bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC) tool in patients with COPD, asthma, diabetes mellitus type 2 and heart failure: protocol for a pragmatic clustered quasi-experimental study
Authors: Boudewijns Esther A. , Claessens Danny , Joore Manuela , Keijsers Lotte C.E.M. , van Schayck Onno C.P. , Winkens Bjorn , Gidding-Slok Annerika H.M.
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The number of people that have one or multiple condition(s) with a chronic course is rising, which consequently challenges healthcare systems. Healthcare geared to long-term care should focus on patient-centredness, shared decision making and self-management. The Assessment of Burden of Chronic Conditions (ABCC) tool was developed to integrate these elements in daily healthcare practice. The ABCC tool assesses and visualises burden of disease(s), helps to make shared decisions and stimulates self-management. The present paper documents a protocol for a quasi-experimental study investigating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the ABCC tool for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, type 2 diabetes mellitus and/or heart failure.

Methods and analysis

The study has a pragmatic clustered quasi-experimental design and will be conducted in the Netherlands. The intervention will be allocated at the level of general practice. The intervention group (18 general practices, 180 patients) will use the ABCC tool during regular consultations; the control group (18 general practices, 180 patients) will maintain usual care. Outcomes include change in quality of care (Patient Assessment of Chronic Illness Care), quality of life (EuroQol-5D-5L), capability well-being (ICEpop CAPability measure for Adults), patients’ activation (Patient Activation Measure) and costs. Follow-up time will be 18 months. Outcomes will be analysed using linear mixed models.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Medical Ethics Committee Zuyderland-Zuyd Heerlen, the Netherlands (METCZ20180131). Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at national and international conferences.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov Registry (NCT04127383).
New Diabetes Questionnaire to add patients’ perspectives to diabetes care for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: nationwide cross-sectional study of construct validity assessing associations with generic health-related quality of life and clinical variables
Authors: Svedbo Engström Maria , Leksell Janeth , Johansson Unn-Britt , Borg Sixten , Palaszewski Bo , Franzén Stefan , Gudbjörnsdottir Soffia , Eeg-Olofsson Katarina
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To study evidence for construct validity, the aim was to describe the outcome from the recently developed Diabetes Questionnaire, assess the associations of that outcome with clinical variables and generic health-related quality of life, and study the sensitivity to differences between clinically relevant groups of glycaemic control in adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes in a nation-wide setting.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Swedish diabetes care clinics connected to the National Diabetes Register (NDR).

Participants

Among 2479 adults with type 1 diabetes and 2469 with type 2 diabetes selected at random from the NDR, 1373 (55.4%) with type 1 and 1353 (54.8%) with type 2 diabetes chose to participate.

Outcome measures

The Diabetes Questionnaire, the generic 36-item Short Form version 2 (SF-36v2) health survey and clinical variables.

Results

Related to the prespecified assumptions, supporting evidence for construct validity for the Diabetes Questionnaire was found. Supporting divergent validity, the statistically significant correlations with the clinical variables were few and weak. In relation to the SF-36v2 and in support of convergent validity, the strongest correlations were seen in the Diabetes Questionnaire scales General Well-being and Mood and Energy. In those scales, machine learning analyses showed that about 40%–45% of the variance was explained by the SF-36v2 results and clinical variables. In multiple regression analyses among three groups with differing levels of glycated haemoglobin adjusted for demographics, other risk factors, and diabetes complications, the high-risk group had, in support of sensitivity to clinically relevant groups, statistically significant lower scores than the well-controlled group in most Diabetes Questionnaire scales.

Conclusions

This nation-wide study shows that the Diabetes Questionnaire captures some generic health-related quality-of-life dimensions, in addition to adding diabetes-specific information not covered by the SF-36v2 and clinical variables. The Diabetes Questionnaire is also sensitive to differences between clinically relevant groups of glycaemic control.
Treatment of hypertension reduces cognitive decline in older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Gupta Aditi , Perdomo Sophy , Billinger Sandra , Beddhu Srinivasan , Burns Jeffrey , Gronseth Gary
Published: November 2020

Objectives

To systematically analyse the effect of pharmacological treatment of hypertension (HTN) on cognitive decline in older adults.

Methods

Randomised, placebo-controlled trials with a prespecified quantitative outcome of cognition and a pharmacological intervention for at least 12 months to treat HTN in older adults (>60 years). Our primary outcome was change in cognition with pharmacological treatment of HTN. Standardised mean difference (SMD) was used to analyse different outcomes reported in the selected studies. We searched PubMed CENTRAL and the Cochrane Library from inception to 6 July 2020. Two independent reviewers assessed trial quality and extracted data. Internal and external validity of the studies was assessed.

Results

Nine randomised controlled trials with 34 994 participants were included in the final analysis. The net SMD for change in cognition was −0.049 (CI: −0.078 to −0.019) indicating that treatment of HTN decreased cognitive decline. Heterogeneity was low with an I² of 6%.

Discussion

Current evidence does not indicate worsening of cognition with treatment of HTN. Treatment of HTN in older adults may reduce cognitive decline. These results have important implications in clinical management of patients at risk for dementia.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020139750.
Diet and exercise interventions for individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes: a scoping review protocol
Authors: MacPherson Megan , Cranston Kaela , Locke Sean , Vis-Dunbar Mathew , Jung Mary E
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Global rates of type 2 diabetes (T2D) are on the rise and there is a need for both effective and replicable interventions to decrease this incidence. Systematic reviews highlight the efficacy of diet and exercise interventions in decreasing T2D risk; however, no review to date provides clear information regarding intervention details (eg, what is delivered, by whom, to whom, when, and mode of delivery). This paper outlines the protocol for a scoping review summarising intervention characteristics of diet and exercise programmes for individuals at risk for T2D. From the included studies and through the use of the Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR), the scoping review that results from this protocol paper will provide a narrative analysis of how diabetes prevention programmes are being reported and implemented.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy is outlined to identify studies within Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, EMBASE and SPORTDiscus. The search strategy will include terms relating to diet and exercise interventions and diabetes risk. To determine eligible studies, predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used independently by two review authors. To be included, studies must be delivering a diet and/or exercise intervention among adults who have been identified as at risk for developing T2D with an outcome related to diabetes prevention. Data extraction of those studies that meet inclusion criteria will be guided by the TIDieR).

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required as this review will be using previously collected data. Review findings will be presented at scientific conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Value of social network analysis for developing and evaluating complex healthcare interventions: a scoping review
Authors: Smit Linda C , Dikken Jeroen , Schuurmans Marieke J , de Wit Niek J , Bleijenberg Nienke
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Most complex healthcare interventions target a network of healthcare professionals. Social network analysis (SNA) is a powerful technique to study how social relationships within a network are established and evolve. We identified in which phases of complex healthcare intervention research SNA is used and the value of SNA for developing and evaluating complex healthcare interventions.

Methods

A scoping review was conducted using the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework. We included complex healthcare intervention studies using SNA to identify the study characteristics, level of complexity of the healthcare interventions, reported strengths and limitations, and reported implications of SNA. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews 2018 was used to guide the reporting.

Results

Among 2466 identified studies, 40 studies were selected for analysis. At first, the results showed that SNA seems underused in evaluating complex intervention research. Second, SNA was not used in the development phase of the included studies. Third, the reported implications in the evaluation and implementation phase reflect the value of SNA in addressing the implementation and population complexity. Fourth, pathway complexity and contextual complexity of the included interventions were unclear or unable to access. Fifth, the use of a mixed methods approach was reported as a strength, as the combination and integration of a quantitative and qualitative method clearly establishes the results.

Conclusion

SNA is a widely applicable method that can be used in different phases of complex intervention research. SNA can be of value to disentangle and address the level of complexity of complex healthcare interventions. Furthermore, the routine use of SNA within a mixed method approach could yield actionable insights that would be useful in the transactional context of complex interventions.
Characteristics of online medical care consultation for pregnant women during the COVID-19 outbreak: cross-sectional study
Authors: Chen Miaomiao , Liu Xiyao , Zhang Jun , Sun Guoqiang , Gao Ying , Shi Yuan , Baker Philip , Zeng Jing , Zheng Yangxi , Luo Xin , Qi Hongbo
Published: November 2020

Objectives

This study described the needs of pregnant women and the contents of online obstetric consultation in representative areas with various severity of the epidemic in China.

Design

This was a cross- sectional study.

Setting

Yue Yi Tong (YYT), a free online communication platform that allows pregnant women to consult professional obstetricians.

Participants

All the pregnant women who used the YYT platform.

Intervention

From 10 to 23 February, we collected data on online obstetric consultations and participants’ satisfaction through the YYT platform in the mild, moderate and severe epidemic areas which were defined according to the local confirmed cases. The primary outcomes were the reasons for online consultations by the severity of the epidemic. All the comparisons were performed using χ2 test. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V.24.

Results

A total of 2599 pregnant women participated in this study, of whom 448 (17.24%), 1332 (51.25%) and 819 (31.51%) were from the mild, moderate and severe epidemic areas, respectively. The distribution of the amount of online consultations was significantly different not only in different areas (p<0.001) but also in different trimesters (p<0.001). A total of 957 participants completed the satisfaction part of the survey. In this study, 77.95% of the participants used e-health for the first time, and 94.63% of the participants were completely or mostly satisfied with the online consultations.

Conclusions

The distribution of the amount of online consultations was significantly different not only in different areas but also in different trimesters. In any trimester, the amount of consultations on the second category (obstetric care-seeking behaviour) was the highest in the severe epidemic areas. The needs for online consultations were substantial. In order to prevent irreversible obstetric adverse events, an appropriate antenatal care contingency plan with e-health services is highly recommended during the Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
Designed electrochemical sensor based on metallocene modified conducting polymer composite for effective determination of tramadol in real samples
Authors: Atta Nada F. , Abdo Ghada G. , Elzatahry Ahmed , Galal Ahmed , Hassan Samar H.
Published: November 2020

A novel composite for the electrochemical sensing of tramadol (Tr) was developed by the inclusion of a metallocene mediator between two layers of conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) polymer, in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), i.e., P/mediator/P⋯SDS. Three charge transfer mediators were evaluated: ferrocene carboxylic acid (FC1), ferrocene (FC2), and cobaltocene (CC) for Tr electrocatalytic oxidation. The FC1 charge mediator showed a relatively higher current response that was assisted by the electronic conduction of the polymer film. Moreover, SDS presented a great impact, resulting in the enhancement of the preconcentration and (or) accumulation of Tr ions at the interface, leading to faster electron transfer. In addition, the practical application of the proposed FC1 composite for the determination of Tr in real urine and serum samples was successfully achieved with adequate recovery results. Very low detection limits of 18.6 nM and 16 nM in the linear dynamic ranges of 7–300 µM and 5–280 µM, respectively, were obtained at the proposed sensor. Furthermore, the simultaneous determination of Tr with common interfering species, paracetamol (APAP), morphine (MO), dopamine (DA), ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA), proved excellent, with good resolution and large potential peaks separation. The excellent characteristics of the proposed composite such as high reproducibility, good sensitivity, selectivity, anti-interference ability, and good stability enhanced its application for determination of other narcotic drugs.
Historical roots and the evolving science of forest management under a systemic perspective
Authors: Nocentini S. , Ciancio O. , Portoghesi L. , Corona P.
Published: November 2020

In recent history, both a growing awareness of how scientific and societal uncertainty impacts management decisions and of the intrinsic value of nature have suggested new approaches to forest management, with a growing debate in forest science over the need for a paradigmatic shift from the classic conventional world view, based on determinism, predictability, and output-oriented management, towards a world view that has roots in complex adaptive systems theory and is consistent with a nature-based ethic. A conceptual framework under this context is provided by systemic silviculture. In this discussion, we analyze how this approach can be linked to three fundamental moments of the history of forestry and forest science: the Dauerwald theory, Gurnaud’s control method, and the origins of environmental ethics. Relationships with the recent history of forest management science and current research perspectives are also highlighted.
Trends in studies of edge influence on vegetation at human-created and natural forest edges across time and space
Authors: Franklin Caroline M.A. , Harper Karen A. , Clarke Madeline J.
Published: November 2020

Forest edges, or boundaries between adjacent ecosystems, play important ecological roles. Both anthropogenic and natural forest edges affect vegetation while contributing to landscape heterogeneity. The recent proliferation of studies on vegetation at edges suggests that a comprehensive review of global edge studies is timely. We reviewed the literature on forest edges to identify trends in edge studies over time, determine types and localities of studied edges, and compare findings on edge influence. We found 446 studies conducted in 55 different countries that considered edge influence on vegetation structure and (or) composition. Research on vegetation at anthropogenic edges has increased and expanded geographically, but studies are still scarce in some areas and at natural forest edges. Forest edges were generally characterized by greater species diversity and nonnative species abundance than interior forest. Distance of edge influence on vegetation extended furthest at tropical anthropogenic forest edges compared with other edge types and locations. Edge influence on responses caused by indirect effects of edges generally extended further into the forest than edge influence on responses related to forest structure. Our findings indicate that vegetation characteristics differ between edge and forest types and should be considered in the sustainable management of heterogeneous forested landscapes.
Predicting stand attributes of loblolly pine in West Gulf Coastal Plain using gradient boosting and random forests
Authors: Lou X.W. , Weng Y.H. , Fang L.M. , Gao H.L. , Grogan J. , Hung I.K. , Oswald B.P.
Published: November 2020

Predicting future stand yield as a function of current stand conditions is important to forest managers. Two machine-learning techniques, gradient boosting (GB) and random forests (RF), were used to predict stand mean height of dominant and codominant trees (HT), trees per hectare (Tree·ha−1), and basal area per hectare (BA·ha−1) based on data sets collected from extensively and intensively managed loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) plantations in the West Gulf Coastal Plain region. Models were evaluated using coefficient of determination (R2) and bias by applying models to independent tests and validation data sets and then comparing to conventional statistical models (Coble-2017) currently being used in the region. For extensively managed plantations, the GB models had less bias than the RF models. For model precision (R2), the GB models were consistently better than the RF models, and the HT model was the best, followed by those of Tree·ha−1 and BA·ha−1. Even for BA·ha−1, the GB and RF models had R2 over 0.81. GB and RF models outperformed the Coble-2017 model; differences were not substantial for Tree·ha−1 but were significant for HT and BA·ha−1 (R2 = 0.96, 0.95, and 0.88 for HT and 0.84, 0.81, and 0.76 for BA). Important predictors identified by GB and RF and their contributions to the models were similar. For intensively managed plantations, GB and RF were similarly accurate in predicting HT and Tree·ha−1, but GB outperformed RF in predicting BA·ha−1 (R2 = 0.87 versus 0.75). We conclude that both GB and RF, although the former is preferred, can be effective in predicting future stand attributes. Forest managers can use the models presented here to predict quantitative information required for managing loblolly pine plantations in the region.
Metformin alleviates hydrogen peroxide–induced inflammation and oxidative stress via inhibiting P2X7R signaling in spinal cord tissue cells neurons
Authors: Wang Gang , Chen Shurui , Shao Zhenya , Li Yankun , Wang Wei , Mao Liang , Li Jian , Mei Xifan
Published: November 2020

Metformin, the first medication that is often prescribed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, was recently found to be neuroprotective. To study the mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of metformin, we pretreated primary spinal cord neurons with 50 µM or 100 µM metformin for 2 h prior to treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for up to 48 h. Our results showed that H2O2 increased the expression of purinergic receptor P2X7 (P2X7R) in spinal cord neurons, which promoted the downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines release and oxidative stress. We found that metformin could reverse these pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative effects of H2O2. Besides, P2X7R knockdown by siRNA suppressed H2O2-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine release and oxidative stress response. In conclusion, our results show that metformin can alleviate H2O2-induced inflammation and oxidative stress via modulating the P2X7R signaling pathway.
Lifetimes of core-excited states in semi-magic $$^{95}\mathrm {Rh}$$
Authors: Ertoprak A. , Qi C. , Cederwall B. , Doncel M. , Jakobsson U. , Nyakó B. M. , Jaworski G. , Davies P. , de France G. , Kuti I. , Napoli D. R. , Wadsworth R. , Ghugre S. S. , Raut R. , Akkus B. , Al Azri H. , Algora A. , de Angelis G. , Atac A. , Bäck T. , Boso A. , Clément E. , Debenham D. M. , Dombrádi Zs. , Ertürk S. , Gadea A. , Ghazi Moradi F. , Gottardo A. , Hüyük T. , Ideguchi E. , Li H. , Michelagnoli C. , Modamio V. , Nyberg J. , Palacz M. , Petrache C. M. , Recchia F. , Sandzelius M. , Siciliano M. , Sohler D. , Timár J. , Valiente-Dobón J. J. , Xiao Z. G.
Published: November 2020

Lifetimes of negative-parity states have been determined in the neutron deficient semi-magic (N = 50) nucleus $$^{95}\mathrm {Rh}$$

95

Rh

. The fusion-evaporation reaction $$^{58}Ni(^{40}Ca, 3p)$$

58

N
i

(
40

C
a
,
3
p
)

was used to populate high-spin states in $$^{95}\mathrm {Rh}$$

95

Rh

at the Grand Accélérateur National d’Ions Lourds (GANIL) accelerator facility. The results were obtained using the Doppler Shift Attenuation Method (DSAM) based on the Doppler broadened line shapes produced during the slowing down process of the residual nuclei in a thick $$6\;\mathrm {mg/cm}^2$$

6

mg
/
cm

2

metallic target. B(M1) and B(E2) reduced transition strengths are compared with predictions from large-scale shell-model calculations.
Temperature effects on light yield and pulse shape discrimination capability of siloxane based scintillators
Authors: Carturan S. M. , Pino F. , Fontana C. L. , Moretto S. , Zanazzi E. , Raggio R. , Raniero W. , Quaranta A.
Published: November 2020

In this work, we report the study of temperature effects on light yield of siloxane-based scintillators and on n/$$\gamma $$
γ
discrimination capability, in terms of pulse shape discrimination (PSD). The solid scintillators are composed of phenyl containing polysiloxane (PMPS100), as a base polymer, loaded with moderate amounts (6 wt%) of 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) as a primary dye and Lumogen Violet (LV) as waveshifter. The samples were heated in the range of 60–150 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

and scintillation performance were tested both after annealing for 24 h and in real time during heating. Light yield of siloxane-based scintillators containing 6 wt% PPO heated at 100 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

is very close to the room-temperature value, while heating at 120 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

causes a decrease of light yield (LY) of 17%. In addition, the figure of merit (FoM) for n/$$\gamma $$
γ
discrimination of the scintillator shows a sensible worsening of the discrimination performances in case of prolonged treatment at 120 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

. Similar tests are made using the commercial plastic scintillator EJ-299 (currently named EJ-276), based on polyvinyltoluene (PVT). In this case, the light yield undergoes a much more rapid deterioration with annealing temperature, and at 70 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

it is reduced to 60% of the original value. The discrimination capability of EJ-299 decreases upon heating at 70 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

as well, with a 20% reduction of FoM; meanwhile for T > 70 $$^\circ \hbox {C}$$

∘

C

the mechanical and optical features are remarkably degraded. The mass loss of primary dye PPO from the siloxane scintillator as a function of treatment temperature and initial dye concentration has been evaluated and compared to the behaviour of EJ-299. This measurement allows to single out and characterize a series of processes occurring during heating, which are relevant to the whole performance of the system under study, such as sublimation at the interface, thermally induced photooxidation of components, diffusion of fluorophores from the polymer bulk to the surface. The variation in luminescence characteristics have been analyzed by excitation/fluorescence spectroscopy and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy, in order to correlate the annealing treatment with the primary dye loss by sublimation, formation of superficial aggregates and/or degradation of the scintillator components in the synthesized siloxane scintillator.
Watson–Crick Jumping Finite Automata
Authors: Mahalingam Kalpana , Mishra Ujjwal Kumar , Raghavan Rama
Published: November 2020

Watson–Crick jumping finite automata work on tapes which are double stranded sequences of symbols similar to that of Watson–Crick automata. The double stranded sequence is scanned in a discontinuous manner. That is, after reading a double stranded string, the automata can jump over some subsequence and continue scanning depending on the rule. Some variants of such automata are 1-limited, No state, All final and Simple Watson–Crick jumping finite automata. The comparison of the languages accepted by these variants with the language classes in Chomsky hierarchy has been carried out. We investigate some closure properties. We also try to place the duplication closure of a word in Watson–Crick jumping finite automata family. We have discussed the closure property of Watson–Crick jumping finite automata family under duplication operations.
Quantum machine learning and its supremacy in high energy physics
Authors: Sharma Kapil K.
Published: November 2020

This paper reveals the future prospects of quantum algorithms in high energy physics (HEP). Particle identification, knowing their properties and characteristics is a challenging problem in experimental HEP. The key technique to solve these problems is pattern recognition, which is an important application of machine learning and unconditionally used for HEP problems. To execute pattern recognition task for track and vertex reconstruction, the particle physics community vastly use statistical machine learning methods. These methods vary from detector-to-detector geometry and magnetic field used in the experiment. Here, in this paper, we deliver the future possibilities for the lucid application of quantum computation and quantum machine learning in HEP, rather than focusing on deep mathematical structures of techniques arising in this domain.
New Insight Into Catalytic Mechanism of Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Enzyme: A DFT Study
Authors: Rani Sadaf , Perveen Fouzia , Jasinski Jerry P , Paracha Rehan Zafar , Tanveer Haris Bin , Kiani Farooq Ahmad , Albuquerque Rodrigo
Published: November 2020

The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme plays a vital role in converting glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) to 6-phosphogluconolactone, as well as in reducing NADP([Formula: see text]) to NADPH. The Asp/His moiety of G6PD acts as a catalytic dyad in the active site of G6PD. This catalytic mechanism describes erythrocyte protection from oxidative stress and prevention of hemolysis; hence their exact understanding is important in the normal functioning of red blood cells. Herein, computational investigations were carried out to describe a plausible mechanism of the G6PD enzyme by using a series of DFT theoretical calculations using the M06-2X/6-31G ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) basis set and performed in the following three discrete steps: (i) Proton transfer from His309 to Asp246, (ii) A subsequent proton transfer from G6P to His309, and (iii) A rate-limiting hydride transfer that reduces NADP([Formula: see text]) to NADPH. The final overall mechanism, therefore, results in the production of phosphogluconolactone and NADPH. The DFT calculations indicate that, in the absence of the His/Asp dyad, the chemical reaction changes from a low-energy sequential mechanism to the proposed concurrent mechanism with a very high energy barrier ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]kcal[Formula: see text]mol[Formula: see text]). These results show that the Asp246 residue is responsible for transforming a high energy concurrent reaction into a low energy multistep sequential reaction in the G6PD enzyme for the production of NADPH. This work supports the study and design of the mechanism-based inhibitors and provides a detailed understanding of the catalytic mechanism of the enzyme thereby opening new possibilities towards an understanding of controlling detoxification processes due to premature breaking in red blood cells.
Evaluating the Performance of a Diffusive Gradient in Thin Film Embedded with Montmorillonite for the Determination of Labile Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn in Natural River Water
Authors: Nguyen Hong Lien , Phung Anh Tuan , Tran Trung Kien , Huynh Trung Hai , La Bich Huong
Published: November 2020

Montmorillonite (MMT), a natural clay mineral with high ion-exchange capacity and trace metal adsorbability, has been demonstrated to be a suitable binding phase in the diffusive gradient in thin film (DGT) technique for the determination of labile trace metals in synthetic water samples. However, in situ working performance of DGT-MMT with natural river water has not yet been investigated. The present study examined the performance of a DGT containing montmorillonite (MMT) for the in situ isolation and determination of labile Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn fractions in Lach Tray River water, North Vietnam. The repeatability and accuracy of the DGT-MMT probe were assessed on the basis of seven measurement replicates performed on Cd2+, Pb2+, Mn2+, and Zn2+ standard solutions. Then, the DGT-MMT probes were deployed in Lach Tray River water at different sampling sites to determine the labile metal fractions present in river water. By comparing the total and dissolved metal concentrations in the river water, the distributions of the four tested trace metals were constructed. The proportions of the dissolved fractions of Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn were 46.7–73.7%, 38.5–63.9%, 36.4–41.6%, and 49.8–67.7%, respectively. The results also showed that the high accuracy and reproducibility of the DGT-MMT data were comparable with measurements obtained by the commonly used DGT-Chelex-100 method. In comparison with the data obtained from anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), a traditional technique for the determination of non-in situ speciation of trace metals, labile metal concentrations measured by DGT-MMT were in similar ranges. These findings indicate that naturally available montmorillonite can be used as an alternative binding material in DGT probes for the in situ determination of labile metal concentrations in natural watercourses.
Optical Quality Assessment in Patients with Unilateral Congenital Ptosis: A Matched Case-Control Study
Authors: Shen Jianqin , Cui Hongguang , Tang Xuyuan , Zhu Miaomiao , Han Wei
Published: November 2020

Background. To evaluate the differences in the corneal higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and optical quality of the ptosis eyes compared with the normal fellow eyes in the unilateral congenital ptosis patients. Methods. A matched case-control study was performed in 17 pairs of eyes in 17 unilateral congenital ptosis patients. The ptosis eye was enrolled in the ptosis group while the normal fellow eye was enrolled in the normal group. The HOAs obtained from Pentacam HR and the optical quality parameters obtained from Optical Quality Analysis System (OQAS) were compared between the two groups. Results. There were significant differences in a vertical coma and vertical trefoil on the anterior corneal surface between the ptosis group and the normal group

p
<
0.05

. The OQAS parameters in the ptosis group were significantly different from those in the normal group

p
<
0.05

. The vertical fissure height (VFH) showed a significant correlation with the total HOAs, 3rd HOAs, and vertical coma on the anterior corneal surface

p
<
0.05

. Conclusions. Compared with the normal fellow eyes, the ptosis eyes showed significantly degraded optical quality. The eyelid position was important for the changes of corneal HOAs in the ptosis eyes. The reasons for the discrepancy of the OQAS parameters between the ptosis eyes and normal fellow eyes were multiple.
Effect Of Magnesium Perchlorate Content on the Mechanical, Thermal Stability, and Dielectric Properties of Plasticized PMMA/PVC-g-PMMA Electrolytes
Authors: Dung Nguyen Thi Kim , Linh Nguyen Thi Dieu , Tham Do Quang , Chinh Nguyen Thuy , Tan Man Minh , Mai Tran Thi , Trang Nguyen Thi Thu , Thanh Do Minh , Tung Nguyen Quang , Hoang Thai
Published: November 2020

In this study, new types of gel polymer blend electrolytes (GPBEs) were prepared with the synthesized PVC-g-PMMA graft copolymer, PMMA, plasticizers (propylene carbonate (PC), dioctyl phthalate (DOP)), and different loadings of Mg(ClO4)2 via the solution casting method using tetrahydrofuran as solvent. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of the electrolytes showed mutual molecular interactions between Mg(ClO4)2 and organic moieties. The scanning electron microscopy images of the GPBEs showed their wrinkled surface morphology due to their low elastic modulus and high flexibility. Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy and mapping technique revealed the regular distributions of all atomic elements such as Cl, Mg, O, and C in the doped GPBEs. With increasing the Mg salt concentration, Young’s modulus and tensile strength of the GPBEs strongly decreased. Interestingly, the elongation at break of the GPBEs was higher than that of neat (undoped) GPBE and achieved the highest value of 215% at the salt content of 20 wt.%. The AC conductivity and ionic conductivity, as well as dielectric permittivity of plasticized PMMA/PVC-g-PMMA/Mg(ClO4)2 GPBE,s increased with frequency and Mg(ClO4)2 doping content. Ionic conductivity of the doped GPBEs can be achieved from

5.51
×

10

−
5

to

4.42
×

10

−
4

(S.cm-1) using Mg(ClO4)2 contents in the range from 10 to 40 wt.%. The doped GPBEs are thermally stable up to 100°C with very low weight losses. The GPBE doped with 20 wt.% of Mg(ClO4)2 can be used as a new type of electrolyte for developing Mg batteries.
Fuzzy Social Force Model for Pedestrian Evacuation under View-Limited Condition
Authors: Cao Ningbo , Zhao Liying , Chen Mingtao , Luo Ruiqi
Published: November 2020

Pedestrian evacuation dynamics in a classroom is always a complex process influenced by many fuzzy factors. It is very difficult and inappropriate to quantify the impact of these fuzzy factors by using the mathematical formula. Existing microscopic simulation models have made many efforts to use accurate mathematical method to model the fuzzy interaction behaviors between pedestrians under the view-limited condition. This study tries to fill this gap by establishing a microscopic simulation model which can represent the fuzzy behaviors of pedestrians under view-limited condition. The developed fuzzy social force model (FSFM) combines fuzzy logic into conventional social force model (SFM). Different from existing models and applications, FSFM adopts fuzzy sets and membership functions to describe the pedestrian evacuation process. Seven fuzzy sets are defined for this process, such as stop/go, moving direction, desired force, force from obstacles, force from pedestrian, force from indicators, and acceleration. Membership function of each input factor is calibrated based on the observed data. Model performance is verified by comparing speed distribution, velocity-density relationship, and results of simulation and observation evacuation time. Besides, the proposed model is applied to assess the number and space distribution of exit indicators and stickers. By comparing simulation results with existing models, the paper concludes that FSFM is able to well reproduce pedestrian movement dynamics in real world under view-limited condition.
DOA Tracking of Two-Dimensional Coherent Distribution Source Based on Fast Approximated Power Iteration
Authors: Wu Tao , Zhang Pengtao , Li Yiwen , Gao Yangjun , Fu Chaoqi , Feng Bo
Published: November 2020

Aiming at two-dimensional (2D) coherent distributed (CD) sources, this paper has proposed a direction of arrival (DOA) tracking algorithm based on signal subspace updating under the uniform rectangular array (URA). First, based on the hypothesis of small angular spreads of distributed sources, the rotating invariant relations of the signal subspace of the receive vector of URA are derived. An ESPRIT-like method is constructed for DOA estimation using two adjacent parallel linear arrays of URA. Through the synthesis of estimation by multiple groups of parallel linear arrays within URA arrays, the DOA estimation method for 2D CD sources based on URA is obtained. Then, fast approximated power iteration (FAPI) subspace tracking algorithm is used to update the signal subspace. In this way, DOA tracking of 2D CD sources can be realized by DOA estimation through signal subspace updating. This algorithm has a low computational complexity and good real-time tracking performance. In addition, the algorithm can track multiple CD sources without knowing the angular signal distribution functions, which is robust to model errors.
Hybrid Effect of Wollastonite Fiber and Carbon Fiber on the Mechanical Properties of Oil Well Cement Pastes
Authors: Zhu Jianglin , Wei Jiangxiong , Yu Qijun , Xu Mingbiao , Luo Yuwei
Published: November 2020

Oil well cement is a type of natural brittle material that cannot be used directly in cementing operations. Fiber is a type of material that can effectively improve the strength and toughness of cement stone, and hybrid fiber materials can more effectively improve the performance of a cement sample. To overcome the natural defects of oil well cement, the new mineral fiber, i.e., wollastonite fiber, and common carbon fiber were used in oil well cement, and the micromorphology, mechanical properties, and stress‐strain behavior of the cement were evaluated. The experimental results show that carbon fiber and wollastonite fiber are randomly distributed in the cement paste. The mechanical properties of the cement paste are improved by bridging and pulling out. The compressive strength, flexural strength, and impact strength of cement stone containing only carbon fiber or wollastonite fiber are higher than those of the pure cement, but too many fibers are not conducive to the development of mechanical properties. A mixture of 0.3% carbon fiber with 6% wollastonite fiber in oil well cement slurry results in a greater increase in compressive strength, flexural strength, and impact strength. In addition, compared with blank cement stone, the strain of the mixed cement stone increases substantially, and the elastic modulus decreases by 37.8%. The experimental results supply technical support for the design of a high‐performance cement slurry system.
Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Pathophysiology and Opportunities for Pharmacological Intervention
Authors: Cunha-Oliveira Teresa , Montezinho Liliana , Mendes Catarina , Firuzi Omidreza , Saso Luciano , Oliveira Paulo J. , Silva Filomena S. G.
Published: November 2020

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease or Charcot disease, is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons (MNs) and leads to death within 2–5 years of diagnosis, without any effective therapy available. Although the pathological mechanisms leading to ALS are still unknown, a wealth of evidence indicates that an excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production associated with an inefficient antioxidant defense represents an important pathological feature in ALS. Substantial evidence indicates that oxidative stress (OS) is implicated in the loss of MNs and in mitochondrial dysfunction, contributing decisively to neurodegeneration in ALS. Although the modulation of OS represents a promising approach to protect MNs from degeneration, the fact that several antioxidants with beneficial effects in animal models failed to show any therapeutic benefit in patients raises several questions that should be analyzed. Using specific queries for literature search on PubMed, we review here the role of OS-related mechanisms in ALS, including the involvement of altered mitochondrial function with repercussions in neurodegeneration. We also describe antioxidant compounds that have been mostly tested in preclinical and clinical trials of ALS, also describing their respective mechanisms of action. While the description of OS mechanism in the different mutations identified in ALS has as principal objective to clarify the contribution of OS in ALS, the description of positive and negative outcomes for each antioxidant is aimed at paving the way for novel opportunities for intervention. In conclusion, although antioxidant strategies represent a very promising approach to slow the progression of the disease, it is of utmost need to invest on the characterization of OS profiles representative of each subtype of patient, in order to develop personalized therapies, allowing to understand the characteristics of antioxidants that have beneficial effects on different subtypes of patients.
Prognostic Worth of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) in Patients with Head and Neck Tumors
Authors: Barnes Precious , Yeboah F. A. , Zhu Jinling , Saahene Roland Osei , Obirikorang Christian , Adinortey Michael Buenor , Amoani Benjamin , Kyei Foster , Akakpo Patrick , Awuku Yaw Asante
Published: November 2020

Introduction. Head and neck tumors (HNT) are tumors that normally occur at the head and neck region of the body. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) has been found to be highly expressed in breast and other tumors; therefore, there is the need to investigate the level of EGFR expression among patients with head and neck tumors in Ghana. Method. The level of EGFR expression was determined in head and neck tumor and control head and neck tissues with quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis. Results. The level of EGFR expressions was high in tumor tissues than in the control tissues. There was a significant difference ofpvalue 0.025 among the ages >40 and ≤ 40 when the high and low level of EGFR was compared in the head and neck malignant tumor. The area under the curve for the high expression of EGFR among the malignant head and neck tumors was 0.901 with a specificity of 86.4%. Conclusion. EGFR can serve as a prognostic marker in monitoring patients with HNT as well as a molecular therapeutic target.
Safety and Prognostic Impacts of Ovarian Preservation during Radical Hysterectomy for Early‐Stage Adenocarcinoma and Adenosquamous Cervical Cancer
Authors: Theplib Arisa , Hanprasertpong Jitti , Leetanaporn Kittinun
Published: November 2020

Objective. To identify the incidence of ovarian metastasis and the impact of ovarian preservation on oncological outcomes for early‐stage adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cervical cancer. Methods. 281 patients with stages IA2‐IB1 adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHND) were included in the study. The incidence of ovarian metastasis was evaluated from 173 patients who underwent oophorectomy during RHND. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients less than 50 years (196 of 281 patients) who were classified into two groups, ovarian preservation and nonovarian preservation groups. 5‐year recurrence‐free survival (5‐yr RFS) and 5‐year overall survival (5‐yr OS) were evaluated and compared between these groups. Results. There was no evidence of ovarian metastasis, synchronous ovarian cancer, or ovarian recurrence during follow‐up. In patients less than 50 years of age, there were no statistically significant differences in the 5‐yr RFS (P = 0.363), or 5‐yr OS (P = 0.974) between the ovarian preservation and nonovarian preservation groups. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the ovarian preservation group seemed to have a slightly better OS in long‐term follow‐up (after 15 years); however, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions. Ovarian preservation was safe in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cervical cancer stages IA2‐B1. However, the impact of ovarian preservation on oncological outcomes needs to be further investigated.
A Novel STAT3-Mediated GATA6 Pathway Contributes to tert-Butylhydroquinone- (tBHQ-) Protected TNFα-Activated Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in Vascular Endothelium
Authors: Zhou Li , Ning Hua , Wei Haibin , Xu Tiantian , Zhao Xindi , Fu Ai , Qian Qianyu , Yang Zhen , Dou Xiaobing , Li Songtao
Published: November 2020

The activation of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in vascular endothelial cells has been well considered implicating in the initiation and processing of atherosclerosis. Oxidative stress is mechanistically involved in proatherosclerotic cytokine-induced VCAM-1 activation. tert-Butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a synthetic phenolic antioxidant used for preventing lipid peroxidation of food, possesses strongly antioxidant capacity against oxidative stress-induced dysfunction in various pathological process. Here, we investigated the protective role of tBHQ on tumor necrosis factor alpha- (TNFα-) induced VCAM-1 activation in both aortic endothelium of mice and cultured human vascular endothelial cells and uncovered its potential mechanisms. Our data showed that tBHQ treatment significantly reversed TNFα-induced activation of VCAM-1 at both transcriptional and protein levels. The mechanistic study revealed that inhibiting neither nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) nor autophagy blocked the beneficial role of tBHQ. Alternatively, tBHQ intervention markedly alleviated TNFα-increased GATA-binding protein 6 (GATA6) mRNA and protein expressions and its translocation into nucleus. Further investigation indicated that tBHQ-inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway contributed to its protective role against VCAM-1 activation via regulating GATA6. Collectively, our data demonstrated that tBHQ prevented TNFα-activated VCAM-1 via a novel STAT3/GATA6-involved pathway. tBHQ could be a potential candidate for the prevention of proatherosclerotic cytokine-caused inflammatory response and further dysfunctions in vascular endothelium.
Comparison of Preoperative CT Colonography and Colonoscopy for Esophageal Reconstruction with Colonic Interposition
Authors: Mahawongkajit Prasit , Boochangkool Nuttorn
Published: November 2020

Colonic evaluation is an essential step before proceeding with esophagectomy to reconstruct by colonic interposition. Colonoscopy is the standard practice for colorectal cancer screening, but it has a chance of failing cecal intubation and carries a risk of horrific adverse events by colonic perforation. CT colonography is a less invasive alternative method reported as useful for colonoscopic screening in cases of average risk of colorectal cancer. This study set out to report our clinical experience and to evaluate CT colonography in the preoperative process for colonic interposition of esophagectomy patients. Data for esophagectomy with colonic interposition patients were retrospectively analyzed and compared the colonoscopy group with the CT colonography group. During eight years, 31 patients, 12 patients in the colonoscopy group and 19 patients in the CT colonography group, included in this study. In both groups, the patient demographic data, procedures, and outcomes were not different. After colonic interposition, endoscopy was performed, and no lesions of conduits were detected. CT colonography is a minimally invasive and reliable option for colonic evaluation method for the patient of average colorectal cancer risk who has undergone esophagectomy with colonic interposition.