bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of blended learning with BOPPPS model on Chinese student outcomes and perceptions in an introduction course of health services management
Authors: Ma Xingming , Ma Xuewei , Li Ling , Luo Xinyi , Zhang Hao , Liu Yuanqi
Published: May 2021

Although the teaching methods of the blended learning and BOPPPS (bridge-in, objective, preassessment, participatory learning, postassessment, and summary) model are proven to be successful and highly effective at improving the academic knowledge of the students, respectively, it is unclear whether blended learning combined with the BOPPPS model (BL-BOPPPS) could work well in an introduction course of health services management (HSM) for the health management students in China. The study investigated the perceptions and effects of implementing the BL-BOPPPS model on student learning outcomes in an introduction course of HSM. The intervention group consisted of 55 students introduced to the BL-BOPPPS model, while the control group consisted of 54 students who received a conventional lecture. After the end of course, the eﬀectiveness of teaching was self-assessed with questionnaires by all students, and examination scores for the two groups were compared. The students’ satisfaction levels of BL-BOPPPS teaching strategy were up to 81.8% in the intervention group. Compared with the control group, the intervention group showed significant elevation of perception scores of skills ( P = 0.001), initiative ( P = 0.002), self-control ( P = 0.008), self-efficacy ( P = 0.001), motivation ( P = 0.004), and the academic performance ( P = 0.001). The BL-BOPPPS model could stimulate the enthusiasm and interest of health students; boost students’ skills, initiative, and motivation in learning; and improve the self-directed learning ability, academic performance, and teaching quality. The findings provide a basis of evidence for the promotion of the BL-BOPPPS model in various disciplines in Chinese colleges and universities.
Effects of cardiorespiratory fitness and exercise training on cerebrovascular blood flow and reactivity: a systematic review with meta-analyses
Authors: Smith Emily C. , Pizzey Faith K. , Askew Christopher D. , Mielke Gregore I. , Ainslie Philip N. , Coombes Jeff S. , Bailey Tom G.
Published: May 2021

We address two aims: Aim 1 (Fitness Review) compares the effect of higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) (e.g., endurance athletes) with lower CRF (e.g., sedentary adults) on cerebrovascular outcomes, including middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv), cerebrovascular reactivity and resistance, and global cerebral blood flow, as assessed by transcranial Doppler (TCD) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Aim 2 (Exercise Training Review) determines the effect of exercise training on cerebrovascular outcomes. Systematic review of studies with meta-analyses where appropriate. Certainty of evidence was assessed by the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Twenty studies (18 using TCD) met the eligibility criteria for Aim 1, and 14 studies (8 by TCD) were included for Aim 2. There was a significant effect of higher CRF compared with lower CRF on cerebrovascular resistance (effect size = −0.54, 95% confidence interval = −0.91 to −0.16) and cerebrovascular reactivity (0.98, 0.41–1.55). Studies including males only demonstrated a greater effect of higher CRF on cerebrovascular resistance than mixed or female studies (male only: −0.69, −1.06 to −0.32; mixed and female studies: 0.10, −0.28 to 0.49). Exercise training did not increase MCAv (0.05, −0.21 to 0.31) but showed a small nonsignificant improvement in cerebrovascular reactivity (0.60, −0.08 to 1.28; P = 0.09). Exercise training showed heterogeneous effects on regional but little effect on global cerebral blood flow as measured by MRI. High CRF positively effects cerebrovascular function, including decreased cerebrovascular resistance and increased cerebrovascular reactivity; however, global cerebral blood flow and MCAv are primarily unchanged following an exercise intervention in healthy and clinical populations.
Statistical Analysis of Joint Type‐I Generalized Hybrid Censoring Data from Burr XII Lifetime Distributions
Authors: Ragab Mahmoud , Fayomi Aisha , Algarni Ali , Abd-Elmougod G. A. , Sayed-Ahmed Neveen , Abo-Dahab S. M. , Abdel-Khalek S.
Published: May 2021

The quality of the products coming from different lines of production requires some tests called comparative life tests. For lines having the same facility, the lifetime of the product is distributed by Burr XII, the lifetime distribution, and units are tested under type‐I generalized hybrid censoring scheme. The observed censoring data are used under maximum likelihood and the Bayes method to estimate the model parameters. The theoretical results are discussed and assessed through data analysis and Monte Carlo simulation study. Finally, we reported some brief comments obtained from numerical computation.
A New Hybrid Deep Learning Algorithm for Prediction of Wide Traffic Congestion in Smart Cities
Authors: Kothai G. , Poovammal E. , Dhiman Gaurav , Ramana Kadiyala , Sharma Ashutosh , AlZain Mohammed A. , Gaba Gurjot Singh , Masud Mehedi
Published: May 2021

The vehicular adhoc network (VANET) is an emerging research topic in the intelligent transportation system that furnishes essential information to the vehicles in the network. Nearly 150 thousand people are affected by the road accidents that must be minimized, and improving safety is required in VANET. The prediction of traffic congestions plays a momentous role in minimizing accidents in roads and improving traffic management for people. However, the dynamic behavior of the vehicles in the network degrades the rendition of deep learning models in predicting the traffic congestion on roads. To overcome the congestion problem, this paper proposes a new hybrid boosted long short‐term memory ensemble (BLSTME) and convolutional neural network (CNN) model that ensemble the powerful features of CNN with BLSTME to negotiate the dynamic behavior of the vehicle and to predict the congestion in traffic effectively on roads. The CNN extracts the features from traffic images, and the proposed BLSTME trains and strengthens the weak classifiers for the prediction of congestion. The proposed model is developed using Tensor flow python libraries and are tested in real traffic scenario simulated using SUMO and OMNeT++. The extensive experimentations are carried out, and the model is measured with the performance metrics likely prediction accuracy, precision, and recall. Thus, the experimental result shows 98% of accuracy, 96% of precision, and 94% of recall. The results complies that the proposed model clobbers the other existing algorithms by furnishing 10% higher than deep learning models in terms of stability and performance.
Square-Root Cubature Kalman Filter Based on H∞ Filter for Attitude Measurement of High-Spinning Aircraft
Authors: Zhang Ping-an , Wang Wei , Gao Min , Wang Yi
Published: May 2021

A novel H∞ filter called square-root cubature H∞ Kalman filter is proposed for attitude measurement of high-spinning aircraft. In this method, a combined measurement model of three-axis geomagnetic sensor and gyroscope is used, and the Euler angle algorithm model is used to reduce the state dimension and linearize the state equation, which can reduce the amount of calculation. Simultaneously, the method can be applied to the case of measurement noise uncertainty. By continuously modifying the error limiting parameters to update the measurement noise estimation, the filtering accuracy and robustness can be improved. The square-root forms enjoy a consistently improved numerical stability because all the resulting covariance matrices by QR decomposition are guaranteed to stay positive semidefinite. The algorithm is applied to the simulation experiment of attitude measurement with the combination of geomagnetic sensor and gyroscope and compared with the results of Unscented Kalman filter, cubature Kalman filter, square root cubature Kalman filter, and singular value decomposition cubature Kalman filter, which proves the effectiveness and superiority of the algorithm.
Mitophagy Impairment Aggravates Cisplatin‐Induced Ototoxicity
Authors: Cho Sung Il , Jo Eu-Ri , Song Hansoo
Published: May 2021

Cisplatin is an efficacious anticancer agent, but its use is limited by ototoxicity and resultant irreversible sensorineural hearing loss. Cisplatin ototoxicity is associated with cochlear cell oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. However, mitophagy is vital for maintaining mitochondrial quality and cellular metabolism. Accordingly, we investigated the role of mitophagy in regulating cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity using the auditory cell line HEI‐OC1. In this study, HEI‐OC1 cells were treated with either cisplatin alone (10 μM, 0, 8, 16, and 24 h); cisplatin (10 μM, 24 h) post transfection with small‐interfering (si)RNAs targeting mitophagy‐associated mRNAs; cisplatin (10 μM, 24 h) succeeding pretreatment with the mitophagy suppressor, 3‐methyladenine (3‐MA; 5 or 10 mM, 6 h); or cisplatin (30 μM, 24 h) following pretreatment with the mitophagy promoter, carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP; 1 or 2 μM, 2 h). The viability of cells, expression of mitophagy marker, and mitochondrial functions were then assessed in these cells. Cell viability was determined by a water‐soluble tetrazolium assay; expression of mitophagy‐associated proteins PINK1, Parkin, BNIP3, FUNDC1, p62, and LC3B was analyzed by Western blotting, mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry, intracellular ATP by spectrophotometry, and mitochondrial degradation by dual staining for mitochondria and autophagosomes or lysosomes. Our results showed that cisplatin gradually reduced the viable cell number over time, induced mitochondrial depolarization, decreased intracellular ATP concentration, and enhanced the expression of PINK1, Parkin, BNIP3, p62, and LC3B. In addition, Parkin and BNIP3 knockdown accelerated cisplatin‐induced loss of cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitophagosome/lysosome formation, and reduction in intracellular ATP production. Pretreatment with 3‐MA aggravated the cisplatin‐induced cytotoxicity, while that with CCCP reversed this effect. Overall, our findings indicate that mitophagy protects HEI‐OC1 cells against cisplatin‐induced cell death. Consequently, we strongly believe that targeted promotion of mitophagy may confer protection against cisplatin‐induced ototoxicity.
Comparing School-Aged Refraction Measurements Using the 2WIN-S Portable Refractor in Relation to Cycloplegic Retinoscopy: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Liu Ziming , Pazo Emmanuel Eric , Ye Hong , Yu Cui , Xu Ling , He Wei
Published: May 2021

Purpose. To assess the repeatability and agreement of refractive measurements using 2WIN-S photoscreening with the gold-standard cycloplegic retinoscope refraction. Design. Single centre, cross-sectional study. Methods. Spherical, cylindrical, axis, and spherical equivalent of 194 bilateral eyes of 97 children were assessed using a retinoscope and 2WIN-S. One week later, another operator repeated the 2WIN-S measurements. The primary outcome measures were to assess the repeatability and agreement between spherical equivalent, J0, and J45 readings of 2WIN-S. The repeatability of measurements was assessed by the within-subject standard deviation (2.77 Sw) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The agreement between devices was assessed using 95% limits of agreement. The extent of the agreement between cycloplegic retinoscopy and noncycloplegic 2WIN-S measurements was assessed using Bland–Altman analysis. Results. The mean age ± SD was 10.3 ± 2.46 year (range, 4–14 years). The sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent measurements were found to be consistent with both apparatus (r value >0.86). ICC for SE, J0, and J45 was 0.900, 0.666, and 0.639, respectively; Sw for SE, J0, and J45 was 0.61D, 0.30D, and 0.31D, respectively; Bland–Altman analysis of retinoscopy with cycloplegia and 2WIN-S for SE was 184/194 (95%) in 95% confidence interval, and the mean value was 0.46. J0 was 184/194 (95%), and the mean value is −0.04. J45 was 181/194 (93%), and the mean value is −0.15. Conclusion. The objective refractive measurement of 2WIN-S had good reliability and high agreement with the gold-standard retinoscopy refraction in children and adolescents. While consistency was observed, it is essential to take into consideration that it is a screening tool.
4DCT Scanning Technique for Primary Hyperparathyroidism: A Scoping Review
Authors: Raeymaeckers Steven , Tosi Maurizio , De Mey Johan
Published: May 2021

Objective. 4DCT for the detection of (an) enlarged parathyroid(s) is a commonly performed examination in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism. Protocols are often institution-specific; this review aims to summarize the different protocols and explore the reported sensitivity and specificity of different 4DCT protocols as well as the associated dose. Materials and Methods. A literature study was independently conducted by two radiologists from April 2020 until May 2020 using the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) database. Articles were screened and assessed for eligibility. From eligible studies, data were extracted to summarize different parameters of the scanning protocol and observed diagnostic attributes. Results. A total of 51 articles were included and 56 scanning protocols were identified. Most protocols use three (n = 25) or four different phases (n = 23). Almost all authors include noncontrast enhanced imaging and an arterial phase. Arterial images are usually obtained 25–30 s after administration of contrast, and less agreement exists concerning the timing of the venous phase(s). A mean contrast bolus of 100 mL is administered at 3-4 mL/s. Bolus tracking is not often used (n = 3). A wide range of effective doses are reported, up to 28 mSv. A mean sensitivity of 81.5% and a mean specificity of 86% are reported. Conclusion. Many different 4DCT scanning protocols for the detection of parathyroid adenomas exist in the literature. The number of phases does not appear to affect sensitivity or specificity. A triphasic approach, however, seems preferable, as three patterns of enhancement of parathyroid adenomas are described. Bolus tracking could help to reduce the variability of enhancement. Sensitivity and specificity also do not appear to be affected by other scan parameters like tube voltage or tube current. To keep the effective dose within limits, scanning at a lower fixed tube current seems preferable. Lowering tube voltage from 120 kV to 100 kV may yield similar image contrast but would also help lower the dose.
Risk Factors for the Efficiency of Artificial Insemination in Dairy Cows and Economic Impact of Failure of First Service Insemination in and around Haramaya Town, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Hamid Muhammed , Abduraman Sadam , Tadesse Belege
Published: May 2021

A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2019 to May 2020 in and around Haramaya Town to study the risk factors of artificial insemination (AI) in dairy cattle and evaluate the economic impact of failure of first service AI. A questionnaire survey and field follow-up were employed for collecting data from cattle owners and artificial insemination technicians (AITs) who were selected purposively. Out of the 221 inseminated cows and heifers, the overall conception rate was 60.2% (n = 133). The conception rate was statistically different between breed (

P
=
0.019

) and insemination time (

P
=
0.049

). From a total of 133 conceived cows and heifers, the conception rate was 68 (53.54%) in local breeds and 65 (69.15%) in cross breeds. Parity, age of cows, inseminator experience, and body condition of cows did not create a significant difference in conception rate (

P
>
0.05

). Failure to conceive at their first AI results in an extra cost of 440 ETB per day until conception. Therefore, to increase the conception rate, dairy cows should be inseminated early when they show signs of estrous; the owners of dairy cows should be trained on how to detect estrous signs in dairy cows and AI technicians should also take training in order to improve their skills.
Impact of Driver Age and Experience in Software Usage on Driving Safety and Usability of Car-Sharing Software
Authors: Jing Chunhui , Zhi Jinyi , Yang Suixian , Wang Wei
Published: May 2021

Car-sharing economy has caused new driving safety and usability problems, which have not been well studied. This study aims at analyzing the effects of users age and the user experience (UX) of the car-sharing software (e.g., DiDi travel app) on overall usability and the level of distraction for drivers. To this end, 48 experienced Chinese drivers were recruited to perform various tasks with the car-sharing software using a driving simulator. The variables of driving safety and usability were analyzed by two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent sample Kruskal–Wallis nonparametric test. As expected, it was found that car-sharing software has a significant negative impact on driving distraction and usability. The overall performance of young drivers is better than that of the elderly, but it seems that young drivers are more likely to be led to errors by car-sharing software. In most aspects, experienced drivers perform better than inexperienced drivers and have a better in-depth understanding of car-sharing software weaknesses. However, inexperienced drivers performed better regarding braking time and interaction time. Although young inexperienced drivers performed worst in driving safety, they exhibited the lowest cognitive load and the highest interaction efficiency. The experience of using car-sharing software may improve driver’s ability to deal with driving distractions. The above conclusions provide theoretical support for optimizing the UX of car-sharing software and some references for driver’s screening and training.
Investigating Peat Soil Stratigraphy and Marine Clay Formation Using the Geophysical Method in Padas Valley, Northern Borneo
Authors: Mohamad Habib M. , Kasbi B. , Baba M. , Adnan Z. , Hardianshah S. , Ismail S.
Published: May 2021

A geophysical survey including electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), induced polarization (IP), and seismic refraction (SR) was carried out to estimate peatland thickness in Beaufort District, Eastern Malaysia. Peatlands are important natural carbon storage and play a key role in the global carbon cycle. The ERT and IP studies were performed along three profiles over different peat thicknesses using Schlumberger configuration. The SR survey was carried out using vertical geophones along the same profiles. The peat soil material was characterized by low seismic velocity and high resistivity. Our results show that ERT and IP methods were able to clearly detect the interface between the peat soil and marine clay underneath. These layers differ greatly in geoelectrical characteristics showing clear contrast, thus enabling the delineation of peat soil stratigraphy, while the SR image obtained was not able to determine the base of the peat soil layer as the stiffness difference on the transition layer was very small. Overall, it was concluded that the ERT and IP method offer a useful alternative in delineating the peat soil stratigraphy. The combined application of ERT and IP method with the conventional boring method meets the demand for large volume peat stratigraphy mapping, which, moreover, has various ecological conditions and undulating strata.
Decreased Levels of Serum IL‐34 Associated with Cognitive Impairment in Vascular Dementia
Authors: Wang Yang , Lu Wei , Ning Wenjing , Chen Yan , Li Lingxing
Published: May 2021

Objective. Interleukin‐ (IL‐) 34 is a new type of cytokine with neuroprotective effects discovered in recent years. However, the relationship between IL‐34 and vascular dementia (VaD) has not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to determine whether IL‐34 is involved in cognitive impairment of VaD. Methods. From January 2017 to December 2020, 84 VaD patients and 60 healthy controls who attended Qingpu Branch of Zhongshan Hospital were prospectively included in the study. Once included in the study, demographic features of all research subjects are collected. They include age, gender, education, white blood cells (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC). Meanwhile, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale was used to assess the cognitive function of participants. The serum IL‐34 level was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results. There was no significant difference between the demographic features of VaD patients and healthy controls (p > 0.05). However, the serum IL‐34 levels of VaD patients and healthy controls are 27.6 ± 3.9 pg/ml and 41.8 ± 6.0 pg/ml, respectively, and there is a significant statistical difference between them (p < 0.001). The results of bivariate correlation analysis showed that serum IL‐34 levels were significantly positively correlated with MoCA scores (r = 0.371, p = 0.023). Further regression analysis showed that IL‐34 was still correlated with MoCA after adjusting for demographic features (β = 0.276, p = 0038). Conclusions. Serum IL‐34 levels in VaD patients were significantly reduced, which may be an independent predictor of cognitive impairment in VaD patients.
Diarrhea due to SARS-CoV-2-Related Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
Authors: Patel Harish K. , Makker Jasbir , Alemam Ahemd , Chilimuri Sridhar
Published: May 2021

Gastrointestinal symptoms, especially diarrhea, are common with novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infection. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptors are heavily expressed in enterocytes and serve as entry receptors for SARS-CoV-2. ACE-2 receptors may also be responsible for pancreatic injury in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Diarrhea associated with SARS-CoV-2 is usually believed to be due to viral invasion of enterocytes. However, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency resulting from SARS-CoV-2 is another plausible mechanism leading to diarrhea in such patients. We present a case series of three SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with predominant respiratory symptoms at presentation who developed diarrhea, and further fecal analysis revealed exocrine pancreatic insufficiency as the underlying mechanism.
Quality Prediction of Strip in Finishing Rolling Process Based on GBDBN‐ELM
Authors: Li Shuang , Wang Jian , Chen Sen
Published: May 2021

With the continuous development of the manufacturing industry, the requirement for strip steel quality is becoming higher and higher in automobile manufacturing, mechanical processing, and electronic and electrical industries. The precise control of strip quality depends on the accurate prediction of strip quality to a certain extent. However, the data collected by a large number of sensors on the complex strip production line and generated by the computer control system presents the characteristics of high dimensionality, high coupling, and nonlinearity, which brings difficulties to the prediction of strip quality. The continuous production of massive data in the production line also forces steel enterprises to seek new data mining methods, mining the relationship between sensor data to predict and control strip quality. To solve these problems, this paper proposes a GBDBN‐ELM model, which is more efficient and more accurate than other algorithms. In this model, the RBM in DBN is replaced with GBRBM, so that RBM no longer depends on the binary distribution, can handle continuity values, and retain more data features. In order to solve the problem of too long DBN training time, this article replaces the BP network in DBN with an ELM regression model. The ELM model predicts the strip quality based on the extracted data abstract features, thereby improving the model’s prediction accuracy and shortening the training time. In this paper, the GBDBN‐ELM model is compared with the BP neural network, ELM, and DBN, and root mean square error, R square coefficient of determination, and training time are selected as evaluation indexes of the models. The experimental results show that the improved GBDBN‐ELM model can not only improve the accuracy of strip steel quality prediction but also shorten the time of model training. The model proposed in this paper has achieved good results in prediction accuracy and performance.
A Case of Pediatric Stroke: Osteosarcoma Embolus in the Internal Carotid Artery
Authors: Troy Christopher , Sisti Jonathan , Maldonado-Soto Angel , Tosto-D’antonio Gabriella , Miller Michael L. , Remotti Fabrizio , Mandigo Grace
Published: May 2021

Stroke in the pediatric population is rare. Despite presentation similar to that seen in the adult patient, the diagnosis in a child can be missed or mistaken for a more common stroke mimic. Due to its rarity, there are no completed pediatric clinical trials investigating best treatment, though guidelines have been extrapolated from adult guidelines and retrospective cohort studies to include some combination of thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. Rarer still is pediatric stroke caused by tumor embolus. We present the case of a young child diagnosed with stroke secondary to osteosarcoma embolism to the left internal carotid artery and review the relevant literature to discuss the considerations and challenges of treatment of stroke in the pediatric population.
Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease: Diagnosing Typical and Atypical Presentations under Limited Circumstances
Authors: Khan Shazma , Khan Sara
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD) is a transmissible disorder of the central nervous system caused by the transformation of normal prion protein into an abnormal misfolded form. The process begins spontaneously and runs a vicious cycle to cause spongiform encephalopathy, rapidly resulting in death. Amply described in the western literature, CJD is scarcely reported in Asia due to certain limitations including missed diagnosis, under-reporting, and rarity of the disease. Brain MRI, electroencephalogram, cerebrospinal fluid testing, and biopsy of the infected brain tissue support the diagnosis in cases of clinical suspicion. However, the diagnosis can still be made with limited available resources in developing countries. Method: A review of CJD cases evaluated in the neurology department of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan was done from 2002 to 2018. Results: Eleven cases labeled as sCJD are identified based on the European MRI-CJD consortium criteria. This is the first study on CJD from Pakistan, which includes both the typical and atypical presentations. Conclusion: Even with limited testing available, the diagnosis of CJD can be made with confidence in the developing countries, provided the suspicion is kept high in cases of rapid onset dementia and acute behavioral changes.
Cannabis, a Miracle Drug with Polyvalent Therapeutic Utility: Preclinical and Clinical-Based Evidence
Authors: Verma Rishabh , Hoda Farazul , Arshad Mawrah , Iqubal Asif , Siddiqui Ali Nasir , Khan Mohammad Ahmed , Haque Syed Ehtaishamul , Akhtar Mohd , Najmi Abul Kalam
Published: May 2021

Cannabis sativa L. is an annual herbaceous dioecious plant which was first cultivated by agricultural human societies in Asia. Over the period of time, various parts of the plant like leaf, flower, and seed were used for recreational as well as therapeutic purposes. The main chemical components of Cannabis sativa are termed as cannabinoids, among them the key psychoactive constituent is Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol (CBD) as active nonpsychotic constituent. Upon doing extensive literature review, it was found that cannabis has been widely studied for a number of disorders. Very recently, a pure CBD formulation, named Epidiolex, got a green flag from both United States Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration for 2 rare types of epilepsies. This laid a milestone in medical cannabis research. This review intends to give a basic and extensive assessment, from past till present, of the ethnological, plant, chemical, pharmacological, and legal aspects of C. sativa. Further, this review contemplates the evidence the studies obtained of cannabis components on Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, emesis, epilepsy, chronic pain, and cancer as a cytotoxic agent as well as a palliative therapy. The assessment in this study was done by reviewing in extensive details from studies on historical importance, ethnopharmacological aspects, and legal grounds of C. sativa from extensive literature available on the scientific databases, with a vision for elevating further pharmaceutical research to investigate its total potential as a therapeutic agent.
CT-Guided Autologous Blood Patch for High-Level Cervical Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage: Imaging Characteristics and Treatment Safety and Efficiency
Authors: He Xiaofeng , Xiao Yueyong , Zhang Xiao , Zhang Xiaobo , Zhang Xin , Wei Yingtian , Zhang Zhongliang , Xue Xiaodong , Pivert Patrick Le
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Epidural blood patches (EBPs) are rarely performed at the high-level cervical levels. The aim of the study was to investigate the imaging features, safety, and effectiveness of CT-guided percutaneous EBPs for high-level cervical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage. Methods: Twenty-five patients with spontaneous high-level (C1–C3) CSF leakage on MRI and CT imaging, including 2 patients with intracranial epidural hematoma caused by CSF, were treated with EBP. Two needles were inserted into the C1–3 bilateral epidural space. The needle location was confirmed by injection of both 3–5mL sterile air and a diluted iodinated contrast agent to delineate its spatial diffusion. The patient’s blood 11.1 ± 3.1 mL was slowly injected to make a patch; the distribution in epidural space was monitored with intermittent CT scanning. Results: The typical manifestation of CSF leakage was the high signal outside the C1–3 cervical dura on MR T2W fat inhibition images and low density in cervical muscle space on CT images. Twenty patients suffered from headaches and were able to sit and walk 24 h after the operation. Four patients, with partial relief of headache and a small but persistent CSF leakage, were re-treated with EBS. One patient underwent a third operation because of a persistent CSF leakage on MRI. Conclusions: Imaging of water at the surrounding epidural space of high cervical level is a typical feature of dural rupture on both MRI and CT. CT-guided EBP is safe and efficient for the high-level cervical CSF leakage, especially for cases in which conservative treatments failed.
Cure of Interstitial Cystitis and Non-Ulcerating Hunner’s Ulcer by Cardinal/Uterosacral Ligament Repair
Authors: Scheffler Kay , Hakenberg Oliver W. , Petros Peter
Published: May 2021

A serendipitous cure in a 73-year-old woman of Hunner’s ulcer, urge, nocturia, apical prolapse by a tissue fixation system tensioned minisling (TFS) which reinforced the cardinal, and uterosacral ligaments (USLs) led us to analyse the relationship between Hunner’s ulcer and known pain conditions associated with USL laxity. The original intention was to cure the “posterior fornix syndrome” (PFS), uterine prolapse, and associated pain and bladder symptoms by USL repair. A speculum inserted preoperatively into the posterior fornix alleviated pain and urge symptoms, by mechanically supporting USLs. Hunner’s ulcer, along with pain and other PFS symptoms were cured by USL repair. The concept of USL laxity causing chronic pelvic pain and bladder problems is not new. It was published in the German literature by Heinrich Martius in 1938 and by Petros in the English literature in 1993. These findings raise important questions. As PFS symptoms are identical with those of interstitial cystitis (IC), are PFS and IC similar conditions? If so, then patients with IC who have a positive speculum test are at least theoretically, potentially curable by USL repair. These questions need to be explored.
Distal Pancreatic Resection with Splenectomy in the Rat: A Pancreatic Fistula Model to Investigate Postsurgical Damage?
Authors: Kuscher Stefanie , Kiehl Tobias , Kronberger Irmgard Elisabeth , Moser Patrizia , Maier Hans , Maier Sarah , Hautz Theresa , Öfner Dietmar , Schneeberger Stefan , Troppmair Jakob
Published: May 2021

Background: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) is a major complication in pancreatic surgery and can cause considerable postoperative morbidity. Advanced surgical-technical approaches to prevent POPF did not yield a substantial improvement. To investigate innovative treatments, experimental animal models of distal pancreatic resection and pancreaticoduodenectomy are of fundamental importance. After a failed attempt to replicate a previously described rat model for pancreatic fistula induction, we proceeded to distal pancreatic resection with splenectomy to provoke pancreatic leakage and generate a suitable animal model. Methods: Distal pancreatic resection with splenectomy was performed in 40 rats. The rats were sacrificed on postoperative day (POD) 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 10, and the abdominal cavity was explored. Ascites probes were collected pre- and postoperatively for the detection of pancreas amylase and lipase. Tissue samples from the naïve pancreas (POD 0) and the postoperatively harvested remnant were evaluated histologically. The extent of necrosis was determined, and samples were examined for neutrophil infiltration. TUNEL staining served for the verification of necrosis in distinct cases. Immunohistochemistry of Ki67, von Willebrand factor, and CD68 was performed to evaluate proliferation, blood-vessel sprouting, and macrophage invasion. Results: The rats showed no clinical symptoms or severe complications in the postoperative course up to 10 days. Abdominal exploration revealed adhesions in the upper abdomen, but no intra-abdominal fluid accumulations were found. Signs of inflammation and tissue damage were evident at the pancreatic resection margin on histological examination whereas the naïve pancreatic tissue was widely unaffected. Statistically significant differences were seen between the preoperative and postoperative extent of necrosis, the presence of neutrophil infiltrate, and levels of ascitic amylase and lipase. Immunohistochemical staining on Ki67, von Willebrand factor, and CD68 did not reveal any workable results on nonstatistical examination, and it was therefore not considered for further analyses. Conclusion: Creating a functional animal model of pancreatic fistula that reflects the clinical and pathophysiological impact of pancreatic leakage in humans has not been achieved. Our approach of left pancreatic resection recapitulated inflammation and tissue damage, early events in the development of fistulas, and it could be suitable for the experimental testing of novel targeting methods.
Comparison of the Amplisure HBV Quantitative Kit with the Qiagen Artus HBV QS-RGQ Assay for Quantifying Viral DNA in Plasma Samples of Monitoring Cases
Authors: Praveenkumar Ganesan , Nikam Chaitali , Venkata Ramana Ragoori , Caesar Sengupta , Amruta Velumani , Riyaj Ahmad
Published: May 2021

Background: Monitoring of hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load has become an essential phase in the treatment of HBV. There are many commercial assays available for HBV viral load quantification. In this study, we have evaluated the performance characteristics of Amplisure® HBV Kit in comparison with the Qiagen artus HBV QS-RGQ kit for HBV DNA quantitation. Methods: Comparison of 2 methods was carried out on 200 clinical samples, 150 HBV DNA positive and 50 HBV DNA negative, by a reference method. Results obtained with Amplisure® HBV Kit (Amplisure HBV) were compared using the Qiagen artus HBV QS-RGQ assay results as the comparator method. Result: The overall performance of the Amplisure HBV compared with the comparator method shows positive and negative clinical agreement of 100 and 76%, respectively. Among the 12 qualitative discrepant samples, all positive with Amplisure HBV were sequenced and 10 were below comparator method’s LOD. For 5 weak positives (−0.22 to 0.98 log IU/mL), the sequencing failed. The 7 other positives (0.48 to 1.89 log IU/mL) were confirmed positive by sequencing. Quantitative comparison gave an r2 of 0.967 with a mean log difference of 0.09 log10 IU/mL. Conclusion: This study shows that Amplisure® HBV Quantitative Kit shows comparable performance with artus HBV QS-RGQ assays and can be useful in management and therapeutic monitoring of HBV in a clinical practice.
New Insights in Resistant Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Kuroiwa Dante Akira Kondo , Malerbi Fernando Korn , Regatieri Caio Vinicius Saito
Published: May 2021

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most common cause of vision loss in diabetic eyes, and due to the rapid rise in the number of diabetic patients, the treatment burden has increased exponentially. The introduction of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy has been a major breakthrough in the management of center-involving DME, replacing laser photocoagulation as the first-line treatment. Despite the improvement in DME treatment with anti-VEGF therapy, persistent DME remains a challenge due to the extremely complex pathogenesis and the involvement of several different biochemical pathways. This review focuses on therapeutic options for persistent DME, which include corticosteroids, laser, and surgery. Novel agents for DME control such as new anti-VEGF, interleukin inhibitor, Rho-kinase inhibitor, and neuroprotective agents that are being investigated are reviewed as well. Future treatment perspectives include an individualized DME management.
A systematic mapping study of security, trust and privacy in clouds
Authors: Odun-Ayo Isaac , Williams Toro-Abasi , Yahaya Jamaiah
Published: May 2021

Cloud computing thrives around trust and security in the relationship between cloud providers and users of their services. The objective was the conduct of a systematic mapping study of cloud computing security, trust and privacy. The research was executed using three classes of facets, namely topic, contribution, and research based on the systematic mapping process. The result shows that privacy issues and challenges on metric had 4.76% of the publications. On cloud trust in the domain of tool, the publications were 8.75%. The publications on design within the domain of model stood at 12.38%, and publications on privacy issues and challenges in the area of process were 8.57%. Furthermore, there were more articles published on privacy issues and challenges within the domain of evaluation research with 10.43%. The publications on design based on validation research made up 7.83% of the study. More papers were also published on frameworks and techniques within the domain of solution research with 5.22% each. There were more articles published on privacy issues and challenges with regards to philosophical research with 4.35%. Shortcomings in the fields of security, trust and privacy in the cloud, were identified through this study, which should motivate further research.
A compact dual-band semi-flexible antenna at 2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz for wearable applications
Authors: Shah S. M. , Rosman A. A. , A. Rashid M. A. Z. , Abidin Z. Z. , Seman F. C. , Majid H. A. , Dahlan S. H. , Hamzah S. A. , Katiran N. , Ponniran A. , Hassan F. , Zubir F.
Published: May 2021

In this work, a compact dual-band semi-flexible antenna operating at         2.45 GHz and 5.8 GHz for the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band is presented. The antenna is fabricated on a semi-flexible substrate material, Rogers Duroid RO3003™ with a low-profile feature with dimensions of 30×38 mm2 which makes it a good solution for wearable applications. Bending investigation is also performed over a vacuum cylinder and the diameters are varied at 50 mm, 80 mm and 100 mm, that represents the average human arm’s diameter. The bending investigation shows that reflection coefficients for all diameters are almost similar which imply that the antenna will operate at the dual-band resonant frequencies, even in bending condition. The simulated specific absorption rate (SAR) in CST MWS® software shows that the antenna obeys the FCC and ICNIRP guidelines for 1 mW of input power. The SAR limits at 2.45 GHz for 1 g of human tissue is simulated at 0.271 W/kg (FCC standard: 1.6 W/kg) while for 10 g is at 0.0551 W/kg (ICNIRP standard: 2 W/kg. On the other hand, the SAR limits at 5.8 GHz are computed at 0.202 W/kg for 1 g and 0.0532 W/kg for 10 g.
Examining a display-peeping prevention method that uses real-time UI part transparency linked to motion detection by video analysis
Authors: Kishibata Koki , Narita Masaki
Published: May 2021

In recent years, the use of various information terminals such as smartphones and personal computers have become widespread, and situations where information terminals are used have become diverse. With increased opportunities to use information terminals outdoors and during travel, some users have been using peep-prevention filters, or software with an equivalent function, on their displays, in order to protect their privacy. However, such filters have problems with regards their effectiveness, ease of use, and the user being able recognize when they are vulnerable to peeping. Decrease in display visibility, unprotected angles, and the fact that it is difficult for users to notice when others are watching their screen, are some examples of such problems. Also, recently, many information terminals recently distributed have built-in cameras. In this paper, in order to solve the aforementioned problems, we propose to detect motion, video analyze , and transparentize part of the user interface (UI) in real time by using a laptop’s built-in camera. This method is enabled with low-load and can be applied to various terminals. Further, in order to verify the effectiveness of the method, we implemented a prototype, and carried out an evaluation experiment on experimental subjects. Results from the experiment confirmed that real-time UI transparentization is a very effective method for protecting privacy of information terminals.
A new pseudorandom bits generator based on a 2D-chaotic system and diffusion property
Authors: Akif Omar Z. , Ali Sura , Ali Rasha Subhi , Farhan Alaa Kadhim
Published: May 2021

A remarkable correlation between chaotic systems and cryptography has been established with sensitivity to initial states, unpredictability, and complex behaviors. In one development, stages of a chaotic stream cipher are applied to a discrete chaotic dynamic system for the generation of pseudorandom bits. Some of these generators are based on 1D chaotic map and others on 2D ones. In the current study, a pseudorandom bit generator (PRBG) based on a new 2D chaotic logistic map is proposed that runs side-by-side and commences from random independent initial states. The structure of the proposed model consists of the three components of a mouse input device, the proposed 2D chaotic system, and an initial permutation (IP) table. Statistical tests of the generated sequence of bits are investigated by applying five evaluations as well as the ACF and NIST. The results of five standard tests of randomness have been illustrated and overcome a value of 0.160 in frequency test. While the run test presents the pass value t0=4.769 and t1=2.929. Likewise, poker test and serial test the outcomes was passed with 3.520 for poker test, and 4.720 for serial test. Finally, autocorrelation test passed in all shift numbers from 1 to 10.
The internet of things in high andean wetland monitoring, historical review approach
Authors: Henao-Céspedes Vladimir , Florez Gloria Yaneth , Garcés-Gómez Yeison Alberto
Published: May 2021

The internet of things (IoT) has allowed important technological advances for monitoring and telemetry, thanks to the fact that IoT-based systems allow to obtain information in large areas, far from urban environments, and where low energy monitoring systems are required, features that are consistent with the requirements for high Andean wetlands telemetry. The monitoring of environmental variables, such as water quality in high Andean wetlands, is a topic of great importance for the scientific community, since, if the knowledge of the dynamics of the wetlands is improved, it is possible to optimize the decision making for their conservation. In that sense, to know the application of the IoT in this type of wetlands at a global level, this work presents a review of the literature related to the use of the IoT in the monitoring of high Andean wetlands. In order to carry out a historical review, a methodology was proposed under some guiding questions, which allowed designing a structure for background searches. Both the questions and the structure guided the search process from macro areas, such as IoT and environment, to micro areas, such as IoT applications in wetland monitoring. Finally, the review concluded that IoT has not been applied in high Andean wetland monitoring.
Security system with RFID control using E-KTP and internet of things
Authors: Najib Andi Ainun , Munadi Rendy , Aditya Karna Nyoman Bogi
Published: May 2021

Crimes against property without using violence, in this case, are theft and burglary is the type of crime that is most common every year. However, home security needs a security system that is more efficient and practical. To overcome this, an internet of things (IoT) is needed. This research evaluated the performance prototype by reading distance from the radio frequency identification (RFID) reader using E-KTP and quality of service performance (i.e throughput and delay) from application android. This research design smart door lock using RFID sensor, passive infrared sensor (PIR), solenoid as door locks, buzzer, led, E-KTP as RFID tags and also android application to controlling and monitoring made with android studio is connected to NodeMCU V3 ESP8266 as storage data and connect with firebase realtime database instead of conventional keys. This research focuses on performance prototype and quality of service from features application is work well. Related to previous works, our evaluation shows that the performance prototype can read identity card (E-KTP) with a maximum distance is 4 cm, and performance quality of service for an application show that throughput and delay with a perfect index according to standardization telecommunications and internet protocol harmonization over network (TIPHON) depending on what features are being evaluated.
Simulated annealing for SVM parameters optimization in student’s performance prediction
Authors: Mahareek Esraa Alaa , Desuky Abeer S. , El-Zhni Habiba Abdullah
Published: May 2021

High education is an important and critical part of education all over the world. In last year, the world has been turned increasingly to online education due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic; therefore, improving this education system became an urgent matter. Online learning systems are a primal environment for acquiring educational data which can be from different sources, especially academic institutions. These data can be mainly used to analyze and extract utilizable information to help in understanding university students’ performance and identifying factors that affect it. To extract some meaningful information from these large volumes of data, academic organizations must mine the data with high accuracy. In this work, three different real datasets were selected, pre-processed, cleaned, and filtered for applying support vector machine (SVM) with multilayer perceptron kernel (MLP kernel) and optimize its parameters using simulated annealing (SA) algorithm to improve the objective function value. While examining the search space, SA has the advantage of escaping from local minima since it offers the chance for accepting the worse neighbor as a solution in a controlled manner. The results show that the designed system can determine the best SVM parameters using SA and therefore presents better model evaluation.