bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Selection of Hydraulic Cylinder using multi-attribute decision-making methods
Authors: Khatke Satywan , Fulzele Satyam , Kadam Shubham , Kamble Avinash
Published: November 2021

A hydraulic cylinder has an important role in the manufacturing industry for producing unidirectional force through the unidirectional direction. Generally, hydraulic cylinders are used where high-pressure applications are required. It is also called a linear hydraulic motor or mechanical actuator. It is manufactured with closer precisions; thus, it involves higher costs and also, it is desired that hydraulic cylinder work as mentioned design. The main purpose of a hydraulic cylinder is to apply force unidirectional with high pressure. The selection of appropriate Hydraulic Cylinders is a critical task for designers. Designers need to find out precise and required properties of it to fulfil industry demand with desired specifications. Different cylinders possess different properties, so by using an optimization tool we can solve such problems. A systematic approach must be used for the selection of hydraulic cylinders. Thus, in current case study work concentrate on the selection methodology for the best Hydraulic cylinder using four different multi-attribute decision-making methods. The decision-making methods help to predict and rank different hydraulic cylinders.
Metagenomic Assembly Reveals the Fate of the Core Antibiotic Resistome, its Hosts and Mobility in Animal Manure and After Compost
Authors: Qiu Tianlei , Huo Linhe , Guo Yajie , Gao Min , Wang Guoliang , Hu Dong , Li Cheng , Wang Zhanwu , Liu Guiming , Wang Xuming
Published: November 2021

Background

Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) used in intensive animal husbandry threaten human health worldwide; however, the core resistome, mobility of ARGs, and the composition of ARG hosts in animal manure and the following composts remain unclear. In the present study, metagenomic assembly was used to comprehensively decipher the core resistome and its potential mobility and hosts in animal manure and compost.
Results

In total, 201 ARGs were shared among different animal (layer, broiler, swine, beef cow, and dairy cow) manures and accounted for 86–99% of total relative abundance of ARGs, which mainly comprised multidrug, macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin (M-L-S), tetracycline, beta-lactam, aminoglycoside, and sulfonamide resistance genes. Moreover, efficient composting reduced the total relative abundance of ARGs in manure from 0.938 to 0.405 copies per 16S rRNA gene; however, it did not have any remarkable effect on the multidrug, sulfonamide, and trimethoprim resistance genes. Procrustes analysis indicated that composting can reduce antibiotic residues and decrease the correlation between antibiotics and resistance genes. Furthermore, the ARG hosts included Proteobacteria (50.08%), Firmicutes (37.77%), Bacteroidetes (6.49%), and Actinobacteria (5.24%). In manure, aminoglycoside resistance genes were majorly found in Enterococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterobacter; tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) were found in Pseudomonas, Lactobacillus, and Streptococcus; and multidrug resistance genes were mainly found in Escherichia coli. In our samples, ARGs were more prevalent in plasmids than in chromosomes. The broad host range and diverse mobile genetic elements may be two key factors for ARGs, such as sul1 and aadA, which could survive during composting. The multidrug resistance genes represented the dominant ARGs in pathogenic antibiotic-resistant bacteria (PARB) in manure, and composting could effectively control PARB.
Conclusions

Our experiments revealed the core resistome in animal manure, classified and relative quantified the ARG hosts, and assessed the mobility of ARGs. Composting can mitigate ARGs in animal manure by altering the bacterial hosts; however, some ARGs can escape from the removal with the survivor heat-tolerant hosts or transfer to these hosts. These findings will help optimize composting strategies for the effective treatment of ARGs and their hosts in farms.
Reproducible Neuroimaging Features for Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder with Machine Learning
Authors: Mellema Cooper J. , Nguyen Kevin P. , Treacher Alex , Montillo Albert
Published: November 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the fourth most common neurodevelopmental disorder, with a prevalence of 1 in 160 children. Accurate diagnosis relies on experts, but such individuals are scarce. This has led to increasing interest in the development of machine learning (ML) models that can integrate neuroimaging features from functional and structural MRI (fMRI and sMRI) to measure alterations manifest in ASD. We optimized and compared the performance of 12 of the most popular and powerful ML models. Each was separately trained using 15 different combinations of fMRI and sMRI features and optimized with an unbiased model search. Deep learning models predicted ASD with the highest diagnostic accuracy and generalized well to other MRI datasets. Our model achieves state-of-the-art 80% area under the ROC curve (AUROC) in diagnosis on test data from the IMPAC dataset; and 86% and 79% AUROC on the external ABIDE I and ABIDE II datasets. The highest performing models identified reproducible putative biomarkers for accurate ASD diagnosis in accord with known ASD markers as well as novel cerebellar biomarkers. Such reproducibility lends credence to their tremendous potential for defining and using a set of truly generalizable ASD biomarkers that will advance scientific understanding of neuronal changes in ASD.
Heart Rate Recovery in Adult Individuals with Asthma
Authors: Zampogna Elisabetta , Ambrosino Nicolino , Oliva Federico Mattia , Sotgiu Giovanni , Saderi Laura , Cremonese Gioele , Bellelli Giorgio , Spanevello Antonio , Angeli Fabio , Visca Dina
Published: November 2021

Background. Slow heart rate recovery (HRR) after exercise is predictor of overall mortality in individuals with and without cardiovascular or respiratory disorders. No data on adults with asthma are available. Aim. To evaluate the prevalence of slow HRR in these individuals as compared with those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods. Retrospective analysis of baseline characteristics and physiological response to the six-minute walking distance test of stable individuals with asthma or COPD. Slow HRR was defined as HRpeak - HR at 1 minute after end exercise < 12 bpm.Results. Individuals with asthma walked significantly longer (median (IQR): 455 (385-512) vs 427 (345-485) meters; p= 0.005) with a lower prevalence of slow HRR (30.3% vs 49.0%, respectively: p<0.001) than those with COPD. Individuals with asthma and slow HRR were older and walked less than those with normal HRR, without any difference in airway obstruction or in disease severity. Multivariate analysis showed that only the difference HRpeak - baseline HR (∆HR), was predictor of slow HRR in both groups.Conclusion. More than 30% of adult individuals with asthma may show slow HRR. Only exercise ∆HR but no baseline characteristic seems predict the occurrence of slow HRR.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles Co-Doped With Rare Earth Elements (Nd and Sm) Under UV Light Illumination
Authors: Baskaran P. , Pramothkumar A. , P Mani
Published: November 2021

In the present report, synthesis of pure, Nd-doped (1 wt.%) and Nd/Sm (1 wt.%) co-doped Zinc Oxide (ZnO) Nanoparticles (NPs) by using simple co-precipitation method. PXRD pattern of all the synthesized samples exposes the hexagonal crystal structure of ZnO NPs without any impurity. The various functional groups presented in the synthesized samples were analyzed by FT-IR studies. From UV-Vis DRS spectra, the band gap was found to be 2.81 eV, 2.90 and 3.10 eV respectively for pure, Nd-doped and Nd-Sm co-doped ZnO NPs. PL spectrum displays the broad emission at 393and 450 nm for all the synthesized samples. The agglomeration of flower-like morphology of pure ZnO NPs, flake-like structure of Nd-doped and rod-like morphology of Nd/Sm co-doped ZnO NPs were examined by SEM. Photocatalytic activity of the prepared samples for dye degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO-7) and Acid Red 13 (AR-13) was studied under UV light. The result revealed that, the Nd/Sm co-doped ZnO NPs found to have efficient degradation candidate materials.
The Effect of Expertise on Postural Control in Elite ju-jitsu Athletes
Authors: Akbaş Anna , Marszałek Wojciech , Drozd Sławomir , Czarny Wojciech , Król Paweł , Warchoł Krzysztof , Słomka Kajetan J. , Rzepko Marian
Published: November 2021

Background: The testing of athletes in ecological conditions is based on the concept that sport-specific adaptations in postural control are observed mostly in positions or tasks that are related to the practice of a specific movement. Due to the high postural control demands of ju-jitsu, it is likely that long-term ju-jitsu training may influence the process of maintaining a stable posture, especially in positions directly related to combat. The purpose of this study was to examine the postural sway characteristics of elite ju-jitsu athletes in ecological and non-ecological conditions with an approach not previously used in martial arts.Methods: The study was conducted on eleven male elite ju-jitsu athletes and ten non-athletes. The data was collected with the use of a force plate under two conditions: quiet standing and ju-jitsu combat stance. Apart from the standard analysis of the spatial-temporal parameters of COP, sensitive methods in COP data processing were used, namely rambling-trembling and sample entropy. The non-parametric U Mann-Whitney test was used to compare both positions.Results: The main findings of the study showed that in quiet standing, elite ju-jitsu athletes and non-athletes had comparable postural control in both the anterior-posterior and mediolateral planes. In contrast, elite athletes had lower values of postural sway and higher values of sample entropy in comparison to the non-trainees in the combat stance (p<0.05). The rambling-trembling decomposition of the COP data did not exhibit additional differences between groups beyond the standard analysis.Conclusions: Our results confirmed the importance of a sport-specific environment in investigating the subtle differences in the postural regulation of elite athletes. The sample entropy results indicated more irregular characteristics of postural sway in the elite ju-jitsu athletes, representing more automated postural control.
Diagnostic Performance and Clinical Feasibility of a Novel One-Step RT-qPCR for Detecting Multiple Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Authors: Le Tran Bac , Kim Hye Kwon , Ahn Min-Ju , Zanin Mark , Lo Van Thi , Ling Shiman , Jiang Zhanpeng , Kang Jung-Ah , Bae Pan Kee , Kim Yeon-Sook , Kim Seungtaek , Wong Sook-San , Jeong Dae Gwin , Yoon Sun-Woo
Published: November 2021

The pandemic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is characterized as an acute respiratory infection in the majority of cases and is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). However, other coronaviruses (CoVs) can infect humans, although the majority only cause mild respiratory symptoms. As early diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 is critical to prevent further transmission events and to improve clinical outcomes, it is important to be able to distinguish SARS-CoV-2 from other CoVs in respiratory samples. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a novel quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay, targeting the spike (S) and membrane (M) genes, to enable the rapid identification of SARS-CoV-2 including several new circulating variants, and other emerging pan-SARS-like CoVs. Using RNA extracted from cell culture supernatants, our multiple simultaneous SARS-CoV-2 assays confirmed a limit of detection of 1 × 100 TCID50/ml and no cross-reaction with human coronaviruses or other respiratory viruses. We also validated our method using human clinical samples from COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals, including nasal swab and sputum samples. This novel one-step multiplex RT-qPCR assay can be used to improve the laboratory diagnosis of human-pathogenic coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2, and may be useful for the identification of other pan-SARS-like CoVs of zoonotic origin.
Prognostic Factors in Patients with Septic Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation Treated with Thrombomodulin: The Effect of Reduced Thrombomodulin Dose; a Single-center, Retrospective, Observational Study
Authors: Nishita Yoshihiro , Taga Masatoshi , Sakurai Masaru , Iinuma Yoshitsugu , Masauji Togen
Published: November 2021

Background: Human soluble recombinant thrombomodulin (TM alfa), a treatment for septic Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), is recommended for patients with severe renal dysfunction in reduced doses. However, no studies have examined yet how dose reduction affects clinical efficacy. In this study, we investigated the significance of the TM alfa dose as a prognostic factor in clarifying the clinical background factors related to the clinical effect of TM alfa in patients with septic DIC.Methods: This study involved 102 patients with septic DIC admitted to a single-center intensive care unit between April 2013 and March 2020, receiving TM alfa. The following factors were retrospectively collected from the medical records of the target patients: (1) patient background, (2) sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, (3) Japanese Association for Acute Medicine DIC diagnostic criteria score, (4) DIC treatment information, (5) TM alfa dose per bodyweight (normal dose: 0.06 mg/kg or reduced dose: 0.02 mg/kg), (6) DIC resolution within 7 days after the start of TM alfa administration (DIC resolution), (7) all deaths within 30 days after the start of TM alfa administration (30-days-all-cause mortality), (8) presence or absence of new hemorrhagic side effects after the start of TM alfa administration. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with DIC resolution and 30-days-all-cause mortality.Results: The SOFA score (odds ratio: 95% confidence interval, 0.76: 0.66–0.89), pneumonia (0.24: 0.08–0.75), and reduced dose administration of TM alfa (0.23: 0.08–0.66) were independent of and negatively related to the DIC resolution. For the 30-days-all-cause mortality, the SOFA score (1.66: 1.31–2.09), pneumonia (9.50: 2.49–36.25), and TM alfa dose reduction (3.52: 1.06–11.69) were independent, poor prognostic factors. We found no association between the hemorrhagic side effects and the TM alfa dose per bodyweight.Conclusions: The reduced dose of TM alfa for patients with severe renal dysfunction was observed to be an influential factor for DIC resolution and 30-day all-cause mortality in addition to SOFA score and pneumonia. Further studies are required in the future to verify this finding.
Reduction and Fixation of Proximal Humeral Fracture With Severe Medial Instability Using a Small Locking Plate
Authors: Zhang Yuelei , Wan Lifu , Zhang Lecheng , Yan Chao , Wang Gang
Published: November 2021

Background

Currently, the reduction and support of comminuted medial cortex of humeral fracture remains a challenge, Therefore, a novel reduction and fixation technique that employs an anteromedial small locking plate was explored in this study, and its viability and the associated complications were assessed.
Methods

Fifteen cases of proximal humeral fractures with medial instability (five cases were classified as three-part and ten as four-part by Neer classification) were treated by the proposed reduction technique using an anteromedial small locking plate. Subsequently, the radiological and clinical outcomes were evaluated over an average follow-up period of 18.53 months.
Results

The average operation time was 108 minutes (range, 70–130 minutes), and the mean fracture union time in all patients was 12.13 weeks (range, 8–16 weeks). Complications such as infection and neurovascular injury were not observed. Postoperative X-ray showed avascular necrosis and screw penetration in one patient, while screw penetration, varus malunion, or significant reduction loss was not found in the other cases. The mean Constant score was 79.8 (range, 68–92) during the final visit.
Conclusions

The use of an anteromedial small locking plate improved the reduction efficiency, reconstructed the medial support, and alleviated the occurrence of complications in proximal humeral fractures with medial instability.
Genetic Restoration of Black Rhino In South Africa: Conservation Implications
Authors: Stanbridge Debbie , O'Riain M Justin , Dreyer Cathy , Roex Nikki Le
Published: November 2021

Globally, wildlife populations are becoming increasingly small and isolated. Both processes contribute to an elevated risk of extinction, notably due to genetic factors related to inbreeding depression and a loss of adaptive potential. Wildlife translocation is a valuable conservation tool to reintroduce species to previously occupied areas, or augment existing populations with genetically divergent animals, thereby improving the viability of endangered populations. However, understanding the genetic implications of mixing gene pools is key to avoid the risk of outbreeding depression, and to maximise translocation effectiveness. In this study we used mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA collected from 110 black rhinos (Diceros bicornis minor) in Kruger National Park, South Africa, to determine levels of genetic diversity, inbreeding and relatedness. We compared this diversity with the two source populations (KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and Zambezi River, Zimbabwe) using data from previously published studies, and assessed changes in the relative contribution of source lineages since their reintroduction in the 1970s. Our results show that Kruger’s black rhinos are genetically more diverse than those from KwaZulu-Natal, with levels closer to those from the Zambezi Valley. Furthermore, our findings indicate a relative increase in the Zimbabwean lineage since reintroduction, suggesting a possible selective advantage. From a conservation perspective, our results demonstrate the benefits of mixing multiple source populations to restore gene flow, improve genetic diversity and thereby help protect small, isolated populations from extinction.
Metagenomic Analysis of Intestinal Microflora in Rats Treated with Ellagic Acid and Sinapic Acid
Authors: Hamdullah
Published: November 2021

The correct functioning of the intestinal mechanism is very important for human health. In particular, the microecosystem of the gut has a vital role in the development of the host and the continuity of metabolism. For this reason, many studies have been conducted on the intestinal microbiota. Today, the use of phenolic compounds in the production of complementary and alternative medicines is quite common. In our study, changes in intestinal microflora at the species level were evaluated in Wistar Albino rats treated with Ellagic Acid and Sinapic Acid. The first group was formed as the control group. Ellagic Acid (EA) was given to the second group of rats (50 mg/kg/d). The third group of rats was given Sinapic Acid (SA) (20 mg/kg/d). Fourth group of rats were given Ellagic Acid EA (50 mg/kg/d) and Sinapic Acid SA (20 mg/kg/d). At the end of the study, intestinal tissues were taken under appropriate sterile conditions. The V3-V4 points located in the 16 S rDNA gene regions of the bacteria in the microflora were replicated by the specific primers developed in accordance with these regions. The data obtained as a result of sequencing analyzes were evaluated comparatively for four groups. As a result, it was determined that Ellagic Acid and Sinapic Acid have a positive effect on probiotic microorganisms (Lactobacillus) in the intestine. It was also determined that while it caused a decrease in the rate of some pathogenic microorganisms such as Streptococcus, it caused an increase in the number of some pathogens.
Support Based Graph Framework for Effective Intrusion Detection and Classification
Authors: Adhao Rahul B , Pachghare Vinod K
Published: November 2021

Intrusion Detection System is one of the worthwhile areas for researchers for a long. Numbers of researchers have worked for increasing the efficiency of Intrusion Detection Systems. But still, many challenges are present in modern Intrusion Detection Systems. One of the major challenges is controlling the false positive rate. In this paper, we have presented an efficient soft computing framework for the classification of intrusion detection dataset to diminish a false positive rate. The proposed processing steps are described as; the input data is at first pre-processed by the normalization process. Afterward, optimal features are chosen for the dimensionality decrease utilizing krill herd optimization. Here, the effective feature assortment is utilized to enhance classification accuracy. Support value is then estimated from ideally chosen features and lastly, a support value-based graph is created for the powerful classification of data into intrusion or normal. The exploratory outcomes demonstrate that the presented technique outperforms the existing techniques regarding different performance examinations like execution time, accuracy, false-positive rate, and their intrusion detection model increases the detection rate and decreases the false rate.
Correlates and short-term prognostic value of plasma n-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels among heart failure patients: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Mayala Mark , Khanbhai Khuzeima , Peter Ponsian , Chillo Pilly
Published: November 2021

BackgroundStudies conducted in developed countries have found measurements of plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) to be important in evaluating heart failure (HF) prognosis, however this has not yet been studied in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine clinical correlates and short-term prognostic value of plasma NT-proBNP levels among HF patients.MethodologyThis was a hospital-based prospective cohort study conducted at Jakaya Kikwete Cardiac Institute, Tanzania from June to December 2020. Patients were consecutively enrolled when they fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Clinical details and NT-proBNP levels were measured at baseline and at 30-day follow-up. Pearson's chi square test was used to associate New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and NT-proBNP levels, while Spearman’s correlation coefficient was used to correlate between left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and NT-proBNP levels. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to determine the best prognostic cut off points of NT-proBNP levels for the different clinical outcomes. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statically significant.Results155 HF patients were enrolled. Their mean±SD age was 48±16 years, 52.3% were male and their mean ±SD LVEF was 37.3±10.7%. At baseline, the median (IQR) NT-proBNP levels was 7654pg/ml (2289, 16000), and the levels dropped to 3383pg/ml (731, 9785) after 1 month. Baseline plasma levels of NT-proBNP increased as the NYHA functional class worsened, (P = 0.018), and with decreasing LVEF (r = -0.65, p<0.05). The ROC curve identified an overall cut-off point for poor prognosis at 18000pg/ml with 54.4% sensitivity and 93.7% specificity (area under the curve (AUC): 0.8). The NT-proBNP cut-off point for mortality was 24500 pg/ml with 100% sensitivity and specificity of 92.54% (AUC: 0.958). The ROC analysis also identified levels of NT-proBNP of ≥7899pg/ml to predict re-hospitalization, with 76% sensitivity and 60% specificity (AUC: 0.68), while levels ≥18762.1 pg/ml predicted long hospital stay with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 85.62% (AUC: 0.939).ConclusionThese results demonstrate that NT-proBNP is a powerful measure to predict readmission, mortality and long hospital stay in HF patients and can facilitate discussions with patient prognosis, decisions regarding interventions, and continuity of care.
A mixed method evaluation of cooperative learning using jigsaw classroom model in clinical pharmacology course
Authors: ASIF Uzma , Bano Nusrat , Malick Neelam , Ansari Shakeel Ahmed
Published: November 2021

Purpose
To evaluate use of cooperative learning using jigsaw classroom model in clinical pharmacology course for undergraduate university students.
Methods
A sequential mixed method study design was used. Jigsaw learning was used for teaching selected topics in clinical pharmacology course in addition to traditional lectures used to conduct the remaining topics. At the end of the course, students completed the Jigsaw learning assessment instrument that measured attitude, knowledge, skills and satisfaction. In-depth interviews were conducted to explore their experiences. Test scores of teaching content taught by Jigsaw learning was compared to the content delivered by traditional lectures.
Results
Lowest mean score depicting strongly positive response were observed for survey item-3 (1.9±0.98), item-13 (1.9±0.88) and item-19 (1.8±0.86) within the subscales measuring attitude, skills and satisfaction respectively. Difference between the test performance in course content delivered by jigsaw classroom technique compared to traditional lectures was statistically significant (p<0.001). Difference between mean responses of high and low test scoring students was significant for survey item-4 (p=0.04), item-8 (p=0.001), item-11, 12 (p=0.01, 0.02) and item-16 (p=0.03).
Conclusion
Jigsaw classroom model had positive effects on the attitude, knowledge, skills, satisfaction and test performance of students in clinical pharmacology course.
Psychological Distress and Its Predictors Among Hospital Admitted COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Pillai Renjith R. , Ghosh Abhishek , Shrivasthava Sumit , Muralidharan Sanuj , Kumar Krishan , Kumar Saranya S
Published: November 2021

Objective

Limited evidence is available on the psychological distress among patients hospitalized with COVID -19. We assessed (a) the incidence of psychological distress, posttraumatic symptoms and substance use among patients hospitalized with COVID-19, (b) perceived stress, coping, and social support experienced by distressed and non-distressed patients and the predictors of psychological distress.
Method

Ours was a hospital-based cross-sectional study, conducted in a Union Territory of India. Patients were assessed (August – September, 2020) at the time of admission (within two days) with standardized instruments (N=250).
Results

More than 19 percent of respondents had experienced significant psychological distress (probable cases) and nearly 9% reported post traumatic stress symptoms. The cases and non-cases differ in terms of active coping (5.51±0.87 v/s 5.06±1.06; t=3.10, p<0.01), emotional support (5.21±0.87 v/s 4.86±0.79; t=2.57, p<0.01), behavioural disengagement (5.18±0.92 v/s 4.55±1.15; t=3.56, p<0.001), venting (5.42±0.96 v/s 4.80±1.24; t=3.30, p<0.01), acceptance (5.75±1.24 v/s 5.29±1.50; t=2.23, p<0.05), religion (5.43±1.41 v/s 6.06±1.46; t=-2.76, p<0.01) and self-blame (5.65±1.00 v/s 4.82±1.39; t=3.95, p<0.001). Symptoms of post-traumatic stress (OR: 2.058; 95% CI: 1.49-2.84) was the only significant predictor of the psychological distress.
Conclusions

Nearly one in five hospitalized patients with COVID-19 experience psychological distress. Screening and treatment for trauma and psychological distress should be made an integral component of care for patients with COVID-19
Intuitionistic Fuzzy Supra Bitopological Spaces
Authors: Abbas Fadhil Hussein
Published: November 2021

In this paper we will introduce the concept of intuitionistic fuzzy
supra bitopological spaces and study the fundamental properties of intuitionistic fuzzy supra bitopological spaces. Also introduce intuitionistic fuzzy supra bi-continuous functions in intuitionistic fuzzy supra
bitopological spaces. Moreover introduce the concept of intuitionistic fuzzy supra pairwise separation axioms namely intuitionistic fuzzy
supra pairwise Ti where i 2 f0; 1; 2; 3; 4g of intuitionistic fuzzy supra
bitopological spaces.
Incidence of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting and Antiemetic Guideline Compliance in Chinese Real Clinical Setting: A Cross-Sectional Multicenter Survey
Authors: shi yanxia , Xue Cong , Li Lu , Xia Qing , An Xin , Li Haifeng , Zhang Lulu , Hou Mei , Yuan Xianglin , Chen Xi , Zhang Yiping , Zhao Lingdi , Shi Yuankai , Hu Xichun , Yang Shune , Cheng Jing , Luo Yi , Liang Hui , Zou Qingfeng , Han Zhengxiang , Gu Kangsheng , Niu Zuoxing , Gao Yuhuan , Xia Li , Yang Runxiang , Xiong Jianping , Bu Qing , Jiang Xiaodong , Xie Xiaodong , Sun Tao , Zhang Qingyuan , Ma Shoucheng , Tan Shisheng , Li Miao , Wang Ningju , Wang Xiumei , Ba Yi , Feng Jifeng , Jiang Wenqi
Published: November 2021

Background

This survey aims to investigate the incidence of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in Chinese real clinical setting and evaluate the effect of guideline-consistent CINV prophylaxis (GCCP) and guideline-inconsistent CINV prophylaxis (GICP) on incidence of complete response (CR) of CINV.
Materials and Methods

A cross-sectional nationwide multicenter study assessing the guideline consistency and CINV incidence of patients was conducted at a total of 32 large medical centers from 26 provinces across the west,east༌northeast and middle part of China between April and May 2021.
Result

Data for 2964 patients were analyzed. Patients treated with moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC) were more prone to experience CINV during the acute phase compared to those receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC); patients receiving low or minimally emetogenic chemotherapy (L/mEC) were least likely to experience CINV during the overall phase among the whole study population. The prevalence of GCCP was 29.2% in the whole study population, and 13.6%, 35.7% and 45.1% for the patients receiving HEC, MEC and L/mEC, respectively. For patients receiving HEC and MEC, GCCP increased incidence of CR during both delayed and overall phases. For those receiving L/mEC and GICP, incidence of CR was not higher than that of patients receiving L/mEC and GCCP.
Conclusion

This study revealed Chinese CINV status, the prevalence of GCCP in the real clinical setting and the association between GCCP and CR rate for the first time. The findings indicate that prescribing antiemetics in compliance with guidelines for all patients receiving chemotherapy is strongly suggested.
Excessive Consumption of the Sugar Rich Longan Fruit Promoted the Development of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease via Mediating Gut Dysbiosis
Authors: Huang Huimin , Li Mingxing , Wang Yi , Wu Xiaoxiao , Wang Qin , Shen Jing , Xiao Zhangang , Zhao Yueshui , Du Fukuan , Li Jing , Chen Yu , Wu Zhigui , Yang Yifei , Liu Lin , Cho Chi Hin , He Yisheng , Wu Xu , Xiao Jianbo
Published: November 2021

Background: Controversy exists as towards the association of excessive fruits intake and certain disease risks. Longan is an edible fruit rich in high levels of fructose, glucose and sucrose. The aim of this study was to provide direct evidence on the effect of the sugar rich longan fruit on the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Chemical profiling of longan fruit was conducted using LC-HRMS and HPLC-ELSD.Results: Longan extracts at the doses of 4.0 g/kg, 8.0 and 16.0 g/kg were orally administered for 4 weeks to healthy C57BL/6J mice or to C57BL/6J mice fed with a HFD diet. Fecal microbiome was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The amounts of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in colonic contents were determined by GC-MS. Colon and liver tissues were used for histopathological examination after H&E, Masson’s trichrome, and Oil-red O staining. ELISA method was used for biochemical analysis in serum. In mice fed a normal diet, repeated longan intake for 4 weeks at excess doses (8 or 16 g/kg), but not the normal dose (4 g/kg), promoted inflammation and gut dysbiosis-like status and reduced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. In high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, longan intake at 4 g/kg hardly influenced the NAFLD development. In contrast, excess longan intake (8 or 16 g/kg) promoted NAFLD pathogenesis, including increased abnormality in hepatic indices, elevated inflammation, and gut permeability associated with more severe liver steatosis and fibrosis. Moreover, the exacerbated pathogenic markers were positively correlated with increased blood sugar, aggravated HFD-associated microbial dysbiosis. Conclusions: Effects mediated by excess longan intake resembled that of equivalent free sugars supplementation, suggesting that high level of free sugars in fruits contributed to the promotion of NAFLD development as demonstrated in case of excessive longan intake.
Potential Roles of Long Non-coding RNAs in Regulating Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Metastasis in Ovarian Serous Cystadenocarcinoma
Authors: Kan Mujie , Zhang Housen , Dong Chengya , Xu Tianmin , Li Qi
Published: November 2021

Background: Ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma (OSC) is the most common gynecological malignancy. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are aberrantly expressed in many cancers and involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and invasion. Here, we investigated the functional roles of lncRNAs in OSC in detail.Methods: We analyzed a cohort of exon microarray datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas and used differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs to construct an lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network. Distinct lncRNAs were classified into lincRNA, enhancer-like lncRNAs, or antisense lncRNAs. Biological functions for lncRNAs were predicted according to the lncRNA-mRNA network and genomic adjacency by KEGG pathway analysis. A transcription factor (TF)-lncRNA regulatory network was constructed by integrating lncRNA molecular profiles and TF binding information. Results: We identified 2,939 lncRNAs and 2,766 mRNAs that were differentially expressed between OSC and normal ovary tissues. The 67 lncRNAs in the lncRNA-mRNA network, 23 lincRNAs, 19 antisense lncRNAs, and four enhancer-like lncRNAs were involved in cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. The TFs ING4, TTF-1, RUSH-l alpha, Kaiso, and STAT1 targeted regulation of lncRNAs in the pathological processes of OSC. Expression of 10 lncRNAs and mRNAs, as well as SOS1, ITGB1, and BIRC2 mRNAs with their identified lncRNAs were verified by qRT-PCR in OSC tissues. Conclusions: We predicted the biological functions of many lncRNAs, which may serve as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets in OSC.
Stable Isotope and Hydrochemical Evolution of Groundwater in Mining Area of the Changzhi Basin, Northern China
Authors: Zhang Chunchao , Li Xiangquan , Ma Jianfei , Wang Zhenxing , Hou Xinwei
Published: November 2021

The Changzhi Basin of China is an economically and ecologically important area with intensive human activities. To foster the sustainable development of groundwater resources and the economy, a total of 117 groundwater samples were collected in shallow and deep aquifers, including 91 2H and 18O isotope samples, to improved understanding of the natural geochemical processes and the impacts of anthropogenic activities on the groundwater chemistry. Synthetical application of the stable isotopes, Piper diagram, Gibbs diagram, ionic ratios and saturation indices to data analysis led to identification of hydrochemical zones for both aquifers from west to east of the basin. Isotopic analyses suggested that the groundwater recharge mainly comes from infiltration of rain water, hydraulic interaction between surface water and shallow groundwater, and lateral recharge from fissure water at the edge of the basin. The predominant natural geochemical processes include mineral dissolution in conjunction with the cation exchange. The excess deuterium method revealed that mineral dissolution contributed 81%–98% to the salinity of shallow groundwater and 84%–98% to the salinity of deep groundwater. Anthropogenic activities are secondary contributions to the hydrochemical evolution with fertilizer application, human waste and sewage discharges causing an increase in NO3-N content and coal mining activities affecting the ion content of Na+, Cl-, SO42-, and HCO3- in the groundwater.
Analysis of long-term climatic changes at Hodeidah-Yemen during the period between 1984 and 2019
Authors: Iraqi Abkar Ali , AbdAlla AbdAlla Mohammed
Published: November 2021

Yemen is one of the Arab country that is vulnerable to climate changes, and this is clear from the indicators of impact on water resources, coastal zone environments, etc. This work focuses on studying the climatic variability at Hodeidah city-Yemen during the period between 1984 and 2019. This study aimed to characterize trends in mean monthly, seasonal and annual temperature. To attain these objectives the collected data were analyzed using both parametric (linear regression) and non-parametric (Mann–Kendall, Spearman and Sen's slope estimator tests) methods to detect the trend and the magnitudes of rates of changes of temperature over time. Analysis of data indicates clear climatic fluctuations of temperature. The annual means of temperature during the period of study were varied between 26.9°C and 30.1°C. The warmest years were observed during the more recent years of the study period ( 2005 to 2018). The increasing rate of annual temperature is about + 0.075°C /year, + 0.37°C/5year, + 0.75°C/decade ,+2.53°C, over the whole period of study(1985 to 2019), + 3.7°C/50 year and increase to + 4.85°C in 2050. On a monthly timescale, there are similar magnitudes of rates of change from December to September with highest rates in October and November. The results also showed that most months and seasons have significant positive trends in temperature and (Z-α/2) values of the MK Test > 1.96 and positive value of Sen’s slope estimator indicates significant an increasing trend towards warmer years. Anomalies of temperature confirm significant increasing trends towards warmer years (2000s to 2019).
Distribution and Identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Lineage in Kashgar Prefecture
Authors: Xu Ai-Min , He Chuan-Jiang , Chen Xiang , Li Li , Abuduaini AniKiz , Tuerxun Zureguli , Sha Yin-Zhong , Kaisaier Aihemaitijiang , Peng Hong-Mei , Zhen Ya-Hui , Zhang Su-Jie , Xu Jing-Ran , Zou Xiao-Guang
Published: November 2021

Objectives
In order to understand the composition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb) lineage and find specific tags to distinguish lineage of the M.tb in Kashgar prefecture, so as to provide a basis for the prevention of tuberculosis in this area.
Methods
Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of M.tb clinical strains (161 cases) was conducted. The phylogenetic tree was constructed by Maximum Likelihood (ML) on the basis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and verified via principal component analysis (PCA). The composition structure of M.tb in different regions was analyzed by combining geographic information.
Results
The M.tb clinical strains were composed of lineage 2 (73/161, 45.34%), lineage 3 (52/161, 32.30%) and lineage 4 (36/161, 22.36%) in Kashgar prefecture. And the 3 lineages were subdivided into 11 sublineages, among which lineage 2 includes lineage 2.2.2/Asia Ancestral 1(9/73, 12.33%),lineage 2.2.1-Asia Ancestral 2(9/73, 12.33%)༌lineage 2.2.1-Asia Ancestral 3(18/73, 24.66%) and lineage 2.2.1-Modern Beijing(39/73, 53.42%).Lineage 3 includes lineage 3.2(14/52, 26.92%)and lineage 3.3(38/52, 73.08%)༌lineage 4 includes lineage 4.1(3/36, 8.33%)༌lineage 4.2(2/36, 5.66%)༌lineage 4.4.2(1/36, 2.78%)༌lineage 4.5(28/36, 77.78%) and lineage 4.8(2/36, 5.66%)༌all of which were consistent with the PCA results. Among the identified 21438 SNPs ,there are 136 markers proposed to discriminate known circulating strains. Reconstruction of a phylogenetic tree using the 136 SNPs for all 161 samples resulted in a tree with the same number of delineated clades. Based on geographical location analysis, the composition of Lineage 2 in Kashgar prefecture (45.34%) is lower than other regions level in China(54.35%-90.27%), and the composition of Lineage 3 (32.30%)is much higher than other regions level in China (0.92%-2.01%), but it is lower than the bordering Pakistan (70.40%).
Conclusion
In summary, M.tb clinical strains from Kashgar prefecture were identifed 3 lineages and 11 sublineages, with 136 Branch-Specific SNP. Kashgar borders countries with a high incidence of tuberculosis such as Pakistan and India, resulting in a large difference between the M.tb lineage and sublineage distribution in this region and other provinces in China. This research provides a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in Xinjiang.
The Prevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection among Voluntary Blood Donors in Mainland China: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gao Zhan , Li Yuhui , Zhiyang Liu , Huang Yang , He Miao
Published: November 2021

BACKGROUND: The epidemic of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) in China has been increasing. Despite the implementation of screening strategies, there was still the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV. This study investigated the HIV prevalence among voluntary blood donors during the past 24 years in order to characterize the epidemiology of HIV.METHODS: The literature concerning the HIV screening reactive rate and prevalence in Chinese voluntary blood donors were collected through the systematic searching of four electronic databases. After integrating data, following the Preferred Reporting of Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, data manipulation and statistical analyses were conducted by Stata 12.0. We investigated the trend of HIV prevalence (and 95% CIs) and related epidemiological characteristics among blood donors in mainland China.RESULTS: The results indicated that HIV prevalence was 0.0165% (95% CI, 0.0155%-0.0176%) with a remarkable rise, which varied from 2000 (0.0034%) to 2017 (0.0247%). Importantly, the heterogeneity was found in occupations and Donation frequency. Additionally, the HIV prevalence were significantly higher among male donors than among female donors.CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated obvious difference between HIV screening reactive rate and HIV prevalence in Chinese blood donors and HIV screening reactive rate cannot reflect reality of HIV infection. In this study, continuous increased trend of HIV prevalence demonstrates extended residual risk of blood transfusion, and the whole society is supposed to pay close attention to HIV infection.
Identification of Foods To Monitor The Sodium Content of Processed Foods for Developing a Sodium Reduction Program in The Philippines
Authors: Amarra Maria Sofia , Capanzana Mario , Gironella Glen , Reyes Francisco de los
Published: November 2021

Background

In response to the global target for reduction in salt intake, several countries have implemented population sodium reduction strategies. These strategies include identification of major sources of sodium in the diet and reformulation of a set number of products available on the market. This study aimed to identify processed foods that can be targeted for reformulation and whose sodium content can be monitored over time in order to reduce sodium intake in the Philippines. The objectives were to: 1) Estimate per capita sodium intake from minimally processed and processed food groups by income quintile and urban/rural location; 2) Identify foods that contribute to the variance in per capita sodium intake that can be used as indicators for monitoring the sodium content of Philippine processed foods. One-day household food weighing data covering 4880 households from the 2008 National Nutrition Survey was used. Per capita sodium consumption from processed and minimally processed food categories and percentiles of sodium intake from these categories by income quintile and urban/rural location were obtained. The percentage contribution of different food categories to mean per capita sodium intake was calculated. Specific foods that contributed to the variance in sodium intake among Filipinos were identified.
Results

Foods which significantly accounted for 99.4% of the variance in sodium intake were 13 types of processed foods and 2 types of minimally processed foods. The category Processed Soup, Sauces, and Flavor Enhancers contributed the greatest proportion to per capita sodium intake. Specific processed foods that contributed to the variance in per capita sodium intake were instant noodles, traditional fermented condiments and sauces, dried and processed meat, fish, and poultry products, salted eggs, white bread and pan de sal (a traditional Filipino bread), wheat and egg noodles, crispy cereal chips and extruded snacks, butter and margarine, cheese, and chocolate-based beverages.
Conclusion

Identifying processed foods that significantly contribute to sodium intake, followed by reformulating and monitoring the sodium content of these foods over time should be considered as one strategy to reduce sodium intake in the Philippines.
Optimizing Photoautotrophic Micropropagation Conditions for Ginger
Authors: Zhou Jie , Guo Fengling , Qi Chuangdong , Fu Jiaping , Xiao Ying , Wu Jinping
Published: November 2021

Ginger (Zingiber officinale), a member of the Zingiberaceae family, is a commonly available spice and medicinal plant. This study aimed to develop an alternative conventional micropropagation using photomixotrophic micropropagation for ginger. Rootless ginger tissue culture plantlets were initiated in culture vessels grown a chamber maintained under a 16 h/day photoperiod with an intensity of 60 μE m-2 s-1 from cool white fluorescent lamps at 25 ± 2℃ with an air relative humidity of 60 ± 5%. Photoautotrophic micropropagation of ginger was optimized using vermiculite + peat (1:1(v/v)) as substrate combined with MS + 0.5 mg/L NAA + 0.1% Metalaxyl-M·Hymexazol + 80% relative humidity (RH). After 40 days of culture, in-vitro ginger seedlings were successfully bred with a rooting rate of 100.0%.
How Can Advance Care Planning Support Hope in Patients with Advanced Cancer and Their Families: A Qualitative Study as Part of the International ACTION Trial
Authors: Kodba-Čeh Hana , Lunder Urška , Bulli Francesco , Caswell Glenys , Delden Johannes J. M. van , Kars Marijke C. , Korfage Ida J. , Miccinesi Guido , Rietjens Judith A. C. , Seymour Jane , Toccafondi Alessandro , Zwakman Marieke , Pollock Kristian
Published: November 2021

Purpose: Clinicians’ fears of taking away patients’ hope is one of the barriers to advance care planning (ACP). Barriers to ACP were extensively studied, however, research on how advance care planning potentially supports hope is scarce. The concept of hope in the terminally ill is context-specific and difficult to operationalize. This study aimed to explore aspects of hope supported by structured ACP conversations.Methods: In an international qualitative study using in-depth interviews we explored ACP experiences of patients with advanced cancer and their personal representatives (PRs) within the cluster-randomized control ACTION trial. An established sensitizing concept of hope in terminal illness (with several themes such as facilitating control, interpersonal relationships etc.) served as a point of reference in identifying attributes of hope supported by ACP conversations. A thematic analysis was performed on segments of text relevant to answer the research question.Results: Twenty patients with advanced lung or colorectal cancer and 17 personal representatives from Italy, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom were interviewed after participation in structured ACP conversations. Three potential mechanisms through which hope may be supported were recognized for patients and their PRs: (I) achieving a greater sense of empowerment for the future; (II) experiencing participation in ACP conversations as an act of mutual care; (III) strengthening shared confidence and partnership. In addition, our results suggest that participants’ hopes for cure or longevity persist after ACP conversations. Conclusion: We identified various potentially hope supporting mechanisms of ACP conversations cultivating agency, mutuality and interdependency between people involved.