bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Status and manifestations of sleep disorders and the status of drugs used to help fall sleep in Chinese breast cancer women at initial diagnosis and during chemotherapy
Authors: Zou Baoshan , Li Hong , Liu Jiashuo , Xu Zhou , Chen Haoran , Li Hao , Wu Kainan , Kong Lingquan
Published: October 2019

Purpose This study was designed to investigate the status and manifestations of sleep disorders and the status of drugs used to help fall sleep in Chinese breast cancer women at initial diagnosis and during chemotherapy. Patients and Methods Totally 308 primary breast cancer women were enrolled. The status and manifestations of sleep disorders and the status of drugs used to help fall sleep in the above breast cancer patients were assessed via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Result The prevalence of sleep disorders in patients at the time of initial diagnosis with breast cancer was approximately 50% (97/194), which was significantly lower than that (65.8%, 75/114) in breast cancer patients before the last cycle of chemotherapy (p＜0.05) . However, both groups of patients rarely used drugs to help them fall sleep (P>0.05). The mean scores for sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, and daytime dysfunction (1.68, 1.08, 1.65, 1.37) in breast cancer patients prior to the last cycle of chemotherapy were obviously worse than those (1.29, 0.71, 1.26, 1.01) in breast cancer patients at the time of initial diagnosis (p<0.05). Conclusion Chemotherapy mainly affects the sleep latency, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbance, daytime dysfunction in breast cancer patients. Chinese breast cancer patients rarely use drugs to intervene sleep disorders.
Methadone-Induced Encephalopathy: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Haghighi-Morad Maryam , Naseri Zahra , Jamshidi Nazila , Hassanian-Moghaddam Hossein , Zamani Nasim , Ahmad-Molaei Leila
Published: October 2019

Background: Accidental ingestion or consumption of supra-therapeutic doses of methadone can result in neurological sequelae in humans. We aimed to determine the neurological deficits of methadone-poisoned patients admitted to a referral poisoning hospital using the brain magnetic resonance (MR) and diffusion weighted (DW) imaging.Methods: In this retrospective study, brain MRIs of the patients admitted to our referral center due to methadone intoxication were reviewed. Methadone intoxication was confirmed based on history, congruent clinical presentation, and confirmatory urine analysis tests. Each patient had an MRI with Echo planar T1, T2, FLAIR, and DWI and apparent deficient coefficient (ADC) sequences without contrast media. Abnormalities were recorded and categorized based on their anatomic location and sequence. Results: Ten patients with abnormal MRI findings were identified. Eight had acute- and two had delayed-onset encephalopathy. Imaging findings included bilateral confluent or patchy T2 and FLAIR high signal intensity in cerebral white matter, cerebellar involvement, and bilateral occipito-parietal cortex diffusion restriction in DWI. Internal capsule involvement was identified in two patients while abnormality in globus pallidus and head of caudate nuclei were reported in another one. Bilateral cerebral symmetrical confluent white matter signal abnormality with sparing of subcortical U-fibers on T2 and FLAIR sequences were observed in both patients with delayed-onset encephalopathy.Conclusions: Acute- and delayed-onset encephalopathies are two rare adverse events detected in methadone-intoxicated patients. Brain MRI findings can be helpful in detection of methadone-induced encephalopathy.
The relationship between metabolic syndrome and increased risk of Barrett's esophagus: An Updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Karimian Mohammad , Salamati Majid , Azami Milad
Published: October 2019

Background: The relationship between MetS and Barrett's esophagus (BE) is still a challenging issue, and inconsistent results have been reported in different studies. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the relationship between MetS and BE. Methods: In this study, we followed the MOOSE protocol and the PRISMA guidelines for reporting the results. All study steps were performed independently by two authors. If necessary, the dispute was resolved by consultation with a third author. The search strategy is designed to find published studies. Comprehensive search was done in the following biomedical databases until July 2019: Cochrane Library, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Science Direct, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, EBSCO, and Google Scholar search engine. All analyses were performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software Ver.2, while p-value lower than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: In 14 studies with a sample size of 108416, MetS significantly increased the risk of BE (OR=1.315; 95% CI: 1.110-1.558; P<0.001; Heterogeneity: I 2 = 81.55; P<0.001). Sensitivity analysis by omitting one study showed that overall estimates are still robust. Subgroup analysis was significant for continent (P<0.001) and MetS diagnostic criteria (P=0.043), but was not significant for variables of study type (P=0.899), study setting (P=0.115), control groups (P=0.671) and quality of studies (P=0.603). The Begg (P=0.912) and Egger's (P=0.094) tests were not significant; therefore, the publication bias did not play a role in the results. Conclusion: MetS increases the risk of BE compared to control groups. Future studies should examine whether treatment for metabolic syndrome reduces the risk of BE.
Self-Analysis of Repeat Proteins Reveals Evolutionarily Conserved Patterns
Authors: Merski Matthew , Młynarczyk Krzysztof , Ludwiczak Jan , Skrzeczkowski Jakub , Dunin-Horkawicz Stanisław , Górna Maria W.
Published: October 2019

Background Protein repeats can confound sequence analyses due to the repetitiveness of their amino acid sequences leading to difficulties in identifying when similar repeats are due to convergent or divergent evolution. We noted that the patterns derived from traditional dot plot protein self-analysis tended to be conserved in sets of related repeat proteins and this conservation could be quantified using a standard Jaccard metric.Results Use of these plots obviated the issues due to sequence similarity for analysis of these proteins. The dot plot patterns decay quickly in the absence of selective pressure with an expected loss of 50% of Jaccard similarity due to a loss of 8.2% sequence identity. Comparison of repeat and non-repeat proteins in the PDB suggested that the information content in dot plots could be used to identify repeat proteins from pure sequence. Analysis of the UniProt90 database suggested that 16.9% of all known proteins could be classified as repeat proteins. These 13.3 million putative repeat protein chains were clustered and significant amount (82.9%) of clusters containing between 5 and 200 members were of a single functional type.Conclusions Dot plot analysis of repeat proteins obviates the issues that arise from sequence degeneracy. These results show that this kind of analysis can efficiently be applied to analyze repeat proteins on a large scale.
Validation and evaluation of common biomarker in human cancers sera protein detected by a monoclonal antibody UNIVMab
Authors: Dandi Manjunath , Kumaraswamy Sunil B , V Shashidhara A , Appaiah Hitesh N , Thomas Anil , BANERJEE SHIBDAS
Published: October 2019

Objective: Management and diagnosis of multiple human cancers remain a challenge and search for a common biomarker are still debatable. We described a method and evaluated the use of monoclonal antibody UNIVMab, to detect the protein (H11) as a common biomarker for all cancer irrespective of grade and origin . H11 protein identified as a unique Hyaluronan binding protein not detected earlier. We applied this test both with ELISA, Western blot, fractionated in anion exchange, cibacron gel exclusion, b-Hyaluronan interaction and HA-Oligo competition from various grades of Human cancers sera and processed for the detection of hyaluronan binding protein H11, reacted with Monoclonal antibody UNIVMab and with b-HA. Results: Studies from ELISA, Western blot and b-Hyaluronan interactions showed a definitive positive over-expression of UNIVMab reacted H11 antigen in all fortyfive cancer sera compared to normal sera and can be used as a common biomarker. We believe, UNIVMab detected H11 antigen, a unique hyaluronan binding protein, is a common biomarker for all cancer sera. Keywords: ELISA, Western blot, Hyaluronic acid binding protein, H11 (sera antigen), UNIVMab. Common Biomarker, Cancers Sera
Forecasting incidence of infectious diarrhea using Random forest in Jiangsu province, China
Authors: Fang Xinyu , Liu Wendong , Ai Jing , Wu Ying , Shi Yingying , Shen Wenqi , Bao Changjun
Published: October 2019

Background: Infectious diarrhea caused considerable disease burden around the world. An accurate forecast of infectious diarrhea epidemic based on predictive models is crucial for public health authorities. We aimed to develop an optimal random forest（RF）model to predict infectious diarrhea incidence using meteorological factors in Jiangsu province, China. Methods: A RF model was constructed to predict infectious diarrhea incidence in Jiangsu province base on the morbidity during 2012-2017 and synchronous meteorological data, then compared with classical ARIMA and ARIMAX model to evaluate the model prediction effect. Results: The RF model was established including atmosphere pressure, precipitation, relative humidity and their lagged terms, one to four weeks lagged morbidity and time variable as predictors. Meanwhile, a univariate model ARIMA(1,0,1)(1,0,0) 52 (AIC=-575.92, BIC=-558.14) and a multivariable model ARIMAX(1,0,1)(1,0,0) 52 with precipitation and its one-week lagged term as external variables (AIC=-578.58, BIC=-578.13) were developed as benchmark models. Predictive values of RF model matched the real morbidity very well, with a mean absolute percentage (MAPE) about 20%. The performance of the multivariate ARIMAX model was similar to that of the univariate ARIMA model. Both of them performed much worse than the RF model, with a MAPE as high as near to 30%. Conclusions: In brief, RF model well integrated autocorrelation and seasonality of morbidity. It also comprehensively combined meteorological factors and their hysteresis effects. This model well fitted the dynamic of infectious diarrhea epidemic and achieved ideal predication accuracy. It could be used to predict the epidemic level, and has a good prospect of practical application.
Transcriptome Analysis of Photosynthetic Characteristics was Induced by Low Temperature Stress in Brassica napus L.
Authors: Jiaojiao Jin , Zigang Liu , Wenbo Mi , Wancang Sun , Junyan Wu , Yan Fang , Xuecai Li , Lijun Liu , Ya Zou , Mingxia Xu , Chunmei Xu
Published: October 2019

Background RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) technique could be utilized to compare the transcription groups of two different cold-resistant rapeseed leaves responding to low temperature at the seedling stage, analyze the photosynthetic characteristics of rapeseed subjected to low temperature stress, and identify the related genes for low temperature induction in rapeseed leaves. Results Using cold-tolerant variety 17NS and sensitive variety NF24 as experimental materials, carrying out RNA-Seq analysis by photosynthetic parameter determination and Illumina HiSeqTM platform. and screen out the KEGG significant enrichment pathway related to photosynthetic characteristics under low temperature stress. Differential Expressed Genes (DEGs) were used for real-time PCR to verify the reliability of RNA-Seq results. The results showed that the response of Brassica napus L. to low temperature stress mainly was achieved by inhibiting photosynthesis, the cold-tolerant variety 17NS had a strong ability to maintain membrane system stability and structural integrity after 24 h of low temperature stress, while the sensitive variety NF24 photosynthesis was significantly inhibited. Two pathways of Photosynthesis and Photosynthesis-antennas, which were significantly correlated with photosynthetic characteristics and low temperature stress were screened by KEGG enrichment. The results of DEGs indicated that 64 differentially expressed genes in these two pathways were induced by low temperature stress, and 8 of them were up-regulated expression and 56 of them were down-regulated expression. The expression pattern of DEGs was consistent with the results of RNA-Seq analysis by qRT-PCR detection and confirmed the reliability of RNA-Seq results. Conclusion Our study analysis and identified 17 low-temperature-induced photosynthetic-related candidate genes in Brassica napus L., and the GO and KEGG metabolic pathways clarified the molecular function of differentially expressed genes.
Prospects for the reduction of the patient doses based on the optimization of the CT abdomen protocols for the different types of malignancies
Authors: Bashkov A. N. , Sheykh Zh. V. , Voskanyan S. E. , Dunaev A. P. , Popov M. V. , Udalov Yu. D. , Samoylov A. S.
Published: October 2019

Reducing radiation exposure in computed tomography is a relevant medical task due to the growing number of studies and the lack of generally accepted approaches to their conduct in the radiological community. One way to reduce the effective dose in contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen is to optimize the protocol of examination, which can include four scans: in the native, arterial, venous and delayed phases. However while providing repeated studies in patients with oncological diseases, it is possible to confine one or two phases, which will allow the radiologist to visualize observed pathological changes and to evaluate the response to the treatment, as well as detect the recurrence in case of the monitoring of the patients. In the present study, two groups were formed on the basis of a sample of 514 patients. In group 1 (control), CTB was performed according to a three- or four-phase protocol. In group 2, the same patients with an interval from 1 to 5.5 months were performed with computed tomography -OBP according to a single or two-phase protocol depending on the degree of vascularization of the tumor tissue and the clinical situation. At the same time, a decrease in the average effective dose in patients in group 2 compared with group 1 was demonstrated by 63% (p<0.05). In all cases, the various pathological changes that characterize the oncological process and were diagnosed with a three- or four-phase protocol were visualized with a single- or two-phase protocol. Thus, the informative value of computed tomography examination did not decrease.
Quality of water sources in Southwestern Uganda using the compartment bag test (CBT): a cross-sectional descriptive study
Authors: Apecu Richard Onyuthi , Ampaire Lucas , Mulogo Edgar Mugema , Bagenda Fred Norman , Traore Afsatou , Potgieter Natasha
Published: October 2019

The aim of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of water sources in the two rural areas of Uganda using the compartment bag test (CBT). In total, 200 water samples were collected from 69 different water sources and processed within 6 h of collection. Positive and negative controls were processed each day together with water samples. Physical parameters were measured in situ. Descriptive statistics were used to generate mean, minimum, maximum, standard deviations and percentages. The results indicated that 29% of the water sources met the National Standards and World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for drinking water. Sixty percent of the borehole, 44% of gravitational flow taps and 14% of roof rain water met the required standards. Of the open water sources, 75% of the rivers, 50% of open channels and 43% of unprotected dug wells plus 25% of protected springs and 9% of gravitational flow schemes had most probable number counts >100 Escherichia coli/100 mL of water. Most of the water sources in the study areas were not fit for human consumption without prior treatment. The CBT was found to be robust and easy to use in all field situations. The mean physical parameters of water sources were within the acceptable limits.
Soil erosion in disturbed forests and agricultural plantations in tropical undulating terrain: in situ measurement using a laser erosion bridge method
Authors: Mohamad N. A. , Nainar A. , Annammala K. V. , Sugumaran D. , Jamal M. H. , Yusop Z.
Published: October 2019

The rapid growth of agricultural plantations and climatic extremes has raised concerns pertaining to enhanced soil erosion. Soil erosion studies are still relatively limited in Malaysia. In this study, soil erosion in four sites such as high conservation value forests (HCVFs), logged forest (LF), mature oil palm (MOP), and mature rubber (MR) within the Kelantan River Basin was measured. A total of 3,207 measurements were conducted via the Modified Laser Erosion Bridge in all sites over 1 year. Results of soil erosion are 87.63, 25.45, 8.44, and 5.90 t ha−1 yr−1 for the HCVF, LF, MOP and MR, respectively – classified as very severe (HCVF), very high (LF), moderate (MP) and slight (MR) according to the Indian condition classification. Steep slope gradient (significant positive correlation to erosion) and logging are the main factors attributed to the high erosion rates. This is to be further explored in the future and more detailed studies should be conducted on the HCVF and LF areas, respectively. Mitigation measures and sustainable agricultural practices should be planned to control and reduce soil erosion.
Energy consumption in a baffled membrane bioreactor (B-MBR): estimation based on long-term continuous operation
Authors: Miyoshi T. , Nguyen T. P. , Tsumuraya T. , Kimura K. , Watanabe Y.
Published: October 2019

We investigated the operating conditions of a baffled membrane bioreactor (B-MBR) under which long-term stable operation can be achieved through the continuous operation of a pilot-scale B-MBR. Under appropriate operating conditions, the B-MBR was capable of achieving excellent treated water quality in terms of biochemical oxygen demand and concentration of total nitrogen. Excellent removal of total phosphorus was also achieved. In addition, the degree of membrane fouling was acceptable, indicating that stable continuous operation of a B-MBR is possible under the operating conditions adopted in the present study. Estimation of the specific energy consumption in hypothetical full-scale B-MBRs operated under the conditions recommended by the findings was also performed in this study. The results suggest that energy consumption in full-scale B-MBRs would be in the range of 0.20–0.22 kWh/m3. These results strongly suggest that energy consumption in MBR operation can be significantly reduced by applying the concept of a B-MBR.
Role of Ischemia Modified Albumin Serum Levels as an Oxidative Stress Marker in Children with Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Authors: Yazıcı Mutlu U. , Ayar Ganime , Savas-Erdeve Senay , Azapağası Ebru , Neşelioğlu Salim , Erel Özcan , Çetinkaya Semra
Published: October 2019

Aim and Objective:

Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) is a biomarker that has been introduced
recently for use in the evaluation of oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to measure the ischemia
modified albumin serum levels in pediatric patients with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during acidosis and
after the patient recovered from acidosis and to compare these with the control group.

Materials and Methods:

Pediatric patients with Type I diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who were admitted
to the pediatric intensive care unit with the diabetic ketoacidosis were assigned as the study group and
healthy children who were admitted to the outpatient clinic and decided as healthy after clinic and
laboratory evaluation were selected as the control group. IMA and adjusted IMA levels were evaluated
in the blood samples from the control group and the study group when admitted first time to the
intensive care unit during the acidosis period (DKA before treatment, DKA-BT), and after recovering
from acidosis (DKA after treatment, DKA-AT).

Results:

A total of 24 pediatric patients with diabetic ketoacidosis and 30 healthy control children
matching age and sex were included in the current study. The albumin levels in pediatric patients with
T1DM during DKA-BT were higher than the albumin levels after acidosis (4.101±0.373, 3.854±0.369
g/dL, respectively) (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference when these values were
compared to the control group. Mean values of IMA and Adj-IMA were statistically higher in DKAAT
compared to the control group (0.748±0.150 vs 0.591±0.099, p< 0.001; 0.708±0.125 vs
0.607±0.824, p< 0.001, respectively). IMA and adjusted IMA levels measured after recovered from
acidosis were significantly higher compared to the level of IMA during DKA (0.748±0.150 vs
0.606±0.105 as absorbance unit, p<0.001; 0.708±0.125 vs 0.625±0.100, p<0.05, respectively).

Conclusion:

In children with T1DM, even though acidosis recovered following the treatment in
diabetic ketoacidosis, which is an oxidative stress marker, the ischemia modified albumin levels and
adjusted ischemia modified albumin levels were high.
Change in Quality of Life of OSAHS Patients with Minimally Invasive Surgery or CPAP Therapy: A 2-year Retrospective, Single-center Parallel-group Study
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Qing , Zhao Xin , Hong Pei-Wei , Zhou Jin , Zeng Ping , Liu Cong , Li Xiao-ying , Zhao Yang , Jiang Li-Qiong
Published: October 2019

Background:

By including untreated obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome
(OSAHS) patients as the control group, this study explores the influence of minimally invasive
surgical treatment and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on OSAHS patients,
with the subjective and objective performance. The study also discusses their relationship,
determines the effect factor, and provides a simple and practical method for evaluation of clinical
efficacy.

Methods:

A total of 90 OSAHS patients, who were diagnosed in the Sleep Disorders Diagnosis and
Treatment Center of Sichuan Province from May 2014 to May 2016, were selected for the present
study. These patients were divided into three groups: surgery group, CPAP group, and untreated
group. These patients were followed up at six months, one year, and two years, respectively. The
physiological indicators, clinical symptoms, degree of daytime sleepiness and quality of life were
compared among these three groups. The daytime sleepiness and the quality of life before and
after minimally invasive surgery and CPAP treatment were evaluated, and the subjective and
objective efficacy of surgery and CPAP treatment was explored.

Results:

Among these 90 patients, 11 (12.2%) patients had hypertension, while two (2.2%) patients had
diabetes. The average AHI score was 50.53±23.39 per hour, and the mean minimum oxygen saturation
and mean oxygen saturation was 71.25±14.16% and 90.13±5.90%, respectively. There were statistically
significant differences in mouth breathing, morning sore throat and daytime sleepiness in the group
having received surgery at 0.5 year and one year. In the CPAP group, there were statistically significant
differences in mouth breathing, morning sore throat and daytime sleepiness at 0.5 year, one year and two
years. Moreover, there were statistically significant differences in memory loss at one year and two years,
and there were statistically significant differences in frequent nocturia at one year. The ESS value in the
surgery group decreased at 0.5 year and one year, but increased at two years. The situation was the
same in terms of the total points and in each dimension of the SF-36 paramter. The delta values of ESS
among the three groups had statistical significance at 0.5 year, one year and two years, in which the
CPAP group experienced the most changes, followed by the surgery group and the group received
health education.

Conclusions:

For minimally invasive surgery, CPAP therapy and health education can improve
daytime sleepiness and quality of life. CPAP therapy was found to be the most effective, followed
by minimally invasive surgery and provision of health education. However, the treatment of OSAHS
should be comprehensive.
Identification of Novel Sesamol Dimers with Unusual Methylenedioxy Ring-Opening Skeleton and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Murthy Sudtha , Hazli Ummi H.A.M. , Kong Kin W. , Mai Chun-Wai , Leong Chee-Onn , Rahman Noorsaadah A. , Lo Kong M. , Chee Chin F.
Published: October 2019

Background:

Sesamol is a widely used antioxidant for the food and pharmaceutical industries. The
oxidation products of this compound may be accumulated in foods or ingested. Little is known about its effect
on human health.

Objective:

It is of great interest to identify the oxidation products of sesamol that may be beneficial to humans.
This study was undertaken to identify the oxidation products of sesamol and investigate their antioxidant and
cytotoxic activities.

Materials and Methods:

Using the ferricyanide oxidation approach, four oxidation products of sesamol (2, 3,
20 & 21) have been identified. Structural elucidation of these compounds was established on the basis of their
detailed NMR spectroscopic analysis, mass spectrometry and x-ray crystallography. Additionally, a formation
mechanism of compound 20 was proposed based on high-resolution mass spectrometry-fragmentation method.
The antioxidant activities of these compounds were determined by the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The
in vitro antiproliferative activity of these compounds was evaluated against a panel of human cancer cell lines
as well as non-cancerous cells.

Results:

Two oxidation products of sesamol were found to contain an unusual methylenedioxy ring-opening
skeleton, as evidenced by spectroscopic and x-ray crystallographic data. Among all compounds, 20 displayed
impressive antiproliferative activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines yet remained non-toxic to noncancerous
cells. The antioxidant activities of compound 20 are significantly weaker than sesamol as determined
by the DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays.

Conclusion::

The oxidation products of sesamol could be a valuable source of bioactive molecules. Compound
20 may be used as a potential lead molecule for cancer studies.
Prenatal Administration of Betamethasone and Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Multifetal Pregnancies: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Abbasalizadeh Fatemeh , Pouya Khadijeh , Zakeri Raana , Asgari-Arbat Rana , Abbasalizadeh Shamsi , Parnianfard Neda
Published: October 2019

Background:

Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS) is one of the most frequent
causes of neonatal mortality especially in premature infants. Although it has been well established
that maternal antenatal corticosteroid therapy has a positive effect on NRDS reduction, yet
the effectiveness of this treatment in multifetal pregnancies is dubious.

Objective:

We aimed to investigate the effect of betamethasone therapy on the incidence of NRDS
in multifetal pregnancies through a randomized controlled trial.

Method:

140 women with a multifetal pregnancy at less than 28 weeks’ gestational age were randomly
allocated into intervention and control groups. Women at the intervention group received
intramuscularly betamethasone (12 mg/kg/BW twice). Neonatal outcomes were evaluated between
two groups of intervention and control, and two subgroups of preterm and term births. This study is
registered with the Iranian Clinical Trials Registry, number IRCT20180227038879N1.

Result:

The incidence of NRDS was significantly lower in infants of betamethasone group than the
ones in the control group (4.9% vs 18.1%, P=0.034) while it did not show a significant reduction in
preterm infants compared to mature ones. Also, the intervention group presented a significant lower
neonatal ventilation than the control group (47.2% vs 63.2%, P=0.041). Other neonatal outcomes,
including age at birth, birth weight, Apgar score, NICU admission, and the number of mortalities
were not significantly different between study groups.

Conclusion:

Betamethasone therapy during 28-32 weeks of gestation in multifetal pregnancies was
associated with better neonatal outcomes through significant reductions in NRDS incidence and
requiring ventilator treatment. However, betamethasone administration did not reduce the chance of
NRDS in premature infants.
The Emergence of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Resistance in Escherichia coli Isolated from Hospitals of Qazvin, Iran
Authors: Habibollah-Pourzereshki Narges , Peymani Amir , Keshavarz-Saleh Fatemeh
Published: October 2019

Introduction:

Escherichia coli is one of the most important agents involved in healthcare-associated infection, and resistance to quantum ammonium compounds (QACs) has become a major challenge for infection control practitioners. The aim of the current study was to determine the frequency of qacE and qacEΔ1 genes in E. coli isolated from hospitalized patients in Qazvin, Iran.

Material and Methods:

In the current cross-sectional study, 102 E. coli were collected from hospitals of Qazvin. All bacterial isolates were identified using standard laboratory methods and the antimicrobial susceptibility was evaluated by Kirby-Baer test. The presence of qacE and qacEΔ1 genes was investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique.

Results:

In this study, 65 (63.7%) isolates showed a multidrug resistance (MDR) pattern which was resistant to at least three classes of antimicrobials including ß-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones. The highest rates of resistance were observed against cefotaxime (75.5%) and nalidixic acid (66.7%). The PCR showed that 5 (4.9%) isolates harbored qacE gene, 62 (60.8%) isolates qacEΔ1, and 10 (9.8%) isolates carried both genes, simultaneously. There was a significant relationship between the QACs resistance and MDR pattern (P=0.03).

Conclusion:

This study indicated a significant resistance rate against disinfectant compounds in the studied hospitals. However, more attention should be paid to this critical issue in the infection control committees of the hospitals.
A Review on Visual Odometry Techniques for Mobile Robots: Types and Challenges
Authors: Thapa Vikas , Sharma Abhishek , Gairola Beena , Mondal Amit K. , Devalla Vindhya , Patel Ravi K.
Published: October 2019

For autonomous navigation, tracking and obstacle avoidance, a mobile robot must have
the knowledge of its position and localization over time. Among the available techniques for
odometry, vision-based odometry is robust and economical technique. In addition, a combination of
position estimation from odometry with interpretations of the surroundings using a mobile camera is
effective. This paper presents an overview of current visual odometry approaches, applications, and
challenges in mobile robots. The study offers a comparative analysis of different available techniques
and algorithms associated with it, emphasizing on its efficiency and other feature extraction
capability, applications and optimality of various techniques.
Substantiation of the Results of Morphological Examination of the Urinary Bladder Wall in Experimental Diabetic Cystopathy
Authors: Tokaruk Nadiya
Published: October 2019

Measurement of consumed water and daily diuresis proved the pathomorphological manifestations of streptozotocin-induced cystopathy in the experiment on rats according to the results of biochemical studies of blood and urine.

It is argued that the desquamation of cells in the transitional epithelium, its atrophy, stratification violation, and baring of the basal membrane are caused by a large volume of urine, which excessively stretches the urinary bladder, destroying the intercellular contacts of the urothelial layer. It is proved that primary hyperglycemia leads to widening of the lumen of the arterioles and moderate thickening of the basal membrane of the micro-hemovessels, and high chronic hyperglycemia – directly triggers the whole cascade of pathomorphological changes: on the 42nd day of the experiment it causes vasoconstriction of the arterioles, and at the later terms – the secondary expansion of the arterioles and venules of the microcirculatory bed of UB (urinary bladder); is the cause of dystrophic changes of endothelial cells, further thickening and lamellar transformation of the basal membrane and plasma permeation of the perivascular connective tissue; causes the appearance of dark involutional myocytes with few organelles and sarcoplasm sequestration.

Hydropic dystrophy of smooth myocytes has been found to be associated with the hydration of blood plasma as a result of excessive polydipsia in diabetic animals, and vacuole dystrophy of urothelial cells, enlargement of their size and interstitial edema – with low specific urinary density due to the multiple fast increase of diuresis. It has been established that prolonged high glucosuria and decreased diuresis lead to a decrease in urothelial cell size, compaction of their cytoplasm and ultrastructural readjustment. The increase of the content of glycosylated hemoglobin during the experiment justified the appearance and increase of the sludge-syndrome.
Perceptions of eHealth-Enabled Physical Activity Interventions Among Cancer Survivors: Mixed Methods Study (Preprint)
Authors: Haberlin Ciaran , O' Donnell Dearbhaile M , Moran Jonathan , Broderick Julie
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND

Achieving adequate levels of physical activity (PA) is especially important for cancer survivors to mitigate the side effects of cancer and its treatment as well as for other health benefits. Electronic health (eHealth)-based PA interventions may offer feasible alternatives to traditionally delivered programs and optimize physical recovery after a cancer diagnosis, but perspectives of cancer survivors on this new delivery medium have not been extensively explored.

OBJECTIVE

The overall aim was to explore participants’ perspectives of eHealth-enabled PA interventions to inform the design of a future intervention among cancer survivors.

METHODS

The study took place in a designated cancer center in Dublin, Ireland. A preceding questionnaire-based study was conducted primarily to establish interest in participating in subsequent eHealth-based studies. A follow-on focus group study was conducted to explore the concept of eHealth-based PA interventions for cancer survivors. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

The questionnaire-based study (N=102) indicated that participants had a high level of interest in participating in follow-on eHealth-based studies. The focus group study (n=23) indicated that, despite some trepidation, overall positivity was expressed by participants toward the concept of eHealth-based PA interventions. Four themes were generated: (1) Health impact, including PA as a barrier and as a motivating factor, (2) Education needs, which emphasized the need for integrated information about PA and to increase technical literacy, (3) Goal setting, which should be integrated within the technical specification as a motivating factor, and (4) Support needs, as well as the importance of personalized human interaction, in tandem with technology.

CONCLUSIONS

Qualitative research at the pretrial phase adds value to the design of a complex intervention and is especially useful in an area such as eHealth. The findings highlighted an interest in participating in eHealth-focused research as well as barriers, training needs, and key design features that can be applied to optimize the design of future eHealth-based PA interventions in cancer.
Exploring the Factors Influencing Consumers to Voluntarily Reward Free Health Service Contributors in Online Health Communities: Empirical Study (Preprint)
Authors: Zhou Junjie , Liu Fang , Zhou Tingting
Published: October 2019

BACKGROUND

Rewarding health knowledge and health service contributors with money is one possible approach for the sustainable provision of health knowledge and health services in online health communities (OHCs); however, the reasons why consumers voluntarily reward free health knowledge and health service contributors are still underinvestigated.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to address the abovementioned gap by exploring the factors influencing consumers’ voluntary rewarding behaviors (VRBs) toward contributors of free health services in OHCs.

METHODS

On the basis of prior studies and the cognitive-experiential self-theory (CEST), we incorporated two health service content–related variables (ie, informational support and emotional support) and two interpersonal factors (ie, social norm compliance and social interaction) and built a proposed model. We crawled a dataset from a Chinese OHC for mental health, coded it, extracted nine variables, and tested the model with a negative binomial model.

RESULTS

The data sample included 2148 health-related questions and 12,133 answers. The empirical results indicated that the effects of informational support (β=.168; P<.001), emotional support (β=.463; P<.001), social norm compliance (β=.510; P<.001), and social interaction (β=.281; P<.001) were significant. The moderating effects of social interaction on informational support (β=.032; P=.02) and emotional support (β=−.086; P<.001) were significant. The moderating effect of social interaction on social norm compliance (β=.014; P=.38) was insignificant.

CONCLUSIONS

Informational support, emotional support, social norm compliance, and social interaction positively influence consumers to voluntarily reward free online health service contributors. Social interaction enhances the effect of informational support but weakens the effect of emotional support. This study contributes to the literature on knowledge sharing in OHCs by exploring the factors influencing consumers’ VRBs toward free online health service contributors and contributes to the CEST literature by verifying that the effects of experiential and rational systems on individual behaviors can vary while external factors change.
Old-Fashioned Technology in the Era of “Bling”: Is There a Future for Text Messaging in Health Care? (Preprint)
Authors: Willcox Jane C , Dobson Rosie , Whittaker Robyn
Published: October 2019

UNSTRUCTURED

In the quest to discover the next high-technology solution to solve many health problems, proven established technologies are often overlooked in favor of more “technologically advanced” systems that have not been fully explored for their applicability to support behavior change theory, or used by consumers. Text messages or SMS is one example of an established technology still used by consumers, but often overlooked as part of the mobile health (mHealth) toolbox. The purpose of this paper is to describe the benefits of text messages as a health promotion modality and to advocate for broader scale implementation of efficacious text message programs.
Text messaging reaches consumers in a ubiquitous real-time exchange, contrasting the multistep active engagement required for apps and wearables. It continues to be the most widely adopted and least expensive mobile phone function. As an intervention modality, text messaging has taught researchers substantial lessons about tailored interactive health communication; reach and engagement, particularly in low-resource settings; and embedding of behavior change models into digital health. It supports behavior change techniques such as reinforcement, prompts and cues, goal setting, feedback on performance, support, and progress review. Consumers have provided feedback to indicate that text messages can provide them with useful information, increase perceived support, enhance motivation for healthy behavior change, and provide prompts to engage in health behaviors.
Significant evidence supports the effectiveness of text messages alone as part of an mHealth toolbox or in combination with health services, to support healthy behavior change. Systematic reviews have consistently reported positive effects of text message interventions for health behavior change and disease management including smoking cessation, medication adherence, and self-management of long-term conditions and health, including diabetes and weight loss.
However, few text message interventions are implemented on a large scale. There is still much to be learned from investing in text messaging delivered research. When a modality is known to be effective, we should be learning from large-scale implementation. Many other technologies currently suffer from poor long-term engagement, the digital divide within society, and low health and technology literacy of users. Investing in and incorporating the learnings and lessons from large-scale text message interventions will strengthen our way forward in the quest for the ultimate digitally delivered behavior change model.
Benefits of Flowering Plant as Refuge to Improve the Ecosystems Services by Egg Parasitoids of the Rice Brown Planthopper
Authors: Sinulingga Nike Grace Hanjelina , Trisyono Y. Andi , Martono Edhi , Hadi Buyung
Published: October 2019

Outbreaks of the rice brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens Stal., tend to increase in 2017. There has been significant interest to reduce reliance on pesticides by manipulating habitat plant species and communities to benefit natural enemies of insect. Flowering plants as refuge can contribute in enhancing the ecosystem services. This study aimed to assess the benefit of flowering plants as refuge to improve the role of egg parasitoids of brown planthopper. We sampled three rice fields: rice field adjacent to refuge, far from refuge, and rice field with no refuge using trapping procedure. We found two genera of parasitoid in Banyumas: Oligosita and Anagrus. The parasitism in the three rice fields was 46.14, 43.05 and 42.32%, respectively, showing no differences. However, the number of parasitoids emerged from the traps placed in the rice field with refuge was higher (31.08 adults/trap) than the other two rice fields (25.67 and 20.71 adults/trap). In addition, the number of unhatched parasitoids was lower in the rice with refuge (5.9%) compared to no refuge (14.54%). These findings show that the refuge provides better environments for the parasitoid by improving the number of progeny produced which eventually could increase their role in managing N. lugens population.
Isolation, Identification and the Abilities of Fungi Associated with Agarwood from Bangka Belitung Island to Induce Agarwood Compounds
Authors: Hartono Hartono , Wibowo Arif , Priyatmojo Achmadi
Published: October 2019

Agarwood is one of the non-timber forest products that have high economic value. Agarwood is widely used to make incense, perfume and other products. Sapwood on agarwood is a group of secondary metabolites of agarwood plants that form a lump and have a certain color and aroma. The fragrant aroma of sapwood on agarwood is formed due to pathogenic infection of the agarwood tree. Until now, most studies of fungi forming sapwood are only oriented to virulent pathogenic fungi in nature and have never been reported to form hypovirulent agarwood. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of fungi originating from sapwood on agarwood especially those that are hypovirulent in inducing sesquiterpene compounds. This study included exploration, isolation, identification, and induction of fungi associated with sapwood on agarwood from four districts in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province. Hypovirulence test in cucumber sprouts and sesquiterpene induction test on agarwood plantlets was conducted in the laboratory. Based on the isolation results, 48 fungal isolates associated with sapwood on agarwood were found: fungi of genus Fusarium, Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Curvularia, Peniophora, and six isolates were unidentified. Based on the hypovirulence test on cucumber sprouts, 46 isolates of the fungus 46 isolates were virulent and 2 isolates were hypovirulent (isolates 4A and 17A). The induction of sesquiterpene compounds on the agarwood plant was employed using 5 sample isolates consisting of 4 virulent isolates (2A, 7A, 18A, and 25A) and 1 hypovirulent isolate (Isolate 4A). The results showed that hypovirulent isolates were able to produce sesquiterpenes even in small amounts compared with virulent isolates. Isolates produced many sesquiterpene compounds were isolates 18A (Fusarium sp.). Sesquiterpene compounds formed were pinene, terpineol, patchouli alcohol, trimethyl-naphthalene, beta-caryophyllene, camphor, eugenol, trimethyl- benzene, phenanthrene, citronella, eucalyptol, 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone. In this study also found fungi associated with sapwood on agarwood which had never been reported by previous researchers, Peniophora sp. (isolate 25A).
Correlation between Epidermis Thickness, Leaf Trichome Length and Density with the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci Population on Five Local Soybean Cultivars
Authors: Lutfi Muhamad , Hidayat Purnama , Maryana Nina
Published: October 2019

Soybeans compsumsion in Indonesia is about 2.7 million ton, while the national production is only about 0.7 million ton per year. There are some problems in the soybean production in Indonesia, including pests and diseases. Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is one of the important pests in soybeans causes a significant loss of yields. Developing soybean cultivars resistant to whitefly is one of method to reduce the production loss. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the physical characteristics of lower surface leaves and B. tabaci population on five local soybean cultivars. The experiments were conducted in the IPB greenhouse by Completely Randomized Design (RCD) using five soybean cultivars (Anjasmoro, Dena-1, Detam-3, Devon-1, and Wilis) with 3 replicates. Three plants of each cultivar were planted in a polybag, put under a cage, and after one week then infested with 5 female whiteflies. The parameters observed in this study were leaf epidermal thickness; density and length of trichome on lower leaf surface; and the number of egg, nymph, and adult of the whitefly. Observations were carried out every week, from 1−7 weeks after the plant was infested with the whitefly. The population of whitefly was affected by trichome density and length, as well as by the epidermal thickness of the lower leaf surface. The infestation of B. tabaci was higher in the soybean cultivars with denser and longer leaf trichomes, and thinner epidermal of the lower leaf surface. This result of this research suggests that it is necessary to include the characteristics of leaf trichome and epidermal thickness in the breeding program to produce soybean cultivars that are superior in productivity and resistant to whitefly.
INTERSECTORAL LINKAGES AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO ECONOMIC GROWTH IN THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Authors: Stanojević Jelena , Krstić Bojan
Published: October 2019

The high level of interconnection between economic sectors, respectively agriculture, manufacturing and the service sector, imposes the need to understand intersectoral structural changes and transfer of resources between sectors in order to perceive their contribution to economic development. Based on the rich information base compiled by data from various national and international statistic sources, intersectoral structural changes in the Republic of Serbia as one of the transition economies are analysed from different aspects. The paper deals primarily with the share of economic sectors in the gross domestic product. Further, it points to the participation of economic sectors in overall employment, but also in international trade. The research goal is to analyze the structural changes in the Serbian economy, identify the direction of resource transfer between sectors, as well as their contribution to the economic development measured by different indicators.