bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial activity of mono- and polynuclear platinum and palladium complexes
Authors: Salishcheva Olesya , Prosekov Alexander
Published: September 2020

Introduction. Infectious diseases remain a serious threat to humanity worldwide as bacterial pathogens grow more diverse. Bacteria, fungi, and parasites develop resistance to clinically approved antimicrobials, which reduces the efficacy of available drugs and treatment measures. As a result, there is an ever growing demand for new highly effective pharmaceuticals. This review describes mono- and polynuclear platinum and palladium complexes with antimicrobial properties. We compared several groups of antibacterial agents: antibiotics, antioxidant biologically active substances, antimicrobial nanoparticles, nanocomposite materials, biopolymers, micellar systems, and plant extracts.

Study objects and methods. The review covered relevant articles published in Web of Science, Scopus, and Russian Science Citation Index for the last decade. The list of descriptors included such terms as mononuclear and binuclear complexes of platinum, palladium, and antimicrobial activity.

Results and discussion. Chelates of platinum, palladium, silver, iridium, rhodium, ruthenium, cobalt, and nickel are popular therapeutic agents. Their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms can be enhanced by increasing their bioavailability. Metalbased drugs facilitate the transport of organic ligands towards the bacterial cell. The nature of the ligand and its coordination change the thermodynamic stability, kinetic lability, and lipophilic properties of the complex, as well as the reactivity of the central atom. Polynuclear platinum and palladium complexes contain two or more bound metal (coordinate) centers. Covalent bonding with bacterial DNA enables them to form a type of DNA adducts, which is completely different from that of mononuclear complexes.

Conclusion. Metal-based drugs with functional monodentate ligands exhibit a greater antimicrobial effect compared to free ligands. Poly- and heteronuclear complexes can increase the number of active centers that block the action of bacterial cells. When combined with other antibacterial agents, they provide a synergistic effect, which makes them a promising subject of further research.
Spatial runoff updating based on the hydrologic system differential response for flood forecasting
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqin , Bao Weimin , Yuan Fei
Published: September 2020

Runoff controls water volume in the rainfall–runoff process and plays a dominant role in flood forecasting. This study proposes a spatial runoff updating approach based on the hydrologic system differential response (HSDR). The first-order partial derivative is employed to express the hydrologic response to runoff change. A stepwise approximation for the HSDR is suggested to reduce the effect of linearization of the nonlinear hydrologic system. The regularized least square algorithm is used to calculate the estimated errors of runoff. The HSDRs for spatial distributed runoff (SDR) updating and areal mean runoff (AMR) updating are examined to correct the predictions of the Xinanjiang model in two basins in China. The case results show that the HSDR for runoff updating can improve flood predictions; the HSDR with stepwise approximation outperforms that without it; the HSDR_SDR performs better than the HSDR_AMR; and with increasing lead time, the HSDR method exhibits more stable performance than the autoregressive (AR) technique on streamflow correction. The proposed HSDR_SDR method can decompose the information of residuals between observations and calculations to update spatial runoff through the response matrix for each sub-basin. With simple structure and stable performance, the HSDR_SDR is convenient and effective for real-time flood forecasting.
Septage composition and pollution fluxes from cesspits in Palestine
Authors: Amous Belal , Mahmoud Nidal , van der Steen Peter , Lens Piet N. L.
Published: September 2020

The cesspit septage quality and pollution loads of total nitrogen (TN) and heavy metals (HMs) from 50 cesspits were assessed during various filling periods. The average specific wastewater production, emptied septage and infiltrated septage were 49, 30 and 19 L/c d, respectively. The TN specific loads of septage fractions that were emptied and infiltrated were 8.5 and 3.3 g/c d, respectively. The concentrations of HMs (mg/L) in the septage were Cu (0.24), Ni (0.03), Pb (0.01), Mn (0.47), Fe (12.6), Cr (0.04) and Zn (1.23). The septage content of Cu, Mn and Fe did not comply with the Palestinian regulations for wadi disposal nor effluent reuse in agriculture. The specific TN infiltration from cesspits amounts to 29 kg TN/ha y. There was no relation between the HM and TN content of septage and the desludging frequency. The infiltrated septage contributed to as much as 15% of the total groundwater recharge in the study area. This study confirms that cesspits in Palestine should be replaced with proper wastewater management systems for adequate environmental protection.
Assessment of rice yield gap under a changing climate in India
Authors: Debnath Subhankar , Mishra Ashok , Mailapalli D. R. , Raghuwanshi N. S. , Sridhar V.
Published: September 2020

Climate change evokes future food security concerns and needs for sustainable intensification of agriculture. The explicit knowledge about crop yield gap at country level may help in identifying management strategies for sustainable agricultural production to meet future food demand. In this study, we assessed the rice yield gap under projected climate change scenario in India at 0.25° × 0.25° spatial resolution by using the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model. The simulated spatial yield results show that mean actual yield under rainfed conditions (Ya) will reduce from 2.13 t/ha in historical period 1981–2005 to 1.67 t/ha during the 2030s (2016–2040) and 2040s (2026–2050), respectively, under the RCP 8.5 scenario. On the other hand, mean rainfed yield gap shows no change (≈1.49 t/ha) in the future. Temporal analysis of yield indicates that Ya is expected to decrease in the considerably large portion of the study area (30–60%) under expected future climate conditions. As a result, yield gap is expected to either stagnate or increase in 50.6 and 48.7% of the study area during the two future periods, respectively. The research outcome indicates the need for identifying plausible best management strategies to reduce the yield gap under expected future climate conditions for sustainable rice production in India.
Sustainable operation mode of a sand filter in a drip irrigation system using Yellow River water in an arid area
Authors: Jiao Youquan , Feng Ji , Liu Yanzheng , Yang Linlin , Han Minqi
Published: September 2020

The depletion of water resources directly restricts the sustainable development of agriculture, especially in arid areas. Sand filters are one of the most widely used filters in agricultural water-saving drip irrigation systems, because of their effectiveness in intercepting sewage. Up to now, little information has been reported on the sustainable operation mode of the sand filter in a drip irrigation system using Yellow River water, which is a non-conventional water resource. In our research, based on the study of the change in head loss of the empty tank of the filter using fresh water, we studied the effect of different filter particle sizes, filtration flow rates and backwash flow rates on the filter performance using Yellow River water, and obtained the optimal operation mode of the sand filter for the drip irrigation system. This was achieved when the filter material particle size was 1.70–2.35 mm, the filtration flow rate was 0.018 m/s, and the backwash flow rate was 0.022 m/s. This study provided theoretical support for the large-scale promotion of drip irrigation using Yellow River water, and contributed to maintaining rural, social and economic stability within sustainable development.
User satisfaction with rural water drinking points in Woliso District, Central Ethiopia
Authors: Mekuriaw Abate , Gurmessa Birki
Published: September 2020

Access to safe drinking water is essential to healthy living. Thus, investment in rural drinking water points is increasing in Ethiopia. However, little is known about user satisfaction with rural drinking water points. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate determinants of the user's satisfaction with rural drinking water points in Ethiopia by considering Woliso District (Woreda) as a case study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered with 211 randomly selected households from six rural Kebeles (administrative areas), which were selected using a stratified sampling technique. Focus group discussions (FGD) and key interviews (KI) were also held along with observation. The quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. The qualitative data were used to augment the results from the regression analysis. The results revealed that location of the water point, availability of guards, queueing time, service reliability, and distance significantly influence the satisfaction of users. Therefore, these significant factors should be addressed when planning water supply projects.
Icyano: a cyanobacterial bloom vulnerability index for drinking water treatment plants
Authors: Barros Mário U. G. , Leitão João I. R. , Aranha Thaís R. B. T. , Simsek Serhat , Buley Riley P. , Fernandez-Figueroa Edna G. , Gladfelter Matthew F. , Wilson Alan E. , Capelo-Neto Jose
Published: September 2020

Managing freshwater systems has become a challenge for global water utilities given that cyanobacterial blooms have been increasing in frequency and intensity. Consequently, a water quality index that uses conventional measurements to assess toxic cyanobacterial hazards and guide the selection of proper treatment technologies could benefit water resource managers about water quality parameters routinely analyzed in line with environmental changes. An index model, called Icyano, showed that chlorophyll-a, cyanobacterial concentration, and total nitrogen were most important for the index. All reservoirs classified as good by Icyano used direct filtration water treatment technology. Many of the medium Icyano-classified reservoirs used a pre-treatment unit followed by a direct filtration unit. Two reservoirs that were classified as bad or very bad have been utilizing pre-treatment + direct filtration or a complete cycle technology, respectively. As the Icyano index increases, water treatment plants should switch from direct filtration to using a pre-treatment to improve finished water quality. Findings from this project suggest that the direct filtration technology initially used in water treatment plants is not capable of meeting the current water quality guidelines in reservoirs that contain adverse water quality conditions, mostly related to an increase in toxic cyanobacterial blooms. As such, based on our findings, we recommend prioritizing financial resources towards pre-treatment technology or changes to more advanced technologies when Icyano index values increase.
Phytoremediation of samples extracted from wastewater treatment plant and their socioeconomic impact
Authors: Rajhi Hayfa , Bardi Anouar , Sadok Salwa , Moussa Mohamed , Turki Saifeddine
Published: October 2020

The physico-chemical and bacteriological quality was evaluated in wastewater samples before and after treatment by microalgae enrichment. Three types of wastewater samples – raw water, inlet water and outlet water – were taken directly from the wastewater treatment plant and subjected to microalgae enrichment culture during two months. The main objective of this work was to apply a phytoremediation process based on the use of compulsory microalgae treatment of wastewater from treatment plants compared to other secondary treatments. The biomass of microalgae was extracted to determine the concentrations of phenolic compounds, sugars and especially lipids, which can be subsequently transformed into biodiesel. As a result, the pH showed a significant increase after microalgae proliferation, with values ranging from 9.94 to 10.36. Bacterial community analysis before and after microalgae culture showed a clear shift in biomass content. The total coliform (TC) and the fecal coliform (FC) contents decreased after microalgae enrichment. In addition, the fecal streptococci (FS) and Pseudomonas present in the different wastewater samples completely disappeared after treatment. The applied phytoremediation process showed a drop until the disappearance of the contagious microbes – which present a very serious health risk – due to the release of the quinic acid. The quinic acid observed in the treated waters exceeded the content of 464.328 mg/L. This phenolic compound naturally produced during the process demonstrated a very effective antimicrobial power. However, a significant increment of 100% of phenol compound removal was observed after microalgae enrichment. The lipid content in the various studied samples appeared after microalgae culture. In addition, the heavy metals, namely cadmium and chromium, were completely eliminated after the treatment. Several socioeconomic advantages can be achieved by the use of this process, notably the environmental advantages of bioenergetics and economic and social benefits of the non-expensive valorization of wastewaters for irrigation.
The place of echocardiography with physical activity in the diagnosis of stable coronary heart disease: State of the Art
Authors: Tarkova A. , Grazhdankin I. , Malozemov K. , Bergen T.
Published: September 2020

Ischemic heart disease is the most common cause of death in developed countries. Diagnostic methods for ischemic heart disease can be classified into functional (stress tests: echocardiography with physical or pharmacological stress, perfusion myocardial scintigraphy with physical or pharmacological stress, magnetic resonance imaging of the heart with physical or pharmacological stress) and imaging (computed tomographic coronary angiography and selective coronary angiography) methods. An algorithm has been developed for assessing the pretest probability of coronary heart disease, according to the clinical picture of the disease, complaints, age and sex of the patient that simplifies the procedure for making a decision regarding the diagnostic method. As per the data from previous studies, stress tests have shown comparable sensitivity and specificity, making it possible to choose a diagnostic method based on other factors, such as method safety, operator dependence, physiology and availability. This study focuses on stress echocardiography as the safest and most affordable diagnostic method. We present an algorithm for performing echocardiography with exercise as per the data from European and national Russian guidelines. Received 2 March 2020. Revised 27 April 2020. Accepted 27 April 2020.Funding: The study did not have sponsorship.Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.
Long-term outcomes of off-pump minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting of the left anterior descending artery
Authors: Shabaev I. , Kozyrin K. , Tarasov R.
Published: September 2020

Aim. To evaluate the long-term results of off-pump minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting (MIDCAB) of the left anterior descending artery (LAD).Methods. From 2011 to 2017, 146 patients with stable coronary artery disease and hemodynamically significant LAD disease who underwent minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the LAD were enrolled in this single-centre prospective study. Patients with significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery and those referred to a concomitant cardiac surgery were excluded. Of the 146 patients, 31 (19.8%) were lost to follow up. The average follow-up duration was 31.4 ± 20.9 mon. The study endpoints included death, myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, repeated myocardial revascularisation, and delayed wound healing.Results. The rate of fatal outcomes within the follow-up period was 6% (n = 7). The MI incidence rate was 2.6% (n = 3). Of the three MIs, one was fatal. Stroke was registered in 6% (n = 7) of the patients. In one case, the stroke was fatal; 1.2% (n = 2) of the patients required repeat PCI with stenting. The length of stay in the intensive care unit following the index surgery was 1.0 ± 0.2 d. Total 108 (73.9%) patients were discharged within 10 d. There were no complications of delayed wound healing.Conclusion. Thus, an analysis of the long-term treatment results (31.4 ± 20.9 months) showed satisfactory outcomes in patients with isolated LAD and multivascular coronary atherosclerosis, comparable to the results of standard coronary artery bypass grafting techniques. The survival rate of the patients was 94%, which, combined with the absence of wound complications in the hospital and the long-term follow-up period, provides evidence in favour of more active use of the MIDCAB technology as a popular option that allows successful revascularisation of the myocardium with minimally invasive access and off-pump technologies.Received 16 April 2020. Revised 28 May 2020. Accepted 29 May 2020.Funding: The study did not have sponsorship.Conflict of interest: Authors declare no conflict of interest.
A New Fluorescent Salen-uranyl Sensor for the Sub-ppm Detection of Chemical Warfare Agents
Authors: Pappalardo Andrea , Gangemi Chiara M.A. , Toscano Rosa Maria , Sfrazzetto Giuseppe Trusso
Published: October 2020

Real-time sensing of Chemical Warfare Agents (CWAs) is today a crucial topic to
prevent the lethal effects of a terroristic chemical attack. For this reason, the development of
efficient, selective, sensitive and reversible sensoristic devices, able to detect by optical response
ppm levels of these compounds, is strongly required. Here, the synthesis of a new fluorescent
sensor based on a salen-uranyl scaffold, functionalized with two bodipy moieties, and
its application for the detection of sub-ppm levels of CWAs is reported. Detection properties
were evaluated by fluorescence measurements and selectivity tests demonstrated the strong
affinity for CWAs.
A 13-Immune Gene Set Signature for Prediction of Colon Cancer Prognosis
Authors: Lu Zhuo , Chen Jin , Yan JiongYi , Liu QiaoMing , Li Fang , Xiong WanNa , Lin Shida , Yu Kai , Liang Jianqin
Published: October 2020

Background:

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and has a
poor prognosis. Through the analysis of transcriptome and clinical data of colon cancer, an immune
gene-set signature was identified by single sample enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) scoring to
predict patient survival and discover new therapeutic targets.

Objective:

To study the role of immune gene-set signature in colon cancer.

Methods:

First, RNASeq and clinical follow-up information were downloaded from The Cancer
Genome Atlas (TCGA). Immune gene-related gene sets were collected from the ImmPort database.
Genes and immunological pathways related to prognosis were screened in the training set and integrated
for feature selection using random forest. The immune gene-related prognosis model was
verified in the entire TCGA test set and GEO validation set and compared with immune cells
scores and matrix score.

Results:

A total of 1650 prognostic genes and 13 immunological pathways were identified. These
genes and pathways are closely related to the development of tumors. 13-immune gene-set signature
was established, which is an independent prognostic factor for patients with colon cancer. Risk
stratification of samples could be carried out in the training set, test set, and external validation set.
The AUC of five-year survival in the training set and validation set is greater than 0.6. Immunosuppression
occurs in high-risk samples and compared with published models, riskScore has a better
prediction effect.

Conclusion:

This study constructed a 13-immune gene-set signature as a new prognostic marker to
predict the survival of patients with colon cancer, and provided new diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers
and therapeutic targets for colon cancer.
Role of Gut Microbiota in Human Health and Diseases
Authors: Narayanan Athira P. , Latika Ankitha , Nair Anjali S. , Ajeesh Pooja , Kumar Nirdesh S. , Babu Merin
Published: October 2020

Every human body has a gut microbiome, which is a complex collection of microorganisms
that live in the digestive tracts. The composition of the gut flora changes over time, when
diet changes, overall health changes. Intestinal flora hosts more amounts of the microbes when
compared to stomach flora as it is less vulnerable to the acidity of the gastric mucosa. Intestinal flora
plays a major role in balancing the immune function as well as metabolic homeostasis, regulating
inflammation, increasing mineral bioavailability, synthesizing neurotransmitters, regulating
appetite and blood sugar and protecting against pathogens. Dysbiosis in the gut leads to various gastrointestinal
disorders like inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer,
metabolic syndromes like obesity, diabetes and various neurological disorders like autism, multiple
sclerosis. Therefore, the complete wellness of our body is dependent on the microbial composition
of the gut. Probiotics and prebiotic foods can add as a key element supplementing the wellness of
our body.
The Impact of First Childbirth Experience on Women’s Attitude Towards Having Another Child and Subsequent Vaginal Birth
Authors: Ghanbari-Homayi Solmaz , Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi Sakineh , Meedya Shahla , Jafarabadi Mohammad Asghari , Mohammadi Eesa , Mirghafourvand Mojgan
Published: October 2020

Background:

Some women may consider childbirth an unpleasant event, which can
influence their decisions on subsequent pregnancies and type of birth.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of negative childbirth experience
and its relationship with women’s attitudes towards subsequent pregnancy and vaginal birth.

Methods:

The study design was a cross-sectional. A cluster sampling was used to recruit 800 primiparous women from
health centers in Tabriz, Iran. The Persian version of the Childbirth Experience Questionnaire was used to assess women’s
childbirth experiences. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the impact of childbirth
experiences on women’s attitudes towards subsequent pregnancy and vaginal birth.

Results:

Thirty-seven percent of women reported a negative childbirth experience. There was a
statistically significant relationship between childbirth experience and the attitude of women towards
subsequent pregnancy (p<0.001) and vaginal birth (p<0.001). By controlling the effects of
potential confounding variables such as socio demographic characteristics, negative childbirth experience
was found to be an independent predictive factor for women’s reluctance towards subsequent
pregnancies [OR= 0.42 (CI 95%: 0.57 to 0.31), p<0.001] and vaginal birth [OR= 0.08 (CI 95%:
0.14 to 0.04); p<0.001].

Conclusion:

Negative childbirth experience is associated with a reduced willingness for women to get pregnant again and
have vaginal birth. It is recommended that key stakeholders pay attention to strategies to improve childbirth experiences
among primiparous women in Iran.
Advances in Sample Digestion Using Microwave-ultraviolet Radiations: Phosphorus and Sulfur Determination in Animal Feed
Authors: Novo Diogo L. R. , Scaglioni Priscila T. , Pereira Rodrigo M. , Rondan Filipe S. , Coelho Junior Gilberto S. , Mesko Marcia F.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Conventional analytical methods for phosphorus and sulfur determination
in several matrices present normally analytical challenges regarding inaccuracy, detectability
and waste generation.

Objective:

The main objective is proposing a green and feasible analytical method for phosphorus
and sulfur determination in animal feed.

Methods:

Synergic effect between microwave and ultraviolet radiations during sample preparation
was evaluated for the first time for the animal feed digestion associated with further phosphorus
and sulfur determination by ion chromatography with conductivity detection. Dissolved
carbon and residual acidity in the final digests were used for the proposed method assessment.
Phosphorus and sulfur values were compared with those obtained using conventional microwaveassisted
wet digestion in closed vessels associated with inductively coupled plasma optical emission
spectrometry and with those obtained using an official method (Association of Official Analytical
Chemists International). Recovery tests and certified reference material analyses were performed.
Animal feeds were analyzed using the proposed method.

Results:

Sample masses of 500 mg were efficiently digested using only 2 mol L-1 HNO3. The results
obtained by the proposed method were not differing significantly (p > 0.05) from those obtained
by conventional and by official methods. Suitable recoveries (from 94 to 99%), agreement
with certified values (101 and 104%), and suitable relative standard deviations (< 8%) were
achieved. Phosphorus and sulfur content in commercial products varied in a wide range (P: 5,873
to 28,387 mg kg-1 and S: 2,165 to 4,501 mg kg-1).

Conclusion:

The proposed method is a green, safe, accurate, precise and sensitive alternative for
animal feed quality control.
Downregulation of GPR4 and TCF7 Promotes Apoptosis and Inhibits Growth and Invasion of Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Bai Zhuanli , Wu YinYing , Yan Yanli , Bai Shuheng , Kang Haojing , Ma Wen , Zhang Jiangzhou , Gao Ying , Hui Beina , Ma Hailin , Li Rong , Zhang Xiaozhi , Ren Juan
Published: October 2020

Background:

G Protein-coupled Receptor 4 (GPR4) has been reported to play essential roles in
regulating the proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of vascular endothelial cells. GPR4 is also suggested to
play significant roles in the growth and angiogenesis of ovarian cancer.

Objective:

To explore the functions of GPR4 and Transcription Factor 7 (TCF7) in ovarian cancer.

Methods:

The expression levels of genes involved in Wnt signaling were validated by quantitative Real-Time-
PCR (q-RT-PCR). The effects of GPR4 and TCF7 on ovarian cancer cell invasion and apoptosis were determined
using soft agar, transwell assay and flow cytometric assay. Protein levels of beta-catenin, MMP-2 and MMP-9
were evaluated by Western blotting.

Results:

In this study, we found that GPR4 and TCF7 had the capacity to control cell division by altering cell
cycle distribution, anchorage-independent growth, and directional cell motility of ovarian cancer cell A2780.
Also, we showed that the knockdown of GPR4 and TCF7 in ovarian cancer cell A2780 induced significant
inhibitition of cell growth and invasion, as well as the promotion of apoptosis. Downregulation of TCF7 resulted
in the decreased MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels.

Conclusion:

The results implicate that GPR4 behaves like an oncogene and may function through WNT pathway
molecule TCF7. Downregulation of GPR4 and TCF7 essentially inhibited cell growth and invasion and enhanced
apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells, which may lay a foundation for ovarian cancer treatment.
The AMPAR Antagonist Perampanel Regulates Neuronal Necroptosis via Akt/GSK3β Signaling After Acute Traumatic Injury in Cortical Neurons
Authors: Chen Tao , Yang Li-Kun , Zhu Jie , Hang Chun-Hua , Wang Yu-Hai
Published: October 2020

Background:

Perampanel is a highly selective and non-competitive α-amino-3-hydroxy-
5 -methyl-4-isoxazole propionate (AMPA) receptor (AMPAR) antagonist, which has been licensed
as an orally administered antiepileptic drug in more than 55 countries. Recently, perampanel
was found to exert neuroprotective effects in hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke models.

Objective:

In this study, the protective effect of perampanel was investigated.

Methods:

The protective effect of perampanel was investigated in an in vitro Traumatic Neuronal
Injury (TNI) model in primary cultured cortical neurons.

Results:

We found that perampanel significantly preserved morphological changes, attenuated lactate
dehydrogenase (LDH) release and inhibited caspase-3 activation after TNI. The TNI-induced
necroptosis, as evidenced by flow cytometry, was markedly reduced by perampanel treatment. The
results of western blot showed that perampanel decreased the expression and phosphorylation of
the necroptotic factors, receptor protein interacting kinase 1 (RIPK1) and RIPK3. In addition, treatment
with perampanel increased the phosphorylation of Akt and GSK3β in a time-dependent manner
up to 24 h after TNI. Treatment with the Akt inhibitor LY294002 partially reversed the protective
effects of perampanel.

Conclusion:

Our present data suggest that necroptosis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of neuronal
death after TNI, and that perampanel might have therapeutic potential for patients with Traumatic
Brain Injury (TBI).
Влияние подслоя Ba-=SUB=-0.2-=/SUB=-Sr-=SUB=-0.8-=/SUB=-TiО-=SUB=-3-=/SUB=- на структуру и электрофизические характеристики пленок цирконата-титаната свинца на подложке Si(001)
Authors: Зинченко С.П. , Стрюков Д.В. , Павленко А.В. , Мухортов В.М.
Published: September 2020

Pb(ZrTi)O3/Ba0.2Sr0.8TiО3/Si(001) metal-ferroelectric-semiconductor hetero-structures were fabricated by radio-frequency cathodic sputtering. It was found that Pb(ZrTi)O3 films are single-phase, textured, and Ba0.2Sr0.8TiО3 sublayer thickness in-fluence on the texture preferred orientation (110 or 001). It has been shown that by varying the sublayer thickness and / or the amplitude of one period of the applied ex-ternal bipolar electric field, it is possible to create different electrophysical states of the structure. These electrophysical states can be used in creating of the memory cells and, in particular, a multi-level memory cells.
Adoption of a Personal Health Record in the Digital Age: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Yousef Consuela Cheriece , Thomas Abin , Alenazi Ahmed O , Elgadi Sumaya , Abu Esba Laila Carolina , AlAzmi Aeshah , Alhameed Abrar Fahad , Hattan Ahmed , Almekhloof Saleh , AlShammary Mohammed A , Alanezi Nazzal Abdullah , Alhamdan Hani Solaiman , Eldegeir Manal , Abulezz Rayf , Khoshhal Sahal , Masala Clara Glynis , Ahmed Omaima
Published: October 2020

Background

As health care organizations strive to improve health care access, quality, and costs, they have implemented patient-facing eHealth technologies such as personal health records to better engage patients in the management of their health. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, eHealth is also growing in accordance with Vision 2030 and its National Transformation Program framework, creating a roadmap for increased quality and efficiency of the health care system and supporting the goal of patient-centered care.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the adoption of the personal health record of the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs (MNGHA Care).

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in adults visiting outpatient clinics in hospitals at the Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs hospitals in Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Madinah, and Al Ahsa, and primary health care clinics in Riyadh and Qassim. The main outcome measure was self-reported use of MNGHA Care.

Results

In the sample of 546 adult patients, 383 (70.1%) reported being users of MNGHA Care. MNGHA Care users were more likely to be younger (P<.001), high school or university educated (P<.001), employed (P<.001), have a chronic condition (P=.046), use the internet to search for health-related information (P<.001), and use health apps on their mobile phones (P<.001).

Conclusions

The results of this study show that there is substantial interest for the use of MNGHA Care personal health record with 70% of participants self-reporting use. To confirm these findings, objective data from the portal usage logs are needed. Maximizing the potential of MNGHA Care supports patient engagement and is aligned with the national eHealth initiative to encourage the use of technology for high-quality, accessible patient-centered care. Future research should include health care provider perspectives, incorporate objective data, employ a mixed-methods approach, and use a theoretical framework.
Supporting the Implementation of Connected Care Technologies in the Veterans Health Administration: Cross-Sectional Survey Findings from the Veterans Engagement with Technology Collaborative (VET-C) Cohort (Preprint)
Authors: Etingen Bella , Amante Daniel J , Martinez Rachael N , Smith Bridget M , Shimada Stephanie L , Richardson Lorilei , Patterson Angela , Houston Thomas K , Frisbee Kathleen L , Hogan Timothy P
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

Widespread adoption, use, and integration of patient-facing technologies into the workflow of health care systems has been slow, thus limiting the realization of their potential. A growing body of work has focused on how best to promote adoption and use of these technologies and measure their impacts on processes of care and outcomes. This body of work currently suffers from limitations (eg, cross-sectional analyses, limited patient-generated data linked with clinical records) and would benefit from institutional infrastructure to enhance available data and integrate the voice of the patient into implementation and evaluation efforts.

OBJECTIVE

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has launched an initiative called the Veterans Engagement with Technology Collaborative cohort to directly address these challenges. This paper reports the process by which the cohort was developed and describes the baseline data being collected from cohort members. The overarching goal of the Veterans Engagement with Technology Collaborative cohort is to directly engage veterans in the evaluation of new VHA patient-facing technologies and in so doing, to create new infrastructure to support related quality improvement and evaluation activities.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria for veterans to be eligible for membership in the cohort included being an active user of VHA health care services, having a mobile phone, and being an established user of existing VHA patient-facing technologies as represented by use of the secure messaging feature of VHA’s patient portal. Between 2017 and 2018, we recruited veterans who met these criteria and administered a survey to them over the telephone.

RESULTS

The majority of participants (N=2727) were male (2268/2727, 83.2%), White (2226/2727, 81.6%), living in their own apartment or house (2519/2696, 93.4%), and had completed some college (1176/2701, 43.5%) or an advanced degree (1178/2701, 43.6%). Cohort members were 59.9 years old, on average. The majority self-reported their health status as being good (1055/2725, 38.7%) or very good (524/2725, 19.2%). Most cohort members owned a personal computer (2609/2725, 95.7%), tablet computer (1616/2716, 59.5%), and/or smartphone (2438/2722, 89.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

The Veterans Engagement with Technology Collaborative cohort is an example of a VHA learning health care system initiative designed to support the data-driven implementation of patient-facing technologies into practice and measurement of their impacts. With this initiative, VHA is building capacity for future, rapid, rigorous evaluation and quality improvement efforts to enhance understanding of the adoption, use, and impact of patient-facing technologies.
Telepsychiatry -another window to escape from poverty (Preprint)
Authors: Rashid Soron Tanjir , Shams Lamia
Published: October 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

People living in poverty are in greater risk of developing mental health issues due to its association with various stressors such as decreased productivity, loss of employment, reduced social support, stigma etc. Low socioeconomic status can hinder one’s access to mental health care and can lead him to devastating consequences.

Even though Bangladesh has made a significant progress in eradicating poverty, the recent pandemic of COVID-19 has overburdened its resource limited healthcare settings. However, during lockdown a large number of people are experiencing a deterioration in their socioeconomic condition and this can negatively impact their mental health. Like many other developing countries, Bangladesh do not have equitable distribution of mental healthcare facilities in urban and rural areas. Distance to mental health care canter along with social stigma discourage people to get professional help.

The psychological sufferings of the people can be mitigated by ensuring remote consultation through telepsychiatry services where the patients can maintain anonymity and escape the social stigma. Moreover, with the recent progress in using mobile phone and related technologies, telepsychiatry services will not only help the patients to reduce their access to service gap in an affordable way but also the mental health professionals will be able to help more patients. Telepsychiatry interventions can contribute to early diagnosis of mental health issues in population and this can reduce the chances of suicide and other morbidities.

In resource limited settings, mental healthcare services aided with technology can overcome the barriers to access to care. In an addition to that, the mental well-being of individuals will enable them to lead an economically productive life with active contribution at workplaces.
Authors' Reply to: Errors in Tracing Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Using a Maximum Likelihood Tree. Comment on “A Snapshot of SARS-CoV-2 Genome Availability up to April 2020 and its Implications: Data Analysis” (Preprint)
Authors: Mavian Carla , Marini Simone , Prosperi Mattia , Salemi Marco
Published: September 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

No abstract/not applicable
Association Between Care Utilization and Anxiety Outcomes in an On-Demand Mental Health System: Retrospective Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Kunkle Sarah , Yip Manny , Hunt Justin , Ξ Watson , Udall Dana , Arean Patricia , Nierenberg Andrew , Naslund John A
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Anxiety is an extremely prevalent condition, and yet, it has received notably less attention than depression and other mental health conditions from a research, clinical, and public health perspective. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated growing concerns about the burden of anxiety due to the confluence of physical health risks, economic stressors, social isolation, and general disruption of daily activities.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines differences in anxiety outcomes by care modality (coaching, teletherapy and telepsychiatry, and combined care) within an on-demand mental health system. We also explore the association between levels of engagement within each care modality and odds of improvement in symptoms of anxiety.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective observational study of individuals who accessed Ginger, an on-demand mental health system. Data were collected from 1611 Ginger members between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019. We used logistic regression to assess the association between care modality and improvement in anxiety symptoms. Within each modality, we assessed the association between level of engagement and improvement.

RESULTS

Of 1611 Ginger members, 761 (47.0%) experienced a decrease in anxiety symptoms, as measured by a change from a positive to a negative 2-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-2) screen. Among members who still screened positive at follow-up (865/1611, 53%), a total of 192 members (11.9%) experienced a clinically significant score reduction in the full GAD-7 (ie, a score reduction of >5 points), even though their GAD-2 scores were still positive. All modalities showed increased odds of improvement compared to those who were not engaged with coaching or clinical services (“app-only”). Higher GAD-7 intake scores were also associated with decreased odds of improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found increased odds of anxiety improvement for all care modalities compared to those who did not engage in care, with larger effect sizes for higher utilization within all care modalities. Additionally, there is a promising observation that those engaged in combined care (teletherapy and text-based coaching) had the greatest odds of anxiety improvement. Future directions include more detailed classifications of utilization patterns and an exploration of explanations and solutions for lower-utilization members.
Effects of a Rehabilitation Program Using a Patient-Personalized Exergame on Fear of Falling and Risk of Falls in Vulnerable Older Adults: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Group Study (Preprint)
Authors: Lapierre Nolwenn , Um Din Nathavy , Igout Manuella , Chevrier Joël , Belmin Joël
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Older adults often experience physical, sensory, and cognitive decline. Therefore, they have a high risk of falls, which leads to severe health and psychological consequences and can induce fear of falling. Rehabilitation programs using exergames to prevent falls are being increasingly studied. Medimoov is a movement-based patient-personalized exergame for rehabilitation in older adults. A preliminary study showed that its use may influence functional ability and motivation. Most existing studies that evaluate the use of exergames do not involve an appropriate control group and do not focus on patient-personalized exergames.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to evaluate the effects of Medimoov on risk of falls and fear of falling in older adults compared with standard psychomotor rehabilitation.

METHODS

This is a serial, comparative, randomized controlled group study. Both groups (n=25 in each) will receive psychomotor rehabilitation care. However, the methods of delivery will be different; one group will be exposed to the Medimoov exergame platform, and the other only to traditional means of psychomotor rehabilitation. The selection criteria will be (1) age of 65 years or older, (2) ability to answer a questionnaire, (3) ability to stand in a bipedal position for at least 1 minute, (4) score of 13 or greater on the Short Fall Efficacy Scale, and (5) stable medical condition. An evaluation will be made prior to starting the intervention, after 4 weeks of intervention, and at the end of the intervention (after 8 weeks), and it will focus on (1) risk of falls, (2) fear of falling, and (3) cognitive evaluations. Physical activity outside the session will also be assessed by actimetry. The outcome assessment will be performed according to intention-to-treat analysis.

RESULTS

The protocol (2019-11-22) has been approved by the Comité de Protection des Personnes Nord-Ouest I–Université de Rouen (2019-A00395-52), which is part of the French national ethical committee. The study received funding in February 2020. As of October 2020 (submission date), and due to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, a total of 10 participants out of 50 had been enrolled in the study. The projected date for the end of the data collection is December 2021. Data analyses have not been started yet, and publication of the results is expected for Spring 2022.

CONCLUSIONS

The effects of psychomotor rehabilitation using the Medimoov exergame platform on the risk and fear of falls will be evaluated. This pilot study will be the basis for larger trials.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04134988; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04134988

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/24665
DISRUPSI DAN MASA DEPAN PROFESI HUKUM
Authors: Dwi Putro Widodo
Published: September 2020

AbstractDisruption poses a threat on legal profession establishments such as law firms, notaries, as well as the courts. In the past, law used to be perceived as a complicated matter to laypersons and thus people dealing with the law required legal consultants in the past. However, artificial intelligence capable of resolving various legal issues has now become readily available making it unnecessary for people to consult with law firms. The main question is, why is artificial intelligence capable of replacing the human legal profession? In an effort to answer the said question, the research method looks at previous research predicting the occurrence of disruption in the area of law. The researcher also considers the most recent developments in the “competition” between the human legal profession and artificial intelligence. Any technology is bound to be replaced by an even more sophisticated technology, hence the legal profession applying a mechanical legal process is inevitably going to be replaced with speedier and more accurate artificial intelligence.  IntisariDisrupsi mengancam kemapanan profesi hukum seperti kantor-kantor advokat, notaris, dan juga pengadilan. Jika sebelumnya, hukum terasa rumit bagi banyak orang awam sehingga memerlukan konsultan hukum bagi yang berurusan dengan hukum, kini telah tersedia artificial intelligence yang mampu memecahkan berbagai persoalan hukum sehingga orang tidak perlu konsultasi ke kantor hukum. Pertanyaan mendasar, mengapa artificial inttelligence dapat menggantikan profesi hukum manusia? Untuk menjawab pertanyaan itu, Penulis menelusuri penelitian-penelitian sebelumnya yang memprediksi munculnya disrupsi di bidang hukum. Penulis juga melihat perkembangan terbaru “kompetisi” antara profesi hukum manusia dan artificial intelligence. Teknologi yang lebih canggih akan menggantikan sesuatu yang bersifat teknologi pula, maka profesi hukum yang cara berhukumnya mekanis akan digantikan oleh artificial intelligence yang lebih cepat dan akurat.
The Coexistence of Oryctes rhinoceros L. and Xylotrupes gideon L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on Immature Plant in Oil Palm Plantation
Authors: Pradipta Anugerah Pustakawan , Wagiman F. X. , Witjaksono Witjaksono
Published: September 2020

Oryctes rhinoceros L. and Xylotrupes gideon L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) are known to attack palms. O. rhinoceros is a major pest in oil palm while X. gideon is a minor pest found in certain areas with a relatively few numbers. Collecting these beetles by hand picking and trapping are intended to reduce their population. Objectives of this study were to describe an intimacy of shared existence of O. rhinoceros and X. gideon in the oil palm plantation, and to determine the effect of manual collection of the beetles from the decomposing trunks compared to those that were collected using attractant traps. The study was conducted in Asahan Regency, North Sumatera, in Sei Silau PTPN III oil palm plantation. Five traps (2 Ha/trap) containing the pheromone ethyl-4-methyloctanoate were installed randomly at a replanting area of immature palm. Beetle collection was performed daily for 30 consecutive days using two methods, i.e. (a) hand-picking of beetles on the decomposed trunks at surrounding the trap for 2 hour per day, and (b) using pheromone traps. Simple regression and correlation model was used for data analysis. Results showed that coexistence of O. rhinoceros and X. gideon was observed at the breeding sites of decomposing trunks, but not in the traps, and their coexistence showed a weak relationship (r = 0.12). Number of collected O. rhinoceros (221 beetles) was much more than X. gideon (82 beetles). Natural sex ratio (male: female) was approximately 0.5 for O. rhinoceros and 0.4 for X. gideon. Collection of the beetles in the decomposed trunks showed a moderately positive relationship (r = 0.43) with, and significantly influenced (18.73%) to the collection of beetles using pheromone traps.