bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Natural-Focal Viral Fevers in the South of the European Part of Russia. Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever
Authors: Maletskaya O. V. , Taran T. V. , Prislegina D. A. , Dubyansky V. M. , Volynkina A. S. , Semenko O. V. , Vasilenko N. F. , Tarasov M. A. , Tsapko N. V.
Published: February 2021

Objective of the study was to determine the modern epidemiological peculiarities of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever in the south of the Russian Federation.

Materials and methods. Data of statistical documentation (epidemiological survey of the infectious disease focus, annual summary reports dated 2010–2019) and epizootiologic monitoring data submitted by the Rospotrebnadzor Administrations and the Centers of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the constituent entities of the Southern and the North Caucasian Federal Districts were used. Descriptive, genetic, analytical methods and retrospective epidemiological analysis were applied.

Results and discussion. The СCHF natural focus in the European south of Russia has an area of 815 thousand square kilometers and it is characterized by persistence, expansion of the territory, and circulation of CCHF virus European genotypes. CCHF virus genetic variants form the local overlapping populations. Over the period of 2010–2019 997 CCHF cases were registered. Moderate forms of the disease clinically prevailed (74.2 per cent). Hemorrhagic symptoms were noted in 29.3 % of patients. The lethal outcome of the disease was registered in 31 CCHF patients (3 %). Two cases of nosocomial infection were identified, nine health workers were infected by CCHF pathogen. The expansion of epizootically active territory of the CCHF natural focus is associated with the expansion of the Hyalomma marginatum ticks area northward due to the aridization of the steppes, in part because of global climate change. The stability of the CCHF virus population was noted. The epidemic core of the CCHF natural focus remains on the adjacent territory of the Rostov Region, Stavropol Territory and the Republic of Kalmykia. The higher efficiency of CCHF prevention measures on the territory of the core is stemming from the targetness and intensity of measures, contributing to the early seeking of medical care by patients, their early hospitalization which in its turn influenced the development of clinical manifestations and outcome of the disease, and also made it possible to minimize the CCHF nosocomial infections number, including those among the medical personnel.
Features of Etiology of Community-Acquired Pneumonia Associated with COVID-19
Authors: Popova A. Yu. , Ezhlova E. B. , Demina Yu. V. , Noskov A. K. , Kovalev E. V. , Chemisova O. S. , Tverdokhlebova T. I. , Pavlovich N. V. , Vodop’yanov S. O. , Tsimbalistova M. V. , Gaevskaya N. E. , Volovikova S. V. , Stenina S. I. , Gudueva E. N. , Sagakyants M. M. , Aleshukina A. V. , Slis’ S. S.
Published: February 2021

Objective: comparative study of the etiological structure of community-acquired pneumonia in SARSCoV-2 “+”and SARS-CoV-2 “-“ patients who sought help from medical organizations in the Rostov Region.

Materials and methods. Biological material from 508 patients diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia who were on outpatient treatment or in hospitals in Rostov-on-Don was studied. Verification of respiratory viruses, including SARS-CoV-2 RNA, as well as M. pneumoniae, C. pneumoniae, and L. pneumophila was performed by polymerase chain reaction in nasopharyngeal smears. Bacteriological analysis of sputum was carried out using differential diagnostic media, identification of isolated pathogens was carried out using time-of-flight mass spectrometry on Autoflex (Bruker Daltonics) with BioTyper 3.0 software.

Results and discussion. During the spread of a new coronavirus infection in the Rostov Region, the main etiological agent of community-acquired pneumonia is the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Specific character of pneumonia in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 is a higher incidence of mixed infection of both viral and bacterial etiology. Against the background of detection of a new coronavirus infection in patients with pneumonia, cases of detection of other types of coronaviruses have been registered (HKU-1,OC43, HL-63 and 229Е). The most common etiological agent of bacterial pneumonia in patients was Streptococcus spp., both in patients with COVID-19-associated pneumonia and in patients who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Coronavirus patients represent a high risk group for the development of mycotic lung lesions.
Influência da dieta, sexo e genótipo sobre o perfil lipídico da carne de ovinos
Authors: Oliveira A. C. , Silva R. R. , Oliveira H. C. , Almeida V. V.S. , Garcia R. F. , Oliveira U. L.C.
Published: February 2021

Nos dias atuais o perfil dos consumidores têm modificado, principalmente quando se trata de aspectos ligados á saúde. Diante dessa iminente preocupação diversos pesquisadores em todo o mundo despertaram o interesse em modificar o perfil lipídico da carne de ruminantes, uma vez que a gordura se tornou um componente impopular da carne. Ë sabido que a composição de ácidos graxos nos ruminantes pode ser influenciada por fatores de ordem interna (sexo, genética), como por fatores externos aos animais como manejo alimentar e dieta. A manipulação da dieta é o fator que mais exerce influência sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos de carne de cordeiros. Nesse sentido o principal foco desta revisão é abordar os efeitos desses fatores sobre a composição de ácidos graxos de ovinos.
Chirality Affecting Reaction Dynamics of HgS Nanostructures Simultaneously Visualized in Real and Reciprocal Space
Authors: Cao Zetan , He Jia , Liu Zhiwen , Zhang Haoran , Chen Bin
Published: February 2021

Chirality involved reactions enable to probe features in the fields of asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, which allow to gain insight into the fundamental mechanisms of topochemically controlled reactions. However, in situ observation of the chirality-associated reaction dynamics with simultaneous structural determination of new features has been lacking. Here, we report the direct visualization of the electron-beam-stimulated reaction dynamics of HgS nanostructures with chiral and achiral morphologies simultaneously in both real and reciprocal space. Under the electron-beam excitation of HgS nanostructures, the formation and evaporation dynamics of Hg nanodroplets were vividly pictured while the reciprocal space imaging revealed the structural transformation from monocrystalline to polycrystalline. Such induced changes were size-dependent, which were slowed down when involving the chirality in the nanostructures. The finding offers a fundamental understanding of topochemically controlled reaction mechanisms and holds promise of tuning asymmetric synthesis for catalysis related applications.
Association of Emergence of New Mutations in Circulating Tumuor DNA During Chemotherapy With Clinical Outcome in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Jia Ning , Chang Lianpeng , Gao Xin , Shi Xiaohua , Dou Xuelin , Guan Mei , Shao Yajuan , Li Ningning , Cheng Yuejuan , Ying Hongyan , Sun Zhao , Zhou Yanping , Zhao Lin , Zhou Jianfeng , Bai Chunmei
Published: February 2021

Background: The understanding of molecular changes in mCRC during treatment could be used to personalise therapeutic strategies. The aim of our study was to explore the association of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) with clinical outcome in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).Methods: Sequential patients with mCRC receiving standard first-line chemotherapy were included prospectively. Both plasma ctDNA and serum CEA were assessed in samples obtained before treatment and after 4 cycles of chemotherapy (C4). Computed tomography (CT) scans were carried out at baseline and post-C4 (8–10 weeks) and were assessed using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumours version 1.1 (RECIST v1.1). Target-capture deep sequencing with a panel covering 1,021 genes was performed to detected somatic mutations in ctDNA.Results: A total of 20 patients were prospectively included and treated with either leucovorin, fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) (15/20) or leucovorin, fluorouracil, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) (5/20). Median follow-up was 6.9 months (range 1.6-26.6). Somatic mutations for baseline ctDNA analysis were identified in 85% (17/20) of the patients. Mutation variations of ctDNA after chemotherapy were tested in 16/20 (80.0%) of the patients. In multivariate analyses, a high baseline molecular tumour burden index (mTBI) in ctDNA was associated with a higher risk of disease progression, as well as emergence of new mutations in ctDNA during chemotherapy. Patients with newly detected mutations had shorter progression-free survival (PFS) compared to those without (median 3.0 versus 7.3 months; hazard ratio (HR), 5.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70– 50.69; P = 0.0003). Fold changes in mTBI from baseline to post-C4 were obtained in 80.0% (16/20) of the patients, which were also related to PFS. Patients with fold reduction in mTBI above 0.8-fold had longer PFS compared to those below (median 9.3 versus 4.1 months; HR, 4.51; 95% CI, 1.29-15.70; P = 0.0008).Conclusions: Newly detected mutations in ctDNA during treatment could be associated with clinical outcome in mCRC and may provide important clinical information.
Bridge Integrator 2, a New Specific Target for Improving Reproductive Life Span through RPS6 and NNT
Authors: Zhu Feng-Yu , Wang Li-Li , Meng Tie-Gang , Yang Zhi-Xia , Wang Ruo-Lei , Zhu Gang-Yi , Jin Zhen , Gao Lei-Lei , Wang Zhen-Bo , Sun Qing-Yuan , Zhang Dong
Published: February 2021

Female ovary is the earliest degenerated organ and it faces distinct medical disadvantages that impair primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality. Herein, we found that bridge integrator 2 (Bin2) was predominant within mouse ovaries and oocytes, and global-knockout of Bin2 improved both female fertility and oocyte quality with healthy physiology in mice. Ovarian quantitative proteomics and phosphomics showed that Bin2 knockout specifically decreased only p-RPS6 of mTOR pathway; meanwhile, it increased nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (NNT), the free-radical detoxifier, over 6-fold. Mechanically, phosphorylation at Thr423 & Ser424 translocated membrane Bin2 into cytoplasm to phosphorylate RPS6, while p-RPS6 bound 42-95 bp NNT UTR to inhibit NNT translation. We then synthesized a peptide (BPP) to mimic Bin2 inhibition, and found that 3-week BPP injection improved primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality in aging or chemotherapeutics-treated mice. In all, Bin2 inhibition improve both primordial follicle reserve and oocyte quality without discernible side effects.
Testing CPT symmetry in ortho-positronium decays with positronium annihilation tomography
Authors: Moskal Pawel , Gajos Aleksander , Mohammed Muhsin , Chhokar Jyoti , Chug Neha , Curceanu Catalina , Czerwiński Eryk , Dadgar Meysam , Dulski Kamil , Gorgol Marek , Goworek Jacek , Hiesmayr Beatrix , Jasińska Bożena , Kapłon Łukasz , Karimi Hanieh , Kisielewska Daria , Klimaszewski Konrad , Korcyl Grzegorz , Kowalski Paweł , Krawczyk Nikodem , Krzemień Wojciech , Kozik Tomasz , Kubicz Ewelina , Niedźwiecki Szymon , Parzych Szymon , Pawlik-Niedźwiecka Monika , Raczyński Lech , Raj Juhi , Sharma Sushil , Choudhary Shivani , Shopa Roman , Sienkiewicz Andrzej , Silarski Michał , Skurzok Magdalena , Stepien Ewa , Tayefi Faranak , Wiślicki Wojciech
Published: February 2021

Charged lepton system symmetry under combined charge, parity, and time-reversal transformation (CPT) remains scarcely tested. Despite stringent quantum-electrodynamic limits, discrepancies in predictions for the electron–positron bound state (positronium atom) motivate further investigation, including fundamental symmetry tests. While CPT noninvariance effects could be manifested in non-vanishing angular correlations between final-state photons and spin of annihilating positronium, measurements were previously limited by knowledge of the latter. Here, we demonstrate tomographic reconstruction techniques applied to three-photon annihilations of ortho-positronium atoms to estimate their spin polarisation without magnetic field or polarised positronium source. We use a plastic-scintillator-based positron-emission-tomography scanner as a high-acceptance photon detector to study CPT-prohibited angular correlation in ortho-positronium (o-Ps) annihilations. We record an unprecedented range of kinematical configurations of o-Ps annihilations into three photons. Tomographic reconstruction of the annihilation points in a large medium allows single-event estimation of positronium spin orientation and, consequently, determination of the complete spectrum of angular correlation between the annihilation plane orientation and positronium spin, the non-vanishing expectation value of which would manifest CPT-violating effects. We find no violation at the precision level of 10^{−4}, with a fourfold improvement on the previous measurement. This work enables application of positronium-imaging techniques to study discrete symmetries in positronium decays.
The Relationship Between Sarcopenia and Vitamin D Levels in Adults of Different Ethnicities: Findings From the West China Health and Aging Trend Study 
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan , Hou Lisha , Yue Jirong , Wang Yang , Xia Xin , Dong Birong , Luo Shuyue , Liu Xiaolei
Published: February 2021

Objective: Sarcopenia is a condition associated with progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and function resulting in substantial negative health outcomes and disability in older adults. The present study was designed to identify risk factors associated with sarcopenia incidence in various ethnic groups in Western China based upon the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia 2019 (AWGS2019) criteria in various ethnic groups in Western China and to explore the relationship between sarcopenia and vitamin D levels. Study design: A cross-sectional study of individuals that were 50 years of age or older (n = 4236) from the West China Health and Aging Trend (WCHAT) study. Primary outcome and measures: An InBody 770 instrument was used for bioimpedance-based analyses of muscle mass, while a digital grip strength dynamometer was used for handgrip strength-based measurements of muscle strength. Physical performance was assessed based upon gait speed over 4 m. Other secondary variables were additionally analyzed as potentially relevant risk factors. Results: Sarcopenia affected an estimated 22.45% of studied individuals who were 50 years of age or older, with respective incidence rates in the < 60, 60–64, 65–79, and ≥80 age groups of 11.78%,19.44%, 32.65%, and 67.97%. Rates in males and females were 26.66% and 20.05%, respectively. In males, a significant difference in vitamin D levels was detected when comparing individuals with and without sarcopenia, although no such relationship was detected in females. Following adjustment for confounding variables, binary logistic regression analyses revealed that inadequate vitamin D was able to independently predict sarcopenia risk only in males (OR=1.875,95%CI: 1.109-3.169, P=0.019). Conclusions: Among middle-aged and older adults of multiple ethnicities in western China, we found that inadequate vitamin D was an independent predictor of sarcopenia risk specifically in males.
Strategies for Supplying Face Masks to the Population of Taiwan During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Authors: Liu Chin-Mei , Lee Charles Tzu-Chi , Chou Shu-Mei , Ko Hai-Yun , Wang Jen-Hsin , Chih Yi-Chien , Chang Chia-Chi
Published: February 2021

Background

The use of face masks has become ubiquitous in Taiwan during the early COVID-19 pandemic. A name-based rationing system was established to enable the population of Taiwan to purchase face masks. This study is to assess the extent and fairness of face mask supply to the public in Taiwan.
Methods

The weekly face marks supplies were collected from name-based rationing system administrative statistics included national health insurance card and e-Mask selling record. National registered population statistics by age, gender, and district were collected from department of statistics ministry of the interior. The number of COVID-19 non-imported cases of Taiwan was collected from Taiwan centers of disease control.
Results

A total of 146,831,844 person times purchase records from February 6, 2020, to July 19, 2020, the weekly average face mask supply is 0.5 mask (per person) at the start of name-based rationing system, and gradually expanded to the maximum 5.1 masks (per person). Comparing the highest weekly total face mask supply (from Apr 9, 2020, to Apr 15, 2020) in aged 0–9 -, 10–19 -, 20–29 -, 30–39 -, 40–49 -, 50–69 -, 60–69 -,70–79 -, 80–89 -, 90–99, and > 100 years to the register population showed similar distribution between mask supplied people and total population (all standardized difference < 0.1).
Conclusions

The masks supply strategies has gradually escalated the number of face masks for the public, it not only has dominant decreased the barrier of acquiring face mask, but a fair supply for total population use of Taiwan.
Epidemiology and Injury Characteristic Between Bicycle and Motorcycle Under 19 Population: South Korea
Authors: Yun Hyeokmin , Bae SungJin , Lee Jung Il , Lee Duk Hee
Published: February 2021

ObjectivesBicycles and motorcycles are the main means of transportation and leisure for those under the age of 19 in South Korea. We aimed to identify epidemiology of injuries and to determine the injury characteristics and clinical outcomes of two-wheel vehicle-related accidents in individuals under the age of 19.Materials and methodsThis was a retrospective cohort and data, acquired from the National Emergency Department Information System, was collected from 401 emergency departments (EDs) between January 2016 and December 2018. We included injured patients aged < 19 years who experienced injuries while driving two-wheeled vehicles.Results We enrolled 54,342 two-wheel vehicle injury patients in the study (37,410 bicycle and 16,932 motorcycle-related), of which, males comprised 86.8% (bicycle) and 94.9% (motorcycle). External and extremity injuries were the most common injuries. ED mortality was 9 (0.0%) for bicycle injury and 53 (0.3%) in motorcycle injury. 3,346 (8.9%) patients with bicycle injuries and 4,096 (24.2%) with motorcycle injuries were hospitalised. Bicycle-related injuries included fractures in the clavicle (10.9%), humerus (13.4%), and forearm (25.4%). Motorcycle-related injuries included fractures in the pelvic ring (2.0%), acetabular (0.9%), femoral (10.2%), patellar (1.8%), tibiofibular (11.5%) and foot (7.5%). The mean ISS score of hospitalised patients was 12.0 ± 12.6 in bicycle-related injury and 17.6 ± 15.4 in motorcycle-related injury. The number of hospitalised bicycle injury patients with ISS > 16 of was 922 (27.6%), and that of hospitalised motorcycle injury patients with ISS > 16 was 1,850 (45.2%). The mean length of hospital stay (LOS) was 191.5.8 ± 224.2 hours in bicycle injury, while the mean LOS for motorcycle injury was 359.6 ± 416.7 hours. Hospital mortality cases were 6 (0.2%) with bicycle injury and 49 (1.2%) with motorcycle injury. Conclusions In the under-19 population, two-wheel vehicle-related injuries had a low mortality rate and occurred predominantly in males. Motorcycle injuries were higher in patients aged over 16 and were associated with higher ISS (>16), ICU admissions, and mortality rates than bicycle injuries. Bicycle accidents mainly caused upper limb fractures, while motorcycle accidents mainly caused lower limb fractures. Preventive measures according to each means and age group are required.
Technical and Tactical Diagnosis Model of Table Tennis Matches Based on BP Neural Network
Authors: Huang Wenwen , Lu Miaomiao , Zeng Yuxuan , Hu Mengyue , Xiao Yi
Published: February 2021

Background: The technical and tactical diagnosis of table tennis is extremely important for the preparation of matches, and there is a nonlinear relationship between athletes’ performance and their sports quality. As the neural network model has high nonlinear dynamic processing ability and has high fitting accuracy, the main purpose of this study was to establish a technical and tactical diagnosis model of table tennis matches based on a neural network to diagnose the influence of athletes’ techniques and tactics on the competition result. Methods: A three-layer back propagation neural network model for table tennis match diagnosis were established. The 30 technical and tactical analysis indexes that are closely related to winning a competition were selected based on the double three-phase evaluation method. And 100 table tennis matches were selected as data sample, of which 70 matches were taken as training sample to establish the diagnostic model, the other 30 matches were used to test the validity of the diagnostic model.Results: The technical and tactical diagnosis model of table tennis matches based on BP neural network had a high precision up to 99.997% and highly efficient in fitting (R2 = 0.99). It had a good ability to diagnose the technical and tactical abilities of table tennis players. The technical and tactical diagnosis results showed that the scoring rate of the fourth stroke of Harimoto had the greatest influence on the winning probability.Conclusion: The technical and tactical diagnosis model of table tennis matches based on BP neural network had a high precision and highly efficient in fitting. By using this model, the weights of the influence of athletes’ technical and tactical indexes on the winning probability of the competition can be calculated, which provides a valuable reference for formulating targeted training plans for players.
In Vitro Expansion of Fetal Liver Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Authors: Bhardwaj Rashmi , Kumar Lalit , Chhabra Deepika , Mehra N K , Sharma Atul , Mohanty Sujata , Kochupillai Vinod
Published: February 2021

Fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells because of their proliferative potential have been considered appropriate for management of aplastic anemia. Bone marrow recovery was possible in some cases; engraftment potential of these cells however, was unsatisfactory, possibly due to the availability of smaller number of these cells from a single fetus. Present study was undertaken to see if fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells could be expanded in vitro. Mononuclear cells were isolated and hematopoietic stem cells were identified and analyzed by cell surface marker CD34. CD34+ cells were separated by magnetic cell sorting positive selection method using flow cytometry. Hematopoietic stem cells (CD34+) were cultured by using 5 cytokines, stem cell factor, granulocyte macrophages-colony stimulating factor, interlukin-6, Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 and erythropoietin, in 4 different combinations along with supplements, in serum free culture media for 21 days. Cell viability continued to be greater than 90% throughout 21 days of culture. The cells expanded best in combination of media, supplements and 4 cytokines, namely SCF, Flt-3, IL6 and Epo to yield large number of total (CD34+ & CD34-) cells. Even though the total number of nucleated cells increased in culture significantly, levels of CD34 antigen expression declined steadily over this period.
Effect of Macronutrients and of Anaerobic Digestrate on The Heterotrophic Cultivation of Chlorella Vulgaris Grown With Biodiesel By-Products
Authors: Gougoulias Nikolaos , Papapolymerou George , Mpesios Anastasios , Kasiteropoulou Dorothea , Metsoviti Maria N. , Gregoriou Maria Eleni
Published: February 2021

The aim of this work was to investigate the kinetics of the heterotrophic growth of Chlorella vulgaris as a means of producing bio-oil for biodiesel production. Glycerol was used as the sole organic carbon substrate. Anaerobic digestrate from a local plant was used to examine its effect on the kinetics and the protein and lipid content of the biomass. The effect of the initial carbon and nitrogen concentrations on the carbon uptake rate was studied independently. In one set of five experiments the organic carbon in the form of glycerol, varied from 0.27 g L-1 to 5.36 g L-1 while the concentration of atomic nitrogen was held constant and equal to 45.4 mg L-1. The Co/No ratio varied from 6 to 118.1. In a second set, also of five experiments, the organic carbon was held constant and equal to 3.3 g L-1 and atomic nitrogen varied from 22.7 mg L-1 to 450 mg L-1. The Co/No ratio varied from 7.3 to 145.4. In a third set of experiments anaerobic digestrate was added in increasing amounts into the culture media from 4% to 16%. It was found that the carbon uptake rate as well as the lipid and protein content depended on the Co/No ratio. Increasing ratios of Co/No lead to higher carbon uptake rates, higher lipid content and lower protein content. The initial nitrogen concentration was also found to affect the growth rate of C. vulgaris. The addition of anaerobic digestrate did not affect appreciably the protein and lipid content of the biomass while, addition of anaerobic digestrate up to 16% in the culture medium increased the carbon uptake rate up to about 24%.
Production of an Efficient Magnetic Adsorbent From Babassu Coconut Endocarp and Ni Particles for Easy Dye Removal From Mimetic Contaminated Effluents
Authors: Silva Wanderson S. , Santos Patrícia F. , Freitas Jair C. C. , Schettino Miguel A. , Passamani Edson C. , Veiga Márcia A. M. S. da , Luz Priscilla P.
Published: February 2021

Ni metal particles, with sizes ranging from 70 to 110 nm, dispersed in activated carbon produced from the babassu coconut endocarp (BAC) were successfully synthesized and evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, dispersive energy X-ray spectroscopy, flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and powder X-ray diffraction. These hybrid BACNi-X materials (where X is the Ni / BAC ratio, equal to 10, 20 or 30) exhibit crystalline Ni particles with suitable magnetic properties, shown by increased saturation magnetization and a gradual reduction in coercive fields (varying 80 to 150 Oe) as the Ni content increases. Relatively large values ​​of pore volume (in the range of 0.28-0.37 cm3/g), specific surface area (560-740 m2/g) are achieved, favoring their applications for magnetic remediation of mimetic contaminated effluents. All hybrid samples were tested positively for the adsorption of methylene blue in contaminated synthetic effluents and the greatest removal was achieved by the hybrid sample BACNi-10, which has the largest specific area and reasonable magnetic properties that allowed the manipulation of the sample by an external field.
The Association of Timing of Repeat Cesarean With Outcomes Among a Cohort of Guatemalan Women With a History of Prior Cesarean Birth
Authors: Harrison Margo S , Garces Ana , Figueroa Lester , Westcott Jamie , Hambidge Michael , Krebs Nancy F
Published: February 2021

Background: We intended to observe whether maternal and perinatal/neonatal outcomes of birth vary by timing of repeat cesarean among women with a history of prior cesarean birth in a Guatemalan cohort. Methods: This secondary analysis was conducted using data from a prospective study conducted in communities in Chimaltenango, Guatemala through the Global Network for Women’s and Children’s Health Research.Results: Between January 2017 and April 2020, 26,465 women delivered; 3,143 (11.9%) of those women had a singleton gestation and a history of prior cesarean delivery. 2,210 (79.9%) women with a history of prior cesarean birth had data available on mode of delivery and gave birth by repeat cesarean; 1312 (59.4%) were pre-labor cesareans while 896 (40.5%) were intrapartum cesarean births. Risk factors associated with an increased risk of intrapartum cesarean birth included hospital delivery as compared to “other” location (ARR 1.6 [1.2,2.1]) and dysfunctional labor (ARR 1.6 [1.4,1.9]). Variables associated with a reduced risk of intrapartum cesarean birth were hypertensive disease (ARR 0.7 [0.6,0.9]), schooling (ARR 0.9 [0.8,0.9]), and increasing age, which was associated with a very slight reduction in the outcome (ARR 0.99 [0.98,0.99]). Maternal and neonatal outcomes did not vary by type of cesarean birth. Conclusion: Outcomes of cesarean birth do not seem to vary by timing of repeat cesarean birth, with hypertensive disease increasing the likelihood of pre-labor cesarean. This information might be useful in counseling women that outcomes after failed trial of labor do not appear worse than those after pre-labor cesarean birth.
Competition and Coordination Strategies of Shared Electric Vehicles and Public Transportation Considering Customer Travel Utility
Authors: Zhang Zhiyong , Zhang Xiao
Published: February 2021

With the rise of the sharing economy and the concept of “green environmental protection and low-carbon travel”, the emerging project of shared electric vehicles is booming. However, the accompanying coordination problem between shared electric vehicles and public transportation system needs to be urgently solved. In reality, customers’ choice of travel mode is influenced by their own travel perceived utility. Thus, this paper will discuss the competition and coordination problem between shared electric vehicles and public transportation system from the perspective of customer travel utility. Considering the travel cost and comfort in the customer travel utility, the game models of shared electric vehicle and public transport system in different scenarios are established by using competitive game and cooperative game. Then, the equilibrium solutions under different scenarios are obtained by solving the models. The analysis results show that shared electric vehicles would bring some beneficial improvements to the transportation system under certain circumstances. Furthermore, public transportation system should adopt a coordination strategy with the shared electric vehicles to promote the total customer travel utility for the entire system. It is worth considering the improvement of the service quality of shared electric vehicle and public transportation next, which would affect the rate of increasing in the total customer travel utility.
DFT Study of Super Halogen Doped Borophene With Enhanced Nonlinear Optical Properties
Authors: Ishaq Muhammad , Shehzad Rao Aqil , Ayub Khurshid , iqbal javed
Published: February 2021

The concern of the present study is to investigate the non-linear optical properties of super halogen doped borophene owing to its broad applications. The first principle study of the material for its non-linear optical properties elaborated its use for electrical and optical applications. The super halogen-based borophene in lithium ion-based batteries and medical appliances have made it one of the most potential materials for optoelectronics. First, hyperpolarizability (βo) of pure and doped B36 is computed and the difference between their values was examined. The vertical ionization energy (VIE) was calculated for pure and doped systems. The interaction energy (Eint) for all combinations was computed. It would be expected to one of the best materials to have high capacity and resistance. For all the calculations and to calculate the HOMO and LUMO energy gap, the density functional theory (DFT) method was used. After observing all the above properties, it was predicted that these combinations are more beneficial and displayed the better nonlinear optical (NLO) for electronic devices.
Effect of CSF1R Inhibitor on Glial Cells Population and Remyelination in The Cuprizone Model
Authors: Tahmasebi Fatemeh , Barati Shirin , Kashani Iraj Ragerdi
Published: February 2021

Multiple sclerosis is a kind of autoimmune and demyelinating disease and its pathological symptoms include inflammation, myelin loss, astrocytosis, and microgliosis. The colony stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R), as an essential factor for the microglial function, and PLX3397 is its specific inhibitor. In this study, we assessed the effect of different doses of PLX3397 for microglial ablation on glial cells population and remyelination process. Sixty male C57BL/6 mice (8 weeks old) were divided into 6 groups. The animals were fed with 0.2% cuprizone diet for 12 weeks for chronic demyelination model induction. For microglial ablation, PLX3397 (290 mg/kg) was added to the animal food for 3, 7, 14 and 21 days. Glial cells number was measured using immunohistochemistry. We evaluated the rate of remyelination using electron microscopy and Luxol Fast Blue staining. The expression levels of all genes were assessed by qRT-PCR method. Data were analysed using Graph pad prism and SPSS software.Data showed that the administration of different doses of PLX3397 significantly (p˂0.001) reduced microglial cells. PLX3397 administration significantly (p˂0.001) increased oligodendrocytes population with along rise of the remyelination compared to the cuprizone mice, which was confirmed by the results of LFB and TEM. Gene results showed that PLX3397 treatment reduced CSF1R expression. According to results, the administration of PLX3397 for 21 days enhanced remyelination by increasing oligodendrocytes in the chronic demyelination model. These positive effects could be related to the reduction of microglia.
Assessment Of Arsenic Exposure In The Population Of Sabalpur Village Of Saran District Of Bihar With Mitigation Approach
Authors: Kumar Arun , Kumar Rishav , Rahman Md. Samiur , Ali Mohammad , Kumar Ranjit , Nupur Neha , Gaurav Aman , Raj Vikram , Anand Gautam , Niraj Pintoo Kumar , Kumar Nirmal , Srivast Abhinav , Biswapriya Akhouri , Chand Gyanendra Bahadur , Kumar Dhruv , Rashmi Tuhin , Kumar Santosh , Sakamoto Maiko , Ghosh Ashok Kumar
Published: February 2021

Arsenic poisoning through groundwater is the world's greatest normal groundwater catastrophe which got an immense effect on worldwide general wellbeing. India is confronting the outcomes of arsenic poisoning in the zone of Ganga Brahmaputra alluvial plains. In Bihar out of 38 districts, 18 districts are exceptionally influenced with groundwater arsenic defilement. In the present study, we have assessed the current situation of arsenic exposure in Sabalpur village of Saran district of Bihar after reporting of breast, renal, skin and thyroid cancer cases from this village along with typical symptoms of arsenicosis. Such cancer patients were identified at our institute and were taken for the study. The present investigation deals with the quantification of arsenic in groundwater, hair and nail samples as well as the survey of entire village to know the overall health status of the village people. Altogether, 128 groundwater samples through handpumps, 128 human hair and nail samples respectively were collected from over 520 households. Using the Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (GF-AAS), all the samples were analysed. The investigation resulted that the 61% of the analysed samples particularly the groundwater had the arsenic levels more than the permissible limit of WHO (>10µg/L) with 244.20µg/L as the greatest arsenic contamination in one of the groundwater sample. The exposure effect of hair sample was worst as 88% of all the collected samples were having high arsenic levels more than the permissible limit (>0.2mg/Kg). In case of nails samples, 92% of the samples were having high arsenic concentration more than the permissible limit (>0.5mg/Kg). The health survey study uncovered the exceptionally chronic weakness status of the village populace as individuals were experiencing the issues like asthma, anaemia, hepatomegaly, diabetes, cardiac problem, skin fungal infections, breathlessness, mental disability, etc. Few cancer cases of renal, skin, breast and cervix were also found among the population of this village. The percentage of cancer cases in this village was 0.94% that is low but it would be an aggravated situation in the near future if people will continue drinking arsenic contaminated water. Therefore, a mitigation intervention was done in March 2020 by installing an arsenic filter plant. The health situation in the present scenario is hope to restore in the village in the coming years. However, motivation and awareness among the village population is still required.
Exploring the Limits of Color Accuracy in Technical Photography
Authors: Kirchner Eric , Wijk Carola van , Beek Henni van , Koster Tammo
Published: February 2021

The growing importance of publishing art collections online has led to increasingly strict tolerances on digital photography of art objects. There are two internationally recognized sets of guidelines for creating high-quality digital images, Metamorfoze and FADGI. These guidelines require using sets of standardized color patches in museal photography. The X-Rite ColorChecker SG chart with 140 color patches is often used. Recent studies showed that even in the standardized conditions of museum photography studios it is often very difficult to satisfy the strictest guidelines on color accuracy for camera profiling, with no indications for improvements.Here we report results of our investigation into the bottlenecks in achieving high color accuracy. We show that a large part of the color deviations originates from the 15 black color patches of the ColorChecker SG chart. These patches have a large impact on the average color deviation and the maximum color deviation that are the performance measures for color accuracy in the FADGI and Metamorfoze guidelines. We show that spectrophotometer measurements for the black patches produce color deviations dE(CIE 1976) ranging from 3.7 to 5.2 with respect to reference data, making it impossible to meet the strictest Metamorfoze guidelines. The black patches push the average color difference CIEDE2000 from 0.59 to 0.82 with respect to reference data already when using spectrophotometer data. Since the strictest FADGI guidelines prescribe an average CIEDE2000=2.0, this leaves little tolerance for errors due to lighting and camera profile. Our results indicate that the common practice of manually tweaking camera profiles until the software suggests sufficient color accuracy is obtained with respect to suppliers’ reference data often does not improve color representation but makes it worse, especially for representing dark nuances. This is unfortunate for example for the digital photography of 17th century Dutch paintings, where dark passages occupy large areas of the art works. We show that the key step in achieving color accurate digital photography is to use customer reference data rather than commonly used generic reference data. We explain the results by investigating not only the color properties of the ColorChecker SG chart, but also its glossiness.
Infrared Thermography of Neurosurgical Bone Grinding: Determination of High-Speed Cutting Range in Order to Obtain The Minimum Thermal Damage
Authors: Shakouri Ehsan , Ghorbani Pezhman
Published: February 2021

One of the main challenges in skull base tumor removal is the thermal damages that occur in response to grinding the skull bone. During this process, temperature rise occurs at the site of bone grinding, and may cause irreversible thermal damage to the bone, nerves, and arteries. The aim of the present research is to study temperature changes during high-speed grinding of bone via infrared thermography to determine the threshold of high-speed cutting range (HSC-range) in order to achieve the minimum temperature rise and minimize the resulting thermal damages. Experimental tests have been performed in 75 states using the parameters of cutting speed (25 states) and feed rate (3 states) on bovine femur samples. The temperature changes of bone have been measured through infrared thermography. The results indicated that temperature rise had a direct relationship with the tool feed rate. Further, the cutting speed of 250 m.min-1 at different feed rates was the HSC-range threshold, after which a descending trend of temperature rise emerged; each led to the minimum temperature rise and beyond HSC-range, the temperature rise found an ascending trend. Thus, in order to reduce the thermal damage in neurosurgical bone grinding, the following parameters are suggested as follows: cutting speed 350-425 m.min-1 for the feed rate 20 mm.min-1 (ΔT= 4.8-8.5°C ); cutting speed 500-550 m.min-1 for the feed rate 30 mm.min-1 (ΔT= 7.2-9.3°C), and cutting speed 650-675 m.min-1 for the feed rate 40 mm.min-1 (ΔT= 10-12.5°C).
Association Study of Fasting Blood Glucose and Salt Sensitivity of Blood Pressure in Community Population: The EpiSS Study
Authors: Peng Wenjuan , Xie Yunyi , Cao Han , Qi Han , Liu Kuo , Xia Juan , Liu Zheng , Liu Xiaohui , Li Bingxiao , Wen Fuyuan , Zhang Fengxu , Zhang Ling
Published: February 2021

Background: Some populations showed heterogeneous elevated blood pressure (BP) responses to relatively high salt intake, which is the phenomenon generally referred as salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP). We aimed to evaluate whether the fasting blood glucose (FBG) could be an independent risk factor, and dose-dependent associated with the SSBP in community population.Methods: This study is based on the baseline survey of systemic epidemiology of salt sensitivity study. Subjects were classified into salt sensitive (SS) and salt resistant (SR) groups according to BP changes during the modified Sullivan’s acute oral saline load (ΔBP1) and diuresis shrinkage (ΔBP2) test. Multivariate logistic regression and multivariate linear regression were used to evaluate associations between FBG with SS or BP changes.Results: A total of 2051 participants were included in the analyses with 581 (28.33%) for SS. The median level of FBG and frequency of diabetes were significantly higher in SS group than those in SR group (5.55 vs. 5.39 mmol/L, P=0.003; 19.62% vs. 14.49%, P=0.005). Multiple logistic analyses showed a positive association between FBG and SS prevalence, for every interquartile range increase in FBG, the OR (95%CI) for SS was 1.140 (1.069, 1.215). Consistently, multivariate linear regression analyses showed that FBG was independently and positively associated with mean arterial pressure change (ΔMAP1) (β=0.421; 95%CI, 0.221, 0.622), systolic BP change (β=0.589; 95%CI, 0.263, 0.914) and diastolic BP change (β=0.340; 95%CI, 0.149, 0.531) during saline load, respectively. Compared to the lowest FBG quartile (Q1), the OR (95%CI) for SS in Q3 and Q4 were 1.342 (1.014, 1.776) and 1.577 (1.194, 2.084), respectively (P for trend ≤ 0.001). Compared to subjects with normal fasting glucose, the β (95%CI) for ΔMAP1 was 0.973 (0.055, 1.891) in subjects with impaired fasting glucose, and was 1.449 (0.602, 2.296) in patients with diabetes (P for trend ≤ 0.001). Stratified analyses showed significant and stronger associations between FBG with SSBP in youngers, females, hypertensives, non-diabetics, non-current smokers and non-current drinkers.Conclusions: Our findings suggest FBG is an independent, dose-dependent risk factor for SSBP, and prevention of SS focusing on controlling FBG elevation in the early stage is important.
Classification and Clinical Value of Three Immune Subtypes of Ovarian Cancer Based on Transcriptome Data
Authors: Yuan Li , An Qiang , Liu Ting , Song Jukun
Published: February 2021

Background: Abundant evidence suggests that tumor immune infiltration was involved in the occurrence of ovarian cancer (OvCa). Current studies have demonstrated the effect of tumor-infiltrating immune cells (TIICs) on OvCa development; few studies have found the immune genomic profile and immune subclasses of OvCa based on transcriptome data, which may help to optimally stratify patients who respond to immunotherapy.Methods: Based on the two publicly available OvCa transcriptomics data, three immunogenomic subgroups were classified using unsupervised hierarchical clustering. The GO and KEGG were analyzed in each subtype. Response to immunotherapy and anti-cancer drug targets was predicted by the TIDE, Submap algorithm, and GDSC dataset.Results: The three types of immunogenomic OvCa subsets were classified based on immune signatures. We identified three OvCa subtypes, termed hyperimmunogenic (Immunity_H), moderately immunogenic (Immunity_M), and hypoimmunogenic (Immunity_L). Each subtype has specific pathways. In the Immunity_H subtype, a number of cancer-related and immune-related pathways are overactivated. In contrast, the Immunity_L subtype is predominantly enriched in lipid metabolism. Immunity_H subtype has higher immune cell infiltration, antitumor immunoreactivity, and better survival prognosis compared to other subtypes. Predicted clinical response to immune checkpoint blockade was used by Submap and TIDE algorithm and screened potential chemotherapeutic drug targets for OvCa was employed using GDSC. After the prediction for potential drug targets, we identified several potential drug targets for the treatment of OvCa, including Parthenolide and AKT inhibitor VIII, Paclitaxel. Also,Immunity_H subgroup has an early FIGO stage, and was susceptible to respond to immunotherapy.Conclusions: The characterization of immune-based OvCa subgroups possessed potential clinical implications for OvCa treatment and has the potential to guide personalized treatment of OvCa patients through immunotherapy.
Nuclear Lamin A in Rotator Cuff Tear Margin Tenocytes: An Antiapoptotic and Cell Mechanostat Factor.
Authors: Gumina Stefano , Peruzzi Barbara , Leopizzi Martina , Porta Natale , Maio Valeria Di , Rocca Carlo Della , candela vittorio
Published: February 2021

BackgroundThe network of intermediate filament proteins underlying the inner nuclear membrane forms the nuclear lamin. A and B-type lamins are the major components of the nuclear lamina. Lamins function in many nuclear activities. The role of lamin-A and transcription factors (NF-kB) as anti-apoptotic is well documented. Recently, lamin-A has also been considered as mechanosensor protein able to maintain nuclear integrity from mechanical insults. We aimed to verify how lamin-A expression varies in healthy cuff cells and in those with different sized tears where various mechanical stresses are present. MethodsForty-three patients with rotator cuff tear (RCT) [23M-20F, mean age (SD): 63.5 (6.1)] were enrolled. Tissue samples excised from the most medial point of tear margins were analyzed for lamin-A expression by immunohistochemistry. Controls were represented by samples obtained by seven healthy supraspinatus tendons excised from patients submitted to reverse shoulder prosthesis implant [3M-4F, mean age (SD): 67.1 (6.3)]. The intensity of staining was graded, and an H-score was assigned. Statistical analysis was performed.ResultsOur study revealed a moderate intensity of lamin-A in the healthy cuff tendons, a higher expression of this protein in the small tears, and a significant decrease of lamin-A with increasing tear size (p<0.0001).ConclusionsOur study emphasizes the importance of early repair of small RCTs since nuclear stability is maintained, and the cellular function is protected by lamin-A overexpression. High re-tear of massive cuff repair could be due to cellular apoptosis and nuclear modifications induced by lamin-A lack.Level of Evidence: III