bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DETERMINATION OF SHARE PRICE OF AGRO ALLIED FIRMS: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA
Authors: LAWAL Adedoyin Isola , OSENI Ezeikel , ASALEYE Abiola J. , LAWAL-ADEDOYIN Bukola , ELLEKE Crystal O.
Published: August 2020

Purpose: The study aims to investigate the determinant of the share price of agro-related firms listed on the Nigerian stock exchange.
Methodology: We employed regression analysis, unit root test as well as vector correction model to determine the degree of relationship between share prices and each of return on assets (ROA), earnings per share (EPS), dividend per share (DPS).
Findings: The study found that share price is majorly influenced by earnings per shares, while other variables lag it.
Practical implications: Results from the study have some possible policy implications, for instance, it is recommended that policymakers should put in place conducive market environments that will stimulate earnings from investments. Investors should on the other hand pay keen attention to information within and outside the economy when making investment decisions.
Originality/Value: This study is one of the first studies on determinants of share prices with a focus on agro-allied firms.
Outbreak of Measles in a Residential Home for the Intellectually Disabled in Singapore in 2019
Authors: Koh Valerie T. J. , Chiew Calvin J. , Xiang Ong Sean Wei , Nandar Khine , Lee Anne , Foo Kelly , Cui Lin , Ng Yi Kai , Pung Rachael , Lee Tau Hong , Said Zubaidah , Lin Raymond , Lye David Chien , Leo Yee-Sin , Lee Vernon
Published: August 2020

A measles outbreak involving 19 adults in a home for the intellectually disabled occurred in Singapore in 2019. Further investigation, including a serological survey, was conducted. Mass vaccination and infection control measures were implemented, terminating further secondary transmission. Seropositivity among residents aged 40 to 49 years (90.7%; 95% confidence interval = 78.4%, 96.3%) was lower than among the Singapore adult population (P < .001). This sheltered population, like others previously reported in the literature, had lower measles immunity than the general community, possibly because of limited social interaction. Targeted catch-up vaccination for similarly vulnerable populations should be considered.
Policy Views and Negative Beliefs About Vaccines in the United States, 2019
Authors: Stecula Dominik A. , Kuru Ozan , Albarracin Dolores , Jamieson Kathleen Hall
Published: August 2020

Objectives. To determine whether holding vaccine misconceptions, in the form of negative beliefs about vaccines, correlates with opposing governmental action at all levels designed to increase vaccination (e.g., removing personal belief and religious vaccine exemptions).

Methods. Drawing on data from a nationally representative survey of 1938 US adults, we assessed the relation between negative beliefs about vaccines and provaccination policies.

Results. Beyond sociodemographic and policy-relevant variables, such as gender and partisan affiliation, questionable negative beliefs about vaccines are the strongest predictor of opposition to policies designed to increase vaccination.

Conclusions. Negative beliefs about vaccines in the general population may thwart the passage or implementation of policies designed to increase vaccination. Implementing strategies that reduce these negative beliefs should be a priority of educators and public health officials.
Fifteen Years After Katrina: Paving the Way for Health Care Transformation
Authors: Davis Shelina , Billioux Alexander , Avegno Jennifer L. , Netters Tiffany , Davis Gerrelda , DeSalvo Karen
Published: August 2020

Following the devastation of the Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, region by Hurricane Katrina, 25 nonprofit health care organizations in partnership with public and private stakeholders worked to build a community-based primary care and behavioral health network. The work was made possible in large part by a $100 million federal award, the Primary Care Access Stabilization Grant, which paved the way for innovative and sustained public health and health care transformation across the Greater New Orleans area and the state of Louisiana.
People and Place Based Notations:
Authors: Finley Ben
Published: August 2020

Considering the stakes of chronic environmental degradation, what are the roles of musicians and artistic institutions in the climate crisis? Weaving through a suite of pieces I composed for duets and landscape (2+1=3) at the Summer Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation in Québec's spectacular Gaspésie, I look into how humans/composers/improvisers, might practice music in ways that recognize and activate its ecological and environmental significance. Drawing from autoethnographic and ecomusicological frameworks, I explore how writing for (and with) people and places might afford vital ways of cohabitating and relating to the biosphere—creating an emergent/spontaneous ethics of care, listening and participation.
FIRST EVIDENCE OF SEED PREDATION BY ARTHROPODS FROM GONDWANA AND ITS EARLY PALEOZOIC HISTORY (RIO BONITO FORMATION, PARANÁ BASIN, BRAZIL)
Authors: DOS SANTOS THAMIRIS BARBOSA , DE SOUZA PINHEIRO ESTHER REGINA , IANNUZZI ROBERTO
Published: August 2020

Seeds are plant organs commonly found worldwide in late Paleozoic deposits. In Gondwana, the seeds are found in deposits from Southern Africa, Antarctica, Oceania, and South America, and are widely reported in the well-known “Glossopteris Flora”. Even with a significant record of these plant organs, little is known about plant-insect interactions with seeds during the Pennsylvanian and Permian periods. In the present paper, we recorded the first formal record of seed consumption by arthropods in Cordaicarpus and Samaropsis-like seeds for Gondwana from lower Permian (Artinskian) deposits in Southern Brazil. The material analyzed was collected from the Itanema II outcrop of Santa Catarina State and consisted of 34 seed specimens. Of these, eight specimens presented evidence for plant-insect interaction, representing 23.5% of all specimens that were attacked by seed predators. The consumption was inflicted by insects with stylate mouthparts, probably belonging to hemipteroid or paleodictyopteroid lineages. The damage is described as perforations and scale-insect marks along the seed body. We recorded one damage type as DT74 and three others as new damage types DT399, DT400, and DT401, some of which are specific to a few seed morphotypes, including one morphotype with subtending cupule still attached to the seed. The elevated frequency of seed predation indicates that seed consumption by insects was well established during the early Permian.
Protocols and Practices in Emergency Evacuation of Women Fleeing Abuse
Authors: Kostouros Patricia , Warthe D. Gaye
Published: August 2020

Over the past several years three major events causing community disasters, two wildfires and a flood, have occurred in the province of Alberta, Canada. When these large-scale events occurred all community residents were asked to follow provincial emergency evacuation procedures, which included a move to an evacuation centre. In some cases, women and their children who were living at domestic violence shelters may have been unsafe since they might encounter the partner they fled at the evacuation site. These researchers encountered such a situation on our campus which is one evacuation centre. In this project, we gathered information from both shelter staff and emergency evacuation personnel about how such circumstances were managed and inquired about future best practices for evacuating women with or without children who are fleeing domestic violence. Interviewees shared insights to inform disaster management and shelter protocols.
Estrogen inhibits apoptosis of pericytes in the cochlea stria vascularis through downregulating TMEM16A
Authors: Li Xuerui , Zhang Yang , Chen Long , Feng Ziyi , Ma Ketao , Li Li , Si Junqiang
Published: August 2020

Background: Currently, the specific mechanism of estrogen (E2) in protecting presbycusis is not clear. This study aimed to investigate whether E2 could affect the apoptosis of capillary pericytes (PCs) of cochlear stria vascularis (SV) in aged C57BL/6J mice by regulating transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A), such that it plays a protective role in presbycusis.Methods: The model of C57BL/6J ovariectomized mice was established, and E2 was administered for 2 months. The hearing threshold was measured by auditory brainstem response (ABR). The changes in the cochlea were measured using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and electron microscopy. qRT-PCR was used to examine the expression of TMEM16A and apoptosis-related protein mRNA. The PCs were cultured in vitro, and the cell senescence model was established by the continuous passage method. TMEM16A expression was assessed using immunofluorescence. Flow cytometry was performed to explore the apoptosis rate.Results: The results of animal experiments showed that E2 intervention could reduce hearing loss and improve the atrophy of cochlear SV, loss of PC chromatin organelles, cytoplasmic swelling and nuclear porosity in aged mice. E2 also decreased the mRNA expression of TMEM16A, Caspase-3 and Bax in cochlear SV of aged mice and upregulated the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA. Cellular experiments showed that E2 could downregulate the expression of TMEM16A, and E2 or T16Ainh-A01(a specific blocker of TMEM16A) could reduce the apoptosis rate of PCs in aged mice.Conclusions: E2 may inhibit the apoptosis of PCs through downregulating the expression of TMEM16A, which plays a protective role in presbycusis. This study may provide a novel potential treatment and prevention method for presbycusis.
Predictive values of multiple serum biomarkers in women with suspected preeclampsia: a prospective study
Authors: Wang Jing , Hu Honghai , Liu Xiaowei , Zhao Shenglong , Zheng Yuanyuan , Jia Zhaoxia , Chen Lu , Zhang Chunhong , Xie Xin , Zhong Junhui , Dong Ying , Liu Jingrui , Lu Yifan , Zhao Zhen , Zhai Yanhong , Zhao Juan , Cao Zheng
Published: August 2020

Background: Preeclampsia prediction improves maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancy. We aimed to evaluate the preeclampsia prediction values of a series of serum biomarkers. Methods: Singleton pregnant women with preeclampsia-related clinical and/or laboratory presentations were recruited and had blood drawn at their first visits. The prospective cohort was further divided into preeclampsia-positive and preeclampsia-negative groups based on the follow-up results. The following markers were tested using the collected serum samples: soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 ( sFlt-1); placental growth factor (PlGF); thrombomodulin (TM); tissue plasminogen activator inhibitor complex (tPAI-C); compliment factors C1q, B, and H; glycosylated fibronectin (GlyFn); pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A2 ( PAPP-A2); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); creatinine (Cre); uric acid (UA); and cystatin C (Cysc). Results: A total of 196 women with suspected preeclampsia were recruited with follow-up medical records. Twenty-five percent (n=49) of the recruited subjects developed preeclampsia before delivery, and 75% remained preeclampsia-negative (n=147). The serum levels of sFlt-1, BUN, Cre, UA, Cysc and PAPP-A2 were significantly elevated, and the PlGF level was significantly decreased in the preeclampsia-positive patients. In the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses, the area under the curves were listed in the order of decreasing values: 0.73 (UA), 0.67 (sFlt-1/PlGF), 0.66 (Cysc), 0.65 (GlyFn/PlGF), 0.64 (PAPP-A2/PlGF), 0.63 (BUN), 0.63 (Cre), and 0.60 (PAPP-A2). With the cut-off values obtained from the ROC analyses, the positive predictive values of these serum markers were between 33.1% and 58.5%, and the negative predictive values were between 80.9% and 89.5%. Conclusions: Further studies are warranted to confirm the clinical utilities of the serum markers in preeclampsia prediction
A Case of Vasitis Nodosa with Biphenotypic Differentiation
Authors: Raju Beth Susan , Heinlen Jonathan , Luo Wenyi
Published: August 2020

Background: Vasitis nodosa is a nodular lesion within the vas deferens that is characterized by a benign glandular proliferation of the vas deferens epithelium mixed with sperm and chronic inflammation. It is considered a reactive condition caused by increased intraluminal pressure. Problems in diagnosis can arise when atypical morphologic features are present or when vasitis nodosa is colonized by metastatic tumors. Case presentation: A 25-year old African American male status post vasectomy was diagnosed with obstructive azoospermia and elected to undergo a vasovasostomy. The histology of the resected specimen was consistent with vasitis nodosa, but the proliferative epithelial cells demonstrated the phenotypes of both vas deferens epithelium and mesothelium by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: Vasitis nodosa expressing mesothelial markers is the first reported case report of its kind, and it may therefore mimic mesothelial tumors such as mesothelioma and adenomatoid tumor.
Out-of-clinic and self-managed abortion in Bangladesh: a qualitative study of menstrual regulation providers
Authors: Crouthamel Bonnie , Pearson Erin , Tilford Sarah , Hurst Samantha , Paul Dipika , Aqtar Fahima , Silverman Jay , Averbach Sarah
Published: August 2020

Background: In Bangladesh, abortion is illegal except to save a woman’s life, though menstrual regulation (MR) is permitted. MR involves the use of manual uterine aspiration or Misoprostol (with or without Mifepristone) to induce menstruation up to 10-12 weeks from the last menstrual period. Despite the availability of safe and legal MR services, abortions occur outside of the legal system and are associated with high complication rates. Methods: Qualitative semi-structured interviews (SSIs) were conducted with 25 trained MR providers from urban tertiary care facilities in six different cities in Bangladesh. SSIs explored providers’ attitudes about the practice of unsanctioned MR/abortion providers and self-managed MR/abortion, their experiences treating patients who sought abortion services out-of-clinic, barriers/facilitators to safe MR/abortion, and MR/abortion definitions.Results: There were three predominant yet overlapping themes: (i) logistics of obtaining MR/PAC/abortion, (ii) provider attitudes, and (iii) overcoming barriers to safe MR. Lack of consensus among trained providers revealed challenges for defining MR/abortion and gestational age cutoffs. Increasing post-abortion care (PAC) services may be due to patients purchasing Mifepristone/Misoprostol from pharmacists who do not provide adequate instruction, or patients may be directed to untrained providers by brokers, who intercept patients entering the hospitals/clinics and receive a commission from unsanctioned clinics for bringing patients. Perceived barriers to accessing in-clinic MR include distance, family influence, brokers, lack of knowledge, and provider attitudes toward MR.Conclusions: Providers in urban tertiary care facilities in Bangladesh see primarily the complicated MR/PAC cases, and the safety of out-of-clinic/self-managed abortion is unknown. Lack of standardization among providers of MR definition/gestational age cutoffs may affect patient care and MR access. MR safety may be improved by eliminating brokers. A harm reduction approach to improve MR/abortion care provided by pharmacies may improve safety and access. Policy makers should consider increasing training of frontline health workers, such as Family Welfare Visitors (FWVs) to provide evidence-based information about Mifepristone/Misoprostol.
Knowledge and Practice to Prevent Against Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and Its Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women in Debre Tabor Town Northwest Ethiopia: a Community Based Cross-Sectional Study.
Authors: Ayele Alemu Degu , Mihretie Gedefaye Nibret , Belay Habtamu Gebrehana , Teffera Adanech Getie , Kassa Bekalu Getnet , Amsalu Bedemariam Tadesse
Published: August 2020

Background: The current corona virus disease (COVID-19) is now become the global concerns and declared as a pandemic by World Health Organization on March 2020. To date, no antiviral treatment or vaccine has been explicitly recommended for COVID-19. So, applying preventive measures to control COVID-19 infection is the most critical intervention. Pregnant women are particularly susceptible to respiratory pathogens and severe pneumonia, because they are at immunosuppressive state and physiological adaptive change during pregnancy. As the same time the determinants of knowledge and practice to prevent COVID-19 among pregnant women, who constitute vulnerable groups, are yet to be evaluated. This study was therefore designed to assess knowledge and practice of preventive measures against corona virus disease and its associated factors among pregnant women in Debre Tabor Town. Methods: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 422 pregnant women from May 25-June 15, 2020. Simple random sampling technique was employed. Data was collected by face to face interview using structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 23. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out and p-value < 0.05 at 95% CI were considered as statistically significant. Result: A total of 422 participants were included with response rate of 95.9%. The mean age was 27.15 (SD± 4.719) years. About 46.8% and 47.6 % of women were knowledgeable and had good practice against corona virus respectively. The predictor for knowledge were age(15-24)( AOR=4.85, 95% CI: 1.34-5.42), educational status(AOR:3.70; 95% CI: 1.16-5.40) being civil servant (AOR:2.84; 95% CI: 1.55-5.21), wanted pregnancy(AOR:3.37; 95% CI: 1.20-9.45), antenatal care follow-up(AOR:2.07; 95% CI: 1.03-4.13), whereas educational status (AOR:3.78; 95% CI: 1.19-5.11), number of children (AOR:2.89; 95% CI: 1.29-6.45) and knowledge (AOR:8.42;95% CI: 4.50-15.85), were also the predictors for practice. Conclusion: This study showed that most of the participants had poor knowledge and inappropriate practice. As per finding increasing health education program via different medias, coordinated and combined efforts of authorities and all individuals will be needed to battles the spread of the pandemic.
Student Support System in Virtual Learning Environment for Medical Education: McKenna Content Analysis Method
Authors: Mirmoghtadaie Zohrehsadat , Mohammadimehr Mojgan
Published: August 2020

Background: Student support services are a broad and important concept in education, each of which is related to a specific set of hypotheses related to the subject. This lack of theoretical and conceptual ambiguity has led to poor understanding and communication between researchers and policymakers and problems in comparing studies in different fields. The purpose of this study is to explain the student support system in virtual learning environment for medical education.Methods: This study was a qualitative research. An extensive search in scientific databases was carried out based on predetermined strategies, and 53 documents were reviewed from 1996 until 2019. Data were analyzed based on Hugh McKenna’s nine-step approach. Results: According to the literature review, determining the support services of students in virtual learning, providing academic and non-academic services is the responsibility of students' cognitive, emotional and social needs. These services lead to greater student participation in the process of self-learning and academic achievement, which is done at three levels: (pre-program, learning process and post-graduate support services). Student support services were categorized into conceptual areas (level, dimensions, and purpose) and the relationship between these conceptual areas was identified.Conclusions: Based on the findings of this study, student support services in virtual learning can be divided into two categories: academic and non-academic with relevant subcomponents. It is recommended that educators and policy makers use these results to facilitate student support for different types of virtual learning.
Specific Aspects of Executive Functioning Impacted in HIV and Cocaine Dependence
Authors: Nigro Sarah E. , Wu Minjie , Lord Alinda , Sabet Atash , Juliano Anthony , Lu Lisa H. , Napier T. Celeste , French Audrey L. , Yang Shaolin
Published: August 2020

Background: Our study aimed to understand the effects of HIV and cocaine dependence (CD) on discrete aspects of executive functioning via the Stroop Color-Word Test and the Trail Making Test (TMT). We recruited 101 participants (26 HIV+/CD+; 18 HIV+/CD-; 30 HIV-/CD+; and 27 HIV-/CD-. Methods: We utilized a series of 2 (HIV: yes/no) × 2 (Cocaine: yes/no) ANCOVA’s while controlling for age and premorbid intelligence on the Stroop trials (i.e., color-naming, word reading, interference), and ANOVA’s were used to test for group differences on TMT-A and TMT-B z-scores, the number of errors, and the B/A ratio score. Results: We found a significant main effect of HIV on the Stroop Interference (p = 0.012) and the TMT B/A ratio (p = 0.017), these findings are consistent with difficulties in cognitive flexibility. On the Color-Naming and Interference trials, individuals with CD made significantly more errors than non-users (p = 0.028), demonstrating difficulties with inhibition. Conclusions: Our results show HIV and CD are associated with different underlying cognitive processes which impact overall executive functioning. Understanding the different cognitive factors impacting executive functioning can help formulate tailored treatment recommendations and targeted interventions for people living with HIV and those with cocaine dependence.
Proposing a New Strategy of Combining Machine Learning With Controlling The Cross-Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms in The ICU
Authors: Qian Zou , Kaihong Fei , Mei Kang , Xianchen Li , Mengyuan Ding , Miaomiao Geng , Yanhong Zhu
Published: August 2020

Background: Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) have become a global threat to public health. MDROs normally are transmitted from patient to patient via the hands of healthcare workers (HCWs). The key management of MDROs is control of dissemination as soon as possible.Method: We established a bedside prediction tool based simply on experiences. According to the result of this predictive rule, we took a series of precautions in a general intensive care unit (ICU) from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2019, in only one ward experimentally. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients between two wards to assess the efficiency of the routine care practice by performing different comparisons.Results: A total of 636 patients were admitted in the ICU setting. After comparing two wards in hospital expenses and length of ICU stay, there were no significant differences. Precautions contributed to the association between room number and status of MDRO infection/colonization (p=0.033), and the infection/colonization rate of MDROs was significantly different between the two wards (p=0.006). The median of the length of clinical culture testing is 3.4 days.Conclusion: Clinical culture testing is time-consuming. Advanced routine care practice controlled the cross-transmission of MDROs to some extent. This study highlights that a predicting model of MDROs is badly needed. Future researchers can engage in updating the predictive model focusing from machine learning-based risk algorithms, refer to experts’ experiences and adopt more efficient precautions for strengthening the transmission efficiency.
Establishing Minimal Clinically Important Differences for the Quality of Life Instrument in Patients with Esophageal Cancer QLICP-ES (V2.0) Based on Anchor-Based and Distribution-Based Methods
Authors: Wu Ting , Ren Dandan , Qi Yanbo , Fang Yujing , Zhong Jiudi , Li Gaofeng , wan chonghua
Published: August 2020

Background: The minimal clinically important difference (MCID) is an important phrase with big appeal in a field strug­gling to interpret quality of life (QOL) and other patient-reported outcomes (PRO), is also a bridge between statistics and clinical medicine. This paper is aimed to determine the MCID of esophageal cancer scale among Quality of Life Instruments system for Cancer Patients, QLICP-ES (V2.0). Methods: According to the scoring rule of QLICP-ES (V2.0), the scores of each domain and the overall of the scale were calculated. The MCID values of this scale were established by anchor-based and distribution-based methods. Two criteria A (improves one level after treatments) and B (at least improves one levels after treatments) were defined treatments effects in anchor-based methods, while methods of ES, SEM and RCI were used in distribution-based methods. Results: Using the anchor-based method, according to standard A, the MCID values of physical domain, psychological domain, social domain, common symptom and side-effects domain, the specific domain and the overall were 15.1, 4.4, 3.1, 6.7, 8.5 and 6.0 respectively. According to standard B, the MCID values of above domains and the overall were 19.3, 4.2, 4.8, 7.7, 9.5 and 7.5 respectively. Under the distribution-based methods, the MCID values above calculated by each method (ES, SEM and RCI) are in different ranges from 1.1 to 13.3. Conclusion: All methods have its own advantages and disadvantages to develop the MCID values, so it is necessary to develop the MCID values of QLICP-ES (V2.0) comprehensively with a variety of methods considering the actual situation.
The Two-dimensional and Three-dimensional T2 Weighted Imaging-based Radiomic Signatures for the Preoperative Discrimination of Ovarian Borderline Tumors and Epithelial Cancer.
Authors: Liu Xuefen , Wang Tianping , Zhang Guofu , Hua Keqin , Duan Shaofeng , Jin Jun , Zhang He
Published: August 2020

Background: Accurate discrimination between ovarian borderline tumors (BOTs) and malignancies with imaging play an important role in management.Methods: A total of 95 patients with pathologically proven ovarian BOTs and 101 patients with malignancies were retrospectively included in this study. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the signatures derived from T2WI-based radiomics in their ability to differentiate between BOTs and malignancies and compared the performance differences in the 2D and 3D segmentation models. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method (LASSO) was used for radiomics feature selection and machine learning processing.Results: The radiomics score between BOTs and malignancies in four types of selected T2WI-based radiomics models differed significantly at the statistical level (p < 0.0001). For the classification between BOTs and malignant masses, the 2D and 3D coronal T2WI-based radiomics models yielded accuracy values of 0.79 and 0.83 in the testing group, respectively; the 2D and 3D sagittal fat-suppressed (fs) T2WI-based radiomics models yielded an accuracy of 0.78 and 0.99, respectively.Conclusion: Our results suggest that T2WI-based radiomic features were highly correlated with ovarian tumor subtype classification. 3D-sagittal MRI radiomics features may help clinicians differentiate ovarian BOTs from malignancies with high accuracy (ACC).
Discrepancies in Periodontal Diagnosis and Classification Among Dental Practitioners with Different Educational Backgrounds
Authors: Oh Se-Lim , Yang Ji Seung , Kim Yoon Jeong
Published: August 2020

Background: The 2017 classification of periodontal disease characterizes the disease with a multidimensional staging and grading system. The purpose of this multicenter study was to examine variations in periodontal diagnosis and classification among dental practitioners with different postgraduate educational backgrounds at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry and the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry using the 2017 classification.Methods: This cross-sectional observational study included two cohorts: dental practitioners with periodontal backgrounds (n1 = 31) and those with other educational backgrounds (n2 = 33). The survey instrument contained three periodontal cases presented with the guidelines of the 2017 classification of periodontal disease and an open-ended questionnaire. The participants were asked to review each case and to fill out the questionnaire independently. Fisher’s exact test was conducted to examine the difference and accuracy in responses between the two cohorts. Polychoric correlations were calculated to examine the relation between the level of familiarity with the 2017 classification and the accuracy of the diagnosis and classification.Results: The distribution of item responses was significantly different between the two cohorts regarding only one item, grading for Case 1 (p = 0.01). No significant differences in accuracy between the two cohorts were observed except for two items, grading in Case 1 (p = 0.03) and staging in Case 3 (p = 0.04). There were no significant differences in risk factor identification for each case among the two cohorts (p = 1.00, Case 1; p = 0.22, Case 2). Staging in Case 3 (ṕ = 0.52) and risk factor identification in Case 2 (ṕ = 0.32) were significantly correlated with familiarity with the 2017 classification.Conclusion: A fair level of agreement in periodontal diagnosis and classification was observed among dental practitioners with different educational backgrounds when the 2017 classification was used. The periodontal cohort showed better agreement levels and partially better accuracy. Risk factor identification for periodontal disease was difficult regardless of the educational background.
Multi-dimensional strategic approach to the communicable diseases with systemic risks by using IT2 fuzzy decision-making modelling
Authors: Wang Shubin , Yang Peiqing , Yüksel Serhat , Dinçer Hasan , Ubay Gözde Gülseven
Published: August 2020

Background: Communicable diseases lead to significant social and financial burden for the countries. Therefore, countries should define their social and technical factors for struggling these problems. The main purpose of this study is to determine the effective strategies to minimize socio-economic burden of these diseases.Methods: For this purpose, 8 different criteria are identified based on the literature analysis. In the evaluation process, the significance levels of these factors are calculated by considering interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy (IVIF) DEMATEL. Results: The results show that technological infrastructure, social distance, and tendency of obeying rules are the most significant items to control these problems. This situation explains that countries should have the necessary equipment to make the diagnosis quickly and effectively. In addition, countries that have effective laboratories in which vaccines and drugs can be developed can be more successful in combating these pandemics. Additionally, it is also defined that cultural factors play also key role to control these problems. Conclusions: In this framework, it is vital that the people in the country take the rules set by the government seriously and without exception. For this purpose, it should be explained to citizens living in the country that personal hygiene, social distance and not entering crowded environments are very important to manage these problems. For this purpose, role model people in the country can be preferred in different platforms so that it can be more effective on the citizens.
Sepsis-associated Encephalopathy In ICU Admissions: Prevalence, Early Risk of Death, and its Early Prevent and Control
Authors: Tong Dao-Ming , Wang Shao-Dan , Wang Yuan-Wei , Wang Ying , Gu Yuan-Yuan , Zhao Yong-Juan
Published: August 2020

Background: Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) is a common encephalopathy in ICU. We are to definite whether SAE present an high prevalence rate and early risk factors for death in ICU 48 hours, while to cognize its important of early prevention/ control.Methods: We retrospectively enrolled patients with acute critically ill from ICU (January, 2015 to January, 2017). All patients were selected from onset to ICU ≤3 hours. The prevalence and some early risk factors of death in SAE was estimated by using a continuous head and thorax /abdominal cavity CT scans. Results: 748 critically ill adults were analyzed. The prevalence of sepsis within initial 48 hours was 40.4% (302/748). The median time from infection to sepsis was 9 hours ( range, 1-48 ). The SAE (93.4%, 282/302) was diagnosed in sepsis patients, and most of them (96.8%) presented multiple organ dysfunction syndromes (MODS). While the fatality of SAE was in 32.0% at initial 48 hours and 69.1% at initial 14 days. Cox regression analysis, unused antibiotic within initial 3 hours (OR, 0.39; 95% CI, 0.22-0.89), severe inflammatory storm (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.58- 0.94), lower GCS (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.5-3.6), and MODS (OR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.26-0.96) were early risk factors for death in SAE. Early risk factors for predicting SAE were related to severe inflammatory storm (OR, 3.10; 95% CI, 2.28-4.33), MODS (OR, 3.57; 95% CI, 2.73- 4.67), and unused antibiotics within initial 3 hours (OR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.11-0.56).Conclusions: SAE in ICU is an high prevalent acute brain dysfunction and most with MODS. The early bad prognosis in SAE was related to the failure of early prevention and control.
The effect of eight exercises on reaction and response times in older people
Authors: karimimoghadam Helia , Cavan Mehrangiz Azmoun , Karbasi Golaleh
Published: August 2020

Purpose

the physical activities have a lot of effects on the improvement of cognitive and motor performance. The purpose of this study is to survey the effect of exercise and physical activities on the reaction and response times (or durations) in older people.
Methodology:

the method of the study is casual-comparative and its statistic society were consisted of older people of Sanandaj that among them, 30 inactive persons were randomly selected and 30 active and available persons were also selected and their reaction and response times were measured. The reaction time was measured by the reaction timer made by Takei Company (model YB1000) and response time was measured through the movement and response field test of Nelson's selection. The reaction time was firstly and then the response time was measured. For data analysis from the descriptive statistics, the K-S test and T- independent test were used.
Results

Kolmogorov - Smirnov test revealed that study results have normal distribution. According to the study results, exercise and physical activity have positive effect on reaction and response times so that the results of T independent test showed that the active group has meaningfully lower reaction time (P = 0.000) and response time (P = 0.0.000) than the inactive group.
Conclusion

the results of this study showed that exercise and physical activities lead to the decrement in reaction and response times through the positive physiological and psychomotor changes.
CO2 emissions mitigation among energy importers and energy exporters along BRI countries. What role do renewable energy and nuclear energy play
Authors: Wu Jiying , Abban Olivier Joseph
Published: August 2020

Background: In achieving the goal of sustainable development (Goal 13), United Nations has related global warming to greenhouse gas emissions in recent years. Emissions of carbon dioxide, are known to be the biggest contributor to global warming. Hence this study disaggregates energy consumption that is Nuclear energy, renewable energy and fossil fuel consumption and investigates their impact on CO2 emissions along the Belt and Road Initiative. Methods: This paper determined the cross-sectional dependency and utilized second generation panel unit root test for precise estimation. Westerlund cointegration test was used to determine the long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables. Lastly the Pooled Mean Group (PMG) estimation approach was applied to investigate the long and short run output elasticities between the variables. Results: The results indicates that; for energy importers, CO2 emissions has a significant positive correlation with Fossil fuel and nuclear energy, while renewable energy has a significant negative correlation with CO2 emissions. For energy exporting countries, a significant positive two-way relationship amidst Fossil fuel and CO2 emissions, and a significant negative one-way causal relationship from nuclear energy and renewable energy unto CO2 emissions. Conclusion: The results clearly show that in all panel grouping renewable energy contribute negatively on CO2 emissions, thus more implant of renewable system is need along the belt and road initiative. These recent methodologies employed and findings revealed that in a pollution reduction tender, causal affiliations are affected in a tender to reduce emissions along with long and short-term estimated effects among employed variables by the energy groupings of Belt and Road countries.
Olopatidine and Ketorolac Vs Olopatidine Alone in Treatment of Seasonal Allergic Conjunctivitis [Combination Vs Single Drug Therapy Study]
Authors: Parajuli Sanket , Shrestha Ruchi , Chapagain Senny , singh Prerana
Published: August 2020

Purpose: To compare the therapeutic effects of combination of Olopatidine and Ketorolac vs Olopatidine alone (0.1% Olopatidine hydrochloride and 0.5% Ketorolac tromethamine) in seasonal allergic conjunctivitis (SAC).Methods: 200 patients with the signs and symptoms of SAC (i.e. hyperaemia, itching, mucus discharge, tearing) were included in this study. In group 1 (100 patients) each patient was treated with “olopatadine and Ketorolac” and group 2 patients were treated with Olopatidine alone. The principle signs and symptoms of SAC (hyperaemia, itching, watering and photophobia) were evaluated at day 0, day 7, day 15 and day 21 by using a 4 point scale. Mean scores of each of the parameters were calculated using paired t test.Results: When the mean scores of Group 1 (Olopatidine plus Ketorolac) were compared to the scores of Group 2 (Olopatidine only) the mean scores of hyperaemia, itching and watering were found to be lower in Group 1, indicating better therapeutic effectiveness with a significant difference statistically (p<0.05%) on day 7,day 15 and on day 21.Conclusions: Olopatadine and Ketorolac combination therapy is an effective treatment for seasonal allergic conjunctivitis when compared to Olopatidine alone.
BAI1 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer via Modulating p73 Transactivation
Authors: yang Xia , Wei Ping , Shui Ruohong
Published: August 2020

Background: Brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor 1 (BAI1) which belongs to putative G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), has been found down-expressed in various cancers and involved in cancer pathogenesis. However, the role and underlying mechanisms of BAI1 in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are still unclear. Methods: The expression levels of BAI1 in TNBC samples and cell lines were examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC), quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and western blotting (WB). The functional effects of BAI1 on biological behaviors of TNBC cells were detected using plasmid and siRNA for BAI1 overexpression and knockdown, and the underlying mechanisms were investigated by Immunoprecipitation (IP), immunofluorescence (IF) and luciferase reporter assay. Results: BAI1 was downregulated in TNBC tissues and was significantly associated with poor disease-free survival. Functional experiments indicated that BAI1 inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Additionally, BAI1 overexpressed cells were more sensitive to cisplatin. Mechanistically, BAI1 interacted with MDM2, thereby enhanced p73 transcriptional activity, then promoted p21and BAX mRNA and protein expression. Overexpression of p73 abolished the BAI1 knockdown induced cell proliferation and the G2 phase cell population of TNBC, the sensitivity to cisplatin also rescued by overregulating p73 in BAI1 knockdown TNBC cells. Conclusions: Our results indicate that BAI1 is a promising prognostic factor in TNBC, and the expression of BAI1 inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest; Meanwhile, BAI1 increases the sensitivity of TNBC to cisplatin. For the underlying mechanism, BAI1 specifically binds to MDM2, and exerts its anti-tumor function by affecting the transcriptional activity of p73 protein, then inhibits the malignant progression of TNBC. The BAI1/MDM2/p73 axis may represent a potential target in the future research for TNBC.
Stromal Transcriptome Analysis of Human Lobular Breast Cancer Identifies a Role for Pregnancy-Associated-Plasma Protein-A
Authors: Gómez-Cuadrado Laura , Zhao Hong , Souleimanova Margarita , Noer Pernille Rimmer , Turnbull Arran K , Bownes Richard , Oxvig Claus , Bertos Nicholas , Byron Adam , Dixon J Michael , Park Morag , Sims Andrew H , Brunton Valerie G
Published: August 2020

Background: Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common histological subtype of breast cancer and exhibits a number of clinico-pathological characteristics distinct from the more common invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Despite these differences, ILC is treated in the same way as IDC. We set out to identify alterations in the tumor microenvironment (TME) of ILC with potential clinical significance.Methods: We used laser-capture microdissection (LCM) to separate tumor epithelium from stroma in 23 ER+ ILC samples. Gene expression analysis was used to identify genes enriched in the stroma of ILC, but not IDC or normal breast. Results: 45 genes involved in regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) were enriched in the stroma of ILC, but not stroma from ER+ IDC or normal breast. Of these, 10 were expressed in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and were increased in ILC compared to IDC in bulk gene expression datasets. PAPPA was the most enriched in the stroma compared to the tumor epithelial compartment in ILC. PAPPA encodes pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A), a metalloproteinase that cleaves insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4), increasing IGF-1 bioavailability and downstream signaling. Analysis of PAPPA- and IGF1-associated genes identified a paracrine signaling pathway, and active PAPP-A was shown to be secreted from primary CAFs. Comprehensive survival analysis across 3,000 breast cancers identified PAPPA as a potential ILC-specific prognostic marker.Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate molecular differences in the TME between ILC and IDC, and it identifies PAPP-A, a CAF-derived proteinase, as a potential prognostic marker.
Genome Wide Association Study on Development and Evolution of Glutinous Rice
Authors: Jiang Conghui , Rashid Muhammad Abdul Rehman , Zhao Yan
Published: August 2020

Background: As a globally known staple food, rice is well domesticated in the world. Various regions have different food preferences, which lead to design the goals for breeding programs. Glutinous rice as a special endosperm type is also consumed as a staple food in East Asian countries by consumers’ preference. Genetic studies on glutinous rice could be conducive to improve rice quality and understand its development and evolution. Genome-wide association study was performed to explore the associated loci/genes underlying glutinous rice by using 2108 rice accessions. Results: A total of 399, 262 and 156 annotated genes with significant loci were identified to be associated with endosperm type. By combining the expression patterns analysis, 127, 81, and 48 candidate genes were screened in whole rice panel, indica, and japonica sub-populations with moderate expression in seeds. There were 32 genes, including three starch synthesis-related genes Wx, SSG6, and OsSSIIa, detected simultaneously in the whole rice panel and subpopulations, playing important role in determining glutinous rice. The main waxy haplotypes of three starch synthesis-related genes were identified by haplotype analysis, while the combined haplotype analyses, revealed that the waxy combined haplotype mainly distributed in Southeast Asia (SEA), SEA islands (SER) and East Asia islands (EAR). Through population structure and genetic differentiation, we proposed the evolutionary model of waxy haplotypes of the three genes from wild rice to japonica, and then to indica.Conclusion: It was concluded that the waxy haplotypes of the three genes firstly generated (or were directly inherited from wild rice) in japonica, and then flowed into indica in SER, SEA and EAR. These results provide valuable information for further gene discovery and understanding the development and evolution for glutinous rice.
Identification of a prognostic three-long noncoding RNA signature in lung squamous cell carcinoma via bioinformatic analysis
Authors: Zheng Rongjiong , Zheng Mengdi , Wang Mingming , Hu Meiling
Published: August 2020

Background

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a form of cancer that is associated with high rates of relapse, poor responsiveness to therapy, and a relatively poor prognosis. The relationship between long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression and LSCC patient prognosis remains to be established.
Methods

In the present study, we discovered that lncRNAs were differentially expressed in LSCC tumor tissues relative to normal control tissues, and we explored the prognostic relevance of these lncRNA expression patterns using data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA).
Results

These multidimensional data were analyzed in order to identify lncRNA signatures that were associated with LSCC patient survival outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival curves revealed prognostic capabilities for three of these lncRNAs (LINC02555, APCDD1L-DT and OTX2-AS1). A Cox regression analysis revealed this three-lncRNA signature to be significantly associated with patient survival. Further GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the predicted target genes of these three lncRNAs were also potentially involved in cancer-associated pathways.
Conclusions

Together these results thus indicate that this novel three-lncRNA signature can be used to predict LSCC patient prognosis.
Distribution of the environmental and socioeconomic risk factors on COVID-19 death rate across continental United States: A spatial nonlinear analysis
Authors: Luo Yaowen , Yan Jianguo , McClure Stephen
Published: August 2020

The COVID-19 outbreak has become a global pandemic. Spatial variation in the environmental, health, socioeconomic, and demographic risk factors of COVID-19 death rate is not well understood. Global models and local linear models were used to estimate the impact of risk factors of the COVID-19, but these do not account for the nonlinear relationships between the risk factors and the COVID-19 death rate at various geographical locations. We proposed a local nonlinear nonparametric regression model named geographically weighted random forest (GW-RF) to estimate the nonlinear relationship between COVID-19 death rate and 47 risk factors derived from US Environmental Protection Agency, National Center for Environmental Information, Centers for Disease Control and the US census. The COVID-19 data were employed to a global regression model random forest (RF) and a local model GW-RF. The adjusted R2 of the RF is 0.69. The adjusted R2 of the proposed GW-RF is 0.78. The result of GW-RF showed that the risk factors (i.e. going to work by walking, airborne benzene concentration, householder with a mortgage, unemployment, airborne PM2.5 concentration and percent of the black or African American) have a high correlation with the spatial distribution of the COVID-19 death rate and these key factors driven from the GW-RF were mapped, which could provide useful implications for controlling the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.