bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An intervention development for cessation of hookah smoking among Iranian women: study protocol for a systematic and theory-based approach to intervention design
Authors: Dadipoor Sakineh , Kok Gerjo , Heyrani Ali , Aghamolaei Teamur , Ghaffari Mohtasham , Ghanbarnezhad Amin
Published: February 2020

Background

Hookah smoking is an emerging global health issue, especially in Eastern Mediterranean region; and accordingly, women are at the center of this issue as they have a more positive attitude towards hookah smoking. Also, the rate of hookah smoking is increasing at a faster rate among women compared to men. The aim of the present study will be systematically designing and implementing an educational intervention program for hookah smoking cessation among 15 years old women and older in the Iranian southern city of Bandar Abbas.

Methods

We will use intervention mapping methodology for designing the study. Due to the breadth of factors affecting hookah smoking and the complexity of hookah cessation, we will initially conceptualize hookah smoking cessation program as a set of purposeful activities designed to stop the hookah smoking. In the first step (need assessment), the environmental and behavioral factors related to hookah smoking/cessation and the determinants of these factors will be determined by systematic review and local qualitative study. Then, based on the results of the first step, the behavioral and environmental goals of hookah smoking cessation will be identified. In the second step, the practical goals will be determined for each of the behavioral and environmental outcomes; and then, the logic and matrix of change objectives will be designed using the determinants extracted from the previous step. The products of the second step will be the intervention goals. In the third step, theoretical and practical methods affecting each of the intervention goals will be identified. In the fourth step, contents of educational program for hookah cessation will be produced. The fifth step will be about planning to implement the program. In the sixth step, the effectiveness of designed program will be evaluated in a quasi-experimental intervention.

Discussion

Appropriate development and successful implementation of a hookah cessation intervention requires a systematic and theory-based approach. We believe that using Intervention Mapping (IM) as the guiding methodology will make it possible to address complexities of developing an intervention program. Also, reflections on the quasi-experimental research and describing the context and executed methods of implementation would contribute to the development of IM and the knowledge needed for the implementation of program.

Trial registration IRCT20190126042494N1, Registered 3.3.2019. https://en.irct.ir/trial/37129.
A trienone analog of curcumin, 1,7-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-one, possesses ROS- and caspase-mediated apoptosis in human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro
Authors: Utaipan Tanyarath , Boonyanuphong Piyawan , Chuprajob Thipphawan , Suksamrarn Apichart , Chunglok Warangkana
Published: February 2020

The leading causes of oral cancer treatment failure are cancer metastasis and chemotherapeutic resistance. Thus, developing novel anticancer agents that are effective against those aggressive cancer cells would be important for complementary or alternative treatments. The objective of this study was to investigate cytotoxicity and anticancer mechanisms of a synthetic trienone analog of curcumin, 1,7-bis(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1,4,6-heptatrien-3-one (trienone 11), against human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells exhibiting multidrug resistance (CLS-354/DX). The study of cytotoxicity showed that trienone 11 exerted threefold stronger cytotoxicity to CLS-354/DX cells than curcumin. Trienone 11 (15–30 μM) markedly induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting in apoptotic cell death within 24 h, through activation of caspase-3/7 and caspase-9. A ROS inhibitor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC) prevented apoptotic cell death via decreasing caspase activation. Thus, the cytotoxicity of trienone 11 against CLS-354/DX cells was ROS-mediated intrinsic apoptosis. Overall, trienone 11 could be an interesting lead for developing anti-cancer agents against multidrug resistant OSCC cells.
Coral microbiome composition along the northern Red Sea suggests high plasticity of bacterial and specificity of endosymbiotic dinoflagellate communities
Authors: Osman Eslam O. , Suggett David J. , Voolstra Christian R. , Pettay D. Tye , Clark Dave R. , Pogoreutz Claudia , Sampayo Eugenia M. , Warner Mark E. , Smith David J.
Published: February 2020

Background

The capacity of reef-building corals to tolerate (or adapt to) heat stress is a key factor determining their resilience to future climate change. Changes in coral microbiome composition (particularly for microalgal endosymbionts and bacteria) is a potential mechanism that may assist corals to thrive in warm waters. The northern Red Sea experiences extreme temperatures anomalies, yet corals in this area rarely bleach suggesting possible refugia to climate change. However, the coral microbiome composition, and how it relates to the capacity to thrive in warm waters in this region, is entirely unknown.

Results

We investigated microbiomes for six coral species (Porites nodifera, Favia favus, Pocillopora damicornis, Seriatopora hystrix, Xenia umbellata, and Sarcophyton trocheliophorum) from five sites in the northern Red Sea spanning 4° of latitude and summer mean temperature ranges from 26.6 °C to 29.3 °C. A total of 19 distinct dinoflagellate endosymbionts were identified as belonging to three genera in the family Symbiodiniaceae (Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium). Of these, 86% belonged to the genus Cladocopium, with notably five novel types (19%). The endosymbiont community showed a high degree of host-specificity despite the latitudinal gradient. In contrast, the diversity and composition of bacterial communities of the surface mucus layer (SML)—a compartment particularly sensitive to environmental change—varied significantly between sites, however for any given coral was species-specific.

Conclusion

The conserved endosymbiotic community suggests high physiological plasticity to support holobiont productivity across the different latitudinal regimes. Further, the presence of five novel algal endosymbionts suggests selection of certain genotypes (or genetic adaptation) within the semi-isolated Red Sea. In contrast, the dynamic composition of bacteria associated with the SML across sites may contribute to holobiont function and broaden the ecological niche. In doing so, SML bacterial communities may aid holobiont local acclimatization (or adaptation) by readily responding to changes in the host environment. Our study provides novel insight about the selective and endemic nature of coral microbiomes along the northern Red Sea refugia.
A Sociodemographic variables questionnaire (Q-SV) for research on family caregivers of children with chronic disease
Authors: Toledano-Toledano Filiberto , Rodríguez-Rey Rocío , Moral de la Rubia José , Luna David
Published: February 2020

Background

Chronic diseases in childhood can affect the physical and mental health of patients and their families. The literature on pediatric chronic diseases has found important associations between the sociodemographic variables of children and their caregivers and negative health consequences in families.

Methods

In this study, we aimed to design and validate a questionnaire on sociodemographic variables that would be useful for research on pediatric chronic diseases; and investigate the relationship between sociodemographic variables and psychosocial variables among family caregivers. First, we created a questionnaire that consists of 20 demographic, medical, and family-related items based on a literature review and expert evaluations. This questionnaire was then validated by 335 expert reviewers in the field of Social Work, who work daily with the families of patients with chronic diseases in 10 National Institutes of Health of Mexico. The validation was based on three empirical criteria created specifically for this study, and the reviewers evaluated the usefulness, relevance, and permanence of the items. In a second cross-sectional, correlational and comparative study, a total of 446 family caregivers of children with chronic diseases were interviewed, and they completed the Sociodemographic Variables Questionnaire for research on family caregivers of children with chronic sociodemographic diseases and four psychosocial measurement instruments for evaluating anxiety, depression, caregiver burden and quality of life.

Results

Based on the results of the first study, we created the Sociodemographic Variables Questionnaire (Q-SV) for research on family caregivers of children with chronic diseases, and it includes 17 items that assess demographic, medical, and family characteristics. The results of the second study showed that the 17 sociodemographic variables obtained in the validation by expert judges are useful for measuring and evaluating the relationship between psychosocial variables in families of children with chronic diseases.

Conclusions

Psychosocial and sociodemographic factors are relevant for the development of research processes for families that care for children with chronic diseases.
Decision-making styles in the context of colorectal cancer screening
Authors: Douma Linda N. , Uiters Ellen , Timmermans Danielle R. M.
Published: February 2020

Background

Our study examined the use of decision-making styles, as identified by Scott and Bruce (1995) (i.e. differentiating between a rational, intuitive, dependent, avoidant and spontaneous decision-making style), within the context of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening participation. In the field of cancer screening, informed decision-making is considered important, which follows the Rational Decision model. Subsequently, gaining more insight into decision-making styles being used in real life, could improve support to people when making their screening decision. In addition, we examined whether the decision-making style that people used was associated with their experienced decisional conflict.

Methods

An online survey was carried out among a sample of first-time CRC screening invitees (1282 respondents, response rate 49%). We assessed people’s decision-making styles, CRC screening participation, education level, self-reported health literacy, and decisional conflict, and examined the possible associations between them.

Results

In our study, people who had to decide about CRC screening scored high on using both a rational and intuitive decision-making style. Respondents scoring higher on using a spontaneous or dependent decision-making style were more likely to have participated in CRC screening, while respondents scoring higher on using an avoidant decision-making style were more likelynotto have participated in CRC screening. However, differences were small. Generally, people in our study experienced low decisional conflict.

Conclusion

Our eligible CRC screening population scored high on using both a rational and intuitive decision-making style. To optimise support to people, public education materials could be appealing more to the intuitive processes at hand. That being said, the current education materials aimed at informed/rational decision-making do not necessarily seem to create a problem, as people generally experienced low decisional conflict. Possible concerns regarding the use of a spontaneous, dependent or avoidant decision-making style could be that these styles might be contributing to less informed decisions. However, it is relevant to consider that the found differences are small and that any possible concern applies to a relatively small group of people.
A comparative dimensionality reduction study in telecom customer segmentation using deep learning and PCA
Authors: Alkhayrat Maha , Aljnidi Mohamad , Aljoumaa Kadan
Published: February 2020

Telecom Companies logs customer’s actions which generate a huge amount of data that can bring important findings related to customer’s behavior and needs. The main characteristics of such data are the large number of features and the high sparsity that impose challenges to the analytics steps. This paper aims to explore dimensionality reduction on a real telecom dataset and evaluate customers’ clustering in reduced and latent space, compared to original space in order to achieve better quality clustering results. The original dataset contains 220 features that belonging to 100,000 customers. However, dimensionality reduction is an important data preprocessing step in the data mining process specially with the presence of curse of dimensionality. In particular, the aim of data reduction techniques is to filter out irrelevant features and noisy data samples. To reduce the high dimensional data, we projected it down to a subspace using well known Principal Component Analysis (PCA) decomposition and a novel approach based on Autoencoder Neural Network, performing in this way dimensionality reduction of original data. Then K-Means Clustering is applied on both-original and reduced data set. Different internal measures were performed to evaluate clustering for different numbers of dimensions and then we evaluated how the reduction method impacts the clustering task.
Prevalence of long gun use in Maryland firearm suicides
Authors: Nestadt Paul S. , MacKrell Kevin , McCourt Alexander D. , Fowler David R. , Crifasi Cassandra K.
Published: February 2020

Background

Firearms account for the majority of US suicides, largely due to lethality and accessibility. Under Federal and Maryland law, long guns are less regulated than handguns which is a concern for increased suicide risk. This study uses Maryland data to ascertain the impact of long guns on suicides in the state. We hypothesize that the prevalence of long gun use among firearm suicides will be increased in rural and young populations.

Methods

This is a cross sectional study using police and medical examiner narratives to identify firearm type involved in all 3931 Maryland gun suicides from 2003 to 2018. Proportions of firearm suicides utilizing long guns were calculated. Urban-rural differences were determined using the National Center for Health Statistics’ classification system. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios of long gun to handgun suicides across the urban-rural spectrum, controlling for decedent demographics.

Results

From 2003 to 2018, 28.4% of Maryland gun suicides used long guns. The proportion of long guns used was highest in the most rural counties, where 51.6% of firearm suicides were by long gun, compared to 16.8% in the most urban counties. Long guns were disproportionately used by the young. For decedents 18 or younger, 44.6% used long guns, compared to 20.2% in those 65 or older. Compared to the most urban counties, firearm suicide decedents in the most rural counties were 3.74x more likely to use long guns (OR = 3.74; 95% CI 2.19, 6.40;p < .001) after adjusting for demographics, intoxication, and hunting season.

Conclusions

Long guns are used in a large proportion of Maryland firearm suicides, particularly in rural areas and disproportionately in youth suicides. Long guns must be considered as part of access to lethal means or policy strategies in efforts to reduce the burden of firearm suicide.
Small-scale scattering heterogeneities beneath the northern Tien Shan from the teleseismic P wavefield
Authors: Ma Xiaolong , Huang Zongying
Published: February 2020

In order to investigate the small-scale scattering heterogeneities underneath the northern Tien Shan, we analyze the P wavefield from teleseismic events. By using the teleseismic fluctuation method, we separate the total wavefield into coherent and fluctuating parts in the frequency band of 0.1–8.0 Hz. Subsequently, we investigate the scattering characteristics by analyzing the frequency-dependent intensities of the coherent and fluctuating wavefield between 0.3 and 2.5 Hz. We further constrain the velocity perturbations and correlation lengths by modeling the P-wave coda envelope with the Monte Carlo simulation. Strong scattering heterogeneities are revealed beneath the northern Tien Shan. The preferred scattering model can be described as a ~ 55- to 130-km-thick randomly heterogeneous layer with velocity perturbations of 6–9% and correlation lengths on the order of 0.4 km. We attribute these small-scale scatterers to isolated melt pockets from the upwelling hot mantle materials.
Near-ridge-axis volcanism affected by hotspot: insights from effective elastic thickness and topography of the Ojin Rise Seamounts, east of Shatsky Rise in the northwest Pacific Ocean
Authors: Shimizu Shoka , Nakanishi Masao , Sano Takashi
Published: February 2020

We used recently collected bathymetric data and published gravity data to examine the effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere and the crustal thickness beneath the Ojin Rise Seamounts, located east of Shatsky Rise in the northwest Pacific Ocean. An admittance analysis of the bathymetric and gravity data indicates that the effective elastic thickness of the Pacific plate under the Ojin Rise Seamounts is 2.7 ± 0.1 km, implying that the seamounts were formed on or near the spreading ridge between the Pacific and Farallon plates. The mean crustal thickness beneath the seamounts estimated from the mantle Bouguer anomaly is 10.1 ± 1.7 km, which is thicker than the surrounding crust. The thick crust was probably formed by the interaction between the Pacific–Farallon ridge and a hotspot forming Shatsky Rise. Our results indicate that late-stage volcanism after the formation of the main edifices of Shatsky Rise spread widely beyond the eastern side of the rise, forming the Ojin Rise Seamounts.
Temporal variation in seismic moment release rate of slow slips inferred from deep low-frequency tremors in the Nankai subduction zone
Authors: Kono Yoko , Nakamoto Keita , Hiramatsu Yoshihiro
Published: February 2020

We examined seismic moment release rates as estimated from deep low-frequency tremors at episodic tremor and slip (ETS) zones on the plate interface in the Nankai subduction zone. Excluding periods with long-term slow slip events, we observe no clear temporal variation in the seismic moment release rate in the Tokai, the northern Kii, or Shikoku regions. We also find no variation in the seismic moment release rate related to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in the southern or central Kii region. These findings imply that the 2011 Tohoku earthquake has not affected slow slip activities in the Nankai subduction zone. For the southern and central Kii regions, a long-term decrease in the seismic moment release rate with time is apparent, irrespective of the occurrence of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, suggesting that frictional properties on slip planes at the ETS zone on the plate interface have varied over time.
The comprehensive detection of miRNA, lncRNA, and circRNA in regulation of mouse melanocyte and skin development
Authors: Zhu Zhiwei , Ma Yueyue , Li Yuan , Li Pengfei , Cheng Zhixue , Li Huifeng , Zhang Lihuan , Tang Zhongwei
Published: February 2020

Background

Pigmentation development, is a complex process regulated by many transcription factors during development. With the development of the RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), non-coding RNAs, such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, are found to play an important role in the function detection of related regulation factors. In this study, we provided the expression profiles and development of ncRNAs related to melanocyte and skin development in mice with black coat color skin and mice with white coat color skin during embryonic day 15 (E15) and postnatal day 7 (P7). The expression profiles of different ncRNAs were detected via RNA-seq and also confirmed by the quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) method. GO and KEGG used to analyze the function the related target genes.

Results

We identified an extensive catalogue of 206 and 183 differently expressed miRNAs, 600 and 800 differently expressed lncRNAs, and 50 and 54 differently expressed circRNAs, respectively. GO terms and pathway analysis showed the target genes of differentially expressed miRNA and lncRNA. The host genes of circRNA were mainly enriched in cellular process, single organism process. The target genes of miRNAs were mainly enriched in chromatin binding and calcium ion binding in the nucleus. The function of genes related to lncRNAs are post translation modification. The competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of lncRNAs and circRNAs displays a complex interaction between ncRNA and mRNA related to skin development, such asTcf4,Gnas, andGpnmsrelated to melanocyte development.

Conclusions

The ceRNA network of lncRNA and circRNA displays a complex interaction between ncRNA and mRNA related to skin development and melanocyte development. The embryonic and postnatal development of skin provide a reference for further studies on the development mechanisms of ncRNA during pigmentation.
Climate change evidence in tree growth and stand productivity at the upper treeline ecotone in the Polar Ural Mountains
Authors: Devi Nadezhda M. , Kukarskih Vladimir V. , Galimova Аrina A. , Mazepa Valeriy S. , Grigoriev Andrey A.
Published: February 2020

Background

Recent warming is affecting species composition and species areal distribution of many regions. However, although most treeline studies have estimated the rates of forest expansion into tundra, still little is known about the long-term dynamic of stand productivity at the forest-tundra intersection. Here, we make use of tree-ring data from 350 larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) and spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) sampled along the singular altitudinal treeline ecotone at the Polar Urals to assess the dynamic of stand establishment and productivity, and link the results with meteorological observations to identify the main environmental drivers.

Results

The analysis of stand instalment indicated that more than 90% of the living trees appeared after 1900. During this period, the stand became denser and moved 50 m upward, while in recent decades the trees of both species grew faster. The maximum afforestation occurred in the last decades of the twentieth century, and the large number of encountered saplings indicates that the forest is still expanding. The upward shift coincided with a slight increase of May–August and nearly doubling of September–April precipitation while the increase in growth matched with an early growth season warming (June + 0.27 °C per decade since 1901). This increase in radial growth combined with the stand densification led to a 6–90 times increase of biomass since 1950.

Conclusion

Tree-ring based twentieth century reconstruction at the treeline ecotone shows an ongoing forest densification and expansion accompanied by an increased growth. These changes are driven by climate change mechanism, whereby the leading factors are the significant increase in May–June temperatures and precipitation during the dormant period. Exploring of phytomass accumulation mechanisms within treeline ecotone is valuable for improving our understanding of carbon dynamics and the overall climate balance in current treeline ecosystems and for predicting how these will be altered by global change.
Pembrolizumab-induced Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: an immunotherapeutic challenge
Authors: Kalmuk James , Puchalla Jon , Feng Gong , Giri Anshu , Kaczmar John
Published: February 2020

Background

As the number of indicated malignancies for which immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy such as pembrolizumab grows the descriptions of associated immune-related adverse events (irAEs) increases as well. On rare occasions immunotherapy can lead to development of Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) which is a potentially lethal inflammatory disorder characterized by histiocyte activation and cytokine storm. At this time no cases of HLH developing in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients receiving pembrolizumab have been reported.

Case presentation

Here we describe the first documented case of pembrolizumab-induced HLH in a 61 year-old male with metastatic HNSCC after having received multiple prior cycles of pembrolizumab without event. Following cycle 14 the patient developed fever associated with new pancytopenia and transaminitis prompting hospital admission. Infectious workup was negative, his metastatic lesions were found to be stable, and there was no evidence of new malignancy. Further workup demonstrated hyperferritinemia and bone marrow biopsy demonstrated hemophagocytosis concerning for pembrolizumab-induced HLH. Etoposide and dexamethasone therapy was initiated leading to clinical improvement and safe discharge.

Conclusions

Immunotherapy is a groundbreaking therapeutic intervention for patients with malignancy, however by nature of their mechanism carry a risk of inflammatory side effects. In rare circumstances these inflammatory reactions include potentially deadly syndromes such as HLH. As immunotherapeutics such as pembrolizumab become more widely utilized increased awareness of complications such as HLH is clinically relevant.
Optimal integration of DGs into radial distribution network in the presence of plug-in electric vehicles to minimize daily active power losses and to improve the voltage profile of the system using bio-inspired optimization algorithms
Authors: Injeti Satish Kumar , Thunuguntla Vinod Kumar
Published: February 2020

Purpose

The increase in plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) is likely to see a noteworthy impact on the distribution system due to high electric power consumption during charging and uncertainty in charging behavior. To address this problem, the present work mainly focuses on optimal integration of distributed generators (DG) into radial distribution systems in the presence of PEV loads with their charging behavior under daily load pattern including load models by considering the daily (24 h) power loss and voltage improvement of the system as objectives for better system performance.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the desired outcomes, an efficient weighted factor multi-objective function is modeled. Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Butterfly Optimization (BO) algorithms are selected and implemented to minimize the objectives of the system. A repetitive backward-forward sweep-based load flow has been introduced to calculate the daily power loss and bus voltages of the radial distribution system. The simulations are carried out using MATLAB software.

Findings

The simulation outcomes reveal that the proposed approach definitely improved the system performance in all aspects. Among PSO and BO, BO is comparatively successful in achieving the desired objectives.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is the formulation of the multi-objective function that can address daily active power loss and voltage deviation under 24-h load pattern including grouping of residential, industrial and commercial loads. Introduction of repetitive backward-forward sweep-based load flow and the modeling of PEV load with two different charging scenarios.
Molecular identification, characterization, and expression analysis of a novel trypsin inhibitor-like cysteine-rich peptide from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Authors: Shakeel Muhammad , Zafar Junaid
Published: February 2020

Trypsin inhibitor-like cysteine-rich domain (TIL)-type protease inhibitors have been reported to inhibit proteases such as trypsin, cathepsin, elastase, and chymotrypsin, and thus play a critical role in several physiological processes. However, the information about TIL peptides in insects is limited. In the present study, a novel cysteine-rich trypsin inhibitor-like protease, designated as HaTIL2, was isolated from the cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The cDNA sequence of HaTIL2 is 470 nucleotides long, with 240 nucleotides open reading frame encoding 80 amino acid residues. The analysis of genomic DNA revealed that the full-length genomic DNA sequence of HaTIL2 was 574 bp with two exons and one intron. The predicted molecular weight of HaTIL2 is 8.632 kDa, with an isoelectric point of 4.41. The results of neighbor-joining tree demonstrated that HaTIL2 was closely related to H. armigera TIL3, DmCEI, and DsCtAPI followed by TcIMI and MdCEI. The mRNA of HaTIL2 was constitutively expressed at different levels in different stages of H. armigera. The HaTIL2 showed a high expression on different days of the pupal stage, which revealed that HaTIL2 might play a vital role during the pupal stage. Although the detailed function of HaTIL2 needs to be elucidated, the obtained results are of particular importance to open up new avenues of research into the functional studies of insect peptidase inhibitors.
Serum level of some micronutrients in children infected with Helicobacter pylori
Authors: Elsaghier Ashraf Mohamed , Abdel Aal Fardous Hanem , Abu Faddan Nagla Hassan , Farghaly Hekma Saad , Hassan Mona Abd-Elhamid , Sherif Mahmoud Farouk
Published: February 2020

Background

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) proved to be highly prevalent all over the world. H. pylori may modify the absorption of many nutrients. Studies have suggested that, beyond iron, H. pylori infection may affect the homeostasis of other micronutrients such as vitamins and trace elements. Our study’s aim was to assess the effect of H. pylori infection on some blood micronutrient level including zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin B12 in children with chronic or recurrent unexplained dyspeptic symptoms and/or non-variceal hematemesis.

Results

A cross-sectional case-control study was carried out in 32 children (4–18 years) with chronic or recurrent unexplained dyspeptic symptoms and/or non-variceal hematemesis. Patients were divided according to the results histopathology and rapid urease test into two groups, H. pylori-positive patients (18 patients) and H. pylori-negative patients (14 patients). Another control group of 18 children was included. Serum levels of zinc, selenium, vitamin C, and vitamin B12 were measured in all children. Prevalence of H. pylori infection was 56.2%. The mean serum zinc levels were significantly lower in H. pylori-positive cases than in control group (84.2 ± 13.85 versus 94.6 ± 6.52 with P = 0.009) and lower than in H. pylori-negative cases but not statistically significant (84.2 ± 13.85 versus 92.2 ± 8.53 with P = 0.054). The mean serum vitamin C levels were significantly lower in H. pylori-positive cases than in negative cases and control group (220.7 ± 46.16 versus 305.1 ± 28.83 and 313.1 ± 31.43 with P < 0.0001). The mean serum vitamin B12 levels were significantly lower in H. pylori-positive cases than in negative cases and control group (167.8 ± 76.98 versus 290.1 ± 69.92 and 326.1 ± 38.67 with P < 0.0001). The mean serum selenium level was slightly higher in H. pylori-positive patients than in H. pylori-negative patients and control group but not statistically significant (118.2 ± 11.13 versus 112.1 ± 8.69 and 113.1 ± 13.76 with P = 0.096, 0.243 respectively).

Conclusion

Helicobacter pylori infection in children has a significant negative effect on the serum levels of zinc, vitamin C, and vitamin B12.
Student Zone
Authors: Monteiro Lucas Guimarães P.
Published: February 2020

The 2019 SEG Annual Meeting featured a variety of student activities, such as the SEG/ExxonMobil Student Education Program and the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium (SLS). As president of the State University of Rio de Janeiro Geophysical Society (an SEG student chapter), I was invited to participate in SLS to learn more about leadership and communication.
Mesenchymal-epithelial transition regulates initiation of pluripotency exit before gastrulation
Authors: Hamidi Sofiane , Nakaya Yukiko , Nagai Hiroki , Alev Cantas , Kasukawa Takeya , Chhabra Sapna , Lee Ruda , Niwa Hitoshi , Warmflash Aryeh , Shibata Tatsuo , Sheng Guojun
Published: February 2020

The pluripotent epiblast gives rise to all tissues and organs in the adult body. Its differentiation starts at gastrulation, when the epiblast generates mesoderm and endoderm germ layers through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although gastrulation EMT coincides with loss of epiblast pluripotency, pluripotent cells in development and in vitro can adopt either mesenchymal or epithelial morphology. The relationship between epiblast cellular morphology and its pluripotency is not well understood. Here, using chicken epiblast and mammalian pluripotency stem cell (PSC) models, we show that PSCs undergo a mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) prior to EMT-associated pluripotency loss. Epiblast MET and its subsequent EMT are two distinct processes. The former, a partial MET, is associated with reversible initiation of pluripotency exit, whereas the latter, a full EMT, is associated with complete and irreversible pluripotency loss. We provide evidence that integrin-mediated cell-matrix interaction is a key player in pluripotency exit regulation. We propose that epiblast partial MET is an evolutionarily conserved process among all amniotic vertebrates and that epiblast pluripotency is restricted to an intermediate cellular state residing between the fully mesenchymal and fully epithelial states.
Branching Ratio Measurement in 23Ne Beta Decay
Authors: Rahangdale H. , Mishnayot Y. , Ohayon B. , Hirsh T. , Vaintraub S. , Glick-Magid A. , Gazit D. , Ron G.
Published: February 2020

We describe the branching ratio measurement experiment performed at Soreq Applied Research Accelerator Facility (SARAF) using the deuteron beam. We successfully produced 107/s 23Ne atoms in the run and used them to measure the branching ratio in 23Ne beta decay to the first excited state of 23Na. We provide some preliminary results of the experiment whose data analysis currently ongoing.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks on improving predictions of nuclear radii
Authors: Skarlis V. , Bratsolis E. , Charou E. , Mertzimekis T. J.
Published: February 2020

Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) are mathematical computing paradigms imitating the operations of biological neural systems. Their nonlinear nature and ability to learn from the environment make them highly suited to solve real-world problems from those that are still under development. In the field of Physics there are many problems which cannot be adequately solved with the physics–based methods and the use of ANN may yield better results. In the present work ANNs have been tested in predicting nuclear radii considering as input the atomic and mass numbers, exclusively. The performance of different supervised ANNs is evaluated. The dataset used for the training and testing was based on evaluated data of nuclear radii available in IAEA tables.
Investigation of the C3+ Auger KLL spectrum obtained in collisions of 6-15 MeV C4+ (1s2, 1s2s 3S) with gas targets
Authors: Madesis I. , Laoutaris A. , Benis E. P. , Zouros T. J. M.
Published: February 2020

Single electron transfer to the 1s2s 3S long-lived component of the naturally occurring mixed-state(1s2, 1s2s 3S) C4+ion beam in collisions with gas targets was investigated using zero-degree Auger projectile spectroscopy at the Demokritos 5.5 MV tandem accelerator. The observed KLL Auger spectrum contains 1s2s2p 2P and 4P states resulting from direct 2p transfer to the 1s2s 3S. Higher lying (1s2s 3S)nl2,4L states produced by nl transfer (n>2) were also observed and can in principle feed the lower lying 1s2s2p2Pand 4Pstates. However, due to spin selection rules only the quartets have large enough radiative branching ratios resulting in a proposed selective feeding of only the 1s2s2p 4P state by E1 cascades, while minimally affecting the 1s2s2p 2P states. In the absence of cascades, the ratio of cross sections for 2p transfer to the 1s2s 3S state, Rm≡ σm(4P)/σm(2P), is 2 according to spin statistics. However, the 1s2ground state beam component also contributes to the production of the 1s2s2p 2P doublet states by transfer-excitation. To isolate just the 1s2s 3S transfer contribution and compute Rm, a new technique was employed requiring the recording of two KLL spectra, with the same collision energy, but each with appreciably different 1s2s 3S content, varied by stripping techniques. Our determination of Rmshows this to be >2, in agreement with spin statistics, but contrary to the expected 4P enhancement due to cascade feeding. Details of the analysis and results are discussed.
Gamma spectroscopy studies of the underwater hydrothermal vent field of the Methana Peninsula
Authors: Papakosta V. , Mertzimekis T. J. , Triantafyllou M.
Published: February 2020

A preliminary study of natural radioactivity was conducted on the thermal spas in Methana Peninsula. To carry out this research, a collection of 17 water samples were taken from thermal springs around and underwater of the volcanogenic Peninsula at depths ranging 0–5 m. The Methana peninsula belongs to the Hellenic Volcanic Arc and is characterized by hydrothermal vent activity. A NaI(Tl) scintillator (AMESOS) was used to carry out gamma–ray counting of the samples to deduce the activity concentrations of the natural radionuclides of the 238U and 232Th decay series, as well as 40K in spa waters. Results are expected to provide information on the geological setting of the Methana peninsula. The impact of naturally occurring radioisotopes to human health has also been assessed in terms of the radiation dose risk corresponding to the measured activities.
On the Experimental Investigation of the Angular Distributions in the Reaction 112Cd(p,γ)113In
Authors: Zyriliou A. , Khaliel A. , Mertzimekis T. J.
Published: February 2020

Some of the mid–weight nuclei lie in the region of the isotopic chart where the astrophysical p-process has a prominent role in the nucleosynthetic scenarios. Experimentally deduced reaction cross section data can provide stringent tests for the astrophysical models, especially at low energies. In this framework, the reaction 112Cd(p,γ)113In has been studied experimentally at four proton beam energies 2.8 ≤ Ep≤ 3.4 MeV, partly inside the astrophysically interesting Gamow window. Proton beams were provided by the 5.5 MV T11 Van de Graaff Tandem Accelerator of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the National Center for Scientific Research (NCSR) “Demokritos”. In–beam spectroscopy was carried out with an array of four HPGe detectors sitting on a rotating table. In total, eight (8) different angles were used to record gamma–ray spectra. Special focus was given on constructing the angular distribution of each gamma–ray feeding the ground state of 113In directly, so as to determine the reaction cross sections from the in–beam data, exclusively. The resulting cross sections were compared to Hauser–Feshbach calculations using the code TALYS v1.9.
Evaluation of neutron fluence in the treatment room and along the maze of an 18 MV linear accelerator
Authors: Siltzovalis G. , Papadopoulos K. , Savva M. I. , Vasilopoulou T. , Georgolopoulou P. , Karaiskos P. , Kalef-Ezra J. , Stamatelatos I. E.
Published: February 2020

Neutron fluence and dose equivalent rate in the treatment room and along the maze of an 18 MV medical linear accelerator was evaluated using Monte Carlo code MCNP5. Scope of the study was to test the hypothesis that a simple accelerator head model can adequately estimate the neutron fluence in the treatment room and along the maze without the requirement of a detailed modeling of the complex accelerator head configuration. The accelerator head was modeled either as a spherical cell source of 10 cm in radius or as a point source in the centre of a spherical cell of 10 cm internal and 20 cm external radious,  both made of tungsten. The calculations were compared against measurements performed using gold and indium activation foils. A good agreement between calculated and experimental results was observed in the treatment room. However, the calculations at the maze entrance overestimated the neutron fluence by a factor of 3. The results of the study contribute towards the development of a simple and computationally cost effective methodology for the calculation of neutron dose in the treatment room and the maze of high energy medical accelerators providing a representative simulation of the complex accelerator, bunker and maze configurations that cannot be described by presently used analytical expressions.
Improved calibration for non destructive determination of manganese in metallurgical tap smelting slag using a high energy medical accelerator
Authors: Togia N. , Vasilopoulou T. , Filippaki E. , Savva M. I. , Georgolopoulou P. , Mertzimekis T. J. , Basiakos Y. , Stamatelatos I. E.
Published: February 2020

An improved calibration method for the non-destructive determination of the manganese content in large metallurgical tap smelting slag samples using photon activation analysis is presented. A metallurgical tap smelting slag of archaeological interest from the Psaphaki site, Laconia, was irradiated under the mixed photon and parasitic neutron field produced by an 18 MV medical accelerator. The sample was 236 g in mass. Manganese was determined by the photon and neutron induced reactions 55Mn(g, n)54Mn and 55Mn(n,g)56Mn, measuring the 834.8 keV 54Mn and  846.8 keV 56Mn photopeaks, respectively. Gamma spectra from the large sample and calibration foils were acquired using a HPGe detector of 85% relative efficiency. The Efficiency Transfer method was applied to determine the Full Energy Peak Efficiency (FEPE) of the large sample. The results of the analysis showed that the manganese content in the slag was (39.5±15.8) % w/w and (39.7±2.6) % w/w measuring the 56Mn photopeak and the 54Mn photopeak, respectively. Therefore, a good agreement between the photon and neutron activation analysis techniques was observed. Advantages of the technique include improved representativeness of results, elimination of reference samples, irradiation versatility and convenience, as well as reduced contamination probability since a minimal sample preparation was required for the analysis.  Moreover, the introduction of the relative calibration technique removes the dependency on parameters that are usually evaluated with larger uncertainties, such as detector efficiency, increasing the quality and reliability of the procedure.
Synergy of nuclear data systematics and proxy-SU(3) in planning future experiments in the superheavies mass region
Authors: Peroulis S. P. , Bofos S. , Mertzimekis T. J. , Martinou A. , Bonatsos D.
Published: February 2020

Spectroscopic information of hard–to–reach superheavy nuclei can be invaluable in understanding the dynamics of nuclear systems at large values of charge and volume. RIB factories of the next generation, such as FAIR, plan to provide heavy ion beams at high energies to facilitate experimental access to these mass regimes. In preparation of future experimental endeavours, a systematic survey of available nuclear data, mainly energies and reduced transition probabilities/lifetimes of short–lived 21+ states in even–even isotopes with Z=82,84,86 was undertaken. The principle motivation is to trace the competition between collective and single-particle degrees of freedom in the mass area just above Pb (Z=82), an area known to exhibit isomerism, octupole degrees of freedom and shape coexistence. Existing data were compared to the theoretical predictions using the analytical, parameter­­–free proxy–SU(3) scheme, for neutron numbers N=96–116. The model was further employed to predict currently unknown values for spectroscopic data in series of Pb, Po and Ra isotopes.
Editorial Comments and Symposium Info
Authors: Organizing Committee Symposium
Published: February 2020

No abstract (available).
Spallation reactions of 0.1-1.0 GeV protons on 208Pb
Authors: Nicolis N. G. , Asimakopoulou A. , Souliotis G. A.
Published: February 2020

N/A
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and microbiome composition among medical students from Colombia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Reyes Niradiz , Montes Oscar , Figueroa Stephanie , Tiwari Raj , Sollecito Christopher C. , Emmerich Rebecca , Usyk Mykhaylo , Geliebter Jan , Burk Robert D.
Published: February 2020

Background: The anterior nares are the main ecological niche for Staphylococcus aureus, an important commensal and opportunistic pathogen. Medical students are frequently colonized by a variety of pathogens. Microbial interactions in the human nose can prevent or favor colonization by pathogens, and individuals colonized by pathogens have increased risk of infection and are the source of transmission to other community members or susceptible individuals. According to recent studies, the microbiome from several anatomic areas of healthy individuals varies across different ethnicities. Although previous studies analyzed the nasal microbiome in association with S. aureus carriage, those studies did not provide information regarding ethnicity of participants. Our aim was to assess S. aureus nasal carriage patterns and prevalence among medical students from Colombia, a country of Hispanic origin, and to investigate possible associations of colonization and nasal microbiome composition (bacterial and fungal) in a subgroup of students with known S. aureus carriage patterns.

Methods: Nasal swabs from second-year medical students were used to determine prevalence and patterns of S. aureus nasal carriage. Based on microbiological results, we assigned participants into one of three patterns of S. aureus colonization: persistent, intermittent, and non-carrier. Then, we evaluated the composition of nasal microbial communities (bacterial and fungal) in 5 individuals from each carriage category using 16S rRNA and Internal-Transcribed-Spacer sequencing.

Results: Prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage among medical students was 28%. Carriage of methicillin-resistant strains was 8.4% and of methicillin-sensitive strains was 19.6%. We identified 19.6% persistent carriers, 17.5% intermittent carriers, and 62.9% non-carriers.

Conclusions: Analysis of nasal microbiome found that bacterial and fungal diversity was higher in individuals colonized by S. aureus than in non-carriers; however, the difference among the three groups was non-significant. We confirmed that fungi were present within the healthy anterior nares at substantial biomass and richness.
Portret trumienny nieznanego Ormianina polskiego
Authors: Jasińska Anna
Published: February 2020

Coffin Portrait of an Unidentified Polish Armenian Man

The comparison between the illustrative materials and the report from the 1932 Lwów (Lviv) exhibition of Polish Armenian art that was published in the Paris magazine Անահիտ made it possible to confirm that one of the several coffin portraits held in the collections of the Jagiellonian University Museum in Krakow is an 17th century portrait of an unidentified Armenian man. The portrait was most probably intended for the Archdiocesan Armenian Museum in Lwów (Lviv), but the outbreak of the Second World War interrupted the plans to establish this institution.