bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
L’implication des éleveurs de bovins-viande dans les filières de qualité correspond-elle à des conduites d’élevage spécifiques ?
Authors: INGRAND S. , CARRASCO I. , DEVUN J. , LAROCHE J.M. , DEDIEU B.
Published: June 2020

Les pratiques de conduite du troupeau (femelles et produits) et de commercialisation des animaux ont été étudiées dans 21 élevages Charolais spécialisés en production de viande bovine. Il s’agissait de tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle certains éleveurs orientent leur système de production dans l’objectif de maximiser le nombre d’animaux vendus dans les filières qualité, par rapport à d’autres pour lesquels les priorités sont différentes (simplification de la conduite). Deux échantillons d’éleveurs ont été constitués selon ces deux catégories à partir d’enquêtes auprès de 4 groupements de producteurs. Trois types de résultats ressortent de l’étude: 1) les groupements ont discriminé les deux échantillons d’abord en fonction des effectifs et de la proportion d’a nimaux transitant effectivement par eux, et non en fonction du nombre d’animaux vendus dans les filières qualité , 2) le nombre d’animaux vendus dans les filières qualité ne suffit pas à rendre compte de la capacité des éleveurs à produire des animaux conformes aux cahiers des charges de ces filières, une grande partie de ceux-ci pouvant être valorisés autrement (notamment via des bouchers), 3) les éleveurs les plus impliqués dans les filières qualité n’ont pas forcément adopté des pratiques spécifiques, notamment une gestion plus minutieuse, plus ’à l’individu’ que les autres. Par contre, ils délèguent beaucoup plus la fonction de commercialisation à la structure d’aval, quitte à une moindre valorisation de chaque animal pris individuellement. Une autre classification des éleveurs combinant à la fois les pratiques et l’implication dans les filières qualité est alors proposée et discutée, plus complexe que celle correspondant à l’hypothèse de départ (5 groupes distincts).
Oligo-éléments, croissance et santé du poulet de chair
Authors: NYS Y.
Published: June 2020

Cet article analyse l’intérêt et le rôle des oligo-éléments comme facteurs favorisant la croissance pondérale ou osseuse et la défense immunitaire du poulet de chair. L’objectif est d’analyser les conséquences de leur supplémentation à des doses correspondant au besoin de croissance ou à des apports très supérieurs, une pratique actuellement remise en question par la législation afin de limiter le rejet des oligo-éléments dans l’environnement. Des excès de Zn, Fe ou Mn n’ont pas d’effet positif sur la croissance du poulet de chair. Une concentration élevée de Cu (100 à 250 mg/kg) dans l’aliment tend à améliorer légèrement la croissance, mais est à l’origine d’une accumulation de Cu néfaste pour l’environnement dans les zones de production intensive. Zn, Se, Cu et Fe sont des éléments essentiels pour le bon fonctionnement du système immunitaire chez l’oiseau. Les infections et la coccidiose affectent leur métabolisme ce qui peut nécessiter une correction par voie alimentaire. Les ultra-oligo-éléments (Al, Se, Bo, Cd, Cr, F, I, Si, V…) peuvent jouer un rôle important chez des poussins soumis à divers stress nutritionnels, ou se révéler toxiques lorsqu’ils sont utilisés en excès.
Numérations cellulaires du lait et mammites cliniques : relations phénotypique et génétique chez les vaches Prim’Holstein
Authors: RUPP R. , BOICHARD D.
Published: June 2020

Cet article résume trois publications relatives aux relations entre les numérations cellulaires du lait et les mammites cliniques en race Prim’Holstein. Les travaux sont basés sur des données de mammite clinique collectées par les techniciens du Contrôle Laitier du Morbihan et du Finistère à chaque passage dans les troupeaux pendant deux ans et demi. Les deux premières études présentées sont consacrées au risque de mammite clinique associé à des numérations cellulaires très faibles. On analyse d’une part, le risque de première mammite clinique en fonction de la numération cellulaire au premier contrôle de la première lactation et, d’autre part, le risque de mammite clinique en deuxième lactation en fonction de la concentration cellulaire, mesurée par divers critères, en première lactation. Ces deux études donnent des résultats similaires et montrent très clairement que le risque de mammite clinique diminue d’autant plus que les numérations cellulaires sont plus faibles, sans optimum intermédiaire. La troisième étude est consacrée à l’estimation de paramètres génétiques. L’héritabilité des numérations cellulaires (0,17) est très nettement supérieure à celle des mammites cliniques (0,02) et la corrélation génétique entre ces deux caractères est positive et forte (0,72). Une sélection génétique en vue de diminuer les numérations cellulaires apparaît donc pertinente pour augmenter la résistance à la fois aux mammites cliniques et subcliniques. Pour être encore plus efficace, elle devra être complétée à l’avenir par une sélection directe sur la résistance aux mammites cliniques.
Obesogenic Memory Maintains Adipose Tissue Inflammation and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Blaszczak Alecia M. , Bernier Matt , Wright Valerie P. , Gebhardt Gina , Anandani Kajol , Liu Joey , Jalilvand Anahita , Bergin Stephen , Wysocki Vicki , Somogyi Arpad , Bradley David , Hsueh Willa A.
Published: June 2020

Background:

Obesity is characterized by visceral adipose tissue (AT) inflammation. Immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs), phagocytic M2-like macrophages, and innate lymphoid cells type 2 (ILC2) control lean AT inflammation to maintain systemic insulin sensitivity, while the loss of these cells in obesity leads to AT inflammation and insulin resistance (IR).

Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine if weight loss following obesity would correct AT inflammation and systemic metabolism.

Results:

After six months of high fat diet (HFD) in male C57/Bl6 mice, flow analyses of epidydimal AT stromal vascular fraction (SVF) revealed depleted Tregs by 50%, doubling of CD8+ T cells, tripling of pro-inflammatory M1-like macrophages, and an 80% drop in ILC2 cells associated with changes in pro-inflammatory adipocyte and macrophage gene expression. Despite normalization of body weight, fat, and adipocyte size, mice ingesting 3 months of high-fat diet (HFD) followed by 3 months of chow-diet remained more insulin resistant and glucose intolerant than chow-fed animals. Adipocytes, AT Tregs, CD8+ T cells, ILC2 cells, and M1-like macrophages all failed to normalize with weight loss.

Conclusions:

Persistent AT inflammation contributes to the maintenance of IR despite body weight and fat normalization in previously obese mice. These findings highlight the importance of obesity prevention to avoid the consequences of “obesogenic memory.”
General Quantum Theory No Axiom Presumption: I ----Quantum Mechanics and Solutions to Crisises of Origins of Both Wave-Particle Duality and the First Quantization
Authors: Huang C. , Huang Yong-Chang , Song Jia-Min
Published: June 2020

Density distribution function of classical statistical mechanics is generally generalized as a product of a general complex function and its complex Hermitian conjugate function, and the average of classical statistical mechanics is generalized as the average of the quantum mechanics. Furthermore, this paper derives three ones of the five axiom presumptions of quantum mechanics, e.g., deduces Schrȍdinger equation by two general ways, makes the three axiom presumptions into three theorems of quantum mechanics, not only solves the crisis to hard understand, but also gets new theories and new discoveries, e.g., this paper solves the crisis of the origin of the wave-particle duality (i.e., complementary principle), derives operators, eigenvalues and eigenstates, deduces commutation relations for coordinate and momentum as well as the time and energy, and discovers quantum mechanics is just a generalization ( mechanics ) theory of the complex square root of ( real density function of ) classical statistical mechanics, which will make people renew thinking modern physics development. In addition, this paper discovers the reason that Schrȍdinger equation doesn’t takes the time derivative of space coordinates. Therefore, this paper gives solution to the Crisis of the first quantization origin.
Role of Fluctuations in COVID-19 Epidemic Resurgence after the Lockdown
Authors: Gammaitoni Luca , Neri Igor
Published: June 2020

Most popular statistical models in epidemic evolution focus on the dynamics of average relevant quantities and overlooks the role of small fluctuations on the model parameters. Models for Covid-19 are no exception. In this paper we show that the role of time-correlated fluctuations, far from being negligible, can in fact determine the spreading of an epidemic and, most importantly, the resurgence of the exponential diffusion in the presence of time-limited episodes in promiscuity behaviours.
Sudden Onset, Acute Loss of Taste and Smell in Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Systematic Review
Authors: SAMARANAYAKE Lakshman , Fakhruddin Kausar , Panduwawala Chamila
Published: June 2020

Early detection, isolation, and management of COVID-19 patients are crucial to contain the current pandemic. The CDC in USA recently included "sudden loss of taste (dysgeusia/ageusia) and smell (anosmia/hyposmia)” as symptoms of COVID-19. If these symptoms are reliable forerunner symptoms of COVID-19, then it may facilitate early detection and containment of the disease. Hence, we systematically evaluated the contemporary evidence on dysgeusia and anosmia as trigger symptoms in COVID-19. Ovid MEDLINE, EBSCO host, and Web of Science databases were searched between December 25, 2019-May 30, 2020.Of the 13 identified records, eight (totaling 11,054 COVID-19 patients), were included, as per the selection criteria. The studies emanated mostly from the European community, as well as China, the USA, and Iran. In total, anosmia and dysgeusia symptoms were present in 74.9 % and 81.3% ambulatory as well as hospitalized, mild-to-severe cases of COVID-19 patients, respectively. The European, US, and Iran data indicate that olfactory, and gustatory symptoms appear prior to general COVID-19 symptoms in a majority of the patients. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review analyzing the prevalence of chemosensory dysfunction in COVID-19. Further, studies are essential to evaluate their utility as harbingers of COVID-19 onset, and to establish clinical practice guidelines.
Application of Post-Embedded Piezoceramic Sensors for Force Detection on RC Columns under Seismic Loading
Authors: Chiu Chien-Kuo , Wu Chia-Hsin , Sung Hsin-Fang , Liao Wen-I , Lin Chih-Hsien
Published: June 2020

To quantify damage to reinforced concrete (RC) column members after an earthquake, an engineer needs to know the maximum applied force that was generated by the earthquake. Therefore, in this work, piezoceramic transducers are used to detect the applied force on an RC column member under dynamic loading. To investigate the use of post-embedded piezoceramic sensors in detecting the force that is applied to RC columns, eight full-size RC column specimens with various failure modes are tested under specific earthquake loadings. Post-embedded piezoceramic sensors are installed at a range of depths (70-80 mm) beneath the surface of a column specimen to examine the relationship between the signals that are obtained from them and the force applied by the dynamic actuator. The signals that are generated by the post-embedded piezoceramic sensors, which correlate with the applied force, are presented. These results indicate that the post-embedded piezoceramic sensors have great potential as tools for measuring the maximum applied force on an RC column in an earthquake. Restated, signals that are obtained from post-embedded piezoceramic sensors on an RC column in an earthquake can be used to determine the applied force and corresponding damage or residual seismic capacity.
Energy Management of Community Microgrids Considering Uncertainty using Particle Swarm Optimisation
Authors: Hossain Md. Alamgir , Chakrabortty Ripon Kumar , Ryan Michael , Pota Hemanshu Roy
Published: June 2020

Although energy management of a microgrid is generally performed using a day-ahead scheduling method, its effectiveness has been questioned by the research community due to the existence of high uncertainty in renewable power generation, power demand and electricity market. As a result, real-time energy management schemes are recently developed to minimise the operating cost of a microgrid while high uncertainty presents in the network. This paper develops modified particle swarm optimisation (MPSO) algorithms to solve optimisation problems of energy management schemes for a community microgrid and proposes a scheduling approach after taking into consideration high uncertainty to effectively minimise the operational cost of the microgrid. The optimisation problems are formulated for real-time and scheduling approaches, and solution methods are developed to solve the problems. It is observed that the scheduling program demonstrates superior performance in all the cases, including uncertainty in prediction, as compared to the other energy management approaches, although solutions have significant deviations due to prediction errors.
PENGGUNAAN GRAF POHON DALAM MENGAJARKAN KONSEP MAHRAM
Authors: Ishartono Naufal
Published: June 2020

Munculnya berbagai kekerasan seksual yang terjadi di masyarakat yang disebabkan oleh orang terdekat, terutama dari lingkungan keluarga, memunculkan masalah pentingnya memahami masyarakat terhadap konsep mahram, sebuah konsep dalam ajaran Islam yang mengatur batasan seseorang untuk menikah atau menikahi seseorang berdasarkan nasab, saudara kandung, dan mushoharoh. Dengan memahami konsep itu, seorang Muslim akan tahu bagaimana harus bersikap dengan mahramnya dan bukan mahramnya. Oleh karena itu, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji penggunaan grafik pohon dalam topik teori grafis untuk mempelajari konsep mahram yang terkandung dalam surah An Nisa ayat 23. Penelitian ini termasuk penelitian kualitatif analitik dengan menggunakan instrumen tes, kuesioner dan wawancara. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan konsep grafik pohon dapat membantu seorang Muslim untuk belajar dan memahami konsep mahram dengan mudah. 
Lecturers’ Perspective on The Ethics of Student Verbal Communication at Islamic Religious Universities and Public Universities in East Java
Authors: Ahmadi Ahmadi , Putri Weni Tria Anugrah
Published: June 2020

Communication is a daily activity in academic or non-academic activities within the university. This study aims to explore the lecturer perspective on the ethics of verbal communication students. This study is a qualitative research with a phenomenological study method. To simplify the design of the research, the qualitative research stages chosen were Spradley's. This research data collection technique is through interviews conducted with lecturers who served in a number of universities in East Java Province. While the data collection instruments used are structured interview guidelines and unstructured interview guidelines. Sampling in this study was conducted using non-probability sampling techniques. More precisely by using the type of purposive and snowball sampling. The data generated is in the form of secondary primary data. Primary data in the form of conversations with appointed lecturers. Whereas secondary data is obtained when interviewing key informants. One of the results of this study is that it is known that the current use of telephones for communication between students and lecturers is declining. One reason is the reluctance of lecturers to receive phone calls from students who are sudden. With these findings it is hoped that there will be student attention to their ethics in communicating with lecturers.
Factores de riesgo en pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar y extrapulmonar en un hospital de concentración de la Ciudad de México
Authors: Hernández-Solís Alejandro , Navarro-Reynoso Francisco , Reding-Bernal Arturo
Published: June 2020

No disponible
El papel del habla en la transmisión de SARSCoV- 2: recomendaciones para espacios confinados
Authors: López-Olmedo Nancy , Barrientos-Gutiérrez Tonatiuh
Published: June 2020

No disponible
Employability initiatives in undergraduate education and application to human nutrition: A scoping review
Authors: Murray Emily , McLeod Susan , Biesiekierski Jessica , Ng Ashley , Croxford Sharon , Stirling Emma , Bramley Andrea , Forsyth Adrienne
Published: June 2020

Human nutrition is a growing field with an increasing job market and high demand for university study, yet graduates report feeling underprepared for and unaware of potential job opportunities. This scoping review aimed to identify employment initiatives used in undergraduate programs to support an evidence-based approach to the development of future initiatives for human nutrition courses. The scoping review following PRISMA-ScR criteria was initially conducted in October 2018 and updated in April 2020. Search terms were selected to identify studies that reported on employability or work-readiness embedded within the course curriculum for undergraduate students. Fourteen papers met the eligibility criteria. Papers included were from Australia (9), United Kingdom (2), United States (1), New Zealand (1) and Germany (1). Papers described initiatives fitting broad categories of placements, project-based industry collaboration, practice-based eLearning, mentoring and building graduate attributes. Placements were the most common type of initiative and project-based industry collaboration demonstrated the highest levels of student and employer satisfaction. The success of initiatives was often attributed to incorporating diverse approaches to real-world, problem-solving skills. Mentoring and eLearning were used to promote employability soft skills, while industry-based placements provided students with practical experience. Placement in specific workplace settings should be representative of the diverse job options for nutrition graduates. Human nutrition degrees should consider incorporating strategies that develop soft skills and project-based skills while exposing students to diverse workplace settings within industry.
Iron Sulfide Scale Formation: A New Anaerobic Setup and New Insights
Authors: Alduailej Yaser K. , Sorbie Kenneth S.
Published: June 2020

Scale formation is mostly governed by scaling ion concentrations and fluid conditions (pressure, temperature, and pH). Sulfide scale formation is most commonly initiated through the mixing fluids containing scaling cations (Fe2+, Zn2+ and Pb2+) or sulfidic anions (H2S(aq), HS- and S2-), or, more rarely, in a single fluid containing both ions which is undergoing physical condition changes, such as a pressure drop or pH change. The literature has extensive reviews of sulfide scales formed by mixing two fluids in both static and dynamic tests. The self-scaling of metal sulfides in a single fluid, however, has been less investigated.

An experimental setup and procedure have been developed to investigate the impact of various factors, such as pH (0 - 10), sulphide and metal ion concentrations and salinity (3.5 - 20 wt. %), on the formation of sulfide scales in general and iron sulfide (FeS) in particular. This new setup provides anaerobic conditions to isolate and prevent the interference of atmospheric oxygen, while retaining aqueous and gaseous sulfide in solution. The setup is comprised of airtight vials and Hungate-type tubes equipped with septum-caps to facilitate the gas-tight liquid transfers required in such experiments. The concentrations of sulfide ranged from 100 to 1,000 mg/L, and iron, zinc and lead were studied at levels in the range of 50 - 100 mg/L.

The formation of sulfide scales was measured by monitoring the depletion of cation concentration in aqueous solution at various pH values. The excess amount of sulfide concentration significantly affected the formed iron sulfide by affecting the pH at which initial cation depletion occurred. The higher sulfide excesses gave an FeS precipitation onset at lower pH levels, and larger FeS particle size than lower levels of sulfide excess.

These findings directly affect the scale inhibition design, as most sulfide scale control chemicals are dispersants. Therefore, particle size is very relevant to these dispersants in terms of the inhibitor loading and efficiency. The assumption that sulfide scale is principally reliant on the cation concentration, particularly if limiting, is inaccurate, and sulfide excess must also be quantified and taken into consideration in the inhibition design.
Multi-Year Scale Inhibition using a Ceramic Proppant Based Particulate Chemical Carrier – Learning from the First Application Offshore Congo
Authors: Leasure Joshua , Lieng Thu , Hicks Brian , Saldungaray Pedro
Published: June 2020

A ceramic proppant based chemical delivery system is known to be able to deliver multiyear inhibition of scale with a onetime treatment. The delivery system can be used to replace part of the proppant in frac and frac packs completions, be used as the gravel in gravel packs, or simply as a transport mechanism to place production chemicals in an acid-frac stimulated reservoir.

This chemical delivery system has been recently applied offshore Congo for the first time. Learnings from the implementation of this technology both onshore and offshore in the United States have enabled the product usage to expand internationally. The use of this delivery system has eased the operational challenges seen in offset wells caused by repeated treatment of scale inhibitor. Increased space has been freed on the platform and all interventions for scale control have been eliminated.

Results presented in this paper will include the design of this work for the application in Congo, including infusion and release of the inhibitor from the ceramic carrier and design of the control membrane to achieve the desired protection time. This design work also includes the learnings from multiple other applications that were combined for this new area of implementation, including case histories from other basins.

This paper will be beneficial for production engineers who desire a cost effective solution to deploy production assurance chemicals in a one-time treatment, regardless of well type, resulting in a multi-year solution.
The Impact of EOR Polymers on Scale Inhibitor Adsorption
Authors: Beteta Alan , McIver Katherine , Vazquez Oscar , Boak Lorraine , Jordan Myles , Shields Robin
Published: June 2020

With the current trend for application of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) technologies, there has been much research into the possible upsets to production, from the nature of the produced fluids to changes in the scaling regime. One key question that is yet to be addressed is the influence of EOR chemicals, such as hydrolysed polyacrylamide (HPAM), on scale inhibitor (SI) squeeze lifetime. Squeeze lifetime is defined by the adsorption of the inhibitor onto the reservoir rock, hence any chemical that interacts with the adsorption process will have an impact on the squeeze lifetime. This paper experimentally demonstrates potential changes to inhibitor adsorption from a polymer EOR project by demonstrating the complex interactions between HPAM and phosphonate scale inhibitors with respect to adsorption.

This work presents a detailed coreflooding programme, supplemented with bottle tests, to identify the impact of HPAM on a diethylenetriamine penta(methylene phosphonic acid) (DETPMP) squeeze lifetime. A range of pH values, representing the expected inhibitor injection pH, have been studied on consolidated and crushed Bentheimer sandstone. A temperature of 70°C is used throughout as it represents the likely maximum temperature at which HPAM would be applied and the typical temperature at which DETPMP would be used in squeeze applications.

The results presented show that scale inhibitor application pH is key in defining the impact of HPAM on DETPMP adsorption. Neutral pH displays a reduced squeeze lifetime, believed to be due to reduction of adsorption sites by HPAM. However, this impact could be countered by injecting this type of scale inhibitor at a low pH (e.g. pH 2). Static tests performed alongside the corefloods show that even low inhibitor concentrations (as found in SI pre-flushes) are sufficiently acidic to fully precipitate the HPAM from solution, but did not impact the adsorption.

This study suggests, contrary to the commonly held view in the industry that EOR polymers may negatively impact squeeze lifetime, that with the correct selection of inhibitor type and their application pH it is possible to achieve the same results as in a conventional reservoir.
The Biggest Elephant in the Room in Unconventional Scale Programs: Iron
Authors: Spicka Kevin , Bhandari Manojkumar , Bhandari Narayan , Colmenares Laura , Littlehales Ian , Seufferlein Ben
Published: June 2020

The development of unconventional basins across North America for the past decade initially caused some in the industry to wonder if challenges found in unconventional basins would require new chemistries and technologies. As the basins have been produced and water chemistries evaluated and treated, it has become clear that established scale inhibitor chemistries and methodologies are suitable to treat unconventional scaling scenarios. However, the number of applicable chemistries can be limited as some of the most common scale inhibitor chemistries have been found lacking in iron tolerance. The biggest lesson learned over the course of the past decade has been to not underestimate the role that iron can play as spoiler not only in performance of scale inhibitor chemistries, but also in test methodologies and monitoring techniques. While the need to account for iron in conventional programs has not been taken for granted, the amount of iron produced in unconventional production basins has led to a re-evaluation of just how severely iron in solution can impact scale programs from product testing and selection all the way through to program monitoring.

This paper highlights the brine chemistries in major North American unconventional basins, especially regarding iron. Test methods and results from dynamic scale loop and anaerobic static bottle testing will be highlighted as well as the limitations of using field brines in product evaluations. Field observations will be discussed to support the importance of proper product selection as well as monitoring techniques.

This subject has implications for the industry as unconventional basins across North America continue to search for program improvements to drive reductions in total operational costs. Additionally, as unconventional basins are developed outside of North America, the lessons learned can be applied to efficiently develop best in class scale inhibitor programs. As appreciation for the impact of high levels of iron on scale inhibitor performance continues to evolve, there is a possibility that a smaller amount of iron tolerant scale inhibitors will limit the treatment options available in unconventional production basins.
Uncertainty Quantification of Pseudo-Adsorption Isotherm History Matching
Authors: Vazquez Oscar , Azari Vahid , Fursov Ilya , Igben Enohor , Mackay Eric
Published: June 2020

Scale Inhibitor Squeeze treatments are some of the most common techniques to prevent oilfield mineral scale deposition in oil producers. A squeeze treatment design's effectiveness and lifespan is determined by the scale inhibitor (SI) retention, which can be described using a pseudo-isotherm adsorption, commonly derived from coreflooding experiments, although in some certain circumstances a new isotherm will need to be re-derived to match the field return concentration profile, once the treatment is deployed and samples are collected to measure SI return concentration. This new isotherm is used to design the next treatment. The objective of this manuscript is to quantify the uncertainty, which depends of the number of samples analyzed. In any inverse problem, there might not be a unique solution, which is in our context a pseudo-isotherm matching the return concentration profile. As a consequence, there will be a certain level of uncertainty predicting the next squeeze treatment lifetime. Solving this inverse problem in Bayesian formulation, incorporating the prior information, and the likelihood involving the return concentration profile, it is possible to quantify the posterior distribution, and therefore calculate the uncertainty range, commonly known as P90/P50/P10, based on the Randomized Maximum Likelihood (RML) approach. The P90/P50/P10 was calculated as a function of the number of samples available, differentiating from the early production and late production.

The results suggest that there is a correlation between the P90/P50/P10 interval and the number of samples, i.e. the differences between the P10 and P90 in terms of the forecast squeeze lifetime was wider the smaller number of samples. The methodology proposed may be used to determine the number of samples required to reduce the level of uncertainty predicting the lifetime of the next squeeze treatment. Although taking more samples may increase the cost per barrel for a treatment, the ability to predict accurately treatment lifetime will be more cost effective in the long term, as production might not be affected.
Factors associated with the perceived barriers of health care access among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia: a secondary data analysis of 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Tamirat koku , Tessema Zemenu Tadesse , Kebede Fentahun Bikale
Published: June 2020

Background: Health care access is the timely use of personal health services to achieve the best health outcomes. Difficulties in accessing health care among reproductive-age women may lead to different adverse health outcomes like death and disability. Therefore, this study aimed to identify factors associated with the perceived barriers of health care access among reproductive-age women in Ethiopia. Method: This study was based on the 2016 Ethiopia Demography and Health Survey. Individual women record (IR) file was used to extract the dataset, and 15, 683 women were included in the final analysis. A composite variable of health care access was created from four questions used to rate health care access problems among women of reproductive age. The Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model fitted to identify factors associated with perceived barriers of health care access. Crude and adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) computed to assess the strength of association between independent and outcome variables.Result: This study revealed that the magnitude of perceived barriers of health care access among reproductive-age women found to be 69.9% with 95%CI (69.3 to 70.7) to at least one or more of the four reasons. Rural resident (AOR= 2.13, 95%CI: 1.79 to 2.53), age 35-49 years (AOR= 1.24, 95%CI: 1.09 to 1.40), divorced/separated (AOR= 1.34, 95%CI: 1.17 to 1.54), had no health insurance coverage (AOR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.01 to 1.45), poorer (AOR=2.09,95%CI: 1.86 to 2.35) and middle wealth (AOR=1.57,95%CI:1.38 to 1.79), no education (AOR=2.30, 95%CI:1.95 to 2.72), primary education (AOR= 1.84, 95%CI :1.58 to 2.15) and secondary education (AOR= 1.31, 95%CI: 1.13 to 1.51) were factors associated with the perceived barriers of health care access.Conclusion: A significant proportion of women of reproductive age faced barriers to health care access, of which money and distance were the most frequently perceived barriers. Divorced/separated marital status, old age, rural dwelling, no health insurance coverage, low economic situation, and level of education were factors associated with perceived barriers. These findings suggest further strengthening and improving health care access to those women with low socio-economic status for the realization of universal health coverage.
MicroRNA-200b reduced ZEB1 to inhibit cell proliferation and migration in human gastric cancer
Authors: Chen He , Liu Pengcheng , Wang Lei , Yu Yanxia , Zhao Yan , Cai Yihong , Wang Zhongxin , Zhang Min
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND : Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignant cancers, with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. The present study was to explore whether miR-200b is a tumor suppressor in GC and to unveil the potential mechanisms. METHODS: Levels of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, MMP-3 and MMP-9 expression were detected respectively by qRT-PCR and Western blot assay. BrdU proliferation assay, Cell cycle analysis, Wound-healing and Transwell assays were used to study the role of miR-200b with inhibitor, mimics or ZEB1-RNAi in TGF-β1-treated SGC-7901/DDP cells. The xenograft model with nude mice was established to unveil the role of miR-200b in vivo . RESULTS : Compared with the paracancerous tissues, miR-200b was decreased in GC patients and SGC-7901/DDP cells. Lower level of miR-200b induced by its inhibitor promoted TGF-β1-treated SGC-7901/DDP cells proliferation and migration, and increased the levels of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, MMP-3, MMP-9, β-catenin and APC. Interestingly, miR-200b mimics and ZEB1-RNAi were able to reduce the proliferation and migration of TGF-β1-induced SGC-7901/DDP cells as well as their levels of c-Myc, Cyclin D1, MMP-3 MMP-9, β-catenin and APC. In addition, ZEB1 was indeed the potential target of miR-200b identified by dual luciferase reporter gene assay. Xenograft model also suggested that over-expression of miR-200b suppressed the growth of tumor in vivo. CONCLUSION : Taken together, our findings suggest that miR-200b be likely to play an important role in activating TGF-β1-induced SGC-7901/DDP cells and perform as a tumor suppressor by targeting ZEB1 in GC. What’s more, miR-200b may modulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in TGF-β1-induced SGC-7901/DDP cells.
Prognosis of Pregnancy-associated Breast Cancer: A Meta-analysis
Authors: SHAO Chunchun , YU Zhi gang , XIAO Juan , LIU Li yuan , HONG Fan zhen , ZHANG Yuan , JIA Hong ying
Published: June 2020

Background Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is defined as breast cancer that is diagnosed during pregnancy and/or the postpartum period. Deﬁnitions of the duration of the postpartum period have been controversial, and this variability may lead to diverse results regarding prognosis. Moreover, evidence on the dose-response association between the time from the last pregnancy to breast cancer diagnosis and overall mortality has not been synthesized. Methods We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for observational studies on the prognosis of PABC published up to June 1, 2019. We estimated summary-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses based on diagnosis time, PABC definition, geographic region, year of publication and estimation procedure for HR were performed. Additionally, dose-response analysis was conducted by using the variance weighted least-squares regression (VWLS) trend estimation. Results A total of 54 articles (76 studies) were included in our study. PABC was associated with poor prognosis for overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and cause-specific survival (CSS), and the pooled HRs with 95% CIs were 1.45 (1.30-1.63), 1.39 (1.25-1.54) and 1.40 (1.17-1.68), respectively. The corresponding reference category was non-PABC patients. According to subgroup analyses, the varied definition of PABC led to diverse results. The dose-response analysis indicated a nonlinear association between the time from the last delivery to breast cancer diagnosis and the HR of overall mortality ( P <0.001). Compared to nulliparous women, the mortality was almost 60% higher in women with PABC diagnosed at 30 months after the last delivery (HR=1.58, 95% CI 1.39-1.74), and the mortality was not significantly different at 68 months after the last delivery (HR=1.11, 95% CI 0.99-1.24). This finding suggests that the definition of PABC should be extended to include patients diagnosed up to approximately six years postpartum (68 months after the last delivery) to capture this ongoing increased risk. Conclusion This meta-analysis suggests that PABC is associated with poor prognosis, and the definition of PABC should be extended to include patients diagnosed up to approximately six years postpartum.
Standardising Care in the ICU: A Protocol for a Scoping Review of Tools used to Improve Care Delivery
Authors: Allum laura , Apps Chloe , Hart Nicholas , Pattison Natalie , Connolly Bronwen , Rose Louise
Published: June 2020

Background: Increasing numbers of critically ill patients experience a prolonged intensive care unit stay contributing to greater physical and psychological morbidity, strain on families, and cost to health systems. Quality improvement tools such as checklists concisely articulate best practices with the aim of improving quality and safety, however these tools have not been designed for the specific needs of patients with prolonged ICU stay. Objectives: The primary objective of this review will be to determine the characteristics including format and content of multicomponent tools designed to standardise or improve ICU care. Secondary objectives are to describe the outcomes reported in these tools, the type of patients and settings studied, and to understand how these tools were developed and implemented in clinical practice. Methods: We will search the Cochrane Library, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), EMBASE, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, OpenGrey, NHS evidence and Trial Registries from January 2000 onwards. We will include primary research studies (e.g. experimental, quasi-experimental, observational, and qualitative studies) recruiting more than 10 adult participants admitted to ICUs, high dependency units and weaning centres regardless of length of stay, describing quality improvement tools such as structured care plans or checklists designed to standardize more than one aspect of care delivery. We will extract data on study and patient characteristics, tool design and implementation strategies and measured outcomes. Two reviewers will independently screen citations for eligible studies and perform data extraction. Data will be synthesised with descriptive statistics; we will use a narrative synthesis to describe review findings. Discussion: The findings will be used to guide development of tools for use with prolonged ICU stay patients. Our group will use experience-based co-design methods to identify the most important actionable processes of care to include in quality improvement tools these patients. Such tools are needed to standardise practice and thereby improve quality of care. Illustrating the development and implementation methods used for such tools will help to guide translation of similar tools into ICU clinical practice and future research.Systematic Review Registration: This protocol is registered on the Open Science Framework, https://osf.io/, DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/Z8MRE
Barriers to patient, provider, and caregiver adoption and use of electronic personal health records in chronic care: a systematic review
Authors: Niazkhani Zahra , Toni Esmaeel , Cheshmekaboodi Mojgan , Georgiou Andrew , Pirnejad Habibollah
Published: June 2020

Background Electronic personal health records (ePHRs) are defined as electronic applications through which individuals can access, manage, and share health information in a private, secure, and confidential environment. Existing evidence shows their benefits in improving outcomes, especially for chronic disease patients. However, their use has not been as widespread as expected partly due to barriers faced in their adoption and use. We aimed to identify the types of barriers to a patient, provider, and caregiver adoption/use of ePHRs and to analyze their extent in chronic disease care.Methods A systematic search in Medline, PubMed, Science Direct, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) database was performed to find original studies assessing barriers to ePHR adoption/use in chronic care until the end of 2018. Two researchers independently screened and extracted data. We used the PHR adoption model and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to analyze the results. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) version 2018 was used to assess the quality of evidence in the included studies.Results Sixty publications met our inclusion criteria. Issues found hindering ePHR adoption/use in chronic disease care were associated with demographic factors (e.g., patient age and gender) along with key variables related to health status, computer literacy, preferences for direct communication, and patient’s strategy for coping with a chronic condition; as well as factors related to medical practice/environment (e.g., providers’ lack of interest or resistance to adopting ePHRs due to workload, lack of reimbursement, and lack of user training); technological (e.g., concerns over privacy and security, interoperability with electronic health record systems, and lack of customized features for chronic conditions); and chronic disease characteristics (e.g., multiplicities of co-morbid conditions, settings, and providers involved in chronic care).Conclusions ePHRs can be meaningfully used in chronic disease care if they are implemented as a component of comprehensive care models specifically developed for this care. Our results provide insight into hurdles and barriers mitigating ePHR adoption/use in chronic disease care. A deeper understating of the interplay between these barriers will provide opportunities that can lead to an enhanced ePHR adoption/use.
Tobacco exposure as a major modifier of oncologic outcomes in Human PapillomaVirus (HPV) associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Elhalawani Hesham , Mo Abdallah S.R. , Elgohari Baher , Lin Timothy A. , Sikora Andrew G. , Lai Stephen Y. , Abusaif Abdelrahman , Phan Jack , Morrison William H. , Gunn G. Brandon , Rosenthal David I. , Garden Adam S. , Fuller Clifton D. , Sandulache Vlad C.
Published: June 2020

Background: The incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) in the US is rapidly increasing, driven largely by the epidemic of human papillomavirus (HPV)-mediated OPSCC. Although survival for patients with HPV mediated OPSCC (HPV+ OPSCC) is generally better than that of patients with non-viral HPV+ OPSCC, the improvement is not uniform. We hypothesized that tobacco exposure remains a critical modifier of survival for HPV+ OPSCC patients. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 611 OPSCC patients with concordant p16 and HPV testing treated at a single institute (2002-2013). Survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox regression. Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) was used to define tobacco exposure associated with survival (p<0.05). Results: Tobacco exposure impacted overall survival (OS) for HPV+ patients on univariate and multivariate analysis (p=0.002, p=0.003 respectively). RPA identified 30 pack-years (PY) as a threshold at which survival became significantly worse in HPV+ patients. OS and disease-free survival (DFS) for HPV+ >30 PY patients didn’t differ significantly from HPV- group (p= 0.72, p= 0.27, respectively). HPV+ >30 PY patients had substantially lower 5-year OS when compared to their ≤30 PYs counterparts: 78.4% vs 91.6%; p= 0.03, 76% vs 88.3%; p= 0.07, and 52.3% vs 74%; p= 0.05, for stages I, II, and III (AJCC 8 th Edition Manual), respectively. Conclusions: Tobacco exposure can eliminate the survival benefit associated with HPV+ status in OPSCC patients. Until this effect can be clearly quantified using prospective datasets, de-escalation of treatment for HPV+OPSCC smokers should be avoided.
A single oral fixed-dose praziquantel-miltefosine nanocombination for effective control of experimental schistosomiasis mansoni
Authors: Eissa Maha Mohamed , El-Azzouni Mervat , El-Khordagui Labiba Khalil , Bary Amany Abdel , El-Moslemany Riham Mohamed , Salam Sara Ahmed Abdel
Published: June 2020

Background: The control of schistosomiasis has been centered to date on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), with shortcomings including treatment failure, reinfection, and emergence of drug resistance. Drug repurposing, combination therapy or nanotechnology were explored to improve antischistosomal treatment. The aim of the present study was to utilize a novel combination of the three strategies to improve the therapeutic profile of PZQ. This was based on a fixed dose nanocombination of PZQ and miltefosine (MFS), an antischistosomal repurposing candidate, co-loaded at reduced doses into lipid nanocapsules (LNCs), for single dose oral therapy. Methods: Two nanocombinations were prepared to provide 250 mg PZQ-20 mg MFS/kg (higher fixed dose) or 125 mg PZQ-10 mg MFS/kg (lower fixed dose) respectively. Their antischistosomal efficacy in comparison with nontreated control and their PZQ or MFS singly loaded counterparts was assessed in murine schistosomiasis mansoni. A single oral dose of either formulation was administered on the initial day of infection, the 21 st and 42 nd days post infection. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM), parasitological and histopathological studies were used for assessment. Preclinical data were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey post hoc test for pairwise comparisons. Results: Compared to singly loaded PZQ-LNCs, the higher dose nanocombination showed a significant increase in antischistosomal efficacy in terms of % reduction in worm burden, particularly against invasive and juvenile worms, and amelioration of hepatic granulomas. The efficacy of the higher dose nanocombination was significantly greater than that of its lower dose counterpart. SEM showed extensive dorsal tegumental damage with noticeable deposition of nanostructures. Conclusions: The therapeutic profile of PZQ could be improved by a novel multiple approach integrating drug repurposing, combination therapy and nanotechnology. Multistage activity and amelioration of liver pathology could be achieved by a new PZQ-MFS fixed dose nanocombination providing 250 mg PZQ-20 mg MFS/kg. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a fixed dose nano-based combinatorial therapy for schistosomiasis mansoni. Further studies are needed to document the nanocombination safety and explore its prophylactic activity and potential to hinder the onset of resistance to the drug components. Key words: Praziquantel, miltefosine, lipid nanocapsules, Schistosoma mansoni, nanocombination, multistage activity, tegumental targeting, scanning electron microscopy