bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning-Based Optimization of Pre-Symptomatic COVID-19 Detection Through Smartwatch
Authors: Cho Hyeong Rae , Kim Jin Hyun , Yoon Hye Rin , Han Yong Seop , Kang Tae Seen , Choi Hyunju , Lee Seunghwan
Published: January 2022

Patients with weak or no symptoms accelerate the spread of COVID-19 through various mutations and require more aggressive and active means of validating the COVID-19 infection. More than 30% of patients are reported as asymptomatic infection after the delta mutation spread in Korea. It means that there is a need for a means to more actively and accurately validate the infection of the epidemic via pre-symptomatic detection, besides confirming the infection via the symptoms. Mishara et al.[1] reported that physiological data collected from smartwatches could be an indicator to suspect COVID-19 infection. It shows that it is possible to identify an abnormal state suspected of COVID-19 by applying an anomaly detection method for the smartwatch’s physiological data and identifying the subject’s abnormal state to be observed. This paper proposes to apply the One Class-Support Vector Machine (OC-SVM) for pre-symptomatic COVID-19 detection. We show that OC-SVM can provide better performance than the Mahalanobis distance-based method used by Mishara et al.[1] in three aspects: earlier (23.5%-40% earlier) and more detection (13.2%-19.1% relative better) and fewer false positives. As a result, we could conclude that OC-SVM using RHR (Resting Heart Rate) with 350 and 300 moving average size is the most recommended technique for COVID-19 pre-symptomatic detection based on physiological data from the smartwatch.
Breastfeeding and Overweight/Obesity Among Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Liu Fange , Lv Di , Han Wenchao , Wang Lumin , Feng Xiaoyu , Zhang Rongjun , Liu Wendong
Published: January 2022

Background Overweight and Obesity are a major public health crisis among children and adolescent and contributes to significant economic burden. We aim to aims to investigate the relationship between breastfeeding duration and overweight and obesity in children and adolescents aged 6 to 16 from Shibei District of Qingdao, China in 2017. Methods Data on breastfeeding and children and adolescent anthropometric measurements were collected in a cross-sectional study in Qingdao, China (n=11732). Differences between groups were compared using t-test and chi-square test. Multiple linear regression model and generalized linear model were used to analyze the relationship between duration of breastfeeding and BMI. Logistic regression analysis model was used to analyze the relationship between breastfeeding duration and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. Other factors potentially related to children and adolescents’ overweight and obesity were also considered. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 35.21%, overweight and obesity being 15.45% and 19.76%, respectively. After adjusting covariates, there was a significant negative correlation between breastfeeding duration and BMI in children and adolescents (β=-0.025, 95%CI: -0.033, -0.005, P<0.01). Among boys, the BMI in childhood and in adolescence of those who have been breastfed for more than 12 months is significantly lower than others whose breastfeeding duration was less than 12 months (β=-0.440, 95%CI -0.655, -0.224, P<0.01). After classifying subjects into age groups, among boys aged 9 to 11, breastfeeding has a particularly positive effect on the prevalence of obesity (OR=0.978, 95%CI: 0.958,0.999, P<0.05), and the prevalence of obesity was lower among those whose breastfeeding duration was more than 12 months (OR=0.787, 95%CI: 0.653,0.975, P<0.05). Conclusion Breastfeeding can significantly reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 6 to 16. And those who were breastfed for more than 12 months had a lower risk of developing overweight and obesity, especially in boys between the age of 9 to 11.
Integrated Scheduling Algorithm For Complex Products Based On The Dynamic Subtree Operation Set Inverse Coding
Authors: Wang Qian , Xie Zhiqiang , Gao Yilong , Yu Xu
Published: January 2022

For the previous integrated scheduling algorithms for complex products, the migration time of operations between machines is ignored or just included in the processing time of its adjacent operations, which leads to inaccurate scheduling results and is difficult to meet the needs of the actual production scheduling environment. In this paper, based on the framework of a genetic algorithm, an integrated scheduling algorithm for complex products based on the dynamic subtree operation set inverse coding. Firstly, an inverse coding method based on the dynamic subtree operation set is proposed, which can ensure the legitimacy of the initial individuals and enhance the quality of the initial population. Secondly, based on the crossover vector, a single-point crossover method and a multi-point crossover method are proposed, both of which can ensure that the priority constraints among the same machine operation in the generated individuals will not be destroyed. Then, a mutation method based on the mutant row vector and mutant column vector is proposed to ensure the feasibility and diversity of the offspring individuals. Finally, a pre-decoding method based on device idle events driven and a conversion strategy of positive sequence schemes based on the completion time flipping are shown. The performance of the proposed algorithm is verified by several groups of comparative experiments.
PM2.5 Exposure and Cervical Cancer Survival in Liaoning Province, Northeastern China
Authors: Liu Guangcong , Yang Zhuo , Wang Chenyu , Wang Danbo
Published: January 2022

Particulate matters with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) were frequently reported to be associated with increased cancer incidences, but few studies have explored the associations between PM2.5 exposure and cancer survival. We retrospectively analyzed the association between PM2.5 exposure and the overall survival (OS) of cervical cancer patients who resided in 14 urban areas of the Liaoning Province, Northeastern China during January 2014-October 2021. Patients from urban areas who finished the recommended treatments with complete follow-up information were included. The PM2.5 monitoring data of each urban area of Liaoning Province was retrieved, and individual exposure to PM2.5 after diagnosis was calculated as the average daily concentration in the residence from the discharged day to death day or the last follow-up day. Log-rank tests and cox-regression were performed to examine the relationships between PM2.5 exposure and cervical cancer survival. A total of 1753 cervical cancer patients were finally included, among whom 804 (45.9%) were from Shenyang City, the capital of Liaoning Province. The median average daily concentration of PM2.5 that the patients were exposed to was 45.0 (interquartile range 38.2-50.0) µg/m3. Both log-rank tests (grouped by quartiles, p<0.001) and cox-regression (continuous, HR=1.06, 95%CI 1.04-1.08) indicated that PM2.5 was significantly associated with shorter OS. Sensitivity analysis also confirmed the robustness of our findings. For the subgroup analysis, only the OS of stage II and stage III patients were associated with PM exposure. Our findings gave an insight that PM2.5 exposure was associated with shorter OS of cervical cancer patients.
Ultra-Broadband Dispersion-Manipulated Dielectric Metalenses by Nonlinear Dispersive Phase Compensation
Authors: Hu Yueqiang , Jinag Yuting , Zhang Yi , Lai Jiajie , He Peng , Ou Xiangnian , Li Ling , Duan Huigao
Published: January 2022

Dispersion decomposes compound light into monochromatic components at different spatial locations, which needs to be eliminated in imaging but utilized in spectral detection. Metasurfaces provide a unique path to modulate the dispersion by adjusting the structural parameters without changing the material as required for refractive elements. However, the common linear phase compensation does not conform to the dispersion characteristics of the meta-unit, which limits the dispersion modulation in broader wavelength bands. Here, we propose a nonlinear dispersive phase compensation approach to design polarization-insensitive achromatic metalenses from 400 nm to 1000 nm constructed with single-layer high aspect ratio nanostructures. This band matches the response spectrum of a typical CMOS sensor for both visible and near-infrared imaging applications without additional lens replacement. Moreover, the capability of the approach in achieving arbitrary dispersion modulation is demonstrated for potential applications such as chromatography imaging and spectral detection.
Genetic Diversity Analysis Revealed the Hot Spot of Acmella Paniculata Existing in Natural Populations of Gujarat
Authors: Patel Sveta , Purohit Nikisha , Sapra Palak , Solanki Hitesh , Bishoyi Ashok Kumar
Published: January 2022

Genetic diversity analysis contributes to the conservation, protection and utilization of genetic resources toward efficient management of germplasm. In this investigation, Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity of 32 genotypes of Acmella paniculata collected from 12 different states of Gujarat, India. There were 113 loci amplified by 15 different ISSR markers with an average of 7.53 loci per primer. From the total 113 amplicons; 81 were polymorphic, 43 were monomorphic and 9 were found to be unique showing an average of 60.18% polymorphism. The primer (CT)8T produced a high value (0.65) of polymorphic information content (PIC); whereas, primer (TC)8RA produced a low value (0.21). The resolving power (RP) value of the primers ranged from 5.25 in primer (TC)8RA to 23.19 in primer (AC)8YT with an average of 12.17. The Jaccard’s similarity coefficients value ranged from 0.48 to 0.94. The highest percentage of similarity (94%) was found between accessions AP6 and AP16 which were collected from Panchmahal and Narmada respectively, as they are geographically closely located. Whereas, accessions AP2 from Banaskantha and AP7 from Panchmahal were most distantly related with the similarity value of 48%, as expected to their collection locations. The study revealed that there is no correlation between geographical distance and genetic diversity among the populations studied. The resultant data generated from ISSR molecular marker-based genetic diversity analysis of A. paniculata in Gujarat can provide a reference for the conservation and efficient management of the important Indian genetic resources.
Assessment of Dose Perturbations for Metal Stent in Photon and Proton Radiotherapy Plans for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Lee Boram , Cho Sungkoo , Park Hee Chul , Kang Sang-Won , Kim Jae-Sung , Chung Jin-Beom
Published: January 2022

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the dosimetric impact of metal stent for photon and proton treatment plans in hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods: Dose perturbation caused by a metal stent included in the photon and proton treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma was evaluated with comparing Eclipse and RayStation treatment planning system (TPS) to Monte Carlo (MC). Photon and proton plans were created using anterior-posterior/posterior-anterior (AP/PA) fields using a 6 MV beam and AP/PA fields of a wobbling beam using 150 MeV and a 10 cm ridge filter. The difference in dose distributions and dosimetric parameters were compared depending on the stent's positions (the bile duct (GB) and the intestinal tract (GI)) and angles (0°, 45°, and 90°). In addition, the dose variation in the target volume including the stent was comparatively evaluated through dose volume histogram (DVH) analysis.Results: The percentage differences in the dosimetric parameters calculated by MC ranged from -7.0 to 3.9% for the photon beam and -33.7% to 4.3% for the proton beam, depending on the angle at which the GB and GI stents were placed. A maximum difference was observed at the minimum dose (Dmin), which was shown in both photon and proton plans in the GB and GI stents deployed at an incidence angle of 90°. The differences in these parameters were greater in the proton plan than in photon plan. The target volume showed various dose variations depending on positions and angles of stent for both beams. Compared with the no-stent, the doses within the target volume containing the GI and GB stents for the photon beam were overestimated in the high-dose area at 0°, nearly equal within 1% at 45°, and underestimated at 90°. These doses to the proton beam were underestimated at all angles, and the amount of underdose to the target volume increased with the increase of the stent’s angle. However, the difference was much greater with the proton plan than with the photon plan.Conclusions: Dose perturbations within the target volume due to the presence of the metal stent were not observed in the TPS calculations for photon and proton beams, but MC were used to confirm that there are the dose variation within the target volume. The MC results found that delivery of the treatment beam avoiding the stent was the best method to prevent underdose of the target volume.
Anti-VEGF Maintains The Function of Retinal Pigment Epithelium In Patients With Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Yang Qian , Luo Dawei , Qiu Qinghua , Xu Guo-Tong , Zhang Jingfa
Published: January 2022

Background: To evaluate the drainage function of retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in patients with macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion (RVO-ME) after anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) treatment by optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA).Patients and Methods: Twenty-eight eyes with RVO-ME were imaged. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ), the nonperfusion areas (NPAs), the central macular thickness (CMT), the vascular density of the superficial/deep capillary plexus (SCP/DCP), the height of subretinal fluid (SRF), and the number of hyperreflective foci (HRF) were compared before and after treatments.Results: Compared with pre-treatment, the CMT, NPAs, number of HRF and the height of SRF were decreased significantly after anti-VEGF treatment. There was no difference for BCVA, vascular density and FAZ area.Conclusion: The absorption of SRF and the decrease of HRF indicated the restoration of RPE drainage function and anti-inflammation by anti-VEGF treatment.
From head to rootlet: comparative transcriptomic analysis of a rhizocephalan barnacle Peltogaster reticulata (Crustacea: Rhizocephala)
Authors: Nesterenko Maksim A. , Miroliubov Aleksei A.
Published: January 2022

Rhizocephalan barnacles stand out in the diverse world of metazoan parasites. The body of a rhizocephalan female is modified beyond revealing any recognizable morphological features, consisting of the interna, the system of rootlets, and the externa, a sac-like reproductive body. Moreover, rhizocephalans have an outstanding ability to control their hosts, literally turning them into “zombies”. Here we performed the first comparative transcriptomic analysis of rhizocephalan (Peltogaster reticulata) adult female body parts and established the spatial heterogeneity of gene expression in different regions. This resulted in an unexpected discovery of germ cells in the lumen of interna, which was additionally validated by histological methods. Our finding of germ cells in interna deprives externa from the exclusive role in propagation and renders it a simple brooding chamber. Furthermore, we confirmed that the neurons of the host are attracted to the rootlets of the interna, indicating a great intimacy of host-parasite relationship. Finally, based on the continual expression of development-associated genes, we suggest that rhizocephalans “got stuck in the metamorphosis”, even in their reproductive stage.
Microplastics in Water, Sediments and Macroinvertebrates in a Small River of NW Spain
Authors: Álvarez-Troncoso Romina , Gutiérrez David , Villar Iria , Ehlers Sonja , Soto Benedicto , Mato Salustiano , Garrido Josefina
Published: January 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
The GAs Extraction and Analyses system (GAEA) for immediate extraction and measurements of volatiles in the Hayabusa2 sample container
Authors: Miura Yayoi N. , Okazaki Ryuji , Takano Yoshinori , Sakamoto Kanako , Tachibana Shogo , Yamada Keita , Sakai Saburo , Sawada Hirotaka
Published: January 2022

Hayabusa2 returned surface samples from the C-type near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu to Woomera, South Australia, in December 2020. The samples returned from Ryugu are expected to contain volatile components reflecting its primitive nature and solar wind components due to exposure to space. Such volatiles may partly be released inside the sealed sample container enclosing Ryugu samples due to particle destruction or container heating in a contingency case. In order to collect and analyze volatiles released in the container prior to the container opening, we set up a gas extraction and analyses system (GAEA: GAs Extraction and Analyses system). The system requires ultra-high vacuum condition, small vacuum line volume to minimize dead volume and simple configuration as well as having an interface to connect the container. The system includes gas bottles for passive collection of volatiles at room temperature and bottles for active collection at liquid nitrogen temperature. A quadrupole mass spectrometer is installed to analyze gases in the vacuum line, and a non-evaporative getter pump is also used when noble gases are analyzed. The rehearsal operation of GAEA was made at ISAS/JAXA as well as transportation tests in Japan. In November 2020, it was transported safely to the Quick Look Facility (QLF) in Woomera. It was set up at the QLF and worked well as planned for collection and analysis of gas components from the returned sample container. Here we report the concept, design and calibration results for the GAEA and an outline of analytical protocols applied in Woomera.
Extracellular ATP Binding to P2Y1 Receptors Prevents Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity: Involvement of Erk1/2 Signaling Pathway to Suppress Autophagy
Authors: Xiong Yiping , Zhou Duanyang , Zheng Kai , Bi Wenchuan , Dong Yun
Published: January 2022

Glutamate-induced neuroexcitotoxicity causes neuronal death in neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Extracellular ATP exerts a wide variety of functions, such as attenuating Aβ-mediated toxicity, inhibiting NMDA receptor subunit combinations, and aggravating ischemic brain injury. However, the effect of extracellular ATP on glutamate-induced neuroexcitotoxicity remains largely unknown. Herein, we showed that extracellular ATP prevented the glutamate-induced excitotoxicity via binding to its P2Y1 receptors. We found that excessive glutamate triggered cellular ROS overproduction and mitochondrial membrane potential damage, which were significantly attenuated by extracellular ATP. Besides, glutamate activated autophagy, as illustrated by the increased protein level of autophagic marker LC3II and decreased level of p62, and glutamate-induced neuroexcitotoxicity could be completely abolished by autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. In addition, we revealed that extracellular ATP activated Erk1/2 signaling to suppress autophagy and to exert its neuroprotective effects, which was further reduced by autophagy agonist rapamycin and the selective Erk1/2 inhibitor PD0325901. Taken together, our findings suggest that extracellular ATP binding to P2Y1 receptors protected against glutamate-induced excitotoxicity via Erk1/2-mediated autophagy inhibition, implying the promising potential of ATP for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
Towns and Trails Drive Carnivore Movement Behaviour, Resource Selection, and Connectivity
Authors: Whittington Jesse , Hebblewhite Mark , Baron Robin W. , Ford Adam T. , Paczkowski John
Published: January 2022

Background. Global increases in human activity threaten connectivity of animal habitat and populations. Protection and restoration of wildlife habitat and movement corridors require robust models to forecast the effects of human activity on movement behaviour, resource selection, and connectivity. Recent research suggests that animal resource selection and responses to human activity depend on their behavioural movement state, with increased tolerance for human activity in fast states of movement. Yet, few studies have incorporated state-dependent movement behaviour into analyses of Merriam connectivity, that is individual-based metrics of connectivity that incorporate landscape structure and movement behaviour. Methods. We assessed the cumulative effects of anthropogenic development on multiple movement processes including movement behaviour, resource selection, and Merriam connectivity. We simulated movement paths using hidden Markov movement models and step selection functions to estimate habitat use and connectivity for three landscape scenarios: reference conditions with no anthropogenic development, current conditions, and future conditions with a simulated expansion of towns and recreational trails. Our analysis used 20 years of grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) and gray wolf (Canis lupus) movement data collected in and around Banff National Park, Canada. Results. Carnivores increased their speed of travel near towns and areas of high trail and road density, presumably to avoid encounters with people. They exhibited stronger avoidance of anthropogenic development when foraging and resting compared to travelling and during the day compared to night. Wolves exhibited stronger avoidance of anthropogenic development than grizzly bears. Current development reduced the amount of high-quality habitat between two mountain towns by more than 35%. Habitat degradation constrained movement routes around towns and was most pronounced for foraging and resting behaviour. Anthropogenic development reduced connectivity by more than 80%. Habitat quality and connectivity further declined under a future development scenario. Conclusions. Our results highlight the cumulative effects of anthropogenic development on carnivore movement behaviour, habitat use, and connectivity. Our strong behaviour-specific responses to human activity suggest that conservation initiatives should consider how proposed developments and restoration actions would affect where animals travel and how they use the landscape.
Effect of the Knee Replacement Surgery on Activity Level Based on Activpal: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Study
Authors: Alfatafta Huda , Alfatafta Mahmoud , Onchonga David , Hammoud Sahar , Khatatbeh Haitham , Zhang lu , Boncz Imre , Lohner Szimonetta , Molics Bálint
Published: January 2022

Background: The knee replacement (KR) surgery is done to restore the activity level and reduce the risk of experiencing disabilities. The outcomes of this surgery is evaluated mainly with subjective tools or low validity objective tools. However, the effect of the surgery on activity level using high validity objective accelerometer is still in question. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to find out if the knee replacement surgery alone could enhance the physical activity based on high validity accelerometer, ActivPAL, after at least six months of the surgery. Two independent reviewers evaluated five electronic databases (Cochrane-Central-Register-of-Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science, and Scopus) to find relative studies between January 2000 and October 2021. The quality assessments and risk of bias assessments were examined.Results: Three articles were included with 202 participants (86 males, 116 females), with an average age of 64 years and an average 32 kg/m² body mass index. The results found that the number of steps was significantly improved up to 36.35% and 45.5% after six-months and one-year of the surgery, respectively. However, these changes did not meet the recommended activity level guideline and could be related to the patients' health status and their activity level before the surgery. No significant changes were seen in sedentary time, standing time, and upright time after six-months and one-year follow-up. Heterogeneity among studies was low to moderate (0%- 57%).Conclusion: The knee replacement surgery is an effective treatment to improve the quality of life in patients with severe knee injuries; however, to achieve the maximum benefit of the surgery the sedentary time should be reduced. Various factors have impacts on surgical success. Thus, further studies are needed to add these factors using high validity monitors.
Inference of molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation from co-expression data
Authors: Artyom Bannikov
Published: January 2022

Co-expression analysis can be used to identify transcription factors and/or lncRNAs that directly regulate transcription of a gene. When all samples are in the same state, a transcription factor has to co-fluctuate with the target gene to be identifiable as regulatory. Co-fluctuation implies that a regulatory factor binds with intermediate strength. The binding is not too strong to make a factor constantly bound and not too weak to make a factor irrelevant. It follows that variables defining the binding of a factor are not all independent. For example, for transcription factors the following variables were suggested: expression level, binding strength and binding site accessibility. Any one of these variables can be made dependent. Relations between variable contain information about molecular mechanisms. This is true for regulatory lncRNAs as well. The significant difference is that the list of regulatory lncRNAs is unknown. Because of that, lncRNAs that were identified regulating transcription of a gene can only be compared to random lncRNAs. A method to distinguish regulatory lncRNAs by gene coverage was proposed.
Correlation Between Postoperative Hyperglycemia and the Occurrence of Surgical Site Infections After Surgery for Gastroenterological Malignancy: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Yamamoto Takehito , Ueda Shugo , Yoshitomi Mami , Terajima Hiroaki
Published: January 2022

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most important complications after surgery for gastroenterological malignancy in that it leads to prolonged postoperative hospital stay and increased inpatient cost. Especially in case for malignancy, SSI sometimes delays the initiation of postoperative treatments including adjuvant chemotherapy and that can negatively affect prognosis.Methods: Patients with gastroenterological malignancy who underwent surgery in our institution were retrospectively reviewed and categorized according to the occurrence of incisional SSI; SSI group and no SSI group. The clinicopathological characteristics between two groups were compared, i.e. age, sex, body mass index, location of malignancy, results of postoperative blood examination, operation time, and amount of blood loss. Then, the same analysis was performed in the subpopulation that included colorectal cancer patients.Results: The 528 patients enrolled in the present study consisted of 330 males and 198 females of mean age 68 ± 11 years at the time of their operation. The numbers of patients with diseases of the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas were 25, 150, 7, 255, 51, 5, and 35, respectively. Open surgery was performed in 303 patients and laparoscopic surgery in 225. Incisional SSI occurred in 46 patients (8.7%). Univariate analysis showed that postoperative hyperglycemia (serum glucose level ≥139 mg/dL within 24 h of operation) was the sole significant risk factor for incisional SSI (p=0.026). Multivariate analysis showed that postoperative hyperglycemia was an independent risk factor for incisional SSI (odds ratio 1.89, 95% confidence interval 1.009–3.614). In a subgroup analysis of patients who underwent colorectal surgery, the SSI occurred in 27 patients (10.5%). It also showed that postoperative hyperglycemia was a significant risk factor for incisional SSI (p=0.033), in addition to open surgery (p=0.024).Conclusions: Postoperative hyperglycemia was the independent risk factor for incisional SSI after surgery for gastroenterological malignancy. Prevention of postoperative hyperglycemia is important in achieving a decrease in the rate of incisional SSI.
Expedient Standing Or Squatting Placental Delivery And Postpartum Hemorrhage: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Cohain Judy Slome , Buxbaum Rina E.
Published: January 2022

Objective: To compare expedient delivery of the placenta in standing or squatting by 3 minutes postpartum to current third stage management.Design, Setting, Sample and Methods: A retrospective cohort study comparing 2 practices with identical inclusion criteria differing in third stage management: 2,154 planned, attended low risk vaginal births using expedient squatting to 2,691 planned, attended low risk vaginal births using various forms of active or expectant management.Main Outcome measures: PPH≥1000 cc and manual removal of placenta.Results: Among comparable populations, combinations of active and expectant management resulted in 4.1% PPH≥1000 cc, whereas expedient delivery of the placenta in standing or squatting by 3 minutes postpartum resulted in 0% PPH≥500 cc.Conclusion: Less postpartum bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage occurs when women push out the placenta with the assistance of gravity and expedience, in standing or squatting by 3 minutes after birth. “The mind of the beginner is empty, open to all possibilities, free of the habits of the expert.”
Study on blue pigments in Cave 256, Mogao Grottoes: Five dynasties, Song Dynasty and Qing Dynasty
Authors: Shui Bi Wen , Yu Zong Ren , Cui Qiang , Wang Zhuo , Yin Zhi yuan , Sun Man Li , Su Bo Ming
Published: January 2022

Murals of Cave 256, Mogao Grottoes consist of several layers, with the outermost layer overlays all others. The bottom layer was painted in the Five Dynasties. The outermost layer was mural of the Song Dynasty. Statues were repainted in the Qing Dynasty. We found that different blue pigments are used through research of murals and statues of different dynasties in Cave 256. In order to know the type of blue pigments, technology such as X-ray diffraction, microscopic FTIR spectroscopy and polarizing microscope were used for analysis of trace samples based on non-destructive research through the portable X-ray fluorescence. As a result, we know that Lazurite was used as blue pigment in murals of the Five Dynasties and Azurite was used in the Song Dynasty. Smalt used in statues of the Qing Dynasty was first discovered in Mogao Grottoes. Difference in blue pigments reflects the social development at that time to a certain extent. It can be inferred from the discovery of smalt that statues of the Qing Dynasty in Cave 256 were repainted in the first half of the 19th century.
Automatic Composition of Guzheng (Chinese Zither) Music Using Long Short-Term Memory Network (LSTM) and Reinforcement Learning (RL)
Authors: Chen Shuling , Zhong Yong , Du Ruxu
Published: January 2022

In recent years, with the advance of Artificial Intelligence, automatic music composition has been demonstrated. However, there are many music genres and music instruments. For a same piece of music, different music instruments would produce different effects. Invented some 2500 years ago, Guzheng is one of the oldest music instruments in China and the world. It has distinct timbres and patterns that cannot be duplicated by other music instruments. Therefore, it is interesting to know whether AI can compose Guzheng music or alike. In this paper we present a method that can automatically compose and play Guzheng music. First, we collect a number of existing Guzheng music pieces and convert them into Music Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) format. Second, we use these data to train a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network and use the trained network to generate new Guzheng music pieces. Next, we use the Reinforcement Learning (RL) to optimize the LSTM network by adding special Guzheng playing techniques and Guzheng timbre. According to the evaluations from general audiences, our Guzheng music is very close to the real Guzheng music. The presented method can also be used to automatically compose the music of other Chinese music instruments.
A non-invasive risk score including skin autofluorescence predicts diabetes risk in the general population
Authors: Wolffenbuttel Bruce H.R. , Boersma Henderikus E. , Klauw Melanie M. , Smit Andries J.
Published: January 2022

BackgroundWe evaluated the performance of skin autofluorescence to select groups at risk for undiagnosed and incident DM2 in a simple and fast risk model.MethodsWe evaluated 58,377 participants without known diabetes of whom SAF measurements. Newly diagnosed diabetes was defined as fasting blood glucose ≥7.0 mmol/l and/or HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol (≥6.5%) either at baseline or follow-up and self-reported diabetes at follow-up. Model 1 comprises age group, BMI group, SAF group; model 2 added number of parents with diabetes.ResultsAt baseline 1113 (1,9%) participants were identified with undiagnosed diabetes and 1033 (1,8%) participants developed diabetes during follow-up. Model 2, yielded an AUC of 0.792 and was non-inferior to the concise FINDRISC model, AUC of 0.797.Sensitivity and specificity for model 1 were respectively 56% (95% CI 53.8-58) and 82% (95% CI 81.3-81.9); and for model 2, respectively 58% (95% CI 56,2-60,4) and 81% (95% CI 80,6-81,2). Net reclassification index (NRI) did not improve significantly (NRI 1.43% (-0.50-3.37 p=0.15). ConclusionsThe combination of an easy to perform SAF measurement with age and BMI is a good alternative screening tool suitable for medical and non-medical settings. Family history of diabetes did not improve model performance in this homogeneous cohort.
Six-Weeks Very Low-calorie Diet (VLCD) Improves Glycaemic Control Without Reducing Plasma Branched-chain Amino Acids (BCAA) or Keto-Acids (BCKA) in Obese Men
Authors: Sayda Mariwan H , Abdul-Aziz Muhammad Hariz , Gharahdaghi Nima , Wilkinson Daniel J , Greenhaff Paul L , Philips Bethan E , Smith Kenneth S , Atherton Philip J , Idris Iskandar
Published: January 2022

Elevated plasma leucine, isoleucine and valine (BCAA) are associated with diabetes, obesity and insulin resistance (IR). Here, we evaluated the effects of 6-weeks very-low calorie diet (VLCD) upon fasting BCAA in overweight (OW) non-diabetic men, to explore associations between circulating BCAA and IR, before and after a weight loss intervention.Fasting plasma BCAA were quantified in an OW (n = 26; BMI 32.4±3 kg/m2; mean age 44±9 y) and a normal-weight (NW) group (n = 26; BMI 24±3.1 kg/m2; mean age 32±12 y). Ten of the OW group (BMI 32.2±4 kg/m2; 46±8 y) then underwent 6-weeks of VLCD (600-800 kcal/d). Fasting plasma BCAA (gas-chomatography mass spectrometry), insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR) and body-composition (DXA) were assessed before and after VLCD. Total BCAA were elevated in OW individuals (sum leucine/isoleucine/valine: 457 ± 85 µM) compared to NW control individuals (365 ± 78 µM, P <0.001). Despite significant weight loss (baseline 103.9 ± 12.3 kg to 93 ± 9.6 kg and BMI 32.3 ± 4 kg/m2 to 28.9 ± 3.6 kg/m2), no changes were observed in BCAA after 6 weeks of VLCD. Moreover, although VLCD resulted in a significant reduction in HOMA-IR (baseline 1.19±0.62 to 0.51±0.21 post-VLCD; P <0.001), Pearson’s r revealed no relationships between BCAA and HOMA-IR, either before (leucine R2 2.49, P = 0.9; isoleucine R2 1.2, P = 0.9; valine R2 0.004, P = 0.8) or after VLCD (leucine R2 0.003, P = 0.9; isoleucine R2 0.006, P = 0.8; valine R2 0.002, P = 0.7).Plasma BCAA are elevated in OW compared to NW individuals. However, while 6-weeks VLCD reduced body weight and IR in OW individuals, this was not associated with reductions in BCAA. This suggests exisiting links between BCAA and insulin resistance in OW individuals, are more complex and are not normalised by simply losing weight.
Bayesian survival analysis of time-to-remission of prostate cancer and associated prognostic factors in a health-based institute, South-West Nigeria
Authors: Fagbamigbe Adeniyi , Abi Roland , Akinwande Matthew
Published: January 2022

Background: Prostate cancer (CaP) develops when healthy cells in the prostate gland change and grow out of place, forming a tumour. In Nigeria, this disease is on an upward trajectory, despite the availability of screening services. This study seeks to estimate the time-to-remission and to determine the prognostic factors for prostate cancer remission.Method: A retrospective analytical study design was employed, through the extraction of case files of patients diagnosed and treated for CaP from January 2010 to December 2017 at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. The extracted data were further divided into two cohorts 2010 to 2014 and 2015 to 2017 to account for non-treatment months. Kaplan Meier method was used to estimate the time-to-remission. Bayesian parametric (Weibull) Accelerated Failure Time (AFT) model was used to determine the factors associated with time-to-remission.Results: The average age(SD) of the patients was 72(3.65) years, with peak incidence among those aged 70 – 79 years. Most CaP patients (87.3%) were diagnosed at stage IV, with many having metastasis to the spine. Among the patients, (33.6%) received chemotherapy and surgery. Patients from Northcentral part of Nigeria had the highest Median Time to Remission (MTR) of 3.7 months in the (2015 - 2017) cohort. The MTR for the 2010 - 2014 cohort was 2.9 months, 3.3 months for the 2015 - 2017 cohort while the overall MTR for the study was 3.2 months. Ages 60 – 69 years and 79 years and above in the 2010 – 2014 cohort decelerated time-to-remission by 30% (adjusted Time Ratio (aTR) = 1.3; 95% CrI (Credible Interval): 1.1 – 1.5) and 40% (aTR = 1.4; 95% CrI: 1.1 – 1.8) respectively. Time-to-remission was significantly delayed by 40% (aTR = 1.4; 95% CrI: 1.1 – 1.7), and 230% (aTR = 3.3; 95% CrI: 2.1 – 4.9) for patients from the south-south and north-central respectively for the 2015 – 2017 cohort compared to patients from the south-west. Conclusion: We found that patients age, location, marital status, occupation, stage, method of diagnosis, Gleason group, site and treatment received significantly influence the time to CaP remission. Stakeholders should therefore sensitize men well advanced in age to take up regular prostate examination as well as emphasize early presentation.
A Comparative Study of Calcified Epithelioma of Malherbe And Epidermoid Cyst With Ultrasound
Authors: Wei Xiuliang , Cheng Dongfeng , Shao Chunchun , Pang Kunkun , Xiao Juan , Zhang Yuqing , Wu Mei , Zhang Lulu , Ni Pingjuan , Liang Yu , Zhang Feixue
Published: January 2022

Objective: To explore the ultrasonic(US)features of calcified epithelioma Malherbe (CEM) and epidermoid cyst(EC) in differential diagnosis and improve the accuracy of US diagnosis of CEM.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 309 subjects, who underwent US examination before operation and pathological diagnosis for CEM or EC post-operation. The subjects were categorized into the training and validation sets according to different inspection times. The US and clinical features of CEM were evaluated through univariate analysis. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to establish the diagnostic model. Results: Statistically significant variables in univariate analysis(P<0.05)were included in the multivariate logistic regression model. The results demonstrated that the diagnostic model for CEM was statistically significant (P<0.001). The risk factors included posterior echo attenuation and hypoechoic halos (OR=9.277, 10.254) and the protective factors included age, thickness diameter, and posterior echo enhancement (OR=0.936, 0.302, 0.156). The diagnostic models tested in the training set (AUC=0.974, 95% CI=0.955-0.994) and the validation set(AUC=0.967, 95% CI=0.926-1.000) demonstrated good discriminant ability.Conclusions: The diagnostic accuracy for CEM is higher compared to EC when the nodule is characterized by posterior echo attenuation, hypoechoic halos, smaller thickness, and younger age. US diagnostic model can guide the diagnosis of CEM.
Prenatal Paternal Depression, Anxiety, And Somatic Symptom Burden In Different Risk Samples: An Explorative Study
Authors: Zacher Magdalena , Wollanka Nele , Sauer Christina , Haßdenteufel Kathrin , Wallwiener Stephanie , Wallwiener Markus , Maatouk Imad
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Growing evidence implies that transition to parenthood triggers symptoms of mental burden not only in women but likewise in men, especially in high-risk pregnancies. This is the first study that examined and compared the prevalence rates of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptom burden of expectant fathers who face different risk situations during pregnancy.Methods: Prevalence rates of paternal depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7), and somatic symptom burden (Somatic Symptom Scale 8) were examined in two risk samples and one control group in the third trimester of their partners’ pregnancy: risk sample I (n = 41) consist of expectant fathers whose partners were prenatally hospitalized due to medical complications; risk sample II (n = 52) are fathers whose partners were prenatally mentally distressed; and control group (n = 70) are those non-risk pregnancies.Results: On a purely descriptive level, the data display a trend of higher symptom burden of depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms in the two risk samples, indicating that expectant fathers, whose pregnant partners were hospitalized or suffered prenatal depression, were more prenatally distressed. Exploratory testing of group differences revealed an almost three times higher prevalence rate of anxiety in fathers whose partner was hospitalized (12.2%) compared to those non-risks (4.3%).Conclusion: Results underline the need for screening implementations for paternal prenatal psychological distress, as well as specific prevention and treatment programs, especially for fathers in risk situations, such as their pregnant partners’ prenatal hospitalization. The study was registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00020131) on 2019/12/09.
The effect of sampling health facilities on estimates of effective coverage: a simulation study
Authors: Carter Emily D , Maiga Abdoulaye , Do Mai , Sika Glebelho Lazare , Mosso Rosine , Dosso Abdul , Munos Melinda
Published: January 2022

Background: Most existing facility assessments collect data on a sample of health facilities. Sampling of health facilities may introduce bias into estimates of effective coverage generated by ecologically linking individuals to health providers based on geographic proximity or administrative catchment. Methods: We assessed the bias introduced to effective coverage estimates produced through two ecological linking approaches (administrative unit and Euclidean distance) applied to a sample of health facilities. Our analysis linked MICS household survey data on care-seeking for child illness and childbirth care with data on service quality collected from a census of health facilities in the Savanes region of Cote d’Ivoire. To assess the bias introduced by sampling, we drew 20 random samples of three different sample sizes from our census of health facilities. We calculated effective coverage of sick child and childbirth care using both ecological linking methods applied to each sampled facility data set. We compared the sampled effective coverage estimates to ecologically linked census-based estimates and estimates based on true source of care. We performed sensitivity analyses with simulated preferential care-seeking from higher-quality providers and randomly generated provider quality scores.Results: Sampling of health facilities did not significantly bias effective coverage compared to either the ecologically linked estimates derived from a census of facilities or true effective coverage estimates using the original data or simulated random quality sensitivity analysis. However, a few estimates based on sampling in a setting where individuals preferentially sought care from higher-quality providers fell outside of the estimate bounds of true effective coverage. Those cases predominantly occurred using smaller sample sizes and the Euclidean distance linking method. None of the sample-based estimates fell outside the bounds of the ecologically linked census-derived estimates.Conclusions: Our analyses suggest that current health facility sampling approaches do not significantly bias estimates of effective coverage produced through ecological linking. Choice of ecological linking methods is a greater source of bias from true effective coverage estimates, although facility sampling can exacerbate this bias in certain scenarios. Careful selection of ecological linking methods is essential to minimize the potential effect of both ecological linking and sampling error.
Artificial Intelligence to Improve Polyp Detection and Screening Time in Colon Capsule Endoscopy
Authors: Gilabert Pere , Vitrià Jordi , Laiz Pablo , Malagelada Carolina , Watson Angus , Wenzek Hagen , Seguí Santi
Published: January 2022

Colon Capsule Endoscopy (CCE) is a minimally invasive procedure which is increasingly being used as an alternative to conventional colonoscopy. Videos recorded by the capsule cameras are long and require one or more experts’ time to review and identify polyps or other potential intestinal problems that can lead to major health issues. We developed and tested a multi-platform web application, AI-Tool, which embeds a Convolution Neural Network (CNN) to help CCE reviewers. With the help of artificial intelligence, AI-Tool is able to detect images with high probability of containing a polyp and prioritize them during the reviewing process. With the collaboration of 3 experts that reviewed 18 videos, we compared the classical linear review method using RAPID Reader Software v9 and the new software we present. Applying the new strategy, reviewing time was reduced by a factor of 6 and polyp detection sensitivity was increased from 81.08% to 87.80%.
Broadband Metamaterial Solar Absorbers Based on the Earth First-Rate Temperature-Insensitivity Metals for High Temperature Energy Harvesting
Authors: Ouabida Elhoussaine
Published: January 2022

Artificially engineered solar absorbers, known as metamaterial solar absorbers (MSA), are yielding new opportunities for designing new photons management systems. Further, the noble metals are indispensable in creating MSA owing to their plasmonic resonance in a desired spectral region. Nevertheless, in high temperature applications, the noble metals suffer from low melting points that make their uses largely impractical. In this work, the solution of using four of the Earth first-rate temperature-insensitivity metals in a proposed MSA is investigated. The proposed MSA structure is composed of high melting point metals (HMPM), deposited on a magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) dielectric spacer and a tungsten continuous plate. Meanwhile, owing to the dependence of MSA properties on structural parameters rather than band structure or chemistry, a geometrical optimization of the proposed absorbers is reported. Furthermore, the proposed MSA performance is investigated by computing the absorption spectrums. Results show relatively long bandwidths in the visible and near-infrared regimes. Besides, an underlying mechanism of the absorption enhancement with the corresponding electromagnetic field distributions are elucidated in detail. The calculated results indicate that the proposed MSA present wide bandwidths owing to the excitation of resonance modes of surface plasmons, dipolar interactions and cavity modes. Equally important, absorption measurements under wide polarization angles show polarization-insensitive high absorption at higher wavelengths, which is among the most important factors for an ideal solar absorber. The conclusion of this investigation is undoubtedly important, specifically that the proposed HMPM-based MSA would be the best choice for energy harvesting in high temperature applications.