bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differentiating Brucella Spondylitis from Tuberculous Spondylitis by the Conventional MRI and MR T2 Mapping: A Prospective Study
Authors: Guo Hui , Lan Siqin , He Yuanlin , Tiheiran Maijudan , Liu Wenya
Published: April 2021

Background Brucellar spondylitis (BS) and tuberculous spondylitis (TS) which cause initial bacteremia and show granulomatous lesions are the two leading types of spinal inflammatory. BS is easy to miss or maybe misdiagnosed as TS. Our purpose differentiates brucella spondylitis (BS) from tuberculous spondylitis (TS) in conventional MR imaging and MR T2 mapping.Methods We performed on 26 BS and 27 TS patients in conventional MR imaging and MR T2 mapping. We analyzed the features in conventional MR imaging and also measured T2 values of the lesion vertebrae (LV) and unaffected adjacent vertebrae (UAV) in BS and TS patients, respectively.Results There were no significant differences in sex, age, national between BS and TS. It was significantly lower of the severe vertebral destruction, vertebral posterior convex deformity, dead bone, and abscess scope in BS when compared to TS (p < 0.001, p = 0.005, p = 0.048, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). The vertebral hyperplasia was significantly higher in BS when compared to TS (p < 0.001). The T2 value of the LV with BS was markedly higher than that in the UAV with BS and that in the LV and UAV with TS (p < 0.001, p < 0.037, p < 0.001, respectively). The T2 value of the LV with TS was significantly higher than that of the UAV in TS and BS (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively). There were no significant differences in the T2 value of the UAV between BS and TS (P = 0.568). Conclusions The qualitative and quantitative evaluation may differentiate BS from TS. The conventional MR imaging helps to distinguish BS from TS by several distinctive features. MR T2 mapping has the additional potential to provide quantitative information between BS and TS.
Transcriptome Analysis Derives a Novel Prognostic 7-mRNA Signature in Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Yang Yun-Song , Ren Yi-Xing , Hao Shuang , Xu Xiao-En , Jin Xi , Jiang Yi-Zhou , Shao Zhi-Ming
Published: April 2021

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous disease and patients with early-stage TNBCs have distinct likelihood of distant recurrence. Methods: In this study, We extracted transcriptome data for 189 pathologically confirmed pT1-2 node-negative TNBC patients at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Candidate mRNAs were filtered, which was followed by differential expressed mRNAs analysis, survival analysis, and LASSO Cox regression model. All-subsets regression program was used for constructing a multi-mRNA signature in the training set (n=159); the accuracy and prognostic value were then validated using an independent validation set (n=158). Results: Here, we profiled the transcriptome data from 189 early-stage TNBC patients along with 50 paired normal tissues, and developed a prognostic signature based on seven mRNAs (ACAN, KRT5, TMEM101, LCA5, RPP40, LAGE3, CDKL2).In both the training (n=159) and validation cohorts (n=158), the signature could identify patients with relatively high recurrence risks and serve as an independent prognostic factor. Furthermore, the signature had better prognostic value than traditional clinicopathological features in both sets. Among the seven mRNAs, TMEM101 was identified as a prognostic biomarker of early-stage TNBC. Additional cell experiments suggested that TMEM101 could facilitate migration and proliferation of TNBC cells. Conclusions: Our 7-mRNA signature could accurately predict recurrence risks of early-stage TNBCs. Clinical and genomic low risk TNBC patients may safely avoid adjuvant chemotherapy.
Drought Stress Modified Genetic Components and Combining Ability of Cotton Genotypes 
Authors: Areej JAVAID , AZHAR Faqir Muhammad , KHAN Iftikhar Ahmad , Amir SHAKEEL , Azhar Muhammad Tehseen
Published: April 2021

Background: Gene action and combining ability of the genotypes are two important components in crop breeding and may be influenced by environmental stresses which sometimes mislead the selection process. Therefore, an experiment was conducted to assess the behavior of genetic parameters of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) under drought stress during the year 2017-19. Initially, 50 genotypes of cotton were screened for drought stress tolerance potential by subjecting them to 4 week long drought stress (at 20% field capacity). Based on physiological parameters, 5 drought tolerant and 4 drought susceptible genotypes (lines and testers respectively) were selected and hybridized using Line × Tester technique to develop F1 crosses. In the next year, 9 parents and their 20 F1 hybrids were evaluated in field under normal irrigation and drought stress (at 50% field capacity). Results: Stronger specific combining ability effects observed for seed cotton yield, number of bolls, boll weight and lint percentage (%) indicated active role of non-additive genes operating in the direction of lower parents with the exception for number of bolls where dominance worked towards superior parents. Best varietal combinations identified under water stress for number of bolls and boll weight were CIM-496 × NF-801-2-37, DPL-26 × NF-801-2-37, B-557 × NF-801-2-37, B-557 × MNH-129. Variety B-557 was found to be good general combiner followed by BOU-1724 for number of bolls, boll weight and lint % under drought. Conclusion: Combining ability analysis indicated critical role of non-additive component in total variation suggesting weak heritability for all the traits. Direct selection in this material is therefore not advisable. Drought had suppressed variability and restricted the expression of yield characters, however, best identified varietal combinations for seed cotton yield, number of bolls and boll weight may be exploited for the development of hybrid to be grown in drought hit areas of Pakistan.
α-HBDH Is a Probably Higher Sensitive and Specific the Biomarkers of Poor Prognosis in Patients With COVID-19
Authors: hongjun zhang , Xing Gu , Gangqiang Qi , Yanjun Zhao , Xiaoyan Zhang
Published: April 2021

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus2 (SARS-CoV2) has spread rapidly worldwide during the past nearly a year. SARS-CoV-2 particles spread through the respiratory mucosa and infect other cells, causing a storm of cytokines in the body1, producing a series of immune responses, and causing multiple organ dysfunction, including the heart. Some patients present with cardiovascular system damage, such as palpitations and shortness of breath as the first or secondary symptoms. Previous studies suggested that LDH, α-HBDH, CK and CK-MB reflect myocardial function.2 Here, we aim to investigate whether these markers can predict poor prognosis of patients with COVID-19. Methods: We collected data from 2338 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. Patients were then screened, and we focused on 49 moderate cases, 98 severe cases and 53 critical cases (27 recovered cases, 26 deaths). We divided these patients into non-critical group (n = 49) and critical group (n = 151). Then, we also divided the length of hospitalization into five time points, namely admission, 25%, 50%, 75% and discharge or death, according to the principle of interquartile distance. Blood was collected from patients on the above five time points. Patients with five blood tests were 49 moderate cases, 98 severe cases and 53 critical cases (27 recovered cases, 26 deaths). LDH, α-HBDH, CK and CK-MB of each group were collected for analysis.Results: Our research found that α-HBDH and LDH of the critical groups significantly increased, diagnostic efficiency of LDH and α-HBDH have more advantages than that of CK and CK-MB compared with the non-critical group, and patients with α-HBDH greater than 182IU/L and LDH greater than 250IU/L at admission had lower survival rates. Then, CK, LDH, α-HBDH and CK-MB were observed dynamically in the 49 moderate cases, 98 severe cases and 53 critical cases (27 recovered cases, 26 deaths). It turns out that they increased progressively in the dead patients, while they decreased regularly in the severe case and the critical cases(recovered)(P＜0.001).Conclusions: The prognosis of patients with abnormal α-HBDH was poor on admission. α-HBDH is a probably higher sensitive and specific the biomarkers of poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19. This predictor may help clinicians identify patients with a poor prognosis and may be useful for guiding clinical decision-making at an early stage.
Storage of Pineapple Shoot Tips in Liquid Nitrogen for Three Years Does Not Modify Field Performance of Recovered Plants
Authors: Villalobos-Olivera Ariel , Entensa Ysmel , Martínez Julia , Escalante Doris , Quintana Nicolás , Souza Fernanda V. D. , Martínez-Montero Marcos Edel , Hajari Elliosha , Feijoo José Carlos Lorenzo
Published: April 2021

Pineapple is the third most important tropical fruit traded after banana and mango. In recent years, pineapple producers have faced production challenges due to unpredictable weather patterns as a consequence of climate change. In order to develop new genotypes with improved tolerance to these biotic and abiotic stresses, it is necessary to have access to a diverse gene pool, however, the germplasm currently stored in field gene banks are at risk from prevailing environmental conditions. Therefore, there is a need to develop and implement supplementary strategies to conserve plant germplasm under controlled conditions in the laboratory and cryopreservation represents the most viable option for this. To date, methods have been developed for cryopreservation of pineapple shoot tips but there is a lack of information on whether extended periods of storage in liquid nitrogen (LN) has any effect on the regeneration capacity and field performance of cryostored germplasm. Hence, the current study investigated the field performance of pineapple shoot tips after storage for 24 h, one, two and three years. Results were collected following nine months for plant morphological characteristics and 14 months for evaluation of fruit and nutritional characteristics. The results indicated that storage of pineapple shoot tips for up to three years did not have any adverse effects on field performance of plants or on fruit characteristics. This provides evidence that cryopreservation offers a suitable tool for the long term storage of germplasm.
Feasibility, Experiences and Outcomes of using DIALOG+ in Primary Care to Improve Quality of Life and Mental Distress of Patients with Chronic Conditions: An Exploratory Non-Controlled Trial in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda
Authors: Loggerenberg Francois van , McGrath Michael , Akena Dickens , Birabwa-Oketcho Harriet , Mendez Camilo Andres Cabarique , Gomez-Restrepo Carlos , Kulenovic Alma Dzubur , Muhic Maja , Sewankambo Nelson K. , Sikira Hana , Priebe Stefan
Published: April 2021

Background: DIALOG+ is a resource-oriented and evidence-based intervention to improve quality of life and reduce mental distress. While it has been extensively studied in mental health care, there is little evidence for how to use it in primary care settings for patients with chronic physical conditions. Considering that DIALOG+ is used in existing routine patient-clinician meetings and is very low cost, it may have the potential to help large numbers of patients with chronic physical conditions, mental distress and poor quality of life who are treated in primary care. This is particularly relevant in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) where resources for specialised services for such patients are scarce or non-existent. Methods: An exploratory non-controlled trial will be conducted to assess the acceptability, feasibility and outcomes of delivering DIALOG+ to patients with chronic physical conditions and poor quality of life in primary care settings in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia and Uganda. Thirty patients in each country will receive DIALOG+ up to three times in monthly meetings over a three month period. Feasibility will be assessed by determining the extent to which the intervention is implemented as planned. Experiences will be captured in interviews and focus groups with care providers and participants. As outcomes, quality of life, symptoms of anxiety and depression, objective social situation and health status will be assessed at baseline and again after the three-session intervention. Discussion: This study will inform our understanding of the extent to which DIALOG+ may be used in the routine care of patients with chronic physical conditions in different primary care settings. The findings of this exploratory trial can inform the design of future full randomised controlled trials of DIALOG+ in primary care settings in LMICs. Trial registration: All studies were registered prospectively (on 02/12/2020 for Uganda and Bosnia and Herzegovina, and 01/12/2020 for Colombia) within the ISRCTN Registry. ISRCTN17003451 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), ISRCTN14018729 (Colombia) and ISRCTN50335796 (Uganda). Protocol version and date: v2.0; 28/07/2020 (Bosnia and Herzegovina), v0.3 02/08/2020 (Colombia), and, v1.0, 05/11/2020 (Uganda).
Anaerobic 3-Methylhopanoid Production By An Acidophilic Phototrophic Purple Bacterium
Authors: Mayer Marisa , Parenteau Mary N. , Kempher Megan L. , Madigan Michael T. , Jahnke Linda L. , Welander Paula V.
Published: April 2021

Bacterial lipids are well preserved in ancient rocks and certain ones have been used as indicators of specific bacterial metabolisms or environmental conditions existing at the time of rock deposition. Here we show that an anaerobic bacterium produces 3-methylbacteriohopanepolyols (3-MeBHPs), pentacyclic lipids previously detected only in aerobic bacteria and widely used as biomarkers for methane-oxidizing bacteria. Both Rhodopila globiformis, a phototrophic purple nonsulfur bacterium isolated from an acidic warm spring in Yellowstone, and a newly isolated Rhodopila species from a geochemically similar spring in Lassen Volcanic National Park (USA), synthesized 3-MeBHPs and a suite of related BHPs and contained the genes encoding the necessary biosynthetic enzymes. Our results show that 3-MeBHPs can be produced under anoxic conditions and challenges the use of 3-MeBHPs as biomarkers of oxic conditions in ancient rocks and as prima facie evidence that methanotrophic bacteria were active when the rocks were deposited.
Sleep Disturbances and Their Impact on Cognition in Individuals With Pure Cerebellar Disease
Authors: Sonni Akshata , Schmahmann Jeremy D. , Spencer Rebecca
Published: April 2021

BackgroundIndividuals with cerebellar ataxia commonly report poor sleep. Our objective was to characterize sleep dysfunction in cerebellar ataxia and study its potential impact on non-motor function.MethodsSleep physiology and behavior were measured in 16 individuals with pure cerebellar ataxia and 16 matched controls. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cerebellar Cognitive Affective Syndrome/Schmahmann Scale (CCAS), and a word-pair learning task. We studied performance on the word-pair task before and after a period of overnight sleep to explore whether sleep-dependent memory consolidation is negatively impacted by cerebellar degeneration. ResultsCompared to matched controls, individuals with ataxia experienced greater limb movements during sleep (p=0.048), and increased sleep fragmentation (p=0.009) as measured through polysomnography. Cognitive assessment using the CCAS revealed deficits in executive function in the domains of verbal fluency (p=0.011) and cognitive flexibility (p=0.048). Individuals with ataxia were also impaired in declarative learning, with poor performance on the word-pair association task during Immediate (p=0.021) and Delayed Recall (p=0.011) compared to control participants. Poor sleep impacted cognition: increased sleep fragmentation was correlated with lower scores on the CCAS (p=0.008) and with immediate recall of the word-pair learning task (p=0.001). We found no differences between individuals with ataxia and controls with respect to overnight changes in performance on the word-pair task.ConclusionsSleep integrity is disrupted in individuals with neurodegeneration confined to the cerebellum. Fragmentation of sleep in particular appears to have negative effects on executive function and has practical implications for symptom management.
Impulsive State Estimation for Nonlinear Systems with Redundant Communication Channels and Markov Delay
Authors: Rao Hong-Xia , Guo Yuru , Kuang Ye , Lin Ming , Xu Yong
Published: April 2021

The state estimation issue for the discrete-time nonlinear systems with Markov delay is investigated in this paper, where the redundant communication channel is considered to ensure the reliability of transmission. Because the channel capacity is limited, the packet dropout conditions of the main channel and the redundant channel are described by the Bernoulli stochastic variables. In addition, a mode-dependent estimator is proposed based on the current state and the delayed state, simultaneously. Combining with the impulsive control strategy, the efficiency of estimator is improved. An augmented estimation error system is proposed to deal with the Markov delay in the nonlinear system, subsequently, a sufficient condition that ensures the asymptotic stability of the augmented error system is obtained by a constructed Lyapunov functional candidate and the gains of the impulsive estimator are derived. Finally, a numerical example of moving vehicle is utilized to illustrate the developed results.
Tumor-tumor Cell Fusion Hybrids Obtained by the Modified PHA-DMSO-PEG Method Promote Temozolomide Resistance in Glioma
Authors: Mi Ruifang , Ji Jiayu , Li Mingxin , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Junwen , Liu Fusheng
Published: April 2021

Background: Cell fusion and the subsequent aneuploidy are commonly observed in different kinds of tumor. In glioma, cell fusion and the number of the polyploid giant cells were found to be augmented with the tumor grades (WHO Ⅰ-Ⅳ) and closely related to poor prognosis. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) holds an ability to induce cell-cell membrane contact and accelerates the cell fusion process mediated by the fusogenic agent polyethylene glycol (PEG). Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is well known as a cryoprotective agent involving in cell cryopreservation. In this study, we aim to obtain the glioma fusion hybrids by the modified fusion method in vitro, and then investigate the pathological consequences and the related molecular mechanism with the cell hybrids.Methods: Glioma cells were labelled by lentiviruses infection. The PEG fusion efficiency was respectively improved by the addition of PHA and DMSO, and quantified by flow cytometry. Then, fusion hybrids were obtained by puromycin screening and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Furthermore, DNA content was analyzed through flow cytometry. Cell proliferation rate and cell viability under temozolomide (TMZ) was detected by CCK-8 assay. Lastly, the related gene expression was measured through qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: Glioma cell-cell contact was achieved by adding certain concentration of PHA in vitro. Tumor-tumor cell fusion efficiency was improved by PHA and DMSO. Glioma fusion hybrids were successfully obtained after puromycin screening and FACS. Cell size, DNA content and chromosome numbers of the fusion hybrids were almost twice that of the parental glioma cells. Moreover, glioma fusion hybrids showed an enhanced TMZ resistance potential compared to the parental cells, and also the MGMT expression was up-regulated in the hybrids.Conclusions: We successfully obtained the glioma tumor-tumor cell fusion hybrids through the modified PHA-DMSO-PEG fusion method. Cell fusion may contribute to TMZ resistance in glioma, thus inhibition of cell fusion could be a promising orientation to improve TMZ resistance. Moreover, combining TMZ and MGMT inhibitor could be a beneficial approach in patients with glioma polyploid giant cells.
Development of a Novel Human CD147 Transgenic NSG Mouse Model to test SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Immune Responses
Authors: Badeti Saiaditya , Tseng Hsiang-chi , Romanienko Peter , Yehia Ghassan , Liu Dongfang
Published: April 2021

An animal model that can mimic the SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans is critical to understanding the newly emerged, rapidly spreading SARS-CoV-2 and development of therapeutic strategies. Studies show that the spike (S) proteins of SARS-CoV (SARS-CoV-S-1-S) and SARS-CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2-S) bind to human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2, a well-recognized, functional receptor for SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) to mediate viral entry. Several hACE2 transgenic (hACE2Tg) mouse models are being widely used, which is clearly invaluable. However, the hACE2Tg mouse model cannot fully explain: 1) low expression of ACE2 observed in human lung and heart, but lung or heart failure occurs frequently in severe COVID-19 patients); 2) low expression of ACE2 on immune cells, but lymphocytopenia occurs frequently in COVID-19 patients; and 3) hACE2Tg mice do not develop strong clinical disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection in contrast to SARS-CoV-1. Moreover, one of most outstanding features of coronaviruses is the diversity of receptor usage, which includes the newly proposed human CD147 (hCD147) as a receptor for SARS-CoV-2-S. It is still debatable whether CD147 can serve as a functional receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection or entry. Here we successfully generated a hCD147Tg mouse model in the NOD-scid IL2Rgammanull (NSG) background. In this hCD147Tg-NSG mouse model, the hCD147 genetic sequence was placed following the endogenous mouse promoter for mouse CD147 (mCD147), which creates an in vivo model that may better recapitulate physiological expression of CD147 proteins at the molecular level compared to the existing and well-studied K18-hACE2-B6 model. In addition, the hCD147Tg-NSG mouse model allows further study of SARS-CoV-2 in the immunodeficiency condition which may assist our understanding of this virus in the context of high-risk populations with immunosuppressed conditions. The hCD147Tg-NSG mouse mode can serve as an additional animal model for interrogate whether CD147 serve as an independent functional receptor or accessory receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry and immune responses.
Human biting rhythm of Anopheles gambiae s.l. and sleeping behaviour of pregnant women in a lagoon area in Southern Benin
Authors: DJENONTIN Armel , BOURAÏMA Aziz , SOARES Christophe , EGBINOLA Seun , COTTRELL Gilles
Published: April 2021

ObjectiveIn the framework of EVALMOUS study aiming to assess the use and effectiveness of mosquito nets by pregnant women and other members of their household in a lagoon area in southern Benin, the behaviour of pregnant women relative to the time they go to bed using the net were recorded. Malaria vectors biting rhythm, Plasmodium falciparum infection and insecticide resistance genes in malaria vectors were also determined.ResultsOverall, 3848 females of Anopheles gambiae s. l. were collected and 280 pregnant women responded to the survey. Almost all Anopheles gambiae s. l. tested were Anopheles coluzzi with the exception of two, which were Anopheles melas. The CSP index in malaria vector was 1.85% and the allelic frequency of kdr gene was 74.4%. Around 90% of bites and Plasmodium falciparum transmission occurred between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., which coincides with the period when more than 80% of pregnant women were under bednet. Despite a slight early evening and early morning biting activity of malaria vectors in the study area, the good use of nets might remain a useful protection tool against mosquito biting and malaria transmission.
Even in Simple Economic Systems, Equilibrium Can Be Non-Unique: An Example
Authors: Garcia Nancy Solis , Muniz Jose Guadalupe Flores , Kalashnikov Viacheslav , Kalashnikova Nataliya , Kosheleva Olga
Published: April 2021

According to economics, prices are determined by the relationship between supply and demand: they correspond to the equilibrium in which supply is exactly equal to the demand, i.e., for which the optimal amount that the seller is willing to sell at this price is exactly equal to the optimal amount that the buyer is willing to pay. In many situations, the corresponding prices are indeed uniquely determines by the supply-demand relation. From the purely mathematical viewpoint, there are situations when the equilibrium is not unique, but most economists believe that in practical situations, equilibrium prices are usually uniquely determined. In this paper, we provide a simple but realistic example in which the equilibrium is not unique.
A mobile simulation and ARIMA modeling for prediction of air radiation dose rates
Authors: Salh Hemn , Külahcı Fatih , Aközcan Serpil
Published: April 2021

A spatial simulation method in .mp4 format was proposed to determine Fukushima radioactive fallout transport and the Absorbed Dose Rate, Annual Effective Dose Equivalent, and Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk were determined for 10 months after the accident (March 11 2011). The findings of this study demonstrate that an appropriate ARIMA model can be applied for radiation dose time-series in the case of nuclear reactor accidents like Chernobyl and Fukushima to predict the future air dose rates, which can provide valuable information in determining the evacuation zones, decontamination processes, and radiation protection progresses. The model forecasted results and the actual observation data in the same period shows a gradual decrease in the air dose rates during the prediction period. Moreover, there is a good agreement between them as the prediction and observation scatter plot follows each other with small variations. These results provide important insights into the predictability of ARIMA models; thus, the models were utilized to forecast the air dose rates for the period (January 2020 - October 2020).
Analysis of chosen factors affecting the incidence of a brain stroke – a preliminary report.
Authors: KANTELUK ARTUR Andrzej , Krajewska-Kułak Elzbieta
Published: April 2021

The risk of stroke is directly proportional to the occurrence of hypertension and the simultaneous occurrence of other risk factors. The main goal was to find out which age group was most at risk of having a stroke. The study was performed among 138 people randomly chosen from Michałowo borough in the Białystok county.The examined were divided into the following 5 age group. The following measurements were performed: arterial blood pressure, blood glucose level, total cholesterol and its fractions level, triglycerides level, sodium and potassium level, prothrombine time, activity. Additionally, a patient’s history was taken and an author’s survey questionnaire was completed. Due to the small number of men surveyed (13 persons), statistically significant analysis of data within this group cannot be carried out. An analysis was made, broken down by age, of data obtained after examining 125 women. People in age group III are most at risk of developing stroke. People in the IV and V age groups are those who are at risk of having a stroke or who have had a stroke. People in groups 1 and 2 are at moderate risk of stroke. In the III age group people are the most at risk of having a stroke.
High-throughput, high-precision colony phenotyping with pyphe
Authors: Kamrad Stephan , Bähler Jürg , Ralser Markus
Published: April 2021

Colony fitness screens are powerful approaches for functional genomics and genetics. This protocol describes experimental and computational procedures for assaying the fitness of thousands of microbial strains in numerous conditions in parallel. Data analysis is based on pyphe, an all-in-one bioinformatics toolbox for scanning, image analysis, data normalisation and interpretation. We describe a standard protocol where endpoint colony areas are used as fitness proxy and two variations on this, one using colony growth curves and one using colony viability staining with phloxine B. Different strategies for experimental design, normalisation techniques and quality control are discussed. Using these approaches, it is possible to collect hundreds of thousands of data points, with low technical noise levels around 5%, in an experiment typically lasting two weeks or less.
Characteristics of local wastewater quality in the sulphate production of fibre semi-finished products
Authors: Боголицын К.Г. , Москалюк Е.А. , Костогоров Н.М. , Шульгина Е.В. , Иванченко Н.Л.
Published: April 2021

Федеральным законом «Об охране окружающей среды» и отдельными законодательными актами России в области экологии основным направлением развития экономики определена гармонизация технологических и экологических решений с внедрением наилучших доступных технологий. Производство целлюлозы, бумаги, картона относится к наиболее водоемким производствам и в силу образования значительных объемов сточных вод, содержащих различные по химической природе компоненты, оказывает негативное воздействие на окружающую среду. Поэтому задача создания эффективной системы эколого-аналитического контроля качества сточных вод на всех стадиях технологического производства, очистки и выпуска в природные водоемы остается наиболее востребованной и актуальной. Обоснованы принципы построения системы внутрипроизводственного контроля интегрированного целлюлозно-бумажного предприятия по производству картона на основе обобщенных показателей качества локальных стоков. Показаны специфические особенности формирования и характеристики состава сточных вод сульфатцеллюлозного производства при совместном упаривании «черных» и «красных» щелоков.

The main direction of the development of economic is harmonization of technological and ecological solutions with the introduction of the best available technologies as stated by the Federal law “On environmental protection” and legislative acts of the Russian Federation. The production of cellulose, paper, and cardboard is one of the most water-consuming industries and due to the formation of the significant volumes of wastewaters containing various chemical components have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, the aim of the creating of a system of the effective ecological and analytical control of wastewaters’ quality at all stages of technological production; their purification and release into natural waters remains the most in demand and urgent. In the present article the principles of creation of the system in-house control of an integrated pulp and paper mill producing the cardboard based on the generalized indicators of local effluents’ quality. The specific features of the formation and characterization of the composition of wastewaters from cellulose sulfate production with the joint evaporation of the “black” and “red” liquors.
Concordance of two polymerase chain reaction–based blood group genotyping platforms for patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Sheppard C.A. , Bolen N.L. , Meny G. , Kalvelage M. , Ochoa-Garay G.
Published: April 2021

In recent years, polymerase chain reaction–based genotyping platforms, which provide a predicted phenotype, have increased in both patient and high-throughput donor testing, especially in situations where serologic methods or reagents are limited. This study looks at the concordance rate between two platforms commercially available in the United States when used for testing samples from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), a group particularly vulnerable to alloimmunization. DNA extracted from samples from 138 patients with SCD was tested by human erythrocyte antigen (HEA) BeadChip (Immucor, Norcross, GA) and by ID CORE XT (Progenika-Grifols, Barcelona, Spain). Predicted phenotype results were compared, and a concordance rate was calculated. Discrepancies were resolved by Sanger sequencing. All testing was done under an institutional review board–approved protocol. A concordance rate of 99.9 percent was obtained. Sanger sequencing was performed on four samples with discrepancies in the Rh blood group system. Three samples had a similar allelic variant detected by ID CORE XT. Two of the three discrepant samples were correctly identified as V+w, VS− by ID CORE XT but not by HEA BeadChip. The third sample, predicted to have a phenotype of V+, VS+ by sequencing, was called correctly by HEA BeadChip but not by ID CORE XT, which had predicted V+w, VS−. The fourth discrepancy was identified in a sample that ID CORE XT accurately identified as RHCE*ce[712G] and predicted a partial c phenotype. This result was confirmed by Sanger sequencing, whereas HEA BeadChip found no variants and predicted a c+ phenotype. The high concordance rate of the two methods, along with the known limitations of serology, warrant further discussion regarding the practice of serologic confirmation of extended phenotypes. Clinical significance of the identified discrepancies remains to be determined.
Views of Teachers on the Potential Negative Effects of High Stake Tests
Authors: İLHAN Mustafa , GÜLER Neşe , TAŞDELEN TEKER Gülşen
Published: April 2021

This study analyses teachers’ viewpoints on the potential undesirable influences of high stake exams. Seven stimulants related to undesirable influences of high stake exams on education were given to 191 teachers in a pairwise comparisons format. The participating teachers in this study were asked to choose one undesirable influence by comparing the stimulants given to them in pairwise and to determine the more prominent problem stemming from high stake exams. Data were analyzed via many-facet Rasch model. As a result, it was found that teachers considered the stimulant “school assessments turn into secondary importance in the eyes of students and parents” as the foremost problem stemming from high stake exams. On the other hand, the stimulant “administors focus on policies for increasing exam scores instead of policies for improving the learning–teaching process” ranked the last in the undesirable influences of high stake exams.
Adaptive fuzzy control of nonlinear aeroelastic system with measurement noise
Authors: Zhang Bo , Han Jinglong , Ma Ruiqun
Published: April 2021

This paper presents a limit cycle oscillation (LCO) suppression method of nonlinear aeroelastic system based on adaptive neuro-fuzzy control. A prototypical 2D wing section with a single control surface at the trailing edge of the main wing, which contains a symmetrical freeplay nonlinearity in the pitch degree of freedom, is modelled by SIMULINK (Matlab 2016R) to illustrate the proposed method. Proportional integral differential (PID) controller is used to suppression the LCO of nonlinear aeroelastic system. The control law of the PID controller is identified by neural network. A new fuzzy control law of the nonlinear aeroelastic system is obtained by adjusting the parameters of the fuzzy control system. A nonlinear aeroelastic system with measurement noise in the measurement feedback loop is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Prediction of river water temperature using machine learning algorithms: a tropical river system of India
Authors: Rajesh M. , Rehana S.
Published: April 2021

Machine learning (ML) has been increasingly adopted due to its ability to model complex and non-linearities between river water temperature (RWT) and its predictors (e.g., Air Temperature, AT). Most of these ML approaches have been applied using average AT without any detailed sensitivity analysis of other forms of AT (e.g., maximum and minimum). The present study demonstrates how new ML approaches, such as ridge regression (RR), K-nearest neighbors (KNN) regressor, random forest (RF) regressor, and support vector regression (SVR), can be coupled with Sobol’ global sensitivity analysis (GSA) to predict accurate RWT estimates with the most appropriate form of AT. Furthermore, the proposed ML approaches have been combined with the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF), a data assimilation (DA) technique to improve the predicted values based on the measured data. The proposed modelling framework's effectiveness is demonstrated with a tropical river system of India, Tunga-Bhadra River, as a case study. The SVR has been noted as the most robust ML model to predict RWT at a monthly time scale compared with daily and seasonal. The study demonstrates how ML methods can be coupled with a global sensitivity algorithm and DA techniques to generate accurate RWT predictions in river water quality modelling.
Effect of operational parameters and material properties on hardness removal efficiency by electrochemical technique
Authors: Wang Wei , Chen Qi , Lin Wei , Zheng Xiaotao , Xu Jianmin , Yu Jiuyang
Published: April 2021

Electrochemical water treatment technology can be used for hard water softening, but its removal efficiency and energy consumption problems hinder its application. The effects of electrolysis voltage and cathode materials on efficiency, energy consumption and scale crystal form of electrochemical water treatment technology were studied experimentally. The experimental results show that electrochemical water treatment can effectively remove more than 40% of the TDS (total dissolved solids) in the influent. The electrolysis voltage has a great influence on the removal rate of hardness ions. The optimum electrolytic voltage for the titanium plate cathode is 25 V. At this electrolytic voltage, the treatment capacity of the titanium plate cathode is 16% higher than that of the copper plate cathode, and the energy consumption is 16% lower than that of the copper plate. Titanium plates are more efficient than copper plates and consume less energy. The effects of electrochemical water treatment on the scale crystal form were investigated by SEM (scanning electron microscopy) and XRD (X-ray diffraction). Electrochemical water treatment increases the mass fraction of aragonite in the calcium carbonate scale and changed the microscopic surface structure of calcium carbonate scale.
Facile one step green synthesis of iron nanoparticles using grape leaves extract: textile dye decolorization and wastewater treatment
Authors: Raman Chandra Devi , Sellappa Kanmani , Mkandawire Martin
Published: April 2021

The existing knowledge on the reactivity of green iron particles on textile dye and wastewater decolorization is very limited. In this study, the potential of green iron particles synthesized using grape leaves extract on reactive dye (reactive red 195, reactive yellow 145, reactive blue 4 and reactive black 5) decolorization were investigated. 95–98% of decolorization was achieved for all reactive dyes at 1.4–2.0 g/L of green iron. Maximum decolorization was attained at lower dye concentration and showed very little impact on decolorization when pH was increased from 3 to 11. The pseudo-first-order fit confirms the reaction between iron particles and dye molecules with rate constant 0.317–0.422 and it is followed by adsorption, data fit with pseudo-second-order model. Hence, not only adsorption but also the reduction process is involved in the reactive dye decolorization. Benzene, phenyl sodium, 2-chloro-1,3,5-triazine, naphthalene, sodium benzene sulfonate, benzene 1,2 di amine, anthracene-9,10 dione, aniline, phenol, benzene sulfonic acid were the major intermediates detected in dye decolorization and the respective reaction pathway is proposed. Green iron from grape leaves extract demonstrated better performance and it is recognized as the promising cost-effective material for textile wastewater treatment.
Gender Disparities on Access to Care and Coronary Disease Management
Authors: Vasiljevic-Pokrajcic Zorana , Krljanac Gordana , Lasica Ratko , Zdravkovic Marija , Stankovic Sanja , Mitrovic Predrag , Vukcevic Vladan , Asanin Milika
Published: April 2021

Mortality decline in women to a lesser extent than in men with coronary artery disease (CAD) has
provoked a bigger interest in some already existing dilemmas and questions. Many studies carried out in the
past three decades did not provide us with precise conclusions. Moreover, various challenges in the prevention,
diagnosis, treatment and outcome of CAD in women are still remaining. The meta-analysis and the systematic
review conducted in the last years have offered novel approaches to understanding CAD gender disparities in
access to care and coronary disease management in women, but women are more likely to experience less favorable
short- and long-term outcomes than men do. The reasons for these findings should lie in several known segments
in the CAD pathophysiological mechanisms different in women and ultimately leading to a lower quality
of care. Clinical presentation in women, which is often characterized by atypical chest pain and a higher prevalence
of non-obstructive CAD when evaluated invasively, places women to the false-negative diagnosis of
CAD and influences inadequate access to care. Clinical presentation and diagnostic methods, as well as the appropriate
treatment options insufficiently examined in women, need to be better defined. The traditional CAD
risk factors have a greater impact on women than on men. Unique CAD risk factors only seen in women, have
recently been recognized with more attention. However, it is important to note that even in women with obstructive
CAD and typical clinical presentation, invasive therapy and pharmacologic therapy are not always implemented
as recommended by guidelines as in men. Women are underrepresented in CAD trials, and in current
guidelines, gender differences in CAD management have not yet been justified. The underestimation of the risk
of CAD in women, followed by its underdiagnosis and undertreatment, might be one of the reasons for a worse
prognosis in women in comparison with men.
Clinical Use of Neurophysiological Biomarkers and Self-Assessment Scales to Predict and Monitor Treatment Response for Psychotic and Affective Disorders
Authors: Aryutova Katrin , Stoyanov Drozdstoy St. , Kandilarova Sevdalina , Todeva-Radneva Anna , Kostianev Stefan S.
Published: April 2021

Psychoses and affective disorders are severe mental illnesses with a considerable negative effect on
an individual and global scale. They are among the most damaging and socially significant diseases, which contribute
to permanent disabilities for the patients. The aim of this review is to analyse the capacity of neuroscientific
methods as tools to reform psychiatry into a biologically valid medical discipline. Furthermore, it will focus
on the application of the translational approach towards the diagnostic and therapeutic processes, as well as
monitoring of treatment response by using valid biomarkers and psychometric instruments. By combining translational
neuroscience with the latest psychopharmacology advances, clinicians might be able to provide better
quality of precision and individualized medical care for their patients. We visualise a reality in which neuroimaging
methods will modify the standard clinical evaluation of neuropsychiatric disorders, leading to a biologically
valid diagnosis, monitoring and treatment in everyday clinical practice.
Focusing the Controversies in Budd-Chiari Syndrome Management
Authors: Mancuso Andrea
Published: April 2021

:

Budd-Chiari Syndrome (BCS) is characterized by significant clinical and pathophysiological
aspects that seem to allow a sharp differentiation between a variant in the West from one in
the East.
The aim of this paper is to focus on the main issues and controversies about the management of BCS
in the West. The study discusses different treatment options and how research is trying to solve controversies
about debated topics, such as the timing of treatment. In fact, guidelines regarding management
of BCS suggest a step-wise strategy starting with medical therapy, arriving at revascularization
or TIPS as the second step, and culminating to liver transplant as rescue therapy.
However, long-term outcome is frequently dismal on sole medical therapy. In fact, it is a matter of
debate whether further intervention should be suggested only when hemodynamic consequences of
portal hypertension are evident. However, as recently hypothesized, chronic micro-vascular ischemia
due to impaired venous hepatic outflow could trigger liver fibrosis, resulting in portal hypertension
and progressive liver failure. Consequently, liver congestion relief through treatment might be useful
as a preventive tool. Recently, early TIPS proved to improve BCS outcome. A direct comparison of
early intervention versus step-wise strategy would seem advisable. Furthermore, further studies
should address whether non-invasive tools could predict which patients benefit from early intervention.
PRINCIPLES OF FORMING DEONTOLOGICAL READINESS OF SPECIALISTS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY, ERGOTHERAPY FOR PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Authors: Bespalova О. О. , Lytvynenko V. А. , Bugaenko T. V. , Mezentseva I. V. , Savchuk І. V.
Published: April 2021

Резюме. Трудова діяльність фізичних терапевтів, ерготерапевтів передбачає професійно-комунікативну взаємодію між членами мультідисциплінарної команди, де знанням нормативно-правової бази щодо морально-етичних та правових норм поведінки і належного обов’язку відведена провідна роль. Це обумовлює потребу в оптимізації їх професійної підготовки при формуванні знань та умінь будувати професійні відносини в системі «людина-людина», де провідна роль належить дидактичним принципам.

Мета дослідження: визначення та теоретичне обґрунтування специфічних принципів деонтологічної підготовки майбутніх фахівців з фізичної терапії, ерготерапії.

Методи дослідження: теоретичні (аналіз, систематизація науково-методичної та нормативно-правової літератури у напрямку професійної підготовки фізичних терапевтів, ерготерапевтів); термінологічний аналіз для визначення змісту та сутності базових понять дослідження. Деонтологічна підготовка – динамічний процес набуття фахівцем ціннісних професійних орієнтацій, засвоєння загальнолюдських і фахових морально-етичних норм та принципів поведінки та слідування їм; розвиток соціальних та ділових якостей особистості, а також професійно-комунікативних умінь для успішного здійснення трудової діяльності. Деонтологічна підготовка фахівців з фізичної терапії, ерготерапії відбувається через систему загальнодидактичних та специфічних принципів, які націлюють навчальний процес на формування деонтологічних знань та умінь здійснювати професійну діяльність відповідно до морально-етичного кодексу. Провідними вважаємо: принцип соціальної обумовленості, принцип гуманізації, принцип міцності засвоєння знань, принцип практичної спрямованості навчання, принцип ситуативності.
EXPERIENCE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES AND DIFFERENT TEACHING METHODS APPLICATION FOR MICROBIOLOGY, VIRUSOLOGY AND IMMUNOLOGY TEACHING
Authors: Yurchyshyn O. І.
Published: April 2021

Резюме. В статті обґрунтовується використання інформаційних технологій та різних педагогічних прийомів при викладанні медичної мікробіології. Для опанування студентами предмету на кафедрі мікробіології, вірусології та імунології викладачі використовують різні методики навчання, а саме: інтерактивне навчання, рольові та імітаційні ігри, моделювання, аналіз діагностично складних випадків інфекційних захворювань у практиці мікробіологічних досліджень, навчання шляхом виконання практичної та самостійної роботи з використанням сучасних тест-систем та обладнання для ідентифікації збудників інфекційних хвороб, інтерпретацію результатів реальних мікробіологічних досліджень, здійснення порівняльного аналізу достовірності різних методів мікробіологічної діагностики з урахуванням світових новітніх технологічних розробок у галузях імунології та генної інженерії, а також залучення студентів до науково-дослідної роботи кафедри на базі акредитованої лабораторії бактеріологічних досліджень. Необхідність організації ефективного навчального процесу в умовах карантину зумовила широке впровадження у педагогічну практику лекцій, практичних занять та підсумкових контролів у режимі відеоконференцій, які проводяться на платформі Microsoft Teams з використанням мультимедійних презентацій та відеофільмів. Додатковими джерелами комунікації викладачів кафедри та студентів служить соціальна мережа Facebook, де створена окрема група Microbiology_IFNMU, програми Viber, Telegram, а також впровадження в роботу кафедри електронного журналу успішності. Використання різних навчальних методик та новітніх інформаційних технологій в організації та управлінні навчальним процесом дозволяє підвищити якість навчання в вищих навчальних закладах, оптимізувати та удосконалити роботу педагогічних працівників.