bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of a Computer Lens Filter on visual performance in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa
Authors: Guo Zhangmei , Ni Lingzhi , Lin Na , Zhu Yu , Jiang Longfei , Deng RUzhi
Published: January 2020

Background： Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) patients usually complain about nyctalopia and reduced dark adaptation which cause their visual discomfort. In this study we aimed to explore the effects of a UV reduction Computer Lens Filter (CLF) on contrast sensitivity (CS), reading speed for computer screen text and visual comfort in subjects with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) to find if a CLF is helpful for RP patients . Method: Twenty-two subjects diagnosed with binocular RP participated. Bright CS using the Mars test and reading speed for screen text were measured both with and without CLF wear. Subjective estimates of computer screen brightness and visual comfort were evaluated by Linkert self-report estimates. These functions were compared for the two conditions of filter wear and non-wear. Result ： Mean subject age was 38.2±7.5 years and mean logMAR VA was 0.505± 0.324. Wearing a CLF did not improve bright CS ( t = 0.680, P=0.504 ) or increase reading speed ( t =-0.223, P = 0.826 ). CLF wear was judged to reduce screen brightness ( t = -5.412, P<0.0001 ) and improve visual comfort ( t = 6.897, P<0.0001 ). Conclusion ： CLF wear did not improve RP subjects’ CS or reading speed for screen text, but did reduce the appearance of screen brightness and improve subjects’ reported visual comfort. Improvement in comfort alone may be sufficient justification for filter use as a vision aid for RP patients during vision rehabilitation.
Optical Quality after Posterior Chamber Phakic Implantation of an Intraocular Lens with a Central Hole (V4c Implantable Collamer Lens) under Different Lighting Conditions
Authors: He Tianrui , Zhu Yi , Zhou Jibo
Published: January 2020

Background: The current study compared optical quality before and after implantation of a posterior chamber phakic intraocular lens with a central hole [V4c implantable collamer lens (ICL)] under bright and dark lighting conditions by means of the Optical Quality Analysis System™ (OQAS; Visiometrics, Terrassa, Spain).
Methods: This prospective study involved 91 eyes of 46 consecutive high myopia patients (15 males and 31 females, average spherical equivalent -10.50±0.33D) undergoing implantation of a V4c ICL. The modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff frequency, Strehl ratio, objective scattering index (OSI), and predicted visual acuities (PVAs; 100%, 20%, and 9%), under different lighting conditions, were measured before and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery.
Results: All optical parameters showed significant improvements, at all time points, under dark condition after surgery. We observed no significant changes in PVA 9% at 1 week (mean value 0.539, P=0.12) or 1 month after surgery (mean value 0.573, P=0.08) under bright condition; but all other postoperative parameters improved significantly. Comparing the two lighting conditions, the OSI decreased more under dark conditions at 1 week (P=0.02), 1 month (P=0.004), and 3 months (P=0.002), but there was no significant difference in any other parameter. In addition, patients were divided into super high myopia (group S, spherical equivalent greater than -10 D) and high myopia (group H, spherical equivalent from -6 D to -10 D), the group S improved significantly more than group H in all parameters, under both bright and dark conditions.
Conclusions: V4c ICL implantation improved optical quality under both bright and dark lighting conditions, and had a better ability to reduce the extent of scattering in the dark. Furthermore, group S achieved greater improvement in visual quality, which should be considered by physicians before surgery.
Comparison of Two Management Strategies, "Endoscopy First" and "Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy First", for Patients with Gallbladder Stones and Intermediate Risk for Choledocholithiasis: Study Protocol for a Diagnostic Randomized Trial
Authors: Aleknaite Ausra , Simutis Gintaras , Stanaitis Juozas , Jucaitis Tomas , Drungilas Mantas , Valantinas Jonas , Strupas Kestutis
Published: January 2020

Background: The optimal approach for patients with gallbladder stones and intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis still remains undetermined. Use of diagnostic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography should be minimized as it carries considerable risk of post-procedural complications. This study compares two different management strategies: intraoperative cholangiography and endoscopic ultrasound before laparoscopic cholecystectomy for patients with symptomatic cholecystolithiasis and intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis.
Methods: It is a diagnostic randomized active-controlled single-centre clinical trial enrolling adult patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to symptomatic gallbladder stones with intermediate risk for choledocholithiasis. The risk for choledocholithiasis is calculated using an original prognostic score – Vilnius University Hospital Index. A total of 106 participants will be included and randomized into two groups. Evaluation of bile ducts using endoscopic ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography on demand will be performed before laparoscopic cholecystectomy for one arm (“Endoscopy first”). Intraoperative cholangiography during laparoscopic cholecystectomy and postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography on demand will be administered in another arm (“Cholecystectomy first”). Postoperative follow-up is 6 months. The primary endpoint is the length of hospital stay. Secondary endpoints will include accuracy of the different management strategies, adverse events of interventions, duct clearance and technical success of interventions (intraoperative cholangiography, endoscopic ultrasound, endoscopic retrograde cholangiography), costs of treatment.
Discussion: This trial is planned determine which strategy is better approach for a patient with intermediate common bile duct stones risk and to define a simple to calculate and safe algorithm on managing choledocholithiasis.

Trial registration: The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, identification number NCT03658863.
TEORIA DA ATIVIDADE EM FOCO: ENLACES COM A FORMAÇÃO DO PROFESSOR DE QUÍMICA
Authors: De Sá Lucas Vivas , Messeder Neto Hélio Da Silva
Published: January 2020

O presente artigo tem como objetivo encontrar elementos na Teoria da Atividade para que possamos discutir aspectos da formação do professor de química. A Teoria da Atividade discute o desenvolvimento do homem a partir das suas atividades frente a realidade objetiva. Para tal, a motivação para uma atividade só surge frente as necessidades e um objeto que as supram. A partir de elementos dessa teoria, entendemos que o desenvolvimento da criatividade e a atividade de ensino do professor passa pela (inter)conversões de ações e operações. Além disso, entendemos, por meio dessa teoria, que os motivos da atividade de estudo do discente e de ensino do docente precisam fazer parte do processo formativo dos professores. O trabalho não esgota as categorias presentes na Teoria da Atividade, mas tenta trazer reflexões importantes para a formação de professores de química.
Instabilidade Temporal na Produção Agrícola Familiar de Sequeiro no Semiárido do Nordeste Brasileiro
Authors: Lemos José De Jesus Sousa , Santiago Daiane Félix
Published: January 2020

O objetivo do estudo é estimar instabilidades temporais associadas ao valor da produção, área colhida, produtividade e produção per capita de feijão, mandioca e milho, que são as principais lavouras, cultivadas em regime de sequeiro e predominantemente na forma de consórcios, destinadas à produção de alimentos em unidades agrícolas familiares, nos municípios dos semiáridos dos estados do Ceará e Rio Grande do Norte.O período de análise se estende de 1991 a 2017. Os dados de origem secundária foram levantados junto às Pesquisas Agrícolas Municipais (PAM/IBGE). Utilizaram-se os coeficientes de variação (CV) das variáveis envolvidas na pesquisa para medir a instabilidade. Para criar o índice de instabilidade temporal (INST), que foi o instrumento aferidor da instabilidade agregada dos municípios, se agruparam os CV dos quatro indicadores num único fator. Para tanto se utilizou o método de decomposição em componentes principais da análise fatorial. Os resultados apontaram que todos os municípios estudados apresentam níveis de instabilidade considerados altos ou muito altos. A pesquisa também mostrou que a instabilidadena produção dessas lavouras é maior no semiárido do Rio Grande do Norte do que no estado do Ceará.
Ecoinovação no Agronegócio: revisão sistemática da literatura
Authors: Fernandes Alice Munz , Souza Ângela Rozane Leal de , Belarmino Luiz Clóvis
Published: January 2020

As crises sócio ecológicas globais enfrentadas pela sociedade contemporânea requerem o desenvolvimento de inovações ambientais pautadas na sustentabilidade, denominadas nesse estudo, como ecoinovações. No contexto agrícola/agronegocial tal necessidade torna-se ainda mais evidente, haja vista sua relação direta entre impactos agro ecossistêmicos e mecanismos de mercado. Com vistas à essa conjuntura, a pesquisa realizada teve como objetivo analisar as diferentes abordagens da ecoinovação no contexto agrícola/agronegocial, existentes na literatura. Para tanto, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura a partir de artigos científicos de alto impacto publicados nas bases de dados Scopus e Web of Science. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram uma evolução temporal das publicações, predominantemente nos últimos três anos, associada à uma evolução conceitual do fenômeno estudado. As abordagens de ecoinovação foram divididas em quatro grupos: ecoinovação em produtos e processos; difusão da ecoinovação; avaliação do ciclo de vida, e; sistemas de ecoinovação. Assim, sintetizam-se os esforços científicos em prol do entendimento e viabilização desse fenômeno e suas distintas interfaces. Como tendências e desafios para a ecoinovação no contexto analisado, tem-se principalmente a multidisciplinariedade dessa temática, o que dificulta estabelecer estratégias para seu desenvolvimento. Todavia, apresenta-se um conjunto de potencialidades que envolvem inovação ambiental no agronegócio, apresentando possíveis diretrizes para o desenvolvimento sustentável das atividades agrícolas.
Educação Profissional e Tecnológica: cotejamentos entre Brasil e Argentina na busca do "novo desenvolvimentismo"
Authors: Castioni Remi , Maduro Silva Denise Bianca , Reis Júnior Reinaldo De Lima
Published: January 2020

Este artigo é o resultado do diálogo entre pesquisas que analisam modelos e estruturas da educação profissional e tecnológica (EPT) na contemporaneidade. Escolhemos no presente artigo as trajetórias de Brasil e Argentina, particularmente, na última década, quando governos retomaram estratégias de desenvolvimento tendo o Estado como ator principal e conectam-se à estratégia da Comissão Econômica para a América Latina - CEPAL nos anos de 1950/1960, assumindo os desafios da retomada do desenvolvimentismo. A partir das trajetórias históricas das políticas e a análise das instituições de EPT no Brasil e na Argentina, buscam-se perceber os caminhos trilhados e os resultados alcançados afim de se estabelecer possíveis comparações entre a EPT de ambos países nas últimas décadas, guiando-se a partir dos estudos comparados em educação.
Ranking de Criação de Valor das Empresas Sul Americanas: estudo multicritério a partir dos métodos DP2 e VIKOR
Authors: Hein Nelson , Vogt Mara , Degenhart Larissa , Haussmann Darclê Costa Silva , Kroenke Adriana
Published: January 2020

Este estudo objetivou analisar o ranking das empresas Sul Americanas a partir dos métodos multicritério DP2 e VIKOR, considerando a criação de valor. Para tanto, foram analisadas as informações disponíveis de empresas de quatro países (Argentina, Brasil, Chile e Peru), correspondendo a um total de 69 empresas. Além disso, os dados foram referentes ao período de 2011 a 2015. Vale ressaltar que para mensurar a criação de valor optou-se pelas variáveis EVA e MVA. Com o intuito de elaborar o ranking de criação de valor para o EVA, MVA e EVA/MVA foram utilizados os métodos multicritério DP2 e VIKOR. A partir dos resultados conclui-se que as empresas dos quatro países sul americanos analisados, apresentaram posições muito próximas e em alguns casos, iguais nos dois rankings analisados (EVA e MVA). Sendo assim, ressalta-se que os métodos foram eficientes para identificar as empresas que mais criam valor nos países analisados, o que gera mais confiança por parte dos investidores, estes que podem considerar as duas variáveis de forma individual ou, analisadas conjuntamente. A criação de valor é essencial para as empresas que buscam alavancar cada vez mais. A pesquisa torna-se relevante pois, as variáveis utilizadas para a realização deste estudo são essenciais, quando trata-se de criação de valor à nível mundial. Além disso, contribui para que as empresas escolham as melhores opções de investimento, dentre as empresas que apresentaram as informações necessárias, tendo em vista essa riqueza aqui exposta por meio de rankings.
Resíduos Gerados nas Favelas: impactos sobre o direito à moradia adequada, o ambiente e a sociedade
Authors: Junkes Janaína Accordi , Pedrosa Alan Do Nascimento , Vieira Daniglayse Santos , Galvão Vivianny Kelly
Published: January 2020

Esta pesquisa propõe identificar os problemas gerados pelo manejo inadequado de resíduos em uma favela pertencente à região do Pólo Multissetorial de Maceió (AL). Pretende-se observar os reflexos desse manejo na saúde dos indivíduos que ali residem, sua relação com a bacia de drenagem de água pluvial e a rotina de atividades inerentes ao Pólo. Para tanto, foram realizadas pesquisas de campo, aplicado questionários, realizado entrevistas e registros fotográficos. A partir destes dados, foi possível constatar que a comunidade em estudo, por ter seu esgoto interligado a uma bacia de drenagem, contribui diretamente para a geração de impactos que atingem questões relacionadas ao fluxo de águas pluviais, ao saneamento básico e por sua vez, a saúde dos habitantes da região. A situação dos moradores atinge também o objetivo de desenvolvimento sustentável n. 6 da Agenda 2030 das Nações Unidas. É possível, por meio do parâmetro do direito à moradia adequada, entender a complexidade dos impactos de um sistema de saneamento básico deficiente sobre a gama de direitos humanos que o Estado deve proteger. Assim, este trabalho tem sua justificativa, dada a importância científica e social de dialogar sobre o planejamento para o manejo dos resíduos, vista que são gerados cerca de 183,5 mil toneladas de resíduos sólidos/dia, segundo dados de 2012 do Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada, IPEA, bem como a um consumo de água que chega a 165,3 litros/habitante/dia, o qual se tornará esgoto. Logo, estudar dos mecanismos de como lidar com estes resíduos é de extrema importância.
Heterogeneidade e Transferência Intergovernamental: estudo da Zona da Mata – MG
Authors: Silva Jéssica Natália da , Ferreira Marco Aurélio Marques
Published: January 2020

O presente estudo tem por objetivo descrever a heterogeneidade existente na Zona da Mata Mineira e, ainda, verificar se a arrecadação do Fundo de Participação dos Municípios (FPM) pode interferir na qualidade de vida da região. Para tanto, foi realizada uma análise fatorial, agrupando as variáveis do estudo em três fatores e então, construído o Índice de Qualidade de Vida (IQV). Além disso, foi feita uma análise de regressão para verificar a interferência do FPM no IQV. Os resultados mostram que a região é considerada heterogênea e que o FPM pode interferir na qualidade de vida dos municípios. Apesar disso, os repasses podem ser considerados insuficientes para que os municípios assumam suas responsabilidades e se desenvolvam. Este estudo contribui, pois chama atenção para a região estudada, entendendo que devem ser reunidos esforços para que a região consiga ser menos heterogênea e mais igualitária, refletindo em avanços na qualidade de vida dos municípios e das pessoas que neles residem.
As “Marcas” em Territórios Formados por Grupos Étnicos Alemães a Partir dos Estereótipos Linguagem, Trabalho e Religiosidade: o caso da comunidade rural de Linha Acre - Cândido Godói (RS)
Authors: Kieling Rejane Inês
Published: January 2020

A inserção de uma mentalidade industrial no meio rural com a produção de alimentos em escala vem se apresentando como indutora de mudanças em pequenas comunidades rurais, que se veem diante da necessidade de buscar alternativas que visem sua continuidade em termos físicos, mas também no que se refere às suas especificidades sociais e culturais. O presente estudo está pautado na identificação de aspectos relacionados aos estereótipos que “marcam” territórios formados por grupos sociais teuto-brasileiros, por se considerar que sejam relevantes para que estes atores possam encontrar novos significados ao meio que vivem. Este retorno ao passado só é possível por meio das lembranças e da memória que se faz presente no cotidiano, manifestada nas tradições, nos hábitos e nos costumes, como algo imperceptível, mas com força para modificar o futuro. A metodologia utilizada para coleta de dados se deu com a utilização de relatos orais em pesquisa etnográfica, realizada na comunidade rural de Linha Acre – Cândido Godói (RS) durante os anos de 2016 e 2017. Durante a fase de análise dos dados foi possível constatar-se a presença de enraizamento no que diz respeito à presença de construções estereotipadas nos elementos linguagem, trabalho e religiosidade, escolhidos para a pesquisa.
Trend and change points of streamflow in the Yellow River and their attributions
Authors: Zhong Dunyu , Dong Zengchuan , Fu Guobin , Bian Jiaqi , Kong Feihe , Wang Wenzhuo , Zhao Yan
Published: January 2020

The impacts of climate change and human activity, combined with streamflow reduction in the Yellow River Basin, have presented significant challenges to water resource management strategies. Here, the trends and change points of streamflow were determined for the period 1956–2017 via five statistical methods. A runoff-sensitive coefficients method (the Budyko hypothesis) and a conceptual rainfall–runoff model (the TUW model) were applied to assess the streamflow variation. The following conclusions were ascertained: (1) 1989, 1986, and 1990 were the change points for streamflow in the upstream Tang-Nai-Hai and Lan-Zhou stations and the downstream Hua-Yuan-Kou hydrological station; (2) the streamflow showed statistically significant decreasing trends with spatiotemporal variations in the Yellow River Basin; (3) the relationship between runoff and precipitation showed a downward trend over time; (4) comparisons of the Budyko and TUW models show that human activity is responsible for more than 65% of streamflow reduction, while climate change contributes to less than 35% of the reduction. Therefore, human activity is the main reason for streamflow reduction in the Yellow River Basin. This finding is of critical importance for water resources management under changing environment.
Pneumopericardium after Foreign Body Aspiration: A Case Report
Authors: Ragab Abdelgalil , Salhani Tarek Al , Taha Sallam , Darraj Eyad , Moustafa Kamal
Published: January 2020

A case of spontaneous pneumopericardium occurred in the patient after the aspiration of no sharp foreign body. The patient was sent to Operation
Theater (OT), bronchoscopic extraction of the foreign body was performed, and the patient was stable postoperatively. Serial follow up X-rayswere
done and showed resolving of the pneumopericardium.
Recent Advances in the Rational Drug Design Based on Multi-target Ligands
Authors: Yang Ting , Sui Xin , Yu Bing , Shen Youqing , Cong Hailin
Published: January 2020

Multi-target drugs have gained considerable attention in the last decade owing to their
advantages in the treatment of complex diseases and health conditions linked to drug resistance.
Single-target drugs, although highly selective, may not necessarily have better efficacy or fewer
side effects. Therefore, more attention is being paid to developing drugs that work on multiple
targets at the same time, but developing such drugs is a huge challenge for medicinal chemists.
Each target must have sufficient activity and have sufficiently characterized pharmacokinetic parameters.
Multi-target drugs, which have long been known and effectively used in clinical practice,
are briefly discussed in the present article. In addition, in this review, we will discuss the
possible applications of multi-target ligands to guide the repositioning of prospective drugs.
Oxocarbon Organic Conjugated Compounds for Lithium-ion Batteries and Solar Cells: Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Liu Lihong , Cheng Boshi , Yang Zhengwei , Wang Huifeng , Yue Chuang , Hu Fang
Published: January 2020

In recent years, with the continuous depletion of traditional fossil energy, the research of new energy storage materials has become one of the important ways to solve the issue of energy depletion. Generally, in an energy storage system, lithium-ion battery (LIB) has been widely applied in electronic intelligent devices and electrical vehicles (EVs). In an energy conversion system, as the most promising green energy system, solar cells have become a hot research field for scientists. Most recently, oxocarbon organic conjugated compounds (OOCCs) have been widely used in LIBs and solar cells due to their advantages such as abundant raw materials, environmental friendliness and high efficiency. As in this paper, the research progress of LIBs and solar cells based on OOCCs is reviewed, the synthesis strategies of these organic energy storage/conversion materials are summarized and the future research direction of organic energy materials is also prospected.
Cost of Treatment and Care for People with Alzheimer’s Disease: A Meta- Analysis
Authors: Marešová Petra , Dolejs Josef , Mohelska Hana , Bryan Laura K.
Published: January 2020

There is now a general attempt in developed countries to implement strategic plans to fight
against Alzheimer’s disease, for which treatment represents an increasing economic burden for the ageing
society. At present, the costs of treatment and care for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) patients are not
consistently tracked and logged, therefore, the economic burden is calculated based on the records kept
by individual countries. The aim of this paper is to conduct a meta-analysis of the available data on the
total costs of treatment and care for elderly AD patients with respect to the stage of the disease determined
by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). The Web of Science and PubMed databases
were used for a systematic search. Two independent reviewers screened the identified records and selected
relevant articles published in the period from 2007 to 2017. A meta-analysis of costs is performed
in three categories related to the stages of Alzheimer’s disease (mild, moderate, and severe).
The resulting estimation of total costs per patient per year determined by the meta-analysis is 20,461$
total costs. The total costs in relation to the stage of the disease according to the MMSE scale are
14,675 $ for the mild stage, 19,975 $ for the moderate stage, and 29,708 $ for the severe stage. The meta-
analysis confirms that the costs rise significantly with the severity of AD. These findings therefore,
emphasize the severity of the economic burden carried out by the AD patients, their families, and the
healthcare system, and this fact must be taken into account when planning health policy strategies for
the years to come.
UPLC-Q-TOF/MS based Untargeted Metabolite and Lipid Analysis on Premature Ovarian Insufficiency Plasma Samples
Authors: Taşcı Yasemin , Fındık Rahime Bedir , Pekcan Meryem Kuru , Kaplan Ozan , Celebier Mustafa
Published: January 2020

Background:

Metabolomics is one of the main areas to understand cellular process at molecular
level by analyzing metabolites. In recent years metabolomics has emerged as a key tool to understand
molecular basis of diseases, to find diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers and develop new
treatment opportunities and drug molecules.

Objective:

In this study, untargeted metabolite and lipid analysis were performed to identify potential
biomarkers on premature ovarian insufficiency plasma samples. 43 POI subject plasma samples were
compared with 32 healthy subject plasma samples.

Methods:

Plasma samples were pooled and extracted using chloroform:methanol:water (3:3:1 v/v/v)
mixture. Agilent 6530 LC/MS Q-TOF instrument equipped with ESI source was used for analysis. A
C18 column (Agilent Zorbax 1.8 μM, 50 x 2.1 mm) was used for separation of the metabolites and lipids.
XCMS, an “R software” based freeware program, was used for peak picking, grouping and comparing
the findings. Isotopologue Parameter Optimization (IPO) software was used to optimize XCMS parameters.
The analytical methodology and data mining process were validated according to the literature.

Results:

83 metabolite peaks and 213 lipid peaks were found to be in semi-quantitatively and statistically
different (fold change >1.5, p <0.05) between the POI plasma samples and control subjects.

Conclusion:

According to the results, two groups were successfully separated through principal component
analysis. Among the peaks, phenyl alanine, decanoyl-L-carnitine, 1-palmitoyl lysophosphatidylcholine
and PC(O-16:0/2:0) were identified through auto MS/MS and matched with human metabolome
database and proposed as plasma biomarker for POI and monitoring the patients in treatment period.
Cytotoxic Sesquiterpenes from Sonchus oleraceus
Authors: Zhang Hongying , Wang Yiding , Wang Shaojiu , Wang Qian , Wang Tianjing , Zhu Jie , Liu Bing
Published: January 2020

Background:

Sonchus oleraceus is a large and widespread plant in the world. It is edible to humans
as a leaf vegetable and is also used as a folklore medicinal herb in the treatment of infections and inflammatory
disease, but limited research on its chemical constituents has been done.

Objective:

To isolate and identify the bioactive ingredients from S. oleraceus.

Methods:

20kg of S. oleraceus was extracted twice with 75% alcohol. The concentrated extract was suspended
in H2O and partitioned with petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, respectively. The
ethyl acetate phase was subjected to repeated normal chromatography on a silica gel column chromatography
and eluted with a gradient of CH2Cl2-MeOH to give 12 crude fractions. Fraction 6 was subjected to ODS silica
gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 and HPLC to yield 1 and 2. Cell viability of 1 and 2 on A549,
H292 and Caco2 cell lines were assayed by MTT method. Apoptosis analysis and apoptosis related proteins
were detected subsequently.

Results:

Two new sesquiterpenes were isolated from S. oleraceus and identified by NMR spectra and HR-ESIMS.
1 selectively suppressed the viability of A549 and H292 cells with IC50 values of 14.2, and 19.5μM respectively,
while possessing no cytotoxicity against Caco2 cells (IC50 > 100μM). 2 did not exhibit cytotoxicity
against A549, H292 and Caco2 cells (IC50 > 100μM). 1 significantly decreased the density of live cells and
could cause cell apoptosis at 10 and 20μM in a dose-dependent manner. After treatment of 1 for 24h, the level of
cleaved caspase-3 was increased accompanied by the reduction in procaspase-3 expression, and the downregulation
of Bcl-2 was associated with the enhancement of Bax expression. 1 could lead to the up-regulation of
cytochrome c and activation of caspase-9.

Conclusion:

1 and 2 are new sesquiterpenes from S. oleraceus. 1 could induce apoptosis in A549 and H292
cells through Bax/caspase-9 pathway.
Torsional Vibration Suppression of Electric Vehicle Power Transmission System Based on Parameter Optimization and Fuzzy Control
Authors: Chen Guoqiang , Yang Zhifei
Published: January 2020

Background:

The torsional vibration of the power transmission system has heavy effect on the
ride comfort and safety of the vehicle, which has attracted plenty of research. Therefore, aiming at the torsional
vibration problem of the electric vehicle power transmission system, enough study on how to suppress
the torsional vibration is clearly of great benefit.

Objective:

The goal of the work is to explore the new method to suppress the torsional vibration. The main
contribution is that the parameter of the power transmission system is optimized and the adaptive fuzzy PID
controller is proposed to be utilized and optimized to suppress the torsional vibration.

Methods:

An optimization objective function including the angular acceleration of the motor shaft, the decelerator
and differential assembly and the half shaft is established as the output of the genetic algorithm
fitness value. The error combination of the square root of the angular acceleration of the motor shaft, the
decelerator and differential assembly and the half shaft is adopted as the input of the fuzzy inference controller
and the PID controller, which can significantly simplify the fuzzy rule and the structure of the controllers.

Results:

The proposed method significantly reduces the torque amplitude of the motor shaft, the decelerator
and differential assembly, the transmission half shaft, and the overall vibration amplitude. The maximum
reduced vibration amplitude change is up to 41.22% and 87.04% respectively after parameter optimization
and fuzzy PID control in the example.

Conclusion:

The comprehensive utilization of parameter optimization and adaptive fuzzy PID control
can successfully suppress the torsional vibration phenomenon of the power transmission system,
and the torsional amplitude of the angular velocity and angular acceleration decreases significantly.
Therefore, the vehicle noise can be reduced and the stability can be improved. The study lays a foundation
for solving the torsional vibration problem and the mechanical optimal design of the vehicle
transmission system.
Role of Lacosamide in Preventing Pentylenetetrazole Kindling-Induced Alterations in the Expression of the Gamma-2 Subunit of the GABAA Receptor in Rats
Authors: Gáll Zsolt , Kelemen Krisztina , Mihály István , Salamon Pál , Miklóssy Ildikó , Zsigmond Brigitta , Kolcsár Melinda
Published: January 2020

Background:

Epilepsy remains challenging to treat still no etiologic treatment has been identified,
however, some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are able to modify the pathogenesis of the disease.
Lacosamide (LCM) has been shown to possess complex anticonvulsant and neuroprotective actions,
being an enhancer of the slow inactivation of voltage-gated sodium channels, and it has the potential to
prevent epileptogenesis. Recent evidence has shown that LCM indirectly improves the function of
GABAA receptors. Receptors at most GABAergic synapses involve the gamma-2 subunit, which contributes
to both phasic and tonic inhibition, and its presence assures benzodiazepine sensitivity. Moreover,
mutant gamma-2 subunits were associated with generalized epilepsy syndromes. In animal models,
the expression of the gamma-2 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAAg2) was
shown to be increased in pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced chemical kindling in Wistar rats.

Objective:

This study hypothesized that LCM might affect the kindling process by influencing the
expression of GABAA receptors in the hippocampus.

Methods:

The gene and protein expression levels of the GABAAg2 were studied using RT-qPCR and
immunofluorescent staining.

Results:

It was found that LCM treatment (10 mg/kg i.p. daily for 57 days) reduced the maximal
intensity of the PTZ-induced seizures but did not prevent kindling. On the other hand, LCM treatment
reverted the increase of mRNA expression of GABAAg2 in the hippocampus and prevented the
decrease of GABAAg2 protein in the hippocampal CA1 region.

Conclusion:

LCM could exhibit modulatory effects on the GABAergic system of the hippocampus that
may be independent of the anticonvulsant action.
A QoS Metric Approach for Web Service Pertinence for the Cloud
Authors: Singh Jayraj , Dhasarathan Chandramohan
Published: January 2020

Background:

Cloud computing is a very emerging technology today and playing an important role to provide the services through internet. Users are getting enormous benefits like high accessability of available application resources, faster time to market, fast development, deployment, lower start-up, operations cost and much more. Cloud offers us to utilize the benefits through web services.

Objective:

The degrading factors such as low Quality of Service, security factors, trustless and less resource management in cloud leads to service suitability issue. In service oriented computing finding an efficient QoS based web service on the web is very challenging task.

Methods:

A quality of service metric approach is proposed to identify the suitability of web services
and ensuring the deployability in the cloud era. The suitability of web service is examined for
its suitability cases (simple suitable, average suitable and best suitable) with respect to the quality of
service attribute.

Results:

The experimental setup, first the suitability scores calculated with the essential non-functional quality of service attribute information is identified from the set of services. However, the verification process expressed using the state transition diagram.

Conclusion:

The proposed system is simulated using JFLAP-a java package tool and the result shows the service suitability for the cloud. In this context the efficiency of identifying service suitability for deploying in the cloud gets verified using automated theory without affecting the performance of the cloud service.
BioMeT and algorithm measures: A proposed standardized evaluation framework (Preprint)
Authors: Godfrey Alan , Goldsack Jennifer , Tenaerts Pamela , Aranda Clara , Hussain Azad , Barreto Marcos Ennes , Vitório Rodrigo
Published: January 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Technology is advancing at extraordinary rates with novel data being generated which could potentially revolutionary different therapeutic areas of medicine. However, adoption is medicine is hampered by a lack of trust, particularly for biometric monitoring technologies (BioMeTs) where a key question facing frontline healthcare professionals is are BioMeTs fit for purpose? Here, we discuss pragmatic barriers and guidance regarding BioMeTs, cumulating in a proposed guidance framework to better inform their development and deployment in digital medicine. Furthermore, the framework proposes a process to establish an audit trail of BioMeTs (hardware and algorithms), to instil trust amongst multidisciplinary users.
What are the variables associated with Altmetric scores? – An overview of methodological reviews (Preprint)
Authors: Araujo Sr Amanda Costa , Vanin Sr Adriane Aver , Nascimento Sr Dafne Port , Gonzalez Sr Gabrielle Zoldan , Costa Sr Leonardo Oliveira Pena
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

The most common way to assess the impact of an article is based upon the number of citations. However, the number of citations do not precisely reflect if the message of the paper is reaching a wider audience. Currently, social media has been used to disseminate contents of scientific articles. In order to measure this type of impact a new tool named Altmetric was created. Altmetric aims to quantify the impact of each article through the media online.

OBJECTIVE

This overview of methodological reviews aims to describe the associations between the publishing journal and the publishing articles variables with Altmetric scores.

METHODS

Search strategies on MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL and Cochrane Library including publications since the inception until July 2018 were conducted. We extracted data related to the publishing trial and the publishing journal associated with Altmetric scores.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies were considered eligible. These studies summarized a total of 565,352 articles. The variables citation counts, journal impact factor, access counts (i.e. considered as the sum of HTML views and PDF downloads), papers published as open access and press release generated by the publishing journal were associated with Altmetric scores. The magnitudes of these correlations ranged from weak to moderate.

CONCLUSIONS

Citation counts and journal impact factor are the most common associators of high Altmetric scores. Other variables such as access counts, papers published in open access journals and the use of press releases are also likely to influence online media attention.

CLINICALTRIAL

N/A
A Smartphone App for Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome (MoTER-ACS): User-Centered Design Approach (Preprint)
Authors: Bashi Nazli , Varnfield Marlien , Karunanithi Mohanraj
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

Postdischarge interventions are limited for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) due to few scheduled visits to outpatient clinics and the need to travel from remote areas. Smartphones have become viable lifestyle technology to deliver home-based educational and health interventions.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a smartphone-based intervention for providing postdischarge support to patients with ACS.

METHODS

The content of Mobile Technology–Enabled Rehabilitation for Patients with ACS (MoTER-ACS) was derived from a series of small studies, termed prestudy surveys, conducted in 2017. The prestudy surveys were conducted in Prince Charles Hospital, Queensland, Australia, and consisted of questionnaires among a convenience sample of patients with ACS (n=30), a focus group discussion with health care professionals (n=10), and an online survey among cardiologists (n=15). Responses from the patient survey identified educational topics of MoTER-ACS. The focus group with health care professionals assisted with identifying educational materials, health monitoring, and self-management interventions. Based on the results of the cardiologists’ survey, monitoring of symptoms related to heart failure exacerbation was considered as a weekly diary.

RESULTS

The MoTER-ACS app covers multimedia educational materials to adopt a healthy lifestyle and includes user-friendly tools to monitor physiological and health parameters such as blood pressure, weight, and pain, assisting patients in self-managing their condition. A web portal that is linked to the data from the smartphone app is available to clinicians to regularly access patients’ data and provide support.

CONCLUSIONS

The MoTER-ACS platform extends the capabilities of previous mobile health platforms by providing a home-based educational and self-management intervention for patients with ACS following discharge from the hospital. The MoTER-ACS intervention narrows the gap between existing hospital-based programs and home-based interventions by complementing the postdischarge program for patients with ACS.
Eating Disorder Awareness Campaigns: Thematic and Quantitative Analysis Using Twitter (Preprint)
Authors: Viguria Iranzu , Alvarez-Mon Miguel Angel , Llavero-Valero Maria , Asunsolo del Barco Angel , Ortuño Felipe , Alvarez-Mon Melchor
Published: January 2020

BACKGROUND

Health awareness initiatives are frequent but their efficacy is a matter of controversy. We have investigated the effect of the Eating Disorder Awareness Week and Wake Up Weight Watchers campaigns on Twitter.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to examine whether the Eating Disorder Awareness Week and Wake Up Weight Watchers initiatives increased the volume and dissemination of Twitter conversations related to eating disorders and investigate what content generates the most interest on Twitter.

METHODS

Over a period of 12 consecutive days in 2018, we collected tweets containing the hashtag #wakeupweightwatchers and hashtags related to Eating Disorder Awareness Week (#eatingdisorderawarenessweek, #eatingdisorderawareness, or #EDAW), with the hashtag #eatingdisorder as a control. The content of each tweet was rated as medical, testimony, help offer, awareness, pro-ana, or anti-ana. We analyzed the number of retweets and favorites generated, as well as the potential reach and impact of the hashtags and the characteristics of contributors.

RESULTS

The number of #wakeupweightwatchers tweets was higher than that of Eating Disorder Awareness Week and #eatingdisorder tweets (3900, 2056, and 1057, respectively). The content of tweets was significantly different between the hashtags analyzed (P<.001). Medical content was lower in the awareness campaigns. Awareness and help offer content were lower in #wakeupweightwatchers tweets. Retweet and favorite ratios were highest in #wakeupweightwatchers tweets. Eating Disorder Awareness Week achieved the highest impact, and very influential contributors participated.

CONCLUSIONS

Both awareness campaigns effectively promoted tweeting about eating disorders. The majority of tweets did not promote any specific preventive or help-seeking behaviors.
POTENTIAL HOLISTIC PREVENTIVE AND THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS OF GARCINIA MANGOSTANA EXTRACT OR ISOLATES IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS: A REVIEW
Authors: HANRAHAN JOANNA ERIN , SUBROTO PRISCILLA AYA MAHESWARI , PRIAWAN RAHARDI PRASETIA , KRISNAMURTI DESAK GEDE BUDI
Published: January 2020

Objective: The need for long-term medication in diabetes mellitus has led to a search for herbal medicines as alternative treatments. Several studies have shown that extract or isolates of Garcinia mangostana can help prevent and treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods: This review was conducted by searching various databases, including PubMed, ClinicalKey, ScienceDirect, and EBSCOhost. We analyzed papers published within the previous 10 y.

Results: All in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies that evaluated the pharmacological effects of extract or isolates of G. mangostana in T2DM were reviewed. G. mangostana was found to suppress adipogenesis and regulate lipid homeostasis, thus improving lipid profiles and preventing T2DM. G. mangostana also demonstrated hypoglycemic properties, including the ability to decrease fasting blood glucose and mildly increase pancreatic β-cell numbers and activity. The mangosteen-treated group in one study showed a decrease in Homeostatic Model Assesment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), indicating improved insulin sensitivity, along with a significant decrease in the high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) levels. Histopathology showed that the α-mangostin-treated group had less damage to pancreatic β cells, healthier hepatocytes and central veins, and less glomerular and tubular epithelial necrosis than the diabetic control group. Moreover, the antioxidant effect of G. mangostana was shown to protect against the micro-and macrovascular damage caused by T2DM.

Conclusion: Extract or isolates of G. mangostana possess strong potential to prevent and treat T2DM. Further research evaluating long-term outcome biomarkers in humans is needed to confirm the drug’s glycemic control capacity.
EFFECT OF LUNASIN-RICH SOYBEAN EXTRACT UPON TNF-α EXPRESSION ON COLONIC EPITHELIAL CELLS OF MICE INDUCED BY AZOXYMETHANE/DEXTRAN SODIUM SULFATE
Authors: KUSMARDI KUSMARDI , TAMARA RENATA , ESTUNINGTYAS ARI , TEDJO ARYO
Published: January 2020

Objective: Colorectal cancer (CRC) contributes to 9.7% of all cancer, and its pathogenesis is related to chronic inflammation. However, current cancer therapy options are lacking, and peptide in food has become popular among researchers because it is cheap, easy to get, has a low toxicity, and is a promising cancer-preventing agent. This research aimed to investigate whether lunasin from soybeans can reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α in colonic epithelial cells.

Methods: Thirty Swiss Webster mice were randomly allocated to six groups. One group was normal, and in five groups, carcinogenesis was induced using azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). The mice were then given nothing (negative control), aspirin (positive control), and lunasin-rich soybean extract (LSE) in three different doses (250, 300, and 350 mg/kgBW) for four weeks. Distal colon tissue was immunohistochemically stained and then observed under a light microscope with 400X magnification to count epithelial cells, based on their color. The index was calculated using optical density scores.

Results: LSE was shown to decrease the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. This decrease was statistically significant between the negative control and a dose of 300 mg/kgBW (p=0.016) and 350 mg/kgBW (p=0.009), yet it was not significant with a dose of 250 mg/kgBW (p=0.754).

Conclusion: a dose of 300 mg/kgBW or higher of LSE can reduce the expression of TNF-α.
ANTIOXIDATIVE ACTIVITY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY PROFILE OF HIBISCUS SABDARIFFA HERB EXTRACTS
Authors: FITROTUNNISA QOTRUNNADA , ARSIANTI ADE , TEJAPUTRI NADZILA ANINDYA , QORINA FONA
Published: January 2020

Objective: Hibiscus sabdariffa, known as Roselle, is a widely-cultivated herb in Indonesia and has been consumed as an herbal drink due to its medicinal properties. The purpose of this research is to identify the antioxidant activity and phytochemical profile of Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Methods: The Hibiscus sabdariffa samples were extracted and macerated with three different organic solvents: ethyl acetate, ethanol, and n-hexane. These extracts were then analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC) and phytochemical tests to identify the extracts’ secondary metabolites. The extracts’ antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method.

Results: The phytochemistry tests were positive for glycosides, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, tannins, and flavonoids. The TLC analysis revealed that the extracts containing two to three organic compounds. The ethanol Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts with an IC50 value 103.63 ppm showed stronger antioxidant activity than the ethyl acetate extract.

Conclusion: Ethanol Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts may be a potential source of natural antioxidant.
EFFECT OF LUNASIN-ENRICHED SOY EXTRACT ON HISTONE DEACETYLASE EXPRESSION IN DISTAL COLON EPITHELIAL CELLS FROM AOM/DSS-INDUCED MICE
Authors: KUSMARD KUSMARDI , TARIGAN TIFFANY ROSA SUDARSO , ESTUNINGTYAS ARI , TEDJO ARYO
Published: January 2020

Objective: Lunasin peptide, with its chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic abilities, is known to affect carcinogenesis via epigenetic regulation involving histone acetylation. This study investigated lunasin, which can be found in soy, and its effects towards histone deacetylase (HDAC] expression in a mouse model of carcinogenesis.

Methods: Thirty Swiss Webster mice were grouped into normal, positive control, negative control, and experimental groups. Except for the normal group, mice underwent carcinogenesis induction through azoxymethane (AOM] and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS] injection. Experimental mice received lunasin-enriched soy extract at a dosage of 250 mg/kg BW (kilogram body weight), 300 mg/kg BW, and 350 mg/kg BW for 4 w. Distal colon samples were stained by using immunohistochemistry (IHC]. HDAC expression was measured by IHC optical density score.

Results: Average HDAC expression was 202.4% in the normal group, 239.3% in the negative control, 175.25% in the positive control, 202.03% at 250 mg/kg BW dose, 219.53% at 300 mg/kg, and 166.68% at 350 mg/kg BW. There was no significant difference between HDAC expression at 250 mg/kg BW and 300 mg/kg BW soy extract. However, at 350 mg/kg BW soy extract there were significant changes in HDAC expression.

Conclusion: lunasin in soy extract at a 350 mg/kg BW dose can decrease HDAC expression in a colorectal cancer carcinogenesis model.