bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Neural Tube Defects among Newborns in Amhara Region, Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Tadesse Abay Woday , Kassa Ayesheshim Muluneh , Aychiluhm Setognal Birara
Published: October 2020

Background. Worldwide, an estimated 300,000 neonates are born with neural tube defects (NTDs) each year. However, NTDs are underreported in Ethiopia though it causes substantial mortality, morbidity, disability, and psychological and economic cost in the country. Moreover, the factors attributed to NTDs were not addressed. Hence, this study intended to identify the determinants of neural tube defects in Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Methods. A case-control study design was conducted among 400 newborns (133 cases and 267 controls) who were born at randomly selected public hospitals. Cases were identified using the physician diagnosis of confirmed NTDs, and the two consecutive controls were selected using a simple random sampling technique. The data analysis was done using Stata 14.0. Variables with

p

value < 0.25 in the bivariate analysis were entered into the multivariable logistic regression model, and a corresponding 95% confidence interval was used to identify the predictors of NTDs. Results. In this study, fifty percent (48%) of the cases were contributed by anencephaly. After controlling the covariates, living in rural areas (

AOR
=
1.78

: 95% CI 1.02, 3.11), being illiterate (

AOR
=
1.81

: 95% CI 1.07, 4.61), being female newborn (

AOR
=
1.95

: 95% CI 1.09, 3.50), having no ANC follow-up (

AOR
=
1.93

: 95% CI 1.17, 5.04), and having a previous history of NTDs (

AOR
=
4.39

: 95% CI 2.42, 7.96) were the risk factors for NTDs. However, being supplemented with folic acid or multivitamins before or during pregnancy (

AOR
=
0.37

: 95% CI 0.21, 0.65), never having taken any substance during pregnancy (

AOR
=
0.42

: 95% CI 0.21, 0.88), and being free from medical illnesses during pregnancy (

AOR
=
0.27

: 95% CI 0.11, 0.69) were the protective factors of NTDs. Conclusion. The study revealed different factors associated with NTDs among newborns in the region. Therefore, comprehensive preventive strategies focused on identified risk factors are needed at regional and national levels.
Differences in MicroRNA Expression in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients with Early Liver Fibrosis Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndromes
Authors: Shi Mei-Jie , Xiao Huan-Ming , Xie Yu-Bao , Jiang Jun-Min , Zhao Peng-Tao , Cai Gao-Shu , Li Ying-Xian , Li Sheng , Zhang Chao-Zhen , Cao Min-Ling , Chen Qu-Bo , Tan Zhi-Jian , Gao Heng-Jun , Chi Xiao-Ling
Published: October 2020

The aim of this study was to determine if microRNA (miRNA) expression is different among chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with early liver fibrosis classified according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) syndromes. Eighteen CHB‐fibrosis patients and 12 CHB patients without fibrosis were enrolled. The CHB‐fibrosis group included 9 patients with the TCM syndrome of Ganyu Pixu Xueyu (GYPXXY), characterized by liver stagnation, spleen deficiency, and blood stasis, and 9 patients with the TCM syndrome of Qixu Xueyu (QXXY), characterized by deficiency of qi, blood, and blood stasis. Agilent miRNA microarray was performed first in liver specimens to determine whether miRNA expression is different in patients with these two TCM syndromes of CHB‐fibrosis. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and KEGG analysis were applied to determine the roles of the differentially expressed miRNAs. QRT‐PCR was performed to validate the Agilent miRNA microarray results. Compared with GYPXXY patients, 6 differentially expressed miRNAs were upregulated (miR‐144‐5p, miR‐18a‐5p, miR‐148b‐3p, miR‐654‐3p, miR‐139‐3p, and miR‐24‐1‐5p) and 1 was downregulated (miR‐6834‐3p) in QXXY patients. According to qRT‐PCR data, miR‐144‐5p and miR‐654‐3p were confirmed as upregulated in CHB‐liver fibrosis patients compared to CHB patients without fibrosis, whereas the other 4 miRNAs were not significantly different. More importantly, miR‐654‐3p was confirmed to be significantly upregulated in QXXY patients compared with values in GYPXXY patients, whereas no significant difference was found in miR‐144‐5p. Moreover, the pathways of central carbon metabolism in cancer and cell cycle related to miR‐654‐3p and the target genes of PTEN and ATM were found to be different between QXXY patients and GYPXXY patients. These results indicate that there are different miRNAs, pathways, and target genes between QXXY patients and GYPXXY patients. However, due to the limited sample, whether miR‐654‐3p and the target genes PTEN and ATM could be molecular markers to differentiate TCM syndromes could not be established.
An Overview of Multimodal Biometrics Using the Face and Ear
Authors: Ma Yichao , Huang Zengxi , Wang Xiaoming , Huang Kai
Published: October 2020

In the recent years, we have witnessed the rapid development of face recognition, though it is still plagued by variations such as facial expressions, pose, and occlusion. In contrast to the face, the ear has a stable 3D structure and is nearly unaffected by aging and expression changes. Both the face and ear can be captured from a distance and in a nonintrusive manner, which makes them applicable to a wider range of application domains. Together with their physiological structure and location, the ear can readily serve as supplement to the face for biometric recognition. It has been a trend to combine the face and ear to develop nonintrusive multimodal recognition for improved accuracy, robustness, and security. However, when either the face or the ear suffers from data degeneration, if the fusion rule is fixed or with inferior flexibility, a multimodal system may perform worse than the unimodal system using only the modality with better quality sample. The biometric quality-based adaptive fusion is an avenue to address this issue. In this paper, we present an overview of the literature about multimodal biometrics using the face and ear. All the approaches are classified into categories according to their fusion levels. In the end, we pay particular attention to an adaptive multimodal identification system, which adopts a general biometric quality assessment (BQA) method and dynamically integrates the face and ear via sparse representation. Apart from a refinement of the BQA and fusion weights selection, we extend the experiments for a more thorough evaluation by using more datasets and more types of image degeneration.
High-Flow Nasal Cannula in Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Huang Yongkang , Lei Wei , Zhang Wenyu , Huang Jian-an
Published: October 2020

Background. Although the efficacy and safety of high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) in hypoxemic respiratory failure are widely recognized, it is yet unclear whether HFNC can effectively reduce the intubation rate and mortality in hypercapnic respiratory failure. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the safety and efficiency of HFNC in these patients. Methods. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL) was carried out. Two reviewers independently screened all references according to the inclusion criteria. We used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and the Newcastle–Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies, respectively. Data from eligible trials were extracted for the meta-analysis. Results. Eight studies with a total of 621 participants were included (six RCTs and two cohort studies). Our analysis showed that HFNC is noninferior to noninvasive ventilation (NIV) with respect to intubation rate in both RCTs (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.45–1.88) and cohort studies (OR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.55–1.62). Similarly, the analysis of cohort studies showed no difference in reducing mortality rates (OR = 0.96, 95% CI: 0.42–2.20). Based on RCTs, NIV seemed more effective in reducing mortality (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 0.68–2.60), but the intertreatment difference was not statistically signiﬁcant. Furthermore, no significant differences were found between HFNC and NIV relating to change of blood gas analysis or respiratory rate (MD = −0.75, 95% CI: −2.6 to 1.09). Likewise, no significant intergroup differences were found with regard to intensive care unit stay (SMD = −0.07, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.11). Due to a physiological friendly interface and variation, HFNC showed a significant advantage over NIV in patients’ comfort and complication of therapy. Conclusion. Despite the limitations noted, HFNC may be an effective and safe alternative to prevent endotracheal intubation and mortality when NIV is unsuitable in mild-to-moderate hypercapnia. Further high-quality studies are needed to validate these findings.
Hybrid PSO and Evolutionary Game Theory Protocol for Clustering and Routing in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Song Yu , Liu Zhigui , He Xiaoli
Published: October 2020

Compared with traditional networks, WSNs have more limited resources such as energy, communication, computing, and storage. The problem of how to achieve energy saving, extend network life cycle, and improve network performance under these limited resources has always been an issue of great interest in WSN research. However, existing protocols do not consider that sensor nodes within the BS threshold may not be clustered. These nodes can directly transmit data to the BS. This simplifies the cluster routing process of the entire WSN and saves more energy. This paper introduces an efficient, and energy-efficient, clustering and equalization routing protocol called the PSOLB-EGT protocol. This protocol introduces a new approach by combining improved particle swarm optimization (PSO) and evolutionary game theory (EGT) algorithms to address the problem of maximizing the network lifetime. The operation of the wireless sensor network is divided into an initialization phase and a data transmission phase. In the initialization phase of the wireless sensor network, the improved PSO algorithm is used to establish clusters and select CHs in areas other than the BS threshold. Entering the data transmission phase, we analyze this problem from the perspective of game theory. We use improved noncooperative evolutionary game theory to build models to solve the problem of the energy waste caused by routing congestion. The proposed PSOLB-EGT protocol is intensively experimented with a number of topologies in various network scenarios, and the results are compared with the well-known cluster-based routing protocols that include the swarm intelligence-based protocols. The obtained results prove that the proposed protocol has increased 9%, 8%, and 5% compared with the ABC-SD protocol in terms of network life, network coverage, and amount of data transmitted, respectively.
Isolated Superior Oblique Muscle Swelling Causing Acute Vertical Strabismus in Graves’ Disease
Authors: Aomatsu Keiichi , Kusaka Shunji
Published: November 2020

Purpose. To report a case of isolated superior oblique muscle swelling causing acute vertical strabismus in Graves’ disease. Case. A 26-year-old woman with a 1-month history of misalignment of the right eye and diplopia was referred to us. Her visual acuity and intraocular pressures were normal in both eyes, but eye movement tests showed clear misalignment of her right eye. Antibody tests for myasthenia gravis were negative. However, blood tests revealed abnormal levels of thyroid-related factors, such as decreased thyroid-stimulating hormone, elevated free T3 and T4, and elevated anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor antibody. We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which showed slight enlargement of the left superior oblique muscle. The patient was eventually diagnosed with Graves’ disease with superior oblique muscle involvement and underwent a thyroidectomy. Three months postoperatively, her diplopia and abnormal eye movements had substantially resolved. Conclusion. Isolated superior oblique muscle involvement may be a presenting symptom of Graves’ disease. It should be taken into consideration that, in the early stages of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) in adults, only the superior oblique muscle may be enlarged.
Partial-State-Constrained Adaptive Intelligent Tracking Control of Nonlinear Nonstrict-Feedback Systems with Unmodeled Dynamics and Its Application
Authors: Zhao Yuzhuo , Niu Ben , Jiang Xiaoli , Zhao Ping , Wang Huanqing , Yang Dong
Published: October 2020

In this paper, an adaptive intelligent control scheme is presented to investigate the problem of adaptive tracking control for a class of nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems with constrained states and unmodeled dynamics. By approximating the unknown nonlinear uncertainties, utilizing Barrier Lyapunov functions (BLFs), and designing a dynamic signal to deal with the constrained states and the unmodeled dynamics, respectively, an adaptive neural network (NN) controller is developed in the frame of the backstepping design. In order to simplify the design process, the nonstrict-feedback form is treated by using the special properties of Gaussian functions. The proposed adaptive control scheme ensures that all variables involved in the closed-loop system are bounded, the corresponding state constraints are not violated. Meanwhile, the tracking error converges to a small neighborhood of the origin. In the end, the proposed intelligent design algorithm is applied to one-link manipulator to demonstrate the effectiveness of the obtained method.
A Systematic Review of the Effect of Oral Rinsing with H2O2 on Clinical and Microbiological Parameters Related to Plaque, Gingivitis, and Microbes
Authors: Muniz Francisco Wilker Mustafa Gomes , Cavagni Juliano , Langa Gerson Pedro José , Stewart Bernal , Malheiros Zilson , Rösing Cassiano Kuchenbecker
Published: October 2020

Background. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) has been used for more than a century clinically to control plaque and gingival inflammation, with unclear supporting evidence. Aim. The aim of the present systematic review of the literature is to assess the effect of mouth rinses with H2O2 on dental plaque, gingival inflammation, and oral microorganisms. Methods. Five databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science) were searched with the following focused question: what is the effect of hydrogen peroxide, in comparison to chlorhexidine or to a placebo solution, in oral microbiota control, dental plaque, and gingival inflammatory outcomes? Two independent examiners retrieved the articles and evaluated the evidence. Results. The majority of included studies were performed with 1.5% H2O2. Results related to plaque accumulation generally demonstrate a slightly better effect of H2O2 as compared to placebo mouth rinses, however with a lower performance as compared to chlorhexidine. In terms of gingival inflammation, H2O2 performs better than placebo and more clearly demonstrates an anti-inflammation effect. No studies evaluated the effect of H2O2 against viruses or fungi. In terms of bacteria, H2O2 demonstrates an antibacterial effect. Conclusion. Rinsing with H2O2 has the potential to affect plaque, gingivitis, and oral bacteria, as compared to placebo. However, the antibacterial results are not comparable to the performance of chlorhexidine.
Central Sensitivity Is Associated with Poor Recovery of Pain: Prediction, Cluster, and Decision Tree Analyses
Authors: Shigetoh Hayato , Koga Masayuki , Tanaka Yoichi , Morioka Shu
Published: October 2020

The process of pain recovery varies and can include the recovery, maintenance, or worsening of symptoms. Many cases of patients with pain show a tendency of recovering as predicted; however, some do not. The characteristics of cases that do not fit the prediction of pain recovery remain unclear. We performed cluster and decision tree analyses to reveal the characteristics in cases that do not fit the prediction of pain recovery. A total of 43 patients with musculoskeletal pain (nonoperative: 22 patients, operative: 13 patients) and central pain (brain disease: 5 patients, spinal cord disease: 3 patients) were included in this longitudinal study. Central sensitivity syndrome (CSS) outcome measures (Central Sensitisation Inventory), pain intensity-related outcome measures (Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire-2 (SFMPQ-2)), and cognitive-emotional outcome measures (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Pain Catastrophising Scale-4) of all patients were assessed at baseline and after 1-2 months. Regression analysis was used to calculate pain recovery prediction values. A hierarchical cluster analysis based on the predicted change of SFMPQ-2 and the observed change of SFMPQ-2 was used to extract subgroups that fit and those that do not fit pain recovery prediction. To extract the characteristics of subgroups that do not fit the prediction of pain recovery, a decision tree analysis was performed. The level of significance was set at 5%. In the results of cluster analysis, patients were classified into three subgroups. Cluster 1 was characterised by worse pain intensity from baseline, cluster 2 by pain, having recovered less and mildly than the predicted value, and Cluster 3 by a marked recovery of pain. In the results of the decision tree analysis, the CSI change was extracted as an indicator related to the classification of all clusters. Our findings suggest that the poor improvement of CSS is characteristic in cases that do not fit the prediction of pain recovery.
Management of Intrauterine Device Migrated into the Bladder: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Paré A. K. , Ouattara A. , Yé D. , Kabré B. , Bako A. , Abubakar B. M. , Kambou T.
Published: October 2020

Intrauterine device represents the most reversible method of contraceptive worldwide. Its insertion is a medical procedure not free from complication. We report a rare case of intravesical migration of a copper intrauterine device inserted 18 months earlier in a 28-year-old multiparous woman. The patient presented with irritative lower urinary tract symptoms, and she was managed endoscopically. This case underscores the role of cystoscopy in irritative lower urinary tract symptoms post IUD insertion.
A  Method to Diagnose, Improve, and Evaluate Children’s Learning Using Wearable Devices Such as Mobile Devices in the IoT Environment
Authors: Moradi Mohammad , Rahsepar Fard Kheirollah
Published: October 2020

Every day we see an increasing tendency to use technology in education. In recent years, the impact of technology on the education process has received much attention. One of the important effects of technology is that it increases children’s motivation and self-confidence and increases group collaboration. The purpose of this paper is to transform the traditional classroom into a modern classroom in order to increase the ease and efficiency of the teaching process. The method includes phases of diagnosis and improvement. In the diagnose phase, the classroom is equipped with modern items such as Internet of Things (IoT) and game-based learning. In the improvement phase, the field method is used to extract and weight the effective criteria in improving the educational status. The proposed method has been tested on two English language kindergartens. The children tested were in the age group of 8 to 10 years. In the implementation of the proposed educational method in the first English language kindergarten, the average improvement of education and learning of children has almost doubled, which has been maintained by doubling the number of children tested in the implementation of the proposed educational method in the second English language kindergarten. As a result, the proposed educational method can increase the learning performance of children.
Independent Prognostic Potential of GNPNAT1 in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zheng Xiangyu , Li Yongwei , Ma Chao , Zhang Jinjun , Zhang Yanmin , Fu Zongqiang , Luo Huan
Published: October 2020

Background. Glucosamine‐Phosphate N‐Acetyltransferase 1 (GNPNAT1) is a critical enzyme in the biosynthesis of uridine diphosphate‐N‐acetylglucosamine. It has many important functions, such as protein binding, monosaccharide binding, and embryonic development and growth. However, the role of GNPNAT1 in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. Methods. In this study, we explored the expression pattern and prognostic value of GNPNAT1 in LUAD across TCGA and GEO databases and assessed its independent prognostic value via Cox analysis. LinkedOmics and GEPIA2 were applied to investigate coexpression and functional networks associated with GNPNAT1. The TIMER web tool was deployed to assess the correlation between GNPNAT1 and the main six types of tumor‐infiltrating immune cells. Besides, the correlations between GNPNAT1 and the LUAD common genetic mutations, TMB, and immune signatures were examined. Results. GNPNAT1 was validated upregulated in tumor tissues in TCGA‐LUAD and GEO cohorts. Moreover, in both TCGA and GEO cohorts, high GNPNAT1 expression was found to be associated with poor overall survival. Cox analysis showed that high GNPNAT1 expression was an independent risk factor for LUAD. Functional network analysis suggested that GNPNAT1 regulates cell cycle, ribosome, proteasome, RNA transport, and spliceosome signaling through pathways involving multiple cancer‐related kinases and E2F family. In addition, GNPNAT1 correlated with infiltrating levels of B cells, CD4+ T cells, and dendritic cells. B cells and dendritic cells could predict the outcome of LUAD, and B cells and CD4+ T cells were significant independent risk factors. The TMB and mutations of KRAS, EGFR, STK11, and TP53 were correlated with GNPNAT1. At last, the correlation analysis showed GNPNAT1 correlated with most of the immune signatures we performed. Conclusion. Our findings showed that GNPNAT1 was correlated to the prognosis and immune infiltration of LUAD. In particular, the tight relationship between GNPNAT1 and B cell marker genes may be the epicenter of the immune response and one of the key factors affecting the prognosis. Our findings laid the foundation for further research on the immunomodulatory role of GNPNAT1 in LUAD.
Mechanically Stretched Mesenchymal Stem Cells Can Reduce the Effects of LPS-Induced Injury on the Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelium Barrier
Authors: Li Jin-ze , Meng Shan-shan , Xu Xiu-Ping , Huang Yong-bo , Mao Pu , Li Yi-min , Yang Yi , Qiu Hai-bo , Pan Chun
Published: October 2020

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may improve the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, few studies have investigated the effects of mechanically stretched -MSCs (MS-MSCs) in in vitro models of ARDS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of MS-MSCs on pulmonary microvascular endothelium barrier injuries induced by LPS. We introduced a cocultured model of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell (EC) and MSC medium obtained from MSCs with or without mechanical stretch. We found that Wright-Giemsa staining revealed that MSC morphology changed significantly and cell plasma shrank separately after mechanical stretch. Cell proliferation of the MS-MSC groups was much lower than the untreated MSC group; expression of cell surface markers did not change significantly. Compared to the medium from untreated MSCs, inflammatory factors elevated statistically in the medium from MS-MSCs. Moreover, the paracellular permeability of endothelial cells treated with LPS was restored with a medium from MS-MSCs, while LPS-induced EC apoptosis decreased. In addition, protective effects on the remodeling of intercellular junctions were observed when compared to LPS-treated endothelial cells. These data demonstrated that the MS-MSC groups had potential therapeutic effects on the LPS-treated ECs; these results might be useful in the treatment of ARDS.
Existence of Solutions for Fractional Evolution Equations with Infinite Delay and Almost Sectorial Operator
Authors: Li Shanshan , Zhang Shuqin
Published: October 2020

This paper discusses a class of semilinear fractional evolution equations with infinite delay and almost sectorial operator on infinite interval in Banach space. By using the properties of analytic semigroups and Schauder’s fixed-point theorem, this paper obtains the existence of mild solutions of the fractional evolution equation. Moreover, this paper also discusses the existence of mild solution when the analytic semigroup lacks compactness by Kuratowski measures of noncompactness and Darbo–Sadovskii fixed-point theorem.
Design of a Secure Wireless Home Automation System with an Open Home Automation Bus (OpenHAB 2) Framework
Authors: Sowah Robert A. , Boahene Dale E. , Owoh Dalton C. , Addo Rexford , Mills Godfrey A. , Owusu-Banahene Wiafe , Buah Gifty , Sarkodie-Mensah Baffour
Published: October 2020

There is rapid interest growing in the use of smart, connected devices. The developing world market for smart technology is evolving to adopt and adapt to the interconnected world of devices leading to the Internet of Things (IoT) everywhere. This research paper presents the design, development, and deployment of a prototype for the secure wireless home automation system with OpenHAB 2. We employed the use of two (2) high-performance microcontrollers, namely, the Arduino Mega 2560, interfaced with a 16-channel relay, and Raspberry Pi Model B, running the OpenHAB software. The Raspberry Pi functioned as the server to develop a prototype of an automated smart home that is remotely controllable from both a web application and an Android mobile app. In designing a wireless controlled switch for home appliances, two security procedures were implemented, namely, the token-based JSON Web Token (JWT) interface and Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) procedures for authentication and data encryption. Our system delivered a home automation system that leverages on the power of the latest version of OpenHAB to maximize productivity and overall home security while making it adaptable to the management of individual devices. When tested, both the developed hardware and software modules performed extremely well to meet the goal of a secured home automation system. Industry-standard penetration testing tools and frameworks, including Aircrack-ng, were utilized; wireless network audit began with a full sweep of the wireless frequencies with excellent results. It also ensures the efficient use of energy in the home as devices are intelligently controlled from both mobile and web applications. The results of the design and implementation of the additional layer for the security of the OpenHAB framework provide various theoretical and practical implications for home automation.
EF Bart’s Disease with Coinheritance of Gγ-XmnI and Aγ-Globin Polymorphisms: A Case of Nontransfusion-Dependant Thalassemia
Authors: Laks Kane M. , Hirner Cara , Gruner Barbara , Coberly Jared , Laziuk Katsiaryna , Sathi Bindu Kanathezhath
Published: October 2020

EF Bart’s disease is a rare form of nontransfusion-dependant thalassemia (NTDT) due to the coinheritance of homozygous hemoglobin E (βE/βE) genotype with hemoglobin H disease. These individuals are routinely found to have thalassemia intermedia with moderate anemia, increased hemoglobin Bart’s and hemoglobin F on electrophoresis. The contribution of hemoglobin F-inducing polymorphisms in this disease has not been described previously. Here, we describe the hematological profile in a young child with coinheritance of Gγ-XmnI and Aγ-globin gene polymorphisms in EF Bart’s disease. Interestingly, in this rare form of NTDT, normal HbF and elevated HbA2 were noted.
TiO2:Cex onto Al Clays for Photocatalytic Solar Water Disinfection
Authors: Belver C. , Ponce S. , Carpio E. , Salazar G. , García P. , Bedia J. , Alvárez-Montero M. A. , Rodríguez J. J. , Rodríguez J. M.
Published: October 2020

A novel methodology was employed to prepare new nanocomposites with photocatalytic properties based on Ce-doped TiO2 nanoparticles arranged over a layered silicate. The catalysts were porous materials formed by exfoliated silicate layers surrounded by anatase nanoparticles. In this way, the anatase was doped by different amounts of Ce, yielding to catalysts with light absorption properties on the visible region. The photocatalytic behavior was tested for different reactions: adsorption and photocatalysis, showing outstanding and promising results for the removal of bacteria by using solar light as an energy source. The influence of the physicochemical properties of the catalyst and the reaction parameters will be studied in detail to manage new catalysts for the disinfection of drinking water.
Electroconvulsive Therapy in a Renal Transplantation Patient: A Rare Combination of Disease and Treatment
Authors: Malaty Giovanni , Godbe Kerilyn , Elmouchtari Mehdi , Malhi Gurjot , White Justin , Bankole Azziza , Criss Tracey
Published: October 2020

The safety and efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for the treatment of psychiatric disorders have been demonstrated in a wide variety of patients, including postoperative patients and those who are pregnant. While several reports highlight the safety of this treatment in heart and liver transplantation patients, there is a relative lack of literature detailing the safety profile of ECT in an individual with recent kidney transplantation. Here, we explore the case of a patient with a recent renal transplant secondary to diabetes-related end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who underwent a successful course of ECT treatment. A 57-year-old Caucasian male with a past psychiatric history of schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and a past medical history of end-stage renal disease with recent right renal transplantation was admitted to the inpatient psychiatry unit. The admission was via a temporary detention order (TDO) for suicidality and auditory hallucinations promoting self-harm. The patient’s depressive and delusional history was well-documented and had been refractory to several courses of psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic management. Electroconvulsive therapy was subsequently initiated and was well-tolerated. Treatments progressively alleviated his depressive and psychotic symptoms and did not adversely affect the function of his transplanted kidney, which was closely monitored throughout the treatment process. This case demonstrated the safety and efficacy of ECT treatment in an individual with recent renal transplant and may prompt further trials into establishing safety and efficacy in larger study populations.
Analytical Analysis of Effects of Buoyancy, Internal Heat Generation, Magnetic Field, and Thermal Radiation on a Boundary Layer over a Vertical Plate with a Convective Surface Boundary Condition
Authors: Bati Kejela Solomon , Daba Firdi Mitiku
Published: October 2020

In this paper, the effects of magnetic field, thermal radiation, buoyancy force, and internal heat generation on the laminar boundary layer flow about a vertical plate in the presence of a convective surface boundary condition have been investigated. In the analysis, it is assumed that the left surface of the plate is in contact with a hot fluid, whereas a stream of cold fluid flows steadily over the right surface, and the heat source decays exponentially outwards from the surface of the plate. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations have been transformed into a set of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations with the help of similarity transformation which were solved analytically by applying the optimal homotopy asymptotic method. The variations of fluid velocity and surface temperature for different values of the Grashof number, magnetic parameter, Prandtl number, internal heat generation parameter, Biot number, and radiation absorption parameter are tabulated, graphed, and interpreted in physical terms. A comparison with previously published results on similar special cases of the problem shows an excellent agreement.
On the Existence and Uniqueness of Solution to Fractional-Order Langevin Equation
Authors: Salem Ahmed , Mshary Noorah
Published: October 2020

In this work, we give sufficient conditions to investigate the existence and uniqueness of solution to fractional-order Langevin equation involving two distinct fractional orders with unprecedented conditions (three-point boundary conditions including two nonlocal integrals). The problem is introduced to keep track of the progress made on exploring the existence and uniqueness of solution to the fractional-order Langevin equation. As a result of employing the so-called Krasnoselskii and Leray-Schauder alternative fixed point theorems and Banach contraction mapping principle, some novel results are presented in regarding to our main concern. These results are illustrated through providing three examples for completeness.
A Double Case: Socket Shield and Pontic Shield Techniques on Aesthetic Zone
Authors: Polis-Yanes Carlos , Cadenas-Sebastián Carla , Oliver-Puigdomenech Claudia , Ayuso-Montero Raul , Marí-Roig Antoni , López-López José
Published: October 2020

When a tooth is extracted, a bone remodeling of the alveolar process occurs irretrievably. Various techniques have emerged over time to maintain the thickness of the bone crest in fixed prosthetics on teeth and implants. The socket shield and pontic shield techniques are aimed at minimizing buccal bone remodeling, especially in the aesthetic area. We present a case of an aesthetic sector rehabilitated with partial fixed denture using the socket shield and pontic shield techniques.
Renal Cell Carcinoma Associated with Mycosis Fungoides: A Paraneoplastic Syndrome
Authors: Tran Jessica , Huen Auris , Duvic Madeleine
Published: October 2020

Patients with mycosis fungoides have an increased risk for additional malignancies, particularly hematologic malignancies. Of the malignancies that have been associated with mycosis fungoides, renal cell carcinoma and other solid tumor malignancies have not been studied extensively. In this case series, we describe three mycosis fungoides patients who were diagnosed with clear cell renal cell carcinoma and discuss the potential pathophysiology underlying this association.
Existence and Hyers–Ulam Stability of Solutions for a Mixed Fractional-Order Nonlinear Delay Difference Equation with Parameters
Authors: Luo Danfeng , Luo Zhiguo , Qiu Hongjun
Published: October 2020

This paper focuses on a kind of mixed fractional-order nonlinear delay difference equations with parameters. Under some new criteria and by applying the Brouwer theorem and the contraction mapping principle, the new existence and uniqueness results of the solutions have been established. In addition, we deduce that the solution of the addressed equation is Hyers–Ulam stable. Some results in the literature can be generalized and improved. As an application, three typical examples are delineated to demonstrate the effectiveness of our theoretical results.
A Deep Paraphrase Identification Model Interacting Semantics with Syntax
Authors: Kong Leilei , Han Zhongyuan , Han Yong , Qi Haoliang
Published: October 2020

Paraphrase identification is central to many natural language applications. Based on the insight that a successful paraphrase identification model needs to adequately capture the semantics of the language objects as well as their interactions, we present a deep paraphrase identification model interacting semantics with syntax (DPIM-ISS) for paraphrase identification. DPIM-ISS introduces the linguistic features manifested in syntactic features to produce more explicit structures and encodes the semantic representation of sentence on different syntactic structures by means of interacting semantics with syntax. Then, DPIM-ISS learns the paraphrase pattern from this representation interacting the semantics with syntax by exploiting a convolutional neural network with convolution-pooling structure. Experiments are conducted on the corpus of Microsoft Research Paraphrase (MSRP), PAN 2010 corpus, and PAN 2012 corpus for paraphrase plagiarism detection. The experimental results demonstrate that DPIM-ISS outperforms the classical word-matching approaches, the syntax-similarity approaches, the convolution neural network-based models, and some deep paraphrase identification models.
Cranberry for Bacteriuria in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Raguzzini Anna , Toti Elisabetta , Sciarra Tommaso , Fedullo Anna Lucia , Peluso Ilaria
Published: October 2020

Background. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) and in veterans with SCI who use antibiotics improperly for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Cranberry (CB) has been suggested for UTI prevention. Methods. We performed a systematic search up to May 2020 in the following databases: AccessMedicine, BioMed Central, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and PubMed. Quality assessment was performed using a specifically designed quality score. Risk ratio was calculated with both random effect model analysis (DerSimonian-Laird method) and quality effect model analysis (Doi Thalib method). Results. Six studies on bacteriuria and SCI were reviewed. From the four studies available for meta-analysis, two of which with individuals taking both CB and control, 477 data from 415 participants were analysed (241 CB and 236 control). No significant differences were detected with meta-analysis. However, bias, limitations, and incompleteness were observed in the reviewed studies. Conclusion. Although further studies are needed, we suggest an accurate monitoring of diet and fluid intake, the evaluation of risk for potential food or nutraceutical interactions with drugs, and the inclusion of inflammatory markers among the outcomes in addition to UTI.
Herpes Zoster in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Series of Three Cases
Authors: Hanna Ramy M. , Abd-El-Malak Farid , Alnaser Ammar , Cader Rumi , Yabu Julie M.
Published: November 2020

Kidney transplant recipients require lifelong immunosuppression to prevent organ rejection. The need for this intervention, however, leads to decreased cellular immunity and, in turn, increased risk of developing herpes zoster (HZ) from reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus. HZ commonly presents as a painful rash in a dermatome presentation followed by post-herpetic neuralgia. In immunosuppressed individuals, the presentation can be atypical and vary in severity depending on degree of immunosuppression and host immune response. We present the clinical course of 3 kidney transplant recipients who developed HZ after transplantation at different times post-transplant with varying clinical manifestations. The balance between maintaining immunosuppression and preventing or subsequently treating disseminated disease is discussed.
Successful Treatment of Acute Endophthalmitis after Cat Bite: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kishore Kamal , McGowan Daniel S. , Pode Robert P.
Published: November 2020

Endophthalmitis after cat bite has poor outcome particularly those associated with scleral injury. A 33-year-old Caucasian female was seen by her ophthalmologist 4 days after cat bite to her right eye with hand motion vision and obvious signs of acute endophthalmitis. She was treated with exploration and repair of scleral puncture wound, anterior chamber and vitreous cultures and intravitreal injections of vancomycin and ceftazidime. Cultures were positive for alpha hemolytic Streptococcus. She underwent a pars plana vitrectomy, cultures and repeat injection of the same antibiotics and intravitreal dexamethasone 2 days later. Cultures grew Bacillus. Endophthalmitis resolved and she regained 20/20 vision after cataract surgery 3 months later. Successful outcome of acute endophthalmitis following a cat bite to the sclera in this case was most likely due to prompt intravitreal antibiotics and early vitrectomy combined with supplemental intravitreal antibiotics and steroid therapy.
Prediction of Remaining Useful Lifetime of Membrane Using Machine Learning
Authors: Won Dong-Yeon , Sim Hyun Su , Kim Yong Soo
Published: October 2020

We present a novel analytical procedure estimating the remaining useful life (RUL) of complex systems or facilities based on degradation data obtained over time; we consider the maintenance characteristics of units that are incompletely repaired. We develop an extended prognostic model
that accurately predicts the RUL; we use machine-learning featuring smoothing, logging, variable transformation and clustering to this end. The performance of a general model was more predictable than that of an extended model. A linear regression (LR) method was superior in terms of root
mean square error prediction and an artificial neural network (ANN) was superior in terms of prognostics and health management (PHM) scoring. The procedure is both practical and efficient, and can be deployed in various industries, yielding low-cost prognostics even in low-expertise domains.
The procedure can be applied to high-risk industries, aiding management decision-making in terms of the establishment of optimal, preventative maintenance policies.
Analysis of the Properties of Tungsten Carbide Thin Films According to the Sputtering Radio Frequency Power
Authors: Lee Seokwon , Kim Jung Hyun , Park Young , Choi Wonseok
Published: October 2020

In this study, we investigated characteristics of tungsten carbide thin film according to carbon and tungsten ratio. Tungsten carbide thin film was co-sputtered on silicon substrate and glass substrates using an RF magnetron sputtering system. To analyze the characteristics according
to the composition ratio of the tungsten carbide thin film, the RF powers of carbon/tungsten target were divided into 100 W/100 W, 125 W/75 W, 150 W/50 W, and 175 W/25 W, respectively. Hall measurement and 4 points probes were used to measure electrical properties of the tungsten carbide thin
films. Raman and field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) analysis were performed.
Preparation of Temozolomide Nano SustainedRelease Microsphere Material and Its Application in Treatment of Glioma
Authors: Zhao Jun , Xu Longbiao , Zhao Ming , Wei Chao
Published: October 2020

The polylactic acid/glycolic acid (PLGA) sustained-release microspheres are used as the main material for local sustained-release in the study. Ultrasonic emulsification-solvent evaporation method is applied to combine the sustained-release microspheres material with temozolomide to
form a composite sustained-release microsphere (TMZ-PLGA-W). The ratio of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) was adjusted so as to test the morphological characteristics of TMZ-PLGA-W at different ratios. The amount of drug released and the encapsulation rate of the material at different
time periods were calculated. The C6 glioma system was implanted into the right caudate nucleus of Wistar rats to obtain a rat intracranial glioma model. The models were divided into 5 groups according to different sustained-release materials, and each group had 10 rats. The brain tumor at
different times were compared and the survival time of rats was statistically calculated. The TMZ-PLGA-W sustained-release microsphere material with LA/GA ratio of 25%/75% was selected and placed in C6 cells culturing incubator according to different drug loadings. The cell activity according
to the culture time was observed. The results showed that the TMZ-PLGA-W sustained-release microspheres prepared in the study were stable in structure, uniform in size, and free of cracks. At the same time, the sustained-release curve showed that the microsphere material conformed to the biodynamic
law, which could reduce the burst effect and prolong the sustained release of the drug. The application of TMZ-PLGA-W sustained-release microspheres can effectively inhibit the increase in the area of brain tumors in rats, and at the same time improve the survival rate of rats. The increase
in the drug loading of the microspheres can further inhibit the growth of glioma cells.
Preparation of Polymer Nanocarrier Material and Its Application in B-Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Peng Zhiqiang , Xiong Jianping , Dong Hanzhi , Li Wuping
Published: October 2020

The β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) is coupled with polyethyleneimine (PEI 600 Da) to produce a polymer nanocarrier material (PyD-W) with good biocompatibility and high transfection rate. First, the test was performed to study the influence of different factors on the
transfection efficiency of PyD-W materials in terms of cell type and transfection system. Then the effect of adding wheat germ agglutinin on the material-cell membrane binding when transfecting cells by PyD-W materials was studied. The influence of temperature and cell phagocytosis inhibitors
on the entire transfection process were taken into consideration at the same time. In the end, the escape ability of PyD-W material carrying plasmid DNA in lysosomes was studied. After analyzing the performance of PyD-W material transfected cells, the appropriate transfection staining conditions
was selected to be applied in the study of the inhibitory properties of mouse B-cell lymphoma cells. In the experiment, the results showed that the cell type had a great influence on the material. The N/P ratio should not be set too high. Prolong the transfecting and fostering time appropriately
could increase the transfection efficiency. The addition of wheat germ lectin would significantly reduce the enrichment ability on the cell surface of plasmid DNA carried by PyD-W. Increasing the temperature could also increase the transfection efficiency of PyD-W materials, cell phagocytosis
inhibitors would not have a significant impact on transfection, and the accumulation of PyD-W materials in lysosomes would be gradually released from lysosomes with time going by. According to the above results, PyD-W carrying plasmid DNA was transfected into mouse B lymphoma cells and normal
B cells using similar transfection methods. The results show that B lymphoma cells (38B9) corresponded significant mRNA levels is lower than the mRNA level of normal B cells (P < 0.05). It is detected by cell count and CCK-8 kit that the growth of cells in the group overexpressing
PyD-W is significantly inhibited (P < 0.01).
Assessing Preknowledge Cheating via Innovative Measures: A Multiple-Group Analysis of Jointly Modeling Item Responses, Response Times, and Visual Fixation Counts
Authors: Man Kaiwen , Harring Jeffrey R.
Published: October 2020

Many approaches have been proposed to jointly analyze item responses and response times to understand behavioral differences between normally and aberrantly behaved test-takers. Biometric information, such as data from eye trackers, can be used to better identify these deviant testing behaviors in addition to more conventional data types. Given this context, this study demonstrates the application of a new method for multiple-group analysis that concurrently models item responses, response times, and visual fixation counts collected from an eye-tracker. It is hypothesized that differences in behavioral patterns between normally behaved test-takers and those who have different levels of preknowledge about the test items will manifest in latent characteristics of the different data types. A Bayesian estimation scheme is used to fit the proposed model to experimental data and the results are discussed.
Inmate Attitudes about Prison Tours for Students
Authors: Stacer Melissa J.
Published: October 2020

Correctional facility tours are common within criminal justice programs as a way for students to experience real-world criminal justice. While tours have received praise for solidifying learning, they have also been criticized for objectification of inmates. In this research, individuals who were incarcerated in a Midwestern state were surveyed about their attitudes toward students touring prisons. While participants, in general, viewed tours favorably, one theme underscored the need to include the voices of incarcerees in the schedule of prison tours.