bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of piggyBac‐mediated anti‐CD19 CAR‐T cells after ex vivo expansion with aAPCs or magnetic beads
Authors: Yang Li‐Rong , Li Lin , Meng Ming‐Yao , Wang Wen‐Ju , Yang Song‐Lin , Zhao Yi‐Yi , Wang Run‐Qing , Gao Hui , Tang Wei‐Wei , Yang Yang , Yang Li‐Li , Liao Li‐Wei , Hou Zong‐Liu
Published: November 2020

Adoptive immunotherapy is a new potential method of tumour therapy, among which anti‐CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy (CAR‐T cell), is a typical treatment agent for haematological malignancies. Previous clinical trials showed that the quality and phenotype of CAR‐T cells expanded ex vivo would seriously affect the tumour treatment efficacy. Although magnetic beads are currently widely used to expand CAR‐T cells, the optimal expansion steps and methods have not been completely established. In this study, the differences between CAR‐T cells expanded with anti‐CD3/CD28 mAb‐coated beads and those expanded with cell‐based aAPCs expressing CD19/CD64/CD86/CD137L/mIL‐15 counter‐receptors were compared. The results showed that the number of CD19‐specific CAR‐T cells with a 4‐1BB and CD28 co‐stimulatory domain was much greater with stimulation by aAPCs than that with beads. In addition, the expression of memory marker CD45RO was higher, whereas expression of exhausted molecules was lower in CAR‐T cells expanded with aAPCs comparing with the beads. Both CAR‐T cells showed significant targeted tumoricidal effects. The CAR‐T cells stimulated with aAPCs secreted apoptosis‐related cytokines. Moreover, they also possessed marked anti‐tumour effect on NAMALWA xenograft mouse model. The present findings provided evidence on the safety and advantage of two expansion methods for CAR‐T cells genetically modified by piggyBac transposon system.
An Educational Experiment Resulting from COVID‐19: The Use of At‐Home Waxing and Webinars for Teaching a 3‐Week Intensive Course in Tooth Morphology to First Year Dental Students
Authors: Goodacre Charles J. , Younan Reema , Kearbey Vaughn , Fitzpatrick Michael
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To report the outcomes of presenting a 3‐week intensive course in tooth morphology to first year dental students using “at‐home” waxing projects and webinars.

Materials and Methods

Students were provided with the instrumentation and materials required to complete 5 waxing projects at home during the 3‐week course. In the same time period, the didactic content was presented via 11 webinar sessions. A postcourse survey provided student perspectives regarding this new experience.

Results

Students were able to effectively complete high‐quality waxing projects at home by using step‐by‐step images and videos but the survey indicated an overwhelming preference for in‐person faculty feedback. Webinars based on the students having studied the 3D Tooth Atlas and an instructor reviewing content in the Atlas was effective in teaching the didactic aspect of tooth morphology as evidenced by the student grades and survey results. However, most of the students indicated a preference for physically going to class and being able to interact with faculty and classmates as opposed to online webinars. The condensed 3‐week version of the course was part of an expanded 4‐week student orientation and worked well, allowing other clinical precursor courses to occur before their usual time in the curriculum, thereby allowing students to begin earlier patient treatment.

Conclusions

The at‐home waxing exercises produced very good results by having the students use step‐by‐step images and videos in the 3D Tooth Atlas. However, the students indicated a strong preference for personal faculty feedback that was not available at home. Students effectively learned the didactic aspects of tooth morphology through the webinars with accompanying use of the 3D Tooth Atlas but again most students prefer physically going to class and being able to interact with faculty and classmates. These preferences for contact with classmates and faculty supports the natural human desire for personal interactions with other human beings.
Krebs von den Lungen 6 decreased in the serum and muscle of GNE myopathy patients
Authors: Kurashige Takashi , Takahashi Tetsuya , Nagano Yoshito , Sugie Kazuma , Maruyama Hirofumi
Published: November 2020

UDP‐N‐acetylglucosamine 2‐epimerase/N‐acetylmannosamine kinase (GNE) is necessary for sialic acid biosynthesis. GNE myopathy is caused by a defect in GNE, and hyposialylation is a key factor in the pathomechanism of GNE myopathy. Although candidates for evaluating hyposialylation have been reported, it is difficult to measure them in routine clinical practice. Sialylation is necessary for synthesis of various glycoproteins, including Krebs von den Lungen‐6 (KL‐6)/mucin 1 (MUC1). Here we report that KL‐6/MUC1 is decreased in GNE myopathy. We observed that KL‐6 levels were decreased in the serum of patients with GNE myopathy, and that KL‐6 and MUC1‐C were also decreased in muscle biopsy specimens from these patients. An immunofluorescent study revealed that KL‐6 and MUC1‐C were not present in the sarcolemma but were, instead, localized in rimmed vacuoles in specimens from patients with GNE myopathy. KL‐6 is already used to detect lung diseases in clinical practice, and this glycoprotein may be a novel candidate for evaluating hyposialylation in GNE myopathy.
Efficient expression and function of a receptor‐like kinase in wheat powdery mildew defence require an intron‐located MYB binding site
Authors: Xia Tengfei , Yang Yanping , Zheng Hongyuan , Han Xinyun , Jin Huaibing , Xiong Zijun , Qian Weiqiang , Xia Lanqi , Ji Xiang , Li Guangwei , Wang Daowen , Zhang Kunpu
Published: November 2020

The LRK10‐like receptor kinases (LRK10L‐RLKs) are ubiquitously present in higher plants, but knowledge of their expression and function is still limited. Here, we report expression and functional analysis of TtdLRK10L‐1, a typical LRK10L‐RLK in durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. ssp. durum). The introns of TtdLRK10L‐1 contained multiple kinds of predicted cis‐elements. To investigate the potential effect of these cis‐elements on TtdLRK10L‐1 expression and function, two types of transgenic wheat lines were prepared, which expressed a GFP‐tagged TtdLRK10L‐1 protein (TtdLRK10L‐1:GFP) from the cDNA or genomic DNA (gDNA) sequence of TtdLRK10L‐1 under the native promoter. TtdLRK10L‐1:GFP expression was up‐regulated by the powdery mildew pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) in both types of transgenic plants, with the scale of the elevation being much stronger in the gDNA lines. Both types of transgenic plants exhibited enhanced resistance to Bgt infection relative to wild type control. Notably, the Bgt defence activated in the gDNA lines was significantly stronger than that in the cDNA lines. Further analysis revealed that a putative MYB transcription factor binding site (MYB‐BS, CAGTTA) located in TtdLRK10L‐1 intron I was critical for the efficient expression and function of TtdLRK10L‐1 in Bgt defence. This MYB‐BS could also increase the activity of a superpromoter widely used in ectopic gene expression studies in plants. Together, our results deepen the understanding of the expression and functional characteristics of LRK10L‐RLKs. TtdLRK10L‐1 is likely useful for further dissecting the molecular processes underlying wheat defence against Bgt and for developing Bgt resistant wheat crops.
A comparison of plant communities in restored, old field, and remnant coastal prairies
Authors: Feher Laura C. , Allain Larry K. , Osland Michael J. , Pigott Elisabeth , Reid Christopher , Latiolais Nicholas
Published: November 2020

Temperate grasslands are experiencing worldwide declines due to habitat conversion. Grassland restoration efforts are employed to compensate for these losses. However, there is a need to better understand the ecological effects of grassland restoration and management practices. We investigated the effects of three different grassland management regimes on plant communities of coastal prairie ecosystems in southwest Louisiana (the United States). We compared old fields, prairie remnants, and restored prairies. Coastal prairies are a unique type of grassland historically present across southeast Texas and southwest Louisiana. Old fields represent former coastal prairie habitats allowed to revegetate naturally without active management. Remnant coastal prairies are small, isolated patches of comparatively intact prairie. Restored coastal prairies have been actively restored by planting native coastal prairie vegetation and managed with prescribed burning, mowing, and/or removal of invasive non‐native species. Our work was conducted in three old fields, four remnants, and four restored prairies. Old fields were dominated by non‐native species with low conservation value, whereas remnant prairies were dominated by native species with high conservation value. Remnants had a mean species richness of 75 species per site, which is higher than most other tallgrass prairie ecosystems in North America. Restored sites were dominated by native species with high conservation value, although the composition differed between restored and remnant sites. Collectively, our results: (1) reinforce the importance of identifying and preserving remnant coastal prairies; and (2) show that restoration of degraded coastal prairies is a viable strategy for supporting the persistence of these unique grassland ecosystems.
From the Hawaiian classroom to the wards: A model of effective pedagogy for clinicians, trainees, and patients
Authors: Ferenchak Kenny S. , Wyatt Tasha R.
Published: November 2020

Clinical teachers receive little training in the actual practice of teaching, often lacking any pedagogical framework by which to approach learners. The Center for Research in Education, Diversity, and Excellence (CREDE) offers an evidence‐based pedagogical framework from our experience in primary and secondary education that can transform the clinician’s teaching practice. The CREDE standards of effective pedagogy provide concrete guidance for a clinician’s interactions with trainees, peers, and patients. This framework can support clinical teachers to be more effective when working with the diverse set of trainees, peers, and patients that our fields must engage.
Organic food consumption and the incidence of cancer: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Jadotte Yuri T. , Koos Jessica , Lane Dorothy
Published: November 2020

Objective:

The objective of this review is to evaluate the association between organic food consumption and the incidence of cancer among adults.

Introduction:

Organic foods differ from traditional food in the methods in which they are produced. There is literature to suggest that they are associated with better health outcomes, including a lower incidence of some cancers. The association between organic food consumption and the incidence of cancer has not yet been synthesized.

Inclusion criteria:

Studies that compared organic food consumption to conventional food consumption, measured the incidence of cancer among adults, and captured disease incidence, such as prospective and retrospective cohort methodologies, will be included.

Methods:

A comprehensive search strategy will be implemented to retrieve relevant studies from PubMed, CINAHL, LILACS, Embase, PsycINFO, Science.gov, Web of Science/Web of Knowledge, and Academic Search Premiere, as well as gray literature sources such as Google Scholar, DARE and Dissertation Abstracts International. The search parameters will include studies for which the full text in English is available, and studies dated 2009 or later, as this was the date of a previous systematic review on the association between organic food consumption and health outcomes that did not find any studies with cancer-related outcomes. Study screening, critical appraisal, and data extraction will be performed independently by pairs of reviewers among the authorship team. Data synthesis will include narrative review and meta-analysis if appropriate.

Systematic review registration number:

PROSPERO CRD42019126224
Effectiveness of thoracic epidural anesthesia in reducing morbidity and mortality in adults with acute pancreatitis: a systematic review protocol and meta-analysis
Authors: Ede Christa , Ortiz Rey , Anderson Lori R.
Published: November 2020

Objective:

The objective of this review is to evaluate the effectiveness of thoracic epidural in reducing morbidity and mortality in adults with acute pancreatitis.

Introduction:

Acute pancreatitis is a common disease that often results in significant morbidity and mortality. Although the use of a thoracic epidural anesthesia in patients with acute pancreatitis provides effective analgesia, there appears to be additional non-analgesic benefits associated with thoracic epidural anesthesia.

Inclusion criteria:

Randomized controlled trials will be sought for inclusion, but this review will also consider quasi-experimental studies, cohort studies, case-controlled studies, cross-sectional studies, and case-series studies. Studies will include patients 18 years of age and older with acute pancreatitis, with no exclusion to comorbidity. Studies published in a language other than English will be excluded unless a translated version is available.

Methods:

The key databases to be searched include MEDLINE, CINAHL, OpenGrey, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Studies will be assessed for inclusion by at least two independent reviewers. Included studies will be critically appraised by two independent reviewers using standardized critical appraisal instruments from JBI. Data will be extracted from studies included in the review using a standardized extraction tool. Studies will, where possible, be pooled in statistical meta-analysis using JBI SUMARI.

Systematic review registration number:

The title of this protocol has been registered with the JBI Systematic Review Register. This manuscript has been registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020177756).
Techniques for registration of myoelectric activity of women's pelvic floor muscles: a scoping review protocol
Authors: de Oliveira Ferro Josepha Karinne , Lemos Andrea , de Santana Chagas Alessandra Carolina , de Moraes Alexa Alves , de Moura Filho Alberto Galvão , de Oliveira Daniella Araújo
Published: November 2020

Objective:

The objective of this review is to identify the most frequently used protocols for analyzing the myoelectric activity of the pelvic floor muscles during surface electromyography in women aged 18 years or older.

Introduction:

Surface electromyography is normally used in assessment and treatment for research purposes when it is intended to quantitatively measure the electrophysiological behavior of the neuromuscular system. However, although there are internationally standardized, non-invasive assessment protocols for most muscle groups, there is no consensus for pelvic floor muscles, which makes it difficult to standardize in scientific research and clinical applicability.

Inclusion criteria:

Studies that explore registration protocols and filtering parameters of surface electromyographic signals in women aged over 18 years old with or without pelvic floor dysfunction will be considered. Studies encompassing either electromyographic biofeedback as a treatment resource only or electroneuromyography (needle electrode) will be excluded.

Methods:

Primary studies published in the previous 10 years in MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, and Cochrane Central databases will be included. The search will encompass descriptors registered in MeSH. The identified articles will be assessed for eligibility by two independent reviewers in three stages: evaluation by title, abstract, and full text. If there is any disagreement, a third reviewer will be consulted. Data will be extracted and organized in standardized spreadsheets. The results will be assigned to categories in order to facilitate the organization of a protocol with the most commonly used parameters for non-invasive assessment of myoelectric activity of pelvic floor muscles.
Phagosomal F-Actin Retention by Cryptococcus gattii Induces Dendritic Cell Immunoparalysis
Authors: Jamil Khusraw , Polyak Maria J. , Feehan David D. , Surmanowicz Philip , Stack Danuta , Li Shu Shun , Ogbomo Henry , Olszewski Michal , Ganguly Anutosh , Mody Christopher H.
Published: November 2020

Cryptococcusyeast species typically display characteristics of opportunistic pathogens, with the exception ofC. gattii, which can cause life-threatening respiratory and disseminated brain infections in otherwise healthy people. The pathogenesis ofC. gattiiis not well understood, but an important characteristic is thatC. gattiiis capable of evading host cell-mediated immune defenses initiated by DCs. Here, we report that when virulentC. gattiibecomes ingested by a DC, the intracellular compartment containing the fungi is covered by a persistent protein cage structure consisting of F-actin. This F-actin cage acts as a barrier to prevent interaction with other intracellular compartments, and as a result, the DC fails to kill the fungi and activate important cell-mediated immune responses. We propose that this unique immune evasion mechanism permitsC. gattiito remain unchallenged within host cells, leading to persistent infection.
Transcriptional Silencing by TsrA in the Evolution of Pathogenic Vibrio cholerae Biotypes
Authors: Caro Florence , Caro José A. , Place Nicole M. , Mekalanos John J.
Published: November 2020

Pathogenic
Vibrio cholerae
strains express multiple virulence factors that are encoded by bacteriophage and chromosomal islands. These include cholera toxin and the intestinal colonization pilus called the toxin-coregulated pilus, which are essential for causing severe disease in humans. However, it is presently unclear how the expression of these horizontally acquired accessory virulence genes can be efficiently integrated with preexisting transcriptional programs that are presumably fine-tuned for optimal expression in
V. cholerae
before its conversion to a human pathogen. Here, we report the role of a transcriptional regulator (TsrA) in silencing horizontally acquired genes encoding important virulence factors. We propose that this factor could be critical to the efficient acquisition of accessory virulence genes by silencing their expression until other signals trigger their transcriptional activation within the host.
Trueperella pyogenespharyngitis in an immunocompetent 40-year-old man
Authors: Meili Zachary
Published: November 2020

A 40-year-old man presented to his primary care physician with a constellation of systemic symptoms and new biofilm forming along his upper airway. He had brought home a deer 10 days prior from a day of hunting, and discovered green purulent material oozing from the entrance/exit wounds. The patient smokes cigarettes and did not use any protective equipment or wash his hands between dressing the deer and smoking. Several days following exposure, he became increasingly short of breath, fatigued, constipated and developed a cough productive of orange sputum. Speaking with state wildlife biologists led to the diagnosis of a zoonoticTrueperella pyogenesinfection. Initial treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics was ineffective in resolving the infection. An infectious disease appointment was made, but the patient’s infection resolved with the use of a veterinarian antibiotic taken under physician’s supervision.
Innovating organ delivery to improve access to care: surgeon perspectives on the current system and future use of unmanned aircrafts
Authors: Talaie Tara , Niederhaus Silke , Villalongas Ester , Scalea Joseph
Published: November 2020

Objective

Organ transportation requires innovation. We recently showed that unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) could transport human organs. There are no data addressing UAS acceptance among healthcare providers. Conceptually, UAS implementation may improve delivery of care through improved efficiency. We sought to learn surgical perspectives on current and innovated organ transport systems.

Methods

An Institutional Review Board exempt, pretested, 5-point Likert scale web-based survey was undertaken. Transplant surgeons taking kidney transplant offers in the USA (n=174) were sampled.

Results

Of 174 surveys, 122 were delivered successfully, and 55 responses collected. Mean age was 48.1 (range 34–64), and 80% were male. Forty-two (76.4%) surgeons felt cold ischaemia time reduction to 8 hours would increase organ acceptance rates. More than 23% of respondents were fearful and 34.5% nervous regarding drones. Nearly all (92.7%) respondents believed drones could help people; 90.9% felt the mode of transportation was irrelevant to their decision to accept an organ but that speed and quality were most important. Only 16.4% of surgeons believed the current system is adequate for our transportation needs.

Conclusions

Surgeons feel the present system of organ transportation needs reform, and an innovated system using UAS might improve care. An innovated organ transportation system involving UAS may lead to fear and anxiety among transplant surgeons, suggesting that research and education are required ahead of adoption.
Developing a globally applicable cybersecurity framework for healthcare: a Delphi consensus study
Authors: O'Brien Niki , Grass Emilia , Martin Guy , Durkin Mike , Darzi Ara , Ghafur Saira
Published: November 2020

Background

Cybersecurity in healthcare has become increasingly important as the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of digital technologies in healthcare provision around the world, while simultaneously encouraged cybercriminals to target healthcare organisations in greater numbers. Despite the threat of cyberattack to patient safety and the provision of healthcare, cybersecurity in the health sector lags behind other industries. Additionally, no adequate cybersecurity framework exists which considers the unique needs of the health sector.

Methods

An online Delphi was carried out to develop a globally relevant and applicable readiness framework to guide cybersecurity planning in healthcare. Experts (n=42) in the areas of cybersecurity, information communications and technology and health informatics were invited to list the components they felt were essential to a framework and subsequently agree with consensus on a final framework based on the identified components.

Results

After two rounds, the Essentials of Cybersecurity in Healthcare Organizations (ECHO) framework with 51 components, grouped into six categories, was regarded by the experts as an acceptable planning tool to guide cybersecurity in healthcare at the global level.

Conclusions

The ECHO framework, designed based on components chosen by international experts to meet the challenges of cybersecurity scale-up in the health and care sector globally, can help guide policymakers and health and care organisations in strengthening their cybersecurity infrastructure and deliver safe and effective care.
Comorbidity burden in patients undergoing left atrial appendage closure
Authors: Sanjoy Shubrandu , Choi Yun-Hee , Holmes David , Herrman Howard , Terre Juan , Alraies Chadi , Ando Tomo , Tzemos Nikolaos , Mamas Mamas , Bagur Rodrigo
Published: November 2020

Objective

To estimate the risk of in-hospital complications after left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) in relationship with comorbidity burden.

Methods

Cohort-based observational study using the US National Inpatient Sample database, 1 October 2015 to 31 December 2017. The main outcome of interest was the occurrence of in-hospital major adverse events (MAE) defined as the composite of bleeding complications, acute kidney injury, vascular complications, cardiac complications and postprocedural stroke. Comorbidity burden and thromboembolic risk were assessed by the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Elixhauser Comorbidity Score (ECS) and CHA2DS2-VASc score. MAE were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. The associations of comorbidity with in-hospital MAE were evaluated using logistic regression models.

Results

A total of 3294 hospitalisations were identified, among these, the mean age was 75.7±8.2 years, 60% were male and 86% whites. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.3±1.5 and 29.5% of the patients had previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack. The mean CCI and ECS were 2.2±1.9 and 9.7±5.8, respectively. The overall composite rate of in-hospital MAE after LAAC was 4.6%. Females and non-whites had about 1.5 higher odds of in-hospital AEs as well participants with higher CCI (adjusted OR (aOR): 1.19, 95% CI: 1.13 to 1.24, p<0.001), ECS (aOR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.08, p<0.001) and CHA2DS2-VASc score (aOR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.15, p=0.01) were significantly associated with in-hospital MAE.

Conclusion

In this large cohort of LAAC patients, the majority of them had significant comorbidity burden. In-hospital MAE occurred in 4.6% and female patients, non-whites and those with higher burden of comorbidities were at higher risk of in-hospital MAE after LAAC.
Risk of intracranial hemorrhage associated with pregnancy in women with cerebral arteriovenous malformations
Authors: Lee Songmi , Kim Youngran , Navi Babak B , Abdelkhaleq Rania , Salazar-Marioni Sergio , Blackburn Spiros L , Bambhroliya Arvind B , Lopez-Rivera Victor , Vahidy Farhaan , Savitz Sean I , Medhus Annika , Kamel Hooman , Grotta James C , McCullough Louise , Chen Peng Roc , Sheth Sunil A
Published: November 2020

Background

Prior studies on rupture risk of brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in women undergoing pregnancy and delivery have reported conflicting findings, but also have not accounted for AVM morphology and heterogeneity. Here, we assess the association between pregnancy and the risk of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in women with AVMs using a cohort-crossover design in which each woman serves as her own control.

Methods

Women who underwent pregnancy and delivery were identified using DRG codes from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases for California (2005–2011), Florida (2005–2014), and New York (2005–2014). The presence of AVM and ICH was determined using ICD 9 codes. Pregnancy was defined as the 40 weeks prior to delivery, and postpartum as 12 weeks after. We defined a non-exposure control period as a 52-week period prior to pregnancy. The relative risks of ICH during pregnancy were compared against the non-exposure period using conditional Poisson regression.

Results

Among 4 022 811 women identified with an eligible delivery hospitalization (median age, 28 years; 7.3% with gestational diabetes; 4.5% with preeclampsia/eclampsia), 568 (0.014%) had an AVM. The rates of ICH during pregnancy and puerperium were 6355.4 (95% CI 4279.4 to 8431.5) and 14.4 (95% CI 13.3 to 15.6) per 100 000 person-years for women with and without AVM, respectively. In cohort-crossover analysis, in women with AVMs the risk of ICH increased 3.27-fold (RR, 95% CI 1.67 to 6.43) during pregnancy and puerperium compared with a non-pregnant period.

Conclusions

Among women with AVM, pregnancy and puerperium were associated with a greater than 3-fold risk of ICH.
A multi-layer approach to disinformation detection in US and Italian news spreading on Twitter
Authors: Pierri Francesco , Piccardi Carlo , Ceri Stefano
Published: November 2020

We tackle the problem of classifying news articles pertaining todisinformationvsmainstreamnews by solely inspecting their diffusion mechanisms on Twitter. This approach is inherently simple compared to existing text-based approaches, as it allows to by-pass the multiple levels of complexity which are found in news content (e.g. grammar, syntax, style). As we employ a multi-layer representation of Twitter diffusion networks where each layer describes one single type of interaction (tweet, retweet, mention, etc.), we quantify the advantage of separating the layers with respect to an aggregated approach and assess the impact of each layer on the classification. Experimental results with two large-scale datasets, corresponding to diffusion cascades of news shared respectively in the United States and Italy, show that a simple Logistic Regression model is able to classify disinformation vs mainstream networks with high accuracy (AUROC up to 94%). We also highlight differences in the sharing patterns of the two news domains which appear to be common in the two countries. We believe that our network-based approach provides useful insights which pave the way to the future development of a system to detect misleading and harmful information spreading on social media.
SAWEG: A new algorithm for network clustering
Authors: Gui Chun
Published: November 2020

The relationship between nodes in the network is reflected by edges. It is novel to study the network from the perspective of edges rather than nodes. Following the idea of edge graph clustering which provides an unorthodox approach to represent the topology of the systems, we propose a new clustering method called Spectral Analysis based on Weighted edge graphs to find the overlapping clusters. According to the incidence matrix of the original network, we obtain the corresponding edge graph. The first two nontrivial eigenvectors dimensional spaces are built with the Laplacian Matrix, and we get edge dendrogram of the network. Then cut the edge dendrogram by using the improved partition density to get the optimal community structure. The proposed algorithm successfully finds the common nodes between clusters. Experiments on five real-world networks show that the proposed SAWEG algorithm performs better than the other three benchmarking clustering algorithms.
Vibrational properties of nanoparticles iron oxide by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Darziyeva T. A. , Alekperov E. Sh. , Jabarov S. H. , Mirzayev M. N.
Published: November 2020

The crystal structure and atomic dynamics of Fe3O4 nanoparticles have been studied. The crystal structure of iron oxide nanoparticles was determined by X-ray diffraction. The analysis showed that the crystal structure of [Formula: see text] 50–100 nm dimensional iron oxide corresponds to a high symmetry cubic crystal structure. Calculations have shown that there are four infrared active, five Raman active and seven hyper-Raman active modes in the space group Fd-3m with cubic symmetry. Four of these modes have been observed using Raman spectroscopy: 213, 271, 380 and 591 cm[Formula: see text]. The vibrational modes are interpreted by Gaussian function. It was found that these vibration modes correspond to the vibration of O–Fe–O bonds and iron-oxygen polyhedra.
On the equations ϕ(n) = ϕ(n + k) and ϕ(p − 1) = ϕ(q − 1)
Authors: Kim Sungjin
Published: November 2020

We prove that there exists positive even integer [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] holds for infinitely many [Formula: see text]. We also prove various estimates on number of solutions to [Formula: see text] for distinct primes [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
Existence of solutions of infinite systems of nonlinear functional integral equations of N-variables in C(I × I ×⋯ × I,m(ϕ))
Authors: Kayvanloo Hojjatollah Amiri , Allahyari Reza
Published: November 2020

The aim of this paper is to investigate the solvability of infinite systems of nonlinear functional integral equations of [Formula: see text]-variables in [Formula: see text] by using the Hausdorff measure of noncompactness with the help of Meir–Keeler condensing operators. We also provide an illustrative example in support of our existence theorems.
The Effects of Hydrophobicity and Drainage Velocity on Water Retention Behaviour in Porous Media: A Computational Study
Authors: Yong K. W. , Ganesan P. B. , Hamidi E. , Kazi S. N. , Ramesh S.
Published: November 2020

The present study investigates the water retention behavior in two different types of porous media, i.e., porous metal — a type of metallic foam and ideal geometry. The present study uses computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to model a decreasing water level in a reservoir consisting of a stationary porous medium beneath the water surface at initial stage. It mimics the setup of dynamics dip-testing which measures the amount of retained water for different types of fins-tubes heat exchangers. The study varies parameters like static contact angle ([Formula: see text]) and drainage velocity ([Formula: see text]). The literature review summarizes the unique water retention behaviors for different types of heat exchangers and the findings of the present study. Furthermore, the present study proposed new parameters for evaluating the structural variations in porous metal that explains the water saturation distribution in detail. The evaluation method could provide an insightful idea for performing the quality control check on metallic foam.
Long Noncoding RNA LINC01207 Promotes Colon Cancer Cell Proliferation and Invasion by Regulating miR‐3125/TRIM22 Axis
Authors: Liu Ronghong , Zhao Wenzeng , Wang Haigang , Wang Jianbing
Published: November 2020

Increasing study has validated that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in the growth and metastasis of colon cancer. LINC01207 has been reported to play vital roles in certain types of cancer, while the precise function of LINC01207 in the progression of colon cancer remains unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of LINC01207 on the growth and metastasis of colon cancer cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. We found that the expression of LINC01207 was significantly upregulated in colon adenocarcinoma tissues compared with normal tissues by the GEPIA database. Notably, silencing of LINC01207 significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities of SW480 and HT‐29 cells. Mechanistically, our data demonstrated that LINC01207 could sponge miR‐3125 in colon cancer cells. Moreover, miR‐3125 could directly target TRIM22 and negatively regulate its expression. Rescue assays revealed that miR‐3125 inhibitor or TRIM22 overexpression significantly reversed the repressive role of LINC01207 knockdown in colon cancer cell proliferation and invasion. In conclusion, LINC01207 exerts an oncogenic role in the progression of colon cancer by absorbing miR‐3125 to modulating TRIM22 expression.
Visual Impairment Prevalence, Causes, and Role of Healthcare Access: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis in Iran
Authors: Afarid Mehrdad , Molavi Vardanjani Hossein , Mahdaviazad Hamideh , Alamolhoda Marzieh , Farahangiz Saman
Published: November 2020

Purpose. Healthcare access is one of the determinants of visual impairment (VI), as a public health problem. The objective of this study was to estimate VI prevalence, related causes, and its correlation with access to physicians in Iran. Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis include observational studies published in Iran. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar, and local databases were systematically searched by using the MeSH headings. Data on the provincial distribution of physicians, as an index of access to healthcare, was retrieved. A random-effect meta-analysis was performed to assess. Results. Eight articles were included. The pooled prevalence of blindness, low vision, and VI was 0.80% (95% CI: 0.61–0.99%), 2.92% (95% CI: 2.40–3.44%), and 5.57% (95% CI: 4.71–6.43%). Refractive errors were the most common causes of VI based on PVA with the pooled prevalence of 54.6% (95% CI: 43.4–65.8%). Based on BCVA, we found that the pooled prevalence of cataracts was 37.4% (95% CI: 29.5–45.3%) as the most common cause of VI. The results of metaregression showed that the greater number of general practitioners (GPs) (

P
 
value
=
0.01

) and pharmacists (

P
 
value
=
0.024

) per population were associated with a lower prevalence of blindness. Conclusion. Some of the main causes of visual impairment in Iran are preventable. Access to healthcare services may lead to early diagnosis of preventable causes of VI. Further well-designed studies and national surveys should be conducted to provide accurate data from different regions of Iran.
Qualitative Analysis of Implicit Dirichlet Boundary Value Problem for Caputo-Fabrizio Fractional Differential Equations
Authors: Gul Rozi , Sarwar Muhammad , Shah Kamal , Abdeljawad Thabet , Jarad Fahd
Published: November 2020

This article studies a class of implicit fractional differential equations involving a Caputo-Fabrizio fractional derivative under Dirichlet boundary conditions (DBCs). Using classical fixed-point theory techniques due to Banch’s and Krasnoselskii, a qualitative analysis of the concerned problem for the existence of solutions is established. Furthermore, some results about the stability of the Ulam type are also studied for the proposed problem. Some pertinent examples are given to justify the results.
Protective Role of Probiotic Supplements in Hepatic Steatosis: A Rat Model Study
Authors: Azarang Aein , Farshad Omid , Ommati Mohammad Mehdi , Jamshidzadeh Akram , Heidari Reza , Abootalebi Seyedeh Narjes , Gholami Ahmad
Published: November 2020

Background. Treating nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered one of the public health priorities in the past decade. So far, probiotics have represented promising results in controlling the signs and symptoms of NAFLD. However, attempts to find the ideal probiotic strain are still ongoing. The present study is designed to find the best strain amongst suitable probiotic strains according to their ability to ameliorate histopathological and oxidative stress biomarkers in hepatic steatosis‐induced rats. Methods. Initially, four probiotics species, including Lactobacillus (L.) acidophilus, L. casei, L. reuteri, and Bacillus coagulans, were cultured and prepared as a lyophilized powder for animals. The experiment lasted for fifty days. Initially, hepatic steatosis was induced by excessive ingestion of D‐fructose in rats for eight weeks, followed by eight weeks of administering probiotics and D‐fructose concurrently. Forty‐two six‐week‐old male rats were alienated to different groups and were supplemented with different probiotics (1∗109 CFU in 500 mL drinking water). After eight weeks, blood and liver samples were taken for further evaluation, and plasma and oxidative stress markers corresponding to liver injuries were examined. Results. Administration of probiotics over eight weeks reversed hepatic and blood triglyceride concentration and blood glucose levels. Also, probiotics significantly suppressed markers of oxidative stress in the liver tissue. Conclusions. Although some of the single probiotic formulations were able to mitigate oxidative stress markers, mixtures of probiotics significantly ameliorated more symptoms in the NAFLD animals. This enhanced effect might be due to probiotics’ cumulative potential to maintain oxidative stress and deliver improved lipid profiles, liver function markers, and inflammatory markers.
Synthesis and Performance of Hybrid Hydrogels Loaded with Methylene Blue and Its Use for Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation
Authors: Nadtoka Oksana , Virych Pavlo , Nadtoka Serhiy , Kutsevol Nataliya
Published: November 2020

Development and characterization of hybrid hydrogels loaded with methylene blue, which are designed to apply for photodynamic therapy, are presented. Hybrid hydrogels were synthesized by grafting polyacrylamide onto dextran/dextran sulfate sodium salt using N, N′-methylene-bis-acrylamide as a cross-linker. The differences in microstructure of synthesized hydrogels were proved by scanning electron microscopy. FTIR spectra testify that the chemical nature of hydrogel components affects the hydrogel hydrophilicity. The swelling properties of hydrogels in water and absorption/desorption hydrogels’ ability towards methylene blue were studied. It was shown that dye sorption was dependent on the hydrogel type. The hydrogel based on dextran and polyacrylamide revealed the highest ability to release absorbed dye. The bactericidal effect of this hydrogel loaded with methylene blue and activated by red light in suspension and solid medium of S. aureus was tested. The increase of bactericidal activity of hybrid hydrogel was dependent on radiation doses.
A Semantic-Based Approach for Managing Healthcare Big Data: A Survey
Authors: Hammad Rafat , Barhoush Malek , Abed-alguni Bilal H.
Published: November 2020

Healthcare information systems can reduce the expenses of treatment, foresee episodes of pestilences, help stay away from preventable illnesses, and improve personal life satisfaction. As of late, considerable volumes of heterogeneous and differing medicinal services data are being produced from different sources covering clinic records of patients, lab results, and wearable devices, making it hard for conventional data processing to handle and manage this amount of data. Confronted with the difficulties and challenges facing the process of managing healthcare big data such as volume, velocity, and variety, healthcare information systems need to use new methods and techniques for managing and processing such data to extract useful information and knowledge. In the recent few years, a large number of organizations and companies have shown enthusiasm for using semantic web technologies with healthcare big data to convert data into knowledge and intelligence. In this paper, we review the state of the art on the semantic web for the healthcare industry. Based on our literature review, we will discuss how different techniques, standards, and points of view created by the semantic web community can participate in addressing the challenges related to healthcare big data.
Prescription of Anticholinergics in Tardive Syndromes: A “Dual Center” Survey among Psychiatrists
Authors: Cutino Anna , Bhidayasiri Roongroj , Colosimo Carlo
Published: November 2020

Background and Objectives. Anticholinergics have been proposed in the therapy of tardive syndromes since the early 60 s, despite only anecdotal reports of a positive effect and a lack of sound evidence supporting their usefulness. Methods. We assessed the attitude of two groups of psychiatrists (practicing in Italy and Thailand) towards the prescription of anticholinergics by a short online survey consisting of four questions. A total of one hundred questionnaires were sent out (50 in Italy and 50 in Thailand), and 42 psychiatrists responded to the survey. Results. When comparing the two cohorts, the difference, both for age and years of practice, was statistically significant (

p
<
0.00001

and

p
<
0.0001

, respectively), with Thai psychiatrists being younger and with less time in practice as specialists. The results from the survey showed that the prescription of anticholinergic drugs at the beginning of the antipsychotic treatment was used by 5 psychiatrists (20.0%) of the Italian cohort and by 1 (5.9%) of the Thai cohort. Regarding the Italian psychiatrists who did not prescribe anticholinergics concomitantly with neuroleptics, we found that 5 (25.0%) of them had prescribed anticholinergics in the past but had abandoned this practice, while 15 (93.7%) of the Thai psychiatrists who did not prescribe anticholinergics at the moment of the survey answered that they had prescribed these drugs in the past. Conclusion. According to this preliminary survey, the practice to use anticholinergics as a treatment for tardive syndromes is still relatively common, particularly in psychiatrists of the older generation, but seemingly in decline over the years.
Experimental Study on Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Coal Gangue Concrete
Authors: Yao Zhishu , Fang Yu , Kong Weihao , Huang Xianwen , Wang Xuesong
Published: November 2020

In order to study the static and dynamic mechanical characteristics of the coal gangue concrete used in the mine support structure, the compressive strength test, the drop weight impact test, and the Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) test were conducted. The compressive strength, initial and final impacting energy, dynamic strength, and failure characteristic of concrete were obtained of the concrete single‐doped with coal gangue coarse aggregate, single‐doped with coal gangue fine aggregate, and codoped with coal gangue coarse and fine aggregates. The results show that (1) it is feasible that employing coal gangue to replace natural coarse and fine aggregates in concrete can prepare C30 and C40 concrete; (2) the addition of coal gangue fine aggregate has a positive effect on the impact energy of the initial and final cracks of concrete, while the addition of coal gangue coarse aggregate has a negative effect on it; (3) compared with the static strength, the dynamic strength of concrete is improved no matter whether coal gangue is added to concrete; (4) the incorporation of coal gangue coarse aggregate will make the concrete shear surface smooth; (5) at the given impacting pressure, the concrete with coal gangue coarse aggregate has greater particle breakage and those with coal gangue fine aggregate has less. The research of this study can be a reference for the application of gangue concrete in mine support structures.
Effects of Supplemental Calcium and Vitamin D on Circulating Biomarkers of Gut Barrier Function in Patients with Colon Adenoma: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Vermandere Kelly , Bostick Roberd M. , Tran Hao Q. , Gewirtz Andrew T. , Barry Elizabeth L. , Rutherford Robin E. , Seabrook March E. , Fedirko Veronika
Published: November 2020

Gut barrier dysfunction promotes chronic inflammation, contributing to several gastrointestinal diseases, including colorectal cancer. Preliminary evidence suggests that vitamin D and calcium could prevent colorectal carcinogenesis, in part, by influencing gut barrier function. However, relevant human data are scarce. We tested the effects of supplemental calcium (1,200 mg/day) and/or vitamin D3 (1,000 IU/day) on circulating concentrations of biomarkers of gut permeability (anti-flagellin and anti-lipopolysaccharide IgA and IgG, measured via ELISA) from baseline to 1 and 3 or 5 years postbaseline among 175 patients with colorectal adenoma in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial. We also assessed factors associated with baseline concentrations of these biomarkers. We found no appreciable effects of supplemental vitamin D3 and/or calcium on individual or aggregate biomarkers of gut permeability. At baseline, a combined permeability score (the summed concentrations of all four biomarkers) was 14% lower among women (P = 0.01) and 10% higher among those who consumed >1 serving per day of red or processed meats relative to those who consumed none (Ptrend = 0.03). The permeability score was estimated to be 49% higher among participants with a body mass index (BMI) > 35 kg/m2 relative to those with a BMI < 22.5 kg/m2 (Ptrend = 0.17). Our results suggest that daily supplemental vitamin D3 and/or calcium may not modify circulating concentrations of gut permeability biomarkers within 1 or 3–5 years, but support continued investigation of modifiable factors, such as diet and excess adiposity, that could affect gut permeability.

Prevention Relevance:

Calcium and vitamin D may be involved in regulating and maintaining the integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier, the dysfunction of which results in exposure of the host to luminal bacteria, endotoxins, and antigens leading to potentially cancer-promoting endotoxemia and chronic colon inflammation. While our results suggest that daily supplementation with these chemopreventive agents does not modify circulating concentrations of gut permeability biomarkers, they support continued investigation of other potential modifiable factors, such as diet and excess adiposity, that could alter gut barrier function, to inform the development of treatable biomarkers of risk for colorectal neoplasms and effective colon cancer preventive strategies.