bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An effective frequency-domain feature of atrial fibrillation based on time-frequency analysis
Authors: Hu Yusong , Zhao Yantao , Liu Jihong , Pang Jin , Zhang Chen , Li Peizhe
Published: March 2020

Background: Atrial fibrillation is a type of persistent arrhythmia that can lead to serious complications. Therefore, accurate and quick detection of atrial fibrillation by surface electrocardiogram has great importance on further treatment. The practical electrocardiogram signals contain various interferences in different frequencies, such as myoelectricity interference, power interference and so on. Detection speed and accuracy largely depend on the atrial fibrillation signal features extracted by the algorithm. But some of the discovered atrial fibrillation features are not well distinguishable, resulting in poor classification effect.
Methods: This paper proposed a high distinguishable frequency feature - the frequency corresponding to the maximum amplitude in the frequency spectrum. We used the R-R interval detection method optimized with the mathematical morphology method and combined with the wavelet transform method for analysis. According to the two features - the maximum amplitude in the frequency spectrum and R-R interval irregular, we could recognize atrial fibrillation signals in electrocardiogram signals by decision tree classification algorithm.
Results: The data used in the experiment come from the MIT-BIH database, which is publicly accessible via the web and with ethical approval and consent. Based on the input of time-domain and frequency-domain features, we classified sinus rhythm signals and AF signals using the decision tree generated by classification and regression tree (CART) algorithm. From the confusion matrix, we got the accuracy was 98.9%, sensitivity was 97.93% and specificity was 99.63%.
Conclusions: The experimental results can prove the validity of the maximum amplitude in the frequency spectrum and the practicability and accuracy of the detection method, which applied this frequency-domain feature. Through the detection method, we obtained good accuracy of classifying sinus rhythm signals and atrial fibrillation signals. And the sensitivity and specificity of our method were pretty good by comparison with other studies.
Application of preoperative assessment of pain induced by venous cannulation in predicting postoperative pain in patients under laparoscopic nephrectomy: a prospective observational study
Authors: Peng Fei , Li Yanshuang , Ai Yanqiu , Yang Jianjun , Wang Yanping
Published: March 2020

Background: Postoperative pain is the most prominent concern among surgical patients. It has previously been reported that venous cannulation-induced pain (VCP) can be used to predict postoperative pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 90 mins in the recovery room. Its potential in predicting postoperative pain in patients with patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) is worth establishing. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to investigate the application of VCP in predicting postoperative pain in patients with PCIA during the first 24 h after laparoscopic nephrectomy.Methods: 120 patients scheduled for laparoscopic nephrectomy were included in this study. A superficial vein on the back of the hand was cannulated with a standard-size peripheral venous catheter (1.1×3.2 mm) by a nurse in the preoperative areas.Then the nurse recorded the VAS score associated with this procedure estimated by patients, and dichotomized the patients into low response group (VAS scores < 2.0) or high response group (VAS scores ≥ 2.0). After general anesthesia and surgery, all the patients received the patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) with sufentanil. The VAS scores at rest and on coughing at 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 24 h, the effective number of presses and the number of needed rescue analgesia within 24 h after surgery were recorded. Results: Peripheral venous cannulation-induced pain score was significantly correlated with postoperative pain intensity at rest (rs = 0.64) and during coughing (rs = 0.65), effective times of pressing (rs = 0.59), additional consumption of sufentanil (rs = 0.58). Patients with venous cannulation-induced pain intensity ≥ 2.0 VAS units reported higher levels of postoperative pain intensity at rest (P < 0.0005) and during coughing (P < 0.0005), needed more effective times of pressing (P < 0.0005) and additional consumption of sufentanil (P < 0.0005), and also needed more rescue analgesia (P = 0.01) during the first 24 h. The odds of risk for moderate or severe postoperative pain (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.3-9.3) was significantly higher in patients with venous cannulation-induced pain intensity ≥ 2.0 VAS units compared to those < 2.0 VAS units. Conclusions: Preoperative assessment of pain induced by venous cannulation can be used to predict postoperative pain intensity in patients with PCIA during the first 24 h after laparoscopic nephrectomy.Trial registration: We registered this study in a Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) center on July 6 2019 and received the registration number: ChiCTR1900024352.
Long term outcomes of Burch colposuspension and transobturator tape and single incision needleless (DynaMesh ® - SIS minor) for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence patients who underwent combined pelvic reconstructive surgery or hysterectomy
Authors: Akdemir Yesim , Dincer Fadime , Buyukuysal Cagatay , Ozmen Ulku , Harma Muge , Harma Mehmet Ibrahim
Published: March 2020

Background : Women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) often require combined pelvic reconstructive surgeries because of shared risk factors of pelvic relaxation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacies of Burch colposuspension, the transobturator tape (TOT), and single-incision needleless (DynaMesh®- SIS minor) procedures in patients with SUI who also underwent combined pelvic reconstructive surgery or hysterectomy.
Methods: We carried out this prospective cohort study that comprising 142 patients who either underwent Burch colposuspension (n:43), TOT(n:40), or SIS(n:39) procedures along with pelvic reconstructive surgery or hysterectomy between January 2010 and July 2018. During the clinical follow-up, we analyzed the objective and subjective cure rates, improvement rates, along with failure and surgical success rates of SUI surgery. We assessed quality of life and symptom severity by Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7), Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Sandvik Severity Index (SSI), Surgical Satisfaction Questionnaire (SSQ-8), Overactive Bladder Questionnaire V8 (OAB-V8), and Patient Global Impression of Improvement (PGI-I) scale scores. The primary outcome was surgical success, which was established when there was an improvement in patients or when the patients achieved objective or subjective cure, whereas secondary outcomes included intraoperative bladder injury, sling extrusion, de novo urgency, voiding dysfunction, length of hospital stay, and patient-reported outcomes in the quality of life questionnaires.
Results: Surgical success rates were higher in Burch group than SIS group and also higher in TOT group than in SIS group (88.4% vs 61.5% and 87.5% vs 61.5% respectively, p=0.003) The complaints of urinary incontinence were higher and quality of life was lower in the SIS group than in the Burch group. In terms of IIQ-7, UDI-6, OAB-V8, SSI, and SSQ-8 scores, no difference was observed between Burch and TOT groups, and TOT and SIS groups.
Conclusions: Both Burch and TOT are safe and effective procedures in patients with SUI who require additional pelvic surgeries. Although the surgical outcomes of SIS procedure in patients with SUI who underwent concomitant pelvic surgeries in our study were not promising, further randomized studies are needed to clarify these observations due to unclear data.
Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of group A streptococcus recovered from patients in Beijing, China
Authors: Li Hongxin , Zhou Lin , Zhao Yong , Ma Lijuan , Liu Xiaoyan , Hu Jin
Published: March 2020

Background: Group A streptococcus (GAS) is an important human pathogen responsible for a broad range of infections. Epidemiological surveillance has been crucial to detect changes in the geographical and temporal variation of the disease pattern. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics and antimicrobial resistance of GAS isolates from patients in Children’s Hospital in Beijing.
Methods: From 2016 to 2017, pharyngeal swab samples were collected from the outpatients in Children’s Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, who were diagnosed with scarlet fever. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed according to the distribution of conventional antibiotics and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. The distribution of the macrolide-resistance genes ( ermB, ermA, mefA ), emm (M protein-coding gene) typing, and superantigens (SAg) gene profiling were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Results: A total of 297 GAS strains were collected. The susceptibility of the strains to penicillin, ceftriaxone, and levofloxacin was 100%. The rate of antimicrobial resistance to erythromycin and clindamycin was 98.3% and 96.6%, respectively. The dominant emm types were emm12 (65.32%), emm1 (27.61%), emm75 (2.69%), and emm89 (1.35%). Of the 297 isolates, 290 (97.64%) carried the ermB gene, and 5 (1.68%) carried the mefA gene, while none carried the ermA gene. The most common superantigen genes identified from GAS isolates were smeZ (96.97%) , speC (92.59%), speG (91.58%), and ssa (85.52%), speI (54.55%), speH (52.19%), and speA (34.34%). Isolates with the genotype emm1 possessed speA , speC , speG , speJ , speM , ssa , and smeZ , while emm12 possessed speC , speG , speH , speI , speM , ssa , and smeZ superantigens.
Conclusions: The prevalent strain of GAS isolates in Beijing has a high antimicrobial resistance rate to macrolides; however, penicillin can still be the preferred antibiotic for treatment. The primary mechanism of resistance to erythromycin is related to the expression of ermB . The common emm types were emm12 and emm1. A correlation was established between emm and the superantigen gene. Thus, long-term monitoring and investigation of the emm types and superantigen genes of GAS prevalence are imperative.
Subjects living in an onchocerciasis focus and treated 3-monthly with ivermectin develop fewer new onchocercal nodules than subjects treated annually
Authors: Campillo Jérémy T. , Chesnais Cédric B. , Pion Sébastien D. , Gardon Jacques , Kamgno Joseph , Boussinesq Michel
Published: March 2020

Background: Little information is available on the effect of ivermectin on the third and fourth stage larvae of Onchocerca volvulus. To assess a possible prophylactic effect of ivermectin on this parasite, we compared the effects of different ivermectin regimens on the acquisition of onchocercal nodules.Methods: We analyzed data from a controlled randomized clinical trial of ivermectin conducted in the Mbam valley (Cameroon) between 1994 and 1998 in a cohort of onchocerciasis infected individuals. The number of nodules that appeared between the start and the end of the clinical trial was analyzed, using ANOVA and multivariable Poisson regressions, between four treatment arms: 150 µg/kg annually, 800 µg/kg annually, 150 µg/kg 3-monthly, and 800 µg/kg 3-monthly. Results: The mean number of nodules that appeared during the trial was reduced by 17.7% in subjects treated 3-monthly compared to those treated annually (regardless of the dose). Poisson regression model, adjusting on subject’s age and weight, initial number of nodules and intensity of O. volvulus infection in his village of residence, confirmed that the incidence of new nodules was reduced in 3-monthly treatment arms compared to annually treatment arms, and that the dosage of ivermectin does not seem to influence this effect. Besides, the number of newly acquired nodules was positively associated with the initial number of nodules. Analysis of disappearance of nodules did not show any significant difference between the treatment groups. Conclusions: Our result suggest, for the first time in humans, that ivermectin has a partial prophylactic effect on O. volvulus. Three-monthly treatment seems more effective than annual treatment to prevent the appearance of nodules.
Regulation of RUNX3 expression by DNA methylation in prostate cancer
Authors: Yang Xin , Wang Shumei , Reheman Alimu
Published: March 2020

Background: Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a developmental regulator, and methylation of the RUNX3 is significantly associated with the occurrence and development of carcinogenesis. Previous studies have identified an association of increased methylation level of RUNX3 in prostate cancer (PCa); however, the role and molecular mechanism underlying aberrant methylation of the RUNX3 gene in prostate tumorigenesis remain elusive. In this study, we will investigate the role of RUNX3 promoter methylation and its gene expression in PCa cells. Methods: The methylation of the RUNX3 in the promoter region in PCa cells was detected by bisulfite-sequencing PCR (BSP). Following treatment of the PCa cells with DNA methylation transferase inhibitor 5-AZA-2'-deoxycytidine (AZA), the effect on methylation level and expression of RUNX3 were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and BSP assays. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of the demethylated RUNX3 on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of PCa cells using CCK-8 and flow cytometry assays. Using the DNA methylation transferase (DNMT3b) knockout or overexpression models, the relationship between DNMT3b and RUNX3 methylation was further assessed by qRT-PCR, Western blot and methylation-specific PCR (MSP). Results: The results indicated that the methylation level of RUNX3 in PCa cell lines was significantly higher than that of normal prostate epithelial (RWPE-1) cells. Furthermore, treatment with AZA not only promoted the demethylation of RUNX3 but also restored the mRNA and protein expression of RUNX3, and the reactivation of expression of the later exhibited its anti-tumor effects through regulation of the cycle progression in PCa cells. Moreover, DNMT3b could regulate the expression level of RUNX3 by altering the DNA methylation of the RUNX3 in PCa cells. Conclusion: RUNX3 is hypermethylated in a panel of PCa cell lines; Inhibits DNA methylation of RUNX3 could restored its gene expression, which in turn induced its anti-cancer effects. Thus, RUNX3 may serve as a novel putative molecular target gene for PCa therapy.
The association of dry eye syndrome and psychiatric disorders: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Liang Chiao-Ying , Cheang Wai-Man , Wang Chun-Yuan , Lin Keng-Hung , Wei Li-Chen , Chen Yu-Yen , Shen Ying-Cheng
Published: March 2020

Background
Several previous studies reported a greater prevalence of dry eye syndrome (DES) among patients with psychiatric diseases. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of DES in patients with psychiatric disorders (PD) using nationwide population-based data in Taiwan.
Methods
This population-based cohort study retrospectively identified patients with PD from 1997 to 2011. Patients with both PD and DES served as the DES cohort, and PD patients without DES comprised the non-DES cohort. PD was defined as a diagnosis of PD (ICD-9-CM 290-319) made by psychiatrists only, with at least three consecutive outpatient visits or at least one inpatient visit. DES was defined as a diagnosis of DES (ICD-9-CM 375.15) and a prescription for an eye lubricant (anatomical therapeutic chemical code, ATC code: S01XA). The main outcome measures were the prevalence of DES in these patients and associated risk factors.
Results
A total of 75,650 patients with PD (3,665 in the DES cohort and 71,985 in the non-DES cohort) were included in the final analysis. The majority of patients in the DES group were women (72.6%), compared the non-DES group (57.8%). The mean age of patients in the DES cohort was 62.2 ± 14.9, which was significantly older than those in the non-DES group (50.9 ± 17.5). The patients with DES had a significantly greater likelihood of having dementia, bipolar disorder, depression, and neurotic disorders. Conditional regression analyses revealed that patients with dry eye disease were more likely to have schizophrenia (OR = 1.34), bipolar disorder (OR = 1.9), depression (OR = 1.54), and neurotic disorders (OR = 1.62). In addition, patients with DES were more likely to use 1st generation anti-psychotics (OR=1.28) and had a lower risk of using 2nd generation anti-psychotics (OR=0.64)
Conclusion
The study demonstrated that among PD patients, DES is highly prevalence in certain subtypes of PD, such as depression, bipolar disorder, and neurotic disorders, after adjusting for the comorbidities.
Keywords: dry eye syndrome, psychiatric disorders, bipolar, population-based.
The synthesis of medium-long-medium structured lipid (MLM-SL) by lipase-catalyzed transesterification using palm olein and tricaprylin in packed-bed reactor (PBR)
Authors: Utama Qabul Dinanta , Sitanggang Azis Boing , Adawiyah Dede Robiatul , Hariyadi Purwiyatno
Published: March 2020

Lipase-catalyzed transesterification between refined bleached deodorized palm olein (RBDO) and tricaprylin to produce medium-long-medium structured lipid (MLM-SL) in a packed bed reactor has been investigated. A specific sn -1,3 commercial Lipozyme TL IM was used as biocatalyst. Within this study, the progress of transesterification was monitored especially for triacylglycerol (TAG) formation with equivalent carbon number (ECN) of 32, presumably 1,3-dicapryoyl-2-oleoyl- sn -glycerol (COC). Transesterification conditions investigated were residence times ( i.e ., 15, 30, and 60 min) and enzyme loadings (2 and 4.5 g). The highest yield of ECN 32 (13%) and transesterification degree (71%) were obtained at residence time of 15 mins for both enzyme loadings. Longer residence time seemed to facilitate lipid hydrolysis over transesterification. This was indicated by the number of peaks appearing in the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) chromatograms and the reduction of of fat slip melting point (SMP). Additionally, at 4.5 enzyme loading the highest productivity was obtained for one-cycle reaction. Conclusively, this study has demonstrated the potential use of packed-bed reactor with immobilized Lipozyme TL IM for continuous synthesis of MLM-SLs especially TAG ECN32.
Alkaline organosolv pretreatment of different sorghum stem parts for enhancing the total reducing sugar yields and p-coumaric acid release
Authors: Li Dandan , Long Liangkun , Ding shaojun
Published: March 2020

Background : The sorghum stem can be divided into the pith and rind parts with obvious differences in cell type and chemical composition, thus arising the different recalcitrance to enzyme hydrolysis and demand for different pretreatment conditions. The introduction of organic solvents in the pretreatment can reduce over-degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose, but significance of solvent addition in pretreatment of different parts of sorghum stem is still unclear. Valorization of each component is critical for economy of sorghum biorefinery. Therefore, in this study, NaOH-ethanol pretreatment condition for different parts of the sorghum stem was optimized in order to maximize p -coumaric acid release and total reducing sugar recovery. Result: Ethanol addition improved p -coumaric acid release and delignification efficiency, but significantly reduced hemicellulose deconstruction in NaOH-ethanol pretreatment. The pith and rind require different NaOH-ethanol pretreatment conditions for maximal p -coumaric acid release and xylan preservation. The p - coumaric acid release yields by optimized NaOH-ethanol pretreatment reached 94.07%, 97.24% and 95.05% from pith, rind and whole stem, respectively, which increased by 8.16%, 8.38% and 8.39% compared to those of NaOH pretreated samples. Comparatively, xylan was more resistant to be dissolved from the rind than from the pith in the same NaOH-ethanol conditions. Adding xylanase significantly enhanced the enzymatic saccharification of pretreated residues. The total reducing sugar yields after NaOH-ethanol pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis reached 84.06%, 82.29% and 84.09% for pith, rind and whole stem, respectively, which increased by 29.56%, 23.67% and 25.56% compared to those of NaOH pretreated samples. Conclusion: These results indicated that NaOH-ethanol is effective for the efficient fractionation and pretreatment of sorghum biomass. This work will help to understand the differences of different parts of sorghum stem under NaOH-ethanol pretreatment, thereby improving the full-component utilization of sorghum stem. Keywords: Sorghum stem; NaOH-ethanol pretreatment; p -coumaric acid; enzymatic hydrolysis.
Effects of Biofilm Transfer and Electron Mediators Transfer on Klebsiella quasipneumoniae sp.203 Electricity Generation Performance in MFCs
Authors: Guo Yating , Wang Guozhen , Zhang Hao , Wen Hongyu , Li Wen
Published: March 2020

Background: Extracellular electron transfer ( EET ) is essential in improving the power generation performance of electrochemically active bacteria ( EAB ) in MFCs. Klebsiella has been proved to be an EAB capable of EET. Here, we cover the anode of MFC-1 with a layer of microfiltration membrane to block the effect of the biofilm mechanism, and then explore the EET of the electron mediator mechanism of Klebsiella quasipneumoniae sp.203 and electricity production performance of a K.quasipneumoniae sp.203-inoculated MFCs.Results: Herein, we covered the anode of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with a layer of microfiltration membrane to block the effect of the biofilm mechanism, and then explore the EET of the electron mediator mechanism of K.quasipneumoniae sp.203 and electricity production performance. In the absence of short-range electron transfer, we found that K.quasipneumoniae sp.203 can still produce certain power generation efficiency and redox activity. It was proved that in the case that EAB cannot attach to the growth anode, K.quasipneumoniae sp.203 can still perform EET through the electron mediator mechanism. To further verify the effect of electron mediators on electrochemical performance of MFCs, in the first cycle of well-functioning MFCs, the self-produced sterile supernatant was added to the different stages of electricity generation performance. We found that adding electron mediators during the rising phase, the MFCs can reach a maximum output voltage of 442mV in about 24 hours, which is about 70mV higher than MFC-Normal. Therefore, the addition of electron mediators can effectively improve the electrical performance in the stable growth stage of anode EAB in MFCs. Finally, we combined the CV analysis and HPLC-MS to analyze the anode supernatant of MFCs. It was speculated that K.quasipneumoniae sp.203 produced more than one electron mediator, which were 2,6-DTBHQ, 2,6-DTBBQ, ACNQ and DHNA.Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, the three modes of EET did not exist separately. K.quasipneumoniae sp.203 will adopt the corresponding electron transfer mode or multiple ways to realize EET according to the living environment to improve electricity generation performance.
Clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with and without history of diabetes mellitus with different stent size
Authors: Zibaeenezhad Mohammad Javad , Sayadi Mehrab , Mohammadi Seyyed Saeed , Khorshidi Soorena , Hadiyan Ehsan , Mowla Ashkan , Razeghian-Jahromi Iman
Published: March 2020

Background There are different reports on the occurrence of post-revascularization outcomes of diabetic patients in previous studies. Lesion complexity, which is reflected in stent size, influences the occurrence of outcomes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the occurrence of clinical outcomes in patients with history of diabetes (hDM) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with emphasis on stent length and diameter. Methods In a retrospective single-center cohort approach, among patients with stable coronary artery disease who underwent PCI with first- and second-generation DES, subjects were included from 2003 until 2019. Outcomes including revascularization, myocardial infarction, and death, totally defined as major adverse cardiac events (MACE), were sought in follow-up phase. All the patients whether with and without hDM received aspirin and clopidogrel as DAPT for at least two years and one year, respectively. Results About 29% out of 1630 participants had hDM and 37.8% of patients who experienced MACE had hDM. Unlike age and time-to-event, there was significant difference in gender between hDM and non-hDM groups. However, no difference was seen in type of MACE between these two groups. Also, after adjusting confounder variables, there was no significant difference in MACE incidence between hDM and non-hDM groups with different stent length and diameter (different lesion length and diameter). Conclusions hDM did not affect MACE incidence significantly in different stent length and diameter. We think that using of DES supplemented by long term DAPT and tight control of glycemic status after PCI are the underlying reasons.
Orthopedic injuries due to parachute jumping in soldiers and the effect of trauma scoring systems in determining injury level: A prospective observational study
Authors: Sahin Taner , Batin Sabri
Published: March 2020

Background During parachute jumping in soldiers, minör or life-threatining majör injuries may be occur in various parts of the body. Various trauma scoring systems have been developed to determine the severity of these injuries. The aim of this study is to determine orthopedic injuries and other injuries due to parachute jumping for military training who admitted to ED and the severity of their injuries using by anatomical and physiological trauma scores (AIS and ISS), to examine applied treatment methods, their hospitalization conditions and the length of hospital stay prospectively over a 44-month period between January 2016 and August 2019. Methods 200 military personnel were included in the study, between the ages of 18-52, who were injured as a result of daytime static parachute jumping for military training. Demographic data such as age, gender, ISS trauma region classification, anatomical injury sites, AIS and ISS scores, diagnosis, treatment methods applied, hospitalization status and duration of hospitalization were examined prospectively in a total of 185 patients. Results Among 184 individuals included in the study, 184 were male and 1 was female. The most common injured body site were 33.5% foot. and the most common diagnosis was 64.3% soft tissue trauma. Considering the treatment methods applied, 51.4% was determined as medication cold application, 42.7% as splint plaster, and 5.9% as surgery. The mean ISS of the patients was 5.16 ± 3.92. The hospitalization rate of patients with a critical AIS score was significantly higher than those with a severe AIS score (p <0.001). Conclusions The use of trauma scoring systems in determining the severity of injury to patients who come to ED due to parachute injury may facilitate treatment selection. Key words: Parachuting injuries, Abbreviated Injury Scale ve Injury Severity Score
Barriers to Childhood Immunization in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review
Authors: Bangura Joseph Benjamin , Xiao Shui-yuan , Qiu Dan , Ouyang Feiyun , Chen Lei
Published: March 2020

Background Immunization to prevent infectious diseases is a core strategy to improve childhood health as well as survival. It remains a challenge for some African countries to attain the required childhood immunization coverage. We aim at identifying individual barriers confronting parents/caretakers, providers, and health systems that hinder childhood immunization coverage in Sub-Saharan Africa. Method This systematic review searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE. We restricted to published articles in English that focused on childhood immunization barriers in Sub-Saharan Africa from January 1988 to February 2019. We excluded studies if: focused on barriers to immunization for children in other regions of the world, studied adult immunization barriers; studies not available on the university library, they were editorial, reports, reviews, supplement, and bulletins. Study designs included were cross-sectional, second-hand data analysis; and case control. Results Of the 2,538 items identified, 40 met inclusion criteria. Parents/caretakers were the most common subjects. Eight articles were of moderate and 32 were of high methodological quality. Seven studies analyzed secondary data; 30 used cross-sectional designs and three employed case control method. Twenty-five studies reported national immunization coverage of key vaccines for children under one, fifteen did not. When reported, national immunization coverages of childhood vaccines were reported to be low. Parents/caretaker’s barriers included lack of knowledge of immunization, distance to access point, financial deprivation, lack of partners support, and distrust in vaccines and immunization programs. Other associated factors for low vaccine rates included the number of off-springs, life style, migration and occupation. Barriers at health system level cited by healthcare providers included limited human resources and inadequate infrastructures to maintain the cold chain and adequate supply of vaccines. Conclusion In this review we identified more thoroughly the parents/caretakers’ barriers than those of providers and health systems. Factors that influenced decisions to get children vaccinated were mainly their gender, beliefs, socio-economic and socio-culture factors in the communities in which they live. Thus it is vital that immunization programs consider these barriers and address the people and societies in their communities across Sub-Saharan Africa.
A new approach for the load calculation of the most loaded rolling element for the rolling bearing with internal radial clearance - The case study
Authors: Tomović Radoslav
Published: March 2020

In this paper is presented a case study which has the goal to show the benefits of the application of a new approach for the calculation of load of the most loaded rolling element at the rolling bearing with the internal radial clearance. The calculation is based on the so-called load factors. By multiplication load factors with the value of the external radial load, the load which is transferred by the most loaded rolling element of the bearing is obtained. The case study is made for two types of bearings, the ball, and roller bearing. Obtained results were compared with the results obtained based on the calculation using some of the most commonly used methods so far. The analysis showed greater precision of the considered model with the same or much simpler application. For this reason, the proposed model is considered very suitable for practical application.
Delimiting cryptic morphological variation among human malaria vector species using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Couret Jannelle , Moreira Danilo C , Bernier Davin , Loberti Aria Mia , Dotson Ellen M , Alvarez Marco
Published: March 2020

Background Among mosquitoes that transmit human pathogens there are several species complexes, morphologically indistinguishable, distinct in their behavior and ecology, particularly as it relates to vectorial capacity. Morphological demarcation has remained largely intractable. Identification using molecular markers is the favored method in applied settings, prohibitively so, as the expense of such methods prevents the majority of mosquito surveillance programs to distinguish species within species complexes. Here, we apply computational methods in machine learning to delimit vector species within the Anopheles gambiae complex, which transmit human malaria and are notoriously difficult to distinguish based on morphology.Results We introduce a library of $1,709$ images collected from $15$ species colonies of mosquito vector species originating from five regions worldwide, with four sibling species from Africa that cannot be readily distinguished even amongst trained medical entomologists. Among them we include images of two strains of a single species, Anopheles gambiae s.s. . We varied storage method within a species to include two methods of storage, freshly frozen or dried, to test whether the same cage population could be distinguished by deep learning on this basis. We present a machine vision approach using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with data augmentation that can achieve up to $97\%$ accuracy in distinguishing the genera, species, cryptic species, and between two strains of one species as well as storage method. We included three outgroup vector species from the Aedes and Culex genera known to transmit other human pathogens.Conclusion We demonstrate that deep learning models can delimit species with cryptic morphological variation, strains that are genetically differentiated but morphologically identical, and automate delineation of sex and storage method. These findings have broad reaching implications for the study of morphological variation and applications to the surveillance and study of human malaria.
Genes co-related with poor prognosis of patients with lung cancer via bioinformatical approaches
Authors: Shi Dai , Han Yeming , Wang Xin , Hou Guihua
Published: March 2020

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors with high mortality worldwide. Recently, researchers reported that molecular markers on lung cancer could be used as diagnostic and prognostic targets. However, these molecules were not ideal in specificity and high selectivity. Therefore, exploring more reliable biomarkers to improve the prognosis and clarify the underlying mechanism is urgently needed both for clinic and basic research. This study aimed to identify significant genes with poor prediction for lung cancer and their underlying mechanisms. Firstly, we used gene expression datasets available from GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) database. There were 109 lung cancer samples and 27 normal samples in the selected datasets. First, DEGs (Different Expressed Gene set) of lung cancer and normal lung samples were screen out with GEO2R tool, and we displayed them by Venn diagram software and Heatmap. Secondly, we used DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) to analyze KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome) pathway and GO (Gene Ontology). Third, PPI (Protein-Protein Interaction) of these DEGs was conducted by Cytoscape with STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes). Our results showed that the expression trends of 21 up-regulated genes and 116 down-regulated were similar in selected three datasets. Analyzed by MCODE (Molecular Complex Detection) plug-in, 11 up-regulated and 16 down-regulated genes were selected. To further verify gene expression differences, GEPIA (Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis) was implemented and we found 26 of 27 genes were found differently expressed in lung cancer compared with normal lung tissues. Furthermore, Kaplan–Meier analysis was used and we found 23 of 26 genes for overall survival indicated much less survival time. At last, three genes, CDH5, CLDN5, PECAM1, were found to be significantly decreased in lung cancer tissue proved through re-analysis of DAVID, which mainly co-related with leukocyte trans-endothelial migration. In conclusion, three significant down-regulated deferentially expressed genes with poor prognosis on lung cancer were identified basing on integrated bioinformatical methods. These down-expressed genes may be as a potential prognosis targets for patients with lung cancer.
MicroRNA-1271-5p inhibits the tumorigenesis of ovarian cancer through targeting E2F5 and negatively regulates the mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Li Qin , Shi Junyu , Xu Xiaoli
Published: March 2020

Background: MicroRNA-1271-5p (miR-1271-5p) has been reported to participate in the progression of many malignancies. However, the molecular mechanism of miR-1271-5p still remains vague in ovarian cancer (OC). Therefore, we explored the effect of miR-1271-5p in the development of OC in present study.Methods: We measured the miR-1271-5p expression via qRT-PCR assay. Western blot analysis was employed to examine protein expression. Then, the functional mechanism of miR-1271-5p was analyzed by MTT, Transwell and dual luciferase assays.Results: Downregulation of miR-1271-5p was found in OC, which can predict worse prognosis in OC patients. Further, miR-1271-5p directly targets E2F5 in OC. And miR-1271-5p restrained the proliferation, migration and invasion of OC cells via targeting E2F5. Additionally, upregulation of E2F5 was observed in OC, which predicted unfavorable prognosis in OC patients. Besides that, miR-1271-5p suppressed EMT and mTOR pathway in OC.Conclusion: MiR-1271-5p inhibited the tumorigenesis of OC through targeting E2F5 and negatively regulated the mTOR signaling pathway.
The Need for General Collective Intelligence in Addressing the Sustainable Development Goals
Authors: Williams Andy E
Published: March 2020

Background: This study explores the factors constraining group decision-making, where those factors might tend to restrict groups from selecting optimal solutions with regards to sustainability or sustainable development. This study also explores the factors constraining group decision-making from framing problems in the optimal way (choosing the optimal problem to solve), and how together these factors constraining groups from choosing the optimal problem to solve or the optimal solution to solve it with, might tend to bar groups from achieving optimal outcomes. To address the first set of constraints, collective intelligence algorithms aim to use the intelligence of crowds to select optimal solutions. To address the second set of constraints, General Collective Intelligence solutions, as defined in this paper, aim to further improve outcomes by selecting the optimal problem to solve.Results: In the absence of General Collective Intelligence fundamental economic forces are suggested to drive a continual increase in the alignment of group decision-making with the interests of decision-makers rather than with optimizing collective impact. And while sustainability and sustainable development might be achieved locally in the face of this misalignment, globally this misalignment is suggested to compete directly against that achievement. For this reason, maximizing collective outcomes such as impact on sustainability or sustainable development is suggested to require General Collective Intelligence in order to reliably increase the forces driving groups towards prioritizing collective impact until those forces are greater than the forces driving this misalignment. As a result, without General Collective Intelligence this misalignment of group decision-making in a direction other than optimal collective impact is suggested to be a hidden "bug" that may prevent sustainability and sustainable development from being reliably achievable globally through current sustainability or sustainable development programs.Conclusions: General Collective Intelligence is a pattern of biomimicry that potentially replicates the robust and stable multi-cellular cooperation nature has evolved over more than a billion years to enable cells in organisms to cooperate to sustainably achieve outcomes. Platforms organizing groups into such a General Collective Intelligence are suggested to be required in order for sustainability or the sustainable development goals to be reliably achievable globally.
The Impact of Internet use frequency on Non-suicidal self injurious behavior and Suicidal Ideation among Chinese Youth: An empirical study based on Gender perspective
Authors: Xin Moye , Yang Xueyan , Liu Kun , Boke Bilun Naz
Published: March 2020

Background: We attempted to find if there were gender differences in Non-suicidal self injurious (NSSI) behaviors and Suicidal ideation among Chinese youth, then analyze the impact of internet use frequency on these variables among youth of different genders.Methods: Based on the survey data from 6 high-schools and 4 universities in 4 cities in China, the gender difference in NSSI behaviors and Suicidal ideation and their related factors were analyzed in the study.Results: There was no significant gender difference in NSSI behaviors among Chinese youth, yet females reported significantly higher intensity of suicidal ideation compared to males; internet use frequency could explain the prevalence of NSSI behaviors and Suicidal ideation by gender, to some categories.Conclusions: The gender difference of NSSI engagement among Chinese youth was not statistically significant; while females had higher suicidal ideation than males; the overuse of social softwares was found to be a risk factor to both NSSI engagements and suicidal ideations for both genders; males would engage less NSSI behaviors when they spent more time on knowledge sharing softwares while might have more suicidal ideation when they spent too much time on gaming.
Socio-demographic influences on the prevalence of enteric helminth and protozoan infections in newly arrived migrant workers in Qatar
Authors: Younes Nadin , Behnke Jerzy M. , Ismail Ahmed , Abumadi Marawan
Published: March 2020

Background Intestinal parasitosis is a major concern for public health, especially in children from middle and low-income populations of tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, we explored the environmental and socio-demographic characteristics of immigrants in Doha Qatar, that might explain the persistence of the parasites that they harbor.Methodology This cross-sectional survey was conducted among 2,486 newly arrived expatriates and those who visited Qatar previously during the period 2012-2014. Through questionnaires and census data, we characterised the socio-demographics conditions at an individual, family and neighborhood levels.Results Combined protozoan infections were significantly associated with immigrants arriving in Doha for the first time. In univariate loglinear statistical models fitted in phase 1 of the analysis significant associations were observed between the prevalence of combined protozoan infections and personal and familial factors that included religion, the level of education of subjects, both parents’ educational levels and their jobs, and number of siblings. Furthermore, environmental effects on the prevalence of protozoan infections included the country of origin; the floor of the house, toilet type, household content index, provision of household water, arable farming background showed a strong association with protozoan infections as well. However in phase 2, multifactorial binary logistic generalized linear models focusing only on the significant effects identified in phase 1, showed that only five factors retained significance (age class, floor of house, household contents index, father’s education, and number of siblings). The only factors that had a significant effect on the prevalence of helminth infections were the subjects age class and the mother’s educational level.Conclusion The prevalence of intestinal protozoan parasites among immigrants to Qatar is clearly multifactorial in origin, determined by key familial relationships of subjects and also the environment in which the subjects lived prior to their arrival in Qatar. Moreover our results suggest that screening protocols for applicants for visas/work permits need to be revised giving more careful attention to the intestinal protozoan infections that potential immigrants may harbor.
Application of the APE2-CHN and RITE2-CHN scores for autoimmune epilepsy in Chinese patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Wei-ping , Wang Mian , Zhang Chen , Zhao Charlie Weige , Xiao Bo , Zeng Chang
Published: March 2020

Background : Autoimmune epilepsy is recognized as a distinct entity of epilepsy with underestimated incidence. Our previous study reported that prompt diagnosis and early-initiated immunotherapy led to better outcome. We proposed to assess the feasibility and reasonability of the Antibody Prevalence in Chinese Patients with Epilepsy and Encephalopathy (APE 2 -CHN) and Response to Immunotherapy in Chinese Patients with Epilepsy and Encephalopathy (RITE 2 -CHN) scores in predicting Chinese patients with autoimmune epilepsy. Methods : We conducted a retrospective study of consecutive patients from Xiangya Hospital, Central South University (01/01/2017-02/28/2019) whose serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were examined for autoimmune encephalitis antibodies. Of these, patients with new-onset epilepsy or established epilepsy of unknown etiology were selected in our study. An APE 2 -CHN score was assigned to each patient and a RITE 2 -CHN score was calculated for each patient who received immunotherapy. Results : 191 patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for epilepsy were enrolled in our study. 36 were subsequently identified with specific etiologies. The rest of the 155 patients had an unknown etiology. Central nervous system-specific antibodies were detected in 76 (49.0%) of them, after excluding solely thyroid peroxidase antibody or glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antibody (48.7%, 37/76) was the most common antibody specificity, followed by γ-aminobutyric acid type B receptor antibody (14.5%, 11/76). Certain clinical features such as new-onset epilepsy, autonomic dysfunction, viral prodrome, facio-brachial dystonic seizures/oral dyskinesia, inflammatory CSF profile, and mesial temporal magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities correlated with positive antibody results. Sensitivity and specificity of an APE 2 -CHN score ≥ 5 to predict the presence of specific neural auto-antibodies in our study were 85.5% and 58.9%, respectively. In the subset of patients who received immunotherapy (n = 112), sensitivity and specificity of a RITE 2 -CHN score ≥ 8 to predict favorable seizure outcome were 98.6% and 63.2% respectively. Conclusion : The APE 2 -CHN and RITE 2 -CHN scores were preferable tools in predicting positive serologic findings and prognosis of autoimmune epilepsy in Chinese patients with epilepsy.