bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect of Indomethacin-loaded Polymeric Nanoparticles Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Cytotoxicity in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma Cell Model
Authors: Franco Camila , Viana Altevir Rossato , Ourique Aline Ferreira , Vizzotto Bruno Stefanello , Krause Luciana Maria Fontanari
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Anti-inflammatory drugs are being utilized to treat cancer because of its inflammatory microenvironment. Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the antioxidant potential of indomethacin and its genotoxicity, since free or loaded in polymeric nanocapsules using MCF-7 (human breast cancer) cells as an in vitro model. Method: Development of indomethacin-loaded polyepsiloncaprolactone (PCL) nanocapsules by interfacial deposition method. It is characterized by pH determination by potentiometer, mean diameter and polydispersity index by dynamic light scattering; zeta potential by electrophoretic mobility; encapsulation efficacy by high performance liquid chromatography method; corona effect formation; 2ʹ,7ʹ-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) method by spectrofluorimetric assay; nitric oxide (NO) determination by spectrophotometric and genotoxicity assay by plasmid DNA cleavage method. Results: The results showed a mild acidic pH (4.78 ± 0.10), sizes around 200 nm and PDI<0.2 with a zeta potential around -20 mV and encapsulation efficiency of 99% (1 mg mL-1), showing a dose-dependent corona formation profile in 24h incubation. Conclusion: DCFH-DA assay showed no production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) while NO determination showed that Ind-OH-NC from 26.7 to 100 μM increased reactive nitrogen species (RNS), demonstrating antioxidant potential against MCF-7 cells. No sample at the concentrations evaluated induced DNA cleavage, being considered a safe treatment.
Maximization of Sewing Strength and Minimization of Seam Pucker for Denim Fabrics Using Taguchi Method
Authors: PAMUK Gülşah
Published: September 2022

Seams provide the shape of the garments and support the fabric pieces together. The seam quality is important for the serviceability of any garment. In general, the seam quality depends on various factors such as fabric weight, sewing thread type, and stitches per unit area. In this research, three different levels of fabric types with the same construction and different weights, which are mostly used in the production of denim products, were examined. For this purpose, each fabric was sewn in the warp direction with three different levels of sewing threads and three different levels of stitch densities. Then, the values of seam strength, and the seam pucker values were obtained with three replications for each combination of levels. In this study, it is aimed to obtain the optimum levels of fabric weight, sewing thread type, and stitch density of denim fabrics by using the Taguchi method. Custom Taguchi Design is employed to observe the efficiency of factor levels on seam strength and seam pucker, and existence of interactions among fabric weight, sewing thread type, and stitch density.
Circunferência do pescoço como marcador preditivo para síndrome metabólica e risco cardiovascular
Authors: Perlin Cássio Marques , Groto Anderson Dillmann , Dalposso Gustavo Henrique , Dal Canton Letícia Ellen , Salamanca Mayara Angélica Bolson , Lehmann Kenny Regina
Published: September 2022

A circunferência de cintura é há muito tempo o índice padrão para avaliar a gordura abdominal na identificação de pacientes com síndrome metabólica. No entanto, observa-se que uma proporção de doentes com doenças cardiovasculares exibe essa circunferência normal. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a circunferência de pescoço pode ser utilizada como marcador preditivo para Síndrome Metabólica e risco cardiovascular. Participaram deste estudo transversal, 42 indivíduos submetidos à avaliação socioeconômica e antropométrica. A circunferência do pescoço correlacionou-se positivamente com a circunferência de cintura, glicemia de jejum, pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica e triglicerídeos. A curva Receiver Operating Characteristic exibiu ponto de corte de 40 cm com alto risco cardiovascular acima deste valor. Os resultados demonstram que a circunferência de pescoço além de rápida e não invasiva pode ser útil na previsão de Síndrome Metabólica e risco cardiovascular.
Parental Involvement and School Performance: Comparison of Fifth and Sixth Graders in Two Primary Schools at Glo-djigbe in Benin
Authors: Akimi YESSOUFOU
Published: September 2022

Parent involvement is theoretically known to contribute to children’s educational success; consequently, the lack of or poor parent involvement may potentially cause school failure. The current research aims at testing this proposition by comparing two primary schools that serve the same area of Glo-Djigbé in Abomey-Calavi municipality: Ste Marcelline Catholic school, where parent involvement is part of the school culture, and Glo-Djigbé/A public primary, consonant with poor parent involvement. A mixed methodological approach consisted of the use of a questionnaire, semi-directed interview, and direct observation, enabling the comparison of the practices of occurring parent involvement and the school performance of fifth and sixth graders in both schools; altogether, a sample of 124 different stakeholders took part in the research. As a result, the school with higher parent involvement (95%) got total success for all their candidates in the CEP national exam, constantly in five successive years, whereas the second school with poor parent involvement tried to obtain 73% of its candidates to pass within the same period. Though the positive effect of parent involvement
The Term of Mental Illness in Javanese
Authors: Ari Wulandari  , Yanuar Bagas Arwansyah  , Nanda Saputra
Published: September 2022

This study uses a linguistic anthropological approach to qualitative research design or research context. The term “mental illness” are covered depends on Javanese language context. The data collection is by participating observation and interviews. Javanese language has at least two types of mental illness recognized in accordance by the cause, namely (1) natural mental illness (mental illness cause natural process), consisting of minor mental illness and serious mental illness; and (2) unnatural mental illness (mental illness cause of human or other creatures) ‘mental illness cause comes to disruption beings or spirits’. Traditional medicine is usually adjusted to cause of mental illness. From definition, classification, and traditional medicine can described Javanese’s view to mental illness.
La universidad ya la formación ética de los profesionales del Turismo
Authors: Rodríguez Álvarez Bárbara , Fernández Valderrama Caridad , Velastegui López Luis Efraín
Published: September 2022

Vivimos una época donde el cambio constituye uno de los rasgos fundamentales que cualifican el momento histórico producto del impacto que ha tenido en la sociedad el desarrollo alcanzado por la ciencia y la tecnología; es decir, que concurrimos a un periodo en que se están rompiendo modelos y patrones con los cuales operábamos hasta ayer y se están implementando otros nuevos, que no en pocas ocasiones escapan a nuestra imaginación. Este cambio afecta todas las esferas de la actividad humana y en especial a la cognitiva y a la valorativa,  de ahí que se haga cada vez más necesario el estudio y la reflexión en torno a la imbricación orgánica de la ética con el que hacer tecnocientifico,  por lo que dicho ensayo centra su atención en  el  tratamiento de   uno de los desafíos más apremiantes de nuestro tiempo para la enseñanza universitaria,  comprendido en la Declaración de Paris, que es el referido a la formación ética de los futuros  profesionales para que los mismos puedan hacer frente a la profunda crisis de valores que vive la sociedad contemporánea y que  amenaza con borrar los asideros morales imprescindibles para construir porvenir.
A Clinical Study on Maternal and Perinatal Outcome of Oligohydramnios
Authors: Das Aparna , Rashid Md Shoeb Ur , Chhanda Chhamita Sultana , Ghosh Ujjal , Dipa Mosammat , Naznin Fazilatunnesa , Yasmeen BH Nazma
Published: September 2022

Background : Oligohydramnios is one of the pregnancy associated common complications facing by obstetrician which is associated with adverse maternal and perinatal outcome such as birth defects, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, still birth, preterm birth, increased operative interference etc.
Objective: To assess the impact of oligohydramnios on maternal and perinatal outcome.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, BSMMU, Dhaka from October 2017 to March 2018.Total 50 patients were enrolled by purposive sampling method according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Clinical evidence of oligohydramnios was looked for & confirmed by ultrasonography (USG). Based on Amniotic fluid index (AFI)measurements patients were divided into two groups. Those who have AFI <5cm and 5-8cm. The significance of difference or comparison of means was measured by Chi square test. Maternal and perinatal outcome in pregnancies with oligohydramnios were compared with those with 5-8cm amniotic fluid volume.
Results: The mean age of the study population was 23.3±4.06 years and majority of the cases were multipara (56%) and presented at term (58%). Borderline oligohydramnios (AFI 5-8cm) was found in 74% cases and severe oligohydramnios (AFI <5cm) were found in 26% cases. Most common etiological factor was idiopathic. Fifteen cases (30%) had vaginal delivery and caesarean section rate 70%, no maternal mortality occurred in this study, perinatal mortality rate was 10%, low birth weight baby was 63.6% and NICU admission rate was 53.8%.
Conclusion: An antepartum or intrapartum oligohydramnios is associated with significantly increased incidence of caesarean section for fetal distress and increased incidence of low-birth-weight babies and increased rate of neonatal complications.
Northern International Medical College Journal Vol. 12 No.1 July 2020, Page 489-492
Clinical profile and outcome of dengue fever in children: In a tertiary care hospital
Authors: Chowdhury Farzana Rahman , Yasmeen BH Nazma
Published: September 2022

Background : Dengue is the most important arthropod transmitted human viral disease and constitutes an important worldwide health problem including Bangladesh. Although children are the usual victim of dengue infection, there is paucity of published data regarding its clinical profile and outcome in children in our country.
Objective: Now, in case of children Dengue fever is a common cause of acute febrile illness in our country, but the magnitude of it is quite unknown. Therefore, this study aims to find out the common clinical manifestations, the early warning signs and the outcome of dengue fever in different age group of children.
Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Popular Medical College Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka (a tertiary care private hospital) between July to September of 2019 on children of dengue fever from 1year up to 15 years of age. It is a retrospective observational study.
Results: A total of 58 cases were enrolled. The common clinical presentations included fever (100%), arthralgia (81.9%), cough/ coryza (17.2%), headache/retro orbital pain (3.4%), and rash (10.3%). The common early warning signs at the time of admission were persistent vomiting (41.4%), severe abdominal pain (27.6%), Hepatomegaly (6.9%). Regarding clinical course, in Dengue fever (DF), Dengue Hemorrhagic fever (DHF) and Dengue Shock Syndrome (DSS) total 36 (62%), 14 (24.2%), 8 (13.8%) children are affected respectively.
Conclusion: The clinical manifestations of dengue fever are like other viral infections, but the disease severity is more in dengue. Thus, if we able to find out the more common clinical findings of dengue fever, it would help us in early diagnosis and early initiation of appropriate treatment. In this study we found that the most common clinical symptom was fever, found in 100% cases, arthralgia in 81.9%, cough/ coryza in 17.2%, headache / retro orbital pain in 10.3% and rash in 3.4% cases. Among the 58 cases 36 (62%) were diagnosed as DF, 14 (24.2%) as DHF and 8 (13.8%) as DSS and no death was occurred.
Northern International Medical College Journal Vol. 12 No.1 July 2020, Page 499-502
Análisis de los costos de producción agrícola ecológica utilizando un enfoque de costos totales o absorbentes en época de pandemia COVID-19 para fortalecer la economía agraria y seguridad alimentaria
Authors: Reyes-Romero Diana , Tinoco-Sáenz Tomas , Burgos-Burgos John
Published: September 2022

La producción y exportación de banano es la actividad principal de la provincia de El Oro lo genera que la economía de la provincia este siempre al alza por la gran demanda que tiene esta fruta en el exterior, pero la reciente pandemia por el COVID-19 perjudicó a este sector agrícola. El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar los efectos que causo la pandemia de COVID 19 en las exportaciones de banano mediante un análisis de costo de producción y rentabilidad de la caja de banano durante la crisis sanitaria. Para ello se utilizó un diseño metodológico narrativo, descriptivo, analítico y no ex­perimental, el mismo, que permitió recabar infor­mación de la producción bananera durante pandemia sin manipular ninguna variable de estudio. Los hallazgos demuestran que hubo bajas en las exportaciones, el material para el proceso de embarque demoraba en llegar, el precio de la caja de banano bajó, hubo paralización de puertos, y un sin número de dificultados que les impedía seguir laborando normalmente, por lo tanto, su nivel de rentabilidad fue afectada de manera significativa, de igual forma, su rendimiento productivo decreció en comparación a los años anteriores por lo que se tuvo que implementar la estrategia de la asociatividad para reducir los costos operacionales.

Palabras claves: Análisis de costos, producción agrícola, economía agraria, seguridad alimentaria
Lagoon coral microbiomes and their potential relationship with adaptation of coral holobionts to extreme high-temperature environments
Authors: Qin Z , Chen S , Yu K , Chen B , Pan N , Wei X
Published: September 2022

Numerous corals can survive in high-temperature environments, but little attention has been paid to the microbiome of lagoon corals and their potential adaptation to thermal environments. In this study, we explored this issue by analyzing the coral-symbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, Symbiodiniaceae densities, and bacterial communities among coral species and seawater in the lagoon regions of the southern South China Sea (SCS). Galaxea fascicularis had the highest Symbiodiniaceae density and relative abundance of heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae (Durusdinium trenchii), and Acropora cytherea had the lowest density, but the highest diversity, of Symbiodiniaceae. The Symbiodiniaceae diversity of Fungia fungites was the lowest. Moreover, the Symbiodiniaceae community and diversity differed significantly between the lagoon and open-ocean seawater. In addition, the relative abundance of Vibrio was higher in coral holobionts than in the lagoon seawater samples. The relative abundance of Ruegeria was highest in A. cytherea, indicating that coral-associated bacteria in the lagoon were affected by high thermal stress during summer. However, corals in the lagoon may adopt different adaptation strategies for high-temperature environments. G. fascicularis corals may adapt to lagoon environments by symbiosis with heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae at high densities and abundance, whereas A. cytherea may survive in the lagoon environment based on a highly flexible symbiosis associated with the high photosynthetic efficiency of Symbiodiniaceae and bacteria.
New normal, new human resource management
Authors: Gunawan Joko
Published: September 2022

N/A
Nurses’ salaries in Indonesia
Authors: Gunawan Joko
Published: September 2022

This article aims to describe salary of nurses in Indonesia based on employment status, place of work, and geographical context. The information presented in this paper can be used as basic data or a reference in choosing a job or a career in nursing.
Hubungan Tingkat Kebisingan dengan Gangguan Pendengaran Penduduk di Sekitar Terminal Pakupatan
Authors: Ferial Linardita , Fitria Laila , Wulandari Ririn Arminsih
Published: September 2022

Aktivitas di terminal bus dapat menyebabkan pencemaran lingkungan, salah satunya kebisingan. Tingkat kebisingan yang tinggi dapat menyebabkan gangguan kesehatan manusia, terutama gangguan pendengaran. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan tingkat kebisingan dengan gangguan pendengaran penduduk di sekitar Terminal Bus Pakupatan. Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan observasional analitik dengan desain cross sectional. Survei dilakukan di enam perumahan sekitar Terminal Bus Pakupatan Kota Serang, Banten dari Januari hingga Mei 2018. Sampel untuk penelitian ini adalah 100 responden yang menggunakan teknik proportional random sampling. Tingkat kebisingan penduduk di sekitar Terminal Pakupatan mencapai 81,09 desibel, melebihi baku mutu kebisingan 55 desibel pada tahun 1996 Nomor 48 dari Kementerian Lingkungan Hidup. Variabel confounding meliputi umur, jenis kelamin, riwayat kesehatan, jenis pekerjaan, merokok, minum minuman keras, dan lama tinggal responden. Jenis pekerjaan dan lama tinggal merupakan variabel perancu dari korelasi antara tingkat kebisingan dan gangguan pendengaran. Nilai Odds Rasio (OR) untuk jenis pekerjaan adalah 0,267 dan lama tinggal adalah 0,365, sehingga perlu diterapkan jalur hijau atau menanam pohon. Penduduk yang terpapar kebisingan >70dB memiliki risiko 4,673 kali lebih tinggi dibandingkan dengan tingkat kebisingan 70dB setelah dikontrol dengan variabel lama tinggal dan variabel kerja.
Pengaruh Indeks Massa Tubuh terhadap Kejadian Mual Muntah Post Operasi
Authors: Cing Marta Tania Gabriel Ching , Hardiyani Tati
Published: September 2022

Perhitungan Indeks Massa Tubuh (IMT) perlu diketahui sebelum dilakukan tindakan operasi agar meminimalisir penyebab terjadinya mual muntah setelah operasi akibat dari efek samping anastesi. Post Operative Nausea and Vomiting (PONV) dapat menimbulkan komplikasi medik, efek psikologis, dan menghambat proses terapi secara keseluruhan sehingga menurunkan tingkat kesembuhan pasien post operasi serta mempengaruhi beban biaya perawatan selama dirawat. Adapun tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui pengaruh indeks masa tubuh terhadap kejadian mual muntah pasca operasi. Penelitian ini mengunakan metode cross-sectional. Sampel berjumlah 30 responden post operatif yang termasuk pada kriteria inklusi dan ekslusi. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kuesioner mual muntah dari Rhodes Index Nausea, Vomiting dan Retching (Rhodes Invr). Hasil analisis univariat sebanyak 56,7% responden mengalami mual muntah ringan dan sebanyak 73,3% responden memiliki indeks massa tubuh dalam rentang normal. Analisis bivariat menggunakan uji komparatif tidak berpasangan lebih dari 2 kelompok. Hasil uji menunjukkan nilai p = 0,201 > 0,05, maka tidak ada pengaruh signifikan indeks massa tubuh pada kejadian mual muntah post operasi.
Perceptions of Secondary School Attainment and Opportunities among Black Students
Authors: Mahmud Md. Shoyaib , Ahmed Md. Sabbir , Mahtab Faysal Mirza MD. Tanvir , Sakeef Shadman
Published: September 2022

Education is an essential tool in the development of today’s world. The ability to develop oneself plays a critical role in creating future opportunities for individuals. It was apparent that the school system had some technical and social issues that needed working out. There was a realization that albeit being affected by other factors outside the school such as poverty and peer pressure the school system also played a significant part in the student’s low attainment and expectations about opportunities. The study found institutional racism and a breakdown in the student-teacher relationship to be a major factor in lower attainment by Black boys relative to student from other ethnicities. While there is need for a more in-depth study into the findings of the results.
Fe@χ3-borophene as a promising catalyst for CO oxidation reaction: A first-principles study
Authors: Han Jian-Wei , Bian Wei-Yue , Zhang Yue-Yu , Zhang Meng
Published: September 2022

A novel single-atom catalyst of Fe adsorbed on χ3-borophene has been proposed as a potential catalyst for CO oxidation reaction (COOR). Quantitative pictures have been provided of both the stability of Fe@χ3-borophene and various kinetic reaction pathways using first-principles calculations. Strong adsorption energy of -3.19 eV and large diffusion potential of 3.51 eV indicates that Fe@χ3-borophene is highly stable. By exploring reaction mechanisms for COOR, both Eley-Ridel (E-R) and trimolecule E-R (TER) were identified as possible reaction paths. Low reaction barriers with 0.49 eV of E-R and 0.57 eV of TER suggest that Fe@χ3-borophene is a very promising catalyst for COOR. Charge transfer between the χ3-borophene and CO, O2 and CO2 gas molecules plays a key role in lowering the energy barrier during the reactions. Our results propose that Fe@χ3-borophene can be a good candidate of single-atom catalyst for COOR with both high stability and catalytic activity.
Harmine, an inhibitor of the type III secretion system of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium
Authors: Shi Yunjia , Chen Xindi , Shu Jingyan , Liu Yang , Zhang Yong , Lv Qianghua , Wang Jianfeng , Deng Xuming , Liu Hongtao , Qiu Jiazhang
Published: September 2022

New therapeutic strategies for clinical Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) infection are urgently needed due to the generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Inhibition of bacterial virulence has been increasingly regarded as a potential and innovative strategy for the development of anti-infection drugs. Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-encoded type III secretion system (T3SS) represents a key virulence factor in S. Typhimurium, and active invasion and replication in host cells is facilitated by the secretion of T3SS effector proteins. In this study, we found that harmine could inhibit T3SS secretion; thus, its potential anti-S. Typhimurium infection activity was elucidated. Harmine inhibits the secretion and expression of T3SS effector proteins and consequently attenuates the S. Typhimurium invasion function of HeLa cells. This inhibition may be implemented by reducing the transcription of pathogenesis-related SPI-1 transcriptional activator genes hilD, hilC, and rtsA. Harmine improves the survival rate and bacterial loads of mice infected with S. Typhimurium. In summary, harmine, an effective T3SS inhibitor, could be a leading compound for the development of treatments for Salmonella infection.
Cnm of Streptococcus mutans is important for cell surface structure and membrane permeability
Authors: Naka Shuhei , Matsuoka Daiki , Goto Kana , Misaki Taro , Nagasawa Yasuyuki , Ito Seigo , Nomura Ryota , Nakano Kazuhiko , Matsumoto-Nakano Michiyo
Published: September 2022

Streptococcus mutans, a Gram-positive facultative anaerobic bacterium, is a major pathogen of dental caries. The protein Cnm of S. mutans is involved in collagen binding, but its other biological functions are unknown. In this study, a Cnm-deficient isogenic mutant and a complementation strain were generated from a Cnm-positive S. mutans strain to help determine the properties of Cnm. Initially, comparison of the cell surface structure was performed by electron microscopy, which demonstrated that Cnm appears to be localized on the cell surface and associated with a protruding cell surface structure. Deep RNA sequencing of the strains revealed that the defect in Cnm caused upregulated expression of many genes related to ABC transporters and cell-surface proteins, while a few genes were downregulated. The amount of biofilm formed by the Cnm-defective strain increased compared with the parental and complemented strains, but the biofilm structure was thinner because of elevated expression of genes encoding glucan synthesis enzymes, leading to increased production of extracellular polysaccharides. Particular antibiotics, including bacitracin and chloramphenicol, had a lower minimum inhibitory concentration for the Cnm-defective strain than particular antibiotics, including bacitracin and chloramphenicol, compared with the parental and complemented strains. Our results suggest that S. mutans Cnm is located on the cell surface, gives rise to the observed protruding cell surface, and is associated with several biological properties related to membrane permeability.
Country-specific challenges to improving effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of agricultural climate services in Africa
Authors: Hansen James W. , Born Lorna , Dossou-Yovo Elliott R. , Mwongera Caroline , Dalaa Mustapha A. , Tahidu Osman , Whitbread Anthony M. , Solomon Dawit , Zougmore Robert , Zebiak Stephen E. , Dinku Tufa , Grossi Amanda
Published: September 2022

Climate services are playing an increasing role in efforts to build the resilience of African agriculture to a variable and changing climate. Efforts to improve the contribution of climate services to agriculture must contend with substantial differences in national agricultural climate services landscapes. Context-specific factors influence the effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of agricultural climate service, but in ways that are challenging to anticipate. In the context of six countries (Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Senegal, Zambia), this paper addresses the need to consider differing national contexts when developing strategies to make agricultural climate services in sub-Saharan Africa more effective, scalable and sustainable. Based on authors' collective firsthand knowledge and a review of information from secondary sources, we identify key strengths and weaknesses of climate services relative to agriculture sector needs in the focus countries; and assess factors that have contributed to those differences. Focus countries differ substantially in areas such as the degree of public support, alignment of services with agricultural needs, service delivery channels, degree of decentralization, and public—private-sector balance. These differences have been driven largely by differing national policies, delivery capacity and external actors, but not by responsiveness to agricultural sector demands. Building on the analyses of country differences and their drivers, we then discuss four key opportunities to further strengthen the contribution of climate services to agriculture: (a) leveraging farmer demand to drive scaling and sustainability; (b) exploiting digital innovation within a diverse delivery strategy; (c) balancing public and private sector comparative advantage; and (d) embedding climate services in agricultural extension. For each of these opportunities, we consider how different country contexts can impact the potential effectiveness, scalability and sustainability of services; and how efforts to strengthen those services can account for context-specific drivers to manage the tradeoffs among effectiveness, scalability and sustainability.
Use of non-vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants in atrial fibrillation patients on dialysis
Authors: Li Wenhao , Zhou Yanxia , Chen Siqi , Zeng Dewang , Zhang Haidong
Published: September 2022

Background

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) showed a benefit-risk profile superior to that of warfarin in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease. However, the effectiveness and safety of NOACs in AF patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis remain unclear. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis regarding the effect of NOACs vs. warfarin in AF patients undergoing dialysis.

Methods

A search of the Pubmed and EMBASE databases until November 2021 was performed. Adjusted risk ratios (RRs) and 95%confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled by a random-effects model with an inverse variance method.

Results

Six studies involving 3,744 NOAC- and 26,973 warfarin- users were deemed to meet the criteria. In the pooled analysis, the use of mixed NOACs had similar incidences of effectiveness and safety outcomes compared with warfarin use. And factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban or apixaban) did not have significantly better effectiveness than warfarin. For the safety outcomes, the use of factor Xa inhibitors was associated with a reduced risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (RR = 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.95), but not major bleeding and intracranial bleeding.

Conclusion

Compared with warfarin, the use of NOACs, especially factor Xa inhibitors (rivaroxaban or apixaban), showed at least similar effectiveness and safety outcomes in AF patients on dialysis.
Experimental study of the particle agglomeration on its mechanical properties of collapsible loess
Authors: Zhao Meng , Wu Hong-Gang , Guo Wei , Tan Bo-Ren , Hu Cheng , Deng Rui , Chen Li-Yi
Published: September 2022

Loess, distributed all over the world, exhibits the behavior that is related to their formation history, mineralogy, and microstructure, which can cause serious geotechnical engineering problems. This paper presents the Baozhong railway is a key transportation channel for Guyuan city in Ningxia province of northwestern China. Based on field investigations treasure middle section of the railway in the study area, it is found that the more serious diseases subgrade settlement, local roads embankment platform dislocation occurs and lots of cracks were founded. For several years, with the train speed increasing, and due to the influence of widespread flood irrigation on the farmland, the subgrade experienced a degree of settlement. This settlement was not alleviated after three treatments, which seriously affected train safety. In order to analyze the reason for the railway line settlement, soil samples were collected from the collapsible loess subgrade. Consolidation test, particle size analysis test, X-ray diffraction test (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy test (SEM) were performed to investigate the mechanism of the subgrade disease. The results reveal that loess collected from severe differential settlements at locations has a highly compressible, and its clay content and agglomeration level was generally low. These results illustrated that the particle size of 20–50 microns has a direct effect on its mechanical properties of loess. This part of the particles has a cementation effect. It can effectively connect the large particles of the skeleton to form particle agglomerates and is an effective composition of loess clay minerals. Therefore, the loess structure was not stable due to its relatively low internal molecular attraction. When such saturated collapsible loess subgrade subjected to train vibration load, the soil might be liquefied, and its structure might be instable. If the drainage of the subgrade was not well designed, severe differential settlements would occur. The research is of great significance to clarify the relationship between loess particle composition, microstructure and its macromechanics, providing a vital reference for the engineering construction in the loess-dominated areas.
The socio-economic rank of parents and students’ academic and cognitive outcomes: Examining the physical, psychological and social mediators
Authors: Nja Cecilia O. , Neji Hope A. , Orim Richard E. , Ukwetang John O. , Ideba Mary A. , Cornelius-Ukpepi Bernedette , Ndifon Rita A.
Published: September 2022

This study examined how the socioeconomic rank of parents correlates with students’ academic and cognitive outcomes of science students in senior secondary school. Its objective was to examine the bedrock of physical and psychosocial mediators that influence students’ learning and cognitive attitude. The sample comprised 548 science students drawn from 11 secondary schools in Calabar Municipality of Cross River State, Nigeria. A simple random sampling technique was used to select the sample from a population of 938 students. A cross-sectional observational type of survey design was used in this study. A self-reporting questionnaire labeled Socioeconomic Rank and Students Outcome Questionnaire (SERSOQ) was used for the study after validation and reliability. The results for reliability coefficients for SERSOQ range from 0.66 to 0.89 for Cronbach’s alpha and 0.72–0.81 for Kuder Richardson’s formula-20. Section “A” of SERSOQ was administered to the students in their schools by the research assistants, and students took section “B” home to their parents. Analysis of data collected was done using regression analysis, percentage, and mean. Results showed a great correlation between family income and academic achievement, cognitive attitude, and study habits. The study did not find a significant relationship between assignments with the variables under investigation. Importantly, the findings of this study found that parental control exhibited the greatest mediating function in providing family income impact on students’ cognitive attitude. Other mediators like students’ and peers’ educational ambitions and mother-child verbal relationships were discovered as potent mediators. Findings also showed a slight impact of family income on parent-child and mother-father relationships. Parental control consists of an influential setting that is outside the school environment yet mounting a very powerful effect on determining school outcomes in teenagers. In conclusion, a positive social environment is necessary for enhancing science students’ cognitive ability, academic achievement, and study habits as money is not everything. Some of the recommendations made were that there should be an educative environment at home. Educators should encourage parents to provide the necessary means of academic success, such as a source of light, stationery, books, separate study rooms, and homework facilities in their respective homes.
Development and validation of a nomogram model for cancer-specific survival of patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma: A SEER database analysis
Authors: Jin Shuai , Liu Huiying , Yang Jingyuan , Zhou Jie , Peng Dandan , Liu Xiangmei , Zhang Haiwang , Zeng Zhu , Ye Yuan-nong
Published: September 2022

Background

This study aimed to establish and validate an accurate prognostic model, based on demographic and clinical parameters, for predicting the cancer-specific survival (CSS) of patients with poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma (PDTC).

Materials and methods

Patients diagnosed with PDTC between 2004 to 2015 were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Randomly split the data into training and validation sets. Kaplan–Meier analysis with the log-rank test was performed to compare the survival distribution among cases. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors, which were subsequently utilized to construct a nomogram for predicting the 5- and 10-year cancer-specific survival of patients with PDTC. The discriminative ability and calibration of the nomogram model were assessed using the concordance index and calibration plots, respectively. In addition, we performed a decision curve analysis to assess the clinical value of the nomogram. Simultaneously, we compared the predictive performance of the nomogram model against that of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) T-, N-, M-stage.

Results

A total of 970 eligible patients were randomly assigned to either a training cohort (n = 679) or a validation cohort (n = 291). The Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that there were no significant differences in cumulative survival based on the race, radiation, and marital status of patients. The stepwise Cox regression model showed that the model was optimal when the following five variables were included: age, tumor size, T-, N-, and M-stage. A nomogram was developed as a graphical representation of the model and exhibited good calibration and discriminative ability in the study. Compared to the T-, N-, and M-stage, the C-index of nomogram (training group: 0.807, validation group: 0.802), the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the training set (5-year AUC: 0.843, 10-year AUC:0.834) and the validation set (5-year AUC:0.878, 10-year AUC:0.811), and the calibration plots of this model all exhibited better performance. At last, compared with T-, N-, and M-stage, the decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram had excellent clinical net benefit.

Conclusions

The nomogram developed by us can accurately predict the CSS of PDTC patients. It can help clinicians determine appropriate treatment strategies for poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma patients.
N-terminal BET bromodomain inhibitors disrupt a BRD4-p65 interaction and reduce inducible nitric oxide synthase transcription in pancreatic β-cells
Authors: Nord Joshua A. , Wynia-Smith Sarah L. , Gehant Alyssa L. , Jones Lipinski Rachel A. , Naatz Aaron , Rioja Inmaculada , Prinjha Rab K. , Corbett John A. , Smith Brian C.
Published: September 2022

Chronic inflammation of pancreatic islets is a key driver of β-cell damage that can lead to autoreactivity and the eventual onset of autoimmune diabetes (T1D). In the islet, elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines induce the transcription of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene, NOS2, ultimately resulting in increased nitric oxide (NO). Excessive or prolonged exposure to NO causes β-cell dysfunction and failure associated with defects in mitochondrial respiration. Recent studies showed that inhibition of the bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) family of proteins, a druggable class of epigenetic reader proteins, prevents the onset and progression of T1D in the non-obese diabetic mouse model. We hypothesized that BET proteins co-activate transcription of cytokine-induced inflammatory gene targets in β-cells and that selective, chemotherapeutic inhibition of BET bromodomains could reduce such transcription. Here, we investigated the ability of BET bromodomain small molecule inhibitors to reduce the β-cell response to the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). BET bromodomain inhibition attenuated IL-1β-induced transcription of the inflammatory mediator NOS2 and consequent iNOS protein and NO production. Reduced NOS2 transcription is consistent with inhibition of NF-κB facilitated by disrupting the interaction of a single BET family member, BRD4, with the NF-κB subunit, p65. Using recently reported selective inhibitors of the first and second BET bromodomains, inhibition of only the first bromodomain was necessary to reduce the interaction of BRD4 with p65 in β-cells. Moreover, inhibition of the first bromodomain was sufficient to mitigate IL-1β-driven decreases in mitochondrial oxygen consumption rates and β-cell viability. By identifying a role for the interaction between BRD4 and p65 in controlling the response of β-cells to proinflammatory cytokines, we provide mechanistic information on how BET bromodomain inhibition can decrease inflammation. These studies also support the potential therapeutic application of more selective BET bromodomain inhibitors in attenuating β-cell inflammation.
Chrono-communication and cardiometabolic health: The intrinsic relationship and therapeutic nutritional promises
Authors: Senesi Pamela , Ferrulli Anna , Luzi Livio , Terruzzi Ileana
Published: September 2022

Circadian rhythm, an innate 24-h biological clock, regulates several mammalian physiological activities anticipating daily environmental variations and optimizing available energetic resources. The circadian machinery is a complex neuronal and endocrinological network primarily organized into a central clock, suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and peripheral clocks. Several small molecules generate daily circadian fluctuations ensuring inter-organ communication and coordination between external stimuli, i.e., light, food, and exercise, and body metabolism. As an orchestra, this complex network can be out of tone. Circadian disruption is often associated with obesity development and, above all, with diabetes and cardiovascular disease onset. Moreover, accumulating data highlight a bidirectional relationship between circadian misalignment and cardiometabolic disease severity. Food intake abnormalities, especially timing and composition of meal, are crucial cause of circadian disruption, but evidence from preclinical and clinical studies has shown that food could represent a unique therapeutic approach to promote circadian resynchronization. In this review, we briefly summarize the structure of circadian system and discuss the role playing by different molecules [from leptin to ghrelin, incretins, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21), growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15)] to guarantee circadian homeostasis. Based on the recent data, we discuss the innovative nutritional interventions aimed at circadian re-synchronization and, consequently, improvement of cardiometabolic health.
Establishing the energy consumption prediction model of aluminum electrolysis process by genetically optimizing wavelet neural network
Authors: Yao Lizhong , Fan Qian , Zhao Lei , Li Yanyan , Mei Qingping
Published: September 2022

Nowadays, it is very popular to employ genetic algorithm (GA) and its improved strategies to optimize neural networks (i.e., WNN) to solve the modeling problems of aluminum electrolysis manufacturing system (AEMS). However, the traditional GA only focuses on restraining the infinite growth of the optimal species without reducing the similarity among the remaining excellent individuals when using the exclusion operator. Additionally, when performing arithmetic crossover or Cauchy mutation, a functional operator that conforms to the law of evolution is not constructed to generate proportional coefficients, which seriously restricted the exploitation of the hidden potential in genetic algorithms. To solve the above problems, this paper adopts three new methods to explore the performance enhancement of genetic algorithms (EGA). First, the mean Hamming distance (H-Mean) metric is designed to measure the spatial dispersion of individuals to alleviate selection pressure. Second, arithmetic crossover with transformation of the sigmoid-based function is developed to dynamically adjust the exchange proportion of offspring. Third, an adaptive scale coefficient is introduced into the Gauss-Cauchy mutation, which can regulate the mutation step size in real time and search accuracy for individuals in the population. Finally, the EGA solver is employed to deeply mine the optimal initial parameters of wavelet neural network (EGAWNN). Moreover, the paper provides the algorithm performance test, convergence analysis and significance test. The experimental results reveal that the EGAWNN model outperforms other relevant wavelet-based forecasting models, where the RMSE in test sets based on EGAWNN is 305.72 smaller than other seven algorithms.
A unified bus voltage regulation and MPPT control for multiple PV sources based on modified MPC in the DC microgrid
Authors: Yang Pengcheng , Peng Yonggang , Xia Yanghong , Wei Wei , Yu Miao , Feng Qifan
Published: September 2022

This study proposes a unified voltage regulation and maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method for photovoltaic (PV) sources in islanded direct current (DC) microgrids based on modified model predictive control (MPC). The method enables the PV sources to track the maximum power and serve as voltage sources for DC-bus voltage regulation when their available power is sufficient. Based on the proposed modified predictive model, the desired duty cycles can be calculated and directly applied to the PV sources in a constant switching frequency without a modulator. Real-time laboratory tests show that the PV sources can support the DC-bus voltage without energy storage (ES) and can proportionally share the load. Moreover, power oscillations and voltage ripples of the modified MPC get greatly attenuated compared with the traditional MPC under the same sampling frequency.
Multiple detections of insulation defects partial discharge in gas-insulated equipment
Authors: Kong Fanjun , Zhao Ke , Ma Jingtan , Zhuang Tianxin , Li Hongtao , Gao Shan , Liu Jianjun , Zhang Chaohai
Published: September 2022

Gas-insulated equipment is an important part of the power system owing to its advantages of small footprint, large transmission capacity, and high reliability. Detection of insulation defects partial discharge (PD) is important for its operation and maintenance, and the combination of multiple detection methods can greatly improve the accuracy of PD detection. In this study, the three kinds of insulation defects, namely, floating defect, void defect, and surface defect, are set up on the PD simulation platform and detected using the ultra-high frequency (UHF) method, high-frequency current (HFCT) method, and acoustic emission (AE) method. The partial discharge inception voltage (PDIV) and phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) spectrum of defects measured by these three methods are recorded in the experiments. The experimental results show that the UHF method is effective for the detection of the three defects. The HFCT method is sensitive to floating defects but not to void and surface defects. Discharge signals of these two defects can be detected by HFCT when the discharge amplitude is large. The AE method can detect floating defects effectively but cannot detect void defects and surface defects.
MPC-based control strategy of PV grid connected inverter for damping power oscillations
Authors: Wen Xichang , Wu Ting , Jiang Hui , Peng Jianchun , Wang Huaizhi
Published: September 2022

With global warming and the depletion of fossil energy, the development of photovoltaic (PV) energy has attracted attention in many countries. However, when large-scale PV power stations are connected to the power grid through inverters, the inertia and damping capacity of the power system are greatly reduced, leading to frequent power oscillations in the power system. To solve this problem, this study proposes a control strategy for PV grid-connected inverters based on the model predictive control (MPC) algorithm. Based on the MPC algorithm and the establishment of a discrete-time predictive model, the PV grid-connected inverter dynamically adjusts its output current to suppress power oscillations. The simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy in damping power oscillations in the power grid and enhancing the stability of the power system.