bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin) as a Hagiographer of the Optina Desert
Authors: Каширина Варвара Викторовна
Published: November 2021

В 2022 г. исполняется 200 лет со дня рождения известного богослова, церковного историка и археографа XIX в. архимандрита Леонида (Кавелина). Первые исследования о. Леонида были связаны с Оптиной пустынью, где под руководством прп. Макария Оптинского он сформировался как инок и церковный исследователь. В духовном наследии архимандрита Леонида значительное место занимают агиографические работы, посвящённые первым оптинским старцам Льву и Макарию. Отличительной чертой агиографических сочинений было широкое использование исторических документов и свидетельств: воспоминаний очевидцев, биографических справок, писем, выписок из различных документов и книг. Историзм всегда сочетался с простотой и доступностью изложения, хорошим литературным слогом. Отец Леонид подготовил три редакции «Жития прп. Льва Оптинского» (1845, 1847, 1855-1857), а также первое «Житие прп. Макария Оптинского» (1861). Впоследствии другими агиографами Оптиной пустыни жития первых оптинских подвижников, составленные о. Леонидом, были дополнены и расширены. Значение ранних агиографических трудов о. Леонида, бесспорно, является очень важным для оптинского духовного наследия и для дальнейшего формирования о. Леонида как крупного церковного исследователя, оставившего большой след в науке.

2022 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the famous theologian, church historian and archeographer of the XIX century, archimandrite Leonid (Kavelin). His first studies were related to Optina Desert, where under the leadership of the prp. He was formed as a monk and an ecclesiastical researcher by Macarius of Optina. In the spiritual heritage of Archimandrite Leonid, a significant place is occupied by hagiographic works dedicated to the first Optina elders Leo and Macarius. A distinctive feature of hagiographic works was the extensive use of historical documents and testimonies: eyewitness memoirs, biographical references, letters, extracts from various documents and books. Historicism has always been combined with simplicity and accessibility of presentation, a good literary style. Father Leonid prepared three editions of the life of St. Leo of Optina (1845, 1847, 1855-1857), as well as the first life of St. Macarius of Optina (1861). Subsequently, the lives of the first Optina ascetics, compiled by Father Leonid, were supplemented and expanded by other hagiographers of the Optina Desert. The significance of the early hagiographic works of fr. Leonida is undoubtedly very important for the Optina spiritual heritage and for the further formation of fr. Leonid as a major church researcher who left a great mark on science.
Chemical constituents of leaves Dialium cochinchinense Pierre
Authors: Huyen Vu Thi , Ai Doan Thi Thuy , Hien Nguyen Thi
Published: November 2021

The genus Dialium belongs to the Caesalpinioideae family, consisting of approximately 30 species distributed in the tropical regions. Secondary metabolites from the  Dialium genus have been reported to exhibit various biological activities including antioxidant, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activities. This work describes the isolation and characterization of five compounds from the leaves of Dialium cochinchinense Pierre. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analysis, including MS and NMR spectra. Accordingly, the isolated compounds were identified to be lupeone (1), b-sitostenone (2), β-sitosterol (3), daucosterol (4), and dihydrokaempferide (5). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the isolation of compounds 1 and 5 from the genus Dialium.
Students’ Perceptions of Climate Change: A Case Study at Vietnam National University of Agriculture
Authors: Yen Nguyen Thi Bich , Van Dinh Thi Hai , Thuy Nguyen Thi Thu , Hung Duong Van
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to determine the perceptions of climate change of undergraduate students at Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA). The study employed quantitative and descriptive methods using a five-point Likert scale instrument. The respondents were composed of 276 undergraduate students from three faculties, viz. the Faculty of Environmental Sciences (FES), the Faculty of Agronomy (FA), and the Faculty of Economics and Rural Development (FERD). The results showed that students were generally well aware of the causes of climate change, the effects of climate change, and actions to mitigate climate change (average value > 3.5). However, students were mostly well aware of the causes and impacts that are common and direct. Students did not have a good understanding of the causes related to food production and consumption. Students also did not know how climate change can affect social issues such as conflict and war issues, or inequality in income and gender. Among the three faculties, students of the FES had a better awareness of the causes and impacts of climate change but were less aware of the actions to mitigate climate change. Internet and television/radio were the main sources of information about climate change for students (88% and 61%, respectively). This study showed that it is necessary to increase the provision of information related to climate change through the media as well as to integrate climate change knowledge into training programs at all levels from high school to university to improve the students' perceptions of climate change.
Sustainability Assessment of the Rural Clean Water Supply System in Hai Phong City
Authors: Quynh Nguyen Thi Thu , Hung Nguyen Quoc
Published: November 2021

Since the end of 2019, 92.1% of rural households in Hai Phong city had been able to access and use clean drinking water, which meets national standards as a result of developing a clean water supply system consisting of 205 plants with various management models. The authors applied the desk-study method to collect and review literature research, select a group of six criteria, and then applied the criteria to assess the system's sustainability based on Likert's 3-point scale. The results show that criteria scores ranged from 1.9 points to 2.5 points, while the total score of the whole system is 12.9 points - reaching an average sustainability level. The authors propose that in order to improve the sustainability of the clean water supply system in the rural areas of ​​Hai Phong city in the future, management agencies and investors need to apply a solution of propagating rural people to increase their usage volume of clean water, which will help to increase the actual operating capacities of the plants, thereby increasing the revenue and profits of plant investors.
Um exemplo de neuropatia periférica que pode ser gerida pelo médico de família: neuropraxia do nervo peroneal
Authors:   Médico de Família, Cebola Patricia Alexandra , Rainho Marta Filipa ,   Médico de Família, Teixeira António Alexandre ,   Médico de Família
Published: November 2021

Introdução: A neuropraxia é uma forma de neuropatia periférica que o médico de família (MF) pode gerir por ter excelente prognóstico e reversibilidade total. Descrição do Caso: Homem de 46 anos realizou colecistectomia por litíase biliar, em fevereiro de 2019, e por isso perdeu 10kg. No dia 18 de novembro de 2019 recorreu à consulta da MF por incapacidade de dorsiflexão do pé esquerdo, acompanhada de hipoestesia e diminuição da força muscular do membro inferior esquerdo desde o dia 11 de setembro de 2019, após estar sentado com a perna direita cruzada sobre a esquerda, durante cerca de três horas. Foi pedido eletromiograma, que demonstrou neuropraxia do nervo ciático popliteu externo esquerdo. Seis meses após a lesão inicial todos os sintomas desapareceram espontaneamente. Comentário: As manifestações clínicas da neuropraxia são bastante exuberantes e incapacitantes, o que pode levar o doente a pensar que tem uma doença grave. Saber abordar e explicar ao doente o que é esta lesão e o seu prognóstico é fundamental para evitar sobrediagnóstico e sobretratamento.
ANALISIS TRANSPARANSI PENGELOLAAN KEUANGAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH BERBASIS WEBSITE SE-JAWA BALI
Authors: Welly Welly , Arifin M Syahrul
Published: November 2021

The study aim was to find out the transparency of regional government financial management based on websites in Java-Bali. This research was a descriptive study, which analyzed the transparency of regional government financial management based on websites in Java and Bali on one variable. The regional financial management is divided into four indicators. The data used was secondary. The technique of collecting the data used was documentation. The data analysis technique used was qualitative analysis. The results showed that the analysis of the transparency of regional government financial management based on websites in Java and Bali had the average in the level of small in 28.37%.
Cuajilote (Parmentiera aculeata (Kunth) Seem.): A Potential Fruit for Ruminant Feed
Authors: Pérez-Morales S. , Crosby-Galván M.M. , Ramírez-Mella M. , Bárcena-Gama, J.R J.R. , Hernández-Mendo O. , Crosby-Galván E.M.
Published: November 2021

Objective: to review previous researches about the use of the fruits of the cuajilote tree (Parmentiera aculeata) as ovine feed.
Design/Methodology/Approach: this research was conducted, using all the available sources: science articles, conference reports, and books.
Results: P. aculeata (cuajilote) is generally used to provide shade, and as live fence, wood or firewood. However, it can also be used as forage. Both the foliage and the fruit have excellent nutritional qualities; additionally, the fruits are available during the dry season and free grazing cattle avidly eat them. Nevertheless, the nutritional value and the ruminal availability of this fruit’s dry matter—during various ripeness stages— are unknown; it is also said to have medicinal properties.
Study Limitations and Implications: the cuajilote fruit was used in in vitro tests to remove protozoa from the ruminal fluid of bovines (defanuation); therefore, there are few in vitro researches about the use of cuajilote in a wholemeal diet as animal feed and about its maximum inclusion tolerance in ruminants.
Findings/Conclusions: as a result of its nutritional and medicinal benefits, the cuajilote fruit shows great potential as livestock feed. Additionally, it is available all year round, particularly during the dry season, when production expenses increase as a result of the lack of other food sources.
Analisis Sektor Unggulan Analisis Sektor Ekonomi Unggulan Di Kabupaten Bangkalan Tahun 2015-2019
Authors: Astuti Sisca Triyuni
Published: November 2021

ABSTRAK

Penelitian dilakukan untuk mengukur basis sektor dan non basis, pertumbuhan pertumbuhan ekonomi dan daya saing sektor ekonomi di Kabupaten Bangkalan. Penelitian menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif dengan analisis Location Quotient, Dinamic Location, Shift Share dan Tipologi Klassen. Hasil yang diperoleh dari dasar penelitian sektor adalah sektor pertanian, kehutanan, dan perikanan, kontruksi, administrasi pemerintahan, pertahanan, jaminan sosial wajib dan jasa pendidikan. Sedangkan sektor non basis yaitu sektor pengolahan, pengadaan listrik dan gas, pengadaan air, pengolahan sampah, limbah daur ulang, perdagangan besar eceran, reparasi mobil sepeda motor, transportasi, pergudangan, penyedia akomodasi, makanan minum, informasi komunikasi, jasa keuangan, asuransi, jasa perusahaan, jasa kesehatan dan kegiatan sosial, serta jasa lainnya. Pemerintah Kabupaten Bangkalan efisien dapat mengembangkan sektor non basis secara, agar sektor tersebut mampu mendukung pertumbuhan ekonomi dan meningkatkan nilai PDRB Kabupaten Bangkalan.

Kata kunci: Sektor Basis, Sektor Non Basis, LQ, DLQ, Shift Share, Tipologi Klassen.
Mode of Delivery of Women with Complicated Pregnancy in a Tertiary Level Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Morsheda Tania Rashid , Alam Md Ashraful , Md Abdullah Syed Abul Hassan , Zafreen Farzana
Published: November 2021

Introduction: Every year, a great number of women die from pregnancy or childbirth related complications, which can be prevented. In developing countries, they don’t have access to maternal health services and cannot afford high quality care. Maternal death is usually occurs due to three delays: in decision making to seek care, reaching care and receiving care. Right decision at the right time regarding mode of delivery has a direct impact on healthy outcome of pregnancy as well as the maternal wellbeing.
Objectives: To find out the outcome of complicated pregnancy.
Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted at obstetrics and gynaecology department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January to June 2011. Total 107 mothers who delivered recently with or without pregnancy complications were selected purposively. Data were collected by face to face interview with semi structured questionnaires. Verbal consents were taken prior to interview.
Results: Among the respondents about 68.2% had antenatal complications and about 31.8% had no antenatal complication. Among the women having antenatal complications, 83.6% delivered by caesarean section and only 16.4% delivered by normal vaginal delivery. There was significant association of antenatal complications with mode of delivery by caesarean section.
Conclusion: Women having antenatal complications had significant association with caesarean section. Though every pregnancy is at risk but early detection of complications, timely referral and timely intervention can save lives of many women during the process of child birth.
JAFMC Bangladesh. Vol 16, No 2 (December) 2020: 31-34
Benefits of Vaccination
Authors: E. André† Francis
Published: November 2021

Vaccines in routine use around the world have been shown to be clinically well-tolerated and in double-blind randomized prospective controlled field trials – to be efficacious. Furthermore, they have been proven to be effective in routine vaccination programmes worldwide. They have had an excellent safety profile. Vaccinated individuals will face a greatly reduced danger of contracting the targeted disease with a minimal risk of serious side-effects. Should the vaccine fail to give complete protection, the severity of the "breakthrough" disease and its accompanying complications will, in most cases, be less than among the unvaccinated. Mortality, if a possible outcome, will also be greatly reduced. Mass vaccination of children in developed nations have brought many vaccine-preventable diseases under control or even eliminated them. Vaccines have made erstwhile lethal infectious diseases so rare that they have become "victims of their own success" to the point that uninformed people query the necessity of continuing to use them. Unless a disease is eradicated on a global scale – as has been achieved for smallpox and will soon be for poliomyelitis – vaccination cannot cease since the pathogen will quickly reappear and spread with dire consequences. Elimination of disease has many socio-economic, educational, and geo-political advantages. Healthy children grow to become well-educated and productive citizens that live longer. Increased life-expectancy brings prosperity and wealth buys health. Reduced infant mortality will put a brake on population growth in less developed countries and ease pressure on land and food – a determinant of belligerence. Vaccines are a powerful tool to foster equity and peace in the world.
Streptococcus-Pneumoniae Diseases
Authors: Schmitt Heinz-J. , Hrynkevych Khrystyna
Published: November 2021

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a Gram-positive encapsulated diplococcus. The capsule determines the ≥100 serotypes, is the relevant vaccine antigen and the main pathogenicity factor.

Children <5 years are the main reservoir and often spread S. pneumoniae to the elderly.

Presence of an acute viral respiratory tract infection (ARI) may favor the development of mucosal pneumococcal infections, as theoretical, experimental, epidemiological, and clinical data indicate viral-bacterial synergy.

Many risk factors like anatomical and immunological factors, underlying diseases, and environmental/behavioral factors favor development of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD).

Pneumococcal diseases can be treated with different groups of antibiotics, depending on the local resistance situation.

Polysaccharide and polysaccharide-conjugate vaccines are used for pneumococcal disease prevention.

The disadvantages of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (Pneumovax®) are:
lack of memory cell induction, and thus no booster response,
no reduction of carriage, and thus no herd protection,
lack of IgG immune response in children <2 years,
only short-term and moderate protection rates in subjects ≥65 years against bacteremic pneumonia only.

In contrast, pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs):
generate a memory response in all ages,
can reduce pneumococcal acquisition/colonization,
reduce mucosal diseases (otitis media, non-bacteremic pneumonia, IPD),
and there is long-term protection.

Currently licensed and marketed PCVs are PCV10 (Synflorix®, not licensed in the USA; indicated only for children), PCV13 (Prevenar 13® [Europe]; Prevnar 13® [USA]) and PCV15 (Vaxneuvance®) which are both licensed in EU and USA for adults and children, and PCV20 (Prevnar 20® [USA]; Apexxnar® [Europe]) which is currently only licensed for use in adults.
Efficiency of Bacillus subtilis Bs10 as a plant growth promoting inoculant in soybean crop under field conditions
Authors: Chagas Junior Aloisio Freitas , Chagas Lillian França Borges , Martins Albert Lennon Lima , Colonia Brigitte Sthepani Orozco , Souza Manuella Costa , Braga Junior Gaspar Moreira
Published: November 2021

The growth of the Brazilian market for biological defensive follows a worldwide trend of reducing the use of pesticides in crops, due to international and societal demands for a more sustainable agriculture. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the efficiency of Bacillus subtilis Bs10 as an inoculant for the soybean crop, through the promotion of plant growth and productive performance in the field. Three field experiments were conduct in the municipalities of Porto Nacional and Formoso do Araguaia, Tocantins, Brazil. The treatments used in the experiments were five doses of the B. subtilis Bs10-based product (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 mL 50 kg of seeds-1), plus one treatment with a commercial B. subtilis-based product. The inoculation of B. subtilis Bs10 provided increases in biomass, agronomic characteristics, plant population and productivity in soybeans under field conditions. There were positive results starting at a dose of 200 mL, with gains in productivity ranging from 28 to 41% in relation to the absolute control treatment, without inoculation of B. subtilis, and from 11 to 42% in relation to the treatment with commercial product. The bio formulated B. subtilis Bs10 should be recommend as a plant growth promoting inoculant in soybean.
CONTROLLED AND REGULATED BUSINESS ACTIVITIES IN UKRAINE
Authors:   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine, T Dudka , G Gaidai ,   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine, L Ryaboshtan ,   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine, T Serviroh ,   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: November 2021

The article deals with the problems of legal and economic principles of state regulation of business activity in Ukraine. The object of the study is entrepreneurship in Ukraine and problems that arise in connection with state regulation of entrepreneurial activity. The goals of the article are: to study the problems of state regulation of entrepreneurial activity in Ukraine and ways to improve it. Method of research - monographic, analytical. State regulation means the system of legal, organizational, administrative and regulatory-control measures of the state aimed at creating favorable conditions for the formation and development of entrepreneurship (favorable business environment) and its support, as well as management of the public sector of the economy to ensure the efficiency and competitiveness of the national economy . State regulation of entrepreneurial activity should be understood as the realization of the objectivity of economic necessity of coordination, coordination of activity of entrepreneurial structures in order to achieve the overall goal of macroeconomic development - meeting public needs. Therefore, the achievement of this goal depends to a large extent on the existence of a system of management, form and methods of state regulation of entrepreneurial activity. State entrepreneurship support policy is a set of priority decisions that determine the main directions and forms of legal, economic and organizational assistance to entrepreneurship development taking into account the interests of the state and economic entities. State support should mean, on the one hand, the state regulation of this sector of the economy, which involves, first of all, the conscious formation of legal, economic and organizational forms of business formation and development by state structures, and on the other hand, the creation of incentives, the use of material and financial resources, who engage in preferential or free entrepreneurship. The legal basis for the development of entrepreneurship in Ukraine is formed by legislative and other normative legal acts, corresponding norms of administrative, credit-financial, labor, civil and other branches of current legislation, the main of which are the laws of Ukraine «On Property», «On Business Societies», Business and Civil Codes. State support for entrepreneurial activity is conditioned by the need to develop the national economy in market conditions. Entrepreneurship is an independent, initiative, systematic, at-risk economic activity carried out by economic entities (entrepreneurs) in order to achieve economic and social results and profit. KEY WORDS: STATE REGULATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, STRATEGY, STATE INFLUENCE, STATE GOVERNMENT BODIES.
FORMATION OF A MODEL OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF UKRAINE
Authors:   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine, O Zhulyn , A Porytska ,   National Transport University, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: November 2021

The paper investigates theoretical aspects of inclusive growth and development, we determined the level of inclusive development in Ukraine, analyzed the strengths, weaknesses, prospects and risks of inclusive development in modern conditions of the economy developed a mechanism for constructing a model of inclusive development of Ukraine. The object of the study is process of inclusive growth and development. Purpose of the study is to summarize theoretical and methodological foundations for inclusive growth and development conduct research and create a model of inclusive growth and development of Ukraine. Method of the study - methods of economic, systemic, comparative analysis and modeling. Results and innovation of the study - in modern conditions of economy of inclusive development of Ukraine is currently ranked 49th place in the rating of the IDI with the index of 3,42, which is significantly lower than it was in 2017, when IDI was 3,67 and the country ranked 47th position. According to the WEF Report, Ukraine has a high position in the categories «Education and skills» IDI of 5,86, «Employment labor and social payments» IDI 4,78, «Basic services and infrastructure» has the IDI of 4,75. The category «Levels of corruption and rent» occupies the last place in terms of 2,81 IDI, this is a weakness of the Ukrainian economy. The paper presents a SWOT analysis of the inclusive development of Ukraine in modern conditions of the economy, which included strengths, weaknesses, prospects and risks. Having considered each key separately and analyzing them as a whole, was the mechanism of constructing a model of inclusive development, based on principles such as accessibility, self-regulation, trust, transparency, integration capabilities and security. Forecast assumptions about the object of study - the implementation of the model for inclusive development of Ukraine can be a powerful impetus for change at the legislative level in our country, attracting foreign investors and moving Ukraine to the leaders on the world stage. KEYWORDS: DEVELOPMENT, INCLUSIVE GROWTH, THE INDEX OF INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT, SWOT-ANALYSIS, WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, THE MODEL OF INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT.
Integrated Cells and Collagen Fibers Spatial Image Analysis
Authors: Vasiukov Georgii , Novitskaya Tatiana , Senosain Maria-Fernanda , Camai Alex , Menshikh Anna , Massion Pierre , Zijlstra Andries , Novitskiy Sergey
Published: November 2021

Modern technologies designed for tissue structure visualization like brightfield microscopy, fluorescent microscopy, mass cytometry imaging (MCI) and mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) provide large amounts of quantitative and spatial information about cells and tissue structures like vessels, bronchioles etc. Many published reports have demonstrated that the structural features of cells and extracellular matrix (ECM) and their interactions strongly predict disease development and progression. Computational image analysis methods in combination with spatial analysis and machine learning can reveal novel structural patterns in normal and diseased tissue. Here, we have developed a Python package designed for integrated analysis of cells and ECM in a spatially dependent manner. The package performs segmentation, labeling and feature analysis of ECM fibers, combines this information with pre-generated single-cell based datasets and realizes cell-cell and cell-fiber spatial analysis. To demonstrate performance and compatibility of our computational tool, we integrated it with a pipeline designed for cell segmentation, classification, and feature analysis in the KNIME analytical platform. For validation, we used a set of mouse mammary gland tumors and human lung adenocarcinoma tissue samples stained for multiple cellular markers and collagen as the main ECM protein. The developed package provides sufficient performance and precision to be used as a novel method to investigate cell-ECM relationships in the tissue, as well as detect structural patterns correlated with specific disease outcomes.
Identification of the Pyroptosis-Related Gene Signature for Overall Survival Prediction in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Shuang , Shao Ruonan , Bu Xiaoyun , Xu Yujie , Shi Ming
Published: November 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second most lethal malignant tumor worldwide, with an increasing incidence and mortality. Due to general resistance to antitumor drugs, only limited therapies are currently available for advanced HCC patients, leading to a poor prognosis with a 5-year survival rate less than 20%. Pyroptosis is a type of inflammation-related programmed cell death and may become a new potential target for cancer therapy. However, the function and prognostic value of pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs) in HCC remain unknown. Here, we identified a total of 58 PRGs reported before and conducted a six-PRG signature via the LASSO regression method in the GEO training cohort, and model efficacy was further validated in an external dataset. The HCC patients can be classified into two subgroups based on the median risk score. High-risk patients have significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than low-risk patients in both training and validation cohorts. Multivariable analysis indicated that the risk score was an independent prognostic factor for OS of HCC patients. Functional enrichment analysis and immune infiltration evaluation suggested that immune status was more activated in the low-risk group. In summary, PRGs can be a prediction factor for prognosis of HCC patients and targeting pyroptosis is a potential therapeutic alternative in HCC.
Deep Learning-Based Speech Enhancement With a Loss Trading Off the Speech Distortion and the Noise Residue for Cochlear Implants
Authors: Kang Yuyong , Zheng Nengheng , Meng Qinglin
Published: November 2021

The cochlea plays a key role in the transmission from acoustic vibration to neural stimulation upon which the brain perceives the sound. A cochlear implant (CI) is an auditory prosthesis to replace the damaged cochlear hair cells to achieve acoustic-to-neural conversion. However, the CI is a very coarse bionic imitation of the normal cochlea. The highly resolved time-frequency-intensity information transmitted by the normal cochlea, which is vital to high-quality auditory perception such as speech perception in challenging environments, cannot be guaranteed by CIs. Although CI recipients with state-of-the-art commercial CI devices achieve good speech perception in quiet backgrounds, they usually suffer from poor speech perception in noisy environments. Therefore, noise suppression or speech enhancement (SE) is one of the most important technologies for CI. In this study, we introduce recent progress in deep learning (DL), mostly neural networks (NN)-based SE front ends to CI, and discuss how the hearing properties of the CI recipients could be utilized to optimize the DL-based SE. In particular, different loss functions are introduced to supervise the NN training, and a set of objective and subjective experiments is presented. Results verify that the CI recipients are more sensitive to the residual noise than the SE-induced speech distortion, which has been common knowledge in CI research. Furthermore, speech reception threshold (SRT) in noise tests demonstrates that the intelligibility of the denoised speech can be significantly improved when the NN is trained with a loss function bias to more noise suppression than that with equal attention on noise residue and speech distortion.
Prediction of Non-canonical Routes for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Human Placenta Cells
Authors: Constantino Flávia Bessi , Cury Sarah Santiloni , Nogueira Celia Regina , Carvalho Robson Francisco , Justulin Luis Antonio
Published: November 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. The data available about COVID-19 during pregnancy have demonstrated placental infection; however, the mechanisms associated with intrauterine transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is still debated. Intriguingly, while canonical SARS-CoV-2 cell entry mediators are expressed at low levels in placental cells, the receptors for viruses that cause congenital infections such as the cytomegalovirus and Zika virus are highly expressed in these cells. Here we analyzed the transcriptional profile (microarray and single-cell RNA-Seq) of proteins potentially interacting with coronaviruses to identify non- canonical mediators of SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in the placenta. Despite low levels of the canonical cell entry mediators ACE2 and TMPRSS2, we show that cells of the syncytiotrophoblast, villous cytotrophoblast, and extravillous trophoblast co-express high levels of the potential non-canonical cell-entry mediators DPP4 and CTSL. We also found changes in the expression of DAAM1 and PAICS genes during pregnancy, which are translated into proteins also predicted to interact with coronaviruses proteins. These results provide new insight into the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and host proteins that may act as non-canonical routes for SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in the placenta cells.
CT Radiomics and Machine-Learning Models for Predicting Tumor-Stroma Ratio in Patients With Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Meng Yinghao , Zhang Hao , Li Qi , Liu Fang , Fang Xu , Li Jing , Yu Jieyu , Feng Xiaochen , Zhu Mengmeng , Li Na , Jing Guodong , Wang Li , Ma Chao , Lu Jianping , Bian Yun , Shao Chengwei
Published: November 2021

Purpose

To develop and validate a machine learning classifier based on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), for the preoperative prediction of tumor–stroma ratio (TSR) expression in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Materials and Methods

In this retrospective study, 227 patients with PDAC underwent an MDCT scan and surgical resection. We quantified the TSR by using hematoxylin and eosin staining and extracted 1409 arterial and portal venous phase radiomics features for each patient, respectively. Moreover, we used the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator logistic regression algorithm to reduce the features. The extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) was developed using a training set consisting of 167 consecutive patients, admitted between December 2016 and December 2017. The model was validated in 60 consecutive patients, admitted between January 2018 and April 2018. We determined the XGBoost classifier performance based on its discriminative ability, calibration, and clinical utility.

Results

We observed low and high TSR in 91 (40.09%) and 136 (59.91%) patients, respectively. A log-rank test revealed significantly longer survival for patients in the TSR-low group than those in the TSR-high group. The prediction model revealed good discrimination in the training (area under the curve [AUC]= 0.93) and moderate discrimination in the validation set (AUC= 0.63). While the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the training set were 94.06%, 81.82%, 0.89, 0.89, and 0.90, respectively, those for the validation set were 85.71%, 48.00%, 0.70, 0.70, and 0.71, respectively.

Conclusions

The CT radiomics-based XGBoost classifier provides a potentially valuable noninvasive tool to predict TSR in patients with PDAC and optimize risk stratification.
Persistent Response to a Combination Treatment Featuring a Targeted Agent and an Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor in a Patient With Collecting Duct Renal Carcinoma: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Zhou Weimin , Huang Ji , He Qiuming , Luo Qingfeng , Zhang Xiaofang , Tao Xuewei , Dong Hanzhi , Tu Xinhua
Published: November 2021

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a rare and highly aggressive subtype of kidney cancer that is associated with a poor prognosis. At present, there is no effective treatment for CDC. Herein, we report a case of metastatic CDC treated with a combination of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. A 67-year-old male was diagnosed with CDC with lung and bone metastasis. Pazopanib and camrelizumab were administered after cytoreductive nephrectomy. The patient achieved a partial response after one cycle of treatment; however, he then experienced serious drug-induced hepatic injury. Therefore, we discontinued camrelizumab and administered monotherapy with pazopanib. Three months later, the cancer had progressed and axitinib and sintilimab were administered. The patient achieved a partial response, accompanied by the complete disappearance of the metastatic lesion in the lung. The patient had an excellent physical status after 11 months. This is the first reported case of metastatic CDC successfully treated with a combination of a tyrosine kinase inhibitor and an immune checkpoint inhibitor. This form of combination treatment may be an effective option for treating metastatic CDC.
Reasons Given by ECEC Professionals for (Not) Being in Contact With Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hemmerich Fabian , Erdem-Möbius Hande , Burghardt Lars , Anders Yvonne
Published: November 2021

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the German government took drastic measures and ordered the temporary closure of early childhood education and care services (apart from emergency care). Most pedagogical professionals in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings were unable to provide institutional care for children during this period, and thus experienced difficulties fulfilling their legally mandated professional obligation to educate children. Building on the importance of professional–parent collaboration, this study investigates the reasons ECEC professionals gave for (not) being in contact with parents during the pandemic. The database comprises a nationwide survey conducted between April and May 2020 (n = 2,560 ECEC professionals). The results show that the vast majority of respondents were in contact with parents; their stated motives include providing informational or emotional support for parents and children, maintaining a relationship, or inquiring about family wellbeing. The explanations for not being in contact with parents include already existing contact with parents by another member of the ECEC staff, an employer-mandated contact ban, problems on the parents’ side, or personal reasons. We find some differences between managers in center-based childcare, pedagogical employes in center-based childcare, and professionals in family based childcare. Practical implications concerning professional–parent collaboration and the temporary closure of ECEC services are discussed.
From Cognition to Behavior: Associations of Workplace Health Culture and Workplace Health Promotion Performance With Personal Healthy Lifestyles
Authors: Chang Yao-Tsung , Tsai Feng-Jen , Yeh Ching-Ying , Chen Ruey-Yu
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study was to explore associations of workplace health culture and workplace health promotion (WHP) performance with employees' healthy lifestyles and health statuses.

Methods: In total, 27 enterprises and 1,732 participants were recruited for a cross-sectional designed survey. At the group level, Workplace Health Scorecard was used to measure WHP performance, and it was filled out by the WHP representative at each workplace. At the personal level, a personal questionnaire was used to measure workplace health culture, healthy lifestyles, and health statuses. A hierarchical linear model analysis was used to assess correlations between these variables.

Results: Workplace health culture was significantly related to WHP performance, healthy lifestyles, and health statuses. In particular, the peer support domain was greatly related to healthy behaviors like physical activity (β = 0.596, p < 0.001), vegetable consumption (β = 0.291, p < 0.001) and fruit consumption (β = 0.285, p < 0.05), and it may illustrate the importance of establishing peer support to promote healthy behaviors.

Conclusions: WHP performance was significantly related to workplace health culture especially health policies, health climate, and peer and supervisor support. Hence, building a good workplace health culture should be taken seriously, and more studies exploring associations of health culture and WHP performance with employees' health are needed.
Establishing Multivariate Specification Regions for Incoming Raw Materials Using Projection to Latent Structure Models: Comparison Between Direct Mapping and Model Inversion
Authors: Paris Adéline , Duchesne Carl , Poulin Éric
Published: November 2021

Increasing raw material variability is challenging for many industries since it adversely impacts final product quality. Establishing multivariate specification regions for selecting incoming lot of raw materials is a key solution to mitigate this issue. Two data-driven approaches emerge from the literature for defining these specifications in the latent space of Projection to Latent Structure (PLS) models. The first is based on a direct mapping of good quality final product and associated lots of raw materials in the latent space, followed by selection of boundaries that minimize or best balance type I and II errors. The second rather defines specification regions by inverting the PLS model for each point lying on final product acceptance limits. The objective of this paper is to compare both methods to determine their advantages and drawbacks, and to assess their classification performance in presence of different levels of correlation between the quality attributes. The comparative analysis is performed using simulated raw materials and product quality data generated under multiple scenarios where product quality attributes have different degrees of collinearity. First, a simple case is proposed using one quality attribute to illustrate the methods. Then, the impact of collinearity is studied. It is shown that in most cases, correlation between the quality variable does not seem to influence classification performance except when the variables are highly correlated. A summary of the main advantages and disadvantages of both approaches is provided to guide the selection of the most appropriate approach for establishing multivariate specification regions for a given application.
Plasma Levels of Keratinocyte Growth Factor Are Significantly Elevated for 5 Weeks After Minimally Invasive Colorectal Resection Which May Promote Cancer Recurrence and Metastasis
Authors: Shantha Kumara H. M. C. , Shah Abhinit , Miyagaki Hiromichi , Yan Xiaohong , Cekic Vesna , Hedjar Yanni , Whelan Richard L.
Published: November 2021

Background: Human Keratinocyte Growth Factor (KGF) is an FGF family protein produced by mesenchymal cells. KGF promotes epithelial cell proliferation, plays a role in wound healing and may also support tumor growth. It is expressed by some colorectal cancers (CRC). Surgery's impact on KGF levels is unknown. This study's purpose was to assess plasma KGF levels before and after minimally invasive colorectal resection (MICR) for CRC.

Aim: To determine plasma KGF levels before and after minimally invasive colorectal resection surgery for cancer pathology.

Method: CRC MICR patients (pts) in an IRB approved data/plasma bank were studied. Pre-operative (pre-op) and post-operative (post-op) plasma samples were taken/stored. Late samples were bundled into 7 day blocks and considered as single time points. KGF levels (pg/ml) were measured via ELISA (mean ± SD). The Wilcoxon paired t-test was used for statistical analysis.

Results: Eighty MICR CRC patients (colon 61%; rectal 39%; mean age 65.8 ± 13.3) were studied. The mean incision length was 8.37 ± 3.9 and mean LOS 6.5 ± 2.6 days. The cancer stage breakdown was; I (23), II (26), III (27), and IV (4). The median pre-op KGF level was 17.1 (95 %CI: 14.6–19.4; n = 80); significantly elevated (p < 0.05) median levels (pg/ml) were noted on post-op day (POD) 1 (23.4 pg/ml; 95% CI: 21.4–25.9; n = 80), POD 3 (22.5 pg/ml; 95% CI: 20.7–25.9; n = 76), POD 7–13 (21.8 pg/ml; 95% CI: 17.7–25.4; n = 50), POD 14–20 (20.1 pg/ml; 95% CI: 17.1–23.9; n = 33), POD 21–27 (19.6 pg/ml; 95% CI: 15.2–24.9; n = 15) and on POD 28–34 (16.7 pg/ml; 95% CI: 14.0–25.8; n = 12).

Conclusion: Plasma KGF levels were significantly elevated for 5 weeks after MICR for CRC. The etiology of these changes is unclear, surgical trauma related acute inflammatory response and wound healing process may play a role. These changes, may stimulate angiogenesis in residual tumor deposits after surgery.
Design and Experiment of Hydraulic Scouring System of Wide-Width Lotus Root Digging Machine
Authors: Liu Yan , Zhou Yong , Lv Wen , Huang Haidong , Zhang Guozhong , Tu Ming , Huang Lin
Published: November 2021

In response to the problems of small working width and low operating efficiency of existing hydraulic scouring lotus root harvesters, a wide-width hydraulic scouring system was designed based on a wide-width self-propelled lotus root harvester. The main parameters of the key components were determined through theoretical analysis of the water flow energy of the hydraulic scouring system pipelines. An experimental study was also carried out on the main factors affecting the working performance of this hydraulic scouring system. Through hydrodynamic simulation tests, the effect of nozzle type and constriction section structure on the turbulence intensity at the nozzle outlet and the pressure loss per unit mass of fluid between the nozzle inlet and outlet sections were compared and analysed. The test yielded conical-cylindrical nozzle geometry parameters for nozzle inlet diameter of 40 mm, shrinkage angle of 30°, nozzle outlet straight section length of 20 mm, nozzle outlet diameter of 16 mm, the nozzle had better flushing performance. Single-factor tests were carried out with nozzle outlet pressure, scouring angle and nozzle height from the mud surface as influencing factors. Based on the optimum effective scour depth, a three-factor, three-level Box–Behnken central combination design test was completed. The primary and secondary factors affecting the effective scouring depth were obtained in the following order: nozzle height from the mud surface, nozzle outlet pressure, and scouring angle. Finally, the performance test of the hydraulic scouring system was completed. Results showed that when the nozzle outlet pressure of 0.30 MPa, the scouring angle of 60° and the nozzle height from the mud surface of 0 mm, the effective scouring depth was 395 mm, the lotus root floating rate was 90% and the damage rate was 5%, which meet the requirements of lotus root harvesting operations.
Speed Oscillations of a Vehicle Rolling on a Wavy Road
Authors: Wedig Walter V.
Published: November 2021

Every driver knows that his car is slowing down or accelerating when driving up or down, respectively. The same happens on uneven roads with plastic wave deformations, e.g., in front of traffic lights or on nonpaved desert roads. This paper investigates the resulting travel speed oscillations of a quarter car model rolling in contact on a sinusoidal and stochastic road surface. The nonlinear equations of motion of the vehicle road system leads to ill-conditioned differential-algebraic equations. They are solved introducing polar coordinates into the sinusoidal road model. Numerical simulations show the Sommerfeld effect, in which the vehicle becomes stuck before the resonance speed, exhibiting limit cycles of oscillating acceleration and speed, which bifurcate from one-periodic limit cycle to one that is double periodic. Analytical approximations are derived by means of nonlinear Fourier expansions. Extensions to more realistic road models by means of noise perturbation show limit flows as bundles of nonperiodic trajectories with periodic side limits. Vehicles with higher degrees of freedom become stuck before the first speed resonance, as well as in between further resonance speeds with strong vertical vibrations and longitudinal speed oscillations. They need more power supply in order to overcome the resonance peak. For small damping, the speeds after resonance are unstable. They migrate to lower or supercritical speeds of operation. Stability in mean is investigated.
Analytical Solution of Stress in a Transversely Isotropic Floor Rock Mass under Distributed Loading in an Arbitrary Direction
Authors: Ji Dongliang , Zhao Hongbao , Wang Lei , Cheng Hui , Xu Jianfeng
Published: November 2021

Rock masses with a distinct structure may present a transversely isotropic character; thus, the stress state in a transversely isotropic elastic half-plane surface is an important way to assess the behavior of the interaction between the distributed loading and the surroundings. Most previous theoretical analyses have considered a loading direction that is either vertical or horizontal, and the stress distribution that results from the effect of different loading directions remains unclear. In this paper, based on the transversely isotropic elastic half-plane surface theory, a stress solution that is applicable to distributed loading in any direction is proposed to further examine the loading effect. The consistency between the analytical solution and numerical simulations showed the effectiveness of the proposal that was introduced. Then, it was utilized to analyze the stress distribution rule by changing the Poisson’s ratio and Young’s modulus of the model. The effects of the formation dip angle on the stress state are also examined. The stress distribution, depending on the physical property parameters and relative angle, is predicted using an analytical solution, and the mechanisms associated with the transversely isotropic elastic half-plane surface subjected to the loading in any direction are clarified. Additionally, extensive analyses regarding this case study, with respect to the mechanical behavior associated with changes in the stress boundary, is available. Hence, the proposed analytical solution can more realistically account for the loading problem in many engineering practices.