bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WASTE MANAGEMENT AND THEIR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES AT NATIONAL LEVEL
Authors: Kim Lidia , Arama Madalina , Batrinescu Gheorghe , Bratu Mihai , Serbanescu Agnes , Lehr Carol Blaziu
Published: August 2020

Both nationally and globally, waste generation increases with increasing product consumption. Thus, addressing the issue of waste is an ongoing challenge for researchers around the world. This challenge derives from the fact that in many European countries, including Romania, the amount of waste generated is very high compared to current technologies for treatment, recycle or recovery. Therefore, the most convenient management methods remain storage and incineration. These methods generate significant amounts of hazardous pollutants with a significant impact on the environment and human health. The paper presents a series of results related to waste management obtained within National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology – ECOIND Bucharest in the last 10 years. The paper is focused
on four topics: analytical detection and monitoring of waste pollutants; environmental impact and risk assessments; harmonized waste classification and management; waste treatment and recovery technologies.
The results obtained within these topics refer to optimal methods for detection and characterization of complex waste matrices, methods for assessing the impact on the environment generated by non-compliant landfills and risk prediction and reliable solutions and technologies for waste treatment and recovery. The topics approached represent a challenge for starting the implementation of circular economy concept
promoted by EU and adopted by countries and governments all over the world.
THE TRANSITION OF THE FOOD SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NEW 2019 EDITION OF THE EN ISO 22000 STANDARD
Authors: Criste Ionel Virgil
Published: August 2020

The paper presents the activities and results obtained to make the transition of the food safety management system to the requirements of SR EN ISO 22000 revised in 2019. It presents the importance of food safety for human health and HACCP principles and methods of food safety. The novelties brought by the revision of the reference standard are shown and the activities necessary for their inclusion in the food safety management system are made explicit. The obtained results consist in ensuring the management of risks and opportunities associated with the context and objectives of the organization, establishing prerequisite programs to ensure the conditions and activities for maintaining food safety, establishing the hazard control plan that includes the necessary control measures, procedures for monitoring the limits imposed on technological parameters and the persons responsible for eliminating or reducing to an acceptable level the significant hazards for food safety as well as in reviewing the documentation of the management system.
Perspectives in Breast and Ovarian Cancer Chemotherapy by Nanomedicine Approach: Nanoformulations in Clinical Research
Authors: Martín-Sabroso Cristina , Fraguas-Sánchez Ana Isabel , Raposo-González Rafaela , Torres-Suárez Ana Isabel
Published: August 2020

Background:

Breast and ovarian carcinomas represent major health problems in
women worldwide. Chemotherapy constitutes the main treatment strategy, and the use of
nanocarriers, a good tool to improve it. Several nanoformulations have already been approved,
and others are under clinical trials for the treatment of both types of cancers.

Objective:

This review focuses on the analysis of the nanoformulations that are under clinical
research in the treatment of these neoplasms.

Results:

Currently, there are 6 nanoformulations in clinical trials for breast and ovarian
carcinomas, most of them in phase II and phase III. In the case of breast cancer treatment,
these nanomedicines contain paclitaxel; and, for ovarian cancer, nanoformulations containing
paclitaxel or camptothecin analogs are being evaluated. The nanoencapsulation of these
antineoplastics facilitates their administration and reduces their systemic toxicity.
Nevertheless, the final approval and commercialization of nanoformulations may be limited
by other aspects like lack of correlation between the efficacy results evaluated at in vitro and
in vivo levels, difficulty in producing large batches of nanoformulations in a reproducible
manner and high production costs compared to conventional formulations of antineoplastics.
However, these challenges are not insurmountable and the number of approved
nanoformulations for cancer therapy is growing.

Conclusion:

Reviewed nanoformulations have shown, in general, excellent results, demonstrating
a good safety profile, a higher maximum tolerated dose and a similar or even slightly
better antitumor efficacy compared to the administration of free drugs, reinforcing the use of
nano-chemotherapy in both breast and ovarian tumors.
Synthesis, Characterization and Antimicrobial Activities of 1,4- Disubstituted 1,2,3-Triazole Compounds
Authors: Insa Seck , Alioune Fall , Aicha Ba Lalla , Fama Ndoye Samba , Seydou Ka , Abdoulaye Diop , Ismaïla Ciss , Abda Ba , Amadou Diop , Sadibou Boye Cheikh , Generosa Gomez , Yagamare Fall , Matar Seck
Published: August 2020

Background:

1,2,3-triazoles are five-membered heterocyclic scaffold; their broad-spectrum
biological activities are known. Researchers around the world are increasingly being interested in this
emerging area, owing to its immense pharmacological scope.

Objective:

This work summarizes the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles and the significance of this pattern as a
lead structure for new drug molecules discovery.

Methods:

1,2,3-triazoles can be obtained on a multigram scale through “click chemistry” under ambient
conditions.

Results:

Sixteen compounds were synthesized and evaluated on five microbial strains E. coli, E. faecalis,
P. aeruginosa, S. aureus and C. albicans. NMR, MS and IR were used to characterize all compounds.
They were evaluated with their Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and interesting results
were obtained with compounds 12a, 12b, 3, 2a and 2c, with MIC 0.14 μM (P. aeruginosa), 1.08
μM (E. coli), 1.20 μM (E. faecalis and C. albicans), 3.5 μM (E. faecalis) and 4.24 μM (C. albicans),
respectively. P. aeruginosa and C. albicans were the most sensitive among all the strains.

Conclusion:

The synthesized compounds were found as potential antimicrobial agents against Gram (+),
Gram (-) strains and fungi.
Hybridization Approach to Drug Discovery Inhibiting Mycobacterium tuberculosis-An Overview
Authors: Zampieri Daniele , Mamolo Maria G.
Published: August 2020

Tuberculosis is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide and the leading cause of death
from a single infectious agent, mainly due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Recently, clinical
prognoses have worsened due to the emergence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensive-drug resistant
(XDR) tuberculosis, which lead to the need for new, efficient and safe drugs. Among the several
strategies, polypharmacology could be considered one of the best solutions, in particular, the multitarget
directed ligands strategy (MTDLs), based on the synthesis of hybrid ligands acting against two
targets of the pathogen. The framework strategy comprises linking, fusing and merging approaches to
develop new chemical entities. With these premises, this review aims to provide an overview of the recent
hybridization approach, in medicinal chemistry, of the most recent and promising multitargeting
antimycobacterial candidates.
Novel Iodinated Hydrazide-hydrazones and their Analogues as Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors
Authors: Krátký Martin , Štěpánková Šárka , Brablíková Michaela , Svrčková Katarína , Švarcová Markéta , Vinšová Jarmila
Published: August 2020

Background:

Hydrazide-hydrazones have been known as scaffold with various biological
activities including inhibition of acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Cholinesterase inhibitors
are mainstays of dementias’ treatment.

Objective:

Twenty-five iodinated hydrazide-hydrazones and their analogues were designed as potential
central AChE and BuChE inhibitors.

Methods:

Hydrazide-hydrazones were synthesized from 4-substituted benzohydrazides and 2-/4-
hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzaldehydes. The compounds were investigated in vitro for their potency to inhibit
AChE from electric eel and BuChE from equine serum using Ellman’s method. We calculated also
physicochemical and structural parameters for CNS delivery.

Results:

The derivatives exhibited a moderate dual inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 15.1-140.5
and 35.5 to 170.5 μmol.L-1 for AChE and BuChE, respectively. Generally, the compounds produced a
balanced or more potent inhibition of AChE. N'-[(E)-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)methylidene]-4-
nitrobenzohydrazide 2k and 4-fluoro-N'-(2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzyl)benzohydrazide 3a were the most
potent inhibitors of AChE and BuChE, respectively. Structure-activity relationships were established,
and molecular docking studies confirmed interaction with enzymes.

Conclusion:

Many novel hydrazide-hydrazones showed lower IC50 values than rivastigmine against
AChE and some of them were comparable for BuChE to this drug used for the treatment of dementia.
They interact with cholinesterases via non-covalent binding into the active site. Based on the BOILEDEgg
approach, the majority of the derivatives met the criteria for blood-brain-barrier permeability.
An Integrative Informatics Approach to Explain the Mechanism of Action
of N1-(Anthraquinon-2-yl) Amidrazones as BCR/ABL Inhibitors
Authors: Sabbah Dima A. , Hajjo Rima , Sweidan Kamal , Zhong Haizhen A.
Published: August 2020

Background:

Drugs incorporating heterocyclic chemical skeletons possess a plethora of therapeutic activities
such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, and antipsychiatric effects. It is becoming routine, nowadays, to use
cheminformatics and bioinformatics methods to elucidate the mechanism(s) of action of such drugs.

Objective:

To probe the activity of a recently published series of N1-(anthraquinon-2-yl) amidrazone piperazine derivatives
employing computational strategies[1], identify their structural basis of binding to BCR/ABL kinase domain, and explain
their anticancer activities in human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and chronic myelogenous leukemia (K562) cell lines.

Methods:

We applied an in silico integrative informatics approach integrating molecular descriptors, docking studies,
cheminformatics, and network analysis.

Results:

Our results highlighted the possible involvement of the BCR/ABL and DRD2 pathways in the anticancer activity
of the studied compounds, and induced fit docking (IFD) indicated that the BCR/ABL kinase domain is a putative drug
target. Additionally, high-scoring docking poses identified a unique network of hydrogen bonding with amino acids Y253,
K271, E286, V299, L301, T315, M318, I360, R362, V379, and D3810.

Conclusion:

Using an integrative informatics approach to characterize our anticancer compounds, we were able to explain
the biological differences between synthesized and biologically validated amidrazone piperazine anticancer agents. We
were also able to postulate a mechanism of action of this novel group of anticancer agents.
Recombinant Production and Molecular Docking Studies of Casoplatelin, a Bioactive Peptide
Authors: Yennamalli Ragothaman M. , Srivastava Pulkit Anupam , Sarswati Sheena D. , Garlapati Vijay Kumar
Published: August 2020

Background:

Bioactive peptides from κ-casein have immense therapeutic potential as prophylactic formulations. Among these, casoplatelin is a κ-casein derived bioactive peptide with anti-thrombotic activities.

Aim:

Herein, we report the production of casoplatelin in an E. coli expression system (using a pBAD vector) and show in silico modeling of its interactions.

Methods:

A synthetic DNA construct encoding casoplatelin was designed with pepsin cleavage sites before and after the synthetic construct to allow the release of the peptide from the pro-peptide.

Results:

A novel recombinant approach was demonstrated for the production of casoplatelin, and anti-platelet aggregation activities of the product were confirmed. Also, casoplatelin structures were characterized in silico and then implemented to determine potential structural interactions with fibrinogen.

Conclusion:

The present study showcases the recombinant approach for biopeptide production and its interaction with fibrinogen through in silico approach.
Agriculture 4.0: The Role of Innovative Smart Technologies Towards Sustainable Farm Management
Authors: Arvanitis Konstantinos G. , Symeonaki Eleni G.
Published: August 2020

A number of global issues, including climate change, scarcity of natural resources, demographics and food waste, are placing pressure on the overall sustainability of agricultural systems. For this, a generalized method of whole-farm management approach, based on the potent cross-industry cooperation of stakeholders, infrastructures, technologies and applications will be applied. Indeed, beyond the actual involvement of advanced technologies, the substantial challenge of agriculture towards sustainable growth resides in the competency to enact more sophisticated and effective agricultural processes at lower costs, provide safer and more efficient operating conditions both for the environment and stakeholders (involving farmers, agronomist engineers, policy makers, etc.), and finally increase the synergies among them, offering the ability to make decisions even on issues that have ordinarily been outside their areas of expertise. In this context, traditional farm management approaches should undergo fundamental transformations, enabling smart technologies not just for the sake of innovation but to re-engineer the entire value chain so as to preserve sustainability in the agricultural sector. Current advancements in communication technologies, such as Cloud Computing and the Internet of Things, tend to combine with other sophisticated technologies like Computational Intelligence, Robotics, Big Data, etc., leading to the fourth stage of revolution in the agricultural sector, known as Agriculture 4.0. The purpose of this study is to specify and evaluate the key technologies and solutions involving ubiquitous computing advancements and conceptual innovations of agricultural production toward Agriculture 4.0, along with their capabilities, effects, and challenges for the benefit of sustainable farm management.
Nursing Students’ Perception of the Clinical Learning Environment
Authors: Alammar Kamila , Ahmad Muayyad , Almutairi Sultanah , Salem Olfat
Published: August 2020

Introduction:

Clinical learning environment placements provide opportunities for students to develop their skills, socialize to the profession and bridge the gap between academic and workplace learning. This study was conducted to investigate Saudi nursing students’ perceptions of their clinical learning environment and supervision in the hospital setting.

Methods:

A sample of 90 final year student nurses completing practicums at a tertiary hospital in Riyadh was included in this cross-sectional study utilizing the Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision plus Nurse Teacher scale.

Results:

Overall, students perceived their clinical learning environment positively. Among sub-scores, that for the leadership style of ward manager was the highest. Supervision types, nursing-teacher teacher-visit frequency and grade point average positively and significantly impacted student’s perceptions, while university type and practicum duration did not.

Conclusion:

Students confirmed the ward manager’s leadership style as the most significant influencing their perceptions. However, the nursing teacher’s role had the lowest mean score, suggesting the need for its enhancement and clarification and indicating the need for better communication and collaboration between nursing schools and the clinical training hospital.
Effects of a Tennis Match on Perceived Fatigue, Jump and Sprint Performances on Recreational Players
Authors: Amatori Stefano , Gobbi Erica , Moriondo Giorgia , Gervasi Marco , Sisti Davide , Rocchi Marco B.L. , Perroni Fabrizio
Published: August 2020

Background:

Tennis is an intermittent sport, characterized by hundreds of repetitive explosive efforts, including accelerations, and jumps. A single match can last up to 5 hours and players are called to play several matches often separated by less than 48h of recovery.

Objective:

The study aimed to investigate the effects of a standardized tennis match on perceived fatigue and jump and sprint performances on a group of recreational tennis players and to observe if such variables were affected by residual effects of fatigue 24 hours after the match.

Methods:

Twelve recreational tennis players performed a 120 min match. Before, immediately after and 24h after the match, players completed a set of three countermovement jumps, three 10m sprints, and reported their perception of general fatigue.

Results:

Significant differences between the three conditions have been found for the perceived fatigue: indeed fatigue was higher both in the immediate post (F(1,10)= 54.422, η2 = 0.845, p<0.001) and 24h post-match (F(1,10)= 10.947, η2 = 0.523, p=0.08), with respect to the pre-match condition. No significant differences were detected in the other variables.

Conclusion:

During a tournament, the performance of tennis players may be weakened and the recovery prejudiced. To identify fluctuations of and factors linked to fatigue may help tennis practitioners to apply adequate recovery strategies with athletes, limiting performance decrements within a tournament, and indirectly preventing injuries.
Metabolite Profiling of Different Solvent Extracts of the Microalgae Chlorella vulgaris Via 1H NMR-Based Metabolomics
Authors: Pantami Hamza A. , Shaari Khozirah , Bustamam Muhammad S.A. , Ismail Intan S.
Published: August 2020

Introduction:

In the present study, profiling of the cultured Chlorella
vulgaris metabolome was carried out via1H NMR metabolite profiling of 6 different
solvent extracts. The results indicated that the six solvent extracts have
metabolite profiles that are clearly different from each other.

Methods:

Multivariate data analysis (MVA) reveals that ethyl acetate and
ethanol extracts were well separated from the aqueous extract by PC1 while being
well separated from each other by PC2. The same observations were seen
with chloroform and 50% ethanol extracts. In contrast, the chemical shift signals
for hexane extract clusters in-between that of chloroform and 50% ethanol, indicated
that they have similar chemical profiles. Using partial least square discriminative
analysis (PLS-DA), compounds responsible for the group separation were
identified from the loading plot. Detailed examination of the loading plot shows
that ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts contain significantly higher amounts of
carotenoids, amino acids, vitamins and fatty acids. A total of 35 compounds were
detected from the 6 different solvents upon which the ethanolic and ethyl acetate
extracts were identified to contain more metabolites and in a wider range than
the other organic solvent extracts.

Results:

Hence, these two extracts would be more appropriate in metabolite extraction
for analysis and for medicinal purposes. Therefore, NMR spectroscopy,
in compliment with the right choice of solvent for extraction, could be utilized
by relevant industries to evaluate and obtain maximum important metabolites in
a shorter time.

Conclusion:

In addition to possession of high diverse metabolites, the microalgae
C. vulgaris could serve as an important functional food ingredient in the
aquaculture industry and may possibly be considered as a source of biofuel.
Элементарный излучатель, расположенный на границе или внутри слоистой структуры
Authors: Петрин А.Б.
Published: August 2020

A rigorous theory of radiation from an elementary dipole located at the boundary or inside a plane-layered structure is considered. For a specific case of radiation from a dipole located at the free boundary of one film, a method of analytical simplification of the solution is demonstrated. This method made it possible to reduce the formulas for the emitted fields to one-dimensional integrals, which greatly simplified the analysis of the problem and accelerated the numerical calculations. As a specific technical application of the theory, the directivity patterns of point emitters (molecules, nanostructures) located on the free surface of a metal film in the Kretschman scheme and having an induced dipole moment along the film surface were obtained. The influence of the surface wave on the directional properties of the radiators is determined.
Оптические поглотители для термоэлектрических преобразователей излучения Солнца на основе композитов с наночастицами металлов и полупроводников
Authors: Сидоров А.И. , Санина В.А. , Кудаев О.С. , Анфимова И.Н.
Published: August 2020

Spectra of optical density jf solid and nanoporous glasses with silver nanoparticles, nanoporous glasses with silver and copper nanowires, and nanoporous glasses with silver sulphide and copper oxide nanoparticles are presented..Comparative analysis of the possibility of their application as absorbers of Sun radiation in thermoelectric comverters of Sun energy.is performed.
Анализ эффективности методов защиты от атак активного оптического зондирования на волоконные системы квантового распределения ключей в спектральном диапазоне 1260-1650 nm
Authors: Борисова А.В. , Гармаев Б.Д. , Бобров И.Б. , Негодяев С.С. , Синильщиков И.В.
Published: August 2020

In this paper, the results of research of spectral features of several passive fiber optic components are presented. There are spectra of isolators, circulators, spectral filters, and WDM, that are used in quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, and contribute to the protection of these systems against active optical probing attacks. We also provide an estimate of the degree of isolation required to protect the QKD system from Trojan-horse attacks. Based on the isolation requirements and measurement data we analyzed the efficiency of the QKD system protection through the use passive isolating components. As an example, we have shown the achievement of the required isolation level (150 dB) in the considered spectral range in the system presented in the article.
Люминесценция двухчастичного комплекса из сферической квантовой точки и плазмонной наноглобулы во внешнем магнитном поле
Authors: Кучеренко М.Г. , Налбандян В.М.
Published: August 2020

On the basis of a specially created theoretical model, calculations of the frequency dependences of the glow intensity of the two-component exciton-activated semiconductor quantum dot (QD) - plasmon nanoparticle (NP) system in a constant magnetic field were made. In contrast to the previous models, we went beyond the approximation of the dipole polarizability of a spherical nanoparticle. When calculating the induced dipole moment of the NP, the inhomogeneous nature of the field created by the exciton-containing QD was taken into account. It is shown that with a change in the induction of the external magnetic field, the transformation of the exciton luminescence spectra of such a system is observed as a result of the exciton-plasmon interaction between the cluster particles and the magnetization of the NP electron plasma. The competition of radiation and non-radiative decay channels of the excited state of a two-particle complex is accounted for. It is shown that in the spectra of the rate of non-radiative energy transfer from QD to NP, as well as spontaneous emission of the nanocomplex, in addition to dipole bands, bands of multipole transitions of higher orders are formed, splitting into doublet components in the magnetic field.
High-performance machining of fiber-reinforced materials with hybrid ultrasonic-assisted cutting
Authors: Stoll Andrea , Rüger Carlo , Busch Katja , Mäder Thomas , Kranz Burkhard
Published: August 2020

A main approach for sustainable and efficient products is the application of innovative materials like fiber-reinforced plastics. Despite the excellent properties, the machining requirements, especially the hard cutting conditions, restrain the wide application of these materials. Thus a major task is the realization of the required part qualities combined with efficient machining strategies. The project ULTRASPAN, a joint venture of partners from industry and research institutes funded by the BMBF, attends to this challenge. The goal is the development of new hybrid machining concepts and process technologies for enhanced cutting of composite materials with ultrasonic-assistance. Prior condition is the development of novel robust actuators. Therefore, prototypic actuators for longitudinal and torsional vibration systems are developed in the project. Besides the novel actuator concepts, the results of ultrasonic-assisted drilling (UAD) on composite parts are presented in this paper. Machining tests in drilling of fiber-reinforced plastics with the novel prototype actuator systems were performed. Focus of the investigation was the influence of the ultrasonic vibration support on the bore quality. The superimposition of drilling with ultrasonic vibrations influences the process characteristics and engagement of the cutting edge. Machining tests showed the potential to enhance the bore quality with UAD in a certain parameter field.
Effectiveness of Combining Organizational Alcohol Policy and Skills Training for Managers to Reduce Hazardous Alcohol Consumption in Swedish Workplaces: Study Protocol for a Cluster Randomized Study
Authors: Elling Devy Lysandra , Wilson Martina , Carlbring Per , Wennberg Peter , Sundqvist Kristina
Published: August 2020

Background

High alcohol consumption poses risks to individual health and society. Previous alcohol interventions have mainly focused on high-risk consumers or young adults in school-based settings. Since the majority of the adult population is in the workforce, the workplace can be considered a favorable arena for implementing interventions.

Objective

This protocol describes a project aimed at increasing knowledge of the effectiveness of combining the implementation of an organizational alcohol policy with skills training for managers as a workplace alcohol prevention program, by evaluating the intervention and exploring managers’ perceptions of the intervention.

Methods

Organizations with at least 100 employees were invited to take part in the project. A total of 11 organizations (744 managers and 11,761 employees) were included in the project. Data are collected through self-administered online surveys at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. The primary outcome is managers’ inclination to initiate an early alcohol intervention (eg, by initiating a dialogue) when concern regarding employees’ hazardous alcohol consumption arises. The secondary outcomes of interest are managers’ and employees’ organizational alcohol policy knowledge and changes in alcohol consumption, as measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score. A linear mixed-model framework will be used to model variability on different levels. Primary analysis will follow an intention-to-treat approach. Additionally, managers’ responses from semistructured interviews will be analyzed using thematic analysis to explore managers’ experiences regarding the prevention program.

Results

This study is ongoing. The overall study start was on January 2018, and the study is planned to end in December 2020. Baseline and 12-month follow-up measurements have been collected.

Conclusions

This project is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of an alcohol prevention program regarding higher inclination to initiate early alcohol interventions after policy implementation and skills training among managers, compared to the usual practices in the workplace. The results from this study can contribute to increased knowledge about alcohol interventions and future prevention programs in the workplace.

Trial Registration

ISRCTN17250048; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17250048

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/17145
Impact of Wearing Masks, Hand Hygiene, and Social Distancing on Influenza, Enterovirus, and All-Cause Pneumonia During the Coronavirus Pandemic: Retrospective National Epidemiological Surveillance Study
Authors: Chiu Nan-Chang , Chi Hsin , Tai Yu-Lin , Peng Chun-Chih , Tseng Cheng-Yin , Chen Chung-Chu , Tan Boon Fatt , Lin Chien-Yu
Published: August 2020

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is an important health crisis worldwide. Several strategies were implemented to combat COVID-19, including wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing. The impact of these strategies on COVID-19 and other viral infections remains largely unclear.

Objective

We aim to investigate the impact of implemented infectious control strategies on the incidences of influenza, enterovirus infection, and all-cause pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We utilized the electronic database of the Taiwan National Infectious Disease Statistics System and extracted incidences of COVID-19, influenza virus, enterovirus, and all-cause pneumonia. We compared the incidences of these diseases from week 45 of 2016 to week 21 of 2020 and performed linear regression analyses.

Results

The first case of COVID-19 in Taiwan was reported in late January 2020 (week 4). Infectious control strategies have been promoted since late January. The influenza virus usually peaks in winter and decreases around week 14. However, a significant decrease in influenza was observed after week 6 of 2020. Regression analyses produced the following results: 2017, R2=0.037; 2018, R2=0.021; 2019, R2=0.046; and 2020, R2=0.599. A dramatic decrease in all-cause pneumonia was also reported (R2 values for 2017-2020 were 0.435, 0.098, 0.352, and 0.82, respectively). Enterovirus had increased by week 18 in 2017-2019, but this was not observed in 2020.

Conclusions

Using this national epidemiological database, we found a significant decrease in cases of influenza, enterovirus, and all-cause pneumonia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Wearing masks, hand hygiene, and social distancing may contribute not only to the prevention of COVID-19 but also to the decline of other respiratory infectious diseases. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the causal relationship.
Determinants of Screen Time Among Children Under Five Years: A Cross Sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Raj Diana , Ahmad Norliza , Mohd. Zulkefli Nor Afiah , Mohd Shariff Zalilah
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Excessive screen time is detrimental to the child’s health. However, screen time situation among Malaysian children is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to identify the prevalence and determinants of screen time among children under five years old using the latest WHO guidelines.

METHODS

A cross sectional design was used to randomly select 489 children from nine government health clinics. Total screen time and factors were assessed using validated self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS

Results show an overall prevalence of 91.4% with a median of 3.00 hours (IQR: 1.36-5.04). Majority of children watched television (66%), followed by mobile phones (30%) and computers (4%). The determinants of screen time were Malay ethnicity, (AOR 3.56, 95% CI: 1.65-7.68), parental age of 30 years or more (AOR 3.12, 95% CI: 1.58-6.16), parental screen time exceeding 2 hours a day (AOR 2.42, 95% CI: 1.24-4.73), parent’s moderate self-efficacy to influence child’s physical activity (AOR 2.29, 95% CI: 1.01-5.20) and parent’s positive perception on influence of screen time on child’s cognitive well-being (AOR 1.15, 95% CI:1.01-1.32).

CONCLUSIONS

Parents played an important role in determining their child’s screen time. Future interventions that focus on the parents may ensure age appropriate screen time for their children.
A Novel Approach to Assessing Differentiation Degree and Lymph Node Metastasis of Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Prediction Using a Radiomics-Based Particle Swarm Optimization and Support Vector Machine Model (Preprint)
Authors: Yao Xiaopeng , Huang Xinqiao , Yang Chunmei , Hu Anbin , Zhou Guangjin , Lei Jianbo , Shu Jian
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Radiomics can improve the accuracy of traditional image diagnosis to evaluate extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC); however, this is limited by variations across radiologists, subjective evaluation, and restricted data. A radiomics-based particle swarm optimization and support vector machine (PSO-SVM) model may provide a more accurate auxiliary diagnosis for assessing differentiation degree (DD) and lymph node metastasis (LNM) of ECC.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of our study is to develop a PSO-SVM radiomics model for predicting DD and LNM of ECC.

METHODS

For this retrospective study, the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data of 110 patients with ECC who were diagnosed from January 2011 to October 2019 were used to construct a radiomics prediction model. Radiomics features were extracted from T1-precontrast weighted imaging (T1WI), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) using MaZda software (version 4.6; Institute of Electronics, Technical University of Lodz). We performed dimension reduction to obtain 30 optimal features of each sequence, respectively. A PSO-SVM radiomics model was developed to predict DD and LNM of ECC by incorporating radiomics features and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. We randomly divided the 110 cases into a training group (88/110, 80%) and a testing group (22/110, 20%). The performance of the model was evaluated by analyzing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

RESULTS

A radiomics model based on PSO-SVM was developed by using 110 patients with ECC. This model produced average AUCs of 0.8905 and 0.8461, respectively, for DD in the training and testing groups of patients with ECC. The average AUCs of the LNM in the training and testing groups of patients with ECC were 0.9036 and 0.8889, respectively. For the 110 patients, this model has high predictive performance. The average accuracy values of the training group and testing group for DD of ECC were 82.6% and 80.9%, respectively; the average accuracy values of the training group and testing group for LNM of ECC were 83.6% and 81.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The MRI-based PSO-SVM radiomics model might be useful for auxiliary clinical diagnosis and decision-making, which has a good potential for clinical application for DD and LNM of ECC.
ESTIMATING PREVALENCE AND TIME COURSE OF SARS-CoV-2 BASED ON NEW HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS AND PCR TESTS:
Data posted in the COVID 19 tracking website for RT-PCR (PCR) results and hospital admissions are used to estimate the prevalence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United States (1). Hospital admissions mitigate positive sampling bias in PCR tests due to their initially limited test numbers and application as a diagnostic, instead of a surveying tool.
As of July 31, the United States' cumulative recovered population is estimated at 47% or 155 million. The remaining susceptible population is 53%, or 47% excepting the 6% infectious population. The estimated mortality rate of the cumulative recovered population is 0.09% death per case.
New (Preprint)
Authors: Gonzalez Jose
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies showed a lack of response in close to 50% of formerly afflicted patients. In addition, antibodies were found to be transient, and concentration index to disease severity. These findings made this classical method for the estimation of the recovered population from COVID-19 of limited value.
The method presented on this paper relying on % RT-PCR testing and controlling for sampling bias with new hospital admission data provides an effective alternative for estimation of the extent and time course of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

OBJECTIVE

The method presented on this paper relying on % RT-PCR testing and controlling for sampling bias with new hospital admission data provides an effective alternative for estimation of the extent and time course of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic.

METHODS

Daily results for %RT-PCR, Total Test Results, Hospitalized Currently, Hospitalized Cumulative available at COVID-19 Tracking Project are used to estimate mitigation of sampling bias of RT-PCR results and daily Hospital Admissions.
Since at high daily testing levels and low % positives RT-PCR evidence of sampling bias disappears, it is correlated to daily Hospital Admissions and this correlate value used to mitigate the % RT-PCR findings where sampling bias is present.
This information is used to estimate time course of the infection. Knowing that the disease lasts for an average of 20 days allows the integration of the time course values to obtain cumulative recovered population.

RESULTS

Prevalence and time course of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the United States are estimated. The recovered population amounts to 47%. The states of the eastern seaboard, as exemplified by New York and Massachusetts, display a sudden early onslaught of the pandemic. While California, Texas, and Florida lagged. Mortality rate is twice higher in the eastern seaboard states compared to the entire nation and the other presented states. Given the large number of the convalescent population mortality is about 0.09% nationwide.

CONCLUSIONS

Novel approach to estimating time course and prevalence shows that the recovered population is much larger, and consequently, mortality rate (0.09%) about a factor of 10 lower than currently recognized.
Effective Use of Mobile Electronic Medical Records by Medical Interns in Real Clinical Settings: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kim SuJin , Ku Seulji , Kim Taerim , Cha Won Chul , Jung Kwang Yul
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

In South Korea, most graduated medical students undertake a 1-year internship before beginning residency and specialization. Interns usually work in a tertiary hospital and rotate between different, randomly assigned departments to be exposed to different medical specialties. Their jobs are mostly simple and repetitive but are still essential for the patient care process. However, owing to the lack of experience and overwhelming workload, interns at tertiary hospitals in South Korea are usually inefficient, often delaying the entire clinical process. Health care providers have widely adopted mobile electronic medical records (mEMRs) as they have been shown to improve workflow efficiency.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigates the association between the frequency of mEMR usage and the clinical task completion interval time among interns in a tertiary hospital.

METHODS

This mixed methods study was conducted at the Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. Interns who worked at the Samsung Medical Center from March 2018 to February 2019 were included. The hospital electronic medical record (EMR) system known as DARWIN (Data Analysis and Research Window for Integrated kNowledge) was launched with PC and mobile. Both versions are actively used in hospitals by personnel in various positions. We collected the log data from the mEMR server and the intern clinical task time-series data from the EMR server. Interns can manage the process of identifying patients, assigning the clinical task, finishing the requested clinical intern tasks, etc, through the use of the mEMR system. We compared the clinical task completion interval among 4 groups of interns divided by the mEMR frequency quantile. Then, System Usability Score (SUS) questionnaires and semistructured interviews were conducted.

RESULTS

The regular mEMR users were defined as those who logged in more than once a day on average and used the mEMR until the level after login. Among a total of 87 interns, 84 used the mEMR to verify the requested clinical tasks. The most frequently used item was “Intern task list.” Analysis of the 4 intern groups revealed an inverse relationship between the median time of the task completion interval and the frequency of mEMR use. Correlation analysis showed that the intern task completion time interval had a significant inverse relationship with the individual frequency of mEMR usage (coefficient=-0.27; 95% CI -0.46 to -0.04; P=.02). In the additional survey, the mean SUS value was 81.67, which supported the results of the data analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that frequent mEMR use is associated with improved work efficiency in hospital interns with good usability of the mEMR. Such finding supports the idea that the use of mEMR improves the effectiveness and workflow efficiency of interns working in hospitals and, more generally, in the context of health care.
Title: Inadequate level of knowledge, mixed outlook and poor adherence to COVID-19 prevention guideline among Ethiopians (Preprint)
Authors: Negera Edessa , Demissie Tesfaye Moti , Tafess Ketema
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 has a potential to cause chaos in Ethiopia due to the country’s already daunting economic and social challenges. Living and working conditions are highly conducive for transmission, as people live in crowded inter-generational households that often lack running water and other basic sanitary facilities.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of Ethiopians toward COVID-19 following the introduction of state of emergency by the Ethiopian government to curb the spread of the disease.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study design was conducted in nine regional states and two chartered cities. Data for demographic, knowledge, attitude and practice toward COVID-19 were collected through telephone interview from 1570 participants. Descriptive and bivariate analyses using chi-square test, t-test or analysis of variance were performed as appropriate. Binary and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to measure the relationship between the categorical dependent variables and one or more socio-demographic independent variables with two-tailed at α=0.05 significance level and 95% of confidence interval.

RESULTS

The level of good knowledge, favourable attitude and good practice among the respondents were 42%, 53.8% and 24.3% respectively. Being rural resident, older than 50 years, having at least primary education, being resident of Amhara and Oromia regions were independent predictors of knowledge level. While being rural resident, married, employed, having at least basic education, being residents of Afar, Amhara, Gambela, Oromia and Somali regions were found to be the best predictors of the attitude, being rural resident, government employee, having at least basic education, and living outside of the capital were the independent predictors of practice level of the respondents

CONCLUSIONS

The finding revealed that Ethiopians have inadequate level of knowledge and are generally have a mixed outlook on overcoming the pandemic with poor adherence to COVID-19 prevention practice. Reinforcing preventive measures and intensifying sensitization campaigns to fill the knowledge gap and persuading people to follow the preventive measures set by the government with concurrent evaluation of the impacts of these measures on knowledge and practice is highly recommended to mitigate the disease.
Cybersecurity Risks in a Pandemic (Preprint)
Authors: Williams Christina Meilee , Chaturvedi Rahul , Chakravarthy Krishnan
Published: August 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Cybersecurity threats are estimated to cost the world US $6 trillion a year by 2021, and the number of attacks has increased five-fold after COVID-19. Although there is substantial literature on the threats technological vulnerabilities have on the health care industry, less research exists on how pandemics like COVID-19 are opportunistic for cybercriminals. This paper outlines why cyberattacks have been particularly problematic during COVID-19 and ways that health care industries can better protect patient data. The Office for Civil Rights has loosened enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which, although useful in using new platforms like Zoom, has also loosened physical and technical safeguards to cyberattacks. This is especially problematic given that 90% of health care providers had already encountered data breaches. Companies must implement well-defined software upgrade procedures, should use secure networks like virtual local area networks, and conduct regular penetration tests of their systems. By understanding factors that make individuals, health care organizations, and employers more susceptible to cyberattacks, we can better prepare for the next pandemic.
Implementasi Sistem Pelacakan Kendaraan Bermotor Menggunakan Gps Dan Gprs Dengan Integrasi Googlemap
Authors: Muchlisin Yazid Dul , Istiyanto Jazi Eko
Published: August 2020

Abstract— Vehicle tracking system using GPS and GPRS integration googlemap provide information that is maximized with the technology of GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver which can indicate the position of the vehicle with the map and the ability of the appointment of direction and position coordinates (x, y or latitude, longitude) textually and visual at any location. Vehicle tracking system is built using equipment GIS (Geographic Information System) and dedicated to smartphones which support Global Positioning System (GPS), as well as portable computers, using General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) as a connection to the internet. The hardware used is a smartphone that supports GPS with supporting tools used are GoogleMaps, Notepad + +, NetBeans IDE 6.5.1, Mysql, Java (J2ME), PHP, JavaScript. The results of this system in the form of tracking system capable of monitoring the movement of vehicles on an ongoing position by utilizing GPS and GPRS as the sender of the wireless data and Internet connections.  Keywords— GIS, GPS, GPRS, googlemaps, J2ME,