bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Toward Greater Insights on Applications of Modeling and Simulation in Pregnancy
Authors: Song Ling , Cui Cheng , Zhou Ying , Dong Zhongqi , Yu Zhiheng , Xu Yifan , Zhou Tianyan , Abduljalil Khaled , Han Hongcan , Li Li , Yang Jinbo , Zhao Yangyu , Li Haiyan , Liu Dongyang
Published: September 2020

Pregnant women are often excluded from routine clinical trials. Consequently, appropriate dosing
regimens for majority of drugs are unknown in this population, which may lead to unexpected safety issue or insufficient
efficacy in this un-studied population. Establishing evidence through the conduct of clinical studies in
pregnancy is still a challenge. In recent decades, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling has
proven to be useful to support dose selection under various clinical scenarios, such as renal and/or liver impairment,
drug-drug interactions, and extrapolation from adult to children. By integrating gestational-dependent
physiological characteristics and drug-specific information, PBPK models can be used to predict PK during
pregnancy. Population pharmacokinetic (PopPK) modeling approach also could complement pregnancy clinical
studies by its ability to analyze sparse sampling data. In the past five years, PBPK and PopPK approaches for
pregnancy have made significant progress. We reviewed recent progress, challenges and potential solutions for
the application of PBPK, PopPK, and exposure-response analysis in clinical drug development for pregnancy.
Assessment of the Physicochemical Properties and Stability for Pharmacokinetic Prediction of Pyrazinoic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Franchin Taísa Busaranho , Ulian Silva Bruna Cristina , DeGrandis Rone Aparecido , Corrêa Michelle Fidelis , de Queiroz Aranha Cecília Maria Simões , Fernandes Joáo Paulo S. , Campos Michel Leandro , Peccinini Rosângela Gonçalves
Published: September 2020

Background:

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis,
which still has high prevalence worldwide. In addition, cases of drug resistance are frequently observed. In the
search for new anti-TB drugs, compounds with antimycobacterial activity have been developed, such as derivatives
of pyrazinoic acid, which is the main pyrazinamide metabolite. In a previous study, the compounds were
evaluated and showed moderate antimycobacterial activity and no important cytotoxic profile; however, information
about their pharmacokinetic profile is lacking.

Objective:

The aim of this work was to perform physicochemical, permeability, and metabolic properties of
four pyrazinoic acid esters.

Methods:

The compounds were analyzed for their chemical stability, n-octanol:water partition coefficient (logP)
and apparent permeability (Papp) in monolayer of Caco-2 cells. The stability of the compounds in rat and human
microsomes and in rat plasma was also evaluated.

Results:

The compounds I, II and IV were found to be hydrophilic, while compound III was the most lipophilic
(logP 1.59) compound. All compounds showed stability at the three evaluated pHs (1.2, 7.4 and 8.8). The apparent
permeability measured suggests good intestinal absorption of the compounds. Additionally, the compounds
showed metabolic stability under action of human and rat microsomal enzymes and stability in rat plasma for at
least 6 hours.

Conclusion:

The results bring favorable perspectives for the future development of the evaluated compounds
and other pyrazinoic acid derivatives.
Biological Aspects and Clinical Applications of Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Key Features You Need to be Aware of
Authors: Saeedi Mohammad , Nezhad Muhammad S. , Mehranfar Fatemeh , Golpour Mahdieh , Esakandari Mohammad A. , Rashmeie Zahra , Ghorbani Maryam , Nasimi Fatemeh , Hoseinian Seyed N.
Published: September 2020

Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs), a form of adult stem cells, are known to have a selfrenewing property and the potential to specialize into a multitude of cells and tissues such as adipocytes, cartilage cells, and fibroblasts. MSCs can migrate and home to the desired target zone where inflammation is present. The unique characteristics of MSCs in repairing, differentiation, regeneration, and the high capacity of immune modulation have attracted tremendous attention for exerting them in clinical purposes, as they contribute to the tissue regeneration process and anti-tumor activity. The MSCs-based treatment has demonstrated remarkable applicability towards various diseases such as heart and bone malignancies, and cancer cells. Importantly, genetically engineered MSCs, as a stateof- the-art therapeutic approach, could address some clinical hurdles by systemic secretion of cytokines and other agents with a short half-life and high toxicity. Therefore, understanding the biological aspects and the characteristics of MSCs is an imperative issue of concern. Herein, we provide an overview of the therapeutic application and the biological features of MSCs against different inflammatory diseases and cancer cells. We further shed light on MSCs' physiological interaction, such as migration, homing, and tissue repairing mechanisms in different healthy and inflamed tissues.
Modeling Microbial Community Networks: Methods and Tools
Authors: Cappellato Marco , Baruzzo Giacomo , Patuzzi Ilaria , Di Camillo Barbara
Published: September 2020

:

In the current research landscape, microbiota composition studies are of extreme interest,
since it has been widely shown that resident microorganisms affect and shape the ecological niche
they inhabit. This complex micro-world is characterized by different types of interactions. Understanding
these relationships provides a useful tool for decoding the causes and effects of communities’
organizations. Next-Generation Sequencing technologies allow to reconstruct the internal composition
of the whole microbial community present in a sample. Sequencing data can then be investigated
through statistical and computational method coming from network theory to infer the network of interactions
among microbial species.

:

Since there are several network inference approaches in the literature, in this paper we tried to shed
light on their main characteristics and challenges, providing a useful tool not only to those interested
in using the methods, but also to those who want to develop new ones. In addition, we focused on the
frameworks used to produce synthetic data, starting from the simulation of network structures up to
their integration with abundance models, with the aim of clarifying the key points of the entire generative
process.
A Quantitative Proteomic Analysis to Reveal Effects of N-acetylcysteine on H2O2-induced Cytotoxicity
Authors: Park Jong-Moon , Duong Van-An , Mok Jeong-Hun , Choi Doo-Jin , Lee Hookeun
Published: September 2020

Aims:

This study aimed to perform a quantitative analysis of the proteomic changes in
neural cells under H2O2 exposure and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) treatment.

Background:

NAC is a potent antioxidant and an effective free radical scavenger that has been
used as a potential treatment of several neurological disorders. Although the molecular mechanisms
of neuroprotective action by NAC have been studied, more efforts are still needed for the
elucidation of the mechanisms through a quantitative proteomic analysis.

Objective:

This study aimed to identify differentially expressed proteins among control, H2O2-treated
group, and NAC+H2O2-treated group as well as reveal proteins involved in the protection of neural
cells from H2O2-induced toxicity.

Methods:

SK-N-MC cells were untreated (control), treated with H2O2 (disease group), pretreated
with NAC, and then treated with H2O2 (NAC group). Proteins were digested to peptides and analyzed
using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with the data-independent acquisition.
Skyline was used to quantify peptides and proteins. MSstats was used for statistical analysis.
Gene ontology and protein-protein interactions were performed using the Differentially Expressed
Proteins (DEPs).

Results:

Cytoprotective effects of NAC on the cell against H2O2-induced toxicity were first proven
using a cell viability study and lactate dehydrogenase assay. The proteomic analysis found 93
DEPs in three comparisons. Among them, 37 proteins were differentially expressed under H2O2 exposure.
Only 10 DEPs were rescued in the case of NAC pretreatment. Aspartate aminotransferase
and L-lactate dehydrogenase B chain were two DEPs involved in the cysteine and methionine
metabolism pathway, which might relate to the mechanisms of NAC protective effects.

Conclusion:

The findings of cell studies and proteomic analysis were in agreement with previous
results, confirming the cytoprotective effects of NAC on neural cells against oxidative stress.
Pulmonary Manifestations of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis and Peripheral Spondyloarthritis: Prevalence, Diagnostic Approach and Treatment Options
Authors: Dejcman Daniel , Skowasch Dirk , Pizarro Carmen , Krause Andreas , Thomas Daniel , Schäfer Valentin Sebastian
Published: September 2020

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most common form of pulmonary impairment in patients
with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, patients with RA or other arthritic diseases such as
psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) are at a higher risk of developing
several other pulmonary diseases, such as chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), compared to
patients without arthritis. This review aims at summarizing the current knowledge on the prevalence
of pulmonary diseases in the above-mentioned forms of arthritis, the challenges faced by prevalence
studies in detecting pulmonary diseases in patients with arthritis, as well as possible treatment
options. Dyspnea, cough or other pulmonary symptoms in arthritis patients should prompt gradual
diagnostic procedures considering pulmonary manifestations as a major cluster of differential
diagnosis. However, treatment options often lack solid evidence-based guidelines and referrals to
specialized centers are often necessary.
Berberine Inhibits the Gene Expression and Production of Proinflammatory Cytokines by Mononuclear Cells in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Healthy Individuals
Authors: Ghorbani Niloofar , Sahebari Maryam , Mahmoudi Mahmoud , Rastin Maryam , Zamani Shahrzad , Zamani Marjan
Published: September 2020

Objective:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most prevalent autoimmune arthritis. Berberine
is an alkaloid isolated from Berberis vulgaris, and its anti-inflammatory effect has been identified.

Methods::

: Twenty newly diagnosed RA patients and 20 healthy controls participated. Peripheral
mononuclear cells were prepared and stimulated with bacterial lipopolysachharide (LPS,1 μg/ml),
exposed to different concentrations of berberine (10 and 50μM) and dexamethasone (10-7 M) as a
reference. The toxicity of compounds was evaluated by WST-1 assay. The expression of TNF-α
and IL-1β was determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Protein level of secreted TNF-α and
IL-1β was measured by using ELISA.

Results:

Berberine did not have any toxic effect on cells, whereas Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation
caused a noticeable rise in TNF-α and IL-1β production. Berberine markedly downregulated
the expression of both TNF-α and IL-1β, and inhibited TNF-α and IL-1β secretion from LPS-stimulated
PBMCs.

Discussion:

This study provided a molecular basis for anti-inflammatory effect of berberine on human
mononuclear cells through the suppression of TNF-a and IL-1secretion. Our findings highlighted
the significant inhibitory effect of berberine on proinflammatory responses of mononuclear
cells from rheumatoid arthritis individuals, which may be responsible for antiinflammatory property
of Barberry. We observed that berberine at high concentration exhibited anti-inflammatory effect
in PBMCs of both healthy and patient groups by suppression of TNF-a and IL-1cytokines at
both mRNA and protein levels.

Conclusions:

Berberine may inhibit the gene expression and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines
by mononuclear cells in rheumatoid arthritis and healthy individuals without affecting cell
viability. Future studies with a larger sample size are needed to prove the idea.
Role of Serum β-HCG Doubling in Diagnosis of Early Pregnancy and its Management Strategy
Authors: Mirji Divya , Rao Shubha , Vasudeva Akhila , Roopa P.S.
Published: September 2020

Background:

Pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) is defined as the absence of intrauterine
or extrauterine sac and Beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin levels (β-HCG) above the discriminatory
zone of 1500 mIU/ml. It should be noted that PUL is not always an ectopic; however,
by measuring the trends of serum β-HCG, we can determine the outcome of a PUL.

Objective:

This study aims to identify the various trends of β-HCG levels in early pregnancy and
evaluate the role of β-HCG in the management strategy.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective observational study of pregnant women suspected of early
pregnancy. Cases were classified as having a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL) by transvaginal
ultrasound and ß -HCG greater than 1000 mIU/ml. Expectant management was done until there was
a definite outcome. All the collected data were analyzed by employing the chi-square test using
SPSS version 20.

Results:

Among the 1200 women who had early first trimester scans, 70 women who fulfilled our
criteria of PUL and ß -HCG > 1000 mIU/ml were recruited in this study. In our study, the mean age
of the participants was 30±5.6yrs, and the overall mean serum ß -HCG was 3030±522 mIU/ml. The
most common outcome observed was an ectopic pregnancy, 47% in our study. We also found that
the rate of failing pregnancy was 27%, and that of intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) was 25%. Overall,
in PUL patients diagnosed with ectopic pregnancy, 9% behaved like IUP, and 4% had an atypical
trend in their ß -HCG. Those who had an IUP, 11% had a suboptimal increase in ß-HCG.

Conclusion:

PUL rate in our unit was 6%. The majority of the outcome of PUL was ectopic in our
study. Every case of PUL should be managed based on the initial ß -HCG values, clinical assessments
and upon the consent of the patient.
Protein Interaction Studies for Understanding the Tremor Pathway in Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Dogra Nitu , Mani Ruchi Jakhmola , Katare Deepshikha Pande
Published: September 2020

Background:

Tremor is one of the most noticeable features, which occurs during the early
stages of Parkinson’s Disease (PD). It is one of the major pathological hallmarks and does not
have any interpreted mechanism. In this study, we have framed a hypothesis and deciphered protein-
protein interactions between the proteins involved in impairment in sodium and calcium ion
channels and thus cause synaptic plasticity leading to a tremor.

Methods:

Literature mining for retrieval of proteins was done using Science Direct, PubMed Central,
SciELO and JSTOR databases. A well-thought approach was used, and a list of differentially
expressed proteins in PD was collected from different sources. A total of 71 proteins were retrieved,
and a protein interaction network was constructed between them by using Cytoscape.v.3.7.
The network was further analysed using the BiNGO plugin for retrieval of overrepresented biological
processes in Tremor-PD datasets. Hub nodes were also generated in the network.

Results:

The Tremor-PD pathway was deciphered, which demonstrates the cascade of protein interactions
that might lead to tremors in PD. Major proteins involved were LRRK2, TUBA1A,
TRAF6, HSPA5, ADORA2A, DRD1, DRD2, SNCA, ADCY5, TH, etc.

Conclusion:

In the current study, it is predicted that ADORA2A and DRD1/DRD2 are equally contributing
to the progression of the disease by inhibiting the activity of adenylyl cyclase and thereby
increases the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, causing an influx of neurotransmitters and together
they alter the level of dopamine in the brain which eventually leads to tremor.
Macrovascular Protecting Effects of Berberine through Anti-inflammation and Intervention of BKCa in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Rats
Authors: Wu Zhigui , Gu Li , Si Yuankai , Yin Wenxian , Zhao Meng , Zhang Ting , Chen Meijuan
Published: September 2020

Objective:

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of berberine on diabetes mellitus
in vivo and in vitro, and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Methods:

Rat models of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were established and were treated with
berberine. Pathological changes in the thoracic aorta, and inflammatory factor and adiponectin levels
were investigated. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of the thoracic aorta were cultured
and treated with berberine. Cellular proliferation, migration, and inflammatory factor levels were
investigated. Responses of vascular rings to phenylephrine (PE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) after
berberine intervention and the changes of relaxation responses to SNP after adding Iberiotoxin
(IbTX) were investigated.

Results:

Berberine ameliorated the pathological status of the thoracic aorta in the T2DM rats. Berberine
significantly inhibited the C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis
factor-α (TNF-α) production, and increased the adiponectin level compared with the model group.
Compared with the model group, berberine inhibited the proliferation and migration of VSMCs in
vitro, and reduced tumor growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Furthermore, the contraction
of thoracic aorta to PE was reduced, while the relaxation response of thoracic aorta to SNP
was increased, after the berberine intervention in the T2DM rats. The relaxation response of thoracic
aorta to SNP in the model and berberine groups decreased after the IbTX treatment.

Conclusions:

Protective effects of berberine against macrovascular complications induced by diabetes
mellitus may be attributed to inhibiting of the inflammation and intervening of the calcium-
activated potassium (BKCa).
Multiple Hepatic Micro-Hypodensities as a Presenting Sign in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus- A Case Report
Authors: Mathapathi Samarth , Preziosi Michael
Published: September 2020

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystemic inflammatory disorder that can present with a wide array of signs and symptoms. Hepatic involvement is commonly limited to a subclinical biochemical transaminitis while clinically significant liver disease is rare. A case of a 22-year-old female who presented with abdominal pain, fevers, arthralgia, and several hepatic hypodense lesions with normal liver function tests is reported in this study. She failed to improve with antibiotics and infectious workup was largely unrevealing. She was found to have a positive ANA, high titers of anti-double-stranded DNA antibody, and was ultimately diagnosed with new-onset SLE with hepatic aseptic micro-abscesses. Her symptoms were self-limiting, and she was later started on a low-dose prednisone taper and hydroxychloroquine. This case demonstrates that hepatic involvement, despite normal liver function tests, should be considered in SLE patients presenting with abdominal pain.
Psychological and Medico-Legal Perspectives on Electroconvulsive Therapy and Patient-Centered Care: A Short Review of Cross-Cutting Issues
Authors: Tullio Valeria , Zerbo Stefania , Lanzarone Antonietta , Procaccianti Salvatore , Argo Antonina
Published: September 2020

Electroconvulsive therapy is a treatment that, since its first administration, has been a major topic for debate within the scientific world. In recent years, the debate has become increasingly focused on the short- and/or long-term efficacy of electroconvulsive therapy, its appropriateness in clinical settings, its mechanism of action, the impact evaluation of transient and/or persistent adverse effects, and the drafting of international guidelines,etc.

From the authors’ point of view, these themes are inevitably crossed by three other fundamental issues of significant psychological, relational, ethical, and medico-legal impact. Still, they are less studied than purely biomedical issues in recent times. Therefore, the aim of this article is to focus on the following cross-cutting issues: the therapist-patient relationship, the patient’s perspective, the attitude on electroconvulsive therapy, and informed consent.

This short review refers to the international literature on ECT published since 2000. Analyses of the three previously listed topics are, in part, made within the context of Italian medical settings.
Formulation and In vitro Evaluation of Nystatin-loaded Albumin Microparticles for the Treatment of Leishmaniosis
Authors: Fawaz Walaa , Othman Mohammad
Published: September 2020

Background:

The current treatments of leishmaniosis are far from ideal since they require
the administration of toxic and poorly tolerated drugs that still fail to treat the intracellular infection.
Micro-particles are very promising drug carriers for leishmaniosis treatment, considering the involved
parasites’ life cycle and the pharmacokinetics of micro-particles.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to develop a novel formulation of Nystatin (Nys) that could be administered
systemically and might be used for therapy of Leishmaniosis.

Methods:

Nys microspheres were formulated using albumin as a carrier by spray drying for the preparation
of microspheres for intravenous administration. Nys microspheres were characterized morphologically
and evaluated for particle size, product yield, encapsulation efficiency, and drug-polymer interaction.
Anti-Leishmanial activity against Leishmania tropica was tested and the microspheres’ phagocytosis
by murine macrophages was investigated. An in vitro hemolysis study was carried out for the
novel formulation and for the free Nys.

Results:

The average size of microspheres was found to be less than 5 μm. Differential Scanning Calorimetry
(DSC) and Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed no significant interactions
between albumin and Nys. The anti-leishmanial activity of Nys microspheres was higher than that
for free Nys with an IC50 value of (18.1 μg/mL). Uptake study in murine macrophage confirmed the
targetability of the prepared microspheres. The in vitro hemolysis study indicated reduced hemolysis
and suitability of the microspheres for parenteral administration.

Conclusion :

Spray drying was used successfully to prepare highly loaded Nys microspheres with high
anti-leishmanial activity and less hemolysis effect.
Melatonin Could Be Beneficial in SARS-CoV-2 Therapy
Authors: Rahimi Sanaz Baghban , Adli Ahmad Hosseinzadeh
Published: September 2020

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can infect the respiratory tract and cause severe respiratory
syndrome. The excessive inflammatory response is involved in the pathogenicity of the
SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 are generally associated with immunopathogenesis and
may result in pulmonary tissue damage. Melatonin is a natural and multifunctional hormone that is
involved in both physiological and pathological conditions in the body, such as immune modulation,
anti-inflammation, and antioxidant. Melatonin is found in foods, animal and human milk and
increases the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and, as an adjuvant treatment in SARS--
CoV-2 infection, it may have considerable therapeutic potential, because of its safety and immunomodulatory
effects.
Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Capsicum annuum L. Extract
Authors: Dong Chunfa , Tao Jing , Fu Zhengwei
Published: September 2020

Objective:

A facile, effectively and environmentally friendly method for preparation of
well dispersed silver nanoparticles was reported.

Methods:

In the method, Capsicum annuum L. extract was used as both reducing and stabilizing
agent without addition of any other reducing and capping agent. The generation of silver nanoparticles
was found by alteration of color from light yellow to red and the UV-vis absorption spectroscopy.
The effect of extract and silver nitrate amounts on the formation of silver nanoparticles
was investigated.

Results:

The shape of the as obtained silver nanoparticles was determined by using TEM and
SEM, which illustrated that the silver nanoparticles are global in shape with a narrowly distribution
from 5 nm to 25 nm.

Conclusion:

The crystalline structure of the silver nanoparticles was examined by XRD and FT-IR
analysis, which showed that the silver nanoparticles were highly crystalline of nature and coated
with biomolecule.
Iron-Sulfur-Nitrosyl Complex Increases the Resistance of Pea Seedling to Water Deficiency
Authors: Zhigacheva Irina , Binyukov Vladimir , Mil Elena , Krikunova Natalya , Generozova Inna , Rasulov Maksud
Published: September 2020

Background:

The binding of free iron ions in the composition of nitrosyl complexes
is probably one of the mechanisms of the antioxidant action of nitric oxide. The study
of the protective properties of nitric oxide is often carried out using exogenous NO donors.
In our work, we used nitric oxide donor - sodium μ2-dithiosulfate-tetranitosyldiferrate tetrahydrate
(TNIC-thio).

Objective:

The aim of our work was to investigate the possibility of using TNIC-thio to increase
the resistance of plants to stress factors. Since the implementation of anti-stress programs
requires a lot of energy expenditure, we studied the functional state of the mitochondria
of pea seedlings under conditions of water deficiency and treatment with TNIC-thio.

Materials and Methods:

The functional state of the mitochondria was studied as per the
level of lipid peroxidation by the spectrofluorimetry, by a fatty acid composition of mitochondrial
membranes with the chromatography technique and by the morphology of mitochondria
with the atomic force microscopy.

Results:

Water deficiency has caused changes in the Fatty Acid (FA) composition, which
manifested themselves in increasing the content of saturated FAs and decreasing the content
of unsaturated FAs containing 18 and 20 carbon atoms. Treatment of pea seeds with 10–8 M
TNIC-thio under these conditions led to the prevention of LPO, prevention of changes in the
FA composition of mitochondrial membranes and reduction in the number of swollen organelles.

Conclusion:

It can be assumed that the protective effect of TNIC-thio is due to the preservation
of the functional state of the mitochondria.
Levels and Correlates of Disability in Life Skills among Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Hamaideh Shaher Hamad , Hamdan-Mansour Ayman , Alhamdan Ayat Ahmad
Published: September 2020

Background:

Schizophrenia is a severe mental disability disorder that affects all life aspects,
including life functioning, general well-being, and overall life skills resulting in prominent impairments
in life functioning.

Objectives:

The objective of the study was to assess life skills and disabilities and its correlates among
Jordanian patients with schizophrenia.

Methods:

A cross-sectional correlational design was used. A convenience sampling technique was
used to recruit 250 hospitalized patients with schizophrenia. Data were collected using a questionnaire
that consisted of demographic variables, Life Skills Profile, Global Assessment of Functioning, and
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale.

Results:

The level of disability in life skills was 89.23. The highest disability level was observed in
social contact and in communication domains, and the lowest level was in the responsibility domain.
The disability levels regarding family history of psychiatric illness, marital and employment status,
and the number of previous hospitalizations were statistically different (p < .05). The presence of negative
symptoms, global assessment of functioning, psychopathology symptoms, duration of treatment,
and positive symptoms were identified as predictors of the disability in life skills and accounted for
65% of the total variance.

Conclusions:

Planning and conducting life skills programs that help enhance the communication and
social interaction are required to improve life skills.
VitaFALL: Advanced Multi-Threshold Based Reliable Fall Detection
System
Authors: Patel Warish D. , Patel Chirag , Patel Monal
Published: September 2020

Background:

The biggest challenge in our technologically advanced society is the healthy being of aging
individuals and differently-abled people in our society. The leading cause for significant injuries and early death in senior
citizens and differently-abled people is due to falling off. The possibility to automatically detect falls has increased
demand for such devices, and the high detection rate is achieved using the wearable sensors, this technology has a quite
social and monetary impact on society. So even for the daily activity in the life of aged people, an automatically fall
detecting system and vital signs examining system become a necessity.

Objectives:

This research work aims at helping aged people and every other necessary human by monitoring their vital
signs and fall prediction. A fall detection VitaFALL (Vital Signs and Fall Monitoring) device, could analyze the
measurement in all three orthogonal directions using a triple-axis accelerometer, and Vital Signs Parameters (Heartrate,
Heartbeat, and Temperature monitoring) for the aged and differently-abled people.

Methods:

Comparison with Present Algorithms, there are various benefits regarding privacy, success rate, and design of
devices upgraded using an implemented algorithm over the ubiquitous algorithm.

Results:

As concluded from the experimental outcomes, the accuracy achieved is up to 94%, ADXL335 is a 3-Axial
Accelerometer Module that collects the accelerations of aged people from a VitaFALL device. A guardian can be notified
by sending a text message via GSM and GPRS module so that aged can be helped.

Conclusion:

However, a delay in the time can be noticed while comparing the gradient and minimum value to
predetermine the state of the older person. The experiment results show the adequacy of the proposed approach.
Events in Tweets: Graph-Based Techniques
Authors: Pradhan Abhaya Kumar , Mohanty Hrushikesha , Lal Rajendra Prasad
Published: September 2020

Background:

Mining Twitter streaming posts (i.e. tweets) to find events or the topics of interest has become a hot research problem. In the last decade, researchers have come up with various techniques like bag-of-words techniques, statistical methods, graph-based techniques, topic modelling approaches, NLP and ontology-based approaches, machine learning and deep learning methods for detecting events from tweets. Among these techniques, the graph-based technique is efficient in capturing the latent structural semantics in the tweet content by modelling word co-occurrence relationships as a graph and able to capture the activity dynamics by modelling the user-tweet and user-user interactions.

Discussion:

This article presents an overview of different event detection techniques and their methodologies. Specifically, this paper focuses on graph-based event detection techniques in Twitter and presents a critical survey on these techniques, their evaluation methodologies and datasets used. Further, some challenges in the area of event detection in Twitter along with future directions of research are presented.

Conclusion:

A Microblogging services and online social networking sites like Twitter provides a massive amount of valuable information on real-world happenings. There is a need for mining this information, which will help in understanding the social interest and effective decision making on various emergencies. However, event detection techniques need to be efficient in terms of time and memory and accurate for processing such voluminous, noisy and fastarriving information from Twitter.
The Fuzzy AHP Based Intelligent Middleware for Load Balancing in Grid
Computing Environment
Authors: Yadav Jay Kant Pratap Singh , Yadav Sunita
Published: September 2020

Background:

In grid computing, several computing nodes work together to accomplish a common goal. During
computation some nodes get overloaded and some nodes sit idle without any job, which degrades the overall grid
performance. For better resource utilization, the load balancing strategy of a grid must be improved.

Objective:

A good load balancing strategy intelligently perceives grid information and finds the best node to transfer jobs
from an overloaded node. In our study, we found that the good load balancing strategies have two prominent needs while
decision making i.e. consider multiple parameters and handle uncertainty presents in the grid environment.

Methods:

This paper proposed a model, an intelligent fuzzy middleware for load balancing in a grid computing
environment (IFMLBG) which fulfilled both the needs. The processing of IFMLBG is based on Chang’s extent analysis
for the fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP). FAHP hierarchically structured the load-balancing problem and used
the non-crisp input to handle the uncertainty of the grid environment. Chang’s analysis is performed to generate weights
to prioritize nodes and find the best one.

Results:

The results show that the IFMLBG Model assigned more weight to the best-selected node as compared to the
AHP model and performs well with prudent nodes and criteria.

Conclusion:

This paper comprehensively described the design of an Intelligent Fuzzy middleware for Load Balancing in
Grid computing (IFMLBG) which used Chang’s extent analysis for FAHP and implemented using four parameters and
four computing nodes. The Chang’s extent analysis for FAHP takes triangular fuzzy numbers as input and generates
weights for nodes. We compared IFMLBG with the classical AHP model on thirteen datasets and concluded that
IFMLBG gives more weight to select the node as compare to the AHP model. The results also show that IFMLBG would
work better with the number of parameters and computing nodes.
The Outbreak of Novel Coronavirus-a New Type of Threat in 2020: Genesis, Detection, Treatment, and Management
Authors: Mohan S. Dinesh , Santhosha D. , Gupta V.R.M. , Mrunalini S.
Published: September 2020

Background:

COVID-19 is a new, health-threatening infectious disease in the world in 2020
and is caused by a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. As of July 13, 2020, 4,881,579 active cases of
COVID-19 were diagnosed, and 571,080 deaths were reported globally. In India, 301,850 active cases
and 23,187 deaths were reported. To date, no effective treatment is available against the deadly virus
SARS-CoV-2. Drug manufacturers, institutional laboratories, and other organizations have started developing
vaccines to combat COVID-19 infection.

Methods:

Science Direct, Elsevier, PubMed, Scopus, and Nature databases were referred to know the
current scenario of the disease. Moreover, recent data have been obtained from the World Health Organization,
Centre of Disease Control, case studies, newspapers, and Worldometer reports. Data of Vaccine
Centre at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Clinicaltrials.gov, and US National
Library of Medicine have also been accessed to obtain the latest information about ongoing clinical trials.

Results:

The primary source of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak is connected to the Hunan seafood and live
animal market in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China. Like; SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-
2 is also a zoonotic virus affecting the lower respiratory tract in humans. The pathogenesis of COVID-
19 involves attachment of its Spike (S) protein to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor
in the lower respiratory tract in humans. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough,
sore throat, fatigue, headache, myalgia, septic shock, and breathlessness. Few patients with COVID-19
infection experience diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Currently, FDA approved drugs being used
to treat COVID-19.

Conclusion:

This review article presents the importance of traditional Indian herbs recommended by
AYUSH as precautionary and curative measures of COVID-19 until vaccines and drugs are made available.
Moreover, this article discussed the origin, symptoms, mode of transmission, management, and
diagnostics techniques for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The Effect of Foreign Direct Investment, Human Development and Macroeconomic Condition on Economic Growth: Evidence from Indonesia
Authors:   Badan Pusat Statistik, Kabupaten Maluku Tengah, Ridha M. Rismawan , Budi Parwanto Novia ,   STIS Jakarta
Published: September 2020

The national economic growth that is quite high is not necessarily detached from the existence of important issues such as limited accumulation of national saving capital, domestic needs that are still highly dependent on imported goods, weak of export that rely on primary commodities, insufficient infrastructure development, and low quality of human resources that must be addressed by the Indonesian government. This study aims to analyze the effect of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), as an alternative source of development funds, the Human Development Index (HDI) as a proxy for the quality of human resources, and Macroeconomic condition represent by Trade Balance (NX), a dummy of Economic Crisis and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) on Economic Growth in Indonesia. The data used is time-series data from the period of 1985-2015 sourced from Statistics Indonesia and the World Bank. The analysis technique used in this research is the Error Correction Model (ECM). The results obtained can be made in the following conclusions: 1) Foreign Direct Investment and Trade Balance have a negative and significant impact on Indonesia's long term economic growth, but in the short term, they do not have any significant impact. 2) Human Development and Gross Fixed Capital Formation have a positive and significant impact on Indonesia's economic growth both in the long term and short term. 3) Economic Crisis has a negative and significant impact both in the long term and short term.
From the Editor - Winter 2008
Authors: Van Fleet David D.
Published: September 2020

A letter from the editor for the Winter 2008 issue.
The Complex Relationship Driving Technology Transfer: The Potential Opportunities Missed by Universities
Authors: Lipinski John , Minutolo Marcel C. , Crothers Laura M.
Published: September 2020

Since the Bayh-Dole act, decreased federal funds to research-intensive and extensive

universities resulted in a search for alternative resources to continue research activities.

Changes made by higher education institutions in strategic orientation initiated the

development of technology transfer offices designed to support patent development,

licensure to corporations, and spin-off of entrepreneurial efforts. Researchers seek

explanatory models to understand variances in university success; however, current

models lack full descriptive power. Therefore, we first identify the current research base

on technology transfer; propose an alternative view; and, recommend propositions and

future research.
Coworkers’ and Supervisor Interactional Justice: Correlates of Extension Personnel’s Job Satisfaction, Distress, and Aggressive Behavior
Authors: Ladebo Olugbenga J. , Awotunde Joseph M. , AbdulSalaam-Saghir Petra
Published: September 2020

This paper examined the effects of coworkers and supervisor interactional fairness on employees’ job satisfaction, distress, and aggressive behavior. Surveys were employed to elicit data from 270 extension personnel from two Agricultural Development Programs in Nigeria. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated that fairness from both supervisors and coworkers were negatively related to job distress and aggressive behaviors and employees would respond with dissatisfaction to unfair treatments from their supervisors. The implications of findings are discussed.
Базовые элементы структуры границ зерен наклона. Часть I. Ось разориентации [100]
Authors: Векман А.В. , Демьянов Б.Ф.
Published: September 2020

The computer simulation methods have been applied to calculate structure and energy of symmetric tilt grain boundaries with the misorientation axis [100]. The calculations have been carried out with the use of the structural-vacancy model previously developed by the authors. The misorientation angles of grain boundaries of common type have varied from 0º up to 90º while the increment has amounted 1º. The reverse density of coincidence sites in special grain boundaries has amounted Σ ≤ 53. The calculations have been carried out with the use of the Morse pair potential and the Cleri-Rosato many-body potential. It is shown that the dependence of the energy of grain boundaries on the misorientation angle when calculated with different potentials has a similar form, and their structure does not depend on the choice of potential and is in good agreement with high-resolution electron microscopic images. Only one special grain boundary is distinguished on the energy curve which is Σ5(013). It has been found that the structure grain boundaries may be represented by a limited number of atomic groups that have been named basic structural units. The structure of low-angle grain boundaries with the misorientation angle less than 8º is described by alternation of basic structural units of D types and ideal crystal, while the structure of low-angle grain boundaries with the misorientation angle ranging from 8º up to 13º is described by alternation of structural units of C and D types, from 14º up to 23º – B and C types. High-angle grain boundaries in the range of misorientation angles from 24º up to 37º contain only of basic structural units of B types, from 38º to 50º – A and B, more than 50º – only A.
Эффективные коэффициенты диффузии и термическая устойчивость структуры металлического стекла Fe-=SUB=-48-=/SUB=-Co-=SUB=-32-=/SUB=-P-=SUB=-14-=/SUB=-B-=SUB=-6-=/SUB=-
Authors: Васильев С.В. , Парфений В.И. , Першина Е.А. , Аронин А.С. , Коваленко О.В. , Ткач В.И.
Published: September 2020

The values of linear growth velocities of the eutectic colonies in the temperature range of 679–717 K have been determined for the first time from the electron microscopic studies of the partially crystallized samples of Fe48Co32P14B6 metallic glass. Using these data, the values of the effective diffusion coefficients governing growth have been calculated. It has been established that the temperature dependence of the effective diffusivity in Fe48Co32P14B6 glass is well approximated by an Arrhenius law and their values in the temperature range of crystallization are about 2–3 orders of magnitude smaller than those in the Fe40Ni40P14B6 commercial glass. The values of the effective diffusion coefficients at the onset crystallization temperature have been determined, the correlation between pre-exponential factors and activation energies has been found. It has been shown that the parameters which characterize the effective diffusivity in the glass investigated are in good agreement with the published data for the eutectically crystallizing metallic glasses. It has been established that the physical reason of the enhanced thermal stability of the FeCo-based glass compared with that of Fe40Ni40P14B6 is the lower atomic mobility at the glass/crystal interface.
Магнитная восприимчивость нанокомпозитных редкоземельных титанатов в переменных полях
Authors: Ринкевич А.Б. , Перов Д.В.
Published: September 2020

Experimental investigation of magnetic susceptibility of nanocomposite rare earth titanates at low temperatures is carried out in frequency range from 1 Hz to 10 kHz. Nanocomposites based on opal matrices are the objects under study which inter-spherical voids are filled with Gd2Ti2O7, Yb2Ti2O7, Dy2Ti2O7 и Dy2Si2O7 particles sized up to 60 nm. The frequency dependences of AC susceptibility are measured at temperatures from 2 to 20K. At frequencies above 1 kHz the frequency dependence fairly good corresponds to a relaxing oscillator model and can be approximated by Debye formula for all nanocomposites. For frequencies from 1 Hz to 10 kHz, however, it is necessary to apply a model with two relaxation times.
Neural Network–Based Algorithm for Adjusting Activity Targets to Sustain Exercise Engagement Among People Using Activity Trackers: Retrospective Observation and Algorithm Development Study
Authors: Mohammadi Ramin , Atif Mursal , Centi Amanda Jayne , Agboola Stephen , Jethwani Kamal , Kvedar Joseph , Kamarthi Sagar
Published: September 2020

Background

It is well established that lack of physical activity is detrimental to the overall health of an individual. Modern-day activity trackers enable individuals to monitor their daily activities to meet and maintain targets. This is expected to promote activity encouraging behavior, but the benefits of activity trackers attenuate over time due to waning adherence. One of the key approaches to improving adherence to goals is to motivate individuals to improve on their historic performance metrics.

Objective

The aim of this work was to build a machine learning model to predict an achievable weekly activity target by considering (1) patterns in the user’s activity tracker data in the previous week and (2) behavior and environment characteristics. By setting realistic goals, ones that are neither too easy nor too difficult to achieve, activity tracker users can be encouraged to continue to meet these goals, and at the same time, to find utility in their activity tracker.

Methods

We built a neural network model that prescribes a weekly activity target for an individual that can be realistically achieved. The inputs to the model were user-specific personal, social, and environmental factors, daily step count from the previous 7 days, and an entropy measure that characterized the pattern of daily step count. Data for training and evaluating the machine learning model were collected over a duration of 9 weeks.

Results

Of 30 individuals who were enrolled, data from 20 participants were used. The model predicted target daily count with a mean absolute error of 1545 (95% CI 1383-1706) steps for an 8-week period.

Conclusions

Artificial intelligence applied to physical activity data combined with behavioral data can be used to set personalized goals in accordance with the individual’s level of activity and thereby improve adherence to a fitness tracker; this could be used to increase engagement with activity trackers. A follow-up prospective study is ongoing to determine the performance of the engagement algorithm.
The Utility of Predicting Hospitalizations Among Patients With Heart Failure Using mHealth: Observational Study
Authors: Cartledge Susie , Maddison Ralph , Vogrin Sara , Falls Roman , Tumur Odgerel , Hopper Ingrid , Neil Christopher
Published: September 2020

Background

Heart failure decompensation is a major driver of hospitalizations and represents a significant burden to the health care system. Identifying those at greatest risk of admission can allow for targeted interventions to reduce this risk.

Objective

This paper aims to compare the predictive value of objective and subjective heart failure respiratory symptoms on imminent heart failure decompensation and subsequent hospitalization within a 30-day period.

Methods

A prospective observational pilot study was conducted. People living at home with heart failure were recruited from a single-center heart failure outpatient clinic. Objective (blood pressure, heart rate, weight, B-type natriuretic peptide) and subjective (4 heart failure respiratory symptoms scored for severity on a 5-point Likert scale) data were collected twice weekly for a 30-day period.

Results

A total of 29 participants (median age 79 years; 18/29, 62% men) completed the study. During the study period, 10 of the 29 participants (34%) were hospitalized as a result of heart failure. For objective data, only heart rate exhibited a between-group difference. However, it was nonsignificant for variability (P=.71). Subjective symptom scores provided better prediction. Specifically, the highest precision of heart failure hospitalization was observed when patients with heart failure experienced severe dyspnea, orthopnea, and bendopnea on any given day (area under the curve of 0.77; sensitivity of 83%; specificity of 73%).

Conclusions

The use of subjective respiratory symptom reporting on a 5-point Likert scale may facilitate a simple and low-cost method of predicting heart failure decompensation and imminent hospitalization. Serial collection of symptom data could be augmented using ecological momentary assessment of self-reported symptoms within a mobile health monitoring strategy for patients at high risk for heart failure decompensation.