bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Simulation Study on Protective Coal Pillar Width on Floor Roadway
Authors: Wang Hui , Zheng Pengqiang , Li Nan , Zhan Yubao
Published: March 2021

Determination of reasonable protective coal pillar width has a great significance for the safety and stability of the coal seam working face and the surrounding structures and facilities. For studying the reasonable width of protective coal pillar, based on the platform of ABAQUS, program with the PYTHON language to make dynamic model which can simulate the dynamic changes of different width. Then the deformation law of floor roadway under different protection coal pillar width is analyzed. The finite element optimization analysis program is compiled based on MATLAB, and the minimum deformation of roadway and protective coal pillar is used as the optimization goal to make calculation for the dynamic model, and the reasonable width of protective coal pillar is proposed. Through the comparison between the simulation result and the field monitoring data, validity of the calculation result and rationality of the method are verified. The research results provide the reference for the setting of protective coal pillar for similar mining conditions.
One-year Effect of Wearing Orthokeratology Lenses on the Myopia Progression
Authors: Gao Bei , Xu Jing , Tang Guodong , QU Chenying , Du Dongxue , Song Jike , Bi Hongsheng
Published: March 2021

Background: To Investigate the efficacy of overnight orthokeratology (Ortho-k) for myopia control and the relationship between axial length (AL) changes and different baseline factors.Methods: This is a retrospective study of 675 myopic patients (Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of TCM) who received Ortho-k correction between August 2015 and July 2017. These subjects were followed up at least for 12 months. Genders, age, parental refractive status, manifest refractions, cycloplegic refractions, uncorrected and best-corrected visual acuities, power vector of astigmatism, corneal curvature, age at initiation of Ortho-k wear (year), intraocular pressuren (IOP), anterior chamber depth (ACD), pupil size (PL), corneal diameter (CD) and AL were obtained for analysis. Correlation and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to screen for the factors that can improve treatment outcome. Results: The baseline 675 patients’ AL of was 25.12±1.00 mm, and after 12 months of treatment, the AL was 25.30±0.94 mm, and the axial elongation was 0.18±0.22 mm. Univariate analysis of the right-eye independent variable of 675 patients showed a statistically significant association between age at initiation of Ortho-k wear, spherical equivalent refractive (SER), and changes in AL. Regression analysis results show that age at initiation of Ortho-k wear and SER are independent factors with effects on the treatment outcome.Conclusion: Ortho-k was effective in slowing myopia progression over a one-year follow-up period. Age at initiation of Ortho-k wear, and SER were found to be associated with increased change of AL during follow-up.
Paralytic Strabismus: A Review of 13 Years at Tertiary Care Center in Western Central India  
Authors: Shah Shreya , Shah Mehul A , Thorat Deeksha
Published: March 2021

Purpose: To describe the incidence, aetiologies and follow-up of patients with paralytic strabismus. Methods: This retrospective study included 193 strabismic patients with isolated III, IV or VI cranial nerve palsy, cases of the strabismus, from the Department of Ophthalmology of tertiary care center in western central India between January 2007 and December 2020. The present study analysed the injured cranial nerve, the affected eye, sex distribution, aetiology and follow-up. Results: About 5.7% of the cases were congenital, and 16.1% were in the paediatric age group. The VI cranial nerve was the most frequently affected (56.5%) in these cases. The incidence was higher in males (58.1%) than females. Trauma was the common cause of III (7.1%), IV (8.3%) and VI (50%) nerve palsy. The disease management modalities included surgical, medical and spontaneous resolution.Conclusions: The sixth cranial nerve was affected most frequently. However, the most common underlying cause was yet undetermined.
Nitrogen and Phosphorus Purification in Simulated Wastewater By Two Aquatic Plants
Authors: Xu Jianling , Liu Jiao , Hu Jiaqi , Wang Hanxi , Sheng Lianxi , Dong Xiaoliang , Jiang Xiaodan
Published: March 2021

Aquatic plants have attracted wide attention because of their low cost and high level of resource utilization. In order to study the effects of emergent and submerged plants on the purification of different concentrations of wastewater, two common aquatic plants found in Northeast China, Iris ensata Thunb. and Potamogeton malaianus Miq., were selected Under static conditions, nitrogen and phosphorus removal from simulated wastewater with different concentrations (high, medium and low) and lake samples of Nanhu Park, Changchun, Jilin Province, China, were studied. The results showed that the removal rate of total nitrogen (TN) in medium- and high-pollutant concentration water samples and total phosphorus (TP) in medium- and low-pollutant concentration water with I. ensata reached more than 75%. The removal rate of TN in the medium-pollutant concentration water with P. malaianus reached 71.4%, while the removal efficiency of TN and TP in the low-pollutant concentration water was higher than 80%. It is more advantageous to use plants to purify high-pollutant concentration water after further purification. The purification plants suitable for medium-pollutant concentration water are limited, but under low-pollutant concentration water conditions, there are more diverse options regarding the choice of wastewater purification plants. In the Nanhu lake samples, I. ensata had the highest removal rates of TN (80.38%), and TP (85.62%). This study shows that both I. ensata and P. malaianus can be used as aquatic plants to restore the water quality of urban lakes. A reasonable combination of different plants for addressing different pollutants is more beneficial to improve the purification effect. This research provides an important basis for the phytoremediation and treatment of urban domestic wastewater and urban surface water bodies in northern China.
Top-down fabrication of biodegradable multilayer tunicate cellulose films with controlled mechanical properties
Authors: Huang Da , Li Dong , Mo Kangwei , Xu Rui , Huang Yanan , Cui Yande , Zhang Qunchao , Chang Chunyu
Published: March 2021

Owing to non-degradable waste plastics caused serious environmental pollution, development of natural polymeric materials has become an important topic. Herein, multilayer tunicate cellulose films (MTCFs) were fabricated by a top-down approach, where the alkali treated mantles of tunicate were layer-by-layer hot-pressed. Strong hydrogen bonds that formed between tunicate cellulose layers resulted in good interfacial compatibility of multilayer films. The as-prepared MTCFs exhibited improved thermal stabilities, excellent mechanical properties, and good degradability in natural soil. This work provided a top-down approach for the preparation of biodegradable multilayer films as packaging materials.
Vitamin D status and risk factors among pregnancy of shanghai in China
Authors: yang chun , Wu Jing , Ge Sheng , Sun Wenguang
Published: March 2021

Background

This study was to assess vitamin D nutritional status and risk factors among pregnancy of shanghai in China.
Methods

A cross-sectional study conducted in the Sixth Affiliated People’s Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University. All pregnancy was measured for plasma vitamin D, total blood cholesterol (TCh), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, and completed OGTTs test. Age, height, and weight variables came from their electronic medical records. Criteria for vitamin D status were: <12 ng/ml: severe deficiency; 12–19 ng/ml: deficiency; 20–29 ng/ml: insufficiency; 30–50 ng/ml: normal; and > 50 ng/ml (particularly > 60 ng/ml): possibly leading to adverse effects. Vitamin D was measured from December 2016 to April 2017.
Results

Our study included 953 pregnant women. The mean vitamin D level of pregnancy was 16.06 (range 10.90 to 20.60) ng/ml,and severe vitamin D deficiency was 31.79%(303); vitamin D deficiency was 40.71 %(388); vitamin D insufficiency was 25.08%(239); normal vitamin D was 2.42%(23). Vitamin D deficiency risk factors were age over 30, parity over 2, overweight, obese, gestational diabetes mellitus, and hyperglycemia.
Conclusions

It is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency of Chinese pregnancy in shanghai. Aging more than 30 years, the parity of more than 2, overweight and obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus and hyperglycemia are risk factors for vitamin D deficiency. Public health strategies should focus on the population of pregnancy in shanghai in China.
Investigation and Disinfection of Environmental Microbes in Sports Fitness Center
Authors: Boonrattanakij Nonglak , Yomchinda Sirikorn , Lin Fang-Jia , Bellotindos Luzvisminda M. , Lu Ming-Chun
Published: March 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic shows that indoor air disinfection is extremely important. As early as 2012, Taiwan has released indoor air quality standards, and in 2017 announced the second batch of places that should meet indoor air quality standards including sports and fitness places. In this study, the indoor air quality was monitored in the indoor exercise and fitness center under normal operating conditions of air conditioning and ventilation as well as user flow. Chlorine dioxide and weak acid hypochlorite solutions, and water scrubbing were used to improve the quality of the indoor environment under different operating modes. This study investigated the air quality improvement in terms of bacteria and fungi contamination of the indoor exercise and fitness center under normal operating conditions including air conditioning, ventilation, and user flow. In addition, bacteria contamination and disinfection on sports equipment surface were also examined. Background bacteria and fungi densities in bioaerosols were in the range of 249 ± 65 to 812 ± 111 CFU/m3 and 226 ± 39 to 837 ± 838 CFU/m3 in the indoor air of the fitness center and 370 ± 86 to 953 ± 136 CFU/m3 and 465 ± 108 to 1,734 ± 580 CFU/m3 in the outdoor air, respectively. Chlorine dioxide and weak acid hypochlorous water aerosols could remove both bacteria and fungi much better than water scrubbing. Contact time of 15 minutes was sufficient to control both bacteria and fungi to comply with the official air quality standards. User density and carbon dioxide deteriorated both bacteria and fungi disinfection performance whereas temperature was only statistically significant on fungi disinfection. Other factors including relative humidity, airflow velocity, and particulate matters did not have any statistically significant effect on microbial inactivation. Handle of bicycle, dumbbell, and sit-up bench were found to be contaminated with bacteria and E. coli. Detected densities for bacteria and E. coli on the surface of these sport equipment were in the range of 390 ± 2 to 3,720 ± 736 CFU/cm2 and 550 ± 70 to 1,080 ± 114 CFU/cm2, respectively. Microbial densities detected largely depended on the number of users for each specific equipment. Chlorine dioxide and zinc oxide were noticeably better than weak acid hypochlorous water and commercial disinfectant in term of bacteria inactivation whereas all tested disinfectants had comparable effectiveness on E. coli disinfection. Targeted microorganisms were sufficiently inactivated within 2 minutes after the application of disinfectant.
Melatonin Reduces Inflammation in Intestinal Cells, Organoids and Explants
Authors: Zhang Xi , Yuan Xiao-qiang , Zhang Xu-ming
Published: March 2021

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic and recurrent diseases that often occur in young people and place a heavy burden on public health in both developed and developing countries. Melatonin has been confirmed to be useful in various diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, liver injuries and diseases, and cancers, while its role in IBDs remains unclear. To uncover the function of melatonin in IBDs, three intestinal models, including Caco-2 cells, 3D intestinal organoids and intestinal explants, were used. It was found that different concentrations of melatonin could significantly inhibit the expression levels of NFκB in Caco-2 cells, 3D intestinal organoids and intestinal explants. It was also found that melatonin could significantly inhibit the expression levels of NFκB downstream cytokines, including IL6 and IL8, in Caco-2 cells, 3D intestinal organoids and intestinal explants. Melatonin abolished the activation of LPS on the expression levels of NFκB, IL6, and IL8 in three intestinal models. Importantly, it was found that the function of melatonin in the regulation of inflammation was dependent on its receptor. Herein, the findings in this study might provide useful information for understanding the pathogenesis of IBDs and developing novel drugs to treat the diseases.
Time-varying Formation Dynamics Modeling and Constrained Trajectory Optimization of Multi-quadrotor UAVs
Authors: Li Xi , Qi Guoyuan , Zhang Limin
Published: March 2021

The formation of multiple quadrotor UAVs with long navigation will encounter many flight constraints, so it is necessary to change the formation to avoid these constraints. In this paper, Voronoi graph theory is used to treat UAVs formation as a rigid body. The rigid body structure can be changed by changing the formation before different constraints, after passing constraints the rigid body structure remains the formation unchanged or form into the prescribed formation. The time-varying model is established to facilitate the use of optimization. Based on Gauss pseudospectral method (GPM), the path optimization of a single quadrotor UAV is carried out. The followed UAVs in formation are treated as constraints. The constraints of maximum turning radius and formation transformation time of other UAVs are considered in the optimization process. The minimum time required for formation transformation is optimized to solve the transformation optimization, and the performance index of trajectory optimization is to minimize the energy consumed by the leader quadrotor UAV within the specified time. Finally, the simulation proves the method proposed in this paper.
Incubation Onset Influences Maternal Investment in Eggs and Egg and Nestling Survival in an Altricial Bird
Authors: Kato Takahiro , Matsui Shin , Kutsukake Nobuyuki , Dobashi Ryota , Ueda Keisuke
Published: March 2021

Many birds initiate incubation before clutch completion which results in asymmetric survival of eggs and nestlings within the clutch. When parents start incubating before clutch completion, low survival is expected of the nestlings hatched from eggs laid after the onset of incubation due to hatching asynchrony. Conversely, eggs laid before the onset of incubation may have a lower survival because of extrinsic factors (e.g. ambient temperature and microbial infection). Many studies investigating the allocation of parental investment have hypothesized two different strategies wherein parents allocate investment that favors eggs/nestlings with high survival prospects or compensates for the disadvantages of eggs/nestlings with low survival prospects. Although birds could take different strategies based on incubation onset within the same breeding attempt, this idea has never been tested. We conducted an observational study to investigate the effects of incubation onset on the survival of eggs laid before and after incubation onset and parental egg allocation in the altricial wryneck Jynx torquilla. We found that survival decreased in the eggs laid earlier or later than the day of incubation onset within the clutch. Because egg volume increased with laying sequence, egg volume and the survival of eggs laid before incubation onset were positively associated, whereas egg volume and the survival of eggs laid after incubation onset were negatively associated. Furthermore, late-hatching nestlings grew to similar weights to early-hatching nestlings. These suggest that females proportionately invested in egg size before incubation onset, but that investment in egg size after incubation onset was compensatory. Our observational study proposes a possibility that female wrynecks adopt two different investment strategies before and after incubation onset during a breeding attempt.
Effects of hyperglycemia on the TGF-β pathway in trabecular meshwork cells
Authors: Chen Hsin-Yi , Ko Mei-Lan , Chan Hong-Lin
Published: March 2021

Background: Hyperglycemia, which can lead to apoptosis, hypertrophy, and fibrosis, induces hyperinflammation through inflammasome activation. A major cause of diabetic vascular complications is increased oxidative stress due to hyperglycemia. In order to elucidate the potential dual roles and regulatory signal transduction of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in human trabecular meshwork cells (HTMCs) in vitro, we established an oxidative cell model in HTMCs using 5.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM D-glucose-supplemented media and characterized the TGF-β-related oxidative stress pathway. Methods: Further analysis was conducted to investigate oxidative damage and protein alterations in the trabecular meshwork caused by the signal transduction. This was done through a series of qualitative cell function studies, such as cell viability/apoptosis analysis, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection, analysis of calcium release concentration, immunoblot analysis to detect the related protein expression alteration, and analysis of cell fibrosis to study the effect of different severities of hyperglycemia. We also illustrated the role of TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 in oxidative stress-induced injury by shRNA-mediated knockdown or stimulation with recombinant human TGF-β1 protein (rhTGF-β1). Results: Results from the protein expression analysis showed that p-JNK, p-p38, p-AKT, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and related SMAD family members were upregulated in HTMCs under hyperglycemia. In the cell functional assays, HTMCs treated with rhTGFβ-1 (1 ng/mL) and under hyperglycemic conditions showed higher proliferation rates and lower ROS and calcium levels than those with higher concentration or without rhTGFβ-1 treated. Furthermore, TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 were found to be associated with the activation of fibrosis-response proteins, α-SMA, collagen I, and laminin, which may lead to HTMC damage. Conclusions: To summarize, mechanistic analyses in HTMCs showed that hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress activated TGF-β1 along with its associated pathway: at low concentrations, TGF-β1 protects cells from antioxidation, whereas at high concentrations, it accumulates in the extracellular matrix, causing further HTMC dysfunction.
Prediction of acute suicidal ideation in young adults using multi-dimensional scales: A graph neural network approach
Authors: Choi Kyu Sung , Kim Byung Hoon , Kim Sung Hwan , Jeon Hong Jin , Kim Jong-Hoon , Jang Joon Hwan , Jeong Bumseok
Published: March 2021

Precise remote evaluation of both suicide risk and psychiatric disorders is critical for suicide prevention as well as psychiatric well-being during COVID-19 crisis. Using questionnaires is an alternative to labour-intensive diagnostic interviews in a large general population, but previous models for predicting suicide attempts suffer from low sensitivity. We developed and validated a graph neural network model, MindWatchNet, which increased the prediction sensitivity of suicide risk in young adults (n = 17,482 for training; n = 14,238 for testing) using multi-dimensional questionnaires and suicidal ideation within 2 weeks as the prediction target. MindWatchNet achieved the highest sensitivity of 80.9% and an area under curve of 0.877 (95% confidence interval, 0.854–0.897). We demonstrated that multi-dimensional deep features covering depression, anxiety, resilience, self-esteem, and clinico-demographic information contribute to SI prediction. MindWatchNet might be useful in the remote evaluation of suicide risk in the general population of young adults for specific situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Efficacy and Safety of Bumetanide in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Mehrabi Soraya , Sedighi Mohsen , Ashtiani Bahram Haghi , Afrakhteh Motahareh , Shahriari Elahe , Habibi Seyed Amirhassan , Pourhamzeh Mahsa , Susanabadi Alireza , Soleimani Mansoureh , Joghataei Mohammad Taghi
Published: March 2021

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease characterized by the terminal degenerative disease of the motor units. This clinical trial was aimed to investigate the modulatory effect of bumetanide on physiological symptoms of ALS patients.Methods: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in which ALS patients were randomized 1:1 to receive bumetanide (2 mg daily) or matching placebo group for up to 4 months. Motor Unit Number Index (MUNIX), motor unit size index (MUSIX), and ALS Functional Rating Scale, revised (ALSFRS-R) was assessed before and after treatment as following bumetanide treatment.Results: 18 patients were allocated to bumetanide and 18 to the placebo group. In final analysis, 16 patients in bumetanide and 15 patients in the placebo group completed the trial. Patients in the placebo group showed a significant decrease in MUNIX value for all examined muscles after treatment, while MUNIX value for trapezius in bumetanide group increased significantly (p˂0.05). MUZIX value for tibialis anterior and trapezius (p˂0.05) improved significantly after bumetanide administration, whereas trapezius (p˂0.05) and abductor pollicis brevis (p˂0.01) in the placebo group showed a significantly decreased value. ALSFRS-R score decreased significantly in the placebo group after treatment (p˂0.001), but ALSFRS-R in bumetanide group improved significantly (p˂0.05). Three adverse effects (polyuria, vertigo, orthostatic hypotension) in bumetanide group were judged to be related to bumetanide.Conclusion: Bumetanide treatment might be effective in modulation of ALS symptoms possibly due to the hyperpolarization of GABA actions and mitigation of cortical hyperexcitability.
Factors Associated With Willingness to Use Oral Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) Among Fishing Communities in Peri-urban Kampala, Uganda
Authors: Ssuna Bashir , Katahoire Anne , Armstrong-Hough Mari , Kalibbala Dennis , Kalyango Joan N , Kiweewa Flavia Matovu
Published: March 2021

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in key populations at elevated risk for exposure to HIV. If used effectively, PrEP can reduce annual HIV incidence to below 0.05%. However, PrEP is not acceptable among all communities that might benefit from it. There is, therefore, a need to understand perceptions of PrEP and factors associated with willingness to use PrEP among key populations at risk of HIV, such as members of communities with exceptionally high HIV prevalence. Objective: To examine the perceptions and factors associated with willingness to use oral PrEP among members of fishing communities in Uganda, a key population at risk of HIV. Methods: We conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study at Ggaba fishing community from February to June 2019. Survey data were collected from a systematic random sample of 283 community members. We carried out bivariate tests of association of willingness to use PrEP with demographic characteristics, HIV risk perception, HIV testing history. We estimated prevalence ratios for willingness to use PrEP. We used backward elimination to build a multivariable modified Poisson regression model to describe factors associated with willingness to use PrEP. We purposively selected 16 participants for focus group discussions to contextualize survey findings, analysing data inductively and identifying emergent themes related to perceptions of PrEP. Key results: We enrolled 283 participants with a mean age of 31±8 years. Most (80.9%) were male. The majority of participants had tested for HIV in their lifetime, but 64% had not tested in the past 6 months. Self-reported HIV prevalence was 6.4%. Most (80.6%, 95%CI 75.5-85.0) were willing in principle to use PrEP. Willingness to use PrEP was associated with perceiving oneself to be at high risk of HIV (aPR 1.99, 95%CI 1.31-3.02, P= 0.001), having tested for HIV in the past 6-months (aPR 1.13, 95%CI 1.03-1.24, P=0.007), and completion of tertiary education (aPR 1.97, 95%CI 1.39-2.81, P<0.001). In focus group discussions, participants described pill burden, side-effects, drug safety, and accessibility as potential barriers to PrEP use. Conclusions and recommendations: Oral PrEP was widely acceptable among members of fishing communities in peri-urban Kampala. Programs for scaling-up PrEP for fisherfolk should merge HIV testing services with sensitization about PrEP and also address issues of access to drugs.
Management of Colorectal Cancer Patients During The COVID-19 Pandemic: Triage and Treatment
Authors: Xiang Pengcheng , Han Junyi , Leung Tiffany I. , Maria Naomi I. , Tang jie , Li Pengju , Qu shaohua , Biskup Ewelina
Published: March 2021

Background

The outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)cause significant difficulties to the treatment of oncological patients, including colorectal cancer(CRC) patients. Establishing new manage strategies and emergency triage system is urgent.
Methods

We collected the outpatients, inpatients and surgeries number and COVID-19 nucleic acid test results of Shanghai East Hospital from December 2019 to January 2020, and the changes during this period were analyzed.
Result

The number of outpatients, inpatients and surgeries all decreased significantly. Not a single case of COVID-19 infection occurred in Shanghai East Hospital in this period. The triage system and management strategy are shared here.
Conclusion

Our triage strategy can help reduce the infection rate of COVID-19 in hospital, and the management strategies of CRC can be used as a reference for clinicians.
The Brain Is Globally Symmetric: An Analysis of Intra and Interhemispheric Symmetry of Subcortical Structures in the Aging Human Brain
Authors: Ramirez Jaime Gomez , González-Rosa Javier J
Published: March 2021

Here we address the hemispheric interdependency of subcortical structures in the aging human brain. In particular, we investigate whether volume variation can be explained with the adjacency of structures in the same hemisphere or is due to the interhemispheric development of mirror subcortical structures in the brain. Seven subcortical structures in both hemispheres were automatically segmented in a large sample of over three 3,312 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of elderly individuals in their 70s and 80s. We perform Eigenvalue analysis to find that anatomic volumes in the limbic system and basal ganglia show similar statistical dependency when considered in the same hemisphere (intrahemispheric) or in different hemispheres (interhemispheric). Our results indicate that anatomic bilaterality is preserved in the aging human brain, supporting the hypothesis that coupling between non-adjacent brain areas could act as a mechanism to compensate for the deleterious effects of aging.
Increased RV:LV Ratio on Chest CT-Angiogram in COVID-19 is a Marker of Adverse Outcomes
Authors: Tao Ran , Burivalova Zuzana , Masri Sofia Carolina , Dharmavaram Naga , Baber Aurangzeb , Deano Roderick , Hess Timothy , Dhingra Ravi , Runo James , Jarjour Nizar , Vanderpool Rebecca R , Chesler Naomi , Kusmirek Joanna E , Eldridge Marlowe , Francois Christopher , Raza Farhan
Published: March 2021

PurposeOur study aimed to use chest CT-angiogram (CTA) to assess if right ventricular (RV) dilation, quantified as an increased RV:LV (left ventricle) ratio, is associated with adverse outcomes in the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.MethodsWe reviewed clinical, laboratory, and chest CTA findings in COVID-19 patients (n=100), and two control groups: normal subjects (n=10) and subjects with organizing pneumonia (n=10). On a chest CTA, we measured basal dimensions of the RV and LV in a focused 4-chamber view; and dimensions of pulmonary artery (PA) and aorta (AO) at the PA bifurcation level. ResultsAmong the COVID-19 cohort, the mean age (±SD) was 55.1±14.9 years and 55% were female. A higher RV:LV ratio was correlated with adverse outcomes, defined as ICU admission, intubation, or death. In patients with adverse outcomes, the RV:LV ratio was 1.06±0.10, vs 0.95±0.15 in patients without adverse outcomes. Among the adverse outcomes group, compared to the control subjects with organizing pneumonia, the lung parenchymal damage was lower (22.6±9.0 vs 32.7±6.6), yet the RV:LV ratio was higher (1.06±0.14 vs 0.89±0.07). In ROC analysis, RV:LV ratio had an AUC= 0.707 with an optimal cut-off of RV:LV 1.1 as a predictor of adverse outcomes. In a validation cohort (n=25), an RV:LV ≥1.1 as a cut-off predicted adverse outcomes with an odds ratio of 76:1.ConclusionIn COVID-19 patients, RV:LV ratio ≥1.1 on CTA-chest is correlated with adverse outcomes. RV dilation in COVID-19 is out of proportion to parenchymal lung damage, pointing towards a vascular and/or thrombotic injury in the lungs.
Brain-Derived Neurotropic Factor (BDNF) Mediates the Protective Effect of L.Cucurbita Pepo on Salivary Glands of Depressed Rat Evident by Structural, Biochemical and Molecular Study
Authors: ALmohaimeed Hailah M. , Albadawi Emad A. , Mohammedsaleh Zuhair M. , Alghabban Hadel M. , Seleem Hanan S. , Ramadan Osama I. , Ayuob Nasra
Published: March 2021

BackgroundAcute and chronic stresses affect the salivary glands which are the source of plasma BDNF during stressful conditions. Pumpkin is a medicinal plant with an evident antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and potential antidepressant effects. This work was conducted to assess the impact of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) on the structure of albino rats’ salivary glands and evaluate the role of pumpkin extract (Pump) in ameliorating this effect. MethodsFour groups (n=10 each) of male albino rats included in this study; the control, CUMS, CUMS+ﬂuoxetine and (CUMS+Pump). Corticosterone, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α & IL-6) and the oxidant/antioxidant profile were all assessed in the serum. BDNF mRNA level was measured in the salivary glands using qRT-PCR. Histopathological changes of the salivary glands were also assessed. ResultsDepression was confirmed behaviorally and biochemically. Exposure to CUMS significantly (p< 0.001) up-regulated the level of serum corticosterone. CUMS induced degenerative changes in the secretory and ductal system, atrophy of acini and increased apoptosis of the acinar and ductal cells. Both fluoxetine and Pump significantly up-regulated (p<0.001) BDNF expression in the salivary glands and ameliorated the CUMS-induced histopathological alterations in the salivary glands. Pumpkin significantly (p<0.001) increased the serum levels of antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX and CAT and reduced the serum levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6.ConclusionPumpkin ameliorates chronic stress-induced depression in rats by exerting a promising anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-depressant-like effects in rats exposed to CUMS. Pump subsequently improved stress-induced structural changes in the salivary glands that might be due to the glands up-regulation of BDNF expression.Trial registrationNot applicable.
Neighborhood income inequality and alcohol use among adolescents in Boston, Massachusetts
Authors: Pabayo Roman , Cook Daniel M. , Farmer Gregory , Molnar Beth E.
Published: March 2021

Background
Previous research has indicated that area-level income inequality is associated with increased risk in alcohol consumption. However, few studies have been conducted among adolescents living within smaller area-units, such as neighborhoods.
Methods
We analyzed cross-sectional data from a sample of 1,878 adolescents living in 38 neighborhoods participating in the 2008 Boston Youth Survey. Multilevel logistic regression modeling was used to determine the role of neighborhood income inequality and the odds for alcohol consumption and to determine if social cohesion and depressive symptoms were mediators.
Results
In comparison to the first tertile of income inequality, or the most equal neighborhood, those living in the second tertile (AOR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.89, 1.61) and third tertile (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.06, 1.96) were more likely to have consumed alcohol in the last 30 days. Social cohesion and depressive symptoms were not observed to mediate this relationship.
Conclusions
Findings indicate that the distribution of incomes within urban areas may be related to alcohol consumption among adolescents. To prevent alcohol consumption, public health practitioners should prioritize prevention efforts for adolescents living in neighborhoods with large gaps between rich and poor.
External Validation of the 4C Mortality Score among COVID-19 Patients Visiting the Emergency Department or admitted to Hospital in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Jones Aaron , Pitre Tyler , Junek Mats , Kapralik Jessica , Patel Rina , Feng Edward , Dawson Laura , Tsang Jennifer , Duong MyLinh , Ho Terence , Beauchamp Marla , Costa Andrew , Kruisselbrink Rebecca
Published: March 2021

Objectives: Risk prediction scores are important tools to support clinical decision-making for patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The objective of this paper was to validate the 4C mortality score, originally developed in the United Kingdom, for a Canadian population. Methods: We conducted an external validation study within a registry of COVID-19 positive emergency department visits and hospital admissions in the Kitchener-Waterloo and Hamilton regions of southern Ontario between March 4 and January 9, 2020. We examined the validity of the 4C score to prognosticate in-hospital mortality using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) with 95% confidence intervals calculated via bootstrapping. Results: The study included 560 individuals, of whom 115 (20.5%) died in-hospital. Median age was 69 years and 281 individuals (51%) were male. The AUC of the 4C score was 0.83, 95% confidence interval 0.79-0.87. Mortality rates across the pre-defined risk groups were 0% (Low), 3.2% (Intermediate), 25.9% (High), and 59.5% (Very High). The AUC was 0.80 (0.76-0.85) among hospital inpatients. Interpretation: The 4C score is a valid tool to prognosticate mortality from COVID-19 in Canadian emergency departments and hospitals.
Widely Flatness Gain Bandwidth with Double Pass Parallel Hybrid Fiber Amplifier
Authors: Gurkaynak Irfan Alp , Al-Mashhadani Mohammed Kamil Salh , Ali Mudhafar Hussein , Al-Mashhadani Thamer Fahad , Gunduz Abdullah Erkam , Yucel Murat , Goktas Halim Haldun
Published: March 2021

A Widely flatness gain bandwidth with double pass parallel hybrid fiber amplifier is experimentally demonstrated in this study. The proposed design combines serial erbium–Raman fiber amplifier in one branch and Raman fiber amplifier in the second branch. Multiple Raman pump units with a maximum power of 800 mW (250 mW of 1410 nm, 225 mW of 1480 nm, and 325 mW of 1495 nm) are utilized. Pump recycling technique is applied to achieve acceptable pumping efficiency. A maximum flatness gain bandwidth of 80 nm (1525–1605 nm) and average gain level of 22.5 dB are obtained at a small input signal power of -25 dBm and optimum pump power values. By comparison, a wider flatness gain of 90 nm (1520–1610 nm) and average gain level of 11.5 dB are achieved at a large input signal power of -5 dBm.
α-Cellulose-Based Films: Effect of Sodium Lignosulfonate (SLS) Incorporation on Physicochemical and Antibacterial Performance
Authors: Lu Xinyu , Que Han , Guo Haoquan , Ding Chenrong , Liu Xu , Qin Yu , Robin Hossain Mahmud , Xu Chaozhong , GU Xiaoli
Published: March 2021

A homogeneous α-cellulose film was prepared by regeneration method from ZnCl2/CaCl2/cellulose mixed system and was further combined with sodium lignosulfonate (SLS) by crosslinking through interaction hydrogen bonds and “bridge linkages”. The physicochemical and antibacterial performance of films were all investigated and results showed that modified films exhibited stronger tensile strength, higher thermal stability, lower hydrophilic effect, better UV shielding as compared with those of pure cellulose film, and especially, better antibacterial ability derived from the presence of phenolic and sulfonate groups in SLS. This study proposed a simple and sustainable method for fabricating a multifunctional and environmentally friendly composite film by using two main lignocellulose resources as raw materials.
Preparation nanoparticles of β-cyclodextrin loaded Scutellarein anti-tumor activity research by targeting integrin αvβ3
Authors: WANG JUNDONG , LI TIANHAO , YUE CHAOCHI , ZHONG SEN , YANG XIANGDONG , LI JUN , LI YUANZHI
Published: March 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Site-Selective Allylic C-H Amination with Aliphatic Amines
Authors: Wang Shengchun , Gao Yiming , Ren Demin , Sun He , Niu Linbin , Yang Dali , Zhang Dongchao , Liang Xing-An , Shi Renyi , Zhang Heng , Qi Xiaotian , Lei Aiwen
Published: March 2021

The direct coupling of olefins and alkyl amines represents the most efficient and atom-economical approach to prepare aliphatic allylamines which are fundamental building blocks. However, the method that achieves this goal while exhibiting exquisite control over the site at which the amine is introduced remains elusive. Herein, we report that the combination of a photocatalyst and a cobaloxime enables site-selective allylic C–H amination of olefins with secondary alkyl amines to afford allylic amines, eliminating the need for oxidants. This reaction proceeds by a radical-based mechanism distinct from those of existing allylic amination reactions. It affords the product resulting from cleavage of the stronger, primary allylic C–H bonds over other weaker allylic C–H bond options. DFT calculations reveal that this selectivity originates from a cobaloxime-promoted hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) process. Our method is compatible with a broad scope of alkenes, and can be extended to achieve a site- and diastereoselective amination of natural terpenes.
Demographic profile of patients and Geospatial mapping in Palliative Care: A hospital based study from Eastern part of India
Authors: Rani Rita , Singh Usha , Trivedi Vinita , Chauhan Richa , Mishra Mukul , Sinha Rajani
Published: March 2021

Background: With the rising burden of cancer in India, there is a huge need to start and expand Palliative care (PC) services in different parts of the country. understanding the demographic profile of the Palliative care patients will help in customising the PC services. Aim of the study was to look into demographic details of the patients and to do Geospatial mapping of the patients referred for PC.Methods: Data was extracted from patient’s case records referred to PC OPD was put into Excel sheet analysed statistically along with Geospatial mapping.Results: Among a total of 1084 patients, 54.9% were men and about 24.2% were women. Maximum number of patients were in 4th decade of their life, relatively younger population. About 57% were poor and 47.1% were illiterate. About 37.2% were head and neck cancer patients with pain as the most commonly reported symptom among all patients. Bony metastasis was most common and majority of the patients belonged to Patna District of Bihar.Conclusions: This study of demographic patterns of patient and geospatial mapping will help in sensitising towards PC and establishing better PC services and policy making in different parts of the country.
Clinical Utilization of Point-of-care Ultrasound After Training: A Prospective Study
Authors: Lien Wan-Ching , Chang Chih-Heng , Chong Kah-Meng , Wu Meng-Che , Wu Cheng-Yi , Wang Hsiu-Po
Published: March 2021

Background: This study aimed to investigate the clinical utilization of PoCUS of the first post-graduate year residents after a PoCUS curriculum. Methods: It was conducted at the emergency department of the National Taiwan University Hospital between July 2015 and October 2017. Every resident had one-month ED training and a curriculum was implemented during the first week. The post-training objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) global ratings were obtained, as well as the sonographic examinations by the residents. The participants were categorized into 4 groups: group 1 performed PoCUS before and after the curriculum; group 2 performed only after the curriculum; group 3 performed only before the curriculum; the last did not perform any examinations. Results: Two hundred and thirty-nine residents participated. The median global rating was 4 (interquartile ranges, 4-5). A significantly increasing number of residents integrated PoCUS into patient care (64 vs. 170, p=0.037) with acceptable image quality after the curriculum. Nearly 30% of residents did not use PoCUS although no differences existed in the OSCE global ratings. Group 1 performed more cases with better image quality and using ≥2 ultrasound applications (8/100 vs. 82/359, p=0.0009) after the curriculum. Group 1 performed more cases with better image quality than group 2 after the curriculum. In groups 3 and 4, “no suitable cases” (25/69), and “choosing other imaging priorities” (43/69) were the main feedbacks for not performing PoCUS. Conclusions: A focused training had a substantial positive impact on the utilization of PoCUS of the residents. The global ratings could not predict whether to integrate PoCUS into clinical practice. Further studies would be needed for the sustained effects of the curriculum and how to encourage these residents in groups 3 and 4 to use PoCUS.Clinical trial registration: NCT03738033.
Silicon-Rich Soil Amendments Impact Microbial Community Composition and The Composition of Arsm Bearing Microbes
Authors: Dykes Gretchen E. , Limmer Matt A. , Seyfferth Angelia L
Published: March 2021

Purpose: Arsenic (As) cycling in flooded rice paddies is driven by soil microbes which among other transformations can cause conversion between inorganic and organic As species. Silicon (Si)-rich soil amendments cause increased methylated As species, particularly DMA, in grain likely because they influence the microbial community responsible for As methylation, but the mechanism remains unclear. Methods: To investigate how Si-rich amendments influenced the microbial community, we sequenced the 16S rRNA and arsM genes from rhizosphere soil collected at grain ripening from unamended rice paddy mesocosms or those amended with Si-rich rice husk, charred husk, or calcium silicate, and paired these data with geochemistry and As speciation in grain. Results: We found that Si-amendments influenced the 16S and arsM community composition. Increased C storage from calcium silicate amendment drove differences in the 16S community, whereas low redox from husk amendments drove differences in the arsM community. High grain DMA was not associated with treatment or microbial community, but with low redox.Conclusions: Differences in grain As were observed independent of amendments, and did not correspond to differences in either the 16S or arsM community. Instead, methane flux and redox correlated with differences in grain DMA, implying that methanogen activity and redox are more important factors than community composition in determining grain As speciation. Silicon amendments did not impact grain As, but impacted the microbial community composition, and the subset of arsM-bearing organisms. These findings imply that redox, porewater As, and methanogen activity are likely more important factors than arsM or overall microbial community composition in determining grain DMA levels.
Characterization and Expression Analysis of Extradiol and Intradiol Dioxygenase of Phenol Degradation Haloalkaliphilic Bacterial Isolates
Authors: Abbas Naser , Elsayed Afaf , Hassan Hamdy , El-Sabbagh Sabha , Khalil Hany
Published: March 2021

Haloaklophilic bacteria have a potential advantage as a bioremediation organism for high pH oil polluted and industrial wastewater. In the current study, Haloalkaliphilic isolates were obtained from Hamralake, Wadi EL-Natrun, Egypt. The phenotypic features, biochemical characters, and 16S rRNA sequence comparison were used to identify the bacterial isolates including Halomonas HA1 and Marinobacter HA2. These strains showed high requirement of NaCl for growth specially HA1 strain that essentially required NaCl for its growth. The isolates are capable of degrading phenol at optimal pH values between 8 and 9 with the ability to grow in levels of pH up to 11, like what was seen in Halomonas HA1 strain. Both isolates represent two different mechanistic pathways for phenol degradation. Halomonas HA1 exploits the 1,2 phenol meta cleavage pathway while Marinobacter HA2 using the 2,3 ortho cleavage pathway indicated by universal primer sets for 1,2 and 2,3 CTD genes. Phenol degradation showed a comparable pattern between both isolates, while Marinobacter HA2 isolate can eliminate the added phenol within an incubation period of 72 h, The Halomonas HA1isolate required 96 h to degrade 84% of the same amount of phenol. The phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequence of 1,2 CTD (catechol dioxygenase) of Halomonas HA1showed an evolutionary relationship between 1,2 dioxygenases of both Halomonadaceae and Pseudomonadaceae while 2,3 CTD of Marinobacter HA2 shared the main domains of the closely related species. Semi-quantitative RT PCR analysis proved the constitutive expression pattern of both dioxygenase genes.
Enhancing QoE based on Machine Learning in Cloud infrastructure
Authors: Louati Fatma , Jouini Oumayma , sethom kaouthar
Published: March 2021

The cloud computing paradigm has recently attracted many industries and academic attention. It provides network access on demand and offers applications, platforms, or access to a shared pool of hardware and software resources. For traditional deployment, the user reserves the most required resources. However, this system does not guarantee an optimal use of resources and is not profitable for users. The characteristic feature of the elasticity of the cloud Computing gives the Cloud the ability to perform an automatic up / down scale resources proportional to demand. However, classical deployment only considers the use of resources based on alarm, and does not consider the quality perceived by the end user. The aim of this paper is to set up a private IAAS Cloud infrastructure and complete it by supervision tools so we could optimize the management of the cloud elasticity based on users’ point of view or QoE. We have also used a Machine learning algorithm to predict the load charge of the physical machines of the cloud so that providers could manage efficiently their data centers.