bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Propuesta tecnológica para la automatización del proceso de ventas estratégica de una distribuidora de medicamentos
Authors:   , Cordova Leon Luis Alex , Dávila Rodríguez Juan Miguel
Published: July 2021

El presente trabajo de tesis tiene por objetivo principal proponer una solución para la automatización de pedidos del canal de ventas de una distribuidora de medicamentos, en donde los vendedores realizan visitas a sus clientes para brindar una atención personalizada pero surge el problema que actualmente anotan sus pedidos manualmente y luego de su jornada deben retornar a su centro de distribución donde registran los pedidos en su sistema de gestión (cliente/servidor), empleando cuatro horas diarias en trasladar esta información. Además, los vendedores desean visualizar su avance de ventas ya que de esto depende la remuneración que recibirán a fin de mes. Conociendo este escenario y realizando el análisis requerido para todo trabajo de investigación, nuestra propuesta es implementar una solución web responsive en una infraestructura Cloud hibrida integrada con su actual sistema, esto permitirá automatizar las ventas y visibilizar las metas logradas por los vendedores, lo cual debe originar ahorro de tiempo el cual se podrá emplear para que los vendedores continúen promoviendo ventas; de esta forma se podrá crecer en otras zonas de mercado donde actualmente se cubre en menor escala o entrar a nuevas zonas, sin realizar un gran cambio en sus procesos contando con el apoyo de su equipo de ventas. Nuestra propuesta está alineada al objetivo estratégico de la organización el cual es ampliar la cobertura de ventas de productos a nivel nacional, teniendo como respaldo la tecnología lograr incrementar la venta y distribución de sus productos y sobre todo mantener la atención personalizada a sus clientes.
Desarrollo de entrenadores de tenis de mesa: iniciación deportiva
Authors:   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Belli Taisa , Galatti Larissa Rafaela ,   Universidade Estadual de Campinas
Published: July 2021

Este documento “Desarrollo de Entrenadores de Tenis de Mesa: Iniciación Deportiva”, consiste en un esfuerzo conjunto de la Confederação Brasileira de Tênis de Mesa (CBTM) y la Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas – Universidade Estadual de Campinas (FCA-UNICAMP), teniendo como autoras a las profesoras doctoras Taisa Belli y Larissa Rafaela Galatti. Representa el material descriptivo del curso de Iniciación al Tenis de Mesa, parte integrante del Programa de Desarrollo de Entrenadores – CBTM, mostrando el alcance integrado del Tenis de Mesa Olímpico y Paralímpico.
THE IMPORTANCE OF REENGINEERING IN THE DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF HOTEL AND TOURISM ENTERPRISES
Authors: Stipanović Christian
Published: July 2021

Frequent changes on the global market are making it difficult to determine future tourist trends. Competition among foreign hotel chains, national tourism enterprises and family businesses is dynamising the market in response to increasingly discerning tourist needs. Hotel and tourism enterprises need to actively manage changes in creating new competitive advantages. Business reengineering, changing the business philosophy and creating a new generation of managers are preconditions needed to break away from the remnants of the former system and to bridge the gap between excellent opporunities and confined reality. To adapt to the system of new market values, companies must apply modern business determinants and innovative development strategies.
Metrology of solid materials and substances porosity and permeability
Authors:   UNIIM – Affiliated Branch of the D.I. Mendeleev Institute for Metrology, Sobina Egor
Published: July 2021

The monograph is dedicated to current problem which is the development of appliance of centralised system of characterising the solid materials and substances porosity and permeability unit’s realisation and transfer methodology. The monograph considered the mix of means and methods allowing to increase the measurement validity and accuracy, to maintain a possibility of measuring equipment refreshing with more accomplished instruments, as well as to expand national measurement and calibration capabilities of the highest accuracy. The monograph is intended for metrologists, scientific workers, engineers, pre- and post-graduate students of oil & gas qualifications, as well as experts whose studies are to develop, test, verify and use the means of measurement of gas specific adsorption, specific surface and specific volume of pores, pore size, effective porosity and gas permeability coefficient for solid materials and substances.
Fault Ride through Capability Analysis of Wind Turbine with Doubly Fed Induction Generator
Authors: Endale Salem Molla , Tuka Milkias Berhanu
Published: July 2021

Doubly Fed Induction Generator (DFIG) has a stator winding directly coupled with grid. Whereas, rotor winding is connected via a fault-prone back to back power converters. DFIG is known to be vulnerable to the grid faults. In early times, when a fault occurred, these generators were required to disconnect from the grid to secure the generator and power converters. However, due to the increased penetration of wind turbines into the power system, grid operators demanded that the wind turbines remain connected to the grid, as disconnecting them would further disrupt the grid. When a fault at the grid terminal occur, a high stator current is induced which further result in high rotor current. This current will trigger the DC-link voltage to rise. This high currents and DC-link voltage will cause harm to the converters. Thus, in this paper work, the crowbar protection system is employed for protecting the converters against excess energy. Furthermore, the analysis of DFIG is rendered by integrating the crowbar protection with the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) for a much effective outcome in enhancing machine to drive the fault. MATLAB-Simulink software is used for modeling and simulation. All system parameters are obtained from ADAMA-II Wind Farm.
The Effect of Zr Addition on Melting Temperature, Microstructure, Recrystallization and Mechanical Properties of a Cantor High Entropy Alloy
Authors: Campari Enrico Gianfranco , Casagrande Angelo , Colombini E. , Gualtieri Magdalena , Veronesi Paolo
Published: July 2021

The effect of Zr addition on the melting temperature of the CoCrFeMnNi High Entropy Alloy (HEA), known as the “Cantor’s Alloy”, is investigated, together with its microstructure, mechan-ical properties and thermo-mechanical recrystallization process. The base and Zr-modified al-loys are obtained by vacuum induction melting of mechanically pre-alloyed powders followed by recrystallization. The alloys were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmis-sion electron microscopy, thermal analyses, mechanical spectroscopy and indentation measures. The main advantages of Zr addition are: 1) a fast vacuum induction melting (VIM) process; 2) the lower melting temperature, due to Zr eutectics formation with all the Cantor’s alloy elements; 3) the good chemical alloy homogeneity; 4) the mechanical properties improvement of recrystallized grains with a coherent structure. The crystallographic lattice of both alloys resulted to be FCC. Results demonstrate that the Zr-modified HEA presents a higher recrystallization temperature and smaller grain size after recrystallization with respect to the Cantor’s alloy, with precipita-tion of a coherent second phase which enhance the alloy hardness and strength, while maintaining a good tensile ductility.
Factoring Continuous Characters Defined on Subgroups of Products of Topological Groups
Authors: Tkachenko Mikhail
Published: July 2021

We study factorization properties of continuous homomorphisms defined on subgroups (or submonoids) of products of (para)topological groups (or monoids). A typical result is the following one: Let $D=\prod_{i\in I}D_i$ be a product of paratopological groups, $S$ be a dense subgroup of $D$, and $\chi$ a continuous character of $S$. Then one can find a finite set $E\subset I$ and continuous characters $\chi_i$ of $D_i$, for $i\in E$, such that $\chi=\big(\prod_{i\in E} \chi_i\circ p_i\big)\hs1\res\hs1 S$, where $p_i\colon D\to D_i$ is the projection.
Ethical Concerns in Potentially Harmful Procedures in Ophthalmic Clinical Studies
Authors: Kanclerz Piotr , Grzybowski Andrzej , Ascaso Francisco
Published: July 2021

Importance In clinical research, ethical principles and practice must be transparent, clearly defined and monitored. We believe that potentially harmful and non-beneficial interventions in diagnostic and placebo-controlled ophthalmology research should be avoided. We advise on alternative study designs and make recommendations for both researchers and research ethics committees. Observations We discuss the use of potentially harmful diagnostic interventions in clinical investigations, e.g., lumbar puncture in glaucoma patients, and sham saline solution injections in eyes with vitreomacular adhesion. In placebo-controlled research studies, patients in the control group commonly did not receive the standard of care for the condition under consideration, e.g., antiglaucoma therapy in a glaucoma study, anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents in neovascular age-related macular degeneration or central retinal vein occlusion. Testing new methods and treatments against no intervention control, especially invasive placebo, rather than the usual standard of care, where one exists should not be recommended. Conclusions/Relevance Invasive and potentially harmful procedures in ophthalmology can be replaced by alternative non-invasive techniques or by an analysis of patients undergoing the procedure of interest for other purposes.
Improving the Accuracy of Gridded Population Estimates in Cities and Slums to Monitor SDG 11: Evidence from a Simulation Study in Namibia
Authors: Thomson Dana R. , Stevens Forrest R. , Chen Robert , Yetman Gregory , Sorichetta Alessandro , Gaughan Andrea E.
Published: July 2021

People living in slums and other deprived areas in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) cities are under-represented in censuses, and subsequently in "top-down" gridded population estimates. Modelled gridded population data are a unique source of disaggregated population information to calculate local development indicators such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study evaluates if, and how, WorldPop-Global (WPG) -Unconstrained and -Constrained “top-down” datasets might be improved in a simulated realistic LMIC urban population by incorporating slum profile population counts into model training. We found that the WPG-Unconstrained model with or without slum training data grossly underestimated population in urban deprived areas while grossly overestimating population in rural areas. SDG 11.1.1, the percent of population living in slums, for example, was estimated to be 20% or less compared to a "true" value of 29.5%. The WPG-Constrained model, which included building auxiliary datasets, far more accurately estimated the population in all grid cells (including rural areas), and the inclusion of slum training data further improved estimates such that SDG 11.1.1 was estimated at 27.1% and 27.0%, respectively. Inclusion of building metrics and slum training data in “top-down” gridded population models can substantially improve grid cell-level accuracy in both urban and rural areas.
Level-oriented modular training within teaching monologic speech to junior students
Authors: Myltseva Margarita Victorovna , Drozdova Ekaterina Alexandrovna , Sergeeva Marina Georgiyevna , Lukashenko Dmitry Vladimirovich
Published: July 2021

The expansion of the spheres of political, trade, economic and cultural cooperation between Russia and other countries creates real preconditions for intercultural professional communication in all areas of language experts’ activity: teaching, researching, translating, interpreting and speaking for the peers. In these conditions, learning to provide a monologue in different world languages is becoming increasingly important to future linguists. According to the requirements of the new Federal Standard for Higher Professional Education, a linguist must be able to perform intercultural communication in various professional fields, conduct business negotiations, be an active participant in conferences, workshops and roundtable discussions using several working languages and search for topical information to improve his/her professional skills in the field of intercultural communication. Thus, the standard reflects the strategy of modern foreign-language education aimed to form the cultural and linguistic personality of the language expert who has reached a high level of the foreign-language professional communicative competence, which manifests itself in speech culture, an open-minded attitude to unfamiliar traditions and ways of life, along with the abilities for monologue and international professional communication. High-quality monologic speech is a personally and professionally significant skill, due to which specialists do not have difficulties with business conversations, reports, public messages and presentations in Microsoft PowerPoint and freely participate in discussing the course and prospects of joint activities. Mastering such skills begins at the very beginning of learning a foreign language in a higher educational institution to be able to work with complicated scientific texts and prepare creative monologues as a postgraduate student.
Development of Science Learning Device Oriented Guided Inquiry with Virtual Laboratory to Train Science Process Skills of Junior High School Students in Kendari
Authors: Saputra I Gede Purwana Edi , Harnipa Harnipa , Akhfar Mariani
Published: July 2021

This research was based on the mismatch between the expectation of learning and the study result of IPA on Junior High School. That is why it needs efforts to improve the quality of the teaching and learning process by developing the learning instruments, which are eligible with the mean of IPA and the Graduation Competency Standard on Junior High School. The research purposed to describe the eligibility and effectiveness of the learning instrument of IPA on Junior High School, which is developed in the oriented inquiry by the virtual laboratory to practice the student's science process skills. The research is the development research that adapts the Kemp model. The development of learning instruments such as lesson plans, student worksheets, and assessment sheets. The research subject is the students of class 7 and 8, IX grade on Junior High School 5 Kendari. The implementation planning in-class uses one group pretest and post-test design and data analyzed descriptively. The research results are the learning instruments are eligible to be used, suitable student worksheets, and the student's handbook shows that the content and appearance are interesting. The lesson plan did well, and the majority of students' activity is how to solve a problem. The completeness of the results of the study are well done. Character attitude and social interactive are good. Students' response fir the learning is positive. The summarize of IPA, which is developed, is effective in practicing the science process skills for Junior High School students.
Four-Tier Diagnostic Test Assisted Website for Identifies Misconceptions Heat and Temperature
Authors: Septiyani Evi , Nanto Dwi
Published: July 2021

Misconceptions get special attention in educational research because they are inhibiting students in learning. Misconceptions often occur in learning physics, especially the concept of heat, and nearly every sub-concept of physics on students experience various misconceptions. One of them is defining heat.  Many students believe that temperature is considered as a unit of measure for the amount of heat. This is a wrong conception. Thus, it needs to be identified using appropriate diagnostic test instruments to reduce students’ misconceptions. Four-tier diagnostic tests can detect students’ misconceptions because they can dig deeper into understanding students’ conceptions. Unfortunately, the diagnostic tests of student misconception are still rarely applied at most schools. The reason is time constraints in the implementation and correction of the diagnostic tests. Therefore, here we report digital four-tier diagnostic test instruments of student misconception on heat and temperature through a helpful website and can be accessed anywhere.
Implementation of Augmented Physics Animation Integrated Crosscutting Concept COVID 19 in Facilitating Problem Solving Skills and Disaster Preparedness
Authors: Guntara Yudi , Utami Indri Sari
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to implement augmented physics animation integrated crosscutting concept COVID-19 in facilitating student problem-solving skills and disaster preparedness. This study used a quantitative approach. The research design chosen was a pre-experimental design with a posttest-only design with nonequivalent groups. The research was conducted at the Department of Physics Education, Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa. All students of the department are the research population. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling. The number of 35 students entered the experimental group, and 36 students entered the comparison group. The results showed that a) there was no difference in students' mastery of problem-solving skills in the experimental and comparison group. Asymp. Sig indicates a value of 0.187 or > 0.05, so it can be decided that H1 was rejected. b) There was a difference in the level of student COVID-19 disaster preparedness between the experimental and the comparison group. Asymp indicated this. Sig was 0.012 or < 0.05, so it could be decided that H2 was accepted. Therefore, it can be concluded that the implementation of augmented physics animation on the mastery of student problem-solving skills has not yet been seen but can already be seen in facilitating the level of preparedness of students in dealing with the COVID-19 disaster.
Healthy food for public health
Authors: Tutelyan V. A.
Published: July 2021

The concept of healthy nutrition as a key factor shaping human health in all periods of life, as well as its fundamental principles based on the basic laws on nutrition, is considered. Special attention is paid to the issues of food safety, ensuring the physiological needs for energy, food and biologically active substances, the importance of diversity and balance of the diet. The main violations of the nutrition structure of the population of the Russian Federation are reflected and effective tools for its improvement, prevention of alimentary-dependent non-communicable diseases and health-saving of the nation are proposed.
Dorsal Approach with Low-Profile Plate in Treatment of Scaphoid Nonunion with Proximal Pole Avascular Necrosis
Authors: Zakhia-Douaihy Ghassan , Issa Mohamad , Naja Ahmad Salaheddine
Published: July 2021

Case:

Avascular necrosis (AVN) and nonunion are common complications encountered with scaphoid waist fractures. We present a case of a 23-year-old man presenting with a right scaphoid fracture nonunion associated with AVN of the proximal pole. He was treated with a 1,2 intercompartmental supraretinacular arterial bone graft (Zaidemberg technique) in combination with a dorsal plate yielding excellent functional and radiographic results.

Conclusion:

Scaphoid waist fracture nonunion with AVN of the proximal pole is challenging to treat and combining the Zaidemberg technique along with dorsal plating allows for easy access and excellent healing.
Un Un análisis geográfico para prevenir el conflicto: Moldavia, foco de tensión geopolítica
Authors: Bernabé-Crespo Miguel Borja
Published: July 2021

El espacio exsoviético representa un área de influencia disputada y donde se desarrollan estrategias de desestabilización propias de la zona gris. El análisis de la distribución de etnias, lengua, indicadores económicos y geografía electoral puede servir como herramienta para identificar aquellas regiones netamente diferenciadas del resto y que puedan socavar su estatalidad. Moldavia constituye un buen ejemplo debido a la persistencia de un conflicto congelado (Transnistria), una región autónoma (Gagauzia) y una polarización política entre el proeuropeísmo y la alianza con Rusia. Los datos provienen de fuentes primarias locales y oficiales, a los que ha seguido un análisis estadístico y cartográfico. Se completa con información actual y contextualizada respecto de las elecciones de 2020. Como conclusiones se desprende que el país se encuentra fracturado entre el norte y el centro, y un sur con amplia presencia de minorías étnicas bien circunscritas. Por ello, es necesario invertir en las regiones en declive prolongado y asegurar la convivencia pacífica en un Estado multicultural como método para la prevención de conflicto, frente a un escenario de potencial fragmentación territorial. El análisis interdisciplinar es extrapolable a otros países de la zona gris y constituye una herramienta de ayuda para afianzar la credibilidad europea.
Label-free imaging for cardiomyocyte differentiation from human pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Qian Tongcheng , Gillette Amani , Skala Melissa
Published: July 2021

Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes provide a promising regenerative cell therapy for cardiovascular patients and an important model system to accelerate drug discovery. However, cost-effective and time-efficient platforms must be developed to evaluate the quality of hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes during biomanufacturing. Here, we develop a non-invasive label-free live cell imaging platform to monitor hPSC differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Autofluorescence imaging of metabolic co-enzymes is performed under varying differentiation conditions (cell density, concentration of Wnt signaling activator) across five hPSC lines.
Identification of high-risk genes in triple-negative breast cancer by bioinformatics
Authors: Xiang Lu , Chen Caiping , Ni Guihong , Tao Min
Published: July 2021

Background

Current research has failed to find a target gene for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which has resulted in the treatment for TNBC being less effective than that for other types of breast cancer. Finding high-risk genes for TNBC by bioinformatics may help to identify target genes for TNBC.
Methods

The gene expression data of 4 chips (GSE7904, GSE31448, GSE45827, GSE65194) which contains of normal breast tissue and TNBC tissue were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normal breast tissue and TNBC tissue were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of DEGs were performed by the DAVID website. Protein-protein interaction network analysis of DEGs was carried out by the STRING website, and the results were imported into Cytoscape. Then, module analysis was carried out by using the MCODE app. The online tool of the Kaplan-Meier Plotter website was used to analyse associations between relapse-free survival (RFS) and the expression of genes obtained by MCODE, and the metastasis-free survival (MFS) data from GSE58812 were used for survival verification. The difference in the expression of the identified genes was verified by the online tool of the UALCAN website.
Results

There were 127 upregulated and 293 downregulated genes in the DEGs. The GO and KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs were particularly enriched in mitotic nuclear division, extracellular space, heparin binding, and ECM-receptor interaction. MCODE obtained a total of 47 genes in 4 gene clusters, 29 of which were related to RFS. Survival verification indicated that 14 out of 29 genes were related to MFS, namely, CCNB1, AURKB, KIF20A, BUB1B, DLGAP5, CXCL11, CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL12, IGF1, FN1, CFD, SGO2 and CDCA5.
Conclusions

We identified 14 genes as the high-risk genes for TNBC. Further research on these genes may identify the target genes of TNBC.
Wireless Body Area Networks: Survey of recent research trends on energy efficient routing protocols and guidelines
Authors: B Shunmugapriya , B Paramasivan , S Ananthakumaran , J Naskath
Published: July 2021

Wireless Body Area Network (WBAN) is a recent technologically advanced sub-category of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) which consists of many bio-sensors, attached in and around of human body, for monitoring the health-related issues from remote places. Energy conservation in WBAN has always been the most crucial issue for the sensor nodes, which are powered by limited capacity battery sources. During sensing and communication, sensing elements emit high temperature from its circuit and transmitting antenna due to inefficient data routing designs. This energy may lead to form hot-spot, which affects the human tissues at a different level. So designing an energy-efficient routing protocol is a very challenging issue to reduce the high emission of temperatures. Different energy-efficient routing protocols have been projected in this survey over the years. The energy-efficient routing protocols endeavor to prolong the network lifetime by minimizing the energy consumption in each deployed nodes. There have been a variety of survey papers put forwarded by researchers to evaluate the performance and categorize the different energy-efficient routing protocols for WBANs. This paper describes an overview of WBAN, a systematic survey of existing contracts for routing and open research issues are discussed.
Using genetics to uncouple higher adiposity from its adverse metabolic effects and understand its role in metabolic and non-metabolic disease.
Authors: Martin Susan , Tyrrell Jessica , Thomas E Louise , Bown Matthew J , Wood Andrew R , Beaumont Robin N , Tsoi Lam C , Stuart Philip E , Elder James T , Law Philip , Houlston Richard , Kabrhel Christopher , Papadimitriou Nikos , Gunter Marc J , Bull Caroline J , Bell Joshua A , Vincent Emma E , Sattar Naveed , Dunlop Malcolm G , Tomlinson Ian P.M , Bell Jimmy D , Frayling Timothy M , Yaghootkar Hanieh
Published: July 2021

To understand the consequences of higher adiposity uncoupled from its adverse metabolic effects, we selected 37 diseases associated with obesity and genetic variants associated with different aspects of excess weight including metabolically “favourable adiposity” (FA) and “unfavourable adiposity” (UFA). Mendelian randomisation (MR) identified two sets of diseases. First, 12 conditions where the metabolic effect of higher adiposity is the likely primary cause of the disease. Here MR with the FA and UFA genetics showed opposing effects on risk of disease, including colorectal and ovarian cancer, and gout. Second, 7 conditions where the non-metabolic effects of excess weight (e.g. mechanical effect) is likely a cause. Here MR with the FA genetics, despite leading to lower metabolic risk, and MR with the UFA genetics, were both associated with higher disease risk, including osteoarthritis and venous thromboembolism. Individuals with high BMI are at higher risk of some diseases despite being relatively metabolically healthy.
Synthesis of a New Phosphorus/Nitrogen Durable Flame Retardant for Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Li Jinfeng , Jiang Wei , Liu Maolin
Published: July 2021

Phosphorus/nitrogen flame retardant ammonium three phosphoric acid glycerol ester (FR) with reactive -P-O−NH4+ groups was synthesized from glycerol, phosphoric acid and urea. At high temperature, the -P-O−NH4+ group in FR is decomposed into -P-O−H+ group. Under the action of catalyst dicyandiamide, -P-O−H+ forms phosphonic anhydride. Phosphonic anhydride can dehydrate and condense with the hydroxyl group on the 6-position carbon atom in the glucose ring of cotton fiber, forming a firm P-O-C bond, thus fixing FR molecule firmlyon cotton fiber. XRD suggested that the finishing process only slightly affected the cotton fiber structure and the surface morphology, elemental composition of char residue in cotton fabrics were tested by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS). Confirmed that FR was grafted well with slight damage to the cotton structure. When the treated cotton with 25.3% weight gain(WG) in FR, the treated cotton has self extinguishing property and passed UL-94 vertical burning V-0 classification, the limiting oxygen index (LOI) was improved from 17.0–40.5%, and the LOI can still reach 30.9% after 50 laundering cycles, the cone calorimetry(CONE) analysis indicated that the peak heat release rate (PHRR) of the treated cotton was reduced from 190.3 kW/m2 to 17.9 kW/m2, and the total heat release (THR) was reduced from 2.8 MJ/m2 to 1.8 MJ/m2, The thermogravimetric(TG) and Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) showed that the addition of FR inhibited the initial thermal degradation temperature of the treated cotton under heating conditions, and TG showed that the initial thermal degradation temperature of treated cotton in nitrogen and air was 225.9 ℃ and 221.8 ℃, respectively, which was lower than that of untreated cotton. The mechanical properties are in the usable range, which showed that treated cotton had excellent flame retardancy, durability and good flexibility.
RAPIDIRON: Reducing Anaemia in Pregnancy in India A 3-Arm, Randomized-Controlled Trial Comparing The Effectiveness of Oral Iron With Single-Dose Intravenous Iron In The Treatment of Iron Deficiency Anaemia In Pregnant Women And Reducing Low Birth Weight Deliveries.
Authors: Derman Richard , Goudar Shivaprasad , Thind Simal , Bhandari Sudhir , Aghai Zubair , Auerbach Michael , Boelig Rupsa , Charantimath Umesh , Frasso Rosemary , Ganachari M. S. , Gaur Kusum , Georgieff Michael , Jaeger Frances , Kumar Yogesh , Lalakia Parth , Leiby Benjamin , Majumdar Mita , Mehta Amarjeet , Mehta Seema , Mehta Sudhir , Mennemeyer Stephen , Revankar Amit , Sharma Dharmesh , Short Vanessa , Somannavar Manjunath , Wallace Dennis , Shah Hemang , Singh Manjula , Askari Sufia , Bellad Mrutyunjaya
Published: July 2021

Background: Anaemia is a worldwide problem and iron deficiency is the most common cause. In pregnancy, anaemia increases the risk of adverse maternal, foetal and neonatal outcomes.India’s anaemia rate is among the highest in the world with India’s National Family Health Survey indicating over 50% of pregnant women were affected by anaemia. India’s Anaemia Mukt Bharat-Intensified National Iron Plus Initiative aims to reduce the prevalence of anaemia among reproductive-age women, adolescents and children by 3% per year and facilitate the achievement of a Global World Health Assembly 2025 objective to achieve a 50% reduction of anaemia among women of reproductive age. However, preliminary results of the NFHS-5 survey completed in 2020 indicate that anaemia rates are increasing in some states and these targets are unlikely to be achieved. With oral iron being the first-line treatment for iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in pregnancy, these results are likely to be impacted by the side effects, poor adherence to tablet ingestion and low therapeutic impact of oral iron. These reports suggest a new approach to treating IDA, specifically the importance of single-dose intravenous iron infusions, may be the key to India effectively reaching its targets for anaemia reduction. Methods: This 3-arm, randomized controlled trial is powered to report two primary outcomes. The first is to assess whether a single dose of two different intravenous formulations administered early in the second trimester of pregnancy to women with moderate IDA will result in a higher percentage of participants achieving a normal for pregnancy Hb concentration at 30-34 weeks’ gestation or just prior to delivery when compared to participants taking standard doses of oral iron. The second is a clinical outcome of low birth weight (LBW) (< 2500 grams), with a hypothesis that the risk of LBW delivery will be lower in the intravenous iron arms when compared to the oral iron arm. Discussion: The RAPIDIRON trial will provide evidence to determine if a single-dose intravenous iron infusion is more effective and economically feasible in reducing IDA in pregnancy than the current standard of care.Trial registration: Clinical Trials Registry – India: CTRI/2020/09/027730. Registered 10 September 2020, http://ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/showallp.php?mid1=46801&EncHid=&userName=anemia%20in%20pregnancy
Evidence-based Pandemic Preparedness: An Infrastructure for Population-scale Genome-based Testing for COVID-19
Authors: Lehrach Hans , Curtis Jon , Lange Bodo , Ogilvie Lesley , Gauss Richard , Steininger Christoph , Scholz Erhard , Kreck Matthias
Published: July 2021

Our lives (and deaths) have been dominated for more than a year by COVID-19, a pandemic that has caused hundreds of millions of disease cases, millions of deaths, trillions in economic costs, and major restrictions on our freedom. We argue that much of this could have been avoided by repeated and systematic population-scale PCR-based testing and targeted quarantine. We describe key elements of the current implementations of such a system and demonstrate (with Germany as an example), that this strategy could have suppressed the pandemic within weeks, eliminating the vast majority of its overall impact in terms of deaths, economic costs and restrictions. It can, however, still play a major role in further reducing the worldwide impact of the current phase of the pandemic, and remain as a key protection against similar dangers in the future.
Geospatial Model of COVID-19 Spreading and Vaccination With Event Gillespie Algorithm
Authors: Temerev Alexander , Rozanova Liudmila , Estill Janne , Keiser Olivia
Published: July 2021

We developed a model and a software package for stochastic simulations of transmission of COVID-19 and other similar infectious diseases, that takes into account contact network structures and geographical distribution of population density, detailed up to a level of location of individuals. Our analysis framework includes a surrogate model optimization process for quick fitting of the model’s parameters to the observed epidemic curves for cases, hospitalizations and deaths. This set of instruments (the model, the simulation code, and the optimizer) is a useful tool for policymakers and epidemic response teams who can use it to forecast epidemic development scenarios in local environments (on the scale from towns to large countries) and design optimal response strategies. The simulation code also includes a geospatial visualization subsystem, presenting detailed views of epidemic scenarios directly on population density maps. We used the developed framework to draw predictions for COVID-19 spreading in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland.
Efficacy of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Relapse/Refractory B-ALL Patients After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Tian Linyan , Wang Jinhuan , Zhai Yixin , Liu Su , Jiang Yanan , Wu Wenqi , Lv Yangyang , Xing Donghui , Xu Hong , Sun Huimeng , Wang Yafei , Zhao Zhigang
Published: July 2021

Background: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(allo-HSCT) consolidation therapy after chimeric antigen receptor(CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as an alternative in patients with B-ALL in the past decade. However, the efficiency remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to systematically analysis the effect of allo-HSCT for Relapse/Refractory(R/R) B-ALL patients after CAR-T cell therapy on survival and relapse rate(RR). Methods: We searched potential documents up to Jan.31st, 2021 in PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Springer and analyzed them by Cochrane Collaboration RevMan 5.3 software. Results: Allo-HSCT was efficient in improving short(6-month) and long(1-year and 2-year) term overall survival(OS) and leukemia-free survival(LFS). Transplantation could also reduce RR of R/R B-ALL regardless of patients’ characteristics and time of allo-HSCT. Besides, CAR-T cell products with 4-1BB domain bridging allo-HSCT were associated with a better survival. Subgroup analysis indicated allo-HSCT was more likely to exert a noticeable influence on survival of junior individuals(≤40) and Asian groups. A suitable period between allo-HSCT and CAR-T cell therapy(≤70 days) would make a difference. Interestingly, some features of patients, such as a HSCT history or BCR-ABL1 rearrangement (Philadelphia chromosome, Ph) may have an effect on the efficacy of allo-HSCT. Conclusion: Allo-HSCT consolidation therapy after CAR-T cell therapy induced a promising short-and-long term survival of R/R B-ALL patients. Senior patients, prior HSCT history and BCR-ABL1 rearrangement (Ph) might be poor prognostic factors. Further studies are needed to explore the optimal time for allo-HSCT.
Complete Genome Report of Sphingobium Yanoikuyae S72: A Bacterium Capable of Degrading Hydrocarbons
Authors: Sanchez-Lopez Eric , Elufisan Temidayo Oluyomi , Bustos Patricia , Charles-Mendoza Claudia Paola , Mendoza-Hererra Alberto , Guo Xianwu
Published: July 2021

Sphingobium yanoikuyae S72 was isolated from the rhizosphere of sorghum plant, Mexico. Its role on the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) was evaluated in a minimal medium containing one of biphenyl, naphthalene, phenanthrene, xylene and Toluene as the only carbon source. It grew effectively in each minimal medium (Bushnell Haas, BH). Gas column chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis on the metabolite recovered after S72’s growth in BH showed that it successfully degraded the PAHs tested resulting in the degradation of biphenyl (85%), phenanthrene (93%), naphthalene (81%), xylene (19%) and toluene (30%). The complete genome of the S72 was sequenced to evaluate the genetic bases of S72`s degradation of PAH. The genome was assembled de novo and reduced to 1 contig and consists of 5,532,623 bp, 5005 protein-coding genes. The analysis of the COG categories in S72 in comparison with other Sphingobium yanoikuyae and other PAH degrading gene, showed that it has in higher abundance in some categories that have been associated with the degradation of PAH (energy production and conversion (COG C, 6.35), carbohydrate transport and metabolism (COG G, 6.20%), lipid transport and metabolism (COG I, 6.99), secondary metabolites biosynthesis (COG Q, 4.52%), general function prediction only in transport and catabolism (COG R, 9.93),) Pan-core genome analysis revealed that about 126 unique genes in S72 are associated with the degradation of xenobiotics and PAHs. Most gene found in S72 are associated with the peripheral degradation pathway for PAH. Based on our observation we proposed a possible benzoate degradation pathway.
Bayesian Super-Resolution of Spectroscopic Data
Authors: Tsujimori Kota , Hirotani Jun , Harada Shunta
Published: July 2021

The resolution of spectroscopy, which delivers valuable insights and knowledge in various research fields, has sometimes been limited by the number of multi-channel detectors employed. For example, in Raman spectroscopy using charge coupled device (CCD) detectors, the resolution is limited by the number of the CCD arrays and it is difficult to achieve spectroscopic data acquisition with high resolution over a wide range. Here we describe a methodology to increase the resolution as well as signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio by applying Bayesian super-resolution in the analysis of spectroscopic data. In our present method, first the hyperparameters for the Bayesian super-resolution are determined by a virtual experiment imitating actual experimental data, and the precision of the super-resolution reconstruction is confirmed by the calculation of errors from the ideal values. For validation of the super-resolution of spectroscopic data, we applied this method to the analysis of Raman spectra. From 200 Raman spectra of a reference Si substrate with a resolution of about 0.8 cm-1, super-resolution reconstruction with resolution of 0.01 cm-1 was successfully achieved with the promised precision. From the super-resolution spectrum, the Raman scattering peak of the reference Si substrate was estimated as 520.55 (+0.12, -0.09) cm-1, which is comparable to the precisely determined value from previous works. The present methodology can be applied to various kinds of spectroscopic analysis, leading to increased precision in the analysis of spectroscopic data and the ability to detect slight differences in spectral peak positions and shapes.
Spillover Effects of HIV Foreign Aid on the Delivery of Maternal and Child Health Services in Nigeria: 2008 – 2018
Authors: Ibeneme Sunny , Croke Kevin , Karamagi Humphery , Bump Jesse , Okeibunor Joseph
Published: July 2021

BackgroundThis study expands the current body of knowledge by investigating the impact of the Global Health Initiatives (GHI) on the Nigerian health system. Using robust multilevel analytic approaches, this study examined system-wide impacts of foreign aid on the Nigerian health system– a country that has witnessed substantial Development Assistance for Health disbursements in the last two decades, yet has one of the worst maternal and child health indices globally. Most of the health aid to Nigeria has been for HIV programs; and has sparked debates among stakeholders. Critics have asserted the possibility that HIV aid might not be working and could have had unintended negative consequences on the delivery of non-HIV services. Others maintained that such prioritized attention to HIV could have had a crowding-out or negative spillover effect on the delivery of other health programs in Nigeria. Thus, the focus of this study is to ascertain the nature of the spillover effect of HIV aid on the delivery of maternal and child health services in NigeriaResultsThis study identified that donor HIV financing to Nigeria increased up to 2012, and decreased steadily afterwards between 2008 – 2018. This was suggested to be linked to PEPFAR priority shift to health systems strengthening in the second round of their funding cycle. This study also identified a negative spillover effect of HIV-specific aid on the delivery of non-HIV services, and is suggested to be attributed to the prioritized attention given to HIV programs by global health systems.ConclusionsStudy findings provide systematic evidence to inform policy on the frameworks for developing a national roadmap for the effective alignment of GHIs’ coordinating mechanisms with national health priorities. Future studies should explore the effects of the Development Assistance for Health among low- and middle-income countries including Nigeria to provide evidence for policy, and substantiate how the growing interests in health systems strengthening is overcoming vertical programs and fostering systemic improvements. Government should identify turnaround strategies to strengthen Nigerian health systems for the Sustainable Development Goals, and formulate policies that improve the effectiveness of GHIs in Nigeria.
Changing The Firing Threshold for Normal Optic Nerve Axons by The Application of Infra-Red Laser Light
Authors: Austerschmidt Lavinia J , Schottler Nadine I , Miller Alyssa M , Baker Mark D
Published: July 2021

Normal optic nerve axons exhibit a temperature dependence, previously explained by a membrane potential hyperpolarization on warming. We now report that near infra-red (IR) laser light, delivered via a fibre optic light guide, also affects axonal membrane potential and threshold, at least partly through a photo-thermal effect. Application of light to optic nerve, at the recording site, gave rise to a local membrane potential hyperpolarization over a period of about a minute, and increased the size of the depolarizing after potential (DAP). Application near the site of electrical stimulation reversibly raised current-threshold, and the change in threshold recorded over minutes of irradiation was significantly increased by the application of the Ih blocker, ZD7288 (50 µM), indicating Ih limits the hyperpolarizing effect of light. Light application also had fast effects on nerve behaviour, increasing threshold without appreciable delay (within seconds), probably by a mechanism independent of Na+ channels and kinetically fast K+ channels, and hypothesized to be caused by reversible changes in myelin function.
Influence of the Shape of the First Metatarsal Cuneiform Joint on the Development of Hallux Valgus Deformity
Authors: Sovilj Mirko , Baljozović Andreja , Pilipović Filip , Banjac Maja Sovilj , Baščarević Zoran
Published: July 2021

Objective:To examine the presence of certain shapes of the first metatarsal-cuneiform joint (MTC) joint in feet with hallux valgus (HV) deformity. To determine whether the anatomical orientation of this joint affects the size of the hallux valgus angle (HVA) and the first intermetatarsal angle (IMA) and whether it contributes to the dynamics of the developmental course of HV deformity.Methods:The shape of the first MTC joint was determined on a sample of 315 feet with HV deformity. The influence of the shape of this joint on the values of HVA and IMA was explored. The relation between the position of the tibial sesamoid and the size of HVA and IMA as well as the dynamics of the development of this deformity depending on the shape of the first MTC joint, was examined.Results:The oblique shape of the first MTC joint was found in 165 (52.4%) feet, the transverse in 145 (46%), and the convex shape was registered in five feet (1.6%). In the oblique shape of this joint, a moderate and severe degree of HV deformity is predominant, while in the transverse shape a mild degree dominates. A statistically significant dependence of HVA on the shape of the first MTC joint was found (Sig. = 0.010), while the dependence of IMA did not show statistical significance (Sig. = 0.105). HVA values follow the position of the tibial sesamoid in both shapes of the MTC joint while the size of the IMA in the transverse shape is not consistent with the position of this sesamoid.Conclusion:The oblique shape of the first MTC joint is associated with the more severe form of HV deformity and its faster developmental course. In the analyzed sample, it was shown that HVA is higher in the oblique shape of the MTC joint and significantly depends on the anatomical orientation of this joint. Furthermore, IMA has a higher value in the oblique shape compared to transverse but this dependence is not statistically significant. The analysis showed that the oblique shape of the first MTC joint contributes to the development of HV deformity.