bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditioning Model Ensembles to Various Observed Data (Field and Regional Level) by Applying Machine-Learning-Augmented Workflows to a Mature Field with 70 Years of Production History
Authors: Vanegas Gisela , Nejedlik John , Neff Pascale , Clemens Torsten
Published: September 2021

Forecasting production from hydrocarbon fields is challenging because of the large number of uncertain model parameters and the multitude of observed data that are measured. The large number of model parameters leads to uncertainty in the production forecast from hydrocarbon fields. Changing operating conditions [e.g., implementation of improved oil recovery or enhanced oil recovery (EOR)] results in model parameters becoming sensitive in the forecast that were not sensitive during the production history. Hence, simulation approaches need to be able to address uncertainty in model parameters as well as conditioning numerical models to a multitude of different observed data.

Sampling from distributions of various geological and dynamic parameters allows for the generation of an ensemble of numerical models that could be falsified using principal-component analysis (PCA) for different observed data. If the numerical models are not falsified, machine-learning (ML) approaches can be used to generate a large set of parameter combinations that can be conditioned to the different observed data. The data conditioning is followed by a final step ensuring that parameter interactions are covered. The methodology was applied to a sandstone oil reservoir with more than 70 years of production history containing dozens of wells.

The resulting ensemble of numerical models is conditioned to all observed data. Furthermore, the resulting posterior-model parameter distributions are only modified from the prior-model parameter distributions if the observed data are informative for the model parameters. Hence, changes in operating conditions can be forecast under uncertainty, which is essential if nonsensitive parameters in the history are sensitive in the forecast.
Real-Time Multi-Event Anomaly Detection using Elliptic Envelope and A Deep Neural Network for Enhanced MPD Robustness
Authors: Gu Qifan , Fallah Amirhossein , Ashok Pradeepkumar , Chen Dongmei , Van Oort Eric
Published: September 2021

In managed pressure drilling (MPD), robust and fast event detection is critical for timely event identification and diagnosis, as well as executing well control actions as quickly as possible. In current event detection systems (EDSs), signal noise and uncertainties often cause missed and false alarms, and automated diagnosis of the event type is usually restricted to certain event types.

A new EDS method is proposed in this paper to overcome these shortcomings. The new approach uses a multivariate online change point detection (OCPD) method based on elliptic envelope for event detection. The method is robust against signal noise and uncertainties, and is able to detect abnormal features within a minute or less, using only a few data points. A deep neural network (DNN) is utilized for estimating the occurrence probability of various drilling events, currently encompassing (but not limited to) six event types: liquid kick, gas kick, lost circulation, plugged choke, plugged bit, and drillstring washout. The OCPD and the DNN are integrated together and demonstrate better performance with respect to robustness and accuracy. The training and testing of the OCPD and the DNN were conducted on a large dataset representing various drilling events, which was generated using a field-validated two-phase hydraulics software.

Compared to current EDS methods, the new system shows the following advantages: (1) lower missed alarm rate; (2) lower false alarm rate; (3) earlier alarming; and (4) significantly improved classification capability that also allows for further extension to even more drilling events.
The Perspectives of Patients with Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis
Authors: Nørgaard Birgitte , Titlestad Signe Beck , Abrahamsen Charlotte , Marcussen Michael
Published: September 2021

Background: Parkinson’s disease has considerable impact on the quality of life of both patients and their caregivers. Patients’ perspectives are a source of vital knowledge that informs health professionals’ ability to provide individualised and patient-centered care. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the perspectives of patients with Parkinson’s disease on treatment, care and rehabilitation.Methods: We conducted a systematic review and searched the following electronic bibliographic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycInfo and Scopus for original studies published before June 2020. Grey literature was searched at www.parkinson.org, http://www.epda.eu.com, www.apdaparkinson.org and in the OpenSIGLE and HMIC databases. We included studies focusing on patients with Parkinson’s disease aged 18 or older that reported patients’ perspectives on treatment, care and rehabilitation. Results were analysed using thematic synthesis. Results: Ten studies were included, each of them applying qualitative methods and including between 1 and 28 patients. A total of 156 codings led to 17 descriptive themes which resulted in three analytic themes: Significance of self, Significance of informal caregivers and peers, and Significance of professionals.Conclusions: Our findings could be important in helping healthcare professionals plan and deliver treatment, care and rehabilitation based on patients’ priorities in the context of suffering from a chronic disease. The results might also guide future research regarding patient perspectives, as well as how and why to incorporate patients’ perspectives in healthcare delivery. Systematic review registration: The protocol was registered in Prospero (183551).
Advances in Computational Intelligence of Polymer Composite Materials: Machine Learning Assisted Modeling, Analysis and Design
Authors: Sharma Aanchna , Mukhopadhyay Tanmoy , Rangappa Sanjay Mavinkere , Siengchin Suchart , Kushvaha Vinod
Published: September 2021

The superior multi-functional properties of polymer composites have made them an ideal choice for aerospace, automobile, marine, civil, and many other technologically demanding industries. The increasing demand of these composites calls for an extensive investigation of their physical, chemical and mechanical behavior under different exposure conditions. Machine learning (ML) has been recognized as a powerful predictive tool for data-driven multi-physical modeling, leading to unprecedented insights and exploration of the system properties beyond the capability of traditional computational and experimental analyses. Here we aim to abridge the findings of the large volume of relevant literature and highlight the broad spectrum potential of ML in applications like prediction, optimization, feature identification, uncertainty quantification, reliability and sensitivity analysis along with the framework of different ML algorithms concerning polymer composites. Challenges like the curse of dimensionality, overfitting, noise and mixed variable problems are discussed, including the latest advancements in ML that have the potential to be integrated in the field of polymer composites. Based on the extensive literature survey, a few recommendations on the exploitation of various ML algorithms for addressing different critical problems concerning polymer composites are provided along with insightful perspectives on the potential directions of future research.
Influence of Ar Gas Pressure On The Structural And Optical Properties And Surface Topography of Al-Doped ZnO Thin Films Sputtered By DC-Magnetron Sputtering Method
Authors: Shiravand Mahdiyeh , Ghobadi Nader , Hatam Ebrahim Gholami
Published: September 2021

In this work, Aluminum doped Zinc oxide thin films were sputtered on glass substrate by the direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering method. The influence of Ar gas pressure on the structural and optical properties was measured. The optical parameters were calculated by UV- Visible spectroscopy, the nature of transition reveals direct allowed transition for the prepared films. Also, some physical quantities such as the strength of electron-phonon interaction, dissipation factor (tanδ) in the visible region and the lattice dielectric constant were presented for these thin films. The AFM analysis extracts surface parameters of the AZO thin films that help us to investigate the surface analysis with numerical data. The band gap energy and transition index without any presumption about transition natural were calculated from Derivation Ineffective Thickness Method (DITM) and the reaction of Ar gas pressure plays an essential part in controlling the physical quantities of AZO thin films.
Study on the Relationship Between Musculoskeletal Disorders, BDNF Gene, TPH-2 Gene, and Mental Health in Coal Mine Workers in China
Authors: Jiang Ting , Li Xue , Xue Qiaoyun , Liu Jiwen
Published: September 2021

Background: Coal is the core energy source of the global energy system. To ensure the sustainable development of the coal industry, the mental health of coal miners is crucial. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between August 2018 and June 2019. A total of 1,675 coal miners were surveyed using the Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) Questionnaire and the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). At the same time, polymorphisms in the BDNF gene (rs6265, rs10835210) and TPH2 gene (rs4570625, rs4131347) in whole blood DNA were detected to analyze the influence of a gene-environment interaction on mental health. Results: The results showed that the mental health status of coal miners was poorer than the Chinese norm (P < 0.05). The mental health status of workers with MSDs was lower; MSDs interact with the BDNF gene rs6265 and TPH2 gene rs4570625, which affects mental health. Conclusions: It is suggested that employers should improve the working environment of workers, shorten the working time, pay attention to the mental health of workers, and provide timely psychological counseling to workers who suffer from mental health problems, so as to improve workers’ mental health and working ability, as well as their quality of life.
‘it Is Beyond Our Reach’: Policies and Infrastructure Influencing Postpartum Care in Rural Kenya
Authors: Kemei Janet , Etowa Josephine
Published: September 2021

BackgroundMaternal mortality in low middle-income countries is still high. Like most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, the progress towards reducing maternal mortalities in Kenya is slow. Approximately 488 women out of every 100,000 live births die during the childbearing process. Kenya has put in place several strategies to mitigate maternal mortalities. For instance, Kenya introduced free maternity services in 2013 to remove financial barriers to skilled health services for mothers and children under five years old. Hence, it is necessary to explore how the policies and infrastructure intersect with other socioeconomic factors to influence postpartum care in rural Kenya to mitigate maternal and infant deaths.MethodsThis qualitative research conducted in-depth focused ethnographic (FE) interviews with 23 nurses and midwives working in nine health centres and the County Hospital in Nandi County, Kenya, between July 2017 and February 2018. We used thematic analysis approach as described by Braun and Clarke to analyze the data. Lincoln and Guba criteria for establishing the trustworthiness of data was used. ResultsThe analysis of data generated six themes. The findings from the theme, Policies and Infrastructure Influencing Postpartum Care will be discussed in this paper. The findings will be discussed under three sub-themes 1) Free maternity services, 2) Adherence to perinatal care guidelines, and 3) Recruitment and retention of nurses and midwives. Facilities lacked the essential equipment and supplies required to provide these services, recruitment and retention of staff, demotivation of healthcare providers, lack of regular training and supervision of staff, and lack of adherence to postpartum guidelines. These issues intersected to determine the quality of skilled postpartum services provided to childbearing women and their families as well as women and infants’ overall perinatal health outcomes. ConclusionThe findings have underscored the importance of having a functional healthcare system that supports both the clinical and emotional aspects of the women and healthcare providers. Efforts should be directed into addressing the negative factors influencing care provision at the facility level. Suboptimal care could cause women not to attend skilled health care and sabotage the global goals of eliminating maternal and infant mortalities. This can be achieved by creating policies that considers the diverse causes and power-relations withing the healthcare organization.
Trends in Household Air Pollution Contributed by the Type of Cooking Fuel Used in Ugandan Households from 2000 to 2016 and Associated Household Factors: An Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys
Authors: Abila Derrick Bary , Racheal Nalunkuma , Wasukira Sulaiman Bugosera , Ainembabazi Provia , Siya Aggrey , Kisuza Ruth Ketty , Nakiyingi Elizabeth Kiyingi , Mustafa Asia , Adebisi Yusuff Adebayo , III Don Eliseo Lucero-Prisno
Published: September 2021

Background

The type of cooking fuel used in households can expose the members to polluted air which has been shown to have multiple health effects. We describe the trend in household air pollution (HAP) caused by the type of cooking fuel used in Ugandan households from 2001 to 2016 and explore the household factors associated with it.
Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of four datasets of Ugandan demographic and health surveys (DHS) conducted from 2000/2001 to 2016 with the household as the unit of analysis. We included variables that described the households, the type of cooking fuel, and where the food was cooked. A household was considered to have exposure to HAP if they used cooking fuels like coal, charcoal, wood, straw/shrubs/grass, crops, or animal dung for cooking. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the association between household characteristics and exposure to household air pollution (HAP) from the most recent DHS of 2016.
Results

A total of 45,376 households were included in the study. In all the surveys, the majority of the households were rural (74.33–85.11%), were headed by a male (68.98–72.46%), and with their highest educational attainment as incomplete primary education (37.21–42.44%). In all the surveys, the majority of the households used wood as a cooking fuel (71.69–82.08%). Most of the households were exposed to HAP (96.69–99.80%). From the multivariate logistic regression analysis, households with a household head having attained either complete secondary education [Adjusted Odd ratio: 0.13, 95% Confidence interval (0.03–0.58), p-value = 0.008] or higher education [Adjusted Odd ratio: 0.11, 95% Confidence interval (0.03–0.48), p-value = 0.003] were less likely to be exposed to HAP when compared with households with a household head having no education.
Conclusions

This study revealed that most households in Uganda have exposure to household air pollution caused by the type of cooking fuel used in the household. This underscores the need for innovations in cooking fuels like clean energy stoves that are cost-effective and cause less exposure to household air pollution.
Slide Type Landslide Susceptibility Assessment of the Büyük Menderes Watershed Using Artificial Neural Network Method
Authors: Tekin Senem , Çan Tolga
Published: September 2021

The Büyük Menderes watershed is the largest drainage watershed in Western Anatolia with an area of approximately 26000 km2. In the study area, almost 863 landslides occurred, extending over 222 km2 with a mean landslide area of 0.21 km2. In this study, landslide susceptibility assessment was carried out using Artificial Neural Network method which is one of the data driven methods. Geology, digital elevation model, slope, topographic wetness index, roughness index, plan, profile curvatures, and proximity to the active faults and rivers were used as landslide conditioning factors. In susceptibility assessments, landslides were separated by 70 % analysis, 15 % test and validation data sets by random selection method. The performance of the landslide susceptibility map was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves, error histogram, and confusion matrix, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves, analysis, testing, validation, landslides and study ares was found 0.82, 0.84, 0.86, 0.82. The susceptibility map had a high perediction rate in which high and very high susceptible zones corresponded to 26 % of the study area including 82 % of the recorded landslides.
Using The Random Forest Algorithm To Detect The Activity of Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy
Authors: Wang Minghui , Zhang Hanqiao , Dong Li , Li Yang , Hou Zhijia , Li Dongmei
Published: September 2021

Objective: The aim of this study is to establish a random forest model to detect active and quiescent phases of patients with Thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and to evaluate its diagnostic performance.Methods：A total of 146 patients (292 eyes) who were diagnosed with TAO and were treated in the Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic of Beijing TongRen hospital were retrospectively included in the study. We took the clinical activity score of TAO as the target; took gender, age, smoking status, I-131 treatment history, thyroid nodules, thyromegaly, thyroid hormone and TSH-receptor antibodies (TRAb) as predictive characteristic variables to establish a random forest model. The proportion of the training group to the testing group was 7:3. We analyzed the model’s accuracy, precision, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (PPV), F1 score and out-of-bag (OOB) error, with the accuracy, the brier loss and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve compared with logistic regression model.Results：Our model has an accuracy of 0.93, a sensitivity of 0.88, a specificity of 0.96, a positive predictive value of 0.94, a negative predictive value of 0.93, an F1 score of 0.91 and an OOB error of 0.12. The accuracy of the random forest model and the logistic regression model were 0.93 and 0.79, respectively, the brier loss were 0.06 and 0.20, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.95 and 0.86.Conclusion：By integrating these high-risk factors, the random forest algorithm can be used as a complementary diagnostic method to determine the activity of TAO, showing prominent diagnostic performance.
Psychological Impacts Among Yemeni Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: an Electronic-based, Cross-sectional Analytical Survey
Authors: Alrubaiee Gamil Ghaleb , Al-Qadasi Farouk Abdulrahman , Al-Qalah Talal Ali Hussein , Cole Jennifer Ann , Alburiahy Yaser abdullah Ghaleb , Alsabri Mohammed
Published: September 2021

Background: Yemeni HCWs face higher levels of psychological stress than others in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic due to the country's war and internal conflict. The current study investigates the levels of stress, anxiety, insomnia, depression, and well-being among Yemeni HCWs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A web-based, cross-sectional survey was used among 1,248 Yemeni HCWs. An electronic self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data. The URL link was distributed to the HCWs via social media and emails. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS), version 24.0 was used in managing and analyzing the data collected. T-test and one-way ANOVA were used to compare the participants’ data and independent variables. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were used to determine the relationship between study variables. A p-value of < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval was considered statistically significant. The survey was conducted between 6 November 2020, 11 PM to 3 April 2021, 11 PM.Results: The results indicated that 73.0, 57.3, 49.8, 53.2, and 85.2% of all HCWs reported symptoms of moderate or severe stress, insomnia, anxiety, depression, and worse quality of life, respectively. Out of ten independent variables, five were statistically significant (years of experience, working hours per day, marital status, age, and working days per week) (p < 0.05). The results further showed significant positive correlations between stress and scores of anxiety, insomnia, and depression and also between anxiety and insomnia and depression and between insomnia and depression. There was significant negative correlation between wellbeing scores and scores of stress, anxiety, insomnia, and depression.Conclusion: Yemeni HCWs experience considerable levels of stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and poor quality of life. Psychological support to build resilience to the prevailing conditions may need to be embedded into medical school training and continuing professional development to help retain HCWs within Yemen, as amongst the respondents where was a high percentage of HCWs under 40 years of age (85.8%) and with less than 10 years’ experience (72.7%), a consequence of many more experienced medics leaving Yemen for safer and more secure jobs elsewhere.
Novel PHEX Variants and Splicing Mutations in Patients with X-Linked Hypophosphatemia
Authors: Xing Xuesha , Gao Jinlan , Ma Hongwei , Zhang Lina , Li Fang , Yang Leilei , Luo Yang
Published: September 2021

Background: X-linked hypophosphatemia rickets (XLH) is a genetic disorder of phosphate wasting that causes the majority of inherited hypophosphatemic rickets. The disease is caused by mutations in the phosphate-regulating endopeptidase gene (PHEX). All types of mutations have been detected in the PHEX gene. There is no clear preference for the position and the type of mutation.Methods: In this study, we performed DNA sequencing and ex vivo splicing analysis to study the PHEX gene in ten sporadic patients and six core families with XLH. Results: A total of 25 patients were studied. Fifteen different mutations were detected in these patients, including five missense mutations, five splicing mutations, two nonsense mutations, two small deletions, and one small insertion. Five mutations were not previously reported. We also characterized the splicing mutations identified in our study, which consisted of exon skipping and activation of new splice sites in an exon or intron. Most of the observed changes resulted in a frameshift of the PHEX open reading frame.Conclusions: The genetic etiology in patients with XLH were successfully identified. This study expands the mutation database of the PHEX gene. We also explored the pathogenesis of XLH caused by splice site mutations. These results will contribute to the diagnosis of XLH and the pathogenicity analysis of mutations in patients.
Screening and Role of circRNAs in Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus
Authors: yang min , Sun Kailu , Chang Jianmin
Published: September 2021

Objective：The aim of this study was to investigate the expression profile of circRNA in Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus, and to identify the underlying core genes of Vulvar Lichen Sclerosus.Methods：rRNA removal was used for sequencing, and mRNA, lncRNA and circRNA differentially expressed between 20 groups of VLS tissues and 20 groups of healthy female vulva skin tissues were screened. Bioinformatics analysis was used to analyze its potential function.Results：A total of 1545 differentially expressed mRNAs were assessed in VLS patients, of which 1541 were upregulated and 1004 were down-regulated; A total of 1453 differentially expressed lncRNAs were assessed, of which 812 were up-regulated and 641 were down-regulated. A total of 79 differentially expressed circRNAs were assessed, of which 54 were upregulated and 25 were down-regulated. The differential expression of CircRNA is closely related to biological processes and molecular functions. The differences in circRNA were mainly related to the "human T-cell leukemia virus 1 infection" signaling pathway and the "axon guidance" signaling pathway.Conclusion：This study identified the profile of abnormal regulation of circRNA in VLS. Biological informatics analysis showed that the dysregulation of circRNAs could be related to the pathogenesis and pathological process of VLS.
Effect of Restrictive Versus Liberal Fluid Management Strategies on Major Adverse Kidney Events in Critically Ill Adult Patients: A Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Herdzik Melissa , Leong Amanda Y. , Kassir Sandy , Sy Eric , Mailman Jonathan F.
Published: September 2021

BackgroundIntravenous fluid therapy is ubiquitous in intensive care units (ICUs). There is increasing recognition of the value of restrictive fluid management strategies, including improved survival and renal function. However, these strategies have not been universally adopted. The purpose of this protocol is to outline our plan for investigating the current literature on the topic of restrictive versus liberal fluid management strategies in all critically ill adults and their associated outcomes, namely major adverse kidney events (MAKE). Methods We will conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating fluid management strategies in critically ill adults. A search strategy was created with the help of medical librarians, using Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and The Cochrane Library. Four independent researchers will perform study selection and data extraction in duplicate. The primary outcome of this study is detection of MAKE by 30 days. Secondary outcomes include reporting MAKE at 60 and 90 days; and mortality, new onset renal replacement therapy, and persistent renal dysfunction at 30, 60, and 90 days. If appropriate, we will perform a meta-analysis using a DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Subgroups will include patient type, ICU type, and study quality. Certainty of evidence will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.DiscussionThe results of this study will synthesize current evidence and better inform the optimal fluid management strategy in critically ill adults.Systematic review registration: Submitted to PROSPERO on June 16th, 2021.
A Systematic Review of Implementation Science Frameworks in Cancer Prevention Interventions: An Exploratory Health Disparities Analysis
Authors: Xiong Serena , Abdi Hamdi I. , Ghebre Rahel , Kulasingam Shalini , Lazovich DeAnn , Mason Susan , Pratt Rebekah J.
Published: September 2021

Background: A growing number of studies have used implementation science (IS) frameworks, such as RE-AIM, to inform and evaluate the implementation of evidence-based cancer prevention services (e.g., cancer screening); however, the impact of such applications is not well understood, including whether the use of an IS framework can lead to reductions in health disparities. The purpose of this systematic review is to explore how IS frameworks can guide adaptations to cancer prevention services to specifically address health disparities. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered with PROSPERO. Searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and EMBASE. Search strategies used a combination of terms related to implementation science frameworks, cancer prevention, and/or intervention. All searches were conducted between January to May 2020. The QATSDD tool was used to assess the quality of studies included in the review. Results: A total of 1,025 titles and abstracts were screened, and 84 were deemed eligible for full-text screening. After full-text screening, n=27 articles were included for data abstraction and synthesis. Of the 27 studies that were included, an overwhelming majority (n=19, 70.3%) were based in the United States, utilized mixed-methods (n=12, 44.4%), focused only on a single cancer site (n=21, 81.5%), and took place in a health system (n=18, 66.7%). Approximately half of the studies (n=13, 48.2%) used an IS framework for post-implementation evaluation. Most notably, only one-third of studies (n=9, 33.3%) used an IS framework to address cancer-related health disparities. Of those nine studies, six (66.7%) of them used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Other IS frameworks that were used to inform a health disparities adaptation were Diffusion of Innovations, Knowledge-To-Action, and RE-AIM. Most studies were at moderate risk of bias (n=19, 70.4%).Conclusion: Across the various cancer prevention studies that have been implemented, CFIR has been the dominant IS framework used to address health disparities. The application of such frameworks, however, has been used in pre-implementation and planning studies. It remains to be seen if IS frameworks used within a health disparities context in cancer prevention interventions can reduce cancer-related outcomes.Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD42020171970
Differential Impact of Social Distancing on COVID-19 Spread in the U.S.: By Rurality and Social Vulnerability
Authors: Pilehvari Asal , You Wen , Chen Jiangzhuo , Krulick John , Venkatramanan Srini , Marathe Achla
Published: September 2021

Background. To quantify lessons learned to better prepare for similar pandemic crisis in the future, we assess the overall impact of social distancing on the daily growth rate of COVID-19 infections in the U.S. during the initial phase of the pandemic and the impacts’ heterogeneity by urbanity and social vulnerability of the counties. The initial phase is chosen to purposely identify the essential and largest impact of the first-line of defense measure for similar pandemic: social distancing. Methods. Spatial Durbin models with county fixed effects were used to account for spatial dependencies and identify spatial spillover effects and spatial heterogeneity.Results. Besides the substantial curve flattening effects of social distancing, our results show significant spillover effects induced by neighboring counties’ social distancing levels even in the absence of significant within-county effects. Urban and areas with high social vulnerability are the ones benefit the most from social distancing and high level of compliance is needed. Moderate level is enough in reaching the peak marginal impact in rural and areas with low social vulnerability.JEL classification: I18, H7, C31, C33
The Efficacy and Safety of Longmu Tang Granule for Treating Atopic Dermatitis: Study Protocol for a Single-Centered, Double-Blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: LI YAQIN , SHEN TAOTAO , WANG QINGYING , MA MENGXI , TIAN FENGYAN , SHE YUANYAO , TAO YICHENG , WANG JINGJING , CHI HUIYAN , LANG NA , REN JIANXUN
Published: September 2021

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic relapsing skin disease that has long-term adverse effects on the physical and mental health of children. Current treatments mainly include anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-allergic interventions, systemic therapy and recently emerging targeted agents. However, these treatments have limited effectiveness and bothersome side effects. The use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is associated with safety and improvements in the clinical symptoms and quality of life of AD patients. However, the poor quality and heterogeneity of studies have not led to sufficient conclusions. Therefore, we will conduct a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial to confirm the efficacy and safety of Longmu Tang granule for the treatment of AD.Methods: This is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial. A total of 60 participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive Longmu Tang granule or placebo granule for 8 weeks. The primary outcome is the index of Scoring Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD). The second outcomes include the children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) and the Number Cancel Test (NCT), and long-term efficacy. Mechanistic outcome is the serum level of inflammatory cytokines, including IgE, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).Discussion: The results of this trial will provide evidence on the efficacy and safety of Longmu Tang granule and prove anti-inflammation of Longmu Tang granule for patients with AD.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Chictr.org ID: ChiCTR2100041591. Registered on 1 January 2021. https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=62586
Interventions for Expectant and New Parents Designed to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect in at-risk Families: Protocol for a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Tamon Hiroki , Suto Maiko , Ogawa Kunio , Takehara Kenji , Tachibana Yoshiyuki
Published: September 2021

Background: The prevention of child abuse and neglect is an urgent matter, as abuse and neglect are associated with serious effects even into adulthood, and as there is an increased risk of the offspring of abused children being abused themselves. Intervening as early as possible may prevent abuse that can begin in infancy. Although several systematic reviews and meta-analyses have investigated the effects of interventions on populations at risk for child abuse and neglect, few studies have focused on at-risk women or interventions that start during perinatal periods. This study aims to describe a systematic review to examine the effects of interventions to prevent child abuse and neglect that begin during pregnancy and just after childbirth (less than one year). The study will involve performing a systematic review and meta-analysis based on the latest research articles up to and including November 2020 and a broader literature search.Methods: The protocol was prepared using the 2015 statement of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols. The review will follow Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines/statements. The literature search will be performed using the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases from inception onward. Randomized controlled trials of interventions that begin during pregnancy or the first year postpartum and are designed to prevent child abuse and neglect in at-risk families will be included. Data collection, quality assessment, and statistical syntheses will be conducted by following methods in the protocol that are defined in advance.Discussion: The findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis will be important in clinical and political settings for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. The results of this study will provide a basis for the development of evidence-based intervention programs for expectant and new parents and child abuse prevention policies. Additionally, this study will encourage future studies to conduct more evidence-based intervention programs and illuminate the direction of research on the prevention of child abuse and neglect.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42021266462
Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Staphylococcus Species in Operation Room: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocol.
Authors: Mati Elsai , Mengistu Dechasa Adare , Demmu Yohannes Mulugeta , Barasa Kefelegn Bayu
Published: September 2021

Background
Pathogenic Staphylococcus species in routine medical care settings poses an increased risk of healthcare-associated infections that causes severe infections in humans and increased morbidity and mortality. These species are the most frequently transmitted infectious agents in the operating room that contributed to more than half of surgical site infections. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the global prevalence of staphylococcus species and their antimicrobial resistance profile in operating rooms of health care facilities.
Methods
Nine electronic databases including MEDLINE, Embase, Psych INFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, google scholar, Science Direct, and CINAHL will be used to collect the articles. To address the articles missed from the above databases, a direct search from google will be made. Similarly, the reference lists of the included articles will be searched manually. The search for the grey literature will be conducted using national or international repositories. Articles written in the English language, and conducted across the world that reported the prevalence of Staphylococcus species in the operating room will be included. Newcastle-Ottawa scale will be used to assess the quality of the included articles. The data will be extracted using Microsoft Excel 2016 and exported to STATA 16.0 software for the analyses. Pooled estimation of the outcome will be performed using DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model. Heterogeneity and publication bias of the studies will be presented with I2 statistics and funnel plots, respectively.
Discussion
Even though several studies laid out sources of microbial contamination as diverse and gram-positive bacteria is a common contaminant in the hospital setting, the prevalence and resistance profile of these contaminants in the operation room is not mentioned. This systematic review will provide evidence on the staphylococcus species in the operation room, the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of each species. These findings will provide knowledge to clinicians on the level of contamination due to staphylococcus. Only studies published in English will be included and this may limit the current systematic review.
Registration:
Submitted to PROSPERO on 26/7/2021.
Loneliness in Pregnant and Postpartum People and Parents of Children Aged Five Years or Younger: a Scoping Review
Authors: Kent-Marvick Jacqueline , Simonsen Sara E. , Pentecost Ryoko , Taylor Eliza , McFarland Mary M.
Published: September 2021

Background: Despite evidence that loneliness increases during times of transition, and that the incidence of loneliness is highest in young adults, loneliness during pregnancy and new parenthood has not been developed as a program of research. Because loneliness research has primarily focused on older adults and other high-risk populations, the concept of loneliness and its effects on this population are not well understood, leaving a gap in our understanding of the psychosocial needs and health risks of loneliness on pregnant people and new parents. A scoping review has been completed in order to map and synthesize the literature to date on loneliness experienced during pregnancy and the first five years of parenthood.Methods: To address the aim of this review, a wide net was cast in order to detect experiences of perinatal or parental loneliness, and/or instances where loneliness was measured in this population. Among the inclusion criteria were loneliness in people who were pregnant, who were parents in the postpartum period, or who had children aged five years or younger. A search for literature was conducted in December 2020 using nine databases: MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (embase.com), SCOPUS (scopus.com), Cochrane Library including CENTRAL (Wiley), CINAHL (Ebscohost), PsycINFO (Ebscohost), Dissertations & Theses Global (ProQuest) and Sociological Abstracts (ProQuest) and the Web of Science Core Collection (Clarivate).Discussion: Perinatal and parental loneliness studies are limited and have rarely been targeted and developed through a program of research. Loneliness inquiry in this population has frequently been studied in relation to other concepts of interest (e.g., postpartum depression). Alternatively, the importance of loneliness has emerged from study participants as relevant to the research topic during qualitative inquiry. Across studies, the prevalence of loneliness ranged from 32% to 100%. Loneliness was commonly experienced alongside parenting difficulties, with parents feeling as though they were alone in their struggles. As loneliness has been called a sensitive indicator of wellbeing, we believe screening will help healthcare professionals identify common difficulties and early signs of depression experienced during pregnancy and parenthood.The protocol is available on Open Science Framework at DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/BFVPZ.
Prevalence of Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) In And Around Varanasi Region: Some Observations
Authors: Pandey Vaibhav , Pandey Surendra Kumar , Tiwari Praveen Kumar , Shakya Pragati , Jha Shashank Shekhar , Mishra Ramkrishna , Mishra Pawan kumar , Pandey Govind , Malviya Kapil , Shukla Sheo Prasad , Mohan Devendra , Tiwari Markandeya
Published: September 2021

Congenital anomalies are one of the primary causes of infant mortality and disability in the world. Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) are the most typical type of birth defect resulting from the failure of Neural tube closure. In this retrospective hospital-based study, the data of the children affected byneural tube defects (NTDs) were analyzed. Prevalence of Hydrocephalous, Myelomeningocele (MMC), Encephalocele, Lipo MMC, Meningocele, Spina Bifida Occulta among children with more or less than one year of age and their occurrence in males and females was studied. The frequency of occurrence of cases of neural tube defects was significantly less among all the congenital disabilities, i.e., 5% of total cases studied. The prevalence of myelomeningocele, hydrocephalous, and Encephalocele was higher than other types of NTDs. This study concludes that the prevalence of hydrocephalous and myelomeningocele in this area raises a concern to have more research of their etiology.
Tannic Acid Induces Apoptosis In Bladder Cancer Cells Via Mitochondrial-Dependent And AKT Pathway
Authors: Chen Ming-Cheng , S Ann Seles , Velmurugan Bharath Kumar , Hsu Chiung-Hung , Day Cecilia Hsuan , Chen Ray-Jade , Wang Tso-Fu , Viswanadha Vijaya Padma , Li Chi-Cheng , Huang Chih-Yang
Published: September 2021

Urothelial bladder cancer is rapidly spreading across Western countries, and therapy has shown little-to-moderate effects on bladder cancer. Thus, focusing on curbing cancer incidence has become crucial. In this study, we examined the effects of tannic acid, a polyphenol with anti-fungal and anti-cancer effects, on UMUC3 bladder cancer cells. UMUC3 cells were exposed to tannic acid for 24 hours, following which we observed significant inhibition of cell proliferation. Additionally, flow cytometry and TUNEL assay revealed that tannic acid induces apoptosis in UMUC3 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, tannic acid treatment upregulated the expression of cleaved caspase-3 which further confirmed induction of apoptosis in UMUC3 cells by treatment with tannic acid. TA treatment decreased stem cell markers expression such as SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG. Together, these results showed that tannic acid can promote apoptosis; therefore, it may have potential as treatment for bladder cancer.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of Two Dimensional SrTiO3 Nano Structures for Dye Degradation
Authors: AlIssa Y. , Sajjadian S. T. , Hamidi S. M. , Sadeghi S. , Nabid M. R.
Published: September 2021

The combination of the properties of nanostructures, photocatalytic semiconductors, and plasmonic materials can significantly contribute to improving the performance of the entire photocatalysis process. We tried to produce a unique catalyst by combining these three properties. We have produced a two-dimensional nanostructure which was then coated with gold as a plasmonic material followed by SrTiO3 as semiconductor material. The result was the production of the first catalyst of its kind made in this way, which offered notable results. The degradation ability of the sample was examined with different degrees of pH of rhodamine B dye, where we achieved the highest degradation, 16%, at pH10.
Effects of Bile Acids Supplement in High Plant Protein Diet on Common Carp (Cyprinus Carpio) Bile Acids Profile and Hepatopancreas Health
Authors: Xian Wei , Ting Yao , FALL Fatou Ndoye , Xiaofang Liang , Jie Wang , Wenlong Du , Xu Gu , Min Xue
Published: September 2021

BackgroundBile acids (BAs) have considerable importance in the metabolism of glycolipid and cholesterol. BAs profile in mammals has been widely reported, but lacking in fishes. The purpose of the present study is to clarify BAs profiles of common carp and how exogenous additions of BAs could alleviate hepatopancreas injured of common carp under a high plant protein diet. A 11-week feeding trial was conducted with high plant protein diet (18%) (HP) and high plant protein diet (18%) added 600 mg/kg BAs (HP+BAs) for Common carp, and then the UHPLC-MS/MS technology was used to analyze the BAs in the bile and plasma of two groups. ResultsHP could induce vacuolation of hepatocytes and accumulation of glycogen in Common carp, while these phenotypes were significantly improved in HP+BAs group. In addition, BAs profile of HP group and HP+BAs group were described in detail, for Common carp bile with treatment by exogenous BAs, TCA, CA, T β MCA and T ω MCA were the main components. Furthermore, in HP+BAs group plasma, CDCA, CA, LCA, and GCDCA increased significantly, they could activate TGR5, the activation of hepatopancreas TGR5 might regulate glucose metabolism to relieve hepatopancreas glycogen accumulation. ConclusionsHP could induce glycogen accumulation in common carp hepatopancreas while supplemented BAs to HP could mitigate this symptom. And we determined that the reduction of common carp hepatopancreas glycogen accumulation in the HP+BAs group is importantly related to the change in the endogenous BAs profile after the addition of BAs in HP through an integrated bile acids profile determination by UHPLC-MS/MS . This study has important guiding significance for aquaculture.
Effect of Kinesio Taping on Low Back Pain During Pregnancy: A Protocol for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xue Xiali , Yang Xinwei , Tu Huan , Deng Zhongyi , Chen Yan , Mao Xiaorong , Li Ning
Published: September 2021

Background: Low back pain during pregnancy can affect the daily living activities of pregnant women to a certain extent, and even lead to fetal agitation and threatened abortion. Kinesio taping (KT) can improve tissue circulation and provide elastic supports, which is a reliable method to treat low back pain. At present, there is a lack of high-level clinical evidence for the treatment of low back pain during pregnancy with KT. Therefore, this study will systematically review and analyze currently available randomized controlled trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of KT in the treatment of low back pain during pregnancy.Methods and analysis: This protocol is guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. We will search the following database sources of the Randomized controlled trials: PubMed, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database (CNKI), Chinese Science, and the Wanfang Database. From the establishment of the database to April 2021. Two independent investigators will conduct an electronic literature search, study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment to summarize and evaluate the efficacy of KT in the treatment of low back pain during pregnancy. and risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane bias risk tool. All data analysis will be conducted using Revman5.3 software.Result: This study will objectively and comprehensively evaluate the efficacy and safety of randomized controlled trials of KT for low back pain during pregnancy, and submit the results to a peer-reviewed journal for publication.Conclusion: This study will provide clinicians with the latest high-quality evidence for the use of KT in the treatment of low back pain during pregnancy.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42021250373