bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Adsorptive Removal of Selected Heavy Metals from Battery Wastewater by Purified and Polyethylene Glycol Modified Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: AS Abdulkareem , WA Hamzat , JO Tijani , MT Bankole , Egbosiuba Titus , OK Abubakre , Mustapha S
Published: April 2021

Comparative adsorption study of some toxic metals (Ni, Fe, Cu, Cd, and Pb) from battery industrial effluent by purified and polyethylene glycol-modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is reported. The as-prepared CNTs via chemical vapour deposition method (A-CNTs), its acid purified form (P-CNTs), and polyethylene glycol functionalized form (PEG-CNTs) were characterized by HRTEM, BET, HRSEM, FTIR and XRD. The HRSEM and HRTEM micrograph revealed the formation of multi-walled tubular network structures of different inner and outer diameter. The BET study of PEG-CNTs and purified CNTs showed surface areas of 970.81 m2/g and 781.88 m2/g, respectively. The nanomaterials batch adsorption effect of various parameters such as contact time, nano-adsorbent dosage and temperature was conducted. The optimum equilibrium to achieve maximum removal of Cd (83.41 %), Ni (92.79 %), Fe (95.93%), Pb (97.16 %) Cu (99.9 9%) using PEG-CNTs was 90 min of contact time, 0.3 g of nano-adsorbent dosage and 60 oC temperature. While the maximum percentage removal efficiencies accomplished using P-CNTs under the same applied conditions were Cd (78.64 %), Ni (76.12 %), Fe (92.87 %), Pb (90.7 2%) Cu (99.09 %). PEG-CNTs was seen as more effective than P-CNTs. Adsorption data of Ni on P-CNTs followed Langmuir isotherm while the adsorption equilibrium model (Freundlich isotherm) of Ni, Fe, Cu and Pb on PEG-CNTs were fitted well. However, in both cases, the sorption kinetic study followed the pseudo-second-order model. The thermodynamics showed that the removal of toxic metals from battery wastewater was spontaneous and endothermic irrespective of the nano-adsorbents. The study found that surface modification of CNTs by polyethylene glycol adequately improved the nanotubes, thus leading to relatively adsorption capacities of heavy metals from industrial battery effluent.
An innovative tubular standing support incorporating PVC and FRP composites: laboratory tests
Authors: Zhang Baisheng , Zhao Hongchao
Published: April 2021

With the depletion of shallow resources, the drawbacks of conventional bolting system in sustaining the integrity of the roadway have drawn much attention. Developing the innovative secondary standing support is therefore to be urgent. This paper presents a hybrid tubular standing support, which consists of an exterior container made of PVC and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites and the infill material made of coal rejects and high flowable cementitious grout material. Compared with other marketable standing support, the combination application of the large rupture strain PVC tube and the FRP composite with high strength-to-weight ratio can provide the effective confinement to infill material, which may result in the strain hardening behaviour. The use of coal reject to generate the backfill material is believed to be effective and thus is attractive from the design aspect. To verify these mentioned advantages, a series of compression tests were conducted on this FRP-PVC tubular standing support (FPTSS) with different thickness of the FRP jacket. In addition, the compression tests were also conducted to investigate the compressive behaviour of FRP tubular standing support (FTSS) and PVC tubular standing support (PTSS). Test results indicated that the combination of FRP and PVC composite achieve the superior behaviour either in terms of the compressive strength or the deformation ability.
Biological functions of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus JB-1 membrane vesicles: lipoteichoic acid, immune activity, and gut epithelial endocytosis
Authors: Champagne-Jorgensen Kevin , Mian M. Firoz , Neufeld Karen-Anne McVey , Stanisz Andrew M. , Bienenstock John
Published: April 2021

Intestinal bacteria have diverse and complex influence on their host. Evidence is accumulating that this may be mediated in part by bacterial extracellular membrane vesicles (MV), nanometer-sized particles important for intercellular communication. Little is known about the composition of MV from gram-positive beneficial bacteria nor how they interact with intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). Here we demonstrate that MV from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus JB-1 are endocytosed in a likely clathrin-dependent manner by both mouse and human IEC in vitro and by mouse IEC in vivo. We further show that JB-1 MV contain lipoteichoic acid (LTA) which activates Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and induces immunoregulatory interleukin-10 expression by dendritic cells in an internalization-dependent manner. By contrast, neither LTA nor TLR2 appear to be required for JB-1 MV endocytosis by IEC. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which bacterial MV can influence host physiology and suggest one potential route for beneficial influence of certain bacteria and probiotics.
Seismic Performance of Strengthened Masonry Structures: Actual Behaviour of Buildings in Norcia and Campi Alto During the 2016 Central Italy Seismic Sequence
Authors: Sisti Romina , Ludovico Marco Di , Borri Antonio , Prota Andrea
Published: April 2021

The structural response of unreinforced masonry buildings designed for gravity load only or with reference to obsolete seismic provisions is widely studied in the literature in order to define proper strengthening strategies and solution to mitigate the seismic risk. However, the critical analysis of the effectiveness of past used strengthening solution is still lacking. To fill such gap, the present study deals with the evaluation of the seismic performances of buildings in the historical centre of Norcia and Campi Alto struck by the 2016 central Italy seismic sequence. A large part of these buildings was strengthened between 1980 and 2000 during the reconstruction processes following previous earthquakes occurred in 1979 and 1997. The strengthened buildings in Norcia reported limited damage while a significant and widespread level of damage was detected on several strengthened buildings in the hamlet of Campi Alto. The study focuses on such latter aspect with the aim of investigating on the reasons of such unsatisfactory behaviour. Thus, a comparison between seismic action experienced by buildings in Norcia and Campi Alto is initially analysed along with the evaluation of the main vulnerabilities of these buildings. Then, 20 projects of strengthening interventions submitted to the Civil Engineering Department of the Umbria Region between 1984 and 2012 have been herein analysed and discussed in order to focus on the effectiveness of the strengthening solution adopted in the past. The analyses of such projects and of the empirical damage detected after the 2016 seismic sequence is a unique opportunity to derive useful information for future applications.
Hsa_Circ_0054284 Functions as a Tumor Suppressor via The Mir-18a-3p/TIMP2 Pathway in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Xu Zhexuan , Lu Chunya , Zhang Guojun
Published: April 2021

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients are basically at an advanced stage once diagnosed. In this study, our aimed to identify a new biomarker for early diagnosis of NSCLC.Methods and materials: CircRNA array analysis was designed to study the expression patterns of circRNAs in three pairs of NSCLC tissues. The expression of hsa_circ_0054284 were detected in 30 paired NSCLC tissues and adjacent normal tissues by qRT-PCR assay. A549 and H520 cells were transfected with overexpression vector of hsa_circ_0054284 and negative control. CCK-8, transwell invasion and Cell apoptosis assay were using to explore the internal relationship among the hsa_circ_0054284, miR-18a-3p and TIMP2. TIMP2 expression level was detected by qRT-PCR assay and western blotting analysis.Results: Hsa-circ-0054284 overexpression suppressed A549/H520 cell proliferation and invasion and promoted apoptosis via downregulation of miR-18a-3p and targeting TIMP2. This might be one of the possible mechanisms, which hsa-circ-0054284 plays in NSCLC.Conclusion: The current study provides novel insights into the circRNA-related ceRNA network in NSCLC and the hsa-circ-0054284 biomarkers may be Early diagnosis in NSCLC patients.
New adaptive lasso approaches for variable selection in automated pharmacovigilance signal detection
Authors: Courtois Émeline , Tubert-Bitter Pascale , Ahmed Ismaïl
Published: April 2021

Background: Adverse effects of drugs are often identified after market introduction. Post-marketing pharmacovigilance aims to detect them as early as possible and relies on spontaneous reporting systems collecting suspicious cases. Signal detection tools have been developed to mine these large databases and counts of reports are analysed with disproportionality methods. To address disproportionality method biases, recent methods apply to individual observations taking into account all exposures for the same patient. In particular, the logistic lasso provides an efficient variable selection framework, yet the choice of the regularization parameter is a challenging issue and the lasso variable selection may be inconsistent. Methods: We propose a new signal detection methodology based on the adaptive lasso in the context of high dimension. We derived two new adaptive weights from (i) a lasso regression using the Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC), and (ii) the class-imbalanced subsampling lasso (CISL), an extension of stability selection. The BIC is used in the adaptive lasso stage for variable selection. We performed an extensive simulation study and an application to real data, where we compared our methods to the existing adaptive lasso, and recent detection approaches based on lasso regression or propensity scores in high dimension. For both studies, we evaluate the methods in terms of false discoveries and sensitivity. Results: In the simulations and the application, both proposed adaptive weights show equivalent or better performances than the other competitors, with an advantage for the CISL-based adaptive weights. CISL and lasso regression using BIC are solid alternatives. Conclusion: Our proposed adaptive lasso is an appealing methodology for signal detection in pharmacovigilance. Although we cannot rely on test theory, our approaches show a low and stable False Discovery Rate in all simulation settings. All methods evaluated in this work are implemented in the adapt4pv R package.
Differential gene expression of ABCG2, SLC22A12, IL-1β and ALPK1 in peripheral blood leukocytes of primary gout patients, was associated to hiperuricemia and their comorbidities. A case control study
Authors: Paniagua-Díaz Natsuko , Sanchez-Chapul Laura , Clavijo-Cornejo Denise Refugio , Ventura-Ríos Lucio , Aguilar-Salinas Carlos , Sanchez-Muñoz Fausto , Macay Ambar López
Published: April 2021

Background. Genes ABCG2, SLC22A12, and ALPK1 have been strongly associated with dysfunction of urate metabolism in patients with gout, but it is unknown how these transporters are expressed in patients with acute or chronic gout. Our objective was to analyze the gene expression of urate transporters and inflammation genes in peripherial blood from gout patients and controls, to determinate if the metabolic profile of gout patients can influence at the gene expression profile. Our objective was to analyze the expression of urate transporters ABCG2, SLC22A12 and inflammation molecules ALPK1 and IL-1β in peripheral blood leukocytes from gout patients and to compare them with their metabolic profile and with the gene expression of people without gout and without hyperuricemia.Methods. A total of 36 chronic and acute patients and 52 controls were recruited, ABCG2, SLC22A12, IL-1β and ALPK1 gene expression was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Correlations of gene expression with clinical and laboratory parameters of patients were also analyzed.Results. IL-1β was significantly increased in PBMCs of patients when compared with their PMNLs (p<0.05). A significant increase in ABCG2 and IL-1β were found in PMNLs from patients compared to controls (p<0.05). Correlations of gene expression in patients were related to levels of serum uric acid (sUA), serum creatinine, CRP, triglycerides, BMI, kidney disease, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome.Conclusions. Our data suggest that the leukocyte cells of the patients respond to the presence hyperuricemia and comorbidities expressing ABCG2 and IL-1β genes differentially compared to normouricemic and non disease state. Hyperuricemia, dyslipidemias and obesity should stimulate the differential gene expression of peripheral blood leukocytes (neutrophils and monocytes) even in an asymptomatic state.
Local-Scale Environmental Filtering Shape Plant Taxonomic and Phylogenetic Diversity in the Isolated Amazonian Tepui (Tepequém Table Mountain)
Authors: Campos Prímula , Schaefer Carlos Ernesto , Pontara Vanessa , Xavier Márcio , Júnior José Frutuoso Vale , Corrêa Guilherme , Villa Pedro
Published: April 2021

Understanding how environmental drivers induce changes in plant composition and diversity across evolutionary time can provide important insights into the mechanisms of community assembly. We evaluated how taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity and structure of plant communities change along a local-scale edaphic and topographic gradient in the Tepequém table mountain, Brazilian Amazon. We selected three phytophysiognomies along the altitudinal gradient: Open Rupestrian Grassland, Shrubby Rupestrian Grassland, and Forest. We compared community composition and taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity between phytophysiognomies, and we tested regression linear effect models to investigate the effect of altitude and soil properties on taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. The highest species richness and phylogenetic diversity were found at lower elevation for Forest. Mean pairwise phylogenetic distance, mean nearest taxon phylogenetic distance, and all standardised phylogenetic metrics were significantly lower in Shrubby Rupestrian Grassland. This phytophysiognomy showed phylogenetic clustering. Forest showed a cluster pattern when only terminal nodes are considered and random dispersion to deep phylogenetic nodes. Open Rupestrian Grassland also showed random phylogenetic structure. The regression analyses showed that species richness and different phylogenetic diversity metrics were explained by altitude and soil properties. However, standardised metrics were not explained by these environmental variables. Comprehensive studies including the role of environmental drivers in plant evolutionary history along the altitudinal gradient are necessary for explaining community assembly patterns and provide additional information for conservation planning.
PD-1 Protects Liver Damage by Suppressing IFN-γ Expression in T Cells in Infants and Neonatal Mice
Authors: Guo Xuangjie , Xu Yiping , Luo Wei , Cai Li , Wang Ping , Zhang Yuxia , Wen Zhe , Xu Yanhui
Published: April 2021

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is a severe cholangiopathy resulting from virus-induced and immune-mediated injury of the biliary system. IFN-g, secreted from CD4+ Th1 cells and CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, is a major mediator of liver pathology. Programmed death 1 (PD-1) signaling suppresses T cell function. However, how PD-1 modify T cell function in BA remains incompletely understood. Methods: Frequencies of PD-1 expressing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were analyzed in the liver and blood from BA and control subjects. Associations of PD-1+CD4+/CD8+T cell abundances with liver function indices were measured. Function of PD-1 was measured by administration of an anti-PD-1 antibody in a Rhesus Rotavirus (RRV)-induced BA model. Survival, histology, direct bilirubin, liver immune cell subsets and cytokine production were analyzed. Results: PD-1 was significantly upregulated in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in patients with BA compared with control subjects. PD-1 expression in T cells was negatively associated with IFN-γ concentration in liver. Blockade of PD-1 increased IFN-g expression in CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells, suppressed bilirubin production and exacerbated liver immunopathology.Conclusions: PD-1 plays a protective role in infants with BA by suppressing IFN-g production in T cells. Increasing PD-1 signaling may serve as a therapeutic strategy for BA.
Generalized Photo-Thermo-Microstretch Elastic Solid Semiconductor Medium Due To Excitation Process
Authors: lotfy kh. , El-Bary A.
Published: April 2021

A novel model in the theory of photo-thermoelasticity with microstretch properties is studied. The plasma-elastic-thermal plane waves are propagated in a linear isotropic generalized photo-thermo-microstretch elastic semiconductor solid medium. The photothermal excitation occurs in the context of the microinertia of microelement process during two dimensions (2D) deformation. The harmonic wave techniques are used to get the solutions for the basic variables. The analytical solution of the main physical fields; carrier intensity, normal displacement components, temperature, stress load force, microstress and tangential coupled stress can be obtained. Some graphics illustrated when using the plasma, thermal and mechanical load boundary conditions, which they apply at the outer free surface of the elastic medium. Some semiconductor materials as silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) are used to make the numerical simulation and some comparisons in different thermal memories are made. The main physical variables with new parameters are discussed theoretically and shown graphically.
Ramularia leaf spot and Boll rot are affected differently by organic and inorganic nitrogen fertilization in cotton plants
Authors: Palma-Zambrano Oscar , Zambrano-Gavilanes Freddy , Portalanza Diego , Fiallos Felipe R. Rafael Garcés
Published: April 2021

Background: In this work, the interaction among nitrogen fertilization using bovine manure, poultry manure, Jatropha curcas seed cake and urea, and the diseases Ramularia leaf spot (RLS) and Boll rot (BR), caused by Ramulariopsis pseudoglycines and Diplodia gossypina, respectively, on cotton plants (Gossypium hirsutum L.), was studied under field conditions. The intensity (incidence and severity in percentage) of RLS and the incidence (%) of BR were evaluated six times, starting in the reproductive stage B1 (first visible flower bud). A randomized complete block experimental design with a 4x4 factorial arrangement (fertilizers x dose), totaling 16 treatments were used. The disease progress was analyzed with the nonlinear Logistic and Gomperts models, obtaining the initial disease's epidemiological parameters (Y0) and progress rate (r). Results: Cotton plants fertilized with 100 kg N ha-1 of J. curcas seed cake and poultry manure with 100 and 200 kg N ha-1 showed an incidence between 16 and 21% of RLS. In contrast, plants fertilized with bovine manure presented the highest incidence of ramularia leaf spot (33%). Regarding factor B (dose), cotton plants fertilized with 50 kg N ha-1, showed a higher percentage of BR incidence, being different from those fertilized with the other doses. In the analysis of the interaction corresponding to the BR incidence, no response pattern was found in the doses for each fertilizer. No correlation was observed between the three health variables analyzed, finding probabilities between 0.002 and 0.892. In the temporal progress of RLS incidence, it was shown that fertilization with J. curcas seedcake and poultry manure was lower than the rest. In severity, the plants were fertilized by J. curcas seedcake concerning the rest. The progression curve of RLS severity temporarily increased similarly, observing that plants fertilized with higher doses reached a lower final proportion of the disease.Regarding the modeling of epidemics using the nonlinear Logistic and Gompertz models, the first model better represented the RLS, except for factor B, where none of the curves was significant. In the Logistic model, a lower amount of initial disease was found (Y0) of RLS, both in incidence (0.259) as in severity (0.081), in plants fertilized with J. curcas seed cake and poultry manure, compared to the rest. For the case of BR incidence, none of the nonlinear models used could be represented.Conclusions: Plants fertilized with 50 kg N ha-1, presented an incidence twice higher than those obtained with other fertilizers. The Logistic model better fits RLS, but no model was adapted to BR. Only the RLS epidemiological parameters were affected differently in this experiment compared to BR disease.
Time Resolved Photon Fluencies for Different Input Angle Sources
Authors: kazanci huseyin ozgur , Niitsu Kiichi
Published: April 2021

The variation of photon fluence distributions [photon/cm2.s] for different input angle laser sources was shown by researchers experimentally [1]. According to this philosophy, different input angle source and detector photon entrance from tissue surface into imaging media have different photon fluence distributions for a specific tissue type. In this study, different input angle simulations were used for pulsed laser photons which uses time resolved (TR) Monte Carlo (MC) photon-tissue interaction simulation program to prove the philosophy in TR run mode. TR run mode MC simulation program trmc.c [2] was modified and used to generate TR photon counts inside the homogenous simulation environment. It has homogeneous tissue optical properties, absorption μa = 0.1 cm-1, scattering μs = 100 cm-1, and anisotropy g = 0.90 coefficients. Multi-input angle philosophy was first demonstrated by the researchers [1]. It was defined and experimentally proven. Photon fluencies which are forward model weight matrix coefficients differences were successfully shown for TR laser as a general procedure. In this study, differences were drawn for seven different input angle sources with pulsed laser photons. The proof-of-concept philosophy was shown successfully. The purpose of the use of pulsed laser is to show the righteousness of the philosophy in TR run mode, since the TR diffuse optical tomography (TRDOT) device would be made as a biomedical optic imaging (BOI) device. Cylindrical radial coordinate system which was defined in trmc.c [2] in earlier was used, the code was modified, and photon fluencies were generated based on the different input angle laser photons. Cylindrical coordinate system has 1 cm and 36-element radial r, and depth z grids. 100.000 photons were sent from pencil beam tissue surface point. Photons would be thought as group of ultra-narrow band pulsed laser photons. The main purpose of showing photon fluencies for different laser source input angles were succeeded and image reconstruction procedure was also applied. Ten time series were used which are [4, 8, 12, 16, 22, 26, 30, 38, 46, 52] picoseconds (ps). Different input angle photon fluence distribution figures were drawn. These are 0º, 15º, 30º, 45º, 60º, 75º, 90º. Photon fluence differences were also drawn and observed for different input angle laser sources. Forward model problem different input angle laser source and detector transfer functions were also drawn. Finally inlusion was embedded inside the homogenous simulation environment and images were reconstructed for both scenarios and localization error (LE), and concentration error (CE) was calculated for both scenarions and compared with each other.
Validation of the Updated Renal Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) for patients with renal cancer brain metastases treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery
Authors: Ruitenbeek Niels van , Ho Vincent , Westgeest Hans , Beerepoot Laurens , Hanssens Patrick
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Prognosis of patients with brain metastasis (BM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is relevant for treatment decisions and can be estimated with the Renal Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA). The aim of this study is to validate the updated version of this instrument in a cohort treated with Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) without prior local intracerebral therapy. Methods: Between 2007 and 2018, 100 RCC patients with BM were treated with GKRS. They were categorized according to the updated Renal GPA. Overall survival (OS), intracranial disease progression and intracranial local failure were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and risk factors were identified with Cox proportional hazard regressions. Results: Median OS was 10.4 months. Median OS for GPA categories 0.0-1.0 (10%), 1.5-2.0 (13%), 2.5-3.0 (37%) and 3.5-4.0 (31%) was 2.9, 5.5, 8.1 and 20.4 months, respectively. Karnofsky performance status <90, serum hemoglobin ≤12.5 g/dL, age >65 years and time from primary diagnosis to brain metastasis <1 year were significantly related with shorter survival, while presence of extracranial disease, the volume and total number of BM had no impact on OS. A total count of >4 BM was the only predictive factor for intracranial disease progression, while none of the investigated factors predicted intracranial local failure. Conclusions: This study confirms the updated Renal GPA in an independent cohort as a valuable instrument to estimate survival in patients with BM from RCC treated with GKRS.
Bacteriological Profile, Antibiotic Susceptibility and Factors Associated with Neonatal Septicaemia at Kilembe Mines Hospital, Kasese District Western Uganda
Authors: Henry Zamarano , Musinguzi Benson , Kabajulizi Immaculate , Manirakiza Godfrey , Guti Walker , muhwezi Ivan , Ahmed Hussei Ayan , Baweera Agnes , boazi Boaz Kabahinda , Itabangi Herbert , Bazira Joel , Kabanda Taseera
Published: April 2021

Introduction: Neonatal septicaemia is one of the most common leading causes of neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. It is estimated to affect more than 30 million people worldwide annually, potentially leading to 6 million deaths. Objective(s): To determine the prevalence, bacteriological profile, antibiotic susceptibility and factors associated with neonatal septicaemia among neonates seeking medical services at Kilembe mines hospital.Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study where blood was drawn from 122 neonates that were seeking medical attention at Kilembe Mines Hospital during the period of July to November 2020. Specimens were inoculated in BHI broth, transported to Fortportal Regional Referral Hospital, plated daily up to 7 days on blood, chocolate, MacConkey agar and incubated in aerobic and 5% carbondioxide. Pure colonies were identified by gram stain, biochemical tests and antibiotic sensitivities obtained by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Statistical significance set at P< 0.05 and logistic regression was used to determine predictors of neonatal septicaemia. Stata (version 14) used for statistical analysis.Results: Blood cultures were positive in 59.0% cases with 55.5% male and 44.4% female. EOS was present in 56.9% and LOS 43.1% of the cases. Gram negative (56.9%) organisms were most implicated with neonatal septicaemia than gram positives ones (43.1%). Gram positive organisms exhibited better susceptibility to amikacin, linezolid and vancomycin but more resistant to ampicillin and gentamicin. Of the aminoglycosides, amikacin exhibited a verge over netilmicin and gentamicin against gram negative isolates. Risk factors of neonatal septicaemia were mother’s age of ≥25 years, employed mothers, tertiary-level of education, SVD, ANC attendance of ≥4 times, UTI during pregnancy, PROMS, foul Smelling liquor, urban residence, neonatal birth weight of ≥2500g, Apgar score 1st and 5th min ≥6 and resuscitation.Conclusion: Multi-drug resistant organisms were isolated. Therefore caution is required in selection of antibiotic therapy and avoid empirical treatment.
Exploring the Potential for Planning Support Systems to Bridge the Research-translation Gap Between Public Health and Urban Planning
Authors: Hooper Paula , Boulange Claire , Arciniegas Gustavo , Foster Sarah , Bolleter Julian , Pettit Chris
Published: April 2021

Background: There is consensus that planning professionals need clearer guidance on the features that are likely to produce optimal community-wide health benefits. However, much of this evidence resides in academic literature and not in tools accessible to the diverse group of professionals shaping our cities. This paper explores the role of planning support systems (PSS) to facilitate the translation and application of health evidence into urban planning and design practices to create healthy, liveable communities.Methods: A review of PSS software and studies featuring a planning support system with a built environment and health impact assessment for designing and creating healthy urban areas was undertaken. Customising existing software, a health impact PSS (the Urban Health Check) was then developed and applied to a real-world planning application with an industry partner allowing for: (i) automated calculation of built environment variables; (ii) “sketch planning” functionality; and (iii) a health impact indicator that estimates the probability of walking for transport. A participatory evaluation framework evaluated the "utility", "usability", and "usefulness" of the Urban Health Check.Results: Eleven PSS software applications were identified, of which three were identified as having the capability to undertake health impact analyses. Three studies met the inclusion criteria of presenting a planning support system customised to support health impact assessment with health impacts modelled or estimated due to changes to the built environment. Evaluation results indicated the Urban Health Check PSS helped in four key areas: visualisation of how the neighbourhood would change in response to a proposed plan; understanding how a plan could benefit the community; Communicate and improve understanding health of planning and design decisions that positively impact health outcomes; engagement – allowing community members to provide direct feedback and see the immediate implications of amendments to a proposed plan. Conclusions: The use of health-impact PSS have the potential to be transformative for the translation and application of health evidence into planning policy and practice, providing those responsible for the policy and practice of designing and creating our communities with access to quantifiable, evidence-based information about how their decisions might impact community health.
Commemorating One-Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Indonesian and International Issues of Secondary and Tertiary Mathematics Learning
Authors: Soesanto Robert , Dirgantoro Kurnia Putri Sepdikasari
Published: April 2021

A year into the COVID-19 crisis has revealed massive and substantial changes in the world of education. Educators have had to quickly develop effective online learning environments for their students. This study focuses specifically on mathematics learning issues during this first pandemic year. A systematic literature study using a scope review approach was conducted to capture issues on a national and international scale in the context of secondary and tertiary education. Through the identification of national and international articles from various reputable journals, it was evident that there was little research that specifically explored learning mathematics online during the pandemic although several issues were found related to students’ mathematics competencies, aspects of learning, and affective domains. These findings will hopefully stimulate researchers to bridge the still large research gap related to the causality of implementing mathematics learning in times of crisis in order to contribute to developing pedagogical strategies to improve students’ mathematics performance and attitudes.
RalGAPα1is dispensable for embryonic cortical morphogenesisin mice
Authors: Xia Yingqian , Huang Chaoli , Zhu Sangsang , Chen Qiaoli , Chen Guiquan , Chen Shuai , Tai Guangping , Wang Hongyu , Zhang Jinping
Published: April 2021

Background: Cortical morphogenesis is a complex process and involves a large number of genes. RalGAPα1 gene (also called Tulip1 ), mapped to chromosome 14q13.2, is a candidate gene for the 14q13 deletion syndrome associated with delayed brain development. However, it remains unknown whether RalGAPα1 directly regulates cortical development. Methods: To address the above question, we generated neural progenitor cells (NPCs) specific RalGAPα1 conditional knockout (cKO) mice through crossing RalGAPα1 f/f to Nestin-Cre transgenic (Tg) mice in which the Cre recombinase is expressed in neural progenitor cells and derived neurons in the central nervous system (CNS) since very early stage of development. Morphological, biochemistry and immunohistochemistry (IHC) methods were used to evaluate brain development. Results: We found that the brain size, shape and cortical laminations were comparable between control and RalGAPα1 cKO mice. Moreover, the populations and proliferations of NPCs in the ventricular and subventricular zones were not different between control and RalGAPα1 cKO cortices. Conclusions: Inactivation of RalGAPα1 in the central nervous system in murine model does not significantly affect the embryonic cortical development. Keywords: RalGAPα1 ; cortical development; neural progenitor cells; neurodevelopmental disease
The Risk Factors of Polymicrobial Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study.
Authors: Li Hao , Fu Jun , Chai Wei , Hao LiBo , Chen Jiying , Niu ErLong , Xu Chi
Published: April 2021

BackgroundPeriprosthetic joint infection is a serious complication after total joint arthroplasty and polymicrobial PJI which compose a subtype of PJI often indicate worse outcomes compared to monomicrobial periprosthetic joint infection. However, a literature review suggested that there were limited number studies evaluating the risk factors of polymicrobial PJI. Materials and methodsBetween 2015 January and 2019 December, a total of 64 polymicrobial PJI patients and 158 monomicrobial PJI patients in a tertiary center were included in this study and corresponding medical records were scrutinized. The diagnosis of PJI was based on 2014 MSIS criteria. Logistic regression was used to identify the association between various variables and polymicrobial PJI and ROC curve was used to identify their efficiency. ResultsThe prevalence of polymicrobial PJI is about 28.28% in our cohorts. After adjusting, the presence of previous revisions (OR, 1.93; p < 0.01), isolation of enterococci (OR, 11.36; p < 0.01), isolation of Escherichia coli (OR, 6.55; p < 0.01), infection with atypical organisms (OR, 9.85; p < 0.01), infection with gram-negative organisms (OR, 6.33; p < 0.01), isolation of streptococcus spp (OR, 1.93; p < 0.01), and infection with CNS (OR, 1.93; p < 0.01) were risk factors of polymicrobial PJI compared to monomicrobial PJI. However, knee infection is a protection factor of polymicrobial PJI with an adjusted OR=0.0479 (p=0.023). ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the prevalence of polymicrobial PJI is about 28.28% in culture-positive PJI patients. Moreover, the presence of sinus tract and previous joint revisions were risk factors for identifying different bacterial species in the intraoperative specimens. Therefore, in these PJI cases, it is necessary to examine multiple specimens of both intraoperative tissue and synovial fluid for increasing the detection rate and obtaining resistance information.
Celastrol Exerts Neuroprotective Effect via Directly Binding to Hmgb1 Protein in Cerebral Ischemic Reperfusion
Authors: Liu Dandan , Luo Piao , Gu Liwei , Zhang Qian , Gao Peng , Zhu Yongping , Chen Xiao , Zhang Junzhe , Ma Nan , Wang Jigang
Published: April 2021

Background: Celastrol is one of the early isolated and identified chemical constituents from Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f.. Based upon the celastrol probe that maintained the bioactivity of the parent compound, the targets of celastrol in cerebral ischemic reperfusion (I/R) were comprehensively analyzed by quantitative chemical proteomics method.Methods: We constructed primary cortical neurons model of oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) and rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) to detect the targets of celastrol in cerebral I/R. Combining with various experimental methods such as tandem mass tags (TMT) labeling, mass spectrometry and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), we revealed the directly binding cellular targets of celastrol.Results: We uncovered that celastrol inhibited pro-inflammatory activity of high mobility group protein 1 (HMGB1) by directly binding to it and then blocking the binding of HMGB1 to its inflammatory receptors in the microenvironment of ischemic and hypoxia. In addition, celastrol rescued neurons from OGD injury in vitro and decreased cerebral infarction in vivo by targeting HSP70 and NF-κB.Conclusion: Celastrol exhibited neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects via targeting HSP70 and NF-κB and directly binding to HMGB1 in cerebral ischemic reperfusion injury.
Atomic-scale ferroic HfO2-ZrO2 superlattice gate stack for advanced transistors
Authors: Cheema Suraj , Shanker Nirmaan , Wang Li-Chen , Hsu Cheng-Hsiang , Hsu Shang-Lin , Liao Yu-Hung , Jose Matthew San , Gomez Jorge , Li Wenshen , Bae Jong-Ho , Volkman Steve , Kwon Daewoong , Rho Yoonsoo , Pinelli Gianni , Rastogi Ravi , Pipitone Dominick , Stull Corey , Cook Matthew , Tyrrell Brian , Stoica Vladimir , Zhang Zhan , Freeland John , Tassone Christopher , Mehta Apurva , Soheli Ghazal , Thompson David , Suh Dong Ik , Koo Won-Tae , Nam Kab-Jin , Jung Dong Jin , Song Woo-Bin , Lin Chung-Hsun , Nam Seunggeol , Heo Jinseong , Grigoropoulos Costas , Shafer Padraic , Fay Patrick , Ramesh Ramamoorthy , Ciston Jim , Datta Suman , Mohamed Mohamed , Hu Chenming , Salahuddin Sayeef
Published: April 2021

With the scaling of lateral dimensions in advanced transistors, an increased gate capacitance is desirable both to retain the control of the gate electrode over the channel and to reduce the operating voltage. This led to the adoption of high-κ dielectric HfO2 in the gate stack in 2008, which remains as the material of choice to date. Here, we report HfO2-ZrO2 superlattice heterostructures as a gate stack, stabilized with mixed ferroelectric-antiferroelectric order, directly integrated onto Si transistors and scaled down to ~ 20 Å, the same gate oxide thickness required for high performance transistors. The overall EOT (equivalent oxide thickness) in metal-oxide-semiconductor capacitors is equivalent to ~ 6.5 Å effective SiO2 thickness, which is, counterintuitively, even smaller than the interfacial SiO2 thickness (8.0-8.5 Å) itself. Such a low effective oxide thickness and the resulting large capacitance cannot be achieved in conventional HfO2-based high-κ dielectric gate stacks without scavenging the interfacial SiO2, which has adverse effects on the electron transport and gate leakage current. Accordingly, our gate stacks, which do not require such scavenging, provide substantially lower leakage current and no mobility degradation. Therefore, our work demonstrates that HfO2-ZrO2 multilayers with competing ferroelectric-antiferroelectric order, stabilized in the 2 nm thickness regime, provides a new path towards advanced gate oxide stacks in electronic devices beyond the conventional HfO2-based high-κ dielectrics.
Monkeypox viruses circulate in distantly-related small mammal species in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Authors: Mariën Joachim , Laudisoit Anne , Patrono Livia , Baelo Pascal , Vredendaal Rianne van , Musaba Prescott , Gembu Guy , Mande Claude , Ngoy Steve , Mussaw Moise , Houtte Natalie Van , de Perre Frederik Van , Gryseels Sophie , Muyembe-Tamfum Jean , Bottieau Emmanuel , Calvignac-Spencer Sébastien , Leendertz Fabian , Leirs Herwig , Verheyen Erik
Published: April 2021

We determined near complete and complete monkeypox virus genomes in a shrew (Crocidura littoralis), two squirrels (Funisciurus anerythrus, Funisciurus bayonii), and produced shorter sequences from two rats (Stochomys longicaudatus, Cricetomys sp. 2) originating from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This suggests that a number of rodents besides squirrels (families Muridae and Nesomyidae) and shrews (order Eulipotyphla) are potential monkeypox virus reservoirs.
Primary Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor of the Mandible: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: zhou jiayu , Li Qingling , Luo Baihua , Fu Xiaodan , Ou Chunlin , Gao Xiaomei , Feng Deyun , Yang Keda
Published: April 2021

Background: Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) is a sporadic, highly malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. The abdomen and pelvis have been reported as the primary localization sites. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are few reports on primary DSRCT in the mandible.Case presentation: We have reported a case of a 26-year-old Chinese man who presented with a mass in the right mandible. Imaging studies showed a hypoechoic mass in the right mandibular region. Intraoperative pathology revealed that the tumor tissue was composed of small round tumor cells and a dense desmoplastic stroma. On immunostaining, the tumor cells showed markers of epithelial, mesenchymal, myogenic, and neural differentiation. The EWSR1 gene rearrangement was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Based on the overall morphological features and immunohistochemical findings, a final diagnosis of DSRCT was made. The patient was treated with comprehensive anti-tumor therapy mainly based on radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Conclusions: DSRCT is a very uncommon disease in which mandibular involvement is rare. Considering DSRCT in the differential diagnosis of small round blue cell tumors, even in extraperitoneal locations, is beneficial for a precise diagnosis. Full recognition of the clinicopathological features will help to better diagnose this disease.
Nomogram Predict Overall Survival of Patients with Thymic Epithelial Tumors After Surgery
Authors: Huang Yang-Yu , Wu Lei-Lei , Liu Xuan , Liang Shen-Hua , Ma Guo-Wei
Published: April 2021

Background: Hematological indicators and clinical characteristics play an important role in the evaluation of the progression and prognosis of thymic epithelial tumors. Therefore, we aimed to combine these potential indicators to establish a prognostic nomogram to determine the overall survival (OS) of patients with thymic epithelial tumors undergoing thymectomy. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted on 167 patients who underwent thymectomy between May 2004 and August 2015. Cox regression analysis were performed to determine the potential indicators related to prognosis and combine these indicators to create a nomogram for visual prediction. The prognostic predictive ability of the nomogram was evaluated using the consistency index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and risk stratification. Decision curve analysis was used to evaluate the net benefits of the model. Results: Preoperative albumin levels, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), T stage, and underlying diseases (with hypertension and/or diabetes) were included in the nomogram. In the training cohort, the nomogram showed a stronger prognostic predictive ability than the T staging (C index: 0.886 vs 0.725). Calibration curves for the overall survival (OS) were in good agreement with the standard lines in cohorts. The net benefit of the nomogram was higher than that of the T staging model. Conclusions: The nomogram showed better performance in predicting the prognosis and survival of this patient population than the T staging prediction model. And it has potential to identify high-risk patients at an early stage. This is a relatively novel approach for the prediction of OS in this patient population.
Evaluation Of The Parents’ Anxiety Levels Before And After The Diagnosis Of Their Child With A Rare Genetic Disease: The Necessity Of Psychological Support
Authors: Kolemen Ayse Betul , Akyuz Enes , Toprak Ali , Deveci Erdem , Yesil Gozde
Published: April 2021

Background

The diagnosis of the rare genetic disease has great importance in treating multi-systemic conditions, preventing potential complications, and estimating disease risk for family members. The duration of getting genetic test results is variable. The demand of learning the diagnosis of a possible untreatable illness is a double-edged sword between obscurity and a lifetime chronic disease. The current uncertainty of their child's condition and the long duration time of diagnosis may increase the parents' anxiety level and causes difficulties to a continuation of diagnostic procedures in some families. This study aimed to investigate the pre-diagnosis and the post-diagnosis anxiety levels of parents who have a child with a rare genetic disorder.
Results

The state anxiety levels of parents decreased significantly after learning the diagnosis. However, there was no statistically significant decrease observed in trait anxiety levels.
Conclusion

Data from this study revealed that informing parents about their child's disease and properly explaining to them expected difficulties might help to reduce their anxiety levels. Psychological support from the hospital should be provided to help them cope with the stress before and after the diagnosis. Increasing the number of samples, interviews, and psychological inventory are recommended for future studies.
Assessment of the Design Spectrum with Aggravation Factors by 2D Nonlinear Numerical Analyses: A Case Study in Gemlik Basin, Turkey
Authors: ÖZASLAN BİLAL , Iyisan Recep , Hasal Emre Murat , Khanbabazadeh Hadi , Yamanaka Hiroaki
Published: April 2021

The response spectra of multidimensional analyses are compared with the one-dimensional (1D) local models to couple the irregular soil stratification effect in a site. In recent studies, the surface motion spectra ratios of 2D/1D or 3D/1D are defined as spectral aggravation factors for each region in a site. Particularly in alluvial basins, where the soil media is typically formed by fault ruptures or topographic depressions filled with sediments, the inclination of the rock outcrop in the edge of the basin has a considerable effect on the site response, and such effect has not yet been taken into consideration of recent seismic building codes and general engineering applications. In this study, the natural alluvial basin near the North Anatolian Fault in Gemlik, Maramara Region, Turkey, was investigated by 40 seismic site tests and 4 validation borings. The 2D and 1D nonlinear response history analyses in north-south and east-west directions of the Gemlik basin were performed by numerical model on finite difference scheme considering nonlinear elasto-plastic material behaviors and geometric discontinuities. 22 strong ground motions recorded on rock site are excited vertically as SH waves. The numerical results exhibited the narrow basin effects are derived not only by reflection, refraction, and shifting behavior but also by focusing and superposition of the seismic waves propagating from both opposite basin edges. As a result, the site-specific spectral aggravation factors, SAF2D/1D defined by the ratio between the 2D and 1D acceleration response spectra for each period and any location on the site, were proposed for the Gemlik basin. The variations of the aggravation factors were observed as increasing values to 1.2–2.2 on the near edge and basin center.