bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CD44 mediates hyaluronan to promote the differentiation of human amnionic mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes through the activation of Erk1/2 and Smad2 signals
Authors: Xu Yan , Wang Ai-Tong , Xiao jianhui
Published: June 2022

Background: Hyaluronan (HA), as a major component of the cellular matrix, plays an important role in cartilage formation. Our previous studies showed that HA may induce human amnion mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) to differentiate into chondrocytes. The surface molecule CD44, as the main receptor of hyaluronic acid, is crucial for maintaining cartilage homeostasis. But the effect and molecular mechanism of CD44 on HA-induced hAMSCs differentiation into cartilage is unknown. Results: The expression of aggrecan and type II collagen was down-regulated after using the antibody blocker anti-CD44 antibody (A3D8) in HA-induced group. Meanwhile, the transcriptional levels of chondrocyte‑associated genes SRY‑box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), aggrecan (ACAN) and collagen type II alpha 1 chain (COL2A1) were also decreased. Thus CD44 may mediates HA-induced differentiation of hAMSCs into chondrocytes. Further investigation indicated that expression of phosphorylated (p)‑Erk1/2 and p‑Smad2 was decreased following CD44 inhibition. The changes in the expression levels of p-Erk1/2 and p-Smad2 were consistent after treatment with ERK1/2 inhibitor (U0126) and agonist (EGF), respectively. At the same time, after the use of p-Smad2 inhibitor, the expression levels of p-ERK1/2 and p-Smad2 were both down-regulated, and TGF-β, an agonist of p-Smad2, had no effect on the expression of p-ERK1/2, but decreased the expression of p-Smad2. Results showed that there was a cross-talk between Erk1/2 and Smad2. In addition, inhibition of p-Erk1/2 and p-Smad2 can significantly reduce the accumulation of aggrecan and type II collagen.Conclusion: These data indicated that CD44 mediated HA-induced differentiation of hAMSCs into chondrocytes via regulating Erk1/2 and Smad2 Signals.
Proper Understanding of Recurrent Stress Urinary Incontinence Treatment in women (PURSUIT): A Randomised Controlled Trial of Endoscopic and Surgical Treatment
Authors: Clark Lucy , Fitzgerald Beth , Noble Sian , MacNeill Stephanie , Paramasivan Sangeetha , Cotterill Nikki , Hashim Hashim , Jha Swati , Toozs-Hobson Philip , Greenwell Tamsin , Thiruchelvam Nikesh , Agur Wael , White Alison , Garner Victoria , Cobos-Arrivabene Marta , Clement Clare , Cochrane Madeleine , Liu Yumeng , Lewis Amanda L , Taylor Jodi , Lane Athene , Drake Marcus J , Pope Caroline
Published: June 2022

Background: Women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) experience urine leakage with physical activity. Currently the interventional treatments for SUI are surgical, or endoscopic bulking injection(s). However, these procedures are not always successful, and symptoms can persist or come back after treatment, categorised as recurrent SUI. There are longstanding symptoms and distress associated with a failed primary treatment and currently there is no consensus on how best to treat women with recurrent, or persistent, SUI. Methods: A two-arm trial, set in at least 20 National Health Service (NHS) urology and urogynaecology referral units in the United Kingdom, randomising 250 adult women with recurrent or persistent SUI 1:1 to receive either an endoscopic intervention (endoscopic bulking injections) or a standard NHS surgical intervention, currently colposuspension, autologous fascial sling or artificial urinary sphincter. The aim of the trial is to determine whether surgical treatment is superior to endoscopic bulking injections in terms of symptom severity at 1-year after randomisation. This primary outcome will be measured using the patient-reported International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire - Urinary Incontinence - Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF). Secondary outcomes include assessment of longer-term clinical impact, improvement of symptoms, safety, operative assessments, sexual function, cost-effectiveness and an evaluation of patients’ and clinicians’ views and experiences of the interventions.Discussion: There is a lack of high-quality, randomised, scientific evidence for which treatment is best for women presenting with recurrent SUI. The PURSUIT study will benefit healthcare professionals and patients and provide robust evidence to guide further treatment and improve symptoms and quality of life for women with this condition. Trial registration: International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number (ISRCTN) registry, ID: ISRCTN12201059. Registered on 09 January 2020.
Temporal Patterns of Voice Onset Time of English-Sindhi Stops
Authors: Abbasi Abdul Malik , Channa Mansoor Ahmed , Khan Ms Ahlam
Published: June 2022

The paper examines the temporal voice onset time (VOT) duration of consonantal stops between the release burst of stops and the onset of vibration of the voice box. This is an acoustic study of Voice Onset Time of L1 Sindhi and L2 English stops. It aims to determine the acoustic average values of Voice Onset Time (VOT) in Sindhi English stop consonants i.e. L1 and L2 production of speech. According to the author, this descriptive study Voice Onset Time (VOT) in Sindhi-English stop consonants has been conducted first time on English-Sindhi VOT (ms) stops. The study recruited 10 (5 females and 5 male participants), who were Sindhi native speakers and English as a Second Language (ESL) Learners. The stimuli were designed in which three voicing pairs were selected from both Sindhi and English. The VOT (ms) of six Sindhi and English voicing stop pairs /p/, /t/, /k/ & /b/, /d/, and /ɡ/ were measured i.e. one voiceless and one voiced. The undergraduate students recorded their voice samples in both Sindhi and English. The data were separately analyzed from Sindhi and English languages. There were acoustic differences within the groups and between the groups in VOT (ms) of English and Sindhi. The statistical tests were run on the results where the significance level of p-value was fixed on < 0.05. The results illustrate that there is a significant difference between voiceless sounds i.e. /p/ & /k/ means. The findings of the data reveal that there is no statistically significant difference between VOT (ms) means of male & female for the voiceless & voiced consonantal sounds i.e., /t/, /b/, /d/ & /ɡ/. The data further discovered that English-Sindhi VOT characteristics of stops are not associated with gender; however, English-Sindhi VOT altered as a function of the place of articulation.
The importance of integrating Digital Language Learning system in the Listening classroom
Authors: Gobena Gadisa Tadesse
Published: June 2022

Listening comprehension is crucial to language learning for learners. There is no doubt that student who can apply their listening skills enable to their language proficiency on other too. Because of the instructors deeply stay on other language skills, students lag their skills to listening, and decide as it was simple to understand it. However, different supportive strategies to listening skills such Digital Language Learning System installation for EFL students have several lots of purposes as it helps both instructors and students of the language. The application of using Digital Language Learning System helps the students to learn through self-study, demonstration, listening audio materials and develop their language proficiency. The intended uses Digital Language Learning in the English classroom have been considered as the major resource to develop students’ language skills among the students. However, the pedagogy of preparing the lesson plan to teach English listening skills in the daily classroom is nearly neglected one. There is a complacency that having the skills of speaking, writing, and reading in EFL Class able to make us satisfied. To this end, FL English language instructors ignore listening skills since they are not avail themselves in trying to teach this skill in their lesson to make students acquire the target language.
The Effect of Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation on Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome After Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Authors: Jones Shelby , Edie Allison , Hill Joshua S. , Thompson Julie A. , Troop Emily
Published: June 2022

Purpose
Lower anterior resection (LAR) is the preferred surgical treatment of rectosigmoid or rectal cancers but is often associated with bowel dysfunction, termed Lower Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS). Daily bowel dysfunction symptoms have a detrimental effect on quality of life (QOL). Pelvic floor rehabilitation (PFR) can improve pelvic floor function and QOL among patients with LARS. This quality improvement (QI) project seeks to assess prevalence of LARS within our population and develop and incorporate PFR for treatment and prevention of LARS.
Methods
A convenience sample of 20 patients met project inclusion and 13 participated. Individuals were categorized by diagnostic risk: “low risk”, “high risk”, and “established.” The intervention included 1-hour PFR sessions with the physical therapist (PT) and 5 minutes of daily self-led pelvic floor muscle exercises. Outcome questionnaires included the LARS Score and FiQOL Scale. Data were collected both pre and post CRC treatment.
Results
Overall prevalence of LARS was 76.9% and significantly higher than the retrospective cohort comparison rate of 21.8% (p < .001). Prevalence of major LARS was 89%, 83%, and 50% at initial, second, and third session, representing a 44% relative decrease. Embarrassment was significantly affected among individuals with major LARS, though ongoing PFR facilitated improvement.
Conclusion
PFR is a valuable adjunct therapy for LARS, with continued sessions decreasing overall prevalence among our cohort. Major LARS negatively impacts QOL measures early on in treatment but improves with continued PFR.
Construction method of equipment defect domain ontology
Authors: yang huafei , yang wenqing , Zhang Nan , Wei Shanming , Shang Yingnan
Published: June 2022

Equipment defect domain ontology is the semantic basis for constructing equipment defect knowledge graph, which can be used to organize, share, and analyze equipment defect related knowledge. At present, there are many relevant data in the field of equipment defects, such as equipment information model, equipment management documents, and equipment defect reports. These equipment defect data often focus on a single aspect of the equipment defect field. It is difficult to integrate the database with various types of equipment defect information. This paper combines the characteristics of existing equipment defect data sources to build a general equipment defect domain ontology. This research can break the barrier of multi-source heterogeneous knowledge, build an efficient storage engine for multimodal data, and empower the safety of industrial Internet.
Multi-dimensional mismatch and barriers for promoting PrEP among men who have sex with men in China: a cross sectional survey from the Demand-side
Authors: Guan Yuan , Qi Tangkai , Huang Wei , Zhang Renfang , Chen Jun , Liu Li , Shen Yinzhong , Zhu Han , Tang Qi , Lu Hongzhou
Published: June 2022

Men who have sex with men (MSM) is a key population for preventing HIV in China, yet Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is not widely accepted in this population. An online questionnaire survey was conducted from December 2018 to January 2019. Among 1915 MSM from 34 geographical regions of China, 512 (26.7%) versus 1617 (84.4%) had an objective or subjective need of PrEP, respectively. One hundred and six (5.5%) reported affordability and only 23 (1.2%) had ever taken it. A wide disconnect exists among the objective need, willingness, affordability and uptake of PrEP. Age, living alone and occupation were associated with the objective needs. Education, occupation, sexual behavior were associated with the willingness. Age, income, sexual behavior were associated with actual usage. Cost was the most prevalent barrier, accounting for 78.22% of individuals who needed and wished for PrEP but finally failed to receive it. The findings might facilitate optimizing future allocation of resources to better promote PrEP in Chinese MSM.
Secondary organic aerosol formation from mixed volatile organic compounds: Effect of RO2 chemistry and precursor concentration
Authors: He Hong , Chen Tianzeng , Zhang Peng , Chu Biwu , Ma Qingxin , Ge Yanli , Liu Jun
Published: June 2022

Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) plays a significant role in contributing to atmospheric fine particles, as well as in global air quality and climate. However, the current understanding of the atmospheric formation of SOA and its simulation is still highly uncertain due to the complexity of its precursor VOCs. In our study, SOA formation in different mixed VOC scenarios was investigated using a 30 m3 indoor smog chamber. By comparing SOA formation in individual VOC scenarios, it was found that SOA formation from anthropogenic VOCs (AVOCs) can be positively (+ 83.9%) affected by coexisting AVOCs, while inhibited (-51.4%) by the presence of isoprene, via the OH scavenging effect. The cross-reactions of peroxyl radical (RO2) generated from different AVOCs were proved to be the main contributor (up to 39.0%) to SOA formation, highlighting the importance of RO2 + RʹO2 reactions in mixed VOC scenarios. Meanwhile, the formation of gas-phase organic intermediates of different volatility categories from the RO2 reactions was also affected by the precursor concentration, and a higher SOA yield was found at lower precursor concentrations due to the larger contribution of intermediates with lower volatility. Our study provides new insights into SOA formation by considering the interactions between intermediate products from mixed VOCs.
Pd on cyclotriphosphazen-hexa imine decorated boehmite as an efficient catalyst for hydrogenation of nitro arenes under mild reaction condition
Authors: Sadjadi Samahe , Abedian-Dehaghani Neda , Heravi Majid
Published: June 2022

Cyclotriphosphazen-hexa imine ligand was prepared through successive reactions of phosphonitrilchloride trimer with 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and (3-aminopropyl) triethoxy silane. The as-prepared ligand was then covalently grafted on boehmite to furnish an efficient support for immobilization of Pd nanoparticles and synthesis of a novel heterogeneous catalyst for hydrogenation of nitro arenes. The catalytic tests revealed that the catalyst had excellent catalytic activity for hydrogenation of various nitro arenes with different steric and electronic features under mild reaction condition in aqueous media. Noteworthy, the catalyst was highly selective and in the substrates with ketone or aldehyde functionalities, reduction of nitro group was only observed. The catalyst was also recyclable and only slight loss of activity was detected after each recycling run. Hot filtration test also approved true heterogeneous nature of catalysis.
WITHDRAWN: The Effects of Mask Usage During the COVID-19 Pandemic on Temporomandibular Joint
Authors: Akturk Ezgi Sunal , Aydin Ilke , Seker Elif Dilara
Published: June 2022

Objectives: To evaluate possible temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) symptoms that may occur due to mask use in dentists during the COVID-19 pandemic period and reveal the potentially effective factors.Materials and Methods: An online questionnaire, consisting of three parts, was sent to dentists and clinical dental students. The first part included questions for sociodemographic information. In the second part, questions were asked to evaluate stress levels, TMD symptoms, and treatment of TMD if any for before (T0) and during the pandemic (T1). In the last part, professional mask choice, mask-related parafunctional movements, and breathing pattern while wearing a mask were evaluated.Results: TMD symptoms and stress level were found significantly higher at T1. An increase in mouth breathing and mask-related parafunctional movements was reported during the use of N95 masks compared to daily life in dentists whose professional mask selection was N95 respirator. The change in TMJ pain and muscle pain at rest between the T0 and T1 was higher in those whose professional mask choice was N95 respirators than those who chose to wear one surgical mask. Conclusion: The increase in mouth breathing and mask-related parafunctional movements during the use of N95 respirators may cause an increase in TMD.Clinical Relevance: During the use of N95 respirator masks, an increase in mouth breathing and mask-related parafunctional movements can be observed. It should be considered that this situation may cause an increase in the TMD symptoms.
Synthesis of porous titanium heterostructure MOF for the photocatalytic degradation of amoxicillin from wastewater
Authors: Dhivya Egambaram , Magadevan Deviga , Mundari Noor Danish Ahrar , Mishra Trilochan , Aman Noor
Published: June 2022

Antibiotic usage for medical treatment and its production has drastically increased its concentration level in the aquatic environment. Amoxicillin is a well-known bacterial antibiotic used widely in the world. The heterostructured MOF HMF-2 is synthesized by integrating MIL-125 and NH2-MIL-125 via the refluxing method. The physicochemical properties of all synthesized MOFs were studied using XRD, FE-SEM, FT-IR, N2 physisorption, UV-Vis (DRS), XPS, and PL. XRD indicates synthesized MOFs having intense peaks exhibiting crystallinity and framework nature. BET surface area of MIL-125, NH2-MIL-125, and HMF-2 are found to be 986, 1267, and 1102 m²/g respectively indicating their microporous nature. NH2-MIL-125 integrated with MIL-125 decreases the bandgap of HMF-2 thereby extending its visible light absorption. The visible light degradation of Amoxicillin in an aqueous solution is studied with MIL-125, NH2-MIL-125, and HMF-2 for a period of 1 to 7 days. HMF-2 is found to show better activity in comparison with the individual MOFs because of more efficient charge separation. This study intends to give new directions for the sustainable degradation of antibiotics from wastewater.
Central nervous system effects of TAK-653, an investigational alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole receptor (AMPAR) positive allosteric modulator in healthy volunteers
Authors: Dijkstra Francis , O'Donnell Patricio , Klaassen Erica , Buhl Derek , Asgharnejad Mahnaz , Rosen Laura , Zuiker Rob , Gerven Joop van , Jacobs Gabriel
Published: June 2022

TAK-653 is a novel AMPA receptor positive allosteric modulator in clinical development for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to measure the functional pharmacodynamic central nervous system (CNS) effects of TAK-653. A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, three-way crossover (placebo, TAK-653 0.5 mg and 6 mg) study with 24 healthy volunteers was performed. NeuroCart tests consisting of body sway (BS), saccadic peak velocity (SPV), smooth pursuit eye movements (SP), adaptive tracking (AT), Bowdle and Bond and Lader Visual Analogue Scales (B-VAS and BL-VAS) and Stroop test were performed pre-dose and 3.5 and 4 hours post-dose. Data were analysed using a mixed model analysis of covariance with baseline as covariate. It was found that TAK-653 did not affect BS and subjective drug effects as measured by B-VAS and BL-VAS at either dose level. TAK-653 0.5 mg increased SPV (degrees/second) (19.49 [5.98, 32.99], P = 0.02) and affected Stroop difference in reaction time between correct congruent and correct incongruent answers and number of correct responses in incongruent trials (22.0 [4.0, 40.0], P = 0.05 and − 0.3 [− 0.5, − 0.1], P = 0.02, respectively). TAK-653 6 mg improved AT (%) (1.68 [0.51, 2.84], P = 0.02) and increased SPV (degrees/second) (15.40 [1.91, 28.90], P = 0.06) and SP (%) (2.32 [0.37, 4.27], P = 0.05). Based on these findings it can be concluded that TAK-653 demonstrated a psychostimulant-like pharmacodynamic profile on the NeuroCart consistent with previously reported increase of cortical excitability following Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) of the human motor cortex.
Anti-EGF nanobodies enhance the antitumoral effect of osimertinib and overcome resistance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cellular models
Authors: Guardiola Salvador , Sánchez-Navarro Macarena , Rosell Rafael , Giralt Ernest , Codony-Servat Jordi
Published: June 2022

Osimertinib is a third-generation epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) that is effective against the EGFR T790M mutation in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, acquired resistance appears invariably due to several mechanisms. The strategy of using EGF-targeted nanobodies (Nbs) to block the initial step of the EGFR pathway constitutes a new research area. Nbs offer several advantages compared to traditional mAbs, such as their reduced size, increased stability and tissue penetration, which provide key advantages for targeting soluble tumoral growth factors. In this study we investigated the efficacy of anti-EGF Nbs to reduce Osimertinib resistance. Two anti-EGF Nbs, generated in our laboratory, were shown to inhibit cell viability and colony formation in PC9 and PC9-derived osimertinib-resistant cell lines. The combination of these Nbs with osimertinib improved the antitumoral efficacy of this EGFR-TKI in cell viability and colony formation experiments. In a mechanistic study of the EGFR pathway, the combination treatment dampened the activation of downstream proteins such as Akt and Erk1/2 MAP kinases. In addition, it increased cellular apoptosis and decreased the expression of Hes1, a cancer stem cell marker involved in metastasis and osimertinib resistance. We conclude that the addition of anti-EGF nanobodies enhances the antitumoral properties of osimertinib, thus representing a potentially effective strategy for NSCLC patients.
Insights into the health status of the general population living near an electroplating industry zone: metal elevation and renal impairment
Authors: Xu Peiwei , Lai Shiming , Wu Lizhi , Chen Weizhong , Chen Yuan , Xu Dandan , Xiang Jie , Cheng Ping , Chen Zhijian , Wang Xiaofeng , Tang Jun , Lou Xiaoming
Published: June 2022

To evaluate the body burdens of metals and metalloids associated with renal dysfunction in residents living near electroplating industries, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 in Zhejiang Province, China. We recruited 236 subjects and performed physical examinations; determined the blood and urinary levels of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), and selenium (Se) by an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS); and measured three renal impairment biomarkers, namely Nacetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), retinol binding protein (RBP), and β2-microglobulin (BMG). The proportion of abnormal nasal symptoms in the exposure group (10.1%) was much higher than in the control group (0; p < 0.05). Both the blood and urinary levels of As, Cd, and Se in the exposure group were significantly higher than the levels in the control group (p < 0.05). The blood levels of Mn and Pb, as well as the urinary levels of Cr and Ni, in the exposure group were significantly higher compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The exposure group demonstrated higher levels of NAG, RBP, and BMG compared to the control group (0.51 vs. 0.14 mg/g creatinine, 12.79 vs. 9.26 IU/ g creatinine, 1.39 vs. 0.78 mg/g creatinine, respectively; p < 0.05). Urinary BMG was positively correlated with urinary Cd levels (r = 0.223, p < 0.05), while urinary RBP was correlated with blood Cd levels (r = 0.151, p < 0.05) and urinary Cd, Cr, Ni, and Se levels (r = 0.220, 0.303, 0.162, and 0.306, respectively; p < 0.05). In conclusion, our study indicated that residents living in the vicinity of electroplating industries were bearing high body burdens of certain metals and metalloids associated with nonnegligible renal dysfunction.
Physiological and statistical aspects of immunoregulatory and antioxidant properties of tryptophan
Authors: Pajouhanfar Hadi , Ghazaghi Mahmoud , Mehri Mehran
Published: June 2022

Tryptophan (Trp) is the third or fourth limiting amino acid for the most poultry species fed on corn-soybean meal-diets, playing an important role in the profile of the blood biochemical variables, humoral immunity, and antioxidant capacity. A dose-response assay was carried out to investigate the effects of graded levels of dietary Trp on blood variables, immunity and meat quality in quail chicks during the last two weeks of growing period. A total of 420, 21-day-old quail chicks were randomly distributed across the seven experimental groups (i.e., 2.12, 2.25, 2.38, 2.51, 2.64, 2.77, and 2.90 g Trp /kg of diet) with 4 pen replicates of 15 birds each. Blood variables including uric acid (UA), albumin (ALB), and triglycerides (TG) responded inversely to increasing dietary Trp (P < 0.001). Blood concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), relative weight of bursa of Fabricius (BF), immunoglobulin G (IgG), water holding capacity (WHC), and antigen production against the sheep red blood cells (SRBC) increased with increases in dietary Trp (P < 0.001). In contrast, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and drip loss in meat samples decreased with increasing dietary Trp (P < 0.001). The best models for determination of optimal dietary Trp were selected based on a statistical merit called model accuracy index (δ). The optimal amounts of dietary Trp for optimizing ALP, UA, total protein (TP), TG, SRBC, IgG, BF, drip loss, WHC, and MDA were estimated at 2.347, 2.371, 2,372, 2.485, 2,691, 2.738, 2.306, 2.359, 2.247, and 2.500 g/kg of diet, respectively. Principal component analysis showed that UA, TG, IgG, and drip loss had the higher association with dietary Trp compared to the rest responses. Taking into account of high δ and eigenvalues for fitted bird responses, the more reliable estimation of optimal Trp for optimization of studied responses in quail chicks would be 2.738 g Trp/kg of diet, which was significantly higher than that recommended for the quail performance.
A call for culture-centred care: Is continuity of care possible if culture remains an appendix in the mainstream health care system for Aboriginal families [across the first 1000 days] in South Australia?
Authors: Sivertsen Nina , Deverix Janiene , Gregoric Carolyn , Grant Julian
Published: June 2022

Background:Aboriginal women and their infants experience significant disadvantage in health outcomes compared to their non-Aboriginal counterparts. Access to timely, effective, and appropriate maternal and child health care can contribute to reducing these existing health disparities. This research sought to explore factors that contribute to continuity of care for Aboriginal women and their infants living in metropolitan South Australia. This paper reports on the perspectives of health care workers in mainstream health services from the antenatal period to the end of an infants’ second birthday. It explores health workers’ perspectives of what contributes to positive care experiences and satisfaction with care provided to Aboriginal women and their infants in mainstream health.Methods: Eight focus groups were held with 52 health professionals. Participants included Aboriginal Cultural Consultants (n=7), Aboriginal Maternal Infant Care Workers (n=3), Midwives (n=3) and Child and Family Nurses(n=39). Data was inductively coded and thematically analysed.Results: Three key themes emerged: the system takes priority, culture is not central in approaches to care, and ‘we’ve got to be allowed to do it in a different way’. Conclusions: This research highlights a lack of continuity of care for Aboriginal families accessing mainstream health services from the antenatal period through to an infants’ first 1000 days of life. This research has implications for communities, and it calls for strategies to enhance continuity, and healthcare services to provide appropriate and culturally safe care. Findings will inform and guide future changes to improve continuity of care for Aboriginal families and infants in the first 1000 days.
Assessment of Lung Ventilation and Perfusion of Premature Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia at 1.5 Tesla Using Phase-Resolved Functional Lung (PREFUL) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in the NICU
Authors: Dyke Jonathan P , Voskrebenzev Andreas , Blatt Lauren K , Vogel-Claussen Jens , Grimm Robert , Worgall Stefan , Perlman Jeffrey M , Kovanlikaya Arzu
Published: June 2022

Background: The most common complication of preterm birth is bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), widely referred to as the chronic lung disease of prematurity. All current definitions rely on characterizing the disease based on respiratory support level, and do not provide full understanding of the underlying cardiopulmonary pathophysiology.Objective: To evaluate a rapid functional lung imaging technique in premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to quantitate pulmonary ventilation and perfusion using 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).Methods: We conducted a prospective MRI study of 12 premature infants in the NICU using the phase resolved lung (PREFUL) MRI technique to calculate pulmonary ventilation and perfusion parameters in preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) Grade 0/1 (n=6) and Grade 2/3 (n=6).Results: The exclusive ventilation defect percentage (VDP%) showed a significant increase in premature infants with Grade 2/3 BPD vs. Grade 0/1 BPD [15.0% vs. 7.0%, p=0.008]. The total VDP% also showed a significant increase between groups [16.0% vs. 8.0%, p=0.013]. No significant perfusion defect percentages (QDP%) were found between groups. Conclusion: PREFUL lung MRI is feasible for assessment of ventilation and perfusion defect percentages in preterm infants in the NICU and shows regional variation in localized lung function in this vulnerable population.
Can aivo Intervention with Artificial Intelligence Alleviate Medical Trauma in Children?
Authors: Tanaka Kyoko , Hayakawa Maoko , Noda Chihiro , Nakamura Akio , Akiyama Chieko
Published: June 2022

Background: Procedures and actions such as injections and immobilization cause distress to children. In the pediatric field, there is a need for interventions and support to alleviate the pain and distress caused by such medical procedures. In recent years, the introduction of robots as a means of distraction has begun to be attempted. Methods: In this study, we conducted a non-randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of intervention using ‘aibo’, a dog-like robot which has artificial intelligence (AI), to promote distraction in children after vaccination. Children between the ages of 3 and 12 years old eligible for the Japanese encephalitis vaccine, and their caregivers were assigned to intervention group or control group. Then, children evaluated their pain and children’s behavior were observed by observer. The mean values of Faces pain rating scale scores and observer pain scale scores were compared between groups using an unpaired t-test.Results: Fifty-seven children (32 in the intervention group) participated in the study. Results of a t-test with the control group showed that the intervention group using aibo had significantly less pain following the post-vaccination intervention than the control group using stuffed dog (Face Scale, t(55) = 2.582, p = .0125; Behavioral Observation Scale, t(55) = 2.772, p = .00759). The results support the hypothesis that the aibo intervention group will be less distressed and able to calm down more quickly after vaccination than the control group. Conclusion: Interactive communicative play intervention by an artificially intelligent aibo before and after painful and frightening medical procedures may alleviate fear and anxiety and prevent medical trauma in children.
Shaking Table Experiment of Human Comfort under Blasting Vibration and Engineering Application
Authors: Zhang Jikui , Jiang Nan , Zhou Chuanbo , Zhao Ke , zhu Bin
Published: June 2022

To reasonably assess the impact of blasting disturbance on personnel in the adjacent area and to protect the safety and physical and mental health of personnel, it is the key to construct a human comfort evaluation system under the impact of blasting vibration. In view of the uncertainty of human subjective feelings in the existing evaluation system of human comfort under the influence of blasting vibration, the human vibration response experiment is carried out by simulating blasting vibration through a shaking table, and the quantitative relationship between blasting vibration parameters, ECG indicators, and human subjective feelings is analyzed by combining with human ECG indicators to construct the evaluation system of human comfort under the influence of blasting vibration. At the same time, the evaluation system is applied to the actual project with Wuhan Metro Line 5 as the engineering background by combining numerical calculation methods. The results show that: the vertical direction is the main vibration direction affecting human comfort, and the impact of vibration on the human body is related to the main vibration sensation parts of the human body, and the degree of impact gradually increases when the main vibration sensation parts moves up from the feet to the head; There is a quantitative relationship between the decreased ratio of human ECG index RMSSD and blasting vibration parameters as well as human subjective feelings, when the decrease ratio of human RMSSD is greater than 0.28, the extent to which the human feels the degree of annoyance cannot be ignored, and the vibration velocity and frequency (0.7cm/s, 80Hz) in the vertical direction of the ground surface at this time can be used as the control threshold of blasting works in the adjacent densely populated areas; When the distance from the blasting center is less than 62.57m, the physical and mental health of tourists in the Yellow Crane Tower scenic spot will be greatly affected, it is recommended that the maximum explosive charge in the single delay of the subway tunnel blasting excavation does not exceed 0.32kg.
Adult intussusception: an 11-year study of diagnosis, clinic manifestations, and the optimal operation
Authors: Sun Ming-ze , Li Zhong-min , Shu Zhen-bo , Wu Qi , Liu Xue
Published: June 2022

BackgroundIntussusception can occur at any age and is common in children but less common in adults. In addition, adult intussusception differs from intussusception in children with respect to etiology and clinical presentation, which makes the diagnosis difficult. MethodsThis retrospective analysis assessed the clinical manifestations, etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of adult intussusception in 51 adult patients at the Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University from January 2010 to December 2020.ResultsThe mean age of the cohort was 54.43±18.21 years, and 42 patients were diagnosed by abdominal ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomography (CT). Among them, 76.5% (39/51) had abdominal pain, 11.8% (6/51) had blood in stool, and 5.9% (3/51) had a palpable abdominal mass. Of these, 62.7% had tumors: malignant accounted for 39.2% (20/51) and benign accounted for 23.5% (12/51). CT is the preferred imaging method with a sensitivity of 92.2%, while colonoscopy provides a complementary diagnosis in patients involving the colon. All patients underwent surgical treatment, including 21.6% (11/51) laparoscopic surgery, 74.5% (38/51) open surgery, and 5.9% (3/51) intussusception reduction during the operation. The average operation time of the open group was 133.27±43.75 min and the average hospital stay was 16.24±12.55 days, while the average operation time of the laparoscopic group was 140.50±46.15 mins, and the average hospital stay was 16.60±16.98 days (P>0.05).ConclusionThe most common cause of adult intussusception is underlying pathological change. CT is the preferred method for adult intussusception diagnosis, and laparoscopic surgery is the preferred treatment for adult intussusception.
Assessment of flood susceptibility areas using novel hybrid approach of neural network over the Tumen River Basin, China
Authors: Jin Ri , Quan Hechun , Jin Aifen , Jin Guangri , Zhu Weihong , Lin Zhehao
Published: June 2022

Floods caused by rainstorms occur almost every year in Tumen River Basin. The floods caused severe damage to local residents, property and the ecological environment. For reducing the damage of floods, it is necessary to produce the flood susceptibility map. For mapping the flood prone areas, four algorithms such as genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), artificial fish swarm algorithm (AFSA) and artificial bee colony algorithm (ABC) were used to optimize back propagation (BP) neural network respectively. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by Receiver Operating characteristic (ROC), root mean square error(RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE). A total number of 222 flooded and un-flooded locations were identified. 155 locations of which were randomly selected to training the model, and the remaining 67 locations were used to validate the model. A total of thirteen flood conditioning factors，including altitude, slope, aspect, curvature, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Stream Power Index (SPI), Sediment Transport Index (STI), distance to river, landuse, rainfall, lithology, runoff coefficient and soil type were used in the proposed models. The area under the curve (AUC) obtained from ROC indicated that AFSA-BP showed a high accuracy (99.91%), and ABC-BP had the lowest prediction accuracy (97.28%). According to the generated flood susceptibility map, about 13% of Tumen River Basin is under very high flood susceptibility. The distance to river, rainfall, altitude and land use have the greatest impact on flood susceptibility. The results showed that the BP model optimized by the four algorithms is an effective and reliable tool for mapping the flood susceptibility. The flood susceptibility map can be used in flood prevention strategies.
UWB Indoor Localization in LOS and NLOS
Authors: kim Heejae , Joe Inwhee
Published: June 2022

As wireless communication technology develops, services using user’s location information are also increasing and becoming important. Among many technologies that can measure position, ultra wideband (UWB) is being used in many fields of robot and human positioning systems. A high-precision technology using UWB can find targets with an error of a few centimeters, from industrial robot operations to drones used in search and rescue operations. In this paper, indoor positioning is performed using UWB boards in line of sight (LOS) and non line of sight (NLOS) situations. With the long short-term memory (LSTM) Deep Learning Algorithm, we propose a method for compensating location errors and predicting a more accurate location. In the LOS situation, the location was measured based on fingerprinting using four anchors and tags. The measured distance values were classified into training and test dataset. By applying these distance values to the LSTM, it was confirmed that the position error was compensated. In the NLOS situation, the quality factor was measured for each obstacle by placing four types of obstacles (no obstacles, metal, mirror, multipath) between the anchor and the tag at a distance of 4 meters. By applying the measured values to the LSTM, it was confirmed that the position error was compensated by detecting an abnormal signal occurring in the UWB board. Finally, the experimental results show that the proposed method can provide more accurate position compensation and prediction in LOS and NLOS environments.
Topo-Iberia CGPS network: A new 3D crustal velocity field in the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco based on eleven years (2008–2019)
Authors: García-Armenteros Juan A.
Published: June 2022

Topo-Iberia network covering the Spanish part of the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco was established in 2008. After the first publication in 2015 of the horizontal velocity field based on the analysis of the first four activity years (2008–2012), a new 3D velocity field based on eleven years (2008–2019) is presented in this paper. Double-differencing technique with GAMIT software and precise point positioning (PPP) technique with GipsyX software are used for GPS processing obtaining loosely constrained solutions, and the methodology merging both solutions within a Kalman filter (GLOBK) is exposed. Position time series analysis carried out is described and results obtained by each processing strategy are compared. The combined velocity solution is presented in this paper as the new horizontal velocity field and the first vertical velocity field of Topo-Iberia CGPS network. A global view of Topo-Iberia stations quality for the processed period is also presented for the first time. The results are in good accordance with previous publications except in Betic Cordillera. Smallest and highest residual displacements with respect to Eurasia occur in northern Iberia and Morocco respectively. The results could confirm that a clockwise block rotation would have been occurring at present in the northern branch of the Gibraltar Arc, which present-day undergoing a northwest-southeast convergence rate of 3.6 mm/yr. A general low subsidence is observed in the Iberian Peninsula except for some isolated stations presenting uplift.
Evaluation of the root system of Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L. Roberty) using different sampling method
Authors: Holanda Francisco Sandro Rodrigues , Santos Luiz Diego Vidal , Pedrotti Alceu , Filho Renisson Neponuceno de Araújo , Sartor Lucas Resmini , Santos-Sobrinho Valter Rubens Alcantara , de Jesus Rayssa Juliane Souza , Silva Priscila Angel de Oliveira , Andrade Keila Maria Araújo
Published: June 2022

Background: The objective of this work was to evaluate the root system of Vetiver grass through different methodologies. The trench method evaluated 50 images in 10 x 10 cm squares in its vertical face. The volumetric ring method uses a metallic ring with a volume of 50 cm³ (diameter ≅ 4.6 cm and height ≅ 3.0 cm) to collect samples in the same trench´s vertical face. A hand auger hole method worked with soil samples and roots removed from the surface up to 0.50 m depth. The monolith method comprises a 0.50 m wide, 0.50 m long, and 1 m deep monolith. A spatial correlation between root volume and root area was observed in the kriging maps by the volumetric ring method. Results: The root area values for both the volumetric ring method and the hand auger hole method were similar, up to 0.10 to 0.20 m. Among the analyzed variables, the root area showed the best correlation coefficient among the analyzed root methods, especially those that use the limited spatial distribution by its sampling collection, such as the volumetric ring method and the hand auger hole method (r = 0.526).Conclusions: The studied methods can be separated into two groups: those that provide more detailed information about the behavior and distribution of the root system, such as trench and monolith methods. The trench method requires turning the soil. Both require greater spatial coverage, and therefore have greater precision, and the methods that better describe the morphological characteristics of the features, such as the volumetric ring method.
Efficacy of SARS-CoV-2 primary and booster vaccine doses in CAR-T recipients
Authors: Abid Muhammad Bilal , Abid Muhammad Abbas , Uyemura Bradley , Suelzer Elizabeth
Published: June 2022

While multiple studies have demonstrated diminished humoral response to vaccinations against COVID-19 in immunocompromised patients, data are limited in chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) recipients. In this systematic review, we identified 18 studies through a manual search of key databases that reported SARS-CoV-2 vaccine responses in 236 CAR-T recipients. This included data from 184 recipients of CD19-directed CAR-T and 29 BCMA- or CD138-directed CAR-T therapy. The pooled humoral response rate across 18 studies was 25.8% (61/236), irrespective of number of vaccine doses. The vaccine response rate among patients who only completed their primary vaccine series with 2 doses, was 27.6% across 15 studies (50/181). The pooled seroconversion rate after receiving a third or fourth dose of vaccine was 20% in 4 studies (11/55). Recipients of CD19-directed CAR-T products had a seroconversion rate of 19.2% (25/130) compared to 71.4% (20/28) among those who received BCMA- or CD138-directed therapies after completion of a primary course of vaccination. Given a high COVID-19 attributable mortality and blunted seroconversion rates in CAR-T recipients, these results provide guidance to cellular therapy centers in terms of identifying higher risk patients. In the setting of ongoing highly transmissible variants of concern, the results are hypothesis-generating in terms of potential for earlier utilization of novel strategies such as the use of monoclonal antibodies in those CAR-T recipients less likely to respond to vaccines.
How concurrent bilateral anodal tDCS of the primary motor cortex and cerebellum affects postural balance in healthy young adults? A randomized, double-blind sham-controlled study
Authors: Behrangrad Shabnam , Zoghi Maryam , Kidgell Dawson , Mansouri Farshad , Jaberzadeh Shapour
Published: June 2022

Background
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) applied to the primary motor cortex (M1), or cerebellum (CB) can enhance the postural balance in healthy young adults.
Objective
In a randomized double-blinded crossover, the sham-controlled study design was utilized to explore the effects of concurrent bilateral anodal tDCS of M1 and CB (concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB) on the balance indices.
Methods
Twenty-one healthy adults participated in this study. Each participant received a-tDCS of 2 mA 20 minutes in four pseudo-randomized, counterbalanced sessions, separated by at least seven days (7.11 days ± 0.65). These sessions were bilateral M1 stimulation (bilateral a-tDCSM1), bilateral cerebellar stimulation (bilateral a-tDCSCB), concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB, and sham stimulation (bilateral a-tDCSSham). Postural balance was evaluated by different tests, including four conditions of the unilateral stance test (US), four conditions of the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), and reaction time (RT), movement velocity (MVL) and directional control (DCL) in limits of stability test (LOS), were recorded before and immediately after the intervention to measure balance changes.
Results
Concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB significantly improved RT, MVL, DCL, US and mCTSIB (p ˂0.05). Also, bilateral a-tDCSM1 significantly improved the RT, MVL, and DCL (p ˂0.05). However, no significant changes were found after bilateral a-tDCSCB. Interestingly, concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB showed shorter RT compared to bilateral a-tDCSM1 (p = 0.015) and bilateral a-tDCSCB (p = 0.06).
Conclusions
These results confirm that the concurrent bilateral a-tDCSM1+CB significantly improves the balance in young, healthy adults and has better effects than the bilateral a-tDCSM1.