bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A drug safety surveillance study of a ciprofloxacin / dexamethasone ophthalmic fixed combination in Peruvian population
Authors: Contreras-Salinas Homero , Baiza-Durán Leopoldo Martín , Barajas-Hernández Mariana , Vázquez-Álvarez Alan Omar , Rodríguez-Herrera Lourdes Yolotzin
Published: November 2020

(1) Background: drugs provide a significant benefit; however, their use implies an intrinsic potential danger, with the possibility to cause unwanted effects. These effects are known as adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Post-marketing drug safety surveillance detects unknown risks that have not been identified in clinical trials and it is necessary to monitor marketed medications under real-life practice. Due to the scarce information about fixed combination of ciprofloxacin 0.3% / dexamethasone 0.1% (SDO), we performed a drug safety surveillance study. (2) Methods: A prospective non-controlled drug safety surveillance study was conducted in Peruvian population. A total of 236 patients prescribed SDO were included derivates from 12 sites. Patients' standardized information was collected through two phone calls, including demographics, medical history, prescribing patterns of SDO, concomitant medication, and ADRs in detail. The ADRs were classified by causality and severity, followed by outcome measures to identify new risk. (3) Results: 236 patients prescribed with SDO participated in the study and 220 were included. A total of 82 ADRs/220 patients were reported after the use of SDO, presenting a ratio 0.37 ADR/patient. The most frequent ADR with SDO administration was eye irritation (30%). The totality of the ADR was classified as non-serious, and the 97.5% (n=80) was classified as mild and 2.5% as moderate (n=2). No cases under the severe category were identified. (4) Conclusion: No new risks were found in the population where this study was conducted.
ФОРМИРОВАНИЕ И ДИНАМИКА НАПРЯЖЕННОСТИ СПЕЦИФИЧЕСКОГО ИММУНИТЕТА К SARS-COV-2 ПО КРИТЕРИЮ ИММУНОГЛОБУЛИНА КЛАССА G С УЧЕТОМ ВОЗРАСТНЫХ ОСОБЕННОСТЕЙ
Authors: Долгих Олег , Челакова Юлия
Published: November 2020

Цель работы – провести анализ динамики иммунитета к Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) с учетом возрастных особенностей по критерию иммуноглобулина класса G за трехмесячный период наблюдения (на примере коллектива медицинского учреждения).Материалы и методы. Проведено обследование 207 человек (168 женщин, 39 мужчин), среди которых 103 человека – медицинские работники, 104 – научные сотрудники медицинского учреждения. Получено информированное согласие участников исследования. Содержание антител определяли методом иммуноферментного анализа (ИФА) с использованием набора реагентов для иммуноферментного выявления иммуноглобулинов класса G к SARS-CoV-2 (АО «Вектор-Бест», Россия). В выборку вошли мужчины и женщины в возрасте от 20 до 74 лет, не болеющие и не переболевшие ранее новой коронавирусной инфекцией. Результаты.Проведенный анализ напряженности специфического иммунитета (уровень анти-SARS-CoV-2 по критерию IgG) за динамический период наблюдения лето-осень 2020 года на примере коллектива работников медицинского учреждения (207 человек) позволил установить рост анти-SARS-CoV-2 резистентности как во всей выборке (на 88,5%), так и в отдельных возрастных группах с максимальным уровнем экспрессии антител в возрастной группе 51-60 лет (в среднем превышение аналогичного уровня возрастной группы 20-40 лет в 1,8 раза) и минимальным ее уровнем в возрастной группе 61-74 года.
La judicialización del derecho a la protección de la salud desde la óptica de los actores clave
Authors: Cobo-Armijo Fernanda , Charvel Sofía , Pelcastre-Villafuerte Blanca Estela
Published: November 2020

Objetivo. Conocer la opinión de actores clave respecto del proceso de judicialización del derecho a la protección de la salud en México. Material y métodos. Se realizaron 30 entrevistas semiestructuradas a representantes de los pode­res Judicial (PJ), Legislativo (PL), Sector Salud (SS), industria farmacéutica, academia y organizaciones de la sociedad civil (OSC) durante mayo de 2017 a agosto de 2018, en distintos lugares de la Ciudad de México. Se transcribieron las graba­ciones y se analizó el contenido con base en categorías de interés. Resultados. Las posturas respecto al fenómeno de la judicialización del derecho a la salud son disímiles. Hay tensiones entre quienes ven su potencial efecto como agente de cambio del sector y quienes la perciben como una interferencia ilegítima del PJ. No existe una estrategia coordinada entre los sectores para promover un cambio en el SS. Conclusiones. Las posturas respecto al fenómeno de la judicialización en México son disímiles. Hay tensiones entre quienes ven su potencial efecto como agente de cam­bio del sector y quienes la perciben como una interferencia ilegítima del PJ en el SS. Otros argumentan que no existe una estrategia coordinada entre los sectores para promover un cambio en el SS.
Consumo de grupos de alimentos y su asociación con características sociodemográficas en población mexicana. Ensanut 2018-19
Authors: Rodríguez-Ramírez Sonia , Gaona-Pineda Elsa B , Martínez-Tapia Brenda , Arango-Angarita Andrea , Kim-Herrera Edith Y , Valdez-Sánchez Andrys , Medina-Zacarías María Concepción , Shamah-Levy Teresa , Ramírez-Silva Ivonne
Published: November 2020

recomendables y no recomendables para consumo cotidianoy su asociación con características sociodemográficas enpoblación mexicana. Material y métodos. Informacióntomada de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2018-19, utilizando un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumode alimentos. Se estimaron cuartiles de consumo de sietegrupos de alimentos por grupo poblacional. Se analizó laasociación del consumo con tipo de localidad, región y tercilesde condición de bienestar (ICB). Resultados. Pertenecera localidades urbanas, región norte e ICB medio y alto seasoció con mayor posibilidad de estar en los cuartiles másaltos de consumo de huevo y lácteos y carnes procesadas,mientras que la región sur se asoció con mayor consumo deleguminosas y bebidas endulzadas. Conclusión. En el surde México se consume más frutas, pero menos leguminosas,huevo y lácteos, mientras que en localidades urbanas seconsume más carnes procesadas, botanas, dulces y postres.
Análisis de la distribución nacional de intoxicación por plomo en niños de 1 a 4 años. Implicaciones para la política pública en México
Authors: Tellez-Rojo Martha María , Bautista-Arredondo Luis F. , Trejo-Valdivia Belem , Tamayo-Ortiz Marcela , Estrad- Sánchez Daniel , Kraiem Ruben , Pantic Ivan , Mercado-García Adriana , Romero-Martínez Martín , Shamah-Levy Teresa , Fuller Richard , Cantoral Alejandra
Published: November 2020

Objetivo. Estimar la magnitud de intoxicación por plomo(Pb) (≥5μg/dL en sangre) en niños de 1 a 4 años e identificarla contribución del uso de loza de barro vidriado con Pb(LBVPb) como fuente de exposición en los 32 estados deMéxico. Material y métodos. Muestra de Pb en sangre(PbS) capilar de niños participantes en la Encuesta Nacionalde Salud y Nutrición 2018-2019. Se estimó la prevalencia deintoxicación, su asociación con LBVPb y distribución nacional.Resultados. La prevalencia nacional de intoxicación fue17.4%, lo cual representa 1.4 millones de niños. Esta prevalenciafue 30.7% entre usuarios de LBVPb y 11.8% entre nousuarios. En 17 estados la prevalencia de intoxicación es ≥10%;en 11 es ≥5-10% y en 4 es <5%. Conclusiones. Existe una distribución diferencial geográfica del problema; se confirma la asociación con LBVPb y se estima la contribución de otrasfuentes de exposición. Esta información ofrece una guía paraimplementar acciones de prevención y control en México.
Prevalencia y predisposición a la obesidad en una muestra nacional de niños y adolescentes en México
Authors: Shamah-Levy Teresa , Cuevas-Nasu Lucia , Méndez-Gómez Humarán Ignacio , Morales-Ruán Carmen , Valenzuela-Bravo Danae Gabriela , Gaona-Pineda Elsa Berenice , Ávila-Arcos Marco Antonio , Rivera-Dommarco Juan
Published: November 2020

Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia de obesidad escolar y adolescente en México y definir posibles factores de riesgo asociados. Material y métodos. La información proviene de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición 2018-2019 (Ensanut 2018-19). Se obtuvo información de 6 268 niños escolares y 5 670 adolescentes. Se estimaron modelos de regresión logística para estudiar la relación del sobrepeso y la obesidad (SP+O) con variables sociodemográficas, presencia de SP+O en padres, variables de salud y dietéticas y hábitos saludables. Resultados. La presencia de SP+O en escolares y adolescentes está asociada con la presencia de SP+O en la madre (p<0.001), con mayor tiempo frente a pantalla y con el índice de condiciones de bienestar medio, y se reduce a mayor consumo de fibra. En adolescentes con obesidad la probabilidad de depresión se incrementa. Conclusión. Es importante reconocer los factores predisponentes y de riesgo y las causas detrás de la obesidad infantil para diseñar estrategias de prevención integrales.
Accidentes no fatales en población mexicana, prevalencia y factores asociados. Ensanut 2018-19
Authors: Hidalgo-Solórzano Elisa , Pérez-Núñez Ricardo , Mojarro Francisco R. , Vera-López Juan Daniel , Híjar Martha
Published: November 2020

Objetivo. Estimar la prevalencia de lesiones accidentalesno fatales en población mexicana y analizar los factoresindividuales, ambientales y del hogar asociados con su ocurrencia.Material y métodos. Se analizó la prevalencia delesiones accidentales a partir de la Encuesta Nacional de Saludy Nutrición (Ensanut) 2018-19, diseñada con un muestreoprobabilístico, estratificado y por conglomerados, en tresetapas. Se evaluó mediante regresión logística su asociacióncon distintas variables independientes. Resultados. La prevalenciade lesiones accidentales fue de 4.5% (IC95%: 4.2-4.7),equivalente a 5.6 millones de personas. De ellas, 22.3% o 1.2millones sufrieron consecuencias permanentes en su estadode salud. La posibilidad de tener una lesión accidental fuemayor en región Norte, Centro y Ciudad de México-Estadode México, en hombres de 0 a 59 años, mujeres de 60 omás años, en personas con alguna discapacidad y en quienesreportaron sentir depresión. Conclusión. Es necesarioy urgente reforzar la prevención de lesiones accidentales,especialmente en grupos vulnerables.
Comportamiento y factores asociados con la anemia en mujeres mexicanas en edad fértil. Ensanut 2018-19
Authors: Shamah-Levy Teresa , Mejía-Rodríguez Fabiola , García-Guerra Armando , Visuet-Vega Isela , Méndez Gómez-Humarán Ignacio , Martínez-Domínguez Jesús , De la Cruz-Góngora Vanessa
Published: November 2020

Objetivo. Estudiar el comportamiento de la anemia en losaños 2006, 2012 y 2018-19, su severidad y factores asociadosen mujeres mexicanas de 20 a 49 años de edad. Materialy métodos. Las Ensanut 2006, 2012 y 2018-19 tienen undiseño metodológico que permite comparaciones entre ellas.Mediante hemoglobina capilar <12dL se clasificó anemia. Seexcluyó a quienes estuvieron embarazadas. Se asoció anemiacon factores sociodemográficos mediante regresión logística.Resultados. La reducción de anemia de 2006 a 2012 fuesignificativa, pero no el incremento para 2018-19. Se asocióanemia con un mayor número de embarazos, y tener de 35 a49 años de edad. Fueron factores protectores de anemia unIMC≥30(k/m2), tercil 3 de CB, no ser indígena y vivir en Centroy Ciudad de México. Conclusiones. La anemia continúasiendo un problema de salud pública, sobre todo en mujeresde 35 a 49 años de edad con más de cuatro embarazos.
A “DUC Hunt” In Canada Reflects the Engineer’s Will To Evolve
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: November 2020

Two weeks. 13 bootcamps. 150 participants. Over 10,000 oil and gas wells represented in the form of more than 1 million lines of data.

These were the key ingredients to a recent upstream-focused datathon - a data-intensive version of a hackathon - in which a group of petrotechnicals calling themselves the “Mighty DUC Hunters” claimed top honors.

Albeit on a small scale, their path to victory highlights how some engineers are navigating the uncertainty surrounding an industry downturn that is being dictated by a global pandemic.

Named after the shale sector’s fluctuating population of drilled-but-uncompleted wells, or DUCs, the “DUC Datathon” was organized by the SPE Calgary section and Untapped Energy, another nonprofit working to expand data science within the oil and gas business.

And while hosted in Calgary, the event drew people from around the world since every aspect of it was held virtually. Such is the norm these days, but perhaps not to be taken for granted.

The once full-time office workers who now must work together but separately from home do so in an effective manner thanks to widely available and often free software that keeps us all connected. Likewise, the ability to acquire basic data science skills today requires only a good internet connection and a strong personal commitment.
High-Resolution Wellbore Tortuosity Logs Improve Completion and Production Equipment Placement
Authors: Shoup Rob , Boltz Justin , Forrester Stephen
Published: November 2020

Wellbore tortuosity is a term that has steadily increased in relevance to the oil and gas industry over the past decade, but its importance is especially clear in the current environment. The convergence of several major global events - the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and persistent weakness in commodity pricing - combined with the industry’s general attitude toward rate of penetration as the performance driver is leading to wells of inferior quality being drilled. The issue of wellbore quality is exacerbated by the division among drilling, completions, and production as functional disciplines, leading to dramatically different objectives and methods of quantifying success in each project phase. In wells with high tortuosity, the drilling process and drilling efficiency are affected, as well as the effectiveness of the completions and production equipment in achieving reservoir return rates.

Defining wellbore tortuosity in relevant areas, such as openhole wellbores, production tubing, or casing, is often a very difficult task; historically, it has been a technical area fraught with challenges and misunderstandings. Though metrics designed to analyze wellbore tortuosity were developed in the past several decades, these generally relied on using the calculated dogleg of the wellbore every 95 ft. While such technologies were used with limited success, the received information lacked the precision and granularity necessary to explain the true difficulties of running and operating equipment in the well. Innovation was necessary.

One such innovation is a system from Gyrodata that generates wellbore tortuosity logs in conjunction with a gyroscopic surveying tool or with another service that provides comparable data. The system defines reference lines for the wellbore path based on survey data and determines displacements of the wellbore path from the reference lines. Through a series of calculations based on this information, the wellbore shape can be represented and visualized in 3D, allowing an operator to make critical decisions on well development and placement for artificial lift and other equipment in line with areas of low tortuosity. By collecting high-resolution data at 1-ft intervals vs. the standard stand-length intervals of measurement-while-drilling (MWD) tools, the technology reveals areas of high sideloading forces and high friction that would otherwise be invisible. This allows improved rod-guide placement, reducing or eliminating casing (tubing) damage and necessary workovers. Also, the technology allows identification of areas of low tortuosity, thereby reducing premature failures, increasing equipment life, and mitigating cable damage while setting the electrical submersible pump (ESP).
Clearing the Digital Minefield for Optimized Oilfield Production
Authors: Nelson Andy
Published: November 2020

The success of any digital oilfield project is predicated on the quality of the data structure, acquisition, communication, validation, storage, retrieval, and provenance of the data. Therefore, the mission of the digital oilfield architect is clear: Deliver the right data to the right users at the right time.

This task is becoming more difficult because of the sheer variety of sensors, the multitude of data formats, challenges with data communication and synchronization, and the potentially large volume of data produced. While the advent of data analytics has increased the importance of designing fast and efficient data management systems, it is a multifaceted minefield to gather and process data to ensure production is optimized and risk is minimized in both conventional and unconventional operating environments.
Neural Networks Help Classify Reservoirs by Recognizing Cuttings Lithologies
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: November 2020

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 196675, “Visual Recognition of Drill-Cuttings Lithologies Using Convolutional Neural Networks To Aid Reservoir Characterization,” by Muhammad Kathrada, SPE, and Benjamin Jacob Adillah, Petronas, prepared for the 2019 SPE Reservoir Characterization and Simulation Conference and Exhibition, Abu Dhabi, 17-19 September. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Drill cuttings and core images often present classification problems. Development of an unbiased objective system that can overcome the various issues creating these difficulties is an important goal. Advances during the past decade in using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for visual recognition of discriminately different objects means that now object recognition can be achieved to a significant extent. The benefit of such a system would be improvement of reservoir understanding by having all available images classified in a consistent manner, thus keeping characterization consistent as well.
Technologies and Practices Push ERD Safe Operating Envelope, Reap Savings Offshore
Authors: Feder Judy
Published: November 2020

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Judy Feder, contains highlights of paper SPE 197123, “Technologies and Practices to Push the Extended-Reach-Drilling Envelope Within Existing Constraints,” by Phalgun Paila, SPE, Baker Hughes; Rudra Pratap Singh, ADNOC; and Kashif Abid, SPE, Baker Hughes, prepared for the 2019 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference, Abu Dhabi, 11-14 November. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Optimizing resources and pushing drilling limits to tap into deeper reservoirs at minimal cost is a primary objective of operators worldwide. The complete paper describes an offshore artificial island project northwest of Abu Dhabi in which drilling limits were extended continually by adopting new technologies and practices in an extended-reach-drilling (ERD) campaign. The project drilled longer wells at lower cost. The approach has resulted in drilling and completion of wells comfortably within the equipment-rating envelope and is considered a benchmark for nearby fields in the region.
Study Models Onset of Liquid Loading in Large-Diameter Deviated Gas Wells
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: November 2020

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 196130, “Experimental Investigation and Modeling of Onset of Liquid Accumulation in Large-Diameter Deviated Gas Wells,” by Ayush Rastogi and Yilin Fan, SPE, Colorado School of Mines, prepared for the 2019 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Calgary, 30 September-2 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

Multiple challenges related to liquid loading have been observed during flowback after hydraulic fracturing and during the production phase. These challenges are further aggravated by high-inclination angles found in deviated wellbores. The complete paper describes an experimental study performed to investigate the onset of liquid loading in a 6-in. production casing at various inclination angles. A unified mechanism model for the onset of liquid loading is developed for a large-diameter production casing.
Technology Focus: Flow Assurance (November 2020)
Authors: Dino Galen
Published: November 2020

Acknowledging the serious and substantial health and business effects of COVID‑19, I sincerely hope that all JPT readers and your families, peers, and employers are safe and healthy as they read this Flow Assurance Technology Focus.

During my 20‑plus years of project experience around the world - in both onshore unconventional and offshore conventional production facilities - I have seen how flow‑assurance effects from slug‑flow design and engineering, operations, and maintenance concerns have created challenging technical issues needing safe, economical solutions. The recurring long‑term mitigation of slugging and various flow‑assurance phenomena are challenging issues that demand attention and considerable technical effort. The three papers outlined here discuss slightly different issues and approaches to slug‑flow phenomena and oil/gas fluid production flow assurance. All three have been defined by mathematical modeling and verified with actual field confirmation and use.

Paper IPTC 19769 addresses pseudo‑slug flow, characterized by short, frothy chaotic slugs with velocities less than the mixture velocity of the flowing fluids and frequently observed in pipeline and riser systems. Specifically, the paper discusses liquid and gas entrainment mechanisms within the pseudoslug body on the basis of experimental observation. Earlier experimental results show the proposed dimensionless groups, Stokes, slippage, and Poiseuille, are strongly correlated to pseudoslug‑body liquid‑holdup experimental data that describe the observed physical behavior. A linearized regression model was developed that combines the liquid holdup proportionally in both the pseudoslug body regions and correlates them to the experimentally measured total pseudoslug liquid holdup. A validation study of the proposed model with experimental data shows good agreement.
Machine-Learning-Assisted Approach Analyzes Slug-Flow Root Cause
Authors: Feder Judy
Published: November 2020

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Judy Feder, contains highlights of paper OTC 29925, “Slug-Flow Root-Cause Analysis: A Data-Driven Approach,” by Anders T. Sandnes, Vidar Uglane, and Bjarne Grimstad, Solution Seeker, prepared for the 2019 Offshore Technology Conference Brasil, Rio de Janeiro, 29-31 October 2019. The paper has not been peer reviewed. Copyright 2019 Offshore Technology Conference. Reproduced by permission.

The complete paper discusses the successful application of a data-driven approach to analyze production data and identify root causes of slugging in a subsea production system on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The approach used machine-learning techniques to model and analyze historical production data to identify the drivers behind slug flow. The results were used in combination with simulator studies and engineering experience to create a better understanding of the underlying root cause and to make it easier for field engineers to leverage all available information to reduce slugging and optimize production.
Tannin-Based Extracts of Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark: Features and Prospecting as Wood Adhesives
Authors: Lopes Pedro Jorge Goes , Calegari Leandro , Silva Wagner Alex De Medeiros , Gatto Darci Alberto , Neto Pedro Nicó De Medeiros , De Melo Rafael Rodolfo , Bakke Ivonete Alves , Delucis Rafael , Missio André Luiz
Published: November 2020

Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) (MT) Poir. is an underutilized plant specie since its wood is mostly used for energy production. Nonetheless, the bark from this forest plant has a high amount of tannins and other valuable compounds. Tannins have high worldwide importance and, because of that, there is an increasing number of researches on biorefinery systems aiming at maximizing their exploitation. The present study evaluated tannins extracted from the MT bark and their use for producing wood adhesives. Three types of powdered tannins were extracted using different solvents: a pure aqueous solution, a 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) aqueous solution, and a 5% sodium bisulfite (NaHSO3) aqueous solution. Also, distilled water, wheat flour, and formaldehyde were used as a solvent, a glue extender, and a catalyst, respectively. These adhesives were applied for bonding pine wood joints and their shear strengths were determined. All the MT-based adhesives showed high viscosities and, if compared to each other, yielded glue lines with similar shear strengths and similar shear deformations. That tannin-based glue incorporated with the tannin extracted using NaOH/NaHSO3 stood out and yielded a similar bonding performance compared to a commercial adhesive applied as a positive control.
Involuntary Markers of Saliency and Surprise Revealed by Oculomotor Inhibition in Response to Auditory Sequences
Authors: Kadosh Oren , Bonneh Yoram
Published: November 2020

Our eyes move constantly but are often inhibited momentarily in response to external stimuli. The properties of this Oculomotor-Inhibition (OMI) depend on the stimulus saliency, anticipation, and attention. Previous studies have shown prolonged saccadic inhibition for auditory oddballs; however, they required active counting of the oddballs. Here we investigated whether the OMI response to auditory deviants can provide a quantitative measure of deviance strength (auditory pitch difference) and investigated its dependence on the Inter-Stimulus Interval (ISI), without requesting a voluntary attention to the deviant stimulus. Observers fixated on a central fixation stimulus and passively listened to repeated short sequences of pure tones that contained a deviant tone either regularly or with 20% probability (the Oddball paradigm). The results showed, as in previous studies, prolonged microsaccade inhibition following the deviant tone. Moreover, the inhibition onset latency was shorter in proportion to the pitch deviance (the saliency effect) and the release was significantly longer for rare deviants (the surprise effect) as long as the ISI was short (<2.5s). Taken together, these results suggest that OMI provides involuntary markers of saliency and surprise, which can be obtained without the observer’s response.
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Antibody Responses in Hospitalized Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Daegu, Korea
Authors: Kim Yu Kyung , Minn Dohsik , Yoo Eun-Hyung , Park Mikyoung , Lee Jae Hee , Ha Jung-Sook , Ham Ji Yeon , Chang Soon Hee , Lee Hyun Chul , Suh Jang Soo , Jeon Chang-Ho , Kim Do-Hoon , Park Sunggyun , Lee Nan Young , Song Kyung Eun , Kim Soohyun , Kim Tae Yeob , Kim Sang-Gyung
Published: November 2020

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) started to spread in Daegu from the end of February 2020. IgG and IgM antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were measured in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 with moderate to severe symptoms to improve the understanding of antibody responses.Methods: We enrolled 312 patients with COVID-19 admitted to seven hospitals located in Daegu. Using serum (or plasma) samples from patients with polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections, both IgG and IgM antibodies were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (R-FIND COVID-19 ELISA, SG medical, Seoul, Korea). Results: The median value from the initial diagnosis by confirming SARS-CoV-2 PCR to the sampling date was 24 days (day -1 to 88). The total positive rate of IgG was 93.9% and the positive IgM rate was 39.4%, without considering the elapsed period after diagnosis. Positive IgG and IgM rates were highest at 100.0% and 59.0% in 3 weeks (15–21 days), respectively. IgG showed a high positive rate of 79.3% even within 7 days after the initial diagnosis of the disease and maintained a positive rate of 97.8% until after 8 weeks. Conclusions: Among hospitalized patients with COVID-19, IgG was detected from the beginning of the diagnosis and persisted for an extended time period.
Novel Liquid Mycofungicide: An Ideal Approach in Protecting Tomato from the Damping-off Disease in Nursery
Authors: Kumhar Kishor , Kumar Kuldeep , Arora Indu , Bhatia Arun Kumar , Batra Vinod Kumar
Published: November 2020

Background: A novel liquid formulation of Trichoderma asperellum was prepared and its effectiveness was assessed by different methods for the management of tomato damping-off in the nursery. The experiments were conducted for two consecutive years in a randomized block design with three replications. Results: T. asperellum formulation improved seed germination and management of tomato damping-off when compared with control. All the treatments performed better over control, in the first year, the antagonist’s application enhanced seed germination up to 75.75 percent, however, it was 60.13 percent in control. There was 10.93 to 20.38 percent seedling mortality due to damping off which was comparatively lower than the control (26.98%). A similar trend of seed germination and disease incidence was observed in the second year. In addition to managing the disease, the antagonist certainly promoted the vegetative growth which was reflected as increased shoot and root length in comparison to control during both years. During the first year, shoot length ranged 10.90 – 12.85 cm as compared to the control (8.72 cm) and root length ranged from 3.21 to 3.65 cm which was greater than the control. Almost a similar trend in the vegetative growth parameters of seedling was observed during the second year. Conclusion: The present investigation showed that the tested antagonist’s formulation could efficiently managed the tomato damping-off as well as encouraged the vegetative growth of seedlings which ultimately ensured better and healthy seedling. And this formulation can successefully used through different methods to take care of tomato damping off.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome Triggered by Surgery in Chinese population: Towards a Multicenter Retrospective Study
Authors: Gong Qiaoyu , Liu Shuping , Liu Yin , Yao Jiajia , Fu Xiujuan , Xiao Zheman , Lu Zuneng
Published: November 2020

BackgroundSurgery is described as a potential trigger of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). The present study was designed to explore the clinical feature of post-surgical GBS compared with those of general GBS, to give better clinical advice to patients undergoing surgery. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed medical records of GBS patients in 31 representative tertiary hospitals, located in 14 provinces in southern China, between 1 January 2013 and 30 September 2016. Post-surgical GBS was defined as symptoms of GBS within 6 weeks after surgery. We described clinical feature of post-surgical GBS, and assessed the difference between post-surgical GBS and the general GBS.ResultsOf the 1001 GBS patients enrolled, 45 patients (4.5%) had undergone surgery within 6 weeks before GBS symptom onset. Among them, 36 patients (80.0%) developed initial symptoms of limb weakness. The average interval between surgery and symptom onset was 13.31 days. The most common type of surgery triggering GBS was orthopedic surgery, followed by neurological surgery. Compared to the general GBS, post-surgical GBS was characterized by higher proportion of severe patients (HFGS ≥3) on admission and at nadir, higher HFGS score at discharge, and longer hospital stays. Besides, the post-surgical GBS patients had a significantly higher frequency of the subtype of AMAN (37.9 vs 14.2, P=0.001).ConclusionSurgery was a potential trigger factor for GBS, especially in orthopedic surgery. The clinical presentation of postsurgical GBS was characterized by a more severe course and poorer prognosis. Clinical trial registrationchicTR-RRc-17014152.
Membrane MOT: Trapping Dense Cold Atoms in a Sub-Millimeter Diameter Hole of a Microfabricated Membrane Device
Authors: Lee Jongmin , Biedermann Grant , Mudrick John , Douglas Erica , Jau Yuan-Yu
Published: November 2020

We present a demonstration of keeping a cold-atom ensemble within a sub-millimeter diameter hole in a transparent membrane.Based on the effective beam diameter of the magneto-optical trap (MOT) given by the hole diameter (d = 400 μm), we measurean atom number that is 105 times higher than the predicted value using the conventional d6 scaling rule. Atoms trapped bythe membrane MOT are cooled down to 10 μK with sub-Doppler cooling. Such a device can be potentially coupled to thephotonic/electronic integrated circuits that can be fabricated in the membrane device representing a step toward the atom trapintegrated platform.
Gender differences in the relationships between housework and metabolic markers: a longitudinal cohort study in China
Authors: Wang Xiao-qin , Ren Xiao-han , Kou Wen-jing , Li Yang , Hui Zhao-zhao , Sun Jia-ru , Wang Ming-xu
Published: November 2020

Background: Metabolic syndrome has become a major health threat of the world, there are few studies focused on the effects of housework on human metabolism. The aims of this study were to explore the associations between housework and metabolic markers, and to examine whether there are gender differences in the relationships of housework intensity on metabolic markers.Methods: Using data of 2,624 participants were obtained from the China Health and Nutrition Survey. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between housework and metabolic markers (triglyceride, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hemoglobin, blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure), with adjusting for the covariates.Results: No associations were observed between housework and metabolic markers for men. Women who engaged housework had a higher risk of triglycerides than non-housework (OR=1.16, 95%CI:1.16-4.25). Compared with the low-intensity, women with moderate- and high-intensity had a higher risk of triglycerides (OR=1.78, 95%CI:1.14-2.78; OR=1.91, 95%CI: 1.22-2.98), MetS (OR=1.54, 95%CI: 0.98-2.43; OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.66), pre-hypertension (OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.08-2.62; OR=1.63, 95%CI: 1.04-2.55) and overweight (OR=1.65, 95%CI: 1.01-2.70; OR=1.66, 95%CI: 1.01-2.72).Conclusion: Housework was associated with high levels of women’s metabolic markers such as triglycerides, MetS and pre-hypertension, and there were gender differences between the associations of housework intensity and metabolism markers. This may be a mechanism through which housework was associated with metabolic diseases.
North American Boreal Forests Are a Large Carbon Source Due to Wildfires From 1986 to 2016
Authors: Zhao Bailu , Zhuang Qianlai , Shurpali Narasinha , Köster Kajar , Berninger Frank , Pumpanen Jukka
Published: November 2020

Wildfires are a major disturbance to forest carbon (C) balance through both immediate combustion emissions and post-fire ecosystem dynamics. Here we use a process-based biogeochemistry model, the Terrestrial Ecosystem Model (TEM), to simulate C budget in Alaska and Canada during 1986-2016, as impacted by fire disturbances. We extracted the data of difference Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR) for fires from Landsat TM/ETM imagery and estimated the proportion of vegetation and soil C combustion. We observed that the region is a C source of 2.74 Pg C during the 31-year period. The observed C loss, 57.1 Tg C yr-1, was attributed to fire emissions, overwhelming the net ecosystem production (1.9 Tg C yr-1) in the region. Our simulated during-fire emissions for Alaska and Canada are within the range of field measurements and other model estimates. As burn severity increases, combustion emission tended to switch from vegetation origin towards soil origin. When dNBR is below 300, fires increase soil temperature and decrease soil moisture and thus, enhance soil respiration. However, the opposite trend was found under moderate or high burn severity. The proportion of post-fire soil emission in total emissions increased with burn severity. Net nitrogen mineralization gradually recovered after fire, enhancing net primary production. Net ecosystem production recovered fast under higher burn severities. The impact of fire disturbance on the C balance of northern ecosystems and the associated uncertainties can be better characterized with long-term, prior, during- and post-disturbance data across the geospatial spectrum. Our findings suggest that the regional source of carbon to the atmosphere will persist if the observed forest wildfire occurrence and severity continues into the future.
Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography Changes and Visual Acuity Among Palestinian Retinitis Pigmentosa Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Shalabi Orjowan , Nazzal Zaher , Natsheh Muath , Erakat Salam , Michaelides Michel , Ghanem Muyassar , Alsanian Alice , Alswaity Yehia , AlTalbishi Alaa
Published: November 2020

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous group of inherited ocular diseases that result in progressive retinal degeneration. This study aims to describe different Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomographic (SS-OCT) changes in Palestinian RP patients and to explore possible correlations with Visual Acuity (VA)Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on Retinitis Pigmentosa patients diagnosed with RP in a tertiary eye hospital. Full history and ocular examination were made. SS-OCT imaging was done for all eyes assessing the presence of cystoid macular edema, epiretinal membrane, macular holes, and external limiting membrane, ellipsoid zone status. Also, central macular thickness and choroidal vascular thickness were measured.Results: the study was run on 161 eyes of 81 patients; 53 males and 28 females. The average age at examination was 26.1 (6-78) years. Twenty-six eyes (16.1%) were of syndromic RP patients, mostly Usher syndrome; 20 eyes (12.4%). The mean LogMAR BCVA of the study sample was 0.66 ±0.7. The most prevalent change was cystoid macular edema [28 eyes, (17.4 %)], followed by epiretinal membrane [17eye, (10.6%)]. A macular hole was noted only in one eye (0.6%). Ellipsoid zone and external limiting membrane were absent in 55 eyes (35.0%) and 60 eyes 37.5%. Vitreous hyperreflective foci were found in 35 eyes (43.8%). LogMAR of BCVA was associated significantly with cystoid macular edema (p=0.001), ellipsoid zone(p=0.001), and external limiting membrane (p=0.001). Conclusions: Detailed SS-OCT assessment in Palestinian patients diagnosed with RP identified different morphologies from other populations. Cystoid macular edema and vitreous hyperreflective foci may reflect signs of early or intermediate stages of the disease. Disease progression can be monitored by measuring the length/width (area) of ellipsoid zone +/- external limiting membrane and choroidal vascular thickness, which should be evaluated serially using high-resolution OCT.
Systems-wide Effects of Short-term Feed Deprivation in Obese Mice
Authors: Andersen Daniel , Roager Henrik , Zhang Li , Moll Janne , Frandsen Henrik , Danneskiold-Samsøe Niels , Hansen Axel , Kristiansen Karsten , Licht Tine , Brix Susanne
Published: November 2020

While prolonged fasting induces significant metabolic changes in humans and mice, less is known about systems-wide metabolic changes in response to short-term feed deprivation, which is used in experimental animal studies prior to metabolic challenge tests, and hence, information on the effects of varying length of feed deprivation is warranted. We here performed a systems biology-based investigation of connections between gut bacterial composition and function, inflammatory and metabolic parameters in the intestine, liver, visceral adipose tissue, blood and urine in obese mice that were feed deprived for varying durations up to 12 hours. The systems-wide analysis revealed that increased duration of feed deprivation linked to enhanced intestinal butyric acid production and expression of the gene encoding the pro-thermogenic uncoupling protein UCP1 in visceral adipose tissue of obese mice. Ucp1 expression was also positively associated with Il33 expression in ileum, colon and adipose tissue as well as with the abundance of colonic Porphyromonadaceae, the latter also correlating to cecal butyric acid levels. Collectively, the data highlighted presence of a three-tiered system of inter-tissue communication involving intestinal, immune and metabolic functions which is affected by the duration of feed deprivation in obese mice, thus pointing to careful use of short-feed deprivation in metabolic studies using mice.
Dental Caries Thresholds among Adolescents in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 2013 at 12, and 15 years: Implications for Epidemiology and Clinical Care
Authors: Wang Xiaozhe , Bernabe Eduardo , Pitts Nigel , Zheng Shuguo , Gallagher Jennifer
Published: November 2020

BackgroundDental caries is the most prevalent condition globally. Despite improvements over the past few decades, there remains a significant disease burden in childhood. Epidemiological surveys provide insight to disease patterns and trends, have traditionally focused on obvious decay which are inconsistent with contemporary clinical criteria. This study examined the distribution of dental caries in 12- and 15-year-olds in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, by severity threshold, at surface, tooth and child level and explored its association with socioeconomic, psychological and behavioural factors. MethodsData from 12- and 15-year-olds in the 2013 Children’s Dental Health Survey (CDHS 2013) were analysed at three levels, taking account of dental caries thresholds which involved recording both clinical decay (visual enamel caries (AV) and above) and obvious decay (non-cavitated dentine lesions (2V) and above). Negative binomial regression was used to identify factors associated with dental caries experience at both thresholds. Results The prevalence and severity of dental caries experience was higher among 15-year-olds at all levels. Lesions in AV were by far the most common stage of caries recorded in both ages. The average number of surfaces with obvious decay experience, which has been the traditional epidemiological threshold, in 12- and 15-year-olds was 2.3 and 3.9 respectively. The corresponding values under the clinical decay threshold were higher, at 3.9 and 5.9 respectively. Visualisation of the distribution of dental caries at surface/tooth-level exhibited left:right symmetry and to a lesser extent upper:lower. In the adjusted models for both ages, country/region, school type, area deprivation, high frequency sugar consumption and irregular dental attendance were associated with greater caries experience in both groups. Dental anxiety was inversely associated with caries experience among 15-year-olds. ConclusionThis research highlights the importance of recognising dental caries patterns by surface, tooth and child-level amongst adolescents and the value of reporting dental caries distribution by threshold in epidemiological surveys and its relevance for clinical care. Inclusion of enamel caries reveals the extent of caries management required at a point when non-invasive care is possible, emphasising the importance of prevention in primary care.
Quantum Paradigm of the Foldover Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Bunkov Y. , Kuzmichev A. , Safin T. , Vetoshko P. , Belotelov V. , Tagirov M.
Published: November 2020

The explosive development of quantum magnonics requires considering several previously known effects from a new angle. In this article, we revise the phenomenon of "foldover" (bi-stable) magnetic resonance from the point of view of quantum magnonics. The density of magnons under strong excitation can exceed the critical value for the formation of a magnon Bose condensate. Under these conditions, the effect of quantum transport of magnons should be considered. In particular, the effect of spin superfluidity, discovered earlier in super fluid 3He should lead to spatial redistribution of the precessing magnetization. Our experimental results confirm a significant change in properties of the foldover magnetic resonance in yttrium iron garnet (YIG) due to superfluid magnetization transport. This discovery paves the way for many quantum applications of supermagnonics, such as magnetic Josephson effect, long-distance spin transport, Q-bit, quantum logics, magnetic sensors, and others.
A Decellularized Human Corneal Scaffold for Anterior Corneal Surface Reconstruction
Authors: Polisetti Naresh , Schmid Anke , Schlötzer-Schrehardt Ursula , Maier Philip , Lang Stefan , Steinberg Thorsten , Schlunck Günther , Reinhard Thomas
Published: November 2020

Allogenic transplants of the cornea are prone to rejection, especially in repetitive transplantation and in scarred or highly vascularized recipient sites. Patients with these ailments would particularly benefit from the possibility to use non-immunogenic decellularized tissue scaffolds for transplantation, which may be repopulated by host cells in situ or in vitro. So, the aim of this study was to develop a fast and efficient decellularization method for creating a human corneal extracellular matrix scaffold suitable for repopulation with human cells from the corneal limbus. To decellularize human donor corneas, sodium deoxycholate, deoxyribonuclease I, and dextran were assessed to remove cells and nuclei and to control tissue swelling, respectively. We evaluated the decellularization effects on the ultrastructure, optical, mechanical, and biological properties of the human cornea. Scaffold recellularization was studied using primary human limbal epithelial cells, stromal cells, and melanocytes in vitro and a lamellar transplantation approach ex vivo. Our data strongly suggest that this approach allowed the effective removal of cellular and nuclear material in a very short period of time while preserving extracellular matrix proteins, glycosaminoglycans, tissue structure, and optical transmission properties. In vitro recellularization demonstrated good biocompatibility of the decellularized human cornea and ex vivo transplantation revealed complete epithelialization and stromal repopulation from the host tissue. Thus, the generated decellularized human corneal scaffold could be a promising biological material for anterior corneal reconstruction in the treatment of corneal defects.
Metal Doped Layered MgB2 Nanoparticles as Novel Electrocatalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Sadeghi Ebrahim , Peighambardoust Naeimeh , Khatamian Masoumeh , Unal Ugur , Aydemir Umut
Published: November 2020

Growing environmental problems along with the galloping rate of population growth have raised an unprecedented challenge to look for an ever-lasting alternative source of energy for fossil fuels. The eternal quest for sustainable energy production strategies has culminated in the electrocatalytic water splitting process integrated with renewable energy resources. The successful accomplishment of this process is thoroughly subject to highly efficient, earth-abundant, and cost-effective electrocatalysts to drive the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), preferably, in the same electrolyte. The present contribution has been dedicated to studying the synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical properties of newfangled electrocatalysts with the formal composition of Mg1-xTmxB2 (x = 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1; Tm (transition metal) = Fe and Co) primarily in HER as well as OER under 1 M KOH medium. The electrochemical tests revealed that among all the metal-doped MgB2 catalysts, Mg0.95Co0.05B2 has the best HER performance showing an overpotential of 470 mV at -10 mA cm-2 and a Tafel slope of 80 mV dec-1 on account of its high purity and fast electron transport. Further investigation shed some light on the fact that Fe concentration and overpotential for HER have adverse relation meaning that the highest amount of Fe doping (x = 0.1) displayed the lowest overpotential. This contribution introduces not only highly competent electrocatalysts composed of low-cost precursors for the water-splitting process but also a facile scalable method for the assembly of highly porous electrodes paving the way for further stunning developments in the field.