bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feature Selection Scheme Based on Multi-time-scales for Analyzing Congestive Heart Failure
Authors: Wang Chunyuan , Zhang Yatao , Jiang Xinge , Liu Feifei , Zhang Zhimin , wei shoushui , Liu Chengyu
Published: April 2021

This paper proposed a feature selection method combined with multi-time-scales analysis and heart rate variability (HRV) analysis for middle and early diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF). In previous studies regarding the diagnosis of CHF, researchers have tended to increase the variety of HRV features by searching for new ones or to use different machine learning algorithms to optimize the classification of CHF and normal sinus rhythms subject (NSR). In fact, the full utilization of traditional HRV features can also improve classification accuracy. The proposed method constructs a multi-time-scales feature matrix according to traditional HRV features that exhibit good stability in multiple time-scales and differences in different time-scales. The multi-scales features yield better performance than the traditional single-time-scales features when the features are fed into a support vector machine (SVM) classifier, and the results of the SVM classifier exhibit a sensitivity, a specificity, and an accuracy of 99.52%, 100.00%, and 99.83%, respectively. These results indicate that the proposed feature selection method can effectively reduce redundant features and computational load when used for automatic diagnosis of CHF.
Percutaneous Absorption Enhancer Properties of Lavandula Angustifolia Essential Oil on Percutaneous Absorption of Naproxen Sodium from Topical Gel
Authors: Iman Maryam , Rostamkalaei Seyyed Sohrab , Ataee Ramin
Published: April 2021

The naproxen bioavailability via percutaneous route is low, and several technologies have been used to overcome the problem. Although the permeation enhancer properties of natural essential oils have been reported, there is no study to show the effectiveness of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil on the percutaneous absorption of naproxen sodium from a topical gel to overcome poor percutaneous absorption of naproxen. To this end, the naproxen topical gel was formulated using Carbopol 940 (as a gelling agent), and several vehicles. The results showed a greater level of penetration into (222.19 ± 24.87 vs. 107.65 ± 6.38 µg/cm 2 ) and across (22.07 ± 4.42 vs. 13.14 ± 2.87µg/cm 2 ) the skin layers for the formulation containing essential oil in comparison with the naproxen gel ( P < 0.05) . A significant antinociceptive property was observed in naproxen topical gel containing 0.5% essential oil in both the first and late phase of the formalin test. The effect was observed in the late phase of the tail-flick test too. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that Lavandula angustifolia essential oil significantly enhanced the percutaneous absorption of naproxen and the analgesic effects.
How Does Institutional Quality Moderate the Influence of Financial Development on Environmental Pollution? Evidence From G20 Countries
Authors: Dossou Toyo Amegnonna Marcel , Ndomandji Emmanuelle Kambaye
Published: April 2021

Unlike previous studies that focused mainly on the relationship between financial development and CO2 emissions, the current study examined the moderating effect of institutional quality on the influence of financial development on environmental pollution in G20 countries over the period 2003-2015. The panel corrected standard errors (PCSE) is employed as an econometric technique. The findings are established as follows: First, the findings show that institutional quality appears to have a mixed (positive and negative) effect on environmental pollution. Second, the findings show that financial development has mixed (positive and negative) effect on environmental pollution. Third, the findings also show that the interaction between institutional quality and financial development has a negative and statistically significant on environmental pollution, meaning that institutional quality complements financial sector to reduce environmental pollution. Policy implications are discussed.
The Effect of Prophylactic Uterine Artery Embolisation On Reproductive Outcomes In Caesarean Scar Pregnancy Patients: A Propensity Score-Matched Study
Authors: Wang Jiao , Wang Dandan , Zhang Xinyue , Liu Yuting , Yang Qing , Zhang Ningning
Published: April 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of prophylactic uterine artery embolisation (UAE) on reproductive outcomes in caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) patients.Methods: Clinical data of CSP patients diagnosed at Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University from January 2014 to December 2019 were collected. According to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 181 patients with reproductive needs were selected and divided into UAE group (n = 51) and non-UAE group (n = 130) according to whether the patient received preventive UAE before their hysteroscopic or laparoscopic operation. The basic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of individuals of the groups were compared, and propensity score matched (PSM) analysis was used to produce 37 matched pairs.Results: Before PSM, the UAE group had a thinner muscle layer, larger mass size, and higher serum human chorionic gonadotropin level than the non-UAE group. The pregnancy rate and live birth rate of the UAE group were 54.9% and 61.9%, respectively, which were lower than those of the non-UAE group (61.5% and 66.7%), but no statistical differences were observed. Post-PSM, no significant differences between basic characteristics of the groups were observed. The pregnancy rate of the UAE group was 51.4%, lower than that of the non-UAE group (73.0%). The live birth rate of the UAE group was 64.3%, also lower than that of the non-UAE group (72.7%); however, the difference was not statistically significant.Conclusion: Prophylactic UAE is a safe and effective adjuvant treatment for CSP, and has no significant effect on subsequent pregnancy and live birth rates.
IOT-HML: A Hybrid Machine Learning Technique for IoT Enabled Industrial Monitoring and Control System
Authors: P.N. Kota , A.S. Chandak , B.P. Patil
Published: April 2021

Industry 4.0 makes manufacturers more vulnerable to current challenges and makes it easier to adapt to market changes. This will increase the speed of innovation, make it more customer-oriented and lead to faster design processes. It is essential to focus on monitoring and controlling the production system before complex accidents occur. Moreover, an industrial control system facing information security problems in recent times because of the nature of IoT which affects the evaluation of abnormal predication. To overcome above research gaps, we shift to industrial 4.0 which combine IoT and mechanism learning for industrial monitor and manage. We propose a hybrid machine learning technique for IoT enabled industrial monitoring and control system (IoT-HML). Here, we concentrate both information security issues with accurate monitoring and control system. The first section of proposed IoT-HML system is to introduce the cat induced wheel optimization (IWO) algorithm for cluster formation. The process consists of clustering and cluster head (CH) selection. The source node forward information to destination through CH only which avoids the unwanted data loss and improve the security, because the information travel through trusted path. For route selection process, we utilize the cuckoo search algorithm to compute the optimal best path among multiples. In second section, we illustrate a coach and player learned neural network (CP-LNN) for monitoring the industrial and prevent from accidents by basic control strategies. Finally, the proposed IoT-HML system can evaluate with different set of data’s to prove the effectiveness.
The Effect of Long-acting Antipsychotic Treatment on the Level on Care Burden in Schizophrenia Patients
Authors: TOZOĞLU ELİF ÖZCAN , Özpolat Gökhan
Published: April 2021

Background: Most patients with schizophrenia are unable to fulfill their personal and social responsibilities and these are met by their caregivers. The concept of 'burden' has come to the fore for caregivers. Long-acting injectables have been shown to reduce relapse rates, and provide a better level of functionality, but their effect on caregiver burden has not been investigated. Objective: Our aim in this study is to investigate the effect of transition from oral to long-acting antipsychotic treatments on caregiver burden. Other factors that may be related to the burden were also discussed.Setting: This study was performed at Community Mental Health Center of Erzurum Regional Training and Research Hospital.Methods: Caregivers (n:138) of patients diagnosed with schizophrenia for at least one year and who received oral paliperidone or aripiprazole were evaluated at baseline and 1 year after switching to long-acting injectables.Main outcome measure: The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale (ZCBS) and the Clinical Global Impression-Disease Severity (CGI-S) were administered. Demographic characteristics of caregivers and patients were evaluated.Results: Significant decreases were found in the ZCBS and CGI-S scores after transitioning to long-acting injectable antipsychotics (p <0.001). Caregiver burden was positively correlated with patient's age, CGI-S score, time spent in the same house, duration of illness, and the number of hospitalizations. A significant negative correlation was found among the caregiver’s age, educational level, and income (p <0.05).Conclusion: In the present study, the importance of switching to long-acting injectable antipsychotics, which is a modifiable factor, to reduce caregiver burden was emphasized
N2O Reduction During Denitrifying Phosphorus Removal With Propionate as Carbon Source
Authors: Cong Li , Wang Qian , Jia Wenlin
Published: April 2021

Denitrifying phosphorus removal was realized in sequencing batch reactors using different carbons sources (acetate, propionate, and a mixture of acetate/propionate). Nutrient removal and N2O production were investigated, and the factors affecting N2O production were explored. Nitrogen removal was 40.6% lower when propionate was used as the carbon source instead of acetate, while phosphorus removal was not significantly different. N2O production was greatly reduced when propionate was used as the carbon source instead of acetate. The emission factor in the propionate system was only 0.43%, while those in the acetate and mixed-carbon source system were 16.3% and 1.9%, respectively. Compared to the propionate system, ordinary heterotrophic organisms (i.e., glycogen-accumulating organisms) were enriched in the acetate system, explaining the higher N2O production in the acetate system. The lower nitrite accumulation in the propionate system compared to the acetate system was the dominant factor leading to the lower N2O production.
Tissue Specific Heterophile Aggregation of Protogenes Promoted Heterosis
Authors: Wu Jianzhong , Sun Dequan , Li Mingshun , Zhao Qian , Zhou Zhiqiang , Zhang Xiaocong , Xu Zhennan , Weng Jianfeng , Li Xinhai
Published: April 2021

A plethora of studies have described heterosis or hybrid vigor; however, a global understanding of its regulation and the transmission of transcriptional levels between parents and hybrid has yet to be attained. To improve our understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling maize heterosis, we used an incomplete diallel cross design consisting of four elite maize inbred lines and six of their hybrids to measure the degree of variation in gene expression between the parents and their hybrids. We found that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) drove diversity of tissue specific heterosis and that heterophile expression was a generally complementary mechanism of gene expression in hybrids. However, the full expression of heterosis was due to the proportion of super dominant gene expression patterns that aggregate the regulatory network of dominant genes in response to adversity, and thus promotes heterosis in hybrids. Our results provide a new understanding and perspective into the regulatory mechanisms that control heterosis and represent an important step towards a more comprehensive explanation of heterosis in maize.
The Role of NT-proBNP as Prognostic Biomarker for Preeclampsia Complications: A Systematic Review Protocol
Authors: Asaduddin Aiman Hilmi , Anshari Shafira Yasmine , Ali Agni Shalha , Indarta Ardhia Fefrine , Bachnas Muhammad Adrianes , Febrinasari Ratih Puspita , Widyaningsih Vitri
Published: April 2021

Background There are two central dogmas between the pathophysiology of preeclampsia, the placental origin and the extra-placental origin. Recent findings found that women with a history of preeclampsia are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death because of cardiovascular disease. This finding leads to the extra-placental origin. During normal pregnancy, the maternal cardiovascular system undergoes modification. However, hemodynamic and vascular modification are disrupted in women who develop preeclampsia. NT-proBNP is a biomarker that indicates the disruption of the cardiovascular system and can predict the complication of preeclampsia. Based on that information, we would like to investigate the roles of NT-proBNP plasma levels in predicting maternal and fetal complications of preeclampsia women. Besides, we also investigate the roles of NT-proBNP plasma levels in predicting the severity and onset of preeclampsia women and the sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP plasma levels in preeclamptic women.MethodsWe designed and registered a study protocol for a systematic review. This study aims to investigate the roles of NT-proBNP plasma levels in predicting maternal and fetal complications of preeclampsia women. The Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Test Accuracy was used to structure our methodological approach and the Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines in reporting the findings of this review. We will search literature in Hinari, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, and Scopus database. Then, we will search the grey literature in OCLC’s OAISTER. Randomized controlled trials and observational studies will be included in the analysis. Three reviewers will independently screen articles, extract data, and evaluate for quality and bias using Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Studies were included according to the following procedures: (1) Identification, Duplication of articles and non-original research articles will be excluded; (2) Title and Abstract Screening, RCT and observational studies and focused on NT-proBNP levels in preeclampsia; (3) Full-text availability; and (4) Full-text screening based on PICO criteria. Each outcome is synthesized by a qualitative or narrative approach. The results will be divided into certain points, namely (a) Selection of the studies, (b) Characteristics of the Eligible Studies, (c) Data Extraction of the Eligible Studies, and (d) Risk of Bias Analysis Results.Discussion A systematic review of the role of NT-proBNP as predicting biomarkers for preeclampsia complications will be conducted. This study can help predict the severity, onset, and complication of a pregnant woman with preeclampsia.
Whole Conversion of Agro-Industrial Wastes Rich in Galactose-Based Carbohydrates into Lipid Using Oleaginous Yeast Aureobasidium Namibiae
Authors: Wang Zhi-Peng , Ye Jing-Run , Ma Yan , Zhang Xin-Yue , Wang Hai-ying , Chen Wei
Published: April 2021

BackgroundRaw materials composed of easily assimilated monosaccharides have been employed as carbon source for production of microbial lipids. Nevertheless, agro-industrial wastes rich in galactose-based carbohydrates have not been introduced as feedstocks for oleaginous yeasts. ResultsIn this study, Aureobasidium namibiae A12 was found to efficiently accumulate lipid from soy molasses and whey powder containing galactose-based carbohydrates, with lipid productions of 5.30 g/L and 5.23 g/L, respectively. Over 80% of the fatty acids was C16:0, C18:0, C18:1, and C18:2. All kinds of single sugar components in the two byproducts were readily converted into lipids, with yields ranging between 0.116 g/g and 0.138 g/g. Three α-galactosidases and five β-galactosidases in the strain were cloned and analyzed. β-galactosidase was responsible for lactose hydrolysis; sucrase and α-galactosidase both contributed to the efficient hydrolysis of raffinose and stachyose in a cooperation manner. ConclusionsThis is a new way to produce lipids from raw materials containing galactose-based carbohydrates. This finding revealed the significance of sucrase in the direct hydrolysis of galactose-based carbohydrates in raw materials for the first time and facilitated the understanding of the efficient utilization of galactose-based carbohydrates to manufacture lipid or other chemicals in bioprocess
Tunable and adjustable broadband RF photonic fractional Hilbert transformer based on a Kerr soliton crystal optical microcomb  
Authors: Tan Mengxi , Xu Xingyuan , Moss David
Published: April 2021

We demonstrate an RF photonic fractional Hilbert transformer based on an integrated Kerr micro-comb source featuring a record low free spectral range of 49 GHz. By programming and shaping the comb lines according to calculated tap weights for up to 39 wavelengths across the C-band, we achieve tunable bandwidths ranging from 1.2 to 15.3 GHz as well as variable center frequencies from baseband to 9.5 GHz, for both standard integral and arbitrary fractional orders. We experimentally characterize the RF amplitude and phase response of the tunable bandpass and lowpass Hilbert transformers with 90 and 45-degree phase shifts. The experimental results show good agreement with theory, confirming the effectiveness of our approach as a powerful way to implement standard and fractional order Hilbert transformers with broad and variable bandwidths and center frequencies, with high reconfigurability and greatly reduced size and complexity.
Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Alcohol-Associated Acute on Chronic Liver Failure: An Open-label Clinical Trial
Authors: Sharma Anima , Roy Akash , Premkumar Madhumita , Duseja Ajay , Taneja Sunil , Grover Sandeep , Chopra Madhu Madhu , Dhiman Radha Krishan
Published: April 2021

Background: Severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH) presenting as acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) carries a high short-term mortality. Alteration of gut microbiota is a crucial component implicated in its pathogenesis, whose modulation has been suggested as a potential therapeutic tool. We evaluated the safety of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and its efficacy in improving short-term survival and clinical severity scores in patients with SAH-ACLF.Methods: Thirty-three patients [13 in the FMT arm;20 in the standard of care arm (SOC] with SAH-ACLF were included in this open-label study. A single FMT session was administered as a freshly prepared stool suspension from pre-identified healthy family member stool donors through a nasojejunal tube. Patients were followed up on days seven, twenty-eight, and ninety. Results: Survival at twenty-eight and ninety days was significantly better in the FMT arm (100% versus 60%, P=0.01; 53.84% versus 25%, P=0.02). Hepatic encephalopathy resolved in 100% versus 57.14% (FMT versus SOC, P=0.11) patients, while ascites resolved in 100% versus 40% survivors (P=0.04). Major adverse event rates, including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis and gastrointestinal bleeding, were similar in both groups (P=0.77; P=0.70). Median IL1beta decreased by21.39% (IQR -73.67-7.63) in the FMT group, whereas it increased in the SOC by 27.44% (IQR -0.88-128.11) (P=0.01). Percentage changes in bilirubin and ALT between baseline and day seven emerged as predictors of ninety-day mortality.Conclusion: FMT is safe, improves short-term and medium-term survival, and leads to improvement in clinical severity scores in patients with SAH-ACLF.
Minimally Invasive Isolated Tricuspid Valve Repair: the Trend for Redo Tricuspid Valve Surgery
Authors: Dai Xiaoyi , Teng Peng , Miao Sihan , Si Wei , Zheng Qi , Qin Ke , Ma Liang
Published: April 2021

Background: Tricuspid regurgitation after left-sided valve surgery was associated with terrible outcomes and high perioperative mortality for redo surgical treatment. In current years, minimally invasive redo isolated tricuspid valve repair is increasingly performed in our institution to address tricuspid regurgitation. Methods: Thirty-seven consecutive patients with previous left-sided valve surgery underwent minimally invasive redo isolated tricuspid valve repair in our institution between November 2017 and December 2020. Twenty-nine patients(78.4%) were women and the mean age of patients was 58.4±8.5 years. Follow-up was 100% complete with a mean follow-up time of 16.8±9.4 months.Results: Both the in-hospital and 30-day mortalities were 2.7%. The overall NYHA class had improved significantly during the follow-up(p＜0.001). The grade of TR had decreased before discharge(p＜0.001) and during the follow-up(p＜0.001) compared with the preoperative level although severe TR was recurrent in one patient.Conclusions: Minimally invasive redo isolated tricuspid valve repair has remarkable early and midterm outcomes, may be the preferred surgical option to address tricuspid regurgitation after previous left-sided valve surgery when it is feasible.
The Impact of Knowledge on the Formation of Attitudes Towards Ageing and the Elderly
Authors: Tomić Iris Jerončić , Britvić Mia , Mulić Rosanda , Poljak Nikola Kolja
Published: April 2021

Background: With the global trend towards an increasing aging population, there is a corresponding increase in the health problems associated with elderly population. Older people need more and more health services. According to the fews research, influencing factors on health care practice of the health workers towards the elderly in geriatric hospitals included knowledge, attitude, and gerontological education.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if education in gerontology affects attitude towards ageing and the elderly among students at the University of Split. An additional objective was to determine the extent to which the students’ socio-demographic status (age, sex, domicile), different education and experience of life with the elderly affect their attitude towards ageing and the elderly.Methods: The population included in this study consisted of 301 students of the University of Split, 153 of whom attended the Faculty of Maritime Studies and 148 the School of Medicine. A total of 45 students had attended training in gerontology, while 265 had none. Information was gathered through a questionnaire that consisted of 3 parts: one investigating their socio-demographic characteristics, another looking into their attitudes towards the elderly (the Kogan score scale) and Palmer’s competence test.Results: A difference in attitude has been observed between students who had had training in gerontology compared to those who had none. Socio-demographic factors, different education and the experience of life with the elderly also affect student attitudes. Overall, School of Medicine students had a more positive attitude than those of the Faculty of Maritime Studies.Conclusion: Education in gerontology helps form a more positive attitude towards the elderly among students, meaning that educational programs should be changed with the aim of reducing the stigmatization of the elderly.
A Novel Agarwood Resin Inducement Method Using Mycotoxins of Selected Fungal Species
Authors: Subasinghe Upul , Malithi R.A.P. , Withanage S.W. , Fernando T.H.P.S. , Hettiarachchi D.S.
Published: April 2021

Agarwood is a dark, fragrant, valuable resinous wood produced in Aquilaria and Gyrinops tree species in the family Thymelaeaceae to protect internal tissues from microbial infections. Aspergillus niger and Fusarium solani are well known to induce agarwood resin formation. This study demonstrated for the first time that agarwood resin formation can be induced by the mycotoxins of A. niger and F. solani. Different volumes of mycotoxins extracted from the ASP-U strain (USJCC-0059) of A. niger and the FUS-U strain (USJCC-0060) of F. solani were inoculated into A. crassna trees at 1 m intervals. The impacts of the inoculations were observed through resin content and constituent analysis at 7 months after inoculation. Resin production due to the mycotoxins of ASP-U and FUS-U was restricted to ±20 cm and ±60 cm, respectively, from the inoculation point. Color of the resinous agarwood varied from yellowish-brown to black. The differences in resin content formation due to the different inoculant volumes of ASP-U and FUS-U were statistically significant, and the average resin contents varied from 0.89%-4.44% and 1.24%-9.20%, respectively. GC-MS analysis detected 27 constituents responsible for the characteristic aroma of agarwood resin. Among them, phenyl butanone, agarofuran, agarospirol, β-caryophyllene, alloaromadendrene oxide and (-)guaiene-1(10),11-diene-15-ol were found in all extracts. These are common in commercially available agarwood induced by fungal species. Hence, we demonstrated that the mycotoxins of specific fungal strains can be used for agarwood production. Therefore, chemically synthesized mycotoxins can be used at commercial-scale, eliminating the difficulties of maintaining live fungal cultures for agarwood production.
IL-1β mediates miR-34a promotes bovine endometritis via LGR4-NF-κB axis
Authors: Ma Xiaofei , Yin Baoyi , Guo Shuai , Umar Talha , Liu Junfeng , Wu Zhimin , Zhou Qingqing , Zahoor Arshad , Deng Ganzhen
Published: April 2021

Background

Persistent endometritis lead by bacterial infections has lethal effects on the reproductive performance of dairy cattle, which not only compromise animal welfare but also delay or prevent pregnancy. MicroRNA (miRNA) miR-34 family plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory process; however, the precise mechanism of miR-34a in endometritis is still not thoroughly revealed.
Methods

In this study, we established bovine endometrial epithelial cell (BENDs) inflammation model and mouse model stimulation with Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vitro and in vivo. CCK-8 was used to assess cell viability. H&E was used to characterize morphology. Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR and western blot assays were performed to measure the mRNA or protein expression of related genes. Online database, plasmid construction and dual-luciferase Reporter gene assays were applied to predict and validate the interaction between miR-34a and its target gene LGR4, and mice were injected vaginally with local antagomir to validate the role of miR-34a in murine uterine inflammation.
Results

Here, we report that miR-34a suppresses LGR4 gene expression by targeting its 3'untranslated regions (3'UTR). The miR-34a was up-regulated in cow uterine tissues and bovine endometrial epithelial cell (BENDs) stimulation with LPS. It further induces the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α by activating the phosphorylation level of NF-κB p65. Furthermore, we also revealed that IL-1β was responsible for the upregulation of miR-34a transcription and downregulation of LGR4 in an IL-1β-dependent manner.
Conclusions

Taken together, our study confirmed that miR-34a is regulated by IL-1β and suppress the level of LGR4 3’UTR which in turn exacerbates the inflammatory response. Thus knockdown miR-34a might be a new indirection for treatment endometritis.
Functional Connectivity of the Visual Cortex Differentiates Anxiety Comorbidity From Episodic Migraineurs Without Aura
Authors: Wei Heng-Le , Li Jian , Guo Xi , Zhou Gang-Ping , Wang Jin-Jin , Chen Yu-Chen , Yu Yu-Sheng , Yin Xindao , Li Junrong , Zhang Hong
Published: April 2021

Background: Migraine is a common neurological disease that is often accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities. However, the relationship between abnormal brain function and psychiatric comorbidities in migraine patients remains largely unclear. Therefore, the present study sought to explore the correlations between the resting-state functional deficits and psychiatric comorbidities in migraine without aura (MwoA) patients.Methods: Resting-state functional magnetic resonance images were obtained. In addition, the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo) values were obtained. Thereafter regional abnormalities in MwoA patients with and without anxiety (MwoA-A and MwoA-OA) were chosen as seeds to conduct functional connectivity (FC) analysis.Results: Compared to the healthy controls (HCs), the MwoA-A and MwoA-OA patients had abnormal ALFF and ReHo values in the right lingual gyrus (LG). They also had abnormal FC of the right LG with the ipsilateral superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and middle cingulate cortex (MCC). Additionally, the MwoA-A patients showed higher ReHo values in the left posterior intraparietal sulcus (pIPS) and abnormal FC of the right LG with ipsilateral pIPS and primary visual cortex, compared to the MwoA-OA patients. Moreover, the MwoA-OA patients showed an increase in the FC with the right posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/PCUN), left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and left inferior temporal gyrus (ITG) relative to the HCs. Furthermore, the ALFF values of the right LG positively were correlated with anxiety scores in MwoA-A patients. The abnormal LG-related FCs with the PCC/PCUN, MFG and ITG were negatively associated with the frequency of headaches in MwoA-OA patients.Conclusions: This study identified abnormal visual FC along with other core networks differentiating anxiety comorbidity from MwoA. This may therefore enhance the understanding of the neuropsychological basis of psychiatric comorbidities and provide novel insights that may help in the discovery of new marks or even treatment targets.
Ethnobotanical study of edible wild plants in Ensaro district, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia
Authors: Woldemedhin Asaye Asfaw , Lulekal Ermias , Bekele Tamrat , Debella Asfaw , Debebe Eyob , Tessema Samuel
Published: April 2021

Background: Ethiopia is one of the biodiversity-rich countries in Africa. Most rural communities are highly dependent on forest products including edible wild plants. Thus, many plant taxa are under greater threats before they are documented and their nutritional values are evaluated. This study was carried out to document edible wild plants and associated indigenous practices, and the correlations with socio-demographic variables on edible wild plants in Ensaro district, North Shewa Zone, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. It also examined the habitats and major threatening factors of edible wild plants.Methods: The study was conducted from September to December 2020 in Ensaro district, Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. Semi-structured interviews was made with 98 community members regarding edible wild plant species, parts used, harvesting and consumption time, preparation methods, supplementary uses, life forms, habitats and threatening factors. The socioeconomics characteristics of the study participants was also documented. Excel and R-package were employed for statistical analysis. Analysis of Variance (P < 0.05) was used to observe the correlation of socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics with indigenous knowledge of respondents on edible wild plants.Results: Forty-three edible wild plants recorded in this study area. Fabaceae and Moraceae families were the most popular edible wild plant species in the study area. Shrubs were the dominant life forms of recorded plants (37%). Ripe fruits (72%) were the most commonly used plant parts. Indigenous knowledge of respondent on edible wild plants positively correlated with socio-demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. There was no knowledge difference between genders. The number of species, genera and families of edible wild plants were higher in mid-land agro-ecology than in lowland and highland agro-ecologies of the study area. The distribution of edible wild plants found to be less in the highland agroecology. Edible wild plants in the study mainly found in shrub land areas which are highly threatened by fuelwood collection.Conclusion: Forty-three edible wild plants recorded in the study area. The community consumes edible wild plants during normal and famine periods. Edible wild plants such as Snowdenia polystachya (Muja), Eleusine coracana (Degelie or wanga), Urtica simensis(Sama) and Medicago polymorpha (Amaqito) are not used during normal period and young people do not know them even how to use them. In addition, edible wild plants are under greater pressure due to farmland expansion in the study area. This has led to the reduction of edible wild plants and associated indigenous knowledge.
D-dimer is Valuable for Predicting the Extension of Isolated Distal Deep Vein Thrombosis of the Lower Limb in Neurocritical Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Tang Rui , Gao Zhi , Du Min , Liu Haiyan , Yang Yanyan , Ji Zongsu , Zhou Min
Published: April 2021

Background: Isolated distal deep vein thrombosis (IDDVT) of the lower limb and its extension to the proximal deep veins have high incidence rates in patients with acute brain injury (ABI). The objective of the study was to determine the value of dynamic changes in coagulation function in predicting the occurrence and extension of IDDVT.Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, ABI patients during the perioperative period in a neurocritical care unit (NICU) of a university hospital were identified from September 2019 to September 2020. Complete compression ultrasound was used by a senior sonographer to diagnose the occurrence and extension of IDDVT. Coagulation function was recorded at a series of time points during the perioperative period.Results: A total of 245 ABI patients were identified, including 46 acute traumatic brain injury patients, 117 acute hemorrhagic stroke patients, 36 acute ischemic stroke patients and 46 acute aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients. Most of the patients were elderly and male, and most had severe cases. The rates of IDDVT occurrence and extension were 62% and 21%, respectively. Age, GCS score at admission, NICU length of stay were risk factors for IDDVT occurrence. None of coagulation indices was a sensitive predictor of IDDVT occurrence. The elevation of D-dimer on days 5-7 was the most valuable predictor of IDDVT extension (the area under the ROC was 0.89, with a 95% CI of 0.82-0.95, and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.86 and 0.81, respectively with the cutoff of 8.9 mg/L).Conclusions: The occurrence and extension of IDDVT are common in ABI patients during the perioperative period, particularly in elderly patients with severe cases. D-dimer level on days 5-7 is the most valuable predictor of IDDVT extension in ABI patients.
Hamiltonian Monte Carlo with application to train-track-bridge coupled interactions subjected to seismic excitation with uncertainties
Authors: Arnaud Wandji Zoumb Patrick
Published: April 2021

Numerical models of train running over the bridge are prone to errors and random excitation sources, which inevitably influence the capacity of such models to accurately predict the observed behaviour. Finite element (FE) updating method can be employed to fit the numerical models through the observed model. This paper proposes a new method to predict the random vibration of train-track-bridge system under earthquakes based on Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) method. The system identification is performed based on data recorded in situ. FE model is calibrated by minimizing the difference between the FE results and the natural frequencies of a real train-bridge coupled system. Naïve stochastic gradient descent is introduced to optimize the fitting process, avoiding over fitting and under fitting performance. The correlation matrix is built to calculate the correlation score between the measured and the HMC models. Based on above framework, results show that the HMC method has great effectiveness and accuracy with comparisons to the Monte Carlo method (MCM) and the popular probability density evolution method (PDEM). Moreover, the roles of bridge random parameters, track irregularities, and the seismic actions on the random responses are comprehensively investigated. Finally, the updating coefficients reduce the errors to less than 10%.
Repurposing NASVAC, a hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine, for pre- and postexposure prophylaxis of SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Akbar Sheikh Mohammad Fazle , Mahtab Mamun Al , Aguilar Julio Cesar , Uddin Mohammad Helal , Khan Sakirul Islam , Yoshida Osamu , Penton Eduardo , Gerardo Guillen Nieto , Hiasa Yoichi
Published: April 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and the subsequent coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) have led to tens of millions of cases and millions of deaths around the world. Although more than a year has passed since the emergence of COVID-19, more waves of the pandemic, with new variants of the deadly virus, have been reported. It seems that the virus will continue to infect people for years or decades to come and thus lead to more illnesses and deaths. The experiences last year regarding limiting the transmission of the virus indicate that one or more traditional methods of containment may not be effective; further, even vaccination may not give immunity to society. On the other hand, eliminating the virus using drugs capable of eradicating SARS-CoV-2 from the infected host may not be an achievable goal. Based on these realities and after exploring the mechanism underlying the acquisition of the virus and pathogenesis of COVID-19, we assumed that immune therapy may be a practical option for the containment of SARS-CoV-2. In this study, we repurposed an immune modulator containing two antigens of hepatitis B virus, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) (termed NASVAC, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, CIGB, Havana, Cuba), to gain insight into its role against SARS-CoV-2. NASVAC induced cytokines of innate immunity following nasal administration and prevented all 20 volunteers from being diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 during the two weeks of usage. Four volunteers were infected with SARS-CoV-2 two weeks after the end of NASVAC administration; three of them showed almost no symptoms and recovered without any intervention, and one with several comorbidities attended a hospital for four days and recovered completely. In conclusion, the administration of NASVAC to subjects at risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe. The pattern of cytokine responses and absence of infection or mild COVID-19 infection of the subjects involved in the study are preliminary evidence indicating that this product may prevent or suppress SARS-CoV-2 infection at the initial stages of SARS-CoV-2 acquisition and/or replication and deserve further exploratory trials to confirm the capacity of NASVAC as pre/postexposure prophylaxis or pre-emptive therapy in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
A Case of Insulin Induced Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Peng Sun Choon , Chun Yee Min
Published: April 2021

A 24-year-old man with type 1 diabetes, presented with neuropathic pain and severe postural hypotension, was diagnosed with insulin-induced peripheral neuropathy which mimicking diabetic peripheral neuropathy following a rapid improvement in glycaemic control. HbA1c was reduced from 17.5% to 7.4 % within two months. A decrease in insulin dosage with a relaxing glycaemic target improved his condition. In conclusion, clinicians should have a high index of suspicion of this condition in a patient presenting with neuropathic pain and autonomic dysfunction following rigorous glycaemic control.
Motion Blur Image Restoration by Multi-Scale Residual Neural Network
Authors: Hexin Xu , Li Zhao , Yan Jiao
Published: April 2021

Blind deblurring is a basic subject of computer vision and image processing. Motion image deblurring is divided into non blind deblurring and blind deblurring by whether to estimate the blur kernel. Blind deblurring is easy to produce motion artifacts because of the inaccurate estimation of the blur kernel. Non blind deblurring is the best choice for the current blurred image processing. The purpose of this paper is to further improve the definition of blurred image, restore the edge information of contour, and strengthen the repair of texture details. Based on the multi-scale convolution neural network, a multi-scale residual network is proposed, which can comprehensively extract image features, enhance image feature fusion, and constrain image generation by combining multi-scale loss function with anti loss function. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated by testing the peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR) structure similarity and restoration time of the generated image relative to the clear image. This algorithm improves the average PSNR on GOPRO testset, and reduces the recovery time accordingly. It can successfully recover the detail information lost due to motion blur. This algorithm has simple network structure, strong robustness and good restoration effect, and is suitable for dealing with various image degradation problems caused by motion blur.
Energias renováveis e sua eficiência na nova economia energética no Brasil
Authors: Vieira Ana Cândida Ferreira
Published: April 2021

As necessidades de produção e crescimento econômico exigem das Nações o uso intensivo de energias para mover o processo produtivo, que pela suas dinâmicas não é estática em meio ao ciclo produtivo. O pensar da Ciência como geração de energia faz-se no início do crescimento econômico das nações, através da sua utilidade extraída da lenha, do carvão, do petróleo, dentre outros, proporcionando o uso de energia suja ou não renovável em meio a produção, que contribuiu com a emissão de poluição e aquecimento do planeta. Discussões e debates proporcionaram reuniões e conferências que tentam dispertar em gestores das Nações a repensar na mudança do uso de energia suja pela energia limpa, ou seja as renovável. Nesse contexto, o artigo tem o objetivo de observar a oferta e o consumo da energia renovável no mercado brasileiro, bem como seu avanço energético. Além de destacar alguns casos da eficiência da energia limpa no mundo. A metodologia é bibliográfica e documental, com estudo explicativo e descritivo. Justifica-se o artigo pela relavância de crescimento do mercado energético devido a troca de consumo pelas energias renováveis extraidas das forças que movem a natureza e o meio ambiente. Conclui-se que o próprio sistema de oferta e consumo de energias no mercado energético já impulsionaram as Nações a investirem na mudança da energia não renovável para renovável no sistema econômico e social, mostrando a necessidade de uso de energia para contribuir com a redução do aquecimento da Terra, conservar a natureza e crescer economicamente com sustentabilidade.
Programa Cidades Sustentáveis em Porto Alegre, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
Authors: Barbacovi Naira Elizabete , Pereira Raquel da Silva , Machado Júnior Celso
Published: April 2021

O estudo objetivou analisar a contribuição dos projetos desenvolvidos dentro do Programa Cidades Sustentáveis para a gestão urbana do Município de Porto Alegre, Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, sul do Brasil. Este estudo exploratório apoia-se em três fontes de evidência, a coleta de dados por meio de 22 entrevistas realizadas com seis grupos de stakeholders, análise documental de material do município e observação de reuniões realizadas pelos gestores municipais. Como resultado, verificou-se que Porto Alegre desenvolveu projetos relativos a oito eixos do Programa Cidades Sustentáveis. A gestão Porto Alegre aderiu ao Programa Cidades Sustentáveis apoiando-se em projetos já em andamento no município, com a inclusão de novos somente para os temas ainda não contemplados na gestão. O principal benefício observado com a implantação do Programa Cidades Sustentáveis foi a sua utilização como ferramenta de monitoramento e de tomada de ações para projetos sociais, estabelecendo uma plataforma comum de interação dos diferentes agentes da gestão pública, e para definir as prioridades da gestão municipal. No entanto, não se identificou a utilização de um protocolo de integração dos indicadores existentes.
Investigation of the solubility of dust particles in soil solution at different temperatures (on the example of the tailings of the loparite ores' concentration)
Authors: Maksimova V. V. , Krasavtseva E. A. , Masloboev V. A. , Makarov D. V.
Published: April 2021

A number of large mining enterprises are located on the territory of the Murmansk region. Dusting overburden dumps and tailings storage sites leads to a complex of long-term consequences for the environment. The output of the silty fraction (-0.071 mm) of "stale" tailings of loparite ore dressing (the first field of the tailing dump) is about 22 %. The investigated material is represented by nepheline, microcline, aegirine; loparite, analcime are diagnosed in impurity quantities; the average content of cerium, lanthanum, neodymium - rare earth elements of the light group - 0.18, 0.03 and 0.015 %, respectively. In laboratory conditions, a simulation of the ingress of a fine fraction of loparite ore dressing tailings into the soil has been carried out; the interaction of tailings material with distilled water and water extract from conditionally background soil at different temperatures has been studied. In the course of the study, it has been found that the introduction of dissolved organic matter intensifies the processes of destruction and partial dissolution of the aluminosilicate matrix of rock-forming minerals; an intensive transition of rare earth elements and heavy metals into soluble forms has been recorded. The research results indicate the ecological danger of the finely dispersed material of "stale" tailings of loparite ore dressing due to the ingress of dust particles into the soil and their interaction with soil waters.
Separate deposition of metals from highly concentrated solutions with granulated magnesia-silicate reagent
Authors: Kremenetskaya I. P. , Ivanova T. K. , Gurevich B. I. , Novikov A. I. , Semushin V. V.
Published: April 2021

Multi-stage deposition of metals from a sulfate solution with a high concentration of iron, aluminum, copper, zinc, and nickel has been studied. The concentrations of the components correspond to the composition of the sub-basement waters of the Gaisky GOK. Granular magnesia-silicate reagent based on serpentinite (Khalilovsk magnesite deposit, the Orenburg region, Russia) has been used as an alkaline agent. The magnesia-silicate reagent's ability to reduce the acidity of solutions is due to the presence of products of destruction of the original serpentine mineral, mainly magnesium oxide. The results of the solutions multi-stage purification from metals simulation have been presented. It has been found that the reagent did not wholly exhaust its activity during a single contact with the solution. Therefore, the possibility of its repeated use for the 2nd and 3rd time has been studied. As the solution is neutralized according to the known pH range of the beginning and complete deposition of metal compounds, first iron, and then aluminum are deposited. For copper and nickel, the effect of co-precipitation is observed until the pH of precipitation of poorly soluble compounds is reached. Iron is the main component of precipitations at the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd stages, which corresponds to pH = 2.4-3.7. At the 4th stage (pH = 4.0), the precipitations consisted mainly of aluminum compounds. The copper and nickel content in precipitations increase due to decreased concentration of major components (aluminum and iron) and a pH increase. The deposition of zinc from the solution occurs not to the precipitations, but on the granules surfaces. Precipitations enriched in aluminum and iron have been obtained. Sorption and co-precipitation processes have been observed for copper, zinc, and nickel, which prevents individual precipitation by these metals. Thermally activated serpentine minerals can be considered a promising alkaline reagent for technogenic solutions neutralization and purification.