bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IFN‐γ or IL‐4 polarization impacts the response of gingival fibroblasts to oral bacteria
Authors: Jang Ju Young , Choi Geum Hee , Ji Suk
Published: January 2021

Background and objective

We previously reported that gingival fibroblasts (GFs) can be polarized into functionally distinct subtypes, immune‐activating but tissue‐destructive or tissue‐reparative, in response to T helper (Th1) and Th2 stimuli, respectively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of polarization on GFs responses to oral bacteria.

Methods

Unprimed (GF(−)) and IFN‐γ (GF(IFN‐γ)) or IL‐4 primed (GF(IL‐4)) GFs were stimulated with live Fusobacterium nucleatum or Porphyromonas gingivalis. The mRNA expression of IL‐1β, IL‐4, LPS‐recognizing components (Toll‐like receptor (TLR) 4, CD14), molecules involved in antigen presentation (human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐ABC, HLA‐DP, CD74, CD40), chemokines (C‐X‐C motif chemokine (CXCL)10, CXCL11, chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 20 (CCL20)), collagen type 1 alpha 1 (COL1A1), and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐1, and the protein levels of IL‐1β, CD14, CXCL11, CCL20, and COL1A1 accumulated in supernatants were analyzed using real‐time PCR and ELISA.

Results

In response to oral bacteria, the GF(IFN‐γ) significantly upregulated the expression of LPS‐recognizing components, molecules involved in antigen presentation, CXCL10, and CXCL11, whereas the levels of IL‐4 and COL1A1 were downregulated, compared with GF(−). The levels of IL‐1β, CCL20, and MMP‐1 from GF(IFN‐γ) were differently regulated between both bacteria; F. nucleatum was synergistically upregulated, but P. gingivalis was downregulated. The GF(IL‐4) stimulated with both bacteria upregulated the levels of IL‐4, whereas the levels of TLR4 and chemokines were downregulated, compared with GF(−). The regulation of IL‐1β, CD14, CXCL11, CCL20, and COL1A1 proteins showed a similar tendency with mRNA regulation.

Conclusion

Polarization of GFs with IFN‐γ or IL‐4 affected the way that GFs responded to oral bacteria through up or downregulation of inflammatory responses and extracellular matrix control.
Interventions to increase adherence to micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy: a systematic review
Authors: Gomes Filomena , King Shannon E. , Dallmann Diana , Golan Jenna , da Silva Ana Carolina Feldenheimer , Hurley Kristen M. , Bergeron Gilles , Bourassa Megan W. , Mehta Saurabh
Published: January 2021

Prenatal micronutrient supplements are cost‐effective in reducing nutritional deficiencies and adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes. However, poor adherence remains a potential barrier to the successful implementation of these supplementation programs. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of interventions designed to increase adherence to prenatal micronutrient supplementation. Following the Cochrane Collaboration Methodology, literature searches were conducted in six electronic databases and gray literature (on July 24, 2020), and abstract screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted independently by two reviewers. We included 22 studies. Interventions that resulted in increased adherence were most of the education‐based strategies, consumption monitoring by volunteer health workers or family members, SMS reminders, free provision of supplements, a multicomponent intervention with community mobilization, and a participatory action research intervention. In several studies, increased adherence was accompanied by beneficial effects on pregnancy and birth outcomes. Given the heterogeneity of study designs and methods used to define and measure adherence, a meta‐analysis was not appropriate. We identified several potentially effective strategies to improve supplementation adherence, which may need to be adapted to specific contexts when considered for program implementation. However, additional high‐quality studies are critically needed to effectively guide policies and programs.
Nursing Students on the Border During A Pandemic
Authors: Silva Clarissa , Villanueva Lizette
Published: January 2021

Recruitment, admission and retention of diverse nursing students are needed to ensure success, positively impact healthcare outcomes and relieve the nursing shortage. To ensure success in accelerated nursing programs, minority students need a variety of financial and academic support services. Nursing students are faced with multiple challenges, compiled with social determinants of health. Conditions arise that interfere with the person's ability to be successful beyond the personal, familial, academic, and social environments. Schools of nursing have the obligation and opportunity to provide competent nurses to care for the community. The challenge for nursing students on the border during a pandemic came in the offering of clinical encounters. Multiple opportunities were discovered and implemented for students during the pandemic including town hall meetings and “in progress” enrollment. A new approach in the delivery of course content and clinical experiences were developed. Recognizing and highlighting student needs during the current healthcare environment led to innovative ways in addressing the challenges nursing students faced during a pandemic on the border of the Southwest United States.
Inducible Guanylate-Binding Protein 7 Facilitates Influenza A Virus Replication by Suppressing Innate Immunity via NF-κB and JAK-STAT Signaling Pathways
Authors: Feng Mingkai , Zhang Qiao , Wu Wenjiao , Chen Lizhu , Gu Shuyin , Ye Yilu , Zhong Yingyuan , Huang Qi , Liu Shuwen
Published: January 2021

So far, few studies have mentioned the distinct function of guanylate-binding protein 7 (GBP7) on virus infection. Here, we reported that GBP7 expression was significantly upregulated in the lungs of mice, human PBMCs, and A549 cells during IAV infection.
Complete Genome Sequences for 36 Canadian Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium and I 1,4,[5],12:i:– Isolates from Clinical and Animal Sources
Authors: Schonfeld Justin , Clark Clifford , Robertson James , Arya Gitanjali , Eagle Shannon H. C. , Gurnik Simone , Johnson Roger , Labbe Genevieve , Liu Kira , Kernaghan Shaun , Mazzocco Amanda , MacKinnon Joanne , Ziebell Kim , Nash John H. E.
Published: January 2021

Here, we report the complete genome sequences for 36 Canadian isolates of
Salmonella enterica
subsp.
enterica
serovar Typhimurium and its monophasic variant I 1,4,[5]:12:i:– from both clinical and animal sources. These genome sequences will provide useful references for understanding the genetic variation within this prominent serotype.
Coding-Complete Genome Sequences of an Iteradensovirus and an Alphapermutotetra-Like Virus Identified from the Pine Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) in Portugal
Authors: Dorkeld Franck , Streiff Réjane , Kerdelhué Carole , Ogliastro Mylène
Published: January 2021

The coding-complete nucleotide sequences of an iteradensovirus (family
Parvoviridae
) and an alphapermutotetra-like virus (family
Permutotetraviridae
) were discovered from transcriptomic data sets obtained from
Thaumetopoea pityocampa
larvae collected in Portugal. Each of the coding-complete genome sequences of these viruses contain three main open reading frames (ORFs).
Pisiform dislocation
Authors: Mahmood Faisal , Mehta Milind , Kakkar Rahul
Published: January 2021

A pisiform dislocation is an uncommon injury which can lead to significant morbidity if missed. The literature regarding pisiform dislocation is limited and largely from case reports. In this case, we present a 51-year-old right-hand dominant male who sustained the injury after a fall. He attended the emergency department on the same day and a closed reduction was able to be performed under a haematoma block. On review in follow-up clinic the patient’s symptoms had completely resolved.
Identifying organisational capability of hospitals amid the new healthcare reform in China: a Delphi study
Authors: Shi Jingyu , Sun Xinyue , Meng Kai
Published: January 2021

Objective

Since China launched its nationwide systemic healthcare reform in 2009, policies such as the elimination of drug markups and the reform of medical insurance payments have forced some hospitals into a crisis threatening their survival. Both public and private hospitals have been building and strengthening their capacity to achieve sustainable development. However, the existing research has not provided a comprehensive evaluation tool required to support this effort. Therefore, this study develops an organisational capability evaluation index system to help public and private hospitals assess their current conditions.

Design

The Delphi method was used to construct a hospital organisational capability evaluation index system in conjunction with the boundary value method and an analytic hierarchical process. Then, a questionnaire survey was administered in 55 hospitals (32 non-profit and 23 for-profit hospitals), and Cronbach’s α and a factor analysis were used to verify the index system’s reliability and validity.

Setting and participants

A literature review and semistructured interviews with 23 hospital managers and scholars clarified the definition of hospital organisational capability and formed an indicator pool. Additionally, 20 hospital directors were selected from public and private hospitals to participate in two rounds of the Delphi consultation.

Results

The Delphi consultation resulted in an index system including 12 primary and 40 secondary indicators demonstrated to be reliable and valid. The three indicators with the largest weights were ‘regulation capability’ (0.251), ‘decision-making capability’ (0.121) and ‘executive capability’ (0.105).

Conclusion

This study constructed an index system based on theoretical and practical considerations, and is expected to be applied to quantitatively evaluate the organisational capability of both public and private hospitals in China, and support their adaptation to external environmental changes.
Recommendations for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 testing: a scoping review of current guidance
Authors: Arevalo-Rodriguez Ingrid , Seron Pamela , Buitrago-García Diana , Ciapponi Agustin , Muriel Alfonso , Zambrano-Achig Paula , del Campo Rosa , Galán-Montemayor Juan Carlos , Simancas-Racines Daniel , Perez-Molina Jose A , Khan Khalid Saeed , Zamora Javier
Published: January 2021

Background

Testing used in screening, diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 has been a subject of debate. Several organisations have developed formal advice about testing for COVID-19 to assist in the control of the disease. We collated, delineated and appraised current worldwide recommendations about the role and applications of tests to control SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19.

Methods

We searched for documents providing recommendations for COVID-19 testing in PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, the Coronavirus Open Access Project living evidence database and relevant websites such as TRIP database, ECRI Guidelines Trust, the GIN database, from inception to 21 September 2020. Two reviewers applied the eligibility criteria to potentially relevant citations without language or geographical restrictions. We extracted data in duplicate, including assessment of methodological quality using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation-II tool.

Results

We included 47 relevant documents and 327 recommendations about testing. Regarding the quality of the documents, we found that the domains with the lowest scores were ‘Editorial independence’ (Median=4%) and ‘Applicability’ (Median=6%). Only six documents obtained at least 50% score for the ‘Rigour of development’ domain. An important number of recommendations focused on the diagnosis of suspected cases (48%) and deisolation measures (11%). The most frequently recommended test was the reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay (87 recommendations) and the chest CT (38 recommendations). There were 22 areas of agreement among guidance developers, including the use of RT-PCR for SARS-Cov-2 confirmation, the limited role of bronchoscopy, the use chest CT and chest X-rays for grading severity and the co-assessment for other respiratory pathogens.

Conclusion

This first scoping review of recommendations for COVID-19 testing showed many limitations in the methodological quality of included guidance documents that could affect the confidence of clinicians in their implementation. Future guidance documents should incorporate a minimum set of key methodological characteristics to enhance their applicability for decision making.
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of TeleStroke consultations to support the care of patients who had a stroke presenting to regional emergency departments in Western Australia: an economic evaluation case study protocol
Authors: Tsou Christina , Robinson Suzanne , Boyd James , Kamath Shruthi , Yeung Justin , Waters Stephanie , Gifford Karen , Jamieson Andrew , Hendrie Delia
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The Western Australia (WA) Acute TeleStroke Programme commenced incrementally across regional WA during 2016–2017. Since the introduction of the TeleStroke Programme, there has been monitoring of service outputs, including regional patient access to tertiary stroke specialist advice and reperfusion treatment; however, the impact of consultation with a stroke specialist via telehealth (videoconferencing or telephone) on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of stroke care and the drivers of cost-effectiveness has not been systematically evaluated.

Methods and analysis

The aim of the case study was to examine the impact of consultation with a stroke specialist via telehealth on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of stroke and transient ischaemic attack care using a mixed methods approach. A categorical decision tree model will be constructed in collaboration with clinicians and programme managers. A before and after comparison using state-wide administrative datasets will be used to run the base model. If sample size and statistical power permits, the cases and comparators will be matched by stroke type and presence of CT scan at the initial site of presentation, age category and presenting hospital. The drivers of cost-effectiveness will be explored through stakeholder interviews. Data from the qualitative analysis will be cross-referenced with trends emerging from the quantitative dataset and used to guide the factors to be involved in subgroup and sensitivity analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval for this case study has been granted from the Western Australian Country Health Service Human Research and Ethics Committee (RGS3076). Reciprocal approval has been granted from Curtin University Human Research Ethics Office (HRE2019-0740). Findings will be disseminated publicly through conference presentation and peer-review publications. Interim findings will be released as internal reports to inform the service development.
Authorship inequality: a bibliometric study of the concentration of authorship among a diminishing number of individuals in high-impact medical journals, 2008–2019
Authors: Hart Kamber L , Perlis Roy H
Published: January 2021

Objective

Authorship and number of publications are important criteria used for making decisions about promotions and research funding awards. Given the increase in the number of author positions over the last few decades, this study sought to determine if there had been a shift in the distribution of authorship among those publishing in high-impact academic medical journals over the last 12 years.

Design

This study analysed the distribution of authorship across 312 222 original articles published in 134 medium-impact to high-impact academic medical journals between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2019. Additionally, this study compared the trends in author distributions across nine medical specialties and a collection of cross-specialty high-impact journal articles.

Primary outcome measures

The distribution of authorship was assessed using the Gini coefficient (GC), a widely used measure of economic inequality.

Results

The overall GC for all articles sampled across the 12-year study period was 0.49, and the GCs for the first and last authorship positions were 0.30 and 0.44, respectively. Since 2008, there was a significant positive correlation between year and GC for the overall authorship position (r=0.99, p<0.001) the first author position (r=0.75, p=0.007) and the last author position (r=0.85, p<0.001) indicating increasingly uneven distribution in authorship over time. The cross-specialty high-impact journals exhibited the greatest rate of increase in GC over the study period for the first and last author position of any specialty analysed.

Conclusion

Overall, these data suggest a growing inequality in authorship across authors publishing in high-impact academic medical journals, especially among the highest impact journals. These findings may have implications for processes such as promotions and allocation of research funding that use authorship metrics as key criteria for making decisions.
Movements of selected minnows between the lower Yellowstone River and its tributaries
Authors: Duncan Michael B. , Bramblett Robert G. , Zale Alexander V.
Published: January 2021

Reduced population connectivity has been implicated as a cause of decreased distributions and abundances of many Great Plains fishes. However, scant empirical evidence quantifying movement and relating the contribution of spatial linkages to population abundances and resilience exists. We used otolith microchemistry analysis to characterize the movements of western silvery minnows (Hybognathus argyritis Girard, 1856), flathead chubs (Platygobio gracilis (Richardson, 1836)), and sand shiners (Notropis stramineus (Cope, 1865)) between the Yellowstone River and its tributaries. Sixty-nine percent of western silvery minnows, 65% of flathead chubs, and 42% of sand shiners moved between the Yellowstone River and tributaries. Mean total number of interchanges was highest among western silvery minnows (4.8 interchanges/mover), intermediate among flathead chubs (4.3 interchanges/mover), and lowest among sand shiners (1.4 interchanges/mover; P < 0.01). Natal movements were rare, but juvenile movements were common and frequent among all three species. Movements between main-stem and tributary habitats are probably prominent facets of the life cycles of other Great Plains minnows. Therefore, connectivity among such habitats should be a high conservation priority to enhance the long-term viability of such fishes.
A Troubling Analysis of Reproducibility and Progress in Recommender Systems Research
Authors: Ferrari Dacrema Maurizio , Boglio Simone , Cremonesi Paolo , Jannach Dietmar
Published: January 2021

The design of algorithms that generate personalized ranked item lists is a central topic of research in the field of recommender systems. In the past few years, in particular, approaches based on deep learning (neural) techniques have become dominant in the literature. For all of them, substantial progress over the state-of-the-art is claimed. However, indications exist of certain problems in today’s research practice, e.g., with respect to the choice and optimization of the baselines used for comparison, raising questions about the published claims. To obtain a better understanding of the actual progress, we have compared recent results in the area of neural recommendation approaches based on collaborative filtering against a consistent set of existing simple baselines. The worrying outcome of the analysis of these recent works—all were published at prestigious scientific conferences between 2015 and 2018—is that 11 of the 12 reproducible neural approaches can be outperformed by conceptually simple methods, e.g., based on the nearest-neighbor heuristic or linear models. None of the computationally complex neural methods was actually consistently better than already existing learning-based techniques, e.g., using matrix factorization or linear models. In our analysis, we discuss common issues in today’s research practice, which, despite the many papers that are published on the topic, have apparently led the field to a certain level of stagnation.
1
Introducing a Polymeric Ion Exchanger as a Modifier for Carbon-Paste Potentiometric Sensors
Authors: Saad Ahmed S. , Ismail Nahla S. , Gaber Noran S. , Elzanfaly Eman S.
Published: January 2021

Development in polymer chemistry empowers creative analytical solutions. Polymers have provided a multitude of separation modes in solid-phase-extraction and chromatography, also they served as matrices for chemical sensors. The current study introduces a polymeric cation-exchanger as a modifier for a solid-state Zn(II) sensor. Literature relates the deteriorated response and limited performance of potentiometric-sensors to the leaching of ion-exchanger and/or analyte out of the sensor matrix. The polymer’s limited solubility, small particle size, large surface area, and strong ion-exchanging capacity counteract the efflux of the sensor ingredients, thereby, enhance its performance. An initial optimization study included seven different sensors to reach optimal sensor composition. The optimized sensor maintained a Nernstian response over two months with a slope of 28.06 ± 0.05 mV decade−1, a linear range of 6.3 × 10−6−1 × 10−2M, and a detection limit of 5.12 × 10−6M within pH range 4.3–6.8. Statistical comparison shows no significant difference from the official method. Sensor performance parameters were further compared with those of the reported Zn(II) sensors to highlight the advantages and limitations of polymeric ion-exchanger. The sensor expressed a relatively lower detection limit and faster response time. Polymeric exchangers provide potential opportunities to enhance potentiometric sensor performance.
A rapid dynamic in vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging assay to track lung vascular permeability after acute radiation injury
Authors: Jagtap Jaidip , Audi Said , Razeghi-Kondelaji Mir Hadi , Fish Brian L. , Hansen Christopher , Narayan Jayashree , Gao Feng , Sharma Gayatri , Parchur Abdul K. , Banerjee Anjishnu , Bergom Carmen , Medhora Meetha , Joshi Amit
Published: January 2021

To develop a dynamic in vivo near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging assay to quantify sequential changes in lung vascular permeability-surface area product (PS) in rodents. Dynamic NIR imaging methods for determining lung vascular permeability-surface area product were developed and tested on non-irradiated and 13 Gy irradiated rats with/without treatment with lisinopril, a radiation mitigator. A physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model of indocyanine green (ICG) pulmonary disposition was applied to in vivo imaging data and PS was estimated. In vivo results were validated by five accepted assays: ex vivo perfused lung imaging, endothelial filtration coefficient (K f) measurement, pulmonary vascular resistance measurement, Evan’s blue dye uptake, and histopathology. A PBPK model-derived measure of lung vascular permeability-surface area product increased from 2.60 ± 0.40 [CL: 2.42–2.78] mL/min in the non-irradiated group to 6.94 ± 8.25 [CL: 3.56–10.31] mL/min in 13 Gy group after 42 days. Lisinopril treatment lowered PS in the 13 Gy group to 4.76 ± 6.17 [CL: 2.12–7.40] mL/min. A much higher up to 5× change in PS values was observed in rats exhibiting severe radiation injury. Ex vivo K f (mL/min/cm H2O/g dry lung weight), a measure of pulmonary vascular permeability, showed similar trends in lungs of irradiated rats (0.164 ± 0.081 [CL: 0.11–0.22]) as compared to non-irradiated controls (0.022 ± 0.003 [CL: 0.019–0.025]), with reduction to 0.070 ± 0.035 [CL: 0.045–0.096] for irradiated rats treated with lisinopril. Similar trends were observed for ex vivo pulmonary vascular resistance, Evan’s blue uptake, and histopathology. Our results suggest that whole body dynamic NIR fluorescence imaging can replace current assays, which are all terminal. The imaging accurately tracks changes in PS and changes in lung interstitial transport in vivo in response to radiation injury.
Research on the Characteristics of Microscopic Damage to Different Pore Types by Slippery Water Fracturing Fluid in the Chang Member Tight Sandstone Reservoir, Ordos Basin, NW China
Authors: Qi Aojiang , Qian Pinshu , Huang Hai , Ren Dazhong , Gu Xiaoyu , Zhang Fan , Yuan Xun
Published: January 2021

This paper examines the damage caused by slickwater fracturing fluid to the microscopic pore structure of tight sandstone in the Chang 7 member in the Ordos Basin. A submicron CT in situ displacement system was used to analyze and graphically represent changes in pores in core samples following fracturing fluid damage. The results show the following: (1) the damage caused by slickwater fracturing fluid to tight sandstone fractures mainly occurs in the early stage of fluid incursion. The damage is characterized by a decrease in the effective pore volume, increase in the number of pores, and insignificant subsequent damage. The main causes of pore damage by slickwater fracturing fluid are retention of slickwater in the liquid phase and hydration swelling of clay minerals in the pores. (2) After the high pressure intrusion of slickwater fluid, the pore size of large-size intergranular pores increases, and there is no obvious damage after water flooding. However, fractures and small dissolution pores in the cores are the main areas of fluid retention after fracturing fluid invasion due to their small flowing radius and complex structure. These are the locations where damage mostly occurs.
Microscopic Residual Oil Distribution Characteristics and Quantitative Characterization of Producing Degree Based on Core Fluorescence Analysis Technology
Authors: Xia Huifen , Wang Lihui , Han Peihui , Cao Ruibo , Zhang Siqi , Sun Xianda
Published: January 2021

In this study, to address the insufficiency of research on the distribution characteristics and quantitative characterization of oil, water, and rock in a reservoir, laser confocal and core fluorescence analysis techniques are combined with core flooding experiments to investigate oil–water distribution characteristics in the core and the microscopic origin of residual oil. The results obtained show that the three-dimensional (3D) distribution characteristics of oil, water, and rock can be depicted using a laser confocal technique. Free and bound states are dominated by water flooding, and their total proportion is 93.65%, while the semibound state only accounts for 6.35% of the total. Polymer flooding has clear effects such as production of cluster-like residual oil, interparticle adsorption state residual oil, pore surface oil film, and corner residual oil. After alkali-surfactant-polymer (ASP) flooding, the residual oil produced at the lowest degree corresponds to particle adsorption oil, pore surface oil films, and interparticle adsorption state residual oil. The emulsion transition process in porous media, i.e., Winsor I→Winsor III→Winsor II, is studied. Moreover, the fluorescence analysis technology is used to clarify the causes for residual oil production, namely, pore structure, crude oil viscosity, the Jia Min effect, particle migration, and adsorption capacity. The combination of laser confocal and fluorescence analysis technology can help realize the three-dimensional reconstruction of the fluid in the core, and it can quantitatively characterize the microscopic residual oil. According to the analysis results, it can also guide the formulation and adjustment of oilfield development plans.
A real-time drowsiness and fatigue recognition using support vector machine
Authors: Mangshor Nur Nabilah Abu , Majid Iylia Ashiqin Abdul , Ibrahim Shafaf , Sabri Nurbaity
Published: January 2021

A drowsiness and fatigue problems among the drivers are the main factor that contributes to road accidents. These problems are vital to be resolved as they could contribute to damage of road facilities, vehicles and most importantly the loss of lives. In avoiding these matters, a proper mechanism is needed to alert the driver to stay awake throughout the driving journey. Thus, this study proposed a real-time prototype for recognizing the drowsiness and fatigue face expression of the driver. The methodology of this study involves facial features detection using Viola-Jones algorithm to detect the exact position of both left and right eyes and mouth. Next, based on the detected eyes and mouth beforehand, the segmentation processes performed on both eyes and mouth using Sobel edge detection to obtain facial regions. The feature extraction phase is conducted using shape-based feature to obtain the extraction values. Support vector machine (SVM) classifier is deployed for the recognition task. A total of 100 images are used during the testing stages. This study achieved a competetive result of 90.00% of accuracy. Yet, hybridization or integration of more image processing techniques will be performed in the future to improve the current accuracy obtained.
Classification of a COVID-19 dataset by using labels created from clustering algorithms
Authors: Rafea Layth , Ahmed Abdulrahman , D. Abdullah Wisam
Published: January 2021

Novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is a newly discovered infectious disease that has received much attention in the literature because of its rapid spread and daily global deaths attributable to such disease. The White House, together with a coalition of leading research groups, has published the freely available COVID-19 Open Research Dataset to help the global research community apply the recent advances in natural language processing and other AI techniques in generating novel insights that can support the ongoing fight against this disease. In this paper, the hierarchical and k-means clustering techniques are used to create a tool for identifying similar articles on COVID-19 and filtering them based on their titles. These articles are classified by applying three data mining techniques, namely, random forest (RF), decision tree (DT) and bagging. By using this tool, specialists can limit the number of articles they need to study and pre-process these articles via data framing, tokenisation, normalisation and term frequency-inverse document frequency. Given its 2D nature, the dimensionality of this dataset is reduced by applying t-SNE. The aforementioned data mining techniques are then cross validated to test the accuracy, precision and recall performance of the proposed tool. Results show that the proposed tool effectively extracts the keywords for each cluster, with RF, DT and bagging achieving optimal accuracies of 98.267%, 97.633% and 97.833%, respectively.
Design and implementation of a smart home system with two levels of security based on IoT technology
Authors: Murad Mohammed , Bayat Oguz , M. Marhoon Hamzah
Published: January 2021

Besides the development of technology in recent years, there has been an effective tendency to construct smart cities and homes. Whereas the smart home control system components can be incorporated with the existing home appliances to eliminate the need for human intervention, save electricity, protect homes from accidents as well as the theft, and provide home residents with comfort. This work comprises the utilising of the internet of things (IoT) technology to build the proposed design for the smart home. The proposed design includes many subsystems as well as several types of sensors, such as the passive infrared (PIR) sensor, the gas sensor, the soil moisture sensor, the water level sensor, the temperature sensor, the light dependent resistance (LDR), and the flame sensor. Each sensor will be connected to the Arduino Nano for the data processing purpose, after which the Arduino Nano will be connected to the NodeMCU module via the digital pins to implement the IoT subsystem. The proposed system also includes a smart garage gate based on Bluetooth HC-05 module with a specially programmed android app. 
Enhanced space vector modulated scalar control of induction motor
Authors: Vasu. R Ramana , Fernandez S. George , K. Vijayakumar
Published: January 2021

A conventional vector control of the asynchronous machine makes an analogy of an equivalent separately excited DC machine. It offers a decoupled control of torque and flux which is perpendicular to each other hence one vector is not interfered by other parameters. So, torque and speed control is achieved in an isolated manner even though they are closely interlinked. This is implemented by aligning the rotor flux with the direct axis of the synchronously rotating reference frame. PI controllers play a key role to achieve the desired topology of the VFD. Three controllers are used in the system, flux, speed and torque controller. Tuning of flux controller is quite simple, but in case of speed and torque, it became quite tricky because the output of the speed controller is the reference signal of torque controller. Moreover, there is no distinct method to tune the controllers in the vector control system. Still, the entire high-performance dynamic response of the machine depends on the perfect tuning of those controllers. From the above analysis, it is understood that system identification is essential to tune the PI controllers. But being an asynchronous machine, to obtain system transfer function in a decoupled manner is very difficult. To overcome this problem, the proposed model will be Conventional sine PWM modulated switching pulses are used to implement variable frequency drives for induction motor. Space vector modulated PWM switching pulse is used to fire IGBT. In the case of sine, PWM modulated switching; DC bus voltage utilization is 50% whereas in space vector modulated inverter 57.73% DC Bus voltage utilization can be achieved.
Categorizing and measurement satellite image processing of fire in the forest greece using remote sensing
Authors: Mohammed Ali Abdul Wahhab , Khamees Hussein Thary
Published: January 2021

This paper has been utilized satellite Sentinel-2A imagery, this satellite is a polar-orbiting, multispectral high-resolution to cover Athens city, Greece that located at latitude (37° 58′ 46″) N, (23° 42′ 58″) E.,the work aims to measurement and study the wildfires natural resourcesbefore and after fire break out that happenedin forests of Athens city in Greece for a year (2007, 2018) and analysis the damage caused by these wildfiresand their impact on environment  and soil  by categorize the satellite images for the interested region before and after wildfires for a year (2007) and  a year (2018) and Discuss techniques that compute the area covered of each class and lessen  or limit the rapidly spreading wildfires damage.The categorizing utilizing the moments with (K-Means) grouping algorithm in RS (remote sensing). And the categorizing results show five unique classes (water, trees, buildings without tree, buildings with tree, bare lands) where, it can be notice that the region secured by each class before and after wildfires and the changed pixels for all classes.The experimental resulted of categorizing technique shows that the good performance exactness with a good categorizing and result analysisa bout the harms resulted from the fires in the forest Greece for a years (2007 and 2018).
Le rapport connotation/dénotation à l’épreuve des mythologies de Barthes
Authors: Perusset Alain
Published: January 2021

La problématique du rapport entre dénotation et connotation, termes introduits en linguistique par Hjelmslev au milieu du siècle passé, resurgit fréquemment dans les débats sémiotiques. Greimas (1968), Rastier (1987), Klinkenberg (1996) et Badir (2014) se sont notamment penchés sur la question, proposant des lectures, si ce n’est opposées, en tout cas à chaque fois éclairantes. Également, les commentateurs de Barthes, tels Eco et Pezzini (1982) ou Zenkine (1997), ont indirectement contribué au débat en considérant les « mythologies » du sémiologue français comme des types de connotations. Or, ainsi que se propose de le montrer cet article, les mythologies s’avèrent non pas ressortir du phénomène de la connotation, mais de la dénotation. Ainsi, l’objectif de ce travail sera d’enrichir la discussion sur ces langages sémiotiques, en contredisant cette croyance selon laquelle les mythologies seraient des formes de connotations, autrement dit, en faisant dialoguer Hjelmslev et Barthes sur la question des significations culturelles.
Bend-Insensitive Discrimination of Strain and Temperature Based on Fiber Transmission Grating Inscribed on High Birefringence Photonic Crystal Fiber
Authors: Han Jinsil , Kim Jihoon , Lee Seul-Lee , Choi Sungwook , Lee Yong Wook
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we propose a bend-insensitive optical fiber sensor capable of separately measuring strain and temperature by incorporating a fiber transmission grating (FTG) inscribed on high birefringence photonic crystal fiber (HBPCF) with a CO2 laser. The FTG was fabricated
by exposing unjacketed HBPCF to CO2 laser pulses using the line-by-line technique. The FTG inscribed on HBPCF, referred to as the HBPC-FTG, has two resonance dips with different wavelengths depending on input polarization. These two resonance dips were utilized as sensor indicator dips
denoted by a shorter wavelength dip (SD) and a longer wavelength dip (LD). The strain and temperature responses of the SD and LD were investigated in a strain range of 0 to 3105 μ and a temperature range of 30 to 85 °C, respectively. The measured strain sensitivities of the SD and LD
at room temperature (25 °C) were approximately −0.46 and −0.58 pm/μ, respectively. Similarly, the measured temperature sensitivities of the SD and LD without applied strain (0 μ) were ˜5.99 and ˜9.89 pm/°C, respectively. Owing to their linear and independent
responses to strain and temperature, strain and temperature changes applied to the HBPC-FTG can be simultaneously estimated from the measured wavelength shifts of the two indicator dips (i.e., SD and LD) using their predetermined strain and temperature sensitivities. Moreover, bend-induced
spectral variations of the SD and LD were also examined in a curvature range of 0–4.705 m−1, and it was observed that both dips showed little wavelength shift due to applied bending. Thus, it is concluded from the experimental results that the fabricated HBPC-FTG can
be employed as a cost-effective sensor head for bend-insensitive discrimination of strain and temperature.
Enhancement of the Retention Characteristics in Solution-Processed Ferroelectric Memory Transistor with Dual-Gate Structure
Authors: Boampong Amos Amoako , Cho Jae-Hyeok , Choi Yoonseuk , Kim Min-Hoi
Published: January 2021

We demonstrated the enhancement of the retention characteristics in solution-processed ferroelectric memory transistors. For enhanced retention characteristics, solution-processed Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (InGaZnO) semiconductor is used as an active layer in a dual-gate structure to
achieve high memory on-current and low memory off-current respectively. In our dual-gate oxide ferroelectric thin-film transistor (DG Ox-FeTFT), while conventional TFT characteristic is observed during bottom-gate sweeping, large hysteresis is exhibited during top-gate sweeping with high memory
on-current due to the high mobility of the InGaZnO. The voltage applied to the counter bottom-gate electrode causes variations in the turn-on voltage position, which controlled the memory on- and off-current in retention characteristics. Specifically, due to the full depletion of semiconductor
by the high negative counter gate bias, the memory off-current in reading operation is dramatically reduced by 104. The application of a high negative counter field to the dual-gate solution-processed ferroelectric memory gives a high memory on- and off-current ratio useful for
the production of high performance multi-bit memory devices.
Characteristics of Ultraviolet Sensor Based on PEDOT:PSS/Al Doped ZnO Film
Authors: Shin Seong Gwan , Choi Hyung Wook
Published: January 2021

Ultraviolet (UV) sensors have application in many different areas such as flame and hightemperature detection, space research, environmental monitoring, ozone layer monitoring, and missile warning systems. Among them, ZnO thin-film-based UV sensors have been attracting attention among
research groups and are being continuously studied. The incorporation of ZnO/organic hybrid structures into solar cells and other photoelectrochemical applications has been extensively reported. However, little research has been performed on ZnO/polymer-based UV sensors. In this study, a simple
UV sensor based on an Al:ZnO/polymer is demonstrated. Al-doped ZnO enables effective UV detection with excellent performance at low operating voltages using a simple and inexpensive process.
In-Vitro Study of Sol Gel Synthesized Bioactive Glass Ceramics for Anti-Microbial Properties
Authors: Ranga Narender , Kumar Atul , Mariappan C. R. , Duhan Surender
Published: January 2021

In this research work new type of bioglass ceramics successfully synthesized the bioglass composition: 50SiO2−30CaO−10P2O5−10MgO by sol–gel technique which was further heated up to 600 °C. Different characterization techniques
were applied on the prepared bioglass powder to obtain the structural information. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms the amorphous nature and apatite formation on surface of the sample. The time dependent biological activity
was tested on immersed samples with simulated body fluid (SBF). Structural configuration of the hydroxyapatite layer along with nano-size as well as texture properties of the samples were confirmed using field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), high-resolution transmission electron
microscopy (HR-TEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques, respectively. It was found that magnesium performs a pivotal role in bone proliferation and improves the thermophysical properties of the synthesized bioglass ceramics. The antibacterial effects were studied by two
well-known pathogen Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus).
Improved Synthesis of Ag/SiO2 Colloidal Nanocomposites and Their Antibacterial Activity Against Ralstonia solanacearum 15
Authors: Pham Ngoc Bao Tri , Le Vu Khanh Trang , Bui Thi Thu Thao , Phan Nguyen Gia Linh , Tran Quoc Vinh , Nguyen Minh Ly , Dang Vinh Quang , Nguyen Thanh Tam , Vo Thi Ngoc Ha , Tran Cong Khanh
Published: January 2021

Ag/SiO2 colloidal nanocomposites (NCs) were prepared through the semi-continuous chemical reduction of silver ions on a silica surface; NaBH4 was used as a primary reducing agent, while carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) served as a secondary reductant and a stabilizer at low
temperature. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of an average diameter of 3.89±0.18 nm were uniformly and densely dispersed on the SiO2 surface, forming 218.6-nm-sized Ag/SiO2 NCs. The zeta potential of the Ag/SiO2 NCs (−92.6 mV) was more negative than
that of silica (−24 mV), indicating their high long-term stability. Furthermore, their proposed formation mechanism was confirmed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Then, the bactericidal effect of the Ag/SiO2 was evaluated based on their minimal inhibitory concentration
(MIC) against Ralstonia solanacearum 15 (R. solanacearum 15); it was 62.5 ppm, much lower than that of conventional AgNPs (500 ppm). Therefore, these highly stable Ag/SiO2 colloidal NCs with more effective antibacterial activity than conventional AgNPs are a promising
nanopesticide in agriculture.
Graphene oxide nanofilm and chicken embryo extract decrease the invasiveness of HepG2 liver cancer cells
Authors: Sosnowska Malwina , Kutwin Marta , Strojny Barbara , Koczoń Piotr , Szczepaniak Jarosław , Bałaban Jaśmina , Daniluk Karolina , Jaworski Sławomir , Chwalibog André , Bielawski Wiesław , Sawosz Ewa
Published: January 2021

Background

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a mosaic of various structural and functional proteins that cooperate with the cell, regulate adhesion, and consequently manage its further fate. Liver destruction is accompanied by a disruption of the physicochemical properties of the ECM which deregulates the cell–ECM interaction and can lead to uncontrolled proliferation and neoplastic transformation of cells. Therefore, it can be assumed that ECM modification and restoration of its characteristics for healthy tissue may counteract uncontrolled cell proliferation. The purpose of the presented research model was to optimise the physical characteristics of ECM by introducing a graphene oxide plane/nanofilm (nfGO) and enriching the cell environment with potentially missing proteins by adding a functional protein cocktail (chicken embryo liver extract) and determine the impact of these factors on cell–ECM cooperation and its consequences on adhesion, proliferation, and cell phase, which are factors of the invasiveness of cancer cells.

Results

Experiments were performed with non-cancer HS-5 cells and liver cancer cells HepG2 and C3A. The cells were divided into four groups: (1) control, (2) cultured on nfGO, (3) cultured with the addition of chicken embryo liver extract (CELE) and (4) cultured on the nfGO with the addition of CELE. CELE contained 1735 proteins; the top 57 of these proteins have been presented. The use of nfGO as well as CELE and nfGO + CELE reduced the proliferation of HepG2 cancer cells to the greatest extent; this is in contrast to non-cancer cells and also to C3A cancer cells. Furthermore, the combined use of the CELE protein cocktail and GO substrate effectively resulted in a decrease in the population of HepG2 cells in the G0/G1 phase and an increase of the population in G2/M. Molecular analysis of HepG2 cancer cells also showed an increase in the expression of genes responsible for adhesion such as focal adhesion kinase (fak), e-cadherin, and n-cadherin and a decrease in β-catenin, which is considered a proto-oncogene.

Conclusions

Studies have shown that both the GO surface structure on which the cells are grown as well as the presence of a multi-component natural cocktail of regulatory proteins, can modify the expression of integrins, increase adhesion and, as a consequence, proliferation and the cell cycle—entering the resting phase. For the first time, it has been documented that hepatic cancer cells of the HepG2 line under the influence of stimuli derived from mimic ECM (graphene oxide) in interaction with a unique protein complex derived from chicken liver embryo decreased of the invasiveness of cancer cells.
Curcumin-enriched Gemini surfactant nanoparticles exhibited tumoricidal effects on human 3D spheroid HT-29 cells in vitro
Authors: Zibaei Zohre , Babaei Esmaeil , Rezaie Nezhad Zamani Arezoo , Rahbarghazi Reza , Azeez Hewa Jalal
Published: January 2021

Background

Here, we examined the tumoricidal effect of Gemini surfactant nanoparticles enriched with curcumin on 3D spheroid HT-29 cells. The delivery of curcumin and other phytocompounds to the tumor niche is an important challenge.

Methods

Spheroid HT-29 cells were generated by using a conventional hanging drop method and exposed to different concentrations of Gemini-curcumin nanoparticles. The changes in spheroid integrity and cell viability were evaluated by measuring the spheroid diameter and LDH release, respectively. The uptake of Gemini-curcumin nanoparticles was detected by flow cytometry assay. Flow cytometric of Rhodamine 123 efflux was also performed. Migration capacity was analyzed using a Transwell insert assay. By using real-time PCR analysis and Western blotting, we studied the expression level of MMP-2, -9, Vimentin, and E-cadherin genes.

Results

Gemini-curcumin nanoparticles had the potential to disintegrate spheroids and decrease central density compared to the control group (p < 0.05). These changes coincided with enhanced LDH release by the increase of nanoparticle concentration (p < 0.05). Data highlighted the ability of cells to uptake synthetic nanoparticles in a dose-dependent manner. We found reduced Rhodamine 123 efflux in treated HT-29 spheroid cells compared to the control (p < 0.05). Nanoparticles significantly decreased the metastasis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) rate by the suppression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, Vimentin, and induction of E-cadherin (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our data confirmed that Gemini curcumin has the potential to suppress cell proliferation and inhibit metastasis in 3D spheroid HT-29 cells in vitro.