bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cerebrovascular Disease and Associations with ATN Biomarkers and Cognition in Young Onset Dementia
Authors: Yatawara Chathuri , Ng Kok Pin , Guevarra Anne Cristine , Wong Benjamin , Yong TingTing , Kandiah Nagaendran
Published: December 2019

Background: Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) frequently coexist however the mechanism by which they collectively affect cognition remains unclear, particularly in young onset dementia (YOD). We investigated associations between CVD and AD biomarkers, namely amyloid, tau and neurodegeneration (ATN) in YOD, and explored how CVD and ATN interact to affect cognition.Methods: 80 YOD individuals with mild dementia, mean age 57.73 (SD = 6.01) years were recruited from a memory clinic. MRI visual ratings were used to operationalize CVD burden (CVD+) as a score >1 on the Staals CVD scale. ATN biomarkers were measured using cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and cognition was measured using neuropsychological assessments.Results: CVD+ individuals had lower CSF Aβ1-42 compared to CVD- (t[78] = -1.97, p = .05), while demographics, cognition, cardiovascular risk factors, brain volumes and tau were consistent across the groups. CVD+ was associated with lower CSF Aβ1-42 (B = -.20, 95%CI: -.32 to -.08) and greater neurodegeneration, indexed as lower grey matter (B = -.15, 95%CI: -.28 to .02) and hippocampal volume (B = -.24, 95%CI: -.40 to -.04). CVD+ was not associated with p-tau or t-tau. Cognitive impairment was associated with CSF Aβ1-42 (B = -.35, 95%CI: -.55 to -.18) but not CVD. Rather, CVD was indirectly associated with cognition via reduced CSF Aβ1-42, specifically with global cognition (B = -.03, 95%CI: -.09 to -.01) and memory (B = .08, 95%CI: -.09 to -.01). CVD was further indirectly associated with cognition via increased neurodegeneration in total grey matter (Global cognition: B = -.06, 95%CI: -.09 to -.03; Memory: B = .05, 95%CI: .01 to .18) and the hippocampus (Global cognition: B = -.05, 95%CI: -.11 to -.01; Memory: B = .06, 95%CI: .01 to .17). CVD was not found to moderate the strength or direction of the relationship between ATN and cognition. Conclusion: In YOD, CVD burden is linked to upstream AD mechanisms, such as CSF Aβ1-42, as well as downstream neurodegeneration. CVD indirectly contributes to cognitive impairment via these AD mechanisms. Clinical implications support the aggressive management of CVD to delay AD in young adults.
Data Measuring System for Torque Measurement on Running Shafts Based on a Non-Contact Torsional Dynamometer
Authors: Vanyeyev S. M. , Miroshnichenko D. V. , Rodymchenko T. S. , Protsenko M. , Smolenko D. V.
Published: December 2019

The need for power measurement transmitted by the running shaft has led to the need for using devices for measuring torque on the shaft. Of particular importance is the power measurement on high-speed machines, wherein some cases conventional measurement systems are either unsuitable or have low accuracy. Currently, data measuring systems are widely used in the researches of turbomachines. They allow to receive, process, transmit, store and display measurement data. Their application is relevant in relation to the priority of experimental study and subsequent modeling of characteristics and performance factors of expansion machines. The purpose of this research is a design and generation of the data measuring system for measuring torque on the running shaft of vortex expansion machines using a non-contact torsional dynamometer (strain-gauge clutch). The research has considered the results of the development of data measuring system, performed a theoretical analysis and presented the results of the practical application of the non-contact strain-gauge dynamometer designed for torque measurement on the shaft of low-power expansion machines when operating under bench test conditions. Has dealt with the problems of development, calibration.

Keywords: data measuring system, torque, coupling, resistive-strain sensor, vortex expansion machine.
Application of Reinforcing Thermocycling Treatment for Materials of Stamps Hot Deformation
Authors: Berladir K. , Hovorun T. , Bondarenko M. , Vorobiov S.
Published: December 2019

The paper is devoted to the search for technological methods of increasing the resistance of the stamp tool for hot deformation. New non-standard combinations of cyclization schemes and parameters of thermocycling processing within the regime were developed. This is allowed the creation of managed structural states in the metal due to the grinding of grain, the creation of high density of defects, and the acceleration of diffusion processes to effectively manage the structure, increase the mechanical, operational properties and prevent the destruction of the working surfaces of the tool. New modes of thermocycling treatment, which have a positive effect on the mechanical characteristics of HNM5 steel, have been developed and tested. The conducted heat treatment in experimental modes, consisting of thermocycling treatment as a preliminary, quenching and tempering as the final, allows obtaining a more homogeneous structure with the preservation of fine grain and a given hardness. The grain size of the steel HNM5 structure after the use of thermocycling treatment decreases from 5–6 to 7–8 points, and after the final heat treatment – to 9–10 points.

Keywords: stamp of hot deformation, thermocycling treatment, strength, relative narrowing, thermal resistance.
Numerical Experiment for the Calculation of Normal Contact Stress in the Deformation Center when Rolling a Metal Strip
Authors: Yavtushenko A. V. , Protsenko V. M. , Bondarenko Y. V. , Kirichenko A. G. , Ping F. Y.
Published: December 2019

The possibility of application of the program complex called Mathcad Prime 5 for calculation of normal contact stresses in the center of deformation during cold rolling of the strips is considered. The algorithm, the block-scheme and the computer program of calculation of the normal contact stresses during rolling of the strips on the reverse mill 1680 PJSC “Zaporizhstal” are developed. The epures were constructed and a comparative analysis of the formulas used to calculate the normal contact stresses in the deformation center was carried out. Received calculation data in Mathcad Prime 5 coincides with the literary data, which has practical value for both educational process and research and design work. Based on the analysis of the contact stress epures, it can be concluded that the most accurate calculation of the total metal pressure on the rolls during cold rolling is possible only when the formulas used to consider the change in the forced yield strength in the deformation center by the law of a straight line or the parabolic law.
Keywords: CAD, CAE, block-crankcase, 3D model, casting defect.
Airplane Waste Disposal System Tank Designing Using Numerical Simulation and Experimental Bench Results
Authors: Medvediev S. V. , Lantin D. H.
Published: December 2019

Modern passenger aircraft cannot be considered without the requirements to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers on board. One of the systems that provide the necessary comfort on the plane is the waste disposal system, which is designed to meet the physiological needs of the human body. Today, a promising waste disposal system type is a vacuum principle of operation. The vacuum-type waste disposal system is a combination of complex multifunctional subsystems: waste collection, waste storage, vacuumization, drain and flush, system control. Such systems development, consisting of devices, based on heterogeneous physical principles of operation, is a complex scientific and technical problem associated with the conduct of diverse applied research in the field of design, development and targeted use of the system. One main system elements is a waste storage tank. An important step in the tank design is to determine its weight and size characteristics in the early stages of development. These characteristics are significantly influenced by the tank filling process, which also determines the placement of equipment in it. The aim of the work presented in the article is to study the tank filling process with the help of numerical simulation methods.
Keywords: vacuum, waste tank, design, experimental bench.
Design Optimization and Simulation Analysis of Formula SAE Frame Using Chromoly Steel
Authors: Kumar M. D. , Teja P. S., , Krishna R. , Sreenivasan M.
Published: December 2019

Compliance with the rules and regulations of competition “Student Formula Car Racing” that conducted annually by the ‘Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE) India, the car frame must be designed and built with supreme priority. The major task posed is to design and fabricate a light weighed vehicle chassis frame without compensating the safety. This paper boards various methods of material selection, technical design optimization and Finite Element Analysis using ANSYS. The basic design is based on the anthropological study data of the specified human (95th percentile male) al-lowing fast ‘way-in’ and ‘way-out’ access from the car. According to the rules book specification on material selection, AISI 4130 chromoly steel was the first time identified for the frame design. Resulting in the final design of the vehicle frame, various analyses were done using ANSYS and the successive results are plotted and discussed. The entire design optimization and simulation analysis are based on the 2019 Formula SAE rules book.

Keywords: finite element analysis, AISI 4130 chromoly steel, frame construction, Society of Automotive Engineers.
Ploidy Level in American Persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) Cultivars
Authors: Pomper Kirk W. , Lowe Jeremiah D. , Crabtree Sheri B. , Vincent Jacob , Berry Andrew , England Clifford , Raemakers Krit
Published: December 2019

The American persimmon (Diospyros virginiana) is a slow-growing, moderately sized tree fruit native to the forests of Kentucky. This tree fruit is in the early stages of commercial production with many cultivars selected from the wild. Small orchards of commercially available cultivars are planted in Kentucky. Persimmons are normally dioecious, and female trees require cross-pollination to produce fruit. There are two races of persimmon: the tetraploid (60-chromosome) race is centered in the southern Appalachian region, while the hexaploid (90-chromosome) race generally occupies a range north and west of the tetraploid range. These ranges overlap in Kentucky. Because the ranges overlap, cross-pollination may cause sexual incompatibility, resulting in pollination without fertilization, and therefore seedless fruits of poor quality. The objective of this study was to assess the ploidy level of commercially available American persimmon cultivars and native Kentucky persimmon populations. Leaf samples were collected from 45 cultivars and advanced selections, as well as 45 trees from native populations in Bullitt, Barren, and Franklin Counties. Flow cytometer analysis showed that only four of the selected cultivars were from the tetraploid race: Ennis Seedless, Weeping, Sugar Bear, and SFES; the remaining cultivars were from the hexaploid race. Both hexaploid and tetraploid American persimmon trees were identified in the populations sampled in the Bullitt County locations, but only tetraploid races were found in Franklin and Barren Counties. Because pollen from native trees could result in seedless fruit formation of poor quality when native seedlings are used as pollinizers in commercial production of American persimmon, ploidy level of seedlings needs to be considered.
The Correlation between Cellular Features and Gene Expression in ‘Korla’ Fragrant Pear
Authors: Li Wen-hui , Feng Jian-rong , Zhang Shi-kui , Tang Zhang-hu
Published: December 2019

‘Korla’ fragrant pear (Pyrus sinkiangensis T.T. Yu) variety has shown severe coarse skin in recent years. The intrinsic quality of its coarse fruit shows an increase in the number of stone cells and poor taste. In this study, stone cells and the cell wall of coarse pear (CP) and normal pear (NP) during various development stages were compared using paraffin-sectioning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and the relationships between lignin-related genes and stone cell formation and cell wall thickening were also analyzed. Our results show that giant stone cells are formed and distributed in the core of pear, whereas many of these crack 60 days after flowering (DAF). The period of stone cell fragmentation occurs later in CP fruits than in NP fruits. Parenchyma cell wall development in CP and NP fruits varies from 120 DAF to maturity. The parenchyma cell wall of CP fruits thickens, whereas that of NP fruits is thinner during the same period. The expression pattern of five genes (Pp4CL1-l, PpHCT-l, Pp4CL2-l, PpPOD4, and PpPOD25) coincides with changes in stone cell content in the pulp. Correlation analysis demonstrates a significant correlation between stone cell content and the expression level of the five genes (ρ < 0.05). In addition, the expression of those five genes and PpCCR1 genes in CP fruits significantly increases during maturation and is highly correlated with the thickness of the parenchyma cell wall. The aim of this work is to provide insights into the mechanism of stone cell and parenchyma cell wall development in pear fruits and identify important candidate genes to regulate the quality of fruit texture using bioengineering methods.
MULTI-DOMAIN NEYMAN-TCHUPROV OPTIMAL ALLOCATION
Authors: Wesołowski Jacek
Published: December 2019

The eigenproblem solution of the multi-domain efficient allocation is identified as a direct generalization of the classical Neyman-Tchuprov optimal allocation in stratified SRSWOR. This is achieved through analysis of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of a suitable population-based matrix D. Such a solution is an analytical companion to NLP approaches, which are often used in applications, see, e.g. Choudhry, Rao and Hidiroglou (2012). In this paper we are interested rather in the structure of the optimal allocation vector and relative variance than in such purely numerical tools (although the eigenproblem solution provides also numerical solutions, see, e.g. Wesołowski and Wieczorkowski (2017)). The domain-wise optimal allocation and the respective optimal variance of the estimator are determined by the unique direction (defined in terms of the positive eigenvector of matrix D) in the space ℝ
I
, where I is the number of domains in the population.
ESTIMATING POPULATION COEFFICIENT OF VARIATION USING A SINGLE AUXILIARY VARIABLE IN SIMPLE RANDOM SAMPLING
Authors: Singh Rajesh , Mishra Madhulika
Published: December 2019

This paper proposes an improved estimation method for the population coefficient of variation, which uses information on a single auxiliary variable. The authors derived the expressions for the mean squared error of the proposed estimators up to the first order of approximation. It was demonstrated that the estimators proposed by the authors are more efficient than the existing ones. The results of the study were validated by both empirical and simulation studies.
Entrepreneurial universities: literature review
Authors: Salun Maryna , Zaslavska Kateryna , Zmicerevska Diana
Published: December 2019

The article is devoted to the generalization and development of the terminology that is used to describe the essence and content of the concept “entrepreneurial university”. The results of the literature review allow us to present the concept “entrepreneurial university” in the form of a system of interrelated economic terms. Based on the analysis of search queries, using the databases of Scopus and Google Scholar, the publications that reveal the content of the concept “entrepreneurial university” were selected; the features and key characteristics of the definition of this concept by various authors were defined; the authors’ interpretation has been provided. The analysis of research in the field of university entrepreneurship, which currently covers 314 articles published in various scientific journals, allows us to inductively describe the dynamic process of university entrepreneurship based on the literature synthesis. The presented definition of “entrepreneurial university” concept is based on an analysis of the evolution of ideas about the subject of the entrepreneurship theory and modern scientific management approaches and allows establishing the semantic network that reflects the inner content of the concept “entrepreneurial university”.
Financial literacy in Ukraine: from micro to macro level
Authors: Dudchyk Oksana , Matvijchuk Iryna , Kovinia Mariia , Salnykova Tetiana , Tubolets Iryna
Published: December 2019

Low financial literacy of population hinders the financial market development, limits the possibilities of using the savings for investing and creating the additional capital in the country. At the state level it results in inflation, the budget deficit creation, a decrease in country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves, an increase in internal and external government debt. The article analyzes the approaches to understanding the concept of financial literacy, tools for its measuring and comparing at micro and macro levels, dynamics of savings and gold and foreign currency reserves, peculiarities of financial literacy through the analysis of dynamics and structure of revenues and expenditures of the government budget and the population of Ukraine. Factors influencing the financial literacy of the population have been systematized. The findings give an idea of creating the optimal managerial influence based on the estimation of financial literacy of the Ukrainian population with the help of specific statistical indicators to expand the possibilities of such influence and to regulate the economic processes to achieve the financial stability of the state and the population. The study showed low financial literacy at both population and state levels. However, at the micro level, creating the credit relations, as well as income, expenses, and savings is more effective than at the macro level.
Keterlibatan Perempuan dalam Aksi Terorisme di Indonesia
Authors: Qori’ah Sityi Maesarotul
Published: December 2019

The bomb blast in Surabaya which was an act of terrorism carried out by one family showed that women were actively involved in acts of terrorism. In the early days of the emergence of terrorism, women only acted as inter­mediaries, managing data through the internet network, fund collectors and driving "jihad" the husband who in fact was a terrorist. Based on this phenomenon, this paper wants to question what lies behind women's involvement in acts of terrorism? The literature review is used as a method to collect data related to women's involvement in acts of terrorism. This article will describe how women are involved in acts of terrorism. One of the successes of radicalism propaganda is actively involving women in acts of terrorism. Women as active actors in acts of terror will quickly be recognized if they show courage in jihad at the expense of their physical lives. His courage to become a 'martyr of the religion of God' was suspected to indicate the importance of a woman's piety.
Islamic Psychotherapy for Children and Adolescents
Authors: Alfarisi Muhamad Afifudin
Published: December 2019

The two great paradigms typically seen as two opposing are Islam and Psychology, which accumulate the cultural paradigm associated with mental health. Depending on the history, personality inside Islam and psychopathology has been present for centuries. Nowadays, Indonesia well-known as a great Muslim population, which means, the need for mental health service among Muslim society is para­mount. Arising awareness of mental health issues and services has increased in the use of mental health services. Therefore, it is substantial that the psychological society at richly understand how Islamic principles can be integrated into psychotherapy. This observation tries to outlining strategies to incorporate the Islamic values into psycho­therapy with adults, which the research concerning utilizing Islamic psychology principles with children and adolescents not properly utilizing.
Pembelajaran Matematika dengan Pendekatan Self-Regulated Learning untuk Membangun Kemandirian Belajar Siswa
Authors: Putra Dewa Putu Wiadnyana
Published: December 2019

Pendidikan karakter bagi siswa merupakan salah satu fokus utama dalam pegembangan kurikulum 2013. Kemandirian belajar merupakan salah satu karakter yang sangat penting untuk dibangun dalam diri siswa. Salah satu upaya sekolah dalam membangun kemandirian belajar siswa, yaitu dengan pembuatan tata tertib kelas dan sekolah yang harus ditaati oleh siswa. Selain itu, upaya pembangunan sikap mandiri pada siswa juga terintegrasi dalam kegiatan pembelajaran. Upaya-upaya tersebut belum begitu optimal untuk membangun kemandirian belajar siswa. Peneliti mengidentifikasi dorongan-dorongan eksternal tidak cukup optimal dalam membangun kemandirian belajar siswa. Dorngan internal sangat diperlukan untuk mendukung dorongan eksternal dalam membanngun kemandirian belajar. Pada artikel ini akan dibahas desain pembelajaran matematika dengan pendekatan Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) untuk membangun kemandirian belajar siswa. Pada tahap awal, siswa diajak untuk membuat perencanaan,target dan identifikasi kesulitan dalam pembelajaran. Identifikasi hal-hal tersebut melahirkan konsep diri siswa yang ditindaklanjuti dengan pembuatan aturan diri pada setiap siswa. Aturan-aturan diri siswa kemudian diintegrasikan dalam kegiatan pembelajaran pada topik Relasi dan Fungsi. Penguatan integrasi topik pembelajaran dengan sikap kemandirian dirancang semakin eksplisit. Hasil pengembangan desain pembelajaran meliputi RPP dan LKPD dan lebar Refleksi. Aturan diri yang dibuat masing-masing siswa dapat membangun kemandirian siswa dalam belajar pada aspek inisiatif belajar, kemampuan diagonosis kebutuhan belajar dan pembangunan konsep diri.
Practical Application of Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource Management of Oil and Gas Companies
Authors: Sheveleva Anastasiya , Shevelev Vladimir
Published: December 2019

The relevance of the study is determined by the need for digital transformation of oil and gas companies, which is a key success factor in the current economic and geopolitical situation. The desire of oil and gas companies to increase the economic and operational efficiency of their activities makes it appropriate to introduce digital solutions, in particular artificial intelligence technologies. In this regard, the research objective was to study issues related to the use of modern information and communication technologies, in particular, artificial intelligence technologies in the Human Resourse (HR) management of oil and gas companies. The authors used systematic approach, which allowed them to fully review and consolidate such diverse elements as artificial intelligence technologies, oil and gas companies, and HR management. The article reveals the concept of artificial intelligence, identifies its advantages and disadvantages, and shows the main directions of its application in HR management. It also focuses on the main solutions for the largest software development companies with elements of artificial intelligence and gives practical examples of their current use by various companies. The research proved that artificial intelligence technologies, despite their shortcomings, generally have a positive impact on the functioning of the HR management system of oil and gas companies and increase its effectiveness. The materials can help oil and gas companies to improve their HR management system.
Scutellaria barbata: A Review on Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Applications
Authors: Chen Qiong , Rahman Khalid , Wang Su-Juan , Zhou Shuang , Zhang Hong
Published: December 2019

Scutellaria barbata has a long history of medical use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for removing
heat and toxic material, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and inducing diuresis to reduce
edema. Recent pharmacology investigations have provided evidence for its anti-cancer, bacteriostasis, anti-virus,
anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and immunity enhancement properties. The efficacy of activating blood circulation
and removing blood stasis has unique advantages in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
diseases. A total of 84 compounds have been isolated from S. barbata and are characterized mainly as flavonoids,
diterpenoids, followed by polysaccharide, volatile oil and steroids. Peer-reviewed articles published over the last
few years were gathered by consulting the databases PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, and Chinese Herbal Classics.
This review mainly focuses on the pharmacologically active constituents isolated from S. barbata，which have
been subjected to in vitro and/or in vivo studies. Although, the chemical components, pharmacological activities,
toxicology, clinical applications and mechanisms of action of S. barbata have been investigated, many constituents
remain unknown. Further investigations are required to investigate the medicinal properties of S. barbata.
Activation of Melanocortin-4 Receptor by a Synthetic Agonist Inhibits Ethanolinduced Neuroinflammation in Rats
Authors: Flores-Bastías Osvaldo , Gómez Gonzalo I. , Orellana Juan A. , Karahanian Eduardo
Published: December 2019

Background:

High ethanol intake induces a neuroinflammatory response resulting in the subsequent
maintenance of chronic alcohol consumption. The melanocortin system plays a pivotal role in the modulation of
alcohol consumption. Interestingly, it has been shown that the activation of melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) in
the brain decreases the neuroinflammatory response in models of brain damage other than alcohol consumption,
such as LPS-induced neuroinflammation, cerebral ischemia, glutamate excitotoxicity, and spinal cord injury.

Objectives:

In this work, we aimed to study whether MC4R activation by a synthetic MC4R-agonist peptide
prevents ethanol-induced neuroinflammation, and if alcohol consumption produces changes in MC4R expression
in the hippocampus and hypothalamus.

Methods:

Ethanol-preferring Sprague Dawley rats were selected offering access to 20% ethanol on alternate days
for 4 weeks (intermittent access protocol). After this time, animals were i.p. administered an MC4R agonist peptide
in the last 2 days of the protocol. Then, the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 6 (IL-6),
interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were measured in the hippocampus, hypothalamus
and prefrontal cortex. It was also evaluated if ethanol intake produces alterations in the expression of
MC4R in the hippocampus and the hypothalamus.

Results:

Alcohol consumption increased the expression of MC4R in the hippocampus and the hypothalamus. The
administration of the MC4R agonist reduced IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α levels in hippocampus, hypothalamus and
prefrontal cortex, to those observed in control rats that did not drink alcohol.

Conclusion:

High ethanol consumption produces an increase in the expression of MC4R in the hippocampus and
hypothalamus. The administration of a synthetic MC4R-agonist peptide prevents neuroinflammation induced by
alcohol consumption in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and prefrontal cortex. These results could explain the
effect of α-MSH and other synthetic MC4R agonists in decreasing alcohol intake through the reduction of the
ethanol-induced inflammatory response in the brain.
Development of New IDO Inhibitors with Coumarin Pyrimidine Scaffolds as the Potential Anti Cancer Agents
Authors: Chelamalla Radhika , Makula Ajitha
Published: December 2019

Background:

Progress in the developments of pyrimidine-coumarin moiety as an IDO inhibitor
is still continuing with an outcome of the good scaffold as pyrimidine as well as coumarin individually
for anticancer activity. Hence we proposed a suitable approach for the synthesis of pyrimidinecoumarin
moieties in a combined form from the results of docking studies.

Objective:

As part of our ongoing research towards the development of novel cytotoxic agents, the synthesis
and cytotoxic activity of a series of N'-(1-(6-methyl-2-oxo/thioxo-4-sub phenyl-1,2,3,4-
tetrahydropyrimidin-5-yl)vinyl)-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide derivatives are discussed in this
study.

Methods:

N'-(1-(6-methyl-2-oxo/thioxo-4-sub phenyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidin-5-yl)vinyl)-2-oxo-
2H-chromene-3-carbohydrazide derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxic
activity. The structures were confirmed by IR, 1H NMR, C13NMR, Mass spectroscopy. All the synthesized
compounds were evaluated using in vitro MTT assay against HeLa and HepG2 cell lines.

Results:

Compound 6g showed inhibitory activity against IDO with IC50 values at nanomolar range in
docking studies and compounds 6g and 6f also showed significant cytotoxic activity on human cancer
cell lines like HepG2 and HeLa using in vitro MTT assay.

Conclusion:

This work showed that the coumarin containing pyrimidine derivatives are found to be the
most potent against IDO through docking studies and cytotoxic against cell lines compared with cisplatin.
This might give the information for the development of new series of compounds against IDO.
The Relationship Between Patterns of Alcohol Use and Knowledge of Alcohol-Attributable Health Conditions: A Survey Among Students at a South African University
Authors: Mandeya Andrew , Ter Goon Daniel
Published: December 2019

Background:

While many studies exist on the prevalence of alcohol use among South African university students, such information is scant for universities in the Eastern Cape Province. This study examines the prevalence of alcohol use among students at one university in the Eastern Cape, the relationship between such use and the knowledge of alcohol-attributable health conditions and biographical characteristics.

Methods:

The cross-sectional study involved 213 students enrolled in a statistics service course. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on various biographical characteristics, alcohol use and health knowledge. The English version of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire was used to measure alcohol use. The Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to compare health knowledge across levels of alcohol use and biographical variables. Multiple logistic regression was applied to determine patterns of association between alcohol use and health knowledge, and biographical variables.

Results:

The prevalence rates of alcohol use and risky alcohol use were 58.2% and 42.7%, respectively. Health knowledge was generally low and significantly higher among alcohol users (Z=-2.7; p=0.0074) and those whose fathers had a post-matric education X2=6.4; p=0.0410) and/or employment (Z=-2.7; p=0.0064). Males, returning students and those with employed fathers were found to have a higher chance of alcohol use.

Conclusion:

Alcohol use among students was high and knowledge of alcohol-attributable diseases was low. These results suggest a need for health promotion interventions for the general student population and/or risk reduction interventions for risky alcohol users.
Factors Affecting the Family Physicians' Intention to Leave the Job: A Case of Iran
Authors: Rezaee Rita , Shoaahaghighi Pegah , Bordbar Najmeh , Tavani Karam , Ravangard Ramin
Published: December 2019

Background:

Family physician program is a complete health-care system, and its human resources are the most important resources like any other healthcare program. Organizational Commitment (OC) and Quality of Work-Life (QWL) are important factors in attracting and retaining employees.

Objective:

To investigate the association of OC and QWL with the intention to leave the job by family physicians in Shiraz, Iran in 2017.

Methods:

This was a descriptive analytical study conducted on a sample of 268 family physicians in 2017. For data collection, Porter's organizational commitment, Walton's Quality of Work Life, and Cammann's intention to leave the job questionnaires were used. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0.

Results:

The results showed that the levels of OC, QWL, and the intention to leave the job were moderate among the studied family physicians. In addition, the results showed that QWL and OC had negative and significant associations with the intention to leave the job (p-value<0.001), and the QWL had a greater association (Beta=-0.348).

Conclusion:

It is suggested that more attention should be paid to the family physicians at the Ministry of Health and the provincial level to improve the QWL and OC of the family physicians, and thereby preventing the physicians from leaving their job from the family physician program.
Infrared patch-image model based on non-convex weighted nuclear norm minimization
Authors: Rawat Sur Singh , Verma Sashi Kant , Kumar Yatindra
Published: December 2019

Background:

The existing methods based on infrared patch image (IPI) model for small target detection does suffer from l1 norm sparsity problem where the non-target elements in the background image may sometimes be considered as the target element. Hence using l1 norm may lead to degrade the detection ability of small and dim target in a noisy environment. So a robust method needs to be developed to tackle the above-said problem.

Method:

In this paper, the Infrared patch model based on non-convex weighted nuclear norm minimization and Robust principal component analysis (IPNCWNNM-RPCA) is presented. Here we improve the existing IPI model by replacing the nuclear norm by weighted nuclear norm, where unlike in nuclear norm minimization we assign different weights to singular values. The proposed method is further solved by the alternating direction method of the multiplier (ADMM).

Results:

To validate the robustness of the proposed method extensive experiments on the large dataset is performed and the results indicate that the proposed method has responded shown good result against the other state-of-the-art methods.

Conclusion:

This paper presents a robust method in the name of infrared patch image model based on non-convex weighted nuclear norm minimization which improves the existing IPI based method for infrared dim and small target. The proposed method not only suppress the noise background nicely but also detect the target correctly.
Using Crowdsourcing to Develop a Peer-Led Intervention for Safer Dating App Use: Pilot Study
Authors: Wong William Chi Wai , Song Lin , See Christopher , Lau Stephanie Tze Hei , Sun Wai Han , Choi Kitty Wai Ying , Tucker Joseph
Published: December 2019

Background

Smartphone-based dating apps are rapidly transforming how people seek potential sexual and romantic partners. However, they can also increase the risk of unsafe sexual behaviors, harassment, and infringement of personal privacy. Current research on interventions for safer dating app use remains insufficient.

Objective

The goal of this study was to describe the development of an intervention for safer dating app usage using crowdsourcing and peer-led approaches.

Methods

This paper describes the development of an intervention program designed to promote safer dating app use among college students. Crowdsourcing and peer-led approaches were adopted during key stages of the development process. Focus group discussions were held to assess the experience and needs of dating app users. A crowdsourcing contest then solicited ideas for performance objectives for the intervention. These objectives were grouped to further identify practical strategies. A one-day intensive workshop was subsequently held with peer mentors to brainstorm ideas for the production of creative interventional materials. The intervention programs were produced and tested in a pilot study. The app’s effectiveness will be evaluated in a cluster randomized controlled trial.

Results

The intervention program consists of a risk assessment tool, a first-person scenario game, and four short videos. The risk assessment tool, comprised of 14 questions, will give the participant a score to determine their level of risk of adverse events when using dating apps. The scenario game is a first-person simulation game where the players are presented with choices when faced with different scenarios. The short videos each last 2-4 minutes, with points of discussion aimed at addressing the risks of using dating apps. The programs were piloted and were found to be relatable and helpful when further modifications were made.

Conclusions

Potential challenges identified during the development process included data management and analysis, sustaining peer mentors’ interests and participation, and balancing between providing more information and perpetuating social stigma around dating app use. By integrating new approaches, such as crowdsourcing and the peer-led approach, in developing an intervention for safer dating app use, our development process provides a viable model for developing future interventions to address the risks associated with dating app use.
Long-Term Weight Management Using Wearable Technology in Overweight and Obese Adults: Systematic Review
Authors: Fawcett Emily , Van Velthoven Michelle Helena , Meinert Edward
Published: December 2019

Background

Although there are many wearable devices available to help people lose weight and decrease the rising prevalence of obesity, the effectiveness of these devices in long-term weight management has not been established.

Objective

This study aimed to systematically review the literature on using wearable technology for long-term weight loss in overweight and obese adults.

Methods

We searched the following databases: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, EMBASE, Compendex, ScienceDirect, Cochrane Central, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria were studies that took measurements for a period of ≥1 year (long-term) and had adult participants with a BMI >24. A total of 2 reviewers screened titles and abstracts and assessed the selected full-text papers for eligibility. The risk of bias assessment was performed using the following tools appropriate for different study types: the Cochrane risk of bias tool, Risk Of Bias In Nonrandomized Studies-of Interventions, A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews, and 6 questions to trigger critical thinking. The results of the studies have been provided in a narrative summary.

Results

We included five intervention studies: four randomized controlled trials and one nonrandomized study. In addition, we used insights from six systematic reviews, four commentary papers, and a dissertation. The interventions delivered by wearable devices did not show a benefit over comparator interventions, but overweight and obese participants still lost weight over time. The included intervention studies were likely to suffer from bias. Significant variances in objectives, methods, and results of included studies prevented meta-analysis.

Conclusions

This review showed some evidence that wearable devices can improve long-term physical activity and weight loss outcomes, but there was not enough evidence to show a benefit over the comparator methods. A major issue is the challenge of separating the effect of decreasing use of wearable devices over time from the effect of the wearable devices on the outcomes. Consistency in study methods is needed in future long-term studies on the use of wearable devices for weight loss.

Trial Registration

PROSPERO CRD42018096932; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=96932
Translation of the Chinese Version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire and Its Validation Among College Students: Factor Analysis
Authors: Gao Ye , Dai Hongliang , Jia Guizhi , Liang Chunguang , Tong Tong , Zhang Zhiyu , Song Ruobing , Wang Qing , Zhu Yue
Published: December 2019

Background

Nomophobia or phobia of no mobile phone is the fear of being without a mobile phone or being unable to contact others via a mobile phone. It is a newly emerging psychiatric disorder among mobile phone users.

Objective

There are no psychometric scales available in China for examining nomophobia, although China has become the largest mobile phone handset consumer market in the world. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the original English version of a psychometric scale into Chinese and further examine its reliability and validity among Chinese college students.

Methods

The original version of the Nomophobia Questionnaire (NMP-Q) was first translated into Chinese using the backward and forward translation procedure. An exploratory factor analysis (a principal component analysis plus varimax rotation) and a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to examine the underlying factor structure of the translated questionnaire. The internal consistency reliability of the scale was determined by computing the Cronbach alpha coefficient, the test-retest reliability, and the corrected item-total correlation. A multivariate regression analysis was used for examining associations between nomophobia and independent variables among the college students.

Results

A total of 2000 participants were included in the study. Their ages ranged from 16 to 25 years, with 51.95% (1039/2000) being male participants. The Chinese version of NMP-Q retained 18 items. The eigenvalues, total variance explained, and scree plot jointly support a 4-factor structure of the translated questionnaire. The CFA reached the adaptive standard, and the discriminant validity of the scale was good. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of this scale was .925, and the Cronbach alpha coefficients of the subscales were .882, .843, .895, and .818. The test-retest reliability was 0.947. Corrected item-total correlation ranged from 0.539 to 0.663. The significant predictors for each of the dimensions of nomophobia and total score of the questionnaire were the average number of hours spent on a mobile phone daily and gender.

Conclusions

The Chinese version of the NMP-Q exhibited satisfactory psychometric properties.
Simulator Pre-Screening of Underprepared Drivers Prior to Licensing On-Road Examination: Clustering of Virtual Driving Test Time Series Data
Authors: Grethlein David , Winston Flaura Koplin , Walshe Elizabeth , Tanner Sean , Kandadai Venk , Ontañón Santiago
Published: December 2019

Background

A large Midwestern state commissioned a virtual driving test (VDT) to assess driving skills preparedness before the on-road examination (ORE). Since July 2017, a pilot deployment of the VDT in state licensing centers (VDT pilot) has collected both VDT and ORE data from new license applicants with the aim of creating a scoring algorithm that could predict those who were underprepared.

Objective

Leveraging data collected from the VDT pilot, this study aimed to develop and conduct an initial evaluation of a novel machine learning (ML)–based classifier using limited domain knowledge and minimal feature engineering to reliably predict applicant pass/fail on the ORE. Such methods, if proven useful, could be applicable to the classification of other time series data collected within medical and other settings.

Methods

We analyzed an initial dataset that comprised 4308 drivers who completed both the VDT and the ORE, in which 1096 (25.4%) drivers went on to fail the ORE. We studied 2 different approaches to constructing feature sets to use as input to ML algorithms: the standard method of reducing the time series data to a set of manually defined variables that summarize driving behavior and a novel approach using time series clustering. We then fed these representations into different ML algorithms to compare their ability to predict a driver’s ORE outcome (pass/fail).

Results

The new method using time series clustering performed similarly compared with the standard method in terms of overall accuracy for predicting pass or fail outcome (76.1% vs 76.2%) and area under the curve (0.656 vs 0.682). However, the time series clustering slightly outperformed the standard method in differentially predicting failure on the ORE. The novel clustering method yielded a risk ratio for failure of 3.07 (95% CI 2.75-3.43), whereas the standard variables method yielded a risk ratio for failure of 2.68 (95% CI 2.41-2.99). In addition, the time series clustering method with logistic regression produced the lowest ratio of false alarms (those who were predicted to fail but went on to pass the ORE; 27.2%).

Conclusions

Our results provide initial evidence that the clustering method is useful for feature construction in classification tasks involving time series data when resources are limited to create multiple, domain-relevant variables.
Design Strategies for Virtual Reality Interventions for Managing Pain and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Scoping Review
Authors: Ahmadpour Naseem , Keep Melanie , Janssen Anna , Rouf Anika Saiyara , Marthick Michael
Published: December 2019

Background

Virtual reality (VR) technology has been explored in the health sector as a novel tool for supporting treatment side effects, including managing pain and anxiety. VR has recently become more available with the launch of low-cost devices and apps.

Objective

This study aimed to provide an updated review of the research into VR use for pain and anxiety in pediatric patients undergoing medical procedures.

Methods

We performed a scoping review. To identify relevant studies, we searched three electronic databases. Two authors screened the titles and abstracts for relevance and eligibility criteria.

Results

Overall, 1386 articles were identified. In total, 18 articles were included in the review. Articles were published in English between 2013 and 2018. Our review determined that VR technology was being administered in a range of situations to modulate acute and chronic pain or anxiety, needle phobia, and procedural care in children and adolescents. We identified 9 articles that designed the bespoke VR apps. The findings were analyzed to develop a holistic model and describe the product, experience, and intervention aspects that need to be considered in designing such medical VR apps.

Conclusions

VR has been demonstrated to be effective for managing pain and anxiety in a variety of populations. However, design strategies are limited beyond distraction techniques. We propose future VR interventions to explore skill-building goals in apps characterized by dynamic feedback to the patient and experiential and product qualities that enable them to be active participants in managing their own care. To achieve this, design must be part of the development.
Criteria to Measure Social Media Value in Health Care Settings: Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Ukoha Chukwuma , Stranieri Andrew
Published: December 2019

Background

With the growing use of social media in health care settings, there is a need to measure outcomes resulting from its use to ensure continuous performance improvement. Despite the need for measurement, a unified approach for measuring the value of social media used in health care remains elusive.

Objective

This study aimed to elucidate how the value of social media in health care settings can be ascertained and to taxonomically identify steps and techniques in social media measurement from a review of relevant literature.

Methods

A total of 65 relevant articles drawn from 341 articles on the subject of measuring social media in health care settings were qualitatively analyzed and synthesized. The articles were selected from the literature from diverse disciplines including business, information systems, medical informatics, and medicine.

Results

The review of the literature showed different levels and focus of analysis when measuring the value of social media in health care settings. It equally showed that there are various metrics for measurement, levels of measurement, approaches to measurement, and scales of measurement. Each may be relevant, depending on the use case of social media in health care.

Conclusions

A comprehensive yardstick is required to simplify the measurement of outcomes resulting from the use of social media in health care. At the moment, there is neither a consensus on what indicators to measure nor on how to measure them. We hope that this review is used as a starting point to create a comprehensive measurement criterion for social media used in health care.