bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yield of Tumor Samples With a Large Guide-sheath in Endobronchial Ultrasound Transbronchial Biopsy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Study
Authors: Katsurada Naoko , Tachihara Motoko , Jimbo Naoe , Yamamoto Masatsugu , Yoshioka Junya , Mimura Chihiro , Satoh Hiroki , Furukawa Koichi , Otoshi Takehiro , Kiriu Tatsunori , Yasuda Yuichiro , Tanaka Tomonori , Nagano Tatsuya , Nishimura Yoshihiro
Published: September 2020

Background: Adequate tumor tissue is required to make the best treatment choice for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Transbronchial biopsy (TBB) by endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath (EBUS-GS) is useful to diagnose peripheral lung lesions. The data of tumor cell numbers obtained by two different sizes of GSs is limited. We conducted this study to investigate the utility of a large GS kit to obtain many tumor cells in patients with NSCLC.Methods: Patients with a peripheral lung lesion and suspected of NSCLC were prospectively enrolled. They underwent TBB with a 5.9-mm diameter bronchoscope with a large GS. When the lesion was invisible in EBUS, we changed to a thinner bronchoscope and TBB was performed with a small GS. We compared the tumor cell numbers prospectively obtained with a large GS (prospective large GS group) and those previously obtained with a small GS (small GS cohort). The primary endpoint was the tumor cell number per glass slide, and we assessed characteristics of lesions that could be obtained by TBB with large GS.Results: Biopsy with large GS was performed in 55 of 87 patients (63.2%), and 37 were diagnosed with NSCLC based on histological samples. The mean number of tumor cells per glass slide of the large GS group tended to be more than that of the small GS cohort (658±553 vs. 532±526, p=0.32). The mean sample size of the large GS group was significantly larger than that of the small GS cohort (1.75 mm2 vs. 0.83 mm2, p<0.001). The lesion involving a third or less bronchus generation was predictive factors using large GS.Conclusions: TBB with large GS may provide more tumor cells than that with small GS. The 5.9-mm diameter bronchoscope with large GS can be used for lesions involving a third or less bronchus generation.(Trial registration number: UMIN 000032599, date of registration: August 22, 2018, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000036780)
A hybrid quantum-classical conditional generative adversarial network algorithm for human-centered paradigm in cloud
Authors: Liu Wenjie , Zhang Ying , Deng Zhiliang , Zhao Jiaojiao , Tong Lian
Published: September 2020

As an emerging field that aims to bridge the gap between human activities and computing systems, human-centered computing (HCC) in cloud, edge, fog has had a huge impact on the artificial intelligence algorithms. The quantum generative adversarial network (QGAN) is considered to be one of the quantum machine learning algorithms with great application prospects, which also should be improved to conform to the human-centered paradigm. The generation process of QGAN is relatively random and the generated model does not conform to the human-centered concept, so it is not quite suitable for real scenarios. In order to solve these problems, a hybrid quantum-classical conditional generative adversarial network (QCGAN) algorithm is proposed, which is a knowledge-driven human-computer interaction computing mode in cloud. The purpose of stabilizing the generation process and the interaction between human and computing process is achieved by inputting conditional information in the generator and discriminator. The generator uses the parameterized quantum circuit with an all-to-all connected topology, which facilitates the tuning of network parameters during the training process. The discriminator uses the classical neural network, which effectively avoids the ”input bottleneck” of quantum machine learning. Finally, the BAS training set is selected to conduct experiment on the quantum cloud computing platform. The result shows that the QCGAN algorithm can effectively converge to the Nash equilibrium point after training and perform human-centered classification generation tasks.
Application of bilateral internal mammary artery with different configurations in coronary artery bypass grafting
Authors: Han Zengqiang , Zhang Guodong , Chen Shenglong , Liu Gang , Chen Yu
Published: September 2020

Background:
A large number of studies have shown that BIMA grafting is superior to single internal mammary artery grafting in cardiac function protection and long-term survival after surgery. While, there is still no consensus on how is the best configuration to use BIMA. This study aims to compare intraoperative blood flow, early clinical results and early postoperative patency of different configurations of BIMA.
Methods:
There were 74 patients who underwent CABGs with bilateral internal mammary artery with different configurations we included. According to the different target territories that RIMA grafted to, the patients were divided into bilateral group (group I) with 20 cases and left group (group II) with 54 cases. Intraoperative blood flow, early clinical results and early postoperative patency of different configurations of BIMA were compared.
Results:
There was no difference in the early postoperative death and major complications between group I and Group II(P༞0.05). Compared with the LIMA in group II, the LIMA in group I had a slightly higher DF value (76.7 ± 6.2 vs 73.1 ± 6.8, P = 0.040). Compared with the RIMA in group II, the RIMA in group I had a slightly higher MGF (51.7 ± 34.4 ml/min vs 31.4 ± 21.4 ml/min, P = 0.024). There was no difference in the other TTFM parameters of LIMA and RIMA between group I and Group II(P༞0.05). Further subgroup analysis revealed that compared with free RIMA in group II, in situ RIMA had a higher DF value(71.4 ± 7.8 vs 61.8 ± 18.1 ,P = 0.025).The PI of LIMA in free RIMA subgroup was higher than the PI of LIMA in in-situ RIMA subgroup(3.0 ± 1.6 vs 2.1 ± 1.0,P = 0.018). The results of early postoperative CTA examination showed that all IMAs grafts were completely patent.
Conclusions
The use of BIMA for CABG is safe and efficacious, RIMA used in right coronary artery received more satisfactory graft flow. BIMA with no stenosis and occlusion in the early stage, therefore is the ideal and stable coronary bypass graft.
Steganography algorithm based on modified EMD coded PU partition modes for HEVC videos
Authors: Zhang Zhenzhen , Li Zhaohong , Liu Jindou , Yan Huanma
Published: September 2020

As High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) is a worldwide popular video coding standard, the steganography of HEVC videos has gained more and more attention. Prediction Unit (PU) is one of the most important innovative modules of HEVC, thus PU partition mode based steganography is becoming a novel branch of HEVC steganography. However, the embedding capacity of this kind of steganography is limited by the types of PU partition modes. To solve the problem, modified Exploiting Modification Direction (EMD) coded PU partition modes based steganography is proposed in this paper, which can hide a secret digit in a (\({2^{n+x}} - 1\))-ary notational system in a pair of PU partition modes and thus enlarging the capacity. Furthermore, two mapping patterns for PU partition modes are analyzed and the one that performs the better is selected as the final mapping pattern. Firstly, 8 × 8 and 16 × 16 sized PU partition modes are recorded according to the optimal mapping pattern in the video encoding process. Then PU partition modes are modified by using the proposed method to satisfy the requirement of secret information. Finally, the stego video can be obtained by re-encoding the video with the modified PU partition modes. Experimental results show that the embedding capacity can be significantly enlarged, and compared with the state-of-the-art work, the proposed method has much larger capacity while keeping high visual quality.
Leaf and Root Litter Species Identity Influences Bacterial Community Composition in Short-Term Litter Decomposition
Authors: Lu Ying , Li Kun , Ni Ruiqiang , Han Rongchu , Li Chuanrong , Zhang Caihong
Published: September 2020

Background: Microorganisms play a crucial role in litter decomposition in terrestrial ecosystems. However, it remains unclear, which effects of leaf litter and root species on bacterial community composition and diversity after one year's decomposition. Methods: The leaf and fine roots litters of Robinia pseudoacacia , Quercus acutissima , Pinus tabulaeformis and Pinus densiflora , which are the dominant afforestation species in Mount Tai, were analysed using the Nylon litterbag method and Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing for the amplification of bacterial 16S rRNA V4-V5. We measured the remaining litter mass and the bacterial community composition and assessed the effects of leaf and root litter species on the bacterial community after one-year decomposition periods.Results: (1) The remaining masses of leaf and fine roots litters of the four plant species were significantly influenced by organ type and species. The remaining mass of fine root litter was smaller than that of leaf litter for broad-leaved species, and the opposite result was found for coniferous species. (2) The observed species Chao1 and phylogenetic diversity values were significantly lower for leaf litters than for fine root litter. The community richness index was positively correlated with the C content, C:N and lignin content and negatively correlated with N:P, N content and P content. The bacterial community structure differed significantly among leaf and root litter decomposition for the four species ( p <0.05). The bacterial community structure in leaf litter was most highly correlated with the initial N content and N:P. The bacterial community structure in fine roots was most highly correlated with the lignin content. (3) The bacterial phyla Bacteroidetes , Acidobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes were significantly affected by litter and species type, and the relative abundances of Firmicutes and Chloroflexi were only affected by litter type. The relative abundances of Acidobacteria , Firmicutes and Chloroflexi in fine root litter were higher than those in leaf litter, while the opposite result was found for Bacteroidetes . The bacterial genera Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia , Sphingomonas and Mucilaginibacter were affected by litter type ( p <0.05). The relative abundance of Burkholderia-Paraburkholderia in fine root litter was higher than that in leaf litter, while the opposite result was found for Bradyrhizobium , Sphingomonas and Mucilaginibacter . Pearson correlation analysis showed that the average relative abundance of the dominant phyla and genera was affected by the initial litter properties, especially for Bacteroides , Acidobacteria , Burkholderia , and Sphingomonas . Conclusions: Litter type, interaction between litter type and species were important than species in shaping the bacterial diversity and community composition in decomposing litter. And this were affected by initial chemical properties of the litter.
Alveolar Epithelial Inter-alpha-trypsin Inhibitor Heavy Chain 4 Deficiency Associated With Senescence-regulated Apoptosis by Particulate Air Pollution
Authors: Chen Xiao-Yue , Feng Po-Hao , Chen Yi-Ying , Wu Chih-Da , Wu Sheng-Ming , Lee Kang-Yun , Kuo Han-Pin , Hsiao Ta-Chih , Chen Kuan-Yuan , Ho Shu-Chuan , Chang Ta-Yuan , Lee I-Ta , Chuang Hsiao-Chi
Published: September 2020

Background: Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) is considered a type II acute-phase protein; however, the role of ITIH4 in the lungs after exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of ITIH4 in the lungs in response to PM2.5 exposure.Results: ITIH4 expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) of 47 healthy subjects and of SD rats exposed to PM2.5 was determined, and the underlying anti-apoptotic and matrix-stabilizing pathways in A549 cells by diesel exhaust particles (DEPs) were also investigated. First, we observed that an interquartile range (IQR) increase in PM2.5 accounted for a decrease of 2.673 ng/mL in ITIH4, an increase of 1.104 pg/mL in 8-isoprostane, and an increase of 6.918 pg/mL in interleukin (IL)-6 in human BAL. Increases in 8-isoprostane and IL-6 in the lungs and decreases in ITIH4 in the BAL, lungs, and serum were observed after PM2.5 exposure. ITIH4 was correlated with lung lysates and BAL samples (r=0.377, p<0.01), whereas ITIH4 was correlated with IL-6 in BAL (r=-0.420, p<0.01). ITIH4 expression was significantly reduced in alveolar epithelial cells by PM2.5. ITIH4 expression decreased after DEP exposure in a dose-dependent manner. A decrease in sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) and increases in phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK) and caspase-3 were observed after DEP exposure. Conclusions: In conclusion, PM2.5 decreased ITIH4 in the lungs, which was associated with alveolar epithelial cell senescence and apoptosis. ITIH4 could be a vital protein in regulating alveolar destruction, and its deficiency occurs due to PM2.5.
The reliability and success of peritoneal dialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Yeter Hasan Haci , Oguz Ebru Gok , Akcay Omer Faruk , Karaer Refika , Yasar Emre , Duranay Murat , Ayli Mehmet Deniz , Guz Galip
Published: September 2020

Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the symptoms, changes in laboratory findings during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effect of depression on symptoms associated with end-stage kidney disease in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD).Methods: This was an observational and cross-sectional study. The patients underwent three different PD modalities, including continuous ambulatory PD, automated peritoneal dialysis, and remote monitoring automated peritoneal dialysis (RM-APD). All patients were asked to complete the clinical assessment form and Beck depression and anxiety inventory. Additionally, the last two laboratory evaluations during this period were examined.Results: A total of 123 patients undergoing PD were included. None of the patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 infection. Serum ferritin, creatinine, phosphorus, albumin and parathyroid hormone levels were significantly elevated in the total study population (p=0.03, p=0.01, p=0.02, p=0.02 and p=0.05, respectively). While calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone tended to increase in patients with APD or CAPD, they remained stable in patients performing RM-APD. Most of the patients did not experience dyspnea, pitting edema, difficulty in blood pressure control, palpitation, bone muscle pain, or peritonitis. Moderate to severe depression was associated with dyspnea, weight gain, fatigue, palpitation, and increased anxiety.Conclusion: PD is a reliable and successful form of dialysis and can be safely administered even if hospital access is restricted. PD is a safe method of renal replacement therapy to protect patients from COVID-19 infection. Additionally, RM-APD may be a better choice because it provides more stable bone mineral metabolism. Moreover, evaluating depression and anxiety at phone visits may be necessary for accurate clinical assessment.
microFLOQ® Direct: a helpful tool for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 rapid detection without RNA purification
Authors: Recipon Mathilde , Pussiau Amaury , Follot Sébastien , Latifa Noussair , Herrmann Jean-Louis , Rottman Martin , Gallet Olivier , Kellouche Sabrina , Leroy-Dudal Johanne , Pierrini Georges , Marescal Franck , Touron Patrick , Hubac Sylvain , Siatka Christian
Published: September 2020

In the context of SARS-Cov-2 virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, molecular diagnostic tools were rapidly developed as there are fundamental for a rapid detection of infected people. In this context, and in order to optimize the manipulations and reduce the time to get results, we report the successful use of a sampling tool for COVID-19 diagnosis named microFLOQ® Direct (MFD). Hundred upper respiratory specimens sampled from patients with potential COVID-19 were evaluated using MFD, and results were compared to the results obtained by standard sampling procedure using dry swabs and physiologic serum as the transport medium. MFD results compared to results issued from the classic RNA purification and amplification steps from transport medium showed that MFD can be directly used for RT-PCR analysis without the preliminary inactivation and extraction steps. So, MFD could limit handling errors compared to the different treatment steps with dry swabs and transport medium. It therefore limits the risk of contamination, simplify the analytical process and enables to get results in less than 2 hours. We also show that the MFD kit is operational as a screening tool in the field of molecular detection of viral and bacterial diseases during an outbreak and then it can be used for public health or agro-veterinary purposes.
Polyaniline Nanoskein: Synthetic Method, Characterization, and Redox Sensing
Authors: Hong Yoochan , Kim Hyun Soo , Lee Taeha , Lee Gyudo , Kwon Ohwon
Published: September 2020

Polyaniline nanoskein (PANS), which have polyaniline nanofibers, is developed. PANS is formulated via sequential extracting, heating, and swelling processes. The compositions of PANS have been analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis, and the results of which indicate that PANS is composed of solely organic materials. Moreover, PANS have been shown convertible absorbance characteristics according to surrounding acidic environments, and using these characteristics, the possibility of PANS for sensing of surrounding redox states changes is presented.
Chiral-selective Plasmonic Metasurface Absorber Based on Bilayer Fourfold Twisted Semicircle Nanostructure at Optical Frequency
Authors: Cheng Yongzhi , Chen Fu , Luo Hui
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we demonstrate theoretically a plasmonic metasurface absorber (PMSA) for the high chiral-selective absorption for right-handed and left-handed circular polarization (RCP and LCP) lights at optical frequency. The PMSA is composed of a dielectric substrate sandwiched with bi-layer fourfold twisted semicircle nanostructure. Numerical simulation results that the proposed PMSA has a strong chiral selective absorption bands, where absorption peaks for LCP and RCP lights occur at different resonance frequencies resulting in significant circular dichroism (CD) effect. It is shown that the maximum absorbance of the PMSA can reach to 93.2% for LCP light and 91.6% for RCP light, and that the maximum CD magnitude is about 0.85 and 0.91 around 288.5 THz and 404 THz, respectively. The mechanism of the strong chiroptical response of the PMSA is illustrated and revealed by electric fields distributions. Furthermore, the influence of the geometry of the proposed PMSA on the chiral-selective absorption characterization is studied systematically. Due to the strong chiral-selective absorption and CD effect, the proposed PMSA can be found many potential applications in some areas, such as chiral imaging, optical filters, detecting, and optical communications.PACS numbers: 42.25.Bs, 78.20.−e
Changes in Depression and Physical Activity Among College Students on a Diverse Campus After a COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Order
Authors: Coughenour Courtney , Gakh Maxim , Pharr Jennifer R. , Bungum Timothy , Jalene Sharon
Published: September 2020

The numerous negative health impacts of COVID-19, which include expected changes to psychiatric illness and physical activity (PA), are disproportionately distributed in the United States. Mental illnesses and physical inactivity are prevalent among U.S. college students. This study examined whether there was a change in minutes of PA and depression scores after a stay-at-home order and examined predictors of these changes. An online survey was sent to all undergraduate and graduate students attending a large, diverse university via an electronic newsletter. The survey requested information about demographic and academic data, cardiorespiratory fitness, and depression symptoms. Paired t-tests and logistic regression were employed. Our sample (n=194) was predominantly female (73%), young (mean age of 25), not a sexual minority (82%), and had a mean 3.4 GPA. Students reported worse depression scores (p<0.01) and fewer minutes of PA (p=0.01) after the stay-at-home order. There was a small but significant (p=0.04) correlation between changes in total minutes of PA and depression scores. Senior (p=0.05) and Hispanic (p=0.03) students were less likely to report worsening depression scores than freshmen and white students, respectively. Asian students were significantly more likely than white students to report decreased PA. This study suggests that COVID-19 and its consequences may be contributing to reduced PA and greater depression symptoms in college students and that sub-groups have been affected differently. Targeted interventions to promote PA and support mental health may bolster the ability for resilience of college students.
Projections of Psychiatrists’ Distribution for Patients in Japan: A Utilization-Based Approach
Authors: Sugawara Norio , Yasui-Furukori Norio , Shimoda Kazutaka
Published: September 2020

Background: Depopulation accompanied by population aging is a major public health concern in Japan. Although adequate allocation of mental healthcare resources is needed, there have been few studies on the impact of population change on the supply-demand balance for mental illness in Japan. The aim of this study is to predict psychiatrists' distribution for patients with mental illness via a utilization-based approach.Methods: We set patients with schizophrenia, mood disorders, vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease as study subjects and conducted analyses for 2015, 2025, 2035, and 2045 across all prefectures. Moreover, we evaluated the regional maldistribution of demand and supply by calculating the number of psychiatrists per patient, Gini coefficients (GC), and Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI).Results: The mean number of psychiatrists per patient for patients with schizophrenia, mood disorders, vascular dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease in 2025, 2035, and 2045 was significantly lower than in 2015. For all of the abovementioned diseases, both the GC and HHI will increase until 2045.Conclusion: If psychiatrists are allocated at the current population-to-psychiatrist ratio, the shortage of psychiatrists will continue to worsen in the future. To overcome this inequity, policy makers should make plans for the adequate geographical allocation of healthcare resources or the use of information and communication technologies for the delivery of health services to rural communities.
Medium-term outcomes after laparoscopic revision of laparoscopic Kasai portoenterostomy in patients with biliary atresia
Authors: Ji Yi , Zhang Xuepeng , Chen Siyuan , Li Yanan , Yang Kaiying , Zhou Jiangyuan , Xu Zhicheng
Published: September 2020

Objective
To determine whether revision laparoscopic Kasai portoenterostomy (RLKPE) is a viable treatment option for patients with biliary atresia (BA) who underwent initially successful laparoscopic Kasai portoenterostomy (ILKPE).
Methods
The medical records of 312 patients with nonsyndromic BA who underwent ILKPE between May 2009 and May 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. The patients were divided into three groups according to their outcomes after ILKPE: group A: 25 patients who underwent RLKPE; group B: 203 patients who underwent ILKPE and required no further surgical intervention; and group C: 84 patients with failed ILKPE who either died or required liver transplantation for survival. The 3-year and 5-year survival with native liver (SNL) rates were compared between groups A and B and between groups A and C. Among the 25 patients in group A, the perioperative data of RLKPE were compared with those of ILKPE.
Results
Of the 312 patients who underwent ILKPE, 228 reached the normal bilirubin concentration range within 6 months postoperatively. Among them, 25 patients with a sudden cessation of bile flow underwent RLKPE. Adequate biliary drainage evidenced by normalized conjugated bilirubin levels was achieved in 80% of the patients who underwent RLKPE. The perioperative variables, including operative time, blood loss, rate of conversion to open surgery and complications of RLKPE, were not significantly different between RLKPE and ILKPE. The 3-year and 5-year SNL rates in patients after RLKPE were 64.0% and 52.0%, respectively, which were not significantly different from the corresponding 86.2% and 73.9% in patients after unrevised ILKPE (P > 0.05) but were significantly better than the corresponding values of group C (P < 0.01).
Conclusion
Our data demonstrated that with appropriate patient selection, RPLKE can be a viable and effective treatment opinion in patients who experience sudden cessation of bile drainage after ILKPE. RPLKE can delay the need for liver transplantation, yielding encouraging medium-term patient outcomes.
THE MILLENNIAL KIAIS
Authors: Rusydiyah Evi Fatimatur
Published: September 2020

The development of social media technology provides people with more accessible information about religious knowledge. Everyone can learn the religion from social media, particularly Youtube. This phenomenon seems to force young Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) kiais (religious experts) such as Gus Baha, Gus Miftah, and Gus Muwafiq to be more adaptive and familiar to social media platform, like Youtube. This makes them close to being called “the millennial kiais.” Using a phenomenological approach based on observations on Youtube, this paper examines the performance of millennial kiais in carrying out the process of dakwah (Islamic proselytization) and in becoming role models for social education as they do. The educational interaction carried out by these millennial kiais on Youtube seems to be very effective in attracting the interest of wider citizens. The number of their viewers reaches between four to eight million in one year. The number of videos viewed is around one hundred. The model of social education introduced by these millennial kiais is analyzed through the Bandura theory which starts through a process of stimulation and observation and is followed by a process in mental cognition, which creates motivation and demands a response by clicking the likes button and subscribing comments. The response marks the beginning of a constant change of behavior.
Non-hermitian holography
Authors: Arean Daniel , Landsteiner Karl , Salazar Landea Ignacio
Published: September 2020

Quantum theory can be formulated with certain non-Hermitian Hamiltonians.
An anti-linear involution, denoted by PT, is a symmetry of such Hamiltonians.
In the PT-symmetric regime the non-Hermitian
Hamiltonian is related to a Hermitian one by a Hermitian similarity transformation.
We extend the concept of non-Hermitian quantum theory to gauge-gravity duality. Non-Hermiticity is
introduced via boundary conditions in asymptotically AdS spacetimes.
At zero temperature the PT phase transition is identified as the point at which the solutions cease to be real.
Surprisingly at finite temperature real black hole solutions can be found well outside the quasi-Hermitian regime.
These backgrounds are however unstable to fluctuations which establishes the persistence of the holographic dual of the PT phase transition at finite temperature.
Hydrochemistry and multivariate statistical analysis of the quality of water from Lake Bosomtwe for agricultural and human consumption
Authors: Amankwaa Gordon , Yin Xifeng , Zhang Liming , Huang Weihong , Cao Yunfei , Ni Xiaoni
Published: September 2020

One of the six major meteoric lakes in the world, Lake Bosomtwe, is of great ecological significance for Ghanaians and the scientific community, most importantly for agricultural and human consumption. Water samples (n = 30) were collected to analyze the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of the lake. Statistical methods including correlation, principal component, cluster analysis, Gibbs ratio, and the Piper–Trilinear diagram were used to analyze parameters. The Water Quality Index revealed that the lake water is not suitable for human consumption because measured pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, color, and bicarbonate exceeded their respective thresholds on all occasions. The calculated sodium absorption ratio (13.7–14.8) and soluble sodium percentage (94.43–95.43%) showed that the lake is not appropriate for irrigation as they exceeded their respective limit of 2 and 60%. The Gibbs ratio revealed that rock–water interaction is the underlying mechanism for water evolution. The Piper–Trilinear diagram revealed that alkalies earth and weak acids dominate the water chemistry of the lake. The dominant cation is sodium (82.22%), while the dominant anion is bicarbonate (79.39%). Five monitoring stations were identified, and the water quality was influenced by diverse anthropogenic and natural sources. The findings will provide a reference for policymakers and decision-makers at Lake Bosomtwe.
Targeting Natural Products for the Treatment of COVID-19 – An Updated Review
Authors: Pamuru Ramachandra R. , Ponneri Naveen , Damu Amooru G. , Vadde Ramakrishna
Published: September 2020

Background:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing, rapidly spreading pandemic
caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV2). Among all the infected countries
around the globe as of now (June 15, 2020), the total confirmed positive cases reported are 7,805,148, with the
death of 431,192. At present, no specialized treatments evolved to cure COVID-19. Its treatment is symptomatic.
Though huge efforts are being made to produce potential therapies to scuffle COVID-19, no drug has been
discovered so far.

Objective:

Natural products have been playing a significant role in disease control since ancient days. These
products serve as templates for designing new anti-microbial agents with a different mechanism of action and
also open a door for investigation of effective anti-viral drugs to combat COVID-19. By focusing on this, the
authors have narrated the basic structure, infection, and pathogenesis of SARS-CoV2 virus in humans and also
reported various natural products or plant-based extracts/bioactive compounds tested against coronaviruses like
SARS and MERS, as these viruses are structurally similar to SARS-CoV2 and can be used in designing novel
drug against this virus.

Conclusions:

The natural products having the potential to combat SARS, MERS, and other viruses reviewed in
this review article might have anti-viral activities against the SARS-CoV2 virus and can be used directly for further
preclinical studies. Therefore, all efforts should be focused on overcoming this serious problem to save
many people's lives all over the world.
THE EFFECT OF FOOT SOAK THERAPY USING WARM WATER TOWARD ANXIETY LEVEL OF PREECLAMPSIA MOTHERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH OF TEMPUREJO JEMBER REGENCY
Authors: Mangrasih Rhozy Sadya , Kurniawati Dini , Juliningsih Peni Perdani
Published: September 2020

One of psychological error happened on preeclampsia mothers is anxiety disorder. One of the interventions given to preeclamptic women who suffer anxiety is the treatment of warm water foot soak. The research aim to analyze the effect of warm water foot soak therapy on anxiety of preeclampsia women in Puskesmas Tempurejo, Jember Regency. This research used Quasi experimental with a research design of Pretest-posttest with Control Group. The sample was 30 preeclamptic women and used purposive sampling. Data was obtained using an anxiety questionnaire (validity value 0.93 and reliability value 0.97). Data analysis used Wilcoxon. The results of this research showed that there were 15 effects of warm water foot soak therapy (p = 0,003). While in the control group there was no influence (p = 0.317). The mann whitney Â showed significant differences between the intervention groups after being given warm water foot soak therapy and the control group (p = 0,000). Warm water foot soak therapy is a non-pharmacological therapy that can stimulate the endorphin hormone so that the body feels relaxed. The effect of relaxation by increasing comfort through sensations on foot surface and lower the level of anxiety. This warm water foot soak therapy is applicable for pregnant women who suffer anxiety.Â
Curating a Future Earth
Authors: Beavington Lee
Published: September 2020

In fall 2019, I enrolled in SFU's President’s Dream Colloquium course, Creative Ecologies: Reimagining the World. One of the scholars we read was anthropology professor Dr. Shannon Mattern. My creative response to Mattern’s paper—"The Big Data of Ice, Rocks, Soils, and Sediments”—offered an alternative way to engage with her scholarship. In searching for poetic and concise turns of phrase, I noted how her word choice and image-making related to her essay’s construction. I sought out bits of data from her paper, re-arranged them into a cohesive unit, and from this garnered a deeper meaning of her intent and expertise. I also noted what was absent or lacking, and this deficit of words, specifically toward ‘should we be exploiting the planet for research?’ inspired me to emphasize this in my found poem.
Privacy Perceptions and Concerns in Image-Based Dietary Assessment Systems: Questionnaire-Based Study
Authors: Sharma Aakash , Czerwinska Katja P , Brenna Lars , Johansen Dag , Johansen Håvard D
Published: September 2020

Background

Complying with individual privacy perceptions is essential when processing personal information for research. Our specific research area is performance development of elite athletes, wherein nutritional aspects are important. Before adopting new automated tools that capture such data, it is crucial to understand and address the privacy concerns of the research subjects that are to be studied. Privacy as contextual integrity emphasizes understanding contextual sensitivity in an information flow. In this study, we explore privacy perceptions in image-based dietary assessments. This research field lacks empirical evidence on what will be considered as privacy violations when exploring trends in long-running studies. Prior studies have only classified images as either private or public depending on their basic content. An assessment and analysis are thus needed to prevent unwanted consequences of privacy breach and other issues perceived as sensitive when designing systems for dietary assessment by using food images.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate common perceptions of computer systems using food images for dietary assessment. The study delves into perceived risks and data-sharing behaviors.

Methods

We investigated the privacy perceptions of 105 individuals by using a web-based survey. We analyzed these perceptions along with perceived risks in sharing dietary information with third parties.

Results

We found that understanding the motive behind the use of data increases its chances of sharing with a social group.

Conclusions

In this study, we highlight various privacy concerns that can be addressed during the design phase. A system design that is compliant with general data protection regulations will increase participants’ and stakeholders’ trust in an image-based dietary assessment system. Innovative solutions are needed to reduce the intrusiveness of a continuous assessment. Individuals show varying behaviors for sharing metadata, as knowing what the data is being used for, increases the chance of it being shared.
Attitudes and Expectations of Health Care Professionals Toward App-Based Therapy in Patients with Osteoarthritis of the Hip or Knee: Questionnaire Study
Authors: Biebl Johanna Theresia , Huber Stephan , Rykala Marzena , Kraft Eduard , Lorenz Andreas
Published: September 2020

Background

The use of mobile health (mHealth) apps is becoming increasingly widespread. However, little is known about the attitudes, expectations, and basic acceptance of health care professionals toward such treatment options. As physical activity and behavior modification are crucial in osteoarthritis management, app-based therapy could be particularly useful for the self-management of this condition.

Objective

The objective of the study was to determine the expectations and attitudes of medical professionals toward app-based therapy for osteoarthritis of the hip or knee.

Methods

Health care professionals attending a rehabilitation congress and employees of a university hospital were asked to fill out a questionnaire consisting of 16 items. A total of 240 questionnaires were distributed.

Results

A total of 127 participants completed the questionnaire. At 95.3% (121/127), the approval rate for app-based therapy for patients with osteoarthritis of the hip or knee was very high. Regarding possible concerns, aspects related to data protection and privacy were primarily mentioned (41/127, 32.3%). Regarding potential content, educational units, physiotherapeutic exercise modules, and practices based on motivation psychology were all met with broad approval.

Conclusions

The study showed a high acceptance of app-based therapy for osteoarthritis, indicating a huge potential of this form of treatment to be applied, prescribed, and recommended by medical professionals. It was widely accepted that the content should reflect a multimodal therapy approach.
Consumer-Grade Wearable Device for Predicting Frailty in Canadian Home Care Service Clients: Prospective Observational Proof-of-Concept Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kim Ben , McKay Sandra M , Lee Joon
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Frailty has detrimental health impacts on older home care clients and is associated with increased hospitalization and long-term care admission. The prevalence of frailty among home care clients is poorly understood and ranges from 4.0% to 59.1%. Although frailty screening tools exist, their inconsistent use in practice calls for more innovative and easier-to-use tools. Owing to increases in the capacity of wearable devices, as well as in technology literacy and adoption in Canadian older adults, wearable devices are emerging as a viable tool to assess frailty in this population.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to prove that using a wearable device for assessing frailty in older home care clients could be possible.

METHODS

From June 2018 to September 2019, we recruited home care clients aged 55 years and older to be monitored over a minimum of 8 days using a wearable device. Detailed sociodemographic information and patient assessments including degree of comorbidity and activities of daily living were collected. Frailty was measured using the Fried Frailty Index. Data collected from the wearable device were used to derive variables including daily step count, total sleep time, deep sleep time, light sleep time, awake time, sleep quality, heart rate, and heart rate standard deviation. Using both wearable and conventional assessment data, multiple logistic regression models were fitted via a sequential stepwise feature selection to predict frailty.

RESULTS

A total of 37 older home care clients completed the study. The mean age was 82.27 (SD 10.84) years, and 76% (28/37) were female; 13 participants were frail, significantly older (P<.01), utilized more home care service (P=.01), walked less (P=.04), slept longer (P=.01), and had longer deep sleep time (P<.01). Total sleep time (r=0.41, P=.01) and deep sleep time (r=0.53, P<.01) were moderately correlated with frailty. The logistic regression model fitted with deep sleep time, step count, age, and education level yielded the best predictive performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristics curve value of 0.90 (Hosmer-Lemeshow P=.88).

CONCLUSIONS

We proved that a wearable device could be used to assess frailty for older home care clients. Wearable data complemented the existing assessments and enhanced predictive power. Wearable technology can be used to identify vulnerable older adults who may benefit from additional home care services.
Relationship Between COVID-19 Information Sources and Attitudes in Battling the Pandemic Among the Malaysian Public: Cross-Sectional Survey Study (Preprint)
Authors: Mohamad Emma , Tham Jen Sern , Ayub Suffian Hadi , Hamzah Mohammad Rezal , Hashim Hasrul , Azlan Arina Anis
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

There are multiple media platforms and various resources available for information on COVID-19. Identifying people’s preferences is key to building public confidence and planning for successful national health intervention strategies.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the sources of information for COVID-19 used by the Malaysian public and identifies those that are associated with building public confidence and positive perceptions toward the Malaysian government.

METHODS

A cross-sectional online survey of 4850 Malaysian residents was conducted. Participant demographics, media use, information sources, and attitudes surrounding COVID-19 were assessed. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to gauge the relationship between demographics, information sources, and attitudes toward COVID-19.

RESULTS

Malaysians primarily used television and internet news portals to access information on COVID-19. The Malaysian Ministry of Health was the most preferred source of COVID-19 information. Respondents who referred to the Ministry of Health, television, and the Malaysian National Security Council for information were more likely to believe that the country could win the battle against COVID-19 and that the government was handling the health crisis well compared to those who referred to other information sources. Those who used the World Health Organization, friends, YouTube, family, and radio as sources of information were less likely to harbor confidence and positive belief toward combating COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

Managing information and sustaining public confidence is important during a pandemic. Health authorities should pay considerable attention to the use of appropriate media channels and sources to allow for more effective dissemination of critical information to the public.
Bovine Lactoferrin to Prevent Neonatal Infections in Low-Birth-Weight Newborns in Pakistan: Protocol for a Three-Arm Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: Ariff Shabina , Soofi Sajid , Aamir Almas , D'Almeida Michelle , Aziz Ali Arzina , Alam Ashraful , Dibley Michael
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a common and severe complication in premature neonates, particularly those born with low birth weights (<2500 g). Neonatal sepsis is steadily emerging as a leading cause of neonatal mortality in Pakistan. Lactoferrin is a natural product with broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and glycoprotein that is actively involved in innate immune host responses. Clinical trials have revealed its protective effect on sepsis, but lactoferrin dosage, duration, and role in the prevention of sepsis are still uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to establish the efficacy of bovine lactoferrin in the prevention of late-onset sepsis and to determine the optimal dose and method of administering bovine lactoferrin that may contribute to improvement in overall survival of low birth weight infants.

METHODS

We will implement the study in 2 phases at the Aga Khan University Hospital. The first phase, which we have completed, was formative research. This phase mainly focused on a qualitative exploration of perceptions about feeding and caring practices of low birth weight newborns and a trial of improved practices for the preparation and administration of bovine lactoferrin to newborns. The second phase is a 3-arm double-blind randomized controlled trial. In this phase, we randomly allocated 2 different daily oral prophylactic doses of bovine lactoferrin (150 mg or 300 mg) and placebo to 300 low–birth weight neonates starting within the first 72 hours of birth and continuing for the first 28 days of life.

RESULTS

The study protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Aga Khan University on August 16, 2017. Data collection began in April 2018 and was completed in September 2020. Data analyses are yet to be completed. We expect the results to be published in peer-reviewed journals by autumn of 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

This intervention, if effective, has the potential to be translated into a safe, affordable, and widely utilized treatment to prevent sepsis and, subsequently, may improve the survival outcomes of low birth weight neonates in Pakistan and other low- and middle-income countries.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03431558; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03431558

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

PRR1-10.2196/23994
Attempts of EFL Teachers at Kuwait University for Enhancing Their EFL Learners’ Oral Skills
Authors: Almutairi Mohammad
Published: September 2020

This study aims to investigate the attempts of six EFL teachers at various colleges and faculties of Kuwait University to develop their EFL students’ oral skills. In a qualitative method using semi-structured interviews, the EFL teachers described their students’ levels of English as very good or good, but they needed to encourage their students to use their oral English widely so that they could, therefore, improve it to better levels. The qualitative method was chosen to get in-depth details and information about the individual experiences of the experienced teachers. The findings showed that the participants used various strategies and techniques, such as using supplementary materials, using drama, listening to tape recorders, working in language labs, having group discussions (with or against), etc. The data also revealed that the improvement of oral skills of EFL students at Kuwait University had been successfully achieved.
El retorno de lo campesino: una revisión sobre los esencialismos y heterogeneidades en la antropología
Authors: Tocancipá-Falla Jairo
Published: September 2020

La revisión crítica de los conceptos empleados en la antropología es importante en la producción de conocimiento. Este artículo examina el caso del concepto campesino, cuestionado por distintos académicos, especialmente en lo que podría llamarse una antropología de la(s) metrópoli(s). La crítica analizada procede de un trabajo reciente del antropólogo Michael Kearney, quien sugiere la sustitución del concepto campesino por otro más elaborado, polybiano, que manifiesta la condición actual de poblaciones rurales que ya no son estables en sus lugares de origen. El artículo plantea que, si bien este es el caso de México, no es posible hacer extrapolaciones a otras regiones de América latina, donde tal categorización puede no ser pertinente.
INFLUÊNCIA DA FAMÍLIA NA APRENDIZAGEM DE ESTUDANTES DE UMA ESCOLA PRIVADA MATO-GROSSENSE
Authors: Teixeira Isabel Aparecida , Tasinaffo Alves Ana Claudia , Leão Marcelo Franco
Published: September 2020

A influência da família na aprendizagem tem fomentado uma crescente preocupação dada a sua relevância para a educação e o desenvolvimento de estudantes, causando desafios na aprendizagem de crianças. O presente texto é resultado de uma pesquisa que teve como objetivo compreender a influência da família na superação de dificuldades de aprendizagem de crianças de uma escola privada mato-grossense na disciplina de Ciências. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, feito a partir de uma intervenção pedagógica realizada em uma escola privada de Confresa/MT. Essas atividades iniciaram em 2017 e deram continuidade até 2019. Foram muitas as situações observadas, porém, optou-se por relatar no presente texto, três estudantes que participaram da intervenção pedagógica que envolveu a professora, esses estudantes e familiares. Sendo assim, é evidente a importância da participação da família em todas as etapas da vida, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento social e intelectual dos estudantes.