bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and Economic Burden of Bacteraemia Due To Multi-Drug-Resistant Organisms in Korea: A Prospectively Selected Case Control Study
Authors: Song Kyoung-Ho , Kim Chung-Jong , Choi Nam-Kyong , Ahn Jeonghoon , Choe Pyoeng Gyun , Park Wan Beom , Kim Nam Joong , Choi Hee Jung , Bae Ji Yun , Kim Eu Suk , Lee Hyunju , Park Jeong Su , Jung Younghee , Lee Seung Soon , Park Kyung-Hwa , Jung Sook-In , Kim Yeon-Sook , Bang Ji-Hwan , Lee Shinwon , Kang Yu Min , Kwak Yee Gyung , Kim Hong Bin
Published: December 2021

BackgroundMultidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB), multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MRPA), and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are particularly important public health threats, but their detailed clinical outcomes and socioeconomic burden are adequately addressed.MethodsWe prospectively searched for these MDROs bacteraemia cases with matched controls from 10 hospitals across Korea, in a 6-month period, in 2017. Patients were classified into the MDRO, susceptible organism, and no-infection groups. The corresponding susceptible or no-infection controls had similar principal diagnosis at admission time, major surgery or intervention during hospitalization, age (± 10 years), sex, and within ± 60 days of admission date. We collected detailed clinical information and estimated the total additional direct medical cost of each MDRO bacteraemia case using the multistate model. ResultsOf 486 MDRO bacteraemia cases identified for MRSA, MRAB, MRPA, CRE, and VRE, at 260, 87, 18, 20, and 101, respectively, their 90-day mortality rates (overall, 40.3%) were 30.4%, 63.2%, 16.7%, 55.0%, and 47.5%, respectively. Their additional medical costs (overall, $27,700) were $15,768, $35,682, $39,908, $72,051, and $33,662 (compared to the no-infection group), respectively. Overall, these five MDRO bacteraemia cases occurred in 7,979 patients, caused 3,280 deaths, and cost $294,505,002 (range, $170,627,020 to $416,094,679) socioeconomic loss. ConclusionsTremendous clinical and economic burden occurred with MDRO bacteraemia compared with those of antibiotic-susceptible and no-infection groups. Substantial investment and efforts by related government agencies and medical staffs are needed to urgently prevent the increase, spread and expansion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Effects of Different Probiotic Strains B. Lactis, L. Rhamnosus and L. Reuteri on Brain-Intestinal Axis Immunomodulation in an Endotoxin-Induced Inflammation
Authors: Michels Monique , Jesus Gabriel Fernandes Alves , Abatti Mariane Rocha , Córneo Emily , Cucker Luana , Borges Heloisa de Medeiros , Matos Natan da Silva , Rocha Luana Bezerra , Dias Rodrigo , Simon Carla Sasso , Voytena Ana Paula Lorenzen , Rossetto Marina , Ramlov Fernanda , Dal-Pizzol Felipe
Published: December 2021

Aim: The study evaluated the effects of supplementation with three different probiotic strains B. lactis (LACT GBTM), L. rhamnosus (RHAM GBTM) and L. reuteri (REUT GBTM) on brain-intestinal immunomodulation in an animal model of LPS-induced inflammation. Methods: 50 mice Balb/C were distributed into five groups: Control; lipopolysaccharide (LPS); LPS + B. lactis (LACT GBTM); LPS + L. rhamnosus (RHAM GBTM); LPS + L. reuteri (REUT GBTM). The animals were supplemented with their respective probiotic microorganisms daily, for 30 days, at a concentration of 1x109 CFU/animal/day. After 30 days of supplementation, animals received the inflammatory insult by LPS (15mg/kg). Behavioral tests, oxidative stress and inflammation were performed, as well as gut and brain histology. Results: In the behavioral test, LPS+ B. lactis group was less anxious than the other groups. Serum interleukin IL-1β and IL-6 levels increased in all groups that received the LPS insult and there was a reduction in inflammation in the supplemented groups when compared to the LPS group in brain and gut. A reduction in myeloperoxidase activity and oxidative stress in groups supplemented with probiotics. Intestine histological analysis, damage to tissue integrity in the LPS group and preservation of integrity in the supplemented animals. In the brain, infiltrates of perivascular inflammatory cells can be seen in the LPS group. Conclusion: The three probiotic studies showed efficient immunomodulating activity and ensured integrity of the intestinal barrier function, even after the severe insult by LPS. These results show the important role of probiotics in the gut-brain axis.
Improving Care for Cancer-Related and Other Forms of Lymphoedema in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Torgbenu Eric , Luckett Tim , Buhagiar Mark A. , Requena Cecilia Mauricio , Phillips Jane L.
Published: December 2021

Background: Lymphoedema is a common, distressing and debilitating condition that can be related to cancer and its treatment or other conditions. Little is known about current practices in the diagnosis, assessment and management of lymphoedema in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). Aim: To describe current practices in diagnosing, assessing and managing cancer-related and other forms of lymphoedema in LMIC, and related barriers and facilitators.Methods: An exploratory-descriptive qualitative study. Participants were lymphoedema experts or health care professionals identified via published lymphoedema papers and professional organizations respectively. Sampling was purposive to ensure a diversity of perspectives and experience. Data collection was via semi-structured telephone/video interviews, and questions canvassed participants’ experiences and perceptions of lymphoedema care in LMIC. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis proceeded via inductive coding before mapping codes to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Innovative Care for Chronic Conditions Framework. Results:Nineteen participants were interviewed, most of whom were physiotherapists (n = 11). Ten participants worked permanently in a LMIC, while the remainder were based in a high-income country (HIC) and had been involved in initiatives to improve lymphoedema care across multiple LMIC. Participants indicated that management of cancer versus non-cancer related lymphoedema was similar, but that pathways to care were more straight-forward for those receiving cancer care, leading to earlier diagnosis. Key facilitators to optimizing lymphoedema care in LMIC included: 1) joining forces to overcome lymphoedema-related stigma; 2) building workforce capabilities; and 3) partnering with patients and families to support self-management. Ideas for building workforce included developing health professional knowledge, supporting a commitment to multidisciplinary team care, and adapting HIC guidelines for lymphoedema care to LMIC. Partnering with patients and families to support self-management involved following the person-centred approach, establishing clear communication, promoting adherence to management, adapting management to available resources, and involving patient family and friends in lymphoedema care.Conclusion: Raising community and health professional awareness regarding lymphoedema and its management is a key first step to improving care outcomes. Resources for clinicians and patients/families developed for lymphoedema care in HIC need to be adapted for low resource settings.
Immunohistochemical Analysis of Prostein Expression in Archived Prostatic Core Biopsies from Prostate Cancer Patients in Western Kenya
Authors: Tyrus Omondi Swaya , Opondo Dedan , Atandi David O. , Guyah Benard , Magak Ng’wena Gideon
Published: December 2021

Background
Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in men. Most of the current biomarkers for detection of the disease have low sensitivity and specificity. Prostein is a newly reported prostate cancer biomarkers whose diagnostic utility can help in early detection of the disease. Nonetheless, previous studies have utilized limited number of samples to evaluate its immunohistochemistry (IHC) and reports on the African population are not available. The current study aimed to determine the prostein expression in archived prostatic core biopsies from prostate cancer patients in Western Kenya.
Materials and Methods
This was a retrospective study conducted on malignant and benign prostatic tissue core biopsies of 106 patients who underwent prostate core biopsy at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and division of urology at Synergy Clinics, Kisumu between January 2018 to May 2021. Immunohistochemical technique was performed on each of the 106 samples and on the following non-prostatic male control biopsies; Testis, Penis, Liver and Esophagus. Cellular location of prostein staining was evaluated at X40, X100 and X400 magnification using a light microscope and was classified as cytoplasmic or nucleocytoplasmic. Intensity of prostein expression was assessed for each core biopsy at similar magnification and graded according the immunohistochemistry composite score.
Results
The biopsies had been obtained from men whose mean (SE) age was 72.00±0.93 years. 95.3% (101) of the biopsies were malignant and 4.7% (5) were benign. Four non-prostatic male tissues were included. 97% of malignant and all the benign prostate tissue stained positive for prostein whereas the four non-prostatic male tissues were negative. Staining intensities were weak (24.5%), Moderate (17.0%), strong (55.7%) and non-stained (2.8%). The staining was highly immunolocalized within the cytoplasm (95.1% cases) as compared to nucleocytoplasmic (2.0% cases). The mean immunoreactivity composite score was 1.91±0.96 (0.0-3.14). Strongly stained sections had a punctate plasma membrane staining pattern clustered within the cytoplasm in a perinuclear location whereas the weakly stained sections had faint and punctate coarse brown cytoplasmic granular appearing.
Conclusion
Prostein is exclusively expressed in benign and malignant prostate tissue with a higher cytoplasmic granular staining pattern in the present population. These findings suggest that prostein diagnostic utility is applicable in the current study population and routine IHC diagnosis of prostate cancer may be recommended.
Urban Spatial Structures From Human Flow By Hodge-Kodaira Decomposition
Authors: Aoki Takaaki , Fujishima Shota , Fujiwara Naoya
Published: December 2021

Human flow in cities indicates social activity and can reveal urban spatial structures based on human behaviours for relevant applications. Scalar potential is a mathematical concept, and if successfully introduced, it can provide an intuitive perspective of human flow. However, the definition of such a potential to the origin-destination flow matrix and determination of its plausibility remain unsolved. Here, we apply Hodge-Kodaira decomposition, in which a matrix is uniquely decomposed into a potential-driven (gradient) flow and a curl flow. We depict the potential landscapes in cities due to commuting flow and reveal how the landscapes have been changed or unchanged by years or transport methods. We then determine how well the commuting flow is described by the potential, by evaluating the percentage of the gradient component for metropolitan areas in the USA and show that the gradient component is almost 100% in several areas; in other areas, however, the curl component is dominant, indicating the importance of circular flow along triangles of places. The potential landscape provides an easy-to-use visualisation tool to show the attractive places of human flow and will aid in various applications in commerce, urban design, and epidemic spreading.
Genomic Prediction of Drought Tolerance during Seedling Stage in Maize using Low-Cost Markers
Authors: Zhang Ao , Chen Shan , Cui Zhenhai , Liu Yubo , Guan Yuan , Yang Shuang , Qu Jingtao , Nie Juchao , Dang Dongdong , Li Cong , Dong Xiaomei , Fan Jinjuan , Zhu Yanshu , Zhang Xuecai , Crossa Jose , Cao Huiying , Ruan Yanye , Zheng Hongjian
Published: December 2021

Drought tolerance in maize is a complex and polygenic trait, especially in the seedling stage. In plant breeding, such traits can be improved by genomic selection (GS), which has become a practical and effective tool. In the present study, a natural maize population named Northeast China core population (NCCP) consisting of 379 inbred lines were genotyped with diversity arrays technology (DArT) and genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) platforms. Target traits of seedling emergence rate (ER), seedling plant height (SPH), and grain yield (GY) were evaluated under two natural drought environments in northeast China. adequate genetic variants have been found for genomic selection, they are not stable enough between two years. Similarly, the heritability of the three traits is not stable enough, and the heritabilities in 2019 (0.88, 0.82, 0.85 for ER, SPH, GY) are higher than that in 2020 (0.65, 0.53, 0.33) and cross-two-year (0.32, 0.26, 0.33). The current research obtained two kinds of marker sets: the SilicoDArT markers were from DArT-seq, and SNPs were from the GBS and DArT-seq. In total, a number of 11,865 SilicoDArT, 7,837 DArT's SNPs, and 91,003 GBS SNPs were used for analysis after quality control. The results of phylogenetic trees showed that the population was rich in consanguinity. Genomic prediction results showed that the average prediction accuracies estimated using the DArT SNP dataset under the 2-fold cross-validation scheme were 0.27, 0.19, and 0.33, for ER, SPH, and GY, respectively. The result of SilicoDArT is close to the SNPs from DArT-seq, those were 0.26, 0.22, and 0.33. For SPH, the prediction accuracies using SilicoDArT were more than ones using DArT SNP, In some cases, alignment to the reference genome results in a loss to the prediction. The trait with lower heritability can improve the prediction accuracy using filtering of linkage disequilibrium. For the same trait, the prediction accuracy estimated with two types of DArT markers was consistently higher than those estimated with the GBS SNPs under the same genotyping cost. Our results show the prediction accuracy has been improved in some cases of controlling population structure and marker quality, even when the density of the marker is reduced. In the initial maize breeding cycle, Silicodart markers can obtain higher prediction accuracy with a lower cost. However, higher marker density platforms i.e. GBS may play a role in the following breeding cycle for the long term. The natural drought experimental station can reduce the difficulty of phenotypic identification in a water-scarce environment. The accumulation of more yearly data will help to stabilize the heritability and improve predictive accuracy in maize breeding. The experimental design and model for drought resistance also need to be further developed.
Two Different Descriptions of a Thermocline in the Persian Gulf
Authors: Mosaddad Seyed Majid
Published: December 2021

The Persian Gulf (PG) is a shallow sea connected to the rest of the world by the Strait of Hormuz. Temperature changes in the water column, which indicate the thermocline, are typically explained by the depth of the mixed layer and the thermocline. The thermocline is caused by a sudden decrease in temperature in the water column's subsurface layer, resulting in stratification in the PG from winter to summer. The parameters are approximated numerically through the Princeton Ocean Modeling (POM) method and compared to those determined by some CTD profiles collected in the PG. The most obvious method for approximating thermocline depth is to find the maximum negative slope \(\frac{\partial T}{\partial z}\) in a temperature profile. The method produces applied results with sufficient depth resolution and smooth temperature changes with depth. This method is a component of the Princeton Ocean Modeling (POM) framework for numerically modeling temperature variation in the water basins used in this study. The depth of the mixed layer is approximated by the surface equality temperature (Sea Surface Temperature), regardless of the thermocline approximation. The variable isotherm behavior accurately approximates the thermocline depth. Thermocline formation occurs in the PG during the summer, and this article will conclude using two methods, observational and numerical modeling.
Changes of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance T1 and ECV Values in Healthy Adults of Different Gender and Age
Authors: Huang Shumei , Zhang Meng , Yu Kanghui , Li Chunlong , Lan Zhihong , Feng Yin , Lin Shiqi , Jiang Guihua , Ma Xiaofen , Wu Yunfan
Published: December 2021

purposeThe correlation between T1 and ECV value and myocardial fibrosis has been confirmed. In healthy adult, many disease may change T1 and ECV value. The purpose of this reseach is to clarify the T1 mapping and extracellular volume (ECV) value of healthy adults in 3 Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and to study the relationship between the values with age and gender.Methods We recruited 87 healthy adult subjects (mean age 38 ± 11 years; 61% were females) for cardiac magnetic resonance examination at 3T MRI. The left ventricular function parameters were obtained from functional imaging. T1 mapping was performed using an improved Look-Locker reversal recovery sequence after motion correction. resultsUnder 3T field strength, T1 value of the myocardium of healthy adults was 1,261 ± 52, and the ECV value was 28.3% ± 2.9%. T1 value and ECV values of female myocardium were higher than those of males (1,274 ± 56 vs. 1,241 ± 40, P = 0.003; 29.6% ± 2.6% vs. 26.2% ± 2.1%, P < 0.001). Only gender (Beta = 0.311, P = 0.003) was independently related to the native T1 mapping of left ventricular myocardium, while gender (Beta = 0.572, P < 0.001) and age (Beta = 0.501, P = 0.003) were related to the ECV value of left ventricular myocardium. T1 value (P = 0.002) and ECV value (P = 0.013) increased significantly from the base to the apex. There were significant differences in the T1 and ECV value between each segment (P < 0.001) in the base of the left ventricle. Significant differences were observed between the middle segments of T1 value (P = 0.001) but not between the middle of the ECV value of each segment (P = 0.068). Lastly, there was no statistical difference between each segment in the apical of the T1 (P = 0.756) and ECV value (P = 0.344).ConclusionsUnder 3T MRI, the T1 value of the myocardium of healthy adults was 1,261 ± 52, and the ECV value was 28.3% ± 2.9%. T1 and ECV values of females were significantly higher than those of males. The ECV values of males increased with age, while T1 value in males and T1 and ECV values in females had no significant relationship with age.
The SGLT2i Dapagliflozin Reduces RV Hypertrophy Independent of Changes in RV Pressure Induced by Pulmonary Artery Banding
Authors: Connelly Kim , Wu Ellen , Visram Aylin , Friedberg Mark K. , Batchu Sri Nagarjun , Yeera Veera Ganesh , Thai Kerri , Nghiem Linda , Zhang Yanling , Kabir Golam , Desjardins JF , Advani Andrew , Gilbert Richard E
Published: December 2021

Background— Sodium glucose linked transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition not only reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with diagnosed heart failure but also prevents the development of heart failure hospitalization in those at risk. While studies to date have focused on the role of SGLT2 inhibition in left ventricular failure, whether this drug class might be similarly efficacious in the treatment and prevention of right heart failure has not been unexplored. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that SGLT2 inhibition would reduce the structural, functional and molecular responses to pressure overload of the right ventricle. Methods: Thirteen-week-old Fischer F344 rats underwent pulmonary artery banding (PAB) or sham surgery prior to being randomized to receive either the SGLT2 inhibitor: dapagliflozin (0.5mg/kg/day) or vehicle by oral gavage. After six weeks of treatment, animals underwent transthoracic echocardiography and invasive hemodynamic studies. Animals were then terminated, and their hearts harvested for structural and molecular analyses. Results: PAB induced features consistent with a compensatory response to increased right ventricular (RV) afterload with elevated mass, end systolic pressure, collagen content and alteration in calcium handling protein expression (all p<0.05 when compared to sham + vehicle). Dapagliflozin reduced RV mass, including both wet and dry weight as well as normalizing the protein expression of SERCA 2A, AMPkinase and LC3I/II ratio expression (all p<0.05). Significance: Dapagliflozin reduces the structural, functional, and molecular manifestations of right ventricular pressure overload. Whether amelioration of these early changes in the RV may ultimately lead to a reduction in RV failure remains to be determined.
An Unusual Early Oral Presentation of Acromegaly: A Case Report
Authors: Gamal-AbdelNaser Ayat
Published: December 2021

Acromegaly is a devastating chronic slowly progressive disease. Its early diagnosis is a challenging issue that necessitates clinical suspicion of signs and symptoms as a first step. This report introduces an unusual early sign in the oral cavity that lead to the early diagnosis of an acromegaly case. A case of a healthy 40-year-old male patient presented with progressively growing multiple hard swellings in the upper and lower jaws. Clinical examination revealed bony hard multiple small spiky exostosis-like swellings, located at the maxillary and mandibular alveolar bones. An array of investigations revealed a 2-mm diameter pituitary tumour in MRI of sella. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first report of spiky exostosis-like growths in the alveolar bone as an early sign of acromegaly. In this case, thorough examination of oral signs and symptoms was the first step for early diagnosis and hence, better prognosis for acromegaly.
Kimura Disease as a Rare Cause of Proptosis: A Case Report
Authors: Eh Dam V Sha Kri , Mohamad Irfan , Tai Evelyn Li Min , Hussein Adil , Sayuti Khairil Amir , Amiruddin Fatihatul Munirah , Hussain Faezahtul Arbaeyah
Published: December 2021

Kimura disease (KD) is a rare chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown aetiology that primarily affects the head and neck region with lymph node involvement. Young to middle-aged adult Asian males are predominantly affected. The most common presentation is painless subcutaneous swelling in the head and neck region, while proptosis or orbital involvement is very rarely reported. KD shares some features with other inflammatory and neoplastic disorders, including lymphoma; thus, investigations to confirm the diagnosis should not be delayed. Systemic corticosteroids are commonly used to treat KD and show an excellent response; however, the optimal treatment is still uncertain, and KD has a high recurrence rate. We describe the case of a patient with KD who presented with proptosis and post-auricular swelling, which responded well to oral prednisolone treatment.
The Relationship of Dental Anxiety, Behaviour, Temperament and Dental Caries in Children
Authors: Kaya Emine , Yıldırım Sinem
Published: December 2021

The first dental examination is a major step that is affected by many factors and determines the dental treatment process. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association of child temperament with child dental anxiety, parental dental anxiety, dental behaviour and dental caries. The study consisted of 100 children aged 3 to 6 who were attending their first dental examination and their accompanying parents. The Facial Image Scale (FIS), Frankl’s Behaviour Scale (FBS), Corah’s Dental Anxiety Scale (CDAS) and the Short Temperament Scale for Children (STSC) were used for assessment. The DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) score of each child was recorded. Children who exhibited negative behaviour on the FBS had the highest rhythmicity scores (p = 0.008). The mean DMFT score of children in the rhythmicity temperamental dimension was relatively high (p = 0.008). The parents of children defined as negative on the FBS had high dental anxiety levels on CDAS (p < 0.001). Children whose parents had higher dental anxiety levels showed higher dental anxiety (p = 0.007). The success rate of dental treatment procedures may be increased by improving dentists’ knowledge of dental anxiety related to the child’s temperament and integrating parental support to reduce dental anxiety.
Oral Health Status of Children with Thalassaemia in Melaka: A Pilot Study
Authors: Uma Eswara , Varghese Eby , Arora Ankita , Shoba S Pathmanathan
Published: December 2021

Thalassemia is an inherited disorder that involves abnormal haemoglobin formation. This cross-sectional study with universal sampling was conducted from May 2018 to January 2019 to evaluate the oral health status of children with thalassaemia. The sample consisted of 54 transfusion-dependent patients between the ages of 3–17 years old, who were registered at the paediatric day-care centre of Hospital Melaka. Oral health status was evaluated which included soft tissue examination, recording of dental caries, malocclusion and oral hygiene status of the children, while their parents answered a pre-validated self-administered questionnaire on sociodemographic and oral health practices and attitudes. The mean deft (decayed, exfoliated and filled teeth) among the 3–5 years old was 6.71±6.07. The mean DMFT (decayed, missing and filled teeth) was 3.00±3.94 among the 13–17 years old and 1.12±1.42 among the 6–12 years old. Most of the 3–5 years old children exhibited good oral hygiene (71.4%). Dentofacial findings among the 3–5 years old were increased overjet (35.7%) and open bite (28.6%) predominantly. Fractured teeth (69.2%), increased overjet (46.2%) and discolouration (23.1%) were the common dentofacial findings among the 6–12 years old while increased overjet (71.4%), soft tissue lesions (57.1%) and posterior crossbite (28.6%) were seen among the 13–17 years old. In this cohort of children with thalassaemia, the prevalence of dental caries was high in preschool children and older children.
Leveraging Technology in Doctoral Supervision: A Complementary Approach in Kenya’s Institutions of Higher Learning
Authors: Yatich Henry Kiptum
Published: December 2021

This paper examines previous empirical studies on adoption of emerging technologies in supervising doctoral students. The conceptual framework highlights the relationship between technology use and enhancing quality of supervision process, borrowing greatly from the theory of change methodology. It highlights the challenges and benefits analysis on the use of technology. The aim of this paper is to examine the efficacies of integration of the technology into the supervision process. As a result, it will provide students, supervisors, colleges of graduate boards, training institutions of higher learning, and regulatory bodies with a framework of incorporating the use of technology, based on needs assessment of respective doctoral supervision process.
A Vector-Based Mapping in GIS Environment to Classify Local Climate Zone
Authors: ÜNAL ÇİLEK Müge
Published: December 2021

Local climate zones (LCZ), which are widely used in urban heat island studies, include climate-based classification of the city to determine the climatic differences in the metropolitan area. Therefore, mapping methods have been developed to visualise LCZ classes. Compared to the raster-based mapping method, the vector-based mapping method, which makes a more precise and accurate evaluation, is not widely used due to the difficulty in creating and obtaining a dataset. This study aims to implement a GIS-based approach in creating a vector-based LCZ map in the example of Adana City, Turkey. The method of the study consists of five steps: a) determination of classification criteria; b) mapping of each classification criteria via Arc-GIS; c) creation of the decision tree for the creation of the LCZ map; d) overlapping of the classification criteria in line with the decision tree; e) development of suggestions in line with the findings. Vector-based LCZ classification has minimised the classification mistakes that may arise from resolution and has enabled the creation of a highly accurate LCZ map. The LCZ map obtained from the study is expected to be a base map in studies on urban climate studies and to guide decision-makers.
Midterm impacts of a water drought experience: evaluation of consumption changes in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Sousa Cláudia O. M. , Teixeira Lucas V. , Fouto Nuno M. M. D.
Published: December 2021

From late 2013 until the beginning of 2015, the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil, experienced a severe water shortage. During that period, economic incentives were implemented by the regional water provider in a successful attempt to reduce water consumption. We aimed to investigate whether such incentives, as well as the experience of a scarcity period itself, had a persistent impact on consumer behaviour after the water crisis was over. This study was conducted by means of a hierarchical linear model with three levels (HLM3) to verify if the reduction effect remained in the midterm and a regression using panel data to understand which factors influenced water consumption behaviour change before, during, and after the local severe water drought. The results indicate that the average water consumption level subsequent to the rain scarcity period was significantly lower than before and that, in addition to the economic incentives, the severity of the scarcity event explained the behaviour change verified in water consumption.
System-wide approaches to mitigate environmental and health impacts of water contamination
Authors: Ngasala Tula M. , Masten Susan J. , Gasteyer Stephen P.
Published: December 2021

There is an urgent need to address the challenges of inadequate safe water and proper sanitation in peri-urban communities in low-income countries. Agencies have tended to focus on a single aspect of the challenge for service delivery, which ultimately fails to capture the full scope of the problem. In this study, 63 household surveys and 15 key informant interviews regarding water and sanitation issues were conducted in a peri-urban area of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Results revealed that 87% of households experience water scarcity issues. More than 50% of the homes were surrounded by swampy areas with sewage and stagnant pools, with 40% reporting water source contamination due to seepage and overflowing of sewage collection systems. Key informants reported water scarcity and poor water quality due to poor sanitation practices and a compromised water supply network. We found that a highly integrated approach that invests in cultural, social, political, human, financial, and built community capitals is needed to address these challenges. Community self-efficacy and empowerment will be critical to accomplishing this and protecting public health.
Process evaluation of urban river replenished with reclaimed water from a wastewater treatment plant based on the risk of algal bloom and comprehensive acute toxicity
Authors: Sun Danyan , Lin Xiaohu , Lu Zhibo , Huang Juwen , Li Guangming , Xu Jingcheng
Published: December 2021

Municipal wastewater reuse has an important role to play with scarce water resources and serious water pollution. However, the impact of reclaimed water on the aquatic ecology and organisms of the receiving water needs to be assessed. This study investigated one ecological restoration project of an urban river replenished with reclaimed water, and evaluated the risk of algal bloom and acute biological toxicity in the river. Results showed that the concentrations of permanganate index and ammonia nitrogen in the river could stably remain below the standard values, the concentrations of total phosphorus were high and most of the monitoring values were between 0.42 and 0.86 mg/L. The content of chlorophyll a was relatively lower, ranging from 0.06 to 0.10 mg/m3. The maximum value of Fv/Fm was 0.42, which was lower than the algal bloom prediction threshold of 0.63. Moreover, the results of luminescence inhibition rate on luminescent bacteria showed that the reclaimed water did not cause significant biological toxicity to the aquatic ecology. The study suggested that implementing urban reclaimed water reuse projects requires a series of ecological purification and restoration technologies in the receiving water, which can effectively guarantee the stability of water quality and the safety of water ecological environment.
Application of water resource multi-objective allocation service based on digital water network
Authors: Du R. F. , Zhang Y. J. , Liu Y. G. , Liu S. H. , Wang F. , Zhang X. , Xie J. C.
Published: December 2021

The rational allocation of water resources plays an important role in alleviating disparities between supply and demand in areas with water shortages. With the continuous development of modern information technology, the pace of digitization is accelerating. Digital water networks provide a means of technical support, and their application is becoming more extensive. Based on the traditional study of water resource allocation combined with the development of modern information technology, this paper proposes a new operational application model of multi-objective water resource allocation based on a digital water network and applies this model to allocate water resources in the Heihe River basin in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. First, a topological digital water network is constructed based on the connectivity criterion of water systems, and a cooperative configuration model with social, economic and ecological objectives is established. Second, the model and its solution method are componentized, and the water resource allocation business system is constructed based on the comprehensive integration platform to integrate the digital water network and the water resource multi-objective allocation business. Finally, to verify the scientificity and feasibility of the new model, the new model was applied to allocate water resources in the Heihe River basin of Xi'an city, Shaanxi Province.
Corporate Governance in the Digital Economy
Authors: Zharinov I. O.
Published: December 2021

The task of organizing corporate governance of groups of business systems that carry out industrial activities in the Industry 4.0 paradigm and are focused on a single market segment is considered. The subjects of governance are defined as residents of corporate business relations (stakeholders) who provide management or action the business as an investor, owner, lender, etc. The objects of governance are defined as business systems and their groups (business complexes, State corporations) formed as a result of institutional and infrastructural transformations in the primary and aggregated parts of industry. The  innovative component (subject), corresponding to the globalization of economic and digitalization of business processes, introduced an information system into the management channel that performs modeling and evaluating the effectiveness of corporate business relations in a virtual environment using digital twins of governance objects. Digital twins are the information components of a virtual corporation deployed on a platform of a decentralized ecosystem. The criterion for the quality of governance is the effectiveness of the corporation, formed in a balanced space of parameters relevant to financial and production indicators. The technology is described and the scheme of the corporate governance system is presented, which complementarily combines the action of business management systems and artificial intelligence (scheduler) of the virtual environment on the groups. It is proposed to extend the mechanisms of corporate governance to the business relations of the parties regulated in the digital institutional environment by electronic procedures.
Methodological Approaches and Tools for Managing Working Assets in the System of Finance Management in Russian Corporations
Authors: Khvostova A. A.
Published: December 2021

The article summarizes today’s theoretical aspects of the notion ‘working assets’ and their management with focus on the most widely used in Russia ideas about this group of enterprise and organization assets. At the same time the author provides findings of academic research by classics of economic theory and finance management (F. Kene, A. Smith, D. Ricardo, K. Marx) and present day scientists and experts. While studying academic works by today’s scientists the most frequently used in Russia definitions of the notion ‘working assets’ were identified. The author gave explanations, which allow us to see the differences between non-current and working assets of business entities. Apart from that, the effective legal aspects of managing working assets by corporations were studied with focus on describing the procedure of their fixing in forms of periodical accounting and showing material costs. The article provides different types of working asset management, depicts groups of methods for working asset management and gives a list of the most widely used tools for effective management of working assets in the system of finance management of Russian corporations.
Specific Innovation Projects of the Retail Chain ‘Magnit’ and Their Risk Management
Authors: Degtyareva V. V.
Published: December 2021

Today in conditions of severe competition of commercial enterprises it is necessary to upgrade their work by using different methods, one of them is the development and introduction of innovation projects. However, when an innovation project is worked out each developer faces certain risks requiring high-quality and effective management. Risk management in innovation projects is a complicated process, which is connected with the high level of uncertainty typical of innovation projects. Therefore, to manager risks of innovation projects highlyqualified personnel with sufficient knowledge and information is essential. The author studied the notion ‘innovation project’, investigated the causes of innovation risk rising and provided their classification. Apart from that, innovation projects of the retail chain ‘Magnit’ were analyzed, key problems of managing risks of innovation projects were identified and recommendations on resolving such problems were put forward.
Key Function of the Bank of Russia: Contradictions and Problems
Authors: Karpunin V. I. , Novashina T. S.
Published: December 2021

The article examines the most important categories, mechanisms, and instruments of the monetary policy of the Bank of Russia from the point of view of both its development and its implementation. The essence, origins and driving forces of the main contradiction of Russia's monetary policy are revealed. It is shown that monetary policy, along with the economic policy of the state, should act as a regulator of important meanings of human existence, such as the growth of real incomes of the population, directly affecting the redistribution of money – this market form of universal requirement for part of the national wealth. The author's position is presented, according to which inflation is not so much a macroeconomic indicator, as it is often customary to treat this phenomenon, as a fundamental process of a market economy that determines the redistribution of national wealth between economic entities through money. The authors identified and described the main problems and local contradictions in the development and implementation of a unified state monetary policy, presented a detailed description of these phenomena. The methodology of dialectical-systemic and logical analysis, which was used by the authors as a research tool, allowed for the first time to formulate the main contradiction of the unified state monetary policy. The presented formulation reflects the essential principles of the poles of contradiction – the contradiction between form and content. In order to solve the problems identified and existing for a long time, the authors justify the need to take priority organizational and legal measures, first of all, changing the statute, reforming functions, strengthening operational capabilities and staffing of the National Financial Council.
Current Status and Future Perspectives of the Active Knee Joint Rehabilitation
Device
Authors: Jiang Jingang , Gao Ziwen , Song Shichang , Yu Xiaoyang , Zeng Yang
Published: December 2021

Background:

Today, living standards and medical technology are improving, and the
aging global population is increasing. However, more and more older adults are suffering from knee
diseases. This will seriously affect patients’ daily life and their mental state. In many studies, repetitive
physical exercises and motor activities in real-world environments have been shown to help improve
knee muscle strength and restore damaged nerves. Therefore, physical knee therapy is very necessary.
The use of rehabilitation training devices for movement therapy has shown great potential.

Objective:

This study aimed at exploring the structural features, functions, and development status
of the knee rehabilitation training device.

Method:

This review explores the structure and function of various current knee rehabilitation devices
based on structural and kinematic properties of the knee joint in relation to requirements of
physical knee rehabilitation. This paper aims to present a systematic guideline and outline a reference
for future designers of rehabilitation devices.

Results:

By analyzing the structure and movement of the knee joint and combining the strategies of
physical knee rehabilitation, movement requirements during knee rehabilitation training are concluded.
According to the structure, drive form, transmission mode, and rehabilitation environment
of knee rehabilitation devices, the devices are classified and compared; some typical features are
summarized; some current problems are analyzed, and the future trends and development directions
of rehabilitation devices are discussed.

Conclusion:

Current rehabilitation equipment has a variety of structures and functions, but a good
balance between weight and volume is hardly maintained. The protection of the body needs to be
further improved. Many knee rehabilitation devices are only concepts, not physical objects, and lack
clinical trial data. Power sources and drives are large and heavy, which can compress the knee joint
and burden the patient. Strong and lightweight materials should be chosen to assist knee rehabilitation.
It will be a good development in the future.
Effect of Intravesical Chemotherapy on the Survival of Patients with Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer Undergoing Transurethral Resection: A Retrospective Cohort Study Among Older Adults
Authors: Das Ashis K. , Mishra Devi K. , Gopalan Saji S.
Published: December 2021

Background:

The average age of diagnosis for bladder cancer is 73 and about 75 percent of all bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive at initial diagnosis. It is recommended that non-muscle invasive bladder cancers (NMIBC) should be treated with transurethral resection of the bladder tumor (TURBT) followed by chemotherapy. However, there is no large-scale study from real-world databases to show the effectiveness of chemotherapy on the survival of older adults with NMIBC that have undergone TURBT. This study aimed to investigate the effects of chemotherapy on survival among older NMIBC patients with TURBT.

Methods:

Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (2010-2015), we performed analyses of cancer-specific mortality and overall mortality comparing chemotherapy versus no chemotherapy after TURBT. Coarsened exact matching was performed to balance the baseline patient characteristics. Cox proportional hazards and Kaplan-Meir analyses were used to evaluate survival outcomes.

Results:

A total of 3,222 matched patients with 1,611 in each arm (chemotherapy and no chemotherapy) were included in our study. After adjusting for covariates, multivariable Cox regression analyses show chemotherapy was associated with lower cancer-specific mortality (HR 0.63; 95% CI 0.42-0.94; p value 0.024). However, chemotherapy did not have any effect on overall mortality (HR 0.84; 95% CI 0.65-1.07; p value 0.159). The Kaplan-Meier curves show the protective effects of chemotherapy on cancer specific survival (p=0.032), but not on overall survival (p=0.34).

Conclusion:

Chemotherapy improved cancer specific survival among older patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer undergoing TURBT surgery, but it had no effect on overall survival. There is a need for more granular level real-world data on chemotherapy regimens and dosage to effectively investigate the effects of chemotherapy on the survival of older patients with NMIBC that have undergone TURBT.
A Randomized Clinical Trial of the Effect of Zinc Supplement on Depression and Anxiety in the Elderly
Authors: Afzali Abolfazl , Vakili Zarichehr , Goli Shahrbanoo , Bagheri Hossein , Mirhosseini Seyedmohammad , Ebrahimi Hossein
Published: December 2021

Background:

Anxiety and depression in the elderly are considered important mental disorders.

Objective:

This study was designed to determine the effect of zinc Supplementation on depression and anxiety in the elderly.

Methods:

This study was a parallel randomized clinical trial. A total of 150 elderly aged 60 years and older were allocated into intervention and control groups by using the quadruple blocking method. The elderly in the intervention group received a daily dose of 30 mg zinc supplementation pill for 70 days and the elderly in the control group did not receive this supplement. Depression and anxiety in the elderly were measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Beck Anxiety Inventory, respectively. A significance level of 0.05 was considered for all statistical tests.

Results:

After the intervention, the mean scores of depression and anxiety in the elderly were significantly decreased in the intervention group, as compared with the control group. Moreover, after the intervention, the serum zinc level in the elderly was significantly increased in the intervention group, as compared with the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

The use of zinc supplements improved depression and anxiety in the elderly. Therefore, it is recommended to use zinc supplements as a new therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of depression and anxiety in the elderly.

Registration No: This research was registered in the Iranian clinical trial system with code IRCT2017071635110N1.
Nanocrystals- A Substantial Platform for Drug Delivery Applications
Authors: Patel Akanksha , Dharamsi Abhay
Published: December 2021

Poor solubility of a drug is one of the major concerns in drug delivery. Many strategies
have been employed for solving this problem, but there are still some deficiencies with current
strategies, such as low drug loading, high toxicity, poor stability, potential drug loss during storage,
and complex manufacturing method. By formulating nanocrystals, problems associated with the delivery
of drugs with low water or lipid solubility can be addressed. Unlike polymeric nanoparticles
and lipidic nanoparticles, they are not reservoir or matrix systems. Nanocrystals are colloidal suspensions
of nanosized particles stabilized by polymeric or electrostatic stabilization. They can be
prepared by Top-down or Bottom-up approaches. Some of the methods for the preparation of
nanocrystals are nanoprecipitation, media milling, high-pressure homogenization, emulsions and
microemulsions as templates, supercritical fluid technology, and co-grinding. They can be used for
oral, intravenous, ocular, inhalation, intramuscular drug delivery and drug targeting.