bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of nanocellulose on mechanical and physical properties of chitosan-based biocomposites
Authors: Talebi Hamidreza , Ghasemi Faramarz Ashenai , Ashori Alireza
Published: May 2021

The effect of two types of nanocellulose on the mechanical properties of chitosan (CH) film was examined in terms of elongation, tensile strength, and dynamic-mechanical properties such as tan δ and storage modulus. Chitosan films were reinforced by cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) with different ratios. CH/CNC and CH/CNF nanocomposite films containing 0–7 wt.% nanofibers were produced by solution casting. A comparison between CNC and CNF was made based on their nanostructures and interfacial bonding with the CH matrix. For both CNC and CNF, reinforcing effects in nanocomposite polymer films were presented. The results demonstrated that nanocomposite films can increase mechanical properties; 7 wt.% CNF and CNC had the most increasing effect on the mechanical properties, raising the tensile strength of the chitosan film by 104% and 52%, respectively. Moreover, the values of CH/CNC and CH/CNF films showed higher storage modulus compared to the pure chitosan film. CNF shows higher modulus and strength compared with CNC at the same amount of fiber because of CNFs’ percolation networks and their larger aspect ratio. Morphological studies revealed the dispersion of CNC and CNF is in the contiguous matrix of chitosan with a homogeneous distribution without agglomeration. The results also illustrated that CNC and CNF can improve the water resistance of chitosan films. The mechanical properties of composite films were acceptable to use as artificial skin and wound dressings.
Case report of a rare giant bone island in a vertebral body combined with hemangioma
Authors: Gou Qi , Huang Hui , Wang Yuecheng , Zeng Rong , Zhou Daiying , Huang Xuemei , Chen Dongmei , Ma Tao , Liu Qingshan
Published: May 2021

This case report describes a rare giant bone island combined with hemangioma diagnosed in a patient with osteolytic vertebral metastases. The bone island’s greatest diameter was 3.15 cm, and bone islands of this size are rare in the literature. This article aims to provide clinicians with information about the diagnosis and relevant literature of bone islands.
Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the larynx with Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome: a rare case report and literature review
Authors: Mesolella Massimo , Allosso Salvatore , Buono Sarah , Ricciardiello Filippo , Motta Gaetano
Published: May 2021

This current report describes a rare clinical case of neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the larynx with associated Lambert-Eaton myasthenic paraneoplastic syndrome (LEMS). A 68-year-old male patient presented with severe dysphonia and dysphagia. He underwent a total laryngectomy and the excised lesion was extremely large. A pathological examination demonstrated ‘morphological findings of a poorly differentiated carcinoma (G3) with aspects of neuroendocrine differentiation’ (i.e. a poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas [PD-NEC]). Based on the patient’s medical history and the immunohistochemical findings, he was treated with three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin–etoposide) and then radiotherapy with a total dose of 70 Gy. Of the 10 cases of paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS) related to laryngeal NEC reported in the literature, nine of these syndromes were of an endocrine type. Only one case of PNS associated with laryngeal cancer had a neurological manifestation, which was LEMS. To the best of our knowledge, this current case has only one similar precedent in the literature and it is the second report of an association between a PD-NEC and LEMS. Laryngeal NECs are rare lesions with different prognostic characteristics. The diagnosis should be made using an endocrinological, neurological, radiological and histological multidisciplinary approach. A radical surgical approach is recommended.
Two Factors in Face Recognition: Whether You Know the Person’s Face and Whether You Share the Person’s Race
Authors: Zhou Xingchen , Burton A. M. , Jenkins Rob
Published: May 2021

One of the best-known phenomena in face recognition is the other-race effect, the observation that own-race faces are better remembered than other-race faces. However, previous studies have not put the magnitude of other-race effect in the context of other influences on face recognition. Here, we compared the effects of (a) a race manipulation (own-race/other-race face) and (b) a familiarity manipulation (familiar/unfamiliar face) in a 2 × 2 factorial design. We found that the familiarity effect was several times larger than the race effect in all performance measures. However, participants expected race to have a larger effect on others than it actually did. Face recognition accuracy depends much more on whether you know the person’s face than whether you share the same race.
Severe abrupt (thunderclap) non-traumatic headache at the pediatric emergency department – a retrospective study
Authors: Levinsky Yoel , Waisman Yehezkel , Eidlitz-Markus Tal
Published: May 2021

Background

Adult abrupt severe non-traumatic headache (thunderclap) is often related to serious underlying etiologies such as subarachnoid hemorrhage. However, data are sparse regarding thunderclap headache in the pediatric population.

Objective

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics and causes of thunderclap headache in the pediatric and adolescent population, aged 6–18 years, presenting to a pediatric emergency department.

Methods

The electronic database of a tertiary care pediatric emergency department was searched for children presenting with acute headache during 2016–2018. Headache severity was defined by pain scales, either a visual analogue scale or by the Faces Pain Scale–Revised.

Results

Thunderclap headache was diagnosed in 19/2290 (0.8%) of the included patients, all of them with a pain score of 10/10. All the patients had a benign course. Primary headache was diagnosed in 15/19 (78.9%), six patients had migraine and eight were diagnosed with primary thunderclap headache. Four of the 19 patients were diagnosed with secondary headache: three with infectious causes and one with malignant hypertension.

Conclusions

Thunderclap headache is rare among children and adolescents presenting to the emergency department. This headache is generally of a primary origin. Extensive evaluation is still needed to rule out severe diagnosis problems.
Identification of Optimal Left-Turn Restriction Locations using Heuristic Methods
Authors: Bayrak Murat , Gayah Vikash V.
Published: May 2021

Restricting left turns throughout a network improves overall flow capacity by eliminating conflicts between left-turning and through-moving vehicles. However, doing so requires vehicles to travel longer distances. Implementing left-turn restrictions at only a subset of locations can help balance this tradeoff between increased capacity and longer trips. Unfortunately, identifying exactly where these restrictions should be implemented is a complex problem because of the many configurations that must be considered and interdependencies between left-turn restriction decisions at adjacent intersections. This paper compares three heuristic solution algorithms to identify optimal location of left-turn restrictions at individual intersections in perfect and imperfect grid networks. Scenarios are tested in which restriction decisions are the same for all intersection approaches and only the same for approaches in the same direction. The latter case is particularly complex as it increases the number of potential configurations exponentially. The results suggest all methods tested can be effectively used to solve this problem, although the hybrid method proposed in this paper appears to perform the best under scenarios with larger solution spaces. The proposed framework and procedures can be applied to realistic city networks to identify where left-turn restrictions should be implemented to improve overall network operations. Application of these methods to square grid networks under uniform demand patterns reveal a general pattern in which left turns should be restricted at central intersections that carry larger vehicle flows but allowed otherwise. Such findings can be used as a starting point for where to restrict left turns in more realistic networks.
Passenger Expectations and Airport Service Quality: Exploring Customer Segmentation
Authors: Bezerra George Christian Linhares , de Souza Eliézer Mello , Correia Anderson Ribeiro
Published: May 2021

Understanding customer expectations is key in any service context, including indentifying the differences between customer segments. Nonetheless, they remain underresearched topics in the airport industry, with limited empirical evidence on the nature of passenger expectations and how they relate to the service experienced. Therefore, the objectives of this research were twofold: first, to estimate a structural model of the relationships between customer expectations and airport service quality dimensions; second, to examine the differences between groups of passengers. Sample data from a survey administered to passengers at one of Brazil’s largest airports, in São Paulo, were used for structural equation modeling analyses. The results provided models with a good fit to the data. The findings for nonfrequent passengers showed that the effects of expectations on airport service quality were significant for all the service quality dimensions examined, whereas frequent passengers only revealed a significant relationship between expectation and the “processes” dimension. Theoretical and practical contributions to airport planning and management are discussed in light of the findings.
Relationship between Honesty-Humility and Cyberbullying Perpetration: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Geng Jingyu , Wang Pengcheng , Zeng Pan , Liu Ke , Lei Li
Published: May 2021

Previous studies have verified the roles of big five personalities in cyberbullying perpetration (CP). The Big Five model has been revised to include an additional dimension, called Honesty-Humility (HH). It is not clear whether HH would be associated with CP. Thus, the effect of HH on CP was examined. To further explore this influencing mechanism, materialism was examined as a mediator, and parental psychological control (PPC) was examined as a moderator in the relationship between HH and CP. A total of 1,004 Chinese adolescents ( M = 12.95, SD =1.12) participated in this study using a cross-sectional design and multiple questionnaires, namely, the Honesty-Humility subscale of the 24-item Brief HEXACO Inventory, the Revised Cyber Bullying Inventory, the Material Values Scale for Children, and the Parental Control Questionnaire. Correlation analyses indicated that CP, materialism, and PPC were significantly and positively correlated with each other, and were significantly and negatively associated with HH. The mediation model revealed that materialism played a mediating role in the relationship between HH and CP. The moderated mediation model revealed that stronger PPC strengthened the direct associations of HH with materialism and CP, and further strengthened the indirect relationship between HH and CP. Specifically, Chinese adolescents with lower levels of HH were more likely to build material values and further engaged in cyberbullying perpetration, when they perceived stronger PPC.
Antibodies Against SARS-CoV-2 in Human Milk: Milk Conversion Rates in the Netherlands
Authors: Juncker Hannah G. , Romijn Michelle , Loth Veerle N. , Ruhé Eliza J. M. , Bakker Sjors , Kleinendorst Saskia , de Groot Christianne J. M. , Pajkrt Dasja , Korosi Aniko , van Goudoever Johannes B. , van Gils Marit J. , van Keulen Britt J.
Published: May 2021

Background

It has been demonstrated that human milk from mothers who have been infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) contains antibodies against the virus, which could play an important role in protecting the recipient infant against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Seroconversion is measured frequently around the world, but the milk conversion rate is unknown.

Research Aims

To determine (1) the prevalence and (2) the dynamics of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk amongst lactating mothers in the Netherlands.

Methods

In this large prospective cohort study, lactating mothers ( N = 2312) were included between October 12, 2020 and February 24, 2021. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine levels of IgA antibodies in human milk and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies in serum against the ectodomain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein.

Results

A total of 691 (30.6%) participants had SARS-CoV-2 specific antibodies in human milk and/or serum. Of these participants, 524 (23.1%) had IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk, and 356 (15.7%) had IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in serum. A total of 199 (8.8%) participants had antibodies in both human milk and serum. SARS-CoV-2 specific IgA antibodies in human milk remain present at least 10 months after a polymerase chain reaction confirmed infection.

Conclusion

The prevalence of IgA antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in human milk was 23.1% in our cohort. This high prevalence of antibodies in human milk might lead to passive immunity in many breastfed infants and may serve as protection against COVID-19.
Fault diagnosis of rolling bearing based on multimodal data fusion and deep belief network
Authors: Lv Defeng , Wang Huawei , Che Changchang
Published: May 2021

Aiming at raw vibration signal of rolling bearing with long time series, a fault diagnosis model based on multimodal data fusion and deep belief network is proposed in this paper. First, multimodal data composed of artificial features and model features can be obtained by time-frequency domain analysis and unsupervised learning based on restricted Boltzmann machine (RBM). Second, canonical correlation analysis method is used to extract the typical feature pairs from the multimodal data to realize the feature-level multimodal data fusion. Third, deep belief network is applied to extract deep feature mapping between typical feature pairs and fault types. After greedy layer-wise pre-training and fine-tuning, it is available to achieve the trained model for fault diagnosis of rolling bearing. Typical rolling bearing datasets are used to testify the effectiveness of the proposed method. It is verified that the robustness and accuracy of the proposed method are superior to common methods.
Light duty automotive duplex drum brake squeal analysis using the finite element method
Authors: Dias AL , Rodrigues RN , Bezerra RA , Lamary P , Miranda MHP
Published: May 2021

The brake system creation is an important achievement for automotive production. However there is a secondary response of this system, its noise emission. Brake noise researches started in 1920’s and since then several causes were identified. In addition, many kinds of noises, their frequency range and characteristics were detected. Between these, the squeal is the noise that most concerns the automotive industry by reason of high warranty costs and environmental impact. The squeal noise occurs as a result of three mechanisms that are the stick-slip, the sprag-slip and the modal coupling and these are connected to material parameters of the brake components. This paper proposes a correlation between material and stability parameters of a light duty automotive duplex drum brake to indicate the influence of this on brake squeal. The results suggest that friction coefficient is the most influential parameter and its restrain does make possible to maintain squeal level under emissions regulations.
A reciprocating permanent magnetic actuator for driving magnetic micro robots in fluids
Authors: Qu Chuan , Pei Yong-Chen , Xin Qing-Yuan , Li Zhen-Xing , Xu Long
Published: May 2021

Magnetic-based driving applications are receiving increasing attention. This study proposed a novel reciprocating permanent magnetic actuator (PMA) to manipulate magnetic micro robots to impact and clear blockages inside fluid pipes in a linear path. The PMA consisted of a cylindrical permanent magnet and a crank slider structure. A straight pipe with a circular cross-sectional area was located in front of the actuator to study the driving performance of PMA. A micro permanent magnet with a cylinder shape was employed as a working robot for manipulation inside the pipe. Firstly, analytical formulas were derived to obtain the magnetic driving force acting on the micro robot and determine the most suitable magnet configuration. The finite element simulation verified the analytical calculation. The developed reciprocating PMA prototype was then introduced, and the PMA and micro robot’s motion performance was analysed. Lastly, preliminary experiments were carried out for evaluating the micro robot’s motion characteristics. Performance tests for different excitation frequencies, flow rates, viscosities, and axial distances, indicating that PMA could manipulate the magnetic micro robot inside the pipe. The results confirmed that the developed PMA could effectively drive the micro robot with the advantage of consecutive magnetic driving. Especially, the micro robot featured good flexibility, rapid response, and a simple structure, suggesting that this micro robot may play an important role in industrial and medical applications, such as blockage elimination and thrombus clearance.
Trends of Hypertension and Neurological Diseases in India: A Nationwide Survey Reporting the Distribution Across Geographical Areas
Authors: Mohanty Sriloy , Nagarathna Raghuram , Metri Kashinath , Patil Suchitra , Kumar Sanjay , Singh Amit , Nagendra Hongasandra R
Published: May 2021

Background:

Hypertension has remained an imperative risk factor for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, increasing the national burden of premature deaths over the decades.

Purpose:

There is limited data on the prevalence of hypertension and its distribution across all geographic regions in India. This nationwide survey was conducted in 2017 to assess the prevalence of hypertension and prehypertension among the Indian adults.

Methods:

A multilevel stratified cluster sampling technique, with a random selection among the urban and rural populations, was adopted to achieve a sample of 70,031 adults from 24 states and 4 union territories. Blood pressure was measured twice using automated oscillometric machines with a minimum of 3-min gap, and the average was recorded. This was later categorized into prehypertension (elevated blood pressure) and hypertension subgroups as defined by the new 2017 American Heart Association guidelines.

Results:

The prevalence of prehypertension and hypertension in our study population across all ages was found to be 18.2% and 24%, respectively. Prehypertension was common at a younger age, whereas the prevalence of hypertension was higher in the older age groups. The urban population (24.4%) and males (24.7%) were positively associated with prehypertension and hypertension. The western zone had the highest prevalence of hypertension, whereas the eastern population had the lowest.

Conclusion:

Our study revealed an alarmingly high prevalence of hypertension, accounting up to one hypertensive in every four adults in India. There is a need for more robust national strategies for identifying and treating hypertension to reduce the national and the global burden of hypertension by 25% before 2025.
Leader–Member Exchange and Employee Performance in Nonprofit Organizations
Authors: Montorio-Archer Charles A.
Published: May 2021

Nonprofit organizations are increasingly becoming more business-like in their approaches to leadership and management across the board. This has a number of effects, but perhaps one of the most important is that it has made business theories more applicable to the nonprofit sector. This is an opportunity to both expand on important business theory and provide insight into how nonprofits can improve leadership and management. Accordingly, the business leadership theory of leader–member exchange (LMX) was applied to the nonprofit context, specifically to human services nonprofits that serve people with disabilities. Through qualitative interviews and document collection, this study examined how LMX could be perceived to affect employee performance and how it could be perceived to affect leader–follower relationships. Three themes emerged for each of these questions: of loyalty, respect, and communication for the first and mutual respect and understanding, positive interactions, and communication for the second. These themes and their implications are discussed.
Collective Emotion During Collective Trauma: A Metaphor Analysis of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Stanley B. Liahnna , Zanin Alaina C. , Avalos Brianna L. , Tracy Sarah J. , Town Sophia
Published: May 2021

This study provides insight into lived experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States. Participant metaphors of the pandemic were collected by conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews ( N = 44). Participants were asked to compare the pandemic with an animal and with a color, and to provide contextual sensemaking about their metaphors. A metaphor analysis revealed four convergent mental models of participants’ pandemic experiences (i.e., uncertainty, danger, grotesque, and misery) as well as four primary emotions associated with those mental models (i.e., grief, disgust, anger, and fear). Through metaphor, participants were able to articulate deeply felt, implicit emotions about their pandemic experiences that were otherwise obscured and undiscussable. Theoretical and practical implications of these collective mental models and associated collective emotions related to the unprecedented collective trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic are discussed.
Using the Framework Method for the Analysis of Qualitative Dyadic Data in Health Research
Authors: Collaço Nicole , Wagland Richard , Alexis Obrey , Gavin Anna , Glaser Adam , Watson Eila K.
Published: May 2021

There are an increasing number of qualitative studies which focus on the dyad (couples, families, caregivers–patients, health care professionals–patients). However, there is limited literature regarding qualitative methodology for dyadic analysis when members of the couple have been interviewed separately. The aim of this article is to share the knowledge we gained from undertaking a novel approach to dyadic analysis. We used an adapted version of the Framework method on data gathered in a study exploring the impact of prostate cancer on younger men and their partners. In this article, we examine and reflect on the challenges of this type of analysis and describe how we analyzed the interview data from a dyadic point of view, to share what we learned in the process.
Closeness in Student–Teacher Relationships and Students’ Psychological Well-Being: The Mediating Role of Hope
Authors: Lin Shanyan , Fabris Matteo Angelo , Longobardi Claudio
Published: May 2021

A close student–teacher relationship is a protective factor for students’ psychological well-being, and it is associated with students’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms, but the mechanism underlying this association is unclear. To address this issue, this study investigated the role of children’s hope in the relationship between teachers’ perceived closeness in the student–teacher relationship and children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Participants consisted of 562 Italian students ages 4 to 9 years and 48 Italian teachers ages 26 to 60 years. Results indicated that the children’s hope played the mediating role between closeness and children’s internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Findings, limitations, and suggestions for future research were discussed.
Neutrality narratives, gender, and fear of cuckoldry in public administration
Authors: Mastracci Sharon , Sementelli Arthur J
Published: May 2021

Administration draws its legitimacy from neutrality in cultural contexts where power relations are shaped by gendered norms. Neutrality bestows legitimacy where power is vested in the male generative force and is heritable. In the public sphere, neutrality renders administration nonthreatening to politicians and justifies administrators’ use of discretion despite their lack of democratic accountability and oversight. We examine historical and cultural roots of administrative neutrality as embodied by the physiologically transformed man and the resulting genderedness of public administration. We highlight two examples of power and sexuality in anime and different implications of neutered maleness. We also discuss enforced administrative neutrality in practice—the Hatch Act in the United States—which prevents administrators from engaging in political activity, rendering them “political eunuchs.”
A bagging tree-based pseudorange correction algorithm for global navigation satellite system positioning in foliage canyons
Authors: Qin Fan , Fu Linxia , Wang Yuanqing , Mao Yi
Published: May 2021

Global navigation satellite system is indispensable to provide positioning, navigation, and timing information for pedestrians and vehicles in location-based services. However, tree canopies, although considered as valuable city infrastructures in urban areas, adversely degrade the accuracy of global navigation satellite system positioning as they attenuate the satellite signals. This article proposes a bagging tree-based global navigation satellite system pseudorange error prediction algorithm, by considering two variables, including carrier to noise C/ N0 and elevation angle θe to improve the global navigation satellite system positioning accuracy in the foliage area. The positioning accuracy improvement is then obtained by applying the predicted pseudorange error corrections. The experimental results shows that as the stationary character of the geostationary orbit satellites, the improvement of the prediction accuracy of the BeiDou navigation satellite system solution (85.42% in light foliage and 83.99% in heavy foliage) is much higher than that of the global positioning system solution (70.77% in light foliage and 73.61% in heavy foliage). The positioning error values in east, north, and up coordinates are improved by the proposed algorithm, especially a significant decrease in up direction. Moreover, the improvement rate of the three-dimensional root mean square error of positioning accuracy in light foliage area test is 86% for BeiDou navigation satellite system/global positioning system combination solutions, while the corresponding improvement rate is 82% for the heavy foliage area test.
Extended state observer-based integral line-of-sight guidance law for path following of underactuated unmanned surface vehicles with uncertainties and ocean currents
Authors: Li Mingcong , Guo Chen , Yu Haomiao
Published: May 2021

This article focuses on the problem of path following for underactuated unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) considering model uncertainties and time-varying ocean currents. An extended state observer (ESO)-based integral line-of-sight (ILOS) with an integral sliding mode adaptive fuzzy control scheme is proposed as the main control framework. First, a novel ESO is employed to estimate the surge and sway velocities based on the kinetic model, which are difficult to measure directly. Then, the adaptive ILOS guidance law is proposed, in which the integral vector is incorporated into the adaptive method to estimate the current velocities. Meanwhile, an improved fuzzy algorithm is introduced to optimize the look-ahead distance. Second, the controller is extended to deal with the USV yaw and surge velocity signal tracking using the integral sliding mode technique. The uncertainties of the USV are approximated via the adaptive fuzzy method, and an auxiliary dynamic system is presented to solve the problem of actuator saturation. Then, it is proved that all of the error signals in the closed-loop control system are uniformly ultimately bounded. Finally, a comparative simulation substantiates the availability and superiority of the proposed method for ESO-based ILOS path following of USV.
A new device for measuring forces in the footrest during on-water kayaking
Authors: Klitgaard Kent K , Hansen John , de Zee Mark
Published: May 2021

Several studies have investigated paddle force on the water. However, a limited number of studies have investigated on-water footrest forces. The purpose of this study was to design, implement, and validate a device which measures forces applied to the footrest during on-water kayaking without hindering the athletes’ performance. A Nelo footrest was modified and equipped with two load cells. The footrest was calibrated by loading it with known weights perpendicular to the surface of the footrest. A portable custom-built data acquisition system was built. The data acquisition system was placed in a box behind the seat in the kayak. The system was able to measure the paddling technique related to the legs during on-water testing and distinguish between different intensities. The system developed in the current study can help to improve kayak sprint performance in new ways, as the system elucidates forces within the kayak. Moreover, the system can provide clarification of the biomechanical aspects of the leg push during sprint kayaking.
Improving Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes Using Mobile Applications and e-Coaching: A Mixed Treatment Comparison Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hyun Min Kyung , Lee Jang Won , Ko Seung-Hyun , Hwang Jin Seub
Published: May 2021

Objectives:

This study compared the effectiveness of glycemic control among usual care, care management using a mobile application (app), and management using an app with additional e-coaching for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using a mixed treatment comparison (MTC) network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods:

A systematic search for published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was conducted, which included Pubmed, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, CINAL, Koreamed, KMbase, and ScienceOn, until October 2020. Among the 10,391 studies identified after removing duplicates, 14 RCTs were finally included in the MTC NMA. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment using version 2 of the Cochrane tool for assessing the risk-of-bias in randomized trials (RoB 2) was performed. The comparative efficacy was analyzed using the random-effects NMA based on a frequentist model by the intervention group and main outcome variables.

Results:

At the 3-month follow-up after each intervention, a comparison of the P-scores revealed the app plus e-coaching intervention to be the most effective method for reducing the HbA1c level in a homogeneous gender ratio group (P-score 0.92). At the 6-month follow-up period, app intervention was the best in reducing the HbA1c level in the homogeneous gender ratio and under 60 years of age group (P-score 1.00).

Conclusions:

Based on MTC analysis using the data from published RCTs, mobile apps or apps with e-coaching interventions for T2DM patients were more effective in improving the HbA1c values, FBS, and hypoglycemia frequency than usual care. Nevertheless, further research will be needed to clarify the effects of adding e-coaching to the app.

Study registration:

Research Registry UIN (reviewregistry780)
Collaural fistula (Work Type II first branchial cleft anomaly) with prolonged morbidity: A case report
Authors: Penjor Dorji , Kitamura Morimasa
Published: May 2021

Collaural fistula is a very rare Work Type II first branchial cleft anomaly in which there is a complete fistulous tract between external auditory canal and the neck. Misdiagnosis and mismanagement can lead to prolonged morbidity and complications due to repeated infections. We present a case of an 18-year-old lady with a recurrent discharging sinus on her neck for 4 years. She has been treated with repeated incision and drainage and multiple antibiotics in the past. Otoscopic examination revealed an opening on the floor of the left external auditory canal. A diagnosis of an infected collaural fistula was made. Complete excision of the fistulous tract was done after treatment of the active infection. On follow-up, there was no further recurrence at 1 year. Sound knowledge of embryology of branchial anomalies with good history and examination is important to make correct and early diagnosis to prevent morbidity.
Association of T lymphocytes level and clinical severity in patients of COVID-19 in Shenzhen China
Authors: Qiang Wu , Chunxiao Lu , Jiafeng Wu , Xiaolong Li , Fengxin Wang , Hong Gao , Lei Liu
Published: May 2021

To explore the correlation between T lymphocytes and clinical severity in patients of COVID-19. A total of 183 COVID-19 patients were recruited in Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital from January 11 to February 16, 2020. According to the clinical classification criteria, they were divided into severe group (46 cases) and non-severe (137cases). T lymphocyte counts, lymphocyte subpopulation, IL-6 levels, and clinical outcomes were compared between the two groups. Compared with the non-severe group, the lymphocyte count, T lymphocyte count, T lymphocyte percentage, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte percentage, CD8+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte percentage were lower in the severe group ( p < 0.05). Compared with the non-severe group, IL-6 were higher in the severe group ( p < 0.05). Compared with admission, the T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count were significantly increased upon discharge in severe patients, non-severe patients and all patients. Multivariate Logsitic regression analysis showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.011; 95% CI −0.041 to −0.001; p = 0.011), CD8+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.14; 95% CI −0.048 to −0.003; p = 0.013) were closely correlated with the clinical severity in patients of COVID-19. Multivariate Logsitic regression analysis also showed CD4+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.012; 95% CI −3.177 to 0.261; p = 0.021), CD8+ T lymphocyte count (OR −0.019; 95% CI −5.852 to 0.115; p = 0.004) were independent predictors of disease progressing to the composite endpoint. Subgroup analysis for critically ill patients: The T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count remained low in the death patients. The T lymphocyte count, CD4+ T lymphocyte count, and CD8+ T lymphocyte count recovered soon in the discharged patients. In the event of COVID-19 infection, the T-lymphoid system is the primary activated immune system. The T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes continued to be low may be significantly related to the deterioration of the disease, and may indicate a poor prognosis.
COVID-19 Impact on Major Stock Markets
Authors: Gupta Hemendra , Chaudhary Rashmi , Gupta Suneel
Published: May 2021

COVID-19 is one of the unprecedented global crises that hit mankind in the last 100 years. It has engulfed the entire globe in its ambit, and what makes it peculiar is that it is not an economic crisis like the Great Depression or the Financial Crisis in 2007, but this is a natural crisis. The crisis has brought the entire global economy to a standstill due to lockdowns across different geographies, which has retarded the growth of economies. The current study explores how different major stock markets across the world have reacted to this grave pandemic. It is studied by comparing the returns of different phases of the market with the normal phase by applying T-test and Mann–Whitney U-test. Results indicate the short-term impact of this epidemic and much faster recoveries across different markets. The study also explores the spillover effect of different markets over others.
Accidental Ixazomib Overdose in a Patient With Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sampat Parth J. , Bisen Maneesh , Srivastava Nimisha , Rao Suman , Gentile Teresa
Published: May 2021

Multiple myeloma is the second most common hematological malignancy. Ixazomib is the first oral proteasome inhibitor approved in the United States for the management of multiple myeloma who have received at least one prior treatment. The availability of oral chemotherapeutic agents for the management of multiple myeloma has made it easier for patients who do not have to come to the hospital for chemotherapy infusions. However, many barriers are associated with oral chemotherapy, and one of them is a misinterpretation of instruction which can have deleterious effects. In this case report, we present a case of a 69-year-old male with multiple myeloma who accidentally took ixazomib daily for 3 days instead of the weekly regimen and thus coming into the hospital with an overdose. In this report, we focus on the adverse effects associated with ixazomib toxicity and how to manage the adverse reactions. Although there is no antidote available for ixazomib, supportive care is very essential in these patients.
Creating Dementia-Friendly Communities for Social Inclusion: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hung Lillian , Hudson Allison , Gregorio Mario , Jackson Lynn , Mann Jim , Horne Neil , Berndt Annette , Wallsworth Christine , Wong Lily , Phinney Alison
Published: May 2021

Aims: This scoping review explores key strategies of creating inclusive dementia-friendly communities that support people with dementia and their informal caregiver. Background: Social exclusion is commonly reported by people with dementia. Dementia-friendly community has emerged as an idea with potential to contribute to cultivating social inclusion. Methods: This scoping review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology and took place between April and September 2020. The review included a three-step search strategy: (1) identifying keywords from CINAHL and AgeLine; (2) conducting a second search using all identified keywords and index terms across selected databases (CINAHL, AgeLine, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, ProQuest, and Google); and (3) hand-searching the reference lists of all included articles and reports for additional studies. Results: Twenty-nine papers were included in the review. Content analysis identified strategies for creating dementia-friendly communities: (a) active involvement of people with dementia and caregivers (b) inclusive environmental design; (c) public education to reduce stigma and raise awareness; and (d) customized strategies informed by theory. Conclusion: This scoping review provides an overview of current evidence on strategies supporting dementia-friendly communities for social inclusion. Future efforts should apply implementation science theories to inform strategies for education, practice, policy and future research.
Discrimination and Exclusion Against Marginal Castes and Tribes in Educational Institutions: An Empirical Analysis of Bondaguda Primary School
Authors: Chetty Krushna
Published: May 2021

Dalits are unable to enjoy their rights under the Indian Constitution. Though they are original residents of India, they are still treated as untouchables. This article sheds light on how discrimination at the primary school level in the mid-day meal (MDM) scheme is reinforcing the caste system. The school is supposed to be a prime site of democratic institution where the child could have a non-discriminative environment. But the MDMs cooked by Dalit cooks are not eaten by children of upper castes and tribes, thus grossly contradicting such claims. The study is based on primary as well as secondary sources. It shows that children from an early age are moulded into perpetuating the discriminatory mindset of the caste-ridden village society. This article is an attempt to analyse the violence against the Dalit cooks in the Bondaguda village.
Fabrication and Characterization of Taurine Functionalized Graphene Oxide with 5-Fluorouracil as Anticancer Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Pan Hao , Yu Yanjie , Li Li , Liu Bingmi , Liu Yu
Published: May 2021

Recently, nanocarrier systems for cancer drugs, especially GO-based drug delivery systems, have become a boon for cancer patients. In this study, we choose Tau to functionalize the GO surface to improve its biocompatibility. Firstly, nano-scale GO was synthesized by the modified Hummer’s method and ultrasonic stripping method. The taurine-modified graphene oxide carrier (Tau-GO) was synthesized by chemical method to obtain Tau-GO that has a good dispersibility and stability in water, with a zeta potential of − 38.8 mV and a particle size of 242 nm. Based on the encapsulation efficiency evaluation criteria, the optimal formulation was determined to combine Tau-GO and 5-FU by non-covalent bonding. The 5-FU-Tau-GO was more stable in neutral environment than in acidic environment, and with a certain PH response and sustained release effect. In vivo, we compared oral and intravenous administrations of 5-FU and 5-FU-Tau-GO, respectively, using pharmacokinetic tests and related parameters and showed that 5-FU-Tau-GO oral or intravenous administration prolongs the action time of 5-FU in the body and improves its bioavailability. In addition, the inhibition of HepG2 cells that was measured by the MTT assay, showed that the IC50 value of 5-FU was 196 ± 8.73 μg/mL, and the IC50 value of 5-FU-Tau-GO was 65.2 ± 0.7 μg/mL, indicating that 5- FU-Tau-GO is more potent against HepG2 cells and has a stronger inhibitory effect on cancer cells. The effect on cell morphology that was measured using the AO/EB staining also showed that 5-FU-Tau-GO not only disrupted cells, but also significantly induced apoptosis compared to 5-FU. We also verified by computer aided design that Tau-GO can bind better to 5-FU than to the unmodified GO, and that the formed 5-FU-Tau-GO system is more stable, and conducive to the transfer and release of 5-FU in vivo.
De novo transcriptome analysis and comparative expression profiling of genes associated with the taste-modifying protein neoculin in Curculigo latifolia and Curculigo capitulata fruits
Authors: Okubo Satoshi , Terauchi Kaede , Okada Shinji , Saito Yoshikazu , Yamaura Takao , Misaka Takumi , Nakajima Ken-ichiro , Abe Keiko , Asakura Tomiko
Published: May 2021

Background

Curculigo latifolia is a perennial plant endogenous to Southeast Asia whose fruits contain the taste-modifying protein neoculin, which binds to sweet receptors and makes sour fruits taste sweet. Although similar to snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) agglutinin (GNA), which contains mannose-binding sites in its sequence and 3D structure, neoculin lacks such sites and has no lectin activity. Whether the fruits of C. latifolia and other Curculigo plants contain neoculin and/or GNA family members was unclear.

Results

Through de novo RNA-seq assembly of the fruits of C. latifolia and the related C. capitulata and detailed analysis of the expression patterns of neoculin and neoculin-like genes in both species, we assembled 85,697 transcripts from C. latifolia and 76,775 from C. capitulata using Trinity and annotated them using public databases. We identified 70,371 unigenes in C. latifolia and 63,704 in C. capitulata. In total, 38.6% of unigenes from C. latifolia and 42.6% from C. capitulata shared high similarity between the two species. We identified ten neoculin-related transcripts in C. latifolia and 15 in C. capitulata, encoding both the basic and acidic subunits of neoculin in both plants. We aligned these 25 transcripts and generated a phylogenetic tree. Many orthologs in the two species shared high similarity, despite the low number of common genes, suggesting that these genes likely existed before the two species diverged. The relative expression levels of these genes differed considerably between the two species: the transcripts per million (TPM) values of neoculin genes were 60 times higher in C. latifolia than in C. capitulata, whereas those of GNA family members were 15,000 times lower in C. latifolia than in C. capitulata.

Conclusions

The genetic diversity of neoculin-related genes strongly suggests that neoculin genes underwent duplication during evolution. The marked differences in their expression profiles between C. latifolia and C. capitulata may be due to mutations in regions involved in transcriptional regulation. Comprehensive analysis of the genes expressed in the fruits of these two Curculigo species helped elucidate the origin of neoculin at the molecular level.
Selenium-related nutritional status in patients with common variable immunodeficiency: association with oxidative stress and atherosclerosis risk
Authors: Andrade Itana Gomes Alves , de Souza Fabíola Isabel Suano , Fonseca Fernando Luiz Affonso , Aranda Carolina Sanchez , Sarni Roseli Oselka Saccardo
Published: May 2021

Background

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is an inborn errors of immunity, that leads to recurrent chronic infections and autoimmune/ inflammatory diseases and neoplasms. It is considered that these condition is related to persistent this immune-inflammatory stimulation and increased oxidative stress. A positive impact on the survival of patients with an inborn error of immunity was observed with advanced clinical care protocols, thus raising concerns about the risk of developing other associated chronic diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Studies suggest that selenium (Se) is a protective trace element against damage caused by oxidative stress. Thus, it is postulated that adequate consumption reduces the risk of some chronic diseases.

Results

Se median levels (ug/L) [45.6 (37.3–56.2) vs. 57.8 (46.0–66.0); p = 0.004] and GPX activity (U/L) [7682 (6548–8446) vs. 9284(8440–10,720); p = 0,002) were significantly lower in patients compared to controls. Inadequacy of Se levels was observed in 50% of the patients. There was a higher percentage of high values of C-reactive protein in the group of CVID patients compared to controls [8 (36.4%) vs. 2 (11.1%); p = 0.082]. Higher concentrations of oxidized LDL (45.3 mg/dL vs. 33.3 mg/dL; p = 0.016) and lower concentrations of Apo A-1 (98.5 mg/dL) vs. 117.0 mg/dL; p = 0.008) were observed in the CVID group compared to the control. There was a significant and positive correlation between Se plasma levels and apolipoprotein A-1 concentrations in CVID group (rho = 0.577; p = 0.001). Se values less than 46 μg / L (OR = 3.590; 95% CI 1.103 to 11.687; p = 0.034) and GPX activity below the 4th quartile (OR = 21.703; 95% CI 2.534 to 185.914; p = 0.005) were independently associated, after adjustment for age, overweight and dyslipidemia, with the CVID group (Table 5).

Conclusion

This study showed an higher percentage of high us-CRP, lower values of plasma Se and GPX activity, higher concentrations of LDLox and lower levels of Apo A-1 in CVID patients in comparison to controls, suggesting oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk.These data point to the importance of assessing the Se status and cardiovascular risk in these patients.