bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building data analytics skills for clinical drug development quality professionals - the Data Analytics University training program
Authors: Havenhand Sharon , Koneswarakantha Björn , Rolo Donato , Mehta Pooja , Bowling Rich , Ménard Timothé
Published: February 2021

Clinical drug development is a complex and extensive process that entails multiple stakeholders alongside patients, requires large capital expenditures and takes nearly a decade on average to complete. To ensure the correct development of this process, rigorous quality activities must be conducted to assess and guarantee the Good Clinical and Pharmacovigilance Practices (GxP) for study compliance. For about 25 years, most of these activities have been performed in the form of audits, which implies a high volume of manual work and resources in addition to being reactive by nature. Due to the limitations of this approach, together with intent to leverage new technologies in the data analytics field, a more holistic, proactive and data-driven approach needed to take place. For this to happen, quality assurance expertise needed to be complemented by the data literacy skillset. To achieve this, the Data Analytics University (DAU) was created. An in-house training program composed by two pathways that provided a framework for clinical quality staff to develop their data analytics capabilities. The first pathway covers the basics of statistics, probability and data-related terminology, while the second deepens further into the topics covered in the former followed by hands-on activities to put the knowledge to test. After successful completion of 15 DAU sessions, over 310 trained staff were able to apply their learning on data analytics and solve potential issues that might arise with a given dataset. In the near future, the DAU will be made available externally as an e-learning training program.
Complications of Cardiovascular Events in Patients Hospitalized with Influenza-Related Pneumonia
Authors: Chen Liang , Han Xiudi , Li YanLi , Zhang Chunxiao , Xing Xiqian
Published: February 2021

Background: Influenza virus infections are a key cause of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Cardiovascular events (CVEs) are common among CAP and influenza patients, but there have been few population-based studies of influenza-related pneumonia (Flu-p) patients published to date. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1191 immunocompetent hospitalized adult Flu-p patients from January 2012 - December 2018 in five teaching hospitals in China was conducted.Results: A total of 24.6% (293/1191) of patients developed at least one form of CVE-related complication while hospitalization. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, preexisting heart failure, systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg, respiratory rates ≥ 30 breaths/min, a lymphocyte count < 0.8×109/L, PaO2/FiO2 < 300 mmHg, systemic corticosteroid administration, early neuraminidase inhibitor treatment, and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin II receptor blocker treatment were independently associated with the risk of CVEs. After controlling for potential confounding variables, we determined that CVEs were linked to a higher risk of 30-day mortality (OR 3.307, 95% CI 2.198-4.975, p < 0.001) in Flu-p patients. Conclusions: CVE-related complications are common among hospitalized Flu-p patients, and are associated with negative patient outcomes. Clarifying these CVE-related risk factors can aid in their clinical prevention and care.
Contribution of variations in Northern Hemisphere annular mode to the near-surface wind speed changes over Eastern China for 1979-2017
Authors: Zha Jinlin , Shen Cheng , Wu Jian , Zhao Deming , Azorin-Molina Cesar
Published: February 2021

Studies have shown that large-scale ocean-atmosphere circulations (LOACs) played the major role to the near-surface wind speed (NWS) changes over China; however, the mechanisms whereby LOACs influences NWS to have received little attention. In this study, the processes of the Northern Hemisphere annular mode (NAM) influencing the NWS changes are revealed over eastern China for 1979–2017. The results showed a slowdown in NWS, at a rate of − 0.09 ± 0.01 m s− 1 decade− 1; meanwhile, this decline could be partly driven by the weakening of the zonal wind component. When the NAM exhibits positive phases, the zonal-mean westerly weakens at the low-to-mid-latitudes (10°–40°N); meanwhile, in the troposphere descending flows prevail near 40°N and ascending flows prevail near 65°N, and in the lower troposphere there are northerly anomalies at the low-to-mid-latitudes and southerly anomalies at mid-to-high latitudes (40°–70°N). The anomalous meridional flows transport heat from lower latitudes to higher latitudes and weaken the north–south air temperature gradient. The decreased air temperature gradient over East Asia reduces the pressure-gradient near the surface in eastern China, thereby decreasing the NWS. Furthermore, the effects of NAM on NWS changes are more significant at interannual scale than decadal scale. 32.0 ± 15.8 % of the changes in the annual mean NWS are caused by the variations in NAM; meanwhile, the NAM contribution to the interannual changes in the zonal component of NWS reach 45.0 ± 12.9 %.
Localized interaction solutions of the (2+1)-dimensional Ito Equation
Authors: Ma Hongcai , Wu Hanfang , Ma Wenxiu , Deng Aiping
Published: February 2021

Localized interaction solutions of the (2+1)-dimensional Ito equation with free parameters are obtained by using a Hirota bilinear transformation. Various plots with particular choices of the involved parameters are made to show energy distributions and dynamical properties of the special exact solutions. This phenomenon may provide us with interesting information on dynamics in the higher-dimensional nonlinear world.
Evaluation of Factors Affecting Delamination, Tensile Strength, Thrust Force and Surface Roughness in Drilling of GFRP
Authors: KILICKAP Erol , Celik Yahya Hışman , Yenigun Burak
Published: February 2021

The drilling operation of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP) composites has gained importance because they are used as structural components in many industries such as aerospace and aviation. In the drilling of GFRP composites, some problems such as deformation and fiber breakage occur. Thrust force, delamination, surface quality and cutting temperature are affected by drilling parameters and woven types in the drilling of GFRP composites. At the same time, delamination also affects tensile strength. In this study, the effects of drilling parameters and woven types of GFRP composites on thrust force, surface roughness, delamination factor, and cutting temperature were examined in the drilling of GFRP composites produced in unidirectional (UD), ± 45º and 0°/90º woven types. The effects of drilling parameters and the delamination factor on the tensile strength of the drilled specimen were also investigated. The result of this study indicated that thrust force, delamination factor, and surface roughness increased with increasing cutting speed and feed rate. An increase in feed rate decreased the cutting temperature while an increase in cutting speed increased the cutting temperature. Also, it was found that the delamination had a critical influence on the tensile strength of the GFRP composites.
Profiles of sensitization and comorbidity in asthma patients with markedly increased serum total immunoglobulin E level (>1000 kUA/L)
Authors: Wu Ge , Zhang Teng , Zhang Xiaohua Douglas , Sun Baoqing
Published: February 2021

BackgroundImmunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in asthma, but a few cases exhibited extremely high levels of serum total IgE. This study aimed to investigate the profiles of complications, severity, and sensitizations in asthma patients with serum total IgE level >1000 kUA/L.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 170 asthma patients with serum total IgE levels >1000 kUA/L from the in-patient database of First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from January 2014 to June 2019. Available information including age, gender, body mass index (BMI), diagnosis, results of blood routine, pulmonary function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO), induced sputum (if any), IgE (both total and specific) and medication records were analyzed. ResultsAbout 15% patients had at least one complication, and 78.82% patients were positive for at least one allergen. The top two complications were airway infections (44.71%) and rhinosinusitis (41.18%), followed by hypertension and/or cardiovascular diseases (20.59%) and COPD (12.94%). And in patients without sensitization, rhinosinusitis accounted for the highest proportion over all complications (45.83%). Serum total IgE levels did not differ among patients with different complications. Overall, mites had the highest positive rate (59.4%). In minors, the positive rates of mites (81.25% vs. 54.35%, P <0.01) and food (68.75% vs. 39.86%, P <0.01) were significantly higher than those in adults. Serum total IgE levels were positively correlated to house dust mite specific IgE levels (r=0.23, P <0.05), peripheral blood eosinophil counts (r=0.21, P <0.01) and number of confirmed sIgE positivity (r=0.19, P <0.01) and optimal scaling analysis showed that asthma severity was associated with A. fumigatus specific IgE levels. ConclusionsIn asthma patients with markedly increased serum total IgE levels (>1000 kUA/L), the most common two complications were airway infections and rhinosinusitis despite of sensitization. A. fumigatus specific IgE levels were closely associated with total IgE levels and asthma severity.
Evaluation of an in house genetic testing method for confirmation of Prader - Willi and Angelman syndromes in Sri Lanka
Authors: Panchananthan Nirosha , Silva Deepthi De , Rathnayake Pyara , Atapattu Navoda , Chandrasekharan Naduviladath Vishvanath
Published: February 2021

Introduction
Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS, MIM 17620) and Angelman syndrome (AS, MIM 105830) are caused by imprinting defects of chromosome 15q11-13, with loss of maternal gene expression causing AS and paternal gene expression causing PWS. The diagnosis, once established in most cases using a methylation sensitive PCR test, enables appropriate therapeutic interventions and avoids the need for further genetic investigations. Genetic testing for PWS/AS is limited in Sri Lanka (and other low and middle income countries) mainly because parents are unable to pay for testing as these are not funded by the health service.
Methods
Ninety cases (44 Male and 46 female) with clinical features suspicious of PWS (n= 37) and AS (n=53) referred by a paediatric endocrinologist and a paediatric neurologist were recruited. Clinical information and blood samples were obtained following informed consent. DNA was extracted and methylation sensitive PCR (MS-PCR) was performed following bisulfite modification of DNA using an in house method and a kit. Results were validated using known positive controls. Parent child trio DNA samples were used in cases with confirmed PWS and AS to determine if the disease was due to a deletion or uniparental disomy. The cost of the MS-PCR testing the two modification methods and the microsatellite analysis was determined.
Results
Among suspected PWS cases 19/37 were positive while 5/53 suspected AS cases were positive. The lower identification rate of AS is probably related to the overlap of clinical features of this condition with other disorders. The kit based modification method was more reliable, less time consuming and cost effective in our laboratory.
Conclusions
The kit based modification followed by MS-PCR described here enables more affordable genetic testing of suspected PWS/AS cases and this is likely to improve patient care by targeting appropriate therapy for affected cases. Parental genetic counselling is made possible regarding the low recurrence risk, especially where a deletion or uniparental disomy are confirmed. In MS-PCR negative cases with a strong clinical suspicion of AS, UBE3A mutation testing is required. In addition, imprinting centre mutation/ deletion testing may also be needed in strongly clinically suspected, MS-PCR negative PWS and AS cases.
Machinability Analysis of Delamination and Thrust Force in Drilling of Pure and Added GFRP Composites
Authors: Unuvar Ali , Öztürk Osman
Published: February 2021

The aim of this work is to define the cutting conditions that allow the drilling of added glass fiber reinforced epoxy composite materials by taking into consideration the exit delamination factor, thrust force and the optimum combination of drilling parameters. The experiments were carried out under two cutting parameters such as cutting speed and feed rate for three levels each. Taguchi experimental design is used to reduce the excessive number of experiments. The experiment design was accomplished by application of the statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA). Correlations between cutting speed/feed rate and the various machining parameters were established to optimize cutting conditions. These correlations were found by quadratic regression using response surface methodology (RSM). Multiple regression analysis (MRA) was also employed to establish parametric relationships between the experimental parameters and the machinability outputs consisting of delamination and thrust force. The machinability refers to the relative ease or difficulty under certain cutting conditions. Therefore, it is very important to understand the factors affect the machinability and to evaluate their effects. Machinability of GFRP composites was enquired. It is aimed to evaluate the machinability of these materials. A machinability index has been developed in current study.
Geo-spatial Technique Combined With AHP, SRS, and RSW Methods for Suitability Analysis of Landfill Site in Durgapur Municipal Corporation
Authors: Hazra Tutun
Published: February 2021

Durgapur, an industrial city, is the second and third-largest city in West Bengal in terms of population and area respectively. The city is suffering from an enormous generation of waste and improper waste management. The wastes are dumped in an unscientific and unplanned way, negatively impacting the environment and public health. Hence, the National Green Tribunal has advised the city planners to find new landfill sites following the Central Pollution Control Board's guidance. This paper focuses on the new landfill site selection of Durgapur city using the Multi-criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods with Geographic Information System (GIS). The methodologies used for the site selection processes are GIS (for mapping the 14 criteria and overlay analysis) and MCDM methods: Analytical Hierarchy Process, Straight Rank Sum Method, and Ratio Scale Weighting Method (to derive the weights). Finally, the five landfill sites are selected after calculating the change detection.
WITHDRAWN: Synthesizing and Characterizing the Hybrid Pigment Fe 0.7 Cr1.3 O3 With High NIR Reflectance for Sustainable Energy Saving Applications
Authors: Mobarhan Ghazal , Souri Alireza , Mostafavi Seyed Kasra Seyed , Ghahari Mehdi , Safi Mahdi
Published: February 2021

Today, a growing number of the world population face a rise in the cost of living, especially an increase in energy costs. That is why Energy-saving has become a vital issue. In this regard, one of the remarkable ways to reduce energy consumption is using cool pigments; therefore, many kinds of research have been done to improve pigments' infrared reflection capability. In this paper, the role of particle morphology was investigated to boost the infrared reflection property of iron-chromium-based pigments. For this purpose, a series of inorganic pigments based on the Fe0.7Cr1.3O3 formula was prepared via a hydrothermal method. The particles' morphology was altered by using surfactants to improve the pigments' reflecting properties. The IR reflectance results proved that the flaky particles exhibit an enhanced IR reflection, which is significantly higher than in the spherical one. Furthermore, the results have revealed that silica coating leads to a meaningful improvement in the IR reflection property. It was found that the maximum near-infrared solar reflectance of the sample with 2.63% succinic acid surfactant and silica coating was 52.23% compared to that of Fe0.7Cr1.3O3, which was 25.36%.
Bibliometric analysis in databases on publications related to the replacement of natural aggregates by residues with a focus on sustainability and Brazil
Authors: Albuquerque Carlos Alberto de , Mello Carlos Henrique Pereira , Gomes José Henrique de Freitas , Santos Valquíria Claret dos
Published: February 2021

As part of a research project on the substitution of natural aggregates for residues, this article carried out a literature review, identifying articles that have the words aggregates, residues and concrete in their topics, in the Scopus and Web of Sciences bases. Among the main objectives of this review are: to verify what is the relative position of Brazil in relation to research in the area of substitution of aggregate for waste; to identify the main residues that are being studied to be used as raw material substitutes in the construction industry, mainly in Brazil; evaluate the hypothesis that a search using the words concrete, aggregate and residue will result in articles from the environmental and civil engineering areas. The main results are: Brazil is the country that most published articles with the characteristics investigated in the present work, followed by the countries China, Italy, USA and Spain; articles by Brazilian authors are predominantly from the areas of engineering and the environment; there are several studies investigating the substitution of natural aggregates for residues, mainly the substitution for residues of the civil construction itself; in Brazil, the most investigated residues to be used as raw material substitutes for the civil engineering industry are the residues of the civil engineering industry and the residues of agricultural products. The result of the review also identified the need for an improvement in the data and research tools of the databases used. The reasons are the probable data inconsistencies and flaws in the research tools found in the databases. With all these results, this work intends to provide basic information for researchers who intend to initiate research on the substitution of natural aggregates for waste, in addition to using them to continue the research project of replacing part of natural aggregates with electronic waste in the production of concrete. It also intends to show the importance of revision work for the improvement of data and database tools.
Differences in the on- and off-tumour microbiota between right- and left-sided colorectal cancer
Authors: Phipps Oliver , Quraishi Mohammed N , Dickson Edward A , Segal Jonathan , Steed Helen , Kumar Aditi , Acheson Austin G , Beggs Andrew D , Brookes Matthew J , Al-Hassi Hafid O
Published: February 2021

Objective This study aims to determine the differences in the microbial profiles of the on- and off-tumour microbiota between patients with right- and left-sided colorectal cancer.Design Microbial profiling of on- and off-tumour biopsies from patients with right-sided (n=17) and left-sided (n=7) colorectal adenocarcinoma was performed using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Results Off-tumour alpha diversity is significantly greater in right-sided compared to left-sided colorectal cancer patients. However, no differences in on-tumour alpha diversity were observed between tumour locations. Off-tumour beta diversity showed distinctive bacterial community clusters between the right and left colon, while no significant differences in beta diversity were observed in the on-tumour microbiota. The off-tumour microbiota showed the right colon to be enriched with species of the Lachnoclostridium, Selenomonas and Ruminococcus genera, whereas the left colon is enriched with Epsilonbacteraeota phylum, Campylobacteria class, and Pasteurellales and Campylobacterales orders. In contrast the on-tumour microbiota showed relatively fewer differences in bacterial taxonomy between tumour sites, with left tumours being enriched with Methylophilaceae and Vadin BE97 families and Alloprevotella, Intestinibacter, Romboutsia and Ruminococcus 2 genera. Comparison of paired on- and off-tumour microbiotas showed that patients with left-sided colorectal cancer had large taxonomic differences between their on- and off-tumour microbiota, while patients with right-sided colorectal cancer showed relatively fewer taxonomic differences.Conclusion The off-tumour microbiota is more diverse in the right compared to the left colon, showing distinct community clusters and large differences in bacterial taxonomy. In contrast the on-tumour microbiota shows no difference in bacterial diversity and relatively fewer differences in bacterial taxonomy. Collectively this suggests that the right and left colon show distinctive bacterial communities, however, the presence of a colonic tumour leads to a more consistent microbiota between locations. Trial registration number clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01701310).
Effects of Naloxone and Diazepam on Blood Glucose Levels in Tramadol Overdose using Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) Model; (An Experimental Study)
Authors: Nakhaee Samaneh , Farrokhfall Khadijeh , Miri-Moghaddam Ebrahim , Askari Masoumeh , Amirabadizadeh Alireza , Foadoddini Mohsen , Mehrpour Omid
Published: February 2021

Background:Tramadol poisoning is increasing around the world day by day. Tramadol is a synthetic opioid. Also, various treatments are applied for tramadol poisoning. Due to the unknown effects of tramadol poisoning and some of its treatments on blood glucose, this study was conducted to investigate the overdose of tramadol and its common treatments (naloxone, diazepam) and their combination on blood glucose in male rats. Methods: This study was conducted in 45 male Wistar rats. The animals were randomly divided into five groups of 9 rats. They received a 75 mg/kg dose of tramadol alone with naloxone, diazepam, and a combination of these two drugs. On the last day, animals' tail vein blood glucose levels (BGL) were measured using a glucometer at different times, including before the tramadol injection (baseline), one hour, three hours, and six hours after the tramadol injection. The rats were anesthetized and sacrificed 24 hours after the last injection. Blood samples were then taken, and the serum obtained was used to verify the fasting glucose concentration. Data were analyzed using SPSS software at a significance level of 0.05 using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and a generalized estimating equation (GEE).Results: According to the GEE model results, the diazepam and naloxone-diazepam groups showed blood glucose levels five units higher than the tramadol group (p <0.05). The diazepam group had significantly higher blood glucose levels than the naloxone group (p <0.05). The mean blood glucose levels before the intervention, three hours and six hours after the injection of tramadol did not differ between the groups, but the blood glucose levels one hour after the injection of tramadol in the group of naloxone were significantly lower than in the control group (p <0.05). Blood glucose levels did not differ between the groups 24 hours after injection of tramadol.Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that tramadol overdose does not affect blood glucose levels. Diazepam alone and in combination with naloxone caused an increase in blood glucose levels in the tramadol overdose.
Effect of an unifaceted and multifaceted intervention on antibiotic prescription control for respiratory diseases: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yue Chang , Cui Zhezhe , Yang Guanghong , He Xun , Wang Lei , Xin Zhang , Tang Lei
Published: February 2021

Background The global health system is improperly using antibiotics, particularly in the treatment of respiratory diseases. We aimed to examine the effectiveness of implementing an unifaceted and multifaceted intervention for unreasonable antibiotic prescriptions.
Methods Relevant literature published in the databases of Pubmed, Embase, Science Direct, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Chinese Journal Full-text (CNKI) and Wanfang was searched. Data were independently filtered and extracted by two reviewers based on a pre-designed inclusion and exclusion criteria. The Cochrane collaborative bias risk tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies.
Results A total of 1,074 relevant studies were obtained of which 69 were included in the systematic review. Fifty-nine studies reported positive results, that is, the primary results in the intervention groups were superior to those in the control groups. The remaining 10 studies had negative or partially negative results. In 22 studies the outcome variable was the antibiotic prescription rate with detailed reports of the number of prescriptions being further analyzed, of which 19 involved educational interventions for doctors, including: (1) Online training using email, web pages and webinar, (2) Antibiotic guidelines for information dissemination measures by email, postal or telephone reminder, (3) Training doctors in communication skills, (4) Short-term interactive educational seminars, and (5) Short-term field training sessions. Seventeen studies of interventions for health care workers also included: (6) Regular or irregular assessment/audit of antibiotic prescriptions, (7) Prescription recommendations from experts and peers delivered at a meeting or online, (8) Publicly reporting on doctors' antibiotic usage to patients, hospital administrators, and health authorities, (9) Monitoring/feedback prescribing behavior to general practices by email or poster, and (10) Studies involving patients and their families (n=10). Seventeen studies were rated as having a low risk of bias while five were rated as having a high risk of bias.
Conclusion The combination of education, prescription audit, prescription recommendations from experts, public reporting, prescription feedback and patient or family member multiple interventions can effectively reduce antibiotic prescription rates in health care institutions. Moreover, adding multiple interventions to educational interventions interventions can control antibiotic prescription rates and may be a more reasonable method.
Registrations: This systematic review was registered in PROSPERO, registration number: CRD42020192560.
Keywords: Randomized controlled trial, Respiratory diseases, Antibiotic prescriptions, Systematic evaluation
Jingsuiite, TiB2, a new mineral from the Cr-11 podiform chromitite orebody, Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet, China: Implications for recycling of boron
Authors: Xiong Fahui , Xu Xiangzhen , Mugnaioli Enrico , Gemmi Mauro , Wirth Richard , Grew Edward S. , Robinson Paul T.
Published: February 2021

The new mineral jingsuiite (TiB2, IMA-2018-117b), together with osbornite-khamrabaevite solid solution (TiN-TiC), deltalumite, and a potential new mineral, hexagonal Ti10(Si,P,☐)7, constitute four inclusions up to 50 μm across in corundum recovered from the Cr-11 podiform chromitite orebody near Kangjinla, Luobusa ophiolite, Tibet, China. EELS, EDS, and 3D electron diffraction were applied to study the phases. In one inclusion, jingsuiite forms a rounded grain 40 μm across. Associated osbornite-khamrabaevite solid solution forms an irregular mass up to 10 μm across having the composition Ti(N0.5C0.5) and the Ti10(Si,P,☐)7 phase forms an incomplete overgrowth up to 20 μm thick around the grain of jingsuiite. In a second inclusion, jingsuiite, osbornite-khamrabaevite solid solution, Ti10(Si,P,☐)7 and deltalumite form a lamellar intergrowth 100 μm long composed of tablets of the four phases up to 50 μm long × 4 μm in thickness. Jingsuiite has a primitive hexagonal cell with a = 3.04(6), b = 3.04(6), c = 3.22(6) Å, α = 90°, β = 90°, γ = 120°, V = 25.8 (9) Å3, space group P6/mmm, Z = 1. Its structure was determined ab initio and dynamically refined on the basis of three-dimensional electron diffraction data; it is equivalent to that of synthetic TiB2. Results of EELS analyses of jingsuiite in foil no. 5357 (N = 20) gave B 61.87(1.22), C 1.53 (1.26), Ti 36.62 (1.45) at% from which an empirical formula of Ti1.10(B1.86C0.05)Σ1.91 was calculated on the basis of 3 atoms. The ideal formula is TiB2. Our preferred scenario is that corundum with entrapped Ti-Si-P-Fe intermetallic melts was precipitated from basaltic magmas during exhumation following deep subduction. Enrichment of B in the melt pockets is attributed to the highly reducing conditions that led to the segregation of siderophile elements into intermetallic melts and to the siderophile behavior of B, thereby concentrating it in the intermetallic melts in preference to silicate melt. Experimental work on the Ti-Fe-Si system indicates that minerals enclosed in corundum grains such as Ti, FeTiSi2, and TiSi2 could have crystallized from alloy melts at the lowest T accessible on the liquidus, i.e., <1300 °C. The presence of TiB2 in four inclusions in the Cr-11 orebody suggests incorporation of crustal sediments in the ophiolite followed by deep subduction to the Transition Zone where qingsongite (cubic BN) is inferred to have crystallized and subsequently exhumed to shallower levels where hexagonal BN and jingsuiite presumably crystallized.
Peralkalinity in peraluminous granitic pegmatites. II. Evidence from experiments on carbonate formation in spodumene-bearing assemblages
Authors: Liu Yongchao , Schmidt Christian , Li Jiankang
Published: February 2021

Carbonate has often been identified in aqueous carbonic inclusions in spodumene-bearing and other pegmatites, but its origin remains unclear. Here, the conditions at which carbonate and hydrogen carbonate can be generated from spodumene, CO2 and H2O, were studied using a hydrothermal diamond-anvil cell (HDAC) and Raman spectroscopy. In all experiments, spodumene persisted in aqueous carbonic solution up to the maximum temperature (600 to 800 °C). Heating of hydrogen carbonate/oxalate solutions produced CO2- and HCO3−-rich peralkaline fluids, which resulted in strong corrosion of spodumene (and polylithionite-trilithionite) and, in one run, formation of zabuyelite [Li2(CO3)] crystals at low temperatures. The experiments indicate that the reaction of spodumene with CO2 and H2O requires a peralkaline fluid to proceed rapidly. In addition, they show that spodumene crystallizes upon the heating of quartz, muscovite, and aqueous lithium carbonate solution. We conclude that if the aqueous fluid was rich in alkali hydrogen carbonate, zabuyelite in fluid inclusions in pegmatites can form both via a subsolidus reaction of CO2-bearing fluid inclusion with the spodumene host or by trapping a peralkaline fluid early in the evolution of simple or complex pegmatites. The results of our experimental study strengthen the conclusion that, although counterintuitive, hydrogen carbonate-rich peralkaline fluids may be involved in the evolution of peraluminous granitic pegmatites, in which peralkaline minerals are normally absent or very rare.
A nagyszülők gyermekgondozási tevékenysége Magyarországon
Authors: Monostori Judit
Published: February 2021

A tanulmány az idősek egyik fontos szerepével, a nagyszülőséggel foglalkozik, ezen belül is a nagyszülők unokákra irányuló gondozási tevékenységével. Miközben a nagyszülőség és a nagyszülői transzferek az idősödéssel foglalkozó nemzetközi szakirodalom meghatározó részét képezik, addig a magyar szociológia és demográfia kutatásaiban mostanáig nagyon kis szerepet kaptak. Kutatásunkban egyrészt időbeli trendek, másrészt annak bemutatására törekszünk, hogy milyen ismérvek határozzák meg a nagyszülői támogatás gyakoriságát a nagyszülők és az unokák családja szemszögéből. Elemzésünk alapját az Életünk fordulópontjai című adatfelvétel 2004 és 2016 között lekérdezett hullámai adják. Ez alapján a nagyszülők gondozási tevékenységének kiterjedtségében mind a támogatást adók, mind a kapók oldalán jelentős társadalmi különbségeket találunk. Ez már abban is jelentkezik, hogy a társadalmi hierarchia különböző pontjain élő gyermekes családok eltérő nagyságú potenciális nagyszülői körrel rendelkeznek. Az alacsonyabb végzettségű „középső generációk” szüleinek halandósági mutatói kedvezőtlenebbek, mint a társadalmi hierarchia magasabb fokán élőké, így az, hogy ők kevésbé számíthatnak a nagyszülői segítségre, azzal is magyarázható, hogy sokuknál már nem élnek a nagyszülők. A nagyszülői támogatás kiterjedtsége az unokák családjainak típusai szerint is különbözik. A kétváltozós elemzések azt mutatják, hogy ha csak a háztartások közötti transzfereket nézzük, akkor az intakt családok több nagyszülői segítségre számíthatnak, mint a mozaikcsaládok vagy a gyermeküket egyedül nevelő szülők. Ugyanakkor a többváltozós elemzések azt jelzik, hogy a családtípusok szerinti differenciák mögött, nagyrészt a társadalmi struktúrában elfoglalt pozíció különbségei – vizsgálatunkban az iskolai végzettség szerinti különbségek – állnak. Az iskolai végzettséggel kontrolált hatás ugyanis némiképpen más eredményt mutat, nevezetesen azt, hogy az egyszülős családokhoz képest az intakt és a mozaik családok számíthatnak kisebb mértékű nagyszülői segítségre. Mindezekhez hozzá kell tenni, hogy az egyszülős családok körében a legmagasabb a nagyszülőkkel együtt élők aránya, így körükben a gondozási tevékenység nem feltétlenül háztartások közötti transzferként jelenik meg.
Capturing menstrual health and hygiene in national surveys: insights from performance monitoring and accountability 2020 resident enumerators in Niamey, Niger
Authors: Larson Elizabeth , Turke Shani , Miko Nana Hadiza , Oumarou Sani , Alzouma Souleymane , Rogers Ann , Schwab Kellogg J. , Hennegan Julie
Published: February 2021

Menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) is an emerging public health priority. To support policy and practice, large-scale surveys monitoring water, sanitation, and hygiene and reproductive health have started to incorporate MHH. Insights gained from these surveys are contingent on the quality of the measures used. Performance Monitoring and Accountability 2020 (PMA2020) was one of the first survey programs to include MHH. We undertook four focus group discussions with resident enumerators and one with their female supervisors following the 2018 PMA2020 survey in Niamey, Niger and synthesized their insights on the performance of the MHH measures used. Enumerators reported that questions about menstruation were well tolerated and most were understood conceptually. Discussions identified missing response options for the places used for MHH and suggest that enumerator training should include common brands of menstrual materials to ensure data quality. Further, current questions seeking to capture the privacy and safety of locations used for MHH require modification or more intensive training efforts to consistently capture these concepts. Enumerator perspectives on menstrual needs in Niger highlight topics missing from MHH monitoring. Attending to enumerator expertise has the capacity to strengthen future surveys directed toward understudied health and development challenges such as MHH.
Use of Phenytoin, Phenobarbital Carbamazepine, Levetiracetam Lamotrigine and Valproate in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Risk of Major Malformations, Dose-dependency, Monotherapy vs Polytherapy, Pharmacokinetics and Clinical Implications
Authors: Kaplan Yusuf Cem , Demir Omer
Published: February 2021

It is challenging to balance the fetal risks associated with the use of antiepileptic drugs
(AEDs) against maternal and fetal risks of seizure worsening, and therefore it is very important to
define and distinguish the possible risks entailed by different AEDs. This paper aims to undertake a
comprehensive review regarding the possible risks of four classical (phenytoin, carbamazepine,
phenobarbital, and valproate) and two newer (lamotrigine and levetiracetam) AEDs during pregnancy.
The review focuses on major and organ-specific malformations, dose-dependent risks, mono vs
polytherapy, and clinical pharmacokinetics. A discussion regarding the safety of AED use during
breastfeeding is also provided.
Skeletal Survey in Multiple Myeloma: Role of Imaging
Authors: Spinnato Paolo , Filonzi Giacomo , Conficoni Alberto , Facchini Giancarlo , Ponti Federico , Sambri Andrea , De Paolis Massimiliano , Cavo Michele , Salizzoni Eugenio , Nanni Cristina
Published: February 2021

:

Bone disease is the hallmark of multiple myeloma. Skeletal lesions are evaluated to
establish the diagnosis, to choose the therapies and also to assess the response to treatments. Due to
this, imaging procedures play a key role in the management of multiple myeloma.

:

For decades, conventional radiography has been the standard imaging modality. Subsequently, advances
in the treatment of multiple myeloma have increased the need for an accurate evaluation of
skeletal disease. The introduction of new high performant imaging tools, such as whole-body lowdose
computed tomography, different types of magnetic resonance imaging studies, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose
positron emission tomography, replaced the conventional radiography.

:

In this review, we analyze the diagnostic potentials, indications of use, and applications of the imaging
tools nowadays available.

:

Whole-body low-dose CT should be considered as the imaging modality of choice for the initial assessment
of multiple myeloma lytic bone lesions. MRI is the gold-standard for the detection of
bone marrow involvement, while PET/CT is the preferred technique in the assessment of response
to therapy. Both MRI and PET/CT are able to provide prognostic information.
Usefulness of Honey as an Adjunct in the Radiation Treatment for Head and Neck Cancer: Emphasis on Pharmacological and Mechanism/s of Actions
Authors: Baliga Manjeshwar S. , Rao Suresh , Hegde Sanath K. , Rao Pratima , Simon Paul , George Thomas , Venkatesh Ponemone , Baliga-Rao Manjeshwar P. , Thilakchand Karadka R.
Published: February 2021

Background:

In the treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC), ionizing radiation is an important modality in achieving curative objectives. However, the effective use of radiation is compromised by the side effects resulting from the damage to the adjacent normal tissue. Preclinical studies carried out in the recent past have shown that the age-old dietary agent honey, which also possesses myriad medicinal use, is beneficial for mitigating diverse radiation-induced side effects like mucositis, xerostomia, fatigue, weight loss and promoting healing of refractory wounds.

Objective:

The objective of this memoir is to review the beneficial effects of honey in mitigating radiation-induced side effects in HNC and to emphasize on the underlying mechanisms of action for inducing the beneficial effects.

Methods:

Two authors searched Google Scholar, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for publications up to December 2019 to assess the capability of honey for reducing the severity of radiation-induced ill effects in the treatment of HNC. Subsequently, the adjunct pharmacological effects and mechanism/s responsible were also searched for and appropriately used to substantiate the underlying mechanism/s of action for the beneficial effects.

Results:

The existing data is suggestive that honey is beneficial in mitigating the radiation-induced mucositis, xerostomia, amd healing of recalcitrant wounds in radiation-exposed regions, and that the multiple pathways mediate the beneficial effects, especially free radical scavenging, antioxidant, wound healing, anticancer, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anabolic, anti-fatigue and anti-anaemic effects that add additional value to the use of honey as an adjunct in cancer therapy.

Conclusion:

For the first time, this review addresses the underlying pharmacological related to the beneficial effects of honey in radiation-induced damage, and attempts at emphasizing the lacunae that need further studies for optimizing the use of honey as an adjunct in radiotherapy of HNC. The authors suggest that future studies should be directed at understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects using validated cell culture and animal models of study. Large multicentric clinical trials with standardised honey also needed to understand the clinical use of honey.
Surgical Field Isolation Through Rubber Dam to Prevent COVID-19 Exposure During Tooth Extraction: Case Report
Authors: Checchi Vittorio , Ragazzini Sara , Ragazzini Nicola
Published: February 2021

Background:

At the beginning of 2020, a new pathogen named SARS-CoV-2 spread from China to the globe, becoming responsible for a potentially lethal acute respiratory syndrome: COVID-19. Direct contact and airborne contamination are the most frequent infection ways of SARS-CoV-2. During routine dental practice, SARS-CoV-2 transmission can occur through direct contact with mucous membranes, oral fluids, and contaminated instruments or inhalation of aerosol from infected patients.

Introduction:

Tooth extraction often involves exposure to blood and oral fluids, and the use of a rubber dam could be indicated to minimize direct contact and to decrease the amount of potentially infected droplets around the operatory field. The aim of this clinical case is to show how the use of a rubber dam could help in preventing or minimizing COVID-19 exposure during dental extraction.

Materials and Methods:

A 32-year-old patient reported severe pain and discomfort to an upper first molar due to a deep carious lesion and vertical tooth fracture. Under local anaesthesia, a rubber dam was placed, isolating the whole upper right sextant, and an atraumatic extraction was performed.

Results:

All three roots were intact, the bone septum was stable, and no oro-antral communication was present. A gauze swab was placed onto the socket and compressed slightly. After 5 minutes, the socket stopped bleeding, and both clamp and rubber dam, were removed.

Conclusion:

Within the limits of this single case report, the use rubber dam prior to tooth extraction could be a useful device to decrease aerosol spread and exposure to blood.
Inhibitory Effects of Cathepsin K Inhibitor (ODN-MK-0822) on the Paracrine Pro-Osteoclast Factors of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Vashum Yaongamphi , Kottaiswamy Amuthavalli , Bupesh Giridharan , Singh Riya P. , Kalaiselvan Parkavi , Thiagarajan K. , Samuel Shila
Published: February 2021

Background:

Breast cancer (BC) produces bone resorptive cytokines and growth factors which accelerate the
development of osteoclasts (OCs), leading to osteolytic bone metastases. In the Long-term Odanacatib Fracture Trial
(LOFT), the skeletal-metastasized breast cancer subjects who received odanacatib (ODN) had a delayed tumour
progression and skeletal tumour burden as a result of anti-resorptive effects through inhibition of cathepsin K (CTSK). In
this study, we explored the effect of ODN, a CTSK inhibitor, on the paracrine pro-osteoclast activity of breast cancer
cells.

Methods:

Immunohistochemistry study was performed to demonstrate CTSK and PTHrP expression in the samples of
primary breast carcinoma. Expression of CTSK mRNA and protein was confirmed by the reverse transcription PCR and
western blotting analysis in two human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 BC cell lines. Cells were
incubated with sub-lethal amounts of ODN, and their conditioned supernatants were assessed for their capacity to
differentiate PBMCs of healthy donors into osteoclast and its interference on bone resorbing activities. We also measured
the mRNA levels of major pro-osteoclast (pro-OC) factors in ODN-treated breast cancer cells and their secreted levels by
semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR and protein expression by immunoblotting.

Results:

Different staining intensity was observed in samples containing PTHrP and CTSK in various histological grades
of breast carcinoma. Significant positive relationship was found between CTSK expression and histological grade of BC
and presence or absence of distant metastasis.The present study results also indicate that ODN has no effects on OCs
number , however; ODN decreases the mRNA expression of secreted pro-OC factors such as PTHrP, CXCR-4, and TNFα. Immuno blot indicates that ODN treatment decreased the protein expression of CTSK, IL-6, and IL-1β, and thus
lowered protein levels paralleled the defective phosphorylation of NF-κB. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in
the level of growth factors such as IGF-1, PDGF and TGFβ expression at transcriptional level after ODN treatment as
compared to control.

Conclusion:

ODN has shown to prevent osteolytic metastasis by interacting with the NF-κB pathway; inhibiting bone
resorptive cytokines, and growth factors. This effect can also be take into account the delayed development of metastatic
bone disease found in the long-term odanacatib fracture trial (LOFT) study.
Enhancement for Content Caching and Delivery with Energy Consumption Awareness in Wireless Networks
Authors: Ali Ahmed , Naguib Khaled M. , Mahmoud Korany R.
Published: February 2021

The advanced capabilities of smart mobile devices for mobile network users have led to
an explosive increase in the loads of networks, mainly driven by the increasing demand for multimedia
services. Content caching in users’ devices can potentially enhance both the quality of service
for mobile users and network performance. Upon users’ requests and their mobility models, a
network can perform proactive caching to reduce network congestion. Furthermore, implementing
an optimal caching method can increase the offloading probability, leading to an overall enhanced
performance of the network. In this paper, we present an enhanced energy-based content caching
and delivery approach for D2D assisted wireless networks. A cost problem is formulated for optimal
caching by considering two important constraints establishing D2D links: Signal-to-Noise Ratio
(SNR) and Energy Consumption (EC). An effective optimization algorithm, the Frequency
Searching Adaptive Bat Algorithm (FSABA), is used to enhance the cached and delivered content,
minimizing the total network cost. The system performance is analyzed and evaluated in terms of
total network gain, offloading probability and average transmission delay. To validate the proposed
enhancement caching approach, extended simulations are provided.
Application of Quantum Dots in Drug Delivery
Authors: Jain  N. Subham , Somanna Preethi , Patil Amit B.
Published: February 2021

Background:

The nanotechnology which has vast growth in the research field and the outcome product of nanotechnology is nanoparticles. Quantum dots with a size range of 2-10nm represents a new form in nanotechnology materials. It has showed widespread attention in recent years in the field of science and its application in drug delivery. Quantum dots are semiconductor nanocrystals which possess interesting properties and characteristics such as unique optical properties, quantum confinement effect and emit fluorescence on excitation with a light source which makes them a potential candidate for nano-probes and for carriers for biological application.

Objective:

The objective of the article is to explain the role and application of Quantum dots in drug delivery and its future application in pharmaceutical science and research. This review focuses on drug delivery through Quantum dots and Quantum dots helping nanocarriers for drug delivery. The development of QD nano-carriers for drugs has become a hotspot in the fields of nano-drug research. The Quantum Dot labelled nano-carrier can able to deliver the drugs with fewer side effects and it can able to trace the drug location in the body.

Results:

The Fluorescent emission of Quantum dots is better than other organic dyes which leads to better drug delivery for cancer or acting as a tag for other drug carriers.

Conclusion:

Because of emission property of Quantum Dots, it can be said used with other drug carriers and later it can be traced with the help of Quantum Dots. Quantum dots can be said as smart Drug delivery.