in pakistan: analysis by using extended stirpat model
Authors: Rasool Syed Aziz , Rahim Tariq , Khan Muhammad Ali
Published: October 2021

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between economic growth (GDP per capita) and CO2 emissions in Pakistan. This study applies the theoretical framework of Dietz and Rosa’s STIRPAT Model, widely used for assessing the environment quality. The additional major determinants of CO2 emissions introduced by the extended STIRPAT model include total energy use, Industry, value-added, financial development, trade openness, and urban population. The empirical results reveal that; total energy use has a positive and significant relationship with CO2 emissions. The relationship between GDP and CO2 emissions is positive and insignificant in the country. Industry, value-added has an insignificant relationship with CO2 emissions in the country. The urban population has a direct and positive relationship with CO2 emissions. Trade openness has a long-run positive and significant relationship with CO2 emissions in the country. In general, this case study offers a relevant policy for controlling the enhancement in the CO2 emissions in the selected sample unit; Pakistan, and other similar states that possess the same socio-economic condition.
Does Serum Bilirubin Add Value in the Diagnosis of Appendicitis? A Multi-Institution Analysis of 2024 Patients
Authors: Maurice Andrew Phillip , Swinson Benjamin David , Apellaniz Eduardo Miguel , King Sarah Emily , Mackay Thomas Grant , Burstow Matthew John , Chua Terence Chuan , Smithers Bernard Mark , Sethi Harsheet
Published: October 2021

BACKGROUNDEven with modern diagnostics, appendicitis can be difficult to diagnose accurately. Negative appendicectomies (NA) and delayed diagnosis of complicated appendicitis (CA, i.e. perforation or abscess) remain common. Serum bilirubin has been proposed as an additional biomarker to assist with the diagnosis of appendicitis. In this large series, we assessed the value of bilirubin in the diagnosis of appendicitis.METHODS A retrospective review of patients with suspected appendicitis at three hospitals over a three year period was performed. All consecutive patients with appendicectomy were included. In addition, a “discharged” sub-group of consecutive patients who were admitted with suspected appendicitis but discharged without an operation was also identified.Demographic data, presence of fever, tachycardia, total white cell count (WCC), neutrophil count, total serum bilirubin, operative findings and final histology were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine independent predictors of appendicitis and CA. Receiver-operator analysis was performed to compare bilirubin to WCC and neutrophil count.RESULTS There were 2024 patients: 1167 had uncomplicated appendicitis, 355 had CA and 303 underwent NA. 200 non-surgical "discharged" patients were included for comparison. Compared to those without appendicitis (NA and discharged groups), increased serum bilirubin was associated with an increased likelihood of appendicitis (OR 1.030 (1.013, 1.048), p<0.0001) and increased likelihood of CA (OR 1.035, 95% CI (1.021, 1.050), p<0.001). These results remained significant when the discharged group, NA group and uncomplicated appendicitis groups were analyzed separately.The sensitivity and specificity of bilirubin was inferior to neutrophil count for the diagnosis of appendicitis (AUC 0.657 versus 0.725, p<0.0001). Bilirubin, WCC and neutrophils each were all relatively insensitive and non-specific over a variety of cut-off values and combinations did not improve their accuracy.CONCLUSION Hyperbilirubinaemia was independently associated with an increased likelihood of both uncomplicated and complicated appendicitis, however had similar sensitivity and specificity when compared to WCC or neutrophils. Bilirubin, neutrophil count and WCC alone are not discriminatory enough to be used in isolation but may be incrementally useful adjuncts in pre-operative assessment of patients with suspected appendicitis.
Sequence Variability of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Surface Antigen Gene (S Gene) Among the Non-responders of Antiviral Therapy
Authors: Alam Naveed , Daudzai Zubaida
Published: October 2021

BackgroundHepatitis B Virus (HBV), has been among the wide spread lethal causative agent of mortality in the population of Pakistan. Prolonged administration of antiviral therapy for chronic hepatitis B may result in the development of hepatitis B viral mutants. ObjectivesTo gain insight into the mechanism involved in the sequence variability of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) surface antigen gene (S gene) among responders and non-responders to antiviral therapy, baseline characteristics of the patients and sequences within the S region were investigated in pre-treatment serum samples of responders and post-treatment serum samples of non-responders. Data collection and methodologyThe data was collected from 15 individuals with chronic hepatitis B from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, Pakistan. The antiviral response was independent of viral genotypes, and nonresponse to antiviral therapy was associated with a complex variability of the viral mutants as determined by PCR. ResultsThe sequence analysis of the S gene among responders and non-responders patients of pre and post-treatment with antiviral therapy showed variability in DNA sequence marked as Pakistani isolates make a distinct cluster in the phylogenetic tree. The S gene of HBV isolates from KPK province shows some similarities with isolates of other countries. No significant variations of nucleotides in the S gene of HBV was found among the responders and non-responders receiving antiviral therapy indicating that S gene may not be important with respect to treatment outcome. ConclusionIt illustrates that antigenicity of other various HBV proteins can be targeted in order to design more effective vaccines against the local strains.
Effect of different endometrial preparation protocols on pregnancy outcomes in frozen- embryo transfer cycles: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Qian Yue , Wan Qi , Bu Xiao-Qing , Li Tian , Tang Xiao-Jun , Jia Yan , Feng Qian , Lv Xing-Yu , Meng Xiang-Qian , Yang Yin , Ding Yu-Bin , Geng Li-Hong , Xia Min , zhong zhaohui
Published: October 2021

Background

Owing to the crucial role the endometrium plays in embryo implantation, the four main endometrial preparation protocols have become important factors in the study of pregnancy outcomes in the FET cycles. Previous studies have shown that the best of these four protocols remains controversial for women undergoing FET.
Methods

A total of 10333 FET cycles from January 2018 to December 2018 were analyzed in this study. They were categorized into four groups according to endometrial preparation regimen: natural cycles (Group NC,n = 815), hormone replacement therapy cycles (Group HRT ,n = 6434), GnRH agonist artificial cycles (Group GAC,n = 1392) and ovarian stimulation cycles (Group OC, n = 1692). All patients were followed up for at least 1 year. Pregnancy outcomes were compared between the four groups and multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for the effects of confounding factors.
Results

The ectopic pregnancy rate (P = 0.627) and miscarriage rate (P = 0.164) were not statistically significant between the four groups. Moreover, biochemical pregnancy rate, clinical pregnancy rate and live birth rate in the NC group were not statistically significant compared to the other three groups. After adjusting for covariates, multiple logistic regression analysis showed no statistical significance in pregnancy outcomes in the HRT, GAC and OC groups compared to the NC group.And the adjusted OR for live births was 0.988 (95 % CI0.847-1.152) for the HRT group, 0.955 (95 % CI0.795-1.146) for the GAC group,0.898 (95 % CI0.754-1.070) for the OC group.
Conclusions

Our study showed that natural cycles have similar pregnancy outcomes in terms of clinical pregnancy and live birth to the other three endometrial preparation options. As it has other advantages, the natural cycle protocol can therefore be the recommended option for endometrial preparation in the FET population.
Adaptive Finite-time Synergetic Control of Delta Robot based on Radial basis Function Neural Networks
Authors: Pham Phu-Cuong , Kuo Yong-Lin
Published: October 2021

This paper proposes a novel robust proportional derivative adaptive non-singular synergetic control (PDATS) for the delta robot system. A proposal radial basis function approximation neural networks (RBF) compensates for external disturbances and uncertainty parameters. To counteract the chattering noise of the low-resolution encoder, a second-order sliding mode (SOSM) observer in the feedback loop showed the ability to obtain the angular velocity estimations. The stability of the PDATS approach is proven using the Lyapunov stability theory. Both the simulation and experiment result effectiveness and performances of the PDATS controller in trajectory; pick and place operations of a parallel delta robot. The characteristics of the controller demonstrate that the proposed method can effectively reduce external disturbance and uncertainty parameters of the robot by a convergent finite-time, and provide higher accuracy in comparison with finite-time synergetic control and PD control.
WITHDRAWN: Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study of Jinwei Decoction for Enhancement of Glucocorticoid Anti-Inflammatory Effect in COPD through miR-21
Authors: wu jianjun , Zhang Ping-an , Chen Ming-zhe , Li Yi-xuan , Zhang Ying-xue , Jiang Liang-duo , Jiao Yang , Li Xin
Published: October 2021

PurposeJinwei decoction can enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoid (GC) on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by restoring the activity of HDAC2. But the upstream mechanism of Jinwei decoction on HDAC2 expression is not clear. ObjectiveTo explore whether Jinwei decoction can enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of GC on COPD through microRNA21 (miR-21) by network pharmacology. MethodsThe TCMSP database was used to screen active ingredients and target genes of Jinwei decoction, and miRWalk2.0 was used to predict downstream target genes of miR-21. COPD-related genes were identified by searching GeneCards and OMIM databases; Venny 2.1 was used to screen intersection genes; Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways of intersection genes were analyzed by R software. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were analyzed by Cytoscape 3.7.2 software to identify core genes. Finally, interactions between main compounds and potential targets were verified by molecular docking. ResultsTwo hundred ninety-two active ingredients, 316 Jinwei drug targets, 10170 miR-21 target genes, 6617 COPD target genes, and 184 intersection gene were identified. Eleven core proteins of PPI networks may be involved. GO enrichment analysis showed that oxidative stress, regulation of inflammatory response, hormone transport, and histone modification were involved; KEGG pathway enrichment analysis concentrated in the PI3K-Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), HIF-1, neutrophil extracellular bactericidal network, and other signaling pathways. ConclusionJinwei decoction can regulate histone deacetylase-2 activity and enhance the anti-inflammatory effect of GC on COPD by modulating miR-21. Its mechanism of action may be related to its effect on the PI3K Akt, MAPK, and TNF signaling pathways and neutrophil extracellular trap formation through miR-21.
No Evidence of Uptake or Propagation of Reindeer CWD Prions in Environmentally Exposed Sheep
Authors: Harpaz Erez , Ersdal Cecilie , Tranulis Michael , Espenes Arild , Salvesen Øyvind , Mahmood Aqsa , Rauset Geir Rune , Ytrehus Bjørnar , Benestad Sylvie , Tran Linh
Published: October 2021

Background: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a prion disease of cervids. In 2016, CWD was discovered for the first time in reindeer. The affected population was situated in Nordfjella mountain region in Norway. In an attempt to eradicate the disease, all reindeer in the region were culled during winter 2017-18. Because many sheep have their summer pasture in Nordfjella, concern exists about the potential cross-species transmission of CWD to sheep. In this study, global positioning system (GPS) data from sheep and reindeer from the relevant time frame were analyzed to determine spatial overlap. Samples of gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) from 503 lambs and sheep having grazed in the region were analyzed for the presence of prions. The rectoanal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (RAMALT) from all animals and ileal Peyer's patch (IPP) from 37 of them, were examined by histology, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: GPS data showed a direct overlap in area use between an infected reindeer and some of the sampled sheep. Generally, the sampled sheep herding areas were used intensively by reindeer before culling. No prions were detected in the GALT of sheep. The mean lymphoid follicle number per sample was 22.6 for RAMALT and 37.5 for IPP. Conclusion: Despite evidence of close reindeer to sheep interaction and spatial overlap in Nordfjella, prions were not detected in the GALT of sheep.. We document that the easily accessible RAMALT tissue at the mucocutaneous border is well suitable for slaughterhouse screening of prions in sheep.
Methylation level of ASC/TMS1 and MyD88 genes in healthy larynx and laryngeal carcinoma tissue
Authors: Bilic Lana Kovac , Knezevic Jelena , Sutic Maja , Branica Srecko , Dawidowsky Krsto , Bilic Mario
Published: October 2021

There are no biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of patients with laryngeal carcinoma. Methylation changes of ASC/TMS1 and MyD88 genes, in healthy and cancer tissue, might be related with development and progression of cancer. The study explored is there a difference in gene’s methylation in healthy and tumor tissue and does it correlate with protein expression. The total of 36 patients were enrolled in the study. Methylation of bisulphite converted DNA was quantified by pyrosequencing in fresh frozen cancer and adjacent non-malignant tissues. The overall methylation of MyD88 gene is significantly higher in healthy tissue and this finding correlates with protein expression and the overall methylation of ASC/TMS1 gene is unchanged but the protein expression of ASC/TMS1 is significantly higher in cancer. The methylation status of the ASC/TMS1 and MyD88 genes are promising prognostic biomarker candidates and may lead to earlier detection of laryngeal cancer.
Characteristics And Prognostic Value of Lymph Node Metastasis Along Recurrent Laryngeal Nerves in Thoracic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Yuan Ligong , Li Feng , Gao Shugeng , Mao Yousheng , he jie
Published: October 2021

Background: Though the value of lymph node (LN) dissection along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) has been debated and emphasized in recent years in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, the characteristics of nodal metastasis along RLN chain has not been clarified. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics of nodal metastasis along recurrent laryngeal nerves and the influence of these metastasis on the prognosis of thoracic ESCC.Patients and Methods: 339 eligible patients with thoracic ESCC who underwent esophagectomy with a three-field(3-FL) or two-field(2-FL) lymph node dissection from March 2015 to December 2018 were included in this study, consisting of 282 males and 57 females with a mean age of 60.6 years (range,40-80 years). The association of LN metastasis near RLN with clinicopathologic factors and its influence on survival were analyzed. Results: Among the 339 patients, 96 (28.3%) had LN metastasis along bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerves, 76 (22.4%) with positive LNs along right RLN and 47 (13.9%) along the left RLN. There was a significant difference in the metastasis rate between the LNs along right RLN and along the left RLN (P=0.004). The LN metastasis rate along RLN was significantly correlated with primary tumor locations (upper vs middle vs lower: 35.1% vs 30.9% vs 15.6%; P=0.015), tumor invasion depth (T3/T4 vs T1 vs T2: 36.2% vs 15.8% vs 26.2%, P=0.001 ) and degree of differentiation (well vs moderately vs poorly: 9.3% vs 29.3% vs 33.9%; P=0.009), subcarinal and left tracheobronchial lymph node metastasis (positive vs negative:58.1% vs 25.3%, P＜0.001), abdominal LN metastasis (positive vs negative:41.2% vs 24.0%, P=0.003 ), but was not significantly correlated with age, gender and tumor length. The median follow-up time for this study was 34 months. The cumulative 1-, 2- and 3-year overall survival rates were 95.7%, 86.6% and 82.2% in RLN-LN(-) group versus 81.5%, 67.4% and 53.7% in the RLN-LN(+) group, with a significant difference between two group (HR=2.975,95% CI:1.918-4.614, P＜0.01). Conclusions: The lymph node metastasis along RLNs was significantly correlated with primary tumor locations, tumor invasion depth, tumor differentiation, metastasis in the LNs of other stations, and indicate poor prognosis in ESCC.
The Association of Food Insecurity and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors May Be Independent of Body Mass Index
Authors: Hashemzadeh Maral , Teymouri Maryam , Fararouei Mohammad , Barati-Boldaji Reza , Akhlaghi Masoumeh
Published: October 2021

Background: Investigations on food insecurity have shown that food insecurity is negatively associated with health. We examined the association of food insecurity, cardiometabolic risk factors, and dietary patterns in women. Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed on 190 females referred to primary health care centers in Shiraz, Iran. Food insecurity was assessed by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale. Cardiometabolic risk factors including anthropometric characteristics, blood pressure, and serum glucose and lipids were measured. Diet was assessed with a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Results: Cardiometabolic risk factors increased across food insecurity levels (P<0.001 to 0.009). Two healthy and 1 unhealthy dietary patterns were extracted. Food insecure participants consumed less meats, dairy, fruit, and vegetables but more processed meats (P<0.001). Intake of fat, cholesterol, and sodium increased and that of fiber, vitamins A and C, folic acid, potassium, and calcium decreased along with increasing food insecurity. Food secure individuals had better eating habits than food insecure participants. Cardiometabolic risk factors except triglycerides had inverse associations with heathy and positive associations with unhealthy dietary patterns (P<0.05). The associations between food insecurity and cardiometabolic risk factors were independent of age, sex, education level, and body mass index (BMI).Conclusions: Overall, food insecurity was associated with increased cardiometabolic risk and less healthier dietary patterns. The association between food insecurity and cardiometabolic risk was independent of demographic factors and BMI, suggesting that other factors such as diet and eating habits may have contributed to the exacerbated cardiometabolic risk factors in food insecure individuals.
Evaluating The Temporal Relationship Between Climatic and Demographic Events Using Radiocarbon Data: A Case-Study From The Chulmun Period, Korea
Authors: Kim Habeom , Lee Gyoung-Ah , Crema Enrico Ryunosuke
Published: October 2021

We investigate the relationship between climatic and demographic events in Korea during the Chulmun period (10,000–3,500 cal. BP) by analyzing paleoenvironmental proxies and 14C dates. We focus on testing whether a cooling climate, and its potential impact on millet productivity around 4,500 cal. BP triggered the population decline observed in the archaeological record. We employ a Bayesian approach that measures the temporal relationship between climatic events and change-points in the rate of growth in human population as inferred by radiocarbon density. Our results do not support the climate-induced population decline hypothesis for three reasons. First, we could not determine that the cooling climatic event necessarily preceded the reversal point in population growth rate as inferred by the radiocarbon record. Second, we did not find evidence showing a significant reduction of millet-associated dates occurring during the cooling climate. Third, we detected a spatially differentiated pattern of decline in inland and coastal regions, indicating that the cooling climate did not impact all populations equally. We highlighted the long tradition of mobility-based subsistence strategy in the coastal region as a potential factor contributing to the spatial differences.
­A Robust Gene Expression Signature for NASH in Liver Expression Data
Authors: Hasin-Brumshtein Yehudit , Sakaram Suraj , Khatri Purvesh , He Yudong , Sweeney Timothy
Published: October 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The Association Between Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio and Poor Outcomes Following Infant Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Gao Peng , Liu Jinping , Wang Xu , Zhang Peiyao , Jin Yu , Bai Liting , Li Yixuan
Published: October 2021

Background: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a valuable indicator for evaluating inflammation and adverse outcomes after cardiac surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of perioperative NLR with clinical outcomes in infants undergoing congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass.Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 424 consecutive infants (≤ 1 year) undergoing cardiac surgery between January 2019 and September 2019. Neonates (≤ 28 days) and patients with incomplete NLR data were excluded. The study endpoint was a composite of poor outcomes after surgery. We assess the correlation between perioperative NLR and clinical outcomes. A receiver operating characteristic curve and multivariable logistic regression were applied to identify the prognosis performance of postoperative NLR for poor outcomes.Results: A total of 68 (16%) infants experienced at least one of the poor outcomes. Postoperative NLR on the third day after the surgery showed the best prognostic significance (AUC = 0.763, 95%CI 0.700-0.826) among perioperative period, with a cut-off value of 2.05. Postoperative NLR was also strongly correlated with mechanical ventilation time, length of ICU and hospital stay (p < 0.001). Multivariable logistic regression revealed that elevated postoperative NLR (OR 3.722, 95%CI 1.895-7.309, p < 0.001) was an independent risk factor for poor outcomes in infants after cardiac surgery.Conclusions: Postoperative NLR was correlated with increased mechanical ventilation time, length of ICU and hospital stay. Elevated postoperative NLR was an independent predictor for poor outcomes after cardiac surgery in infants.
WITHDRAWN: Particle Nature of Photons, Straight Diffraction Pattern and Curved Diffraction Pattern Emerging in Same Grating Experiment
Authors: Peng Hui
Published: October 2021

The particle nature of the photons was experimentally confirmed. The static straight line diffraction pattern of the normal grating experiments has been shown experimentally. The phenomenon of the dynamic curved diffraction pattern of the grating experiment have been shown in separate experiments. In this article, the new experiments are proposed and performed, which show that the particle nature of the photons, the static straight line diffraction patterns, and the dynamic curved, expanded and inclined diffraction patterns co-exist in the same grating experiment simultaneously. The novel phenomena make the Feynman’s mystery of the normal double slit experiment more mysterious, violate Bohr’s complementarity principle, and provide comprehensive information/data for studying the wave-particle duality and developing new theoretical model.