bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of raising Hong Kong parents’ awareness of antimicrobial resistance through an educational program with peer support on social media: A pilot study
Authors: Or Peggy P.L. , Ching Patricia T.Y.
Published: May 2021

Background

To test whether parents’ awareness of antimicrobial resistance could be improved through the education programme with peer support on social media
Methods

A cluster randomized controlled trial with two-arms were implemented. The intervention program consisted of two weekly sessions and each session lasted for 90 minutes. A total of 48 parents had participated in the program. Parental knowledge, attitude, and their social network were measured before and after the program using the Parental Perception on Antibiotics (PAPA) scale and the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) to assess differences between and within the intervention and control groups.
Results

All parents would have a sense that antibiotics could be effective at treating some infections and not others, as compared to 40% in the control group. All parents in the intervention group and 85% of the control group disagreed that they should reduce the dose of antibiotics when their children were recovering. The test was statistically significant (p = 0.039) with a p value < .05. There was a significant difference and a strong negative correlation between peer support in Facebook and the parents’ belief that antibiotics could be stopped when their children felt better, with Pearson coefficient of -0.78 and p = 0.001. In general, there was no significant difference between the two groups with respect to the GSE scale.
Conclusions

Based on the findings in this pilot study, a further study based on the education program with enhancement and peer support can be implemented in a large scale with a positive expectation of increasing parental awareness of antimicrobial resistance and potentially influencing patient prescribing expectations when seeking healthcare.
The Effect of Symptom Onset-to-needle time on Ischemic Outcomes in Patients Treated with Primary Angioplasty in the Era of Potent Antiplatelets
Authors: Hromadka Milan , Motovska Zuzana , Hlinomaz Ota , Kala Petr , Varvarovsky Ivo , Dusek Jaroslav , Svoboda Michal , Jarkovsky Jiri , Tousek Frantisek , Jansky Pavel , Simek Stanislav , Branny Marian , Mrozek Jan , Miklik Roman , Rokyta Richard , Widimsky Petr
Published: May 2021

Purpose: Based on previous studies with clopidogrel, the time between onset of symptoms and primary PCI was proven as an important prognostic factor. Our aim was to assess the effect of symptoms onset to needle time (SNT) on procedural results and on the occurrence of ischemic endpoints in primary angioplasty patients treated with potent P2Y12 inhibitors. Methods: A total of 1,131 out of 1,230 patients randomized to the PRAGUE 18 study (prasugrel vs. ticagrelor in primary angioplasty) were divided into a high and a low-risk group. The effect of defined SNT on patients' ischemic endpoints and prognosis by their risk status at admission was tested.Results: The median SNT was 3.2 hours. Longer SNTs resulted in a more frequent incidence of TIMI flow < 3 post PCI (p = 0.015). There were significant differences in the occurrence of the combined ischemic endpoint among the compared SNT groups at 30 days (p=0.032), and 1 year (p=0.011), with the highest incidence in the ≤ 1 h SNT group of patients. "Latecomers" (SNT > 4 hs) in the high-risk group experienced more reMI within 1 year [OR (95% CI) 3.23 (1.09–9.62) p = 0.035]; no difference was found in the low-risk group. Conclusion: In the era of intense antithrombotic medication, stratification of STEMI patients undergoing primary angioplasty, based on initial ischemic risk assessment affected prognosis more than symptom onset to needle time. Longer time delay significantly increased the incidence of ischemic events and all-cause mortality only in patients with high ischemic risk.
Efficacy of Two-Week Therapy with Doxycycline-Based Quadruple Versus Levofloxacin Concomitant for Helicobacter Pylori Infection: A Prospective Single-Center Randomized Controlled Trial.
Authors: Alhalabi Marouf , Alassi Waleed , Eddin Kamal Alaa , Cheha Khaled
Published: May 2021

Background: Antibiotic-resistant reduces the efficacy of conventional triple therapy for Helicobacter Pylori infections worldwide, lead to varying treatment protocols according to locations. This was an open‑label randomized controlled trial. We used two protocols, doxycycline-based quadruple and concomitant levofloxacin regimens. The aim was to compare the eradication rates of previous protocols as empirical first-line treatment to cure Helicobacter Pylori infection in intention-to-treat (ITT) and per-protocol analyses (PPA) in Syrian population.Settings and Design: an open‑label parallel randomized controlled trial.Methods: We randomly assigned seventy-eight naïve who tested positive for Helicobacter Pylori gastric infection, with a 1:1 ratio to (D-group ) which receive (bismuth subsalicylate 524 mg four times daily, doxycycline 100 mg, tinidazole 500 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg, each twice per day for two weeks), or (L-group) which receive (levofloxacin 500 mg daily, tinidazole 500 mg, amoxicillin 1000 mg, and esomeprazole 20 mg each twice per day for two weeks). We confirmed Helicobacter Pylori eradication by stool antigen test at eight weeks. Results: Thirty-nine patients were allocated in each group. In the D-group, thirty-eight patients completed the follow-up, thirty patients were cured. While in the L-group, thirty-nine completed the follow-up, thirty-two patients were cured. According to ITT, the eradication rates were 76.92%, and 82.05%, for the D-group and L-group respectively. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.371 [0.454-4.146]. According to PPA, the eradication rates were 78.9 %, and 82.05% for the D-group and L-group respectively. The odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was 1.219 [0.394-3.774]. We didn’t report serious adverse effects. Conclusions: The eradication rates in both therapy regimes were fair. Further researches are required to identify the optimum first-line treatment for Helicobacter-Pylori Infection in the Syrian population.Trial registration: We register this study as a standard randomized clinical trial (Clinicaltrial.gov, identifier‑NCT04348786, date:29-January-2020, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04348786).
Comprehensive Analysis of The Significance of Hypoxia-Related Genes in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Zhao Wancheng , Yin Lili
Published: May 2021

Background: Hypoxia-related genes have been reported to play important roles in a variety of cancers. However, their roles in ovarian cancer (OC) have remained unknown. Our aim was to explore the significance of hypoxia-related genes in OC patients.Methods: In this study, 15 hypoxia-related genes were screened from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to group the ovarian cancer patients using the consensus clustering method. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to calculate the hypoxia score to quantify the hypoxic status. Results: The OC patients were divided into two hypoxia statuses based on the expression level of the 15 hypoxia-related genes. Most hypoxia-related genes were more highly expressed in the cluster.A group. We also found that patients in the cluster.A group exhibited higher expression level of immune checkpoint-related genes, epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related genes, and immune activation-related genes, as well as elevated immune infiltrates. PCA algorithm indicated that the cluster.A group had higher hypoxia scores.Conclusions: In summary, our research elucidated the vital role of hypoxia-related genes in immune infiltrates of OC. Our investigation of hypoxic status may be able to improve the efficacy of immunotherapy for OC.
A geospatial enquiry into the nature of contemporary urbanisation in a medium-sized city of Mangaluru, India
Authors: K Dhanaraj , Angadi Dasharatha P
Published: May 2021

The future of urban growth in India and the developing world is predicted to occur in small and medium-sized cities. Subtleties of such urbanisation need to be studied considering its implications for the future of urbanisation. The contemporary urbanisation is characterised by rural-urban transition and emerging small cities. An unprecedented increase in Census Towns (CTs) in India during the last decade has substantiated this fact. The growths of CTs and the medium-sized cities of India must be seen together. There is a dearth of studies that associates these two phenomena. Since the basic understanding of CTs and their dynamics is only based on studies of large cities, the current study attempts to bridge the gap in the literature through a case study of Mangaluru city. The study is conducted through a diversified method of remote sensing, GIS, statistical and spatial analysis. The results show up evidence of spatial expansion and rural-urban transition as emergent urbanisation at force in the region. The spatial proximity of CTs also adds to the spatiality of urban agglomeration in the region. This different form of locally driven urbanism of the contemporary period requires a different framework of participatory and technology-enabled smart planning for a sustainable future.
Liquefaction Resistance Evaluation of Soils using Artificial Neural Network for Dhaka City, Bangladesh
Authors: Fahim Abul Kashem Faruki , Rahman Md. Zillur , Hossain Md. Shakhawat , Kamal A S M Maksud
Published: May 2021

Soil liquefaction resistance evaluation is an important site investigation for seismically active areas. To minimize the loss of life and property, liquefaction hazard analysis is a prerequisite for seismic risk management and development of an area. Liquefaction potential index (LPI) is widely used to determine the severity of liquefaction quantitatively and spatially. LPI is estimated from the factor of safety (FS) of liquefaction that is the ratio of cyclic resistance ratio (CRR) to cyclic stress ratio (CSR) calculated applying simplified procedure. Artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm has been used in the present study to predict CRR directly from the normalized standard penetration test blow count (SPT-N) and near-surface shear wave velocity (Vs) data of Dhaka City. It is observed that ANN model have generated accurate CRR data. Three liquefaction hazard zones are identified in Dhaka City on the basis of the cumulative frequency (CF) distribution of the LPI of each geological unit. The liquefaction hazard maps have been prepared for the city using the liquefaction potential index (LPI) and its cumulative frequency (CF) distribution of each liquefaction hazard zone. The CF distribution of the SPT-N based LPI indicates that 15%, 53%, and 69% of areas, whereas the CF distribution of the Vs based LPI indicates that 11%, 48%, and 62% of areas of Zone 1, 2, and 3, respectively, show surface manifestation of liquefaction for a scenario earthquake of moment magnitude, Mw 7.5 with a peak horizontal ground acceleration (PGA) of 0.15 g.
Genetic characterization of Blastocystis from wild animals in Sichuan Wolong National Natural Reserve, southwestern of China-Zoonotic potential
Authors: Chen Shanyu , Meng Wangyu , Zhou Ziyao , Deng Lei , Shi Xiaogang , Chai Yijun , Liu Haifeng , Cheng Yuehong , Zhong Zhijun , Fu Hualin , Shen Liuhong , Zhang Kun , He Tingmei , Peng GuangNeng
Published: May 2021

Background

Blastocystis, a highly prevalent eukaryotic parasite, has been identified in a wide range of hosts, including humans, domestic and wild animals. Many animals are potential sources of Blastocystis infection for humans, while few information about the prevalence of Blastocystis in wild animals have being documented. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the prevalence and subtypes of Blastocystis in wild animals of Sichuan Wolong National Natural Reserve, southwestern of China, so as to assess the zoonotic potential of these animals.
Methods

A total of 300 faecal samples were collected from 27 wildlife species in three areas of Sichuan Wolong National Natural Reserve in southwestern China. The subtype (ST) genetic characteristics and prevalence of Blastocystis were determined by PCR amplification of the barcode region (a fragment of ∼600 bp) of the SSU rRNA gene, and phylogenetic analysis were further performed to determine the genetic characteristics of Blastocystis subtypes.
Results

30 of 300 faecal samples (10.0%) were Blastocystis-positive. The highest prevalence of Blastocystis was found in Yinchanggou (18.3%), which was significantly higher than that in Niutoushan (7.5%), and Genda (5.5%) (P < 0.05). Specifically, the highest prevalence of Blastocystis was found in primates (20.0%, 1/5), followed by rodentia 14.3% (1/7), artiodactyla 13.1% (26/198), carnivora 2.3% (2/87), galliformes 0% (0/3). Sequence analysis showed 5 subtypes (ST1, ST3, ST5, ST13, and ST14), with ST13 and ST14 as the predominant subtype (33.3%, 10/30), followed by ST1 (20.0%, 6/30).
Conclusions

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first molecular investigation on Blastocystis infection in wild animals in southwestern of China. ST1, ST3, and ST5 were identified in both humans and wild animals, suggesting that these wild animals may be potential reservoirs of Blastocystis for human infection.
Eye Movement Indices of Post-Saccadic Task Under Cognitive Load: A Path Analysis to Predict Individual’s Performance
Authors: Fadardi Marzieh Salehi , Fadardi Javad Salehi , Mahjoob Monireh , Doosti Hassan
Published: May 2021

Purpose: The evidence on the linear relationship between cognitive load, saccade, fixation, and task performance was uncertain. We tested pathway models for degraded task performance resulting from changes in saccadic and post-saccadic fixation under cognitive load. Methods: Participants' (n = 38) eye movements were recorded using a post-saccadic discrimination task without and with arithmetic operations to impose cognitive load, validated through recording heart rate variability and subjective measurement. Results: Results showed that cognitive load led to longer latencies of saccade and fixation; more inaccurate responses and fewer secondary saccades (P<0.001). Longer saccade latencies influenced task performance indirectly via increases in fixation latency, thereby, longer reaction times and higher response errors were observed due to limited fixation duration on desired target. Conclusion: We suggest that latency and duration of fixation indicate efficiency of information processing and can predict the speed and accuracy of task performance under cognitive load.
The Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Medical Disorders Comorbidities in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Wang Zhonggang , Li Tao , Li Shuhua , Li Kunkun , Jiang Xianfei , Wei Chen , Yang Lei , Cao Haiyan , Li Shen , Li Jie
Published: May 2021

Objective: Medical disorders in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have attracted more and more attention. So far, there is still a lack of studies on this issue utilizing large sample sizes in the Chinese sample. Therefore, we conducted this study to explore the clinical characteristics of BD patients comorbid medical disorders in a relatively large Chinese sample. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 1,393 BD patients (882 patients with medical disorders and 511 patients without medical disorders). Their demographic and clinical characteristics were obtained by the Hospital Information System and self-designed questionnaires. Results: The comorbidity rate of medical disorders in BD was 63.32%. The average number of medical disorders for a BD patient was 2.69. The top five comorbid medical disorders in BD patients were circulatory system diseases (19%), nervous system diseases (18%), endocrine and metabolic diseases (17%), digestive system diseases (16%), and respiratory system diseases (8%). BD patients with comorbid medical disorders had an older average age, lower education level, longer illness course, later onset age, lower ratio of psychotic features, more admission numbers, higher ratio of smoking and drinking alcohol, more number of manic episodes (All P < 0.05). Smoking, numbers of depressive episode, onset age, and illness course were independent risk factors of comorbidities in BD patients (All P < 0.05). Conclusions: Medical disorders in Chinese BD patients are highly prevalent. The smoking, number of depressive episodes, onset age, illness course, are correlated with BD patients comorbid medical disorders. Clinicians should pay attention to the medical disorders comorbidities in BD patients, and take effective measures to improve treatment outcome and reduce the suffering. The integrative approach should be the imperative in clinical practice.
Screen Time and Developmental Health: Results from an Early Childhood Study in Canada
Authors: Kerai Salima , Almas Alisa , Guhn Martin , Forer Barry , Oberle Eva
Published: May 2021

Background: Research has shown that longer hours of screen time are negatively associated with children's healthy development. Whereas most research has focused on school-age children, less is known about this association in early childhood. To fill this gap, our goal was to examine the association between screen time and developmental health in preschool-aged children.Methods: This study draws from a data linkage on children (N = 2983; Mean age = 5.2, SD = 0.3 years, 51% male) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, who entered Kindergarten in public elementary schools in 2019. Parent reports on children's screen time, health behaviors, demographics, and family income collected upon kindergarten entry (09/2019), were linked to teacher reports on children's developmental health, collected halfway through the school year (02/2020). Screen time was assessed with the Childhood Experiences Questionnaire. Developmental vulnerability versus developmental health in five domains (physical, social, emotional, language and cognition, and communication skills) was measured with the Early Development Instrument. Results: Logistic regression analyses using generalized estimating equation showed that children with more than one hour of daily screen time were more likely to be vulnerable in all five developmental health domains: physical health and wellbeing (odds ratio [OR] =1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99 - 2.0; p=0.058), social competence (OR=1.60; 95% CI, 1.16 – 2.2; p=0.004), emotional maturity (OR=1.29; 95% CI, 0.96 - 1.73; p=0.097), language and cognitive development (OR=1.81; 95% CI, 1.19 - 2.74; p=0.006) and communication skills (OR=1.60; 95% CI, 1.1 – 2.34; p=0.015) compared to children reporting up to one hour of screen time/day. An interaction effect between income and screen time on developmental health outcomes was non-significant. Results were adjusted for child demographics, family income, and other health behaviors. Conclusion: Daily screen time that exceeds the recommended one-hour limit for young children, as suggested by the Canadian 24-hrs Movement Guidelines for Children and Youth [1, 2] is negatively associated with developmental health outcomes in early childhood. Screen-based activities should thus be limited for young children. Future research needs to examine the underlying mechanisms through which screen time is linked to developmental vulnerabilities.
Trends in Emotional Functioning and Psychosocial Wellbeing in Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Devarakonda Sri Kruthi , Timman Reinier , Bouvy Paul F. , Oemrawsingh Arvind , Apon Inge , Mureau Marc A.M. , Koppert Linetta B. , Kranenburg Leonieke W.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

A breast cancer diagnosis can threaten every aspect of a woman’s wellbeing, including her mental health. With the growing number of breast cancer survivors, longitudinal studies addressing mental health in this population are of increasing importance now more than ever. Therefore, the current study investigated trends in emotional functioning and psychosocial wellbeing of breast cancer survivors, and the demographic and treatment characteristics that may influence these trends.
Methods

Prospectively collected data of women treated for breast cancer at the Erasmus MC was analyzed in this study. Emotional functioning was measured using the EORTC-QLQ-C30, while psychosocial wellbeing was measured using the BREAST-Q. Type of surgery, age, family status and employment status of study participants were retrieved from patient files. Multilevel analysis was performed to identify trends in emotional functioning and psychosocial wellbeing and to determine the relationship between aforementioned characteristics and these trends.
Results

334 cancer survivors were analyzed. Psychosocial wellbeing declined, but emotional functioning showed a steady improvement over time. Type of surgery was associated with changes in emotional functioning and family status with changes in psychosocial wellbeing: women who underwent breast reconstruction showed a steeper increase in their emotional functioning and women with no partner or children showed a greater decline in psychosocial wellbeing between baseline and 12 months after surgery.
Conclusion

These findings can be utilized by healthcare teams to identify breast cancer patients at risk for emotional problems and to provide adequate psychological support to those women who need help dealing with their emotions and self-concept in order to optimize clinical treatment.
Computerized Clinical Decision Support Systems for Prescribing in Primary Care: Main Characteristics and Implementation Impact. Protocol of an Evidence and Gap Map.
Authors: Acosta-Garcia Hector , Ferrer-López Ingrid , Ruano-Ruiz Juan , Santos-Ramos Bernardo , Molina-López Teresa
Published: May 2021

Background
Computerized clinical decision support systems are used by clinicians at the point-of-care to improve quality of healthcare processes (prescribing error prevention, adherence to clinical guidelines...) and clinical outcomes (preventive, therapeutic, and diagnostics). Attempts to summarize results of computerized clinical decision support systems to support prescription in primary care have been challenging, and most systematic reviews and meta-analyses failed due to an extremely high degree of heterogeneity present among the included primary studies. The aim of our study will be to synthesize the evidence, considering all methodological factors that could explain these differences, and to build an evidence and gap map to identify important remaining research questions.
Methods
A literature search will be conducted from January 2010 onwards in Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library and Web of Science databases. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text and abstract data. The study methodological quality and risk of bias will be appraised using appropriate tools if applicable. A flow diagram with the screened studies will be presented, and all included studies will be displayed using interactive evidence and gap maps. Results will be reported in accordance with recommendations from The Campbell Collaboration on the development of evidence and gap maps.
Discussion
Evidence behind computerized clinical decision support systems to support prescription use in primary care, has so far been difficult to be synthesized. Evidence and gap maps represent an innovative approach that has emerged and is increasingly being used to address a broader research question, where multiple types of intervention and outcomes reported may be evaluated. Broad inclusion criteria have been chosen with regards to study designs, in order to collect all available information. Regarding the limitations we will only include English and Spanish language studies from the last 10 years, we will not perform a grey literature search, and we will not carry out a meta-analysis due to the predictable heterogeneity of available studies.
Systematic Review registration:
This study is registered in Open Science Framework https://bit.ly/2RqKrWp
Gold Island-Enhanced Multiplex Quantum Dots Fluorescent System for Biomedical Analysis of Circulating Tumor Nucleic Acids
Authors: Lin Jingyan , Wu Yunxia , Yang Ronghua , Wang Jingru , Wu Wenjie , Chen Xiaodong , Chen Guoqiang , Liao Yuhui
Published: May 2021

Background: Circulating tumor nucleic acids (CTNAs) have been employed as the potential marker for tumor diagnosis and management, which are highly related to the tumorigenesis, progression and metastasis processes. Therefore, it is of significance to develop a highly-sensitive and reliable methods for detection of CTNAs, especially the multiplex point mutation detection of blood-derived CTNAs. Results: Herein, a gold island-enhanced multiplex quantum dots (QDs) fluorescent platform was constructed for highly-sensitive detection of CTNAs in serum. The gold island-enhanced multiplex fluorescent strategy was designed as the highly-efficient signal giving-out mode which could amplify the fluorescence of QDs, realized a homogeneous nano-platform for the enrichment, multiplex detection and point mutations monitoring of CTNAs with the principle of base-stacking. A high sensitivity of 10 amol and desirable specificity were achieved, and the performance index for analysis of clinical CTNAs samples indicated that the gold island-enhanced multiplex QDs fluorescent strategy could realize multiplex point mutations detection of CTNAs in complex blood samples. Conclusions: Hence, this platform achieved high detection rate in clinical samples that suitably met the clinical-requirements for multiplex detection and point mutations monitoring of CTNAs, and thus has the potential to serve as the tumor liquid biopsy strategy based on CTNAs.
Tuning The Primary Resonance of Vibrating Beam Micro-Gyroscopes Based On Piezoelectric Actuation and Multiple Nonlinearities
Authors: Li Wei , Chen Hong-Yan , Yang Hong
Published: May 2021

In this paper, the nonlinear dynamic characteristics of statically piezoelectric actuated vibrating beam micro-gyroscopes are studied. The comprehensive nonlinear model including curvature, inertia and electrostatic force nonlinearities is considered. In the research of electrostatic micro-gyroscopes, it’s a novel way to tune the primary resonance by piezoelectric actuation and multiple nonlinearities. The multiple scales method and numerical continuation technique are used to characterize the frequency-amplitude and force-amplitude responses of the micro-gyroscopes. The effect of varying the size-dependent, fringing field, statically piezoelectric voltage and nonlinear curvature and inertia on the dynamic response of the micro-gyroscope is investigated in detail. The frequency-response results show that small vibrations produce a symmetrical frequency response curve in sense direction while the system actually has a significant softening characteristic in drive direction. The nonlinear multi-value problem effectively reduces in sense direction under the size-dependent effect, which plays an important role in the design of detection instruments for micro-gyroscopes. Choosing a positive piezoelectric actuation voltage will obtain a higher sensitivity. Increasing the curvature nonlinearity and reducing the inertial nonlinearity of the gyroscopic system will help the micro-gyroscope obtain better sensitivity, and may eliminate multi-valued responses as much as possible.
Parenteral Succinate Reduces Levels of Reactive Oxygen Species, but It Does Not Reduce Caspase-3 Serum and Tissue Levels.
Authors: Chapela Sebastián Pablo , Muscogiuri Giovanna , Barrea Luigi , Frias-Toral Evelyn , Burgos Hilda , Ricart María Cecilia , Muryan Alexis , Schiel Amalia , Alonso Manuel , Stella Carlos Alberto
Published: May 2021

Purpose: In sepsis Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) production and apoptosis are two physiopathological processes that are increased. Succinate is a Krebs cycle intermediate that is reduced in Complex II of the mitochondria. This work aims to determine if succinate administration to septic rats improves serum ROS levels and serum and tissue levels of apoptosis. Methods: Sepsis was induced with cecal ligation and puncture in 200gr Sprague Dawley rats. 4 groups were formed (control, succinate, sepsis, and sepsis + succinate). 5mml/kg of intraperitoneal succinate were administered to the succinate and sepsis + succinate groups 2 h before sepsis induction and 2 h before sample taking. ROS levels were measured with dichlorofluorescein-diacetate, and apoptosis was measured with a Caspase-3 ELISA kit. Results: There were significant differences in serum ROS levels between the control group and the sepsis group (P = 0.012), but there were no differences in serum Caspase-3 levels (P = 0.15). The succinate administration reduced serum ROS levels in the sepsis + succinate group compared with the sepsis group in a statistically significant way (P = 0.004), but it did not reduce serum Caspase-3 levels (P = 0.39). There were no differences between groups in kidney and liver Caspase-3 levels. There was no correlation between serum ROS levels and serum Caspase-3 levels. Conclusions: In this model, ROS levels were reduced with succinate infusion, but Caspase-3 levels were not. In addition, ROS levels and apoptosis levels are not correlated, which suggests that those processes occur at different times.
Post-azacitidine clone size predicts long-term clinical outcome of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes and related myeloid neoplasms
Authors: Ogawa Seishi , Tobiasson Magnus , Sato Shinya , Bernard Elsa , Ohtake Shigeki , Takeda June , Creignou Maria , Zhao Lanying , Kusakabe Manabu , Shibata Yuhei , Nakamura Nobuhiko , Watanabe Mizuki , Hiramoto Nobuhiro , Shiozawa Yusuke , Shiraishi Yuichi , Tanaka Hiroko , Yoshida Kenichi , Kakiuchi Nobuyuki , Makishima Hideki , Nakagawa Masahiro , Usuki Kensuke , Watanabe Mitsumasa , Imada Kazunori , Handa Hiroshi , Taguchi Masataka , Kiguchi Toru , Ohyashiki Kazuma , Ishikawa Takayuki , Takaori-Kondo Akifumi , Tsurumi Hisashi , Kasahara Senji , Chiba Shigeru , Naoe Tomoki , Miyano Satoru , Papaemmanuil Elli , Miyazaki Yasushi , Hellstrom-Lindberg Eva
Published: May 2021

Azacitidine is a mainstay of therapy for high-risk MDS and other myeloid neoplasms. A significant correlation between azacitidine response and clinical outcome suggests a potential role of mutational profiling based on next-generation sequencing (NGS) before and after therapy in evaluating response and predicting overall survival (OS), which however has not fully elucidated. Here through NGS-based mutational profiling of large cohorts (n=451) of azacitidine-treated patients with high-risk MDS and other myeloid neoplasms, we show significant roles of multi-hit TP53 and germline DDX41 mutations in pre-treatment samples and post-treatment clone size in the evaluation/prediction of azacitidine response and OS after azacitidine therapy, which outperformed the prediction based only on clinical response and IPSS-R score. Post-treatment clone size strongly correlated with clinical response with exception of large persistent mutations frequently affecting TET2 after achieving complete remission and those with DDX41 mutations, which poorly correlated with clinical response. Our results highlight the importance of evaluating mutations in both pre- and post-treatment samples in the assessment of response and the prediction of OS after azacitidine therapy.
Comparative Performance and Reliability Analysis of Doping and Junction Free Devices with High-κ/Vacuum Gate Dielectric
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Panchore Meena , Bramhane Lokesh Kumar
Published: May 2021

A comparative evaluation of channel hot carrier (CHC) reliability and pursuance of dopingless FET (DL JLFET) and junctionless FET (JLFET) are studied for various dielectrics and compared with conventional dielectric (SiO2) JLFET. The use of dielectrics such as vacuum near the drain and the high-κ (HfO2) near the source in DL JLFET (VacuHDL JLFET) allows better pursuance and reliability against channel hot carrier (CHC) effects. A simulation study has shown that the pursuance of VacuHDL in terms of Ion/Ioff ratio is improved by 4.5, 19.38 and 39.58 times, respectively, in comparison with vacuum based DL, HJL and JL. Similarly, the intrinsic delay of VacuHDL is improved by 9.5%, 56.8 % and 58.7 %, respectively, in comparison with VacuDL, VacuHJL and VacuJL. Hence, VacuHDL is a potential candidate for digital circuit applications. Further, we have found that vacuum-based HDL and HJL are more immunes against CHC stress and shown that the drain current of vacuHDL and vacuHJL is reduced by 6.9 % and 17.5 %, respectively, in comparison with conventional dialectic (SiO2) based DL and JL which is 10.4 % and 20.5 %. Hence, the incorporation of vacuum dielectric towards drain terminal is helpful in reducing CHC induced effect in comparison with conventional dielectric.
Clinical and Histopathological Features of Early Gastric Cancer With Unclear Lateral Demarcation
Authors: Nagai Kengo , Hayashi Yoshito , Uema Ryotaro , Inoue Takanori , Kimura Keiichi , Sakatani Akihiko , Yoshii Shunsuke , Tsujii Yoshiki , Shinzaki Shinichiro , Iijima Hideki , Takehara Tetsuo
Published: May 2021

Background

Magnifying-endoscopy with narrow band imaging (M-NBI) is useful to determine lateral demarcation of early gastric cancers, but determining the lateral demarcation is sometimes difficult. Features related to the unclear lateral demarcation remain unknown. We evaluated the clinical and histopathological features of early gastric cancers with unclear lateral demarcation by M-NBI.
Methods

This single-center retrospective cohort study analyzed early gastric cancer treated by endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) from January 2013 to August 2015. We evaluated clinicopathological and immunohistochemical features using anti-p53, -Ki-67, -MUC5AC, -MUC6, -MUC2, and -CD10 antibody staining. We compared the lateral demarcation between the demarcation clear (DC) and demarcation unclear (DU) lesions by using M-NBI.
Results

A total of 224 differentiated adenocarcinomas (DU group: 18 lesions; DC group: 206 lesions) were analyzed. The history of successful Helicobacter pylori eradication was significantly more frequent in the DU group (p = 0.001). We examined tissues of 72 lesions immunohistochemically, including 18 lesions in the DU group and 54 randomly selected lesions in the DC group. Non-neoplastic superficial epithelium is more frequently observed in the DU group (p = 0.0058). Additionally, the DU group showed a significantly higher expression of gastric phenotype marker (p = 0.023), lower p53 score (p = 0.0002), and lower Ki-67 labeling index (p = 0.0293). The non-neoplastic superficial epithelium and low p53 score were significant independent variables associated with unclear lateral demarcation by M-NBI in the multivariate analysis.
Conclusions

Non-neoplastic superficial epithelium and low p53 score were associated with the difficultly in determining lateral demarcation in early gastric cancers by M-NBI.
The Perceptions and Experiences of Parents and Families of Preterm Infants Who Participate in Family Integrated Care Programs in Neonatal Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Systematic Review Protocol
Authors: Carman Rebecca Anne , Adams Claire , Sharp Mary , McAullay Daniel , Marriott Rhonda , Jones Jocelyn , Strobel Natalie
Published: May 2021

BackgroundThe premature birth of an infant coupled with admission to a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) can pose complex psychosocial challenges to parents and the family unit. Measures designed to counteract the effects of restricted visitation and prolonged separation from the infant within the NICU setting have led to the development of the Family Integrated Care model; emphasis in this program is placed on the active participation of the parent alongside the healthcare team in providing direct care to the preterm infant. The aim of this systematic review is to explore the perceptions and experiences of parents and families of preterm infants who have used a Family Integrated Care program during hospitalisation in a NICU. MethodsA systematic literature search will be performed on six electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Scopus) to identify relevant articles which meet the a priori inclusion criteria. A hand-search of the reference lists of all articles taken to full text review will supplement the search. The search will be limited to peer-reviewed, primary research articles written in English only; nil publication date restrictions will be applied. Two independent reviewers will screen all retrieved articles, perform the full-text review, critically appraise the included articles, and extract the data. Where consensus cannot be reached, a third reviewer will be consulted. To assess the quality of included studies and the risk of bias, the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist will be used. Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool developed by the review team and piloted for use by two independent reviewers. A thematic analysis and narrative synthesis of the review findings will follow. DiscussionThis review will importantly describe the experiences of parents and families of preterm infants using a Family Integrated Care program delivered within a NICU; review findings will be used to inform the associated program protocols in a Perth (Western Australia) based NICU and be disseminated via a peer-reviewed publication. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO, Submission ID: 243818.
Non-traditional Acupuncture Therapies for Smoking Cessation: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Zhang Ying-Ying , Yu Ze-Yu , Lan Hui-Di , Liang Shi-Bing , Fang Min , Robinson Nicola , Liu Jian-Ping
Published: May 2021

BackgroundNon-traditional acupuncture (NTA) therapies widely used for smoking cessation include acupressure, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS), laser acupuncture, intradermal needle, and acupoint catgut embedding (ACE). Our aim was to evaluate their therapeutic effects and safety for smoking cessation. MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing NTA therapies with sham NTA or conventional therapy for smoking cessation were included. Ten databases were searched from their inception to February 2021. Two review authors independently screened studies, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias. Meta-analysis was conducted with RevMan 5.4 software. Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) was applied to assess the quality of evidence. The primary outcome was abstinence rate at short-term (1-3months), mid-term (3-6months), and long-term (≥6months). ResultsTwenty-five RCTs involving 2600 smokers were identified. Acupressure was found more effective than sham acupressure or conventional therapy in improving short-term (RR 1.41, 95% CI [1.04 to1.91]; low certainty; 8 trials, n=637) and mid-term abstinence rate (RR 1.63, 95% CI [1.27 to 2.09]; low certainty; 8 trials, n=749). Intradermal needle was not superior to sham control or counseling for short-term (RR 1.62, 95% CI [0.85 to 3.08]; low certainty; 5 trials, n=346) and mid-term abstinence rate (RR 1.49, 95% CI [0.68 to 3.27]; low certainty; 3 trials, n=187).TEAS failed to show a better effect than sham TEAS or counseling for short-term abstinence rate (RR 1.27, 95% CI [0.96 to 1.67];moderate certainty;5 trials, n=485), TEAS appeared more beneficial for mid-term abstinence (RR 1.58, 95% CI [1.10 to 2.27]; moderate certainty; 3 trials, n=325). Laser acupuncture was superior to sham control for long-term abstinence rate (RR 2.25, 95% CI [1.23 to 4.11]; moderate certainty; 2 trials, n=160). ACE was comparable to Bupropion for mid-term abstinence rate (RR 0.99, 95% CI [0.70 to 1.40]; low certainty; 2 trials, n=177). No serious adverse events were reported in the included trials. Conclusions﻿Low to moderate certainty evidence suggests that acupressure, TEAS, laser acupuncture and ACE maybe effective in achieving short-term, middle-term or long-term smoking cessation. Further large, long-term follow-up RCTs are warranted to verify their benefits and safety.Systematic review registration: INPLASY 202120054.
Effect of Carbon Nanotubes Intensified Coolant on the Grinding Performance of Carburizing and Quenching 12Cr2Ni4A Steel
Authors: Zhang Gaofeng , Luo Dejing , Wu Gaocan , Liu Da , Wang Jiakun , Deng Xin , Cai Jianbo
Published: May 2021

12Cr2Ni4A steel is a high-quality alloy structural steel. This article explores the surface/sub-surface condition, surface roughness, and micromorphology of the workpiece surface after grinding 12Cr2Ni4A steel via nanofluid casting to characterize the surface quality and analyzes the burn condition of the workpiece based on the microhardness of the cross-section of the workpiece and the micro-morphology of the subsurface of the workpiece. The test results indicate that the high heat transfer capacity of the carbon nanotube nanofluid can prevent the workpiece from being burned; further, the nanofluid casting type grinding obtains the lowest grinding force and surface roughness compared to the normal and tangential grinding forces. The surface roughness is reduced by 19.2%, 25.0%, and 19.1% at the highest because the nanoparticles (carbon nanotubes) play a “lubricating effect” in the grinding area, and the surface quality of the workpiece is therefore improved. The microhardness of the cross-section of the workpiece indicates that a softened layer appears on the workpiece after dry grinding at normal temperature and on the workpiece after traditional casting grinding. The maximum softening layer thickness for normal temperature dry grinding and traditional casting grinding is ~100 and 40 µm, respectively; no obvious softening layer was observed in nanofluid casting grinding. Tempering burns and secondary quenching burns appear on the subsurface of the workpieces of normal temperature dry grinding and traditional casting grinding. The thicknesses of the affected layers of the tempering and secondary quenching burns are ~98 and 35 µm, respectively; for the nanofluid casting, no obvious burns were observed on the sub-surface of the workpiece ground by type grinding. Thus, this research aims to explore how to minimize grinding burns and propose a new type of nanofluid casting grinding technology.
Study on Multi-Degree of Freedom Dynamic Vibration Absorber of the Carbody of High-Speed Trains
Authors: SUN Yu , Zhou Jinsong , Gong Dao , Ji Yuanjin
Published: May 2021

To absorb the vibration of the carbody of the high-speed train in multiple degrees of freedom, a multi-degree of freedom dynamic vibration absorber (MDOF DVA) is proposed. Installed under the carbody, the natural vibration frequency of the MDOF DVA from each DOF can be designed as a DVA for each single degree of freedom of the carbody. Hence, a 12-DOF model including the main vibration system and a MDOF DVA is established, and the principle of Multi-DOF dynamic vibration absorption is analyzed by combining the design method of single DVA and genetic algorithm. Based on a high-speed train dynamics model including an under-carbody MDOF DVA, the vibration control effect on each DOF of the MDOF DVA is analyzed by the virtual excitation method. Moreover, a high static and low dynamic stiffness (HSLDS) mount is proposed based on a cam–roller–spring mechanism for the installation of the MDOF DVA due to the requirement of the low vertical dynamic stiffness. From the dynamic simulation of a non-linear model in time-domain, the vibration control performance of the MDOF DVA installed with nonlinear HSLDS mount on the carbody is analyzed. The results show that the MDOF DVA can absorb the vibration of the carbody in multiple degrees of freedom effectively, and improve the running ride quality of the vehicle.
Synergistic Photocatalytic-adsorption Removal of Basic Magenta Effect of AgZnO/polyoxometalates Nanocomposite
Authors: Tian Heyun , Luo Jie , Zhang Ke , Ma Chenguang , Qi Yiyi , Zhan Shixia , Liu HongLing , Li Mingxue
Published: May 2021

The bifunctional photocatalytic-adsorbent AgZnO/polyoxometalates (AgZnO/POMs) nanocomposites were synthesized by combining AgZnO hybrid nanoparticles and polyoxometalates [Cu(L)2(H2O)]H2[Cu(L)2(P2Mo5O23)]×4H2O (HL = C6H6N2O) into nanostructures via a sonochemical method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated that AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites were uniform with narrow particle size distribution and without agglomeration. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis confirmed the nanostructure and composition of AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites. The ultraviolet-visible spectra (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectra (PL) confirmed excellent optical properties of the AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites. 94.0% of basic magenta (BM) in aqueous solution could be removed using the AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites through adsorption and photocatalysis. The kinetic analysis showed that both the adsorption and photocatalysis process conform to pseudo-second-order kinetics. In addition, the removal efficiency of AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites was found to be almost unchanged after 5 cycles of use. The bifunctional photocatalytic-adsorbent AgZnO/POMs nanocomposites with high stability and cycling performance have broad application prospects in the treatment of refractory organic dye wastewater containing triphenylmethane.
Evaluation of the Optic Nerve Head Using Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
Authors: Zirtiloglu Sibel , Alikma Mustafa Suat , Acar Ozge Pinar Akarsu , Guven Fatih , Icacan Ozan Cemal , Yigit Fadime Ulviye
Published: May 2021

Introduction This study aims to quantify retinal microvascular vessel density using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) in patients with systemic sclerosis (SS), whether there is a difference in values ​​with the controls and to correlate it with the disease activity, damage risk and drug usage. Material- method SSc patients were enrolled, and age- and gender-matched controls underwent OCTA, after basic ophthalmological and rheumatological examinations in this cross-sectional, prospective study. Results 61 eyes of 61 consecutive SSc patients with a median age 52 years were investigeted. There was no statistically significant difference between patients and control groups regarding RNFL and OCTA measurements. As the ANA titer increases (RNFLs (p=0.01, r=-0.327), RPCwhole (p= 0.029, r= 0.279), RPCperipapiller (p=0.037, r=-0.267), RPC superior (p= 0.003, r=-0.371), RPCinferior (p=0.02, r=0.297)); there was a statistically significant decrease. RPC inside values were found to be lower in Anti Scl 70 positive patients compared to negative ones (p=0.021). RNFLn (p = 0.03), r =-0.278) value decreased as the years of disease increased. RPCinside value was found to be higher in patients using hydroxychloroquine and calcium channel blocker than those who did not use hydroxychloroquine respectively (p=0.021, p=0.027). RPC whole, RPC peripapillary, RPCnasal values were found to be statistically significantly higher in corticosteroid users than those who did not, respectivly (p = 0.043; 0.030; 0.033) Conclusion OCTA is a safe, fast non-invasive examination and can be used to investigate subclinical eye involvement in rheumatologic diseases using single scan.
Crystallite fusion in nanocellulose aggregates
Authors: Daicho Kazuho , Kobayashi Kayoko , Fujisawa Shuji , Saito Tsuguyuki
Published: May 2021

Crystallite refers to a single crystalline grain in crystal aggregates, and multiple crystallites form a grain boundary or the inter-crystallite interface. A grain boundary is a structural defect that hinders the efficient directional transfer of mechanical stress or thermal phonons in crystal aggregates. We observed that grain boundaries within an aggregate of a-few-nanometers-wide fibrillar crystallites of cellulose were crystallized by enhancing their inter-crystallite interactions; multiple crystallites were coupled into single fusion crystals without passing through a melting or dissolving state. Accordingly, the crystallinity of naturally occurring cellulose, which has previously been considered irreversible once decreased, was recovered, and the thermal energy transfer in the aggregate was significantly improved. Other fibrillar crystallites of chitin also showed a similar fusion phenomenon by enhancing the inter-crystallite interactions. Crystallite fusion in aggregates may occur for other biopolymers.