bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pneumocystis Pneumonia in Patients with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome: Analysis of 18 Cases
Authors: You Xiaohan , Zhang Ji , Zhou Qiongxiu , Zhang Jianna
Published: August 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to analysis the clinical features, risk factors and outcomes of patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS) who developed pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP).Methods: We systematically reviewed medical records from 18 PNS patients with PCP admitted to our hospital from April 2007 to April 2019. A total of 180 cases were randomly selected as controls from PNS inpatients without infection. Results: In PCP patients, the mean age at presentation was 48.5 years, mean duration of prednisone treatment was 3.7 months and mean prednisone dose on admission was 31.3 mg/d, the most common clinical manifestation was fever (100%) and average PaO2 on admission was 59.5 mmHg. Eight patients (44.4%) had coexisting infections, most often was cytomegalovirus (4 patients), 11 patients (61.1%) had ICU admission and 9 patients (50%) had mechanical ventilation. PCP patients had more prednisone, more immunosuppressive therapy, lower CD4+ cell counts and hemoglobin, and higher serum creatinine than those without infections (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that patients with prednisone usage and lower CD4+ cell counts were more likely to have PCP compared to controls (p<0.05). All patients survived after treatment. Conclusion: PCP was not unusual in PNS patients, and the most important risk factor was a lower CD4+ cell count, but however, these patients had a good outcome after enough treatments.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Autophagy-related LncRNAs in Esophageal Carcinoma
Authors: fan junbai , Wu Dan , Ding Yi
Published: August 2020

Background: Esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) is a malignant tumor with high invasiveness and mortality. Autophagy has multiple roles in the development of cancer; however, there are limited data on autophagy genes associated with long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in ESCA. The purpose of this study was to screen potential diagnostic and prognostic molecules, and to identify gene co-expression networks associated with autophagy in ESCA. Methods: We downloaded transcriptome expression profiles from The Cancer Genome Atlas and autophagy-related gene data from the Human Autophagy Database, and analyzed the co-expression of mRNAs and lncRNAs. In addition, the diagnostic and prognostic value of autophagy-related lncRNAs was analyzed by multivariate Cox regression. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis was carried out for high-risk patients, and enriched pathways were analyzed by gene set enrichment analysis. Results: The results showed that genes of high-risk patients were enriched in protein export and spliceosome. Based on Cox stepwise regression and survival analysis, we identified seven autophagy-related lncRNAs with prognostic and diagnostic value, with the potential to be used as a combination to predict the prognosis of patients with ESCA. Finally, a co-expression network related to autophagy was constructed. Conclusion: These results suggest that autophagy-related lncRNAs and the spliceosome play important parts in the pathogenesis of ESCA. Our findings provide new insight into the molecular mechanism of ESCA and suggest a new method for improving its treatment.
Strain-enabled ultra-broadband Ge-based photonic devices for low-cost integration in PICs
Authors: Lin Yiding , Ma Danhao , Wen Rui-Tao , Lee Kwang Hong , Syaranamual Govindo , Kimerling Lionel , Tan Chuan Seng , Michel Jurgen
Published: August 2020

Photonic-integrated circuits (PICs) have become one of the most promising solutions to the burgeoning global data communication and are being envisioned to have revolutionary impact in many other emerging fields. This outlook requires future PICs to be significantly more broadband and cost-effective. The current germanium (Ge)-based active photonic devices in PICs are thus facing a new bandwidth-cost trade-off. Here, we demonstrate ultra-broadband, high-efficiency Ge photodetectors up to 1,630 nm operation wavelength and Ge0.99Si0.01 electro-absorption (EA) modulator arrays with an operating range of ~100 nm from 1,525 to 1,620 nm, using a CMOS-compatible recess-type silicon nitride (SiNx) stressor. The broadband operation could facilitate a wide (>100 nm) window for low-cost Ge modulator-detector co-integration, requiring only a single step of Ge epitaxy and two different SiNx depositions. The broad modulation and co-integration coverage can be entirely shifted to shorter (~1,300 nm) and longer (>1,700 nm) wavelengths with small amounts of Si or tin (Sn) alloying. This proof-of-concept work provides a pathway for PICs towards future low-cost and high-data-capacity communication networks, immediately accessible by designers through foundries.
Young Adult Age-Period-Cohort Analysis of HIV and TB Mortality in South Africa: 1997-2015
Authors: Nkwenika Tshifhiwa , Manda Samuel
Published: August 2020

Background: Young adult mortality is very significant in South Africa due to the influence of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB), Injuries and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Previous analyses have mainly focused on assessing time effect of age and period separately. However, health outcomes often depend on three-time scales of age, period and cohort, which are linearly interlinked. Using Age-Period-Cohort (APC) models, this study estimated the time effects of age, period and cohort on HIV and TB mortality among young adults in South Africa.Methods: HIV and TB mortality data and mid population estimates were obtained from Statistics South Africa for the period 1997 to 2015. Mortality data are based on deaths reported to the Department of Home Affairs where the underlying cause of death was HIV or TB based on the 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) definition. Observed HIV/AIDS deaths were adjusted for under-reporting, misclassification and systematic proportion from ill-defined natural deaths. Three-year age, period, and birth cohort intervals for 15–64 years, 1997–2015 and 1934–2000 respectively were used. The Age-Period-Cohort (APC) analysis using the Poisson distribution was used to compute the effects of age, period and cohort on mortality due to TB and HIV.Results: A total of 5, 825,502 adult deaths were recorded from the period 1997 to 2015 of which, 910,731 (15.6%) and 252,101 (4.3%) were attributed to TB and HIV, respectively. For both observed mortality rate and estimated relative effects, concave down associations were found between TB, HIV mortality rates and period, age with peaks, at 36–38 and 30–32 years, respectively. A downward trend and inverted V-shape between TB and HIV mortality by birth cohort was found, respectively.Conclusions: The study found an inverse U-shaped association between TB-related mortality and age, period, and general downward trend with birth cohort for deaths reported between 1997 and 2015. A concave down relationship between HIV-related mortality and age, period, and inverted V-shaped with birth cohort was found. Our findings have shed more light on HIV and TB mortality rates across different age groups, effect of changes in the overall TB and HIV management and care on the mortality rates and whether or not the mortality rates depended on the year an individual was born.
Crowdsourcing Without Data Bias: Building a Quality Assurance System for Air Pollution Symptom Mapping Toward an SDG Indicator
Authors: Samulowska Marta , Chmielewski Szymon , Raczko Edwin , Lupa Michał , Myszkowska Dorota , Zagajewski Bogdan
Published: August 2020

The United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals (SDGs), a strategy to guide the world’s social and economic transformation, highlight the issue of urban air pollution in SDG 11. Open data, as an output of citizen science (CS), are needed to supply and improve the SDG indicator system. Therefore, we propose a CS framework to extend the paradigm of urban air pollution monitoring from particulate matter concentration levels to air quality-related health symptom load, and foster the development of a tier-3 SDG indicator (which we call indicator 11.6.3). Building this new perspective for CS contributions to the achievement of SDGs, we address the problem of crowdsourced data bias as a prerequisite for better quality open data output. The aim of this study is to propose an air pollution symptom mapping framework for citizen-driven research and to find the most robust data quality assurance system (QAs) in this field. The method includes a GeoWeb application as well as data quality assurance mechanisms based on conditional statements, in order to reduce crowdsourced data bias. A four-month crowdsourcing campaign, released in Lubelskie voivodship (Poland), resulted in 1823 outdoor reports with a rejection rate of up to 28%, depending on the applied QA system (QAs). Testing the QAs variants, we find the most robust data bias solving method in survey-based symptom mapping. The framework output is shared via GeoWeb dashboards, including the 11.6.3 indicator evaluation. By familiarizing the public with citizen science, a city can track the progress of its SDG achievements and increase the transparency of the process through the use of GeoWeb.
Dietary factors, gut microbiota, and serum trimethylamine-N-oxide associated with cardiovascular disease
Authors: Mei Zhendong , Chen Guo-Chong , Wang Zheng , Usyk Mykhaylo , Yu Bing , Baeza Yoshiki Vazquez , Humphrey Greg , Benitez Rodolfo Salido , Li Jun , Williams-Nguyen Jessica S. , Daviglus Martha L. , Hou Lifang , Cai Jianwen , Zheng Yan , Knight Rob , Burk Robert D. , Boerwinkle Eric , Kaplan Robert C. , Qi Qibin
Published: August 2020

Background

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), a diet-derived and gut microbiota-related metabolite, is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the major dietary determinants and the specific gut bacterial taxa related to TMAO remain to be identified in humans. We aimed to identify dietary and gut microbial factors independently and jointly associated with circulating TMAO.
Results

We examined usual dietary intake, fecal gut microbiome profiled by shotgun metagenomics, and their interactions in relation to serum TMAO and its precursors among up to 3972 adult participants from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos. We confirmed the positive association between TMAO and prevalent CVD (OR = 1.28, P = 4.36⋅10− 4). Fish (P = 1.26⋅10− 17), red meat (P = 3.33⋅10− 16), and egg (P = 3.89⋅10− 5) intakes were top dietary factors positively associated with serum TMAO independently of each other. Red meat and egg intakes, but not fish intake, were positively associated with serum TMAO precursors (e.g., carnitine, choline). We identified 9 gut bacterial species significantly associated with serum TMAO after multiple testing correction (FDR < 0.05). All 4 TMAO-positively-associated bacteria belong to the Clostridiales order, 3 of which may have homologous genes encoding carnitine monooxygenase, an enzyme converting carnitine to trimethylamine (TMA)/TMAO. The red meat-TMAO association was more pronounced for participants with higher abundance of these 4 bacterial species than those with lower abundance (Pinteraction=0.013), but such microbial modification was not observed for fish-TMAO or egg-TMAO associations.
Conclusion

In US Hispanics/Latinos, fish, red meat, and egg intakes are major dietary factors associated with serum TMAO. The identified potential TMA-producing gut microbiota and microbial modification on the red meat-TMAO association support microbial TMA/TMAO production from dietary carnitine, while the fish-TMAO association is independent of gut microbiota.
Overexpression of Long Non-Coding RNA AP001505.9 Inhibits Dedifferentiation in Human Hyaline Chondrocyte
Authors: Chen Lin , Xu Jinying , Lv Shuang , Zhao Yan , Sun Dongjie , Zheng Yangyang , Li Xianglan , Zhang Lihong , Chi Guangfan , Li Yulin
Published: August 2020

Background: Autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) requires a large number ofhuman hyaline chondrocytes. Unfortunately, human hyaline chondrocytes oftenundergo dedifferentiation in vitro. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) play aregulatory role in gene expression in many pathological and physiological processes.However, their role in human hyaline chondrocyte dedifferentiation remains unclear.This study aimed to investigate the expression profiles of lncRNAs in human hyalinechondrocyte dedifferentiation.Methods: Human hyaline chondrocytes were cultured in vitro and screened for theoccurrence of dedifferentiation using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR),immunofluorescence, and western blotting. The expression profiles of lncRNAs andmRNAs during dedifferentiation were analyzed by microarray analysis and real-timeqPCR. We used pellet culture to redifferentiate chondrocytes and the expression ofrelated lncRNAs were assessed. The function of lncRNA AP001505.9(ENST00000569966) was determined by overexpression, fluorescence in situhybridization, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) analysis, and double luciferaselabeling.Results: We probed human hyaline chondrocytes dedifferentiation and identified 334upregulated and 381 downregulated lncRNAs. The expression of downregulatedlncRNA AP001505.9 in dedifferentiation was reversed by pellet culture. Theoverexpression of AP001505.9 inhibited dedifferentiation by promoting theexpression of SRY-Box transcription factor 9 (SOX-9) and inhibiting the expressionof type I collagen (COL1) both in vitro and in vivo.Conclusion: This study reveals for the first time the expression profiles of lncRNAsin human hyaline chondrocyte dedifferentiation, thereby providing a new perspectivefor exploring the potential mechanism of chondrocyte dedifferentiation.
PON1 deficiency promotes TREM2 pathway-mediated microglial phagocytosis and inhibits LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines release
Authors: zhang lianfeng , Zhang Li , Dong Wei , Ma Yuanwu , Bai Lin , Zhang Xu , Sun Caixian , Li Jingwen
Published: August 2020

Background

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1), an HDL-associated enzyme, plays an anti-inflammatory role in the cardiovascular system. Levels of serum PON1 and polymorphisms in this gene were linked to Alzheimer disease (AD) and Parkinson disease (PD), but its function in the neuroimmune system and AD are not clear.
Methods

PON1 knockout rats previously generated by our lab were used to investigate the role of PON1 in microglia. Wild type (WT) rats and PON1 knockout (KO) rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 5 or 20 mg/kg) and the survival rates were compared. Microglia on the sections of rat brain tissues were immunostained with anti-Iba1 antibody and the microglia morphology was compared. The phagocytosis, cytokines release and transcriptome of primary microglia cells treated with or without LPS were analyzed. The interactions between PON1 and TREM2 were detected by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) using rat brain tissues or over-expressed BV2 cell lysates.
Results

The expression of PON1 was detected in human and rat brain tissues and rat primary microglia. Knockout of PON1 in rat brain tissues protected against LPS-induced lethality by decreasing TNF-α expression. PON1 knockout in microglia increased TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells 2) expressing and phagocytosis, but decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, IL-18 especially TNF-α (M1-phenotype markers) and increased IL-10 (M2-phenotype marker) release induced by LPS. PON1 knockout activated TREM2 pathway but decreased LPS-induced ERK activation. The phagocytosis promoting effect was reversed by administration of recombinant PON1 protein. The interaction between PON1 and TREM2 was verified and was associated with the localization of TREM2 in lysosomes.
Conclusions

These results suggest an inhibitory role of PON1 in microglial phagocytosis dependent on its interaction with TREM2. These findings provide novel insights into the role of PON1 in neuroinflammation and highlight TREM2 as a potential target for Alzheimer’s disease therapy.
β-synuclein promotes synaptic vesicle dopamine uptake and rescues dopaminergic neurons from MPTP-induced death
Authors: Ninkina Natalia , Millership Steven J. , Peters Owen M. , Connor-Robson Natalie , Chaprov Kirill , Montoya Alex , Kramer Holger , Withers Dominic J. , Buchman Vladimir
Published: August 2020

Background.

Previous studies demonstrated that dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) of mice with null mutations for genes encoding α-synuclein and/or γ-synuclein are resistant to 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) toxicity. An original straightforward interpretation of these results was that these proteins are directly involved in the mechanism of MPTP-induced degeneration and this view has become commonly accepted. Here we provide evidence that a plausible alternative explanation of this resistance is not the absence of these synucleins per se but their substitution on the membrane of synaptic vesicles by the third member of the family, β-synuclein.
Methods.

An effect of sub-chronic MPTP regimen on dopaminergic neurons of SNpc was studied in mice lacking members of the synuclein family in all possible combinations. Dopamine uptake was assessed in synaptic vesicles isolated from synuclein null mutant mice. Protein composition of synaptic vesicles was studied by mass spectrometry.
Results.

Dopaminergic neurons of mice lacking β-synuclein singularly or in combination with the loss of other synucleins, were sensitive to the toxic effect of MPTP. Dopamine uptake by synaptic vesicles isolated from the striatum of triple α/β/γ-synuclein deficient mice was significantly reduced, while reintroduction of β-synuclein either in vivo or in vitro reversed this effect. Proteomic analysis of complexes formed on the surface of synuclein-free synaptic vesicles after addition of recombinant β-synuclein identified multiple integral constituents of these vesicles as well as typically cytosolic proteins, including key enzymes involved in dopamine synthesis, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC).
Conclusions.

Of the three members of the synuclein family, only β-synuclein can play a scaffolding role for the assembly of molecular complexes that potentiate the ability of synaptic vesicles to uptake and sequester dopamine and other structurally similar molecules, including 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), a toxic metabolite of MPTP. The increased presence and activity of β-synuclein at the synaptic vesicles, and not the absence of other synucleins per se, explains the decreased sensitivity to MPTP toxicity of SNpc dopaminergic neurons in mice lacking α-synuclein and/or γ-synuclein.
Acute Pancreatitis may Occur in COVID-19 Patients with Clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in Lung: A Case Report
Authors: Zhao Hong , Su Junwei , Xu Kaijin , Shi Yu , Qiu Yunqing , Sheng Jifang
Published: August 2020

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is mostly causes lung damages, but also lead to gastroenterology injury. SARS-CoV-2 - associated acute pancreatitis has been reported, however, clearance of SARS-CoV-2 and the pancreatitis was not clear.Case presentation: A 62 year old diabetic female patient suffer from coronavirus diseases (COVID-19) and detection of SARS-CoV-2 turned negative on day 11 and day 12 in sputum. Two days latter, the patient was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Through the support treatment, the patient got better and discharged from our hospital 18 days later.Conclusions: Our case provided an initial view of SARS-CoV-2 infection with acute pancreatitis and the acute pancreatitis may occur in COVID-19 patients with clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in lung.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) Spectroscopy on the Effect of PCSK9 Inhibitor on Lipoprotein Particles in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndromes(ACS)
Authors: li tingting , Cong Hongliang , zhang yingyi
Published: August 2020

Objective: To assess the effects of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitor (evolocumab) on blood lipid level, lipoprotein particles, and their subfractions with Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in patients with acute coronary syndromes(ACS).Methods: A total of 99 consecutive patients with ACS and poor lipid control were enrolled and assigned to either the experimental group (n = 54) or the control group (n = 45). The combination therapy of PCSK9 inhibitor (Repatha ® , 140mg, q2w) and moderate statin (rosuvastatin, 10 mg, qn) was administered in the experimental group, with moderate statin therapy (rosuvastatin, 10 mg, qn) alone in the control group. The therapeutic effects on blood lipid levels and lipoprotein particle subfractions were assessed with NMR spectroscopy after eight weeks of treatment, and the achievement of LDL-C treatment target in both groups was analyzed.Results: In the experimental group, after eight weeks of evolocumab and moderate statin combination therapy, the level of blood lipids (TC, LDL-C and its subfractions [LDL-1 to 6], VLDL-C and its subfractions [VLDL-1 to 5], IDL-C, and HDL-C), lipoprotein particles, and their subfractions (VLDL-P, IDL-P, LDL-P, and its subfractions [LDL-P1 to 6], apoB, and LP(a)) demonstrated therapeutic benefits with statistical significance (P < 0.05). Lowered level of LDL-P was attributed to the significant decrease of small LDL-P (LDL-P5+6), which was significantly more prominent than the decrease in medium LDL-P (LDL-P3+4) and large LDL-P (LDL-P1+2) (P < 0.001). According to lipid control target recommended by the latest China Cholesterol Education Program (CCEP) Expert Consensus in 2019, the percentage of patients reaching the treatment target differed significantly between the experimental group and the control group (96.3% and 13.3%, respectively, P < 0.001).Conclusions: PCSK9 inhibitor treatment for 8 weeks could significantly improve the plasma lipid profiles in ACS patients with poor lipid control, and significantly decrease the concentration of lipoprotein particles which could result in atherosclerosis.
Investigating Visualization Principles for Heritage Rehabilitation
Authors: Al-Sakkaf Abobakr , El-Zahab Samer , Lasod Saleh Ben
Published: August 2020

Many countries of the world suffered the problem of historical neighborhoods within their urban entity, through various treatments and phases. Regardless of numerous treatments, the city in general is described as an organic entity that has past, present, and future. This past with its birth, originality, and transformation had to have relied on material and spiritual assets that surrounded it, and the urban texture that lived and continued in the peripheries of the cities during the past era is only cultural humanitarian production that interacted and was environmentally consistent and covered the human needs that were related to time and place. In this article, three international experiences were chosen from countries that are different in their geographic location and cultural heritage, and have analyzed their experiences to conserve the historical identity of cities, as follows: The first experience which is handled by the research is the experience of France in the renovation, conservation, and improvements of heritage sites. Any type of dealing on whatever level with historical areas (whether subject to maintenance, improvement or renewal) were subject and belonged to a general plan that was set based on a comprehensive view of the city as a whole, taking into account all elements that affect the problem, including economic, social, cultural and political matters. It is known that France holds advanced philosophical and theoretical heritage in the field of urban planning based on situations of the senior architects and theorists of planning in the past century. The second experience studied in this article takes place in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and presents astounding results in the field. It was renewed and was conserved by autonomous efforts by the rehabilitation of many historical cities and restoration of their vitality and spirituality to become attractive to tourism, heritage value, and investment. North America included the United State of America and Canada.
In-vitro Antiviral Activity of Natural Products against Coronavirus Strains: A Systemic Review
Authors: KC Sindhu , Pandit Manoj , Shrivastava Amit Kumar
Published: August 2020

Coronavirus is a non-segmented, positive-sense RNA genome belonging to the family coronaviridae in the order Nidovirales Corona viral infections have created serious threats in the last couple of decades and recently claiming the death of thousands of human beings. Natural products provide a valuable and powerful resource of chemical compounds alkaloids, tannins, caffeine, biopterin, actinophnine, etc. displaying antiviral properties. The data was reviewed from various databases or search engines: PubMed, Science Direct, MedLine, Google Scholar, and Biomed central for published articles. The data inclusion criteria was natural products and their isolated and different synthetic compounds. Data duplication and titles or contents that do not meet the inclusion criteria and Reports on antiviral activities of natural products or their derivatives against other than CoV strains were excluded. We encountered 49 plants and 19 compound chemically defined natural molecules reported in the literature, which have evaluated for potent antiviral activity against different coronavirus strains. The listed plants and their compounds in this review are highly potent with promising results against coronavirus. These can be further screened for invasive tests and used for making different formulations or may be polyherbal formulations considering its safety profile and toxicity.
Decomposition performance of hypochlorite on bead-type NiOx(OH)y catalyst: improving applicability of catalysts
Authors: Xu Wenying , Gao Haoyang
Published: August 2020

An easy-to-use, pollution-free and reusable beaded NiOx(OH)y catalyst for improving hypochlorite oxidation was prepared by impregnating the mixture of persulfate and alkali over alumina and then reduced it with Ni2+. The effects of catalyst preparation conditions and reaction parameters on NaClO conversion rate and Ni2+ dissolution rate were studied. Impregnating the γ-Al2O3 beads in PS/OH− mixed solution with 0.59 M PS and PS/OH− molar ratio of 1.1, and then reducing with 0.8 M Ni2+ solution is the best condition for preparing catalyst. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The best catalytic layer is characterized by high content of chemisorbed oxygen which can be converted into atomic oxygen. The hypochlorite conversion rate increased with the catalyst dosage and reuse times, and decreased with available chlorine, while pH of hypochlorite solution had little effect on the conversion rate. After running stably for 120 h in continuous flow test, the chemisorbed oxygen content in the optimal catalytic layer decreased slightly. Atomic oxygen plays an important role in the decolorization of dye solution by NaClO/NiOx(OH)y system. The oxidant consumption cost of this process is much cheaper than Fenton reagent. The prepared catalyst has great potential in hypochlorite decomposition and wastewater treatment.
An HIV-Positive Patient Presenting with Malignant Bone Tumor in Left Tibia Treated with Microwave Ablation for Limb Salvage
Authors: Gao Tongshuan , Dong Chuan , Zhang Minghua , Ding Rui , Yang Yindi , Yu Zhe
Published: August 2020

Background:

We report on a patient with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive
disease with a malignant bone tumor in the left proximal tibia treated with surgery using microwave
ablation (MWA).

Case Presentation:

A 50-year-old Chinese male presented with sudden pain in the left knee and
weight loss that had begun 2 months prior to his visit. The preoperative X-ray and MRI scan both
demonstrated significant osteolytic destruction in the left proximal tibia surrounded with soft tissue
mass. The patient underwent limb salvage surgery for his left leg with the technique of microwave
ablation in situ. The pathology revealed myofibroblastic sarcoma with no positive margins, stage
T2N0M0. The patient has a satisfactory functional and cosmetic limb with no evidence of disease
at a follow-up time of 2 years.

Conclusion:

MWA is a feasible and effective surgical method for the limb salvage operation, especially
for the patient with poor immunological function, e.g., HIV infection. It might offer an innovative
and distinctive therapeutic alternative for malignant bone tumors, while avoiding prosthesis
replacement.
Substituted Imidazole-Pyrazole Clubbed Scaffolds: Microwave Assisted Synthesis and Examined Their In-vitro Antimicrobial and Antituberculosis Effects
Authors: Pandya Keyur M. , Patel Janki J. , Patel Arpan H. , Patel Navin B. , Desai Piyush. S.
Published: August 2020

A series of substituted imidazole-pyrazole fused compounds were designed & fused synthesized by employing Debus-Radziszewski one-pot synthesis reaction. Azoles are an extensive and comparatively new class of synthetic compounds including imidazoles and pyrazoles. The current clinical treatment uses compounds of azole framework. Azoles act by inhibiting ergosterol synthesis pathway (a principal component of the fungal cell wall). In addition, a literature review shows that the compounds that include imidazoles and pyrazoles have significant anti-bacterial and anti-mycobacterial effects. In light of the above findings, a series of compounds with imidazole and pyrazole scaffolds were sketched and developed to examine anti-bacterial, antifungal and antimycobacterial activities. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using 1HNMR, 13CNMR, elemental analysis, and MS spectral data. The target compounds were screened for their in-vitro antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species by disc diffusion method according to the NCCLS (National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) and anti-mycobacterial activity against the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv strain. The results revealed that imidazole-pyrazole fused scaffold compounds have potential antibacterial, antifungal and anti-mycobacterial activities which can be further optimized to get a lead compound.
Is Ocular Toxicity Expected in Chloroquine/Hydroxychloroquine Prescription as a Therapeutic or Prophylactic Option in COVID-19?
Authors: Bagheri Masood , Rashe Zahra , Ahur Mohammad H. , Eidizadeh Mojtaba
Published: August 2020

Background:

On 11th March 2020, WHO announced novel coronavirus infectious
(COVID-19) as a pandemic. New Coronavirus Pneumonia (NCP) that emerge on 31st
December 2019 from China and quickly became a Public Health Emergency of International
Concern (PHEIC). In the absence of evidence-based proven prophylactic or therapeutic
options, chloroquine/hydroxychloroquine (CQ/HCQ) patented as first line choice in COVID-
19 treatment, which raised concerns about drug poisoning, especially ocular toxicity.

Objective:

This study aims to investigate the possibility of ocular toxicity and the need for
ophthalmic counseling to prescribing this therapeutic protocol.

Methods:

All the articles that were most relevant to the COVID-19 therapeutic or prophylactic
options and CQ derivative ocular toxicity, were founded by a literature search and
were thoroughly reviewed.

Results:

Anecdotal recent reports introduce CQ/HCQ as an effective therapeutic or prophylactic
choice for COVID-19. Because of the short time prescribe and the insignificant cumulative
dose of the drug on the one hand and a higher risk of cross-infection during an ophthalmic examination,
on the other hand, an ophthalmologic consult is not recommended except in highrisk
patients for retinal toxicity.

Conclusion:

This study recommended ophthalmic evaluation before CQ/HCQ prescription
for treatment or prophylaxis of COVID-19 only in preexisting maculopathy.
A Novel Control Scheme for PWM Boost Converter based on Sliding Mode Control using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Liu Gang , Qiu Dong , Wang Xiuru , Zhang Ke , Huang Huafeng , Wang Kelong
Published: August 2020

Background:

The PWM Boost converter is a strongly nonlinear discrete system, especially when the input
voltage or load varies widely, therefore, tuning the control parameters of which is a challenge work.

Objective:

In order to overcome the issues, particle swarm optimization (PSO) is employed for tuning the parameters of a
sliding mode controller of a boost converter.

Methods:

Based on the analysis of the Boost converter model and its non-linear characteristics, a mathematic model of a
boost converter with a sliding mode controller is built firstly. Then, the parameters of the Boost controller are adjusted
based on the integrated time and absolute error (ITAE), integral square error (ISE) and integrated absolute error (IAE)
indexes by PSO.

Results:

Simulation verification was performed, and the results show that the controllers tuned by the three indexes all
have excellent robust stability.

Conclusion:

The controllers tuned by ITAE and ISE indexes have excellent steady-state performance, but the overshoot is
large during the startup. The controller tuned by IAE index has better startup performance and slightly worse steady-state
performance.
Expression and Characterization of Rice-produced Recombinant Porcine Lactoferrin and its Antioxidant Activities
Authors: Lee Kuan-Chih , Hsieh Kun-Ting , Chen Ray-Bin , Lin Wei-Chih , Wang Chang-Sheng , Lee Tzu-Tai , Chen Liang-Jwu
Published: August 2020

Background:

Lactoferrin (LF) exhibits multiple beneficial biological activities and thus has been used as a health food and additive. To broaden its application in the food industry, the porcine LF (pLF) gene has been engineered into rice to produce recombinant LF (rpLF) for use as a food additive. The iron-binding and antimicrobial activities of rpLF and its positive effects on early weaned piglets have been previously evaluated, yet several features, such as the signal peptide removal, glycosylation sites and antioxidant activity of rpLF, have not been fully characterized.

Objective:

In this work, the rice-produced rpLF was purified and its biochemical structure and antioxidant activities characterized.

Methods:

HPLC, Western blot, PAS/VVL/PNA staining, Edman degradation assay, MALDI-TOF, LC-MS/MS and antioxidant activity assays were performed.

Results:

The results showed that this purified rpLF is a mature form of LF; its signal peptide was correctly removed, and two N-glycosylation sites located at N365 and N472 were identified. The molecular mass heterogeneity of rpLF could be eliminated by treatment with PNGase glycosidase, suggesting that different degrees of N-glycosylation occur in rpLF. A series of assays including the iron chelating activity, reducing power assay, lipid peroxidase activity and radical-scavenging activity showed that the antioxidant activity of rice-produced rpLF was equivalent to that of bovine LF.

Conclusion:

Rice-produced rpLF was correctly processed post-translationally and displayed antioxidant activity equivalent to that of bovine LF; thus, rice-produced rpLF can be recognized as a plant-based antioxidant to be used as a functional additive in animal feed and for the food industry.
Assessment of Parents’ Knowledge and Attitudes on Emergency Management of Permanent Avulsed Teeth in Western Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alharbi Raghad , Aboalshamat Khalid , Alrabghi Khalidah , Alassiri Amjaad , Bashammakh Alaa , Alghamdi Alaa , Omaysh Nehal , Omar Rabiyah
Published: August 2020

Objective:

One of the most common dental injuries is dental avulsion. This study, conducted in the western region of Saudi Arabia, aimed to evaluate parent’s knowledge and attitudes regarding the emergency management of avulsed permanent and deciduous teeth in children.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 393 parents recruited from six dental clinics and hospitals in Makkah and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire that assesses the level of knowledge for managing deciduous and permanent avulsed teeth.

Results:

The total score for correct answers about managing permanent avulsed teeth had a mean of 4.77 and a standard deviation of 2.14 (out of 10 questions). With a permanent avulsed tooth, 35.37% were aware of dental reimplanting, 27.7% identified milk as an appropriate medium, and 57.5% would seek professional help immediately after dental trauma. Females and participants with a bachelor’s or higher degree had significantly higher levels of knowledge than males and participants with a high school or lower education. There were 28.5% of respondents who had a previous history of dental trauma for a child. A total of 62.1% knew that there is a difference in managing deciduous versus permanent teeth, but only 40.7% knew the proper management for deciduous avulsed teeth. Previous history of child dental avulsion was not found to be associated with more knowledge on managing avulsed deciduous or permanent teeth.

Conclusion:

Parents in the western region of Saudi Arabia have inadequate levels of knowledge to manage deciduous and permanent tooth avulsion. More efforts should be applied for conducting promotional health campaigns aimed at improving parents’ knowledge.
Shoulder and Elbow Surgery in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Figgie Mark P. , Kahn Barbara , O’Donnell Evan A
Published: August 2020

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy that manifests itself prior to the age of sixteen years with symptoms lasting six weeks or longer. As JIA frequently effects the upper extremities, activities of daily living become compromised during the stages of development when young adults are striving for independence. Symptomatology includes ankylosing, pain and early growth plate closure. Patients with joint involvement prior to growth plate closure have the most destruction in terms of joint abnormality and surgical complexity.Medical management of JIA has allowed for better non-surgical management, yet, there is a continued need to understand the appropriate surgical intervention and order for the greatest functional gains. Comparative studies have shown that varied results as to whether the shoulder replacement should supersede the elbow replacement or should that be reversed or both joint replacements done simultaneously. Our experience found a more significant functional improvement after total elbow replacement due to the unpredictable nature from the shoulder replacement outcomes and an inability for patients to do simple tasks such as bringing a cup to their mouths or handling a toothbrush. The exception to this occurs if the ipsilateral shoulder joint is severely limited to the point that the stressors placed on the elbow due to compensation will lead to early loosening or failure of the elbow joint replacement.Various methods for performing joint replacement of the shoulder and elbow in the JIA population will be discussed. Soft tissue integrity including the functional status of the rotator cuff will be a consideration for which surgical procedure should be considered. Surgical approaches for the elbow present fewer options for improving pain and function in this patient population. Pre, peri and postoperative management is reviewed as careful attention to irregular bony dimensions and dysmorphic anatomy precludes the use of standard implants.Total shoulder and total elbow arthroplasty should be considered in the JIA population where pain and significant functional compromise are present. The order of procedures is dependent on multiple factors and expected outcomes. Educating patients on postoperative expectations over the lifespan is an important part of surgical management for patients with JIA.
Clogging Potential of Earth-Pressure Balance Shield Driven Tunnels
Authors: Rashiddel Alireza , Ramsheh Fatemeh Amiri , Ramesh Asma , Dias Daniel , Hajihassani Mohsen
Published: August 2020

Background:

Nowadays, the construction of urban tunnels for rapid transportation in metropolises is necessary. Since these tunnels are excavated at low depths, they are often associated with different problems and hazards. Some of them can reduce the efficiency of the tunnel boring machines and sometimes will stop the project. Among these problems the clogging can cause problems at the cutter head, in the chamber, and in other sections where the material transference occurs.

Objective:

The main purpose of this paper is to evaluate and determine the risk of clogging in the tunneling boring machine in Line 6 of the Tehran Metro. It includes stations: Amirkabir, Shohada Square, Emam Hossein Square and Sayyadeh Shirazi. This phenomenon induces an adhesion of the shield with the soil, increasing the necessary shear forces and it can eventually leads to the project interruption.

Methods:

Due to the fact that the criterion for the behavior of fine soils against moisture is Atterberg Limits, therefore, Atterberg Limits and the water content were utilized. For this purpose, the new method proposed by Hollman and Thewes (2013) was used. In this study, in addition to the Atterberg limits, the amount of free water resulting from the machine and from the underground water inflow was included in the calculations.

Results:

It was found that the water content should be increased carefully as the soil is very sensitive to this parameter. An increase of 15% of the water content permits to reduce the risk of clogging. If the added free water amount 15%, the probability of clogging becomes high. Whereas, in case where the added free water amount reaches 20%, the risk of clogging decreases significantly.

Conclusion:

According to the performed assessments, it was found that critical areas for the clogging aspect are both the cutter head and the chamber. The sensitivity of the soil is very important to the free water amount. Therefore, due to the behavior of sticky and plastic of clay soils against increasing water, it is necessary to determine the percentage of allowable water used in mechanized excavation projects.
Parent-Adolescent/Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication: The Case of Secondary and Preparatory School Students in Fiche Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia
Authors: Feyissa Mulugeta , Adugna Haweni , Aferu Temesgen , Nigussie Tadesse
Published: August 2020

Background:

Adolescence/youth is a continuum of physical, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial development. Due to a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health, adolescents face a number of problems. Clear family communication of reproductive health issues often leads to increased awareness of reproductive health matters and reduces risky behaviors and its consequences in adolescent populations.

Objective:

To assess parent-adolescent/youth communication and associated factors among students attending secondary and preparatory schools in Fiche town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

Methods:

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 27 to 30,2017, using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Two schools in the town were included in the study. Data were entered using epidata manager version 4.0.2.101 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed, and variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results:

The number of students who had ever discussed sexual and reproductive health issues with their parents was 118 (31.2%). Mothers’ educational status of diploma [adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=3.52, 95%CI=1.13-10.95], fathers’ educational status of diploma [AOR=3.84, 95%CI=1.29-11.41], students’ perceived importance of sexual and reproductive health issues discussion [AOR=6.69, 95%CI=2.04-22.00], students’ knowledge about sexual and reproductive health issues [AOR=4.80, 95%CI=2.56-9.01], and students’ attitude towards sexual and reproductive health issues [AOR=3.13, 95%CI=1.76-5.57] were identified as independent predictors of parent-student sexual and reproductive health communication.

Conclusion:

The level of parent-student sexual and reproductive health communication is low among secondary and preparatory schools in Fiche town. Therefore, school administration, in collaboration with stakeholders, should facilitate adolescent-friendly services to enhance sexual and reproductive health-related awareness.
Determination of Enriched Quantum Efficiency with InGaN/GaN Multiple Quantum Well Solar Cells
Authors: Hungyo Shingmila , Singh Khomdram J. , Warepam Dickson , Dhar Rudra S.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Energy is a major concern in every aspect of our life. Solar energy is a renewable
environmentally friendly source of energy. Therefore, solar cells are vastly studied with different
technology and different material.

Objective:

The main objective here is to analyze InGaN material for solar cell applications with less
complicated structures of MQW solar cells on revising solar cell with the recombination structure, I-V
characteristics, and its efficiency.

Methods:

The device is simulated using SILVACO ATLAS, where the well and the barrier layers are
inserted in the depletion region employing material combination of InGaN / GaN, which increases the
solar cell performance parameter. This work focuses on the photogeneration rate, recombination in the
active region as well as its current-voltage relation from the simulation.

Results:

With the increase in the number of QW periods in the active region of the device, the photovoltaic
parameters especially conversion efficiency, increases significantly. Under space AM0 solar
illumination, the cell efficiency increases up to 8.2 % for 20 MQWs with 20% Indium content for the
InGaN/GaN structure. It enhances the External Quantum Efficiency (EQE) upto 36% at nearly 380nm
wavelength range near the UV region.

Conclusion:

The modelled structure is efficiently simulated using TCAD SILVACO ATLAS, and the
material Indium Gallium Nitride semiconductor shows an excellent solar cell performance with high
solar radiation. It is also observed that with an increase in the number of well periods the solar cell
performance increases, which demonstrates the feasibility of Indium Gallium Nitride solar cell with an
additional MQW period as a power source.
Design features of the Inca museum of culture
Authors: Abbasov Iftikhar B. , Sanchez Christina Lissette
Published: August 2020

The paper deals with the development of a design concept for a museum of Inca culture in Ecuador. The current trends in the organization of historical museums in Latin America are presented. An overview of the graphic support of the Latin American museums of culture, archeology, and history is made. The historical foundations of the Museum of Inca culture are presented, the iconography of the Inca civilization of various periods is analyzed. The current state of the museum, the history of its foundation, prerequisites for creating a new brand are described. Associative graphic images for creating a new logo for the museum were considered, corporate colors were substantiated, and components of the brand were developed. This will strengthen the museum's brand and increase its social significance for the popularization of the Inca culture.
Job Involvement or Affective Commitment: A Sensitivity Analysis Study of Apathetic Employee Mobility
Authors: Hafer John C. , Martin Thomas N.
Published: August 2020

Apathetic employees constitute one of four employee categories in Blau and Boal’s (1987) model. Six sensitivity analyses were applied to create positive and negative changes in the measurement scores on job involvement and affective commitment of 553 employees to determine which variable produced the greatest Apathetic employee mobility. While changing both variables simultaneously created the greatest movement, on an individual basis, changing affective commitment produced greater Apathetic employee mobility than changing job involvement. The managerial implications of these findings are discussed.