bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vaccination Dropout Rates Among Children Aged 12-23 Months in the Urban-Rural Health District of Mont Ngafula II, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Kayembe-Ntumba Harry-César , Vangola Felly , Ansobi Papy , Bokabo Eric , Mandja Bien-Aimé , Bompangue Didier
Published: November 2020

Background: Globally, 1.8 million children failed to receive the 3-dose diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) series every year in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Currently, an emergency plan targeting 9 provinces, including the capital of Kinshasa, is launched to reinforce routine immunization. The Mont Ngafula II health district (HD) was the only one to report high vaccination dropout rates over almost five consecutive years. This study aimed to assess issues within the local dynamic system of vaccination services and identify associated risk factors among children aged 12-23 months. Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted among 418 children in June-July 2019 using a two-stage sampling design. Socio-demographic and perception data were collected through a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The distribution of 2017-2018 immunization coverage and dropout rate was extracted from local authority of HD and mapped. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify predictors of high vaccination dropout. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: Of 14 health areas included in the Mont Ngafula II HD, four reported high vaccine coverage, only one recorded low vaccine coverage and three registered both low vaccine coverage and high dropout rate. Multivariate logistic regression showed the predictors of immunization dropout as follows: no possession of immunization card (aOR = 2.49; 95% CI = 1.25-4.93; p = 0.010), living in rural areas (aOR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.02-2.32; p = 0.042), unavailability of seating places (aOR = 7.10; 95% CI = 1.39-36.27; p = 0.019), no respect of the order of arrival (aOR = 3.88; 95% CI = 1.48-10.16; p = 0.006) during vaccination in health facilities, and the lack of a reminder system on days before the scheduled vaccination (aOR = 2.17; 95% CI = 1.43-3.32; p < 0.001). Conclusion: The poor utilization of immunization services seemed as the main health concern followed by the poor access. Residing in rural areas, no immunization card possession, absence of seating places, no respect of the order of arrival, and the lack of a reminder system were the predictors of vaccination dropout rates. These results advocate for prioritizing targeted interventions and programs that will strengthen interpersonal communication between vaccination service providers and users during vaccination in health facilities as well as implement and extend a reminder system using SMS reminders on days before the scheduled vaccination.
Electric Scooter - An Alternative Mode of Transportation for Malaysian Youth
Authors: Mamun Abdullah Al , Zainol Noor Raihani , Hayat Naeem
Published: November 2020

Background: This study examined the effect of environmental concern, knowledge, attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, attributes of interest, and monetary benefit on the willingness to purchase and actual purchase of electric scooter (ES) among Malaysian youth. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from 1,306 youth by sharing a Google form link through social media. Results: The findings reveal that environmental concern and environmental knowledge have a significant positive effect on attitude towards ES. Findings also show that attitude towards ES, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, attributes of interest, and monetary benefit have a significant positive effect on the willingness to purchase and actual purchase of ES. Findings reveal the positive and significant mediating effect of attitude towards ES and the willingness to purchase ES. The multi-group analysis revealed that the effect of attitude towards willingness was significantly higher among the urban respondents. Moreover, the effect of environmental concern on attitude towards ES among rural respondents was significantly higher than urban respondents. In contrast, the effect of environmental knowledge on attitude towards ES among urban respondents was significantly higher than rural respondents. Conclusions: The environmental and transportation policymakers should focus on highlighting the attributes of ESs and their environmental and monetary benefits to promote the mass adoption of ESs among Malaysian youth. Offering subsidies like no road tax and zero import duty and reducing the production of combustion-based two-wheelers are among the options to facilitate the adoption of ES among Malaysian youth. The adoption of ES is socially promoted to reduce the use of conventional two-wheelers. Another relevant area that needs attention is the charging outlet or fuel stations for ES. The adoption of ES remains low if there is a lack of charging or fuel stations.
Identification and Validation of an RNA Binding Proteins-Associated Prognostic Signature for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Miao Ti-wei , Chen Fang-ying , Xiao Wei , Du Long-yi , Mao Bing , Wang Yan , Fu Juan-juan
Published: November 2020

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a malignancy with relatively high incidence and poor prognosis. RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) were reported to be dysregulated in multiple cancers and were closely associated with tumor initiation and progression. However, the functions of RBPs in NSCLC remain unclear. Method: The RNA sequencing data and corresponding clinical information of NSCLC was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. We identified aberrantly expressed RBPs between tumor and control tissue, and systemically investigated the expression and prognostic value of these RBPs by a series of bioinformatics analysis.Results: A total of 459 aberrantly expressed RBPs (291 up-regulated and 168 down-regulated RBPs) were identified. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that the differentially expressed RBPs were mainly associated with RNA splicing, ncRNA metabolic process, regulation of translation, mRNA surveillance pathway, RNA degradation, and RNA transport. Thirteen RBPs (ZC3H12C, ZC3H12D, BOP1, CASC3, DDX24, IGF2BP1, KHDC1, FASTKD3, TARBP1, INTS7, NOL12, SNRPB, PABPC1L) were identified as prognostic RBPs by multivariate Cox regression analysis, and were used to construct a prognostic signature. Further analysis demonstrated that high-risk group were significantly related to poor overall survival in training and testing cohort. The area under receiver operator characteristic curve of the prognostic signature was 0.703 in training cohort and 0.636 in testing cohort. In addition, the prognostic signature was further validated in differently clinical subgroup (>=65, <65, female, male, stage I-II, III- IV, T1-2, T3-4, N0, N1-3, M0 and M1). The risk score was an independent prognostic factor of NSCLC. A nomogram based on thirteen RBPs was constructed to predict the survival of patients.Conclusion: Our results provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of NSCLC. The RBPs-associated prognostic signature showed predictive value for NSCLC prognosis, with potential applications in clinical decision-making and individualized treatment.
Human Epididymis Protein 4 expression in the renal cortex tissue is an independent prognostic factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Noguchi Go , Jikuya Ryosuke , Miyagi Yohei , Nakamura Yoshiyasu , Ohtake Shinji , Shibata Yosuke , Suzuki Takahisa , Osaka Kimito , Umemoto Susumu , Nagashima Yoji , Yokose Tomoyuki , Kishida Takeshi , Yao Masahiro , Nakaigawa Noboru
Published: November 2020

Background: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) has been indicated as a novel tumor marker for ovarian cancer diagnosis/monitoring and as a mediator of renal fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the potential role of HE4 in the pathogenesis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 249 patients with RCC who underwent nephrectomies at a single center between 1997 and 2010. HE4 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization staining in both tumor and renal cortex tissue microarrays. The expression of HE4 was evaluated in line with the clinicopathologic features of each patient. Results: HE4-positive staining was confirmed in 37 (15.0%) tumor tissue microarrays and in 88 (38.3%) cortex tissue microarrays. High expression of HE4 in the tumor was not associated with overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), or recurrence free survival (RFS). However, high expression of HE4 in the renal cortex was strongly associated with an increased risk of OS, CSS, and RFS (HR 3.608 (95% confidence interval (CI) 2.127-6.118); p<0.001, HR 5.759 (95% CI 2.801-11.841); p<0.001 and HR 3.309 (95% CI 1.751-6.252); p<0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Scale of Performance Status (ECOG-PS), stage, pathological subtype, and high expression of HE4 in the renal cortex were independent risk factors for poor OS and that ECOG-PS, tumor size, stage, and high expression of HE4 in the renal cortex were independent risk factors for poor CSS. Conclusions: High expression of HE4 in the renal cortex is an independent risk factor of OS and CSS in RCC. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of HE4 in the renal cortex in the progression of renal cell carcinoma.
Quantum Go Machine
Authors: Qiao Lu-Feng , Gao Jun , Jiao Zhi-Qiang , Zhang Zhe-Yong , Cao Zhu , Ren Ruo-Jing , Zhang Chao-Ni , Hu Cheng-Qiu , Xu Xiao-Yun , Tang Hao , Ma Zhi-Hao , Jin Xian-Min
Published: November 2020

Go has long been considered as a testbed for artificial intelligence. By introducing certain quantum features, such as superposition and collapse of wavefunction, we experimentally demonstrate a quantum version of Go by using correlated photon pairs entangled in polarization degree of freedom. The total dimension of Hilbert space of the generated states grows exponentially as two players take turns to place the stones in time series. As nondeterministic and imperfect information games are more difficult to solve using nowadays technology, we excitedly find that the inherent randomness in quantum physics can bring the game nondeterministic trait, which does not exist in the classical counterpart. Some quantum resources, like coherence or entanglement, can also be encoded to represent the state of quantum stones. Adjusting the quantum resource may vary the average imperfect information (as comparison classical Go is a perfect information game) of a single game. We further verify its non-deterministic feature by showing the unpredictability of the time series data obtained from different classes of quantum state. Finally, by comparing quantum Go with a few typical games that are widely studied in artificial intelligence, we find that quantum Go can cover a wide range of game difficulties rather than a single point. Our results establish a paradigm of inventing new games with quantum-enabled difficulties by harnessing inherent quantum features and resources, and provide a versatile platform for the test of new algorithms to both classical and quantum machine learning.
Assessment of Level of HIV/AIDS Preventive Self-Efficacy and Associated Factors Among Regular Undergraduate Students of Madda Walabu University, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020. A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kene Chala , Adugna Haweni , Lemessa Kalkidan , Deribe Leul
Published: November 2020

Background: Self-efficacy for HIV prevention is described as a person’s belief in his/her capacity to carry out necessary actions to perform a specific behavior for HIV prevention. This study aimed to assess level of HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy and associated factors among regular undergraduate students of Madda Walabu University, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted from February 15 to 20, 2020. Four hundred forty-two study participants were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was entered to Epi Data version 4.6.0.2 and analyzed using SPSS version 26 software. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed and p value less than 0.05 was used to determine the level of significance. Result: The mean level of HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy among regular undergraduate students of Madda Walabu University was found to be 74.58+19.98. Being female [AOR=1.76(1.04-2.81)], in field of health science [AOR= 1.92(1.10-3.36)], second year of study [AOR=2.77(1.55-4.94)] and drinking alcohol [AOR=2.9(1.61- 5.23)] were found to be factors associated with higher HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Whereas, exposed to pornography [AOR=0.53(0.33-0.85)] was found to be factor associated with lower HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy.Conclusion: The mean HIV /AIDS preventive self-efficacy of the participants in this study area were found to be low. Sex, field and year of study, drinking alcohol and ever had watched pornography were factors found to be significantly associated with HIV/AIDS preventive self-efficacy. Staffs should be cooperative in educating their students to boost their self-efficacy.
Quantitative determination of the shock stage of L6 ordinary chondrites using X-ray diffraction
Authors: Imae Naoya , Kimura Makoto
Published: November 2020

The shock stages of 14 L6 ordinary chondrites are estimated using the random X-ray diffraction patterns of polished thin section samples and the in-plane rotation method. The mean lattice strains and grain size factors for olivine and orthopyroxene are determined from the analyses based on the Williamson–Hall plots, which depict the tangent Bragg angle and integral breadth β. The lattice strain in olivine, eOl, is distributed from ~0.05% to ~0.25%, while that in orthopyroxene, eOpx, is distributed from ~0.1 to ~0.4%, where we selected the isolated peaks of olivine and orthopyroxene. The olivine peaks have Miller indices of (130), (211), (222), and (322), while the orthopyroxene peaks have Miller indices of (610), (511), (421), (631), and (12.1.2). The intercept for integral breadth β0O1 and β0Opx for the Williamson–Hall plots correlates with the grain size of the constituent minerals. The grain size is proportional to the inverse of β0 since the β intercept increases with the shock stage. Introducing a new parameter, –ε/log β0 for olivine (0.04–0.16) and orthopyroxene (0.07–0.32) reveals a clear relationship between them: –εOpx/log β0Opx = –0.01+ 2.0 (–εOl/log β0O1) (R > 0.9). In addition, the isolated peak of plagioclase (201) systematically changes as the shock stage increases, suggesting the progress of amorphization (maskelynitization). Another parameter, (I/FWHM)Pl(201) reveals additional relationships: –εOl/log β0O1 = 0.14(±0.01) − 5.2 × 10−5 (±5.7 × 10−6) × (I/FWHM)Pl(201), and –εOpx/log β0Opx = 0.25(±0.04) − 8.9 × 10−5 (±2.6 × 10−5) × 10–5 × (I/FWHM)Pl(201). These three parameters systematically change with the shock stage, suggesting that they are suitable shock barometers. The present method is useful to evaluate the shock stage of L6 chondrites and potentially enables quantitative shock stage classification for stony meteorites.
Two-stage magmatism and tungsten mineralization in the Nanling Range, South China: Evidence from the Jurassic Helukou deposit
Authors: Cao Jingya , Li Huan , Algeo Thomas J. , Yang Lizhi , Tamehe Landry Soh
Published: November 2020

The Helukou deposit, with proven reserves of 33 752 t WO3, is one of the newly exploited medium-scale tungsten (W) deposits in the Guposhan ore field, Nanling Range of South China. Skarn-type and less abundant altered granite-type tungsten orebodies were identified in this deposit. The ore mineralization in this district was a product of two-stage magmatism, as shown by LA-ICP-MS U-Pb dating of zircons and Re-Os dating of molybdenite. The former yielded U-Pb ages of 184.0 ± 3.6 Ma (MSWD = 0.15) and 163.8 ± 1.5 Ma (MSWD = 0.41) for fine-grained biotite granite and muscovite granite, respectively, as well as a U-Pb age of 181.5 ± 2.1 Ma (MSWD = 0.75) for zircon grains from altered granite-type tungsten ore. The latter yielded molybdenite Re-Os ages of 183.5 ± 2.8 Ma (without MSWD owing to a limited number of samples) and 163.4 ± 2.8 Ma (MSWD = 0.71) for altered granite-type and skarn-type tungsten deposits, respectively. Thus, two separate tungsten mineralization events occurred during the Early Jurassic and Middle Jurassic. Trace-element compositions suggest that scheelite I was controlled by the coupled substitution reactions of 2Ca2+ = Na+ + REE3+ and Ca2+ + W6+ = Nb5+ + REE3+, whereas scheelite II was controlled by the coupled reactions of 2Ca2+ = Na+ + REE3+ and 3Ca2+ = ☐Ca + 2REE3+ (where ☐ is a site vacancy). High Mo and low Ce contents suggest that both scheelite I and scheelite II were precipitated from oxidizing magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. Based on the mineral assemblage of the altered granite-type ores and geochemical characteristics of scheelite I [i.e., negative Eu anomalies (0.02–0.05; mean = 0.03 and STD = 0.01), and high 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70939–0.71932; mean = 0.71345 and STD = 0.00245)], we infer that fluid-rock interaction played an important role in modifying Early Jurassic ore-forming fluids. Scheelite II exhibits a geo-chemical composition [i.e., 87Sr/86Sr ratios (0.70277–0.71471; mean = 0.70940 and STD = 0.00190), Eu anomalies (0.14–0.55; mean = 0.26 and STD = 0.09), and Y/Ho ratios (16.1–33.7; mean = 27.9 and STD = 2.91)] similar to that of the Middle Jurassic Guposhan granites, suggesting inheritance of these features from granite-related magmatic-hydrothermal fluids. These results provide new insights into the two-stage magmatic and metallogenic history of the Nanling Range during the Jurassic Period.
Comparative analysis of rotor system models with auto-balancers of ball, roller and pendulum type
Authors: Filimonikhin Gennadiy , Strautmanis Guntis , Gorbenko Alexander , Mezitis Mareks , Filimonikhina Irina , Gromova Marina
Published: November 2020

In the paper, differential equations of motion are derived for a plane model of rotor on anisotropic viscoelastic supports, which is balanced by a ball (roller) or pendulum auto-balancer. The forces of gravity and viscous resistance to the motion of compensating cargoes are taken into account. Cases of an unbalanced rotor motion from engine torque with a variable and constant angular velocity are considered. Using a comparative analysis of the motion equations structure it is established cases in which it is possible to build a unified theory of the specified auto-balancer types and apply the results obtained for one auto-balancer type to other types.
Study on the combustion characteristics of two energetic materials
Authors: Li Hongbin , Yang Jian , Jin Penggang
Published: November 2020

In order to understand the reaction characteristics of energetic materials after non-impact ignition, the typical energetic material powder was selected as the research object. The combustion phenomena of ZY-1 and ZY-2 energetic material powder were observed by high-speed photography and thermocouple. The combustion models of two energetic materials were preliminarily constructed through analysis. The arrival time of combustion wave was recorded by thermocouple, and the two kinds of energetic material powders were calculated. The average burning rates of energetic material powders are 4.0 mm·s-1and 0.49 mm·s-1, respectively.
Digital Humanities: Community Participation in the Balinese Language Digital Dictionary
Authors: Cokorda Cokorda , Iswara IB Ary Indra , Mogi I Komang Ari
Published: November 2020

In recent years, the capability of Balinese people to write and speak their mother tongue has declined significantly among the younger generations because of the growing influence and adoption of the national language, Bahasa Indonesia.  It has spread rapidly among Balinese youth because it is considerably more straightforward than the Balinese language and is free of caste regulations.  In this paper, we present the details of our digital humanities preservation research dealing with the Balinese language.  We utilize community-based crowdsourcing to participate in expanding and enriching the BASABali Wiki digital dictionary in the form of an online competition. Ninety-six participants in 24 groups participated in our study, and their contribution populated 2686 new unique sentences to the BASABali Wiki digital dictionary. We also discuss the procedures employed to evaluate the digital dictionary: to receive feedback on the digital dictionary system and our approach to acquiring the knowledge of the community.
A stepwise surrogate model for parameter calibration of the Variable Infiltration Capacity model: the case of the upper Brahmaputra, Tibet Plateau
Authors: Gu Haiting , Liu Li , Bai Zhixu , Pan Suli , Xu Yue-Ping
Published: November 2020

To alleviate the computational burden of parameter calibration of the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model, a stepwise surrogate model (SM) is developed based on AdaBoost. An SM first picks out the parameter sets in the range that the values of objective functions are close to the optimization objectives and then approximates the values of objective functions with these parameter sets. The ɛ-NSGA II (Nondominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) algorithm is used to search the optimal solutions of SM. The SM is tested with a case study in the upper Brahmaputra River basin, Tibet Plateau, China. The results show that the stepwise SM performed well with the rate of misclassification less than 2.56% in the global simulation step and the root mean square error less than 0.0056 in the local simulation step. With no large difference in the optimal solutions between VIC and the SM, the SM-based algorithm saves up to 90% time.
Variable Length Character N-Gram Embedding of Protein Sequences for Secondary Structure Prediction
Authors: Sharma Ashish Kumar , Srivastava Rajeev
Published: November 2020

Background:

The prediction of a protein's secondary structure from its amino acid sequence is an essential step
towards predicting its 3-D structure. The prediction performance improves by incorporating homologous multiple sequence
alignment information. Since homologous details not available for all proteins. Therefore, it is necessary to predict the protein secondary structure from single sequences.

Objective and Methods:

Protein secondary structure predicted from their primary sequences using n-gram word embedding
and deep recurrent neural network. Protein secondary structure depends on local and long-range neighbor residues in primary sequences. In the proposed work, the local contextual information of amino acid residues captures variable-length character n-gram words. An embedding vector represents these variable-length character n-gram words. Further, the bidirectional
long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) model is used to capture the long-range contexts by extracting the past and future residues information in primary sequences.

Results:

The proposed model evaluates on three public datasets ss.txt, RS126, and CASP9. The model shows the Q3 accuracy of 92.57%, 86.48%, and 89.66% for ss.txt, RS126, and CASP9.

Conclusion:

The proposed model performance compares with state-of-the-art methods available in the literature. After a
comparative analysis, it observed that the proposed model performs better than state-of-the-art methods.
A Thermostable Aluminum-Tolerant Protease Produced by Feather-Degrading Bacillus thuringiensis Isolated from Tea Plantation
Authors: Wang Tianwen , Liang Chen , Xiao Sha , Li Li , Xu Hongju , An Yafei , Zheng Mengyuan , Liu Lu
Published: November 2020

Background:

Proteases with keratinolytic activity are widely used in biotechnologies.
The feather-degrading Bacillus thuringensis isolated from soil sample of a tea plantation produced
high level of extracellular keratinase.

Objective:

This study aimed to analyze the properties by biochemical and enzymological methods to gain information for
better utilization of the enzyme.

Methods:

The enzyme was purified with ion exchange and size exclusion chromatography. The substrate preference, optimal pH and temperature, and the effects of organic solvents and ions were checked. Circular dichroism was performed to
compare the secondary structures of the native and apo-enzyme.

Results:

The enzyme worked best at 50°C, and it was an acidic serine protease with an optimal pH
of 6.2. Ions Ca2+ and Mg2+ were essential for its activity. Organic solvents and other metal ions generally
deactivated the enzyme in a concentration-dependent manner. However, Mn2+ and DMSO,
which were frequently reported as inhibitors of protease, could activate the enzyme at low concentration
(0.01 to 2 mmol/L of Mn2+; DMSO <2%, v/v). The enzyme exhibited high resistance to
Al3+, which might be explained by the soil properties of its host’s residence. Circular dichroism confirmed
the contribution of ions to the structure and activity.

Conclusion:

The enzyme was a thermostable aluminum-tolerant serine protease with unique biochemical
properties.
Rediscovery of Caffeine: An Excellent Drug for Improving Patient Outcomes while Fighting WARS
Authors: Liu Lianyong , Zhang Chaobao , Chen Juan , Li Xiangqi
Published: November 2020

The COVID-19 (here specifically called Worldwide Acute Respiratory Syndrome,
WARS) pandemic is surging worldwide. Unfortunately, no specific drug meets
the urgent need to fight this pandemic, leading to thousands of deaths. The theory of
host-directed therapies (HDTs) is viewed as the ideal means to rephrase the treatment of
infectious diseases. However, related drugs based on this theory have not been identified.
Previously, we realized that caffeine is the ligand of type 2 taste receptors (TAS2Rs),
which play a critical role in host defense. Here, we gathered data on caffeine acting as an
immunomodulator. Unexpectedly, we found that caffeine can fight WARS by acting on
multiple organs, which may prevent the virus from entering the cell, stimulate the phagocytosis
of macrophages, enhance breathing, and inhibit the cytokine storm. Thus, the immunoprotective
effects of caffeine can improve the therapeutic outcomes in patients infected
with coronavirus. Collectively, we report that caffeine, an FDA-approved, highly
safe, inexpensive, and widely available drug, could be an excellent HDT for battling
WARS.
Ethnomedicinal uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Aspects of the Genus Berberis Linn: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mohi-ud-din Roohi , Mir Reyaz Hassan , Mir Prince Ahad , Farooq Saeema , Raza Syed Naiem , Raja Weekar Younis , Masoodi Mubashir Hussain , Singh Inder Pal , Bhat Zulfiqar Ali
Published: November 2020

Background:

Genus Berberis (family Berberidaceae), which contains about 650 species and 17 genera worldwide,
has been used in folklore and various traditional medicine systems. Berberis Linn. is the most established group
among genera with around 450-500 species across the world. This comprehensive review will not only help researchers for
further evaluation but also provide substantial information for future exploitation of species to develop novel herbal formulations.

Objective:

The present review is focussed to summarize and collect the updated review of information of Genus Berberis
species reported to date regarding their ethnomedicinal information, chemical constituents, traditional/folklore use, and reported
pharmacological activities on more than 40 species of Berberis.

Conclusion:

A comprehensive survey of the literature reveals that various species of the genus possess various phytoconstituents
mainly alkaloids, flavonoid based compounds isolated from different parts of a plant with a wide range of pharmacological
activities. So far, many pharmacological activities like anti-cancer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory,
anti-inflammatory both in vitro & in vivo and clinical study of different extracts/isolated compounds of different
species of Berberis have been reported, proving their importance as a medicinal plant and claiming their traditional use.
Applications of iTRAQ and TMT Labeling Techniques to the Study of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Li Kelu , Chen Zichao , Zhang Yonggang , Yang Xinglong
Published: November 2020

:

Neurodegenerative diseases are caused by progressive lesions or loss of specific nerve
cells, which endanger human health. However, the mechanism by which neurodegeneration manifests
remains unclear. Proteomics can shed light on this question as well as help establish diagnostic
standards and discover new drug targets. The power of proteomics for understanding neurodegenerative
diseases has increased substantially with the application of iTRAQ and TMT labeling
techniques. This review focuses on progress in these labeling techniques and their applications in
neurodegeneration research.
Biopolymer-based Scaffolds for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Chopra Hitesh , Kumar Sandeep , Singh Inderbir
Published: November 2020

Tissue engineering is governed by the use of cells and polymers. The cells may be accounted for the type of tissue to be targeted, while polymers may vary from natural to synthetic. The natural polymers have advantages such as non-immunogenic and complex structures that help in the formation of bonds in comparison to the synthetic ones. Various targeted drug delivery systems have been prepared using polymers and cells, such as nanoparticles, hydrogels, nanofibers, and microspheres. The design of scaffolds depends on the negative impact of material used on the human body and they have been prepared using surface modification technique or neo material synthesis. The dermal substitutes are a distinctive array that aims at the replacement of skin parts either through grafting or some other means. This review focuses on biomaterials for their use in tissue engineering. This article shall provide the bird's eye view of the scaffolds and dermal substitutes, which are naturally derived.
QSAR Studies on the IC50 of a Class of Thiazolidinone/Thiazolide Based Hybrids as Antitrypanosomal Agents
Authors: Yang Bo , Si Hongzong , Zhai Honglin
Published: November 2020

Background::

Trypanosomiasis is a widespread zoonotic disease and the existing drugs are
not enough to prevent and treat it.

Objective::

This study aimed to build a quantitative structure-activity relationship model by the chemical
structures of a class of thiazolidone/thiazolidamide based hybrids. The model was used to screen new
antitrypanosomal agents and predict the properties of composite molecules.

Methods::

All compounds were randomly divided into a training set and a test set. A large number of
descriptors were calculated by the software, then some of the best descriptors were selected to build the
models. The linear model was built by the heuristic method and the nonlinear model was built by gene
expression programming method.

Results::

In the heuristic method, the correlation coefficients ,R2, R2cv, F and S2 were 0.581, 0.457,
14.053 and 15.311, respectively. In gene expression programming, the R2 and S2 were 0.715, 10.997
in the training set and 0.617, 22.778 in the test set. The results showed that the relative number of S atoms
and the minimum bond order of an H atom had a significant positive contribution to IC50. Meanwhile,
the relative number of double bonds and the count of hydrogen-bonding acceptor sites had a great
negative impact on IC50.

Conclusion::

Both the heuristic method and gene expression programming had a good predictive performance.
By contrast, the gene expression programming method fitted well with the experimental values
and it was expected to be beneficial in the synthesis of new antitrypanosomal drugs.
Development and Validation of a Reliable LC-MS/MS Method for Simultaneous Quantification of Hydrochlorothiazide in the Presence of Different Co-formulated Anti-hypertensive Medications in Biological Matrix
Authors: Mohamed Heba M. , Fayez Yasmin M.
Published: November 2020

Background:

Thiazide diuretics are listed as one of the first-line antihypertensive
treatment agents. Hydrochlorothiazide is mainly formulated with many antihypertensive agents
as combined pill therapy.

Objective:

In this study, a new, simple, rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS assay was developed, optimized
and validated for the simultaneous quantification of commonly prescribed cardiovascular
combined medications that are used for hypertension management, including Hydrochlorothiazide
(HCT) in the presence of irbesartan (IRB), candesartan (CAN) and bisoprolol (BISO) in
human plasma.

Methods:

RP-HPLC separation of analytes and internal standard (atorvastatin) was performed on
Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C18 (4.6×50 mm 5-Micron) using acetonitrile: (0.05%) formic acid
(80:20), as an eluting system with a run time of less than 5.0 min.

Results:

Validation was carried out according to FDA guidelines for bioanalytical method. The
recoveries were higher than 84.30%, the accuracy was within 86.82–110.17 % and the RSD was
below 10% for all the studied compounds.

Conclusions:

The suggested method is highly appropriate for routine assays of the studied combination
therapy in view of the lower LLOQ, simple extraction process, and short run time. The
method can be further investigated and used for pharmacokinetics studies of the studied different
antihypertensive combinations.
The Effects of Plant Leaves Variants from The Philippines on Infective Oesophagustonum dentatum Larvae
Authors: G. Beltran Maria Asuncion , Robertson Allan , J. Martin Richard
Published: November 2020

Nine aqueous extracts of plant leaves from the Philippines were evaluated against Oesaphagustomum dentatum sensitive (ODSEns) larvae for their anthelmintic effects. The plant species evaluated were Ananas comosus, Chrysophyllum cainito,Gliricidia sepium, Annona squamosa, Moringa oleifera, Tinospora rumphii Boerl,Azadirachta indica, Trichantera gigantea and Leuacaena leucocephala. The leaves of the plants gathered from Camiling, Tarlac, Philippines, were dried under room temperature for 30 days and then ground. Aqueous extracts of these plant leaves were prepared using migration buffer. In vitro migration and inhibition assays were used to evaluate the anthelmintic activity against exsheathed third stage larvae of Oesophagustomum dentatum. The experiments were put in 24-well plates at room temperature with four replications per treatment using different concentrations of 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/ml. About 120 larvae per well were deposited on a larval migration apparatus consisting of 20 Î¼m nylon mesh filters and incubated 20 hours under different treatments and another 2 hours to allow the migration of active motile larvae. The evaluation criteria were based on the average numbers of inhibited larvae under the different treatments. The percentage inhibition were statistically analyzed using Two-Way ANOVA (P=â‰¤.0001) of the Graph Pad Prizm software (V5 San Diego, Ca). The most effective leaves with their highest inhibition level were from Ananas comosus (pineapple, 86.50%), Gliricidia sepium (madre de cacao, 84.50%), Chrysophyllum cainito (star apple, 83.75%), Moringa oleifera (horseradish,58.75%), Annona squamosa (sweet sop, 56.00%), Tinospora rumphii Boerl ( \Makabuhay, 55.75%), and Azadirachta indica (Neem, 51.50%), whereby extremely significant (PË‚0.001) effect against O. dentatum larvae. Two leaves extracts, from Trichantera gigantea and Leuacaena leucocephala have no significant effect on O. dentatum larvae. The larval migration assay allows initial studies on the anthelmintic effects of the herbs.
Analysis of Slaughtering Points Distribution during Eid al-Adha 1440H in Malang City, East Java, Indonesia
Authors:   Microbiology and Immunology Laboratorium, Universitas Brawijaya Malang Indonesia, Adrenalin Sruti Listra , Airlangga Gegana Wimaldy ,   Laboratorium Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya Indonesia, Hardian Andreas Bandang ,   Laboratorium Pathology Anatomy, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya Indonesia
Published: November 2020

Eid al-Adha is an annual Muslim celebration throughout the world indicated by sacrificing animals such as cattles, goats or sheep. This study aimed to analyse the distribution of slaughtering points, types and the number of animals being slaughtered as well as antemortem and postmortem abnormalities of the carcasses during Eid al-Adha 1440 H in Malang City. Data were collected from the geocode service location and the secondary data were obtained through questionnaire. This study listed a total of 145 slaughtering points located in Blimbing, Kedung Kandang, Klojen, Lowokwaru, and Sukun District with 3102 animals being sacrificed. The slaughtering points were taken place in the office yards, mosque yards, home yards, school yards or other public fields. As many as 75.86% of slaughtering points provided special shelters for the animals before being slaughtered. The antemortem examination resulted that animals from 21.38% of the slaughtering points suffered from conjunctivitis, lesions on the skin, broken horns, and lameness. Proportions of apparent postmortem abnormalities were measured respectively: cattle 64.83%, goat 41.38%, and sheep 4.14%. Hence, we recommend to further involve the veterinarians to monitor the animal condition during Eid al-Adha and to ensure the slaughtering processes were done properly.
Factores edáficos y su impacto en la altura dominante en plantaciones de Prosopis alba
Authors: Senilliani María Gracia , Bruno Cecilia , Brassiolo Miguel
Published: November 2020

Prosopis alba Griseb es la especie nativa de mayor importancia en el Chaco semiárido para la forestación con múltiples objetivos. Más de 50% de la superficie plantada en la provincia de Santiago del Estero, Argentina, se ha establecido en áreas con calidades de sitio muy diferentes, generando un comportamiento heterogéneo en el crecimiento. Se propone evaluar la influencia de factores edáficos en el crecimiento de plantaciones de Prosopis alba Griseb (algarrobo blanco), información que facilitará la toma de decisiones silviculturales y permitirá predecir la calidad de sitio con potencial de forestación, con base en características edáficas. Se evalúo la correlación entre variables dasométricas y edáficas en relación con tres clases de calidad de sitio (CI, CII y CIII). Se determinó un modelo de proyección de altura dominante, expresado como índice de sitio con las variables edáficas de mayor correlación, que explica 42% de la variación en el crecimiento. La conductividad eléctrica presentó un umbral de 10 dS m-1 para la CI y CII con índice de sitio de 10 y 8 respectivamente; para valores superiores de CE disminuyó el crecimiento de la masa. La concentración de cationes solubles varió con respecto al índice de sitio, la CI y CII presentaron concentraciones bajas de sodio, con un valor crítico de aproximadamente 39 mEq L-1.  El crecimiento estuvo condicionado por propiedades químicas del suelo, la presencia de sales explicaría en mayor medida el impacto en el crecimiento, con un umbral salino a partir del cual el crecimiento se ve comprometido desde un enfoque productivo.
Dimensions of Misinformation About the HPV Vaccine on Instagram: Content and Network Analysis of Social Media Characteristics
Authors: Massey Philip M , Kearney Matthew D , Hauer Michael K , Selvan Preethi , Koku Emmanuel , Leader Amy E
Published: November 2020

Background

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is a major advancement in cancer prevention and this primary prevention tool has the potential to reduce and eliminate HPV-associated cancers; however, the safety and efficacy of vaccines in general and the HPV vaccine specifically have come under attack, particularly through the spread of misinformation on social media. The popular social media platform Instagram represents a significant source of exposure to health (mis)information; 1 in 3 US adults use Instagram.

Objective

The objective of this analysis was to characterize pro- and anti-HPV vaccine networks on Instagram, and to describe misinformation within the anti-HPV vaccine network.

Methods

From April 2018 to December 2018, we collected publicly available English-language Instagram posts containing hashtags #HPV, #HPVVaccine, or #Gardasil using Netlytic software (n=16,607). We randomly selected 10% of the sample and content analyzed relevant posts (n=580) for text, image, and social media features as well as holistic attributes (eg, sentiments, personal stories). Among antivaccine posts, we organized elements of misinformation within four broad dimensions: 1) misinformation theoretical domains, 2) vaccine debate topics, 3) evidence base, and 4) health beliefs. We conducted univariate, bivariate, and network analyses on the subsample of posts to quantify the role and position of individual posts in the network.

Results

Compared to provaccine posts (324/580, 55.9%), antivaccine posts (256/580, 44.1%) were more likely to originate from individuals (64.1% antivaccine vs 25.0% provaccine; P<.001) and include personal narratives (37.1% vs 25.6%; P=.003). In the antivaccine network, core misinformation characteristics included mentioning #Gardasil, purporting to reveal a lie (ie, concealment), conspiracy theories, unsubstantiated claims, and risk of vaccine injury. Information/resource posts clustered around misinformation domains including falsification, nanopublications, and vaccine-preventable disease, whereas personal narrative posts clustered around different domains of misinformation, including concealment, injury, and conspiracy theories. The most liked post (6634 likes) in our full subsample was a positive personal narrative post, created by a non-health individual; the most liked post (5604 likes) in our antivaccine subsample was an informational post created by a health individual.

Conclusions

Identifying characteristics of misinformation related to HPV vaccine on social media will inform targeted interventions (eg, network opinion leaders) and help sow corrective information and stories tailored to different falsehoods.
What the Public say about E-cigarettes on Chinese Social Media: Combining Text-mining Analysis and Correspondence Analysis (Preprint)
Authors: Lyu Joanne Chen
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Electronic cigarettes have become increasingly popular. China has accelerated its legislation on e-cigarettes in recent years by issuing two policies to regulate their use; firstly, on August 26, 2018 and secondly, on November 1, 2019. Social media provides an efficient platform to access information on the public opinion of e-cigarettes.

OBJECTIVE

In order to get an insight into how policies have influenced the reaction of the Chinese public to e-cigarettes, this study seeks to understand what the Chinese public say about e-cigarettes, and how the focus of discussion might have changed in the context of policy implementation.

METHODS

This study used a combination of text mining and correspondence analysis. From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, Python was used to text mine the most frequently used words/phrases in public e-cigarette discussion on Zhihu, China’s largest question-and-answer platform and one of the country’s most trustworthy social media sources. Correspondence analysis was used to examine the similarities and differences between high-frequency words across three time periods (i.e., 2017/1/1-2018/8/27, 2018/8/28-2019/10/31, 2019/11/1-2020/1/1).

RESULTS

Results showed that the consistent themes across time were comparisons with traditional cigarettes; health concerns; and how to choose e-cigarette products. The issuance of government policies on e-cigarettes led to a change in the focus of public discussion. The discussion of e-cigarettes in period 1 mainly focused on the use and experience of e-cigarettes. In period 2, the public’s attention was not only on the substances related to e-cigarettes, but also on the smoking cessation functions of e-cigarettes. In period 3, the public shifted their attention to the e-cigarette industry and government policy on the banning of sales of e-cigarettes to minors.

CONCLUSIONS

Social media is an informative source which can help policymakers and public health professionals understand the public's concerns over and understanding of e-cigarettes. When there was little regulation, public discussion was greatly influenced by industry claims about e-cigarettes; however, once e-cigarette policies were issued, these policies, to a large extent, set the agenda for public discussion. In addition, media reporting of these policies might have greatly influenced the way e-cigarette policies were discussed. Therefore, monitoring e-cigarette discussion on social media and responding to it in a timely manner will both help improve the public's e-cigarette literacy and facilitate the implementation of e-cigarette related policies.

CLINICALTRIAL

Not Applicable.
Altered functional connectivity of the salience network in excessive smartphone users (Preprint)
Authors: Ahn Jaeun , Lee Deokjong , Namkoong Kee , Jung Young-Chul
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Smartphones play an integral role in daily life, providing convenience and increasing efficiency. However, these devices also cause adverse effects on an individual’s cognition, emotion, and behavior when used excessively.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine the underlying neurobiological alterations that arise due to excessive smartphone use and impact cognition, emotion, and behavior.

METHODS

We performed a resting state seed-based functional connectivity analysis of 44 individuals who overuse smartphones and 54 healthy controls. This analysis assessed the default mode, salience, central executive, and affective networks. The correlations between functional connectivity strengths and clinical characteristics were investigated in excessive smartphone users.

RESULTS

Compared to control users, excessive smartphone users showed enhanced functional connectivity within the salience network and between the salience and default mode networks. Furthermore, excessive smartphone users exhibited a negative associated with connectivity between the anterior insula and precuneus and disturbance of adaptive function. On the contrary, we observed decreased functional connectivity between the anterior insula and prefrontal cortex. Moreover, enhanced functional connectivity between the amygdala and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex were observed in excessive smartphone users and correlated with smartphone usage time for entertainment.

CONCLUSIONS

Integration of results implies that excessive smartphone use is associated with aberrant functional connectivity in four key brain networks. Our results suggest that changes in functional connectivity of key networks affect cognition, emotion, and behavior of excessive smartphone users.