bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Continent-Wide Analysis of COVID 19: Total Cases, Deaths, Tests, Socio-Economic, and Morbidity Factors Associated to the Mortality Rate, and Forecasting Analysis in 2020–2021
Authors: Zahid Muhammad Nauman , Perna Simone
Published: May 2021

Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first reported in China in December 2019 and has become a pandemic that resulted in more than one million deaths and infected over 35 million people worldwide. In this study, a continent-wide analysis of COVID-19 cases from 31st December 2019 to 14th June 2020 was performed along with socio-economic factors associated with mortality rates as well as a predicted future scenario of COVID-19 cases until the end of 2020. Methods: Epidemiological and statistical tools such as linear regression, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and the Auto Regressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model were used in this study. Results: This study shows that the highest number of cases per million population was recorded in Europe, while the trend of new cases is lowest in Africa. The mortality rates in different continents were as follows: North America 4.57%, Europe 3.74%, South America 3.87%, Africa 3.49%, Oceania and Asia less than 2%. Linear regression analysis showed that hospital beds, GDP, diabetes, and higher average age were the significant risk factors for mortality in different continents. The forecasting analysis since the first case of COVID-19 until 1st January 2021 showed that the worst scenario at the end of 2020 predicts a range from 0 to 300,000 daily new cases and a range from 0 to 16,000 daily new deaths. Conclusion: Epidemiological and clinical features of COVID-19 should be better defined, since they can play an import role in future strategies to control this pandemic.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Body Constitutions and Psychological Determinants of Depression among University Students in Malaysia: A Pilot Study
Authors: Yap Sin Yee , Foo Chai Nien , Lim Yang Mooi , Ng Foong Leng , Mohd-Sidik Sherina , Tang Pek Yee , Najar Singh Jagjit Kaur , Pheh Kai-Shuen
Published: May 2021

Depression is commonly observed in university students, who are a high risk group for developing psychiatric disorders during adulthood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and its traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and psychological determinants among university students in Malaysia. A cross-sectional pilot study was conducted between 9 and 28 September 2020 among 80 university students in Malaysia. Participants completed online survey questionnaires, including the validated Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Constitution in Chinese Medicine Questionnaire (CMCQ), Dysfunctional Attitude Scale (DAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) stress subscale, Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), which assess depression, body constitution, dysfunctional attitude, stress, perceived stress, and self-esteem. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to determine the associated risk factors for depression. The overall prevalence of depression among university students was 33.8%. The multiple regression analysis showed a significant relationship between depression and qi-stagnation constitution (B = 0.089, p = 0.011), balanced constitution (B = −0.077, p = 0.049), and self-esteem (B = −0.325, p = 0.001). Our findings suggest that some traditional Chinese medicine body constitutions and self-esteem are significant risk factors affecting depression among university students. Identifying risk factors of depression is vital to aid in the early detection of depression among university students.
The Test–Retest Reliability of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form in Youth with Down Syndrome—A Pilot Study
Authors: Nocera Vincenzo G. , Wood Aaron P. , Wozencroft Angela J. , Coe Dawn P.
Published: May 2021

Background: It is unclear whether assessments of motor proficiency are reliable for individuals with Down syndrome. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the test–retest reliability of the Bruininks–Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Short Form (BOT-2 SF) in youth with Down syndrome. Methods: Ten youth (ages 13.1–20.7 years) with Down syndrome completed the BOT-2 SF (14 items) plus a standing long jump on two separate occasions. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and standard error of measurement (SEM) were calculated to determine the test–retest reliability of the BOT-2 SF and the standing long jump. Results: The test–retest reliability of the BOT-2 SF overall scores and percentile rankings were considered excellent. The test–retest reliability of each of the subtests varied with classifications of poor (n = 5), fair to good (n = 6), and excellent (n = 4). Conclusion: Current evidence suggests that children with Down syndrome have reduced motor skills. However, there appears to be a lack of assessment tools that reliably evaluate the motor skills of this population. The results from this investigation suggest that the BOT-2-SF provides “excellent reliability” (≥0.75) to assess the motor skills in youth with Down syndrome.
Should I Stay or Should I Go? Associations between Occupational Factors, Signs of Exhaustion, and the Intention to Change Workplace among Swedish Principals
Authors: Arvidsson Inger , Leo Ulf , Oudin Anna , Nilsson Kerstin , Håkansson Carita , Österberg Kai , Persson Roger
Published: May 2021

A high turnover among principals may disrupt the continuity of leadership and negatively affect teachers and, by extension, the students. The aim was to investigate to what extent various work environment factors and signs of exhaustion were associated with reported intentions to change workplace among principals working in compulsory schools. A web-based questionnaire was administered twice, in 2018 and in 2019. Part I of the study involved cross-sectional analyses of the associations 2018 (n = 984) and 2019 (n = 884) between occupational factors, signs of exhaustion, and the intention to change workplace, using Generalized Estimating Equations models. Part II involved 631 principals who participated in both surveys. The patterns of intended and actual changes of workplace across two years were described, together with associated changes of occupational factors and signs of exhaustion. Supportive management was associated with an intention to stay, while demanding role conflicts and the feeling of being squeezed between management and co-workers (buffer-function) were associated with the intention to change workplace. The principals who intended to change their workplace reported more signs of exhaustion. To increase retention among principals, systematic efforts are probably needed at the national, municipal, and local level, in order to improve their working conditions.
Baseline Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters That May Influence 6 Months Treatment Outcome of Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Eyes with Combination Therapy: A Short-Term Pilot Study
Authors: Ghoshal Rituparna , Sharanjeet-Kaur Sharanjeet , Fadzil Norliza Mohamad , Ghosh Somnath , Ngah NorFariza , Aziz Roslin Azni Abd
Published: May 2021

Although optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters have assisted in the diagnosis of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV), its potential to evaluate treatment outcomes has not been established. The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate baseline OCT parameters that may influence treatment outcome in PCV eyes with combination therapy. In this single-centered, prospective study, patients were recruited with at least one treatment-naïve PCV eye and treated with combination therapy of intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor and photodynamic therapy. Best-corrected distance and near visual acuity (DVA and NVA), and contrast sensitivity (CS) were recorded at baseline and six months after treatment. OCT parameters were determined. Twenty-six eyes of 26 patients aged between 51 to 83 years were evaluated. In eyes that had disrupted external limiting membrane (ELM), photoreceptors inner and outer segment (IS-OS) junction at 1000 micron of fovea at baseline showed low mean visual functions after 6 months of treatment. Eyes with foveal sub-retinal fluid (SRF) and polyp at central 1000 micron of fovea at baseline showed significantly worse DVA and CS after six months. Thus, the presence of foveal SRF, foveal polyp, disrupted ELM, and IS-OS junction at baseline significantly influenced the six months’ visual outcome in PCV eyes treated with combination therapy.
Food Waste and Nutrition Quality in the Context of Public Health: A Scoping Review
Authors: Brennan Aoife , Browne Sarah
Published: May 2021

Food waste and nutrition are intrinsically linked in terms of environmental health and public health. Despite this, it is unknown whether these topics have been previously synthesized into a review. The aim was to identify the interdisciplinary parameters that exist in public health and nutrition literature in terms of food waste and plastic waste associated with food, and to identify how these parameters currently contribute to food sustainability messaging and interventions. A rapid scoping review was conducted. Data were mapped into concepts and synthesized in a narrative review. Four main concepts were identified: (1) food waste and diet quality, nutrient losses, and environmental health, (2) food waste reduction interventions and diet quality, (3) food banks/pantries and diet/nutritional quality, and (4) food and plastic waste messaging in nutrition or dietary guidelines. Food waste is associated with nutrient wastage, and interventions to reduce food waste can successfully address food sustainability and nutrition quality. Food redistribution systems do not currently address access to sustainably sourced foods that are also nutrient-dense for lower-income communities. Opportunities for future research and practice include aligning food waste, plastic waste, and nutrition priorities together and developing better food redistribution systems to limit wastage of high-quality foods.
Fear of Childbirth and Preferences for Prevention Services among Urban Pregnant Women in a Developing Country: A Multicenter, Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nguyen Lam Duc , Nguyen Long Hoang , Ninh Ly Thi , Nguyen Ha Thu Thi , Nguyen Anh Duy , Vu Linh Gia , Nguyen Cuong Tat , Vu Giang Thu , Doan Linh Phuong , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M.
Published: May 2021

This study aimed to examine fear of childbirth and willingness to pay for fear-prevention services in pregnant women. A multicenter, cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women in two obstetric hospitals in Vietnam. The Fear of Birth Scale was utilized to evaluate fear of childbirth. Multivariable, generalized linear regression and logistic regression models were performed to identify associated factors with fear of childbirth, demand, and willingness to pay for prevention services. Of 900 pregnant women, fear of childbirth was moderately high with a mean score of 18.1 (SD = 2.3). Age of partner; ever having complications of pregnancy; attitudes toward different aspects of childbirth delivery; satisfactions with friends, parents, and siblings’ care; and information support were associated with fear of childbirth. Only 33.8% participants had a demand for the prevention service, and 43.7% were willing to pay for this service with an average amount of $US 10.0 per month (SD = 72.0). Our study suggested that individualized psychological counseling and information-seeking guidance should be provided appropriately and differently for multiparous and nulliparous women for reducing fear and improving the acceptability of the prevention services.
A Deep Neural Network-Based Method for Prediction of Dementia Using Big Data
Authors: Kim Jungyoon , Lim Jihye
Published: May 2021

The rise in dementia among the aging Korean population will quickly create a financial burden on society, but timely recognition of early warning for dementia and proper responses to the occurrence of dementia can enhance medical treatment. Health behavior and medical service usage data are relatively more accessible than clinical data, and a prescreening tool with easily accessible data could be a good solution for dementia-related problems. In this paper, we apply a deep neural network (DNN) to prediction of dementia using health behavior and medical service usage data, using data from 7031 subjects aged over 65 collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) in 2001 and 2005. In the proposed model, principal component analysis (PCA) featuring and min/max scaling are used to preprocess and extract relevant background features. We compared our proposed methodology, a DNN/scaled PCA, with five well-known machine learning algorithms. The proposed methodology shows 85.5% of the area under the curve (AUC), a better result than that using other algorithms. The proposed early prescreening method for possible dementia can be used by both patients and doctors.
Insulin Withdrawal in Diabetic Kidney Disease: What Are We Waiting for?
Authors: Morillas Carlos , D’Marco Luis , Puchades María Jesús , Solá-Izquierdo Eva , Gorriz-Zambrano Carmen , Bermúdez Valmore , Gorriz José Luis
Published: May 2021

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus worldwide stands at nearly 9.3% and it is estimated that 20–40% of these patients will develop diabetic kidney disease (DKD). DKD is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and these patients often present high morbidity and mortality rates, particularly in those patients with poorly controlled risk factors. Furthermore, many are overweight or obese, due primarily to insulin compensation resulting from insulin resistance. In the last decade, treatment with sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) have been shown to be beneficial in renal and cardiovascular targets; however, in patients with CKD, the previous guidelines recommended the use of drugs such as repaglinide or dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors), plus insulin therapy. However, new guidelines have paved the way for new treatments, such as SGLT2i or GLP1-RA in patients with CKD. Currently, the new evidence supports the use of GLP1-RA in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of up to 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 and an SGLT2i should be started with an eGFR > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Regarding those patients in advanced stages of CKD, the usual approach is to switch to insulin. Thus, the add-on of GLP1-RA and/or SGLT2i to insulin therapy can reduce the dose of insulin, or even allow for its withdrawal, as well as achieve a good glycaemic control with no weight gain and reduced risk of hypoglycaemia, with the added advantage of cardiorenal benefits.
Research and Development of Self-Contained Water Injection Systems
Authors: Bazala Jiri , Hébert Guillaume , Fischer Oliver , Nothbaum Jürgen , Thewes Matthias , Voßhall Tobias , Diehl Peter , Kučera Pavel
Published: May 2021

Reducing fuel consumption and thus CO2 emissions is one of the most urgent tasks of current research in the field of internal combustion engines. Water Injection has proven its benefits to increase power or optimize fuel consumption of passenger cars. This technology enables knock mitigation to either increase the engine power output or raise the compression ratio and efficiency while enabling λ = 1 operation in the complete engine map to meet future emission targets. Current systems have limited container capacity. It is necessary to refill the water tank regularly. This also means that we cannot get the benefits of an engine with a higher compression ratio. For this reason, the self-contained system was investigated. This article is a methodology for finding the right design of a self-contained water injection system, but also a vehicle test that proves the function.
Design Guidelines for the Size and Length of Chinese Characters Displayed in the Intelligent Vehicle’s Central Console Interface
Authors: You Fang , Yang Yi-Fan , Fu Meng-Ting , Zhang Jun , Wang Jian-Min
Published: May 2021

In order to ensure the driver’s safe driving, the human–computer interaction interface of an intelligent vehicle needs to convey important information. The text is an important carrier of this kind of information. The design criteria of English characters have been widely discussed, including the color, meaning, size and length. However, design guidelines for Chinese characters in central consoles of vehicles have rarely been discussed from a human–computer interaction perspective. In this paper, we investigated the size and the length of Chinese characters in the intelligent vehicle’s central control screen, based on international design guidelines and standards. The experiment involved 30 participants performing simulated in-vehicle secondary tasks. The result from the experiments shows that the usability of characters increases and the driver’s workload decreases as the characters get larger and shorter. We also propose a set of recommended values for the size and length of Chinese characters in this context. Future work will focus on providing design guidelines for other aspects of HMI design in intelligent vehicles.
Missing Link Prediction Using Non-Overlapped Features and Multiple Sources of Social Networks
Authors: Songmuang Pokpong , Sirisup Chainarong , Suebsriwichai Aroonwan
Published: May 2021

The current methods for missing link prediction in social networks focus on using data from overlapping users from two social network sources to recommend links between unconnected users. To improve prediction of the missing link, this paper presents the use of information from non-overlapping users as additional features in training a prediction model using a machine-learning approach. The proposed features are designed to use together with the common features as extra features to help in tuning up for a better classification model. The social network data sources used in this paper are Twitter and Facebook where Twitter is a main data for prediction and Facebook is a supporting data. For evaluations, a comparison using different machine-learning techniques, feature settings, and different network-density level of data source is studied. The experimental results can be concluded that the prediction model using a combination of the proposed features and the common features with Random Forest technique gained the best efficiency using percentage amount of recovering missing links and F1 score. The model of combined features yields higher percentage of recovering link by an average of 23.25% and the F1-measure by an average of 19.80% than the baseline of multi-social network source.
Molecular Identification of Trissolcus japonicus, Parasitoid of the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug, by Species-Specific PCR
Authors: Chen Maple N. , Santander Ricardo D. , Talamas Elijah J. , Jentsch Peter J. , Bon Marie-Claude , Aćimović Srđan G.
Published: May 2021

The samurai wasp, Trissolcus japonicus (Ashmead), has been proposed as a biocontrol agent against brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB), due to its ability to parasitize and kill BMSB eggs. However, the wasps’ small size makes it challenging for those untrained in morphological identification to determine the wasps’ species. To circumvent this problem, a molecular method was created to identify T. japonicus. The method uses species-specific primers, designed in this study, which target the variable region of the mitochondrial Cytochrome Oxidase 1 (CO1) locus. After confirming successful DNA extraction from samples, the PCR amplification using our primers produced 227-bp PCR products for all T. japonicus specimens and no amplification in other microhymenoptera candidates. Additionally, DNA from BMSB-parasitized eggs gave positive PCR amplification, while the control BMSB samples showed no amplification. This indicates that PCR with our primers specifically and sensitively differentiates T. japonicus specimens from other similar wasp species and discriminates between T. japonicus-parasitized and non-parasitized BMSB eggs. Finally, an in silico analysis of CO1 sequences demonstrated that our primers match the sequences of four different haplotypes of T. japonicus, indicating that our diagnostic method could potentially be applied to analyze T. japonicus populations throughout North America, Europe, and parts of Asia.
Propionate Fermentative Genes of the Gut Microbiome Decrease in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Medina Juan Manuel , Fernández-López Raúl , Crespo Javier , Cruz Fernando de la
Published: May 2021

Changes in the gut microbiome have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. A protective role of short chain fatty acids produced by the gut microbiota has been suggested as a causal mechanism. Nevertheless, multi-omic analyses have failed to identify a clear link between changes in specific taxa and disease states. Recently, metagenomic analyses unveiled that gut bacterial species have a previously unappreciated genomic diversity, implying that a geno-centric approach may be better suited to identifying the mechanisms involved. Here, we quantify the abundance of terminal genes in propionate-producing fermentative pathways in the microbiome of a large cohort of healthy subjects and patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The results show that propionate kinases responsible for propionate production in the gut are depleted in patients with Crohn’s disease. Our results also indicate that changes in overall species abundances do not necessarily correlate with changes in the abundances of metabolic genes, suggesting that these genes are not part of the core genome. This, in turn, suggests that changes in strain composition may be as important as changes in species abundance in alterations of the gut microbiome associated with pathological conditions.
Inpatient Rehabilitation: Prediction of Changes in Sensorimotor Performance in Multiple Sclerosis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Gulde Philipp , Hermsdörfer Joachim , Rieckmann Peter
Published: May 2021

Inpatient rehabilitation has been shown to be an effective intervention for sensorimotor performance in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. So far, predictions of the rehabilitation outcomes are limited. The objective was to predict inpatient rehabilitation outcomes by changes in the Watzmann Severity Scale (WSS), a statistical estimation of the EDSS by sensorimotor capacity. Sensorimotor performance and physical activity during rehabilitation (by actigraphy) were assessed in a sample of 28 MS patients at a facility for neurorehabilitation. Daily changes in the WSS were predicted by a model of multiple linear regression. The resulting model had an R2adjusted of 0.48 (p < 0.01) and revealed five impacting factors (a reduction in the WSS represents an improvement): the number of steps (β-weight = 0.52, p < 0.01), the duration of nocturnal rest time (β-weight = 0.46, p = 0.01), the EDSS at entry (β-weight = 0.38, p = 0.03), a relapsing-remitting MS (β-weight = 0.37, p = 0.03), and the performance in a visuomotor pursuit task with time pressure (β-weight = −0.35, p = 0.04). One standard deviation improvement was predicted when the patient at admission yielded 6600 fewer steps per day, 94 min less rest per night, −2.7 points in the EDSS at entry, a relapsing-remitting MS, and a pursuit task performance that decreased by 2.2 standard deviations. Overall, the patients improved by −0.22 ± 0.51 WSS points during 19.3 ± 4.5 d of inpatient rehabilitation. Different potential explanations of the findings are discussed, one of which proposes that the results reflect an unhealthy lifestyle which, in addition to MS, would explain the higher predicted improvements by rehabilitation tackling both MS and the patients’ lifestyle.
Different Biliary Microbial Flora Influence Type of Complications after Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Single Center Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Coppola Alessandro , La Vaccara Vincenzo , Farolfi Tommaso , Fiore Michele , Cascone Chiara , Ramella Sara , Spoto Silvia , Ciccozzi Massimo , Angeletti Silvia , Coppola Roberto , Caputo Damiano
Published: May 2021

Background: Bacterobilia is associated with postoperative morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD), mostly due to infectious complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of bacteria species isolated from intraoperative biliary cultures, and related complications after PD. Methods: An ANOVA test was used to assess the prevalence of isolated bacterial species and postoperative complications. The odds ratio was computed to evaluate the association between biliary cultures and each complication, Endoscopic Retrograde CholangioPancreatography (ERCP) and each complication, ERCP and biliary cultures, Delayed Gastric Emptying (DGE) and Postoperative Pancreatic Fistula (POPF). Results: Positive biliary cultures were found in 162/244 (66%) PDs. Different prevalences of polymicrobial biliary culture were detected in patients with postoperative complications. In SSIs, a significant prevalence of biliary culture positive for E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniæ and Enterococcus fæcalis (p < 0.001) was detected. Prevalences of polymicrobial biliary cultures with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniæ, Enterococcus fæcalis and Enterococcus fæcium were significantly associated with POPF (p < 0.001). Biliary culture positive for Escherichia coli, Enterococcus fæcalis and Enterococcus fæcium showed a higher prevalence of intra-abdominal collection and DGE (p < 0.001). Notably, Escherichia coli was significantly associated with DGE as a unique complication (OR = 2.94 (1.30–6.70); p < 0.01). Conclusions: Specific prevalences of polymicrobial bacterobilia are associated with major complications, while monomicrobial Escherichia coli bacterobilia is associated with DGE as a unique complication after PD.
Prognosis of Coronary Atherosclerotic Burden in Non-Ischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathies
Authors: Canu Marjorie , Margerit Léa , Mekhdoul Ismail , Broisat Alexis , Riou Laurent , Djaileb Loïc , Charlon Clémence , Jankowski Adrien , Magnesa Michele , Augier Caroline , Marlière Stéphanie , Salvat Muriel , Casset Charlotte , Maurin Marion , Saunier Carole , Fagret Daniel , Ghezzi Catherine , Vanzetto Gerald , Barone-Rochette Gilles
Published: May 2021

Background: Atherosclerosis is associated with a worse prognosis in many diseases such as ischemic cardiomyopathy, but its impact in non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (dCMP) is lesser known. Our aim was to study the prognostic impact of coronary atherosclerotic burden (CAB) in patients with dCMP. Methods: Consecutive patients with dCMP and left ventricular (LV) dysfunction diagnosed by concomitant analysis of invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and CMR imaging were identified from registry-database. CAB was measured by Gensini score. The primary composite endpoint was the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as cardiovascular (CV) mortality, non-fatal MI and unplanned myocardial revascularization. The results of 139 patients constituting the prospective study population (mean age 59.4 ± 14.7 years old, 74% male), average LV ejection fraction was 31.1 ± 11.02%, median Gensini score was 0 (0–3), and mid-wall late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) was the most frequent LGE pattern (42%). Over a median follow-up of 2.8 years, 9% of patients presented MACE. Patients with MACE had significantly higher CAB compared to those who were free of events (0 (0–3) vs. 3.75 (2–15), p < 0.0001). CAB remained the significant predictor of MACE on multivariate logistic analysis (OR: 1.12, CI: 1.01–1.23, p = 0.02). Conclusion: High CAB may be a new prognostic factor in dCMP patients.
Impact of Adjuvant Treatment on Heparanase Concentration in Invasive, Unilateral Breast Cancer Patients: Results of a Prospective Single-Centre Cohort Study
Authors: Ruszkowska-Ciastek Barbara , Bielawski Kornel , Zarychta Elżbieta , Rhone Piotr
Published: May 2021

Background: In recent years, great progress has been made in the treatment of breast cancer, but it is still one of the ten leading causes of death in women. The aim of the study was to evaluate the heparanase concentration of invasive breast cancer (IBrC) patients, before and after cancer adjuvant treatment. Methods: Eighty patients with stage IA to IIB IBrC receiving adjuvant treatment were included prospectively in this study. The heparanase concentrations were determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A univariate analysis was used to estimate the factors influencing the low or high pre-treatment concentration of heparanase and the low or high numerical decrease in heparanase concentration after completion of adjuvant treatment. Results: Treatment reduced the concentration of heparanase by almost four times in the general IBrC cohort. Higher levels of pre- and post-treatment heparanase were noted in oestrogen receptor-negative cancers than in positive ones. A higher post-treatment concentration of heparanase was found in patients with a triple-negative tumour compared to patients with a luminal B HER2 negative type of IBrC. Overweight IBrC subjects and those with a tumour diameter of ≥2 cm demonstrated a lower chance of a lower pre-treatment heparanase concentration. Interestingly, a pre-treatment heparanase concentration is the main predictor of the changes in heparanase concentration after adjuvant treatment. Follow-up revealed significantly lower progression-free survival (PFS) rates in IBrC patients with a pre-treatment concentration of heparanase higher than 181.46 pg/mL (PFS = 80%). Conclusions: Our findings provide supporting evidence that IBrC therapy reduced the heparanase levels, regardless of treatment patterns and a pre-treatment concentration of heparanase may serve as a prognostic indicator for future outcomes.
Preliminary Experimental and Numerical Study of Metal Element with Notches Reinforced by Composite Materials
Authors: Romanowicz Paweł J. , Szybiński Bogdan , Wygoda Mateusz
Published: May 2021

The presented study is related to the application of the composite overlays used in order to decrease the effect of the stress concentrations around the cut-outs in structural metal elements. The proposed approach with the application of the digital image correlation extends the recently presented studies. Such structural elements with openings of various shapes have been accommodated for a wide range of industrial applications. These structures exhibit certain stress concentrations which decrease their durability and strength. To restore their strength, various reinforcing overlays can be used. In the present paper, the flat panel structure without and with the composite overlays made of HEXCEL TVR 380 M12/26%/R-glass/epoxy is under the experimental and the numerical study. Particular attention is paid to the investigation of the samples with the rectangular holes, which for smooth rounded corners offer a higher durability than the samples with the circular hole of the same size. The experimental results are obtained for the bare element and are reinforced with composite overlay samples. The experimental results are obtained with the use of the Digital Image Correlation method, while the numerical results are the product of the Finite Element Analysis. In the numerical analysis, the study of the shape, size and fiber orientation in applied overlays is done. The reduction of the stress concentration observed in opening notches has confirmed the effectiveness of the overlay application. In the investigated example, the application of the square composite overlay increased the structure strength even by 25%.
The Influence of Oil Prices on Equity Returns of Canadian Energy Firms
Authors: Batabyal Sourav , Killins Robert
Published: May 2021

Using monthly data from January 2000 to August 2018, this paper examines how the Canadian oil and gas industry and individual firms’ equity prices react to oil price fluctuations, which are measured by the traditional West Texas Intermediate (WTI) benchmark and the Canada-specific Western Canadian Select (WCS) benchmark. The findings provide support for the view that oil price movements are an important factor in explaining the equity returns of the overall industry and for many individual oil and gas firms in Canada. Both WTI and WCS measures provide statistically significant evidence, but the results support that WTI may still be the more relevant measure for Canadian-based firms. We also find that the spread between WTI and WCS has a minimal impact on the firms’ equity returns. Additional tests for asymmetric impacts of oil price movements on Canadian oil and gas equity returns have provided little evidence, whereas time-varying impacts are found for a handful of firms. The empirical findings predicated on the holistic view of the impacts of oil price fluctuations on equity market returns will enhance investor confidence and strengthen the Canadian economy.
Livelihood Capital and Land Transfer of Different Types of Farmers: Evidence from Panel Data in Sichuan Province, China
Authors: Yang Huanxin , Huang Kai , Deng Xin , Xu Dingde
Published: May 2021

Farmers’ livelihood and land have been the focus of academic and political attention for a long time. In the process of rapid urbanization in China, as farmers change their livelihood strategies and livelihood capital allocation driven by economic interests, farmland abandonment increases, which is not conducive to the guarantee of food security. This study aims to explore the characteristics of livelihood capital and land transfer of farmers under different livelihood strategies and the effect of livelihood capital on land transfer. Based on the data obtained from Sichuan Province in 2012, 2016 and 2019 by the China Rural Development Survey Group, this paper divides farmers into pure farmers, part-time farmers and non-farmers according to the proportion of non-agricultural income in total income, and constructed the panel binary Logit model and panel Tobit model. The analysis points to the following results: (1) pure farmers tend to shift other capitals toward natural capital, so their livelihood capital total index value decreased. The part-time farmers have different shift characteristics but their livelihood capital total index value both increased first and then decreased. Non-farmers tend to shift natural capital towards other livelihood capitals, so their livelihood capital total index value increased. (2) The higher the natural capital and human capital, the higher the probability of land transfers in. The higher the natural capital, the larger the area of land transfers in. The higher the financial capital, the higher the probability of land transfers out. The higher the financial capital and social capital, the larger the area of land transfers out. It is expected to provide suggestions for the policy of farmers’ land transfer under different livelihood capital endowments.
Introducing Collaborative Governance in Decentralized Land Administration and Management in South Africa: District Land Reform Committees Viewed through a ‘System of Innovation’ Lens
Authors: Waeterloos Evert
Published: May 2021

A Fit-for-Purpose (FFP) land administration system strives for a more flexible, inclusive, participatory, affordable, reliable, realistic, and scalable approach to land administration and management in developing countries. The FFP finds itself thus at the interface with the coordination and governance challenges of the mainstream promotion of democratic decentralization of the past decades in general, and collaborative systems for decentralized and participatory land governance in Africa, in particular. One recent example of such collaborative systems for decentralized land governance is the introduction in South Africa between 2015 and 2019 of District Land Reform Committees (DLRCs). We analyze this official experiment in collaborative land governance from a ‘system of innovation’ (SI) perspective. An adapted SI framework is developed and applied in three DLRCs. This study points out that for the innovation of collaboration to be effective, DLRCs require a firm operational and institutional backup. This is an important lead for the general discussion on inclusion, participation, and collaboration in FFP. We not only need these innovations to be well-supported and -resourced; they also require the explicit adoption of a systemic perspective in which various technical and social dimensions are interlinked.
Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 Protein Response on PI3K-Mediated IL-8 Release
Authors: Borchers Christina , Thyagarajan Anita , Rapp Christine M. , Travers Jeffrey B. , Sahu Ravi P.
Published: May 2021

A novel coronavirus related to a condition known as a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was termed as SARS Coronavirus-19 (SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19), which has caused an unprecedented global pandemic. Extensive efforts have been dedicated worldwide towards determining the mechanisms of COVID-19 associated pathogenesis with the goals of devising potential therapeutic approaches to mitigate or overcome comorbidities and mortalities. While the mode of SARS-CoV-2 infection, its structural configuration, and mechanisms of action, including the critical roles of the Spike protein have been substantially explored, elucidation of signaling pathways regulating its cellular responses is yet to be fully determined. Notably, phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and its downstream pathway have been exploited among potential therapeutic targets for SARS-CoV-2, and its activation modulates the release of cytokines such as IL-8. To that end, the current studies were sought to determine the response of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike S1 protein on PI3K-mediated IL-8 release using relevant and widely used cellular models. Overall, these studies indicate that PI3K signaling does not directly mediate Spike S1 protein-induced IL-8 release in these cellular models.
Liposomes Prevent In Vitro Hemolysis Induced by Streptolysin O and Lysenin
Authors: Ayllon Marcelo , Abatchev Gamid , Bogard Andrew , Whiting Rosey , Hobdey Sarah E. , Fologea Daniel
Published: May 2021

The need for alternatives to antibiotics in the fight against infectious diseases has inspired scientists to focus on antivirulence factors instead of the microorganisms themselves. In this respect, prior work indicates that tiny, enclosed bilayer lipid membranes (liposomes) have the potential to compete with cellular targets for toxin binding, hence preventing their biological attack and aiding with their clearance. The effectiveness of liposomes as decoy targets depends on their availability in the host and how rapidly they are cleared from the circulation. Although liposome PEGylation may improve their circulation time, little is known about how such a modification influences their interactions with antivirulence factors. To fill this gap in knowledge, we investigated regular and long-circulating liposomes for their ability to prevent in vitro red blood cell hemolysis induced by two potent lytic toxins, lysenin and streptolysin O. Our explorations indicate that both regular and long-circulating liposomes are capable of similarly preventing lysis induced by streptolysin O. In contrast, PEGylation reduced the effectiveness against lysenin-induced hemolysis and altered binding dynamics. These results suggest that toxin removal by long-circulating liposomes is feasible, yet dependent on the particular virulence factor under scrutiny.
Prediction of Permeate Flux in Ultrafiltration Processes: A Review of Modeling Approaches
Authors: Quezada Carolina , Estay Humberto , Cassano Alfredo , Troncoso Elizabeth , Ruby-Figueroa René
Published: May 2021

In any membrane filtration, the prediction of permeate flux is critical to calculate the membrane surface required, which is an essential parameter for scaling-up, equipment sizing, and cost determination. For this reason, several models based on phenomenological or theoretical derivation (such as gel-polarization, osmotic pressure, resistance-in-series, and fouling models) and non-phenomenological models have been developed and widely used to describe the limiting phenomena as well as to predict the permeate flux. In general, the development of models or their modifications is done for a particular synthetic model solution and membrane system that shows a good capacity of prediction. However, in more complex matrices, such as fruit juices, those models might not have the same performance. In this context, the present work shows a review of different phenomenological and non-phenomenological models for permeate flux prediction in UF, and a comparison, between selected models, of the permeate flux predictive capacity. Selected models were tested with data from our previous work reported for three fruit juices (bergamot, kiwi, and pomegranate) processed in a cross-flow system for 10 h. The validation of each selected model’s capacity of prediction was performed through a robust statistical examination, including a residual analysis. The results obtained, within the statistically validated models, showed that phenomenological models present a high variability of prediction (values of R-square in the range of 75.91–99.78%), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) in the range of 3.14–51.69, and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) in the range of 0.22–2.01 among the investigated juices. The non-phenomenological models showed a great capacity to predict permeate flux with R-squares higher than 97% and lower MAPE (0.25–2.03) and RMSE (3.74–28.91). Even though the estimated parameters have no physical meaning and do not shed light into the fundamental mechanistic principles that govern these processes, these results suggest that non-phenomenological models are a useful tool from a practical point of view to predict the permeate flux, under defined operating conditions, in membrane separation processes. However, the phenomenological models are still a proper tool for scaling-up and for an understanding the UF process.
Hydrometallurgical Recycling Process for Mobile Phone Printed Circuit Boards Using Ozone
Authors: Brožová Silvie , Lisińska Magdalena , Saternus Mariola , Gajda Bernadeta , Simha Martynková Gražyna , Slíva Aleš
Published: May 2021

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) can be an important source of non-ferrous metals (Al, Sn, Zn, and Ni) and precious metals (Au, Ag, Cu, and Pd). With the continuous increase in demand for metals due to the depletion of ores, recycling of this waste is becoming an attractive alternative. The printed circuits also contain hazardous metals, such as Pb, Hg, As, and Cd. Due to the huge increase in the amount of e-waste, the processing of printed circuit boards for metal recovery and proper handling of hazardous substances has a positive effect on the environment. Pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical methods are used for the treatment of this waste. Various oxidizing agents are used in the hydrometallurgical processes, including ozone. PCBs from mobile phones were assessed for the recovery of Cu, Sn, and precious metals. The ground and sieved materials were leached in nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and sulfuric acid at various process parameters, such as leaching time, leaching agent, and temperature. It was found that the best result was obtained using hydrochloric acid with the addition of ozone at 353 K for a period of 4 h to obtain 68.45 g/dm3 of copper. Preliminary results of electrolysis and cementation are also presented.
Deformation Behavior and Microstructural Evolution of Inconel 625 Superalloy during the Hot Compression Process
Authors: Chen Fulong , Li Kaidi , Tang Bin , Liu Degui , Zhong Hong , Li Jinshan
Published: May 2021

Hot deformation behavior and the microstructural evolution of Inconel 625 superalloy plates are investigated by hot compression tests in a range of working temperatures (800–1050 °C) and strain rates (0.001–1 s−1). The microstructural observation shows that a strong <110> texture forms when the processing temperature is below 950 °C, whose intensity decreases with the increases of the temperature, and it disappears when compressing above 950 °C. During the compression test, twin-related dynamic recrystallization (DRX) occurs in the investigated temperature range, and the intensity of twin-related DRX increases with the increases of the temperature. In addition, as the temperature increases, the intensity of continuum DRX decreases.
Development of Lightweight Magnesium/Glass Micro Balloon Syntactic Foams Using Microwave Approach with Superior Thermal and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Padnuru Sripathy Akshay , Handjaja Cindy , Manakari Vyasaraj , Parande Gururaj , Gupta Manoj
Published: May 2021

Magnesium matrix syntactic foams (MgMSFs) are emerging lightweight materials with unique capabilities to exhibit remarkable thermal, acoustic, and mechanical properties. In the current study, lightweight glass micro balloon (GMB)-reinforced Mg syntactic foams were synthesized via the powder metallurgy technique using hybrid microwave sintering. The processing employed in the study yielded MgMSFs with refined grain sizes, no secondary phases, and reasonably uniform distributions of hollow reinforcement particles. The developed MgMSFs exhibited densities 8%, 16%, and 26% lower than that of the pure Mg. The coefficient of thermal expansion reduced (up to 20%) while the ignition resistance improved (up to 20 °C) with the amount of GMB in the magnesium matrix. The MgMSFs also exhibited a progressive increase in hardness with the amount of GMB. Although the MgMSFs showed a decrease in the yield strength with the addition of GMB hollow particles, the ultimate compression strength, fracture strain, and energy absorption capabilities increased noticeably. The best ultimate compression strength at 321 MPa, which was ~26% higher than that of the pure Mg, was displayed by the Mg-5GMB composite, while the Mg-20GMB composite showed the best fracture strain and energy absorption capability, which were higher by ~39 and 65%, respectively, when compared to pure Mg. The specific strength of all composites remained superior to that of monolithic magnesium. Particular efforts were made in the present study to interrelate the processing, microstructural features, and properties of MgMSFs.
Vanadium and Melanoma: A Systematic Review
Authors: Amante Cristina , De Sousa-Coelho Ana Luísa , Aureliano Manuel
Published: May 2021

The application of metals in biological systems has been a rapidly growing branch of science. Vanadium has been investigated and reported as an anticancer agent. Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer, the incidence of which has been increasing annually worldwide. It is of paramount importance to identify novel pharmacological agents for melanoma treatment. Herein, a systematic review of publications including “Melanoma and Vanadium” was performed. Nine vanadium articles in several melanoma cells lines such as human A375, human CN-mel and murine B16F10, as well as in vivo studies, are described. Vanadium-based compounds with anticancer activity against melanoma include: (1) oxidovanadium(IV); (2) XMenes; (3) vanadium pentoxide, (4) oxidovanadium(IV) pyridinonate compounds; (5) vanadate; (6) polysaccharides vanadium(IV/V) complexes; (7) mixed-metal binuclear ruthenium(II)–vanadium(IV) complexes; (8) pyridoxal-based oxidovanadium(IV) complexes and (9) functionalized nanoparticles of yttrium vanadate doped with europium. Vanadium compounds and/or vanadium materials show potential anticancer activities that may be used as a useful approach to treat melanoma.