bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Timoshenko Beam Theory:First-Order Analysis, Second-Order Analysis, Stability, and Vibration Analysis Using the Finite Difference Method
Authors: Fogang Valentin
Published: May 2021

This paper presents an approach to the Timoshenko beam theory (TBT) using the finite difference method (FDM). The TBT covers cases associated with small deflections based on shear deformation considerations, whereas the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory neglects shear deformations. The FDM is an approximate method for solving problems described with differential or partial differential equations. It does not involve solving differential equations; equations are formulated with values at selected points of the structure. The model developed in this paper consists of formulating partial differential equations with finite differences and introducing new points (additional or imaginary points) at boundaries and positions of discontinuity (concentrated loads or moments, supports, hinges, springs, brutal change of stiffness). The introduction of additional points allows satisfying boundary and continuity conditions. First-order, second-order, and vibration analyses of structures were conducted with this model. Efforts, displacements, stiffness matrices, buckling loads, and vibration frequencies were determined. In addition, tapered beams were analyzed (e.g., element stiffness matrix, second-order analysis, and vibration analysis). Finally, the direct time integration method (DTIM) was presented. The FDM-based DTIM enabled the analysis of forced vibration of structures, considering the damping. The efforts and displacements could be determined at any time.
The relationship between the school organization and the process of inclusion of an autistic student
Authors: Camargo Erica Daiane Ferreira , Givigi Rosana Carla Nascimento
Published: May 2021

The issues surrounding the school organization are important for the inclusion process. It is essential to prepare the schools and people who work at them because it contributes to the social and cognitive development of the students with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This qualitative research uses collaborative-critical action research as the methodology. The aim of this paper is to analyze the school routine for the attendance of an autistic child. This research was done at regular schools they were weekly visited for twelve months. This study allowed the author to conclude that there is a concern about architectural issues and the absence of prior planning to carry out the pedagogical practices, when the students get in the school or when they leave. The educational process of students with disabilities is evidenced by the problems they face. There is no school organization to provide educational support and contribute to student’s development.
Beneficios del entrenamiento de fuerza en el medio acuático en mujeres postmenopáusicas: una revisión sistemática
Authors: García Gómez Héctor , García Ukemi Manuel Omar , Salas Guiu Jorge
Published: May 2021

Antecedentes: Los cambios fisiológicos y psicológicos de la postmenopausia afectan directamente a la calidad de vida de las mujeres. El entrenamiento de fuerza y el entrenamiento en el medio acuático pueden ser una forma eficaz de contrarrestar estos cambios, pero pocos estudios han evaluado estos beneficios combinados en mujeres postmenopáusicas. Surge la necesidad de estudiar si mediante la realización de un programa que reúne ambas características se podrían obtener beneficios en la postmenopausia.

Objetivos: Analizar la literatura científica sobre estudios realizados que incluyan entrenamiento de fuerza en el medio acuático en mujeres postmenopáusicas y comprobar la eficacia en la mejora de los parámetros relacionados con su salud.

Método Se analizaron 19 artículos publicados en revistas científicas, buscados en PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane y Google Académico bajo la búsqueda de “aquatic resistance training” AND “postmenopausal women”. Estos trabajos pasaron el filtro de selección, eliminando duplicados, estudios que no versaran sobre la materia y aquellos anteriores al año 2009. Se incluyeron estudios, de dos a cuatro grupos, y estudios que demostraron estadísticamente la influencia positiva del entrenamiento de fuerza en el medio acuático en la mejora de alguno de los parámetros evaluados.

Resultados: El entrenamiento de fuerza en el medio acuático aporta beneficios a las mujeres postmenopáusicas en la calidad de vida, fuerza muscular, composición corporal, capacidad funcional, equilibrio, presión arterial, densidad mineral ósea y artrosis.

Conclusiones: El entrenamiento de fuerza en el medio acuático es efectivo para mejorar los cambios que sufren las mujeres postmenopáusicas.
Beneficios del entrenamiento de fuerza en el medio acuático en mujeres postmenopáusicas: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Cadena Duarte Laura
Published: May 2021

Introducción: La actividad física en agua es una estrategia terapéutica para revertir los efectos negativos del envejecimiento, que han demostrado ganancias composición corporal que se relacionan de forma directa con la funcionalidad, con el aumento en la fuerza de miembros inferiores, equilibrio y agilidad, del adulto mayor, que favorecen a la disminución de lesiones. Objetivo: realizar una revisión sistemática que permita identificar, clasificar y describir los aportes científicos más relevantes sobre este fenómeno, de manera que se pueda sintetizar las variables de programación de actividad física en agua que tengan efectos positivos en la salud del adulto mayor. Método: se realizó una búsqueda en 6 bases de datos donde Se emplearon los parámetros PRISMA, Chocrane y de la Universidad de York para el diseño. Además, se garantizaron criterios de calidad y especificidad estrictos que permitieron identificar 11 categorías de análisis, de las cuales emergieron las pautas de programación que se informan en la revisión sistemática. Resultados: 31 estudios cumplieron con los criterios de selección establecidos y hacer una síntesis de contenido. Conclusión: Esta revisión sistemática, permite clarificar el protocolo de intervención en actividad física en agua para revertir los efectos negativos del envejecimiento, atendiendo a las variables de programación del ejercicio.
An Investigation of Mechanistic Foam Modeling for Optimum Field Development of CO2 Foam EOR Application
Authors: Izadi Mohammad , Nguyen Phuc H. , Fleifel Hazem , Maestre Doris Ortiz , Kam Seung I.
Published: May 2021

While there are a number of mechanistic foam models available in the literature, it still is not clear how such models can be used to guide actual field development planning in enhanced oil recovery (EOR) applications. This study aims to develop the framework to determine the optimum injection condition during foam EOR processes by using a mechanistic foam model. The end product of this study is presented in a graphical manner, based on the sweep-efficiency contours (from reservoir simulations) and the reduction in gas mobility (from mechanistic modeling of foams with bubble population balance).

The main outcome of this study can be summarized as follows: First, compared to gas/water injection with no foams, injection of foams can improve cumulative oil recovery and sweep efficiency significantly. Such a tendency is observed consistently in a range of total injection rates tested (low, intermediate, and high total injection rates Qt). Second, the sweep efficiency is more sensitive to the injection foam quality fg for dry foams, compared to wet foams. This proves how important bubble-population-balance modeling is to predict gas mobility reduction as a function of Qt and fg. Third, the graphical approach demonstrates how to determine the optimum injection condition and how such an optimum condition changes at different field operating conditions and limitations (i.e., communication through shale layers, limited carbon dioxide (CO2) supply, cost advantage of CO2 compared to surfactant chemicals, etc.). For example, the scenario with noncommunicating shale layers predicts the maximum sweep of 49% at fg = 55% at high Qt, while the scenarios with communicating shale layers (with 0.1-md permeability) predicts the maximum sweep of only 40% at fg = 70% at the same Qt. The use of this graphical method for economic and business decisions is also shown, as an example, to prove the versatility and robustness of this new technique.
Three-body problem - from Newton to supercomputer plus machine learning
Authors: LIAO Shijun , Li Xiaoming , Yang Yu
Published: May 2021

The famous three-body problem can be traced back to Newton in 1687, but quite few families of periodic orbits were found in 300 years thereafter. In this paper, we propose an effective approach and a roadmap to numerically gain planar periodic orbits of three-body systems with arbitrary masses by means of machine learning based on an artificial neural network (ANN) model. Given any a known periodic orbit as a starting point, this approach can provide more and more periodic orbits (of the same family name) with variable masses, while the mass domain having periodic orbits becomes larger and larger, and the ANN model becomes wiser and wiser. Finally, we have an ANN model trained by means of all obtained periodic orbits of the same family, which provides a convenient way to give accurate enough predictions of periodic orbits with arbitrary masses for physicists and astronomers. It suggests that the high-performance computer and artificial intelligence (including machine learning) should be the key to gain periodic orbits of the famous three-body problem.
Ceramide Levels and COVID-19 Respiratory Distress, a Causal Relationship
Authors: Khodadoust Mehran
Published: May 2021

A causal relationship between plasma ceramide concentration and respiratory distress symptoms in COVID-19 patients is presented. In this study, plasma samples of 52 individuals infected with COVID-19 were utilized in a lipidomic analysis. Lipids belonging to the ceramide class exhibited a 400-fold increase in total plasma concentration in infected patients. Further analysis led to the demonstration of concentration dependency for severe COVID-19 respiratory symptoms in a subclass of ceramides. The subclasses Cer(d18:0/24:1), Cer(d18:1/24:1), and Cer(d18:1/22:0) were shown to be increased by 48-, 40-, and 33-fold, respectively, in infected plasma samples and to 116-, 91- and 50-fold, respectively, in plasma samples with respiratory distress. Hence, monitoring plasma ceramide concentration, targeting ceramide synthesis, its salvage and its regulatory mechanisms are validated approaches towards enhancing survival from COVID-19 respiratory distress.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy versus surgery for patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer( ≤ 5cm): A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Yueling , Wen Ping , Yu Yue , Yang Zhenyi , Luo Yixuan , Wu Chunli
Published: May 2021

Background: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is considered as the preferred treatment method for inoperable early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is still a debate on the efficacy of SBRT and surgery. This meta-analysis aimed to compare survival outcomes of SBRT and surgery for early-stage NSCLC (≤5cm).Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to compare survival outcomes of surgery and SBRT. And the pooled analysis was conducted with STATA 14.0 software. Results: Thirty-nine comparative studies were included for systematic review and twenty-eight of which for quantitative analysis. Compared with SBRT, overall survival (OS) was superior after surgical resection, included lobectomy, sublobar resection, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and thoracotomy, for patients with early-stage NSCLC (≤5cm). And the results of subgroup analysis remained the support of surgery except for the OS of operable matched cohorts and the one matched cohort of age ≥75. However, the HR of OS showed a reduction from patients with unspecific age, ≥65 to ≥75 years old and histopathologically confirmed NSCLC to clinical NSCLC. Although cancer-specific survival and local control was superior after surgery, the recurrence rate of tumors, locoregional control, distant control, and regional control of matched patients demonstrated no significantly different outcomes between SBRT and surgery for early-stage NSCLC.Conclusions: Results show that surgery has superior OS, CSS and local control compared to SBRT for early-stage NSCLC. There is still necessary to explore the survival difference between SBRT and surgery for patients with different characteristics by large-sample, long-term follow-up randomized clinical studies.
Erb-(IL10)2 Induces Abscopal Antitumor Effects of Radiotherapy through the Activation and Recruitment of Lymph node CD8+ T Cells
Authors: xue jiao , Qi Ziwei , Yao Yimin , Zhao Qi , Zhang Zheng , Fu Shilong , Zhou Liyao , Zhu Jiaxing , Liu Zhenhua , Xu Haiyan , Huang Yuhui , Qin Songbing
Published: May 2021

Background: Although radiotherapy (RT) has been widely used in cancer treatment, it provides limited benefits in patients with metastatic cancers due to rare abscopal antitumor effects. The recent progression in cancer immunotherapy provides a potential new strategy to boost abscopal antitumor effects of RT.Methods: we fused Interleukin 10 (IL10) dimer onto an anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody Cetuximab (Erbitux) to form a new bispecific protein Erb-(IL10)2. The antitumor effect and biological activity of Erb-(IL10)2 was measured in B16-EGFR-OVA tumor model. In vivo cell depletion and flow cytometry analysis were used to access the mechanism of antitumor effects.Results: Erb-(IL10)2 treatment alone showed modest tumor growth inhibition, while local single dose RT (10 Gy) retarded irradiated tumor growth without affecting on the growth of nonirradiated tumors. Notably, the combination therapy of RT and Erb-(IL10)2 not only additively inhibited irradiated tumor growth, but also induced abscopal antitumor responses. In vivo depletion of CD8+ T cells abrogated the combinational antitumor effects, while blockade of lymphocyte trafficking by FTY720 treatment abolished the abscopal antitumor responses without affecting the antitumor effects on the irradiated tumor sites. Conclusion: This study provides evidences for the radio-sensitivity role of Erb-(IL10)2 in B16-EGFR-OVA tumor model. Our findings suggest a novel strategy to elicit abscopal antitumor effects of RT through combining tumor-targeted therapy of IL10.
Did self‐reported tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity change during the COVID-19 restrictions in Germany in spring 2020? Findings from a population survey (the DEBRA study)
Authors: Klosterhalfen Stephanie , Kastaun Sabrina , Kotz Daniel
Published: May 2021

Background

Broad nationwide restrictions of social life and contacts were implemented in Germany on March 22nd, 2020, to reduce the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS‑CoV‑2). It is unclear how these restrictions affected peoples’ health behaviour.
Objective

To: i) examine changes in self-reported health behaviour of the German population regarding tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity during the restrictions compared with the time prior to these restrictions; ii) explore associations between potential changes and socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics.
Methods

We used data from two waves (June-August 2020) of the German Study on Tobacco Use (DEBRA): a cross-sectional, representative, face-to‐face household survey in people aged ≥ 14 years (N = 4078). Associations between socioeconomic and sociodemographic characteristics and changes in each health behaviour were analysed using multinomial logistic regression analyses (categories of the dependent variable: increase, no change, decrease).
Results

People reported changes in their health behaviour: smoking increase = 24.0% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 21.5–26.7), decrease = 12.2% (95%CI = 10.4–14.4); alcohol consumption increase = 12.9% (95%CI = 11.7–14.1), decrease = 19.9% (95%CI = 18.4–21.3); physical activity increase = 18.5% (95%CI = 17.3–19.7); decrease = 29.4% (95%CI = 28.0–31.0). People with a lower level of education and younger age were more likely to report a harmful change in health behaviour.
Conclusion

The majority of people in Germany did not change their health behaviour during the 2020 corona restrictions. Among those who changed, relatively more increased their smoking and decreased their alcohol consumption and physical activity. Public health interventions in this context should particularly target people with lower socioeconomic status and younger age e.g., by offering more online courses.
Low dose allopurinol is associated with modest but significant improvements in glycemic control (GC) and glycemic variability (GV) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Alem Manal M.
Published: May 2021

BackgroundType 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), gout, and asymptomatic hyperuricemia are inter-connected pathologies. Glycemic control (GC), involving a range of treatments is central to the management of DM, whereas allopurinol continues to be the most widely recommended urate lowering agent. Allopurinol has been shown to possess anti-oxidant properties: this study explores the favorable potential effect of allopurinol on glucose homeostasis.MethodsThis is an observational study with a cross-sectional design performed on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), recruited from centers in Saudi Arabia. Patients were divided into two groups; allopurinol users; (for gout or asymptomatic hyperuricemia) and matching control patients. Patient demographics, co-morbid conditions, biochemical tests, and pharmacological treatments were extracted from electronic records to investigate the effect of allopurinol therapy on Glycemic control (GC), as assessed by glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c as primary endpoint), and on parameters of glycaemic variability (GV) (secondary endpoints).ResultsA total of 194 patients with type 2 DM were recruited (97 in both groups). The two groups were matched for age and sex: mean age: 59.4 years, 73% males in the allopurinol group vs 59.6 years, 73% males in the control group. Allopurinol, daily dose 100 mg, was prescribed for 77% of the patients, with median duration of 39.5 months treatment. HbA1c values were; 6.90% (6.20, 7.80) in the allopurinol group vs 7.30% (6.60, 8.40) in the control group (P=0.010). Parameters of GV were calculated from 3 consecutive fasting blood sugar (FBS) readings: variability independent of the mean (VIM) was 0.140 in the allopurinol group vs 0.987 in the control group (P<0.001).ConclusionConcomitant low-dose allopurinol therapy in patients with type 2 DM was associated with modest but significant improvements in GC and GV.
Physiological Effects of Wearing N95 Respirator on Medical Staff During Prolong Work Hours in Covid-19 Departments
Authors: shechtman liran , Ben-Haim Gal , Ben-Zvi Ilan , steel Laurence , Ironi Avinoah , Huszti Ella , Chatterji Sumit , levy liran
Published: May 2021

Background

Since the emergence of coronavirus disease, health care professionals in high-risk environments are mandated to wear N95 respirators for prolonged periods. The effect of this prolonged use on cardio-respiratory variables and gas-exchange is poorly defined. The objective of the current study was to determine gas exchange abnormalities and physiological changes among healthcare workers during a 4-hour emergency department (ED) shift while wearing the N95 respirator.
Methods

This was a single-center prospective observational study that consisted of medical staff working at the Sheba Medical Center ED. Physiological effects and gas exchange variables were obtained under normal breathing conditions and after 4-hour shifts while continuously wearing an N95 respirator. Comparisons of paired measurements were performed using a non-parametric Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test.
Results

Forty-one subjects were included in the study. Prolonged N95 respirator use was associated with a significant decline in plasma pH [7.35mmHg vs. 7.34mmHg, P = 0.02], PvO2 [23.2 mmHg vs. 18.6 mmHg, P < 0.001] and a concurrent increase in EtCO2 [32.5mmHg vs. 38.5mmHg, p < 0.0001]. PvCO2 and bicarbonate levels did not differ. No significant change was observed for heart rate or oxygen saturation.
Conclusion

Using an N95 respirator for prolonged periods by healthcare professionals may provoke changes in gas exchange. The clinical significance of these changes in terms of symptoms or longer-term health status is unknown and remains to be determined.
Digestive Adaptations of Both the Fore- and Hind-gut in a Temperate Colobine Monkey
Authors: Liu Rui , Amato Katherine , Hou Rong , Gomez Andres , Dunn Derek W. , Zhang Jun , Garber Paul A. , Chapman Colin , Righini Nicoletta , He Gang , Fang Gu , Li Yuhang , Li Baoguo , guo songtao
Published: May 2021

Background: In mammal herbivores, the digestion of fiber usually occurs predominantly in either the foregut or in the hindgut. However, how both gut regions function synergistically in the digestion of fiber and other nutrients has rarely been reported in wild mammals. This requires an integrative study of host anatomy, physiology and gut microbiome. Colobine monkeys (Colobinae) are folivorous, with fiber fermentation primarily occurring in the foregut, with residual fermentation in the hindgut. For the few colobine species that live in temperate regions obtaining energy from fiber during winter is critical but the mechanisms enabling this remain unclear. Results: We studied microbial and morphological digestive adaptations of golden snub-nosed monkeys (GSMs), Rhinopithecus roxellana, a temperate forest colobine from central China. We tested for synergistic foregut and hindgut fiber digestion in a species that experiences high thermal energy demands while restricted to a fibrous, low-energy winter diet. We found that the GSM’s colon has a significantly greater volume than that of other foregut fermenting colobines, and both gut regions of GSMs are dominated by microbial taxa producing enzymes to enable active digestion of complex carbohydrates. The microbiomes of the fore- and hindgut differed significantly in composition and abundance. Although the expression of microbial gene functions for fiber digestion were higher in the foregut than in the hindgut, our microbiome analysis in conjunction with that for morphology, enzyme activity and fiber-protein digestion, suggests complementary fiber and protein metabolism in both gut regions. Conclusions: Our results support that both the GSM fore- and hindgut facilitate fiber digestion, with an enlarged colon consistent as an adaptation to accommodate high throughput of fiber-rich food during winter.
Development and Validation of HPLC-MS2 Methodology for the Accurate Determination of C4-C8 B-type Flavanols and Procyanidins
Authors: Bussy Ugo , Olanrewaju Yusuf , Crozier Alan , Ottaviani Javier , Kwik-Uribe Catherine
Published: May 2021

Cocoa flavanols and procyanidins (CFs),natural dietary bioactives, have been extensively studied over the past two decades. Human research on the safety and efficacy of CFs is critically dependent upon on the ability to reliably characeterize the research materials that are utilized, and with growing consumer availability of CF-based products, reliable methods for the detection of potential adulteration are of increasing importance. The characterization of CF usually relies on the separation of the analytes by degree of polymerization followed by fluorescence detection, an approach that has recently been validated and accredited as an AOAC Official Method of Analysis (2020.05). More selective methods exploring mass spectrometry detection have been reported, but could not discuss method accuracy due to limited availability of analytical standards. This research focused on the development of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method (HPLC-MS2) using primary standards and synthetic 13C-labelled procyanidins as internal standards. The ability of MS2 detection to discriminate A- and B-type procyanidins was demonstrated. Method performances were validated for degrees of polymerization up to four in seven food model matrices. Accuracy ranged from 90.9 to 125.4 % and precision was <10 % at lower concentration. Finally, the method was applied to cocoa-based samples and compared to AOAC 2020.05, supporting the use of NIST 8403 as reference material for LC-MS analysis.
Analysis of Cell-free Circulating DNA Fragment Size and Level in Patients With Lumbar Degenerative Disease
Authors: Hiyama Akihiko , Sakai Daisuke , Nomura Satoshi , Katoh Hiroyuki , Watanabe Masahiko
Published: May 2021

Background: Cell-free circulating DNA (cfDNA), which can be extracted by liquid biopsy, has been studied as a noninvasive biomarker for various diseases. The potential of cfDNA fragment size and level as a marker for low back pain (LBP) has never been studied. We investigated whether cfDNA is a biomarker of LBP severity in patients with a lumbar degenerative disease (LDD). Methods: Blood samples were obtained from patients with LDD (n = 21) before and immediately after spinal surgery. Plasma DNA was isolated and examined for cfDNA fragment size and concentration. A cohort of healthy volunteers (n = 5) constituted the control group.Results: The cfDNA fragment size tended to be shorter in patients than in healthy controls, but this difference was not significant (P = .224). cfDNA level was significantly higher in LDD patients (mean 0.642±0.199 ng/mL, range 0.302–1.150 ng/mL) than in healthy controls (mean 0.429±0.064 ng/mL, range 0.366–0.506 ng/mL) (P = .029). cfDNA level correlated positively with present pain (r = .421, P = .036), maximum pain (r = .419, P = .037), average pain (r = .566, P = .003), low back pain (r = .403, P = .041), leg pain (r = .480, P = .013), and leg numbness (r = .455, P = .020). cfDNA fragment size did not differ from before to after surgery, but cfDNA level increased postoperatively in patients with LDD. Conclusions: This was the first study investigating whether cfDNA fragment size and level are associated with pain, including LBP, in patients with LDD. Our findings suggest that cfDNA level may be an objective indicator of pain and surgical invasiveness in patients with LDD.
Consistent description of microscopic phenomena by macroscopic observers in quantum theory
Authors: Kryukov Alexey
Published: May 2021

Quantum mechanics is the foundation of modern physics that is thought to be applicable to all physical phenomena, at least in principle. However, when applied to macroscopic bodies, the theory seems to be inconsistent. Wigner's friend and related thought experiments demonstrate that accounts by different observers described by the rules of quantum mechanics may be contradictory. Although still highly debated, such experiments seem to demonstrate an incompatibility of quantum mechanics with the usual rules of logic. Alternatively, one of the hidden assumptions in the thought experiments must be wrong. For instance, the argument is invalidated if macroscopic observers cannot be considered as physical systems described by the rules of quantum theory. Here we prove that there is a way to apply the rules of quantum mechanics to macroscopic observers while avoiding contradictory accounts of measurement by the observers. The key to this is the random noise that is ever present in nature and that represents the uncontrollable part of interaction between measured system and the surroundings in classical and quantum physics. By exploring the effect of the noise on microscopic and macroscopic bodies, we demonstrate that accounts of Wigner, the friend and other agents all become consistent. Our result suggests that the existing attempts to modify the Schrodinger equation to account for measurement results may be misguided. More broadly, the proposed mechanism for modeling measurements underlies the phenomenon of decoherence and is shown to be sufficient to explain the transition to Newtonian physics in quantum theory.
MRI Before Biopsy Correlates With Depth of Invasion Corrected for Shrinkage Rate of the Histopathological Specimen in Tongue Carcinoma
Authors: Harada Hiroyuki , Tomioka Hirofumi , Hirai Hideaki , Kuroshima Takeshi , Oikawa Yu , Nojima Hitomi , Sakamoto Junichiro , Kurabayashi Tohru , Kayamori Kou , Ikeda Tohru
Published: May 2021

The purpose of this study was to evaluate which radiological depth of invasion (r-DOI) measurement is the most concordant to clinical DOI (c-DOI) derived from correction for the shrinkage rate of the histopathological specimens.We retrospectively reviewed 128 patients with tongue carcinoma who had undergone glossectomy between 2006 and 2019. At first, the width shrinkage rate during formalin fixation and preparation process of histopathological specimens was evaluated. From the shrinking rates, a formula to calculate c-DOI from pathological DOI (p-DOI) was developed. The correlation between c-DOI and r-DOI was evaluated.The specimen shrinkage rate during the histopathological specimen preparation process was 10.3%. Based on that, we yielded the correct formula for c-DOI based on p-DOI and preparation shrinkage rate: c-DOI = p-DOI × 100/89.7. The regression equations for the association of c-DOI with r-DOI measured by ultrasound (n = 128), MRI before biopsy (n = 18), and MRI after biopsy (n = 110) were y = 1.12 * x + 0.21, y = 0.89 * x − 0.26, and y = 0.52 * x + 2.63, respectively, while the coefficients of determination were 0.664, 0.891, and 0.422, respectively. In conclusion, r-DOI using MRI before biopsy most strongly correlated with c-DOI.
Real-time and on-line parallel detection of key fermentation process parameters by near-infrared spectroscopy in different environments
Authors: Chen Yang , Chen Lingli , Guo Meijin , Li Xu , Liu Jinsong , Liu Xiaofeng , Chen Zhongbing , Tian Xiaojun , Zheng Haoyue , Tian Xiwei , Chu Ju , Zhuang Yingping
Published: May 2021

The fermentation process is dynamically changing, and the metabolic status can be grasped through real-time monitoring of environmental parameters. In this study, a real-time and on-line monitoring experiment platform for substrates and products detection was developed based on non-contact type near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy technology. The prediction models for monitoring the fermentation process of lactic acid, sophorolipids and sodium gluconate were established based on partial least-squares regression and internal cross-validation methods. Through fermentation verification, the accuracy and precision of the NIR model for the complex fermentation environments, different rheological properties (uniform system and multi-phase inhomogeneous system) and different parameter types (substrate, product and nutrients) have good applicability, and R2 is greater than 0.90, exhibiting a good linear relationship. The root mean square error shows that the model has high credibility. This research provides a basis for the application of NIR spectroscopy in complex fermentation systems.
Effects of Programmed Cell Death Induced by NO on Pollen Viability After Cryopreservation
Authors: Ren Ruifen , Zhou Hao , Zhang Lingling , Zhu Mengting , Jiang Xueru , Liu Yan
Published: May 2021

Low activity level of biomaterials after cryopreservation is a bottleneck problem that limited the application of this technology. At present, the mechanism of viability decline after cryopreservation is not fully understood. In this study, the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on programmed cell death (PCD) and its relationship with viability were investigated, using Paeonia lactiflora 'Fen Yu Nu' pollen with significantly decreased viability after cryopreservation. The results showed that: the activity of caspase-3-like and caspase-9-like protease and the apoptosis rate of pollen cells were significantly increased, the expression level of promoting PCD (pro-PCD) gene was up-regulated, while the expression level of inhibiting PCD (anti-PCD) gene was down-regulated after preserved in liquid nitrogen (LN); the NO content in pollen cells increased significantly after LN preserved. The results of correlation analysis showed that NO was significantly correlated with pollen viability and all indicators of PCD. The addition of NO carrier SNP after LN storage reduced pollen viability, increased endogenous NO content, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential level, activated caspase-3-like and caspase-9-like protease in pollen cells, and increased cell apoptosis rate, and the expression levels of pro-PCD genes PDCD2 and ATG8CL were significantly up-regulated, while the expression levels of anti-PCD genes DAD1, BI-1 and LSD1 were significantly down-regulated; and the addition of NO scavenger c-PTIO produced the opposite effect of SNP. It was suggested that NO induced the PCD during the cryopreservation of pollen, which was one of the reasons for the significant decrease of pollen viability after cryopreservation.
Synthesis and Characterization of Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 Nanocomposites with Enhanced Properties of Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalyst
Authors: Phuruangrat Anukorn , Teppetcharat Jarupat , Patiphatpanya Panudda , Dumrongrojthanath Phattranit , Thongtem Somchai , Thongtem Titipun
Published: May 2021

Heterostructure Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites were successful synthesized in ethylene glycol by microwave-assisted deposition method at 300 W for 10 min. Effect of the loaded Pd on phase, composition, morphology and visible-light-driven photocatalytic properties of Bi2WO6 was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fast-Fourier-Transform (FFT) diffraction, UV-visible absorption and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In this research, good distribution of cubic phase of spherical Pd nanoparticles with particle size of 15–20 nm supported on orthorhombic Bi2WO6 thin nanoplates. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites reveal major metallic Pd0 species containing in Bi2WO6 sample. Microwave can be used to synthesize metallic Pd nanoparticles supporting on top of Bi2WO6 nanoplates. Photocatalytic activities of Bi2WO6 loaded with different weight contents of Pd were monitored through photodegradation of cationic rhodamine B (RhB) dye under visible light irradiation of a xenon lamp. The 10% Pd/Bi2WO6 nanocomposites have the highest photocatalytic activity because Pd nanoparticles as electron acceptors promote interfacial charge-transfer through Pd/Bi2WO6 heterojunction.
Passively Driven Microfluidic Device with Simple Operation for Quantitative Droplet LAMP Sssay for Point-of-Care Analysis
Authors: Lin Pei-Heng , Li Bor-Ran
Published: May 2021

Since polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a vital tool for disease diagnosis, the development of precise applied PCR technologies in point-of care testing (POCT) has become more significant. The microfluidic-based PCR platform offers a great opportunity for on-site diagnosis efficiency, and the system is aimed at user-friendly access. Herein, we demonstrate a microfluidic system with simple operation that provides reliable nucleic acid results from 18 uniform droplets via LAMP qPCR detection. By using only micropipette regulation, users are able to control the nanoliter scale of the droplets in this valve-free and pump-free microfluidic (MF) chip. Based on the oil enclosure method and impermeable fabrication, we successfully preserved the reagent inside the microfluidic system, which significantly reduced the fluid loss and condensation. The relative standard deviation (RSD) of the fluorescence intensity between the droplets and during the heating process was <5% and 2.0%, respectively. Additionally, for different nucleic acid detection methods, the MF-LAMP chip in this study showed good applicability to both genome detection and gene expression analysis.
Collapse Dynamics in Hilbert-space Stochastic Processes
Authors: Bajoni Daniele , Nicrosini Oreste , Rimini Alberto , Rodini Simone
Published: May 2021

A detailed study of collapse dynamics as foreseen by the Ghirardi-Rimini-Weber theory of spontaneous collapse and its continuous realisations in the form of stochastic differential equations describing a brownian motion in the Hilbert space is presented.
Comparison of Measurement and Electromagnetic Overall Transfer Matrix Simulation Results of MgF 2 -Nb 2 O 5 Distributed Bragg Reflectors with Different Layers
Authors: Tseng Hsien-Wei , Chen Bo-Syuan. , Wu You-Lin , Lin Jing-Jenn , Yang Cheng-Fu
Published: May 2021

In this study, glasses were used as substrates and an e-beam was used the method to deposit MgF2 and Nb2O5 single-layer films, and the optical properties, including extinction coefficients (k values) and refractive indices (n values), were measured by using the light wavelength as variable. The equation d = λ/(4n) was used to calculate the thickness (d) of 1/4 wavelength (λ) for each layer of the MgF2-Nb2O5 bilayer films in distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) with a designed reflective wavelength at blue light (~450nm). Each MgF2-Nb2O5 bilayer film was called a period, and the glass substrates were used to deposit the films with two, four, and six periods for fabricating the DBRs. The field emission scanning electron microscope equipped with a focused ion beam was used to measure the thickness of each MgF2-Nb2O5 layer in the DBRs with different periods. The measured maximum reflective ratios were compared with Sheppard’s approximate equation, which calculates only the maximum reflective ratio at a specific wavelength. An overall transfer matrix was investigated to calculate the reflective spectra by incorporating the variable n values and thicknesses of the MgF2-Nb2O5 films in each layer. We show that the measured results of the fabricated DBRs matched the results simulated using Sheppard’s approximate equation and the overall transfer matrix.
Newly designed analogues from SARS-CoV inhibitors mimicking the druggable properties against SARS-CoV-2 and its novel variants
Authors: Ferdous Nadim , Reza Mahjerin Nasrin , Islam Md. Shariful , Emon Md. Tabassum Hossain , Nassan Mohamed A. , Ahmed Eman Ibrahim , Batiha Gaber El-Saber , Mohiuddin A. K.M. , Hossain Mohammad Uzzal
Published: May 2021

The emerging variants of SARS Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been continuously spreading all over the world and raised global health concerns. The B.1.1.7 (United Kingdom), P.1 (Brazil), B.1.351 (South Africa) and B.1.617 (India) variants resulted due to multiple mutations in the spike glycoprotein (SGp), are resistant to neutralizing antibodies and enable increased transmission. Hence, new drugs might be of great importance against the novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. The SGp and main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 are important targets to design and develop antiviral compounds for new drug discovery. In this study, we selected seventeen phytochemicals and later performed molecular docking to determine the binding interactions of the compounds with the two receptors and calculated several drug likeliness properties for each compound. Luteolin, myricetin and quercetin demonstrated higher affinity for both the proteins and interacted efficiently. To get better compounds, we designed three analogues from these compounds and showed the greater druggable properties than the parent compounds. Furthermore, we found that the analogues bind to the residues of both proteins including the recent novel variants of SARS-CoV-2. The binding study was further verified by molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and molecular mechanics/Poisson Boltzmann surface area (MM/PBSA) approaches by assessing the stability of the complexes. MD simulations revealed that Arg457 of SGp and Met49 of Mpro are the most important residues that interacted with the designed inhibitors. Our analysis may give some breakthroughs to develop new therapeutics to treat the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo.
Evaluación de la actividad anti-Candida albicans del aceite esencial de Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaertz “panizara”
Authors: Tapia Manrique Edgar Robert , Valdivieso Marquez Diego Alejandro
Published: May 2021

Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad anti-Candida albicans in vitro del aceite esencial de las hojas de Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaerts “panizara”. Materiales y Métodos: El material vegetal fue recolectado en el distrito de Huacaschuque, provincia de Pallasca, capital Cabana, región Ancash. El aceite esencial se obtuvo mediante un equipo de destilación por arrastre a vapor de agua, usando 5 kg de hojas frescas de panizara. La actividad in vitro anti-Candida albicans se realizó por el método de difusión en agar exponiendo actividad del aceite esencial a concentraciones de 100, 75, 50 y 25 % utilizando nistatina como control positivo. Resultados: El rendimiento del aceite esencial fue de 0,58% v/p. En la determinación analítica de la actividad anti-Candida albicans, el aceite esencial al 100, 75, 50 y 25% presentó una halo de inhibición de 25,233; 23,4; 21,433 y 16,2 mm respectivamente. Conclusión: El aceite esencial de las hojas de Clinopodium pulchellum (Kunth) Govaerts “panizara” posee actividad antifúngica significativa frente a la cepa de Candida albicans en concentraciones de 100, 75 y 50 %.
EFECTO REPARADOR DEL CHAMPÚ A BASE DE CÁSCARA DE CARICA PAPAYA L. (PAPAYA)
Authors: Huerta Leon Jenny Rosalyn , Samaniego Joaquin Jhonnel Williams , Inocente Camones Miguel Ángel
Published: May 2021

Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto reparador de un champú a base de cáscara de Carica papaya L. Materiales y métodos: Las cáscaras se deshidrataron por liofilización, una vez estabilizado se almacenó y se pudo formular un champú para probar su efecto reparador. Se analizaron los componentes de Ácidos grasos presentes por cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas. Se realizó el ensayo de irritación y sensibilización cutánea del champú en conejos. Se evaluó el efecto reparador utilizando la metodología de microscopía electrónica de barrido evaluando muestras de cabello virgen sometidas a diferentes agresiones, tales como tinción permanente y decoloración, que a su vez se sometieron a tratamientos con champú de cáscara de Carica papaya L. en concentraciones de 1% y 3% en comparación con champú base y un champú comercial. Resultados: En la determinación de Ácidos grasos de la cascara se obtuvo que contiene un 27,86% de Ácido linolénico, un 20,43% de Ácido palmítico y un 13,85% de Ácido linoleico. La evaluación de irritación cutánea en conejos permitió comprobar que el champú formulado en sus 2 concentraciones al 1% y al 3% no son irritantes. Se obtuvo que el champú con cáscara de papaya al 1% tiene un efecto reparador considerable evaluando la irregularidad. Conclusión: Se pudo demostrar la efectividad del champú a base de cascara de papaya al 1% en el tratamiento de reparación capilar demostrado en un modelo de cabello virgen.
ESTRATEGIAS DE POSICIONAMIENTO EN TIEMPOS DE COVID-19 DE LA EMPRESA D. FRUTITOS E.I.R.L - SAN JUAN DE LURIGANCHO, 2020
Authors: Seminario-Unzueta Randall , Trejo-Chávez Leslie , Rafael-Pedraza Heli
Published: May 2021

Objetivos: Determinar las estrategias de posicionamiento en tiempos de COVID-19 de la empresa D. Frutitos E.I.R.L - San Juan de Lurigancho, 2020. Materiales y métodos: El estudio de la investigación es descriptivo de enfoque cuantitativo, con diseño no experimental, de acuerdo a los datos recolectados, se diseñará una investigación de tipo aplicada, contando como población a los clientes de la empresa D. Frutitos E.I.R.L, con una muestra total de 80 consumidores entre varones y mujeres mayores de 18 y menores de 60 años, el instrumento de recolección de datos fue el cuestionario y serán analizados mediante el programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Resultados: Se determinó que las estrategias de posicionamiento se están dando positivamente en un nivel alto con un 65,0%, respecto a la gestión del consumidor se determinó que se está aplicando correctamente con un nivel alto de 68,8%, respecto al Marketing se alcanza una valoración de nivel alto con un 70,0%, referente a la Gestión de Marca se aplica en un nivel alto de 68,8% y con respecto a la competencia se observó que un nivel bajo de 42,5% no identifica a los competidores. Conclusiones: En cuanto al presente trabajo de investigación concluye con la identificación de las estrategias de posicionamiento en tiempos de COVID-19 de la empresa D. Frutitos E.I.R.L, se demostró que las estrategias se están ejecutando en un nivel alto, seguidamente en las dimensiones se obtuvieron niveles alto, medio y bajo.
ESTRATEGIAS DE MARKETING DIGITAL EN LOS CLIENTES DEL LABORATORIO ABBOTT DURANTE LA PANDEMIA COVID-19 - SAN JUAN DE LURIGANCHO, 2020
Authors: Mazzini-Sacayco Emma , Seminario-Unzueta Randall
Published: May 2021

Objetivos: El objetivo del estudio es describir las estrategias de marketing digital en los clientes del Laboratorio Abbott durante la pandemia COVID-19 del distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, 2020. Materiales y métodos: El presente estudio tiene un enfoque cuantitativo, tipo aplicado, diseño no experimental de corte transversal, nivel descriptivo; tiene como población a los clientes del laboratorio ABBOTT encuestados durante la pandemia COVID-19 en el distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, la muestra estuvo conformada por un total de 72 clientes, la técnica fue la encuesta en escala de Likert y el instrumento de recolección de datos fue el cuestionario con 35 ítems y 4 dimensiones, los datos serán analizados mediante el programa SPSS. Resultados: Indican que las estrategias de marketing digital en los clientes predominaron en el nivel de siempre con 54,2%, seguido del 25% en el nivel de casi siempre, además de un 16,7% con un nivel de algunas veces, en cuanto a las dimensiones de flujo se observa 51,4%, funcionalidad 55,6%, feedback 45,8%, fidelización 45,8% determinando que los clientes del Laboratorio Abbott utilizan el marketing digital en un 50% de su potencial total. Conclusiones: En cuanto a las estrategias de marketing digital en los clientes del laboratorio ABBOTT durante la pandemia COVID-19, llegando a las siguientes conclusiones, los clientes deben de ser capacitados para mejorar la utilización y el posicionamiento de la marca mediante estrategias de marketing digital y el manejo de la página web del laboratorio ABBOTT.
Phytochemical Study and Biological Activity of Three Fern Species of the
Asplenium Genus Growing in Bulgaria
Authors: Petkov Venelin , Slavova Iva , Teneva Desislava , Mladenova Tzvetelina , Stoyanov Plamen , Argirova Mariana
Published: May 2021

Background:

Ferns are underestimated as medicinal plants and their use in traditional
medicine is limited despite their diversity. Most of the research on their healing properties and phytochemical
composition related to their biological activity has been focused on the secondary
metabolites synthesized by ferns.

Objective:

In this study, we aimed to make an in-depth chemical characterization of three ferns
widely spread in Bulgaria - Asplenium ceterach L., Asplenium scolopendrium L. and Asplenium trichomanes
L.

Methods:

Micro elemental analysis was carried out using ICP-MS. Standard laboratory methods
were used to determine the content of proteins, fats and fatty acids. Chromatographic methods
were applied to quantify some secondary metabolites. Two antioxidant methods and two antimicrobial
tests were used to evaluate the biological properties of the ferns tested.

Results:

Micro elemental analysis showed that these ferns could be useful source of zinc and iron.
Protein content slightly varied among the species (13.6% - 18.4% of the dried plant weight). Negligible
was the variation in oil content (3.1% - 4.0%, dry weight base); oil composition was dominated
by saturated fatty acids. Some principal classes secondary metabolites, individual phenolic acids
and flavonoids were quantified. The extract obtained from Asplenium ceterach L. demonstrated the
highest antioxidant capacity. Fern extracts showed moderate antimicrobial activity against six of
the 14 microorganisms tested.

Conclusion:

The results obtained may reveal new areas of application for ferns and are a solid basis
for comparison with the same species growing in other geographical and climatic conditions,
which may affect their healing properties.