bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
C3-Glomerulonephritis in New Zealand – A Case Series
Authors: Sutherland Luke J , Talreja Hari
Published: August 2020

Background: C3-glomerulonephritis can lead to progressive renal impairment from complement-mediated glomerular injury. Incidence and outcomes of C3-glomerulonephritis are not known in the New Zealand population.Methods: We reviewed all cases of C3-glomerulonephritis from the past 10 years at a tertiary referral centre in New Zealand. Descriptive information on baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes was collected. Results: 26 patients were included (16 men; mean±SD age 44±25 years) with a median follow-up of 30 months. Disease incidence was 1.3 cases per million individuals, of which 42% were Pacific Islanders. Most patients presented with renal impairment, with a median (IQR) creatinine at diagnosis of 210 (146-300) µmol/L, and 11 (42%) patients presented with nephrotic syndrome. Seven (27%) patients progressed to end stage renal disease and 2 (8%) had died. End stage renal disease occurred in 20% of patients treated with immunosuppression and in 50% of those not treated. Complete remission was seen in 25% of patients treated with some form of immunosuppression and in 17% of those not treated. Conclusions: Our results are consistent with previous descriptions of C3-glomerulonephritis. There was a suggestion of better clinical outcomes in patients treated with immunosuppression. There was a higher disease incidence in Pacific Islanders, which may indicate an underlying susceptibility to complement dysfunction in this population.
The carbapenem resistance gene blaOXA-23 is disseminated by a conjugative plasmid containing the novel transposon Tn6681 in Acinetobacter johnsonii M19
Authors: Zong Gongli , Zhong Chuanqing , Fu Jiafang , Zhang Yu , Zhang Peipei , Zhang Wenchi , Xu Yan , Cao Guangxiao , Zhang Rongzhen
Published: August 2020

Background: Carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter species have caused great difficulties in clinical therapy in the worldwide. Here we describe an Acinetobacter johnsonii M19 with a novel blaOXA-23 containing transposon Tn6681 on the conjugative plasmid pFM-M19 and the ability to transfer carbapenem resistance.Methods: A. johnsonii M19 was isolated under selection with 8 mg/L meropenem from hospital sewage, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the representative carbapenems imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were determined. The genome of A. johnsonii M19 was sequenced by PacBio RS II and Illumina HiSeq 4000 platforms. A homologous model of OXA-23 was generated, and molecular docking models with imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were constructed by Discovery Studio 2.0. Type IV secretion system and conjugation elements were identified by the Pathosystems Resource Integration Center (PATRIC) server and the oriTfinder. Mating experiments were performed to evaluate transfer of OXA-23 to Escherichia coli 25DN.Results: MICs of A. johnsonii M19 for imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem were 128 mg/L, 48 mg/L and 24 mg/L, respectively. Genome sequencing identified plasmid pFM-M19, which harbours the carbapenem resistance gene blaOXA-23 within the novel transposon Tn6681. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the elongated hydrophobic tunnel of OXA-23 provides a hydrophobic environment and that Lys-216, Thr-217, Met-221 and Arg-259 were the conserved amino acids bound to imipenem, meropenem and ertapenem. Furthermore, pFM-M19 could transfer blaOXA-23 to E. coli 25DN by conjugation, resulting in carbapenem-resistant transconjugants. Conclusions: Our investigation showed that A. johnsonii M19 is a source and disseminator of blaOXA-23 and carbapenem resistance. The ability to transfer blaOXA-23 to other species by the conjugative plasmid pFM-M19 raises the risk of spread of carbapenem resistance.
Multi-model seascape genomics identifies distinct environmental drivers of selection among sympatric marine species
Authors: Nielsen Erica , Henriques Romina , Beger Maria , Toonen Robert , Heyden Sophie von der
Published: August 2020

Background: As global change and anthropogenic pressures continue to increase, conservation and management increasingly needs to consider species’ potential to adapt to novel environmental conditions. Therefore, it is imperative to characterise the main selective forces acting on ecosystems, and how these may influence the evolutionary potential of populations and species. Using a multi-model seascape genomics approach, we compare putative environmental drivers of selection in three sympatric southern African marine invertebrates with contrasting ecology and life histories: Cape urchin (Parechinus angulosus), Common shore crab (Cyclograpsus punctatus), and Granular limpet (Scutellastra granularis). Results: Using pooled (Pool-seq), restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (RAD-seq), and seven outlier detection methods, we characterise genomic variation between populations along a strong biogeographical gradient. Of the three species, only S. granularis showed significant isolation-by-distance, and isolation-by-environment driven by sea surface temperatures (SST). In contrast, sea surface salinity (SSS) and range in air temperature correlated more strongly with genomic variation in C. punctatus and P. angulosus. Differences were also found in genomic structuring between the three species, with outlier loci contributing to two clusters in the East and West Coasts for S. granularis and P. angulosus, but not for C. punctatus. Conclusion: The findings illustrate distinct evolutionary potential across species, suggesting that species-specific habitat requirements and responses to environmental stresses may be better predictors of evolutionary patterns than the strong environmental gradients within the region. We also found large discrepancies between outlier detection methodologies, and thus offer a novel multi-model approach to identifying the principal environmental selection forces acting on species. Overall, this work highlights how adding a comparative approach to seascape genomics (both with multiple models and species) can elucidate the intricate evolutionary responses of ecosystems to global change.
The SNPs rs429358 and rs7412 of APOE gene are association with cerebral infarction but not SNPs rs2306283 and rs4149056 of SLCO1B1 gene in southern Chinese Hakka population
Authors: Wu Heming , Huang Qingyan , Yu Zhikang , Wu Hailing , Zhong Zhixiong
Published: August 2020

Background: Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) and solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 1B1 (SLCO1B1) regulate lipid metabolism. However, the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of APOE and SLCO1B1 and cerebral infarction (CI) remains unclear.Methods: A total of 938 CI patients and 1,028 control participants were included in the study. The rs429358 and rs7412 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the APOE gene and rs2306283 and rs4149056 SNPs in the SLCO1B1 gene were analyzed by fluorescence polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results: The genotype ɛ3/ɛ3 was the most common APOE genotype, with ɛ3 being the allele with the highest frequency, followed by ɛ4 and ɛ2. Statistically significant differences of genotype ɛ2/ɛ2 (c2=3.866, P=0.049), ɛ2/ɛ3 (c2=20.030, P<0.001), ɛ3/ɛ4 (c2=16.960, P<0.001), and ɛ4/ɛ4 (c2=4.786, P=0.029) between CI patients and controls were detected. The SLCO1B1 genotype *1b/*1b and haplotype *1b showed the highest frequency in the study sample. There was no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of SLCO1B1 genotypes and haplotypes among CI patients comparing with controls. Moreover, ε4 carriers had significantly higher low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and apolipoprotein B (Apo-B) and lower apolipoprotein A1 (Apo-A1)/Apo-B levels than ε2 and ε3 carriers, but ε2 carriers showed lower LDL-C and Apo-B and higher Apo-A1/Apo-B than ε3 and ε4 carriers. Further, logistic regression analysis revealed that high LDL-C, high ApoB, smoking, hypertension and the ε4 allele were risks for the presence of CI.Conclusions: This study indicated that the APOE SNPs rs429358 and rs7412 may be associated with susceptibility to cerebral infarction in southern Chinese Hakka population.
Factors associated with the recruitment of foreign nurses in Japan: A nationwide survey of hospitals
Authors: Hirano Yuko , Tsubota Kunio , Ohno Shun
Published: August 2020

Background: Nurse migration under bilateral agreements is a recent global trend; though lack of consultation with health industries has led to challenges in the recruitment of foreign nurses by hospitals. To analyze the prevailing opinion of hospitals on the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), under which Japan officially recruits foreign nurses, we surveyed the hospitals that are yet to employ foreign nurses.Method: An anonymous questionnaire was developed and distributed to eligible hospitals; it requested the managers’ opinions on Japan’s policy on recruitment of foreign nurses and their intentions to hire foreign nurses. We randomly selected 1,879 hospitals, or 22% of the hospitals in Japan (n = 8,540) with more than 20 beds. We used descriptive statistics, a Chi-square test, and a logistic regression analysis to identify the predictors and developed a model to predict the likelihood of their intention to recruit foreign nurses in the future.Results: In total, 432 hospitals were eligible for further analysis (response rate: 22.9%). Half (50%) of the hospital managers were very/quite interested in Japan’s policy on recruiting foreign nurses, though only 20% intended to recruit under the EPA in the future. The likelihood of foreign nurse recruitment under the partnership agreement was associated with the degree of interest in the policy (OR 9.38; 95% CI 4.42–19.90) and managers’ perception of foreign nurses (OR 5.32, 95% CI 2.38–11.89).Conclusion: To attract more hospitals by reviewing the EPA policy, scrutinizing the needs of hospitals is key. EPA has challenges in accommodating the requests from the hospitals that urgently need foreign nurses, so it may render the new business model which effectively yields the eligible nurses from abroad. To review the EPA, it is essential to reflect upon the opinions of the medical institutions, including those who have yet to employ foreign nurses.
Effectiveness of a mobile phone application to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Nuwamanya Elly , Nalwanga Robinah , Nuwasiima Afra , Babigumira Janet U. , Asiimwe Francis T. , Babigumira Joseph B. , Ngambouk Vitalis P.
Published: August 2020

Background: University students are one of the most vulnerable groups to sexual reproductive health [SRH] threats like sexually transmitted infections [STIs], unwanted pregnancies, and unsafe abortions and often have limited access to SRH information, goods, and services. This study assessed the effectiveness of using a mobile phone application (APP) to increase access to SRH information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda.Methods: Using data from a double-blinded randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly assigned to both the intervention (APP) and control (standard of care) arms. We executed descriptive analyses for baseline demographic characteristics by intervention, difference in difference (DID), and quantile regression analyses for both primary and secondary outcomes.Results: The median age of participants was 21 years of age, and the majority were female (over 60%), unemployed (over 85%) and Christian (90%). Over 50% were resident in off-campus hostels and in a relationship. Between baseline and end-line, there was a significant increase in SRH knowledge score (DID=2, P<0.001), contraceptive use (DID=6.6%, P<0.001), HIV Voluntary testing and counselling (DID=17.2%, P<0.001), STI diagnosis and treatment (DID=12.9%, P<0.001), and condom use at last sex (DID=4%,P=0.02) among students who used the APP. There was a significant 0.98 unit increase in knowledge score (adjusted coefficient= 0.98, P<0.001), a significant 1.6-fold increase in odds of contraceptive use (adjusted coefficient= 1.6, P=0.04), a significant 3.5-fold increase in HIV VCT (adjusted coefficient=3.5, P<0.001), and a significant 2-fold increase in odds of STI testing and treatment (adjusted coefficient =1.9, P<0.001) after adjusting for demographic characteristics among APP users compared to the control group.Conclusion: A mobile phone application increased sexual and reproductive health information (knowledge score), access to goods (contraceptives), and services (HIV voluntary testing and counseling and sexually transmitted infection diagnosis and management) among sexually active university students in Uganda. Further technical development, including the refinement of youth-friendly attributes, extending access to the app with other platforms besides android which was pilot tested, as well as further research into potential economic impact and paths to sustainability, is needed before the app is deployed to the general youth population in Uganda and other low-income settings. Trial registration: MUREC1/7 No. 07/05–18. Registered on June 29, 2018.
Perinatal exposure to diesel exhaust origin secondary organic aerosol induces autism-like behavior in rats
Authors: Shwe Tin Tin Win , Thu Chaw Kyi Tha , Fujitani Yuji , Tsukahara Shinji , Hirano Seishiro
Published: August 2020

Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social communication, poor social interactions and repetitive behaviors. The exact cause and mechanism of autism remains unknown. Both genetic and environmental factors may involve in ASD. In this study, we used diesel exhaust origin secondary organic aerosol (DE-SOA) as environmental pollutants. The aim of present study is to examine autism-like behaviors and related gene expressions in rats exposed to DE-SOA perinatally. Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats were exposed to clean air (control), diesel exhaust (DE) and DE-SOA in the exposure chamber for 5 h per day, 5days a week from gestational day 8 to postnatal day 21. At postnatal day 21, the male and female offspring rats were allocated into three different groups as follows: 1) rats exposed to clean filtered air; 2) rats exposed to DE; 3) rats exposed to DE-SOA. Social behaviors were investigated at 10~13-weeks-old rats using a 3-chambered social behavior test, social dominance tube test and marble burying test. Prefrontal cortex was collected under deep anesthesia to examine neurological and immunological markers, glutamate concentration, mast cell and microglia activation using real-time RT-PCR method, ELISA method and immunohistochemical analysis.
Results: DE-SOA-exposed male and female rats showed poor sociability and social novelty preference, socially dominant behavior and increased repetitive behavior compared with the control rats. The mRNA expression levels of serotonin receptor (5-HT(5B)) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were down-regulated whereas interleukin 1 b　(IL-b), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) were upregulated in the prefrontal cortex of male and female rats exposed to DE-SOA compared to the control rats. In addition, the expression of mast cells and microglia marker ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule (Iba)1 were increased in the prefrontal cortex of male and female rats exposed to DE-SOA. Glutamate concentration was increased significantly in the prefrontal cortex of both male and female rats exposed to DE-SOA.
Conclusion: Our results indicate that perinatal exposure to DE-SOA may induce autism-like behavior in rats by modulating neurological and immunological markers in the prefrontal cortex.
Percutaneous screw fixation for acute scaphoid fractures through K-wire-assisted reduction and maintenance:a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Bai Jiangbo , Kong Lingde , Tian Siyu , Yu Kunlun , Lu Jian , Liu Chunjie , Tian Dehu
Published: August 2020

Background

Most of the acute scaphoid fractures have been treated nonoperatively in a cast or by open surgery. Percutaneous screw fixation was introduced for acute scaphoid fractures through K-wire-assisted reduction and maintenance, and the effectiveness of the methods was evaluated.

Methods

From January 2015 to December 2018, a total of 20 patients were recruited to the study and 10 patients were randomly allocated to the open reduction and percutaneous groups respectively. Different groups received open reduction and internal fixation or percutaneous screw fixation. Function outcomes including the range of motion and grip strength were assessed according to the modified Mayo wrist scoring system.

Results

Final follow-up examination was performed on an average of 12 months after surgery. No immediate postoperative complication occurred. All patients achieved solid union as confirmed by CT scans. A significant increase in the functional recovery of the injured wrist in the percutaneous group than they were in the open reduction group.

Conclusions

Our novel percutaneous screw fixation method is beneficial to minimise injury to the blood supply of the scaphoid. Primary percutaneous screw fixation for acute scaphoid fractures is a superior method with reduced time to bony union, early return to daily activity or employment and predictably lessened complications of wrist stiffness, diminished grip strength, delayed union, non-union and osteonecrosis.
TRAVELING WAVES FOR IN-SITU COMBUSTION IN POROUS MEDIA
Authors: De Assis Tatiana Danelon , Bispo Mariane dos Santos , Cárdenas Jessica Yvonne Santa Cruz , Fritis Giulia Carvalho , Gutiérrez Angel Enrique Ramírez , Chapiro Grigori
Published: August 2020

This work presents a mathematical model describing the in-situ combustion process, which can be used in enhanced oil recovery. The hyperbolic part of the system was solved as a Riemann Problem. Necessary conditions for the existence of a traveling wave solution were verified. Furthermore, theoretical results are verified by using numerical simulations.
LOW-COST TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY MONITORING SYSTEM IN HOSPITAL AMBIENCE
Authors: Fonseca Flávio Rocha da , Prates Patrícia Pereira , Morais Bruno Prado , Campos Marcel Veloso
Published: August 2020

A temperature and humidity monitoring system is to check and show the climaticvariances of the hospital’s ambience continuously as well as communicate with the professional responsible for obtaining this type of information. The study proposes a low-cost system that read both temperature and humidity through a capacitive sensor with an accuracy of ±2% relative humidity (max ±5%) and temperature precision < ±0.5 o Celsius for monitoring hospital departments such as Central Sterile Supply Department, Transfusion Agency and Surgical Center. The microcontroller receives the data from the sensor and sends it to the internet communication module, which shows the information to the user. The method used nowadays is done by manually populating tables which offer the risk of human error or data loss. The proposed system also consists of a web platform and an Android application that shows the real-time variables and generates reports of readings and alerts to unwanted variations. It could be able to modernize the process of monitoring the hospital’s departments using the Internet of Things (IoT).
INVESTIGATION OF THE BLOOD FLOW IN DEFORMABLE VESSELS USING STABILIZED FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
Authors: Gaio Evandro Dias , Camata José Jerônimo , Berg Lucas Arantes , Queiroz Rafael Alves Bonfim de
Published: August 2020

The study and simulation of blood flow in the cardiovascular system have many applications such as pathologies studies, surgical planning, and design of medical devices. Several works within this area consider the problem using a rigid wall assumption, while blood velocity and pressure in large arteries are greatly influenced by vessel wall dynamics. The Coupled Momentum Method (CMM) is based on a strong coupling of degrees-of-freedom of the fluid and the solid domains. This coupling is made by considering that the deformation of the wall, in a variational level, become a boundary condition for the fluid domain. As an advantage, description of motion (Eulerian) may be kept the same and a fixed mesh. In this study, blood is considered a Newtonian fluid and the wall a thin-walled linear elastic. This work is focused on using fluid-structure interaction in 3D geometries to evaluate the blood and vessel dynamics in contrast to the rigid wall formulation what is considered only a fluid dynamic problem. For realistic and physiological parameters, CMM has demonstrated to be a good alternative for the simulation of blood flow in large arteries by virtue of representing more realistic phenomena than a rigid wall model. The results were obtained using FEniCS and Python, and are in agreement with the theoretical and numerical solutions from the literature.
A COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT NUMERICAL APPROACHES FOR FSW WELDS OF API 5L - X80 STEEL
Authors: Figueiredo Guilherme Gadelha de Sousa , Marques Igor Jordão , Santos Tiago Felipe De Abreu
Published: August 2020

This contribution offers a study for two numerical approaches of FSW joints for the API 5L-X80 steel. The first one, a pure thermal model, takes into consideration the preponderant frictional force of the tool being in contact with the workpiece. The second model is a computational fluid dynamic approach, which involves determining experimental values for physical constants and observing its influence in viscous dissipation and strain rates of the material. Temperature and thermal history from the FSW processing were recorded and analyzed. The acquired data was provided from two different heat input conditions. In cases of previewing tool or workpiece local temperature, the pure thermal model is a sufficient suitable approach. Conversely, the CFD model frequently requires huge amounts of information, regarding physical constants and experimental variables, becoming a delicate task for its construction. The pure thermal model was able to offer unequivocal temperature results without the need for large experimental data acquisition. This approach was considered to be finer employed when one aims to forecast temperatures in regions proximate to the welding line. The natural complexity associated with FSW processing suggests there are enormous quantities of experimental factors to be considered for the numerical modeling of high-temperature materials. Also, the CFD approach offers distinct results, which might be crucial for understanding the full aspects of experimental variables. A coupled numerical approach with both models is suggested to fully represent the thermophysical aspects of FSW processing.
The Study on the Active Ingredients and Potential Targets of Rice Bran Petroleum Ether Extracts for Treating Diabetes Based on Network Pharmacology
Authors: Huang Xulong , Zhang Mei , Wu Hongmei , Wang Xiangpei , Xu Feng
Published: August 2020

Aim and Objective:

In ancient China, rice bran was used to treat diabetes and hyperlipidemia.
The aim of this paper is to explore the active compounds and underlying mechanism of
Rice Bran Petroleum Ether extracts (RBPE) against diabetes using network pharmacology.

Materials and Methods:

Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer analysis was performed to identify
the chemical composition in RBPE. Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology
Database and Analysis Platform, Swiss Target Prediction database, BATMAN-TCM, comprehensive
database of human genes and gene phenotypes, therapeutic target database, DurgBank and
GeneCards database were used to screen targets. The “component-target-disease” interactive network
was constructed by Cytoscape software. Gene ontology and pathways related to the targets
were analyzed by ClueGO, and core targets were screened by the MCODE, and Autodock vina
was used for molecular docking.

Results:

The compounds with a percentage greater than 1.0% were selected for subsequent analysis.
The RBPE contains oleic acid, (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid ethyl ester, and other chemical components
that can regulate insulin, mitogen-activated protein kinase 3, epidermal growth factor receptor,
mitogen-activated protein kinase 1, and other genes, which were mainly related to Pathways in
cancer, Human cytomegalovirus infection and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications,
etc. The affinity of the core compounds and the corresponding protein of the gene targets
was good.

Conclusion:

The results of network pharmacology analysis indicate that the RBPE has multiple anti-
diabetic ingredients, and RBPE exert anti-diabetic activity through multiple targets and signaling
pathways. The present study can provide a scientific basis for further elucidating the mechanism of
RBPE against diabetes.
Fetal Distress Classification with Deep Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Singh Harman Deep , Saini Munish , Kaur Jasdeep
Published: August 2020

Objective:

Our study aimed to provide an improvised model that classifies the fetal distress
using a two-dimensional Convolution neural network (CNN). It also helps in improving the
visualization of FHR and UC signals.

Background:

Hypoxia or Fetal Distress is the main cause of death in the newborns. Cardiotocography
is used to detect hypoxia in which fetal heart rate and uterine contraction signals are observed.

Setting:

Department of Computer Engineering and Technology, Guru Nanak Dev University, India.

Subjects:

The CTG-UHB database was used for classification purpose and 552 records were analyzed
for classification purposes.

Methods:

Convolutional Neural Network was used for the classification purpose and HoloViz was
used for the visualization of data in which HvPlot and HoloViews libraries are used in python. The
CTG-UHB database was used for the analysis purpose. A total of 552 records were used for classification
purposes. The classification was performed on the Keras software.

Results:

The accuracy achieved by our model was above 70%. Three classes were obtained named
Normal Hypoxia (pH>7.15), Mild Hypoxia (7.05<pH<7.15), and Severe Hypoxia (pH<7.05). The
accuracy achieved by normal hypoxia was 70%, mild hypoxia achieved 71.4%, whereas severe
hypoxia class achieved 70% accuracy.

Conclusion:

This model describes the state of the fetus by using the classification based on pH
values and also our proposed model visualizes the signals using HoloViz. The accuracy achieved
outperforms other models mentioned in the literature.
Phytochemical Analysis of Secondary Metabolites and Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Centella asiatica (L.) by UV-Vis Spectroscopy
Authors: Chakravarty Shouvik , Sultana Kaniz W. , Das Sumanta , Chandra Indrani
Published: August 2020

Background::

Centella asiatica (L.) is an herbaceous, frost-tender perennial plant belonging
to the Apiaceae family. It is rich in important secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, flavonoids and
saponins. It is used as a traditional medicine for skin infection, cough and asthma.

Methods:

The present study was intended at the quantitative and qualitative analysis of its secondary
metabolites. Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) was performed to separate the compounds according
to their Rf (Retention factor) values.

Results::

The total phenolic content of ethanol leaf extract was 45.72 ± 6.05 mg GAE/g determined by
Folin Ciocalteu’s assay. The maximum content of total flavonoids was found in aqueous leaf extract,
44.62 ± 2.45 mg QE/g. Aqueous extract of leaf and stem showed the highest antioxidant activity with
DPPH (2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging assay (45.66 ± 1.29 & 45.20 ± 3.0, respectively).

Conclusion::

The present study revealed the antioxidant properties in Centella asiatica.
Repurposing of Benzimidazole Scaffolds for HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Therapy: An In-Silico Approach
Authors: Jubie Selvaraj , Durai Uma , Latha Subbiah , Ayyamperumal Selvaraj , Wadhwani Ashish , Prabha Thangavelu
Published: August 2020

Background:

A newer trend has been seen recently to reuse the conventional drugs with
distinct indications for the newer applications to speed up the drug discovery and development
based on earlier records and safety data. Most of the non-cancerous agents could afford a little or
tolerable side effects in individuals. However, the repositioning of these non-cancerous agents for
successful anticancer therapy is an outstanding strategy for future anti-cancer drug development.
Since more diverse and selective cancer drug targets are being discovered and developed, the approved
drug collections are particularly useful to quickly identify clinically advanced anticancer
drugs against those targets.

Objective:

Antihelminthic drugs such as Mebendazole and Albendazole (Benzimidazole class)
have been reported to exhibit cytotoxicity (or anticancer activities) against several types of cancer.
Therefore, this study aims to repurpose the benzimidazole scaffold for breast cancer treatment.

Methods:

In the present study, three hydrazone analogs having a benzimidazole motif in their structural
frame were synthesized. Their in-silico binding studies against HER2 receptor (PDB ID:
4LQM) and ADMET studies were carried out using Accelrys drug discovery studio 4.1. Cytotoxicity
of the synthesized compounds against HER2 overexpressed MCF-7 cell lines was determined by
MTT assay.

Results:

One of the compounds 2-[2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazinylidene]-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazole
(U1) has shown good cytotoxicity when compared to the standard Lapatinib, which is a well
known HER2 inhibitor.

Conclusion:

Thus, the designed benzimidazole scaffold might serve as the best leads for treating
breast cancer, which is additionally confirmed by performing their docking study via Accelrys discovery
studio.
Adoption of Mobile Health Apps in Dietetic Practice: Case Study of Diyetkolik
Authors: Akdur Gorkem , Aydin Mehmet Nafiz , Akdur Gizdem
Published: August 2020

Background

Dietetics mobile health apps provide lifestyle tracking and support on demand. Mobile health has become a new trend for health service providers through which they have been shifting their services from clinical consultations to online apps. These apps usually offer basic features at no cost and charge a premium for advanced features. Although diet apps are now more common and have a larger user base, in general, there is a gap in literature addressing why users intend to use diet apps. We used Diyetkolik, Turkey’s most widely used online dietetics platform for 7 years, as a case study to understand the behavioral intentions of users.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence the behavioral intentions of users to adopt and use mobile health apps. We used the Technology Acceptance Model and extended it by exploring other factors such as price-value, perceived risk, and trust factors in order to assess the technology acceptance of users.

Methods

We conducted quantitative research on the Diyetkolik app users by using random sampling. Valid data samples gathered from 658 app users were analyzed statistically by applying structural equation modeling.

Results

Statistical findings suggested that perceived usefulness (P<.001), perceived ease of use (P<.001), trust (P<.001), and price-value (P<.001) had significant relationships with behavioral intention to use. However, no relationship between perceived risk and behavioral intention was found (P=.99). Additionally, there was no statistical significance for age (P=.09), gender (P=.98), or previous app use experience (P=.14) on the intention to use the app.

Conclusions

This research is an invaluable addition to Technology Acceptance Model literature. The results indicated that 2 external factors (trust and price-value) in addition to Technology Acceptance Model factors showed statistical relevance with behavioral intention to use and improved our understanding of user acceptance of a mobile health app. The third external factor (perceived risk) did not show any statistical relevance regarding behavioral intention to use. Most users of the Diyetkolik dietetics app were hesitant in purchasing dietitian services online. Users should be frequently reassured about the security of the platform and the authenticity of the platform’s dietitians to ensure that users’ interactions with the dietitians are based on trust for the platform and the brand.
Characterizing and Visualizing Display and Task Fragmentation in the Electronic Health Record: Mixed Methods Design
Authors: Senathirajah Yalini , Kaufman David R , Cato Kenrick D , Borycki Elizabeth M , Fawcett Jaime Allen , Kushniruk Andre W
Published: August 2020

Background

The complexity of health care data and workflow presents challenges to the study of usability in electronic health records (EHRs). Display fragmentation refers to the distribution of relevant data across different screens or otherwise far apart, requiring complex navigation for the user’s workflow. Task and information fragmentation also contribute to cognitive burden.

Objective

This study aims to define and analyze some of the main sources of fragmentation in EHR user interfaces (UIs); discuss relevant theoretical, historical, and practical considerations; and use granular microanalytic methods and visualization techniques to help us understand the nature of fragmentation and opportunities for EHR optimization or redesign.

Methods

Sunburst visualizations capture the EHR navigation structure, showing levels and sublevels of the navigation tree, allowing calculation of a new measure, the Display Fragmentation Index. Time belt visualizations present the sequences of subtasks and allow calculation of proportion per instance, a measure that quantifies task fragmentation. These measures can be used separately or in conjunction to compare EHRs as well as tasks and subtasks in workflows and identify opportunities for reductions in steps and fragmentation. We present an example use of the methods for comparison of 2 different EHR interfaces (commercial and composable) in which subjects apprehend the same patient case.

Results

Screen transitions were substantially reduced for the composable interface (from 43 to 14), whereas clicks (including scrolling) remained similar.

Conclusions

These methods can aid in our understanding of UI needs under complex conditions and tasks to optimize EHR workflows and redesign.
Ease of Use of the Electroconvulsive Therapy App by Its Users: Cross-Sectional Questionnaire Study
Authors: Khan Kinza , Basavarajappa Chethan , Kunigiri Girish
Published: August 2020

Background

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the oldest, most effective, and potentially life-saving noninvasive brain stimulation treatments for psychiatric illnesses such as severe depression, mania, and catatonia. The decision-making process to use ECT involves well-informed discussion between the clinician and the client. A platform, like an app, which provides this information in an easy-to-understand format may be of benefit to various stakeholders in making an informed decision. Apps developed by clinicians/hospitals taking into consideration user perspectives will filter and provide trustworthy information to the users. In this regard, the ECT app, an app which is freely available for download at the Apple Store, was developed by the Leicestershire Partnership National Health Service (NHS) Trust and Leicestershire Health Informatics Service (LHIS).

Objective

The objective of this study is to evaluate and demonstrate the accessibility of the ECT app to the chosen audiences it was created for, via a paper and electronic questionnaire.

Methods

A survey was conducted between January 2017 and March 2019. A survey questionnaire designed for the study was sent to mental health professionals, medical students, patients, carers, and members of the public via post, email, and SurveyMonkey or informed via posts shared in Psychiatry online groups and face-to-face contact. All participants who were willing to participate in the study were included.

Results

Results were collected via paper forms, email responses, and SurveyMonkey and all were inputted into SurveyMonkey to facilitate analysis. A total of 20 responses were received during the study period (January 2017 to March 2019). The participants of the survey, which included a mixed group of professionals (12/20, 60%), patients (3/20, 15%), and carers (1/20, 5%), opined that the app was easy to download (14/20, 70%) and use (9/20, 45%); contained adequate information (19/20, 95%); they felt more informed after having used the app (9/20, 45%); and they would recommend it to others (19/20, 95%). The participants of the survey also provided suggestions on the app (10/20, 50%).

Conclusions

The ECT app can be beneficial in sharing appropriate information to professionals and the public alike and help in gathering unbiased and nonjudgmental information on the current use of ECT as a treatment option.
Ethics of Digital Mental Health During COVID-19: Crisis and Opportunities (Preprint)
Authors: Martinez-Martin Nicole , Dasgupta Ishan , Carter Adrian , Chandler Jennifer A , Kellmeyer Philipp , Kreitmair Karola , Weiss Anthony , Cabrera Laura Y
Published: August 2020

UNSTRUCTURED

Social distancing measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic have accelerated the adoption and implementation of digital mental health tools. Psychiatry and therapy sessions are being conducted via videoconferencing platforms, and the use of digital mental health tools for monitoring and treatment has grown. This rapid shift to telehealth during the pandemic has given added urgency to the ethical challenges presented by digital mental health tools. Regulatory standards have been relaxed to allow this shift to socially distanced mental health care. It is imperative to ensure that the implementation of digital mental health tools, especially in the context of this crisis, is guided by ethical principles and abides by professional codes of conduct. This paper examines key areas for an ethical path forward in this digital mental health revolution: privacy and data protection, safety and accountability, and access and fairness.
Volksraad (People Council): Radicale Concentratie Political Arena and National Fraction, 1918-1942
Authors: Rohmadi Nazirwan , Warto Warto
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the legislative institutions callled Volksraad established by the Dutch East Indies, which further used by the nationalist-moderate to achieve the national  independence of Indonesia. Historical method was used in this research. The historical method is distinguished into several stages, namely heuristic, critic, analysis, and historiography. Indonesia’s political figures established Radicale Concentratie to unite in order to achieve independence. Radicale Concentratie put a great pressure on the Dutch East Indies government. Radicale Concentratie no longer operated because of some conflicts that occurred among its members and the arrests done by the Dutch East Indies government. Radicale Concentratie’s struggle was continued by National Fraction which was established on 27 January 1930. The proposition of National Fraction that was fulfilled was the change in the nomenclatur of Indlander to Indonesisch. National Fraction often turned down the budget plan proposed by the Governor-General in preparing for the Second World War. This is because the Dutch East Indies fleet was funded by Indonesian taxes and the taxes were planned to be increased in order to win the war.
Komodo Dragon Attacks: The Changing of Human and Environment Relations
Authors: Sudibyo Dian Lintang
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the issue of Komodo Dragon attacks on humans from an anthropological perspective. Wild animal attacks are often regarded as a result of human-wildlife ecological conflict. Humans, in their pursuit of economic expansion, often sacrifice the habitat of fauna, resulting in disturbances to food chain stability in the local ecosystem. It has been said that due to the increased difficulty of finding prey as a result, predators turn to humans instead, which is not part of the natural food chain. However, this research (based on observations on Rinca Island, Komodo National Park in 2013) finds that this explanation is not always correct. In the case of Komodo National Park, a conservation area primarily established to secure the availability of Komodo Dragon prey, the fact that there are still cases of dragons attacking humans throws weight against the idea that dragons are merely supplementing their natural diet. Rather, this paper argues that these attacks come as a result of the creation of spaces that changes the human relationship with the natural environment.
Redefining the Success of Education: Where Indonesia Has Excelled and Where It Has Not
Authors: Wijaya Henry
Published: August 2020

How do we define the state of Indonesia’s national education? On one hand, Indonesian students have always performed lamentably in international standardized tests. In the latest 2015 PISA test, their performance in Science, Mathematics, and Reading was among the lowest, with the average ranking of 62 out of the 70 participating countries (OECD, 2016). On the other hand, Indonesia’s enrollment rates for primary education have always been higher than 97% for the past decade (Statistics Indonesia, 2018), with the Gross Enrollment Ratio even reaching 103.45% in 2016 (World Bank, 2016). With such polarizing results, it is not easy to give a clear-cut answer to above question. However, in retrospect, should the success of Indonesia’s education be measured merely by numbers, in isolation from how it could socioculturally and politically impacted its citizens? Multiple societal tensions, as well as the looming 2019 election, should actually inform us how education should and could play a larger role in countering currently growing conservatism. This paper will first lay out multiple facets of Indonesia’s national education—examining whether one area has fared better than the others—before making a case for the other role that Indonesia’s education policy has not yet pondered, let alone incorporated. Ultimately, this paper expects to contribute to the wider discussion of the overarching question: how the success of national education should be (re-)defined.
Public Anthropology in the United States and Indonesia
Authors: Subkhan Imam
Published: August 2020

This paper discusses the development of public anthropology in the United States and Indonesia. Drawing on literature reviews and archive studies, this article argues that public anthropology needs to be considered as a pragmatic strategy to elevate the position of anthropology in the public realm, and make it relevant to society. As a scholarly concept, public anthropology in Indonesia is not as popular as in the United States relative to applied anthropology. However, its individual and institutional practices have been flourishing in the last decade, including collaborative works and community engagement, publishing scholarship beyond conventional academic forms, active involvement in contemporary human problems, and efforts to influence public policies. To foster Indonesian public anthropology, an academic promotion system that gives more appreciation to public scholarship should be encouraged. Academic anthropologists may also take the initiative to include public anthropology in the anthropology curriculum. Moreover, the Indonesian Anthropological Association (AAI) can facilitate and promote public anthropology in broader public debates, and maintain its active role in defending humanity.
The Inclusive Education for Deaf Children in Primary, Secondary and Preparatory Schools in Gondar, Ethiopia
Authors: Tedla Tadesse , Negassa Dawit
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the current experiences of deaf children in upper primary, secondary and preparatory schools in Gondar City Administration, Ethiopia. A phenomenological study design with qualitative inquiry approach was used. The main tool used for the study was a semi-structured interview guide, which was developed out of comprehensive review of literature for data collection. Out of the thirty deaf children in the study (26 children from grades 5 to 8 and four children from grades 9 to 12), nine were selected through purposive and available sampling techniques from upper primary, secondary and preparatory schools respectively. The data collected were thematically analyzed though the academic dimension points. Results indicated that the deaf children were not academically included at par with the other students, though they were able to receive support from their peers and were active participants in extra-curricular activities. The deaf children were found suffering from communication barrier, unsuitable and non-varied teaching methodologies and lower expectations on the ability of the deaf children from side of teachers. And, the children were also challenged with the absence of sig language interpreters in their classes and the current text books which they deaf children used to study are lacking the incorporations of adequate pictures. Recommendations such as sign language training for teachers and peers, recruitment of sign language interpreters, acquisition of suitable teaching-learning materials along with adequate training of teachers in using effective and varied methodologies for deaf children have been forwarded.
Air Quality Management for Electroplating Industry for Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Maharashtra—Air Quality Management for Electroplating Industry
Authors: Gore Yogesh , Kumar Awkash
Published: August 2020

Electroplating is considered to be a major polluting industry because it discharges toxic materials and heavy metals through effluent like wastewater, air emissions and solid wastes. There are many registered electroplating units in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The quantities of gaseous wastes generated from these industries were estimated and the existing control and treatment techniques for these gaseous wastes were evaluated. Further, Air Quality Modeling (AQM) study was also carried out to predict the concentration of acid mist with the help of emission, characteristics of stack and meteorology. A Gaussian plume model based SCREEN View software was used to predict concentrations for two industries which showed that the acid mist emissions from stack were under the consented limits. Further, health impact survey was performed at 1km radius of the industry to study the effects of air pollution on human health. It showed that 47%, 40% and 57% workers near the electroplating industries are suffering from chest pain, eye irritation and breathlessness respectively. Clustering of electroplating industries in the MMR will improve the waste management in the region. Installation of efficient air pollution control equipment like wet scrubbers can eliminate the hazards caused due to acid mist emissions from electroplating industries.
English Pedagogical Grammar: Teaching Present Perfect and Present Perfect Continuous by Deductive and Inductive Approaches
Authors: Liu Linlin
Published: August 2020

This research endeavor aims to present the English Pedagogical Grammar Teaching, discussing the use and form of the present perfect and present perfect continuous tenses, and the regular verbs’ past participle and irregular verbs’ past participle. The study is based on two main assumptions that cause difficulties for learners of English, namely, the forms of verbs and the difficulty of distinguishing between the present from the past simple tenses. The study discusses the use of deductive and inductive approaches in English pedagogical grammar teaching, and evaluates these approaches from A-factor and E-factor description. Overall results of the analysis show that the deductive and inductive approaches are helpful in language teaching and learning. And the forms of verbs and differences between the present and past simple tense made English learning difficult. By using appropriate teaching methods, English grammar can be taught and learned in an efficient way.