bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possible role of colonic content in the mucosal association of pathogenic shigella
Authors: Prizont R , Reed W P
Published: June 2021

Association of Shigella flexneri to cecal membrances was studied by incubating the pathogen with cecal slices of germfree mice. The slices were first incubated with stool supernatants from germfree, shigella-monocontaminated, and conventional animals. Quantitation of shigellae in homogenates of treated slices revealed an increase of organisms only in those slices exposed to contaminated stool supernatants.
Virulence of tissue culture-propagated canine distemper virus
Authors: Metzler A E , Higgins R J , Krakowka S , Koestner A
Published: June 2021

Virulence of canine distemper virus (CDV) adapted to in vitro growth in Vero or bovine cells was determined by inoculation into CDV-susceptible neonatal gnotobiotic dogs. When compared with dogs given virulent R252-CDV, Vero R252-CDV was attenuated at passage level 14. In contrast, dogs inoculated with bovine R252-CDV at the same passage level experienced rapid fatal neurological disease. Virulence was not linked to ability to infect or replicate in canine pulmonary macrophage cultures. Retention of virulence by bovine R252-CDV is unique and worthy of further study.
Human fibroblast interferon in tears of patients with picornavirus epidemic conjunctivitis
Authors: Langford M P , Yin-Murphy M , Ho Y M , Barber J C , Baron S , Stanton G J
Published: June 2021

We report the levels of coxsackievirus type A24 (CA24) and the levels and type of interferon produced early during naturally acquired picornavirus epidemic conjunctivitis. Virus levels ranging from 10(1.8) to 10(5.8) 50% tissue culture infective doses per ml were detected in 29 of 37 acute (collected 1 to 4 days after onset of conjunctivitis) tear samples. Interferon (10(1.5) to 10(3.3) U/ml) was detected in 12 of 29 tear samples collected on day 1, in 2 of 6 tear samples collected on day 2, and in 1 tear sample collected on day 3 after onset of conjunctivitis. The interferon activity in pooled tear samples was completely neutralized by antiserum against human fibroblast interferon, stable at pH 2.0, and active against different viruses. In addition, the interferon activity in tears, like human fibroblast and leukocyte interferons produced in vitro, protected human and rabbit, but not mouse, cells. This is the first report of production and identification of the antigenic type of interferon induced by an enterovirus during natural infection. The early appearance of fibroblast interferon suggests that it may be an important host defense at the local site of implantation against this and possibly other enterovirus infections.
Duplicate upstream activating sequences in the promoter region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL7 gene
Authors: Tajima M , Nogi Y , Fukasawa T
Published: June 2021

We constructed a series of deletions in the 5' noncoding region of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae GAL7 gene, fused them to the Escherichia coli gene lacZ, and introduced them into yeasts by using a multicopy vector. We then studied the effect of the deletions on beta-galactosidase synthesis directed by the gene fusions in media with various carbon sources. This analysis identified a TATA box and two upstream activating sequences as necessary elements for galactose-controlled GAL7 transcription. Two upstream activating sequences exhibiting 71% homology with each other were located 255 and 168 base pairs, respectively, upstream of the GAL7 transcription start point. Each sequence consists of 21 base pairs, displaying an approximate rotational symmetry with a core consensus sequence of GAA--AGCTGCTTC--CGCG. At least one of the two sequences is required for galactose induction and also for glucose repression of the GAL7'-lac'Z gene. Analysis with host regulatory mutants delta gal14 and delta gal180 suggests that these sequences are the site at which the GAL4 product exerts its action to activate the GAL7 gene. We also observed that a deletion lacking both upstream activation sequences allowed the gene fusion to be expressed in the absence of galactose at about 10% of the fully induced level of the intact fusion. This constitutive expression depended on the presence of the TATA box of GAL7 in cis but not on a functional GAL4 gene. The level of the uncontrolled expression was decreased by increasing the distance between the TATA box and the pBR322 sequence in the vector plasmid.
Learning Support Assessment Study of a Computer Simulation for the Development of Microbial Identification Strategies
Authors: JOHNSON TRISTAN E. , GEDNEY CLARK
Published: June 2021

This paper describes a study that examined how microbiology students construct knowledge of bacterial identification while using a computer simulation. The purpose of this study was to understand how the simulation affects the cognitive processing of students during thinking, problem solving, and learning about bacterial identification and to determine how the simulation facilitates the learning of a domain-specific problem-solving strategy.

As part of an upper-division microbiology course, five students participated in several simulation assignments. The data were collected using think-aloud protocol and video action logs as the students used the simulation. The analysis revealed two major themes that determined the performance of the students: Simulation Usage—how the students used the software features and Problem-Solving Strategy Development—the strategy level students started with and the skill level they achieved when they completed their use of the simulation.

Several conclusions emerged from the analysis of the data: (i) The simulation affects various aspects of cognitive processing by creating an environment that makes it possible to practice the application of a problem-solving strategy. The simulation was used as an environment that allowed students to practice the cognitive skills required to solve an unknown. (ii) Identibacter (the computer simulation) may be considered to be a cognitive tool to facilitate the learning of a bacterial identification problem-solving strategy. (iii) The simulation characteristics did support student learning of a problem-solving strategy. (iv) Students demonstrated problem-solving strategy development specific to bacterial identification. (v) Participants demonstrated an improved performance from their repeated use of the simulation.
Draft Genome Sequence of Marine Actinobacterium Streptomyces spinoverrucosus SNB-032
Authors: Schwarzer Philipp , Flemming Stephan , MacMillan John B. , Bechthold Andreas
Published: June 2021

Actinobacteria represent a large source of diverse bioactive compounds of medical and economic importance. Here, we report the 8.8-Mb draft genome of the marine bacterium
Streptomyces spinoverrucosus
SNB-032. Bioinformatic sequence analysis proved similarities to known
Streptomyces
strains and revealed the capacity for the production of various secondary metabolites.
Draft Genome Sequence of Limosilactobacillus fermentum Strain NKN-51, Isolated from Fermented Yak Milk in the Western Himalayas of India
Authors: Beniwal Arun , Gaurav Amit , Sharma Rekha , Ghosh Tamoghna , Kumar Piyush , Netter Urmila , Pathania Ranjana , Navani Naveen Kumar
Published: June 2021

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Limosilactobacillus fermentum
strain NKN-51, which was isolated from naturally processed yak cheese from the western Himalayas of India. The genome was assembled in 101 contigs with a total length of 1,879,705 bp and a GC content of 53.5%. Genome annotation predicted 1,730 protein-coding genes and 50 tRNA genes.
Supplemental Material: Metamorphism of the Sierra de Maz and implications for the tectonic evolution of the MARA terrane
Authors: Tholt A. , Mulcahy S.R. , al. et
Published: June 2021

Analytical methods, garnet compositional maps, a comparison of thermobarometry methods, monazite back-scatter electron images, mineral chemistry, and garnet and monazite isotopic data.
Caecal desmoid tumour: a rare tumour at uncommon location and review of literature
Authors: Abuji Kishore , Naik Anil , Jain Tanvi , Dahiya Divya
Published: June 2021

A 49-year-old woman presented to surgery outpatient clinic with the awareness of a right lower abdomen asymptomatic lump for one week. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen demonstrated a 10×11×15 cm heterogeneous lesion anterior to the ileocecal junction with the possibility of leiomyosarcoma. The patient was prepared for laparotomy and intraoperative there was a large tumour arising from the medial wall of cecum. Right haemicolectomy was performed, and histopathology came as a desmoid tumour of the cecum. The patient had an uneventful postoperative course and is well on 1-year follow-up.
Right paraduodenal hernia accompanying superior mesenteric vein thrombosis: a rare case
Authors: Omarov Nail , Özata İbrahim Halil , Balık Emre
Published: June 2021

A 59-year-old man with abdominal pain was admitted to the emergency department. Investigations had revealed a right-sided paraduodenal hernia and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) twisting around the superior mesenteric artery in rotation, the ‘whirlpool sign’. Owing to the increasing severity of abdominal pain and the presence of SMV thrombosis complicated with strangulated paraduodenal herniation associated with high mortality rates, diagnostic laparoscopy was performed. Resection of the intestines was not needed and paraduodenal hernia was repaired. The patient was uneventfully discharged.
Relationship between wealth and emotional well-being before, during, versus after a nationwide disease outbreak: a large-scale investigation of disparities in psychological vulnerability across COVID-19 pandemic phases in China
Authors: Yang Haiyang , Ma Jingjing
Published: June 2021

Objectives

This research investigated whether certain population segments might be more psychologically vulnerable in different phases of a pandemic. Specifically, the research examined how disparities in wealth might be associated with differences in emotional well-being before, during, versus after the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak in China.

Setting, participants and outcome measures

In this large-scale cross-sectional study, three rounds of nationally representative data collection (N=27 760) were conducted immediately before (December 2019), in the midst of (February 2020), versus immediately after (April 2020) the countrywide COVID-19 outbreak in China. Participants’ emotional well-being, wealth (income, property ownership) and demographic information were measured using established instruments. Statistical analyses examined relationships between disparities in different types of wealth and emotional well-being across the pandemic phases.

Results

Although the onset of the coronavirus outbreak substantially degraded emotional well-being, having a higher income was associated with better emotional well-being during the outbreak. Property owners experienced a larger drop in emotional well-being during the outbreak than non-owners; however, the former was not emotionally worse off than the latter during the outbreak. After the nationwide COVID-19 outbreak had been contained and the economy reopened, those with more wealth of either type again became better off in emotional well-being than those with less. The highest income segment even experienced better emotional well-being after the end of the nationwide outbreak than prior to the outbreak. In contrast, the lowest income segment became worse off in emotional well-being after the nationwide outbreak ended than before the outbreak began.

Conclusion

People with less wealth tend to be emotionally worse off throughout the different phases of a disease outbreak. In particular, even after an outbreak has been contained, the poor are less able to restore their psychological well-being. Policies and interventions are needed to address disparities in mental health in the age of pandemics.
Multiperspective simulations for implementing a change in service: stroke telethrombolysis
Authors: Brown Craig William , Elofuke Petrus
Published: June 2021

Simulation-based training has been used in a variety of ways to demonstrate and improve process elements of patient care. One example of this is in improving door-to-needle times in hyperacute stroke care. Changes in service by one team which affect another bring difference of opinions between service providers involved and can lead to interdepartmental conflict. In this report, we use Kurt Lewin’s model for change to describe how a series of multiperspective simulation-based exercises were used in implementing a change in practice with the introduction of telethrombolysis within a large tertiary stroke referral hospital. The use of multiperspective or bidirectional simulation allowed a ‘meeting of minds’ with each service able to illustrate key themes to the other service. This was demonstrated through a series of simulation-based exercises. Following successful simulation-based exercises and subsequent interdepartmental agreement, a telethrombolysis pilot has been conducted within our centre. Ongoing audit of practice continues as this method of treatment delivery is continued. Further simulation work is planned as a national thrombectomy service is instigated.
Lockdown, slow down: impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on physical activity—an observational study
Authors: Taylor Joanne Kathryn , Ndiaye Haarith , Daniels Matthew , Ahmed Fozia
Published: June 2021

Aims

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK was placed under strict lockdown measures on 23 March 2020. The aim of this study was to quantify the effects on physical activity (PA) levels using data from the prospective Triage-HF Plus Evaluation study.

Methods

This study represents a cohort of adult patients with implanted cardiac devices capable of measuring activity by embedded accelerometery via a remote monitoring platform. Activity data were available for the 4 weeks pre-implementation and post implementation of ‘stay at home’ lockdown measures in the form of ‘minutes active per day’ (min/day).

Results

Data were analysed for 311 patients (77.2% men, mean age 68.8, frailty 55.9%. 92.2% established heart failure (HF) diagnosis, of these 51.2% New York Heart Association II), with comorbidities representative of a real-world cohort.

Post-lockdown, a significant reduction in median PA equating to 20.8 active min/day was seen. The reduction was uniform with a slightly more pronounced drop in PA for women, but no statistically significant difference with respect to age, body mass index, frailty or device type. Activity dropped in the immediate 2-week period post-lockdown, but steadily returned thereafter. Median activity week 4 weeks post-lockdown remained significantly lower than 4 weeks pre-lockdown (p≤0.001).

Conclusions

In a population of predominantly HF patients with cardiac devices, activity reduced by approximately 20 min active per day in the immediate aftermath of strict COVID-19 lockdown measures.

Trial registration number

NCT04177199.
Inclusion of probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum) in high- and low-nutrient-density diets reveals a positive result on the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gas emission, and blood profile in growing pigs
Authors: Sampath Vetriselvi , Park Jae Hong , Kim In Ho
Published: June 2021

A total of 160 growing pigs (24.69 ± 1.89 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design with two different levels of nutrient density diet with or without 0.3% probiotic (Lactobacillus plantarum). Each treatment had eight replicates with five pigs (three gilts and two barrows) per pen. At the end of the trial, pigs fed 0.3% probiotic supplement had significantly increased body weight, whereas the average daily gain and gain to feed ratio was significantly increased in both probiotic and high-nutrient density (HD) diet. The nutrient digestibility of dry matter was significantly increased in pigs fed HD diet, whereas nitrogen and gross energy digestibility and blood characters immunoglobulin and lymphocyte counts were significantly increased in both HD and probiotic groups. Inclusion of HD diet with 0.3% probiotic significantly decreased NH3 and H2S gas emission. Moreover, nitrogen and energy showed a significant interaction between probiotic and density diet. In summary, dietary probiotics with HD diet increased the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profile, and reduced gas emission. We suggest that 0.3% probiotic with HD diet could serve as an alternative feed additive to enhance the growth performance of growing pigs.
Genetic diversity and relationships among populations of Camellia japonica, an endangered species in China
Authors: Yang Kai , Sun Yingkun , Li Wei , Guo Xiao , Liu Qinghua , Gao Handong
Published: June 2021

Camellia japonica, an evergreen ornamental plant in the Theaceae family, has a natural range that is now shrinking. This is evident by the fact that the species is on the verge of extinction in Laoshan Mountain (Qingdao), the northernmost area of China known to have a natural population of C. japonica. Little is known about the genetic diversity and relationships among cultivated and wild C. japonica populations. One hundred and eighty samples of six C. japonica populations were tested for genetic diversity with simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers; these included three cultivated populations, two natural populations in Qingdao, and one natural population in Daqingshan. The average values of polymorphism information content (PIC), expected heterozygosity (He), and Shannon’s information index (I) were 0.5849, 0.6385 and 1.3170, respectively, indicating that C. japonica has a high genetic diversity. The genetic diversities of the six populations in rank order were as follows: Daqingshan > Zhongshan Park > Changmenyan Island > Daguan Island > Botanical Garden > May Fourth Square. The geographical isolation of the islands had no significant influence on the genetic diversity of C. japonica. Clustering results showed that the six C. japonica populations could be grouped into three categories, and most populations were clustered according to their geographical origin and genetic background. These results also reconfirmed that the C. japonica (Naidong) population in Qingdao originated from Changmenyan Island. Genetic variation was highest within populations (89%), indicating that C. japonica can be protected at the population level. These findings will prove useful for the genetic analysis, protection, and horticultural use of C. japonica.
LEVEL AND VOLATILITY SPILLOVERS OF ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE RMB EXCHANGE RATE IN GLOBAL AND REGIONAL MARKETS
Authors: ZHAN MINGHUA , ZHOU QIAN , XU YUELI , WU ZHOUHENG
Published: June 2021

This paper investigates onshore and offshore RMB exchange rates’ bi-direction spillover effects with seven global and Asian currencies. We find that the onshore RMB exchange rate has more substantial global and Asia spillovers in both mean and volatility than offshore RMB. Offshore RMB exchange rate shows no outward level and ARCH spillovers to three widely traded global currencies. Moreover, we examine spillover effects changes along with RMB exchange rate policy reform. We found that although the volatility of both onshore and offshore RMB increased, the onshore RMB spillovers strengthen while offshore RMB spillovers decline.
Capacitive Boosted Ring Oscillators for All-Digital Phase-Locked Loops (ADPLLs)
Authors: Balikai Vikas , Kittur Harish
Published: June 2021

Ring oscillator (RO)-based digital phase-locked loops (DPLLs) are very attractive for system-on-chip applications due to their tuning range, good phase noise property but suffer from compactness and power requirements. In this work, the concept of capacitive boosting as one of the key solutions which enhances the amplitude of oscillations of the RO is proposed, making it a suitable solution to the biomedical applications, specifically for medical implant communication system (MICS) band of operation ranging from 400[Formula: see text]MHz to 405[Formula: see text]MHz. With coarse and fine-tuning blocks, this digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) promises a good resolution. The coarse tuning is achieved using conventional MOS capacitors and the fine-tuning is achieved by controlling the fractional metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) capacitances. To benchmark the performance metrics of the single-stage RO in this work, simulations were performed for 680[Formula: see text]mV supply voltage in 45[Formula: see text]nm complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The output varies in the range from [Formula: see text]0.422[Formula: see text]V to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]V, indicating about 224% amplitude enhancement. Despite process voltage temperature (PVT) variations, we can see little impact on the boosted output levels. The designed DCO operates up to a maximum frequency of 495[Formula: see text]MHz at 0.68[Formula: see text]V. The proposed RO has lesser power consumption than any conventional RO, operating at a center frequency of 402[Formula: see text]MHz, thus making it better suitable for the MICS band of applications. Phase noise of [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]dBc/Hz at an offset of 200[Formula: see text]kHz was obtained. The proposed differential DCO consumed power was 95.26[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]W. The figure of merit (FoM) for this DCO is [Formula: see text] (dBc/Hz). The area consumed by the DCO is 0.01872[Formula: see text]mm2.
How Stakeholders Adopt and Share Flood Forecast Information: A Survey of Mississippi River Outlook Users
Authors: VanDyke Matthew S. , Armstrong Cory L. , Bareford Karen J.
Published: June 2021

Guided by the literature in diffusion of innovations, the technology acceptance model, and risk information sharing, this paper reports the results of a survey distributed to National Weather Service (NWS)-Memphis Weather Forecast Office (WFO) stakeholders who receive the Mississippi River Outlook product and its embedded 28-day experimental forecast. The survey examined perceptual factors that likely influence participants’ adoption of flood forecast information provided in the Outlook, and assessed Outlook recipients’ forecast-sharing behaviors and perceptions. Results revealed that the first responders perceived the Outlook product to be more useful than experts, while experts experienced less social influence to use it than first responders or the public. Although participants were generally favorable toward and intended to use the Outlook in the future, experts were significantly less likely to do so and hold a favorable attitude. The majority of participants reported sharing the Outlook with an average of 11 people, and were most likely to share either the entire Outlook verbatim or specific, verbatim sections. Implications of the Outlook’s perceived characteristics and participants’ Outlook-sharing behaviors are discussed.
On the Asymptotic Insensitivity of the Supermarket Model in Processor Sharing Systems
Authors: Kielanski Grzegorz , Van Houdt Benny
Published: June 2021

The supermarket model is a popular load balancing model where each incoming job is assigned to a server with the least number of jobs among d randomly selected servers. Several authors have shown that the large scale limit in case of processor sharing servers has a unique insensitive fixed point, which naturally leads to the belief that the queue length distribution in such a system is insensitive to the job size distribution as the number of servers tends to infinity. Simulation results that support this belief have also been reported. However, global attraction of the unique fixed point of the large scale limit was not proven except for exponential job sizes, which is needed to formally prove asymptotic insensitivity. The difficulty lies in the fact that with processor sharing servers, the limiting system is in general not monotone.

In this paper we focus on the class of hyperexponential distributions of order 2 and demonstrate that for this class of distributions global attraction of the unique fixed point can still be established using monotonicity by picking a suitable state space and partial order. This allows us to formally show that we have asymptotic insensitivity within this class of job size distributions. We further demonstrate that our result can be leveraged to prove asymptotic insensitivity within this class of distributions for other load balancing systems.
PredictRoute: A Network Path Prediction Toolkit
Authors: Singh Rachee , Tench David , Gill Phillipa , McGregor Andrew
Published: June 2021

Accurate prediction of network paths between arbitrary hosts on the Internet is of vital importance for network operators, cloud providers, and academic researchers. We present PredictRoute, a system that predicts network paths between hosts on the Internet using historical knowledge of the data and control plane. In addition to feeding on freely available traceroutes and BGP routing tables, PredictRoute optimally explores network paths towards chosen BGP prefixes. PredictRoute's strategy for exploring network paths discovers 4X more autonomous system (AS) hops than other well-known strategies used in practice today. Using a corpus of traceroutes, PredictRoute trains probabilistic models of routing towards prefixes on the Internet to predict network paths and their likelihood. PredictRoute's AS-path predictions differ from the measured path by at most 1 hop, 75% of the time. We expose PredictRoute's path prediction capability via a REST API to facilitate its inclusion in other applications and studies. We additionally demonstrate the utility of PredictRoute in improving real-world applications for circumventing Internet censorship and preserving anonymity online.
An Efficient and Fast Model Reduced Kernel KNN for Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Liu Zongying , Li Shaoxi , Hao Jiangling , Hu Jingfeng , Pan Mingyang
Published: June 2021

With accumulation of data and development of artificial intelligence, human activity recognition attracts lots of attention from researchers. Many classic machine learning algorithms, such as artificial neural network, feed forward neural network, K-nearest neighbors, and support vector machine, achieve good performance for detecting human activity. However, these algorithms have their own limitations and their prediction accuracy still has space to improve. In this study, we focus on K-nearest neighbors (KNN) and solve its limitations. Firstly, kernel method is employed in model KNN, which transforms the input features to be the high-dimensional features. The proposed model KNN with kernel (K-KNN) improves the accuracy of classification. Secondly, a novel reduced kernel method is proposed and used in model K-KNN, which is named as Reduced Kernel KNN (RK-KNN). It reduces the processing time and enhances the classification performance. Moreover, this study proposes an approach of defining number of K neighbors, which reduces the parameter dependency problem. Based on the experimental works, the proposed RK-KNN obtains the best performance in benchmarks and human activity datasets compared with other models. It has super classification ability in human activity recognition. The accuracy of human activity data is 91.60% for HAPT and 92.67% for Smartphone, respectively. Averagely, compared with the conventional KNN, the proposed model RK-KNN increases the accuracy by 1.82% and decreases standard deviation by 0.27. The small gap of processing time between KNN and RK-KNN in all datasets is only 1.26 seconds.
[Retracted] Optimization of the Hybrid Movie Recommendation System Based on Weighted Classification and User Collaborative Filtering Algorithm
Authors: Yuan Zhenning , Lee Jong Han , Zhang Sai
Published: June 2021

Aiming at the problem that the single model of the traditional recommendation system cannot accurately capture user preferences, this paper proposes a hybrid movie recommendation system and optimization method based on weighted classification and user collaborative filtering algorithm. The sparse linear model is used as the basic recommendation model, and the local recommendation model is trained based on user clustering, and the top‐N personalized recommendation of movies is realized by fusion with the weighted classification model. According to the item category preference, the scoring matrix is converted into a low‐dimensional, dense item category preference matrix, multiple cluster centers are obtained, the distance between the target user and each cluster center is calculated, and the target user is classified into the closest cluster. Finally, the collaborative filtering algorithm is used to predict the scores for the unrated items of the target user to form a recommendation list. The items are clustered through the item category preference, and the high‐dimensional rating matrix is converted into a low‐dimensional item category preference matrix, which further reduces the sparsity of the data. Experiments based on the Douban movie dataset verify that the recommendation algorithm proposed in this article solves the shortcomings of a single algorithm model to a certain extent and improves the recommendation effect.
The Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an Adjunct Treatment on Stable COPD Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chan K. H. , Tsoi Y. Y. S. , McCall M.
Published: June 2021

Background. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and acupuncture, exhibits beneficial effects on stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) such as improving lung function and reducing exacerbation. Previous research studies have examined either CHM or acupuncture alone, which are not the usual practice in TCM clinic setting. We conduct a systematic review for evaluating the clinical effectiveness and safety of TCM by combining CHM and acupuncture. Methods. Databases are searched from inception to November 2019. Randomized controlled trials examining either acupuncture or CHM on stable COPD are included. Primary outcomes include lung functions, exacerbations, and COPD assessment test. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, TCM syndrome score and effective rate, and 6-minute walk distance. Two independent reviewers extract data and assess the quality of evidence and generate meta-analysis and risk of bias by STATA. This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Results. 100 randomized controlled trials (8291 participants) were included to compare add-on Chinese medicine treatment with conventional treatment (CT). Combining CHM with CT improves FEV1 (MD: 0.18, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.28), exacerbation rate (MD: −0.29, 95% CI: −0.61, 0.03), COPD assessment test (MD: −2.16, 95% CI: −3.44, -0.88), TCM syndrome score (MD: −3.96, 95% CI: −5.41, −2.51) and effective rate (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.80, 0.93), and 6-minute walk test (MD: 37.81, 95% CI: 20.90, 54.73). No serious adverse events were reported. Risk of bias: low to unclear. Conclusions. This review identifies sufficient moderate-to-low-quality evidence to suggest TCM as an adjunct treatment for stable COPD patients. Though heterogeneity was low among studies, the results were limited and the quality of evidence was low or very low based on small sample sizes and risk of bias. Future studies with larger sample sizes are warranted. The trial is registered with CRD42019161324.
Cryptococcus neoformans Meningoencephalitis in an Immunocompetent Patient after COVID-19 Infection
Authors: Ghanem Hebah , Sivasubramanian Geetha
Published: June 2021

Cryptococcus neoformans is a saprophytic fungus that causes fatal disseminated infections in immunocompromised hosts. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, multiple cases of secondary viral, bacterial, and fungal infections have been reported in patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection. We describe here a case of severe cryptococcal meningitis that developed in a previously healthy patient one week after treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection with dexamethasone. This case adds to the growing knowledge of emerging secondary infectious complications including opportunistic pathogens after SARS-CoV-2 infection. While few reports allude to depressed T-cell function and lymphopenia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of this infection and its treatment on the immune system and its contribution to the emergence of secondary opportunistic infections.
Model for Calculating Seismic Wave Spectrum Excited by Explosive Source
Authors: Xu Qian , Wang Zhong-Qi
Published: June 2021

To reveal the characteristics and laws of the seismic wavefield amplitude‐frequency excited by explosive source, the method for computing the seismic wave spectrum excited by explosive was studied in this paper. The model for calculating the seismic wave spectrum excited by explosive source was acquired by taking the seismic source model of spherical cavity as the basis. The results of using this model show that the main frequency and the bandwidth of the seismic waves caused by the explosion are influenced by the initial detonation pressure, the adiabatic expansion of the explosive, and the geotechnical parameters, which increase with the reduction of initial detonation pressure and the increase of the adiabatic expansion. The main frequency and the bandwidth of the seismic waves formed by the detonation of the explosives in the silt clay increase by 23.2% and 13.6% compared to those exploded in the silt. The research shows that the theoretical model built up in this study can describe the characteristics of the seismic wave spectrum excited by explosive in a comparatively accurate way.
Effects of a Multicomponent Exercise Program on Groups of Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Low Schooling: A Pilot Study
Authors: Maria da Silva Neildja , Silva de França Monalisa , Freitas Holanda de Almeida Dellis Kariny , Guedes de Lima Evelin Suyany , Brito dos Santos Vinícius Hugley , Victor de Araújo Souza João , Larrad Ana Rodriguez , de Almeida Aloise Débora , Freire Vieira Lima Núbia Maria
Published: June 2021

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a multicomponent exercise program on the physical and hemodynamic functions of community-dwelling older adults with low schooling levels in relation to simple multicomponent group exercises. Twenty-one older people were randomly assigned to two groups: G1 (n = 11) and G2 (n = 10); sixteen of whom completed the sixteen sessions over a six-week period, three times a week. During eight sessions, G1 performed adapted dual-task multicomponent exercises (strengthening, balance, and cognition) and G2 simple multicomponent exercises (strengthening and balance), and both groups engaged in eight additional sessions of simple multicomponent exercises. The dual-task multicomponent exercises exhibited similar effects to those of their simple multicomponent counterparts. The older adults from both groups improved mobility, frailty, static postural control, balance, and hemodynamic stability. The adapted program was beneficial to the community-dwelling older people with low schooling in the group intervention.
Effect of Prior Symptomatic Dengue Infection on Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever (DHF) in Children
Authors: Ranawaka Randula , Jayamanne Chamara , Dayasiri Kavinda , Samaranayake Dinuka , Sandakelum Udara , Hathagoda Wathsala , Dissanayake Ruwangi , Wickramasinghe Pujitha
Published: June 2021

Pathogenesis of dengue haemorrhagic fever is not fully understood, but it is thought that there is antibody enhancement during the secondary infection, which causes severe dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). Therefore, patients who have DHF should have a documented history of symptomatic dengue infection in the past. A retrospective descriptive-analytical study was conducted at the University Paediatric Unit at Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children, Colombo, Sri Lanka. All children who had fulfilled the criteria for DHF admitted to the unit from April 2018 to September 2018 were recruited into the study. Relevant data were collected from bed head tickets. One hundred and eighty-four children were included in the final analysis. Thirty-three (17.9%) had a past history of documented symptomatic dengue infection, while 82.1% did not have a documented dengue infection. Twelve patients had dengue shock syndrome, and none of them had previously documented symptomatic dengue fever. Dextran was used in 96 patients in the critical phase. Twelve (42%) patients with past documented symptomatic dengue fever needed dextran while 84 (54.9%) patients without a documented past history of dengue fever needed dextran. In our clinical observation, we noticed that children with DHF mostly did not have a documented symptomatic prior dengue infection, while those with a documented symptomatic prior infection had a milder subsequent illness. In fact, the majority (82.1%) of patients with DHF did not have documented previous symptomatic dengue infection. It was also observed that the clinical course of subsequent dengue infection was less severe in patients with previously documented symptomatic dengue fever. This finding should be further evaluated in a larger scale study minimizing the all-confounding factors. This fact is more important in selecting recipients for vaccines against the dengue virus, which are supposed to produce immunity against the virus without causing the severe disease.
Knee Surgery during the COVID‐19 Lockdown—Experiences of a Level‐One Trauma Center in Germany
Authors: Koch Matthias , Popp Daniel , Freigang Viola , Frankewycz Borys , Hierl Katja , Angele Peter , Alt Volker , Worlicek Michael
Published: June 2021

Background. Almost every sector in the health care is affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic. Many studies already investigated the effect on different aspects in orthopedic and trauma care. However, the current literature lacks data regarding the consequence on daily surgical business. Thus, the aim of the present study was to analyze the development of knee‐related pathologies and surgical procedures in a German university level‐one trauma center during the lockdown phase and early lockdown phase to investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 lockdown on orthopedic and trauma knee surgery. Material and Methods. The amount of knee joint surgeries performed during the high‐peak COVID‐19 crisis in the period of January to May 2020 was evaluated retrospectively and compared to the corresponding time periods of the previous years (2017‐2019). Results. The COVID‐19 lockdown led to a significant decrease in the number of knee injuries in March and April 2020 by 83.3%. Surgical procedures were reduced by 84.8% during the same period. In May 2020, the number of knee joint procedures returned to an almost prepandemic level. The distribution of urgent and elective knee surgery changed to predominantly acute trauma care at the beginning of the COVID‐19 lockdown and persisted through to May 2020. Conclusion. The COVID‐19 pandemic had a high impact on emergency and elective knee surgery in a level‐one trauma center in Germany during the lockdown phase. It also showed that a level‐one trauma center in the German healthcare system is able to handle urgent trauma and orthopedic operations during a worldwide medical crisis and to return to a prepandemic level within a short phase.
Construction of Video Courses of Physical Education and Health Education in Colleges and Universities under the MOOC Platform
Authors: Yang Shuai
Published: June 2021

In the traditional construction process of educational video courses for physical and health education in universities, numerous problems are encountered, such as small storage capacity, significant delay error, and decreased information throughput rate. Therefore, an educational video course for physical and health education in universities based on the Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) platform is constructed. The course is built by constructing a creative environment for video courses, establishing a video course model under the MOOC platform, and the caching code design for video courses. Upon numerous modifications and test runs, with the campus network’s help, the construction of a network teaching video for physical and health theory courses is realized. Our proposed approach’s experimental result shows that the designed course’s frame rate is 10% higher than that of the traditional course designing. The node’s storage capacity is up to 130%, the delay error is significantly reduced, and the information throughput rate is not affected by the increase of network load.
Synovial Cyst of the Atlantoaxial Joint Removed through a Posterior Intradural Approach
Authors: Toyoshima Atsuhiko , Sakurai Kiminori , Sasaki Nobuhiro , Fukuda Miyuki , Ueda Shigeo , Houshimaru Minoru , Manabe Hiroaki
Published: June 2021

Introduction. Synovial cysts rarely develop in the atlantoaxial joint. We report a case of posterior C1-2 laminectomy for a synovial cyst of the atlantoaxial joint which passed through the dorsal dura and put pressure on the cervical spinal cord. Case Presentation. A 62-year-old man with rapid progression of pain and weakness in the left upper extremity presented to our hospital. A cervical spine X-ray showed left C5-6 and C6-7 stenoses. A cervical magnetic resonance imaging showed an intradural extramedullary cystic lesion on the right side of the ventral cervical spinal cord at the C1-2 level and severe compression of the cervical spinal cord. Because a cyst was partially enhancing, a tumor lesion was not identifiable. Due to severe spinal cord compression, we performed intradural cyst removal via a posterior intradural approach with C1-2 laminectomy and left-sided C5-6 and C6-7 foraminotomies. One year after surgery, the cyst did not recur, and atlantoaxial instability did not appear. Discussion. A compressive lesion on the cervical spinal cord was not identified preoperatively as a synovial cyst. However, intraoperative and pathological findings suggested that the compressive lesion can be a synovial cyst which passed through the dorsal dura. The surgical treatment strategy for a synovial cyst of the atlantoaxial joint is controversial due to factors, such as the presence of atlantoaxial instability, level of cyst causing compression of the cervical spinal cord, severity of myelopathy, and cyst location. In the present study, the cervical spinal cord was highly compressed and the cyst was located on the right side of the cervical spinal cord; we chose cyst removal through a posterior intradural approach with C1-2 laminectomy.
Application of Green Synthesized Metal Nanoparticles in the Photocatalytic Degradation of Dyes and Its Mathematical Modelling Using the Caputo–Fabrizio Fractional Derivative without the Singular Kernel
Authors: Dave S. , Khan A. M. , Purohit S. D. , Suthar D. L.
Published: June 2021

Textile dyes are untreated discharge into the environment which results in a significant increase in water pollution levels worldwide. Due to the continuous addition of toxic organic dyes, a necessary strategic model is required for the complete degradation of dyes in textile effluent. This paper considers the possibility of biological synthesis of silver and iron nanoparticles and their use in photocatalytic degradation. The immediate change of silver nitrate solution occurring from colorless to brown is observed after the addition of the aqueous leaf extract, indicating the successive reduction of Ag+ ions to the Ag nanoparticles. These formed Ag nanoparticles were subjected to examine the photocatalytic activity under the solar radiation for the degradation of methyl orange. Green synthesized Ag nanoparticles were found to successfully degrade methyl orange up to 95% between 70 hours than the initial exposure time. The absorbance of methyl orange was measured at 465 nm. The present paper is focused on fractional mathematical modelling of dye degradation in textile effluents using the Caputo–Fabrizio fractional derivative without the singular kernel. The iterative Laplace transform method is employed to obtain an analytic solution for the absorption transport equation. The obtained experimental results showing significant removal of dyes from textile wastewater are compared using modelling results. The innovative approach is in outstanding agreement with the findings of the experiment. The mathematical modelling for the dye removal process helps to design suitable environmental management studies to reduce the adverse effect caused by toxic wastewater. Model validation has been shown by comparing analytical simulated solutions with experimental results for photocatalytic degradation using silver and iron nanoparticles as eco-friendly and low-cost agents.
Prevalence of Stroke in Asian Patients with Sickle Cell Anemia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kuikel Sandip , Rauniyar Robin , Kharel Sanjeev , Bist Anil , Giri Subarna , Thapaliya Sahil , Paudel Sunanda
Published: June 2021

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is an inherited autosomal recessive disease. It is caused due to point mutation that substitutes glutamate with valine at the sixth amino acid position of the beta chain of hemoglobin molecules leading to the sickling of the red blood cells and decreased structural deformability. Silent cerebral infarcts are the most common neurological complication of SCA, while overt stroke comprises substantial burden in patients with SCA. This meta-analysis aimed to find the pooled prevalence of overt stroke in SCA patients and discuss the importance of screening them. PubMed, Embase, and Google Scholar were the electronic databases used to search the studies. A total of 765 articles were retrieved upon detailed searching in the abovementioned databases. After a series of removing duplicate articles, title and abstract screening, and full-text review, 20 articles were found eligible and included in the study. The total number of participants from all the included studies was 3,956, and pooled prevalence of stroke in patients with sickle cell anemia in Asia was found to be 5% (95% CI: 4%, 6%) with a range from 1 to 41%. Stroke occurrence in sickle cell anemia patients is an emergency complication that needs immediate intervention and management. Because of the high prevalence of stroke in patients with sickle cell anemia, clinicians should focus on its prevention and treatment strategies.
Finding the Optimal Partner to Pair with Bispecific Antibody Therapy for Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Louvet Cedric , Nadeem Omar , Smith Eric L.
Published: June 2021

Summary: BCMA/CD3ϵ-targeted bispecific antibody (BsAb) therapy represents a promising T cell–redirecting immunotherapy to treat relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. However, rational combination strategies will most likely be key to achieve a long-lasting immune response. In this issue, Meermeier and colleagues investigate BsAb therapy in a syngeneic multiple myeloma model and elucidate that partnering with cyclophosphamide is associated with tempered activation, mitigated exhaustion of T cells, and is superior to pomalidomide or bortezomib in enhancing durable anti–multiple myeloma efficacy.

See related article by Meermeier et al., p. 354.
Recurrence of Gastric Cancer in the Jejunum Close to the Anastomotic Site after Total Gastrectomy
Authors: Shintani Hiroshi , Oura Shoji , Makimoto Shinichiro
Published: June 2021

A 61-year-old man underwent total gastrectomy with esophago-jejunostomy for Borrmann type I gastric cancer. Postoperative intra-abdominal abscess made the patient unable to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Only 23 weeks after operation, the patient developed melena and anemia, leading to the diagnosis of recurrence in the jejunum close to the anastomotic site. The patient received salvage resection of the recurrence. Pathological study showed that the tumor was composed of atypical cells similar to those of the primary gastric cancer. Normal jejunal mucosa was observed between the esophagus and the recurrent tumor. We judged that exfoliation of the gastric cancer cells caused the recurrence due to both the very short disease-free interval and pathological findings. Surgeons should pay attention to this type of recurrence especially for Borrmann type I gastric cancer. In addition to the adjuvant chemotherapy, gastric irrigation using distilled water during the operation seems to be a feasible measure to prevent this type of recurrence.