bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Aspects of CCN Protein Family on Breast Cancer
Authors: Saikat Abu Saim Mohammad , Ahmed Kazi Ahsan , Saddam Md. , Mimi Afsana , Hasib Tasnin Al , Paul Shamrat Kumar , Faruque Hasan-Al , Uddin Md Jamal , Rahman Md. Ataur
Published: January 2021

CCNs are specific type of matricellular proteins, which are essential signaling molecules, and play multiple roles in multicellular eukaryotes. This family of proteins consists of six separate members in mammals. The architecture of CCN proteins is multimodular and comprises four distinct motifs. CCN proteins achieve their specific physiological functions by binding to integrin receptors. The CCN family has been implicated in both cure and disease with impacts on biological interactions, such as cell adhesion, chemotaxis and migration, mitogenesis, cell survival, angiogenesis, differentiation, tumorigenesis, immune functions, chondrogenesis, and wound healing. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide and the leading cause of cancer mortality among women triggered by atypical expression of CCNs. A favorable or unfavorable association between various CCNs has been reported in patients with breast carcinomas. Aberrant expression of CCN1 intensifies the proliferation of epithelial cells that line the lobes and ducts of the breast. Evidence also shows that the expression of CCN2 can ameliorate tumor growth and metastasis. However, CCN3 (NOV), CCN5 (WISP-2), and CCN6 (WISP-3) are consistent with neoplastic development and metastasis repression. Particular CCN members can develop tumors and cancer progression, whereas others can competitively counter the processes. Several studies have been conducted on CCN proteins and cancer in recent years. In our study, we intend to provide an overview of those research works while keeping breast carcinoma on focus. We believe that the importance of the CCN protein family in breast cancer should be reconsidered.
Physico-Chemical Properties of a Hybrid Biomaterial (Pva/Chitosan) Reinforced With Conductive Fillers
Authors: Olarte A. , Salgado J.N. , Rubio E. , Salgado R. , Hernandez H. , Salgado A. , Moreno E. , Castano Victor
Published: January 2021

A novel hybrid material based on Polyvinyl alcohol-Chitosan (PVA-Cs) was made, reinforced with conductive polymer fillers such as polypyrrole (PPy), Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), carbon black (CB) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MW CNT). Our proposal is to use these fillers, which have not been studied in this context before, for obtaining composite materials, and to characterize them for the development of applications in microelectronics. FTIR analysis made evident the different func-tional groups present in the matrix and the fillers used. The use of quaternary mixtures (4 fillers) increased the contact angle, which increased the degree of hydrophobicity of the biocomposite. The Nyquist diagram of the analyzed samples showed a decrease in resistance and energy diffu-sion; the latter due to the transfer of electrons caused by the conductive polymers CB and the MWCNT. In the mechanical tension tests, Young's modulus values of 18.386 MPa were obtained, in contrast with the material matrix of PVA-Cs, which showed values of 11.628 MPa. Further-more, morphological analysis by SEM showed that the materials obtained were homogeneous, with no phase formation. The materials obtained showed higher electrical conductivity in the presence of the OH and NH2 groups, which could have possible applications in biopolymer elec-trodes.
Active Learning Strategies in Synchronous Online Learning for Elementary School Students
Authors: Hatta Puspanda , Aristyagama Yusfia Hafid , Yuana Rosihan Ari , Yulisetiani Septi
Published: January 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic gives an impact on education field. The face-to-face learning pattern in schools has shifted to distance learning which is carried out online. The implementation of online learning during the pandemic forces a digital transformation in education, causing several problems, two of which are technology and human resources. This article discusses the appropriate online learning strategies to use during a pandemic, especially for synchronous interaction models. Qualitative research with a narrative approach was used to explore teachers' experiences in learning, especially those related to the form of interaction between teachers and students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Active learning was chosen based on the results of observations and literature review through journal articles and proceedings that discuss interactive distance learning methods. Active learning strategies assisted by video conferencing applications that can be applied in online learning in elementary schools include: the use of Student Response Systems; Think Pair Share; One Minute Paper; Small Group Discussion; and Short Student Presentations.
Kriteria ketahanan kota berdasarkan jenis bencana prioritas di Kota Balikpapan
Authors: Ariyaningsih Ariyaningsih , Erik Bagus , Sukmara Benny
Published: January 2021

Resilient City merupakan konsep yang memiliki hubungan dengan pembangunan berkelanjutan, yang juga dibangun di atas tiga dimensi mitigasi, adaptasi, dan respons. Konsep tersebut sangat berkaitan dengan bahaya yang akan dihadapi oleh sebuah kota. Bahaya tersebut dapat mengancam kehidupan manusia, dan mengakibatkan kerusakan dan kerugian. Salah satu bentuk bahaya adalah bencana, dimana di Indonesia merupakan salah satu negara dengan frekuensi bencana paling tinggi di dunia. Salah satu Kota dengan resiko cukup tinggi terhadap bencana adalah Kota Balikpapan, dengan kejadian bencana di Kota Balikpapan yaitu bencana banjir dan tanah longsor, abrasi, puting beliung, dan kebakaran hutan. Kota Balikpapan merupakan daerah strategis untuk pembangunan di Provinsi Kalimantan Timur, sehingga diperlukan sebuah konsep perencanaan kota yang dapat memiliki ketahanan terhadap bencana yang akan dihadapi. Adanya upaya untuk menurunkan risiko terhadap bencana, dengan menggunakan konsep resilient city. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan metode analisis AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) yang digunakan untuk menganalisis jenis bencana prioritas yang akan mempengaruhi ketahanan Kota Balikpapan. Hasil yang diperoleh adalah bencana banjir menjadi prioritas yang mempengaruhi ketahanan Kota Balikpapan. Metode kedua adalah dengan analisis Delphi yang digunakan untuk menganalisis kriteria ketahanan Kota yang di butuhkan agar Kota Balikpapan dapat menjadi tangguh terhadap bencana banjir tersebut. Hasil yang didapat adalah kriteria aspek kesehatan, aspek infrastruktur, aspek strategi, dan aspek sosial budaya masyarakat.
Pengembangan Learning Object Media Pembelajaran di Program Studi Teknologi Pendidikan UNJ
Authors: Chatarina Megapuspita  , Cecep Kustandi, M.Pd  , Ariani Diana
Published: January 2021

Penelitian pengembangan ini bertujuan untuk menghasilkan prototipe Learning Object (LO) Media Pembelajaran. LO Media Pembelajaran 2020 yang dikembangkan dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber belajar mandiri dalam mempelajari konsep media pembelajaran dan ragam media pembelajaran. Penelitian ini dilakukan sesuai model pengembangan Rapid Prototyping, yang terdiri dari 5 tahap diantaranya: Assess Needs & Analyze Content, Set Objectives, Construct Prototype, Utilize Prototype, Install & Maintain System. Penelitian ini telah melalui tahap evaluasi yang dilakukan oleh para ahli dan pengguna yaitu mahasiswa Teknologi Pendidikan Universitas Negeri Jakarta. Nilai rata-rata keseluruhan yang diperoleh dari tahap expert review sebagai berikut: dari ahli materi sebesar 3,25 termasuk ke dalam kategori Baik, dari ahli desain pembelajaran sebesar 3,68 termasuk kategori Sangat Baik, dan dari ahli media pembelajaran sebesar 3,06 termasuk kategori Baik. Sedangkan, nilai rata-rata yang diperoleh prototipe LO ini dari hasil uji coba one to one adalah sebesar 3,27 termasuk ke dalam kategori Sangat Baik.
Cinematic Reproduction as Multimodal Composition in First-Year Composition
Authors: McCabe Rachel
Published: January 2021

This case study introduces an assignment from a large midwestern university FYC program, which emphasizes analytical writing by introducing students to a series of increasingly layered texts, including film. This has many advantages: teaching multi-perspective, evidence-based visual and textual analysis. For students to see textual constructedness the author required they remake film scenes using their cellphones, employing and then articulating their use of generic conventions. This article details the original assignment and tracks its evolution due to students’ innovations. One group’s project, a scene from The Shining, highlights multimodal recreation’s capacity to help students re-envision and more fully analyze cinematic elements, adding depth and specificity to students’ analytical writing.
KONTEKSTUALISASI KONSEP NAFKAH RAMAH GENDER PERSPEKTIF MURTAḌHĀ MUṬHAHHARI DAN FAQIHUDDIN ABDUL KODIR
Authors: Wahid Soleh Hasan
Published: January 2021

Dewasa ini, isu yang paling sering dimunculkan kaum feminis Barat adalah berkaitan dengan pekerjaan domestik, persoalan nafkah khususnya dalam teks klasik kitab-kitab fiqh yang menurut mereka memposisikan perempuan sebagai pihak penerima seolah-olah ia diberi upah atas pekerjaan domestiknya. Untuk mencounter isu negatif tersebut Murtaḍhā Muṭhahhari dan Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir mencoba menggunakan pendekatan baru dalam melakukan reintepretasi terhadap teks al-Qurr’ān. Metodologi terbaru kedua feminis muslim tersebut di klaim sebagai pendekatan yang paling relevan dewasa ini. Melalui teori latarbelakang tersebut kemudian dalam kajian ini dapat dipertanyakan beberapa hal berikut: (1) Bagaimana gambaran deskriptif persoalan nafkah perspektif Murtaḍhā Muṭhahhari? (2) Bagaimana gambaran deskriptif persoalan nafkah perspektif Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir? Bagaimana kontekstualisasi persoalan nafkah perspektif Murtaḍhā Muṭhahhari dan Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir? Pendekatan yang digunakan oleh penulis adalah analisis komparatif-deskriptif. Berdasarkan analisis pemikiran kedua tokoh feminis muslim tersebut didapatkan kesimpulan sebagai berikut; (1) Murtaḍhā Muṭhahhari dalam konsep nafkah berpendapat bahwa nafkah merupakan tanggung jawab laki-laki. Namun, tanggung jawab tersebut tidak berdasarkan superitotas laki-laki atas perempuan melainkan bentuk perpaduan antara landasan prinsip kesamaan dengan unsur kodrat alamiah laki-laki dan perempuan. (2) Berdasarkan metodologi mubādalah Faqihuddin Abdul Kodir menyimpulkan bahwa persoalan nafkah merupakan urusan keduanya dalam kehidupan keluarga, keduanya saling bertangung jawab dalam urusan nafkah keluarga. (3) Dalam kontekstualisasi pemikiran kedua feminis tersebut di atas didapatkan sintesa pemikiran bahwa prinsip kesalingan (mubādalah) haruslah tetap dalam bingkai prinsip persamaan sehingga tetap mempertahankan prinsip keadilan universal dalam al-Qur’ān.
New SPE President To Help Organization Evolve Through Pandemic and Energy Transition
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: January 2021

Ever since Tom Blasingame was announced as the 2021 SPE president more than a year ago, he had been looking forward to the day he would officially assume the highest-ranking volunteer position within the organization. That moment finally came, but not quite as he or anyone else expected.

“I can assure you, I had a grand plan,” he gently quipped during his inaugural speech. “But the pandemic pretty much wiped that slate clean and led me to focus on where we and how we are to continue.”

Blasingame, an SPE Distinguished Member and petroleum engineering professor at Texas A&M University, officially assumed his new duties during a small ceremony attended by invited guests and SPE staff in Houston on 2 November.

The event helped kick off SPE’s Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE) in October. Reflecting one of the grand challenges facing the new president, the rest of ATCE is being held entirely online in response to the COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the world earlier this year.

Donning a coat and tie instead of his trademark beige coveralls, Blasingame told attendees in the flesh and those joining via the online broadcast that the theme of his SPE presidency is “Survive, Revive, and Thrive.” Along these lines, his top priority will be to steer SPE through the recovery process “while also seeking to serve the traditional needs of our members.”

Noting that the industry has a long history of weathering storms, Blasingame described the headwinds being faced today as a “near-perfect hurricane” brought on by a global pandemic, financial turbulence, and a historic drop in oil demand.

But he highlighted another force that is reshaping the upstream industry, one that predates the pandemic and is certainly going to outlive it.

Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) criteria have in just a few short years risen from obscurity to become a major lens through which public stakeholders and global investors view upstream companies. “If you don’t know it, you’d better memorize it - put it on your pillow,” Blasingame said of the three-letter acronym.
Industry Works To Balance Risk and Reward of Digitizing Safety
Authors: Wilson Adam
Published: January 2021

The oil and gas industry has picked up on the benefits of digitization and artificial intelligence (AI) in its day-to-day activities, and the health, safety, and environment (HSE) sector is no exception. While AI brings clear benefits, the risks that come with those benefits remain unclear.

While touting the advances of technology in HSE at SPE’s Virtual Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition (ATCE), Olav Skar, director of health, safety, security, and wells at the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), said, “I also see risks, and I remain concerned that we do not truly understand them.”

Skar spoke at the ATCE on a panel that included Mohamed Kermoud, Schlumberger’s global vice president for HSE, and Philippe Herve, the vice president of energy solutions at Spark-Cognition. The panel was moderated by Josh Etkind, Shell’s Gulf of Mexico digital transformation manager.

“A lot of power is in the technology,” Herve said. “The technology is beautiful. How we as humans are going to apply it, we need to think about it. We are thinking about all of the good things that the technology is bringing to humanity. Let’s keep it that way and remove all of the applications of artificial intelligence technology that may not be well perceived or beneficial to anybody.”

An early target for digitization in oil and gas, driving has been the most dangerous HSE activity for employees. The IOGP claims that land-transportation-related incidents historically have been the largest cause of fatalities for its member companies. Since 2000, such incidents have accounted for 22% of all work-related fatalities reported by IOGP members.

Schlumberger’s approach to driving safety was outlined in a paper presented at the 2020 SPE International Conference and Exhibition on Health, Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, a synopsis of which appeared in the August 2020 issue of JPT (http://go.spe.org/_01104-1542r).

Schlumberger’s approach to improving driver safety includes an advanced driver-assistance system that alerts drivers of maximum speed limits, lane departures, and the proximity of pedestrians and other vehicles. The goal of the system is to effect good driver behavior.

“If you analyze all the data, all the incidents, you find that behavior is always behind it,” Schlumberger’s Kermoud said. “People are trying to save time, to save the day. … The rules are generally perfect, but the behavior is something that we absolutely need to make sure that we impact one way or the other. And using technology will help us.”
Chromosome Conformation Capture with Nuclear Titrated Capture-C (NuTi Capture-C)
Authors: Downes Damien J. , Hughes Jim R.
Published: January 2021

NuTi Capture-C is a Chromosome Conformation Capture (3C) approach, which can very efficiently identify chromatin interactions at target viewpoints at high resolution. The addition of high-throughput sequencing adaptors prior to enrichment allows for multiplexing of replicates and comparison samples. This method is an improvement on the previous NG Capture-C1 method in that modifications have been made to the in situ 3C method to improve nuclear integrity (Nuclear 3C). Additionally, capture has been optimised to viewpoint complexity through titration, maximising on target sequence specificity. The experiment will take several weeks and provide reproducible interaction profiles for tens to thousands of viewpoints of interest.
3’ RNA sequencing for robust and low-cost gene expression profiling
Authors: Charpentier Eric , Cornec Marine , Dumont Solenne , Meistermann Dimitri , Bordron Philippe , David Laurent , Redon Richard , Bonnaud Stéphanie , Bihouée Audrey
Published: January 2021

3’seq-RNA Profiling (3’SRP) approach is based on multiplexing samples and molecular indexing mRNA in order to drive genome-wide transcriptional profiling at reasonable cost in comparison to standard RNA-sequencing. The protocol is performed according to the 3′-digital gene expression (3′-DGE) approach developed by the Broad institute. The libraries are prepared from small amounts of total RNA where the mRNA poly(A) tails are tagged with universal adapters, well-specific barcodes and unique molecular identifiers (UMIs). We have improved the fragmentation step by implementing tagmentation based on the activity of a bead-linked transposome. This technique allows sample multiplexing on 96-well plates. Libraries are then sequenced using standard procedures, e.g. on Hiseq2500 or NovaSeq 6000 SP Flow Cells. We have developed a snakemake pipeline including every analysis step from raw fastq de-multiplexing to functional annotation of the differentially expressed genes, producing a complete HTML report for end-user.
The seasonal abundance and its impact of temperatures on the development of life cycle of G. pecorum in Northwest China
Authors: Zhang Ke , Huang Heqing , Zhou Ran , Zhang Boru , Wang Chen , Ente Make , Li Boling , Zhang Dong , Kai Li
Published: January 2021

Background: The departure of the mature larvae of the horse stomach bot fly from the host indicates the beginning of a new infection period, and the Gasterophilus pecorum becomes the dominant species in the desert steppe, showing its special biological characteristics. The population dynamics of G. pecorum were studied to reveal the population development rule of G. pecorum in the arid desert steppe. Method: The larvae were collected and recorded in the newly excreted feces by tracking the Przewalski’s horses (Equus przewalskii), meanwhile, the larval pupation experiments were carried out under natural conditions. Results: (a) There was a positive correlation between the survival rate and the number of larvae (r = 0.630, p < 0.01), indicating that the species development had the characteristics of centralized occurrence; (b) The main periods of mature larvae discharge were from early April to early May (peak Ⅰ) and from mid-August to early September (peak II), and the larval population curve showed a sudden spike in increase and gradual decrease at both peaks; under higher temperature, the number of adults from peak II had higher survival rate, higher pupation rate, higher emergence rate and less eclosion time than that of peak I; (c) Although it has one generation a year, the occurrence peak twice annually displaying a bimodal population distribution phenomenon, which forms double parasitic pressure on the local host. This phenomenon is very rare in the study of insect life history, especially in the parasite epidemiology.Conclusion: The natural discharge period of the G. pecorum larvae in Kalamaili Nature Reserve (KNR) is longer than 7 months and have the potentially long term infection effect on the host. The above phenomenon is one important reason for the local equine animals to be severely infected with equine myiasis.
A low RENAL Nephrometry Score can avoid the need for the intraoperative insertion of a ureteral catheter in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy
Authors: Nishimura Kenichi , Sawada Yuichi , Sugihara Naoya , Funaki Keisuke , Koyama Kanae , Noda Terutaka , Fukumoto Tetsuya , Miura Noriyoshi , Miyauchi Yuuki , Kikugawa Tadahiko , Saika Takashi
Published: January 2021

Background: Intraoperative urinary collecting system entry (CSE) in robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) may cause postoperative urinary leakage and extend the hospitalization. Therefore, identifying and firmly closing the entry sites are important for preventing postoperative urine leakage. In RAPN cases expected to require CSE, we insert a ureteral catheter and inject dye into the renal pelvis to identify the entry sites. We retrospectively analyzed the factors associated with intraoperative CSE in RAPN and explored the indications of intraoperative ureteral catheter indwelling in RAPN.Methods: Of 104 Japanese patients who underwent RAPN at our institution from August 2016 to March 2020, 101 were analyzed. The patients were classified into CSE and non-CSE groups. The patients’ background characteristics, RENAL Nephrometry Score (RNS) and surgical outcomes were analyzed.Results: Intraoperative CSE was observed in 41 patients (41%). The CSE group had a significantly longer operative time, console time ischemic time, and hospital stay than the non-CSE group. In a multivariable analysis, the N-score (odds ratio [OR]=3.9, P<0.05) and RNS total score excluding the L-score (OR=3.1, P<0.05) were associated with CSE. In a logistic regression analysis, CSE showed a moderate correlation with the RNS total score excluding the L-score (AUC: 0.848, cut-off: 5, sensitivity: 0.83, specificity: 0.73). Conclusion: A ureteral catheter should not be placed in patients with an RNS total score (excluding the L-score) of ≤4.
The psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adults with autism: A survey study across three countries
Authors: Oomen Danna , Nijhof Annabel Dineke , Wiersema Jan Roelf
Published: January 2021

Background: Previous studies have reported a negative psychological and mental health impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact is likely to be stronger for people with autism as they are at heightened risk of mental health problems and because the pandemic directly affects social functioning and everyday routines. We therefore examined COVID-19 pandemic-related changes in mental health, the impact of the pandemic on their social life and routines, satisfaction with pandemic-related information and tips, and participants’ wishes for guidance. Methods: We used a mixed-method approach, collecting quantitative and qualitative survey data from adults with and without autism across three European countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom (N = 1044). Results: We found an increase in depression and anxiety symptoms in response to the pandemic for both the non-autism and the autism group, which was greater for adults with autism. Furthermore, adults with autism showed a greater increase in worries about their pets, work, getting medication and food, and their own safety/security. They felt more relieved from social stress, yet experienced the loss of social contact as difficult. Adults with autism also felt more stressed about the loss of routines. Pleasant changes noted by adults with autism were the increase in solidarity and reduced sensory and social overload. Adults with autism frequently reported problems with cancellation of guidance due to the pandemic and expressed their wish for (more) autism-specific information and advice. Limitations: Our sample is likely to reflect some degree of selection bias, and longitudinal studies are needed to determine long-term effects. Conclusions: Results highlight the psychological burden of the pandemic on adults with autism and shed light on how to support them during this COVID-19 pandemic, which is especially important now that the pandemic is likely to have a prolonged course. There is a need for accessible, affordable (continued) support from health services. Guidance may focus on the maintenance of a social network, and adjusting routines to the rapid ongoing changes. Finally, we may learn from the COVID-19 pandemic-related changes experienced as pleasant by adults with autism to build a more autism-friendly society post-pandemic.
Does the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System improve patients’ outcome following laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer? A multicentre, retrospective analysis with propensity score matching.
Authors: Kazama Keisuke , Numata Masakatsu , Aoyama Toru , Atsumi Yosuke , Tamagawa Hiroshi , Godai Teni , Saeki Hiroyuki , Saigusa Yusuke , Shiozawa Manabu , Yukawa Norio , Masuda Munetaka , Rino Yasushi
Published: January 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the short-term and oncological impact of the Endoscopic Surgical Skill Qualification System (ESSQS) by the Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery on the operator performing laparoscopic surgery for colon cancer.Methods: This retrospective cohort study was based on medical records from a multicentre database. A total of 417 patients diagnosed with stage II/III colon and rectosigmoid cancer treated with curative resection were divided into two groups according to whether they were operated on by qualified surgeons (Q group, n=352) or not (NQ group, n=65). Through strict propensity score matching, 98 cases (49 in each group) were assessed.Results: Operative time was significantly longer in the NQ group than in the Q group (199 vs. 168 min, p=0.029). The amount of blood loss, post-operative complications, and duration of hospitalisation were similar between both groups. No mortality was observed. One conversion case was seen in the NQ group. The 3-year recurrence-free survival rate was 86.6% in the NQ group and 88.2% in the Q group, which was not statistically significant (log-rank p=0.966).Conclusion: Direct operation by ESSQS-qualified surgeons contributed to a shortened operation time. Under an organised educational environment, almost equivalent safety and oncological outcomes are expected regardless of the surgeon’s qualifications.
Survivorship of Anopheles gambiae sensu lato in irrigated sugarcane plantation scheme in Ethiopia
Authors: Hawaria Dawit , Kibret Solomon , Demissew Assalif , Tsegaye Arega , Bitew Denekew , Yan Guiyun , Yewhalaw Delenasaw
Published: January 2021

Background: To ensure food security, the sub-Saharan Africa has initiated massive water resource development projects, like irrigated agriculture, in recent years. However, such environmental modifications affect the survivorship and development of mosquitoes that are vectors of different diseases. This study aimed at determining the effects of irrigation practices on development and survivorship of Anopheles gambiae s.l in Ethiopia. Methods: Life-table experiment was conducted to examine the effect of environmental modification on survivorship of both immature and adults An. gambiae s.l. in irrigated and non-irrigated areas. The pupation rate and development time of the immatures and adult longevity and fecundity were compared between the two settings.Results: The estimated mean survival time of female An. gambiae s.l. in irrigated and non-irrigated area was 37.9 and 31.3 days, respectively. A survival analysis showed that adult females of An. gambiae s.l. placed in irrigated area lived significantly longer than those at the non-irrigated area (χ2 = 18.3, df = 1, p <0.001) and An. gambiae s.l. females lived significantly longer than males in both areas (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Adult An. gambiae s.l. survivorship was found to be enhanced in irrigated area compared to non-irrigated area. Longer survival of adult mosquito in irrigated area could have important implications in vectorial capacity and hence malaria transmission.
Care to Quit: A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial to implement best practice smoking cessation care in cancer centres
Authors: Paul Christine L , Warren Graham , Vinod Shalini , Meiser Bettina , Stone Emily , Barker Daniel , White Kate , McLennan James , Day Fiona , McCarter Kristen , McEnallay Melissa , Tait Jordan , Canfell Karen , Weber Marianne , Segan Catherine
Published: January 2021

Background Cigarette smoking in people with cancer is associated with negative treatment related outcomes including increased treatment toxicity and complications, medication side effects, decreased performance status and morbidity. Evidence based smoking cessation care is not routinely provided to patients with cancer. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of a smoking cessation implementation intervention on abstinence from smoking in people diagnosed with cancer.Methods A stepped wedge cluster randomized design will be used. All sites begin in the control condition providing treatment as usual. In a randomly generated order, sites will move to the intervention condition. Based on the Theoretical Domains Framework, implementation of Care to Quit will include i) building the capability and motivation of a critical mass of key clinical staff and identifying champions; and ii) identifying and implementing cessation care models/pathways. 2160 patients with cancer (diagnosed in the prior six months), aged 18+, who report recent combustible tobacco use (past 90 days or in the 30 days prior to cancer diagnosis) and are accessing anti-cancer therapy, will be recruited at nine sites. Assessments will be conducted at baseline and 7-month follow-up. The primary outcome will be 6-month abstinence from smoking. Secondary outcomes include biochemical verification of abstinence from smoking, duration of quit attempts, tobacco consumption, nicotine dependence, variables, provision and receipt of smoking cessation care, mental health and quality of life and cost effectiveness of the intervention.Discussion This study will implement best practice smoking cessation care in cancer centres and has the potential for wide dissemination.Trial registration The trial is registered with ANZCTR (www.anzctr.org.au): ACTRN (submitted, awaiting approval due to ANZCTR delays) prior to the accrual of the first participant and will be updated regularly as per registry guidelines.
Functional analysis of (pristine) estuarine marine sediments
Authors: Shah Rohan , Hillyer Katie , Stephenson Sarah , Crosswell Joseph , Karpe Avinash , Paolombo Enzo , Jones Oliver , Gorman Daniel , Bodrossy Levente , de Kamp Jodie van , Ahmed Warish , Bissett Andrew , Whiteley Andrew , Steven Andy , Beale David
Published: January 2021

Traditional environmental monitoring techniques are well suited to resolving acute exposure effects but lack resolution in determining subtle shifts in ecosystem functions resulting from chronic exposure(s). Surveillance with sensitive omics-based technologies could bridge this gap but, to date, most omics-based environmental studies have focused on previously degraded environments, identifying key metabolic differences resulting from anthropogenic perturbations. Here, we apply ‘omic based approaches to pristine environments to establish blueprints of microbial functionality within healthy estuarine sediment communities. We collected surface sediments (n=50) from four pristine estuaries along the Western Cape York Peninsula of Far North Queensland, Australia. Sediment microbiomes were analyzed for 16S rRNA amplicon sequences, central carbon metabolism metabolites and associated secondary metabolites via untargeted metabolic profiling methods. Multivariate statistical analyses indicated heterogeneity amongst the sampled estuaries, however, taxa-function relationships could be established and predicted community metabolism potential. Twenty-four correlated gene-metabolite pathways were identified and used to establish sediment microbial blueprints of carbon metabolism and amino acid biosynthesis. Our results establish a baseline microbial blueprint for the pristine sediment microbiome, one that drives important ecosystem services and to which future ecosurveillance monitoring can be compared.
Impact of Preconceptional Serum Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Values Ranging Between 2.5 and 4.5 mIU/L on Intrauterine Insemination Outcomes in Euthyroid Women with Unexplained Infertility
Authors: Karakis Lale , Kiyak Huseyin , Okmen Berfin , Ozdemir Cagdas , Turkgeldi Engin
Published: January 2021

Background: Contrary to overt hypothyroidism, the true impact of subclinical hypothyroidism on fertility has not been well established. This study aimed to investigate whether serum thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) values between 2.5 and 4.5 mIU/L are associated with lower pregnancy rates compared to TSH levels between 0.3-2.5 mIU/L in women undergoing ovulation induction with gonadotropins and intrauterine insemination (IUI) for unexplained infertility.Methods: Medical records of couples with unexplained infertility who underwent IUI treatment between January 2013 and December 2018 were reviewed retrospectively. Cycle characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of patients with serum TSH levels between 0.3-2.49 mIU/L and 2.5–4.5 mIU/L were compared. Primary outcome measures were clinical pregnancy and live birth rate. Secondary outcome measures were total dose of gonadotropin administration, duration of ovulation induction and miscarriage rate.Results: A total of 726 euthyroid women who underwent 1465 cycles of ovulation induction with gonadotropins and IUI were included in the analyses. Patient and cycle characteristics of the two study groups were similar. No statistically significant differences could be detected in the clinical pregnancy (p=0.743) and live birth rates (p=0.380) between the two groups. Duration of ovulation induction, total gonadotropin dosage, number of follicles >17mm on the trigger day and the miscarriage rates were similar in the two groups.Conclusion: In euthyroid women undergoing ovulation induction with gonadotropins and IUI for unexplained infertility, the range of preconceptional serum TSH values between 2.5-4.5 mIU/L is not associated with lower pregnancy rates when compared to TSH levels between 0.3-2.5 mIU/L.
Iranian Sub Cohort Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (IrSCCOPD): Need for Longitudinal Observational Studies COPD in Southwest of Iran
Authors: Kiani Fatemeh Zeynab , Ahmadi Ali , Babadi Akbar Soleymani , Rouhi Hamid
Published: January 2021

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic and complex respiratory disorder that is associated with the airflow limitation and increased inflammatory response of the lungs to harmful particles and gases. The purpose of this original study was to describe the profile of Shahrekord PERSIAN Cohort Study regarding COPD in southwestern Iran. Methods: This study of asthma and respiratory diseases is a subcohort of the larger cohort study, i.e., Shahrekord PERSIAN cohort, a population-based prospective study on people aged 35-70 years in southwestern Iran (n=10,075). The sample size of the subcohort was 8500 people. Annual follow-ups (person-year) of the cohort were designed to be conducted up to 2036. The instruments to collect data on various exposures were derived from the questionnaires previously developed in extensive multinational studies (occupational exposures, smoking, housing status, and fuel consumption, history of respiratory and chronic diseases, comorbidity, etc.). The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the lower limit of normal (NLL) spirometric criteria were used to confirm COPD diagnosis. Results: The response rate was 93.85%. The mean age of the participants was 49.48 ± 9.32; 47.9% were male and 52.9% were female; about 20% were in rural areas and nearly 16% of the population was current smokers; the fuel used by most of the participants for heating the house and cooking was gas. The most common comorbidity among participants was dyslipidemia; 30% of people have three or more comorbidities. According to GOLD and LLN criteria, 3.6% and 8.4% of participants had COPD, respectively. 4.3% of the participants had a history of chronic lung disease. The mean FEV1/ FVC was 92.48 (SD, 7.47), the mean FEF 25-75 was 3.43 (SD, 1.28) L. 47.6% had a history of chronic phlegm; 2.7% of the participants had shortness of breath and wheezingConclusion: Epidemiological research is necessary to create an appropriate framework to fight COPD. This framework requires a better description of men and women at risk of developing COPD and describing people with early-stage illnesses.
Nano-Hydroxyapatite Accelerates Vascular Calcification by Inhibiting Lysosomal Acidiﬁcation in Smooth Muscle Cells.
Authors: Liu Qi , Luo Yi , Zhao Yun , Xiang Pingping , Zhu Jinyun , Jing Wangwei , jin Wenjing , Chen Mingyao , Tang Ruikang , Yu Hong
Published: January 2021

Background: Vascular calcification (VC) is a common characteristic of aging, diabetes, chronic renal failure, and atherosclerosis. The basic component of VC is hydroxyapatite (HAp). Nano-sized HAp (nHAp) has been identified as the initiator of pathological calcification of vasculature. However, whether nHAp can induce calcification in vivo and the mechanism of nHAp in the progression of VC remains unclear.Results: We discovered that nHAp existed both in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and their extracellular matrix (ECM) in the calcified arteries from patients. Synthetic nHAp had similar morphological and chemical properties as natural nHAp recovered from calcified artery. nHAp induced rapid progression of VC by stimulating osteogenic differentiation and accelerating mineralization of VSMCs in vitro. Synthetic nHAp could also directly induce VC in vivo. Mechanistically, nHAp was internalized into lysosome, which impaired lysosome vacuolar H+-ATPase for its acidification, therefore blocked autophagic flux in VSMCs. The accumulated autophagosomes and autolysosomes were converted into calcium-containing exosomes which were secreted into ECM and accelerated vascular calcium deposit. Inhibition of exosome release in VSMCs decreased calcium deposition. Conclusions: Our results illustrated a novel mechanism of nHAp-induced vascular calcification. Understanding the role of nHAp in autophagy-lysosome-exosome pathway in SMCs could have great clinical significance in preventing the progression of VC.
Comparative Study of Magnesium, Sodium Valproate, and Concurrent Magnesium- Sodium Valproate Therapy in the Prevention of Migraine: A Randomized Controlled Double-Blind Trial.
Authors: Khani Samira , Hejazi Seyed Amir , yaghubi Mehdi Mehdi , Sharifipour Ehsan
Published: January 2021

ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the efficacy of concurrent magnesium-sodium valproate therapy and compare it with either magnesium or sodium valproate alone in the prevention of migraine prophylaxis. Materials and MethodsThis randomized single-center double-blind parallel-group controlled clinical trial study was conducted on migraine patients within the age range of 18-65 years. The subjects with at least four monthly attacks were randomly assigned to group A (n=82), group B (n=70), and group C (n=70) with the administration of sodium valproate, magnesium-sodium valproate, and magnesium, respectively. The patients passed a one-month baseline without prophylactic therapy and then received a 3-month treatment. The characteristics of migraine, including frequency, severity, duration of the attacks, and the number of painkillers taken per month, were monthly recorded in each visit. The Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) and Headache Impact Test-6 (HIT-6) scores were recorded at the baseline and after 3 months of treatment in each group. Within- and between-group analyses were performed in this study. ResultsThe obtained results revealed a significant reduction in all migraine characteristics in all groups compared with baseline (P<0.001). Intragroup data analysis indicated that there was no statistically significant difference in headache frequency between groups A and B in the third month (P= 0.529); nevertheless, three other parameters showed a significant reduction in group B, compared to those reported in group A in the third month (P<0.05). On the other hand, group C could not effectively reduce measured parameters in the patients, compared to groups A and B after three months (P<0.001). Furthermore, the MIDAS and HIT-6 scores diminished significantly in groups A, B, and C compared with baseline (P<0.001), and also these changes were more significant in groups A and B than group C (P<0.001). ConclusionThe obtained results of this study revealed that magnesium could enhance the antimigraine properties of sodium valproate in combination therapy and reduce the required valproate dose for migraine prophylaxis.
Neural control of rhythmic limb motion is shaped by size and speed
Authors: Sutton Gregory , Szczecinski Nicholas , Quinn Roger , Chiel Hillel
Published: January 2021

Over many size and time scales, behaviors such as locomotion or feeding require mechanical movements. Size and time in turn determine a behavior’s dominant mechanical properties: mass, stiffness or viscous damping. The constraints for limbed behaviors can thus be quantified by two variables: limb size and limb speed, defining a ‘mechanics space’ that shows the relative magnitude of each mechanical property for animals ranging from fruit fly to elephant. The mechanics space has three distinct regions: 1) an inertia-dominated region; 2) a gravity or elastic-force-dominated region; and 3) a viscous-force-dominated region. In the mass-dominated region, associated with large limbs moving rapidly, muscle work is translated into primarily kinetic energy. Thus, stable motion requires compensatory control and active damping. In the elastic-force-dominated region, associated with small limbs moving slowly, muscle energy is translated into primarily gravitational or elastic potential energy. Thus, compensatory control and active damping are unnecessary. Lastly, in the viscous region, associated with small limbs moving quickly, joint viscosity acts to damp actuation, resulting in exclusively stable movements. Control and stability of a limb thus depends almost entirely on the size and speed of limb movement, and this has fundamental implications for neural control.
Seroepidemiology Study of Cytomegalovirus and Rubella in Pregnant Women in Luanda, Angola: Geospatial Distribution and its Association with Socio-Demographic and Clinical-Obstetric Determinants
Authors: Vueba Amélia Nkutxi , Faria Clarissa , Almendra Ricardo , Santana Paula , Sousa Maria
Published: January 2021

Background: The main objective was to study the seroprevalence of anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies in pregnant women of Luanda (Angola), identify the primary maternal infection during gestation and to evaluate the socio-demographic risk factors associated with CMV and Rubella virus infections. Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2016 to May 2017. Blood samples were collected and specific anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies (IgG and IgM) were quantified by electrochemiluminescence (COBAS e411). Demographic and clinical data were collected by standardized questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to quantify the effect of clinical and obstetric risk factors on virus seroprevalence. The level of statistical significance was set as p<0.05, and Odds Ratio (OR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI) were computed. Results: The 396 pregnant women participated in the study aged from 15 to 47. Of the participants, 382 (96.5%) had anti-CMV IgG antibodies, 8 (2.0%) had anti-CMV IgG and IgM antibodies and 6 (1.5%) were seronegative. For Rubella virus, 347 (87.6%) were positive for anti-IgG, 4 (1.0%) positive for anti-IgG and IgM, and 45 (11.4%) were seronegative. The mean age of CMV positivity was 28.4 (SD ± 6.2) and for Rubella virus was 28.6 (SD ± 6.1). The multivariate logistic regression analysis has shown a significant association between Rubella virus infection and pregnant women without child (OR 2.673; CI: 1.026 - 7.007) and suffering spontaneous abortion (OR 3.232; CI: 1.192 - 7.952). In contrast, the level of schooling, residence, occupation, marital status, number of children in the household, basic sanitation, gestational age, history of miscarriages and hepatitis B were not significantly associated with the Rubella virus infection. Conclusions: Overall, this study showed that there is a high seroprevalence of anti-CMV and anti-Rubella antibodies in pregnant women in Luanda. Therefore, it is important a rapid and accurate diagnosis of CMV and Rubella infection in pregnant women to prevent congenital infections. Rubella vaccination should be offered to women non-immune to Rubella. Overall, it would be important to implement national screening for CMV, Rubella and other diseases linked to maternal and child health.
EDLMFC: An Ensemble Deep Learning Framework with Multi-scale Features Combination for ncRNA-protein Interaction Prediction
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Zhao Yanpeng , Gong Weikang , Liu Yang , Wang Mei , Huang Xiaoqian , Tan Jianjun
Published: January 2021

Background: Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) and protein interactions play essential roles in various physiological and pathological processes. The experimental methods used for predicting ncRNA-protein interactions are time-consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for computational methods to accurately and efficiently predict ncRNA-protein interactions.Results: In this work, we presented an ensemble deep learning-based method, EDLMFC, to predict ncRNA-protein interactions using the combination of multi-scale features, including primary sequence features, secondary structure sequence features, and tertiary structure features. Conjoint k-mer was used to extract protein/ncRNA sequence features, integrating tertiary structure features, then fed into an ensemble deep learning model, which combined convolutional neural network (CNN) to learn dominating biological information with bi-directional long short-term memory network (BLSTM) to capture long-range dependencies among the features identified by the CNN. Compared with other state-of-the-art methods under 5-fold cross-validation, EDLMFC shows the best performance with accuracy of 94.3% and 90.0% on RPI1807 and NPInter v2.0 datasets, respectively. The results of the independent test demonstrated that EDLMFC can effectively predict potential ncRNA-protein interactions from different organisms. Furtherly, EDLMFC is also shown to predict hub ncRNAs and proteins presented in ncRNA-protein networks of Mus musculus successfully.Conclusions: In general, our proposed method EDLMFC improved the accuracy of ncRNA-protein interaction predictions and anticipated providing some helpful guidance on ncRNA functions research.The source code of EDLMFC and the datasets used in this work are available at https://github.com/JingjingWang-87/EDLMFC.
Analysis and Distribution of Wind Speed in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Douri Y. , Waheeb S. A.
Published: January 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.