bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sharp well-posedness of the Cauchy problem for the rotation-modified Kadomtsev-Petviashvili equation in anisotropic Sobolev spaces
Authors: Yan Wei , Zhang Yimin , Li Yongsheng , Duan Jinqiao
Published: July 2021

We consider the Cauchy problem for the rotation-modified Kadomtsev-Petviashvili (RMKP) equation

   \begin{document}$ \begin{align*} \partial_{x}\left(u_{t}-\beta\partial_{x}^{3}u +\partial_{x}(u^{2})\right)+\partial_{y}^{2}u-\gamma u = 0 \end{align*} $\end{document}

in the anisotropic Sobolev spaces \begin{document}$ H^{s_{1},s_{2}}(\mathbb{R}^{2}) $\end{document}. When \begin{document}$ \beta <0 $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ \gamma >0, $\end{document} we prove that the Cauchy problem is locally well-posed in \begin{document}$ H^{s_{1}, s_{2}}(\mathbb{R}^{2}) $\end{document} with \begin{document}$ s_{1}>-\frac{1}{2} $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ s_{2}\geq 0 $\end{document}. Our result considerably improves the Theorem 1.4 of R. M. Chen, Y. Liu, P. Z. Zhang(Transactions of the American Mathematical Society, 364(2012), 3395–3425.). The key idea is that we divide the frequency space into regular region and singular region. We further prove that the Cauchy problem for RMKP equation is ill-posed in \begin{document}$ H^{s_{1},0}(\mathbb{R}^{2}) $\end{document} with \begin{document}$ s_{1}<-\frac{1}{2} $\end{document} in the sense that the flow map associated to the rotation-modified Kadomtsev-Petviashvili is not \begin{document}$ C^{3} $\end{document}. When \begin{document}$ \beta <0,\gamma >0, $\end{document} by using the \begin{document}$ U^{p} $\end{document} and \begin{document}$ V^{p} $\end{document} spaces, we prove that the Cauchy problem is locally well-posed in \begin{document}$ H^{-\frac{1}{2},0}(\mathbb{R}^{2}) $\end{document}.
Discrete spectrum for amenable group actions
Authors: Yu Tao , Zhang Guohua , Zhang Ruifeng
Published: July 2021

In this paper, we study discrete spectrum of invariant measures for countable discrete amenable group actions.

We show that an invariant measure has discrete spectrum if and only if it has bounded measure complexity. We also prove that, discrete spectrum can be characterized via measure-theoretic complexity using names of a partition and the Hamming distance, and it turns out to be equivalent to both mean equicontinuity and equicontinuity in the mean.
Students´ Perception of Real-Time Quiz Kahoot! As a Review Tool in Higher Education: A Case of Study
Authors: Poblaciones Maria J , Garcia-White Teodoro , Marin Concepción
Published: July 2021

The use of gamification has spread in recent years, proving to be an effective tool to increase student motivation. Among them stands out Kahoot!, an online questionnaire in which students compete among themselves by counting both the number of correct answers and the response speed. Its effectiveness has been tested mainly in primary and secondary students, with much less available information at higher levels. This study evaluates the opinion of 48 students in Plant Science, a subject of 2nd course of Agricultural Engineering Grade, after carrying out three Kahoot! questionnaires with 12 questions with a single-answer, with two weeks between one and the next. To evaluate the contents fixation a reunified quiz was done, one week after the last Kahoot!, chosen randomly five questions from each questionnaire. The satisfaction of more than 90% of the students was positive or very positive, mainly because of creating a more positive and participatory learning environment. The use as a scoring tool produces a decrease in the acceptance in some students, producing anxiety in 25% of the students, due to the limited available time in about 27% of students. Furthermore Kahoot! has been found as a efficient tool for consolidating knowledge, as the number of questions that the students have consolidated is greater than 20% in the three questionnaires carried out, regardless of whether the period elapsed was 5, 3 or 1 week.
The Immersive Workbench for Engineering Educators: (Re)Thinking Collaborative and Distance Learning Platforms as Technological Enablers
Authors: Zappatore Marco
Published: July 2021

- Guest Editorial -
Représenter l’expérience vécue dans les Magdalen Laundries en passant par la « voie longue » de l’herméneutique et l’analyse de textes assistée par ordinateur
Authors: Rousseau Audrey
Published: July 2021

Dans le but de saisir l’incessante circulation du sens dans l’activité du « faire mémoire » propre aux mécanismes de la justice réparatrice, cet article expose les résultats obtenus à partir de l’application d’une méthodologie expérimentale unique, la greffe de l’herméneutique ricœurienne sur des procédés d’analyse de textes assistée par ordinateur, précédemment développée dans le cadre de ma thèse doctorale au sujet du parcours de reconnaissance des Magdalen Laundries en Irlande (1993-2014). Dans le but de répondre aux lacunes documentaires observées (les archives gouvernementales et privées étant sous scellés), cette étude a fait le pari de valoriser la parole des personnes directement affectées par ces violences institutionnelles pour mieux saisir les trajectoires d’oppression, les enjeux de responsabilité, mais surtout comprendre l’impact durable de cette mise à l’écart sur la vie des survivantes. En s’appuyant sur la notion de « conflit des interprétations » (Paul Ricœur, Le conflit des interprétations, 1969) qui implique de prendre en compte les tensions inhérentes à la production et la circulation du sens entre les individus et les groupes, cette étude a misé sur l’élaboration d’une proposition qualitative afin de modéliser les actions interprétatives qui s’opèrent à l’échelle de l’intime et à l’échelle de la nation.
Peut-on mesurer la vitesse du récit médiéval ? Réflexions sur le rythme, l’agencement et la lecture du roman en vers
Authors: Obry Vanessa
Published: July 2021

À partir de la définition, dans Figures III de Gérard Genette, de l’alternance de scènes et de sommaires comme le patron rythmique traditionnel du roman, l’article se demande à quelles conditions la mesure de la vitesse du récit et le système théorique forgé par Genette peuvent constituer un outil narratologique pertinent, pour l’étude de l’écriture et pour la compréhension des modes de lecture du roman médiéval. En s’intéressant à deux exemples de romans en vers des xiie et xiiie siècles (Erec et Enide de Chrétien de Troyes et Le Roman de la rose ou de Guillaume de Dole de Jean Renart), il propose une réflexion sur le rôle de la variation rythmique dans la fabrique de la continuité du roman.
Concilier le profit et l’intérêt général : l’État actionnaire dans les dynamiques historiques du capitalisme
Authors: Coutant Hadrien , Ducastel Antoine , Viallet-Thévenin Scott
Published: July 2021

Les participations de l’État – entreprises administrées depuis 1945 – ont pu apparaître un temps comme un secteur régi par d’autres règles que celles du libre marché et du profit, au point de devenir, pour certaines d’entre elles comme EDF, France Télécom ou la SNCF, des symboles du service public, même si marchés et profits n’étaient pas étrangers à leur gouvernement. La figure de l’État actionnaire apparaît à partir des années 1990 comme une tentative de rationaliser le gouvernement des participations publiques à travers des pratiques et instruments issus de la finance. Ces derniers confèrent une nouvelle légitimité aux participations publiques. Cette rationalisation entraîne, en retour, des effets sur les objectifs poursuivis par l’État à travers ses participations dans des entreprises. Les opérateurs des participations publiques cherchent, conceptuellement et dans les dispositifs mis en œuvre, à faire correspondre – dans un contexte de financiarisation de l’économie et de rationalisation de l’État – les outils du capitalisme, le profit et le marché, avec l’intérêt général. En creux, ces transformations renseignent sur la conception dominante des formes économiques considérées comme légitimes par les porteurs des politiques économiques.
RECONSTRUCTED TEETH IMAGE FROM BRACES WITH GAN
Authors: Hai Vu Tuan , Vu Dang Thanh , Trinh Huynh Ho Thi Mong , Bao Pham The
Published: July 2021

Recent advances in deep learning models have shown promising potential in object removal, which is the task of replacing undesired objects with appropriate pixel values using known context. Object removal-based deep learning can commonly be solved by modeling it as the Img2Img (image to image) translation or Inpainting. Instead of dealing with a large context, this paper aims at a specific application of object removal, that is, erasing braces trace out of an image having teeth with braces (called braces2teeth problem). We solved the problem by three methods corresponding to different datasets. Firstly, we use the CycleGAN model to deal with the problem that paired training data is not available. In the second case, we try to create pseudo-paired data to train the Pix2Pix model. In the last case, we utilize GraphCut combining generative inpainting model to build a user-interactive tool that can improve the result in case the user is not satisfied with previous results. To our best knowledge, this study is one of the first attempts to take the braces2teeth problem into account by using deep learning techniques and it can be applied in various fields, from health care to entertainment.
The Economic Impacts of COVID-19 on the Tourism Global Value Chain
Authors: Elhini Maha Mohamed , Kafafy Dina
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this chapter is to examine the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism global value chain (GVC). Theoretical analysis revealed that being triggered by health factors, the coronavirus pandemic exerted an unprecedented shock on both the supply and demand sides of the tourism sector and the global economy. This resulted in implications that are more severe and less predictable than earlier crises that the world had witnessed. Analysis of the economic impact on various components of the tourism GVC revealed that measures adopted by world governments to protect their citizens resulted in massive damage to tourism related industries and to the global economy. The chapter concludes by predicting that the consequences of the current pandemic will inevitably give rise to new, more innovate tourism models, responding to the changing global economic and tourism landscape and to the change in consumers' characteristics and expectations.
Tourism in the Low Touch Economy
Authors: Montaudon- Tomas Cynthia Maria , Pinto-López Ingrid N. , Amsler Anna
Published: July 2021

This chapter analyzes the situation of the tourism industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. The health crisis's main effects are explained, as well as how the sector is learning to function under strict sanitary and hygiene measures, relying more on technology than before. The opportunities and challenges in a low contact economy are described. Post-pandemic fear, crowded conditions, mass tourism, travel guilt and shaming, extensive job losses, fixed costs, and employee morale are the challenges identified. The opportunities include variants of slow tourism, products and services for the remote worker, and the digitalization of the sector.
Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Holiday Purchase Intention During the COVID-19 Period
Authors: Göker Gönül , Ayar Ilknur
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to evaluate the holiday purchasing intentions of touristic consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic within the scope of the expanded TPB, which is empirically tested in very large areas in the disclosure of behaviors. In this study, in addition to TPB variables, fatigue variable was included. With the long-term nature and intensity of COVID-19, many people have naturally experienced some kind of physical or psychological fatigue. The impact of this fatigue caused by COVID-19 on the intention to buy holidays can be critical. In the first part of the study, holiday purchasing intentions, COVID-19 pandemic period, theory of planned behavior, and fatigue were explained. In the methodological part of the study, 389 people who were potential touristic consumers were surveyed. The data collected from the participants were measured by statistical analysis method, and the findings were reached.
The Destination Preferences of Foreign Tourists During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Attitudes Towards
Authors: Varnacı Uzun Funda
Published: July 2021

This chapter aimed to determine the factors affecting the destination preferences of foreign tourists visiting Marmaris while COVID-19 pandemic continues, their reasons for selecting Marmaris, and their attitudes and thoughts related to the pandemic. In this chapter, a conceptual framework was presented. Within the context of the conceptual framework, the relationship between COVID-19 and tourism was discussed. Then, the factors affecting the destination preferences of tourists and the changes in these factors as a result of the pandemic was mentioned. Within the context of the theoretical framework, tourists' security perceptions during the pandemic and the effects of the pandemic on the participation of tourists in tourism and tourist behaviours was discussed. In the present study, qualitative research method was employed. The data collected from the tourists were analyzed by using content analysis, one of the qualitative analysis techniques.
The Effect of COVID-19 Measures in Hotels on Tourists' Perceptions of Safe Tourism Service
Authors: Demir Şirvan Şen
Published: July 2021

For a tourist, the perception of safety is the most important element of the holiday purchase decision process. With the COVID-19 pandemic, people's health concerns have also increased. The expectation of safe tourism on holiday has become more prominent. Hotel management takes the necessary precautions to provide safer service to its customers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID-19 measures in hotels on tourists' perception of safe tourism service. A total of 734 questionnaires were collected from local tourists at four- and five-star hotels. Factor analysis, correlation, and regression analyses were used to examine the hypotheses. The results of this study have been revealed that while general COVID-19 measures, restaurant services, room services, and human resources measures significantly affect safe tourism service, general area services, pool-beach services, and bar services do not have a significant effect.
Changes in Tourism Sales and Marketing Post COVID-19
Authors: Selvi Murat Selim
Published: July 2021

What kind of new sales and marketing methods tourism businesses follow post-pandemic constitutes the research problem. Within this scope, this study aims to discover what kind of changes hotel businesses and travel agencies have experienced in sales and marketing post-COVID-19 and how these businesses direct their marketing strategies. At first, relevant studies in the literature were reviewed, and document analysis was conducted. Primary data were obtained through semi-structured interview forms as well as a short questionnaire form. The sample size consists of 17 hotels and nine A group travel agency managers. The data were collected by e-mail. Discourse analysis was conducted on qualitative data. In conclusion, it was determined that the COVID-19 pandemic had a compelling effect in tourism businesses revising their marketing strategies and increasing their product diversity. To persuade consumers and win them back, it was observed that tourism businesses had made an effort to guarantee safe holidays and travel against the pandemic.
COVID-19 and Its Employment Dimension in the Tourism Sector
Authors: Alimanoğlu Yemişci Derya , Öztuna Barış
Published: July 2021

With its labor-intensive nature, the tourism sector is critically important for providing employment volume and foreign exchange reserves in the national economies. The tourism sector is influenced by the events such as economic crises, wars, and epidemics faster than other sectors. The world is facing an unprecedented global health, social, and economic emergency as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel and tourism are one the most impacted sectors with a great amount of decline of international demand amid global travel restrictions to constrain the virus. In this study, first of all, the literature on the effect of the COVID-19 virus on the workforce in the tourism sector was included. It identified the impacts of technology on the tourism sector with the pandemic, and suggestions for the future of employment in the tourism sector were presented.
Forecasting Hotel Occupancy Rates With Artificial Neural Networks in the COVID-19 Process
Authors: Organ Arzu , Tosun Gavcar Cansu
Published: July 2021

In the tourism sector, accommodation business demand forecasting provides a great benefit for tourism professionals, especially hotel managers, in the strategic decision-making process. For demand estimation, the artificial neural networks (ANN) method, which works similar to a human brain cell and makes realistic predictions, has been preferred. The aim of this study was to develop an eight input and output variable of the feedforward radiated back an ANN is in a specially certified hotel room occupancy rate in Turkey to investigate the applicability of the method to predict. Four different alternative network structures were created from the data set with the K-fold cross validation method. As a result of the test simulation, it was determined that the estimated and actual occupancy rates of the network with the lowest error were close to each other. According to this designed model, the monthly occupancy rate for the years 2019 and 2020 has been estimated. As a result, the effect of COVID-19 was revealed by comparing the hotel occupancy rate with the actual rates.
Obstacles and Adaptations of Mega-Events in São Paulo in the Face of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: da Silva Daiane Oliveira , Aulicino Madalena Pedroso
Published: July 2021

The purpose of this research study was to identify how mega-events that had been established in the official calendar of SPTuris (São Paulo Tourism Company) in 2020, of the Municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, have adapted to the coronavirus pandemic. The study verified the impacts and obstacles caused in the event industry as well as the mitigation of such difficulties. A presentation was made on concepts, classifications of events, their history, and position in the market, including a description of actions by organizers not to stop all activities; the authors also included an interview with a representative of two companies in the event industry. The study conclusion was that most events opted for the internet and social media, in addition to drive-thru and delivery activities in the case of gastronomy; and that there have been gains in health safety and in the role of hybrid events in the future.
The Effects of COVID-19 on Health Tourism and Tourist Health
Authors: Ataseven Bulun Mehtap , Yarar Onur
Published: July 2021

The high epidemic rate of COVID-19, its impact on the shrinkage in the world economy, and changes in the daily routines of people show that it is not only a problem that concerns public health, but also a major concern which coerces people (and countries) all over the world to rethink in the name of sustainability of contemporary lifestyles and to work on systemic changes. Undoubtedly, health tourism is one of these subjects. In this chapter, the authors present an overview of COVID-19's effects on health tourism and tourist health.
Tourism Education During the Pandemic
Authors: Keçi Ina , Qosja Ermira
Published: July 2021

The worldwide pandemic situation created by the COVID-19 disease confronted the education systems of all countries with the most unpredictable challenge ever, a pedagogical revolution that required the transition from traditional and conservative education of auditors to distance education formats. The new front was clear, in a few days the entire education community had to adapt to the new environment, developing and creating new plans to provide teaching through different electronic platforms and software. As the tourism sector is one of the main sources of sustainable development, the role of higher education systems in this sector is to prepare human resources able to proactively respond to all the challenges created during the pandemic circumstances and post-pandemic circumstances. This chapter based on semi-systematic literature review discusses distance education in tourism as an inevitable alternative to education due to the pandemic conditions in terms of providing an appropriate preparation of human resources in tourism to properly face the new reality.
Extending the Role of Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI) in Achieving the Strategic Goal of the Firm With the Moderating Effect of Cost Leadership
Authors: Alyoubi Bader Abdulrahman , Yamin Mohammad Ali
Published: July 2021

The information system literature has long emphasized the importance of employee acceptance of information technology for achieving strategic goal of the firm and organizational performance. Consequently, this study investigates the determinants of acceptance of information technology with the extension of diffusion of innovation theory (DOI) in organizational context. Results showed that compatibility, innovativeness, trust in technology, perceived gap in IT capabilities, employee self-efficacy, and perceived cost advantage explained R^2 79.4%% variance in achieving strategic goal of the firm. The effect size analysis showed that perceived gap in IT capabilities had substantial effect size. Similarly, substantial predictive relevance was found Q^2 58.1%, 15.7% when predicting firm strategic goals and organizational performance respectively.
A Grid-based Automated Building Extraction Technique for Low-cost UAV Images
Authors: Gamage R. R. , Nalani H. A.
Published: July 2021

With increasing urbanization, new technology is required to fulfil both human and environmental needs. At present, low-cost UAVs are used in surveying and mapping, and during the past few years, they have reached a level of practical requirements to allow the use of these systems as mapping platforms. Moreover, UAV based mapping provides required accuracy in line with cadastral laws and policies. Extraction of urban objects is a pre-requisite in various applications. In general, detection of buildings plays a major role in the field of remote sensing image processing, and also in urban planning and management. However, there is no ‘proper’ method developed to detect building features automatically from UAV images because there are usually too many details and distortions on the images. This paper presents an effective approach for extracting buildings from UAV images through the incorporation of orthophotographs and dense point clouds, rather than the traditional pixel based classification. In this method, different feature-based conditions are introduced with the help of a grid-based data structure for more accurate and quick extraction of building features. To verify the generality and advantage of the proposed method, the procedure is evaluated by performing experiments with a dataset acquired over the study area, which has a variety of building patterns and styles. The experimental results show an excellent performance in the detection of buildings, with an average overall accuracy greater than 80%. The final overall correctness and quality of building extraction are more than 80% and 65%, respectively. Therefore, there is a need to focus on more advanced conditions for building detection, to obtain optimum results.
Nonstructural Protein NSs Hampers Cellular Antiviral Response through LSm14A during Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Infection
Authors: Zhang Li , Fu Yuxuan , Zhang Rui , Guan Yajie , Jiang Na , Zheng Nan , Wu Zhiwei
Published: July 2021

The nonstructural protein (NSs) of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) plays multiple functions in the virus life cycle. Proteomic screening for host proteins interacting with NSs identified the cellular protein LSm14A. LSm14A, a member of the LSm family involved in RNA processing in the processing bodies, binds to viral RNA or synthetic homolog and mediates IFN regulatory factor 3 activation and IFN-β induction. NSs interacted with and colocalized with LSm14A, and this interaction effectively inhibited downstream phosphorylation and dimerization of IFN regulatory factor 3, resulting in the suppression of antiviral signaling and IFN induction in several cell types of human origin. Knockdown of NSs resulted in the suppression of SFTSV replication in host cells. Viral RNA bound to LSm14A–NSs protein complex during the interaction. A newly discovered LRRD motif of NSs functioned to interact with LSm14A. Altogether, our data demonstrated a mechanism used by SFTSV to inhibit host innate immune response.
Anti-viral and anti-inflammatory effects of kaempferol and quercetin and COVID-2019
Authors: Khazdair Mohammad Reza , Anaeigoudari Akbar , Agbor Gabriel A.
Published: July 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus identified at the end of 2019. It is recognized as the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Flavonoids have been shown to exhibit therapeutical effect on complications related to COVID-19. The present study reviews possible therapeutic benefits of flavonoids on SARS-CoV-2. The Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched using keywords: “COVID-19”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “Kaempferol” and “Quercetin” in the Title/Abstract. Relevant published articles in the English language until August 2020 were considered. Kaempferol and quercetin showed antiviral properties such as inhibition of protein kinase B and phosphorylation of protein kinase and blocking effects on a selective channel (3a channel) expressed in SARS-CoV infected cells. They also reduced the level of reactive oxygen species, expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, pro-inflammatory mediators including TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-12 p70, and chemokines. Kaempferol and quercetin might exert beneficial effects in the control or treatment of COVID-19 because of their antiviral, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory effects.
Valencene-rich fraction from Vetiveria zizanioides exerts immunostimulatory effects in vitro and in mice
Authors: Sunitha V.S. , Midhun Sebastian Jose , Sunil M.A. , Radhakrishnan E.K. , Mathew Jyothis
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To decipher the responsible compound present in the aqueous root extract of Vetiveria zizanioides which has tremendous immunomodulatory activity.

Methods:

Different fractions of the water extract were collected and analyzed for immunomodulatory activity by analyzing in vitro phagocytic activity and nitric oxide production. One fraction VF3 was selected and further analyzed for possible compounds by high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with a mass spectrometer. The in vitro immunomodulatory parameters such as phagocytic index, nitrite content, and tumor necrosis factor-α production in murine macrophages were analyzed. In vivo studies, sheep red blood cell induced haemagglutination titer, the number of antibody-producing cells, and sheep red blood cell induced delayed-type hypersensitivity were analyzed. Cytotoxic studies in L929 normal fibroblasts were also performed.

Results:

One of the fractions, VF3, was selected and confirmed the presence of an active compound valencene. The in vitro immunomodulatory parameters were significantly (P<0.05) increased by valencene treatment. In vivo studies in Swiss albino mice showed that valencene could significantly (P<0.05) increase haemagglutination titer, the number of antibody-producing cells, and delayed-type hypersensitivity. Cytotoxic studies also showed that valencene did not cause any morphological changes and DNA damage in normal fibroblasts.

Conclusions:

Valencene possesses immunomodulatory activities and can be commercially exploited for its immunostimulatory potentials.
Bitter gourd extract improves glucose homeostasis and lipid profile via enhancing insulin signaling in the liver and skeletal muscles of diabetic rats
Authors: Eweda Saber Mohamed , Ali Mennatallah Ahmed , Abd El-Bary Hala Mohamed , El-Sokkary Nahed Hussein , Helmy Madiha Hassan , Kamel Maher Abdel-Nabi
Published: July 2021

Objective:

To investigate the modulatory effects of bitter gourd extract on the insulin signaling pathway in the liver and skeletal muscle tissues of diabetic rats.

Methods:

The ethanolic extract of bitter gourd was prepared and its contents of total polyphenols and flavonoids were assayed. A neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model was established and the diabetic rats were assigned into different groups and were treated with different doses of bitter gourd extract (100, 200, 400, or 600 mg/kg) or with glibenclamide (0.1 mg/kg) for 30 d. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, and lipid profile were evaluated and the insulin signaling pathway in the liver and skeletal muscle of rats was investigated. The correlations between homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and the components of insulin signaling pathway were also evaluated.

Results:

Different doses of bitter gourd extract significantly ameliorated fasting blood glucose level and HOMA index for insulin resistance. Moreover, bitter gourd extract increased serum insulin and improved disrupted serum lipid profile. The levels of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), p-insulin receptor β (p-IR-β), protein kinase C (PKC), GLUT2, and GLUT4 were improved by treatment with bitter gourd extract. The best results were obtained with 400 mg/kg dose of the extract, the effect of which was equivalent to that of glibenclamide. HOMA in the bitter gourd treated rats was negatively correlated with p-IR-β, IRS-1 and PKC in hepatic and skeletal muscle. HOMA was also negatively correlated with skeletal muscle GLUT4.

Conclusions:

Bitter gourd extract improves glucose homeostasis and lipid profile in diabetic rats via enhancement of insulin secretion and sensitivity. Therefore, bitter gourd can be used as a potential pharmacological agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Guillian--Barre' Syndrome in Patients with SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Dhamne Megha C. , Benny Rajesh , Singh Rakesh , Pande Amitkumar , Agarwal Pankaj , Wagh Satish , Oak Pradyumna , Lakhotia Akshay , Godge Yogesh , Bolegave Vyankatesh , Doshi Darshan , Patidar Yogesh , Venkatachalam Anil , Pujara Bhavin , Borse Sandeep , Makhija Prashant , Khadilkar Satish
Published: July 2021

Background:

Guillian--Barre' Syndrome (GBS) has been shown to be associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. The aim of our study was to study the clinical profile and outcomes of GBS in COVID-19 from the Western region of India, the State of Maharashtra.

Methods:

This was a retrospective, multicenter observation study from different hospitals in Maharashtra beginning from March 2020 until November 2020.

Results:

We report 42 patients with COVID-19 GBS. Mean age was 59 years (range, 24--85 years). 31/42 (73.8%) were men. GBS was the presenting symptom in 14/42 (33%), while six of them remained asymptomatic for COVID-19 despite positive SARS-CoV-2 on nasopharyngeal swab reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The median interval between COVID-19 and GBS was 14 days (SD + 11), with minimum of 1 and maximum 40 days. Clinical presentation was like that of typical GBS. Electrophysiological studies showed a predominant demyelinating pattern in 25/42 (59.5%). Inflammatory markers were elevated in 35/42 (83.3%) and 38/42 (90.5%) had an Abnormal high-resolution CT (HRCT) chest. 14/42 (33.3%) patients required a ventilator, with nine deaths. Intravenous immunoglobulin was the mainstay of treatment for GBS. Majority had a good outcome and were walking independently or with minimal support at discharge. In subgroup analysis, the postinfectious group had a better outcome than the parainfectious group.

Conclusion:

GBS in COVID-19 occurs as both parainfectious and postinfectious GBS. Parainfectious GBS needs more rigorous monitoring and may benefit from COVID-19 specific treatment. Routine screening for SARS-CoV-2 should be implemented in patients with GBS in view of the ongoing pandemic.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels prior to prostatectomy are not related to long-term oncologic or cardiovascular outcomes for men with prostate cancer
Authors: Kourbanhoussen Kassim , Joncas France-Hélène , Wallis Christopher JD , Hovington Hélène , Dagenais François , Fradet Yves , Guillemette Chantal , Lacombe Louis , Toren Paul
Published: July 2021

Prior research suggests a link between circulating levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prostate cancer outcomes. FSH levels may also explain some of the observed differences in cardiovascular events among men treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists compared to GnRH agonists. This study evaluates the association between preoperative FSH and long-term cardiovascular and oncologic outcomes in a cohort of men with long follow-up after radical prostatectomy. We performed a cohort study utilizing an institutional biobank with annotated clinical data. FSH levels were measured from cryopreserved plasma and compared with sex steroids previously measured from the same samples. Differences in oncologic outcomes between tertiles of FSH levels were compared using adjusted cox regression models. Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were similarly assessed using hospital admission diagnostic codes. A total of 492 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 13.1 (interquartile range: 8.9–15.9) years. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) levels, but not other androgens, negatively correlated with FSH levels on linear regression analysis (P = 0.03). There was no association between FSH tertile and outcomes of biochemical recurrence, time to castrate-resistant prostate cancer, or time to metastasis. MACEs were identified in 50 patients (10.2%), with a mean time to first event of 8.8 years. No association with FSH tertile and occurrence of MACE was identified. Our results do not suggest that preoperative FSH levels are significantly associated with oncologic outcomes among prostate cancer patients treated with radical prostatectomy, nor do these levels appear to be predictors of long-term cardiovascular risk.
A Study of Prothrombotic Factors in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients
Authors: Lanjiwar Meena , Kumari Pushpa , Khunger Jitendra Mohan , Negi Narender Singh
Published: July 2021

Introduction:

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has been described as a hypercoagulable state. Some studies suggest that thrombotic events may be 2–10 times more prevalent in this group than in the general population. Subjects

and Methods:

This was a single-center, cross-sectional case–control study. Thirty confirmed HIV cases of age group 20–60 years were enrolled. A similar number of age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were taken as controls. CD4 cell count, protein C, protein S, antithrombin III (AT III), anticardiolipin antibody, and highly sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) estimation was done and correlated with the CD4 counts.

Results:

Among HIV cases, 40% were protein C deficient, while 10% were deficient in control group (P = 0.015). One-third (33%) were AT III deficient in HIV-infected group, while none were observed AT III deficient in control group (P < 0.001). Protein C and antithrombin levels did not correlate with CD4 count. Protein S levels were normal in all the HIV-infected cases. Anticardiolipin antibody was not detected in any patient among HIV group. Mean hs-CRP levels in cases and controls were 20.18 ± 12 mg/dl and 3.32 ± 5.13 mg/dl, respectively (P < 0.0005). Conclusion:Protein C deficiency and AT III deficiency were found to be significantly associated with HIV infection. The hs-CRP levels were significantly elevated in HIV-infected patients' protein C deficiency, increased level of hs-CRP, and AT III deficiency did not correlate with CD4 cell count.
Are Patients with Comorbidities more Prone to Sequalae in Severe COVID-19
Authors: Daga Mradul Kumar , Mawari Govind , Chand Siddharth , Aarthi J. , Raghu R. V. , Kumar Naresh
Published: July 2021

Majority hospital admission in COVID-19 is because of pneumonia. Few develop progressive and permanent pulmonary fibrosis. Here, we present three patients of severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring intensive care unit care. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest of these patients revealed multiple areas of lung involvement at the 4th week of illness. Follow-up CT scan and pulmonary function test were done after 5 months to look for residual changes. Pulmonary fibrosis induced by COVID-19 is being documented. We need long-term follow-up studies to observe the clinical and radiological course of fibrosis. Corticosteroids and antifibrotic agents in such cases are being looked into.
Dextrocardia
Authors: Aggarwal Ramesh , Dwivedi Shridhar
Published: July 2021

Dextrocardia is one of the rare cardiac positional anomalies, in which heart is located in the right side of thorax with its base-to-apex axis positioned to the right side. Dextroposition is different than dextrocardia where the heart is displaced to the right secondary to extracardiac causes like eventeration of diaphragm and right lung hypoplasia. The term situs solitus is used when heart and abdominal viscera are normally placed with the cardiac apex, spleen, stomach, and aorta are placed on the left side and inferior vena cava and liver placed on the right side, whereas situs inversus has mirror-image of the organs relative to their position in situs solitus. Dextrocardia, cardiac dextroposition, and situs inversus generally remain asymptomatic and are detected incidentally by imaging studies done for reasons other than cardiovascular system related problems. This article shares our experience of five cases of cardiac malposition that presented with atypical features of common medical problems. It highlights the importance of basic clinical examination in these patients which helps in making a bed side diagnosis of cardiac malposition and also prevents any mishap which can arise if any emergency intervention is done in patients of dextrocardia with or without situs inversus.
Benign pathologies results from lung nodule percutaneous biopsies
Authors: Li Lei , Xu Xiao-Liang , Feng Kai , Liu Xin-Qiang , Yang Jing
Published: July 2021

Objectives:

The objective was to identify predictors of true negatives in lung nodules (LNs) with computed tomography-guided percutaneous biopsy (CTPB)-based benign pathological results.

Materials and Methods:

We included 90 total patients between January 2013 and December 2017 that had CTPB-based nonspecific benign pathologies and used these patients as a training group to accurately identify true-negative predictors. A validation group of 50 patients from January 2018 to June 2019 to confirm predictor reliability.

Results:

CTPB was conducted on 90 LNs from the training group. True-negative and false-negative CTPB-based pathologies were obtained for 79 and 11 LNs, respectively. CTPB-based benign results had a negative predictive value of 87.8% (79/90). Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed younger age (P = 0.019) and CTPB-based chronic inflammation with fibroplasia (P = 0.010) to be true-negative predictors. A predictive model was made by combining these two prognostic values as follows: score = −7.975 + 0.112 × age −2.883 × CTPB-based chronic inflammation with fibroplasia (0: no present; 1: present). The area under receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.854 (P < 0.001). To maximize sensitivity and specificity, we selected a cutoff risk score of −0.1759. The application of this model to the validation group yielded an area under the ROC curve of 0.912 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Our predictive model showed good predictive ability for identifying true negatives among CTPB-based benign pathological results.
Factors influencing postembolization syndrome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing first transcatheter arterial chemoembolization
Authors: He Jing-Jing , Yin Xi-Xi , Wang Ting , Chen Min-Ying , Li Xi-Long , Yang Xin-Jing , Shao Hong-Yan
Published: July 2021

Context:

Postembolization syndrome (PES) is the most common complication in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE). PES was defined as fever, nausea and/or vomiting, and abdominal pain and these symptoms develop within 1–3 days after TACE. However, few studies have explored the factors influencing PES in patients with TACE for the first time.

Aims:

We explored the factors influencing PES in patients with HCC undergoing TACE for the first time.

Settings and Design:

The present study was a hospital-based study conducted in the tertiary care hospital of Guangzhou with a retrospective study design.

Subjects and Methods:

In this single-center retrospective study, a total of 242 patients with HCC were included in the first TACE program between November 1, 2018 and November 31, 2019.

Statistical Analysis Used:

T-test and Chi-square test revealed the factors affecting the occurrence of PES. Correlation analysis (Spearman) explored the relationship between these factors and PES. Binary logistics analyzed the predictive factors of PES.

Results:

The probability of PES in patients with HCC undergoing TACE for the first time was 55.45%. Types of embolic agents (r = 0.296), types of microspheres (r = 0.510), number of microspheres (r = 0.130), maximum diameter of microspheres used (r = 0.429), type of drug (r = 0.406), and drug loading (r = 0.433) were positively correlated with PES (P < 0.05). Serum albumin was negatively correlated with PES (P = 0.008, r = −0.170). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that drug loading microspheres (odds ratio [OR] = 0.075, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.031–0.180) and serum albumin (OR = 0.182, 95% CI = 0.068–0.487) were the protective factors influencing PES, while drug loading was the risk factor of PES (OR = 1.407, 95% CI = 1.144–1.173).

Conclusions:

Drug loading microspheres, serum albumin, and drug loading were the predictors of PES after the first TACE.
Prognostic role of programmed cell death ligand-1 expression in head and neck cancer treated with programmed cell death protein-1/programmed cell death ligand-1 inhibitors
Authors: Huang Zilu , Zheng Shuohan , Ding Shirong , Wei Yinghong , Chen Chen , Liu Xing , Li He , Xia Yunfei
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

The purpose of our meta-analysis is to clarify whether the biomarker of programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) could predict the treatment efficacy and prognosis of programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients.

Materials and Methods:

We performed the article search in four main online databases. The search deadline was September 8, 2020. To elucidate whether a positive or negative PD-L1 expression correlates with different efficacy and prognosis of PD-1/PD-L1–related therapy in HNC, the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were pooled. Our meta-analysis assigned the overall survival (OS) at 6 and 12 months and the objective response rate (ORR) for the primary end points.

Results:

The present meta-analysis included 11 relevant studies, which have 1663 HNC cases who received the treatment of PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs. The pooled results revealed that the high or positive expression of PD-L1 predicted better 6- and 12-month OS in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) (RR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.02–1.65, P = 0.03; and RR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05–1.62, P = 0.01). PD-L1 expressors were also relevant with higher ORR in HNC patients who had treatment of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors compared to PD-L1 nonexpressors (RR 1.84, 95% CI: 1.41–2.41, P < 0.00001).

Conclusions:

In summary, PD-L1–positive HNSCC patients portend favorable OS at 6 and 12 months from PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs. Increased ORR also favored to appear in PD-L1 expressors of HNC or recurrent/metastatic HNSCC who received PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs. Therefore, PD-L1 proved to be an appropriate biomarker to predict the clinical efficacy and prognosis of PD-1/PD-L1 ICIs in HNC.
Chinese expert consensus of image-guided irreversible electroporation for pancreatic cancer
Authors: Wei Yingtian , Xiao Yueyong , Wang Zhongmin , Hu Xiaokun , Chen Guang , Ding Xiaoyi , Fan Yong , Han Yue , Huang Kaiwen , Huang Xuequan , Kuang Ming , Lang Xu , Li Hailiang , Li Chengli , Li Jiakai , Li Jiaping , Li Maoquan , Lu Yinying , Ni Caifang , Niu Lizhi , Sun Junhui , Tian Jinlin , Wang Hao , Wang Liwei , Wu Peihong , Xie Xiaoyan , Xing Wenge , Xu Linfeng , Yang Po , Yu Haipeng , Yuan Chunwang , Zhai Bo , Zhang Yanfang , Zheng Jiasheng , Zhou Zhigang , Zhu Xiaoli , Jiang Tianan , Zhang Yingxun
Published: July 2021

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a lethal disease with extremely high mortality. Although surgical resection is the optimal therapeutic approach for PC, about 30%–40% of those patients are not candidates for surgical resection when diagnosed. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy also could not claim a desirable effect on PC. The application of interventional radiology approaches is limited by unavoidable damage to the surrounding vessels or organs. By the superiority of mechanism and technology, IRE could ablate the tumor by creating irreversible pores on the membrane of PC cells with other tissues like vessels and pancreatic ducts untouched. This consensus gathers the theoretical basis and clinical experience from multiple Chinese medical centers, to provide the application principles and experience from Chinese experts in the IRE field.
Combination of thermal ablation and activated functional killer cells immunotherapy for cancer
Authors: Li Yunfang , Li Yuanming , Bie Zhixin , Li Bin , Ma Jie , Li Xiaoguang
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

The purpose was to evaluate the effect of thermal ablation combined with activated functional killer (AFK) cells immunotherapy for patients with malignant tumors.

Materials and Methods:

A cohort of 10 patients with malignancies received thermal ablation combined with AFK cells immunotherapy. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, laboratory test, and postoperative complications were assessed.

Results:

The success rate of the combination therapy was 100% and no severe complications occurred. Five patients maintained in PFS (50%) during the follow-up. The median PFS was 11 months (range 3.5–16.75 months). The hemoglobin (P = 0.023), hematocrit (P = 0.034), and lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.023); neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.038), neutrophil ratio (P = 0.016), albumin (P = 0.006), and alkaline phosphatase (P = 0.029); CA-125 (P = 0.033); and D-dimer (P = 0.011) changed significant after ablation. Whereas the white blood cell count (P = 0.003), neutrophil count (P = 0.024), lymphocyte count (P =0.003), monocyte ratio (P = 0.008), and eosinophil ratio (P = 0.005) changed significantly after combination therapy. The lymphocytes (P = 0.001) in the surviving patients increased more significantly after treatment. After the combination therapy, the percentage of CD3+ cells (P = 0.016) and CD3+ CD8+ cells (P = 0.002) increased, while CD3- CD16+ CD56+ (P = 0.002) and CD4+/CD8+ (P = 0.016) decreased.

Conclusion:

Combination of thermal ablation and AFK cells immunotherapy is a safe and effective method for patients with malignancy. And adoptive immunotherapy with AFK cells may be helpful to prevent recurrence after thermal ablation in patients with advanced cancer.