bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Urban Morphology Design on Enhancing Physical Activities and Public Health
Authors: Fathi Sadeq , Sajadzadeh Hassan , Mohammadi Sheshkal Faezeh , Aram Farshid , Pinter Gergo , Felde Imre , Mosavi Amir
Published: March 2020

Along with environmental pollutions, urban planning has been connected to public health. The research indicates that the quality of built environments plays an important role in reducing mental disorders and overall health. The structure and shape of the city are considered as one of the factors influencing happiness and health in urban communities and the type of the daily activities of citizens. The aim of this study was to promote physical activity in the main structure of the city via urban design in a way that the main form and morphology of the city can encourage citizens to move around and have physical activity within the city. Functional, physical, cultural-social, and perceptual-visual features are regarded as the most important and effective criteria in increasing physical activities in urban spaces based on literature review. The environmental quality of urban spaces and their role in the physical activities of citizens in urban spaces were assessed by using the questionnaire tool and analytical network process (ANP) of structural equation modeling. Further, the space syntax method was utilized to evaluate the role of the spatial integration of urban spaces on improving physical activities. Based on the results, the consideration of functional diversity, spatial flexibility and integration, security, and the aesthetic and visual quality of urban spaces plays an important role in improving the physical health of citizens in urban spaces. Further, more physical activities, including motivation for walking and consequently, the sense of public health and happiness, were observed in the streets having higher linkage and space syntax indexes with their surrounding texture.
Natural Immune Boosters as First-Line Armours to Combat Viral Infection-COVID19: Myth or Science?
Authors: Sarfraz Iqra , Rasul Azhar , Hussain Ghulam , Adem Şevki , Ali Muhammad
Published: March 2020

The coronavirus COVID-19 epidemic has wreaked havoc on inhabitants of earth killing thousands of humans from more than 150 countries. The epidemic has put a number of countries under complete lockdown and the deadly situation is still prevailing around the globe. Vaccines have been long known as the most effective means of preventing viral infections. However, the lack of vaccines against COVID-19 has further worsened the situation. In this time of health crisis, it is the duty of scientific research community to provide alternative, effective and affordable strategies to vaccinate human bodies against viral infections-COVID-19 based on focused experimental approaches. Growing evidence suggests that certain natural foods and lifestyle changes have potential to optimize immune functions against viral infections including improving defense function, resistance towards invading pathogens, while maintaining self-tolerance. Boosting immune system gives an edge in fending off viruses and staying healthy. This review presents the six smart steps to add to your to-do list which let the inner work of immunity take place against viral infections-COVID-19 by dissolving the powers of disease and illness. Many of these factors are associated in their functions to improve or properly maintain the immune function such as promoting anti-inflammatory functions, inhibiting pro-inflammatory mediators, modulating cell-mediated immunity, altering the antigen-presenting cellular functions as well as promoting communication between the innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, a scientific illustration of boosting the immune system by proper sleep, moderate exercise, avoiding stress, utilizing vitamins enriched foods, intake of more water and use of fruits and vegetables will hopefully help the community to deal with the coronavirus by vaccinating the human systems naturally.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia-Like Symptoms Are an Integral Component of the Phenome of Schizophrenia: Neuro-Immune and Opioid System Correlates
Authors: Mousa Rana Fadhil , Al-Hakeim Hussein Kadhem , Alhaidari Amir , Maes Michael
Published: March 2020

Background: Physiosomatic symptoms are an important part of schizophrenia phenomenology. The aim of this study is to examine the biomarker, neurocognitive and symptomatic correlates of physiosomatic symptoms in schizophrenia. Methods: We recruited 115 schizophrenia patients and 43 healthy controls and measured the Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Rating (FF) scale, schizophrenia symptom dimensions, and the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. We measured neuro-immune markers including plasma CCL11 (eotaxin), interleukin-(IL)-6, IL-10, Dickkopf protein 1 (DKK1), high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) and endogenous opioid system (EOS) markers including κ-opioid receptor (KOR), µ-opioid receptor (MOR), endomorphin-2 (EM2) and β-endorphin. Results: Patients with an increased FF score display increased ratings of psychosis, hostility, excitement, formal though disorders, psychomotor retardation and negative symptoms as compared with patients with lower FF scores. A large part of the variance in the FF score (55.1%) is explained by the regression on digit sequencing task, token motor task, list learning, IL-10, age (all inversely) and IL-6 (positively). Neural network analysis shows that the top-6 predictors of the FF score are (in descending order): IL-6, HMGB1, education, MOR, KOR and IL-10. We found that 45.1% of the variance in a latent vector extracted from cognitive test scores, schizophrenia symptoms and the FF score was explained by HMGB-1, MOR, EM2, DKK1, and CCL11. Conclusions: FF symptoms are an integral part of the phenome of schizophrenia. Neurotoxic immune and neurodegenerative pathways and to a lesser extent the EOS appear to drive FF symptoms in schizophrenia.
A Combination-Based Approach to COVID-19 Symptom Severity Management
Authors: Nnolim U.
Published: March 2020

The recent outbreak and spread of the COVID-19 virus infection across the world has seen a massive global system-wide shutdown of human social and economic activity. Both developed and developing nations have been forced to contain and isolate their citizens as much as possible. However, the continuous rising cases in both categories of nations, especially those with poor or nonexistent testing facilities and healthcare systems pose a hidden danger. The seemingly lack of and access to a truly global concerted research effort in both temporary but effective symptom mitigation may lead to more deaths in infected cases. We propose that a fusion of both technological and home-grown solutions can be utilized effectively to manage symptoms. This would add to the preventive methods of social distancing, isolation, quarantine and frequent handwashing to halt the impact of the disease. We also hope to spur further research in such drug/non-drug combination therapy-based methods with emphasis on effectiveness based on quality of nutrient sources.
History of Onychophorology, 1826-2020
Authors: Monge-Najera Julian
Published: March 2020

Velvet worms, or onychophorans, include placental species and, as a phylum, have survived all mass extinctions since the Cambrian. They capture prey with an extraordinary adhesive net that appears in an instant. The first naturalist to formally mention them was Lansdown Guilding (1797-1831), a British priest from the Caribbean island of Saint Vincent. His life is as little known as the history of the field he initiated, onychophorology. This is the first general history of onychophorology, and I have divided it into half century periods. The beginning, 1826-1879, was defined by former students of great names in the history of biology, like Cuvier and von Baer. This generation included Milne-Edwars and Blanchard, and the greatest advances came from France, with smaller but still important contributions from England and Germany. In the 1880-1929 period, work concentrated in anatomy, behavior, biogeography and ecology, but of course the most important work was Bouvier’s mammoth monograph. The next half century, 1930-1979, was important for the discovery of Cambrian species; Vachon’s explanation of how ancient distribution defined the existence of two families; Pioneer DNA and electron microscopy from Brazil; and primitive attempts at systematics using embryology or isolated anatomical characteristics. Finally, the 1980-2020 period, with research centered in Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica and Germany, is marked by an evolutionary approach to everything, from body and behavior to distribution; for the solution of the old problem of how they form their adhesive net and how the glue works; the reconstruction of Cambrian onychophoran communities, the first experimental taphonomy; the first country-wide map of conservation status (from Costa Rica); the first model of why they survive in cities; the discovery of new phenomena like food hiding, parental feeding investment and ontogenetic diet shift; and for the birth of a new research branch, Onychophoran Ethnobiology, founded in 2015. While a few names appear often in the literature, most knowledge was produced by a mass of researchers who entered the field only briefly.
Метод линий тока для расчета композиционной неизотермической фильтрации вязкопластичных нефтей
Authors: Невмержицкий Ян Васильевич , Nevmerzhitskiy Yan V. , Конюхов Андрей Викторович , Konyukhov Andrey Victorovich
Published: March 2020

Целью работы является разработка численного метода, позволяющего проводить
расчеты неизотермической многокомпонентной фильтрации за более короткое время, чем существующие конечно-объемные методы. Рассматривается плоская задача фильтрации воды, нефти и газа. Нефтяная фаза состоит из двух компонентов -
легких и тяжелых фракций, которые, как и вода, могут переходить в газовую фазу.
В работе учтена не только нелинейность закона фильтрации нефти, но и зависимость параметров этого закона от температуры. Такая постановка задачи актуальна
при моделировании разработки месторождений высоковязких нефтей. Для уменьшения вычислительной сложности задачи применен метод линий тока с расщеплением по физическим процессам, заключающийся в отделении конвективного переноса, направленного вдоль распространения потока, от процессов, связанных с теплопроводностью и гравитацией, направление которых не совпадает с конвективным потоком. Отличительной особенностью предлагаемого метода является совместное решение уравнений для давления, баланса энергии и массы компонентов
как на линиях тока, так и на исходной сетке. Эта особенность позволяет проводить
корректные расчеты при фильтрации нефтей со сложной реологией, зависящей от
температуры. Численное решение системы уравнений фильтрации на двумерной
сетке и линиях тока осуществляется методом IMPEC. Для представленного метода
линий тока предложен алгоритм учета теплопроводности, а также критерии перехода между расчетами на линиях тока и на двумерной сетке. Разработанная программа была верифицирована путем сравнения с аналитическими решениями, а
также с результатами расчетов конечно-объемными методами на пятиточечном и
девятиточечном разностных шаблонах.
Histological Changes in the Lung and Liver of Mice Treated with Brake Pad Particles
Authors: Et al. Ghaidan
Published: March 2020

In the present study, the effects of brake pad particles of lung and liver histological sections were evaluated for (60) adult male mice. The animals were divided into three groups ( A,B,C) according to the periods of exposure (4, 8, and 12) weeks respectively exposed to brake pad particles in addition to the control groups (F) exposed to fresh air only. A special inhalation chamber designed locally has been used to expose the animals. The exposure to brake pad particles was (2.228) µg/m³ for 30 min/day, 5 days/week for (4,8and12) weeks respectively.

The examination in group (A) of the histological sections of the lung showed the thickness of interalveolar septa.  Also, a congestion of alveolar capillary was marked indicating pulmonary emphysema. The infiltration of alveolar macrophages showed the engulfed foreign particles (pad particles) within their cytoplasm, and peribronchial fibrosis. Group (B) showed the presence of pad particles (anthracosis), whereas the bronchial tree showed bronchitis with the bronchus-hyperplasia of mucin-producing cells (epithelial hyperplasia). Still another section showed an infiltration of mononuclear leukocytes and focal lobar necrosis. The third group (C), in turn, revealed acute interstitial bronchopneumonia with peribronchial focal necrosis and mild pulmonary edema with alveolar anthracosis.

As regards the liver, group (A) showed mild central venous congestion. Group (B), on the other hand, gave acute hepatitis, congestion of the central vein hyaline degeneration and mitotic figure having 2-3 nuclei. Severe congestion of the central vein with vascular amyloid deposition and most of the hepatocytes revealed coagulate necrosis in group (C). These changing tissues increased with increasing the exposure periods and were clearer in group (C) which was exposed for 12 weeks.

The continuous exposure to brake pad particles lead to damaging important body organs tissues and effect on human health, these particles can be considered as a type of pollutants added to air pollutants in different cities of Iraq.
Micro Spectrophotometric Determination and Cloud Point Extraction of Sulphadimidine Sodium in Pure form and Pharmaceutical Drug
Authors: Et al. Dhahir
Published: March 2020

Two simple, rapid, and useful spectrophotometric methods were suggest or the determination of sulphadimidine sodium (SDMS) with and without using cloud point extraction technique in pure form and pharmaceutical preparation. The first  method was based on  diazotization of the Sulphdimidine Sodium drug by sodium nitrite at 5 ºC, followed by coupling with α –Naphthol in basic medium to form an orange colored product . The product was stabilized and its absorption was measured at 473 nm. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of (1-12) μg∙ml-1. Sandell’s sensitivity was 0.03012 μg∙cm-1, the detection limit was 0.0277 μg∙ml-1, and the limit of Quantitation was 0.03605μg∙ml-1.The second method was the cloud point extraction (CPE) using Trtion X-114 as surfactant. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of (1-12) μg∙ml-1. Sandell’s sensitivity was 0.02958 μg∙cm-1, the detection limit was 0.01745 μg∙ml-1, and the limit of quantitation was 0.028303 μg∙ml-1. All variables including the reagent concentration, reaction time, color stability period, and mole ratio were studied in order to optimize the reaction conditions. The mole ratio for the composition of product is (1:1). Both methods were effectively useful to the determination of sulphdimidine sodium in pharmaceutical dose form.  The attained results were in a good agreement with the official and other methods in the literature .No interference were observed from the commonly encountered additives and excipients.
New Types of Pseudo Ideals in Pseudo Q-algebra
Authors: Et al. Abdullah
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we introduce the notions of Complete Pseudo Ideal, K-pseudo Ideal, Complete K-pseudo Ideal in pseudo Q-algebra. Also, we give some theorems and relationships among them are debated.
Proposing a Scheme for Human Interactive Proof Test using Plasma Effect
Authors: Et al. Ali
Published: March 2020

Human Interactive Proofs (HIPs) are automatic inverse Turing tests, which are intended to differentiate between people and malicious computer programs. The mission of making good HIP system is a challenging issue, since the resultant HIP must be secure against attacks and in the same time it must be practical for humans. Text-based HIPs is one of the most popular HIPs types. It exploits the capability of humans to recite text images more than Optical Character Recognition (OCR), but the current text-based HIPs are not well-matched with rapid development of computer vision techniques, since they are either vey simply passed or very hard to resolve, thus this motivate that continuous efforts are required to improve the development of HIPs base text. In this paper, a new proposed scheme is designed for animated text-based HIP; this scheme exploits the gap between the usual perception of human and the ability of computer to mimic this perception and to achieve more secured and more human usable HIP. This scheme could prevent attacks since it's hard for the machine to distinguish characters with animation environment displayed by digital video, but it's certainly still easy and practical to be used by humans because humans are attuned to perceiving motion easily. The proposed scheme has been tested by many Optical Character Recognition applications, and it overtakes all these tests successfully and it achieves a high usability rate of 95%.
Fog Computing Resource Optimization: A Review on Current Scenarios and Resource Management
Authors: Et al. Dar
Published: March 2020

The unpredictable and huge data generation nowadays by smart computing devices like (Sensors, Actuators, Wi-Fi routers), to handle and maintain their computational processing power in real time environment by centralized cloud platform is difficult because of its limitations, issues and challenges, to overcome these, Cisco introduced the Fog computing paradigm as an alternative for cloud-based computing. This recent IT trend is taking the computing experience to the next level. It is an extended and advantageous extension of the centralized cloud computing technology. In this article, we tried to highlight the various issues that currently cloud computing is facing. Here in this research article, we present a comprehensive review of fog computing, differentiating it from cloud computing, also present various use-cases of fog computing in different domains, we came to conclude that Fog computing leads in an efficient energy resource management, leveraging the energy both in terms of consumption and cost scenarios. Further, we highlighted its key features, challenges and issues, resource optimization methods.
The dietary antioxidant quercetin reduces hallmarks of bleomycin-induced lung fibrogenesis in mice
Authors: Boots Agnes Wilhelmina , Veith Carmen , Albrecht Catrin , Bartholome Roger , Drittij Marie Jose , Claessen Sandra , Bast Aalt , Rosenbruch Martin , Jonkers Leonie , Schooten Frederik-Jan van , Schins Roel
Published: March 2020

Background Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, lethal disease of unknown etiology. Current treatment comprises two FDA-approved drugs that can slow down yet not stop or reverse the disease. As IPF pathology is associated with an altered redox balance, adding a redox modulating component to current therapy might exert beneficial effects. Quercetin is a dietary antioxidant with strong redox modulating capacities suggested to exert part of its antioxidative effects via activation of the redox-sensitive transcription factor Nrf2. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate if quercetin can exert anti-fibrotic effects in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrogenesis through Nrf2-dependent restoration of redox imbalance. Methods Homozygous Nrf2 deficient mice and their wildtype littermates were fed a control diet without or with 800 mg/kg quercetin from 7 days prior to a single 1 µg/2µl per g BW bleomycin challenge until they were sacrificed 14 days afterwards. Lung tissue and plasma were collected to determine markers of fibrosis (expression of extracellular matrix genes and histopathology), inflammation (pulmonary gene expression and plasma levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNFα) and Keratinocyte Chemoattrachtant (KC)), and redox balance (pulmonary gene expression of antioxidants and malondialdehyde-dG (MDA)- DNA adducts). Results Mice fed the enriched diet had significantly enhanced plasma and pulmonary quercetin levels (11.08 ± 0.73 µM versus 7.05 ± 0.2 µM) combined with increased pulmonary expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2-responsive genes compared to mice fed the control diet. Upon bleomycin treatment, quercetin-fed mice displayed reduced expression of collagen (COL1A2) and fibronectin (FN1) and a tendency of reduced inflammatory lesions (2.8 ± 0.7 versus 1.9 ± 0.8). These beneficial effects were accompanied by reduced pulmonary gene expression of TNFα and KC, but not their plasma levels, and enhanced Nrf2-induced pulmonary antioxidant defences. In Nrf2 deficient mice, no effect of the dietary antioxidant on either histology or inflammatory lesions was observed. Conclusion Quercetin exerts anti-fibrogenic and anti-inflammatory effects on bleomycin-induced pulmonary damage in mice possibly through modulation of the redox balance by inducing Nrf2. However, quercetin could not rescue the bleomycin-induced pulmonary damage indicating that quercetin alone cannot ameliorate the progression of IPF.
Optimal Location of Subtrochanteric Osteotomy in Total Hip Arthroplasty for Crowe Type IV Developmental Dysplasia of Hip
Authors: Huang Zhe-Yu , Liu Hua , Li Ming , Ling Jing , Zhang Jun-Hui , Zeng Zhi-Min
Published: March 2020

Background When reconstructing a hip with developmental dysplasia and high dislocation, sub-trochanteric shortening osteotomy is typically needed for placing the acetabular component in the appropriate anatomical position. However, the procedure can result in complications such as non-union of the osteotomy. We evaluated the contact area and the coincidence rate between the proximal and distal fragments at different femoral osteotomy levels and lengths. We then determined the optimal location of subtrochanteric femoral shortening transverse osteotomy in patients with unilateral Crowe type IV developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH). The consistency between the proximal and distal segments was assessed as a possible predictive indicator of the union at the osteotomy site.

Methods We retrospectively reviewed 57 patients with unilateral Crowe type IV DDH who underwent X-ray imaging of both hip joints. We labelled the inner and outer diameters of the circular ring as N (mm) and M (mm), respectively. We defined the overlapped area between the proximal and distal ring as contact area S (mm 2 ), and the ratio of contact area to distal ring area as coincidence rate R.

Results N varied from 9.8–15.2 mm and M varied from 20.7–24 mm, both demonstrated a decreasing trend in the proximal to distal direction. At osteotomy lengths ranging from 0.5–2 cm, there were no differences in S between the different levels of osteotomy in each group. At osteotomy lengths ≤ 2.5 cm, a significant higher coincidence rate was noted from 2 cm below the lesser trochanter to other positions below the level. At osteotomy lengths from 3–5.5 cm, a significantly higher coincidence rate was observed from the level of 1.5 cm below the lesser trochanter to other positions below the level.

Conclusions Our findings suggest that femoral shortening transverse osteotomy at the optimal subtrochanteric level can predictably increase the contact area and coincidence rate, which may contribute to the union at the osteotomy site. Considering the stability of the prostheses, it appears appropriate that osteotomy location should be shifted slightly distally.
Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α reduces lipid droplets by upregulating neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1 in macrophages
Authors: MATSUOKA Hiroshi , TOKUNAGA Riki , KATAYAMA Miyu , HOSODA Yuichiro , MIYA Kaoruko , SUMI Kento , OHISHI Ami , KAMISHIKIRYO Jun , SHIMA Akiho , MICHIHARA Akihiro
Published: March 2020

Background: Neutral cholesterol ester hydrolase 1 (NCEH1) catalyzes the hydrolysis of cholesterol ester (CE) in macrophages. Genetic ablation of NCEH1 promotes CE-laden macrophages and the development of atherosclerosis in mice. Dysregulation of NCEH1 levels is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple disorders including metabolic diseases and atherosclerosis; however, relatively little is known regarding the mechanisms regulating NCEH1. Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptor α (RORα)-deficient mice exhibit several phenotypes indicative of aberrant lipid metabolism, including dyslipidemia and increased susceptibility to atherosclerosis. Results: In this study, inhibition of lipid droplet formation by RORα positively regulated NCEH1 expression in macrophages. In mammals, the NCEH1 promoter region was found to harbor putative RORα response elements (ROREs). Electrophoretic mobility shift, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays showed that RORα binds and responds to ROREs in human NCEH1. Moreover, NCEH1 was upregulated through RORα via a phorbol myristate acetate-dependent mechanism during macrophage differentiation from THP1 cells. siRNA-mediated knockdown of RORα significantly downregulated NCEH1 expression and accumulated lipid droplets in human hepatoma cells. In contrast, NCEH1 expression and removal of lipid droplets were induced by RORα agonist treatments and RORα overexpression in macrophages. Conclusion: These data strongly suggested that NCEH1 is a direct RORα target, defining potential new roles for RORα in the inhibition of lipid droplet formation through NCEH1.
Linkage Mapping and Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Conservative QTLs and Candidate Genes for Fusarium Rot Resistance in Maize
Authors: Wu Yabin , Zhou Zijian , Dong Chaopei , Chen Jiafa , Ding Junqiang , Zhang Xuecai , Mu Cong , Chen Yuna , Li Xiaopeng , Li Huimin , Han Yanan , Wang Ruixia , Sun Xiaodong , Li Jingjing , Dai Xiaodong , Song Weibin , Chen Wei , Wu Jianyu
Published: March 2020

Background: Fusarium ear rot (FER) caused by Fusarium verticillioides is a major disease of maize that reduces grain yield and quality globally. However, there have been few reports of major loci for FER were verified and cloned. Result: To gain a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis of natural variation in FER resistance, a recombinant inbred lines (RIL) population and one panel of inbred lines were used to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for resistance. As a result, a total of 10 QTL were identified by linkage mapping under four environments, which were located on six chromosomes and explained 1.0%-7.1% of the phenotypic variation. Epistatic mapping detected four pairs of QTL that showed significant epistasis effects, explaining 2.1%-3.0% of the phenotypic variation. Additionally, 18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified across the whole genome by genome-wide association study (GWAS) under five environments. Compared linkage and association mapping revealed five common intervals located on chromosomes 3, 4, and 5 associated with FER resistance, four of which were verified in different near-isogenic lines (NILs) populations. GWAS identified three candidate genes in these consistent intervals, which belonged to the Glutaredoxin protein family , actin-depolymerizing factors (ADFs), and AMP-binding proteins. In addition, two verified FER QTL regions were found consistent with Fusarium cob rot (FCR) and Fusarium seed rot (FSR). Conclusions: These results revealed that multi pathways were involved in FER resistance, which was a complex trait that was controlled by multiple genes with minor effects, and provided important QTL and genes, which could be used in molecular breeding for resistance.
Viral infection and glioma: a meta-analysis of prognosis
Authors: Cai Ze-Hao , Yang Shou-Bo , Li Xiao-Yan , Chen Feng , Li Wen-Bin
Published: March 2020

Method Through careful and comprehensive retrieval of results from the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, eligible articles were selected strictly according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The regional sources, detection methods, detection indicators, patient survival, and other data from the samples in the papers were extracted, and the integrated analysis was conducted using Stata 15.1. We conducted a subgroup analysis of the relationship between the degree of infection and prognosis in cytomegalovirus (CMV) patients. Results A total of 11 studies were included in the analysis. Among them, 7 studies involved the relationship between CMV infection and the prognosis of patients with glioma, 2 studies involved human papillomavirus (HPV), 2 studies involved human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6), and one study involved simian virus 40 (SV40), woolly monkey sarcoma virus (WMSV) and human endogenous retrovirus K113 (HERV-K113). In the CMV study, the pooled Hazard ratio (HR) of Overall survival (OS) was 1.024 (CI: 0.698–1.501), with a P value of 0.905. The pooled HR of Progression free survival (PFS) was 1.067 (CI: 0.770–1.478), with a P value of 0.697. The pooled HR value of low-degree infection versus high-degree infection was 1.476 (CI: 0.799–2.727), with a P value of 0.213. In the HPV study, the pooled HR of OS was 1.467 (CI: 0.552–3.901), with a P value of 0.443. Conclusion CMV infection has no significant effect on the prognosis of glioma patients. Using the IEA as the detection index, the degree of CMV infection was found to have a significant impact on the prognosis of glioma patients; it was not found to possess a significant prognostic value after the integration of different indicators. Neither HPV nor HHV-6 infection has a significant effect on the prognosis of glioma patients. SV40 and WMSV infection are associated with poor prognosis in patients with low-grade glioma.
Extensive antimicrobial resistance and plasmid-carrying resistance genes in mcr-1-positive E. coli sampled in swine, in Guangxi, South China
Authors: Yuan Jingzhi , Wang Xiaoye , Shi Dali , Ge Qiang , Song Xingxing , Hu Wen , Wei Deyuan , Ge Chenling , Li Xun , Hu Chuanhuo
Published: March 2020

Background: The discovery of the superbug mcr-1 -positive Escherichia coli (MCRPEC) has attracted worldwide attention. Swine-origin multi-drug resistant MCRPEC is a potential threat to public health and safety. To date, few detailed studies have been reported on swine MCRPEC in Guangxi, South China. Results: In this study, thirty-three MCRPEC strains were identified from 142 E. coli strains isolated from 116 samples in Guangxi in 2018. All MCRPEC isolates were classified into eight unique STs and a total of six incompatibility plasmid groups (IncFI, IncHI1, IncY, IncN, IncI1 and IncX1) were found. Then, susceptibility of MCRPEC isolates to 27 antimicrobial agents belonging to 17 antimicrobial categories was tested. There were nineteen 3rd and 4th generation cephalosporins resistant E. coli and twelve carbapenem resistant E. coli among the 33 MCRPEC strains. Importantly, the MCRPEC were highly resistant to two carbapenem antibiotics, imipenem and meropenem, which were not permitted for use in livestock production. Three MCRPEC strains were further identified to be extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and the other isolates were recognized as multi-drug-resistant (MDR). Moreover, we detected whether the plasmid-carrying resistance genes coexist with the mcr-1 gene of the MCRPEC isolates. At last, β-lactamase antimicrobial resistance genes such as ESBL genes ( bla CTX-M14 , bla CTX-M24 , bla CTX-M123 , bla OXA-1 ), plasmid-mediated AmpC (pAmpC) gene ( bla CMY-2 ), and the carbapenem gene bla NDM-5 were detected. In addition, non-β-lactamase antimicrobial resistance genes such as qnrA , qnrB , qnrS , aac(6’)-Ib-cr , tetA , tetB , sul1 , sul2 , floR , aadA were also detected. Conclusion: Thirty-three mcr-1 -positive E. coli isolates in Guangxi had a wide range of antimicrobial resistance. Plasmid-carrying resistance genes might be the main cause of MCRPEC multidrug resistance. This study highlighted the necessity for long-term surveillance of mcr-1 -positive E. coli in pigs.
The functions of ocu-miR-205 in regulating hair follicle development in Rex rabbits
Authors: Liu Gongyan , Li Shu , Liu Hongli , Zhu Yanli , Bai Liya , Sun Haitao , Gao Shuxia , Jiang Wenxue , Li Fuchang
Published: March 2020

Background: Hair follicles is an appendage from the vertebrate skin epithelium, and arise from the embryonic ectoderm andregenerate cyclically during adult life. Dermal papilla cells (DPCs) is the key dermal component of the hair follicle that directly regulates hair follicle development, growth and regeneration. Recent studies have reported that miRNA plays an important role in regulating hair follicle morphogenesis, proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis of hair follicle stem cells. Results: The miRNAs expression profile of the DPCs from different hair density Rex rabbits shown that 240 differentially expressed of miRNAs were screened (log 2 (HD/LD)｜>1.00 and Q-value≤0.001). Among them, the expression of ocu-miR-205-5p in low hair densities DPCs was higher than that in high hair densities, and it is highly expressed in the skin tissue of Rex rabbits ( P <0.05). ocu-miR-205 could increase cell proliferation and cell apoptosis ratio, change cell cycle process ( P <0.05), affect the genes expression of PI3K/Akt, Wnt, Notch and BMP signaling pathways in DPCs and skin tissue of Rex rabbits, inhibit the protein phosphorylation level of CTNNB1, GSK-3β and the protein expression level of noggin (NOG), promote Akt phosphorylation level ( P <0.05). There was no significant change in primary follicle density ( P >0.05), but the secondary follicle density and total follicle density ( P <0.05) were changed after ocu-miR-205-5p interfered expression, and secondary/primary ratio (S/P) in ocu-miR-205-5p interfered expression group increased at 14 days after injection ( P <0.05). Conclusion: ocu-miR-205 could promote the apoptosis of DPCs, affect PI3K/Akt, Wnt, Notch and BMP signaling pathways genes and proteins expression in DPCs and skin of Rex rabbits, promote the transformation of hair follicles from growth phase to regression and resting phase, and affect hair density of Rex rabbits.
Identification and characterization of differentially expressed genes in Caenorhabditis elegans in response to pathogenic and nonpathogenic Stenotrophomonas maltophilia
Authors: Radeke Leah J , Herman Michael
Published: March 2020

Background: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an emerging nosocomial pathogen that causes infection in immunocompromised patients. S. maltophilia isolates are genetically diverse, contain diverse virulence factors, and are variably pathogenic within several host species. Members of the Stenotrophomonas genus are part of the native microbiome of C. elegans , being found in greater relative abundance within the worm than its environment, suggesting that these bacteria accumulate within C. elegans . Thus, study of the C. elegans-Stenotrophomonas interaction is of both medical and ecological significance. To identify host defense mechanisms, we analyzed the C. elegans transcriptomic response to S. maltophilia strains of varying pathogenicity: K279a, an avirulent clinical isolate, JCMS, a virulent strain isolated in association with soil nematodes near Manhattan, KS, and JV3, an even more virulent environmental isolate. Results: Overall, we found 145 genes that are commonly differentially expressed in response to pathogenic S. maltophilia strains, 89% of which are upregulated, with many even further upregulated in response to JV3 as compared to JCMS. There are many more JV3-specific differentially expressed genes (225, 11% upregulated) than JCMS-specific differentially expressed genes (14, 86% upregulated), suggesting JV3 has unique pathogenic mechanisms that could explain its increased virulence. We used connectivity within a gene network model to choose pathogen-specific and strain-specific differentially expressed candidate genes for functional analysis. Mutations in 13 of 22 candidate genes caused significant differences in C. elegans survival in response to at least one S. maltophilia strain, although not always the strain that induced differential expression, suggesting a dynamic response to varying levels of pathogenicity.
Conclusions: Variation in observed pathogenicity and differences in host transcriptional responses to S. maltophilia strains reveal that strain-specific mechanisms play important roles in S. maltophilia pathogenesis. Furthermore, utilizing bacteria closely related to strains found in C. elegans natural environment provides a more realistic interaction for understanding host-pathogen response.
WITHDRAWN: Transconjunctival Cryo-Assisted Extraction of Intraconal Cavernous Hemangioma
Authors: Ghafar Ayman el Sayed Abd el Sayed , Saleh Sameh M , Elwehidy Ahmed S , Awara Amr Mahmoud
Published: March 2020

Background: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryo-assisted transconjunctival orbitotomy for the extraction of intraconal cavernous hemangiomas.Methods: The study was performed at the Mansoura Ophthalmic Center, Mansoura University, Egypt from May 2017 to August 2018 and included 18 patients with orbital intraconal cavernous hemangiomas. In all the cases, preoperative orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with contrast was performed, the transconjunctival approach was used and cryo-assisted lesion extraction was performed. Cases were followed for six months after the surgery.Results: This study included 18 patients with intraconal cavernous hemangiomas, ten females (55.6%) and eight males (44.4%) with a mean age of 35.6 years. .The hemangiomas were lateral to the optic nerve in eight(44.5%), above the optic nerve in four cases(22.2%), and below the optic nerve in six cases(33.3%). Eight cases had postoperative complications: three cases (16.7%) had postoperative diplopia due to lateral rectus paresis that improved in all three cases within six months, one case (5.6%) had postoperative retrobulbar hemorrhage and proptosis that resolved within two weeks without sequelae, and four cases (22.2%) showed subconjunctival hemorrhages which resolved within two weeks. Of the two cases with preoperative decreases in visual acuity preoperative, one case (5.6%) showed improvement and one case (5.6%) did not improve. Conclusions: Cryoprobe-assisted transconjunctival orbitotomy for the excision of intraconal cavernous hemangiomas is a good approach with minor resolvable complications.Trial registration: Mansoura institutional review board (IRB)Registration number: R/17.05.26 Registration date: 10/5/2017
The Iranian Version of Theory-Based Intention for Cesarean Section (IR-TBICS) Scale: Development and First Evaluation
Authors: Naghibi Seyed Abolhassan , Khazaee-Pool Maryam , Moosazadeh Mahmood
Published: March 2020

Background: The rate of mothers experiencing a cesarean section in the absence of medical signs is growing in the world. Women's beliefs and intentions have an essential role in the request or choosing a delivery method. At present, there is no comprehensive, validated scale for assessing pregnant women's beliefs about the cesarean section in the Iranian population. This study performed to develop and assess the validity and reliability of the belief-based cesarean section scale using the theory of reason action (TRA) constructs as a theoretical framework for measuring intention toward delivery method selection.
Methods: In this cross-sectional validation study, 480 pregnant women were recruited from Sari, north of Iran, through a multi-stage random sampling approach. Content validity was examined using the content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). Furthermore, both exploratory factor analyses (EFA) and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were applied to assess the construct validity of the developed scale. Reliability was measured by internal consistency and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Quality criteria for floor and ceiling effects were derived from existing guidelines and consensus within our research group.
Results: Results obtained from factor analysis showed that the data were fit to the model (χ2= 2298.389, P<0.001), and TRA consisted of 24 items assessing five domains, which describing 62.46% of the common variance. The CFA showed a model with suitable fitness for the data. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for the domains of the scale ranged from .609 to .843, and the ICC value ranged from .71 to .84, which is within satisfactory ranges. The IR-TBICS scale had no floor and ceiling effect in the total score or any of the dimensions.
Conclusion: The belief-based cesarean section scale appears to be a reliable instrument and now is suitable and can be applied in other researches in Iran.
Keywords: Cesarean section, Intention, Scale development, Psychometrics, Pregnant women
Relationship between Traumatic Exposure and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Flood Victims: Roles of Fear and Self-Disclosure
Authors: Quan Lijuan , Lv Bijun , Zhou Xiao , Hou Guanghai , Sang Qingsong
Published: March 2020

Background: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is one of the most prevalent psychopathologies experienced by victims following natural disasters. The severity of traumatic experience may be a critical risk factor for the development of PTSD. Nevertheless, other factors may also lead to PTSD. We propose that fear and self-disclosure could be two important factors. Previous studies have examined their unique roles in PTSD, but their combined role in PTSD has been rarely assessed. To fill this gap, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between severity of traumatic exposure, fear, self-disclosure, and PTSD among victims following flood disaster. Methods: one hundred ninety-nine participants completed self-report questionnaires. Descriptive statistics were obtained using SPSS 17.0 and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to obtain correlations between major variables. Results: results indicated that severity of traumatic exposure not only had a direct effect on PTSD, but also it had an indirect effect on PTSD via activating victims’ fear. Moreover, self-disclosure played a buffering role between fear and PTSD. However, the role of fear in PTSD may decrease with increases in levels of self-disclosure. Conclusions: Traumatic exposure had positive predictive effects for PTSD and fear. Self-disclosure had negative predictive effects for PTSD. Fear played a mediating role between severity of traumatic exposure and PTSD, self-disclosure played a moderating role in the relationship between fear and PTSD. Psychological interventions should focus on the regulation of fear and improvement of self-disclosure following traumatic exposure.
End-of-life care for people with advanced dementia and pain: A qualitative study in Swedish nursing homes
Authors: Lundin Emma , Godskesen Tove
Published: March 2020

Background: Of the Swedish people with advanced dementia, the majority die in nursing homes. Unresolved pain can occur in people with a terminal illness such as dementia. However, pain management in people with advanced dementia is often suboptimal and inadequate, with fewer palliative care interventions than offered to cancer patients. Although they are largely responsible for the care of these people, few studies have addressed the experiences of registered nurses in this respect. Therefore, the aim of this study was to describe the experiences of nurses in caring for people with advanced dementia and pain at the end of life.Methods: The study had a descriptive explorative design. Individual qualitative, semi-structured interviews were carried out with thirteen nurses from twelve nursing homes in Sweden. The results were analysed using thematic content analysis.Results: The nurses described communicative, relational and organisational challenges. One major issue involved difficulties in communicating with the person with advanced dementia, resulting in uncertain pain assessment. Other difficulties involved the differentiation of pain from anxiety, the balance of benefits and risks with morphine administration, and the creation of good relationships with healthcare personnel and the persons’ relatives. Relatives can greatly affect the assessment and management of pain, both because of their ability to interpret pain behaviour and by questioning the care given. Good pain management was facilitated by good communication and relationships with healthcare staff and relatives, extensive professional nursing experience, and already knowing the person with advanced dementia. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for nursing homes to employ specialist nurses who have been trained in the appropriate knowledge and skills to deal with the challenges of end-of-life care for people with advanced dementia and pain. Additionally, there should be resources and strategies available for providing information to family members and for involving them in the decision-making process, as they are often unfamiliar with the multitude of considerations involved in decisions such as whether to administer morphine or not.
Automated External Defibrillator Issues and Challenges in Saudi Arabia: Knowledge Assessment among Laypersons; Public Safety Perspective
Authors: Haliq Samer A. Al , Khraisat Omar M. , Kandil Mohamed A. , Jumaan Mohammed A. Al , Alotaibi Faris M. , Alsaqabi Fahad S. , Alajmi Hussain M. , Ellouly Hany A. , Al-Haliq Mahmoud A. , Alkhawaldeh Abdullah , ALBashtawy Mohammed , Abuhammad Sawsan H.
Published: March 2020

The authors have withdrawn this preprint from Research Square.
HPV-based cervical cancer screening in Nicaragua: from testing to treatment
Authors: Holme Francesca , Maldonado Francisco , Martinez-Granera Orlando B. , Rodriguez Jose Maria , Almendarez Juan , Slavkovsky Rose , Bansil Pooja , Thomson Kerry A. , Jeronimo Jose , de Sanjose Silvia
Published: March 2020

Background
In Nicaragua, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women. Human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, primarily using self-sampling, was introduced between 2014 and 2018 in three provinces. We analyzed data from the HPV screening program with the goal of describing key characteristics including reach, HPV prevalence, triage and treatment, and factors associated with follow-up completion.

Methods
We analyzed individual-level data from routinely collected forms for women attending HPV-based cervical cancer screening. HPV-positive women were triaged with Pap or visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) prior to treatment. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with receiving triage and treatment; analyses were adjusted for province, age, and self- vs. provider-collected sampling.

Results
44,635 women were screened with HPV testing; 96.6% of women used self-sampling. 6,776 women were HPV positive (15.2%), 54.0% of screen-positive women received triage, and 53.1% of triage-positive women were treated, primarily with cryotherapy. If women lost at triage are included, the overall treatment percentage was 27.8%. Province and provider sampling were significantly associated with completing triage. Province and triage type were significantly associated with receiving treatment. The odds of receiving treatment after Pap triage as compared to VIA was significantly lower (aOR: 0.05, 95% CI: 0.04–0.08, p<0.001), and the relative proportion of women receiving treatment after Pap triage versus VIA was 0.29.

Conclusions
Introduction of HPV testing resulted in a substantial number of women screened, and acceptance of self-sampling was high. Management of screen-positive women remained a challenge, particularly with Pap triage. Our results can inform other developing countries as they work to reach World Health Organization (WHO) elimination targets.