bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Withania frutescens. L Extract: Phytochemical Characterization and Acute and Repeated Dose 28‐Day Oral Toxicity Studies in Mice
Authors: Moussaoui Abdelfattah EL , Bourhia Mohammed , Jawhari Fatima Zahra , Es-safi Imane , Ali Syed Saeed , Bari Ahmed , Mahmood Hafiz Majid , Bousta Dalila , Bari Amina
Published: September 2020

Background. Withania frutescens. L (W. frutescens) is a perennial woody medicinal plant belonging to family Solanaceae largely used by the indigenous population to Morocco for the treatment of disease. Objective. The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, acute, and subacute toxicity of W. frutescens extract in mice. Materials and Methods. The phytochemical composition of W. frutescens extract was determined using a gas chromatograph (GC/MS). Acute toxicity study was carried out in mice through oral administration of single doses 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg for 14 days. Subacute toxicity was performed with oral administration of repeated doses 500 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine), as well as histopathological changes potentially occurred in organs, (liver, kidney, and spleen) were evaluated. Results. The results of chromatographic analysis showed the richness of W. frutescens extract in interesting phytochemical compounds majorly constituted of bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane, 6,6‐dimethyl‐2‐methylene‐(C10H16). Regarding acute toxicity study, the results showed no clinical symptoms occurred in treated mice compared to the control group and no histological changes detected in analyzed organs of treated mice with dose put to 2000 mg/kg nor adverse effect on biochemical parameters. Conclusion. The outcome of this work showed no toxic effect of W. frutescens in mice up to dose 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. Therefore, this study could scientifically validate further traditional use with safety in the range of tested doses.
Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Iran: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kazeminia Mohsen , Salari Nader , Mohammadi Masoud
Published: September 2020

Background. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common type of DM and accounts for 90% of the cases. One of the most important complications of type 2 DM is cardiovascular complications, which are the most common cause of mortality in patients with DM. Various studies have reported different incidence rates of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 DM. However, no comprehensive review of previous studies has been done. This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Iran with a systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods. In this review, studies were first extracted searching domestic and international databases including SID, MagIran, IranMedex, IranDoc, Cochrane, Embase, ScienceDirect, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science (ISI), published between 2001 and September 2019. The random effects model was adopted for the analysis, and heterogeneity of the extracted studies was investigated with the I2 index. The data collected from the extracted studies were analyzed using a comprehensive meta-analysis (Version 2) software. Results. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 DM in Iran in 17 studies with a sample size of 9656 was 37.4% (95% CI: 31.4-43.8). Based on meta-regression, there was a significant difference on the effect of year of conducting the study and sample size with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 DM in Iran (p≤0.001). Conclusion. The results of this study indicated that there was a high prevalence rate of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 DM in Iran. Therefore, appropriate strategies should be taken to improve this situation and trace and supervise it at all levels, providing feedback to hospitals.
Diffusion Kurtosis Imaging as a Prognostic Marker in Osteosarcoma Patients with Preoperative Chemotherapy
Authors: Liu Chenglei , Xing Yue , Wei Dongmin , Jiao Qiong , Yang Qingcheng , Lei Dapeng , Tao Xiaofeng , Yao Weiwu
Published: September 2020

Background. The accurate prediction of prognosis is key to prompt therapy adjustment. The purpose of our study was to investigate the efficacy of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in predicting progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in osteosarcoma patients with preoperative chemotherapy. Methods. Thirty patients who underwent DKI before and after chemotherapy, followed by tumor resection, were retrospectively enrolled. The patients were grouped into good responders (GRs) and poor responders (PRs). The Kaplan‐Meier and log‐rank test were used for survival analysis. The association between the DKI parameters and OS and PFS was performed by univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results. Significantly worse OS and PFS were associated with a lower mean diffusivity (MD) after chemotherapy (HR, 5.8; 95% CI, 1.5‐23.1; P = 0.012 and HR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.2‐10.1: P = 0.028, respectively) and a higher mean kurtosis (MK) after chemotherapy (HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1‐0.9; P = 0.041 and HR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1‐0.8; P = 0.049, respectively). Likewise, shorter OS and PFS were also significantly associated with a change rate in MD (CR MD) of less than 13.53% (HR, 8.6; 95% CI, 1.8‐41.8; P = 0.007 and HR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.0‐8.2; P = 0.045, respectively). Compared to GRs, PRs had an approximately 9‐ and 4‐fold increased risk of death (HR, 9.4; 95% CI, 1.2‐75; P = 0.034) and progression (HR, 4.2; 95% CI, 1.2‐15; P = 0.026), respectively. Conclusions. DKI has a potential to be a prognostic tool in osteosarcoma. Low MK and high MD after chemotherapy or high CR MD indicates favorite outcome, while prospective studies with large sample sizes are warranted.
A Numerical Method for Time-Fractional Reaction-Diffusion and Integro Reaction-Diffusion Equation Based on Quasi-Wavelet
Authors: Kumar Sachin , Cao Jinde , Li Xiaodi
Published: September 2020

In this research work, we focused on finding the numerical solution of time-fractional reaction-diffusion and another class of integro-differential equation known as the integro reaction-diffusion equation. For this, we developed a numerical scheme with the help of quasi-wavelets. The fractional term in the time direction is approximated by using the Crank–Nicolson scheme. The spatial term and the integral term present in integro reaction-diffusion are discretized and approximated with the help of quasi-wavelets. We study this model with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The discretization of these initial and boundary conditions is done with a different approach by the quasi-wavelet-based numerical method. The validity of this proposed method is tested by taking some numerical examples having an exact analytical solution. The accuracy of this method can be seen by error tables which we have drawn between the exact solution and the approximate solution. The effectiveness and validity can be seen by the graphs of the exact and numerical solutions. We conclude that this method has the desired accuracy and has a distinctive local property.
A Hydrothermal Coupling Model for Estimating Temperature Variations in the Riparian Zone
Authors: Zhang Wenbing , Shen Zhenzhong , Ren Jie , Zhang Wanlin , Xu Liqun , Chen Guanyun
Published: September 2020

In research using heat tracing technology to investigate the lateral hyporheic exchange in the shallow geological body of the riparian zone, the accurate estimation of temperature changes can provide a scientific basis for quantifying the process of lateral hyporheic exchange. To improve the accuracy of estimating temperature changes in the riparian zone, a hydrothermal coupling model considering parameter heterogeneity was established based on existing models of the relationship between thermal conductivity and saturation. The model was verified by temperature data from laboratory experiments, and the effect of the thermal conductivity prediction models was compared with that of the partial differential equation (PDE) modeling approach. The results show that the established hydrothermal coupling model can effectively characterize the temperature changes observed in a generalized laboratory model of the riparian zone, and the model simulation effects vary with the equivalent thermal conductivity models. In addition, several thermal conductivity empirical models are suggested for further application. The model parameter sensitivity analysis indicated that the hydraulic conductivityks, VG model parameters (αandβ) and heat capacity of soilCshave a relatively large effect on the temperature output of the model. The results of this study will provide reference for the selection of equivalent thermal conductivity model for simulating temperature variations in the riparian zone.
Association of Maternal Diabetes Mellitus and Polymorphisms of theNKX2.5Gene in Children with Congenital Heart Disease: A Single Centre-Based Case-Control Study
Authors: Zhao Mingyi , Diao Jingyi , Huang Peng , Li Jinqi , Li Yihuan , Yang Yang , Luo Liu , Zhang Senmao , Chen Letao , Wang Tingting , Zhu Ping , Qin Jiabi
Published: September 2020

Background. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the most common birth defects among newborns, accounting for a large proportion of infant mortality worldwide. However, the mechanisms remain largely undefinable. This study aimed to investigate the association of CHD in offspring of mothers with diabetes mellitus (DM) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) ofNKX2.5.Methods and Results. A case-control study of 620 mothers of CHD patients and 620 mothers of healthy children admitted to Hunan Children’s Hospital from November 2017 to December 2019 was conducted. We collected the mothers’ information by questionnaire and detected children’sNKX2.5variants with a MassARRAY system. The interaction coefficient (γ) was used to quantify the estimated gene-environment interactions. Univariate and multivariate analyses both showed that the infants had a higher risk of CHD if their mothers had a history of DM, including gestational DM (GDM) during this pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio [aOR=4.98]), GDM in previous pregnancies (aOR=4.30), and pregestational DM (PGDM) in the 3 months before this pregnancy (aOR=6.78). Polymorphisms of theNKX2.5gene at rs11802669 (C/C vs. T/T:aOR=4.97; C/T vs. T/T:aOR=2.15) and rs2277923 (T/T vs. C/C,aOR=1.74; T/C vs. C/C,aOR=1.61) were significantly associated with the risk of CHD in offspring. In addition, significant interactions between maternal DM andNKX2.5genetic variants at rs11802669 (aOR=8.12) and rs2277923 (aOR=17.72) affecting the development of CHD were found.Conclusions. These results suggest that maternal DM,NKX2.5genetic variants, and their interactions are significantly associated with the risk of CHD in offspring.
Modeling Public Opinion Polarization in Group Behavior by Integrating SIRS-Based Information Diffusion Process
Authors: Chen Tinggui , Shi Jiawen , Yang Jianjun , Cong Guodong , Li Gongfa
Published: September 2020

Currently, China is in the period of social transformation. Such transformation continuously results in high group polarization behaviors, which attracts many attentions. In order to explore the evolutionary mechanism and formation process of group polarization behavior, this paper proposes a group polarization model which is integrated into the Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Susceptible (SIRS) epidemic model. In this paper, firstly, the SIRS epidemic model and the factors of relationship strength are introduced based on the J-A model (proposed by Jager and Amblard) to enhance the information transmission and interaction among individuals. In addition, the BA network (proposed by Barabasi and Albert) model is used as the agent adjacency model due to its closeness to the real social network structure. After that, the Monte Carlo method is applied to conduct experimental simulation. Subsequently, this paper analyzes the simulation results in threefold: (1) comparison of polarization processes with and without integration of the SIRS epidemic model; (2) adjusting the immune recovery parameter γ and the relationship strength z to explore the role of these two parameters in the polarization process; and (3) comparing the polarization effects of different network structures. Through the experiments, we find that BA network is more polarized than small-world network in the same scale. Finally, corresponding measures are proposed to prevent and mitigate the occurrence of group polarization.
B7-H4 Inhibits the Development of Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome by Regulating Treg Differentiation in NOD/Ltj Mice
Authors: Zheng Xu , Wang Qikai , Yuan Xiang , Zhou Yingbo , Chu Hui , Wang Guosheng , Li Xiangpei , Wang Yiping , Wei Li , Wang Li , Li Xiaomei
Published: September 2020

Background. This study is aimed at exploring the role of B7-H4 in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) in NOD/Ltj mouse. Methods. B7-H4 expression in salivary glands was examined by IHC, and lymphocyte infiltration was showed by H&E. Next, anti-B7-H4 mAb or immunoglobulin isotype was injected into NOD/Ltj mice. Cytokine levels were measured by quantitative RT-PCR, and immunoglobulins were measured by ELISA. T cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Last, we treated NOD/Ltj mice with B7-H4Ig and control Ig. CD4+Foxp3+ T cells were assessed by immunohistochemistry. Two-tailed Student’s t-tests were used to detect the statistical difference in various measures between the two groups. Results. B7-H4 expression was remarkably reduced in salivary glands of NOD/Ltj mice at 15 weeks compared with the NOD/Ltj mice at 8 weeks. Anti-B7-H4 mAb treatment increased lymphocyte infiltration in salivary glands. Inflammatory cytokines including IL-12, IL-18, IL-1α, TNF-α, IFN-α, and BAFF were upregulated markedly in anti-B7-H4 mAb-treated mice compared to IgG isotype-treated mice. Flow cytometry analysis showed that anti-B7-H4 mAb-treated mice had lower levels of CD4+Foxp3+/CD4+ T cells in spleen. Moreover, Foxp3 mRNA levels of salivary glands were diminished in anti-B7-H4 mAb-treated mice. Flow cytometry analysis showed that anti-B7-H4 mAb inhibited CD4+Foxp3+/CD4+ T cell production, while B7-H4Ig would promote naïve CD4+ T into Treg differentiation. Administration with B7-H4Ig displayed significantly decreased lymphocyte infiltration in salivary glands and low levels of total IgM and IgG in serum. Analysis of inflammatory cytokines in salivary glands after B7-H4Ig treatment revealed that the mRNA levels of IL-12, IL-6, IL-18, IL-1α, TNF-α, and IFN-α were significantly downregulated in B7-H4Ig-treated mice compared to control Ig treatment. B7-H4Ig-treated mice had significantly higher levels of CD4+Foxp3+/CD4+ T cells in spleen. IHC in salivary gland revealed that CD4+Foxp3+ T cells of B7-H4Ig treatment mouse were more than control Ig treatment. Conclusions. Our findings implicate that B7-H4 has a protective role for salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs) and therapeutic potential in the treatment of pSS.
Torus and Subharmonic Motions of a Forced Vibration System in 1 : 5 Weak Resonance
Authors: Guo Yong
Published: September 2020

The Neimark-Sacker bifurcation of a forced vibration system is considered in this paper. The series solution to the motion equation is obtained, and the Poincaré map is established. The fixed point of the Poincaré map is guaranteed by the implicit function theorem. The map is transformed into its normal form at the fifth-order resonance case. For some parameter values, there exists the torus T1. Furthermore, the phenomenon of phase locking on the torus T1 is investigated and the parameter condition under which there exists subharmonic motion on the torus T1 is determined.
Implication of Gut Microbiota in Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Zhou Wenyi , Cheng Yiyu , Zhu Ping , Nasser M. I. , Zhang Xueyan , Zhao Mingyi
Published: September 2020

Emerging evidence has identified the association between gut microbiota and various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Altered intestinal flora composition has been described in detail in CVDs, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, heart failure, and arrhythmia. In contrast, the importance of fermentation metabolites, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and secondary bile acid (BA), has also been implicated in CVD development, prevention, treatment, and prognosis. The potential mechanisms are conventionally thought to involve immune regulation, host energy metabolism, and oxidative stress. However, numerous types of programmed cell death, including apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and clockophagy, also serve as a key link in microbiome-host cross talk. In this review, we introduced and summarized the results from recent studies dealing with the relationship between gut microbiota and cardiac disorders, highlighting the role of programmed cell death. We hope to shed light on microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies in CVD management.
The Influence of Network Structural Preference on Link Prediction
Authors: Wang Yongcheng , Wang Yu , Lin Xinye , Wang Wei
Published: September 2020

Link prediction in complex networks predicts the possibility of link generation between two nodes that have not been linked yet in the network, based on known network structure and attributes. It can be applied in various fields, such as friend recommendation in social networks and prediction of protein-protein interaction in biology. However, in the social network, link prediction may raise concerns about privacy and security, because, through link prediction algorithms, criminals can predict the friends of an account user and may even further discover private information such as the address and bank accounts. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a strategy to prevent being identified by link prediction algorithms and protect privacy, utilizing perturbation on network structure at a low cost, including changing and adding edges. This article mainly focuses on the influence of network structural preference perturbation through deletion on link prediction. According to a large number of experiments on the various real networks, edges between large-small degree nodes and medium-medium degree nodes have the most significant impact on the quality of link prediction.
First Experience in Small Incision Lenticule Extraction with the Femto LDV Z8 and Lenticule Evaluation Using Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Zhang Fengju , Copruz Christine Carole , Han Longhui
Published: September 2020

Purpose. To evaluate the specifications and technique properties of the new Femto LDV Z8 in creating intrastromal refractive lenticules during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). Methods. Six enucleated porcine eyeballs were equally divided into two groups (Femto LDV Z8 or VisuMax) and were randomly assigned to three experienced refractive surgeons who performed SMILE on each group. Five intraoperative time parameters and surgeons’ satisfaction on the surgical procedure were compared between two groups. Postoperatively, the roughness of the lenticule surfaces and the irregularity of edges were observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and were also compared between the two groups. Results. Longer time on suction peak pressure, total laser application, and total surgery were spent in the Femto LDV Z8 group as compared with the VisuMax group. The Femto LDV Z8 group applied OCT scanning and offsetting before performing the laser procedure, which expended more time for these crucial steps. The widest range of surgeons’ satisfaction scores was found in the step of lenticule interface identification of the Femto LDV Z8 group. The roughness scores of the anterior and posterior lenticule surfaces were statistically less in the Femto LDV Z8 group than in the VisuMax group (anterior, ×180, p=0.039; anterior, ×250, p=0.337; posterior, ×180, p=0.006; and posterior, ×250, p=0.007). Conclusions. Femto LDV Z8 showed promising performances as a novel SMILE equipment for the correction of myopia. It has special and unique features for SMILE procedures, which need more learning and researching processes. With its low-energy high-frequency nJ-level laser system, the Femto LDV Z8 provided smoother lenticule surface than VisuMax.
Increased Brain Iron Deposition in the Putamen in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Detected by Quantitative Susceptibility Mapping
Authors: Li Jing , Zhang Qihao , Zhang Nan , Guo Lingfei
Published: September 2020

Background. The underlying brain structural changes in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients have attracted increasing attention. The insulin-resistant state causes iron overload in neurons and leads to lesions in the central nervous system. Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) can provide a noninvasive quantitative analysis of brain iron deposition. We aimed to compare the difference of brain iron deposition in the gray matter nucleus between T2DM patients and healthy elderly individuals using QSM. Methods. Thirty-two T2DM patients and thirty-two age- and gender-matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this research. Twenty-three patients and twenty-six HCs underwent cognitive assessments. Brain QSM maps were computed from multiecho GRE data using morphology-enabled dipole inversion with automatic uniform cerebrospinal fluid zero reference algorithm (MEDI+0). ITK-SNAP was used to measure the susceptibility values reflecting the content of iron in the regions of interest (ROIs). Results. The study included thirty-two T2DM patients (20 males and 12 females; mean age of 61.09±9.99 years) and 32 HCs (14 males and 18 females; mean age of 59.09±9.77 years). These participants had no significant difference in age or gender (P>0.05). Twenty-three patients with T2DM (11 males and 12 females; mean age, 64.65±8.44 years) and twenty-six HCs (14 males and 12 females; mean age, 62.30±6.13 years) received an assessment of cognitive function. T2DM patients exhibited an obviously (t=3.237, P=0.003) lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score (26.78±2.35; HCs, 28.42±0.64; normal standard ≥26) and a higher Stroop color-word test (SCWT)-C score [87(65,110); HC, 63(60,76.75), Z=−2.232, P=0.003] than HCs. The mean susceptibility values in the putamen appeared obviously higher in T2DM patients than in HCs (t=−3.994, P<0.001). The susceptibility values and cognitive assessment scores showed no obvious association (P>0.05). However, an obvious correlation was observed between the changes in the susceptibility values in the putamen and the thalamus/dentate nucleus (r=0.404, P<0.001; r=0.423, P<0.001). Conclusion. T2DM patients showed increased susceptibility values in the putamen and had declines in executive functions, but the linear association between them was not statistically significant. Changes in susceptibility values in the putamen indicated increased iron deposition and might be used as a quantitative imaging marker of central nervous system injury in T2DM patients. QSM might be able to help probe micro neuronal damage in gray matter and provide information on diabetic encephalopathy.
Title Fault Diagnosis Method of Gearbox Multifeature Fusion Based on Quadratic Filter and QPSO-KELM
Authors: Meng Shuo , Kang Jianshe , Die Xupeng , Wu Xiaohan , Chi Kuo , Dong Zhipeng , Wu Weiyi
Published: September 2020

Effective filtering and noise reduction, feature extraction and fault diagnosis, and prognostics technology are important to Prognostics and Health Management (PHM) of equipment. Therefore, a multifeature fusion fault diagnosis method based on the combination of quadratic filtering and QPSO-KELM algorithm is proposed. In the quadratic filtering, stable filtering can reduce the impact of noise and fast-kurtogram can filtrate fault frequency bands with rich fault information. Then, the time-domain, frequency-domain, and time-frequency parameters of the secondary filter signal are extracted. MSSST was used to analyze the filtered signal, and the time-frequency image was obtained. The time-frequency parameter was extracted from the time-frequency image by 2DPCA, and all the extracted parameters are taken as the fusion fault feature of the gearbox. Finally, the fault feature parameters are taken as the training sample and testing sample of QPSO-KELM for training and testing to achieve the purpose of fault diagnosis. The experimental results show that the proposed method can effectively filter the noise, complete the fault mode identification of gearbox, and improve the fault diagnosis accuracy better than other methods.
Comparative and Equilibrium Studies on Anionic and Cationic Dyes Removal by Nano-Alumina-Doped Catechol Formaldehyde Composite
Authors: Karthik V. , Selvakumar P. , Sivarajasekar N. , Megavarshini P. , Brinda N. , Kiruthika J. , Balasubramani K. , Ahamad Tansir , Naushad Mu.
Published: September 2020

Nano-alumina-doped catechol formaldehyde polymeric composite was prepared, characterized, and applied as an adsorbent for the removal of an anionic dye Congo red (CR) and a cationic dye SafraninO (SF), by adsorption process especially from aqueous solutions. Characterizations such as particle size distribution, zeta potential, BET, FTIR, and FESEM-EDAX were carried out for the adsorbent prepared. All experiments were conducted at the batch condition to study the effects of initial dye concentration (CR: 30–90 mg/L and SF: 10–50 mg/L), pH (2–11), temperature (25–55°C), and adsorbent dosage (0.05–0.3 g) on dye removal. The isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) were analyzed for this adsorption work. The kinetic data obtained were analyzed by the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Bangham, and Chien–Clayton equations. Dyes adsorption data were well fitted with the Freundlich isotherm equilibrium model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Study results suggested that the nano-alumina-polymeric composite could be an effective adsorbent for anionic dye rather than cationic dye.
Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Associated Factors among Khat Chewers in Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Atnafie Seyfe Asrade , Muluneh Niguse Yigzaw , Getahun Kefyalew Ayalew , Woredekal Asegedech Tsegaw , Kahaliw Wubayehu
Published: September 2020

Individuals with substance use disorder are prone to develop different psychiatric disorders. Substance abuse and associated problems are of current global concern that leads to mental health disorders which contributed about 14% of the global burden of the disease. It has become an epidemic in some parts of the African region with adolescents being the main victims of the ill health and social effects of substance use. This study is aimed at assessing the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress and associated factors among khat chewers in the Amhara region, 2019. A community-based cross-sectional study was done from February 14 to April 15, 2019. A purposive sampling technique was used to enroll the subjects. Data was collected using the face-to-face interview technique using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21 (DASS-21) questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to summarize the results.

p

value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 478 participants were enrolled in the study with a response rate of 94.1%. The overall prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 27.4%, 40.6%, and 18.8%, respectively. Around 43% of the respondents develop dependency from khat chewing. Working in a private sector, being self-employed, being jobless, spending 90 to 180 minutes and more, chewing 51-100 g and more, and chewing khat more than once per week were positively associated with stress. On the other hand, being a private sector worker, being jobless, completing secondary education, earning 1001-5000 ETB per month, chewing khat more than once per week, being khat dependent, and the presence of chronic illness were positively associated with anxiety. History of chronic illness and being khat dependent were positively associated with depression. The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was high among khat chewers in the Amhara region. Special attention has to be given to khat chewers since khat chewing will double the burden of mental illness. Proper awareness and evaluation activities will reduce the impact of the problem.
Nomograms Predict Overall Survival and Cancer-Speciﬁc Survival in Patients with Fibrosarcoma: A SEER-Based Study
Authors: Xiang Guang-Heng , Zhu Juan-Juan , Ke Chen-Rong , Weng Yi-Min , Fang Ming-Qiao , Zhu Si-Pin , Li Yu-An , Xiao Jian , Xu Lei
Published: September 2020

Purpose. Due to the rarity, it is difficult to predict the survival of patients with fibrosarcoma. This study aimed to apply a nomogram to predict survival outcomes in patients with fibrosarcoma.Methods. A total of 2235 patients with diagnoses of fibrosarcoma were registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, of whom 663 patients were eventually enrolled. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors. Nomograms were constructed to predict 3-year and 5‐year overall survival and cancer‐specific survival of patients with fibrosarcoma.Results. In univariate and multivariate analyses of OS, age, sex, race, tumor stage, pathologic grade, use of surgery, and tumor size were identiﬁed as independent prognostic factors. Age, sex, tumor stage, pathologic grade, use of surgery, and tumor size were significantly associated with CSS. These characteristics were further included to establish the nomogram for predicting 3-year and 5-year OS and CSS. For the internal validation of the nomogram predictions of OS and CSS, theC-indices were 0.784 and 0.801.Conclusion. We developed the nomograms that estimated 3-year and 5-year OS and CSS. These nomograms not only have good discrimination performance and calibration but also provide patients with better clinical benefits.
On Generalized Strongly p-Convex Functions of Higher Order
Authors: Saleem Muhammad Shoaib , Chu Yu-Ming , Jahangir Nazia , Akhtar Huma , Jung Chahn Yong
Published: September 2020

The aim of this paper is to introduce the definition of a generalized strongly p-convex function for higher order. We will develop some basic results related to generalized strongly p-convex function of higher order. Moreover, we will develop Hermite–Hadamard-, Fejér-, and Schur-type inequalities for this generalization.
Population‐Wide Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Carrier Detection by CK and Molecular Testing
Authors: Han Shuai , Xu Hong , Zheng Jinxian , Sun Junhui , Feng Xue , Wang Yue , Ye Wen , Ke Qing , Ren Yanwei , Yao Shulie , Zhang Songying , Chen Jianfen , Griggs Robert C. , Zhao Zhengyan , Qi Ming , Gatheridge Michele A.
Published: September 2020

Carrier screening of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has not been widely evaluated. To identify definite DMD female carriers prior to or in early pregnancy, we studied a large population of reproductive age females and provided informed reproductive options to DMD carriers. 37268 females were recruited from the Hangzhou Family Planning Publicity and Technology Guidance Station/Hangzhou Health Service Center for Children and Women, Hangzhou, China, between October 10, 2017, and December 16, 2018. CK activity was measured with follow‐up serum DMD genetic testing in subjects with hyperCKemia, defined as CK > 200 U/L. The calculated upper reference limit (97.5th percentile) of serum creatine kinase (CK) for females aged 20‐50 years in this study was near the reference limit recommended by the manufacturer (200 U/L), above which was defined as hyperCKemia. 427 females (1.2%) harbored initially elevated CK, among which 281 females (response rate of 65.8%) accepted CK retesting. DMD genetic testing was conducted on 62 subjects with sustained serum CK > 200 U/L and 16 females with a family history of DMD. Finally, 6 subjects were confirmed to be DMD definite carriers. The estimated DMD female carrier rate in this study was 1 : 4088 (adjusting for response rate), an underestimated rate, since only 50% to 70% of DMD female carriers manifest elevated serum CK, and carriers in this study may have been missed due to lack of follow‐up or inability to detect all DMD pathogenic variants by current genetic testing.
Predictive Value of Fasting Blood Glucose for Microvascular Obstruction in Nondiabetic Patients with ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction after Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Wu Han , Li Ran , Wang Kun , Mu Dan , Chen Jian-Zhou , Wei Xuan , Bao Xue , Wei Zhong-Hai , Xie Jun , Xu Biao
Published: September 2020

Background. The relationship between fasting blood glucose (FBG) and microvascular obstruction (MVO) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear in nondiabetic patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This study aimed to determine the predictive value of FBG in MVO in nondiabetic STEMI patients. Methods. A total of 108 nondiabetic STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into either the MVO group or non-MVO group based on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). Results. FBG in the MVO group was higher than in the non-MVO group. Univariate analysis showed that FBG, peak high-sensitive troponin T (TnT), pre-PCI thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (pre-PCI TIMI) flow, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), infarction size, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were likely predictive factors of MVO. After adjustment for other parameters, FBG, peak TnT, LVEF, and LVEDV remained independent predictors for MVO. Conclusion. FBG was independently associated with MVO in nondiabetic STEMI patients.
Serum YKL-40 Levels Are Associated with the Atherogenic Index of Plasma in Children
Authors: Kwon Yoowon , Kim Ju Hee , Ha Eun Kyo , Jee Hye Mi , Baek Hey Sung , Han Man Yong , Jeong Su Jin
Published: September 2020

YKL-40, also known as chitinase-3-like protein 1, is an inflammatory glycoprotein that is secreted by various cell types under acute, chronic, and subclinical inflammation conditions. Elevated serum YKL-40 levels are reportedly independently related to diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular mortality in adults. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum YKL-40 levels, lipid abnormalities, and the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in children. We enrolled 479 children aged 10–12 years (mean age: 11.52) in this general population-based, cross-sectional study. All subjects completed questionnaires and were subjected to multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) to measure their height, weight, and body mass index (BMI). We collected serum samples from all participants to measure YKL-40, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglyceride (TG) levels. Mean serum YKL-40 levels were significantly higher in the low-HDL-C (p=0.017) and high-TG (p=0.010) groups but were not related to TC and LDL-C levels. YKL-40 levels were also higher in the high AIP group (p=0.007). After adjusting for age, gender, and BMI z-score, the associations between serum YKL-40 levels and TG levels (p=0.003), the TG-to-HDL-C ratio (p=0.019), and the AIP value (p=0.012) remained significant. Based on these findings, we suggest that serum YKL-40 may be a useful initial screening tool or follow-up risk indicator for lipid abnormalities, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease in children and adolescents with risk factors, regardless of obesity.
Laboratory Study on Corrosion Mechanism of Production System in In Situ Combustion
Authors: Jiang Haiyan , Yuan Shibao , Wang Hao , Wang Boyi , Wang Jiao
Published: September 2020

The corrosion problem of a production system has been affecting the normal operation of an in situ combustion project. Because the environment of production system is significantly different in tubing, gas, liquid, and temperature in in situ combustion, the problem of the corrosion should be treated differently according to its origin. Based on the main environment of gas-liquid of the production system of in situ combustion, the corrosion of steel in N80 and J95, which are commonly used in oilfield, is studied in different temperature and pressure conditions. The results show that under the condition of 50°C and 3 MPa, the corrosion of the well is the most serious. Based on the analysis of corrosion causes in the production system, the corrosion under the protection of modified sacrificial anode in the liquid phase environment was studied. The results of comparative analysis show that the modified material had the dual protection effect of sacrificial anode and film-forming protection and could slow down the corrosion in different temperature ranges.
Neural Network-Based Nonlinear Fixed-Time Adaptive Practical Tracking Control for Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Zhang Jianhua , Li Yang , Fei Wenbo
Published: September 2020

This brief addresses the position and attitude tracking fixed-time practical control for quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) subject to nonlinear dynamics. First, by combining the radial basis function neural networks (NNs) with virtual parameter estimating algorithms, a NN adaptive control scheme is developed for UAVs. Then, a fixed-time adaptive law is proposed for neural networks to achieve fixed-time stability, and convergence time is dependent only on control gain parameters. Based on Lyapunov analyses and fixed-time stability theory, it is proved that the fixed-time adaptive neural network control is finite-time stable and convergence time is dependent with control parameters without initial conditions. The effectiveness of the NN fixed-time control is given through a simulation of the UAV system.
Numerical Simulation on the Evolution of Mining‐Induced Fracture Network in a Coal Seam and Its Overburden under the Top Coal Caving Method
Authors: Deng Guangdi , Xie Heping , Gao Mingzhong , Li Cong , He Zhiqiang
Published: September 2020

The evolution of the fracture network induced by mining has an important influence on the mechanical behavior of the rock and the safety of the mine. In this study, a new 3D modeling approach based on discrete fracture network (DFN) and fractal theory was developed and applied to the Tashan coal mine. The model results of the evolution of fracture in the coal seam are consistent with field observations. The evolution law of fracture network in the overburden strata was studied, and the results show that the fractal dimension of the fractures in the lower strata increased linearly and stabilized quickly within 50 m behind the mining face. In the higher strata, most of the fractures were generated behind the mining face and continued to develop farther than 100 m. More fractures were generated in the lower strata than in the higher strata, and the fractures more easily developed and expanded in the soft rock than in the hard rock. The evolution of the fractures of the main thick hard roof in the lower strata had a great impact on the generation of fractures in the higher strata.
Diffuse Ectopic Deciduosis Imitating Peritoneal Carcinomatosis with Acute Abdomen Presentation: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Sorokin Pavel , Nikiforchin Andrei , Panin Aleksandr , Zhukov Aleksandr , Gushchin Vadim , Kurtser Mark
Published: September 2020

During pregnancy, decidual tissue can occur beyond the endometrium, predominantly on the surface of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. This condition, called ectopic deciduosis, generally is not accompanied by any symptoms and complications, does not require treatment, and resolves completely soon after labor. However, rarely it can present with acute abdomen syndrome or imitate peritoneal malignancy and, thus, cause diagnostic difficulties and unnecessary interventions. Here, we report a challenging case of a pregnant woman admitted with acute peritonitis caused by ectopic deciduosis that mimicked peritoneal carcinomatosis. This uncommon manifestation of deciduosis hindered correct diagnosis and led to excessive surgery. While the management of the patient presented is regrettable, the case highlights the natural history of deciduosis, and therefore, important lessons could be learned from it.
A Fatal Case of COVID-19 in an Infant with Severe Acute Malnutrition Admitted to a Paediatric Ward in Niger
Authors: Soumana Alido , Samaila Aboubacar , Moustapha Lamine Mahaman , Kamaye Moumouni , Daouda Balkissa , Salifou Ibrahim Alkassoum , Lagare Adamou , Adehossi Eric Omar , Ibrahim Maman Laminou
Published: September 2020

While there have been very few fatal cases, SARS-CoV-2 has been reported in paediatric patients. This study aims to describe a fatal case of COVID-19 in a child with severe acute malnutrition. The eight-month-old child presented with fever, diarrhoea, and difficulty in breathing. The mother of the child had fever and shortness of breath four weeks before she died. Physical examination revealed lethargy, dehydration, and severe weight loss with a weight of 5 kg at a height of 78 cm tall. The weight-for-height index was less than three Z-scores, which corresponds to severe acute malnutrition. The pulmonary examination revealed moderate respiratory distress, and the chest X-ray presented features suggestive of pneumonia in the right lung area. In the context of the COVID-19 outbreak in Niger and the circumstances of the mother’s death, a nasal swab was taken for laboratory confirmation. Treatment provided to the child included intranasal oxygen, antibiotics, and a dietary program with therapeutic milk. The child died 48 hours after his admission. The history of contact with a SARS-CoV-2 suspect or positive patient should lead to screening for infection by using RT-PCR. It is important to investigate malnutrition as a potential risk factor for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and resultant mortality.
Applications of Gene Expression Programming for Estimating Compressive Strength of High‐Strength Concrete
Authors: Aslam Fahid , Farooq Furqan , Amin Muhammad Nasir , Khan Kaffayatullah , Waheed Abdul , Akbar Arslan , Javed Muhammad Faisal , Alyousef Rayed , Alabdulijabbar Hisham
Published: September 2020

The experimental design of high‐strength concrete (HSC) requires deep analysis to get the target strength. In this study, machine learning approaches and artificial intelligence python‐based approaches have been utilized to predict the mechanical behaviour of HSC. The data to be used in the modelling consist of several input parameters such as cement, water, fine aggregate, and coarse aggregate in combination with a superplasticizer. Empirical relation with mathematical expression has been proposed using engineering programming. The efficiency of the models is assessed by statistical analysis with the error by using MAE, RRMSE, RSE, and comparisons were made between regression models. Moreover, variable intensity and correlation have shown that deep learning can be used to know the exact amount of materials in civil engineering rather than doing experimental work. The expression tree, as well as normalization of the graph, depicts significant accuracy between target and output values. The results reveal that machine learning proposed adamant accuracy and has elucidated performance in the prediction aspect.
Antibacterial Effectiveness of Four Concentrations of the Hydroalcoholic Extract of Solanum tuberosum (Tocosh) against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175TM: A Comparative In Vitro Study
Authors: Enciso Silvana , Medina Julia , Mauricio Franco , Mauricio-Vilchez Cesar , Alvitez-Temoche Daniel , Vilchez Luzmila , Mayta-Tovalino Frank
Published: September 2020

Objective. To determine the in vitro antibacterial effect of four concentrations of the hydroalcoholic extract of Solanum tuberosum “tocosh” (HET) against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175TM. Methods. This was a prospective, experimental, comparative study. Fermented tocosh was subjected to hydric stress to obtain a hydroalcoholic extract at four different concentrations: 100%, 50%, 75%, and 25%. S. mutans strains were cultured in brain heart infusion agar using the swab technique. The antibacterial effectiveness of HET was evaluated following the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method and compared with 0.12% chlorhexidine (positive control group). Results. The highest mean inhibitory effect was achieved with HET at 100% (33.1 ± 2.2 mm, showing a gradual reduction in the other HET groups at 75%, 50%, and 25% (29.7 ± 1.3 mm, 26.6 ± 2.0, and 20.1 ± 1.8 mm, respectively)). Inferential analysis found statistically significant differences among all the experimental groups (p=0.001). The post hoc analysis also showed significant differences among all the experimental groups evaluated; however, there were no significant differences between HET 50% and chlorhexidine 0.12% (p>0.05). Conclusions. It was found that the highest antibacterial effectiveness was obtained by HET 100%, being even higher than the 0.12% chlorhexidine positive control, and was statistically significant. Post hoc analysis showed that almost all the concentrations showed optimal efficacy against S. mutans.
Practical BER-Based Estimation of Residual OFDM CFO by Reducing Noise Margin
Authors: Mihaljević Ante , Lipovac Adriana , Lipovac Vlatko , Musovic Jasmin
Published: September 2020

The main OFDM drawbacks are Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) and large Peak-to-Average Power Ratio (PAPR), which both degrade the Bit Error Rate (BER). Specifically, we consider here clipping or any other PAPR reduction method sufficient to prevent the nonlinear high-power amplifier from generating errors. Moreover, in small cells, the signal-to-noise ratio is large, while the small time dispersion allows the OFDM symbol cyclic prefix to prevent intersymbol interference. This retains the CFO to solely determine the BER and vice versa, enabling indirect estimation of CFO-induced phase distortion by simple BER testing. However, a particular problem is measuring very low BER values (generated by alike residual CFO), which could last a long time in order to acquire statistically enough errors. The test time can be drastically reduced if the noise margin is reduced in a controllable way, by adding the interfering signal to each subcarrier at the receiver. This approach is shown to enable efficient and accurate short-term BER (and so CFO phase error) testing.
Experiences with the GPS in Unstabilized CubeSat
Authors: Kovar Pavel
Published: September 2020

The paper summarizes the experiences with the operation of the piNAV GPS receiver in a 1U unstabilized CubeSat operated on LEO orbit. piNAV L1 is a GPS receiver developed by an author for small satellite missions. The receiver is equipped with the 15 GPS L1 C/A channels and acquisition accelerator that shortens the cold start of the receiver on LEO to 65 s. The typical power consumption is 120 mW. Lucky-7 is a private 1U technological CubeSat with power budget 1 W that operates on the quasisynchronous polar orbit at altitude 520 km. One of its scientific missions is to test the operation of GPS. The space experiments proved the successful operation of the GPS receiver. The position information was available for approximately 80% of the time, where the position outage was caused by a satellite rotation and relatively long navigation signal reacquisition. The experimental data proved that the position availability can be improved by a higher-performance signal acquisition engine.