bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stagewise Resolution of Temperature-Dependent Embryonic and Postembryonic Development in the Cowpea Seed Beetle Callosobruchus Maculatus (F.)
Authors: Kutcherov Dmitry
Published: June 2020

Background The thermal plasticity of life-history traits receives wide attention in the recent biological literature. Of all the temperature-dependent traits studied, developmental rates of ectotherms are especially often addressed, and yet surprisingly little is known about embryonic responses to temperature, including changes in the thermal thresholds and thermal sensitivity during early development. Even postembryonic development of many cryptically living species is understood superficially at best. Results This study is the first to estimate the exact durations of developmental stages in the cowpea seed beetle C. maculatus from oviposition to adult emergence at five nonstressful constant temperatures from 20 to 32°C. Early embryonic development was tracked and documented by means of destructive sampling and subsequent confocal imaging of fluorescently stained specimens. Late embryonic and early larval development was studied with the use of destructive sampling and light microscopy. Well-resolved temporal series based on thousands of embryos allowed precise timing of the following developmental events: formation of the blastoderm; formation, elongation, and retraction of the germ band; dorsal closure; the onset and completion of sclerotization of the cuticle; hatching, and penetration of the first-instar larva into the cowpea seed. Pupation and adult eclosion were observed directly through an incision in the seed coat. The thermal phenotype of C. maculatus was found to vary in the course of ontogeny and different stages scaled disproportionately with temperature, but pitfalls and caveats associated with analyses of relative durations of individual stages are also briefly discussed.Conclusion Disproportionate changes in developmental durations with temperature may have important implications when study design requires a high degree of synchronization among experimental embryos or when the occurrence of particular stages in the field is of interest, as well as in any other cases when development times need to be estimated with precision. This work provides one of the first examples of integration of embryological techniques with ecophysiological concepts and will hopefully motivate similar projects in the future. While experiments with Drosophila remain to be the main source of information on animal development, knowledge on other model species is instrumental to building a broader picture of developmental phenomena.
Olfactory dysfunction quantified by olfactometry in patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection
Authors: Cervilla Maria Teresa , Gutierrez Irene , Romero Maria , Garcia-Gomez Javier
Published: June 2020

Objective: To quantify olfactory dysfunction by olfactometry in patients with laboratory confirmed SARS-Cov-2 infection.Methods: Patients from a particular Spanish health area with SARS-Cov-2 infection were recruited to study the loss of smell. Olfactometry was performed using the Sniffin Sticks test. The following clinical symtoms were studied: ENT symptoms related to infection, duration of sensorineural loss, subjective and objective score of loss of smell, and its temporal relationship with other systemic symptoms.Results: A total of 51 patients with SARS-Cov-2 infection completed the study. A total of 86.3% reported subjective loss of smell capacity. Objective loss of olfactory ability was quantified by olfactometry in 22% of patients. Statistical significance was demonstrated between the group of patients with anosmia/hyposmia and the Sniffin Sticks test (p-value: 0.013). The most frequent ENT symptoms in patients with quantified olfactory loss consisted of nasal obstruction, absence of rhinorrhea, sore throat, and ear pain. The subjective olfactory recovery rate prior to performing olfactometry was 64.3% of the sample. A total of 77% of patients in whom olfactory loss was quantified by olfactometry reported a subjective duration of more than 15 days.Conclusion: Olfactory dysfunction is an objective clinical finding in patients with SARS- Cov-2 infection. Its persistence has been demonstrated beyond the first month after infection. Their quantitative study should be continued to determine the recovery rate and its possible long-term sequelae, as well as treatments to improve the quality of life of these patients.
Evaluation of Effects of Positive Birth Experience on the Perception of Birth of Primiparous Women
Authors: öztürk duygu murat , Aydoğdu Saadet Gonca Mavi , Çakır Esma , Güler Burcu
Published: June 2020

Background:A positive birth experience for women is related to active support systems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the birth perceptions of primiparous women after having interactions with women who had positive birth experiences.Methods:Of the pregnant women who applied to the non-stress test (NST) service at the XXX Hospital between the dates of June 18 and July 18, 2018, 60 pregnant women who met the criteria voluntarily participated in this study. These women were placed into two groups. The first group was given a sound recording to hear positive birth stories. No intervention was made for the 30 pregnant women in the second group. A questionnaire including the Perception of Birth Scale (POBS) was applied to these 60 puerperant women after birth. The data were analyzed with the SPSS software package. Percentage, frequency values and Mann-Whitney U test values were used to evaluate the data.Results: The average age of the women was 23.51±3.47 years. Of these, 43.3% of the women had received no training before birth, while 56.7% had obtained training. The POBS scores of the control and experimental groups were compared and the total score of the scale, as well as the “delivery experience” and “labor experience” sub-dimensions of the scale were found to be statistically significant (p<0.005).Conclusions:Stories about positive birth experiences have effects on the perception of birth. Thus, positive birth experiences should be given more importance.
The Value of Urinary RBP4 in The Diagnosis of FSGS and other Renal Diseases.
Authors: Marek-Bukowiec Karolina , Konieczny Andrzej , Ratajczyk Krzysztof , Macur Katarzyna , Czaplewska Paulina , Czyżewska-Buczyńska Agnieszka , Kowal Paweł , Witkiewicz Wojciech
Published: June 2020

BackgroundFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the leading cause of chronic renal failure worldwide. Unequivocal diagnosis of FSGS can only be made with a renal biopsy, which is an invasive, risk-associated medical procedure. The discovery of non-invasive molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis of FSGS still remains an important scientific goal. This study examines the urinary proteome profile of FSGS patients and reference groups, in order to identify urinary protein expression alterations indicative of FSGS. Methods Urine samples were collected from subjects representing FSGS, IgA nephropathy (IgAN), clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), chromophobe renal cell carcinoma (chRCC), and healthy control group, respectively. The samples were pooled and subjected to SWATH-MS proteomics analysis. ELISA was utilized to validate the expression level of Retinol-binding protein 4 (uRBP4) in 130 urine supernatant samples (21 FSGS, 20 IgAN, 31 ccRCC, 21 chRCC, 7 prostate cancer patients and 30 healthy volunteers).ResultsThe MS study identified 194 (FSGS), 179 (IgAN), 271 (ccRCC), 255 (chRCC), and 275 (healthy controls) urinary proteins. The comparative proteomic analysis revealed that Retinol-binding protein 4 clearly discriminates FSGS from the rest of the groups. Increased levels of uRBP4 in FSGS urine specimens were also detected by ELISA (FSGS vs IgAN p=0.0244, FSGS vs ccRCC p=0.004, FSGS vs chRCC p=0.013, FSGS vs prostate cancer p=0.02, FSGS vs healthy controls p<0.00001). Significantly elevated levels of uRBP4 were also observed for IgAN, ccRCC and chRCC versus healthy individuals.ConclusionsUrinary RBP4 protein is significantly upregulated in FSGS in comparison to IgAN, ccRCC, chRCC, prostate cancer patients and healthy subjects. Determining FSGS diagnosis based on uRBP4 expression alone is not possible. Specific uRBP4 concentration cut-off can be applied to accurately distinguish individuals with renal disorder (in general) from healthy subjects. Thus, urinary RBP4 could serve as a screening biomarker identifying people at risk of renal disorders, who should undergo more detailed diagnostics.
Preparedness and Approaches of Healthcare Providers to Tackle the Transmission of Covid-19 among North Shewa Zone Hospitals, Amhara, Ethiopia, 2020.
Authors: Mulu Getaneh Baye , Kebede worku Misganaw , worku Solomon Adanew , Mittiku Yohannes Moges , Jemere Birhanu Ayelign
Published: June 2020

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 is an emerging respiratory disease that is caused by a novel coronavirus and was first detected in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. The disease is highly infectious, and its main clinical symptoms include fever, dry cough, fatigue, myalgia, and dyspnea. Health care providers are in front in fighting the coronavirus spread by making themselves the risk of contracting the disease. This study aimed to assess the preparedness and approaches of healthcare providers to tackle the transmission of COVID-19 among North Shewa Zone Hospitals.
Methods

Facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2020 among 422 healthcare providers in the North Shewa Zone, Amhara, Ethiopia using a self-administered questionnaire. Study subjects were selected through systematic random sampling based on their proportional distribution of sample size to each hospital. A structured questionnaire will be used to collect data. The data were coded and entered into the Epi data 4.2.1 version and the analysis was carried out in statistical package for social science 25 versions.
Results

404 participants involved in the study gives a response rate of 95.7%. The self-satisfaction of healthcare providers revealed 301 (74.5%) of study participants feel unsafe in their workplace. Two-third, 260 (64.4%) of them responded that they feel anxious while working with febrile patients. Nearly one -third (31%), 27.4%, 15.9%, 14.5%, 14.2% of HCP had access to gloves, facemask, goggle, shoe, and apron respectively in hospitals.
Conclusion

Protecting healthcare workers is a public health priority. Access to essential personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic was limited. The poor perception of healthcare professionals about not having enough support from medical institutions and public health authorities raises the need to urgently implement strategies to protect healthcare workers in the time of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SARS-CoV-2: High-Resolution Microscopy Study in Human Nasopharyngeal Samples.
Authors: Mondeja Brian , Valdes Odalys , Resik Sonia , Vizcaino Ananayla , Acosta Emilio , Montalván Adelmo , Paez Amira , Mune Mayra , Rodríguez Roberto , Valdés Juan , Gonzalez Guelsys , Sanchez Daisy , Falcón Viviana , González Yorexis , Kourí Vivian , Group The IPK Virology Research , Díaz Angelina , Guzmán Maria
Published: June 2020

BackgroundThe novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is the etiological agent of COVID-19. This virus has become one of the most dangerous in recent times with a very high rate of transmission. At present, several publications show the typical crown-shape of the novel coronavirus grown in cell cultures. However, an integral ultramicroscopy study done directly from clinical specimens has not been published. Methods Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from two Cuban individuals, one asymptomatic and RT-PCR negative (negative control) and the other from a COVID-19 symptomatic and RT-PCR positive for SARS CoV-2. Samples were treated with an aldehyde solution and processed by Scanning Electron Microscopy, Confocal Microscopy and, Atomic Force Microscopy. Improvement and segmentation of coronavirus images were performed by mathematic algorithms. Results The images of the negative control sample showed the characteristic healthy microvilli morphology at the apical region of the nasal epithelial cells. As expected, they do not display virus-like structures. The images of the positive sample showed characteristic coronavirus-like particles and evident destruction of microvilli. In some regions, virions gemmating through the cell membrane were observed. Microvilli destruction could explain the anosmia reported by some patients. Virus-particles emerging from the cell-surface with a variable size ranging from 80 to 400 nm were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A confocal study showed viral antigen recognition in the apical cells zone. Conclusions The integral microscopy study showed that SARS-CoV-2 has a similar image to SARS-CoV. The application of several high-resolution microscopy techniques to clinical samples can help to answer important questions its replicative cycle and immunopathogenic mechanism of this novel coronavirus, relevant for the development of new treatments against this disease.
Blood manganese and cognitive and motor skills at age 6-7 in Canadian cohort GESTE
Authors: Staedelin Luc , Nadia Abdelouahab , Desautels Anne-Sandrine , Gillet Virginie , Boivin Amélie , Wilkie Erin , Farmer Marie , Brennan Kasey J.M , Laue Hannah E. , Bocti Christian , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Takser Larissa
Published: June 2020

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that high exposure to manganese (Mn) may impair brain development. In Canada, Mn exposure comes from several environmental sources and the most common is drinking water. Our objective was to examine the relationship between blood Mn and psychomotor skills in school-aged children from the Eastern Townships, Qc, Canada. In addition, we examined the association of Mn with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) diagnosis in our study group.Methods: Children were recruited at birth (through their mother) and followed prospectively. At 6-7 years of age, 210 children provided a blood sample for manganese testing and underwent a battery of neuropsychological tests. This battery assessed several major cognitive domains including general intelligence, attention and others via subtests from the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – IV (WISC-IV), the Developmental NEuroPSYchological Assessment-II (NEPSYII) and the Test of Everyday Attention for Children (TEACH). Parents were asked if their child had ever received a physician diagnosis of ADHD. Blood was analysed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistic modelling was used to control for potential confounding factors, including blood lead.Results: Median blood Mn was 9.9 µg/L (range 4.7 – 21.4 µg/L). The Design Copying – Fine motor score of the NEPSYII was positively associated with blood Mn (linear model β: 0.17 [95% Confidence Interval: 0.03 to 0.32]; adjusted model β: 0.16 [95% Confidence Interval 0.01 to 0.30]). Blood Mn was not associated with diagnosis of ADHD. Sex-stratified analyses indicated potential effect modification by child sex such that manganese had a beneficial association on the Score DT test (a measure of sustained attention), but only among boys (β: 0.29, [95% confidence interval: 0.098 to 0.49]) Conclusions: In agreement with studies from areas with similar environmental Mn levels, our study suggests that blood Mn level does not have wide-ranging associations with cognitive functions, psychomotor skills, or a diagnosis/suspicion of ADHD in school-aged children. To resolve the controversy about toxicity of environmental Mn on the developing brain, further studies should simultaneously focus on several biomarkers of Mn exposure, potential lifestyle protective factors, as well as brain imaging.
“Porcine Digestible Peptides (Pdp) in Weanling Diets Improves Gut Barrier Function, Immune Response and Nutrient Transport in Nursery Pigs” 
Authors: González-Solé Francesc , Criado-Mesas Lourdes , Villodre Carmen , García Wellington C. , Farré Mercè , Borda Elisabet , Pérez-Cano Francisco J. , Folch Josep M. , Solà-Oriol David , Pérez José F.
Published: June 2020

Background: Porcine digestive peptides (PDP) have proven to be a valid substitute for other high-quality dietary protein sources for piglets, like spray-dried plasma (SDP), but knowledge about their influence on intestinal function is still scarce. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of PDP, SDP or a combination of both on growth performance and intestinal function of weaned pigs. Results: A total of 180 piglets (Trial 1) and 198 piglets (Trial 2) were used to evaluate the partial substitution of soybean ingredients with 2% SDP or 2% PDP (Trial 1), and with 3% SDP or the combination of 1% SDP and 2% PDP (SDP-PDP; Trial 2) during the pre-starter period (d0-14). A common commercial diet was offered up to day 35 in Trial 2. The effects on intestinal function were evaluated by quantifyingthe gene expression (56 genes in an Open Array Real-Time PCRPlatform) in jejunum and ileum samples obtained from piglets on d 14 after weaning (Trial 2).Piglets fed SDP, PDP and SDP-PDP had a higher body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (G:F) than the soybean controlon day 14 (P< 0.05), but no differences were observed among groups at the end of starter phase (Trial 2). Ten genes in jejunum and five in ileum samples were differentially expressed among treatments (P< 0.05). The highest expression was found in the SDP-PDP group. These genes are involved in the barrier function of intestinal cells,the immune response, mucosal nutrient transport, digestion and metabolization of oxidation products. Conclusion: The combination of SDP and PDP upregulated genes related to the intestinal functionwithout affecting growth performance. The underlying mechanisms that produced these effects are still unknown; however, protein hydrolysates might contain bioactive peptides that could be the cause.
Effects of Desflurane and Sevoflurane Anesthesia on Regulatory T Cells in Patients Undergoing Living Donor Kidney Transplantation: A Randomized Intervention Trial
Authors: Chutipongtanate Arpa , Prukviwat Sasichol , Pongsakul Nutkridta , Sris Supanart , Kamanee Nakarin , Arpornsujaritkun Nuttapon , Gesprasert Goragoch , Apiwattanakul Nopporn , Hongeng Suradej , Ittichaikulthol Wichai , Sumethkul Vasant , Chutipongtanate Somchai
Published: June 2020

Background: Volatile anesthetic agents used during surgery have immunomodulatory effects which could affect postoperative outcomes. Recognizing that regulatory T cells (Tregs) plays crucial roles in transplant tolerance and high peripheral blood Tregs associated with stable kidney graft function, knowing which volatile anesthetic agents can induce peripheral blood Tregs increment would have clinical implications. This study aimed to compare effects of desflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia on peripheral blood Tregs induction in patients undergoing living donor kidney transplantation.Methods: A prospective, randomized, double-blind trial in living donor kidney transplant recipients was conducted at a single center, tertiary-care, academic university hospital in Thailand during August 2015 – June 2017. Sixty-six patients were assessed for eligibility and 40 patients who fulfilled the study requirement were equally randomized and allocated to desflurane versus sevoflurane anesthesia during transplant surgery. The primary outcome included absolute changes of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+FoxP3+Tregs which measured by flow cytometry and expressed as the percentage of the total population of CD4+ T lymphocytes at pre-exposure (0-h) and post-exposure (2-h and 24-h) to anesthetic gas. P-value <0.05 denoted statistical significance.Results: Demographic data were comparable between groups. No statistical difference of peripheral blood Tregs between desflurane and sevoflurane groups observed at the baseline pre-exposure (3.6±0.4% vs. 3.1±0.4%; p=0.371) and 2-h post-exposure (3.0±0.3% vs. 3.5±0.4%; p=0.319). At 24-h post-exposure, peripheral blood Tregs was significantly higher in desflurane group (5.8±0.5% vs. 4.1±0.3%; p=0.008). Within group analysis showed patients receiving desflurane, but not sevoflurane, had 2.7% increase in peripheral blood Treg over 24-h period (p<0.001). Conclusion: This study provides the clinical trial-based evidence that desflurane induced peripheral blood Tregs increment after 24-h exposure, which could be beneficial in the context of kidney transplantation. Mechanisms of action and clinical advantages of desflurane anesthesia based on Treg immunomodulation should be investigated in the future. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02559297. Registered 22 September 2015 - retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02559297
Bibliometric Analysis on the Comorbidity of Anxiety and Pain
Authors: Wu Cheng-Cheng , Hu Hao-Yu , Wang Xue-Qiang
Published: June 2020

Background: Pain is commonly associated with psychological variables, such as anxiety and depression. However, only a few studies statistically analyzed the global trends and conducted a review through the bibliometric method. Purpose: This work aimed to analyze the general aspects of scientific studies worldwide on the comorbid of anxiety and pain research between 2000 and 2019. Methods: Published papers on the comorbid of anxiety and pain from the last 2 decades were retrieved from the Web of Science core collection. To assess whether the percentage statistically decreased or increased over time by using IBM SPSS Statistics 22.0. Results: A total of 1,329 papers met the inclusion criteria. The trend of annual publications presented a significant growth from 2000 to 2019 (P<0.001) by linear regression analysis. Clinical Neurology, Neurosciences, and Anesthesiology of subject categories had superior quality and were recognized as mainstream on comorbid anxiety and pain research. The United States (416, 30.85%) and the University of Washington (23, 1.73%) were the most prolific and high-quality country and institution, respectively. Postoperative pain (11.81%) and headache (11.14%) were the hottest topic among researchers. Music, distraction, adult, dental anxiety, and preoperative anxiety were emerging hotspots and could be regarded as research frontiers. Conclusions: Bibliometric analysis of the comorbidity of anxiety and pain and provides insights into research countries, institutions, authors, and core journal, visual, hot topics, overall tendency, and research frontiers that will aid in exploring hidden valuable field for future research.
Multiprofessional Medication Management (MuMM) Intervention Aiming at Enhancing the Tolerability of Cancer Chemotherapy: A Randomized Feasibility Trial
Authors: Wilmer André , Vucur Corinna , Tasar Andrea , Klima Katharina , Fleckenstein Katrin , Puth Marie-Therese , Mitchell Sandra , Ruberg Klaus , Schmid Matthias , Ko Yon D. , Jaehde Ulrich
Published: June 2020

Background: A newly developed multiprofessional medication management (MuMM) intervention in an oncologic outpatient care setting was evaluated for its feasibility to enhance the tolerability of cancer-directed therapy. The intervention consisted of a basic care module for medication review including drug-drug interaction checks, and four supplementary modules for the management of common adverse events, specifically nausea/vomiting, mucositis, fatigue, and pain.Methods: A single-centre, unblinded, randomized two-arm trial was conducted in the oncologic outpatient ward of a municipal hospital in Bonn, Germany, with an associated community pharmacy. Feasibility of the intervention was assessed by analyzing the application of individual care modules and semi-structured interviews with the participating health care providers. Symptom burden was assessed by the Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) using generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. Furthermore, health-related quality of life was analyzed.Results: 51 patients were randomized either to a control group receiving standard care (25 patients) or the intervention group receiving MuMM (26 patients). The results indicate that the MuMM intervention delivered by physicians, pharmacists, and nurses is needed and feasible, but hampered by several barriers concerning cooperation and communication within the multiprofessional health care team. The intervention did not affect symptom burden and quality of life.Conclusion: The degree of implementation of the MuMM intervention was apparently not high enough to show a preliminary efficacy signal. Nevertheless, our study provides a starting point and methodological framework for future trials aiming at enhancing the tolerability of cancer-directed therapy.TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBERDRKS00010128 at the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS) Date of registration: March 7th, 2016 (retrospectively registere
Optimizing Clifford gate generation for measurement-only topological quantum computation with Majorana zero modes
Authors: Tran Alan , Bocharov Alex , Bauer Bela , Bonderson Parsa
Published: June 2020

One of the main challenges for quantum computation is that while the number of gates required to perform
a non-trivial quantum computation may be very large, decoherence and errors
in realistic quantum architectures limit the number of physical gate operations that can be
performed coherently. Therefore, an optimal mapping of the quantum algorithm into the physically available set of operations is of crucial importance.
We examine this problem for a measurement-only topological quantum computer
based on Majorana zero modes, where gates are performed through sequences of measurements.
Such a scheme has been proposed as a practical, scalable approach to process quantum information in an
array of topological qubits built using Majorana zero modes. Building on previous work that has shown that multi-qubit Clifford gates can be enacted in a topologically protected fashion in such qubit networks, we discuss methods to obtain the optimal measurement sequence for a given
Clifford gate under the constraints imposed by the physical architecture, such as layout and the
relative difficulty of implementing different types of measurements. Our methods also provide tools for comparative analysis of different architectures and strategies, given experimental characterizations of particular aspects of the systems under consideration.
As a further non-trivial demonstration, we discuss an implementation of the surface code in Majorana-based topological qubits. We use the techniques developed here to obtain an optimized measurement sequence that implements the stabilizer measurements using only fermionic parity measurements on nearest-neighbor topological qubit islands.
Big data, 4IR and electronic banking and banking systems applications in South Africa and Nigeria
Authors: Ajibade Patrick , M. Mutula Stephen
Published: June 2020

Efficient banking solutions are an integral part of the business integration of South African and Nigerian economies as the two largest economies in the continent. Security, effectiveness, and integration of banking systems are critical to the sustainable development of the African continent. Therefore, an empirical analysis of the production of research on banking services and systems was conducted. The aim of the study was to examine the robustness of the research findings on banking systems in terms of their importance for the economic sustainability of the continent in the era of the fourth industrial revolution. The study adopted a bibliometric analysis using software clusters to visualize the results. Due to higher visibility of outputs and likely citations, the results showed that the key terms from Google Scholar are ranked higher than outputs from Scopus. Main research interests were related to internet banking (f = 70), e-payment systems (f = 57), telephone banking (f = 56), automated teller machines (f = 54), and mobile banking (f = 40). The results also showed a very low research interest in the technical aspect of online banking services such as security (f = 19, TLS = 40), authentication (f = 17, TLS =33), network security (f =13, TLS = 33), computer crime (f = 16, TLS = 42), and online banking (f = 11, TLS =32). The study found there were insufficient outputs in the area of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and banking services in Africa. Future research trends should examine the impact of the 4IR and big data on the banking system, regional economic integration, and sustainable growth in the continent.
A coupled 1-D/2-D model for simulating river sediment transport and bed evolution
Authors: Salheddine Mezbache , André Paquier , Mahmoud Hasbaia
Published: June 2020

The paper details the method to couple a 1-D hydro-sedimentary model to a 2-D hydro-sedimentary model in order to represent the hydrodynamics and morphological processes during a flood event along a river. Tested on two field cases, the coupled model is stable even in the case of generalized overflow over the riverbanks or of levee breaching. For lateral coupling, the coupled model allows saving computational time compared to a full 2-D model and to provide valuable results concerning the flooding features as well as the evolution of the bed topography. However, despite a similar simplified representation of the sediment features in the 1-D and 2-D models, some discrepancies appear in the case of upstream/downstream coupling along a cross section perpendicular to the flow direction because the assumption of homogeneous velocity and concentration is not valid for estimating sediment transport. Further research is necessary to be able to define a suitable distribution of the sediments on the 1-D side of the boundary between the two models.
An improved routing algorithm for a large-scale distributed hydrological model with consideration of underlying surface impact
Authors: Li Jingjing , Zhao Haoyuan , Zhang Jun , Chen Hua , Xu Chong-Yu , Li Lu , Chen Jie , Guo Shenglian
Published: June 2020

Large-scale hydrological models are important tools for simulating the hydrological effect of climate change. As an indispensable part of the application of distributed hydrological models, large-scale flow routing methods can simulate not only the discharge at the outlet but also the temporal and spatial distribution of flow. The aggregated network-response function (NRF), as a scale-independent routing method, has been tested in many basins and demonstrated to have good runoff simulation performance. However, it had a poor performance and produced an unreasonable travel time when it was applied to certain basins due to a lack of consideration of the influence of the underlying surface. In this study, we improve the NRF routing method by combining it with a velocity function using a new routing parameter b to reflect the wave velocity's sensitivity to slope. The proposed method was tested in 15 catchments at the Yangtze River basin. The results show that it can provide better daily runoff simulation performance than the original routing model and the calibrated travel times in all catchments are more reasonable. Therefore, our proposed routing method is effective and has great potential to be applied to other basins.
Drought prediction models driven by meteorological and remote sensing data in Guanzhong Area, China
Authors: Li Jianzhu , Zhang Siyao , Huang Lingmei , Zhang Ting , Feng Ping
Published: June 2020

Drought is an important factor that limits economic and social development due to its frequent occurrence and profound influence. Therefore, it is of great significance to make accurate predictions of drought for early warning and disaster alleviation. In this paper, SPEI-1 was confirmed to classify drought grades in the Guanzhong Area, and the autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) model were established. Meteorological data and remote sensing data were used to derive the prediction models. The results showed the following. (1) The SVM model performed the best when the models were developed using meteorological data, remote sensing data and a combination of meteorological and remote sensing data, but the model's corresponding kernel functions are different and include linear, polynomial and Gaussian radial basis kernel functions, respectively. (2) The RF model driven by the remote sensing data and the SVM model driven by the combined meteorological and remote sensing data were found to perform better than the model driven by the corresponding other data in the Guanzhong Area. It is difficult to accurately measure drought with the single meteorological data. Only by considering the combined factors can we more accurately monitor and predict drought. This study can provide an important scientific basis for regional drought warnings and predictions.
Heterogeneous Fenton-like degradation of EDTA in an aqueous solution with enhanced COD removal under neutral pH
Authors: Hua Junfeng , Huang Mei
Published: June 2020

By providing the key carbon and nitrogen elements needed for eutrophication, the potential toxicity of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) prompts the exploration of effective treatment methods to minimize the amount of EDTA released into the environment. In this study, Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) were prepared and used as catalysts to study the mineralization of EDTA in Fenton-like reactions under neutral pH. Fe3O4 MNPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET). The effects of pH, ferric ion leaching, and H2O2 concentration on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of EDTA were investigated. The morphological characterization of the nanoparticles suggests a quasi-spherical structure with small particle size and a surface area of 49.9 m2/g. The results show that Fe3O4 MNPs had good catalytic activity for the mineralization of EDTA under pH 5.0–9.0. The optimum conditions for the COD removal of 45% at pH 7.0 were: 40 mM H2O2, 10 mM Fe3O4, and 1 g/L EDTANa2·2H2O at 303 K. Fe3O4 MNPs maintained high catalytic activity after five cycles of continuous degradation of EDTA. According to reactive oxidizing species measurements obtained by electron spin resonance (ESR), it was confirmed that HO· free radicals, presented in the H2O2/Fe3O4 MNPs heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction, were the primary active group in the removal of EDTA. These features can be considered beneficial to the application of Fe3O4 MNPs towards industrial wastewater treatment.
Challenges and New Therapeutic Approaches in the Management of Chronic Wounds
Authors: Sun Hongmin , Pulakat Lakshmi , Anderson David W.
Published: June 2020

Chronic non-healing wounds are estimated to cost the US healthcare $28-$31 billion per
year. Diabetic ulcers, arterial and venous ulcers, and pressure ulcers are some of the most common
types of chronic wounds. The burden of chronic wounds continues to rise due to the current epidemic
of obesity and diabetes and the increase in elderly adults in the population who are more vulnerable to
chronic wounds than younger individuals. This patient population is also highly vulnerable to debilitating
infections caused by opportunistic and multi-drug resistant pathogens. Reduced microcirculation,
decreased availability of cytokines and growth factors that promote wound closure and healing,
and infections by multi-drug resistant and biofilm forming microbes are some of the critical factors
that contribute to the development of chronic non-healing wounds. This review discusses novel approaches
to understand chronic wound pathology and methods to improve chronic wound care, particularly
when chronic wounds are infected by multi-drug resistant, biofilm forming microbes.
mTORC and PKCε in Regulation of Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Hanim Athirah , Mohamed Isa Naina , Mohamed Rashidi M. Pakri , Das Srijit , Nor Norefrina Shafinaz Md , Harun Rosma Ayu , Kumar Jaya
Published: June 2020

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterized by compulsive binge alcohol intake, leading to
various health and social harms. Protein Kinase C epsilon (PKCε), a specific family of PKC isoenzyme,
regulates binge alcohol intake, and potentiates alcohol-related cues. Alcohol via upstream kinases
like the mammalian target to rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) or 2 (mTORC2), may affect the activities
of PKCε or vice versa in AUD. mTORC2 phosphorylates PKCε at hydrophobic and turn motif,
and was recently reported to be associated with alcohol-seeking behavior, suggesting the potential role
of mTORC2-PKCε interactions in the pathophysiology of AUD. mTORC1 regulates translation of
synaptic proteins involved in alcohol-induced plasticity. Hence, in this article, we aimed to review the
molecular composition of mTORC1 and mTORC2, drugs targeting PKCε, mTORC1, and mTORC2 in
AUD, upstream regulation of mTORC1 and mTORC2 in AUD and downstream cellular mechanisms
of mTORCs in the pathogenesis of AUD.
Endophytic Fungi in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases
Authors: Costa Maria Beatriz Silva , de Oliveira Camila Martins
Published: June 2020

Neglected tropical diseases are a serious global public health problem and they are one of
the main causes of mortality and morbidity, especially in underdeveloped countries. These diseases
have several implications for health and they are considered a priority in global eradication programs
for disease control. The aim of this mini-review is to report recent studies on the fight against neglected
diseases, namely dengue fever, chikungunya, zika, malaria protozoa, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis,
schistosomiasis helminths, filariasis, and tuberculosis bacteria using extracts and isolated substances of
endophytic fungi based on their bioactivity profiles in relation to these diseases.
The Scope and Challenges of Vesicular Carrier-Mediated Delivery of Docetaxel for the Management of Cancer
Authors: Misra Charu , Raza Kaisar , Goyal Amit Kumar
Published: June 2020

Since the discovery of liposomes, these vesicular carriers have attracted the researchers from
all the vistas of the biomedical domain to explore and harness the potential benefits. Many novel drug
delivery-based products have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)
and other federal agencies of the globe, out of which the major share is of the liposomes and
related carriers. Taking cognizance of it, the US-FDA has recently come up with ‘Guidance for Industry
on Liposome Drug Products’. In cancer management, chemotherapy is the most frequently employed
approach which is still not devoid of untoward challenges and side effects. In chemotherapy,
the taxanes, esp. Docetaxel shares a huge percentage in the prescription pattern. Also, the first marketed
liposomal product was encasing one drug of this category. Henceforth, the present review will
highlight the advances in the delivery of taxanes, in particular docetaxel, with an emphasis on the need,
success and pharmacoeconomic aspects of such vesicular-carrier mediated docetaxel delivery.
Higher Levels of Dynamin-related Protein 1 are Associated with Reduced Radiation Sensitivity of Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Cheng Wen-Yu , Chow Kuan-Chih , Chiao Ming-Tsang , Yang Yi-Chin , Shen Chiung-Chyi
Published: June 2020

Background:

Dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) is a GTPase involved in mitochondrial
fission, mitochondrial protein import, and drug sensitivity, suggesting an association with cancer
progression. This study was conducted to evaluate the prognostic significance of DRP1 in glioblastoma
multiforme (GBM).

Methods:

DRP1 expression was measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Correlations
between DRP1 expression and clinicopathological parameters were determined by statistical
analysis. Differences in survival were compared using the log-rank test. DRP1 expression was
detected in 87.2% (41/47) of the investigated patients with GBM.

Results:

The patients with higher DRP1 levels had worse survival (p = 0.0398). In vitro, the silencing
of DRP1 reduced cell proliferation, invasive potential, and radiation resistance. The addition of
shikonin inhibited DRP1 expression and increased drug uptake. Moreover, shikonin reduced the nuclear
entry of DNA repair-associated enzymes and increased radiation sensitivity, suggesting that
reducing DRP1 expression could inhibit DNA repair and increase the radiation sensitivity of GBM
cells.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that DRP1 overexpression is a prospective radio-resistant phenotype
in GBM. Therefore, DRP1 could be a potential target for improving the effectiveness of radiation
therapy.
Presenilin 1 and APP Gene Mutations in Early-Onset AD Families from a Southeast Region of China
Authors: Zhou Jiajia , Chen Yi , Meng Fanxia , Zhang Kan , Liu Xiaoyan , Peng Guoping
Published: June 2020

Background:

Early-Onset Familial Alzheimer’s Disease (EOFAD) has been reported to be
associated with Presenilin 1 (PSEN1), Presenilin 2 (PSEN2), and Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)
genes. The spectrum of mutations in Chinese patients with EOFAD was rarely investigated.

Objective:

To investigate the spectrum of mutations in patients with EOFAD in Chinese population.

Methods:

We performed whole-exome sequencing and described relevant clinical features in a total of
67 subjects from 3 families with EOFAD.

Results:

A splice mutation (p.S290C) in PSEN1 and a missense mutation (p.V717I) in APP were identified.

Conclusion:

The variant p. S290C (c.869-2>G) in PSEN1 in Chinese EOAD family revealed different
clinical phenotypes when compared with that of Europeans.
Evaluation and Prediction of Early Alzheimer’s Disease Using a Machine Learning-based Optimized Combination-Feature Set on Gray Matter Volume and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Kim Hyug-Gi , Park Soonchan , Rhee Hak Y. , Lee Kyung M. , Ryu Chang-Woo , Lee Soo Y. , Kim Eui J. , Wang Yi , Jahng Geon-Ho
Published: June 2020

Background:

Because Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) has very complicated pattern changes, it is
difficult to evaluate it with a specific factor. Recently, novel machine learning methods have been applied
to solve limitations.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to investigate the approach of classification and prediction
methods using the Machine Learning (ML)-based Optimized Combination-Feature (OCF) set on Gray
Matter Volume (GMV) and Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping (QSM) in the subjects of Cognitive
Normal (CN) elderly, Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI), and mild and moderate AD.

Materials and Methods:

57 subjects were included: 19 CN, 19 aMCI, and 19 AD with GMV and QSM.
Regions-of-Interest (ROIs) were defined at the well-known regions for rich iron contents and amyloid
accumulation areas in the AD brain. To differentiate the three subject groups, the Support Vector
Machine (SVM) with the three different kernels and with the OCF set was conducted with GMV and
QSM values. To predict the aMCI stage, regression-based ML models were performed with the OCF set.
The result of prediction was compared with the accuracy of clinical data.

Results:

In the group classification between CN and aMCI, the highest accuracy was shown using the
combination of GMVs (hippocampus and entorhinal cortex) and QSMs (hippocampus and pulvinar) data
using the 2nd SVM classifier (AUC = 0.94). In the group classification between aMCI and AD, the highest
accuracy was shown using the combination of GMVs (amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and posterior
cingulate cortex) and QSMs (hippocampus and pulvinar) data using the 2nd SVM classifier (AUC =
0.93). In the group classification between CN and AD, the highest accuracy was shown using the combination
of GMVs (amygdala, entorhinal cortex, and posterior cingulate cortex) and QSMs (hippocampus
and pulvinar) data using the 2nd SVM classifier (AUC = 0.99). To predict aMCI from CN, the exponential
Gaussian process regression model with the OCF set using GMV and QSM data was shown the most
similar result (RMSE = 0.371) to clinical data (RMSE = 0.319).

Conclusion:

The proposed OCF based ML approach with GMV and QSM was shown the effective performance
of the subject group classification and prediction for aMCI stage. Therefore, it can be used as
personalized analysis or diagnostic aid program for diagnosis.
Current Scenario of 1,3-oxazole Derivatives for Anticancer Activity
Authors: Yan Xinjia , Wen Jing , Zhou Lin , Fan Lei , Wang Xiaobo , Xu Zhi
Published: June 2020

Cancer, which has been cursed for human beings for long time is considered as one of the
leading causes of morbidity and mortality across the world. In spite of different types of treatments
available, chemotherapy is still deemed as a favored treatment for the cancer. Unfortunately, many currently
accessible anticancer agents have developed multidrug resistance along with fatal adverse effects.
Therefore, intensive efforts have been made to seek for new active drugs with improved anticancer efficacy
and reduced adverse effects. In recent years, the emergence of heterocyclic ring-containing anticancer
agents has gained a great deal of attention among medicinal chemists. 1,3- oxazole is a versatile
heterocyclic compound, and its derivatives possess broad-spectrum pharmacological properties, including
anticancer activity against both drug-susceptible, drug-resistant and even multidrug-resistant cancer
cell lines through multiple mechanisms. Thus, the 1,3-oxazole moiety is a useful template for the development
of novel anticancer agents. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the recent
advances on 1,3-oxazole derivatives with potential therapeutic applications as anticancer agents, focus
on the chemical structures, anticancer activity, and mechanisms of action.
Interaction of Platinum-based Drugs with Proteins: An Overview of Representative Crystallographic Studies
Authors: Ferraro Giarita , Loreto Domenico , Merlino Antonello
Published: June 2020

Pt-based drugs are widely used in clinics for the treatment of cancer. The mechanism of action
of these molecules relies on their interaction with DNA. However, the recognition of these metal compounds
by proteins plays an important role in defining pharmacokinetics, side effects and their overall
pharmacological profiles. Single crystal X-ray diffraction studies provided important information on the
molecular mechanisms at the basis of this process. Here, the molecular structures of representative adducts
obtained upon reaction with proteins of selected Pt-based drugs, including cisplatin, carboplatin and
oxaliplatin, are briefly described and comparatively examined. Data indicate that metal ligands play a
significant role in driving the reaction of Pt compounds with proteins; non-covalent interactions that occur
in the early steps of Pt compound/protein recognition process play a crucial role in defining the structure
of the final Pt-protein adduct. In the metallated protein structures, Pt centers coordinate few protein
side chains, such as His, Met, Cys, Asp, Glu and Lys residues upon releasing labile ligands.