bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing self-pollinated crop breeding employing genomic selection: from schemes to updating training sets
Authors: Sabadin Felipe , DoVale Julio César , Platten John , Fritsche-Neto Roberto
Published: August 2021

Long-term breeding schemes employing genomic selection (GS) can boost the response to selection per year. Although several studies show that GS delivers a higher response to selection, only a few analyze the best strategy to employ it, specifically how often and in what manner the training set (TS) should be updated. Therefore, we used stochastic simulation to compare in a long-term breeding program of a hypothetical self-pollinated crop five different strategies to implement GS in the line fixation stage and four methods and sizes to update the TS. Moreover, among breeding schemes, we proposed a new approach for using GS to select the best individuals in each F2 progeny based on genomic estimated breeding and divergence and crossed them to generate a new recombination event. Finally, we compared these schemes to the traditional phenotypic selection and drift. Our results showed that using GS in F2 followed by the phenotypic selection of new parentals in F4 was the best scenario. Furthermore, adding a new set of training data every cycle (over 800) to update the TS maintains the accuracy at satisfactory levels for many more generations, showing that more data is better than optimizing the genetic relationship between TS and the targeted population in a closed system. Hence, we believe that these results may help breeders optimize GS in their programs and improve genetic gain in long-term schemes.
Investigating Future Changes in Southern China Precipitation Characteristics Based on Dynamically Downscaled CMIP5 Climate Projections
Authors: Liu Ying Lung , Tam Chi-yung , Tong Hang Wai , Cheung Kevin , Xu Zhongfeng
Published: August 2021

The Regional Climate Model version 4 (RegCM4) has been used to dynamically downscale outputs from four different general circulation models (GCM) participating in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) to the horizontal resolution of 25 km × 25km, in order to study 2050-to-2099 changes in the Southern China hydrological cycle according to Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5, relative to the period of 1979 to 2003. The mean summertime precipitation is projected to increase by 0.5 – 1.5 mm/day over coastal Southern China, and with significantly enhanced interannual variability. In boreal spring, similar increase in both the seasonal mean and its year-to-year variation north of 25°N is also found. A novel moisture budget analysis shows that changes in mean background humidity (anomalous wind convergence) dominates the increase in the interannual precipitation variability in spring (summer). Extreme daily precipitation (based on the 95 th percentile) is projected to become more intense, roughly following the Clausius–Clapeyron relation for the aforementioned seasons.
On the other hand, autumn mean rainfall rate will be reduced over a broad area in Southern China (although this might be subjected to models’ ability in capturing tropical cyclone activities). The annual number of maximum consecutive dry days (CDD) is found to increase by about 3 to 5 days over locations south of 32°N. Analyses of GCM raw outputs indicate that strengthened northerlies over coastal East Asia , which is likely associated with the so-called tropical expansion, are responsible for the drier autumn.
A Novel Mineralizing film Induces Biomimetic Mineralization
Authors: Wang Zhe , Zhou Zihuai , Fan Jiayan , Zhang Leiqing , Zhang Zhixin , Wu Zhifang , Shi Ying , Zheng Haiyan , Zhang Zhengyi , Tang Ruikang , Fu Baiping
Published: August 2021

Demineralization of tooth hard tissues leads to dental caries, which causes health problem and economic burden throughout the world. Biomimetic mineralization strategy is expected to reverse initial dental caries. Commercially available mineralizing anti-carious products lead to indefinite clinical results because they could not continuously replenish calcium and phosphate resources. Herein, we prepared a novel mineralizing film (NMF) consisting of hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) and polyaspartic acid-stabilized amorphous calcium phosphate (PAsp-ACP) nanoparticles. HPMC containing multiple hydroxyls is a gel-forming material that could be either desiccated to be a dry film or gradually changed into gel in moist milieu. The HPMC was, for the first time, used as a carrier of PAsp-ACP nanoparticles for delivering biomimetic mineralization in moist milieu. Our results indicated the hydroxyls and methoxyls of HPMC could assist the stability of PAsp-ACP nanoparticles and maintain their bioactivity of mineralization. The results further demonstrated that the NMF bioinspired the early mineralization of demineralized dentin at 24 hrs and the heavy mineralization of the whole demineralized dentin (3-4 µm) at 72-96 hrs without any cytotoxicity and mucosa irritation. Therefore, the NMF might be promising mineralizing strategy for preventive dentistry with efficient mineralization capability.
Canine Vector-Borne Diseases of Working Dogs of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Free-Roaming, and Privately-Owned Dogs
Authors: Rajakaruna Rupika Subashini , Jayathilake PS , Wijerathna HSU , Fernando ADS , Ginarathne KMH , Naullage NGRK , Silva SNS , Thananjayan K , Amarasiri LKHRT , Jayasundara NPK , Mallawa MCK , Dangolla A
Published: August 2021

Background

Canine vector-borne diseases (CVBDs) are a significant health problem among dogs globally. The veterinary records show that the military working dogs of Sri Lanka die early at an average age of six years and CVBDs have been listed as one of the speculated causes. This study examined CVBDs in the working dogs of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) together with free-roaming and privately-owned dogs living close to the SLAF establishments and country-wide.
Methods

Blood samples were collected from the cephalic vein for a three year period, from July 2016 to July 2019. Giemsa stained thin blood smears were observed under light microscopy.
Results

A total of 668 dogs were sampled, of which 169 were infected (25.3%) with hemoparasites. The prevalence of infections among the SLAF working dogs (22.5%), free-roaming (26.3%), or privately-owned (26.2%) dogs did not differ significantly (Chi-square test, p > 0.05). A large number of infected dogs were asymptomatic (57.4%), which was significantly higher in free-roaming dogs (96.3%) compared to the SLAF (41.1%) and privately-owned dogs (38.2%; p < 0.0001) but not between SLAF dogs and privately-owned dogs (χ2 = 0.005, p > 0.938). Seven hemoparasites were identified: Babesia gibsoni, B. canis, Ehrlichia canis, Anaplasma platys, Leishmania sp., Hepatozoon canis, and microfilariae. The most common infection was B. gibsoni (13.8%) followed by E. canis (9.9%) and A. platys (4.3%). There was no difference in the prevalence of B. gibsoni in the three categories of dogs (χ2 = 2.61, p = 0.10). Leishmania and H. canis were always presented as single infections, while microfilaria as mixed infections.
Conclusions

Even though the SLAF dogs are thoroughly quarantined before introducing them to the military units, the infection prevalence was similar compared to other dog categories. They have likely acquired the infections through ticks and other arthropod vectors. This is the first comprehensive and comparative island-wide study of dog CVBDs of Sri Lanka, especially the military dogs at the SLAF. It highlights that most infected dogs, especially the free-roaming ones, did not show clinical signs. Although it is speculated that they may act as reservoirs of infection, asymptomatic dogs' ability to spread these CVBDS should be investigated.
Individual energetic processes efficiencies in a polycrystalline silicon PV cell versus electromagnetic field
Authors: Adama OUEDRAOGO , SAVADOGO Mahamadi , HONADIA Prince Abdoul Aziz , KAM Sié , BATHIEBO Dieudonné Joseph
Published: August 2021

The Photovoltaic (PV) system is often installed near the telecommunication antenna without takes account the performance degradation that the electromagnetic field can cause. The present work provides the recognition about the greatest losses occur which can cause the overall efficiency drop. In fact, the absorption and the thermodynamic processes are more sensitive to the variation of the electromagnetic field more than FF and thermalization processes in presence of the electromagnetic field. The absorption and thermodynamic mechanism are the main cause of the degradation of the polycrystalline silicon PV cell outputs. The PV cell having height base doping level to get a better resistivity to the electromagnetic field must be chosen to improve theses outputs. Then a low electromagnetic field zones must be searched to install the PV system improving its electrical production performance.
Should RECOVERY have used Response Adaptive Randomization? Evidence from a simulation study
Authors: Sirkis Tamir , Bowden Jack , Jones Benjamin
Published: August 2021

Background

The Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy (RECOVERY) trial is aimed at addressing the urgent need to find effective treatments for patients hospitalised with suspected or confirmed COVID-19. The trial has had many successes, including discovering that dexamethasone is effective at reducing COVID-19 mortality, the first treatment to reach this milestone in a randomised controlled trial. Despite this, it continues to use standard or `fixed’ randomization (FR) to allocate patients to treatments. We assessed the impact of implementing response adaptive randomization (RAR) within RECOVERY using an array of performance measures, to learn if it could be beneficial going forward. This design feature has recently been implemented within the REMAP-CAP trial.
Methods

Trial data was simulated to closely match the data for patients allocated to either standard care or dexamethasone in the RECOVERY trial from March-June 2020, representing two out of five arms tested throughout this period. Two forms of FR and two forms of RAR were tested. Randomization strategies were performed at the whole trial level as well as within three pre-specified patient subgroups defined by patients’ respiratory support level.
Results

RAR strategies led to more patients being given dexamethasone and a lower mortality rate in the trial. Subgroup specific RAR reduced mortality rates even further. RAR did not induce any meaningful bias in treatment effect estimates, but reduced statistical power compared to FR, with subgroup level adaptive randomizations exhibiting the largest power reduction.
Conclusions

Using RAR within RECOVERY could have resulted in fewer deaths in the trial. However, a larger trial would have been needed to attain the same study power. This could potentially have prolonged the time to full approval of the drug, unless RAR itself led to an increased recruitment rate. Deciding how to balance the needs of patients within a trial and future patients who have yet to fall ill is an important ethical question of our time. RAR deserves to be considered as a design feature in future trials of COVID-19 and other diseases.
Challenges and Opportunities of Sustainable Urbanization case study of Delhi and Rajkot
Authors: Shinde Aniket Gajanan
Published: August 2021

This paper examines the urban challenges, urban policies, sustainable urbanism, and opportunities of sustainable urbanism. Sustainable urbanism is a new term that prevails in urban planning and planning. This paper tries to put forth the need for sustainable urban development in Indian cities such as Delhi and Rajkot. Urbanization in India has led to an unsustainable situation. It offers the proven benefits of economic growth and development, but it also offers brings with it social and ecological challenges. Various challenges related to sustainability, spatial planning, Governance, shortcomings, and execution were discussed in this paper. Specific research questions are: what is sustainable urbanism, what are the challenges to cities such as Delhi and Rajkot, and what are the opportunities of sustainable urbanism in Delhi and Rajkot? People face many challenges that threaten the well-being of the environment, society, and quality of life. All of these challenges are complex and closely related, so one approach can have positive consequences for others. In the case of Delhi, the population growth is an extremely sensitive issue from a social and ethical point of view, has generally become a threat to the entire planet and especially to the metropolitan area, while in the case of Rajkot, increasing industrial, commercial and commercial activities has become threatening to the environment. In this study, I have also explored solutions and other issues that are important elements to discuss.
Comparison of Analog Performance of AlN/β-Ga2O3 HEMT by Variation in Dielectric Materials
Authors: Chauhan meenakshi
Published: August 2021

In the present paper, a high electron mobility transistor based on β-Gα2O3 material (BGO-HEMT) with different dielectrics (Si3N4, Al2O3, and HfO2) at the interface of aluminum nitride (AlN) and the gate is demonstrated. The device has a 10nm AlN layer with 50 nm barrier width, 50nm gate-length, and a value of 5 nm as gate-to-barrier thickness.A highly doped n+ material with a wider gap in between ohmic contact-barrier layers reveals the proposed device's novel traits. The performance is computd in terms of transfer characteristic, transconductance, gate capacitance, 2nd, and 3rd order transconductance values. The proposed structure reduced the dynamic & access resistance and provided a high gm value equal to 0.15S/µm,drain current density value of 650 A/mm (maximum) at Vds= 5 V. In the future, the proposed device can be utilized in high power radio frequency and microwave applications.
Portal vein thrombosis in patients with liver cirrhosis: Risk factors and clinical presentation
Authors: Bizid Sondes , Jlassi Houssaina , Abbes Maroua Ben , Mohamed Ghanem , Ghedira Hela , Abdallah Hatem Ben , Bouali Riadh , Abdelli Nabil
Published: August 2021

Background:Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis. PVT impact on disease progression is not clarified as yet. Anticoagulation therapy is considered effective in this setting, but is associated with potentially bleeding episodes. Aim : to assess the risk factors and clinical impact of non-neoplastic PVT complicating cirrhosis, as well as the treatment profile and its efficacy in clinical practice.Methods:A retrospective monocentric study over a period of 19 years including all patients diagnosed with cirrhosis and non-neoplastic PVT was conducted.Results:A total of 49 patients were enrolled in the present study.The mean age was 60.86±11.61 years old. Chronic viral hepatitis was the most frequent cause of cirrhosis (63.2%). Most of our cases had advanced liver disease (89.9% Child class B/C) with a mean MELD score of 19.27. The risk factors for thrombophilia, inherited or acquired, were: a deficiency in coagulation inhibitors, either isolated or combined (protein S, protein C and antithrombin III) in 19 patients, a heterozygous Factor V Leiden mutation in 2 patients, a heterozygous MTHFR mutation in one patient, an antiphospholipid antibodies syndrome in 2 patients, an essential thrombocythemia in one patient. Anticoagulant therapy was indicated in half of the cases. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that thrombus extension was the only independent predictive factor of portal vein recanalization (p=0.009). During follow-up, progression was observed in 8% of treated patients with anticoagulants versus 12.5% of untreated patients (p=0.12). Our study has shown that anticoagulant treatment is not associated with elevated risk of bleeding or developing other complications. The mean survival was higher in patients treated successfully (38.31 months Vs 23.41 months, p=0.204). Conclusions:Our outcomes confirm that anticoagulation therapy in cirrhotic patients with non-neoplastic PVT is not associated with increased risk of liver disease decompensation, including bleeding.
Influence of Electrode Arrangement Method on Specific Energy Consumption and Productivity in Electrosynthesis of Fine Graphite Powder
Authors: Kupriashov Andrei V. , Shestakov Ivan Y.
Published: August 2021

In this work, the influence of the location of the electrodes on the productivity of electrochemical process and specific energy consumption during direct current electrosynthesis of fine dispersed graphite powder is considered. The authors consider the possibility of using fine dispersed graphite powder obtained by electrolysis as the main component of a multifunctional aerospace coating. For this purpose, two types of devices was constructed: with a coaxial and parallel arrangement of the electrodes. The main elements of the device are a stainless steel cathode and a graphite anode immersed in electrolyte (an aqueous solution of salts). The authors consider the influence of the arrangement of the electrodes in the installation for direct current electrosynthesis from the point of view of the energy efficiency and productivity of electrochemical process. As a result of anodic oxidation, a fine powder from graphite of the MPG-6 brand was obtained. The size of the resulting graphite particles is 4–50 microns. This fine dispersed graphite powder can be used as the main component of a multifunctional coating in aircraft, since it has an even homogeneous structure, as well as higher values of the main mechanical properties of a multifunctional coating, which will lead to a decrease in the number of layers and the thickness of the coating applied. The resulting graphite powder can also be used in the production of fire-retardant and heat-insulating materials for the chemical, nuclear industry, instrumentation and heat power engineering.
Adversity of industrial water pollution on agriculture and livelihood: Experiences of rural population of Dindigul
Authors: Kannan Srinivasan , MBA Rengasamy Karuppaiah
Published: August 2021

Tannery pollution affected water and livelihood of people in Dindigul. Polluted water and soil reduced agricultural production; contaminate drinking water, and livelihood. The present study aims to study the adverse effects of industrial pollution on agriculture and livelihood in Dindigul. Twenty randomly villages drawn with equal number from the vicinity of tanneries and far. A survey was conducted using structured interview schedule among 400 men and women of 18 years and above from 20 villages. Details on Socio-Economic characteristics, water, agriculture and livelihood collected online using Kobo toolbox in Tamil language. In affected and non-affected villages 71 and 102 hold agricultural land only 53 and 87 have cultivated respectively. One third in affected villages and two thirds in non-affected villages cultivated throughout the year. Tanneries affected the livestock population, reduced agricultural production, polluted irrigation, polluted soil and made it infertile, deteriorated the quality of agricultural produce. Compared to economic benefits from tanneries the damage are exorbitant. Politicians and policy makers ignored pollution and turned blind eye to the problems caused to the rural population and livelihood.
Pairs trading in cryptocurrency market: A long-short story
Authors: Thazhungal Govindan Nair Saji
Published: August 2021

Pairs trading that is built on ’Relative-Value Arbitrage Rule’ is a popular short-term speculation strategy enabling traders to make profits from temporary mispricing of close substitutes. This paper aims at investigating the profit potentials of pairs trading in a new finance area – on cryptocurrencies market. The empirical design builds upon four well-known approaches to implement pairs trading, namely: correlation analysis, distance approach, stochastic return differential approach, and cointegration analysis, that use monthly closing prices of leading cryptocoins over the period January 1, 2018, – December 31, 2019. Additionally, the paper executes a simulation exercise that compares long-short strategy with long-only portfolio strategy in terms of payoffs and risks. The study finds an inverse relationship between the correlation coefficient and distance between different pairs of cryptocurrencies, which is a prerequisite to determine the potentially market-neutral profits through pairs trading. In addition, pairs trading simulations produce quite substantive evidence on the continuing profitability of pairs trading. In other words, long-short portfolio strategies, producing positive cumulative returns in most subsample periods, consistently outperform conservative long-only portfolio strategies in the cryptocurrency market. The profitability of pairs trading thus adds empirical challenge to the market efficiency of the cryptocurrency market. However, other aspects like spectral correlations and implied volatility might also be significant in determining the profit potentials of pairs trading.
Influence of Grapevine Leafroll-associated Virus-3 in Mature Plants of Vitis vinifera L. cv Albariño on 110R and 196.17C Rootstocks
Authors: Cabaleiro C. , Pesqueira A.M. , García-Berrios J.J.
Published: August 2021

The detrimental effects of grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) have been documented mainly in young plantsand little data is available on infected grapevines when they reach maturity. This study examined theinfluence of the rootstock on the effect of GLRaV-3 in a 20-year-old Vitis vinifera cv Albariño vineyard inwhich the virus has been spread by Planococcus ficus. Plants grafted on Richter 110 or Castell 196.17 withsimilar development were analysed for grapevine leafroll-associated viruses. In particular, 25 GLRaV-3-infected and 25 leafroll-free and asymptomatic vines were selected and monitored during a period of threeyears to determine grape yield and must components. Although the virus infection affected plants on bothrootstocks, it caused a greater effect on plants grafted onto 110R, with average accumulated yield losses ofup to 33%, relative to losses of 16% for plants on 196.17C. The sugar content was lower in the must frominfected plants on 110R (-2.1ºBrix) than in the must from plants on 196.17C (-1.5ºBrix). The presence ofthe virus was associated with decreased concentrations of primary amino nitrogen (PAN) and ammonium(NH4+), with the greatest effect for 110R (-35%). As 110R is the most used rootstock in Spain, particularcare must be taken to prevent the transmission of GLRaV-3 to certified virus-free plants on 110R in newvineyards. In sensitive varieties such as Albariño, particularly in areas with an active spread of the virusby mealybugs, grafting on 196.17C seems to minimise the effect that GLD has in a medium to long term.
Yenilebilir Kaplama Filmlerinin Oluşturulması ve Karakterizasyonu: Portakal ve Limon Meyvelerinde Uygulanması
Authors: AKIN Mustafa , BERBER Emre
Published: August 2021

Bu araştırmada limon ve portakal meyvelerinin yenilebilir kaplamalar ile raf ömürlerinin değişimi incelenmiştir. Çalışmada karnauba vaks bazlı, karnauba vaks-şellak bazlı ve şellak bazlı üç farklı türde dört farklı kaplama formüle edilerek meyvelere uygulanmıştır. Kaplamalar oluşturulurken manyetik karıştırma hızı 400 rpm’de ve sıcaklık 85°C’de tutulmuştur. Kaplamaların sudaki çözünürlükleri, nem içerikleri ve disk difüzyon yöntemi ile antimikrobiyal aktiviteleri incelenmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında hazırlanan kaplamalar meyvelere kaplanarak fiziksel ve kimyasal analizler uygulanmıştır. Meyveler 12 gün boyunca +4 °C buzdolabında ve oda koşullarında gözlemlenmiştir. Kaplamaların nem içerikleri, sudaki çözünürlükleri, anti-mikrobiyal aktiviteleri ve kütle kaybı analizleri yapılmıştır. Formül 1,2 ve 3 ile oluşturulan kaplamaların sudaki çözünürlüklerinin, Formül 4 ile oluşturulan kaplamalara göre daha düşük olduğu belirlenmiştir. Hem buzdolabı hem de oda sıcaklığında gözlemlenen, kaplama yapılmış, meyvelerde en iyi sonuçlar Formül 1 ile elde edilmiştir. Oluşturulan kaplamalar hem gram pozitif hem de gram negatif bakterilere karşı antimikrobiyal aktiviteye sahip olduğu tespit edilmiştir.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 6-Substituted Mangiferin Derivatives as Antioxidant and Anti-cancer Agents
Authors: Patil Mohan H. , Kabra Uma D. , Gupta Krishna R. , Umekar Milind J.
Published: August 2021

:

Esterified and alkyl amine derivatives of mangiferin were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant and anticancer activities. The chemical structures of the derivatives were confirmed using elemental analysis and spectral data. The antioxidant activity was assessed using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazy (DPHH) assay, and some derivatives displayed antioxidant activity better than mangiferin and standard drug ascorbic acid. Among the synthesized derivatives, few exhibited more enhanced anticancer activity against human breast (MDA-MB-231) cancer cell lines than the parent mangiferin.
Epigenetics and Medicine
Authors:   Cardiology Office, Marktgasse 10a, CH-4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland, Cocco Giuseppe , Amiet Philipp ,   Medical Office, Schiffackerweg 2, CH-4310 Rheinfelden, Switzerland
Published: August 2021

“Epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors and environment can cause changes that affect the way your genes work. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and do not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads a DNA sequence” (https://www.cdc.gov/genomics/disease/epigenetics.htm). Epigenetic interactions, along with the genetic expression in innate cells, change the structure and function of chromatin, and thus, turn the genes on and off. Epigenetic changes influence disease load and resistance and play an important role in health maintenance and almost all medical disorders, and differs significantly with sex and ethnicity. Epigenetic changes may have either positive or detrimental effects on the immune system. They are long-lasting, increase a host’s susceptibility to infections and medical pathologies, and affect the efficacy of vaccines. Recent studies have indicated that detrimental epigenetic changes can be mended. Safe and effective mechanisms to reverse detrimental epigenetic scars will have broad medical implications, decrease mortality after infections, and protect the elderly against infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. These therapies might be useful for the successful application of vaccines in countries where HIV, parasite infestation, malaria, and other chronic diseases are endemic, and also for a better effect of vaccines in geriatric patients.
Molecular characterization of netB and tpeL virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes of Clostridium perfringens isolated from herbs and spices.
Authors: Abd El-Tawab Ashraf A. , El-Hofy Fatma I. , Abdelmonem Mohamed A. , Youssef Hend S.
Published: August 2021

The present study aimed to determine some virulence-associated genes and antimicrobial multidrug resistance of Clostridium perfringens recovered from herbs and spices widely distributed in the Egyptian market. C. perfringens virulence and resistance factors were determined using PCR targeting the netB, tpeL, ermB, bla and tetK genes. Thirty three out of 392 samples (8.42%) from herbs and spices submitted to our laboratory for bacteriological screening were positive for presence C. perfringens. PCR results for the tpeL gene in isolated C. perfringens revealed 9 out of 33 (27.3 %) of isolates, while netB was not detected. The isolates were resistant to Clindamycin, Vancomycin, tetracycline, and erythromycin with inhibition zones of 6.28 ± 0.63, 8.78 ± 0.41, 9.63 ± 0.63, and 9.84 ± 0.66 mm, respectively. The genes mentioned above were selected to correspond to the ineffective antimicrobials; ermB for erythromycin, tetK for tetracycline, and bla for the remainder. PCR results for antibacterial resistant genes in isolated C. perfringens revealed their presence. From 33 isolates, bla gene was detected in 21 (63.4 %), tetK in 13 (39.4 %) and ermB in only one isolate (3.03 %). Sequencing analysis was done for the bla gene as an example for the detected genes as detected at the highest incidence (63.4%). No cross-relationship was detected upon comparing incidence data of both studied virulence genes and those of antimicrobial resistance. The present findings may explain the resistance of C. perfringens to the examined antibacterials and recommend avoiding the application of them to control the microbe. In addition, the authors recommend following strict hygienic procedures during the industry of herbs and spices to ensure their clearance from Clostridium perfringens before distributing the products as food additives into the markets.
Investigate workers' health in the western industrial region, Mosul, Iraq
Authors: Rabeea Znad Salim , Nazar Fadhel Mazin , Erdem Ünşar Ayça
Published: August 2021

The current study aims to determine the level of heavy metal contamination in the Western Industrial Region of Mosul City, northern Iraq. Heavy metals such as( Pb ،Co ،Hg ) are measured In the blood serum of 40 workers in the main industrial areas of Mosul City. It was compared with the control group of (40) people from Mosul university, Where is Far away from the industrial areas and all activities.

The results indicated a highly significant increase of P<0.001 in the serum of the workers in the industrial areas compared with the control group. The study investigates the impact of heavy metals on the workers' health in the industrial areas who are in direct contact with them.
Código de barras de ADN de tres especies de árboles frutales con potencial económico del valle de Huaura, Lima, Perú
Authors: Díaz-Pillasca Hermila Belba , Hernández-Amasifuen Angel David , Machahua Miguel , Pineda-Lázaro Alexandra Jherina , Argüelles-Curaca Alexis , Lugo Brayan
Published: August 2021

El Perú presenta una gran diversidad de recursos genéticos, pero a la vez se desaprovechan especies por desconocimiento o bajo rendimiento económico. Situación que se refleja en el valle de Huaura con los árboles frutales de cansaboca (Bunchosia armeniaca), palillo (Campomanesia lineatifolia) y naranja agria (Citrus aurantium), especies con gran importancia en la gastronomía tradicional local, pero en la actualidad catalogadas en peligro crítico. Con el fin de conservar estas especies se planteó como objetivo establecer código de barras de ADN de tres especies amenazadas con potencial económico del valle de Huaura. Se extrajo ADN de las tres especies con el método CTAB y para las amplificaciones en PCR se emplearon los cebadores de código de barras de ADN universales pertenecientes a cloroplastos: matK, rbcL y trnH-psbA. A partir de los productos purificados y cuantificados se realizó el secuenciamiento de las muestras. Las secuencias fueron analizadas, alineadas y agrupadas con los programas Bioedit, Codon Code Aligner y MEGA respectivamente. Las concentraciones de ADN fueron: palillo (457 ng/μl), cansaboca (433 ng/μl) y naranja agria (442 ng/μl). La amplificación de los cebadores produjo productos de PCR entre 357 y 810 pb. Las secuencias de NCBI que presentaron mayor porcentaje de identidad con cada especie en estudio fueron sometidas a análisis filogenético, los cuales colocaron a las especies en grupos distintos y revelando diferencia genética con las muestras estudiadas. Se proporcionaron las herramientas básicas para implementar códigos de barras de ADN en tres especies de árboles frutales en el valle de Huaura.
Assessing HeberFast® Line Gavac, a lateral flow immunochromatographic system for the rapid detection of anti-Bm86 antibodies in Gavac vaccinated cattle
Authors: Vargas-Hernández Milagros , Hernández Lorenzo Yeni Hernández Lorenzo , Pluma Perez Viviana , Rosales-Garcia Isabel Rosales-Garcia , Rodríguez-Mendez Sunamit , Pérez-Cruz Enrique , Abreu-Remedios Daymi , Montero-Espinosa Carlos , Oliva-Cardenas Ayme , Santana-Rodriguez Elaine , Pérez-Pérez Danny , Sordo-Puga Yusmel , Fuentes-Rodríguez Yohandy , Fundora-Llera Alianne , Duarte Carlos A. , Galbán-Rodríguez Ernesto , Hernandez-Diaz Carlos , Dorta Hernandez Dayamí , Pasaron Rodriguez Ivis , Suarez-Pedroso Marisela
Published: August 2021

Rhipicephalus Boophilus microplus cattle tick is a scourge for livestock production. The infestations produced by this pathogen are incompletely contained by chemical treatments, with the associated environmental pollution risks. Vaccination against cattle ticks has emerged as a feasible and environmentally friendly strategy to control tick-borne diseases. In this setting, Gavac® vaccine has proven effective in decreasing cattle tick populations through antibody responses against the tick Bm86 antigen, as part of an Integrated Control Program. However, animal vaccination programs require easy and ready-to-use screening tests to follow up the immune response in vaccinated animals under field conditions. This study reports the evaluation HeberFast® Line Gavac, a lateral flow immunochromatographic system for the rapid detection of anti Bm86 antibodies in vaccinated cattle. The system was tested on 598 serum samples taken from immunized animals, arranged in three groups according to their anti-Bm86 antibody response in ELISA (209 high, 150 medium or 239 low and 100 samples from non-immunized animals. The HeberFast® Line Gavac system was assessed for sensitivity, specificity, and concordance against the ELISA reference test. Consistency was evaluated among production batches and inter-analyst reading-independent consistency at two moments: ten minutes after completing the test and after strip drying. The system showed high sensitivity (81.6%, 82.2%, and 81%), specificity (96.7, 94.6, and 93.3%), and agreement with the ELISA reference test (75%; 74%, and 71%) for high, medium and low anti-Bm86 sera, respectively. The effectiveness of the diagnosis was 87.6; 87.1; 85.9 for high, medium, and low antibody titers, respectively. Consistency among production batches and analysts was documented, and no significant differences between evaluation times were found. These results indicate that HeberFast® Line Gavac is a valuable tool for the serological surveillance of Gavac vaccinated cattle.
Formulation and organoleptic evaluation of Poly Herbal Cream of Punica, Neem, Carrot & Jamun as Active Ingredients
Authors: Saha Puja , Bhowmick Jayashree , Saha Anupam
Published: August 2021

Assuming that herbal preparation is better with fewer side effects than synthetics, natural treatments are more effective than allopathy in terms of side effects for better human body healing. Herbal products have a growing demand in the world market, and the plants have been reported in the literature as having various pharmacological activities such as anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory activity, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic. The purpose of this study was to develop anti-aging poly-herbal cream by mixing the extract of Punica leaf, Neem Oil, Jamun powder, Carrot powder as the main ingredient, and then creams were developed based on the anti-oxidant ability of herbal extracts and performed their evaluation study. Punica granatam leaves were shade dried and extracted using the Soxhlet method with different solvents such as n-hexane, benzene, and alcohol. Fine extract powder was collected and removed distilled water thoroughly. The cream was formulated into different concentrations, namely F1, F2, F3, and F4. Similar types of research with similar components have been reported, but in this experiment, the formulation is different, and this work is kept cost-efficient and straightforward; it's an attempt to reduce few components and prepare cream and evaluate its potential. According to The International Council for Harmonization of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use ICH guidelines, the cream was stable during stability studies, and F3 turned out to be a better formulation than the other three.
Technology Acceptance Among Patients With Hemophilia in Hong Kong and Their Expectations of a Mobile Health App to Promote Self-management: Survey Study
Authors: Cheung Yin Ting , Lam Pok Hong , Lam Teddy Tai-Ning , Lam Henry Hon Wai , Li Chi Kong
Published: August 2021

Background

The lifelong management of hemophilia is demanding and complex. In July 2019, we published a review in the Journal of Medical Internet Research, summarizing telehealth interventions that facilitate monitoring of bleeding events and promoting the appropriate use of clotting factors among patients with hemophilia. This work has led to the development of a community program that aims to harness technology to promote self-management among patients with hemophilia in Hong Kong.

Objective

Before the inception of this program, we conducted a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the patients’ level of technology acceptance and identify their expectations of the use of mobile technology for self-management of hemophilia.

Methods

In total, 56 participants (75% adult patients and 25% parents of pediatric patients; 87.5% with moderate to severe disease) were recruited from a local nongovernmental organization that serves patients with hemophilia. They rated their perceived confidence and acceptance in using the new mobile technology (score 1 to 5 for each item, with a higher score indicating better acceptance) using a structured questionnaire (adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model). They also identified the top features that they perceived to be the most important components of a mobile app for the self-management of hemophilia. The Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare technology acceptance scores across subgroups of different clinical and socioeconomic characteristics.

Results

In general, the participants considered themselves skilled in using mobile apps (mean 4.3, 95% CI 4.1-4.5). They were willing to learn to use the new mobile app to organize their bleeding records (mean 4.0, 95% CI 3.7-4.3) and to manage their health (mean 4.2, 95% CI 4.1-4.5). Participants who lived in public housing (a surrogate marker for lower socioeconomic status in Hong Kong) reported lower technology acceptance than those who lived in private housing (P=.04). The most important features identified by the participants concerned documenting of infusion logs (n=49, 87.5%), bleeding events (n=48, 85.7%), and the secure delivery of the bleeding information to health care professionals (n=40, 71.4%).

Conclusions

It is encouraging to infer that patients with hemophilia in Hong Kong are receptive to the use of mobile health technology. The findings of this survey are applicable in designing the key features of a patient-centered, multimodal program harnessing mobile technology to promote self-management among patients with hemophilia. Future studies should evaluate participants’ acceptability and perceived usability of the mobile app via user metrics and assess clinical and humanistic outcomes of this program.
Correction: The State of Evidence in Patient Portals: Umbrella Review (Preprint)
Authors: Antonio Marcy G , Petrovskaya Olga , Lau Francis
Published: August 2021

UNSTRUCTURED

no revisions requested
Understanding Adolescent and Young Adult 6-Mercaptopurine Adherence and mHealth Engagement During Cancer Treatment: Protocol for Ecological Momentary Assessment (Preprint)
Authors: Psihogios Alexandra M , Rabbi Mashfiqui , Ahmed Annisa , McKelvey Elise R , Li Yimei , Laurenceau Jean-Philippe , Hunger Stephen P , Fleisher Linda , Pai Ahna LH , Schwartz Lisa A , Murphy Susan A , Barakat Lamia P
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer demonstrate suboptimal oral chemotherapy adherence, increasing their risk of cancer relapse. It is unclear how everyday time-varying contextual factors (eg, mood) affect their adherence, stalling the development of personalized mobile health (mHealth) interventions. Poor engagement is also a challenge across mHealth trials; an effective adherence intervention must be engaging to promote uptake.

OBJECTIVE

This protocol aims to determine the temporal associations between daily contextual factors and 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) adherence and explore the proximal impact of various engagement strategies on ecological momentary assessment survey completion.

METHODS

At the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, AYAs with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma who are prescribed prolonged maintenance chemotherapy that includes daily oral 6-MP are eligible, along with their matched caregivers. Participants will use an ecological momentary assessment app called ADAPTS (Adherence Assessments and Personalized Timely Support)—a version of an open-source app that was modified for AYAs with cancer through a user-centered process—and complete surveys in bursts over 6 months. Theory-informed engagement strategies will be microrandomized to estimate the causal effects on proximal survey completion.

RESULTS

With funding from the National Cancer Institute and institutional review board approval, of the proposed 30 AYA-caregiver dyads, 60% (18/30) have been enrolled; of the 18 enrolled, 15 (83%) have completed the study so far.

CONCLUSIONS

This protocol represents an important first step toward prescreening tailoring variables and engagement components for a just-in-time adaptive intervention designed to promote both 6-MP adherence and mHealth engagement.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT

DERR1-10.2196/32789
Sleep Disturbance and Quality of Life in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prospective mHealth Study (Preprint)
Authors: McBeth John , Dixon William G , Moore Susan Mary , Hellman Bruce , James Ben , Kyle Simon D , Lunt Mark , Cordingley Lis , Yimer Belay Birlie , Druce Katie L
Published: August 2021

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbances and poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are common in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Sleep disturbances, such as less total sleep time, more waking periods after sleep onset, and higher levels of nonrestorative sleep, may be a driver of HRQoL. However, understanding whether these sleep disturbances reduce HRQoL has, to date, been challenging because of the need to collect complex time-varying data at high resolution. Such data collection is now made possible by the widespread availability and use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies.

OBJECTIVE

This mHealth study aimed to test whether sleep disturbance (both absolute values and variability) causes poor HRQoL.

METHODS

The quality of life, sleep, and RA study was a prospective mHealth study of adults with RA. Participants completed a baseline questionnaire, wore a triaxial accelerometer for 30 days to objectively assess sleep, and provided daily reports via a smartphone app that assessed sleep (Consensus Sleep Diary), pain, fatigue, mood, and other symptoms. Participants completed the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief (WHOQoL-BREF) questionnaire every 10 days. Multilevel modeling tested the relationship between sleep variables and the WHOQoL-BREF domains (physical, psychological, environmental, and social).

RESULTS

Of the 268 recruited participants, 254 were included in the analysis. Across all WHOQoL-BREF domains, participants’ scores were lower than the population average. Consensus Sleep Diary sleep parameters predicted the WHOQoL-BREF domain scores. For example, for each hour increase in the total time asleep physical domain scores increased by 1.11 points (β=1.11, 95% CI 0.07-2.15) and social domain scores increased by 1.65 points. These associations were not explained by sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, disease activity, medication use, anxiety levels, sleep quality, or clinical sleep disorders. However, these changes were attenuated and no longer significant when pain, fatigue, and mood were included in the model. Increased variability in total time asleep was associated with poorer physical and psychological domain scores, independent of all covariates. There was no association between actigraphy-measured sleep and WHOQoL-BREF.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimizing total sleep time, increasing sleep efficiency, decreasing sleep onset latency, and reducing variability in total sleep time could improve HRQoL in people with RA.
Ars memorandi et construendi Arquitectura conventual novohispana en la Rhetorica Christiana de Diego Valadés
Authors: Álvarez Hernández Sandra , Cortés Rocha Xavier
Published: August 2021

El Arte de la Memoria es una de las cinco partes de la retórica clásica, que consiste en la creación de lugares e imágenes para ayudar a recordar discursos. A lo largo de la historia fue adaptada a diferentes formas de pensamiento hasta llegar a la Nueva España a través de la Rhetorica Christiana de Diego Valadés. Este libro, además de contener la teoría retórica y el amplio conocimiento del autor de la realidad novohispana, está acompañado de una serie de grabados, entre los que destaca una representación diagramática de un atrio conventual. Esta representación ha sido considerada el único testimonio contemporáneo del origen y uso de este elemento arquitectónico característico de la arquitectura mexicana del siglo XVI. Este estudio propone complementar la importancia de este grabado, aportando una mirada desde la perspectiva de la retórica clásica y el Arte de la Memoria.
La Nueva y Verdadera arquitectura de Königsberg. Un camino alterno al Movimiento Moderno en México
Authors: Leal Menegus Alejandro
Published: August 2021

El arquitecto Jacobo Königsberg (Ciudad de México,1935) es un personaje relevante de la cultura arquitectónica de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. No obstante, su aportación a la arquitectura mexicana no ha sido suficientemente valorada por la historiografía. El propósito del presente artículo es hacer un primer balance de sus contribuciones, particularmente sus publicaciones prospectivas y los edificios de apartamentos construidos, contrastando sus ideas, en particular su apuesta por una arquitectura formalista, con las ideas prevalecientes en el periodo 1950-1970, principalmente la crisis del Movimiento Moderno y los nuevos caminos de la arquitectura.
La turistificación de Lavapiés. Transformaciones de un barrio multicultural a partir de su renovación urbana
Authors: López Narváez María Fernanda
Published: August 2021

La turistificación es un fenómeno que refiere a la afectación del tejido social y comercial de una ciudad o barrio, al reorientarse el espacio urbano y residencial para el uso y disfrute del turista. En este trabajo, a partir de una revisión histórica del barrio, así como de información estadística, se analiza el impacto de la turistificación en Lavapiés, producido tras las obras de renovación urbana llevadas a cabo entre 1998 y 2012. La popularización del barrio madrileño como atractivo turístico se fundamentó en las características socioculturales de una parte de su población: migrantes y okupas. Estas intervenciones, que tuvieron por objeto revertir su degradación, no consideraron, sin embargo, su realidad histórica y social, lo que produjo una paulatina homogenización del barrio, así como la expulsión de sus habitantes originarios que hacen de Lavapiés un sitio único.