bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Anti-diabetic Activity and Lc-esi/ltqorbitrap/ms/ms Profiling of an Aqueous Extract of Pergularia Tomentosa L. Aerial Parts
Authors: Hosseini seyeh Hamzeh , Ghadi Fereshteh Ezzati , Ghara Abdollah Ramzani , Cerulli Antonietta , Piacente Sonia
Published: March 2021

Background: Pergularia tomentosa L. is a milkweed tropical plant. In the Middle Est, the aerial parts of P. tomentosa are traditionally used as an anti-diabetic remedy. In order to find scientific evidence for the traditional use of this plant, the effect of an aqueous extract of P. tomentosa aerial parts by in vivo assay was investigated. Moreover, to achieve deeper insight into the chemical composition of the above-mentioned extract an analytical approach based on LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MSn was evaluated. Wistar rats were fasted overnights and diabetes mellitus induced using streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight). The rats were randomly and equally divided into four groups (n=5): group I (normoglycaemic control), group II (rats treated with streptozotocin 50 mg/kg body weight), group III (P. tomentosa extract 200 mg/kg body weight), group IV (normoglycaemic treated with P. tomentosa extract, 200 mg/kg body weight). At the end of the treatment period, they were anesthetized under diethylether. Vital organs (kidneys, liver and pancreas) and blood samples were obtained for histopathological, biochemical and haematological analysis.Results: P. tomentosa showed a reasonable reduction in blood glucose level. Probably, P. tomentosa effect on hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic diabetic animals was associated to antioxidant properties, triglyceride levels, as well as the liver enzymes. Furthermore, the metabolite profile of the aqueous extract of P. tomentosa obtained by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS/MSn highlighted the presence of double-linked cardenolides along with cardenolides and flavone glycosides. Conclusion: P. tomentosa decreased the glucose level and induced beneficial effect on lipid profile. This study confirms the capability of cardenolide glycosides to decrease the level of glucose in the blood.
3D U-Net For Segmentation of Covid-19-Associated Pulmonary Infiltrates Using Transfer Learning: State-Of-The-Art Results on Affordable Hardware
Authors: Bressem Keno K. , Niehues Stefan M. , Engel Günther , Hamm Bernd , Makowski Marcus R. , Vahldiek Janis L. , Adams Lisa C.
Published: March 2021

Segmentation of pulmonary infiltrates can help assess severity of COVID-19, but manual segmentation is labor and time-intensive. Using neural networks to segment pulmonary infiltrates would enable automation of this task. However, training a 3D U-Net from computed tomography (CT) data is time- and resource-intensive. In this work, we therefore developed and tested a solution on how transfer learning can be used to train state-of-the-art segmentation models on limited hardware and in shorter time. We use the recently published RSNA International COVID-19 Open Radiology Database (RICORD) to train a fully three-dimensional U-Net architecture using an 18-layer 3D ResNet, pretrained on the Kinetics-400 dataset as encoder. The generalization of the model was then tested on two openly available datasets of patients with COVID-19, who received chest CTs (Corona Cases and MosMed datasets). Our model performed comparable to previously published 3D U-Net architectures, achieving a mean Dice score of 0.679 on the tuning dataset, 0.648 on the Coronacases dataset and 0.405 on the MosMed dataset. Notably, these results were achieved with shorter training time on a single GPU with less memory available than the GPUs used in previous studies.
Mortality and Risk Factors in Patients With COVID-19 in Ecuador: A Cross-Sectional Analytic Study
Authors: Ordoñez Edy Rolando Quizhpe , Montalvo Eduardo , Paez Maritza , Guevara Tatiana , Flores Danny , Costales Dennise , Vidal Luis , Maldonado Augusto
Published: March 2021

Background: In Ecuador, a high mortality was observed during the maximum peak of COVID-19 cases in spring/summer 2020. Thus, 10000 thousand more deaths were registered in 2020 compared to 2019 in the same period time. A few researchers in Latin America have identified clinical conditions that could be associated with severity and mortality of this disease. The aim of this study was to describe main clinical characteristics and risk factors in patients with COVID-19 in the Ecuadorian context. Methods: A cross sectional analytic study was conducted from March to July 2020. Adult patients with COVID-19 confirmed by PCR test and admitted in emergency service was included in this study. Descriptive statistical measures were computed, and Chi-squared and logistic regression were performed to analyze associations between categorical variables. Results: The main results of 157 patients, showed that had a high prevalence of comorbidities (45%), and the case-fatality rate in this group was around 37%. Hypertension (17.83%) and diabetes (14.65%) were the most prevalent chronic diseases with a significant difference between sex groups (p value 0.00). Risk factor such as age more than 65 years, presence of comorbidities such as non-communicable diseases, and abnormalities in blood markers like urea, AST, lactate, leucocytes, PO2 and D-dimer increased risk to die in this population. Conclusions: The elevated prevalence of non-communicable diseases (hypertension and diabetes) contributed to a high mortality in adult patients with COVID-19. Huge challenges must face health care systems in the Latin America countries due to the high prevalence of these diseases.
Theoretical study of the electric and the magnetic dipole in UV-Vis and ECD of fluralaner: the folded conformation and the extended conformation
Authors: ziadi kamal
Published: March 2021

In our contribution, we have carried out a theoretical study of the transition characteristics of one-photon absorption (OPA) spectra of the folded conformation and the extended conformation of fluralaner. The electronic transitions in OPA are visualized with charge difference density (CDD) and transition density matrix (TDM) to explain the charge transfer via hole-electron distribution. We also analyze the transition dipole electric/ magnetic moment by using the isosurface (real space) and TDM diagram in order to determine the portions of molecules which have the most contribution in ECD spectra.
Coulomb Blockade Effects by Single Electron Tunneling Methods in Cylindrical Dual Gate OLET Configuration
Authors: Ojha Sandeep Kumar , Kumar Brijesh
Published: March 2021

In the field of nano electronics some nano-structure applications such as quantum dots (QDs), wires, wells and bulks must have distinctive potentials. These crystal structures emerged by an inorganic organic hybrid halide materials which processes in tremendous optoelectronic applications like electroluminescence, photoluminescence quantum yield (93.2%). There is a need of coupling to their surroundings by these structures which can either add or subtract electrons from the electrodes. As per state of the art the significant research efforts in about an isolated quantum dot coupling through tunneling of two leads that is source lead for supply of electrons and a drain lead for removes of electrons and their performances will be offered and discussed in the view for the realization of possible between Dual Gate Cylindrical Organic Light Emitting Transistor (OLET) architectures. In this article we examined the optical as well as electrical characteristics operation of cylindrical Dual Gate OLET (CDGOLET). Last year perovskite quantum dot (PQD) most preferred for the purpose of light-emitting transistors with high brightness of up to 1.432× 104 cd m− 2, high electron mobility’s of up to 14.052 cm2 v− 1 s− 1, and their external quantum efficiencies (EQE) of up to 1.85% operating at a source drain operating potential of 50 V.
Shear Strength Deterioration Effect and Slope Reliability Analysis Under Extreme Ice-snow Melting Conditions 
Authors: Xiong Tongqiang , Li Jianlin , Wang Lehua , Deng Huafeng , Xu Xiaoliang
Published: March 2021

Extreme ice-snow melting in winter affects the infiltration process of snow water on the slope surface significantly, and plays an important role in the deformation stability of landslide. The fluctuation trend of slope stability under ice-snow melting is the same as that of soil volume water content. The deterioration effect of mechanical parameters will directly affect the deformation stability of bank slope. Based on this, the ice-snow melting cycle model test of slope soil was designed and carried out. The results are showed.(1) We were established an ice-snow melting model based on physical process. In the process of ice-snow melting, the soil cohesion and internal friction Angle have obvious deterioration effect .The deterioration of cohesion is obviously larger than that of internal friction Angle. In the early part of the ice-snow melting cycle, the deterioration of shear strength parameters is very obvious. Among them, the deterioration of shear strength parameters caused by the first four ice-snow melting cycles accounted for about 70% of the total deterioration. After the G2/T2 ice-snow melting cycle, the degree of phase deterioration gradually decreases. The deterioration trend of shear parameters of soil samples gradually tends to be gentle. (2) In the ice-snow melting cycle, the inside of the soil samples have micro-cracks, fissures repeatedly opened and closed, gradually developed and converged. The result is that the soil samples change from dense state to loose state where internal cracks develop. The internal damage of soil samples is the fundamental reason for the gradual deterioration of shear strength.（3）We are keep to the relative independence principle of creep model and unsaturated seepage equation. We are studied and improved the parameter solving method of creep model. The modified model is reasonable and effective. The creep trend and main characteristics of the unsaturated soil can be described well. Shear strength deterioration effect and slope reliability analysis under extreme ice-snow melting conditions .It has important reference significance to the protection of extreme snow and ice disaster on the bank slope.
Patterns of livestock depredation and human-wildlife conflict in Misgar valley of Hunza, Pakistan
Authors: Bano Rubina , Khan Akbar , Mehmood Tahir , Sami Waqas , Khan Muhammad Zafar , Abass $aed , Shedyi Arshad Ali
Published: March 2021

Predators can cause a significant economic damage though preyed on livestock. These conflicts prompt a negative attitude towards their conservation and also leads towards retaliatory killing. Here we composed data from 100 household on livestock using a semi-structured questionnaire survey from 2014 to 2019 on livestock population, depredation patterns, predation count and conservation approaches. The poison regression model showed significant increasesd of predation count at P<0.05 among 22 influential factors such as age , gender, occupation, education of respondent, estimated population of predators, threats index for predators and conservation. A total of 364 out of 9270 livestock damaged by predators and non-predatory factors during the last six years. Among them 168 (1.81 %) attributed by wolf, 142 (1.53 %) by snow leopard and 54 (0.58%) by non-predatory factors. Our results showed an increase of 11 % in the overall population and an average of 60 animals were preyed by predators and non-predatory factors each year. The foremost threat to the mammalian predator was retaliatory killing. The guarded grazing and construction of predator-proof corral pens were identified to protect the domestic livestock predation by wolf and snow leopard respectively. This study specifies measures of conservation to minimize human-carnivore conflicts.
A Nomogram for Predicting the Risk of Common Bile Duct Stones Based on Preoperative Laboratory Tests and Ultrasonography 
Authors: Wu Kai , Wang Dong , Zhu Jiegao , Liu Kun , Wu Hongwei , Liu Jun , Guo Wei
Published: March 2021

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the predictive factors for common bile duct (CBD) stone and establish a nomogram model based on the preoperative laboratory tests and imaging findings.Methods: A total of 1701 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) combined with common bile duct exploration (CBDE) for suspected choledochlithiasis from November 2014 to October 2020 were eligible for this analysis. All patients were divided into the training set (from November 2014 to November 2019, n=1,453) and validation set (from November 2019 to October 2020, n=248) based on the admission time. The predictive factors for CBD stone were determined by the univariate and multivariate logistic regression model. A nomogram model for predicting the presence of CBD stone was developed based on significant variables, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration plot and decision curve analysis (DCA) were used to assess the predictive performance of the nomogram. Results: The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that multiple gallbladder stones (OR: 7.463, 95%CI: 5.437-10.243, P<0.001), the maximal diameter of CBD stone measured by preoperative ultrasonography (OR for 0.8-1.5 cm: 4.756, 95%CI: 3.513-6.438, P<0.001; OR for 1.5-2.0 cm: 9.597, 95%CI: 4.621-19.931, P<0.001; OR for >2.0 cm: 24.473, 95%CI: 2.809-213.207, P<0.001), preoperative GGT level (OR for 90-225 U/L: 2.828, 95%CI: 1.898-4.214, P<0.001; OR for 225-450 U/L: 9.994, 95%CI: 4.668-21.403, P<0.001; OR for >450 U/L: 12.535, 95%CI: 4.452-35.292, P<0.001) and DB/TB ratio (OR: 394.329, 95%CI: 79.575-1954.064, P<0.001) were independent predictive factors for CBD stone. The nomogram model for predicting the presence of CBD stone was developed based on the above-mentioned variables. ROC curve showed that the C-index of the nomogram model for the training set and validation set was 0.875 (95% CI: 0.857-0.893) and 0.834 (95% CI: 0.784-0.883), which were better than that of MRCP for preoperative diagnosis of CBD stone. The calibration curve and DCA curve demonstrated that the nomogram model had a good clinical utility for predicting the presence of CBD stone .Conclusion: The nomogram based on preoperative laboratory tests and ultrasonography had an excellent predictive power for CBD stone, and it might provide useful information for making treatment strategies.
Wheat Quality Estimation Using Vision-Based Digital Image Analysis
Authors: Csákvári Edina , Halassy Melinda , Enyedi Attila , Gyulai Ferenc , Berke József
Published: March 2021

BackgroundEinkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L. subs. monococcum) plays an increasingly important role in agriculture, promoted by organic farming. Although the number of comparative studies about modern and ancient types of wheats are increasing, there are still some knowledge gaps. The aim of the present study was to compare ancient, traditional and modern wheats using novel methods, including field study, laboratory stress experiment and vision-based digital image analysis. The yield and grain quality parameters based on the field experiment were measured with a near-infrared optical laboratory analyser. In order to predict the aboveground biomass production under nutrient deficiency and drought stress, a controlled experiment was set up in a growth chamber. Processing was performed by image segmentation using the Adobe Photoshop CC 20.04.4 Camera RAW 11.2 plug-in. Digital image parameters were determined with the open source software ImageJ and expressed in pixels of projected area, perimeter, bounding rectangle and Feret’s diameter.ResultsWe presented a fast, real-time, non-destructive and low-cost method for estimation of wheat quality. Based on the results, digital area is suitable to estimate aboveground biomass. Digital area outperformed other digital variables in biomass prediction in relation to stress, but height and Feret’s diameter better correlated with yield and grain quality parameters. The developed technique is easy to use to assess the growth and health status of plants. An RGB digital camera is easy to operate and image acquisition can be done at will, meanwhile conventional laboratory instruments are relatively expensive, very expert-intensive and time consuming.ConclusionOur study showed that digital image analysis could be a viable alternate means for the real-time estimation of aboveground biomass and for predicting yield and grain quality parameters. We suggest that the combination of various vision-based methods could improve the estimation of wheat performance in a non-destructive and real-time way. The results also demonstrated that modern wheats had better yield production and grain quality compared to einkorn wheats, but the latter were not far behind, thus the cultivation of various species could provide a diverse and sustainable agriculture.
Salinity-Temperature Sensor using One-Dimensional Deformed Photonic Crystal
Authors: Ali Naim Ben , Alsaif Haitham , Trabelsi Youssef , Chughtai Muhammad Tajammal , Vigneswaran D. , Kanzari Mounir
Published: March 2021

In this paper, new salinity and temperature sensor according to deformed one-dimensional photonic structure is proposed. The structure is constructed by alternating the couple of layers Air/Fused-Silica P-times. In the middle of the structure, a cavity containing the seawater is inserted to mesure its salinity and temperature. The Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) is used to simulate the wave-transmittance spectra. It is showed that, the quality factor (Q-factor) of the resonance peaks depends to the repetitive number (P) of layers. After that, the thickness of the layers is deformed by changing the deformation degree (h). The parameters P and h are optimized to get the maximal Q-factor with the minimal number of layers and structure’s thickness. The best sensitivity [[EQUATION]] of the proposed salinity sensor is 558.82 nm/RFIU with a detection limit of 0.0034 RFIU. In addition, the best sensitivity [[EQUATION]] of the designed temperature sensor is 600 nm/RFIU with a detection limit of 0.0005 RFIU.
A metastasis prediction model in non-small cell lung cancer using GLCM_contrast and epithelial mesenchymal transition related genes
Authors: Kim Byung-Chul , Lim Ilhan , Byun Byung Hyun , Kim Jingyu , Woo Sang-Keun
Published: March 2021

Purpose: The aim of this study was to estimate a metastasis prediction model in non-small cell lung cancer by correlation next generation sequence gene expression level and fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography image features from non-small cell lung cancer patients.Methods: RNA-sequencing data and 18F-FDG PET images of 63 patients with NSCLC (29 metastasis and 34 non-metastasis) from The Cancer Imaging Archive and The Cancer Genome Atlas Program databases were used in a combined analysis. Weighted correlation network analysis was performed to identify gene groups were related metastasis. Module was selected with high module significance. Genes selection was performed by gene function related metastasis and high AUC (AUC > 0.6). A total of 47 image features were extracted from PET images as radiomics. The relationship of Gene expression and image features were calculated by using a hypergeometric distribution test with the Pearson correlation method. Metastasis prediction model was validated by random forest algorithm using image texture features related gene expression.Results: 36 modules were identified by gene expression pattern with WGCNA assay. The modules had highest module significance was selected assay. 7 genes from selected module were identified to involve in the epithelial mesenchymal transition pathway that have important role in the cancer metastasis and had high AUC. Also, expression of these genes was related to quantitative of image feature (GLCM_contrast, -log10 P-value: 2.45~3.89). The AUC value (accuracy: 0.856 ± 0.06, AUC: 0.868 ± 0.05) was shown from the EMT-related gene and GLCM_contrast model and AUC value (accuracy: 0.842 ± 0.06, AUC: 0.838 ± 0.09) was shown from GLCM_contrast image texture model. Conclusion: GLCM_contrast image texture feature shows relationship with EMT related gene expression. We developed a model for predicting metastasis of non-small cell lung cancer using 18F-FDG PET image feature and evaluated its accuracy.
Effectiveness of a Human Capacity-building Initiative on Improving the Health of Rural Communities
Authors: Moghaddam Hamed Rezakhani , Aghamohammadi Vahideh , Habibi Aghil , Hamidzadeh Yousef
Published: March 2021

Background: Given the major role of capacity building in improving the health of rural communities and due to the lack of studies performed on this issue, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of educational and capacity building intervention on staff communication, job motivation skills, educational performance, and knowledge and behavior of health house clients in Ardabil city’s rural communities.Methods: The pretest-posttest nonequivalent control group design was conducted. In this study, convenience sampling was performed and a total of 220 health care recipients and 108 staff were surveyed in both interventional and control groups. The intervention was designed based on four approaches for capacity building introduced by Crisp et al. Data were collected using three questionnaires including knowledge and practice about healthy lifestyle, communication skills self-assessment, and Wright's job motivation. All statistical analyses were fulfilled using IBM SPSS Statistics software.Results: At the end of the study; the mean scores of knowledge and practice of referrals to health centers about a healthy lifestyle and communication skills and job motivation of healthcare worker increased statistically in the intervention group compared to the baseline (p< 0.05), but changes in these variables were not significant in the control group (p>0.05). Following 3 months of intervention, there were significant differences among the study groups (p< 0.05).Conclusion: Capacity building comprehensive interventions can help in identifying rural community health needs, increasing knowledge and practice of rural communities' residents about health issues, promoting health workers empowerment, and improving health workers' motivation.
The Major Genetic Risk Factor for Severe COVID-19 Does Not Show Any Association Among Indian Populations
Authors: Singh Prajjval , Shrivastava Anshika , Sultana Gazi Nurun Nahar , Khanam Nargis , Pathak Abhishek , Suravajhala Prashanth , Singh Royana , Shrivastava Pankaj , Thangaraj Kumarasamy , Chaubey Gyaneshwer , Driem George van
Published: March 2021

With the growing evidence on the variable human susceptibility against COVID-19, it is evident that some genetic loci modulate the severity of the infection. Recent studies have identified several loci associated with greater severity. More recently, a study has identified a 50kb segment introgressed from Neanderthal adding a risk for COVID-19, and this trait is present among 16% and 50% people of European and South Asian origin respectively. Contrary to this finding, our studies on ACE2 identified a haplotype present among 20% and 60% of European and South Asian populations respectively, which appears to be responsible for the low case fatality ratio among South Asian populations. This result was also consistent with the realtime infection rate and case fatality ratio among various states of India. We readdressed this issue using both of the contrasting datasets and compared them with the realtime infection rates and case fatality ratio in India. We found out that the polymorphism present in the 50kb introgressed segment (rs10490770) did not show any significant correlation with the realtime infection and case fatality ratio in India.
Myocilin gene mutations: A cause of juvenile open-angle glaucoma in north India
Authors: Yadav Manoj , Deora Anupama , Sachdeva Sumit , Rathi Manisha , Phogat Jitender , Dhull Chand Singh , Vashist Minakshi , Tanwar Mukesh
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Juvenile-onset open-angle glaucoma (JOAG) is an uncommon type of primary open-angle glaucoma that affects individuals during childhood and early adulthood. Pathogenic variants in the myocilin gene account for varying frequencies of primary open-angle glaucoma and JOAG cases in different populations. This study has screened and identified novel and previously identified myocilin variants in a north Indian cohort of JOAG patients.
Methods

Eighty unrelated JOAG cases and one hundred controls have been screened for MYOC variants by PCR and DNA sequencing of exons.
Results

DNA sequencing revealed seventeen different variants. Out of these variants, five (p.G122A, p.R136I, p.S173T, p.K216I, and p.R200KTer*15) were novel and registered in NCBI. Pathogenic MYOC variants identified in 7.5% of JOAG cases.
Conclusion

Pathogenic myocilin variants account for 7.5% of cases of JOAG in our patient’s cohort. This study augments the mutation spectrum of the MYOC gene, provides population-specific information, and aids in better understanding the underlying lesions of the disease.
Technological Change in Electric Power Supply Chain: Quantifying Economic Benefits of General Electric's GT11N2 M
Authors: Genc Talat
Published: March 2021

This paper examines General Electric's new combined-cycle gas turbine GT11N2 M upgrade. The new technology provides operational flexibility and promises output and cost efficiencies. To investigate the benefis of this technology, we propose a power supply chain model and construct cost functions for generation and service and maintenance using actual market and firm level data. The upstream firm is General Electric (GE) who invests in GT11N2 generators. The investment results in innovation of GT11N2 M upgrade facilitating different operational modes and efficiencies. The downstream firm is TransAlta's Sarnia plant which utilizes this new technology to produce and sell electricity to residential, small business, industrial, and wholesale market customers in Ontario, Canada. We quantify equilibrium prices and outputs under various efficiency rates in costs of fuel, service, and maintenance. We find a large variation in electricity generation depending on which operational mode ("Maximum Continuous Load" or "Performance" or "Lifetime") of GT11N2 M is selected. Under a mixed usage of all modes, we expect 44% output expansion to the industrial customers and 0.2% sales increase in the Ontario wholesale electricity market. Under this mode, GE's price should go down by 0.4% due to fuel cost efficiency. If GE's cost was $2.8 per MWh, GE should have asked Trans-Alta an average price of $5.822 per MWh for service and maintenance prior to the new technology. With the new technology, GE should charge $5.502 per MWh to Trans Alta. While GE's sales to wholesale market are almost stable, the sales to industrial customers increase nonlinearly in downstream efficiency rates. This shows that the amount of greenhouse gas emissions will be largely impacted by the choice of operational mode and how long it is used.
Structural Changes and Adaptative Evolutionary Constraints In FLOWERING LOCUS T and TERMINAL FLOWER1-Like Genes of Flowering Plants
Authors: Jesus Deivid Almeida de , Batista Darlisson Mesquista , Salzman Shayla , Carvalho Lucas Miguel , Santana Kaue , André Thiago
Published: March 2021

Regulation of flowering is a crucial event in the evolutionary history of angiosperms. The production of flowers is regulated through the integration of different environmental and endogenous stimuli, many of which involve the activation of different genes in a hierarchical and complex signaling network. The FLOWERING LOCUS T/TERMINAL FLOWER 1 (FT/TFL1) gene family is known to regulate important aspects of flowering in plants. To better understand the pivotal events that changed FT and TFL1 functions during the evolution of angiosperms, we reconstructed the ancestral sequences of FT/TFL1-like genes and predicted protein structures to identify determinant sites that evolved in both proteins and allowed the adaptative diversification in the flowering phenology and developmental processes. Residues from the P-loop domain of the analyzed FT structures showed predominantly high destabilizing mutations which is consistent with constant selective pressure found for this region. In addition, we demonstrate that the occurrence of destabilizing mutations in residues located at the phosphatidylcholine binding sites of FT structure experience positive selection, and some residues of 4th exon are under negative selection, which is compensated by the occurrence of stabilizing mutations in key regions and the P-loop to maintain the overall protein stability. Our results shed light on the evolutionary history of key genes involved in the diversification of angiosperms.
Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure Versus Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Prevention of Extubation Failure in Infants After Cardiac Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: zheng yirong , xie wenpeng , liu jianfeng , xu ning , cao hua , chen qiang
Published: March 2021

Objective: To evaluate the effect of bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (NCPAP) in respiratory support after extubation in infants undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: A total of 83 infants who underwent repair of atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defect (VSD) after extubation were randomized to the BiPAP group (n= 42) or the NCPAP group (n= 41) between January 2020 and December 2020. The primary outcomes were the extubation failure rate and the level of PCO2 within 24 h after extubation. Results: The baseline characteristics between the two groups were similar. The introduction of BiPAP for post-extubation respiratory support did not reduce extubation failure rates compared to NCPAP (P>0.05). The PaCO2 level within 48 h was significantly lower in the BiPAP group (P<0.05). Additionally, the PaO2/FiO2 in the BiPAP group was significantly higher than that in the NCPAP group at 6h, 12h and 24h after treatment (P<0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in duaration on NIV, hospital length of stay, total hospital costs in $ and complications between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: The introduction of BiPAP for post-extubation respiratory support did not reduce extubation failure rates versus NCPAP. However, BiPAP was shown to be superior to NCPAP in improving oxygenation and carbon dioxide clearance.
Adaptive function and correlates of anxiety during a pandemic
Authors: Salali Gul Deniz , Uysal Mete Sefa , Bevan Abi
Published: March 2021

The majority of the studies to date have focused on the negative aspects of anxiety. Anxiety, however, is an evolved emotional response serving to decrease mortality risk. Pandemics are characterized by increased mortality risk coupled with future uncertainties, both of which result in heightened anxiety. Here, we examined the factors associated with anxiety levels and risk avoidance behaviours during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the UK (N = 1088) and Turkey (N = 3935). We asked how individual time perspectives (future orientation and present moment attention) affect anxiety in an uncertain time, and whether an elevated anxiety response reduces mortality risk by promoting risk avoidance behaviour. We found that people who were more future-oriented and less tolerant of uncertainties had higher levels of generalized and pandemic anxieties. Those with higher anxiety levels engaged in risk avoidance behaviours more frequently. Mindfulness reduced anxiety levels without reducing risk avoidance, suggesting that mindfulness-based therapies can be used to alleviate anxiety without interfering with the benefits of a healthy anxiety response. Trust in others reduced anxiety, but also reduced risk avoidant behaviour. Several behavioural and social factors contributed to the country-level differences in the overall anxiety levels and engagement in risk avoidance behaviours.
Evaluating Child Malnutrition in Southern Belize Using an Anthropologic Screening Tool
Authors: Brenner Sara , Balise Raymond
Published: March 2021

The WHO describes the ‘double burden’ of malnutrition as obesity coexisting with undernutrition. This condition’s increasing prevalence makes it an important disorder to monitor and address. Screening tools exist to evaluate child malnutrition in hospital settings, but few are available to evaluate children elsewhere. This study taught community health workers (CHWs) in Southern Belize to implement the Hasegawa et. al. screening tool for child malnutrition. Data was collected at home visits, mobile clinics and at two rural polyclinics. Descriptive statistics were performed, and the data was analyzed using two tailed t-tests and the Anscombe-Glynn test for kurtosis. 171 child-mother pairs were screened. Of the children screened, 10 met the WHO definition of underweight, 29 met the WHO definition of overweight, and 30 met the WHO definition of stunted. The combination of measured weight and length, expressed as the weight for length z-score, showed a statistically significant increase of 0.83 [95% CL: 0.51 to 1.14, p < 0.0001] with 4% (6/167) of the children showing clinically significant wasting and 17% (29/167) being clinically overweight. The screening tool correctly identified all 10 underweight children. Further modeling is needed to develop an anthropological measure to assess the double burden of malnutrition.
Determination of Stomatic Density, Index, and Area as Exposition Biomarkers of Pollution in Deschampsia Antárctica Desv. (Poaceae)
Authors: Dopchiz Laura Patricia , Ansaldo Martin
Published: March 2021

Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) is the only native grass described so far for Antarctica, with a distribution mainly centered on the Antarctic Peninsula. The plants were collected at Argentinian Scientific Station Carlini, 25 de Mayo (King George) Island, to determine and evaluate in their leaves: the stomatic index (SI), density (SD), and area (SA) as pollution biomarkers. Samples were taken within the Station's influence area: (A) Supply Area (loading and unloading of fuel and supplies), (B) the area adjacent to the Electric Power Station, and (C) area of Fuel Tanks. Besides, other samples were taken from a pristine area called Peñon 7 (D). The results of SD showed significant differences only on the leaf abaxial face from the plants of the 4 studied sites: Peñón 7 (57.36 ± 2.03), Supply Area (61.30 ± 2.32), Electric Power Station adjacent area (69.56 ± 2.23) and Fuel Tanks area (80.11 ± 2.42). The SI as well as the SA did not have significant differences (p > 0.05) for all the analyzed sites. However, correlation analyses between SD and SI showed a positive and significant association only for the leaf adaxial face from all sites. From the obtained results, we could suggest that the correlation (SD-SI) on the adaxial side of the leaves was a good biomarker to estimate the degree of anthropogenic impact in each studied area.
The antipsychotic drug pimozide is a novel chemotherapeutic agent for adult T cell leukemia
Authors: Ishikawa Chie , Mori Naoki
Published: March 2021

Patients with adult T cell leukemia (ATL), caused by the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), exhibit poor prognosis owing to drug resistance. Pimozide, a dopamine D2 receptor subfamily antagonist and antipsychotic drug, has been shown to exhibit anticancer activity. Herein, we investigated whether pimozide exerts anti-ATL effects and explored the mechanisms underlying these effects. While pimozide inhibited cell growth and survival in HTLV-1-infected T cells, it exerted limited effects on uninfected T cells. The dopamine D2 receptor subfamily mRNA expression levels in HTLV-1-infected T cells were high. Pimozide induced G1 cell cycle arrest concomitant with the upregulation of p21/p27/p53 and the suppression of cyclin D2/E, CDK2/4/6 and c-Myc expression and pRb phosphorylation. Pimozide also induced apoptosis via the activation of caspases and upregulation of pro-apoptotic proteins and downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, it promoted ROS generation and increased the expression of the ER stress marker ATF4 and the DNA damage-inducible protein GADD45a and the phosphorylation of the DNA damage marker H2AX. Furthermore, pimozide-induced cytotoxicity was partially inhibited by a ROS scavenger and pan-caspase and necroptosis inhibitors, indicating the involvement of caspase-dependent and -independent lethal pathways. The activities of the NF-κB, Akt, STAT3/5 and AP-1 signaling pathways were inhibited via the dephosphorylation of IκBα, IKKα/β, Akt and STAT3/5, in addition to reduced JunB and JunD expression in HTLV-1-infected T cells in response to pimozide treatment. Pimozide also exhibited potent anti-ATL activity in the xenograft mouse model. These findings demonstrated the efficacy of pimozide as a potential therapeutic agent for ATL.
Factors Influencing Nursing Students' Professional Identity in a Clinical Learning Environment in Hunan, China
Authors: Zeng Lihong , Chen Qirong , Fan Sisi , Yi Qifeng , An Wenhong , Liu Huan , Hua Wei , Huang Rong , Huang Hui
Published: March 2021

Background: Clinical learning environment is an important stage for nursing students, it will affect the cultivation of professional identity of nursing students. This study to explore the factors influencing the cultivation of professional identity among nursing students in a clinical learning environment. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study.Convenience sampling was applied to recruit 398 nursing students from The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University in Hunan Province. After the nursing students completed their clinical learning, data on the participants’ characteristics, professional identification and nursing clinical learning environment were collected. Descriptive statistics, including the mean ± standard deviation, were calculated. The data were analysed by t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple linear regression. Results: The results showed that the nursing students’ highest professional identity score was in professional cognition (16.07±2.78). The nursing students’ professional identity was significantly related to educational background, willingness to choose the nursing major and school level (P<0.05).In the clinical learning environment, the students’ voluntary selection of the nursing major and teaching methods and interpersonal relationships were most important. Conclusion: The clinical learning environment and nursing’ students personal characteristics are the most important factors influencing the professional identity of nursing students. Based on these results, hospitals should flexibly adapt teaching methods according to students’ personal characteristics, improve the professional skills of teachers, and create a good working atmosphere. In addition, faculty members should reform their teaching methods and encourage students to establish good interpersonal relationships to provide more learning opportunities for nursing students and to enhance the recognition of nursing students in the nursing profession.
Optimization of the Countersinking Parameters Based on the Response Surface Method
Authors: Mosbah Hassen , Attyaoui Slimen , Nasri Rachid
Published: March 2021

The countersinking process is affected by many factors including the tools and the workpiece parameters. Some forming phenomena such as the knife-edge affect the quality of the countersunk hole. Up to now, many kinds of research rely mainly on the experiments which lead to poor quality and difficult control of this process. In this paper, a proposed numerical optimization of the countersinking process is developed to obtain a normalized countersunk hole. This optimisation approach is based on the response surface method (RMS), design of experiments (DOE) and the sequential quadratic programming (SQP). Finite element model is performed with an elasto-plastic behaviour for simulating the process. A configuration with an imposed displacement applied to the blank holder is adopted in this study. The comparison between the results of the numerical model and the experiments showed a good agreement.
Effects of Water and Nitrogen Coupling on Photosynthetic Characteristics, Yield and Quality of Isatis Indigotica
Authors: Wang Yucai , He Xiucheng , Li Fuqiang , Deng Haoliang , Wang Zeyi , Huang Caixia , Han Yi , Ba Yuchun , Lei Lian , Zhang Changlong
Published: March 2021

In arid areas of Northwest China, Isatis indigotica is a commercial medicinal crop cultivated with higher water and nutrient in a large area, which makes rational irrigation and nitrogen application key factors for successful crop management. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of water and nitrogen coupling on photosynthetic characteristics, yield, and quality of Isatis indigotica produced in northwestern China. Field trials were conducted for two consecutive years on the irrigation test station. Data on photosynthetic parameters, yield and quality were collected from individual Isatis indigotica for each treatment during the years 2018–2019. The application of nitrogen significantly increased photosynthetic rates and yield under the same irrigation conditions. However, the yield were reduced in the excess water treatments, W3N1, and W3N2 and in excess nitrogen treatments, W1N3, W2N3, W3N3, in contrast to the optimum W2N2 treatment. Moreover, the quality indicators of the W2N2 treatment decreased compared with CK, which was due to water stress and more photo-assimilates being available to the roots, but the effective quality index value cloud be effectively improved by greatly increasing the yield.
Comparison between the trapezius and adductor pollicis muscles as an acceleromyography monitoring site for moderate neuromuscular blockade during lumbar surgery
Authors: Oh Seok Kyeong , Park Sangwoo , Lim Byung Gun , Kim Young Sung , Kim Heezoo , Kong Myoung Hoon
Published: March 2021

Acceleromyography at the adductor pollicis located in a distal part of the body may not reflect the degree of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) at the proximally located muscles manipulated during lumbar surgery. We investigated the usefulness and characteristics of acceleromyographic monitoring at the trapezius for providing moderate NMB during lumbar surgery. Fifty patients were randomized to maintain a train-of-four count 1–3 using acceleromyography at the adductor pollicis (group A; n = 25) or the trapezius (group T; n = 25). Total rocuronium dose administered intraoperatively [mean ± SD, 106.4 ± 31.3 vs. 74.1 ± 17.6 mg; P < 0.001] and surgical satisfaction (median [IQR], 7 [5–8] vs. 5 [4–5]; P < 0.001) were significantly higher in group T than group A. Lumbar retractor pressure (88.9 ± 12.0 vs. 98.0 ± 7.8 mmHg; P = 0.003) and lumbar muscle tone in group T were significantly lower than group A. Time to maximum block with an intubating dose was significantly shorter in group T than group A (44 [37–54] vs. 60 [55–65] sec; P < 0.001). Other outcomes were comparable. Acceleromyography at the trapezius muscle during lumbar surgery required a higher rocuronium dose for moderate NMB than the adductor pollicis muscle, thereby providing better surgical conditions. Trapezius as proximal muscle better reflects surgical conditions of spine muscle.
Higher BMI Indicated Better Overall Survival Prognosis of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: A Real-World Study Based on 2,010 Cases
Authors: FU Ningzhen , JIANG Yu , QIN Kai , DENG Xiaxing , CHEN Hao , Shen Baiyong
Published: March 2021

Background: Whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with the overall survival (OS) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remained controversial and uncertain.Method: A total of 2,010 patients from single high-volume center were enrolled in the study. OS of PDAC patients was evaluated based on restricted cubic spline (RCS), propensity score (PS) and multivariable risk adjustment analyses. Result: BMI was discovered linear related with OS (total P=0.004, non-linear P=0.124). BMI was analyzed as categorical data based on X-tile software defined cutoffs and World Health Organization (WHO) recommended cutoffs, respectively. Adjusted with confounding covariates, higher BMI manifested as a positive prognostic predictor. (PXtile=0.003, PWHO=0.002) Furtherly, BMI was proven associated with OS in PS analysis. (UnderweightXtile vs. NormalXtile P=0.003, OverweightXtile vs. NormalXtile P=0.019; UnderweightWHO vs. NormalWHO P<0.001, OverweightWHO vs. NormalWHO P=0.024). It was also revealed that patients with higher BMI benefitted more from chemotherapy.(adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): UnderweightXtile: 0.565 (0.389-0.819), NormalXtile: 0.474 (0.395-0.567), OverweightXtile: 0.409 (0.337-0.496); UnderweightWHO: 0.613 (0.401-0.940), NormalWHO: 0.464 (0.387-0.557), OverweightWHO: 0.425 (0.353-0.512)). Conclusion: Among PDAC patients, higher BMI manifested as a favorable OS indicator, and the protective impact was probably based on chemotherapy administration. Patients with higher BMI were also observed with more chemotherapy administration and more OS benefits from chemotherapy.
Using Geoprocessing Techniques to Analyze the Geographic Distribution of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) Whitmani (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) Associated With Vegetation Cover, and the Impacts on the Expansion of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) In Brazil. 
Authors: Costa Simone Miranda da , Magalhães Monica de Avelar Figueiredo Mafra , Carrijo Renata de Saldanha da Gama Gracie , Rangel Elizabeth Ferreira
Published: March 2021

BackgroundIn Brazil, due to new and complex epidemiologic scenarios, the focal and dynamic transmissions of American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) occur in different patterns, depending on location. An important example of this phenomenon is the widespread distribution and various behavior patterns of Lutzomyia (Nyssomyia) whitmani, a vector that transmits three types of dermatropic leishmaniases: Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Viannia) shawi and Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis. This study aims to correlate different types of Brazilian vegetation with the spatial distribution of L. (N.) whitmani in the areas representing Spatial Circuits of Production for American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL).MethodsIn order to evaluate the ACL vigilance and monitoring model in Brazil, the Ministry of Health has analyzed the Spatial Circuit of the disease until 2013, currently adopting a classification of ACL transmission in municipalities that is based on the composite indicator of tegumentary leishmaniasis (ICLT). For this study, a Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to integrate the layers of L. (N.) whitmani’s geographic distribution with vegetation cover and Spatial Circuits of ACL in Brazilian municipalities.ResultsOut of the 5570 Brazilian municipalities here analyzed, information on the L. (N.) whitmani was found for 862. The vector occurred in nearly all types of vegetation, with a widespread distribution in: Dense Ombrophilous Forests, Open Ombrophilous Forests (or transition forests), Seasonal Decidual Forests (or deciduous woods), Seasonal Semidecidual Forests (semideciduous woods) and Steppe. The vector was not found in Oligotrophic Woody Vegetation of the Marshes and of Sand Accumulation. ConclusionsThis ample presence of the vector reinforces the hypothesis that L. (N.) whitmani is a notable species, that can easily adapt to different environments.