bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantum point contact galvanically coupled to planar superconducting resonator for ultra-sensitive broad-band electrical amplification
Authors: Kumbhakar Prasanta , Shanmugam Anusha , Sharma Chithra H , Reno J. , Thalakulam Madhu
Published: February 2021

Probing single charge dynamics in solids can give insights into various quantum transport phenomena, most of which are fragile and short-time-scaled. Detection of these events in real-time requires a mesoscopic electrical amplifier with unprecedented sensitivity and operational bandwidth. In this work, we explore a hybrid electrical amplifier consisting of a semiconducting quantum point contact galvanically coupled to a superconducting λ/2 transmission-line resonator for ultra-fast and ultra-sensitive charge amplification. The resonator, made of Aluminium with a coplanar waveguide geometry, is designed to operate at its first harmonic resonant mode ~ 3.4 GHz, where the reflected power from the resonator is amplitude-modulated by the conductance changes in the quantum point contact channel. From the sidebands of the amplitude modulated reflected signal we extract a conductance sensitivity of 2.85×10-7 (e2/h)/√Hz (11.05 pS∕√Hz). This sensitivity translates to a unit signal-to-noise measurement time ~ 1.62 ns for a variation of 0.01 (e2/h) in the conductance. The optimization of various operational parameters of the device reveals a bandwidth of ~ 155 MHz which corresponds to a rise-time ~ 2.2 ns. Both the sensitivity and bandwidth that we obtain are greater by an order compared to the existing reports. In addition, the device also exhibits very good sensitivities ~ 3.58×10-4 (e2/h)/√Hz up to a measurable frequency of 240 MHz. The extremely high sensitivity, ultra-fast operation reaching the nanosecond time-scales, and the circuit QED architecture makes this scheme an attractive choice for single charge detection and counting experiments for spin-qubit readout and quantum electrical metrology.
Evaluation of the Diagnostic Accuracy of Intra-Abdominal Pressure Measurement Method Through Bladder in Predicting Renal Dysfunction After Kidney Transplantation
Authors: aghebati nahid , torkamani mahtab , heydarianmiri hamid , tavakkoli mahmoud
Published: February 2021

Background

The patients undergoing kidney transplantation are at risk of increasing Intra-Abdominal Pressure (IAP) due to the abdominal surgery.
Methods

This diagnostic accuracy study was conducted on 135 patients, who had undergone kidney transplantation from alive and brain death patients in two hospitals of Iran and Afghanistan, in 2019. The patients' intra-abdominal pressure was measured every 6 hours up to 24 hours after surgery by nurses. The indices of renal dysfunction were utilized, including creatinine level, urine volume, need dialysis and thymoglobulin after transplantation and nephrectomy in 6 months. The sensitivity as well as positive and negative predictive value of the IAP test was counted based on these indices. Doppler ultrasound of the transplanted kidney was used as a gold standard diagnostic test. Data analysis was done by using STATA 14.
Results

According to the results 10 (7.4%) people of 135 patients were observed with IAP > 10mmhg. Nobody revealed IAP > 15. Seven (5.2%) patients had Urinary loss and 20(15%) didn't show creatinine decrease more than 25% of baseline. Twelve (9 %) of them need dialysis and thymoglobulin, and had positive Doppler ultrasound. Finally 3 (2.2%) patients were undergone nephrectomy during 6 months. All of these indices indicated a significant (p < 0.05) correlation with IAP mean difference (4 − 1). A comparison between the diagnostic power of IAP measurement method and Doppler ultrasound indicated 90% of sensitivity and 94% of negative predictive value in predicting the renal dysfunction.
Conclusion

Results of the present study revealed that the IAP measurement through bladder catheter can be used by the ICU nurses before Doppler ultrasound in kidney transplantation but we need more data to recommend this test.
Spatial Analysis of Skin Cancer: Separating Body Parts Exposed and Not Exposed to the Sun
Authors: Tabari Parinaz , Mohammadi Alireza , Mostafavi Sayyed Mostafa , Moghadami Mohsen , Amini Mitra , Rezaianzadeh Abbas , Kiani Behzad
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Skin cancer is among the most common cancer categories with an increasing global trend of incidence rate. This study explores the spatial distribution of skin cancer, considering body sites exposed and not exposed to sunshine separately. Methods: We used 4302 skin cancer cases recorded by Fars Cancer Registry in southwestern Iran for over six years (2011-2017). The variables included in the study were patients' residence address, gender, age, report date, and final topographical code. The patients' addresses were geocoded to the counties of the study area. Skin cancer sites were categorized based on sun exposure in male and female cases. We used the empirical Bayesian smoothing approach to estimate the skin cancer incidence rate at the county level. Finally, Anselin's Local Moran's Index was used to identify the high-risk skin cancer occurrence areas. Results: In general, skin cancer incidence increased in the study area over the study period (mid-March 2011 to mid-March 2017). Out of 4302 patients with skin cancer, 2602 cases (60%) were male. The age- and sex-specific rate of reported cases with skin cancer was higher in the 80-89 age group (in both male and female genders) compared to other age groups. There were some high-risk spatial clusters of skin cancer in the study area. Further investigations are required to identify the underlying cause of the formation of these clusters.Conclusions: Patients exposed to sunshine, especially among the male group, experienced much higher rates of cancer occurrence as compared to unexposed individuals. With a heterogeneous spatial pattern, hotspots were identified in non-sun-exposed and sun-exposed categories in the study area. Researchers and policymakers can significantly benefit from the spatial analyses of skin cancer incidence. These analyses can provide useful and timely prevention policies as well as tailored monitoring techniques in high-risk regions.
Immediate Intravenous Epinephrine Versus Early Intravenous Epinephrine for In-Hospital Cardiopulmonary Arrest
Authors: Bakhsh Abdullah , Safhi Maha , Alghamdi Ashwaq , Alharazi Amjad , Alshabibi Bedoor , Alobaidi Rajwa , Alnashri Maryam
Published: February 2021

Background

intravenous epinephrine has been a key treatment for cardiopulmonary arrest since the early 1960s. Although, many studies have questioned neurological outcome benefit, it remains to be recommended in international guidelines for its benefit on return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The ideal timing for the first epinephrine dose is uncertain. We aimed to look at the association of immediate epinephrine administration (within 1-minute of cardiac arrest recognition) with return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) up to 24-hours and beyond 24-hours.
Methods

this was a multicenter retrospective chart review of patients undergoing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize study population, while t-test and chi-square were used to compare groups and outcomes.
Results

immediate epinephrine administration (within 1-minute) is associated with higher rates of ROSC up to 24-hours (OR = 2.36, 95% CI; [1.46–3.81]) and beyond 24-hours (OR = 2.26, 95% CI; [1.06–4.83]).
Conclusions

we encourage immediate administration of epinephrine in conjunction with high-quality CPR, as this is associated with higher rates of ROSC.
Clinical Features and High-risk Factors Prediction of Multiple Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy Therapy of Plastic Bronchitis in 269 Children
Authors: Zhang Tongqiang , Zhao Lihua , Zheng Jiafeng , Zhao Linsheng , Cui Xiaojian , Xu Yongsheng , Cai Chunquan
Published: February 2021

Background. To analyze the clinical features of children with plastic bronchitis (PB) and identify the risk factors of multiple flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FOB) therapy.Methods. Retrospective analysis was performed on 269 PB children from 2016 to 2019, 144 cases were in single FOB group, 125 cases were in the multiple FOB group. The clinical manifestations, laboratory datas, imaging findings and management were investigated. The different features were compared between the single FOB group and multiple FOB group.Results. A total of 269 PB children were collected with a mean age of 6.7 ± 2.8 years. 257 (95.5%) cases were diagnosed as Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) infection. The mean duration of fever was 10.6 ± 3.7 days. All the patients presented with fever, and 62 (23.0%) suffered from hypoxemia, 144 (53.5%) had extrapulmonary complications. Higher levels of ESR, CRP, PCT, IL-6, LA, LDH, FER and D-dimer were observed. The proportion of pulmonary consolidation, segmental or lobar atelectasis, pleural effusion and pleural thickening were 97.4%, 46.5%, 47.9% and 63.2%, respectively. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that N% >75.5%, LDH >598.5U/L, and D-dimmer>0.45mg/L were independent isk factors for multiple FOB therapy. Conclusions. MP is a significant pathogen of PB in children. Patients with PB are more likely to suffer from persistent fever, excessive inflammation and severe radiological findings. N% >75.5%, LDH >598.5U/L and D-dimmer > 0.45mg/L may be predictors of multiple FOB treatment.
Radiofrequency Ablation for Renal Tumours: A Retrospective Cohort From a Tertiary Hospital in Australia
Authors: Al-Zubaidi Mohammed , Lotter Kennia , Marshall Martin , Lozinskiy Mikhail
Published: February 2021

Purpose: This cohort aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy outcomes of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for localised renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in a Western Australia tertiary hospital, Royal Perth Hospital (RPH), and potential associations between age, gender, tumour size, location, chronic kidney disease, comorbidities and local recurrence against existing benchmarks. Methods: We retrospectively analysed survival outcomes for patients with biopsy proven RCC treated by RFA at Royal Perth Hospital between 2009 and 2018. Complication data were gathered for all patients that underwent renal RFA along with 2- and 5-year recurrence-free (RFS) and compared the outcomes with data from previous studies. I confirm that all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. Results: A total of 69 patients (73 procedures) were eligible for the study with biopsy-proven RCC had minimum 2-year follow-up. The RPH complication rate was 8.2 % (6/73) and local recurrence rate 10.9 % (8/73). Two-year RFS is 95.6% and Five-year RFS is 78.78% on a median 3.82-year follow-up (IQR 1.9-5.75). Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation performed at our centre was found to be safe and effective with low complication rates and durable RFS in line with expectations from existing research. Our study demonstrated that radiofrequency ablation is an alternative modality of treatment for small renal tumours in patients unfit for surgical approach.
Insights Into Physical Activity Adoption in Diabetes Patients: When Cultural Materialism Met the Transtheoretical Model
Authors: Jabardo-Camprubí Guillem , Bort-Roig Judit , Donat-Roca Rafel , Martín-Horcajo Montserrat , Puig-Ribera Anna , McKenna Jim
Published: February 2021

Background

Although physical activity (PA) is a key behaviour for preventing and controlling diabetes (T2DM), low adoption-adherence continues to impair patient progress. Importantly, for many patients, intentional PA may have never been central to their wider cultural context. Therefore, progress in behaviour change may be more about collective than individual processes. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to undertake and maintain PA overtime and describe the relationship and the influence between these barriers in T2D patients’ real-life.
Methods

Twenty-two T2D patients contributed either to focus groups (n = 5) or to semi-structured interviews (n = 4). We explored adoption-adherence using an established behaviour change model (Transtheoretical) and an anthropological research method (Cultural Materialism) throughout a qualitative analysis.
Results

Findings suggested patients responded to PA promoted through medicalised services, using two basic, yet inter-related, social processes. To consider adopting PA a Basic Social Psychological Process was used. In contrast, patients willing to sustain PA focused on prominent ‘infrastructural’ barriers, using a Basic Social Structural Process.
Conclusion

This interpretation simplifies in two processes the change of behaviour related to PA. At the same time, defines the barriers’ relationship between the different levels and the influence that each level has in patients’ real-life. These insights support using phased, ecological frameworks to design and promote PA to patients with T2D, so they maintain changes over time.
Emotional Distress in the Early Stages of the Corona Related Lockdowns Depending on the Severity of the Pandemic and Emergency Measures: A Comparative Online-survey in Germany, Austria and Italy
Authors: Eichenberg Christiane , Grossfurthner Martin , Kietaibl Sybille , Riboli Greta , Borlimi Rosita , Holocher-Benetka Stefana
Published: February 2021

Background: The first wave of the COVID-19-pandemic hit different countries with varying degrees of severity, so that differences in the type and level of emergency measures were also necessary. It can be assumed that the psychological burden was higher in countries with a more severe process of the pandemic (Italy) than in countries with a less severe (Germany, Austria). Objective: To investigate und contrast the wellbeing of the population in Italy, Austria and Germany in the early phase of the first lockdown. Method: Online survey on N= 4289 individuals. The questionnaire comprised 1. self-administered section, exploring the dimensions perceived severity of COVID-19, perceived risk of disease, concerns related to COVID-19, emergency measures acceptance and emotional distress due to emergency measures 2. standardized scales to record personality determinants: Stress-CopingStyle-Questionnaire, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, State-Trait-Anxiety-Inventory. Results: The three countries displayed significant differences in all personality dimensions. Italian participants assessed the COVID-19 virus as much more dangerous, but despite the prevalence of the virus, the subjective risk of disease is perceived to be lower in Italy. This could be a positive effect of the restrictive curfews set by the government in Italy. The emergency measures were generally perceived to be very effective in all three countries, but due to duration and the severity of the measures the fear and stress-reaction was the strongest within the Italians. Conclusion: The stricter measures in Italy prevented an application of many positive stress processing strategies, which, in turn, fostered the preservation of stresses and fear.
Genome-Wide Identification of MYB Gene Family Reveals Their Potential Functions in Cadmium Stress Response and the Regulation of Cannabinoid Biosynthesis in Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.)
Authors: yin ming , pan gen , tao jie , zhao lining , li zheng , jiang hui , tang huijuan , chang li , li jianjun , chen anguo , deng yong , zhang cuiping , li defang , huang siqi
Published: February 2021

Backgroud: Heavy metal pollutant, Cadmium (Cd), is an inorganic pollutant in China. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is an important fiber crop to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soils. The MYB family is one of the largest and most important gene families that influences plant growth and produce secondary metabolites. Results: 115 CsMYB genes were identified in the hemp genome. The 1R-MYB subfamily had 17 genes, the 2R-MYB subfamily 88 genes, and the 3R-MYB subfamily 8 genes. The synteny analysis of the CsMYB genes indicated that there were 3 pairs of tandem repeats, 21 pairs of segmental duplication, 6 CsMYB genes present before species differentiation, and 60 genes belonging to the hemp-specific CsMYB genes. 7 CsMYB genes were identified to influence the response to Cd stress by combining the transcriptome data of two hemp species under Cd stress. Based on the changes in the Cannabinoid content of hemp under Cd stress, the expression of different CsMYB genes in hemp with high and low cannabidiol (CBD) contents, and tissue-specific expression, it was inferred that CsMYB024 may be affected by Cd stress and mediate the CBD synthesis pathway.Conclusions: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the hemp MYB family. These results should be helpful in understanding of their potential functions in Cd-Stress Response and the Regulation of Cannabinoid Biosynthesis in Hemp. In addition, lays the foundation for the further study of biological functions of CsMYBs in hemp.
Comprehensive Analysis of Prognostic Value and Immune Infiltration of Kindlin Family Members in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Su Xiaoshan , Liu Ning , Wu Weijing , ZHU ZHIXING , Xu Yuan , He Feng , Chen Xinfu , Zeng Yiming
Published: February 2021

Background: Kindlin Family Members have been reported to be aberrantly expressed in various human cancer types and involved in tumorigenesis, tumor progression, and chemoresistance. However, their roles in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain poorly elucidated. Methods: We analyzed the prognostic value and immune infiltration of Kindlins in NSCLC through Oncomine, GEPIA, UALCAN, CCLE, Kaplan‑Meier plotter, cBioPortal, TIMER, GeneMANIA, STRING, and DAVID database. Additionally, the mRNA expression levels of Kindlins were verified in 30 paired NSCLC tissues and NSCLC cell lines by real-time PCR. Results: The expression level of FERMT1 was remarkably increased in NSCLC tissues and NSCLC cell lines, while FERMT2 and FERMT3 were reduced. Kindlins expressions were associated with individual cancer stages and nodal metastasis status. We also found that higher expression level of FERMT1 was obviously correlated with worse overall survival (OS) in patients with NSCLC, while higher FERMT2 was strongly associated with better overall survival (OS) and first progression (FP). Additionally, the expression of FERMT2 and FERMT3 were obviously correlated with the immune infiltration of diverse immune cells. Functional enrichment analysis has shown that Kindlins may be significantly correlated with intracellular signal transduction, ATP binding and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway in NSCLC. Conclusions: The research provides a new perspective on the distinct roles of Kindlins in NSCLC and likely has important implications for future novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in NSCLC.
Calculating Method of Dielectric Permittivity of 8YSZ in Different Relative Humidity with Low Water Contents
Authors: Kong Myong Nam , Yu Nam-Chol , Kim Jin Sim , Kim Kwang Jun
Published: February 2021

An improved approach for calculating the dielectric permittivity of 8 mol% yttria-stabilized zirconia (8YSZ) in different relative humidity corresponding to low water contents is proposed. For this, a new virtual pore constituted by air and water is proposed using the microstructural modeling. 8YSZ material is assumed to be made up of 8YSZ solid and virtual pore. The results showed that the dielectric permittivity of the virtual pore is calculated using the upper limit of the Wiener approach for low water contents, and the effective dielectric permittivity of 8YSZ material constituted by solid and virtual pore in different relative humidity using Jayannavar’s expression. The proposed approach gives a better interpretation of the experimental results in different relative humidity corresponding to low water contents.
A-DenseUNet: Adaptive Densely Connected UNet for Polyp Segmentation in Colonoscopy Images with Atrous Convolution
Authors: Safarov Sirojbek , Whangbo Taeg Keun
Published: February 2021

Colon carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in both men and women. Automatic colorectal polyp segmentation and detection in colonoscopy videos help endoscopists to identify colorectal disease more easily, making it a promising method to prevent colon cancer. In this study, we developed a fully automated pixel-wise polyp segmentation model named A-DenseUNet. The proposed architecture adapts different datasets, adjusting for the unknown depth of the network by sharing multiscale encoding information to the different levels of the decoder side. We also used multiple dilated convolutions with various atrous rates to observe a large field of view without increasing the computational cost and prevent loss of spatial information, which would cause dimensionality reduction. We utilized an attention mechanism to remove noise and inappropriate information, leading to the comprehensive re-establishment of contextual features. Our experiments demonstrated that the proposed architecture achieved significant segmentation results on public datasets. A-DenseUNet achieved a 90% Dice coefficient score on the Kvasir-SEG dataset and a 91% Dice coefficient score on the CVC-612 dataset, both of which were higher than the scores of other deep learning models such as UNet++, ResUNet, and U-Net, for segmenting polyps in colonoscopy images.
Nimesulide Poisoning in White-Rumped Vulture Gyps Bengalensis in Gujarat, India
Authors: Nambirajan Kanthan , Muralidharan Subramanian , Ashimkumar Aditya Roy , Jadhav Shashikant
Published: February 2021

Catastrophic population decline of White-rumped Vulture due to use of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), diclofenac throughout its distribution range is well documented. White-rumped Vulture was listed as Critically Endangered and only few thousands are remining. During 2019, there were two incidents of White-rumped Vulture death in Gujarat. In February 2019, two vultures were reported dead in Sanand, Gujarat and the death was suspected to be poisoning. Another two vultures were also reported to have died in Wild Ass Sanctuary, Dhrangadhra in October 2019. Tissues and gut contents of all four vultures were received for toxicological investigation and checked whether these vultures died due to NSAIDs. The tissues were analysed for thirteen NSAIDs. Of all the NSAIDs, nimesulide was detected in all the tissues analyzed in high concentration (17 - 1395 ng/g). Subsequently, these tissues were also screened for a set of mostly used toxic pesticides in India, and none of them was in toxic level. Visceral gout was also observed in all the four vultures during post-mortem. Elevated levels of nimesulide in tissues with clear symptoms of gout, indicated that the vultures died due to nimesulide poisoning. Although, other than diclofenac, many NSAIDs are toxic/suspected to be toxic to White-rumped Vultures, only nimesulide is reported with clear symptom of gout in wild dead White-rumped Vultures similar to diclofenac consistently in recent past. Considering the fact that nimesulide also acts similar to diclofenac leading to death in White-rumped Vulture, it seems that nimesulide is replacing diclofenac in case of White-rumped Vulture in Gujarat. Nimesulide is cause of concern in conservation of White-rumped Vultures. Hence, nimesulide should also be banned by the government for veterinary use in addition to diclofenac to conserve White-rumped Vulture in Indian subcontinent. Further, an effective system is recommended to be put in place to collect the tissues of dead Vultures for toxicological investigations, and eventual conservation of the critically endangered species.
Using Intervention Mapping to Develop and Facilitate Implementation of a Multifaceted Behavioural Intervention Targeting Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in Stroke Survivors: Physical Activity Routines After Stroke (PARAS)
Authors: Moore Sarah , Flynn Darren , Price Christopher , Avery Leah
Published: February 2021

BackgroundThe benefits of increased physical activity for stroke survivors include improved walking ability, balance and mood. However, less than 30% achieve recommended levels of physical activity, and high levels of sedentary behaviour are reported. We engaged stroke survivors, informal carers and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in a co-design process to develop an evidence-informed behavioural intervention targeting physical activity and sedentary behaviour for use by stroke rehabilitation teams. MethodsIntervention Mapping was used as a framework for intervention development. Step 1 involved a systematic review, focus group discussions and a review of existing care pathways. Step 2 involved identification of social cognitive determinants of behavioural change and behavioural outcomes of the intervention. Step 3 involved linking the determinants of behavioural outcomes with specific behaviour change techniques to target the behaviours of interest. Step 4 involved the development of the intervention informed by steps 1 to 3. Subsequently, an implementation plan was developed (Step 5) followed by an evaluation plan (Step 6). ResultsSystematic review findings informed selection of nine ‘promising’ behaviour change techniques (e.g. goal setting-behaviour; problem-solving). Focus groups with stroke survivors (n=18) and HCPs (n=24) identified the need for an intervention that could be delivered at different time points within the rehabilitation pathway, tailored to individual needs and circumstances with training for HCPs delivering the intervention. Intervention delivery was considered feasible within local community stroke services. The target behaviours for the intervention were physical activity and sedentary behaviour of stroke survivors. Assessment of acceptability and usability with 11 HCPs and 21 stroke survivors/relatives identified issues around self-monitoring tools; the need for a repository of local services for physical activity; and the need for face-to-face feedback provision to HCPs following delivery of the intervention for optimisation purposes. Face-to-face training for HCPs was delivered to support faithful delivery of the intervention within community settings. A feasibility study protocol was designed to evaluate the intervention.ConclusionsA systematic development process using intervention mapping resulted in a multi-faceted evidence- and theory-informed intervention (Physical Activity Routines After Stroke - PARAS) for delivery by community stroke rehabilitation teams. Trial registration: Trial identifier: ISRCTN35516780, date of registration: 24/10/2018, URL http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN35516780
Quality of Life and Health Status of Adults With Congenital Heart Disease in Vietnam: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Truong Thanh-Huong , Kim Ngoc-Thanh , Nguyen Mai-Ngoc Thi , Do Doan-Loi , Nguyen Hong Thi , Le Thanh-Tung , Le Hong-An
Published: February 2021

Background: Little is known about the quality of life (QOL) and health status of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) in developing countries. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the QOL and health status of adults with CHD and investigate the association between QOL and biological and social characteristics of these patients in Vietnam.Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among 109 adults with CHD, hospitalised in the Vietnam National Heart Institute, between June 2019 and December 2019. Validated instruments to assess QOL and health status describing patient-reported outcomes were used, including the EuroQOL-5 Dimensions-5 Level, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.Results: The overall mean scores on the EuroQOL-descriptive system (EQ-DS) and the EuroQOL visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) were 0.792 (SD = 0.122, 95% confidence interval, CI 0.769–0.815) and 66.3 (SD = 12.5, 95% CI 63.9–68.7), respectively. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were common among adults with CHD (18.7%, n = 20 and 11%, n = 12; respectively). Stratified multivariate logistic regression revealed: poor QOL using the EQ-DS, and that anxiety related to suffering from a complex CHD/ pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) (Odds Ratio, OR = 4.55, 95% CI: 1.26–16.4, p = 0.021 and OR = 4.19, 95% CI 1.2–14.56, p = 0.024; respectively); poor QOL using the EQ-VAS, anxiety, and depression related to being unemployed/ unstable employment (OR = 4.16, 95% CI 1.64–10.56, p = 0.003; OR = 3.63, 95% CI 1.23–10.72, p = 0.02 and OR = 7.68, 95% CI 2.09–28.25, p = 0.002; respectively); and life dissatisfaction related to being unmarried (OR = 4.63, 95% CI 1.2–17.86, p = 0.026).Conclusions: Adults with CHD in Vietnam experienced low QOL, and high levels of anxiety and depression. Poor QOL and psychological problems were related to being female, unmarried, low educational level, unemployed/ unstable employ, and complex CHD/ PAH.
Changes in End-of-Life Discussion for Patients with Advanced Cancer after the Life- Sustaining Treatment Decisions-Making Act in Korea
Authors: Kim Hyeyoung , Im Hyeon-Su , Lee Kyong Og , Min Young Joo , Jo Jae-Cheol , Choi Yunsuk , Lee Yoo Jin , Kang Daseul , Kim Changyoung , Koh Su-Jin , Cheon Jaekyung
Published: February 2021

Background: Cancer is a leading cause of death in Korea. To protect the autonomy and dignity of terminally ill patients, the Life-Sustaining Treatment Decision-Making Act (LST-Act) came into full effect in Korea in February 2018. However, it is unclear whether the LST-Act influences end-of-life (EOL) discussion and decision-making processes for terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted with a medical record review of cancer patients who died at Ulsan University Hospital between July 2015 and May 2020. Patients were divided into two groups: those who died in the period before the implementation of the LST-Act (from July 2015 to October 2017, Group 1) and after the implementation of the LST-Act (from February 2018 to May 2020, Group 2). We measured the self-determination rate and the timing of documentation of Do-Not-Resuscitate (DNR) or Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) in both groups. Results: A total of 1,834 patients were included in the analysis (Group 1, n=943; Group 2, n=891). Documentation of DNR or POLST was completed by patients themselves in 1.5% and 63.5% of patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (p<0.001). The mean number of days between documentation of POLST or DNR and death was higher in Group 2 than in Group 1 (21.2 days vs. 14.4 days, p=0.001). The rate of late discussion, defined as documentation of DNR or POLST within seven days prior to death, decreased significantly in Group 2 (46.6% vs. 41.4%, p=0.027). In the multivariable analysis, hospice palliative care referral (OR [odds ratio] 0.25, p<0.001) and patients’ years of education (OR 0.68, p=0.027) were positively related to self-determination. However, physicians with clinical experience of less than three years had a higher rate of surrogate decision-making (OR 5.1, p=0.029) and late discussion (OR 2.53, p=0.019). Conclusions: After the implementation of the LST-Act, the rate of self-determination increased and EOL discussion occurred earlier than in the era before the implementation of the LST-Act.
Intracardiac Versus Transesophageal Echocardiography for diagnosis of Left Atrial Appendage Thrombosis in Atrial Fibrillation: a Meta-analysis
Authors: He Guijun , Liu Hanxion , Huang Xiaoyu , Deng Xiaoqi , Yang Guosu , Duan Luo , Cai Lin
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillation is usually detected by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) can be a suitable alternative to detect thrombosis. We performed a meta-analysis of all studies that compared ICE vs. TEE for LAA thrombosis.Methods: We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase for published abstracts and manuscripts until June 1, 2020. Studies reporting clinical outcomes comparing TEE vs. ICE for LAA thrombus in human subjects aged ≥ 18 years were included. Two investigators independently extracted the data and an individual quality assessment was performed. The analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3, STATA 15, and Meta-Disc 1.4.Results: Eight eligible studies consisting of 1108 patients (TEE = 558 vs. ICE = 550) were included. The average sensitivity of ICE and TEE to diagnose left atrial appendage thrombus was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.91-1.00) vs 0.68 (95% CI: 0.49-0.83),and specificity of ICE and TEE to diagnosis of left atrial appendage thrombus was 1.0 (95% CI: 0.99-1.00) vs 0.98 (95% CI: 0.96-0.99) . The AUC of ICE and TEE were 0.9846 (SEAUC = 0.0196) and 0.9655 (SEAUC = 0.0401), and the Q * statistics were 0.9462 (SEQ * = 0.0406) and 0.9127 (SEQ * = 0.0616), respectively. Z test was performed on Q * statistics (Z = 0.45, P> 0.05), there was no significant difference between ICE and TEE.Conclusion: ICE and TEE have similar diagnostic efficacy for left atrial appendage thrombosis, but ICE has higher sensitivity and specificity, which has certain advantages over TEE and has clinical application prospects.
Sex Attractant of a Clearwing Moth Synanthedon Nashivora (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae)
Authors: Naka Hideshi , KUKIZAKI Takahiro , TOKUMARU Susumu , OHNO Satoshi , MATSUI Yuki
Published: February 2021

A sex attractant of Synanthedon nashivora Naka and Yano, a pest of Asian pear discovered in Kyoto, Japan in 2014 and described as a novel species in 2019 was revealed. Pheromone lures baited mixtures with one or two of the seven compounds used as sex pheromones by Sesiidae species were prepared, and screening tests were conducted using these lures in pear orchards in Kyotango City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan, from 2017 to 2018. Males were attracted to various mixture ratios, especially 7:3 mixture ratio, of (3Z,13Z)-3,13-octadecadienyl acetate (Z3,Z13-18:OAc) and (2E,13Z)-2,13-octadecadienyl acetate (E2,Z13-18:OAc) mixtures. This finding will enable monitoring of this species in Asian pear orchards. By attempting to search for males in the field using this pheromone lure, it will be possible to understand the distribution of this species in Japan and neighboring countries, its microhabitat, and the seasonal occurrence of this species.
Color Correction and Repair of Haze Images Under Hue-saturation-intensity Color Space and Machine Learning
Authors: SUN HAIBIN , liu haiwei
Published: February 2021

To improve the visual effect and quality of haze images after fog removal, a model for color correction and repair of haze images under hue-saturation-intensity (HSI) color space combined with machine learning is proposed. First, the haze image imaging model is constructed according to the atmospheric scattering theory. Second, based on HSI color space, the color enhancement and fog removal of the haze image model is proposed, and a haze image-transmittancegallery is constructed. Third, the visual dictionary of the transmittance graph is obtained by training the k-means clustering algorithm based on density parameter optimization and support vector machine algorithm based on genetic algorithm optimization. Fourth, based on the visual dictionary and the atmospheric scattering model, the haze image is repaired and defogged, and the subjective visual effects and objective evaluation indexes of color enhancement and fog removal of haze images are compared. It is concluded that the algorithm can effectively guarantee the detail and clarity of the image after defogging.
Sunflower Assisted Bio-derived ZnO-NPs as an Efficient Nanocatalyst for Synthesis of Novel Quinazolines with Highly Antioxidant Activities
Authors: GL Balaji , Mahesh S. , Narasaiah Boya Palajonnala , Rostamnia Sadegh , Padhy Harihara , Kumar V. Vijay
Published: February 2021

The present report an environmental benign route for the fabrication of Zinc Oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using sunflower leaf aqueous extract at room temperature. This was an green method is a rapid biogenic and offers few advantages over the chemical and physical procedures, as it is an easy and fast, eco-friendly and does not involve any costly chemicals as well as hazardous chemicals, harmful solvent. The synthesized ZnO-NPs were characterized using different technique such as UV-Visible spectroscopy. The formation of ZnO-NPs was confirmed by Surface Plasmon Resonance (SRP) at 344 nm using UV-Vis spectroscopy. The leaf extract act as a source of phyto-chemicals and are the primarily responsible for the reduction and then formation of stable Zinc Oxide nanoparticles by the characteristic functional groups of extract and synthesized ZnO-NPs were identified by FTIR spectroscopy. Crystalline nature of ZnO-NPs was confirmed by powder –XRD. Size and morphology were measured by HR-TEM analysis. Stability of the nanoparticles is represented by DLS and TGA analysis. The synthesized ZnO-NPs has been found good and efficient catalyst for the synthesis of novel 1,2-dihydroquinazoline derivatives under green method via one pot reaction of 2-amino benzophenone, 1,3-diphenyl-1 H -pyrazole carbaldehydes and ammonium acetate. The synthesized compounds (4a-o) were characterized by 1 HNMR, 13 CNMR and HRMS spectra and further screened for radical scavenging activity. Among all the compounds showed good percentage of inhibition against standard ascorbic acid. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles showed good antioxidant activity and also act as a good promising material for catalytic agent.
Lnc-RNA UCA1 Promotes TGF-β-Mediated Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition via Inhibiting miR-204 in Gastric Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhong Ding-Fu , Chen Dan , Nie Ying , Zhang Hong-Ying , Yang Yi , Hu Li-Yu
Published: February 2021

Introduction
Cancer is a genetic modification disease. Since genetic aberrations of gastric cancer are heterogeneous, we assume non-coding RNAs play major roles on gastric cancer phenotypes. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) urothelial cancer associated 1 (UCA1) is related with poor prognosis in different cancer types, however, how it works in gastric cancer is unknown.
Methods
Two gastric cancer cell lines are chosen, MNK45 and SGC-7901. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is used to promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by using cancer cell invasion assay. The transmembrane cell quantities are counted and ZEB1, slug, vimentine and E-Cadherin gene expression levels are measured by quantitative PCR assay. siRNA of UCA1 and miR-204 are used to confirm cross-talk among TGF-β, UCA1 and miR-204.
Results
TGF-β significantly increases gastric cancer cell transmembrane ability and expression levels of four EMT related genes. These increases can be counteracted by using siRNA of UCA1, suggesting that UCA1 is up-stream factor of TGF-β signaling pathways and positively regulates it. miRNA-204 alone can inhibit ZEB1 gene expression, however, this inhibition can be demolished by UCA1, suggesting that UCA1 sponges miR-204 to prevent its function from inhibiting ZEB1.
Conclusions
miR-204 could be used as an indicator of prognosis of gastric cancer. The higher miR-204 expression levels, the less possibility to develop EMT. Meanwhile, UCA1 inhibitors can be considered as potential genetic medical drugs.
Realization of Low Confinement Loss Acetylene Gas Sensor by Using Hollow-core Photonic Bandgap Fiber 
Authors: Arman Hassan , Olyaee Saeed
Published: February 2021

A hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber (HC-PBF) with high relative sensitivity and low confinement loss was designed. Some destructive circumstance such as propagation losses and mode interference can disrupt performance of the PBF. By considering optimum size of the hollow-core radius, we were able to improve confinement loss and the relative sensitivity. By optimization of the shape and size of the closest row of air holes to the hollow core, the quality of the mode distribution in the hollow-core was well improved. Simulation results confirm that, at an optimal and reasonable core radius, the relative sensitivity and confinement loss of the proposed gas sensor were improved to 96.5% and 0.11 dB/m, respectively. In addition, in order to better matching of optical power between single mode fiber (SMF) and HC-PBF, we could reduce the destructive effects of optical mode mismatch, by mode interference suppression. Furthermore, by optimization of fiber structural specifications such as air filling fraction and lattice constant, the PBF was changed to a single-mode waveguide. Considering the operation wavelength 1530 nm which is very close to the acetylene gas absorption wavelength, this fiber is appropriate to be a high sensitivity gas sensor to detect absorbing gases in the middle infrared range.
Differential Genomic Instability-Associated LncRNAs Predict Differences of Clinical Outcome and Immunity in Left- And Right- Sided Colon Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Guo Junnan , Xia Tianyi , Deng Shenhui , Cui Binbin , Liu Yanlong
Published: February 2021

Background: The left-sided and right-sided colon adenocarcinoma (LCCs and RCCs, respectively) have unique characteristics in various aspects, particularly molecular features and clinical heterogeneity. The purpose of our study was to develop a prognostic risk model based on differential genomic instability-associated (DGIA) Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) of LCCs and RCCs, therefore the prognostic key lncRNAs could be identified.Methods: We adopted two independent gene data-sets, corresponding somatic mutation and clinical information from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. Identification of differential DGIA lncRNAs from LCCs and RCCs were conducted with appliance of "Limma" analysis. Then, we screened out key lncRNAs based on univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Meanwhile, DGIA lncRNAs related prognostic model (DRPM) was established. We employed the DRPM in the model group and internal verification group from TCGA for the purpose of risk grouping and accuracy verification of PRSM. We also verified the accuracy of key lncRNAs with GEO data. Finally, the differences of immune infiltration and functional pathways were analyzed within different risk groups. Results: A total of 123 DGIA lncRNAs were screened out by differential expression analysis. We obtained 6 DGIA lncRNAs by the construction of DRPM, including AC004009.1, AP003555.2, BOLA3-AS1, NKILA, LINC00543 and UCA1. After the risk grouping by these DGIA lncRNAs, we found the prognosis of high-risk group (HRG) was significantly worse than that in low-risk group (LRG) (all p＜0.05). In all TCGA samples and model group, the expression of CD8+ T cells in HRG was lower than that in LRG (all p＜0.05). The functional analysis indicated that there was significant up-regulation with regard of pathways related to both genetic instability and immunity in LRG, including cytosolic DNA sensing pathway, response to dsRNA, RIG-Ⅰ like receptor signaling pathway and Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.Conclusion: Through the analysis of the DGIA lncRNAs between LCCs and RCCs, we established a DRPM which could predicate prognosis of LCCs and RCCs, and 6 key DGIA lncRNAs were identified as well. They can not only predict the prognostic risk of patients, but also serve as biomarkers for evaluating the differences of genetic instability and immune infiltration.
Multiparameter Optimization of Magnetite Solid-phase Microextraction for Preconcentration of Diclofenac and Determination by UV-Vis Spectrophotometry
Authors: Shahhosseini Hassan Ali , Heydari Somayeh , Es'haghi Zarrin , Zare Leili
Published: February 2021

This research, aimed to synthesis and functionalize of Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) using dialdehyde starch and modifying with arginine amino acid. The resulting MNPs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Synthesized MNPs were developed for preconcentration and determination of diclofenac in biological samples by UV- Vis Spectrophotometry. A Plackett–Burman experimental design was used to evaluate the influence of effective parameters. Significant parameters were further optimized by Central Composite Design (CCD). Sample volume, pH and salting effect had a main effect on extraction of diclofenac by the proposed method. Under the optimized conditions, the detection limit (3Sb, n = 7) was found to be 0.039 µg ml− 1.The calibration curve showed dynamic linear 0.05-10 µg ml− 1 with correlation coefficients (R2) of 0.987. The enrichment factor was found to be 148. The proposed method showed good results for preconcentration and determination of diclofenac in serum and pharmaceutical samples.
Expression of Glutamate Dehydrogenase Genes In Arabidopsis Thaliana Depends on The Redox State of Chloroplast Electron Transport Chain
Authors: Garnik Elena Yu. , Belkov Vadim I. , Tarasenko Vladislav I. , Konstantinov Yury M.
Published: February 2021

Plant glutamate dehydrogenase is an enzyme interconverting L-glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate and providing a link between carbon and nitrogen metabolism. In Arabidopsis thaliana, this enzyme is encoded by three genes. Two of them, GDH1 and GDH2, provide most of the enzyme activity in plant leaves and roots. Expression of GDH1 and GDH2 genes is very low in the light and high in the dark. The molecular signals and mechanisms that provide the light-dependent GDH genes regulation remain unknown. Using photosynthetic electron transport inhibitors 3-(3.4-dichlorophenyl)-1.1-dimethylurea (DCMU) and 2.5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl benzoquinone (DBMIB) we demonstrate that transcript levels of the GDH1 and GDH2 genes in Arabidopsis leaves change in accordance with a redox state of chloroplast electron transport chain: they are low when it is highly reduced and high when it is oxidized. Hydrogen peroxide or high light treatment did not result in decreasing of GDH1 or GDH2 expression, so reactive oxygen species cannot be the signals that reduce expression of these genes during dark-to-light shifts. There was no significant difference between the glucose content in the leaves of plants treated with DCMU and the plants treated with DBMIB, so glucose is not the only or the main factor that regulates expression of the studied genes. We presume that expression of Arabidopsis GDH1 and GDH2 genes depends on the chloroplast electron transport chain redox state. This regulatory mechanism could arise because of a need to avoid a competition for substrate between tetrapyrrole synthesis, glutathione synthesis and using of L-glutamate as an energy source during prolonged darkness.
Influence of Breastfeeding on The Early Aged Children’s Health and Ql Indicators
Authors: Mardiyan Marina Ararat , Mkrtchyan Siranush Ashot , Dunamalyan Razmik Ashot , Simonyan Karine Hrant , Harutyunyan Hayk Vachagan
Published: February 2021

Background: Promotion and coverage of breastfeeding are considered to be the cost-effective public health measures in terms of Healthcare System. The aim of the research is to assess an influence of breastfeeding on infants’ health and quality of life (QL) parameters.Methods: This observational prospective study included 1790 newborns selected from Yerevan State Medical University’s Polyclinics (“Mouratsan” (sample=746) and “Heratsi” ” (sample=1044)). Data collection took a period between January 2016 and December 2017. Evaluation of children’s quality of life was performed with the help of the validated and adapted QUALIN questionnaire. The data related to child’s health condition were collected from the “Child Development History” cards available at the polyclinics of the investigated area.Results: Among 1770 one year old children 1681 were ever breastfed, 1224 (69.1%) were exclusively breastfed up to 3 months, the median duration of breastfeeding was 6 -7 months, 45% ≥ 6 months, 15% ≥ 1 year. There is a significant difference between the QL scores of the ever breastfed and the never breastfed subgroups. Duration of the breastfeeding also have an influence on QL scores.Conclusions: The given study’s results confirm that breastfeeding among the early aged Armenian children is of great importance in their health, influencing on quality of life and morbidity rates.