bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Patterns and Their Associations With Overweight/Obesity Among Preschool Children in Dongcheng District of Beijing: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Min Kaiyuan , WANG Jing , LIAO Wei , Astell-Burt Thomas , FENG Xiaoqi , CAI Shuya , LIU Yang , ZHANG Peiwen , SU Fenghua , YANG Kexin , SUN Liang , ZHANG Juan , WANG Lianjun , LIN Gang , JIANG Yu
Published: September 2020

BackgroundFew studies investigated associations between dietary patterns and overweight/obesity among Chinese preschool children. Thus, the study aimed to explore dietary patterns among preschool children in the Dongcheng District of Beijing, and their associations with overweight/obesity.MethodsWith a stratified proportionate cluster sampling, the study included 3,373 pairs of preschool children and their guardians. Children’s weight and height were measured by school nurses, and their food and beverage consumption frequencies were reported by guardians via a food frequency questionnaire. Children’s age, gender, physical activity time, and sedentary time, as well as their parents’ highest level of educational attainment, occupation, weight, and height were also collected. Dietary patterns were identified through an exploratory factor analysis. Among these identified dietary patterns, the one with the largest factor score was defined as the predominant dietary pattern for each child. Associations between predominant dietary patterns and overweight/obesity were tested by two-level random-intercept logistic models with cluster-robust standard errors.ResultsFour dietary patterns, i.e., a “Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) and snack” pattern, a “Chinese traditional” pattern, a “Health conscious” pattern, and a “Snack” pattern, were identified. Among the children, 21.02% (95% CI: 19.68% to 22.43%) were predominated by the “SSB and snack” pattern, 27.78% (95% CI: 26.29% to 29.32%) by the “Chinese traditional” pattern, 24.90% (95% CI: 23.47% to 26.39%) by the “Health conscious” pattern, and 26.30% (95% CI: 24.84% to 27.81%) by the “Snack” pattern. After controlling for potential confounders, the “SSB and snack” pattern characterized by fresh fruit/vegetable juice, flavored milk drinks, carbonated drinks, flavored fruit/vegetable drinks, tea drinks, plant-protein drinks, puffed foods, fried foods, and Western fast foods was associated with a higher risk of overweight/obesity (OR: 1.61, 95% CI:1.09 to 2.38), compared with the “Chinese traditional” pattern.ConclusionsA preference for foods high in energy density but low in nutritional value was prevalent among preschool children in the Dongchen District of Beijing. Comprehensive measures to simultaneously reduce consumption of SSBs and unhealthy snacks among preschool children should be taken urgently to fight against rising childhood obesity in China, particularly in metropolises.
Structure of a single palladium nanoparticle and its dynamics during the hydride phase transformation
Authors: Suzana Ana , Wu Longlong , Assefa Tadesse , Williams Benjamin , Harder Ross , Cha Wonsuk , Kuo Chun-Hong , Tsung Chia-Kuang , Robinson Ian
Published: September 2020

Palladium absorbs large volumetric quantities of hydrogen at room temperature and ambient pressure, making the Pd-H system a promising candidate for hydrogen storage. Here, we use Bragg coherent diffraction imaging to map the strain associated with defects in three dimensions before and during the hydride phase transformation of an individual octahedral palladium nanoparticle, synthesized by using the seed-mediated approach. The displacement distribution imaging unveils the location of the seed nanoparticle in the final nanocrystal. By comparing our experimental results with a finite-element model, we verify that the seed nanoparticle causes a characteristic displacement distribution of the larger nanocrystal. During the hydrogen exposure, the hydride phase is predominantly formed on one tip of the octahedra, where there is a high number of lower coordinated Pd atoms. Our experimental and theoretical results provide an unambiguous method for future structure optimization of seed-mediated nanoparticles growth and in the design of palladium-based hydrogen storage systems.
Three Dimensional Movement Analysis of Maxillary Impacted Canine Using TADs: A Pilot Study
Authors: Migliorati Marco , Sinfonico Giordana , Drago Sara , Dalessandri Domenico , Isola Gaetano , Cevidanes Lucia , Silvestrini-Biavati Armando
Published: September 2020

BackgroundThe aim of the present study was to compare two different anchorage systems efficiency to disinclude impacted maxillary canines using as evaluation tool superimposed Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCTs).MethodsThe study has been conducted with two parallel groups with an allocation ratio of 1:1. Group test received treatment using as anchorage a miniscrew, control group was treated using an anchorage unit a trans palatal arch (TPA). Both groups received a calibrated traction force of 50 grams. CBCT before treatment and 3 months after traction were superimposed and canine tip and root movement were evaluated in mm/month ratio. ResultsNo differences were observed between groups for apex displacement, tip displacement and observation timespan. 22 patients (12 female, 10 male, mean age:13.4 years) undergoing orthodontic treatment for impacted maxillary canines were recruited for this study. No differences were observed between groups for apex displacement, tip displacement and observation timespanConclusionsThe present pilot study provided no evidence that indirect anchorage on miniscrews could make canine disimpaction faster than anchorage on a TPA. An apex root movement of 0.4-0.8mm per month was found, while average canine tip movement ranged between 1.08mm and 1.96mm per month.No miniscrews failures were observed.Trial RegistrationThe study reports the preliminary results of the randomized clinical trial registered at www. register.clinicaltrials.gov (registration number: NCT01717417)
“why Would I Use a Condom When I Want to Have a Child?” Men’s Unmet Needs Regarding Sexual and Reproductive Health Information in the Context of HIV in Zambia
Authors: Matenga Tulani Francis L. , Zulu Joseph Mumba , Nkwema Shanny , Shankalala Perfect , Hampanda Karen
Published: September 2020

BackgroundAlthough health care providers are beginning to focus on men's roles as fathers and husbands, there is limited understanding of how men view their ability to promote sexual and reproductive health in families affected by HIV and their experiences with receiving education through antenatal care. This paper aims to explore men’s perceptions of the education they need regarding sexual and reproductive health within the family in the context of HIV. MethodsWe interviewed a convenient sample of 18 male partners of pregnant women living with HIV in Lusaka, Zambia. Atlas.ti was used to facilitate data management and content analysis.ResultsMen reported being the primary decision-makers regarding sexual and reproductive issues in the family; however, they admitted far-reaching unmet needs in terms of information on sexual and reproductive health in the context of HIV. Most men felt that antenatal care was not a conducive setting to fully educate men on sexual and reproductive health because it is a woman's space where their health concerns were generally neglected. There was a strong desire for more education that was specific to men’s sexual and reproductive health, especially because all the couples were affected by HIV. Men especially requested education on sexual preparedness, safe sex, the use of condoms in sero-concordant and sero-discordant relationships and general health information. Although men stated they were the main decision-makers regarding sexual and reproductive issues such as pregnancy, most men were not confident in their ability to promote sexual and reproductive health in the family because of limited knowledge in this area.ConclusionThere is need to change the environment and messaging of antenatal care, as well as offer relevant education opportunities outside health facility settings to empower men with essential information for meaningful involvement in sexual and reproductive health in the context of HIV.
Morphology, genetic characterization and molecular phylogeny of pinworm Skrjabinema longicaudatum sp. n. (Oxyurida: Oxyuridae) from the endangered Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae)
Authors: Cao Yi-Fan , Chen Hui-Xia , Li Yang , Zhou Dang-Wei , Chen Shi-Long , Li Liang
Published: September 2020

Background: The Tibetan antelope Pantholops hodgsonii (Abel) (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) is an endangered species of mammal endemic to the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Parasites and parasitic diseases are considered to be important threats in the conservation of the Tibetan antelope. However, our present knowledge of the composition of the parasites from the Tibetan antelope remains limited. Methods: Large numbers of nematode parasites were collected from a dead Tibetan antelope. The morphology of these nematode specimens was observed using light and scanning electron microscopy. The nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences [i.e. small subunit ribosomal DNA (18S), large subunit ribosomal DNA (28S), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1)] were amplified and sequenced for molecular identification. Moreover, phylogenetic analyses were performed using maximum likelihood (ML) inference based on 28S and 18S + 28S + cox1 sequence data, respectively, in order to clarify the systematic status of these nematodes.Results: Integrated morphological and genetic evidence reveals these nematode specimens to be a new species of pinworm Skrjabinema longicaudatum (Oxyurida: Oxyuridae). There was no intraspecific nucleotide variation between different individuals of S. longicaudatum sp. n. in the partial 18S, 28S, ITS and cox1 sequences. However, a high level of nucleotide divergence was revealed between the new species and its congeners in 28S (8.36%) and ITS (20.3–23.7%) regions, respectively. Molecular phylogenetic results suggest that the genus Skrjabinema should belong to the subfamily Oxyurinae (Oxyuroidea: Oxyuridae), instead of the subfamily Syphaciidae or Skrjabinemiinae in the traditional classification, as it formed a sister relationship to the genus Oxyuris. Conclusions: A new species of pinworm Skrjabinema longicaudatum sp. n. (Oxyurida: Oxyuridae) is described. Skrjabinema longicaudatum sp. n. represents the first species of Oxyurida (pinworm) and the fourth nematode species reported from the Tibetan antelope. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the species diversity of parasites from the Tibetan antelope, and clarify the systematic position of the genus Skrjabinema.
COVID-19 Outbreak and Acute Cholecystitis in a Hub Hospital in Milan: Wider Indications for Percutaneous Cholecystostomy.
Authors: Barabino Matteo , Piccolo Gaetano , Trizzino Arianna , Fedele Veronica , Ferrari Carlo , Nicastro Vincenzo , Ceretti Andrea Pisani , De Nicola Enrico , Mariani Nicolò Maria , Giovenzana Marco , Scifo Giovanna , Mazza Massimiliano , Vercelli Ruggero , Santambrogio Roberto , Luigiano Carmelo , Opocher Enrico
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND.COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the Italian national health care system at many different levels, causing a complete reorganization of surgical wards. In this context, in this study we retrospectively analyzed our management strategy for patients with acute cholecystitis.METHODS.We analyzed all patients admitted to our Emergency Department for acute cholecystitis from February 27th to April 30th, 2020. We graded each case according to the 2018 Tokyo Guidelines. All patients were tested for positivity to SARS-CoV-2 and received an initial conservative treatment. RESULTS.Thirty-seven patients were admitted for acute cholecystitis (13 grade I, 16 grade II and 8 grade III). According to Tokyo Guidelines 2018, patients were successfully treated with antibiotic only, bedside percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 29.7%, 21.6 % and 48.7% of cases respectively. Therapeutic strategy of three out of 8 cases, otherwise fit for surgery, submitted to percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage (37.5%), were directly modified by COVID-19 pandemic: one due to the SARS-CoV-2 positivity, while two others due to unavailability of operating room and intensive care unit for post-operative monitoring respectively. Overall success rate of percutaneous drainage was of 87.5%, the mean post-procedural hospitalization length was 9 days, and no related adverse event were observed.CONCLUSIONS.Bedside cholecystostomy has shown to be an effective and safe treatment, which acquired an increased relevance in the present acute phase of the pandemic. This strategy will potentially be taken into consideration in future phases, when the coexistence with the virus will require us to respond in an even more virtuous fashion.
Trends and Determinants of Diarrhea Among Under-Five Children in Ethiopia: Cross-Sectional Study Design: Multivariate Decomposition and Multilevel Analysis Based on Bayesian Approach Evidenced by EDHS 2000-2016 Data.
Authors: Negesse Yilkal , Adimasu Asefa , Negesse Ayenew , Awoke Tadesse
Published: September 2020

Background: Despite significant progress in the reduction of under-five child deaths over the last decades in Ethiopia, still diarrhea remains the second cause of morbidity and mortality among under five children next to pneumonia. Objective: To show trends and determinants of diarrhea among under five children in Ethiopia based on the four Ethiopian Demographic and health surveys data (2000- 2016).Methods: Community-based cross-sectional study design was used. A total of 10753 in 2000, 10039 in 2005, 10946 in 2011 and 10337 in 2016 under five age children were involved. Multivariate decomposition and multilevel analysis based on Bayesian approach was performed.Results: Ninety seven percent of the change in diarrhea prevalence over time was attributable to difference in behavior. Being twin (AOR=1.3; 95% CrI 1.1-1.5), big weight (AOR=1.63; 95 % CrI 1.62–2.02), not vaccinated for rotavirus (AOR= 1.44; 95 % CrI 1.12–1.9) and for measles (AOR= 1.2; 95 % CrI 1.1–1.33), poor wealth status (AOR 2.6; 95 % CrI 1.7–4.06), having more than three under-five children(AOR 1.3; 95 % CrI 1.1–1.61), member of health insurance(AOR 2.2; 95 % CrI 1.3–3.8) and long distance from the health facility (AOR 2.7; 95 % CrI 2.2–3.5) were more likely to experience diarrhea. Conclusion: The prevalence of diarrhea was significantly declined over the last sixteen years and the decline was due to difference in coefficients between the surveys. Being twin , weight of child at birth, vaccinated for measles and rotavirus, number of under-five children, wealth status, distance to health facility, health insurance and child waste disposal method were significantly associated with diarrhea among under five children in Ethiopia. Therefore Ethiopian government should primarily focus on the strengthening and scaling up of behavioral change packages to prevent diarrheal disease.
Perception Data Fusion of Agricultural Products Supply Chain Based on Internet of Things
Authors: Sun Xu , Shu Kunliang
Published: September 2020

With the continuous development of the logistics industry and big data technology, the integration of traditional industries and the Internet of Things has become the trend of the times. However, agricultural product quality problems occur from time to time in multiple links such as the production and circulation of agricultural products. Therefore, the agricultural product supply chain based on the Internet of Things has gradually received attention. The purpose of this paper is to study the application of perception data fusion of agricultural products supply chain based on internet of things. In order to study the application of perception data fusion of agricultural products supply chain based on Internet of things, this paper analyzes the status quo of agricultural products industry traceability platform and extracts other product supply modes based on the Internet of things technology. After analysis and comparison, it comes to the perception data fusion mode suitable for the agricultural product supply chain, and uses the information technology based on the internet of things to carry out the agricultural product circulation process Internet of things transformation and process optimization. The results show that the application of data fusion based on the internet of things can solve 69.45% of the agricultural products whose origins are unknown and cannot be traced, improve the supply efficiency of agricultural products by 43%, reduce the health problems of agricultural products by 31.24%, reduce the prices of agricultural products by 13%-20%, improve the logistics efficiency and save about 5 million tons of agricultural products. Therefore, it is necessary to study the application of agricultural product perception data fusion based on internet of things.
Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors in Pediatric Vascular Tumors
Authors: Rujkijyanont Piya , Traivaree Chanchai , Supakul Nucharin , Satayasoontorn Kantang , Photia Apichat , Monsereenusorn Chalinee
Published: September 2020

Background: Vascular tumor is a specific entity of vascular anomalies with variable clinical manifestations and outcomes. Although surgical intervention is the gold standard to establish diagnosis and treatment, the procedure also carries certain risk especially in cases with large and inoperable tumors. Determinant factors to predict clinical outcomes among those patients were not well studied. The study aimed to explore clinical characteristics including investigational and treatment approaches as well as associated prognostic factors of vascular tumors specifically in pediatric populations. Methods: Pediatric patients with confirmed diagnosis of vascular tumors between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2017 were enrolled in this study. Clinical data including initial clinical manifestations with associated complications, diagnostic studies used to establish diagnosis, treatment modalities provided and final outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results: In all, 50 patients with confirmed diagnosis of vascular tumors were enrolled. The median age at diagnosis was 11.5 years with equal gender distribution. The most common type of vascular tumors was hemangioma (n=41, 82%), followed by pyogenic granuloma (n=4, 8%), kapasiform hemangioendothelioma with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (n=2, 4%), infantile hepatic hemangioma (n=2, 4%) and juvenile nasal angiofibroma (n=1, 2%). The median age at diagnosis among patients with cutaneous vascular tumors (12.4 years) was significantly older than the age of those with visceral vascular tumors (1.3 years) with p-value of 0.009. The mean size among patients with visceral tumors (7.46±4.84 cms) was significantly greater than the size among patients with cutaneous tumors (3.21±3.7 cms) with p-value of 0.023. Size of the tumor was the only independent risk factor associated with clinical outcomes.Conclusion: Clinical characteristics of vascular tumors are heterogenous. Diagnosis can be made using clinical manifestations combined with radiological and histopathological examination. Treatment approaches consist of close observation, medications and surgery. Clinical outcomes are favorable among most patients and size of the tumor is an independent risk factor associated with outcomes. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.in.th under the title, “Vascular tumors in pediatric hematology-oncology settings” with registration number: TCTR20190917001.
Bias Estimation In Study Design: A Meta-Epidemiological Analysis of Transcatheter Versus Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Youn Saerom , Wong Shannon Avery , Chrystoja Caitlin , Tomlinson George , Wijeysundera Harindra C , Bell Chaim M , Gagliardi Anna R , Baxter Nancy N , Sandhu Lakhir , Takata Julie , Urbach David Robert
Published: September 2020

Objective: To estimate the bias associated with specific nonrandomized study attributes among studies comparing transcatheter aortic valve implantation with surgical aortic valve replacement for the treatment of severe aortic stenosis.Data sources and study selection: We searched 7 databases from inception to June 2017: Medline, Medline In-Process/ePubs, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, and Web of Science. We included all RCTs and nonrandomized studies that reported outcomes of interest.Data extraction and synthesis: We categorized studies according to study design, and evaluated 41 nonrandomized study attributes as potential sources of bias. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and other effect measures with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using random effects models.Main outcomes: One month postoperative mortality, and length of stay. Bias was defined as the difference in estimates of treatment effects between nonrandomized studies and high quality (low risk of bias) RCTs, which were considered to provide “gold standard” estimates.Results: We included 6 RCTs and 87 nonrandomized studies. Surgical risk scores were similar for comparison groups in RCTs, but were higher for patients having transcatheter aortic valve implantation in nonrandomized studies. Nonrandomized studies underestimated the benefit of transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with RCTs. For example, nonrandomized studies without adjustment estimated a higher risk of postoperative mortality for transcatheter aortic valve implantation compared with surgical aortic valve replacement (OR 1.43 [95% CI, 1.26 to 1.62]) than high quality RCTs (OR 0.78 [95% CI, 0.54 to 1.11). Nonrandomized studies using propensity score matching (OR 1.13 [95% CI, 0.85 to 1.52]) and regression modelling (OR 0.68 [95% CI, 0.57 to 0.81]) to adjust results estimated treatment effects closer to high quality RCTs. Nonrandomized studies describing losses to follow-up estimated treatment effects that were significantly closer to high quality RCT than nonrandomized studies that did not.Conclusion: Studies with different attributes produce different estimates of treatment effects. Study design attributes related to the completeness of follow-up may explain biased treatment estimates in nonrandomized studies, as in the case of aortic valve replacement where high-risk patients were preferentially selected for the newer (transcatheter) procedure.
Classic Cardiovascular Risk Factors improve in Very Elderly Hypopituitary Patients Treated on Standard Hormone Replacement in Long Term Follow- Up.
Authors: Rosa Isabella Naves , Soares Alexandre Anderson de Souza Munhoz , Rodrigues Marcelo Palmeira , Naves Luciana Ansaneli
Published: September 2020

BackgroundHypopituitarism in the elderly population is an underdiagnosed condition and may increase comorbidities related to glucose metabolism, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular risk factors. Optimization of hormone replacement take into account alterations in clearence rates of hormones, interaction with other medications, and evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio of treatment is a big challenge for clinical practice. ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate classic cardiovascular risk factors in hypopituitary septuagenarians and octagenarians by diagnosis and after long-term hormone replacement.MethodsThis is a retrospective observational study, and patients were recruited and selected from a registry in a tertiary medical center. We included patients aged from 70-99 years with hypopituitarism, evaluated hormonal and biochemical parameters, cardiovascular risk scores were calculated by diagnosis and compared after long-term follow-up. All patients signed informed consent. Patients' data were compared to a sex and age-matched control group, with long-term geriatric follow up, without endocrine diseases.ResultsThirty-five patients were included, 16 patients aged 70-75 years (72.61), 12 patients 76-80 years (72.28), 7 patients 81-99 years (89.28). Pituitary macroadenomas were the main cause of hypopituitarism, mean maximal diameter 3.4 cm (2.9- 4.3), and invasive craniopharyngiomas. At the moment of diagnosis, most patients were overweight, and abdominal adiposity was observed in 76.9% of women and 36.4% of men, mostly in octagenarians and nonagenarians. Co-morbidities were frequent, 85.7% presented Hypertension, 37.1% Diabetes, 53.1% low HDL, 51.5% hypertriglyceridemia. Most patients presented more than two combined pituitary deficiencies, hypogonadism in 88.6%, central hypothyroidism 82.9%, GH deficiency in 65.7%, and adrenal insufficiency in 25.7%. Analysis of cardiovascular risk prediction in the total cohort showed that 57.1% of patients presented a reduction in the General Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Risk Prediction Score and 45.7% in atherosclerotic CVD risk estimated by ACC/AHA 2013 Pooled Cohort Equation, despite being submitted to conventional hormone replacement, during the meantime follow up pf 14.5 years. This reduction was not observed in the control group.Discussion and ConclusionIn this study, aged hypopituitary patients presented a reduction in estimated general CVD risk during long-term follow-up, despite replacement with corticosteroids, levothyroxine, or gonadal steroids. The early diagnosis and treatment of hypopituitarism in the elderly remain challenging. Larger studies should be performed to assess the risk-benefit ratio of hormone replacement in the metabolic profile in septuagenarian and octogenarian patients.
High-Q Spectral Peaks and Nonstationarity in the Geomagnetic Field Over the 400-4000 μHz Band
Authors: Chave Alan , Thomson David J , Luther Douglas , Riegert David
Published: September 2020

This paper analyzes three 60 d sections of geomagnetic data from Honolulu Observatory during 2001 − 2, showing the ubiquitous presence of narrowband, very statistically significant, high Q features in multitaper power spectra, along with pervasive nonstationarity as measured by the frequency offset coherence over 400 − 4000 µHz (or 2500 − 250 s period). This behavior is nearly identical in the H and Z components of the geomagnetic field, and more subdued in the much weaker D component. The peak frequencies correlate well with the optically − measured frequencies of solar p − modes, and the raw Qs are defined by the resolution bandwidths of the estimates, with values ranging from hundreds to thousands. Further, spectral peaks are consistently coherent across frequency due to nonstationarity, and frequently exhibit cyclostationarity at offset frequencies of ± 0.5 cycles per day. None of these characteristics are consistent with internal magnetospheric processes. A mixture central/noncentral chi square model was fit to raw spectral estimates in an attempt to model narrowband, high Q, quasi − deterministic modes embedded in a stochastic background. This model yielded noncentral fractions of 0.13 (1000 − 2000 µHz), 0.24 (1500 − 2500 µHz), 0.35 (2000 − 3000 µHz), 0.30 (2500 − 3500 µHz) and 0.17 (3000 − 4000 µHz). These values suggest that up to 35% of the power in the geomagnetic field in the 1000 − 4000 µHz band averaged over 60 days is forced by solar p − modes.
Physical Activity Counseling Received Throughout Pregnancy: Effect on Behaviors: A Quasi-experimental Study.
Authors: RUART Shelly , SINNAPAH Stéphane , HUE Olivier , JANKY Eustase , ANTOINE-JONVILLE Sophie
Published: September 2020

Background: Pregnant women declare perceived barriers to physical activity. Although physical activity is not often dispensed, effective counseling by health professionals is recommended. Health professionals training has been proposed as a target to improve physical activity effective counseling. The objective was to evaluate the physical activity counseling of trained and untrained health professionals given to pregnant women and the effect on the women’s physical activity behaviors.Methods: In a quasi-experimental trial, 72 pregnant women were allocated to a control or intervention group. Physical activity counseling was dispensed to the women in the intervention group by trained healthcare providers throughout pregnancy. The women in the control group followed the usual consultations. The counseling and physical activity levels were evaluated by Chi2 tests and repeated measures ANOVAs respectively.Results: Overall, the women received little counseling in accordance with the recommendations, although the intervention group women received it more frequently (p=0.049). All women who received counseling throughout pregnancy limited their decline in physical activity more than the others. The decline in sports activity among normal-weight pregnant women was reduced in the intervention group (p=0.032), and sedentary activity was preserved among the pre-pregnancy overweight women (p=0.027). The total quantity of physical activity was not different in women who received counseling in accordance with recommendations compared with that of the others.Conclusion: Our intervention showed the effectiveness of counseling on physical activity behaviors, although the effect was limited. Training for professionals should be strengthened to ensure that counseling in line with the recommendations is provided throughout pregnancy.Pregnant women should be encouraged to engage in physical activity from the beginning of pregnancy.Trial registration: The database for this study was retrospectively registered under No. MR 5815250919.
The Kumtag Meteorite Strewn Field
Authors: Du Ke , Li Shijie , Leya Ingo , Smith Thomas , Zhang Dongliang , Wang Peng
Published: September 2020

The Kumtag meteorite strewn field was found in the Kumtag desert, 132 kilometers south of Hami city in the Xinjiang province, China. It is an ellipse of 2.5×7.9 km, with a long axis extending along the northeast-southwest direction. The largest individual meteorite of the strewn field weights about 10 kg; the smallest individual has as mass of only 27 g. In total more than 100 individuals with a total mass of more than 180 kg were collected. The Kumtag meteoroid entered the atmosphere in the direction Northeast-Southwest. All meteorites collected in this strewn field are samples from the same unique meteorite shower. The Kumtag meteorite is an H5 ordinary chondrite with a shock stage S2, and a weathering grade W2. The cosmic ray exposure age of Kumtag is 6.7± 0.8 Ma, which is rather typical for H chondrites and which indicates that Kumtag was derived from the massive impact event on its parent body ~7 Ma ago. A significant He amount has been released during certain unknown processe(s) before the Kumtag meteorite was ejected from its parent body.
Structure and Drug Binding of the SARS-CoV-2 Envelope Protein in Phospholipid Bilayers
Authors: Hong Mei , Mandala Venkata , McKay Matthew , Shcherbakov Alexander , Dregni Aurelio , Kolocouris Antonios
Published: September 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Successful development of vaccines and antivirals against SARS-CoV-2 requires a comprehensive understanding of the essential proteins of the virus. The envelope (E) protein of SARS-CoV-2 assembles into a cation-selective channel that mediates virus budding, release, and host inflammation response. E blockage reduces virus pathogenicity while E deletion attenuates the virus. Here we report the 2.4 Å structure and drug-binding site of E’s transmembrane (TM) domain, determined using solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. In lipid bilayers that mimic the endoplasmic reticulum Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) membrane, ETM forms a five-helix bundle surrounding a narrow central pore. The middle of the TM segment is distorted from the ideal a-helical geometry due to three regularly spaced phenylalanine residues, which stack within each helix and between neighboring helices. These aromatic interactions, together with interhelical Val and Leu interdigitation, cause a dehydrated pore compared to the viroporins of influenza and HIV viruses. Hexamethylene amiloride and amantadine bind shallowly to polar residues at the N-terminal lumen, while acidic pH affects the C-terminal conformation. These results indicate that SARS-CoV-2 E forms a structurally robust but bipartite channel whose N- and C-terminal halves can interact with drugs, ions and other viral and host proteins semi-independently. This structure establishes the atomic basis for designing E inhibitors as antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2.
Joint Spectral Efficiency Optimization of Uplink and Downlink for Massive MIMO Enabled Wireless Energy Harvesting Systems
Authors: Sun Wenfeng , Liu Chen , Qian Mujun , Chen Yan , Xu Shu
Published: September 2020

This paper proposes a unified system model and uses a general wireless energy harvesting (EH) protocol in massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems, in which the terminals have no fixed power supply and thus need to replenish energy via the received signals from the base station (BS). On the downlink, the BS delivers radio frequency (RF) signals to all terminals and each terminal coordinates the processes of EH and information decoding (ID) with wireless EH protocol. On the uplink, a fraction of the harvested energy is used for uplink pilot transmission and the remaining fraction is used for uplink data transmission. Closed-form lower bound expressions for each terminal are first obtained on the uplink and downlink, respectively. Based on these expressions, we then formulate the joint spectral efficiency (SE) of uplink and downlink maximization problem with some practical constraints. As the formulated optimization problem is non-linear and non-convex, it is hard to solve directly. To provide a solution, an iteration algorithm is proposed by utilizing one-dimensional search technique and successive approximation method based on geometric program (GP). Additionally, the convergence and complexity of the proposed algorithm are discussed as well. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed algorithm and analytical results are demonstrated by extensive computer simulations.
Pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and protective ability of an attenuated SARS-CoV-2 variant with a deletion at the S1/S2 junction of the spike protein
Authors: Wang Pui , Lau Siu-Ying , Deng Shaofeng , Chen Pin , Mok Bobo , Zhang Jinxia , Lee Andrew , Chan Kwok-Hung , Tam Rachel , Song Wenjun , To Kelvin , Chan Jasper , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Chen Honglin
Published: September 2020

SARS-CoV-2 is zoonotic origin and contains a PRRA polybasic cleavage motif which is considered critical for efficient infection and transmission in humans. We previously reported on a panel of attenuated SARS-CoV-2 variants with deletion at the S1/S2 junction of spike protein. Here we characterize pathogenicity, immunogenicity, and protective ability of a further cell-adapted SARS-CoV-2 variant, Ca-DelMut, in in vitro and in vivo systems. Ca-DelMut replicates more efficiently than wild type or parental virus in cells, but causes no apparent disease in hamsters, despite replicating in respiratory tissues. Unlike wild type virus, Ca-DelMut causes no apparent pathological changes and does not induce elevated proinflammatory cytokines in hamster infections, but still triggers a strong neutralizing antibody response in hamsters. Ca-DelMut immunized hamsters challenged with wild type SARS-CoV-2 are fully protected with no sign of virus replication in the upper or lower respiratory tract of challenged animals, demonstrating sterilizing immunity.
Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum Isolates Lacking the Histidine Rich Protein 2 Gene Among Symptomatic Malaria Patients in Kwilu Province, DR. Congo.
Authors: Munyeku Yannick Bazitama , Musaka Alain Abera , Ernest Medard , Smith Chris , Mansiangi Paul Mankadi , Culleton Richard
Published: September 2020

BackgroundMalaria rapid diagnostic tests have become a primary and critical tool for malaria diagnosis in malaria-endemic countries where PfHRP2-based RDTs are widely used. However, in the last decade, the accuracy of PfHRP2-based RDTs has been challenged by the emergence of P. falciparum strains harbouring deletions of the pfhrp2 gene, resulting in false-negative results. In DR. Congo, little is known about the prevalence of the pfhrp2 gene deletion among P. falciparum isolates infecting symptomatic patients, especially in low to moderate transmission areas where pfhrp2 deletion parasites are assumed to emerge and spread. Here we determine the local prevalence and factors associated with pfhrp2 gene deletions among symptomatic malaria patients in the Kwilu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a low to moderate malaria transmission area.MethodsWe used secondary data from a prospective health facility-based cross-sectional study conducted on 684 individuals of all ages, seeking healthcare with symptoms suggestive of malaria from October to December 2018 in 34 randomly selected health facilities. Sociodemographic, malaria prevention and treatment practices, and clinical variables were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Patients’ medical records were used to collect additional clinical data. Blood was collected for microscopy, PfHRP2-RDT, and spotted onto Whatman filter paper for downstream genetic analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted and used to perform PCR assays for the detection and confirmation of pfhrp2 gene deletions. Data were entered and analysed using STATA15. Fischer’s exact and the Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied to look for associations between exposures and the pfhrp2 gene deletion with a level of statistical significance set at p < 0.05. ResultsThe overall prevalence of the pfhrp2 gene deletion was 9.2% (95% CI 6.7% – 12.1%). The deletion of the pfhrp2 gene was associated with health zone of origin (p=0.012) and age (p=0.019). Among false-negative PfHRP2-RDT results, only 9.9% were due to pfhrp2 gene deletion.ConclusionP. falciparum isolates with pfhrp2 gene deletions are relatively common among symptomatic patients in Kwilu province. Further investigations are needed to provide enough evidence for policy change. Meanwhile, the use of RDTs targeting PfHRP2 and pLDH antigens could limit the spread of deleted isolates.
Smoking and Inequalities in Mortality in 11 European Countries: A Birth Cohort Analysis
Authors: Long Di , Nusselder Wilma , Martikainen Pekke , Lundberg Olle , Brønnum-Hansen Henrik , Bopp Matthias , Costa Giuseppe , Kovács Katalin , Leinsalu Mall , Rodríguez-Sanz Maica , Menvielle Gwenn , Mackenbach Johan
Published: September 2020

Purpose: To study the trends of smoking-attributable mortality among the low- and high-educated in consecutive birth cohorts in 11 European countries. Methods: Register-based mortality data were collected among adults aged 30 to 79 years in 11 European countries between 1971 and 2012. Smoking-attributable deaths were estimated indirectly from lung cancer mortality rates using the Preston-Glei-Wilmoth method. Rate ratios and rate differences among the low and high-educated were estimated and used to estimate the contribution of inequality in smoking-attributable mortality to inequality in total mortality.Results: In most countries, smoking-attributable mortality decreased in consecutive birth cohorts born between 1906 and 1961 among low and high-educated men and high-educated women, but not among low-educated women among whom it increased. Relative educational inequalities in smoking-attributable mortality increased among both men and women with no signs of turning points. Absolute inequalities were stable among men but slightly increased among women. The contribution of inequality in smoking-attributable mortality to inequality in total mortality decreased in consecutive generations among men but increased among women. Conclusions: Generations born during the twentieth century are at different stages of the smoking epidemic. Smoking might become less important as a driver of inequalities in total mortality among men in the future. However, among women, smoking threatens to further widen inequalities in total mortality.
Balanced imitation sustains song culture in zebra finches
Authors: Tchernichovski Ofer , Eisenberg-Edidin Sophie , Jarvis Erich
Published: September 2020

Juvenile songbirds acquire songs by imitation, as humans do speech. Although imitation should drive convergence within a group and divergence through drift between groups, zebra finch songs sustain high diversity within a colony, but only mild variation across colonies. We investigated this phenomenon by analyzing vocal learning statistics in 160 tutor-pupil pairs from a large breeding colony. Song imitation was persistently accurate in some families, but poor in other families. This could not be attributed to genetic differences, as fostered pupils copied their tutors’ vocal sounds as accurately or as poorly as the tutor’s biological pupils. We discovered two effects that explained the finding: first, even in cases of accurate imitation, pupils often recombined imitated syllables to form new units, and, therefore, distributions of syllable types in pupils’ songs were not well correlated with their tutors’; second, rare vocalizations in tutors’ songs became more abundant in their pupils’ songs, and vice versa. Consequently, cultural transmission of tutor songs that were high in acoustic diversity were stronger than those that were low in diversity. We suggest that a frequency dependent balanced imitation of vocal repertoires prevents the extinction of rare song elements and the overabundance of common ones. Within a group it promotes repertoire diversity, while across groups it constrains drift. Together with syllable recombination, balanced imitation sustains cross-generational homeostasis that prevents the collapse of vocal culture into either complete uniformity or chaos.
Cryptotanshinone Breaks ERα-dependent and -independent BCRP Dimerization to Reverse the Multidrug Resistance in Breast Cancer
Authors: Ni Wenting , Fan Hui , Zheng Xiuqin , Xu Fangming , Wu Yuanyuan , Li Xiaoman , Wang Aiyun , Huang Shile , Chen Wenxing , Wang Shijun , Lu Yin
Published: September 2020

Background

Not only a long-term anti-estrogen therapy, but also estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer are generally prone to induce resistance, causing poor prognosis in clinic. Breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) plays an important role in multidrug resistance. Here it is to elucidate the mechanism that a natural compound cryptotanshinone inhibits BCRP.
Methods

HPLC was for analyzing the special compound concentration and molecular docking assay for the affinity of compound with protein. Non-reducing gradient gel electrophoresis and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) microscopy imaging were used to detect polymer and stain the membrane protein. Immunofluorescence staining, plasmids transfection, real-time PCR and western blot were also used.
Results

Cryptotanshinone, an anti-estrogen compound was firstly found to inhibit breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) membrane dimerization to attenuate its transport function. And this process is dependent on estrogen receptor α (ERα) in breast cancer. Furthermore, the resistant breast cancer cells with high BCRP expression are also sensitive to cryptotanshinone because it can bind to BCRP and significantly inhibit membrane dimer of BCRP although they are ERα-negative, suggesting that BCRP expression is essential to cryptotanshinone reversing the resistance; Meanwhile, the combination of cryptotanshinone and chemotherapy drugs could obviously enhance the chemotherapeutic effect.
Conclusion

Cryptotanshinone is a novel natural BCRP inhibitor via blocking the formation of BCRP membrane dimer by an ERα-dependent and -independent way. Cryptotanshinone reverses resistance dependent on BCRP in breast cancer.
Peripheral Microangiopathy in Pre-capillary Pulmonary Hypertension: A Nailfold Video Capillaroscopy Prospective Study
Authors: Arvanitaki Alexandra , Giannakoulas George , Triantafyllidou Eva , Feloukidis Christos , Garyfallos Alexandros , Karvounis Haralambos , Dimitroulas Theodoros
Published: September 2020

Background: Although pulmonary vascular bed has been the main subject of research for many years in pulmonary hypertension (PH), interest has recently started to divert towards the possibility of a co-existing peripheral microangiopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of peripheral microangiopathy in patients with precapillary pulmonary hypertension by exploring nailfold video-capillaroscopic (NVC) structural changes among various subgroups with precapillary PH and to identify possible associations of NVC characteristics with markers of disease severity. Methods: Α cross-sectional study was performed in 46 consecutive patients with precapillary PH [14 with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH), 18 with PAH associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD-PAH) and 14 with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH)] and 30 healthy controls. NVC quantitative and qualitative parameters were evaluated. Results: Patients with precapillary PH (71.7% were women, mean age 60.8 ± 13.4 years) presented reduced capillary density compared to healthy controls (7.5 ± 1.6 loops/mm vs. 9.7 ± 0.81 loops/mm, p<0.001) and increased capillary loop width (18.8 ± 6.7 μm vs. 11.5 ± 2.3 μm, p<0.001) detected mainly in PAH-CTD. Half of patients presented microhaemorrhages on capillary nailfold, while morphological capillary abnormalities where also detected compared to healthy controls. Log10 (NT-proBNP) was independently associated with capillary density in patients with precapillary PH [r= -0.68, B= -1.9, 95% CI (-3,3, -0.4) p=0.014].Conclusion: Significant NVC microvascular changes were detected in patients with various types of precapillary PH, suggesting an impaired peripheral microcirculation associated with right ventricular remodeling parallel to pulmonary vasculopathy.
Carrier excitation dynamics in black silicon nano pillar arrays
Authors: KALEM SEREF
Published: September 2020

Black silicon has attracted a great deal of interest for its promising photonic applications and exciting physical properties. Several approaches have been used to demonstrate the possibility of producing black silicon with CW light emission, but the investigation of a detailed radiative dynamical properties of the recombination process is still lacking. Here, we present ultrafast radiative recombination phenomena from black silicon consisting of quantum pillars produced by plasma ion etching. An ultrafast blue luminescence component competing with non-radiative recombination at surface defects was identified as no-phonon recombination process. This component involves two decay processes with a peak energy at around 480 nm, which have the fast component of about 10 ps followed by a component of around 50 ps decay time constant. The emission exhibits slow component in red spectral region with time constant ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 ns. When the surface of nano pillars is smoothed, the slow component at around 600 nm is enhanced to the detriment of blue-green emission, increasing the lifetime of carriers within the Si core of the quantum pillars. This process results in a slower sates assuming a 3-component exponential decay as measured by Streak camera. The ultrafast PL decay leads to a transfer of carriers to long-lived defect states as evidenced by a red emission at around 2 eV. The results are interpreted through the presence of quantum confinement at the tip regions of the pillars and surface defects originating from the oxide environment surrounding the nanometer size pillars.