bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Response to Steroid and Immunosuppressive Therapies May Predict Post-transplant Recurrence of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Miura Kenichiro , Ando Taro , Kanda Shoichiro , Hashimoto Taeko , Kaneko Naoto , Hamada Riku , Hataya Hiroshi , Hotta Kiyohiko , Gotoh Yoshimitsu , Nishiyama Kei , Hamasaki Yuko , Shishido Seiichiro , Fujita Naoya , Hattori Motoshi
Published: February 2021

Recurrence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a major challenge in kidney transplantation. Several clinical factors, including initial steroid sensitivity, have been associated with increased post-transplant FSGS recurrence risk. However, conflicting data have been reported, possibly due to the heterogeneous pathophysiology of FSGS and the lack of genetic testing of FSGS patients. Further, the response to immunosuppressive therapies have not been evaluated. This study aimed to assess the risk factors for post-transplant recurrence in stringently selected patients based on a comprehensive clinicopathological evaluation and genetic testing. Fifty-nine patients aged 1–25 years at FSGS onset who underwent kidney transplantation between 2002 and 2018 were enrolled. Patients with secondary, familial, syndromic, and genetic FSGS and those who did not undergo genetic testing were excluded. Data from 15 kidney transplant recipients were analyzed. Nine (60%) patients experienced post-transplant FSGS recurrence, while six patients did not. The proportion of patients who achieved complete or partial remission with initial steroid and/or additional therapies with immunosuppressive agents and/or plasmapheresis was significantly higher in the FSGS recurrence group than the group without FSGS recurrence (P=0.04). In conclusion, this study suggests that the response to steroid treatment, other immunosuppressive agents, and/or plasmapheresis may predict post-transplant FSGS recurrence.
Validation of The DIGIROP-Birth Model in A Chinese Cohort
Authors: Chen Sizhe , Wu Rong , Chen He , Ma Wenbei , Du Shaolin , Li Chao , Lu Xiaohe , Feng Songfu
Published: February 2021

Background

We aimed to validate the predictive performance of the DIGIROP-Birth model for identifying treatment-requiring retinopathy of prematurity (TR-ROP) in Chinese preterm infants to evaluate its generalizability across countries and races.
Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of preterm infants who were screened for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in a single Chinese hospital between June 2015 and August 2020. The predictive performance of the model for TR-ROP was assessed through the construction of a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calculating the areas under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values.
Results

Four hundred and forty-two infants (mean (SD) gestational age = 28.8 (1.3) weeks; mean (SD) birth weight = 1237.0 (236.9) g; 64.7% males) were included in the study. Analyses showed that the DIGIROP-Birth model demonstrated less satisfactory performance than previously reported in identifying infants with TR-ROP, with an area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve of 0.634 (95% confidence interval = 0.564–0.705). With a cutoff value of 0.0084, the DIGIROP-Birth model showed a sensitivity of 48/93 (51.6%), which increased to 89/93 (95.7%) after modification with the addition of postnatal risk factors. In infants with a gestational age < 28 weeks or birth weight < 1000 g, the DIGIROP-Birth model exhibited sensitivities of 36/39 (92.3%) and 20/23 (87.0%), respectively.
Conclusions

Although the predictive performance was less satisfactory in China than in developed countries, modification of the DIGIROP-Birth model with postnatal risk factors shows promise in improving its efficacy for TR-ROP. The model may also be effective in infants with a younger gestational age or with an extremely low birth weight.
The genomic distribution map of human papillomavirus in China
Authors: Chen Ling , Dong Yan , Li Jiao , Zhao Jinqiu , Xu Li , Wu Yue , Liu Huandong , Lu Jungao , Yao Zuoyi , Li Xiaosong
Published: February 2021

In this study, a total of 301,880 woman were recruited from 4 different regions of China. The overall prevalence of HPV was 18.01 %. The high-risk HPV infection rate was 79.14%, the low-risk HPV infection rate was 12.56 %, and the mixed HPV infection rate was 8.30%. The most common 4 HR HPV subtypes were HPV-52, 16, 58 and 53, which accounted for 20.49 %, 19.93 %, 14.54 % and 10.01 %. In LR HPV genotype, HPV-6 ranked the highest (28.17 %), followed by HPV-81 (9.09 %) and HPV-11 (3.78 %). HPV genotype subgroup analysis also showed that single-type infections had the highest prevalence rate (77.26 %) among HPV positive individuals. Among muti-infection genotype, double infection was the most common with frequencies of 76.04 %. This large report showed that the overall prevalence of HPV was high in China, whose distribution exhibits different patterns across different particular age and regions. Viral genotypes HPV 53, 6 were frequently detected in this population, which is worth of significant clinical attention.
Streptoneury Is Independent From Ontogenetic Torsion in the Caenogastropod Snail Marisa Cornuarietis
Authors: Morath J. Anton , Fischer Stefan , Hannig Leonie , Schwarz Simon , Triebskorn Rita , Betz Oliver , Köhler Heinz-R.
Published: February 2021

A hallmark in snails’ anatomy is the conspicuous crossing of the pleurovisceral nerve cords present in all but the most derived gastropod clades. This feature is called streptoneury and hitherto near-universally believed to derive from the process of torsion which is, ontogenetically, visible by a 180° rotation of the visceral sac relative to the cephalopodium, being also responsible for the formation of a cranially bent gut and the location of gills in a mantle cavity that opens to the anterior. However, the mechanical link between the ontogenetic rotation of the visceropallium and streptoneury has never been demonstrated directly. After suppressing ontogenetic torsion in the freshwater apple snail Marisa cornuarietis, we could show in a 3D reconstruction based on serial sectioning that the nervous system of the non-torted snail almost identically mirrored the classical organization of a normally developed individual and showed all features of streptoneury in this species. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed the pleurovisceral cords not to be fully shaped after completion of ontogenetic torsion. We therefore conclude that, ontogenetically, and potentially also phylogenetically, torsion is not an implicit prerequisite for streptoneury, thereby fundamentally challenging a century-old ‘certainty’ in molluscan developmental biology and evolution.
Stretching the Limit of Native Liver Survival in Biliary Atresia After Kasai Portoenterostomy – a 37-year Territory-wide Study
Authors: Chung Patrick Ho Yu , Chan Edwin Kin Wai , Yeung Fanny , Chan Albert Chi Yan , Mou Jennifer Wai Cheung , Lee Kim Hung , Hung Judy Wing Suet , Leung Michael Wai Yip , Tam Paul Kwong Hang , Wong Kenneth Kak Yuen
Published: February 2021

ObjectiveWe present a 37 years’ experience in the management of biliary atresia (BA) and discuss long-term complications after Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE).MethodsA retrospective territory-wide study from 1980 to 2017 on 231 patients with open KPE from three tertiary paediatric surgical centres was performed. The jaundice clearance (JC) rate, native liver survival (NLS) rate and complications were analyzed.ResultsThe mean follow up period was 15.4 +/- 6.2 years. Over 60% of patients remained JC within 2 years after KPE. Seventy patients (30.3%) received liver transplant (LT) at a median age of 6.2 years (range: 0.5 to 25 years). The NLS rates at 10, 20 and 30 years were 70.7%, 61.5% and 53.0% respectively with no significant change over the study period. The median bilirubin level among all native liver survivors (n=153) was 24 µmol/L (2 to 162 µmol/L). Portal hypertension (PHT) and recurrent cholangitis were found in 51.6% and 27.5% of them respectively.ConclusionWith a vigilant follow up program, more than 60% of BA patients could remain stable with the disease and achieve long term survival without LT. Although portal hypertension and recurrent cholangitis are common, they do not need to be the indications for LT if managed properly.
Biological Age in COPD Patients Reveals an Accelerated Lung Aging
Authors: Campisi Manuela , Liviero Filippo , Maestrelli Piero , Guarnieri Gabriella , Pavanello Sofia
Published: February 2021

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the third leading cause of death worldwide, shows striking clinical aging-associated features of lung. We tested the hypothesis that lung biological aging in COPD is accelerated. Biological aging was assessed by mitotic telomere length (TL) and non-mitotic age-dependent methylation changes in specific CpGs (DNAmAge) of lung cells, obtained from induced sputum, and peripheral blood leucocytes in 18 COPD patients (72.4±7.7 years; 50% males), clinically appraised by lung function and blood parameters. DNAmAge (67.4±5.80 vs 61.6±5.40 years; p=0.0003), AgeAcc (-4.5±5.02 vs -10.8±3.50 years; p=0.0003) and TL attrition (1.05±0.35 vs 1.48±0.21 T/S; p=0.0341) are higher in lung than blood in the same patients. Blood DNAmAge (r=0.927245; p=0.0026) and AgeAcc (r=0.916445; p=0.0037), but not TL, highly correlate with that of lung. Therefore, blood can be a proxy indicator of lung biological age. Multiple regression analyses show that both blood DNAmAge and AgeAcc decrease (i.e., younger) in patients with combined inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) therapy (p=0.0494 and p=0.0553) and FEV1% enhancement (p=0.0254; p=0.0296). In conclusion, the new finding, that lung of COPD patients is remarkably biologically older than blood, opens new research challenge on novel therapeutic approaches to counteract this key aspect of the disease.
Long Duration and Resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 in Cameroonian Population
Authors: Buri Donald , Njuwa Fai Karl Gwei , Matchim Lucrece , Akendji Blaise , Eteki Lucrèce , Fouda Nicole Mbarga , Bebbel Lisa , Ndifon Mark , Hamadou Achta , Dora Tchiasso , Nicolay Birgit , Abbah Aristide , Tchoula Corinne , Kameni Bertrand Tchualeu , René Essomba , Nsaibirni Robert , Ntone Rodrigue , Fanne Mahamat , Eyangoh Sara , Ouamba Jean Patrick , Koku Modeste Tamakloé , Mandeng Nadia , Esso Linda , Claire Okomo Marie , Epée Emilienne , Mballa Georges Alain Etoundi , Njouom Richard , Boum Yap
Published: February 2021

BackgroundInfection with SARS-CoV-2 can lead to a detectable serological immune response even though extent of its protection is still not yet well known. We report long duration and resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19. MethodsWe included a cohort of 99 participants from our non-blinded non-randomized evaluation of COVID-19 tests in Cameroon. Demographic and clinical information was collected from participants including self-reported age, race, ethnicity, and gender. Qualitative data was described as proportions while quantitative data was described with means and accompanying ranges.ResultsDuration of PCR for SARS-CoV-2 positivity was found to range from 4 – 81 days, with mean duration of 32.8 days in patients with PCR-positive. We also identified 4 participants who also had SARS-CoV-2 resurgence within a three-month period. Conclusion﻿These observations raise questions on clinical decision to release COVID-19 cases from isolation after 14 days.
Study of the Effect of Ability and Motivation Factors on the Failure of Small and Medium-Sized Businesses in Iran
Authors: Mirzaye Sina , Nashtaei Reza Aghajan
Published: February 2021

The effect of small and medium-sized enterprises through entrepreneurship, revenue growth and creation of employment opportunities on the global economy is undeniable. Although these enterprises enjoy some strength like flexibility and compatibility in comparison to larger enterprises, they face a lot of problems which have kept their failure rate high. Therefore, in order to have proper and principled policy and plan to achieve economic development it is important to identify the factors affecting the failure of small businesses.This study aims to investigate the effect of two individual factors of ability and motivation on the failure of small and medium-sized businesses by studying 30 unsuccessful companies located in Industrial towns of Guilan province by presenting a questionnaire among managers and employees. In this paper, SPSS16 software was used for data analysis and to access the answers of the research questions. According to the results, the impact of sanctions and inflation on motivation was considered as the most significant motivational factor and lack of resources management and being considerate of other’s abilities were regarded as the most important ability factors.
Knowledge, Attitudes, And Practices Towards COVID-19 Among Mizan-Aman Town Residents In SNNPR, Bench Shako Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2020
Authors: Dachew Aklilu Mamo , Zegene Girma Mamo , Ambo Wasihun Adraro , Setegn Meseret Gebremariam
Published: February 2021

Back ground: The first case of COVID 19 in Ethiopia was confirmed on March 13, 2020. Currently the disease is highly spreading into almost all administrative regions of Ethiopia. COVID -19 is not only a health problem but also causes to the socio-economic crisis. Methods ; community based descriptive study design was conducted in Mizan aman town.Three kebeles were randomly selected from the five kebeles, by proportionally allocating the samples, to each kebeles, from shesheka 134, from Adiss ketema 166, from Kometa ketema,122 samples taken. Households from each kebele were selected by systematic random sampling. First house was selected randomly and every 12th house was selected for the study and one participant from each house was taken for interview by lottery method. Data were collected by using a structured questionnaire adapted from different literatures. Data collectors used interview methods by strictly using masks and keeping physical distances.Questionaire administered data collection was avoided during data collection time to reduce cross contamination. Data was entered in EpiData version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 21 for analysis. Descriptive analysis was done to summarize the frequencies of correct and percentages. Variables whose p-value <0.05 were considered as statistically significantResult The percentage of the respondents who correctly answered fever, fatigue, dry cough and muscle ache can be one of the symptoms of COVID 19 was 94.9% and 74.8% of the respondents correctly answered that, stuffy nose, runny nose, and sneezing are additional symptoms of corona virus. According to the finding, 64.3% had confidence that Ethiopia can win the battle and the study participants who had optimistic attitude weather they go quarantine if infected was 70.6%. The study result showed that 64.3% visited the crowded place during the interview and 61.1% didn’t wear masks when leaving home, 50.8% of the respondents did not avoid cultural behaviors, such as shaking hands, only 48.4% have been practiced social distancing.
Sublethal Effects of Propiconazole On The Metabolism of Lambari Deuterodon Iguape (Eigenmann 1907), A Native Species From Brazil
Authors: Henriques Marcelo Barbosa , Rezende Karina Fernandes Oliveira , Castilho-Barros Leonardo , Barbieri Edison
Published: February 2021

The objective of this study was to analyze the sublethal effects of propiconazole on Deuterodon iguape a native fish common in Brazil, which has potential for aquaculture and use as a bioindicator. The hypothesis was to test whether D. iguape has a metabolism similar to Danio rerio so that its use in bioassays may be validated. Lethal concentration (LC50) and metabolic rates were studied in fish exposed to propiconazole. There was an increase and decrease in the metabolic rate at 0.01 and 0.1 µg L-1, with a statistical difference from the control ratio for the two species. The same trend towards ammonia excretion was observed, initially increasing to a concentration of 0.01 µg L-1 and then decreasing as the concentration of propiconazole was increased. The averages of specific ammonia excretion in all concentrations were significantly different compared to the control. It was concluded that exposure to propiconazole increased the metabolic rates of D. Iguape and D. rerio, up to 0.05 µg L-1, and decreased the rates when the concentration was doubled (0.1 µg L-1); causing serious problems in fish metabolism. D. iguape proved to be a good and useful bioindicator for ichthyologists or ecologists in studies of moderate pesticide contamination in freshwater aquatic environments, as its metabolic response was similar to D. rerio.
Synergistic effect of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ionizing radiation on thermal and mechanical properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for potential application in removal of basic dye from wastewater
Authors: Gad Yasser , Ali Hussein E. , Hegazy El-Sayed A.
Published: February 2021

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) was prepared using gamma irradiation at different doses. Carboxymethyl cellulose was used as a matrix and TiO2 in different contents was added (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 wt %) as a filler. The polymer composite film were irradiated at doses of 5, 10 and15 kGy using 60Co γ-ray to form crosslinked network structure. The prepared composite films were described by different diagnostic procedures including X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR as well as thermal and mechanical properties measurements. CMC/TiO2 composite films was used for removal of basic Violet 7 dye. The adsorption of the dye follows the Langmuir model a with chemical monolayer adsorption behavior. Adsorption kinetic of dyes was set up to be regular to pseudo second order kinetic model. The results showed that the prepared composite films significantly removed this basic violet 7 dye with maximum absorption capacity (123.6 mg/g).
Synergistic effect of titanium dioxide (TiO2) and ionizing radiation on thermal and mechanical properties of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) for potential application in removal of basic dye from wastewater
Authors: Gad Yasser , Ali Hussein E. , Hegazy El-Sayed A.
Published: February 2021

Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) was prepared using gamma irradiation at different doses. Carboxymethyl cellulose was used as a matrix and TiO2 in different contents was added (0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5 wt %) as a filler. The polymer composite film were irradiated at doses of 5, 10 and15 kGy using 60Co γ-ray to form crosslinked network structure. The prepared composite films were described by different diagnostic procedures including X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM), FTIR as well as thermal and mechanical properties measurements. CMC/TiO2 composite films was used for removal of basic Violet 7 dye. The adsorption of the dye match with the Langmuir model across chemical monolayer adsorption performance. Adsorption kinetic of dyes was set up to be regular to pseudo second order kinetic model. The results showed that the prepared composite films significantly removed this basic violet 7 dye with maximum absorption capacity (123.6 mg/g).
Temporal and spatial variation of hydrochemical contamination in a former radium-uranium tailing dam as a result of environmental remediation field works
Authors: Barbosa Sofia , Pinto Mariana , Almeida J. A. , Carvalho E. , Diamantino C.
Published: February 2021

The main objective of this work was to understand the evolution of water quality within a tailings dam of a former radium-uranium mining site as a response to environmental remediation works. For this, results of numerical groundwater modeling were combined with multivariate hydrochemical trend analysis derived multivariate Principal Component Analysis and K-means clustering analysis. Numerical groundwater models were developed with the aim of detecting the main flow paths inside the tailings dam and across its bordering. These models allowed the identification of the hydrodynamic flows in the area that are most likely to be directly responsible for relevant hydrochemical exchanges in time. The spatial evolution of the contamination plume in time was mapped considering a cumulative interpretation that integrates all the hydrochemical indicators simultaneously through multivariate and clustering analysis. Resulting hydrochemical maps were superposed with the flow paths identified from modelling allowing to conclude that the contamination plume migrates within the tailings in the dependence of the main water flow paths that percolates within the tailings dam due to the existence of old shafts and old pre-existing streamlines located underneath the tailings dam. The methodology adopted allowed the verification of a general improvement in groundwater quality with a spatial reduction of the contamination plume within the tailings dam.
Incidence and Survival of Thyroid Cancer with Lung Metastasis
Authors: Zhong Miaochun , He Xianghong , Cui Lingfei , Lei Kefeng
Published: February 2021

Background: Thyroid cancer (TC) is common malignancy. Lung metastasis is one of the top metastases for TC. The incidence and survival rates of TC with lung metastasis remains unclear.Methods: Data on TC with lung metastasis and other site-specific metastases were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. The chi-square tests were employed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics among patients with different sites of metastases. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests were used for survival analysis. A Cox proportional model was used for multivariate analyses of the patient population. Statistical significance indicated by a two-tailed P value < 0.05. Results: A total of 77322 patients with TC and known sites of distant metastases were identified from 2010-2016. The probability of isolated lung metastasis was significantly higher than that of isolated distant metastasis to other sites among TC patients (P < 0.05). Patients with isolated lung metastases had worse overall and thyroid cancer-specific survival compared to patients with isolated bone metastases (P < 0.05). There was a slight difference in thyroid cancer-specific survival between patients with lung metastasis and patients with liver metastasis(P=0.0496), while there was no significant difference in overall survival. (P >0.05). There was no significant difference in overall survival or thyroid cancer specific survival between patients with lung metastasis and those with brain metastasis (P > 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that white race was associated with better outcomes in terms of both endpoints in the lung metastasis population.Conclusions: The incidence of lung metastasis from TC was higher than that of other organ metastases. Thyroid cancer patients with isolated lung metastases have worse outcomes compared to patients with isolated bone metastases and liver metastases, whereas is similar to brain metastasis. There was the worst survival outcome on patients with multi-organ metastases.
The Relationship Between Coronavirus Anxiety Level and Emotional Eating in Individuals with Metabolic Syndrome: A Comparative Study
Authors: Değirmenci Duygu Mataracı , Uğurlu Yasemin Kalkan , Alemdar Dilek Küçük
Published: February 2021

BackgroundThe aim was to determine the coronavirus anxiety levels and emotional eating status of cases with diagnosis of MetS according to diagnostic criteria published by the International Diabetic Federation (IDF) in 2005 and healthy individuals with similar BMI to MetS subjects. MethodsThis study was completed with the descriptive, cross-sectional, case-controlled and relational screening model. The full sampling method was used in the study. The study was completed with 105 individuals with metabolic syndrome attending the diet clinic and 109 healthy individuals without MetS diagnosis also attending the diet clinic. Collection of data used anthropometric measurements and biochemical findings, blood pressure and a survey form, the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) and Emotional Eating Scale (EES). ResultsCoronavirus anxiety scale scores of individuals with metabolic syndrome were found to be statistically significantly higher than the scores of the healthy control group (p <0.05). The difference between the metabolic syndrome group and the healthy control group for emotional eating scale scores was not significant (p <0.05)When groups are compared, apart from HDL, blood pressure and all other biochemical parameters were higher in metabolic syndrome subjects (p<0.05). However, when the correlation between coronavirus anxiety scale and emotional eating scale points is investigated in metabolic syndrome and healthy individuals, there was no correlation between the two scales (p>0.05).ConclusionIndividuals with metabolic syndrome had higher coronavirus anxiety levels than healthy individuals; however, there was no difference between metabolic syndrome and healthy subjects in terms of emotional eating behavior.Level of evidenceIII, case–control analytic study.
Seismic Response of Base-Isolated Buildings With High Damping Rubber Bearings Having Different Design Characteristics
Authors: DERİNGÖL Ahmet Hilmi , Güneyisi Esra Mete
Published: February 2021

In this study, the use of high damping rubber bearing (HDRB) with various design properties in mitigating the seismic effects for steel buildings was investigated. For this, a generalized demand on the analytical model of HDRB was introduced and eighteen different models of HDRB were examined comparatively. These models were created by considering three significant isolation parameters of HDRB such as isolation period T (2, 2.5, and 3 s), effective damping ratio βeff (0.05, 0.10, 0.15), and post-yield stiffness ratio λ (3 and 6). The benchmark low (3-storey), mid (6-storey), and high-rise (9-storey) steel buildings were equipped with different isolation systems of HDRB and then subjected to a set of earthquake ground motions through nonlinear time history analyses in order to evaluate the actual nonlinear behaviour of the bearings in the base-isolated steel buildings in service. The base-isolated frames were assessed by the variation of the selected structural response parameters such as isolator displacement, relative displacement, inter-storey drift ratio, absolute acceleration, base shear, base moment, hysteretic curve, and dissipated energy. The effectiveness of the steel buildings with HDRB was evaluated. It was shown that the seismic performance of the base-isolated structure was remarkably influenced by the isolation parameters. The higher value of the isolation period and effective damping ratio tended to increase the amount of dissipated energy associated with low post-yield stiffness ratio.
Analysis of Credit Access and Utilization Among Poultry Farmers in Nigeria
Authors: Afolayan Ayodeji , Omisope E. T. , Ajayi Adedamola M. , Adeoti Oluwafemi Samuel , Ogunjinmi Oluwatoyin F.
Published: February 2021

This study assessed credit access and utilization among poultry farmers and its determinant. Primary data were analyzed from 78 farmers using multistage sampling technique using descriptive statistics, logit and multiple regression models. Findings from the study showed that majority of the respondents were in their active age and 75.6 percent of the poultry farmers were males. Majority (83.3 percent) of the respondents were married and educated. Majority was also in their active age (37.2 percent). The factors determining farmers’ decision to use credit which were significant at 5 percent include; number of years spent in school, farm income, labour cost, cost of feeds and sources of capital while only interest rate was significant at 1 percent. Factors that influenced the credit utilization by the farmers in the study area at 5 percent significance level include; farm income, cost of feeds, and number of birds. It is recommended that subsidization of cost of feeds, usage of family labour, and provision of loan at no or low interest rate should be employed in the study area.
A Potent Peroxidase from Solid Cell Culture of Ocimum Basilicum with High Sensitivity for Blood Glucose Determination
Authors: Mohammadnejad Parvin , Asl Saeed Soleimani , Rasoulian Zahra , Aminzadeh Saeed , Ghashghaie Jaleh , Haghbeen Kamahldin
Published: February 2021

Objectives Extensive applications of peroxidase (POX) have raised the global market demand at a considerable rate during the forecast period of 2020 - 2025. Nonetheless, the large-scale POX preparation still relies on the extraction from agricultural products, while there is an accumulative driving force toward employing biotechnological processes with agricultural hassle free identity. In pursuit of this trend; Results, A novel heme peroxidase was purified to homogeneity (MW of 40 kD) from the callus culture of Ocimum basilicum L. in darkness on Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (10-6 M) and kinetin (10-5 M). The highest activity of the purified peroxidase (ObPOX) was observed in Tris-base buffer at pH 7.5 and 80 °C. ObPOX showed high stability over pH(s) 5 to 7.5 and temperatures of 15 to 60 °C. ObPOX specific activity was 1245.142 AU mg-1 in the presence of phenol, 4 times higher than that of HRP. ObPOX showed moderate affinity for guaiacol (Km = 21.5 mM), but obtained an exceptionally high specificity constant (kcat/Km = 66743.7 s-1M-1) for GASA (4-[(4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl) azo]-benzenesulfonic acid), the introduced substrate for determination of blood sugar. Applying ObPOX instead of HRP in glucose measurements of the real samples improved the regression constant of the correlation diagram between the tests and the lab results from 0.958 to 0.981. Conclusion Physicochemical properties of ObPOX as well as the growth rate of basil callus (5.04 g L-1 per day) and the yield of ObPOX production (35 mg per 100 g dry biomass per subculture) designates O. basilicum cell culture for large-scale production of a robust peroxidase.
Antidiabetic Activity of Phytosynthesized Ag/CuO Nanocomposites Using Murraya Koenigii and Zingiber Officinale Extracts
Authors: Selvan D. Arumai , Kumar R. Senthil , Shobana S. , Murugesan S. , Rahiman A. kalilur
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we report the phytosynthesis of Ag/CuO nanocomposites (NCs) using Murraya koenigii and Zingiber officinale green extracts containing unique metabolites. The silver and copper oxide nanoparticles, and Ag/CuO NCs were also synthesized by chemical methods for the purpose of comparison with phytosynthesized Ag/CuO NCs. All the synthesized nanomaterials were characterized by diverse spectro-analytical methods. The phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of active phytoconstituents in the Murraya koenigii and Zingiber officinale extracts. The major biomolecules present in the plant extracts act as reducing and capping agents in the green synthesis process, as identified using FT IR spectroscopy. The maximum absorbance at ~ 290 and ~ 460 nm corresponding to CuO and Ag evidenced the formation of Ag/CuO NCs. Further, the XRD patterns also confirmed the formation of nanocomposites by exhibiting the fcc crystalline and monoclinic nature of Ag and CuO nanoparticles, respectively. The SEM images displayed the spherical shape of the synthesized NCs, and the EDX spectra confirmed the presence of Ag, Cu and O elements in the synthesized NCs. The TEM images revealed the relatively uniform size of the synthesized nanomaterials ranging between 18 and 22 nm. The in vitro antidiabetic activity with α-amylase, α-glucosidase and glucose-6-phosphatase enzymes, and glucose uptake assay showed that the Ag/CuO NCs synthesized using Zingiber officinale extract displayed highest activity than the rest of the synthesized nanomaterials.
Efficacy of Endoscopic Surveillance in the Detection of Local Recurrence After Radical Rectal Cancer Surgery is Limited: A Retrospective Study.
Authors: Jankowski Michal , Wysocki Wojciech M. , Tkaczyński Karol , Wiśniewski Dorian , Las-Jankowska Manuela , Bała Dariusz , Zegarski Wojciech
Published: February 2021

Background: Rectal cancer, one of most common neoplasms, is characterized by an overall survival rate exceeding 60%. Nonetheless, local recurrence (LR) following surgery for rectal cancer remains a formidable clinical problem. The aim of this study was to assess the value of postoperative endoscopic surveillance (PES) for the early detection of LR in rectal cancer after radical treatment.Methods: We performed an anterior resection in 228 patients with stage I-III rectal cancer who had undergone surgery from 2001 to 2008 in the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Of these patients, 169 had perioperative radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy. All patients underwent PES with imaging (abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography scan, pelvic magnetic resonance imaging) and endoscopic examinations. The ratios of sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated to compare the diagnostic value of colonoscopy versus imaging techniques. Results: During the 5-year follow-up, recurrences occurred in 49 (21%) patients; of these, 15 (6%) had LR, which was most often located outside the intestinal lumen (n = 10, 4%). Anastomotic LR occurred in 5 (2%) patients. The mean time to anastomotic LR was 30 months after initial surgery, similar to that of other locations (29 months). Both imaging and endoscopy were shown to be efficient techniques for the diagnosis of LR in anastomotic sites, and endoscopy did not provide any additional benefit in patients who were receiving radiation therapy.Conclusions: The benefit of PES for the detection of LR after curative treatment of rectal cancer is limited. It remains a useful method, however, for the histopathological confirmation of suspected or confirmed recurrence.
Decreases in Concentrations and Human Dietary Intakes of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in Korean Seafood Between 2005 and 2017
Authors: Choi Minkyu , Lee In-seok
Published: February 2021

Concentrations of PCBs and PBDEs were measured in 23 seafood species widely consumed by Korean population in 2005–2007, 2010–2011, and 2015–2017. The Σ82PCB and Σ19PBDE concentrations in the seafood samples of 2015–2017 were 0.06–6.69 ng/g wet weight and 0.01–1.60 ng/g wet weight, respectively. The Σ82PCB and Σ19PBDE concentrations in the samples were correlated significantly, and elevated PCB and PBDE concentrations were found in fatty fish such as herring, mackerel, and tuna. The current intakes of PCBs and PBDEs were much lower than a TDI or a LOAEL. The levels and human dietary intakes of PCBs and PBDEs in the 2015–2017 survey showed decreases of 17–73% and 57–86%, respectively, in relation to the 2005–2007 and 2010–2011 surveys. This indicates that global bans on PCBs and PBDEs have been effective, and their levels and exposure have been gradually declining.
Improved Mood Boosts Memory Training Gains in Older Adults With Subjective Memory Complaints: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yin Shufei , Zhu Xinyi , Li Rui , Huo Lijuan , Ren Weicong , Xiao Qiaoling , Lang Minjia , Li Jin , Hou Jianhua , Niu Yanan , Li Juan
Published: February 2021

Objective: Older adults with subjective memory complaints (SMC) have a higher risk of dementia and commonly demonstrate symptoms of depression and anxiety. The study aimed to examine the effect of a memory training program for individuals with SMC, and whether memory training combined with group counseling aimed at alleviating depression and anxiety would boost memory training gains.Design: A three-armed, double-blind, randomized controlled trial.Setting and Participants: Community-dwelling older adults with SMC, aged ≥ 60 years.Methods: Participants (n = 124) were randomly assigned to memory training (MT), group counseling (GC), or GC+MT intervention. The GT+MT group received 4-hour group counseling followed by a 4-week memory training, while the MT group attended reading and memory training, and the GC group received group counseling and health lectures. Cognitive function and symptoms of depression and anxiety were assessed at baseline, mid-, and post-intervention. The GC+MT group and GC group had resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging at mid- and post-intervention.Results: After group counseling, the GC+MT and GC groups showed reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, compared to the MT group. Memory training enhanced memory performance in both MT and GC+MT groups, but the GC+MT group demonstrated larger memory improvement (Cohen’s d = 0.96) than the MT group (Cohen’s d = 0.62). Amygdala-hippocampus connectivity was associated with improved mood and memory gains.Conclusion and Implications: Group counseling reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, and memory training enhanced memory performance. Specifically, improved mood induced larger memory training effects. The results suggest that it may need to include treatment for depression and anxiety in memory intervention for older adults with SMC.Trial Registration: ChiCTR-IOR-15006165 in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry.
Active Treatment Strategy Improves Overall Survival of Patients With Intracranial Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma After Surgical Treatment
Authors: Chen Junyu , Chen Bo , Hu Fei , Qiu Yong , Xiao Guomin , Zhou Junge , Zhang Fangcheng
Published: February 2021

Intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (IMC) is a rare malignancy. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of treatment in overall survival (OS) for patients with IMC. Firstly, we retrospectively collected 9 cases from two medical centers, then screened the publications and enrolled 112 reported cases, and finally pooled these data together to analyze candidate prognostic factors for OS. For the treatment-related predictors, we defined active intervention if GTR (gross total resection) and/or radiotherapy (GaoR) was employed and inactive one when neither GTR nor radiotherapy (NGnR) was used. The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year OS for patients with IMC were 82.6%, 60.3% and 49.4%, respectively. NGnR was the independent risk factor for OS (HR [hazard ratio] = 4.70, 95% CI [confidence interval] 1.575 ~ 14.060; p = 0.006). The 1-year, 3-year and 5-year of patients with GaoR were higher than that of patients with NGnR (85.1%, 68.7% and 57.7% vs. 72.7%, 42.4% and 21.2%). Patients with IMC could obtain survival benefit from active intervention (GaoR group). GTR and/or radiotherapy should be recommended whenever feasible.
Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Shale Gas Engine Combustion Stability
Authors: Liu Shuai , Zhang Libin , Wang Zhong , Hua Lun , Zhang Qiushi
Published: February 2021

The traditional analysis method of engine combustion cycle variation is a statistical method based on a small amount of data. In essence, the obtained cycle variation is random data. In order to reveal the dynamic nature of the cyclical changes during the combustion of a shale gas engine, a nonlinear dynamics method was used to study the stability of the combustion process. The motion law of the phase space trajectory is analyzed, the influence of the shale gas composition on the trajectory distribution is analyzed, the return mapping point of the average indicated pressure in the cylinder is discussed. The relationship between adjacent combustion characteristic parameters is studied; the chaotic characteristics of the shale gas engine combustion process are discussed. The results show that during the working process of the shale gas engine, the in-cylinder pressure shows a similar quasi-periodic state in the entire phase space, and the working process has a certain chaotic law; with the increase of the CH4, N2 and CO2 content in the shale gas, the combustion cycle variation increases, and the randomness of the engine working process increases. The phase space trajectory shows a monotonously increasing distribution of Poincaré mapping points on the ∑XY+ section. With the increase of the combustion cycle, the linear relationship of the scattered points gradually increases, and the randomness of the combustion process increases. The return map points of the engine combustion characteristic parameters are distributed in a cluster. When the CH4 content increases, the distribution range of the average indicated pressure return map points increases. With the increase of N2 and CO2 content, abnormal combustion phenomena such as partial combustion or misfire occur during the engine combustion process, the uncertainty of the combustion process increases, and the combustion stability decreases. With the increase of engine speed, the correlation dimension and the maximum Lyapunov exponent increase, the randomness of the combustion process increases, and the chaotic characteristics of the engine working process are obvious; the time series of the cylinder pressure is more sensitive to the content of inert gas. With the increase of N2 and CO2 content in the gas, the correlation dimension and the maximum Lyapunov exponent increase significantly, the complexity of the phase space trajectory increases, and the chaotic characteristics become more obvious.
The Review of Ecological Network Indicators in Graph Theory Context: 2014-2019
Authors: Darabi Hassan , Hashemi Rastgar , Lotfi Faroq
Published: February 2021

Ecological Network Analysis (ENA) capability has led to develop a set of indicators. Ecological Network Indicators (ENIs) investigates a range of subject in different context “e.g. Graph theory”, which is the origin of variety of questions such as following: What is the geographical distribution of studies and their relationship with each other? On what fields these studies are focused? What graph-based index or indexes have been used in the studies of ecological networks? What are the most widely used indexes in ecological studies? Accordingly, this study is to investigate the related literature between 2014 and 2019 in the framework of graph theory. To answer the mentioned question, we conducted systematic literature review. To find as many potentially eligible articles as possible, the search was performed multiple times using diverse related keywords. We identified 456 related records. After the screening process, 114 articles were left as the basis of further analysis. The results indicate that ENA applied mainly in China, USA, France. ENIs is studied more frequently among plants and mammals. We identified about 58 ENIs. But the Probability of Connectivity (PC), Integral index of connectivity (IIC) have been consistently used in most studies. Also, these two indices are used in combination with others ENIs. The outcomes show researchers introduce new indexes every year. The increasing trend of introducing new indicators shows the usability and applicability ENIs. But so far, PC, IIC, and LCP seem to be the most credible graph-based indexes for use in ecological network research. The overall results imply that graph theory as base of ecological network is developing, presents new indicators and opening new dimensions in the study and analysis of connections and communications in ecological networks. It has adequate flexibility to answer questions that may arise in the future in the field of ecological network analysis.
Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Young Female Breast Cancer
Authors: Zheng Dan , Luo Ting , Zhong Xiaorong , Wang Chengshi , He Ping , Tian Tinglun , Wang Yanping , Zheng Hong
Published: February 2021

BackgroundWith the increase in socioeconomic status and development of early screening technologies, the proportion of young breast cancer has gradually increased. However, epidemiological research on breast cancer in young women is lagging. There is a lack of diagnosis and treatment guidelines specifically for young breast cancer patients. MethodsThis is an single-center, retrospective cohort study which adopted 2,142 women ≤ 41 years who were diagnosed with stage I-III invasive breast cancer. Patients were grouped into hormone receptor-positive and -negative groups. Variance of common characteristics between the two groups were compared using Chi-square test, Fisher-exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test. Cox proportional hazards regression was employed for survival estimation and Kaplan–Meier curves were used to graphically present the survival data. Propensity score matching was used to balanced covariates between patients who received or not received the same treatment. ResultsThe median age of the whole cohort was 37 (16-40), and 75.0% suffered from hormone receptor (HR) positive tumors. Modified radical mastectomy was the most frequent surgery (77.7%), and 78.7% women received adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant radiotherapy was implemented in 39.0% of patients, and 58.3% women did not receive radiotherapy. The HR-positive status independently predicted unfavorable overall survival (OS, HR = 1.50, 95% CI 1.03-2.21, P = 0.04) and invasive disease-free survival (iDFS, HR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.05-2.05, P = 0.02). After propensity score matching (PSM), adjuvant chemotherapy (HR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.26-0.87, P = 0.02), and adjuvant radiotherapy (HR = 0.54, 95% CI 0.37-0.78, P = 0.001) improved OS significantly. Adjuvant chemotherapy predicted favorable iDFS (HR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.38-0.94, P = 0.03). Endocrine therapy improved both OS and iDFS in patients with HR-positive disease. ConclusionThe number of young women with breast cancer is gradually increasing, and these women have worse survival outcomes than their elder counterparts. HR-positive disease predicted worse long-term survival outcomes. Adjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant radiotherapy were required for all of the young patients. Young women with HR-positive disease can benefit from endocrine therapy. No clear benefit was seen from neoadjuvant chemotherapy in young women with early-stage breast cancer.
Climatology of Medium-Scale Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances (MSTIDs) Observed with GPS Networks in the North African Region
Authors: Oluwadare Temitope Seun , Jakowski Norbert , Valladares Cesar E. , Akala Andrew Oke-Ovie , Abe Oladipo E. , Alizadeh Mahdi M. , Schuh Harald
Published: February 2021

We present for the first time the climatology of medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) by using Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver networks on geomagnetically quiet days (Kp ≤ 3) over the North African region during 2008-2016. The ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) were estimated from the dual-frequency GPS measurements, and the TEC perturbations (dTEC) data were derived from the estimated TEC data. We focused on the TEC perturbations (dTEC) associated MSTIDs and statistically analyzed its characteristics, occurrence rate, diurnal and seasonal behavior as well as the interannual dependence. The results show that MSTID is a local and seasonal dependence. The results also show that MSTIDs predominantly propagates towards the South (equatorward). The daytime and nighttime MSTIDs increase with solar activity, and its event period is (12 ≤ period ≤ 53 mins), while the dominant amplitude is (0.08 ≤ amp ≤ ~1.5 dTECU). The MSTIDs propagation velocity is dominantly higher at the daytime than nighttime. The study also shows that the magnitude of MSTIDs is higher at the northwest (NW) when compared with northeast (NE), and the disturbance occurrence time is more frequent within the hours of (1200 - 1600 LT), and (1000 - 1400 LT) in December solstice at daytime for stations located in the NW and NE part of the African region, respectively. While at the nighttime, the MSTIDs also exhibits variability in disturbance occurrence time around (NW: 2100 - 0200 LT) and (NE: 1900 - 0200 LT) in June solstice, but get extended to March equinox during solar maximum (2014). The mean phase velocity in daytime MSTIDs is higher than the nighttime in every season, except during June solstice.