bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Historia de tres ciudades. Tiempos de ocupación en Madrid, Ámsterdam y París (1936-1945)
Authors: Pérez-Olivares Alejandro
Published: January 2021

Este artículo reinterpreta las ocupaciones que definieron el marco de la “guerra total” desde la historia urbana y a partir de la comparación de tres ciudades: Madrid, Ámsterdam y París. Para ello, considera la influencia de fenómenos típicamente asociados al mundo urbano como el anonimato, la movilidad, la delicada distribución de recursos o la propia escala de las ciudades en el mantenimiento del orden de los regímenes de ocupación iniciados en 1939, 1940, 1944 y 1945. El texto se estructura a partir de tres estudios de caso: el tipo de administración durante la ocupación, civil o militar; la colaboración de la población con las autoridades y la construcción del orden posconflicto a partir de las rupturas y continuidades que definieron las ciudades ocupadas.
Peadar O’Donnell, ¡Salud! Un irlandés en la Guerra Civil española, Salamanca, Amarú Ediciones, 2019, 244 páginas
Authors: Rodríguez Murphy Elena
Published: January 2021

Reseña
Julián Vadillo Muñoz, Historia de la CNT. Utopía, pragmatismo y revolución, Madrid, Los Libros de la Catarata, 2019, 286 páginas
Authors: Rivera Blanco Antonio
Published: January 2021

Reseña
Carlos Fernández Rodríguez, Los otros camaradas. El PCE en los orígenes del franquismo (1939-1945), Prensas Universitarias de Zaragoza, 2020, 1.092 páginas
Authors: Martín Ramos José Luis
Published: January 2021

Reseña
Anna Catharina Hofmann, Francos Moderne. Teknokratie und Diktatur in Spanien 1956 1973, Gotinga, Wallstein Verlag, 2019, 464 páginas
Authors: Aguilar López-Barajas José Luis
Published: January 2021

Reseña
Rafael Quirosa-Cheyrouze y Muñoz y Emilia Martos Contreras (eds.), La Transición desde otra perspectiva. Democratización y mundo rural, Madrid, Sílex Universidad, 2019, 390 páginas
Authors: Redondo Cardeñoso Jesús Ángel
Published: January 2021

Reseña
Desenvolvimento e Implementação de um Registo de Doentes: Experiência de um Centro de Esclerose Múltipla em Portugal
Authors: De Sá João , Ferreira João , Macedo Ana
Published: January 2021

Introdução: Registos de doentes permitem avaliar melhor resultados terapêuticos e suportar a personalização de cuidados de saúde em diversas patologias. Este trabalho teve como objetivos: implementar um registo local num centro de esclerose múltipla em Portugal; proceder a uma análise crítica das suas etapas de desenvolvimento; e realizar uma primeira análise dos doentes incluídos.Material e Métodos: A criação do registo dividiu-se em duas fases: desenvolvimento (construção da plataforma online) e implementação (recrutamento de doentes e recolha retrospetiva e prospetiva da informação disponível). Realizou-se uma análise demográfica e clínica dos doentes incluídos.Resultados: Especialistas em Neurologia e coordenadores de estudo participaram no projeto, num total de 1050 horas de trabalho na fase de implementação. Dos 498 doentes com esclerose múltipla incluídos no estudo, 72,9% eram do género feminino, tendo sido identificada como subtipo de doença mais comum a esclerose múltipla surto remissão. Os fármacos mais frequentemente prescritos após diagnóstico foram interferões beta. Detetaram-se lacunas no processo clínico dos doentes relativamente à progressão da incapacidade e a exames complementares de diagnóstico.Discussão: As dificuldades encontradas poderão ser mitigadas através da definição de elementos obrigatórios nos processos clínicos dos doentes e da implementação de registos mais minimalistas. Este procedimento possibilitaria reduzir o tempo despendido por profissionais de saúde na recolha de informação, otimizar custos, e permitir o foco na utilização do registo e ferramentas associadas ao mesmo para personalização de cuidados de saúde.Conclusão: Apesar do volume de dados recolhidos no âmbito deste estudo, foram encontradas dificuldades que comprometeram a implementação e manutenção do registo, que poderão ser ultrapassadas com a otimização de estratégias futuras.
La producción desigual de la morfología urbana madrileña = The uneven production of the urban morphology in Madrid
Authors: Aguilar Lucato Ramón
Published: January 2021

ResumenSe analiza la impronta morfológica actual de la histórica producción desigual del espacio urbano madrileño. Se eligieron quince muestras de tejidos urbanos, tres en cada una de las clases morfológicas discutidas por Rodríguez-Tarduchy (2011), representativas de las innovaciones que se han generado en los modos de producir las grandes ciudades españolas. Cada tejido se localiza en una realidad socioeconómica en el marco de su clase morfológica (inferior, intermediaria y superior). La investigación se basó en el análisis de seis indicadores y posibilitó conclusiones cuantitativas sobre los cambios en los modos de diseñarse la ciudad en la medida que esta se expandía e innovaciones urbanísticas eran incorporadas a su trazado; y sobre las variaciones en la forma en una misma clase morfológica, pero en distintos contextos sociales. Con la ayuda del Diagrama Spacemate, se cuantificaron dos agrupamientos bien definidos y opuestos, confirmando la progresiva producción de una ciudad dual, es decir, densa en los tejidos más antiguos y difusa en las nuevas periferias.AbstractThis work verifies how the historical uneven production of Madrid's urban space is reflected in the present. Fifteen urban fabrics samples were chosen, three in each of the morphological classes discussed by Rodríguez-Tarduchy (2011), representative of the innovations that have been generated in the ways of producing large Spanish cities. Each fabric is located in a socioeconomic reality within the framework of its morphological class (lower, intermediate and upper). The research was based on the analysis of six indicators and made possible quantitative conclusions on the changes in the trends of designing the city as it expanded and urban innovations were incorporated into its layout; and on variations in urban form within the same morphological class, but in different social contexts. With the help of the Spacemate Diagram, two well-defined and opposite groupings were quantified, confirming the progressive production of a dual city, dense in the oldest fabrics and diffuse in the new peripheries.
Anemia: Considerations for the Dental Practitioner
Authors: Aoun Georges , Aoun Pamela , El-Outa Abbass
Published: January 2021

Anemia is a condition of decreased red blood cell number or hemoglobin concentration, or of disturbance in their function, ultimately leading to decreased oxygen transport to tissues. Many factors and diseases may lead to anemia, with wide manifestations systemically as well as orally. Therefore, a sound understanding of this syndrome is essential for the dental practitioner, with emphasis on alerting signs, dental management and proper communication with patient’s physician.
Measuring Health Equity in Emergency Care Using Routinely Collected Data: A Systematic Review
Authors: Morisod Kevin , Luta Xhyljeta , Marti Joachim , Spycher Jacques , Malebranche Mary , Bodenmann Patrick
Published: January 2021

Identifying health care equity indicators is an important first step in integrating the concept of equity into assessments of health care system performance, particularly in emergency care. We conducted a systematic review of administrative data-derived health care equity indicators and their association with socio-economic determinants of health (SEDH) in emergency care settings. Following PRISMA-Equity reporting guidelines, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, PUBMED and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. The outcomes of interest were indicators of health care equity and the associated SEDH they examine. Among 29 studies identified, 14 equity indicators were identified and grouped into four categories that reflect the patient emergency care pathway. Total emergency department (ED) visits and ambulatory care sensitive condition-related ED visits were the two most frequently used equity indicators. Despite some conflicting results, all identified SEDH (social deprivation, income, education level, social class, insurance coverage and health literacy) are associated with inequalities in access to and use of emergency care. In conclusion, the use of administrative data-derived indicators combined with identified SEDH could improve healthcare equity measurement in emergency care settings across health care systems worldwide.
From Shipbreaking Literature to Sustainability Framework for Developing Country Recycling: a Review (Part 2)
Authors: Rahman Sm
Published: January 2021

Shipbreaking research has not been in the forefront until the last decade in which environmental and occupational hazards have been highlighted while economic sustainability and contextual conditions were not equally considered. The adoption of a triple bottom line approach across core business issues (environmental impacts, workplace safety ) as well as peripheral stakeholders expectation (environmental sustainability focus) has been retarded due to the less attention on the latter. Based on the findings of the 128 review papers, the study suggests that organizational learning and economic sustainability needs to prioritize through the formation of strange alliance among the stakeholders. The study argues that the dialogue and discussion on the peripheral stakeholders (NGOs, yard managers, national and international policy organizations) would lead to a more sustainable shipbreaking industry in the south Asian regions.
Modified Crack Detection of Sewer Conduit with Low Resolution Images
Authors: Son Byung Jik , Cho Taejun
Published: January 2021

Abstract: Imaging devices of less than 300,000 pixels are mostly used for sewage conduit exploration due to the petty nature of the survey industry in Korea. P articular ly , devices of less than 100,000 pixels are still widely used, and the environment for image processing is very bitter . Since the sewage conduit image s covered in this study ha ve a very low resolution (240 × 320 = 76,800 pixels), it is very difficult to detect cracks. Because most of the resolution of the sewe r conduit images are very low in Korea, this problem of low resolution was selected as the subject of study. Cracks were detected through a total of six steps of improving the crack in Step 2, finding the optimal threshold value in Step 3, and applying an algorithm to detect cracks in Step 5. Cracks were effectively detected by the optimal parameters in Steps 2 and 3 and the user algorithm in Step 5. Desp ite the very low resolution, the cracked image s showed 96.4% accuracy of detection, and the non cracked image s showed 94.5% accuracy . Moreover, the analysis was excellent in quality , also . It is believed that the findings of this study can be effectively u sed for crack detection with low resolution images.
The etiology of chronic gastritis in children with celiac disease
Authors:   Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, Shapovalova N.S. , Novikova V.P. ,   Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, Revnova M.O. ,   Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, Dementyeva E.A. ,   Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, Khavkin A.I. ,   N.I.Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, Klikunova K.A. ,   Saint Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation
Published: January 2021

Study objective. To investigate the etiology of chronic gastritis in children with various forms of coeliac disease. Patients and methods. 176 children with various forms of coeliac disease and morphologically verified chronic gastritis (CG) were examined. The first group consisted of 58 children with CG and newly diagnosed CD who did not adhere to a gluten-free diet (GFD), the second group included 49 children with CG and CD on a GFD. The comparison group (group 3) consisted of 69 children with CG but without CD. Morphological examination of the gastric and duodenal mucous membrane was performed. Verification of Helicobacter pylori infection for all participants was carried out by the rapid urease test (RUT) and the histological detection of the rod forms of H. pylori in any part of the gastric mucosa. Serological examination included determination of tissue transglutaminase IgA и IgG antibodies and deamidated gliadin peptide IgG antibodies; anti-parietal cell antibodies, IgG. Results. H. pylori was equally often detected in children with CD and in the control group: in group 1 – 63.8%, in group 2 – 53.1%, in group 3 – 68.1% (p1-2 = 0.387; p1-3 = 0.954; p2-3 = 0.420). Anti-parietal cell antibodies were equally common in groups 1 and 3, but were not detected in group 2: in group 1 – 14.9%, in group 3 – 10.1% (p1-2 = 0.002; p1-3 = 0.562; p2-3 = 0.012). Most often, the etiology of CG remained undetermined in group 2, among children with CD, who adhere to the GFD: group 1 – 19%, group 2 – 40.8%, group 3 – 15.9% (p1-2 = 0.025; p1-3 = 0.776; p2-3 = 0.012). CG associated with bile reflux was found in all groups without statistically significant differences: in group 1 – 5.2%, in group 2 – 6.1%, in group 3 – 5.8% (p1-2 = 0.877; p1-3 = 0.916; p2-3 = 0.960). The level of antibodies to Castle’s factor correlated with the level of antibodies to tissue transglutaminase r = 0.483; p = 0.002. Conclusion. The study data are suggestive of a systemic effect of celiac disease on the gastric mucosa. The stomach, along with the small intestine, is a target organ for celiac disease. The coexistence of primary immune-mediated lesion of the gastric mucosa and the H. pylori-induced inflammatory and autoimmune proсess is also possible. The prevalence of H. pylori in CD does not depend on a gluten-free diet and does not differ from the prevalence of H. pylori in CG. Key words: celiac disease, chronic gastritis, children
Hymecromone in the treatment of biliary diseases: options and prospects
Authors:   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation, Okhlobystin A.V. , Ufimtseva A.K. ,   I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: January 2021

Pharmacological treatment of biliary dyskinesia is to a great extend aimed at reducing smooth muscle spasms and recovering gallbladder motility. Prolonged courses of myotropic antispasmodics are used as the basic therapy. Hymecromone is notable to its predominantly spasmolytic action on the bile ducts and the sphincter of Oddi without any significant effect on the gallbladder contractility, and therefore it is safe in patients with cholecystolythiasis. Hymecromone decreases the severity of cholestasis, prevents the formation of cholesterol crystals and therefore, the development of cholelithiasis. It is effective both as a monotherapy and in combination with ursodeoxycholic acid for treatment of biliary sludge and prevention of the progression of gallstone disease. Its local action on the biliary tract and low systemic bioavailability after oral intake increases the treatment safety. Experimental studies demonstrated the antifibrotic and antihyperglycaemic effect of the drug. Key words: biliary dysfunction, cholelithiasis, sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, biliary sludge, hymecromone, ursodeoxycholic acid
Gestión del abastecimiento de agua en una región semiárida: análisis del consumo de agua potable en el Campo de Cartagena – Mar Menor, sureste de España (2010–2019)
Authors: Bernabé-Crespo Miguel Borja , Tudela Serrano María Luz , Gómez-Espín José María
Published: January 2021

La comarca del Campo de Cartagena – Mar Menor es un área de características semiáridas con sequía estructural y donde la carestía de agua ha sido constante en la historia, suplida mediante trasvases de agua y recursos no convencionales. El estudio realiza un análisis del consumo de agua potable, diferenciando entre consumo en alta y consumo en baja, para conocer el rendimiento de la red, y se formulan unas estrategias y líneas de actuación prioritarias para mejorar la seguridad hídrica de la comarca. Se han tomado datos de la Mancomunidad de Canales del Taibilla, de las empresas municipales de abastecimiento y de los Ayuntamientos de la comarca. Los resultados muestran la evolución de las fuentes de abastecimiento, y se extrae, entre otros, que los rendimientos han mejorado y que es clave la adaptación frente al cambio climático, diversificar la oferta de recursos e implementar nuevas tecnologías, así como mejorar las redes de distribución y avanzar en la concienciación social para conformar un territorio resiliente. Este trabajo sirve como modelo para caracterizar y mejorar la situación del abastecimiento de agua en otros medios semiáridos de similar problemática.
Experimental Analysis of Alkali-Brine-Alcohol Phase Behavior with High Acid Number Crude Oil
Authors: Magzymov D. , Clemens T. , Schumi B. , Johns R. T.
Published: January 2021

A potential enhanced oil recovery technique is to inject alkali into a reservoir with a high-total acid number (TAN) crude to generate soap in situ and reduce interfacial tension (IFT) without the need to inject surfactant. The method may be cost-effective if the IFT can be lowered enough to cause significant mobilization of trapped oil while also avoiding formation of gels and viscous phases.

This paper investigates the potential field application of injecting alkali to generate in-situ soap and favorable phase behavior for a high-TAN oil. Oil analyses show that the acids in the crude are a complex mixture of various polar acids and not mainly carboxylic acids. The results from phase behavior experiments do not undergo typical Winsor microemulsion behavior transition and subsequent ultralow IFTs below 1×10−3 mN/m that are conventionally observed. Instead, mixing of alkali and crude/brine generate water-in-oil macroemulsions that can be highly viscous. For a specific range of alkali concentrations, however, phases are not too viscous, and IFTs are reduced by several orders of magnitude. Incremental coreflood recoveries in this alkali range are excellent, even though not all trapped oil is mobilized.

The viscous phase behavior at high alkali concentrations is explained by the formation of salt-crude complexes, created by acids from the crude oil under the alkali environment. These hydrophobic molecules tend to agglomerate at the oil-water interface. Together with polar components from the crude oil, they can organize into a highly viscous network and stabilize water droplets in the oleic phase. Oil-soluble alcohol was added to counter those two phenomena at large concentrations, but typical Winsor phase behavior was still not observed. A physicochemical model is proposed to explain the salt-crude complex formation at the oil-water interface that inhibits classical Winsor behavior.
Pressure-Based Diagnostics for Evaluating Treatment Confinement
Authors: Cramer David D. , Zhang Junjing
Published: January 2021

In multiple-stage hydraulic fracturing treatments performed in horizontal wells, treatment confinement is the state in which fracturing fluid and proppant flow out of the wellbore only through the specific perforations targeted for the fracturing stage. The terms treatment confinement and treatment isolation are synonymous. Isolation from previously treated intervals is a necessary condition for efficient treatment along the lateral. Failure to confine fracturing stages can be a result of failure of the fracture plug to maintain a seal or the development of casing breaches (holes) in the proximity of the fracture plug. Both conditions can be strongly impacted by proppant induced erosion.

This paper is a sequel to a previous publication in which casing erosion and breaches were investigated in fracture treated horizontal wells in the Montney Formation (White et al. 2020). Integrated diagnostic methods based on data from treating pressure analysis, fiber-optic measurements, and downhole imaging were applied to investigate the root cause of failure. It was determined that treatment pressure analysis was effective in diagnosing casing and associated fracture plug integrity-loss events. This was achieved by (1) identifying treating pressure trends and anomalies during the main part of the treatment that signify confinement loss, (2) calculating near-wellbore friction at the end of treatments to compare to the friction expected for a confined treatment, and (3) analyzing step-down tests conducted during the pad stage and overflush stage at the end of the treatment to determine the near-wellbore frictional components of perforation friction and near-wellbore tortuosity. This information enables comparison of previous with current treatments for determining the effects of job design and fracture plug modifications on treatment confinement.

The objective of this paper is to validate that useful conclusions on the degree of treatment confinement can be made using only stand-alone pressure-based analysis. This is achieved by comparing the analysis results with fiber-optic and post-treatment wellbore imaging measurements. Also highlighted is the use of downhole gauges for accurately calculating pipe friction, which is necessary for accurately calculating bottomhole treating pressure at the active treatment interval.
A New Wax Removal Empirical Model of Fully Coated Foam Pig
Authors: Gao Xuedong , Huang Qiyu , Zhang Xun , Zhu Xiangrui , Zhang Yu
Published: January 2021

Wax deposition is one of the most significant challenges for flow assurance. In a conventional pigging operation, a fully coated foam pig is regularly used to mitigate wax deposition. This work attempts to assess, qualitatively and quantitively, the wax removal process of the fully coated foam pig. The experimental results confirm that the wax removal process of the fully coated foam pig includes four phases; namely, the buildup phase, preplug phase, plug phase, and production phase. Moreover, the effects of coating hardness, wax layer thickness, and the shear strength of wax sample on the wax breaking force and the wax removal efficiency are investigated experimentally. It is found that the wax breaking force decreases and the wax removal efficiency increases when the coating hardness is increased. On the basis of the analysis of the experimental results and Buckingham's π theorem, a semitheoretical model is developed to predict the wax removal efficiency of the fully coated foam pig. Furthermore, a force analysis model is used to calculate the wax breaking force by taking the wax removal efficiency model into account. The average relative errors between the calculated and measured results for the wax removal efficiency and the wax breaking force of the fully coated foam pig with 65 Shore A hardness (HA) coating are 24.13 and 31.88%, respectively. Analogous wax removal models for foam pigs of different types can be developed with the research method proposed in this work. Therefore, this research method provides a general strategy for wax removal research in crude oil pigging.

Supplementary materials are available in support of this paper and have been published online under Supplementary Data at https://doi.org/10.2118/205011-PA. SPE is not responsible for the content or functionality of supplementary materials supplied by the authors.
OSCE Rater Cognition – An International Multi-centre Qualitative Study.
Authors: Hyde Sarah , Fessey Christine , Boursicot Katherine , McKenzie Rhoda , McGrath Deirdre
Published: January 2021

Introduction This study aimed to explore the decision-making processes of raters during objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), in particular to explore the tacit assumptions and beliefs of raters as well as rater idiosyncrasies.MethodsThinking aloud protocol interviews were used to gather data on the thoughts of examiners during their decision-making, while watching trigger OSCE videos and rating candidates. A purposeful recruiting strategy was taken, with a view to interviewing both examiners with many years of experience and those with less experience examining at final medical examination level.ResultsThirty-one interviews were conducted in three centres in three different countries. Three themes were identified during data analysis, entitled ‘OSCEs are inauthentic’, ‘looking for glimpses of truth’ and ‘evolution with experience’. ConclusionThis study gives an insight into how raters approach OSCEs, and how the perceived shortcomings of OSCEs affect how examiners consider candidate behaviours. Some examiners, more likely the more experienced group, may deviate from an organisation’s instructions due to perceived shortcomings of the assessment.
Dynamic Evaluation and Convergence Analysis of the Efficiency of Rural Medical Health Centers in China
Authors: Ye Yun , Evans Richard , Li Shaoqiong , Lu Wei , Shang Xudong , Jing Li
Published: January 2021

Background: Rural medical health centers (RMHCs) are the foundation of the three-level primary medical and health service system in China. The efficiency of RMHCs is related to the rationality of the health care resource allocation for China’s 560 million rural population. Methods: This study analyzed the dynamic changes in the efficiency of RMHCs and its convergence using the non-guided SBM–DEA window model and convergence model, in Shanxi Province, China. Results: The results showed that the medical service efficiency is low. The average scores of the comprehensive technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency of the RMHCs in China from 2016 to 2018 were only 0.1541 and 0.1670, respectively, with nearly 63% of the values being lower than their average scores. The comprehensive technical efficiency and pure technical efficiency of the RMHCs in 2016–2018 exhibited a downtrend year on year. The convergence analysis results also showed that the current rural health clinic medical service efficiency had absolute convergence and conditional convergence. If appropriate policies are followed, the medical service efficiency of the RMHCs can be improved to reach its steady-state level.Conclusions: The medical service efficiency of RMHCs remains low and may gradually decline. The government should promote the efficiency of medical service in RMHCs to reach their own optimal level by formulating corresponding medical and health resource allocation policies.
Predictors of Preventive Behavior of Nosocomial Infections in Nursing Staff: A Structural Equation Model Based on the Social Cognitive Theory
Authors: Mahdizadeh Seyed-Mousa , Sany Seyedeh Belin Tavakoly , Sarpooshi Davood Robat , Jafari Alireza , Mahdizadeh Mehrsadat
Published: January 2021

Background: Despite improving the quality of health services and developing methods of infection prevention and control, the occurrence of nosocomial infections remains a health threat to patients and hospital staff. This study applied Social-Cognitive Theory for predicting determinants of Nosocomial Infections Control Behaviors in hospital nursing Staff.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 280 nurses and assistant nurses were selected by random sampling from intensive care wards including CCU, ICU, NICU, dialysis of educational hospitals in Mashhad, Iran in 2020. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale structural questionnaire based on social cognitive theory constructs and analyzed via AMOS 23.0 using Structural Equation modeling approach.Results: The results of the structural equation model showed that the constructs of barriers, perceived environment, outcome expectations, task self-efficacy, social support, and modeling were able to predict 70% of the variance of self-regulation construct. Also, the constructs of this social-cognitive model were eventually able to predict 15% of the variance of behavior construct. Self-regulation, outcome expectations, and barrier constructs had a direct effect on behavior and the highest effect was related to self-regulation structure (p<0.001). The constructs of social support, modeling, perceived environment and Task self-efficacy had an indirect effect on behavior and the most impact was related to the constructs of perceived environment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Considering that self-regulation, outcome expectation and barriers have a significant effect on following the preventive behaviors of nosocomial infections in nursing staff. It is suggested that policymakers and planners try to reduce barriers, strengthen behavioral motivation, and empower nursing staff by teaching self-regulatory strategies.
Identifying individuals with high risk of Alzheimer’s disease using polygenic risk scores is most accurate when using all genetic information.
Authors: Leonenko Ganna , Baker Emily , Stevenson-Hoare Josua , Sierksma Annerieke , Fiers Mark , Williams Julie , De Strooper Bart , Escott-Price Valentina
Published: January 2021

There is little agreement regarding the approach and optimal p-value threshold of SNPs to calculate genetic risk scores for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This reflects a fundamental underlying debate on the polygenic versus oligogenic disease architecture. We re-investigated the assumptions underlying the choice of specific p-value thresholds defining genetic loci used to determine polygenic risk scores (PRS). We find the optimal p-value threshold for SNP selection is 0.1, which supports the polygenic architecture of AD. We found that previous studies supporting an oligogenic model of AD did not take account of the reduction of APOE-ε4 allele frequency in older individuals, which skewed the results towards lower p-value thresholds and eclipsed the contribution of genes associated to AD with higher p-values. The polygenic approach to AD is also effective to identify individuals at high or low AD risk, when only APOE-ε3 homozygous individuals are considered. We also introduce the standardisation of PRS against a population data which ensures comparability of the PRS between studies. In conclusion, our work demonstrates that AD is fundamentally a polygenic disease and that stratifying populations for AD risk best takes the full PRS score into account.
Inflammatory Markers in Patients With Treatment-Resistant Schizophrenia in Ethiopia: A Comparative Study
Authors: Challa Feyissa , Seifu Daniel , Seleshi Meron , Getahun Tigist , Kassa Desta , Alemayehu Melkam , Mesfin Miraf , Woldeamanuel Yimtubezinash , Fekadu Abebaw , Geto Zeleke
Published: January 2021

Background: Accumulating evidence indicates that schizophrenia is accompanied by an activation of the immune system; however, there is limited data from low and middle-income countries. Inflammatory markers could even be more important in these settings where infectious conditions may play a more prominent role in the causation and maintenance of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the level of inflammatory markers--High sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6)--in patients with schizophrenia. Materials and methods: The study population consisted of a total of 132 study participants; 82 with schizophrenia and 50 controls. hsCRP and IL-6 were measured using Cobas Intgera 400 Plus and Cobas e 411 analysers respectively. Results: The levels of hsCRP and IL-6 were significantly increased among patients with schizophrenia compared to controls. Controlling for potential confounders (age, sex and body mass index), having a diagnosis of schizophrenia remained significantly associated with increased hsCRP (beta =0.29; 95% CI=0.10, 0.49) and IL-6 (beta=3.60; 95% CI: 1.35, 5.86). Conclusion: The finding is consistent with reports from high income countries and confirms that inflammatory processes may have a role in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia regardless of setting. Despite failure of some interventions with anti-inflammatory properties, interventions to reduce inflammation are still worth pursuing.
Recommendation Algorithm Based on Knowledge Graph to Propagate User Preference
Authors: Yang Zhisheng , Cheng Jinyong
Published: January 2021

In recommendation algorithms, data sparsity and cold start problems are always inevitable. In order to solve such problems, researchers apply auxiliary information to recommendation algorithms to mine and obtain more potential information through users' historical records and then improve recommendation performance. This paper proposes a model ST_RippleNet, which combines knowledge graph with deep learning. In this model, users' potential interests are mined in the knowledge graph to stimulate the propagation of users' preferences on the set of knowledge entities. In the propagation of preferences, we adopt a triple-based multi-layer attention mechanism, and the distribution of users' preferences for candidate items formed by users' historical click information is used to predict the final click probability. In ST_RippleNet model, music data set is added to the original movie and book data set, and the improved loss function is applied to the model, which is optimized by RMSProp optimizer. Finally, tanh function is added to predict click probability to improve recommendation performance. Compared with the current mainstream recommendation methods, ST_RippleNet recommendation algorithm has very good performance in AUC and ACC, and has substantial improvement in movie, book and music recommendation.
Correction of a CFTR/G542X Mutation Using CRISPR/Cas9 Editing in Ovine-bovine Interspecies Embryos
Authors: Fan Zhiqiang , Liu Ying , Perisse Iuri , Harris Ann , White Kenneth , Polejaeva Irina
Published: January 2021

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a human genetic disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Correction of CFTR mutations at embryo stage could be a permanent solution to cure this disease. To assess the efficiency of CFTR/G542X mutation correction in vitro by CRISPR/Cas9, we utilized embryos generated by ovine-bovine interspecies somatic cell nuclear transfer (iSCNT) due to a limited access to sheep oocytes. First, we evaluated the developmental capacity of reconstructed iSCNT embryos. These embryos were able to develop to 16-cell stage, allowing for individual embryo genotyping. Then, we optimized the concentrations of Cas9:gRNA ribonucleoprotein (RNP) for 1-cell stage embryo injection. Genotyping results showed that we achieved high efficiencies (88.9–100%) of indel mutations at the target locus after injection of different concentrations of RNP. When an RNP (0.09 µg/µl:2.3 µM) was co-injected with a ssODN (18 µM), the G542X mutation was corrected via the homology-directed repair in 11.1% (1/9) of iSCNT embryos. Taken together, we developed an effective strategy to correct the CFTR/G542X mutation in ovine-bovine iSCNT embryos by CRISRP/Cas9. Our strategy overcomes the limitation of oocyte source and provides the opportunity of mimicking the editing of any other genes in one-cell embryos of different species.
Universal strategy towards high–energy aqueous multivalent ion batteries
Authors: Tang Xiao , Zhou Dong , Zhang Bao , Wang Shijian , Li Peng , Liu Hao , Guo Xin , Jaumaux Pauline , Gao Xiaochun , Fu Yongzhu , Wang Chengyin , Wang Chunsheng , Wang Guoxiu
Published: January 2021

Non–aqueous rechargeable multivalent metal (Ca, Mg, Al, etc.) batteries are promising for large–scale energy storage due to their low cost. However, their practical applications face formidable challenges owing to low electrochemical reversibility and dendrite growth of multivalent metal anodes, sluggish kinetics of multivalent ion in metal oxide cathodes, and poor electrode compatibility of flammable organic electrolytes. To overcome these intrinsic hurdles, we develop aqueous multivalent ion batteries to replace the prevailing non–aqueous multivalent metal batteries by using wide–window super–concentrated aqueous gel electrolytes, the versatile high–capacity sulfur anodes, and high–voltage metal oxide cathodes. This rationally designed aqueous battery chemistry enables the long–lasting multivalent ion batteries featured with increased high energy density, reversibility and safety. As a demonstration model, a calcium ion−sulfur||metal oxide full cell exhibited a high energy density of 110 Wh kg–1 with outstanding cycling stability. Molecular dynamics modelling and experimental investigations revealed that the side reactions could be significantly restrained through the suppressed water activity and formation of protective inorganic solid electrolyte interphase in the aqueous gel electrolyte. The unique redox chemistry has also been successfully extended to aqueous magnesium ion and aluminum ion−sulfur||metal oxide batteries. This work will boost aqueous multivalent ion batteries for low−cost large–scale energy storage.
Snail upregulates FN and LEF transcription negatively feed backed by PPAR-gamma: a general model established for Snail to transactivate mesenchymal genes
Authors: Ly Tam Minh , Chen Yen-Cheng , Lee Ming-Che , Chen Chuan Chu , Chang Hsin-Hou , You Ren-In , wu wen-sheng
Published: January 2021

Background Snail (SNA) is responsible for epithelial mesenchymal transition, migration and metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma. SNA represses the transcription of the essential epithelial marker such as E-cadherin and enhances mesenchymal markers including fibronectin and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor. Our previous studies indicated that SNA, in collaboration with EGR1 and SP1, may directly activate transcription of the mesenchymal markers, matrix degradation enzyme matrix metalloproteinases (MMP9) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) in HepG2 cell stimulated by the phorbol ester tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol 13-acetate (TPA). Besides, we pinpointed a SNA binding motif (TCACA) upstream of EGR1/SP1 overlapping region on promoters. In this study, we investigated whether LEF and FN are transcriptionally regulated by SNA in a similar fashion. Moreover, a general model for SNA-upregulated mesenchymal markers is proposed.Methods RT/PCR and Western blot were used for analyzing gene expression and shRNA technology for depleting SNA. Dual luciferase assay was used for promoter activation; deletion mapping and mutagenesis were used for confirming the indicated promoter region required for transcription activation. ChIP and EMSA were used for validating the binding of the indicated transcription factor on their putative motifs. Results SNA binding motif and E/S overlapping region are required for TPA-induced transcription of LEF and FN. These were supported by TPA-induced binding of SNA and EGR-1/SP-1 on indicated promoter regions. Moreover, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ motif upstream of SNA binding motif was found to be a negatively regulatory region in TPA-induced promoter activation of FN, LEF, MMP9 and ZEB1. This was supported by that co-treatment of a PPAR-g inhibitor, GW9662, and mutation of PPAR-g binding motif enhanced TPA-induced promoter activity and expression of the aforementioned genes whereas overexpression of PPAR-g reversed it. Moreover, comprehensive screening of the SNA-upregulated mesenchymal genes revealed similar sequence architecture on the promoter regions of the candidate genes: SNA binding motif (TCACA) coupled with a downstream EGR/SP1 overlapping region and an upstream PPAR-g binding motif. Among them COX2 and COL1A1 were found to potentially exhibit the same transcription mechanisms described above. Conclusions We established a general model for SNA-upregulated mesenchymal gene expressions negatively feed backed by PPAR-g.
The Effect of Socio-Economic Status on Food Quality in West of Iran
Authors: Amini Mahin , najafi farid , pasdar yahya , samadi mehnoosh , karyani ali kazemi , moradinazar mahdi
Published: January 2021

BackgroundSocio-economic status affects many health-related outcomes and one of the most important factors is the pattern and quality of nutrition. Thus, this study is carried out to investigate the effect of socio-economic status on the quality of nutrition based on healthy Eating Index (HEI).MethodsThis is a population-based study using the baseline data from Ravansar Non-Communicable Disease cohort study. HEI calculated from Food Frequency Questionnaire. The quality of nutrition was assessed based on HEI-2015 which evaluates 13 food groups.ResultsThe mean of age of the participants was 48.02 (SD = ±8.27) years. The median and mean of HEI in the studied population were 53 and 53.69 (SD = ±7.34), respectively. Women, the educated, city dwellers, people of higher socioeconomic classes, and non-smokers had greater odds of having higher quality of nutrition. The worst score among all components of HEI were for the refined grains and then the whole grain, and the highest score was obtained for the tatal protein foods. ConclusionsDue to low nutritional quality and its adverse effects, especially in people with low socioeconomic status and villagers, the quality of nutrition, especially in the poor, should be promoted with proper interventions so as to reduce disparity in the society.
A Cross-Sectional Study of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner’s Knowledge, Treatment Strategies and Integration of Practice of Chronic Pelvic Pain in Women
Authors: Arentz Susan , Smith Caroline , Redmond Rebecca , Abbott Jason , Armour Mike
Published: January 2021

Background Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) in women is persistent, intermittent cyclical and non-cyclical lower abdominal pain, lasting for more than 6 months. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a popular treatment option for women’s health conditions, but little is known about how treatment for CPP is delivered by TCM practitioners. The aim of this survey was to explore practitioners understanding and treatment of women with CPP, and how they integrate their management and care into the health care system. Method An online cross-sectional survey of registered TCM practitioners in Australia and New Zealand. Survey domains included treatment characteristics (e.g. frequency), evaluation of treatment efficacy, referral networks, and sources of information that informed clinical decision making. Results One hundred and twenty-two registered TCM practitioners responded to this survey, 91.7% reported regular treatment of women with CPP. Treatment decisions were most-often guided by a combination of biomedical and TCM diagnosis (77.6%), and once per week was the most common treatment frequency (66.7%) for acupuncture. Meditation (63.7%) and dietary changes (57.8%) were other commonly used approaches to management. The effectiveness of treatment was assessed using multiple approaches, most commonly pain scales, (such as the numeric rating scale) and any change in use of analgesic medications. Limitations to TCM treatment were reported by over three quarters (83.7%) of practitioners, most commonly due to cost (56.5%) and inconvenience (40.2%) rather than safety or lack of efficacy. Integration within the wider healthcare system was common with over two thirds (67.9%) receiving referrals from health care providers. Conclusion TCM practitioners seeing women with various CPP symptoms, commonly incorporate both traditional and modern diagnostic methods to inform their treatment plan, monitor treatment progress using commonly accepted approaches and measures and often as a part of multidisciplinary healthcare for women with CPP.
Factors Influencing Malaria Morbidity and Mortality Among Under 15 Years Children in Parts of Ghana: The Role of Guardians’ Socio-Demographic Characteristics Demonstrated Through Modelling
Authors: Asare Kwame
Published: January 2021

Background To understand the underlying factors that led to failure to achieve the millennium development goal 6c by Ghana, we modelled guardians’ socio-demographic characteristics and the factors that could influence child health to provide directions for improving anti-malaria interventions in Ghana and sub-Sahara Africa.Methods Clinical data of 274 malaria patients, age up to 15 years, were collected from a cross-sectional study conducted in two districts in the central region of Ghana. Guardians of the children were interviewed to obtain socio-demographic characteristics and factors that could influence child health. The data obtained were analysed using multivariate GLM, type III ANOVA and multilayer perceptron network analysis.Results Of the 274 children enrolled into the study, 69.34% were between the age of 0-5 years. The median parasite density, haemoglobin and platelet were 89,923 (64,056-149,541) parasites/mm3, 8.40 (4.70-11.60) g/dL and 126 (87-146) x10^9/L respectively. 12.41% of the enrolled children had severe clinical conditions. The outcome using multivariate GLM analysis indicate a significant association between the guardians’ socio-demographic characteristics and factors that influence child health, p<0.0001. CSOC, FPOCCH, DOOSCS, and CS were all influenced by the guardians’ occupational status, p<0.0001; CSOC and MCID were influenced by the guardians’ educational levels, p<0.0001 and FPOCCH and MCID were also influenced by guardians age category, p<0.0001. The multilayer perceptron network analysis showed that the association between guardians’ socio-demographic characteristics and factors that influence child health are affected by several hidden confounding factors.Conclusion It was demonstrated an association between factors that influence child health care and guardians’ socio-demographic characteristics and this is confounded by hidden socio-economic factors and biases through modelling. I, therefore, propose a model called a network of socio-economic progenitors to provide a simple explanation for the underlying factors that influence child health in malaria-endemic areas.
Wharton Jelly Stem Cells inhibits AGS Gastric Cancer Cells through Induction of Apoptosis and Modification of MAPK and NF‑κB Signaling Pathways
Authors: Abbasi Samaneh , Bazyar Reza , Saremi Mohammad Ali , Alishiri Gholamhoseen , Seyyedsani Nasrin , Jadid Mahdieh Farhoudi Sefidan , Khorrami Afshin , Golmarz Parisa Emami , Jahangirzadeh Gholamreza , isazadeh Alireza , Hajazimian Saba , Amoodizaj Fatemeh Firouzi
Published: January 2021

Background and aim: Gastric cancer) GC) is one of the most common cancer with high mortality worldwide. The human Wharton's jelly stem cells (hWJSCs) can inhibit several cancer cells through several molecular pathways. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate anticancer effects of hWJSCs conditioned medium (hWJSC-CM) and cell-free lysate (hWJSC-CL) against of GC cell line AGS and underlying signaling pathways. Methods: In this study, we evaluated the effects of hWJSC-CM and hWJSC-CL on viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and MAPK and NF‑κB signaling pathways in AGS cells. Moreover, mRNA expression of genes involved in apoptosis (BAX, BCL2, SMAC, and SURVIVIN), as well as expression of proteins involved in NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways were evaluated. Results: The obtained results showed that the hWJSC-CM and hWJSC-CL decreased viability, migration, and invasion of GC cell line AGS in a concentration and time dependent manner. We observed that the hWJSC-CM and hWJSC-CL induced apoptosis pathway through regulation of apoptosis involved genes mRNA expression. In addition, the hWJSC-CM and hWJSC-CL suppressed NF-κB signaling pathways as well as promoted MAPK signaling pathways. Conclusions: In general, our study suggested that the hWJSC-CM and hWJSC-CL inhibits proliferation and viability of GC cell line AGS through induction of apoptosis, as well as modification of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.