bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on CHADL as a candidate gene for comb growth traits in Partridge Shank roosters
Authors: Liu Yifan , Tu Yunjie , Zhang Ming , Zou Jianmin , Ji Gaige , Shan Yanju , Ju Xiaojun , Shu Jingting
Published: January 2020

The comb is an important secondary sexual characteristic and comb growth traits, such as size and color of the comb, are widely used as indicators in chicken breeding programs. However, the genetic basis for these traits remains mostly unknown. It was found that the chondroadherin-like (CHADL) gene was up-regulated in large combs and was located in reported comb growth quantitative trait loci. In this study, tissue-specific expressions, expression patterns in combs of different ages, and CHADL polymorphisms were analyzed to investigate the relationship between this gene and comb growth traits of Partridge Shank roosters. The results showed that CHADL was more highly expressed in combs than in 10 other tissues, and its expressions in combs tended to gradually increase from the 5-wk-old mark to the 26-wk-old mark. The single-nucleotide polymorphism rs316423539 in the CHADL gene was significantly associated with the comb area and height, whereas rs14822286 was highly correlated with the comb color. Moreover, H1H5, H1H6, and H3H6 were the most advantageous genotype combinations for comb growth traits. Our results might help understand the molecular mechanism of comb growth traits and improve these traits directly by marker assistant selections.
Epidural Labor Analgesia Is Associated with a Decreased Risk of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale in Trial of Labor after Cesarean: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Sun Jing , Xiao Yuci , Zou Liwei , Liu Danyong , Huang Ting , Zheng Zhao , Yan Xuetao , Yuan Aiwu , Li Yuantao , Huang Xiaolei
Published: January 2020

Postpartum depression is a disabling mental disorder commonly seen in parturients under trial of labor after cesarean, which causes serious harm to the parturients. The etiology is unclear. We hypothesized that epidural labor analgesia can reduce the incidence rate of postpartum depression. Enrolled multiparas were divided into the epidural labor analgesia group (n = 263) or nonanalgesia group (n = 160) according to their own request. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale was used to assess their mental status at 48 hours and 42 days after delivery. Relative perinatal variables were collected and further analyzed using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis to assess the relation of epidural analgesia with the occurrence of postpartum depression under trial of labor after cesarean. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score 48 hours ≥ 10 in the no epidural analgesia group was 26.42% while the epidural analgesia group was 8.49% (OR, 0.209; 95% CI, 0.096–0.429; P < 0.001). The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score 42 day ≥ 10 in the no epidural analgesia group was 25.16% while the epidural analgesia group was 6.59% (OR, 0.235; 95% CI, 0.113–0.469; P < 0.001). The incidence of postpartum depression was significantly lower in the epidural labor analgesia group at 48 hours and 42 days. There was also a significant relation between the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale scores at 48 hours and 42 days after delivery. Epidural analgesia, discomfort within 42 days, and self‐rating anxiety scale are independent predictors of postpartum depression for trial of labor after cesarean in 42 days. Epidural labor analgesia is associated with a decreased risk of postpartum depression. Further study with a large sample size and more centers is needed to evaluate the impact of epidural analgesia on the occurrence of postpartum depression. Chinese Clinical Trial Register, ChiCTR-ONC-17010654.
Optimal Growth Temperature and Intergenic Distances in Bacteria, Archaea, and Plastids of Rhodophytic Branch
Authors: Lyubetsky Vassily A. , Zverkov Oleg A. , Rubanov Lev I. , Seliverstov Alexandr V.
Published: January 2020

The lengths of intergenic regions between neighboring genes that are convergent, divergent, or unidirectional were calculated for plastids of the rhodophytic branch and complete archaeal and bacterial genomes. Statistically significant linear relationships between any pair of the medians of these three length types have been revealed in each genomic group. Exponential relationships between the optimal growth temperature and each of the three medians have been revealed as well. The leading coefficients of the regression equations relating all pairs of the medians as well as temperature and any of the medians have the same sign and order of magnitude. The results obtained for plastids, archaea, and bacteria are also similar at the qualitative level. For instance, the medians are always low at high temperatures. At low temperatures, the medians tend to statistically significant greater values and scattering. The original model was used to test our hypothesis that the intergenic distances are optimized in particular to decrease the competition of RNA polymerases within the locus that results in transcribing shortened RNAs. Overall, this points to an effect of temperature for both remote and close genomes.
Analysis of the Power Cloud Framework Benefits and the Role of the City Energy Provider in the New Italian Electricity Tariff Scenario
Authors: Menniti D. , Pinnarelli A. , Sorrentino N. , Brusco G. , Mendicino L. , Mercuri M.
Published: January 2020

The need to consume less and better energy pushes more and more to find efficient solutions at the individual end-user and community levels. The concept of an energy community is becoming increasingly popular, and recently, many studies try to demonstrate how an aggregation of end-users, which produces energy according to a distributed generation concept, is a mechanism able to overcome the increasingly tight constraints imposed by the electricity market, both for the end-user and for the network and market operators. In this context, the paper is aimed at verifying the convenience for both end-user and aggregator sides to operate in an aggregate form considering the new tariff scenario imposed in some European countries like Italy.
Association between Hemoglobin Levels and Colorectal Polyps in Asymptomatic Chinese Adults
Authors: Shen Chao , Shi Xiaoying , Al-Ashoor Maram , Xu Chengfu
Published: January 2020

Background/Aims. Metabolic and hematologic aberrations are often observed in individuals with colorectal polyps. This study was aimed at investigating whether hemoglobin levels are associated with colorectal polyps in asymptomatic Chinese adults. Methods. A cross-sectional analysis was performed among 1633 asymptomatic adults who underwent colonoscopy examinations during routine health check-ups at the First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, between 2015 and 2018. Results. A total of 449 (27.50%) participants were diagnosed with colorectal polyps, and those with colorectal polyps had significantly higher hemoglobin levels than did those without colorectal polyps. Hemoglobin levels were positively associated with the prevalence of colorectal polyps, with rates of 16.43%, 26.20%, 32.17%, and 35.87% among participants with hemoglobin levels in the first, second, third, and fourth quartiles, respectively (P for trend<0.001). Stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that elevated hemoglobin levels independently increased the risk of colorectal polyps (odd ratio=1.017; 95% confidence interval: 1.008–1.026). Conclusion. Elevated hemoglobin levels were significantly and independently associated with the prevalence and risk of colorectal polyps in asymptomatic adults.
Prevalence of Erectile Dysfunction in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus and Its Association with Body Mass Index and Glycated Hemoglobin in Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Shiferaw Wondimeneh Shibabaw , Akalu Tadesse Yirga , Aynalem Yared Asmare
Published: January 2020

Background. Mortality and morbidity in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) are attributed to both microvascular and macrovascular complications. However, there is a significant amount of variation in the primary studies on DM regarding the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Africa. Therefore, this study was aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of ED patients with DM and its association with body mass index (BMI) and glycated hemoglobin in Africa.Methods. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO, African Journals Online, and Google Scholar were searched for studies that looked at ED in DM patients. A funnel plot and Egger’s regression test were used to determine publication bias. TheI2statistic was used to check heterogeneity between the studies. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model was applied to estimate the pooled effect size. The subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted by country, sample size, and year of publication. Sensitivity analysis was deployed to see the effect of a single study on the overall estimation. STATA version 14 statistical software was used for the meta-analysis.Result. A total of 13 studies with 3,501 study participants were included in this study. We estimated that the pooled prevalence of ED in patients with DM in Africa was 71.45% (95% CI: 60.22–82.69). Diabetic patients whose BMI was ≥30 kg/m2were 1.26 times more likely to develop ED (AOR = 1.26; 95% CI: 0.73–2.16) and whose glycated hemoglobin was <7% were 7% less likely to develop ED (AOR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.5–5.9), although they were not significantly associated with ED.Conclusions. The prevalence of ED in DM patients in Africa remains high. Therefore, situation-based interventions and country context-specific preventive strategies should be developed to reduce the prevalence of ED among patients with DM.
Does Aerobic Vaginitis Have Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes? Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Hassan Mahmoud F. , Rund Nancy M. A. , El-Tohamy Osama , Moussa Mahmoud , Ali Yahia Z. , Moussa Nehal , Abdelrazik Ahmed A. , Abdallah Enas A. A.
Published: January 2020

Background. Aerobic vaginitis (AV) is an aberration within the balanced vaginal microbiota. Only few reports have documented the adverse pregnancy outcomes related to AV. Nonetheless, the exact role of AV in pregnancy and the potential benefit of its screening need further study. Our goal was to evaluate the association between aerobic vaginitis (AV) in late pregnancy and maternal and neonatal outcomes. Methods. In this prospective observational study, a total of 600 singleton pregnant women with intact fetal membranes at a gestational age of 34-36 weeks were recruited (one hundred women with AV and 500 pregnant women without AV). The study protocol excluded patients with other forms of vaginal infection. Pregnancy outcomes were traced and documented. The primary outcome was the association between AV and preterm labor. The current study compared the maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with and without AV in unadjusted and adjusted analyses with the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) reported. Results. There was an association between AV and with preterm birth (adjusted OR 3.06, 95% CI 1.58-5.95) and prelabor rupture of membranes (adjusted OR 6.17, 95% CI 3.24-11.7). For neonatal outcomes, AV was associated with a higher incidence of neonatal ICU admission (adjusted OR 2.19, 95% CI 1.1-4.34). Severe forms of AV significantly increased the incidence of PTB (p=0.0014) and PROM (p=0.0094) when compared to less severe forms of AV. Conclusion. AV is common in late pregnancy and is linked to a diversity of adversative pregnancy outcomes including preterm birth, PROM, and neonatal ICU admission. Moreover, the incidence of PTB and PROM might further increase with the severity of AV. Clinicians should pay more consideration to vaginal microbiota assessment during pregnancy.
The Estimation of Reservoir Temperature for Thermal Springs Using the Integrated Multicomponent Geothermometry Method at Changbai Mountain, Northeastern Songliao Basin, China
Authors: Na Jin , Yan Bai-zhong , Chi Bao-ming , Feng Bo , Jiang Xue
Published: January 2020

The Changbai Mountain volcanic region, eastern Songliao Plain, China, is considered a potential target development area for geothermal water exploitation. To assess the feasibility of geothermal development, we applied integrated multicomponent geothermometry (IMG) in the program GeoT to estimate the geothermal reservoir temperatures for four major thermal springs in this area. Numerical optimizations of Al and HCO3- concentrations, dilutions, and steam fractions were conducted to reconstruct the original deep fluid compositions by the IMG method. The results show that the geothermal reservoir temperatures of these springs range from 118 to 172°C in the Changbai Mountain volcanic region. In contrast to classic geothermometers, the IMG method can quantify processes affecting the fluid chemical composition and yield reasonable temperatures. The reservoir temperatures for the Julong and Jinjiang thermal springs are significantly greater than those for the Shibadaogou and Xianrenqiao thermal springs. Moreover, the geothermal deep circulation characteristics of the above springs are also investigated based on reservoir temperature estimates. The methods presented in this study could be applied to other geothermal fields under similar geothermal resource conditions.
Gene Expression Profiling of Mediators Associated with the Inflammatory Pathways in the Intestinal Tissue from Patients with Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Camarillo Gabriela Fonseca , Goyon Emilio Iturriaga , Zuñiga Rafael Barreto , Salas Lucero Adriana Salazar , Escárcega Ana Elena Peredo , Yamamoto-Furusho Jesús K.
Published: January 2020

Background. Multiple genes have been associated with IBD, and many of these can be linked to alterations in autophagy, UPR, ubiquitination, and metabolic and immune response pathways. The aim of this study was to analyze a transcriptomic panel of mediators associated with the inflammatory pathways in the colonic mucosa of UC patients. Patients and Methods. We studied a total of 100 patients with definitive diagnosis of UC (50 active and 50 in remission) and a control group (50 subjects) without endoscopic evidence of intestinal inflammation. Colonic mucosal biopsies were taken by colonoscopy and preserved in RNA later. Gene expression were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results. The gene expressions of XBP1, AGR2, HSPA5, UBE2L3, TNFRSF14, LAMP3, FCGR2A, LSP1, CTLA4, SOD2, TDO2, and ALDOB mRNA levels were significantly higher in the colonic mucosa from UC patients (both quiescent and active) as compared to the control group (P<0.05). Conversely, IRGM, ORDML3, UBD, CUL2, CYLD, FOXC2, FOXO4, DOK3, and SNX20 mRNA levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with active disease, as compared to those with active disease (P<0.05). Gene expressions of IRGM, CTLA4, FOXO4, SLC26A3, SLC39A4, SOD2, TDO2, and ALDOB were associated with clinical outcomes, such as medical treatment in response to aminosalicylates, histological remission, clinical course, and evolution. Conclusions: The gene expressions of FOXO4, ALDOB, SOD2, TOD2, SLC26A3, and SLC39A4 were associated with the clinical course and histological activity and are of relevance since these provide the utility of new prognostic markers in IBD. Gene expression signature showed dysregulation in mediators associated with autophagy, ubiquitination, ER stress, oxidative stress, carbohydrate metabolism, solute transport, and T cell regulation in the colonic mucosa from patients with UC, suggesting that these genes could be involved in the pathogenesis of UC.
Strategic Customer Behavior and Pricing Strategy Based on the Horizontal Differentiation of Products
Authors: Zhao Yang , Ji Guojun , Jiang Yue , Dai Xiaopei
Published: January 2020

Manufacturers produce products with horizontal differences to meet different needs of customers. This paper compares the influence of three different sales channels on strategic customers’ choice and the pricing strategy of products with horizontal differentiation. The results show that the strategic customers whose willingness to pay (WTP) is close to 1 will buy high-performance products and whose WTP is close to 0 will not purchase any kind of products in the two dual-channel models. If the manufacturers adopt dual channel to sell products with horizontal differences, the retailers agree that the manufacturers sell high-performance products in the traditional channel and sell low-performance products in the electronic channel. In dual-channel supply chain model I, the higher the satisfaction of high-performance products and the lower the satisfaction of low-performance products, the more conducive to the retailers.
Medication Errors and Blood Pressure Control Among Patients Managed for Hypertension in Public Ambulatory Care Clinics in Botswana
Authors: Gala Pooja , Moshokgo Veronica , Seth Bhavna , Ramasuana Kegomoditswe , Kazadi Emmanuel , M'buse Rudy , Pharithi Solomon , Gobotsamang Kabelo , Szymanowski Paige , Kerobale Ruth Olyn , Balekile Kelennetse , Tshimbalanga Jacques , Tieng'o Jane , Tapela Neo , Barak Tomer
Published: January 2020

Background

The prevalence of hypertension in low‐ and middle‐income countries is rapidly increasing, with most cases undiagnosed and many poorly controlled among those diagnosed. Medication reconciliation studies from high‐income countries have demonstrated a high occurrence of antihypertensive medication errors and a strong association between medication errors and inadequate blood pressure control, but data from low‐ and middle‐income countries are lacking.

Methods and Results

We conducted a cross‐sectional study from April to October 2018 of adult patients on pharmacologic management for known hypertension at 7 public health facilities in Kweneng East District, Botswana. Our aims included to evaluate the frequency of uncontrolled hypertension, the frequency and type of medication errors causing discrepancies between patient‐reported and prescribed antihypertensive medications, and the association between medication errors and uncontrolled hypertension. Descriptive analyses and multivariable logistic regression were used. The prevalence of uncontrolled hypertension was 55% among 280 enrolled adult patients, and 95 (34%) had ≥1 medication error. The most common errors included patients taking medications incorrectly (11.1%; 31/280), patients omitting medications (7.9%; 22/280), and unfilled prescriptions caused by pharmacy stock outs (7.5%%; 21/280). Uncontrolled hypertension was significantly associated with having ≥1 medication error compared with no errors (adjusted odds ratio, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.75–6.06;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

Medication errors are strongly associated with poor blood pressure control in this setting. Further research is warranted to assess whether medication reconciliation and other low‐cost interventions addressing root causes of medication errors can improve the control of hypertension and other chronic conditions in low‐ and middle‐income countries.
Preparation and Surface Modification of Magnetic Fe3O4 Nanoparticles
Authors: Li Sha-Sha , Tian Zao , Tian De-Zhan , Fang Lei , Huang Yu-Wei , Xu Jing
Published: January 2020

In this work, the coprecipitation method was used to prepare the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles which were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
The particle size and saturation magnetization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles were significant effected by temperature and the precipitant's precipitation time. Under the reaction temperature of 40 °C and the dropping time of 10 h, the size and the saturation magnetization
of magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were 9.4 nm and 37.5 emu/g, severally. Besides, the magnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles were also resoundingly modified with silica (SiO2), chitosan (CS) and sodium alginate (SA). And the hydrodynamic diameters
of the Fe3O4/CS micro-composites and Fe3O4/SA micro-composites in aqueous solution were 1.16 μm and 2.11 μm, respectively.
Synthesis, Characterization, Comparative Antidandruff Efficacy and Cytotoxicity Studies of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles by Using Glycyrrhiza glabra Root
Authors: Mishra Ratish Chandra , Kumari Rosy , Iqbal Zafar , Rizvi Mohammad Moshahid Alam , Yadav Jaya Parkash
Published: January 2020

In the present study silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized using Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract and evaluated their antimicrobial potential against dandruff causing pathogens. Dandruff is an inflammatory of scalp expression that impacts approximately half of the world's
population. The development of new class of antidandruff agents based on sustainable means is essential. Characterization of AgNPs were done by UV-Visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Bradford assay was performed for
protein leakage analysis. Cytotoxicity was checked by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphynyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay on human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293 cell lines. The zone of inhibition for Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts and AgNPs was measured from 9–42 mm while minimum inhibitory
concentration (MIC) was in the range of 25–380 μg/ml. AgNPs showed lowest MIC against P. acne at concentration of 25 μg/ml. Protein leakage analysis revealed that AgNPs may disturb the solidity of pathogens membrane. Cytotoxicity evaluation on cell lines showed
that both Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract and AgNPs are nontoxic on HEK-293 cell lines. Therefore, it can be concluded from the studies that utilization of Glycyrrhiza glabra based synthesis of AgNPs could be explored to manage dandruff.
Structural, Microscopy Analysis and Compressive Strength of ZnO–CuO Nanocomposites
Authors: Kavitha K. , Rao T. Subba , Suvarna R. Padma , Kumar M. Prasanna
Published: January 2020

Currently, researches on nanocomposites become an active research area due its unique properties. Earlier, many researches are done for synthesizing the multidimensional structures for developing efficient and new Nano devices. In this present work, we synthesized ZnO–CuO nanocomposites
using sol–gel method. The obtained nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis and Compressive strength analysis using compressive testing machine (CTM). Herein, the structure and size of the ZnO–CuO nanocomposites
were studied using XRD. And the average particle size was found to be 34 nm. The TEM analysis has the evidence of the XRD result. The enhancement in compressive strength of the ZnO–CuO nanocomposites was determined using CTM machine up to 4 wt.%.
Effective Circuit Design Methodologies for Standby Leakage Power Reduction
Authors: Kumar Manish , Hussain Md. Anwar , Paul Sajal K.
Published: January 2020

This paper presents circuit level design methodologies for significantly reducing the standby leakage power. Layout of different CMOS logic circuits such as a 2-input XOR, a 2-input XNOR, and a 4-input XNOR are designed and simulated by using BSIM4 MOS transistor model parameters. Layout
simulations are done at a supply voltage of 0.4 V in 45 nm CMOS technology. Logic circuits designed by using the proposed circuit design methodologies proved to be effective in minimizing the standby leakage power. All layout design and simulation of the circuits are carried out by using Microwind
EDA software (version 3.1).
Colorimetric Sensing of Methyl Parathion Using Nanozymatic Activity of Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Pandey Anjana , Srivastava Saumya , Gayatri  , Rai Priya , Pandey Ashutosh
Published: January 2020

In this study, we have used new approach for detection of the methyl parathion residues i.e., by inhibiting half of the peroxidase-like activity of gold nanoparticles. We have investigated the peroxidase like activity of gold nanoparticles by colorimetric assay and optimized the pH,
temperature, incubation time and different concentrations of H2O2 by using TMB as substrate as well as organophosphates effect on their enzyme mimetic activity. Kinetic study of gold nanoparticles has shown better catalytic activity than horseradish peroxidase at pH 3.5.
The peroxidase substrate TMB (3,3,5,5-tetramethylbenzidine) can be oxidized by H2O2 by the enzymatic action of the gold nanoparticles resulting in a blue-coloured product, oxidized TMB. The principle involved behind the inhibition of enzymatic activity of nanozyme is
due to hindrance of electron transfer mechanism TMB-H2O2-Au NPs system by the methyl parathion. The peroxidase activity is selectively reduced with increasing methyl parathion concentration. This sensing method has lowest limit of detection of 78.95 nM. This study can
be used for development of sensitive and cost effective technique for sensing of harmful pesticides.
An Application of Goal Programming Variants to Evaluate Outsourcing Strategies in the Clothing Industry
Authors: Sardar Shaheen , Mohsin Muhammad
Published: January 2020

International outsourcing has provided the immense cost savings to the clothing companies. Today, the companies are reconsidering the reshoring and relocation due to the factors such as increasing cost, lead time uncertainty, and demand nature. In such situations, the domestic destinations
provide capacity flexibility. Choice of the compatible strategy for a given situation prevents the associated loss in the business. This paper evaluates the outsourcing and reshoring phenomenon based on realistic outsourcing objectives in the textile supply chain. This paper develops a goal
programming model to analyze the outsourcing strategies for cost and capacity flexibility. Minimization of the capacity inflexibility was considered as the capacity flexibility. Cost and capacity inflexibility were used as two objective functions. The optimization model was solved using the
three important variants of goal programming. Comparison of results from three different techniques provides several insights for precise outsourcing decision making. For instance, the companies can choose a compatible strategy to maintain the cost and capacity flexibility at an acceptable
level. Instead of only the cost saving, the reshoring decision making should be based on all the real criteria. The key focus of this paper is the clothing industry. The results may be different for other manufacturing sectors. Due to the increased globalization, the textile companies have
been facing various challenges such as outsourcing destination selection for maximum profit and the reshoring debates. To address such challenges, this study provides various insights to the textile industry based on realistic objectives of outsourcing (i.e., cost and capacity flexibility).
It is difficult to quantify the flexibility. This paper develops new ideas to quantify the capacity flexibility. The application of three different variants of goal programming provides the alternative solutions.
Polymeric Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems for Controlled Release
Authors: Yahya Ibtihag , Atif Razan , Ahmed Lina , Eldeen Tahleel Salah , Omara Akram , Eltayeb Megdi
Published: January 2020

This study focuses on providing a comparative mathematical analysis of drug release from polymeric nanoparticle with different structures to allow in silico prediction of the appropriate and optimal model that applies to the whole drug release and not limited to a part of the
process. The drug release data from nanoparticles have been applied using MATLAB software to apply mathematical models such as Zero-order, First-order, Higuchi, Hixson–Crowell, Korsmeyer-Peppas models besides a proposed model called Tanh function. This study results highlight the usefulness
of mathematical models, key findings emerge that the Tanh model and First-order model gave the best fits of the parameters data as both model's plots showed high linear correlation (R2 = 0.9781, 0.9448) respectively. Finally, this study concludes that both proposed Tanh function
and First-order model shows better performance, giving good results and can be successfully used to characterize drug and applied for prolonged drugs release.
Enhancement of Luminescence Behaviour of Colloidal ZnO Quantum Dots Coated with SiO2 Irradiated by Ni+7 Ion
Authors: Chakdar Dipankar , Siddik Abubakkar , Ghosh Nikita , Gope Gautam , Haldar Prabir Kumar
Published: January 2020

ZnO quantum dots of average size 10 nm are embedded in a matrix (polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)) following chemical route. They are irradiated by 100 MeV Ni7+ ion beam with fluences 1 × 1011, 3 × 1011, 1 × 1012 and 3 × 1012
ions/cm2. The optical absorption edge of irradiated quantum dots reveal negligible red shift with an increase in fluences with respect to that of unirradiated (virgin) ones. This fact clearly indicates no significant change in particle diameter under ion irradiation and is confirmed
by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM). AFM study also reveals the r.m.s surface roughness of the particles. It has also been observed that irradiated quantum dots produce similar type of photo luminescence and electroluminescence like virgin samples but the emission intensity
increases remarkably after irradiation due to creation of large numbers oxygen vacancies by the ion beam.
Situating Claim-making: Land and Adivasi Assertion in Jharkhand
Authors: Jairath Vasundhara
Published: January 2020

Adivasi assertion of distinction based in the communities’ relationship with land and their surrounding environment has been the subject of much debate within academic writing. Critiquing romantic and essentialising images of adivasi societies, recent literature on adivasi politics, increasingly read within the frame of a politics of indigeneity, has raised questions regarding the nature of mobilisation around such romantic imagery. In this article, I suggest the need to reframe the question we ask of movements that make seemingly romantic claims, by asking how and why such claims take the shape that they do. In asking this question, the article argues for a reading of political claims made within the movement as historically contingent and rooted in the dynamic of the conflict that allows for its emergence. Understanding them as such allows for a renewed understanding of seemingly romantic claims, which instead point to the material and historical complex within which the struggle takes place.
Chair-Side Fabricated Single Activation Nickel-Titanium (Ni-Ti) Closed-Coil Spring Assisted Attachment for Impacted Teeth Traction
Authors: Chaudhari Prabhat Kumar , Zere Edlira , Almerco Kelly Kathering Achachao
Published: January 2020

One of the most suitable procedures in orthodontics for the management of impacted teeth is the orthodontic traction. Using a bonded accessory and an orthodontic force to pull the canine to its correct position requires multiple activations, which has often shown to be one of the main reasons for failure. A simple chair-side fabrication technique using nickel-titanium closed-coil spring-assisted attachment for precisely orthodontic traction of impacted teeth is presented.
The intuitive use of contextual information in decisions made with verbal and numerical quantifiers
Authors: Liu Dawn , Juanchich Marie , Sirota Miroslav , Orbell Sheina
Published: January 2020

Verbal and numerical formats (e.g., verbal: “low fat,” or numerical: “20% fat”) are used interchangeably to communicate nutritional information. However, prior research implies that verbal quantifiers are processed more intuitively than numerical ones. We tested this hypothesis in two pre-registered experiments measuring four indicators of processing style: (a) response time, (b) decision performance, (c) reliance on irrelevant contextual information, which we inferred from participants’ decision patterns, and (d) the level of interference from a concurrent memory task. Participants imagined they had consumed a given amount of a nutrient (represented in a pie chart) and decided whether a new quantity (either verbal or numerical) could be eaten within their guideline daily amount (GDA). The experiments used a mixed design varying format (verbal or numerical), concurrent memory load (no load, easy, and hard load in Experiment 1; no load and hard load in Experiment 2), nutrient (fat and minerals), quantity (low, medium, and high in Experiment 1; low and high in Experiment 2), and the assigned correct response for a trial (within and exceeding limits). Participants were faster and made fewer correct decisions with verbal quantifiers, and they relied more on contextual information (i.e., the identity of the nutrient involved). However, memory load did not impair decisions with verbal or numerical quantifiers. Altogether, these results suggest that verbal quantifiers are processed intuitively, slightly more so than numerical quantifiers, but that numerical quantifiers do not require much analytical processing to reach simple decisions.
Processing gapping: Parallelism and grammatical constraints
Authors: Kim Nayoun , Carlson Katy , Dickey Mike , Yoshida Masaya
Published: January 2020

This study aims to test two hypotheses about the online processing of Gapping: whether the parser inserts an ellipsis site in an incremental fashion in certain coordinated structures (the Incremental Ellipsis Hypothesis), or whether ellipsis is a late and dispreferred option (the Ellipsis as a Last Resort Hypothesis). We employ two offline acceptability rating experiments and a sentence fragment completion experiment to investigate to what extent the distribution of Gapping is controlled by grammatical and extra-grammatical constraints. Furthermore, an eye-tracking while reading experiment demonstrated that the parser inserts an ellipsis site incrementally but only when grammatical and extra-grammatical constraints allow for the insertion of the ellipsis site. This study shows that incremental building of the Gapping structure follows from the parser’s general preference to keep the structure of the two conjuncts maximally parallel in a coordination structure as well as from grammatical restrictions on the distribution of Gapping such as the Coordination Constraint.
Decomposing the composite face effect: Evidence for non-holistic processing based on the ex-Gaussian distribution
Authors: Fitousi Daniel
Published: January 2020

Composite faces fuse the top and bottom halves from two different faces to create a powerful illusion of a novel face. It has been argued that composite faces are processed holistically, namely that the constituent face parts are perceived as a template, rather than independent features. This study sought to uncover the locus of the composite face effect by relating its empirical reaction time distributions to theoretical ex-Gaussian parameters. The results showed that the composite face effect for unfamiliar (Experiment 1) and familiar (Experiment 2) faces is generated by pure changes in the exponential component of the ex-Gaussian distribution. This held true for both partial and complete design measures. The exponential component has been attributed to working memory and attentional processes. The results suggest the involvement of attentional and working memory processes in the composite face effect and in the perception of faces in general. They cast doubts on the holistic nature of face processing. The results also provide important constraints on future computational theories of the effect.
Regulating water reuse for agricultural irrigation: risks related to organic micro-contaminants
Authors: Helmecke Manuela , Fries Elke , Schulte Christoph
Published: January 2020

In recent years, more and more countries see irrigation using reclaimed water as an opportunity to secure and enhance agricultural production. Despite the benefits of water reuse, the scientific community raised several concerns and challenges for human health and the environment. This includes chemical risks. Effluents from urban wastewater treatment plants usually contain a wide range of organic chemicals. Such chemicals remaining in the water after the treatment process may cause hazards for human health, contaminate surrounding soil and water resources, and even compromise drinking water sources. Once crops on irrigated sites are exposed to chemicals, the potential transport to and accumulation in the edible parts of fruits and vegetables need to be controlled to rule out their introduction into the food chain. Finally, problems concerning the release of wastewater-borne antibiotics into the environment are starting to gain attention. For these reasons, agricultural irrigation should face more stringent quality requirements in order to minimize chemical risks. Combinations of measures reducing chemicals at the source, technical and natural water treatment processes especially to remove chemicals with persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), or persistent, mobile and toxic (PMT) properties, good agricultural practices, and supplementary preventive measures (e.g. knowledge transfer to the stakeholders involved) will be necessary to bring about and ensure safe irrigation in the future. While internationally many regulations and guidelines for water reuse have successfully been implemented, questions remain whether the current knowledge regarding chemical risks is sufficiently considered in the regulatory context. The introduction of a new regulation for water reuse, as attempted in the European Union, poses a good opportunity to better take chemicals risks into account.
Persistent, mobile and toxic substances in the environment: a spotlight on current research and regulatory activities
Authors: Rüdel Heinz , Körner Wolfgang , Letzel Thomas , Neumann Michael , Nödler Karsten , Reemtsma Thorsten
Published: January 2020

Certain persistent and polar substances may pose a hazard to drinking water resources. To foster the knowledge exchange in this field the Working Group Environmental Monitoring of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) Division Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology discussed at their meeting in December 2018 the significance and relevance of persistent, mobile and toxic chemicals (PMT substances) in the environment. Five oral contributions highlighted not only various aspects such as the identification of potential PMT substances based on certain properties and their possible regulation under the European REACH regulation, but also current developments in the analysis of PMT substances and results from environmental monitoring. The data presented prove that many persistent and mobile substances can be detected in surface waters. Once detected, it can be complex and costly to identify sources and reduce inputs, as a case study on 1,4-dioxane in Bavarian surface waters shows. The same applies to the removal of polar substances from raw water for drinking water production. Today, scientific advances in analytical methods make it easier to identify and quantify even very polar substances in water samples. In addition to the targeted analysis of critical chemicals, non-target screening is playing an increasingly important role. This opens up the possibility of detecting substances in water samples that have not previously been investigated in routine monitoring and testing their relevance for humans and the environment. However, the list of potentially occurring PM substances that have not yet been investigated is still very long. Further methodological improvements seem necessary here. In view of the evidence for the presence of PMT substances in the environment (e.g., trifluoroacetic acid and 1,4-dioxane) and the potential risks for drinking water abstraction, it seems important under consideration of the precautionary principle to identify and prioritise relevant REACH-registered substances. The assessment should be based on the intrinsic properties and the emission potential of the compounds. The implementation of a detailed proposal made at European level to regulate PMT and very persistent and very mobile (vPvM) substances in the context of REACH would ensure that chemicals identified as being substances of very high concern according to the PMT and vPvM criteria are subject to authorisation in future.
Study protocol for an evaluation of ASDetect - a Mobile application for the early detection of autism
Authors: Barbaro Josephine , Yaari Maya
Published: January 2020

Background

Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) can be reliably diagnosed by 24 months of age. However, despite the well-known benefits of early intervention, there is still a research-practice gap in the timely identification of ASC, particularly in low-resourced settings. The Social Attention and Communication Surveillance (SACS) tool, which assesses behavioural markers of autism between 12 to 24 months of age, has been implemented in Maternal and Child Health (MCH) settings, with excellent psychometric properties. ASDetect is a free mobile application based on the SACS, which is designed to meet the need for an effective, evidence-based tool for parents, to learn about children’s early social-communication development and assess their child’s ‘likelihood’ for ASC.

Study aims

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of ASDetect in the early detection of children with ASC. A secondary aim is to assess ASDetect’s acceptability and parental user experience with the application.

Methods

Families are recruited to download the application and participate in the study via social media, health professionals (e.g., MCH nurses, paediatricians) and word of mouth. All participating caregivers complete a demographic questionnaire, survey regarding their user experience, and the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2), an autism screening questionnaire; they are also invited to participate in focus groups. Children identified at ‘high likelihood’ for ASC based on the ASDetect results, the SRS-2 or parental and/or professional concerns undergo a formal, gold-standard, diagnostic assessment. Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses will be used to assess psychometric properties of ASDetect. Thematic analyses will be used to explore themes arising in the focus groups to provide insights regarding user experiences with the app. Multiple regression analyses will be carried out to determine the extent to which demographic factors, parental stress and beliefs on health surveillance and child results on ASDetect are associated with the parental user-experience of the application.

Discussion

With a strong evidence-base and global access, ASDetect has the potential to empower parents by providing them with knowledge of their child’s social-communication development, validating and reassuring any parental concerns, and supporting them in communicating with other health professionals, ultimately enhancing child and family outcomes and well-being.
Relationship between characteristics of spinopelvic alignment and quality of life in Japanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a cross-sectional study
Authors:   Juntendo AS Research Group, Sato Tatsuya , Yonezawa Ikuho , Inoue Hisashi , Tada Kurisu , Kobayashi Shigeto , Hayashi Eri , Tamura Naoto , Kaneko Kazuo
Published: January 2020

Background

Studies on characteristic spinal deformities in Japanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and data demonstrating a relationship between health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and spinopelvic alignment in these patients are lacking.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 50 patients with AS and without a surgical history, vertebral body fracture, or scoliosis as well as 30 control patients with degenerative lumbar kyphoscoliosis (DLKS) were included. Data collected included patient sex, age, spinopelvic parameters on sagittal full-spine standing radiographs, and HRQOL questionnaire responses. Student’s t-test was used to compare the characteristics of spinopelvic parameters between the groups. A multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze correlations between spinopelvic parameters and HRQOL in the AS group.

Results

Global kyphosis (GK; T1–12 angle) was significantly greater in the AS group than in the DLKS group (P < 0.001), whereas the pelvic tilt (PT; posterior PT angle) was smaller in the AS group (P = 0.006). Radiographic parameters correlated with HRQOL in the AS group. Multiple regression analysis identified the sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and sacral slope (SS) as factors influencing the SRS-22 total score and SVA and GK as factors influencing Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire mental health (subdomain).

Conclusions

Patients with AS did not use lumbar lordosis or posterior PT to compensate for their large thoracic kyphosis due to spinopelvic ankylosis. These patients showed a unique compensation pattern. The correlation/regression analysis revealed a correlation between radiographic parameters and HRQOL in patients with AS, with particular importance of SVA, SS, and GK for clinical results in AS.
Degeneration of three or more lumbar discs significantly decreases lumbar spine/hip ROM ratio during position change from standing to sitting in AVN patients before THA
Authors: Gu Jianming , Feng Huixiong , Feng Xiao , Zhou Yixin
Published: January 2020

Background

Limitations in the lumbar spine movement reduce lumbar vertebral motion and affect spinopelvic kinematics. We studied the influence of lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration on spinofemoral movement, from standing to sitting, in patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods

Of 138 consecutive patients scheduled for THA due to unilateral avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head, those with ≥3 discs with University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) disc degeneration score > 1 were defined as the lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDD) group, and the remaining patients constituted d the control group. Full body anteroposterior and lateral EOS images in the standing and sitting positions were obtained. Pelvic incidence (PI), L1 slope (L1 s), lumbar lordosis angle (LL), pelvic tilt (PT), sacral slope (SS), femoral slope (Fs), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), hip flexion, lumbar spine flexion, and total spinofemoral flexion were measured on the images and compared between groups.

Results

No significant between-group differences were observed in the height, weight, body mass index, AVN staging, or PI, SS, and Fs on standing. The LDD group included more females and older patients, had 5° lesser LL, 5° greater PT, and larger SVA. From standing to sitting, the PI remained constant in both groups. Total spinofemoral flexion was 7° less, lumbar spine flexion 16° less, L1 slope change 6° less, and SS change 8° less, and hip flexion was 7° more in the LDD than in the control group. The spine/hip flexion ratio was significantly lower in the LDD group (0.3 versus 0.7; p < 0.001). On regression analysis, the LDD group (p < 0.001) and older age (p = 0.048) but not sex, weight, or height were significant univariate predictors of decreased spine/hip ratio.

Conclusions

Patients with LDD leant more forward and had a larger pelvis posterior tilt angle on standing and a decreased lumbar spine/hip flexion ratio, with more hip joint flexion, on sitting, to compensate for reduced lumbar spine flexion. Surgeons should be aware that elderly patients with multiple LDD have significantly different spinofemoral movements and increased risk of posterior dislocation post-THA. Preoperative patient identification, intraoperative surgical technique modification, and individualized rehabilitation protocols are necessary.