bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprehensive bioinformatic analysis reveals a cancer-associated fibroblast gene signature as a poor prognostic factor and potential therapeutic target in gastric cancer
Authors: Ucaryilmaz-Metin Cemre , Ozcan Gulnihal
Published: January 2022

Background: Gastric cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the world. The lack of prognostic markers and efficient molecular targets limits the success of current therapies. Therefore, we aimed to identify new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets in gastric cancer.
Methods: We analyzed four GEO gene expression datasets with a network-based approach. We used The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) stomach adenocarcinoma data as the validation set. Since all the hub genes indicated the cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in gastric tumors, we performed a stepwise multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify a poor prognostic gene signature for cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration. Lastly, we searched the drug databases for drugs that target the signature genes.
Results: Our network-based approach revealed the extracellular matrix components COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, FN1, and SPARC as the central genes in gastric cancer. These genes were overexpressed and displayed poor prognostic significance in TCGA stomach adenocarcinoma samples. We demonstrated the substantial correlation between these genes and the cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration in gastric cancer. The stepwise multivariate Cox regression elucidated COL1A1 and COL5A1, together with ITGA4, Emilin1, and TSPAN9 as poor prognostic signature genes for the cancer-associated fibroblast infiltration. The search on drug databases revealed: collagenase clostridium histolyticum, ocriplasmin, and halofuginone which target collagen subunits; and natalizumab, firategrast, and BIO-1211 which target ITGA4 as the potential drugs for further investigation.
Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the central role of extracellular matrix components secreted and remodeled by the cancer-associated fibroblasts in gastric cancer. The cancer-associated fibroblast gene signature we identified in this study carries a high potential as a predictive tool for poor prognosis in gastric cancer patients. Elucidating the mechanisms by which the signature genes contribute to poor patient outcomes can lead to the discovery of more potent molecular-targeted agents and; increase the therapeutic success in gastric cancer.
Uplink Cell-Free Massive MIMO-NOMA Systems Based on Group-Level Successive Interference Cancellation
Authors: Cui Tao , Liu Chengcheng , Du Peng , Song Rongfang
Published: January 2022

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) are viewed as promising techniques to meet the demands for high spectrum efficiency and massive connectivity in future wireless communication. In this paper, a novel framework for realizing transmission in cell-free massive MIMO-NOMA system with deep integration between MIMO and NOMA is proposed. A new method is developed to divide users into different groups according to their equivalent path loss, then ``group-level successive interference cancellation'' (GSIC) is used to cancel inter-group interference when demodulating users. Based on the new framework, a rigorous closed-form expression of achievable sum rate in uplink cell-free massive MIMO-NOMA system is derived. Besides, a parallel iterative method is used to obtain the best power control scheme. It is shown by simulations that the proposed scheme can effectively reduce total power consumption and outperforms the orthogonal multiple access (OMA) transmission and the traditional SIC-NOMA schemes based on user clustering.
Enhancing the Capacity of the Mental Health and Substance Use Health Workforce to Meet Population Needs: Insights From a Facilitated Virtual Policy Dialogue
Authors: Leslie Kathleen , Bartram Mary , Atanackovic Jelena , Chamberland-Rowe Caroline , Tulk Christine , Bourgeault Ivy
Published: January 2022

Background: Timely knowledge mobilization has become increasingly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic and complicated by the need to establish or maintain lines of communication between researchers and decision-makers virtually. Our recent pan-Canadian research study on the mental health and substance use health (MHSUH) workforce during the pandemic identified key policy barriers impacting this essential workforce. To bridge the evidence-policy gap in addressing these barriers, we held a facilitated virtual policy dialogue. This paper discusses the insights generated at this virtual policy dialogue and highlights how this integrated knowledge mobilization strategy can help drive evidence-based policy.Methods: We held a three-hour virtual policy dialogue with 46 stakeholders and policy-decision makers as the final phase in our year-long mixed-methods research study. The event was part of our integrated knowledge mobilization strategy and was designed to generate stakeholder-driven policy implications and priority actions based on our research findings. The data collected from the virtual policy dialogue included transcripts from the small group breakout rooms and main sessions, reflective field notes, and the final report from the external facilitator. Coded data were thematically analyzed to inform our understanding of the prioritization of the policy implications and action items.Results: Facilitated virtual policy dialogues generate rich qualitative insights that guide community-informed knowledge mobilization strategies and promote evidence-informed policy. Our policy dialogue identified actionable policy recommendations with equity as a cross-cutting theme. Adapting policy dialogues to virtual formats and including technology-assisted facilitation can offer advantages for equitable stakeholder participation, allow for deeper analysis, and help build consensus regarding evidence-based policy priorities.Conclusions: Our facilitated virtual policy dialogue was a key knowledge mobilization strategy for our research on the capacity of the Canadian MHSUH workforce to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our policy dialogue allowed us to engage a diverse group of MHSUH workforce stakeholders in a meaningful action-oriented way, provided an avenue to get feedback on our research findings, and generated prioritized action items that incorporated the knowledge and experience of these MHSUH workforce stakeholders.
A Novel Tree Shrew Model of Chronic Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis and its Disruptive Application Efficiency
Authors: Hu Kaijiao , Lv Longbao , Huang Hui , Yin Guangnian , Gao Jie , Liu Jianping , Yang Yaying , Zeng Wenxin , Chen Yan , Zhang Ni , Zhang Feiyan , Ma Yuhua , Chen Feilan
Published: January 2022

Background: Previous studies have established several animal models for experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) in rodents without the human fovea. This study aimed to develop and disrupt the application of a novel EAU model in tree shrews with a cone-dominated retina resembling the human fovea.Methods: Tree shrews were immunized with six inter-photoreceptor retinoid-binding proteins (IRBPs) in Freund’s adjuvant. Immunized tree shrews were clinically and pathologically evaluated for the development and characteristics of EAU. IRBP-specific T-cell proliferation and serum cytokine production of tree shrews were evaluated to determine immune responses. Gene-expression profiles were analyzed in the eyes of tree shrews under EAU immunization with screened IRBP to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The disruptive effects of the DEG RGS4 inhibitor CCG 203769 and dihydroartemisinin on the EAU were investigated to evaluate the potential application of tree shrew EAU.Results: Tree shrew IRBP1197–1211 and bovine R14 successfully induced chronic EAU with predominate features of mild vasculitis, diffuse inflammatory infiltration, and retinal damage in the tree shrews. Immunohistological results showed that ionized calcium–binding adaptor molecule-1 (Iba-1)+ macrophages, purinergic receptor P2Y, G-protein–coupled 12 (P2RY12)+ microglia, and CD11c+ dendritic cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells were the main infiltrating cells in the ciliary body, retina, and choroid during the development of disease. IRBP-specific lymphocyte proliferation and pathogenic T helper (Th) 1 and Th17 responses were observed in tree shrew EAU. DEGs in the R14 group were involved in regulation of cell-substrate adhesion, adenylate cyclase activity, and ruffle, and DEGs in the IRBP1197–1211 group were enriched in the supramolecular complex and the microtubule. In particular, the pathways of bacterial invasion of epithelial cells and inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels were significantly enriched in the R14 group. RGS4 inhibition and dihydroartemisinin can significantly alleviate the inflammatory severity of EAU by reducing the retinal pathological injuries after treatment.Conclusions: Our study first established a novel chronic EAU in tree shrews elicited by R14 and IRBP1197-1211, probably by altering important pathways and genes related to microglia infiltration, photoreceptor damages, and T-cell responses, thereby allowing the pathogenesis and therapeutics study of the fovea-involved visual disturbance in human uveitis.
PIK3CA Mutation is Associated with Poor Response to HER2-Targeted Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Kim Ju Won , Lim Ah Reum , You Ji Young , Lee Jung Hyun , Song Sung Eun , Lee Nam Kwon , Jung Seung Pil , Cho Kyu Ran , Kim Cheol Yong , PARK Kyong Hwa
Published: January 2022

PurposeMutations in PIK3CA gene occur frequently in patients with breast cancer. Activating PIK3CA mutations have been shown to confer resistance to human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2-targeted treatments. In this retrospective study, we investigated whether PIK3CA mutations were correlated with treatment response or duration in HER2-positive (HER2+) breast cancer patients.MethodsWe reviewed the clinical information of patients with HER2 + breast cancer who received HER2-targeted therapy for early stage or metastatic cancers. The pathologic complete response (pCR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were compared between patients with wild-type PIK3CA (PIK3CAw) and mutated PIK3CA (PIK3CAm), among those selected for the study. Next-generation sequencing was combined with examination of PFS associated with anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) treatment.ResultsData from 90 patients with HER2 + breast cancer were analyzed. Overall, 34 patients had pathogenic PIK3CA mutations (37.8%). The pCR rate of the PIK3CAm group was lower than that of the PIK3CAw group among patients who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early stage cancer. In the metastatic setting, the PIK3CAm group showed a significantly shorter mean PFS (mPFS) with first-line anti-HER2 mAb. The mPFS of second-line T-DM1 was lower in the PIK3CAm group than in the PIK3CAw group. Sequencing revealed differences in the Mutational landscape between PIK3CAm and PIK3CAw tumors.Conclusion HER2+ breast cancer patients with activating PIK3CA mutations had lower pCR rates and shorter PFS with palliative HER2-targeted therapy than those with wild-type PIK3CA. Our results suggest that HER2+ breast cancer patients with PIK3CA mutations have an unmet clinical need.
Upregulated LINC01088 Facilitates Malignant Phenotypes and Immune Escape of Colorectal Cancer by Regulating microRNAs/G3BP1/PD-L1 axis
Authors: Wang Shukui , Li Chenmeng , Pan Bei , Wang Xuhong , Qin Jian , Liu Xiangxiang , Gao Tianyi , Sun Huiling , Pan Yuqin
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Long intergenic non-coding RNA LINC01088 is a newly discovered long non-coding RNA. Its biological function in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. Methods: Here, 36 paired CRC and para-cancerous tissues were collected. In vitro, fluorescence in situ hybridization assay, qPCR, western blotting analysis and cellular functional experiments, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay and dual-luciferase reporter system analysis were performed. In vivo, xenograft tumor mouse models were generated. Besides, patient-derived intestinal organoid (PDO) was used ex vivo. Results: We found that LINC01088 was significantly upregulated in colorectal cancer tissues and CRC cell lines compared to adjacent normal tissues and colonic epithelial cells. High LINC01088 expression was associated with poor outcome in CRC. LINC01088 was mainly located in the cytoplasm. LINC01088 knockdown suppressed the proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune escape of colorectal cancer cells. Mechanistically, LINC01088 bound directly to miR-548b-5p and miR-548c-5p that were significantly upregulated G3BP1 expression, altering CRC cell phenotypes. In mouse xenograft models, LINC01088 knockdown restrained tumor growth and lung metastasis. Further, G3BP1 overexpression reversed LINC01088-knockdown mediated inhibitory effects on tumor growth. Notably, LINC01088 knockdown downregulated PD-L1 expression, while G3BP1 overexpression restored PD-L1 expression in xenograft tumors. Besides, LINC01088 knockdown repressed CRC organoid growth ex vivo. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggested that LINC01088 directly targeted miR-548b-5p and miR-548c-5p promoting G3BP1 and PD-L1 expression, which facilitated colorectal cancer progression and immune escape.
Comparison Study of Time-varying Seismic Fragility of Precast Segmental and Cast-in-place Bridge Columns in High-speed Railway Bridges
Authors: Liang Yan , Li Qing-He , Li Pan-Jie , Shu Jing-Xiao , Cao Yang
Published: January 2022

Anxiety about the long-term seismic performance of precast segmental bridge columns (PSBCs) limits their wide application in harsh environments and high intensities. However, railway route selection inevitably occurs in offshore areas, and it is urgent to study the seismic performance of the PSBC considering environmental erosion and seismic effects. In order to To study the application of precast segmental bridge columns (PSBCs) in offshore high intensity areas, this paper comprehensively compares the time-varying seismic fragility of precast segmental and cast-in-place bridge columns (CPBCs) in high-speed railway bridges. Based on an offshore high-speed railway column, finite element models of representative PSBCs and CPBCs are established and verified by experiments. Then, the verified finite models are utilized to implement the time-varying fragility analysis by considering chloride ion erosion under four damage states. The main conclusions are as follows: the exceeding probabilities of PSBC and CPBC are close in intact bridges under different damage states and seismic intensities. With the prolongation of bridge service time, the exceeding probabilities of PSBC increase more rapidly than those of CPBC due to the discontinuity of PSBC segments, which leads to the acceleration of corrosion of steel bars. When the columns reach the design working life, the exceeding probability and PGA median of PSBC are higher than those of CPBC columns under four damage states. Taking the medium damage state as an example, the maximum exceeding probability of PSBC and CPBC was 97.2% and 89.1% at the medium damage state, and the PGA median of PSBC was 24% lower than that of CPBC at 100 years. This work provides a theoretical foundation for the better application of PSBC in offshore high intensity areas.
Who Should do What? Comparing EQ-5D-3L and EQ-5D-5L Proxy-ratings by Informal Caregivers and Health Professional for People with Dementia
Authors: Michalowsky Bernhard , Hoffmann Wolfgang , Mohr Wiebke , Rädke Anika , Xie Feng
Published: January 2022

Background: Assessing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among persons with dementia poses several challenges due to cognitive decline and limited perception. As a result, proxy ratings by family members or health professionals are used. The EQ-5D is the most commonly used generic and preference-based HRQoL instrument. Methodological drawbacks of the three-level version (EQ-5D-3L) prompted the development of the five-level version (EQ-5D-5L) by expanding the range in the domains. However, no comparison of the psychometric properties of both versions and different proxy ratings exist so far. Therefore, the objective of this study was to compare the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-3L by application of different proxy ratings in dementia.Methods: The EQ-5D-3L and -5L were completed by n=52 family caregivers and one care-manager at baseline and three and six months later. In total, 106 caregiver and 133 care manager proxy ratings were completed. The EQ-5D-3L and 5L were evaluated in terms of acceptability, agreement, ceiling effects, redistribution properties and inconsistency, informativity (Shannon, H', and Shannon Evenness, J', indices) as well as convergent and discriminative validity. Results: Mean proxy index scores were higher for the 5L than the 3L. Missing values occurred less frequently in both proxy ratings and versions (<1%). Agreement between both measures was high but higher in caregiver than care-manager ratings (ICC 0.885 vs. 0.840). The relative ceiling effect decreased for the 3L compared to 5L by 56% in the caregiver- and 75% in the care-manager-rating. Inconsistency between both versions was low. Informativity increased from the 3L to the 5L version in both proxy ratings. The 5L also demonstrated a better discriminative ability than the 3L, especially in the caregiver rating. Compared with the 3L, the 5L had better convergent validity, especially for caregiver ratings.Conclusion: The EQ-5D-5L had high feasibility and acceptability and was superior by a reduction of ceiling effects and an improvement in informativity, discriminative ability and convergent validity. Proxy ratings by informal caregivers demonstrated better psychometric properties than professional care-manager ratings.
The Role of CPT1A as a Biomarker of Breast Cancer Progression – a Bioinformatic Analysis
Authors: Sharma Vijay , Das Mitali , Giannoudis Athina
Published: January 2022

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy of women and with its incidence on the rise, the need to identify new targets for treatment is imperative. There is a growing interest in the role of lipid metabolism in cancer. Carnitine palmitoyl-transferase-1 (CPT-1); the rate limiting step in fatty acid oxidation, has been shown to be overexpressed in a range of tumours. There are 3 isoforms of CPT-1; A, B and C. It is CPT-1A that has been shown to be the predominant isoform which is overexpressed in breast cancer. Methods: We performed a bioinformatic analysis using readily available online platforms to establish the prognostic and predictive effects related to CPT-1A expression. These include the KM plotter tool, the Human Protein Atlas, the cBioPortal tool, the G2O tools, the MethSurv tool, the ROC plotter tool. A Network analysis was performed using the Oncomine platform and the gene concepts for the cancer hallmarks, including immune regulation, were based on the NanoString concepts. The gene concepts for the epigenetic pathways were obtained from the EpiFactor website. Spearman correlations (r) to determine the relationship between CPT-1A and the immune response were obtained using the TISIDB portal. Results: Using a bioinformatics analysis, we have shown that Ooverexpression of CPT-1A largely confers a worse prognosis and that CPT-1A progressively recruits a range of pathways as breast cancer progresses. The scope of this gene’s interactions with cancer pathways is far wider than previously realised and includes associations with epigenetic regulation and immune evasion pathways, as well as wild-type moderate to high penetrant genes involved in hereditary breast cancer. CPT-1A genomic alterations are detected in 9% of breast carcinomas and both the alteration and the metagene associated with it, confers a poor prognosis. Conclusions: Through this bioinformatics analysis, we propose that CPT-1A expression can be utilised as a biomarker of disease progression and as a potential therapeutic target.
Prognostic Significance of The Diameter of Superior Rectal Vein For Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer
Authors: Hong Yafang , Chen Runfan , Li Anchuan , Xu Benhua
Published: January 2022

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the diameter of the superior rectal vein (dSRV) and prognosis in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).Methods and materials: This retrospective study included 420 patients with LARC who received neoadjuvant therapy followed by total mesorectal resection (TME) from December 2014 to July 2017. The dSRV was measured before treatment. The maximal χ2 method was employed to determine the dSRV threshold of 3.6 mm based on the difference in disease-free survival, and then to divide the patients into 2 groups. The propensity score matching method (PSM) was used to balance the individual characteristics between the two groups. Kaplan–Meier curves and adjusted Cox models were used to determine the relationship among the baseline characteristics and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS).Results: During a median follow-up of 45 months, 7 patients had relapse (1.60%), and 71 had distant metastasis (16.90%). Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that patients with a dSRV > 3.60 mm had better survival (dSRV > 3.60 mm vs. ≤ 3.60 mm: 3-y MFS: 87.70% vs. 68.20%, P < 0.001; 3-y DFS: 85.50% vs. 64.20%, p < 0.001; 3-y OS: 91.90% vs. 82.20%, p=0.005). The multivariate Cox regression analysis after adjusting the covariates and the multivariate Cox regression analysis after performing PSM showed that the dSRV was an independent prognostic factor for MFS, DFS and OS.Conclusion: The dSRV measurement is valuable in predicting the prognosis of patients with LARC, and the prognosis of patients with a smaller dSRV seems to be poor.
On the nature of supramolecular colour phenomenon
Authors: Kaul Bansi L.
Published: January 2022

Colour is of special interest in chemistry, physics, biology, medicine and of course for culture and life style. The relation between colour and constitution of organic materials at molecular level, to be called mono molecular colour phenomenon (MMCP), is well understood based on PPP-MO calculations of energy levels of excited states upon light absorption. However, such a relation cannot always be extrapolated to supramolecular state in which colorants normally exist both in nature and for their actual functionality. The present study provides examples of both mono molecular colour phenomenon (MMCP) and supramolecular colour phenomenon (SMCP), and a rationale of their differentiation.
Clinical Characteristics, Complications and Predictors of Outcome of Hospitalized Adult Sudanese Patients with COVID-19 and Malaria Co-Infection in Sudan, a Multi-Center Retrospective Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Ahmed Khabab Abbasher Hussien Mohamed , Hasabo Elfatih A. , Haroun Mazin S. , Eljack Moh.Mah.Fadelallah , Altayeb Yousif F. O. , Nour Alshareef B. , Salih Esraa Hassan , Abdallah Abdallah M. , Osman Waddah Aljaely Mohammed , Yousif Mohammed Yousif Elnaeem
Published: January 2022

Background

Malaria and COVID-19 share several characteristics that could lead to cross-infection, particularly in malaria-endemic areas. Early COVID-19 symptoms might be misdiagnosed for malaria in clinical settings. Also, both diseases can cause fatal complications. So, laboratory testing for both diseases was recommended by the WHO.
Objectives

To study the clinical characteristics and outcomes of Adult Sudanese patients with COVID-19 and Malaria Co-infection.
Methods and materials:

This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to October 2021 in Wad Medani. A total coverage of all Sudanese patients above 18 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of co-infection with COVID-19 and malaria was included, and data was collected using a data collection sheet. Data was analyzed using R software version 4.0.2. Data were described and presented as mean ± Standard deviation (SD) and number (percentage). To find associated factors with in-hospital outcome, chi-square test, fisher exact test, and independent t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test were used.
Results

In this study, 156 participants were diagnosed with COVID-19 and malaria co-infection. Most of them were between 60-70 years (30.8%), the majority were males (59%). Shortness of breath (76.3%) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (35.3%) were the most common symptom and complication among co-infected patients, respectively. Ground glass opacity (n=47/49, 95.9%) is the most common result for CT scan. Atrial fibrillation was the most common abnormal ECG finding (n = 6/62, 9.7%). Overall mortality among all participants was (63/156, 40.4%).
Conclusion

High mortality rate was found among the co-infected patients. More attention is needed towards fighting COVID-19 and Malaria co-infection. There may be a link between Malaria and COVID-19.
Prevalence of long-acting reversible contraceptive uses and predictors among Ethiopian women over the past five years. A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Dube Dereje Lemma , Yilma Shimekit , Chelkeba Legese
Published: January 2022

Objective

LARCs are a type of long-acting reversible contraception that is both safe and cost-effective for women. The aim of this review was to determine the pooled prevalence of LARC users and associated factors among Ethiopian women over the last five years.
Study design

: We searched Pub Med, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Google Scholar on data published between 2017 to February 2021. The I2 index was used to measure heterogeneity between studies and subgroup analysis and leave one sensitivity analysis to determine possible causes of heterogeneity
Results

Among 440 studies identified, 75 were selected for a full review, and 27 met the inclusion criteria. Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LACs) users were detected in 3,588 of the 12,741 women studied, yielding a 29% overall prevalence (95% CI: 13-20%). Previous use of LARC was associated with being four times (P=0.001, 95% CI 2.55-4.57) more likely to use LARCs, women with a positive attitude towards birth control (P=0.001, 95% CI 1.5-2.3), and good knowledge (p=0.001, 95% CI 1.16-1.98) were two times more likely to use LARC.
Conclusion

prevalence of LARC was low among Ethiopian women, and knowledge, attitude, and previous use of LARC affects its prevalence
Genome analysis and prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Indonesian variants and the correlation with the outbreak timeline
Authors: Muliawan Maria Prevyolita Indra , Tantokusumo Timotius Christopher , Audah Kholis Abdurachim
Published: January 2022

Since its first appearance in China, in the end of 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has mutated into several variants. The genome analysis of the spike of SARS-CoV-2 is necessary to identify the mutations in each variant. In this study, we obtained the whole genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2 Wild Type and variants from GenBank (National Center of Biotechnology Information, USA), and GISAID EpiCoV database (Germany). We analyzed the spike glycoprotein gene sequences using the Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST), and identified the changes in nucleotide and amino acid. Additionally, we also discuss the prevalence and correlation between the submission time of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the GISAID database with the outbreak timeline. The result of our analysis showed that there are 9 amino acid changes in SARS-CoV-2 alpha, beta and delta variants, and 3 amino acid changes in gamma variant. There were 8,861 submissions of Indonesian variants on the GISAID database per November 21, 2021. The correlation between submission time of SARS-CoV-2 variants and outbreak timeline showed that SARS-CoV-2 delta (B.1.617.2) variant potentially caused the sudden increase of COVID-19 confirmed cases from July to September 2021.
Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Utilization Among Married Women In Sub-Saharan Africa: Multilevel Analysis Using Recent Demographic And Health Survey
Authors: Tesema Zemenu Tadesse , Tesema Getayeneh Antehunegn , Boke Moges Muluneh , Akalu Temesgen Yihunie
Published: January 2022

Background: Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy to improve child and maternal health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa. Hence, this study was aimed at determining the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women were included. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model using Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance test. Finally, the model with the highest LLR and the smallest deviance was selected as a best fitted model. Results: The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub–Saharan African countries was 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization among women living in East Africa was (AOR=1.47 (1.40, 1.54)), urban (AOR=1.18 (1.14, 1.24)), women primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR=1.49 (1.44, 1.55)), and (AOR=1.66 (1.58, 1.74)), respectively. Moreover, husband primary (AOR=1.38 (1.33, 1.42)), middle (AOR=1.17, (1.14, 1.21)), rich wealth status (AOR=1.29 (1.25, 1.34)), media exposure (AOR=1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), and postnatal care (PNC) utilization (AOR=1.25 (1.22, 1.29)) had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization compared with their counter parts. Furthermore, deliver at health facility (AOR=1.74 (1.69, 1.79)) and birth order 2-4 (AOR=1.36 (1.31, 1.41)) had higher odds of modern contraceptive utilization. On the otherhand, women living in Central (AOR=0.23 (0.22, 0.24)), Western regions (AOR=0.46 (0.40, 0.54)), women decided with husband (AOR=0.90 (0.87, 0.93)), and husband alone (AOR=0.73 (0.71, 0.75)) were decreased the odds of modern contraceptive utilization. Conclusion: The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low. Modern contraceptive utilization is affected by different factors. More attention need to be given to rural residents, illiterate women, and communities with low wealth status.
Development and Preliminary Outcomes of a Behaviour-change Intervention Aimed at Preventing Mosquito-borne Arboviruses
Authors: Santos Silvana , Smania-Marques Roberta , Albino Victor Alves , Fernandes Izabelly Dutra , Mangueira Francisco Fernandes Abel , Olinda Ricardo , Bond Carol S , Matheson David , Traxler John
Published: January 2022

Background: This article describes the development of the theoretical background, methodology and preliminary outcomes of a behaviour-change intervention aimed at preventing the spread of mosquito-borne arboviruses. Objective: To compare perceptions and behaviours, before and after the intervention, between a group of health workers (experts) with a group of college students (learners). Health workers have already learned the target behaviours that every citizen must develop to reduce the mosquito population; college students may or may not grasp these behaviours. Our working hypothesis considers that the intervention should approximate the pattern of students' perceptions, and behaviours to those of health workers.Methods: Using a distance-learning platform adapted for mobile devices, the intervention consisted of tasks that were presented through short videos with people performing the desired target behaviour. To demonstrate the accomplishment of the tasks, participants produced videos and shared these on social networks. A questionnaire was completed before and after the intervention by 58 participants, 31 college students and 27 health workers. Results: Most of the participants were female (83.9% and 72.2% of college students and health workers, respectively); 27.8% of health workers attended higher education and 70.4% were married contrasting with 9.8% of the students. Among college students, a significant difference in the chi-square test was found for all ten target behaviours after the intervention. ANOVA analysis showed that health workers have a higher perception of susceptibility and more fear of acquiring mosquito-borne arboviruses than students do, and there was a correlation between facilitating behaviours with behaviour change. Conclusion: Intervention based on behaviour change theories thus contributed to bring students' behaviour patterns closer to those of health workers. Here we have presented a model for effectuating behaviour change perhaps applicable in other settings.
A Real-World-Data Retrospective Cohort Study of Low Estrogen Receptor Positive Early Breast Cancer: Natural History and Treatment Outcomes.
Authors: Bari Shahla , Boulware David , Li Jiannong , Loftus Loretta , Soyano Aixa , Jameel Zena , Khong Hung , Czerniecki Brian , Costa Ricardo
Published: January 2022

Purpose: Estrogen receptor–positive (ER + ) breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease with an ongoing debate regarding the optimal cutoff point for clinically relevant ER expression. We used a real-world database to assess prognostic and predictive values of lower ER expression levels on treatment outcomes with endocrine therapy. Methods: We used a nationwide electronic health record– (EHR-) derived deidentified database. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the association between ER expression, tumor characteristics, and treatment patterns among patients with earlystage BC. We used Kaplan-Meier survival curves to estimate relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). To assess an optimal ER expression level cut point, association between ER + expression and clinical outcomes were performed. Results: Among 4697 patients with early-stage BC, 83 (1.76%) had ER + -low BC (ER expression, 1%-9.99%), and 36 (0.8%) had ER + -intermediate BC (10%-19.9%). ER + -low tumors were associated with higher tumor grade, larger size and higher axillary tumor burden than ER + -high tumors (≥ 20% ER expression). African Americans had a higher prevalence of both triple-negative BC (TNBC; 21%) and ER + -low BC (22%) than ER + high tumors (8%). Patients with ER + -low and ER + -intermediate tumors had survival outcomes similar to patients with TNBC and worse survival outcomes than patients with ER + -high tumors ( P < .001). Tumors with <20% ER expression were associated with worse outcomes. Conclusions: Patients with ER expression levels < 20% BC have poor clinical outcomes similar to those with TNBC.
Effect of Health Education Program on Knowledge and Self-Care Ability of the Patients Regarding Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery at Khartoum State 2015-2019
Authors: Mussa Mohamed Idriss yahya
Published: January 2022

A study to explore the effect of health education on recovery following patients after CABG Surgery. Background: Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is one of the major public health problems in developing countries. CAD in Sudan is showing an increasing trend. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery improves the quality of life of CAD patients and helps them to return to normal life, and the early Recovery period presents a number of challenges for patients, corers, and Nurse .Objectives to explore the effects of an educational program on patient knowledge and self-care ability of the patients following coronary artery bypass surgery Method: This was A Quasi, interventional and hospital-based study, including pre-, post, and follows up tests with a control group, conducted for the period: September 2014 to June 2019. Patients were recruited consecutively to the cases and control using convenience sampling. It consists of 76 patients, 41 as cases and 35 in control. Who had undergone CABG surgery in Khartoum State. A Questionnaire and checklist were used to monitor the effect of an educational program. Result: The results showed marked improvement in knowledge and performance between pre and post-test for the study group, p = (0.001) in the health status of cases in comparison to the control group. The indices were observed to be higher for patients who received a nursing educational program throughout the study period P= (0.002). Conclusion: Our study revealed marked improvement in the health status of the cases by comparison to the control group.
Degree Completion Nursing Students Readiness to Learn in the Online Environment in Uganda
Authors: Sebuliba Faith Rosemary K.
Published: January 2022

The global call to improve the quality of healthcare, and the restructuring of job descriptions require nurses to return to school to attain the necessary qualifications. Some nursing degree completing programs available in Uganda provide blended learning which combines the traditional classroom and online learning. However, learning online requires students to be equipped with readiness competences which include computer/internet and online communication self-efficacy, self-directed learning, time management, study habits, and institutional support from peers and instructors. This quantitative arm of the study explored the self-efficacy of the readiness competences of the 226 nursing students in the degree completion programs and the predictors of readiness to learn online. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Slightly over half of the students (58%) were ready to learn online. The finding indicates a moderate level of readiness where to attain readiness category required at least 76% of the students to be ready to learn online. The students reported a high level of readiness in self-directed learning, time management, study habits, and institutional support but lower readiness levels in online communication and computer/internet self-efficacy. All competences were significantly correlated and predicted readiness, suggesting their interdependence in contributing to readiness to learn online. Computer and online communication self-efficacy were the strongest predictors of readiness to learn online, whereas self-directed learning and institutional support were the weakest. The Readiness to Learn Online Model (RLOM) predicted 88% of the readiness and therefore presumed to be very good in assessing online learning readiness. The findings necessitate the institutions to assess students before they enter the online programs and to provide resources, training and continuously persuade them to improve their self-efficacy.
Comparative Anti–Alzheimer’s Potential Evaluation of Curcumin and Curcumin Analogues obtained from ZINC Database: An in-Silico Validation
Authors: R Thirumalaisamy
Published: January 2022

Curcumin and its eleven analogues obtained from the ZINC database were screened for its anti-Alzheimer’s potential validated through in silico approach. Curcumin, eleven curcumin analogues from the ZINC database, and six standard anti-Alzheimer’s drugs were obtained from SWISS ADME and Pub chem database. All obtained molecules were subjected to drug-likeness, molecular docking, and ADMET analysis. Curcumin and eleven curcumin analogues show no violations against five drug-likeness rules, whereas 2 standard drugs (CID¬_11269353, CID_46883536) out of 5 screened standard drug molecules shows violations in drug likeness property. Curcumin and curcumin analogues possess docking scores in the range of -7.5 to 9.9 Kcal/mol, whereas reference standard drugs docking score lies in the range of -6.4 to -11.0 Kcal/mol against all three Alzheimer’s disease molecular targets. Finally, our present study has proven that curcumin analogues possess some novel anti-Alzheimer’s properties over curcumin and standard reference drug. It needs to be validated and commercialized after in vivo preclinical trials.
Boosting the Photocurrent of the WO3/BiVO4 Heterojunction by Photoelectrodeposition of the Oxy-Hydroxide-Phosphates Based on Co, Fe, or Ni
Authors: Coelho Dyovani , Gaudêncio João Pedro , Mascaro Lucia
Published: January 2022

Here we investigated the photoelectrodeposition of oxygen-evolving catalysts (OECs) based on oxy-hydroxides-phosphates of Co, Fe, or Ni (CoPi, FePi, and NiPi) on the WO3/BiVO4 heterojunction and their activity in water oxidation. The OECs were deposited by cycles of (i) open-circuit potential (OCP) and (ii) applying a potential positive enough to oxidize the metallic precursor on the WO3/BiVO4. The crystalline and optical properties of the photoanodes were not significantly affected by the OECs deposition. However, there was a remarkable increase in the photocurrent densities (jpc) to water oxidation, where the modification with FePi showed the best result, achieving 2.12 mA cm−2, which corresponds to 2.83 times higher than the heterojunction without the OECs. Furthermore, the OECs deposition changed the morphology of the heterojunction with the deposition of a thin film on its surface. In addition, during the FePi deposition, the BiVO4 layer seems to partially dissolve. Our study shows a facile methodology to boost the activity of photoanodes to the water oxidation by photoelectrodeposition of OECs.
Assessment of operation safety risk for South-to-North Water Diversion Project: a fuzzy VIKOR-FMEA approach
Authors: Li Huimin , Guo Yinju , Li Feng , Cao Yongchao , Wang Lunyan , Ma Ying
Published: January 2022

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) is a cross-basin large-scale water infrastructure, whose operational management faces many complex risks. This study constructs an operational safety risk analysis model based on fuzzy VIKOR-FMEA. First, the expert team used linguistic variables to evaluate the severity of each failure mode (S), frequency of occurrence (O), and difficulty of detection (D) in the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA). Then, the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and the maximal deviation approach were integrated to carry out risk factor weights. The risk factor weight analysis matrix integrates the subjective and objective weights to obtain the comprehensive weights of the risk factors. Secondly, VIKOR is introduced to improve the traditional FMEA model and is used to calculate the risk priority number. The case study shows that untimely flood protection, irregular maintenance, and untimely emergency response are in the top order. Finally, it is compared with the traditional FMEA method, which verifies the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method, and provides a reference algorithm for risk analysis of operation management for the water diversion project.
Pilot-scale study on seeded precipitation assisted nanofiltration for flue-gas desulfurization wastewater softening
Authors: Duan Yawei , Zhong Zhencheng , Tong Zhenwei , Cheng Zihong , Xiong Rihua
Published: January 2022

In order to reduce the cost of chemical softening, the seeded precipitation assisted nanofiltration (NF) process was introduced into zero liquid discharge (ZLD) of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) wastewater treatment. A pilot-scale system was developed and run for 168 h in a coal-fired power plant. The system mainly consists of lime softening, ambient temperature crystallizer (ATC) and NF, in which the raw water treatment capacity was 1 m3/h. The results indicated that the system operated stably, the softening cost was 13.30 RMB/m3, and the electricity cost was 3.39 RMB/m3 for the FGD wastewater in this pilot system. High quality gypsum was got from the ATC unit, of which the purity was 95.8%. Through this system, the hardness removal rate was higher than 98.9% and the water recovery rate reached 96%. In addition, the pressure and permeate flux kept stable in the ultrafiltration (UF) unit and NF unit, indicating no scaling occurred in the two units during 168 h test. Thus, a feasible and cost-effective process was provided by using the seeded precipitation assisted NF to deal with the FGD wastewater.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL LANDSCAPE OF A SMALL URAL TOWN: IMAGES OF THE IRBIT FAIR IN THE ESSAY ON THE 19TH CENTURY
Authors: Gramatchikova Natalia B.
Published: January 2022

The article is devoted to the key image of the historical and cultural landscape of Irbit — the Irbit fair. Based on the essays of the 19th century, three main trends in the depiction of the fair seasons of Irbit, which are dominant in different decades, are considered. In the economic essays by E. A. Verderevsky and A. G. Khitrov, the distinctive features of the Irbit Fair were first identified, and the topics of “trust” and “riddles” of the fair that were important for the trading community were declared. The second tendency of description, developing in the letters of E. A. Verderevsky and travel sketches of N. D. Teleshov developed the image of the fair season as a carnival, providing rich material for understanding the fair as a dystopia (M. Foucault), with special space-time relations, interconnection isolation and permeability. The third tendency of the image is found in the sketches of the Uralites D. N. Mamin-Sibiryak and K. D. Nosilov, aimed at improving public mores. In their texts, the fair becomes a kind of provocative landscape, both attracting and repulsive to the authors.
Throughout its history, the Irbit Fair has retained its attractiveness for ethnographers, writers and folklorists as a representation of a wide range of social strata and ethnic groups. At the same time, there is no single narrative about the fair. By the end of the 19th century, the Ural literature focused on describing and exposing the spontaneous destructive forces that seize the community and the person during the days of the fair, while it was at this time that the local merchant class used the language of architecture to manifest their own collective identity.
The growing gap reveals its adherence to principles during a radical rethinking of the historical and cultural heritage of Irbit in the 1920s-1930s.
The article connects local “fair plots”, compares the views “from the outside” and “from the inside”, condenses the description of the regional literary context.
PUSHKIN-DOSTOEVSKY MYTH ABOUT “DEVILRY” IN THE WORKS OF T. YU. KIBIROV
Authors: Martyanova Svetlana A.
Published: January 2022

The article is devoted to the analysis and interpretation of the myth of “devilry” in the works of the modern Russian poet T. Yu. Kibirov. The myth of “devilry”, which goes back to the poem “Demons” by Alexander Pushkin (1830), has a special place in the history of Russian literature of the 19th and 21st centuries. V. A. Grekhnev identified its main components, and D. M. Magomedova traced the path of myth in post-Pushkin literature, from M. Yu. Lermontov to M. A. Bulgakov. At the same time, the life of the Pushkin-Dostoyevsky myth of “demo­nic” in post-symbolist literature, in independent Russian literature of the 20th century and modern literature remains unexplored. The author of the article, referring to the material of T. Yu. Kibirov’s “Message to Lev Rubinstein” (1989), “Give me a deconstruction! Gave…”, “Good for Chesterton — he lived in England”, “Historiosophical centon”, “We did not sell Christ”, “Happy New Year” etc., the poem “Kara-Baras”, dramatic experiments “The night before and after Christmas”, “Victory over Phoebus”, the chronicles “Lada, or Joy”, reveals elements of similarity with the traditions of A. S. Pushkin and F. M. Dostoevsky: images of empty darkness and chaos, loss of the path, value orientations, an appeal to the symbolism of the ballad genre, presented in a serious, playful, ironic tone. The classical tradition contains important keys and values for understanding new reality and becomes an integral part of the artistic language of its description. At the same time, fidelity to the classics is devoid of a sense of exclusivity, loud pathos, moralism, often includes idyllic, sentimental, humorous tones. The poet’s return to the classical literary tradition occurs after oblivion or denial of its values in Soviet times, which gave rise to the cultural problems of the post-Soviet period. In the course of the work, the methods of comparative literary criticism, intertextual analysis, mythopoetic and historical and cultural studies were used.