bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plantar pressure sensors indicate females to have a significantly higher peak pressure on the hallux, toes, forefoot, and inside of the foot compared to males
Authors: Yamamoto Tetsuya , Hoshino Yuichi , Kanzaki Noriyuki , Nukuto Koji , Yamashita Takahiro , Ibaraki Kazuyuki , Nagai Kanto , Nagamune Kouki , Araki Daisuke , Matsushita Takehiko , Kuroda Ryosuke
Published: April 2020

Background: Gender-related differences of plantar pressure distribution during activities should be thoroughly inspected as it can help establish treatment and prevention strategies for foot and ankle problems. In-shoe measurement systems are preferable without space and activity restrictions; however, previously reported systems are still heavy and bulky and induce unnatural movement. Therefore, a slim and light plantar pressure sensor was newly developed to detect the effect of gender difference on plantar pressure during standing and walking.Methods: One-hundred healthy adult volunteers (50 females and 50 males) were recruited. Ten plantar pressure sensors were implanted in a 1-mm thick insole, with a total weight of 29 g. Plantar pressure was recorded with 200 Hz during 3 seconds of standing and while walking 10 steps. The maximum loads during standing and walking were analyzed in each sensor, and the results were compared between different areas of the foot in the antero-posterior direction and the medio-lateral direction and between different time points. The movement of the center of pressure (COP) during walking was also evaluated. Results were compared between genders by converting body weight to 50 kg.Results: The movement of COP was constant for both genders. In all cases, the maximum load was observed on the inside of the foot. Females had a significantly higher peak pressure on the hallux, toes, forefoot, and inside of the foot compared to males while standing and walking (P < .01).Conclusions: A newly introduced in-shoe plantar pressure sensor demonstrated a typical loading transition pattern of the foot. Furthermore, higher plantar pressure in the forefoot was detected in healthy females as compared to males during standing and walking activities.
Modelling and predicting the spatio-temporal spread of COVID-19 in Italy
Authors: Giuliani Diego , Dickson Maria Michela , Espa Giuseppe , Santi Flavio
Published: April 2020

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been firstly detected in China at the end of 2019 and it spread in few months all over the world. Italy is the second country in the World for number of cases, and the diffusion of COVID-19 has followed a peculiar spatial pattern. However, the interest of scientific community has been devoted almost exclusively to the prediction of the disease evolution over time so far. Methods: Official freely available data about the number of infected at the finest possible level of spatial areal aggregation (Italian provinces) are used to model the spatio-temporal distribution of COVID-19 infections at local level. An endemic-epidemic time-series mixed-effects generalized linear model for areal disease counts has been implemented to understand and predict spatio-temporal diffusion of the phenomenon. Results: Three subcomponents characterize the fitted model. The first describes the transmission of the illness within provinces; the second accounts for the transmission between nearby provinces; the third is related to the evolution of the disease over time. At the local level, the provinces first concerned by containment measures are those that are not affected by the effects of spatial neighbours. On the other hand, the component accounting for the spatial interaction with surrounding areas is prevalent for provinces that are strongly involved by contagions. Moreover, the proposed model provides good forecasts of the number of infections at local level while controlling for delayed reporting. Conclusions: A strong evidence is found that strict control measures implemented in some provinces efficiently break contagions and limit the spread to nearby areas. While containment policies may potentially be more effective if planned considering the peculiarities of local territories, the effective and homogeneous enforcement of control measures at national level is needed to prevent the disease control being delayed or missed as a whole. This may also apply at international level where, as it is for the EU or the USA, the internal border checks among states have largely been abolished.
Dynamic changes in clinical and CT characteristics of COVID-19 cases with different exposure histories: a retrospective study
Authors: Li Ruili , Liu Guangxue , Huang Xiaojie , Jia Cuiyu , Xia Zhenying , Song Wenyan , Li Xueqin , Wang Xing , Li Hongjun
Published: April 2020

Background: To assess the dynamic changes in clinical and CT characteristics of COVID-19 patients with different epidemiology histories.Methods: Fifty-three discharged COVID-19 patients were enrolled at Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, from Jan 21 to Mar 10, 2020. Spearman correlation analysis was performed between CT scores and laboratory indicators. Patients were divided into Wuhan (lived in/or traveled to Wuhan, 30 cases) and nonWuhan group (close contacts or unknown exposure, 23 cases). The CT and laboratory findings were compared between and within groups during the clinical process.Results: Fever (88.7%), cough (64.2%), fatigue (34%), and abnormal laboratory indicators, including lymphopenia, reduced albumin, albumin/globulin (A/G), and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP), were mainly observed. Subpleural ground-glass opacities (86.8%) were usually detected at admission. The CT scores were highly correlated with lymphocytes, CRP, albumin, and A/G at initial and follow-ups (all p<0.05). Four days after admission, most patients (66.7% Wuhan, 47.8% nonWuhan) showed progression, and the CT scores of Wuhan significantly increased (p=0.015). Eight days after admission, the vast majority of patients (69.2% Wuhan, 100% nonWuhan, p=0.006) presented improvement, and the CT scores of nonWuhan were significantly lower than Wuhan (p=0.006). Pneumonia was completely absorbed in most patients 2-4 weeks after discharge.Conclusions: CT plays a crucial role in early diagnosis and monitoring changes in COVID-19. Lymphocytes, CRP, albumin, and A/G are expected to predict disease severity and prognosis. Viral pathogenicity in non-endemic areas may be weaker than core-infected areas. Lung lesions can disappear around 4 weeks after discharge in most patients.
Pre- and Post-operative Differences Between Genders in Idiopathic Macular Holes
Authors: Wang Jing , Yu Yanping , Liang Xida , Wang Zengyi , Qi Biying , Liu Wu
Published: April 2020

Background: To compare idiopathic macular holes (IMHs) between male and female before and after surgery.Methods: Patients with IMHs of stage 3 and stage 4 who underwent 23-guage vitrectomy were retrospectively enrolled. Pre-operative clinical features like age of onset, and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were reviewed. Optical coherence tomography parameters including minimum linear diameter (MLD), central macular thickness and some other indexes were measured and calculated. Main surgical outcomes included the primary closure rate, the highest BCVA during follow-up, and the recovery duration. All the metrics mentioned above were compared between genders with appropriated statistical methods. Results: A total of 298 eyes from 280 patients (male: 51; female: 229) were enrolled. Compared with men, women demonstrated a significantly higher ratio of stage3/stage4 (P=0.045), larger horizontal MLD (P=0.009), but similar surgical outcomes except for a relatively longer recovery duration (P=0.024). For stage 3 IMHs, women exhibited significantly younger age of onset (P=0.023), larger MLD (P=0.003), and smaller height of the hole (P=0.029). However, for stage 4 IMHs, all the pre- and post-operative metrics showed no differences between genders.Conclusions: Female IMHs seem to demonstrate an earlier age of onset and larger size of hole, especially in IMHs of stage 3. However, these differences, which may owe to normal gender-related variations, have limited influence on the surgical outcomes.
Comparison of Ultrasound Cycloplasty and Transscleral Cyclophotocoagulation for Refractory Glaucoma in Chinese Population
Authors: Yu Qiuli , Liang Ya , Ji Fangfang , Yuan Zhilan
Published: April 2020

Background: To compare the efficacy and safety of focused ultrasound cycloplasty (UCP) and transscleral cyclophotocoagulation (TSCP) in the treatment of refractory glaucoma in Chinese population. Methods: We retrospective compared twenty-eight eligible patients with refractory glaucoma, who were divided into the UCP group and TSCP group. Patients in this two groups underwent a corresponding procedure during June 2018 to February 2019. The intraocular pressure (IOP), visual acuity, use of anti-glaucoma agents and complications were reviewed and compared between the two groups. Results: After the 12-months follow-up, postoperative IOP and number of anti-glaucoma agents, which were used postoperatively in the two groups were both lower than the baseline level, and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in IOP, number of anti-glaucoma agents and the best-corrected visual acuity between the two groups at each follow-up time point (P＞0.05). In terms of complications, the pain at 1d after surgery in the UCP group was significantly milder than that in the TSCP group (P<0.05), while there were no significant differences in other complications between the two groups (P>0.05).Conclusions: Both UCP and TSCP are safe and effective methods for the treatment of refractory glaucoma. Nevertheless, pain is less severe after UCP.
Burden of moderate to severe anaemia and severe stunting in children ≤ 3 years in conflict hit Mount Cameroon: a community based descriptive cross-sectional study
Authors: Sumbele Irene Ule
Published: April 2020

Background: Armed conflict is a significant social determinant of child health with nuanced effects. There is a dearth of knowledge on the public health issues facing vulnerable populations in conflict-stricken areas. The objective was to determine the prevalence and determinants of moderate to severe anaemia (MdSA) and severe stunting (SS) in children ≤3 years in conflict hit Dibanda, Ekona and Muea in the Mount Cameroon area.Methods: Haematological parameters were obtained using an automated haematology analyser while, undernutrition indices standard deviation (SD) scores (Z scores) were computed based on the WHO growth reference curves for 649 children in a community based cross-sectional study in 2018. Binomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate the determinants of MdSA and SS against a set of predictor variables.Results: Anaemia was prevalent in 84.0% (545) of the children with a majority having microcytic anaemia (59.3%). The prevalence of MdSA was 56.1% (364). Educational level of parents/caregiver (P < 0.001) and site (P = 0.043) had a significant negative effect on the occurrence of MdSA. Stunting, underweight and wasting occurred in 31.3%, 13.1% and 6.3% of the children respectively. Overall, SS was prevalent in 17.1% (111) of the children. The age group (0.1–1.0 year, P = 0.042 and 1.1–2.0 years, P = 0.008), educational level (No formal education, P < 0.001 and primary education P = 0.028) and SS (P = 0.035) were significant determinants of MdSA while MdSA (P = 0.035) was the only significant determinant of SS. On the contrary, age group 0.1-1 year (OR = 0.56, P = 0.043) and site (Dibanda, OR = 0.29, P = 0.001) demonstrated a significant protective effect against SS.Conclusions: Moderate to severe anaemia, severe stunting and wasting especially in children not breastfed at all are public health challenges in the conflict hit area. There is a need for targeted intervention to control anaemia as well as increase awareness of exclusive breast feeding in conflict hit areas to limit the burden of wasting and stunting.
Two-hour surgical access in South Africa: a useful indicator in a middle- income country?
Authors: Chu Kathryn , Dell Angela J , Moultrie Harry , Day Candy , Naidoo Megan , Straten Stephanie van , Rayne Sarah
Published: April 2020

Background In a robust health care system, at least 80% of a country’s population should be able to access a district hospital that provides surgical care within two hours. The objective was to identify the proportion of the population living within two hours of a district hospital with surgical capacity in South Africa. Methods All government hospitals in the country were identified. Surgical district hospitals were defined as district hospitals with a surgical provider, a functional operating theatre, and the provision of at least one caesarean section annually. The proportion of the population within two-hour access was estimated using service area methods. Results One hundred and thirty-eight of 240 (58%) district hospitals had surgical capacity and 86% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Ninety-eight percent of the population had two-hour access to any government hospital in South Africa. Conclusion Improving equitable surgical access is urgently needed in sub-Saharan Africa. This study demonstrated that in South Africa, just over half of district hospitals had surgical capacity but more than 80% of the population had two-hour access to these facilities. Strengthening district hospital surgical capacity is an international mandate and needed to improve access.
Widened difference of incidence and survival between different races in epithelial ovarian cancer: a period analysis.
Authors: Li Li , Han Lili , Husaiyin Sulaiya , Maimaiti Miherinisha , Niyazi Mayinuer
Published: April 2020

Introduction To describe the incidence and relative survival in women with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) in a population-based cohort in the four decades after diagnosis. EOC is the major pathological type of all ovarian cancers, however, there is limited information on changes of long-term survival in EOC in the four decades. Methods We extracted the incidence and relative survival data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registries to assess epidemiological changes of patients with EOC from 1974 to 2013. The survival disparities of patients with EOC among four decades, age, race, and socioeconomic status (SES) were performed by Kaplan-Meier curves. Results The overall incidence of EOC gradually declined from 11.4 to 9.0 per 100,000 in the past four decades. The median survival increased from 27 months in the first decades to 48 months in the fourth decade, with 5-year relative survival rate (RSR) improving from 32.3% to 44.3% in the same period. However, the median survival differences increased from 11 months to 18 months between Whites and Blacks and increased from 7 months to 12 months between low-poverty group and high-poverty group respectively over the past four decades. Discussion This study indicated that the incidence and RSR of EOC patients had improved in the past four decades. But the survival gap between different races and SES gradually widened. More importantly, this study will promote the improvement of health care system and clinical management to erase the survival differences in SES groups and races identified in this study, thereby optimize the clinical outcome.
Impaired autophagy triggered by HDAC9 in mesenchymal stem cells accelerates bone mass loss
Authors: Zhang Liqiang , Qi Meng , Chen Ji , Zhao Jiangdong , Li Liya , Hu Jiachen , Jin Yan , Liu Wenjia
Published: April 2020

Background: Bone mass loss in aging is linked with imbalanced lineage differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). Recent studies have proved that histone deacetylases (HDACs) are regarded as key regulators of bone remodeling. However, HDACs involve in regulating BMMSCs bio-behaviors remain elusive. Here, we investigated ability of HDAC9 on modulation of autophagy and its significance in lineage differentiation of BMMSCs. Methods: The effects of HDAC9 on lineage differentiation of BMMSCs and autophagic signalling were assessed by various biochemical (Western blot and ChIP assay), morphological (TEM and confocal microscopy) and microCT assays. Results：16-month mice manifested obvious bone mass loss and marrow fat increase, accompanied with the decreased osteogenic differentiation and increased adipogenic differentiation of BMMSCs. Further, the expression of HDAC9 elevated in bone and BMMSCs. Importantly, HDAC9 inhibitors recovered the lineage differentiation of 16-month BMMSCs and reduced p53 expression. Mechanistically, we revealed that HDAC9 regulated the autophagy of BMMSCs by controlling H3K9 acetylation in the promoters of the autophagic genes, ATG7 , BECN1 , and LC3a/b, which subsequently affected their lineage differentiation. Finally, HDAC9 inhibition improved endogenous BMMSCs properties and promoted the bone mass recovery of 16-month mice. Conclusions: Our data demonstrate that HDAC9 is a key regulator in variety of bone mass by regulating autophagic activity in BMMSCs and is thus, a potential target of age-related bone loss treatment.
Paracrine Effects Of Adipose-Derived Stromal/Stem Cells And Stromal Vascular Fraction In An In Vitro Fibrogenesis Model Of Human Vocal Fold Scarring
Authors: Velier Mélanie , MATTEI Alexia , SIMONCINI Stéphanie , MAGALON Jérémy , GIRAUDO Laurent , ARNAUD Laurent , GIOVANNI Antoine , GEORGE Francoise DIGNAT , SABATIER Florence , GUGATSCHKA Markus , GROSSMANN Tanja
Published: April 2020

Background: Vocal folds (VF) scarring leads to severe dysphonia which negatively impacts daily life of patients. Current therapeutic options are limited due in large part to the high complexity of the micro-structure of the VF. Innovative therapies derived from adipose tissue such as stromal vascular fraction (SVF) or adipose derived stromal/ stem cells (ASC) are currently being evaluated in this indication and paracrine anti-fibrotic effects are considered as predominant mechanisms. Methods: The paracrine anti-fibrotic effects of SVF and ASC from healthy donors were tested in an innovative in vitro fibrogenesis model employing human VF fiboblasts (hVFF) and the principles of macromolecular crowding (MMC). Biosynthesis of collogen and alpha-smooth-muscle actin (αSMA) expression in hVFF were quantified after five days of indirect coculture with ASC or SVF using silver stain, western blot and RT-qPCR analysis. Results: Fibrogenesis was promoted by addition of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) combined with MMC characterized by an enhanced deposition of fibrillar collagens and the acquisition of a myofibroblast phenotype (overexpression of αSMA). Adipose-derived therapies led to a reduction in the αSMA expression and the collagen content was lower in hVFF co-cultivated with SVF. Discussion: ASC and SVF promoted significant prevention of fibrosis in an in vitro fibrogenesis model through paracrine mechanisms, supporting further development of adipose-derived cellular therapies in VF scarring.
Measuring the Economic and Educational Value of a University-based Service-learning Floral and Plant Program
Authors: Etheredge Coleman L. , Waliczek Tina M. , Sudhakaran Pratheesh Omana
Published: April 2020

A university faculty-managed and student-run service-learning program provides seasonal plants and floral designs for holidays and special events on campus. Native and well-adapted plants for client personal use are also promoted and sold throughout the semester. Students propagate and grow greenhouse and nursery crops and create floral designs through service-learning applications in classes. Floral designs and greenhouse/nursery products are advertised via e-mail to members of the university's faculty and staff. The purpose of this study was to document program fundraising over time, as well as to measure the experiential value to the students and the quality of life benefits to the campus community. Economic benefits were evaluated by reviewing overall and average costs and earnings from the program over a 13-year period. Results indicated the average profits for the program were $6578 annually, with most sales occurring during the late spring semester. Surveys collected qualitative data from students participating in the program and indicated the experience was a valuable hands-on horticultural teaching tool, but also helped students build confidence, learn business skills in management and networking, and find their passion within the industry. Unsolicited comments from faculty and staff found that the program brought joy, had educational value, and provided a service to departments.
PROMOTION AND QUALITY OF SERVICE WITH INTERESTS TO VISIT TOURIST OBJECTS: SISTEMATIC SEARCH
Authors: Lutur Nellyn
Published: April 2020

The aim of the research is the systematic search of promotion and quality of service with interest to visit tourist objects. This article is a systematic search that collects data from relevant indexed journals in Indonesia. These findings are discussed in a theoretical study so as to produce a conclusion. This article draws the conclusion that in the current era, the use of the right marketing strategy is very important because many new attractions are emerging as competitors. Applying the right marketing strategy will bring tourists and make tourists who have visited have an interest to visit again. The interest in revisiting is the encouragement of someone to carry out a visit to the destination that was visited. The regional tourism industry pays attention to the duties and functions of the promotion department and service quality in planning and implementing strategies that optimize a tourist interest. The quality of service within these institutions and local governments in the field of tourism is very closely related and has a strong influence on the tourism industry. There are promotion factors and service quality, connected with the interest of the local government in tourists visiting directly or indirectly, thus affecting the development of industries in the region. The attitude of the local government directly influences the visit of domestic and foreign tourists, then indirectly the situation and stable conditions in political, economic and security developments. The contribution of this research is to study theories about promotion and service quality with an interest in visiting tourist objects.
Research on House Price Prediction Based on Multi-Dimensional Data Fusion
Authors: Yang Yonghui
Published: April 2020

The price of commercial housing is related to the process of urbanization in China and the living standard of residents, so the prediction of the price of commercial housing is very important. A major difficulty in predicting regression problems is how to handle different attribute types and fuse them. This paper proposes a house price prediction model based on multi-dimensional data fusion and a fully connected neural network. The model building steps are: First, normalize the data involved in the sample; then, interpolate the normalized data to increase the data density; subsequently, the normalized sample data is converted into a pixel matrix; finally, a fully connected neural network model is established from the pixel matrix to the price of the commercial house. After the neural network model has been established, the price of house can be obtained by entering the attributes of the house into the neural network model.
Comparison of Several Different Registration Algorithms
Authors: Liu Lulu , Liu Baolong
Published: April 2020

The common point cloud registration algorithms are usually divided into initial registration and precise registration. In this paper, SAC-IA algorithm, which is commonly used in PCL, is selected for initial registration, and the traditional ICP algorithm is used for accurate registration. Three different feature descriptors (3D shape context, Point Feature Histograms, Fast Point Feature Histograms) are used to realize SAC-IA algorithm and ICP precise registration algorithm. During the implementation of the algorithm, the registration time and registration error of point cloud are calculated; according to the experimental results, the registration time and registration error of SAC-IA algorithm and ICP algorithm based on three different descriptors are compared. The results show that the registration algorithm based on 3D shape context has high accuracy, but the registration time is too long, which is not suitable for a large number of point cloud data; the registration algorithm based on fast point feature histograms has short registration time and good registration effect.
Prácticas educativas familiares y desempeño académico en adolescentes escolarizados en el grado noveno de instituciones educativas oficiales del municipio de Envigado
Authors: Tilano Luz Magnolia , Henao Gloria Cecilia , Restrepo Julián A.
Published: April 2020

En el presente articulo, se plantea la relación entre las prácticas educativas familiares y el desempeño académico de 451 adolescentes ( hombres y mujeres ) de noveno grado de Instituciones oficiales del Municipio de Envigado/Antioquia. Con una selección aleatoria simple y la aplicación de las escalas de afecto (EA-P) y de normas y exigencias (ENE-P) de Bersabé, Fuentes y Montrico (2001) con hijos y padres, se obtiene que los estilos de autoridad inductivos favorecen el desempeño académico, mientras que los rígidos propician un desempeño académico deficitario, siendo mas bajo en los permisivos. Además, los padres son percibidos más permisivos y rígidos que las madres, finalmente se observan divergencias entre las percepciones de los hijos y los padres, quienes tienden a evaluarse de manera positiva.
A pilot study on automated quantitative grading of facial functions
Authors: Gaber Amira , Taher Mona F. , Abdel Wahed Manal
Published: April 2020

Quantitative grading of facial paralysis (FP) and the associated loss of facial function are essential to evaluate the severity and to track deterioration or improvement of the condition following treatment. To date, several computer-assisted grading systems have been proposed but none have gained widespread clinical acceptance. There is still a need for an accurate quantitative assessment tool that is automatic, inexpensive, easy to use, and has low inter-observer variability. The aim of the authors is to develop such a comprehensive Automated Facial Grading (AFG) system. One of this system’s modules: the resting symmetry module has already been presented. The present study describes the implementation of the second module for grading voluntary movements. The system utilizes the Kinect v2 sensor to detect and capture facial landmarks in real time. The functions of three regions, the eyebrows, eyes and mouth, are evaluated by quantitatively grading four voluntary movements. Preliminary results on normal subjects and patients are promising. The AFG system is a novel system that is suitable for clinical use because it is fast, objective, easy to use, and inexpensive. With further enhancement, it can be extended to become a virtual facial rehabilitation tool.
Estimation of transmitted force through aiming bolt in headlamp module using lumped parameter modeling
Authors: Hong Dongwoo , Park Jongmyeong , Kim Byeongil
Published: April 2020

Headlamps mounted on vehicles are one of the major components which contribute to the driver’s vision and thus, they should be robustly designed to prevent looseness of the supporting bolts from the vibration generated while driving. For that reason, it is important to select proper position of the headlamp supporting positions initially. However, no criteria for positioning the headlamp bolts are specified now and the bolts are placed according to the design of the whole vehicle without any interference with other parts. This may cause excessive vibration on the module and the bolts could be loosened, causing the change of aiming and adjustment. Therefore, as a first step for establishing the headlamp positioning criteria, this study aims to predict the force transmitted to the bolts when excitation forces are given to the headlamp. The following three steps are conducted for this purpose: 1) a typical headlamp module is modeled based on the lumped parameter modeling and the equation of motions are derived, 2) the force transmitted to the bolts in each direction are calculated, 3) the appropriate parameter adjustment is performed comparing transmitted force with one obtained through finite element analysis and experimental results. It is shown that the directional force transmitted to the headlamp bolt could be predicted when the excitation force was applied.
Dynamic analysis of MCF-10A and MCF-7: A simulation approach
Authors: Ahmed Mubeen Ayman , Chaudhary Shrishti , Barathwaj R Arun , C V Chandrashekara
Published: April 2020

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among women and is responsible for 15 % of all cancer related deaths. Though there are significant advancements in cancer treatment strategies, clinical tumour treatment methods currently employed are often accompanied by severe side effects as they induce damage to the normal cells along with the cancer cells. The alterations in the biophysical and biomechanical properties of a cell as it undergoes transformation from a normal to cancerous cell results in changes in its dynamic characteristics. These changes can be utilised to induce selective cytotoxicity of tumour cells. In the present study, two simulation models (homogenous and non-homogenous) of normal (MCF-10A) and cancerous (MCF-7) breast cells are developed. A finite element approach using Ansys is adopted to investigate the variation in dynamic characteristics of the cells using the two modelling approaches. Results indicate that the natural frequencies of cells modelled as a homogenous system is greater than that of cells whose sub-cellular material properties are considered for analysis. A comparison of the first four natural frequencies using the two modelling approaches for both MCF-10A and MCF-7 cells are illustrated and the corresponding mode shapes reported. A plot highlighting the variation in the natural frequencies of MCF-10A and MCF-7 using the two modelling approaches is presented.
Modelling study to quantify the impact of future climate and land use changes on water resources availability at catchment scale
Authors: Afzal Muhammad , Vavlas Nikolaos , Ragab Ragab
Published: April 2020

The focus of this study was to investigate the impact of climate and land-use changes on water resources and to find suitable drought indices to identify the occurrence, frequency and severity of the past and future drought events. The Ebbw catchment, Wales, UK was selected for this study. Data for the 1961–2012 period were used as input to the DiCaSM model. Following model calibration and validation, the model was run with UKCP09 future climate scenarios for three periods (30 years each) up to 2099 under three emission scenarios. The reconnaissance drought index, the standardized precipitation index, soil moisture deficit and the wetness index were able to reproduce the past drought events. The data of UKCP09, simple change factors to temperature (± °C) and rainfall (%) using Joint Probability plot and daily values of the weather generator were input to the model. The projections indicated that the streamflow and groundwater recharge are likely to increase in winter and to decrease in spring, summer and autumn. Under all emission scenarios, the greatest decrease in groundwater recharge and the streamflow is projected in the 2050s and 2080s under high emission scenario. Moreover, under medium and high emission scenarios, severity and frequency of the drought events are likely to be high. Land use change from grass and/or arable to woodland had significant impact on water resources.
Pharmaceuticals' removal by constructed wetlands: a critical evaluation and meta-analysis on performance, risk reduction, and role of physicochemical properties on removal mechanisms
Authors: Ilyas Huma , Masih Ilyas , van Hullebusch Eric D.
Published: April 2020

This paper presents a comprehensive and critical analysis of the removal of pharmaceuticals (PhCs), the governing physicochemical properties, and removal mechanisms in constructed wetlands (CWs). The average removal efficiency of the most widely studied 34 PhCs ranges from 21% to 93%, with the exception of one PhC that exhibited negative removal. Moreover, CWs are effective in significantly reducing the environmental risk caused by many PhCs. Based on risk assessment, 12 PhCs were classified under high risk category (oxytetracycline > ofloxacin > sulfamethoxazole > erythromycin > sulfadiazine > gemfibrozil > ibuprofen > acetaminophen > salicylic acid > sulfamethazine > naproxen > clarithromycin), which could be considered for regular monitoring, water quality standard formulation and control purposes. Biodegradation (aerobic and anaerobic) is responsible for the removal of the majority of PhCs, often in conjunction with other mechanisms (e.g., adsorption/sorption, plant uptake, and photodegradation). The physicochemical properties of molecules play a pivotal role in the elimination processes, and could serve as important predictors of removal. The correlation and multiple linear regression analysis suggest that organic carbon sorption coefficient (Log Koc), octanol-water distribution coefficient (Log Dow), and molecular weight form a good predictive linear regression model for the removal efficiency of PhCs (R2 = 0.65, P-value <0.05).
Purification of emulsified oil by Bentonite loaded polyvinylidene fluoride/polyvinylpyrrolidone membrane
Authors: Nigiz F. U. , Yucak A. I. , Hilmioglu N. D.
Published: April 2020

In this study, a Bentonite clay incorporated polyvinylfluoride (PVDF) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) based adsorbent membrane was produced for the selective separation of oils from simulated wastewater. This membrane was produced as an intelligent material that selectively separates emulsified oils from water when it is used as adsorbent and purifies water when it is used in continuous membrane filtration. The affinity of the membrane to oil components was determined by water-oil uptake tests. The uptake experiments were conducted for soybean oil, hazelnut oil, lubricant oil and other volatile oils. As a result, membranes absorbed greater than 200 wt.% of oil when the membranes were immersed in the soybean oil, hazelnut oil and lubricant oil. When the same membranes were used for continuous filtration, greater than 85% of oil rejection values were obtained. As the PVP ratio in the membrane increased, flux values enhanced gradually. Bentonite incorporation simultaneously improved flux values and oil rejection remarkably. The soybean rejection increased from 69.1% to 90.9%, hazelnut oil rejection increased from 78% to 99.98%, and lubricant oil rejection enhanced from 80.5% to 96.5% when the bentonite amount was increased from 0 wt.% to 15 wt.%.
Synthesis of cation exchange membranes for capacitive deionization based on crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol with citric acid
Authors: Chen Ling , Mao Shudi , Li Zhe , Yang Ying , Zhao Ran
Published: April 2020

Constructing new cation exchange membranes (CEM) has been regarded as an easy and effective approach to improving the capacitive deionization (CDI) system. In this study, a new method of fabrication of CEM was introduced by crosslinking sulfosuccinic acid (SSA) and citric acid (CA). The SSA and CA were crosslinked with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) to fabricate CEMs in a series of conditions. The ion transference number for each fabricated membrane was tested to select the optimal recipe. The membrane fabricated by the selected method was then tested in the CDI system and the results show that the total percentage of SSA could be reduced from 5% to 1% by adding 5 g of non-toxic and inexpensive CA. The cost of preparing the membrane also decreased from US$0.18 per square meter to US$0.03. The adsorption capacity and the charge efficiency of membrane capacitive deionization system (MCDI) coated with a PVA/SSA/CA layer (mass ratio 10:1:5) was compared with the normal CDI and the MCDI coated with the original membrane (PVA:SSA = 19:5), which is named O-MCDI). The results show that with the modified membrane, the adsorption capacity and the charge efficiency can be enhanced by 18% and 28% compared with the CDI. In addition, although the cost is reduced, the desalination efficiency is still guaranteed. The adsorption capacity and charge efficiency are still increased by about 3% compared with the O-MCDI.
Población penal en frontera: la expresión de una realidad social en desintegración
Authors: Fuentes Romero David , Ortega Villa Guadalupe , Velázquez González Héctor
Published: April 2020

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo presentar el perfil de los internos en el Cereso de Mexicali según lugar de nacimiento en relación con los delitos que motivaron su reclusión y con el consumo de drogas. Los datos utilizados provienen de las entrevistas realizadas a 928 reclusos (35.9% de la población total del penal). Los resultados parecen indicar cierta especialización: los inmigrantes en delitos del fuero federal (asociados al narcotráfico y al tráfico de personas) y los nativos en aquellos del fuero común. También se observa un incremento en el consumo de drogas dentro del penal y un mayor consumo por parte de los nacidos en Baja California.
Avances en el marco jurídico y administrativo de las instituciones de seguridad pública
Authors: Alavez Torres Juana A.
Published: April 2020

Las modificaciones realizadas en 1994 al marco jurídico y administrativo de las instituciones de seguridad pública permitieron implementar el modelo de relación intergubernamental de autoridad superpuesta, asegurando el funcionamiento de vínculos verticales y horizontales de cooperación entre los distintos ámbitos de gobierno. Situación que permitió coadyuvar las operaciones de los organismos de la seguridad pública para atender la problemática de la seguridad.
Participación ciudadana en la evaluación de la política de seguridad pública: el caso de Baja California
Authors: González Reyes Pablo Jesús
Published: April 2020

En este artículo se destaca la importancia de la participación de la ciudadanía en los procesos de evaluación de las políticas de seguridad pública en Baja California, como una manifestación de la necesidad de establecer nuevas formas de gestión pública, en las cuales se establezcan relaciones de corresponsabilidad entre sociedad y gobierno.
La participación social organizada en la lucha contra la pobreza: la experiencia del PRONASOL en tres estados del norte de México
Authors: Ordóñez Barba Gerardo
Published: April 2020

El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar, por medio del análisis de información empírica referente a tres estados del norte de México, una aproximación al estudio de las organizaciones vecinales que se incorporaron o surgieron al amparo del Programa Nacional de Solidaridad (Pronasol) con el propósito de coadyuvar a las tareas involucradas en la puesta en marcha y operación de proyectos de beneficio colectivo. Dada la envergadura que llegaron a alcanzar estas organizaciones en la estrategia del programa y en el ámbito social, diversos analistas de la época comenzaron a poner en duda los supuestos que justificaban la constitución de los Comités de Solidaridad, argumentando sus posibles nexos con esquemas de control neocorporativo o aduciendo sus limitaciones para superar una forma de participación meramente instrumental. Independientemente de sus peculiaridades, en el fondo estas posiciones críticas coincidían con una hipótesis general: la participación organizada en el marco de Solidaridad no representa una alternativa de cambio efectiva en los procesos de reforma democrática del Estado mexicano. En este trabajo se pretenden explorar algunas respuestas a la hipótesis anterior, dividiendo a los Comités en dos planos: como instancias de participación y gestión comunitaria, y como organizaciones vinculadas con posibles esquemas de control corporativo.
La modernización del estado y la política de empleo. Una aproximación a la panoramica de Baja California
Authors: Barajas Tinoco Margarita
Published: April 2020

Este documento versa sobre el proceso de modernización del Estado en un contexto internacional y nacional y el cambio de la administración pública como un espacio derivado, que a su vez, da configuración a la concepción y política de empleo desde un marco del nuevo papel del Estado. Se elabora una aproximación general a formas de trabajo en México y Baja California y a políticas oficiales en torno a este ámbito social-económico, así como al señalamiento de algunos programas diseñados y ejecutados por la Secretaría del Trabajo en pro de contribuir a una mejor ocupación de la población. Por sus características, tales políticas son consideradas limitadas debido a que centran su función sólo del lado de la oferta de trabajo. El documento se elabora a partir de una revisión documental de manera descriptiva y analítica hacia sus conclusiones.
La promoción del empleo autónomo entre los jóvenes desempleados
Authors: González Morales Olga
Published: April 2020

El fomento del espíritu emprendedor y el apoyo a la creación de empresas y al trabajo por cuenta propia son líneas de actuación que recomienda la Comisión Europea a los Estados miembros para ayudar a los jóvenes y adultos desempleados a buscar una salida profesional en el campo del empleo autónomo. Este trabajo analiza una de las líneas de actuación en materia de apoyo a la creación de empleo: la evolución del número de beneficiarios acogidos al programa de apoyo al empleo autónomo español durante el periodo 1998- 2002, con especial referencia a la implicación de los jóvenes menores de 25 años en el mismo.
The Role of Bioactive Compounds and other Metabolites from Mushrooms against Skin Disorders- A Systematic Review Assessing their Cosmeceutical and Nutricosmetic Outcomes
Authors: Taofiq Oludemi , Barreiro Maria Filomena , Ferreira Isabel C.F.R.
Published: April 2020

Bioactive compounds derived from mushrooms have been shown to present promising potential as cosmeceutical or nutricosmetic ingredients. Scientific data reviewed herein showed that extracts prepared from medicinal and edible mushrooms and their individual metabolites presented antiinflammatory, antioxidant, photoprotective, antimicrobial, anti-tyrosinase, anti-elastase, and anticollagenase activities. These metabolites can be utilised as ingredients to suppress the severity of Inflammatory Skin Diseases, offer photoprotection to the skin, and correct Hyperpigmentation. However, studies regarding the molecular mechanism behind the mentioned bioactivities are still lacking. Challenges associated with the use of mushroom extracts and their associated metabolites as cosmeceutical and nutricosmetic ingredients include several steps from the fruiting bodies to the final product: extraction optimization, estimation of the efficacy and safety claims, the use of micro and nanocarriers to allow for controlled release and the pros and cons associated with the use of extracts vs individual compounds. This systematic review highlights that mushrooms contain diverse biomolecules that can be sustainably used in the development of nutricosmetic and cosmeceutical formulations. Reports regarding stability, compatibility, and safety assessment, but also toxicological studies are still needed to be considered. Furthermore, some of the constraints and limitations hindering the development of this type of ingredients still require long-term studies to achieve major breakthroughs.
Resveratrol Counteracts Hypoxia-Induced Gastric Cancer Invasion and EMT through Hedgehog Pathway Suppression
Authors: Xu Qin-Hong , Xiao Ying , Li Xu-Qi , Fan Lin , Zhou Can-Can , Cheng Liang , Jiang Zheng-Dong , Wang Guang-Hui
Published: April 2020

Background:

Gastric Cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant and lethal tumors worldwide. The
hypoxic microenvironment is correlated with GC cell invasion, metastasis and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition
(EMT). Resveratrol is a compound extracted from various plants, including grapes, berries, and some traditional
Chinese medicines. Recently, the anticancer properties of resveratrol against many cancers have been reported in a
range of studies. However, the exact mechanism through which resveratrol prevents GC invasion and metastasis
under hypoxic conditions remains unclear.

Objective:

The objective of this study is to show to what extent resveratrol could inhibit the hypoxia-induced malignant
biological behavior of GC.

Methods:

SGC-7901 cells were cultured in a consistent 3% O2 hypoxic condition or 21% O2 normal condition for 48
hours to establish an in vitro hypoxia model. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect EMT markers of SGC-
7901 cells, including E-cadherin, HIF-1a, Vimentin, etc. Transwell Matrigel Invasion Assays were used to test the
invasive ability of SGC-7901 cells. The siRNA targeting Gli-1 showed its role in hypoxia-induced EMT and invasion
of SGC-7901 cells.

Results:

Resveratrol was found to significantly decrease HIF-1α protein levels induced by hypoxia in SGC-7901
cells. HIF-1α accumulation was found to promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasive capacities in addition to
EMT changes through the activation of the Hedgehog pathway. These effects were found to be reversed by resveratrol.

Conclusion:

Therefore, these data indicate that resveratrol may serve as a potential anticancer agent for the treatment
of GC, even in a hypoxic tumor microenvironment.
РЕЗУЛЬТАТИ ВПРОВАДЖЕННЯ ПРОГРАМИ ФІЗИЧНОЇ ТЕРАПІЇ НА ПОКАЗНИКИ ОСІБ ПОХИЛОГО ВІКУ ІЗ ХВОРОБОЮ АЛЬЦГЕЙМЕРА
Authors: Беспалова О. О. , Бугаєнко Т. В. , Авраменко Н. Б.
Published: April 2020

Резюме. Деменція - це ушкодження мозку внаслідок різноманітних травм та захворювань, яке призводить до стійких порушень когнітивних та рухових функцій. Одним із дегенеративних неврологічних захворювань, яке спричиняє деменцію, є хвороба Альцгеймера. З метою ефективного реабілітаційного втручання необхідна професійна допомога фахівців мультидисциплінарної команди, де фахівцям з фізичної терапії, ерготерапії належить одне із провідних місць. Завданнями фізичної терапії, ерготерапія осіб з хворобою Альцгеймера є: підвищення рівня їх фізичної активності, розвиток головних фізичних якостей, збереження побутових рухових навичок та покращення психоемоційного стану. З цією метою була розроблена, науково обґрунтована та упроваджена у діяльність Комунальної установи Сумської обласної ради «Лебединський психоневрологічний інтернат» комплексна програма фізичної терапії, ерготерапії, до якої було включено ранкову гігієнічну гімнастику, лікувальну гімнастику, працетерапію та лікувальну дозовану ходьбу. Реалізація авторської програми відбувалося упродовж 5 місяців, що було обумовлено науково обґрунтованими даними про те, що поліпшення якості життя осіб з хворобою Альцгеймера, достовірно може покращитися лише через 3-6 місяців після початку реабілітаційних заходів. У дослідженні використовувалися методи: контент-аналіз медичної документації; педагогічні - спостереження, медико-біологічні: шкала MMSE, шкала PAINAD, шкала «Оцінка рухової активності у осіб похилого віку»; методи математичної статистики. Ефективність запропонованої програми підтверджено достовірними позитивними змінами у досліджуваних показниках.