bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Design Process for a 3D Printed Patient-Specific Applicator for HDR Brachytherapy of the Orbit
Authors: Subashi Ergys David , Jacobs Corbin , Hood Rodney , Kirsch David , Craciunescu Oana 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
BACKGROUND: This report describes a process for designing a 3D printed patient-specific applicator for HDR brachytherapy of the orbit. CASE PRESENTATION: A 34-year-old man with recurrent melanoma of the orbit was referred for consideration of re-irradiation. An applicator for HDR brachytherapy was designed based on the computed tomography (CT) of patient anatomy. The body contour was used to generate an applicator with a flush fit against the patient’s skin while the planning target volume (PTV) was used to devise channels that allow for access and coverage of the tumor bed. An end-to-end dosimetric test was devised to determine feasibility for clinical use. The applicator was designed to conform to the volume and contours inside the orbital cavity. Support wings placed flush with the patient skin provided stability and reproducibility, while 16 source channels of varying length were needed for sufficient access to the target. A solid sheath, printed as an outer support-wall for each channel, prevented bending or accidental puncturing of the surface of the applicator. CONCLUSIONS: Quality assurance tests demonstrated feasibility for clinical use. Our experience with available 3D printing technology used to generate an applicator for the orbit may provide guidance for how materials of suitable biomechanical and radiation properties can be used in brachytherapy.
Detection of gastrointestinal parasitism at recreational canine sites in the USA: the DOGPARCS study
Authors: Stafford Kristina , Kollasch Todd M , Duncan Kathryn T , Horr Stephanie , Goddu Troy , Heinz-Loomer Christine , Rumschlag Anthony J , Ryan William G , Sweet Sarah , Little Susan E 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: The rapid growth in off-leash dog parks provides opportunity for canine socialization activities but carries risk of exposure to intestinal parasites. This study assessed the prevalence of these infections in dogs visiting off-leash dog parks.Methods: Fresh defecations were collected from dogs visiting parks in 30 metropolitan areas across the USA. Samples were analyzed by coproantigen immunoassay (CAI) (Fecal Dx® and Giardia Test, IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.) and zinc sulfate centrifugal flotation (CF). Owners responded to a questionnaire on their dog’s signalment and use of heartworm/intestinal parasite control medications (HWCM).Results: Samples were examined from 3006 dogs, 87.9% aged at least 12 months, visiting 288 parks. At least one intestinal parasite was detected in 622 (20.7%) samples, nematodes in 263 (8.8%), with hookworms, whipworms and ascarids in 7.1, 1.9 and 0.6% of samples, respectively. A sample positive for one or more intestinal parasites was found in 245 (85.1%) parks, with nematodes found in 143 (49.7%). Combined, CAI and CF detected 78.4% more intestinal nematode infections than CF alone. Hookworm and whipworm infections were detected in all age groups, but ascarids were only detected in dogs less than 4 years-old. Approximately 42% of dogs aged less than 1 year were positive for nematodes or Giardia. Based on owner reports, HWCM was current for 68.8% of dogs, dogs previously diagnosed with intestinal parasitism were more likely to be receiving a HWCM than those without such history, and a significantly lower (P = 0.0003) proportion of dogs receiving a HWCM were positive for intestinal nematodes compared with those not on such medication.Conclusions: Intestinal parasites, the most common of which were Giardia, Ancylostoma caninum and Trichuris vulpis, were found in 20% of dogs and 85% of dog parks across the USA. Enhanced detection of canine intestinal parasitism was achieved by combining CF and CAI. Canine intestinal parasites are common across the USA and dog health can be improved by regular testing of fecal samples and routine administration of medications effective against the most common infections.
Using Osmotic Stress to Stabilize Mannitol Production in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
Authors: Wu Wenyang , Du Wei , Gallego Ruth Perez , Hellingwerf Klaas J. , Woude Aniek D. van der , Santos Filipe Branco dos 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background Mannitol is a C(6) polyol that is used in the food and medical sector as a sweetener and antioxidant, respectively. The sustainable production of mannitol, especially via the direct conversion of CO 2 by photosynthetic cyanobacteria, has become increasingly appealing. However, previous work aiming to achieve mannitol production in the marine Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 via heterologous expression of mannitol-1-phosphate-5-dehydrogenase ( mtlD ) and mannitol-1-phosphatase ( m1p , in short: a ‘mannitol cassette’), proved to be genetically unstable. Results Here, we explore the stabilizing effect that mannitol production may have on cells faced with osmotic stress, in the freshwater cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We first validated that mannitol can function as a compatible solute in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, and in derivative strains in which the ability to produce one or both of the native compatible solutes was impaired. Wild type Synechocystis , complemented with a mannitol cassette, indeed showed increased salt tolerance, which was even more evident in Synechocystis strains in which the ability to synthesize the endogenous compatible solutes was impaired. Next we tested the genetic stability of all these strains with respect to their mannitol productivity, with and without salt stress, during prolonged turbidostat cultivations. The obtained results show that mannitol production under salt stress conditions in the Synechocystis strain that cannot synthesize its endogenous compatible solutes is remarkably stable, while the control strain completely loses this ability in only 6 days. DNA sequencing results of the control groups that lost the ability to synthesize mannitol revealed that multiple types of mutation occurred in the mtlD gene that can explain the disruption of mannitol production. Conclusions Mannitol production in freshwater Synechocsytis sp. PCC6803 confers it with increased salt tolerance. Under this strategy, genetically instability which was the major challenge for mannitol production in cyanobacteria is tackled. This paper marks the first report of utilization of the response to salt stress as a factor that can increase the stability of mannitol production in a cyanobacterial cell factory.
Research on Human Performance Evaluation Model Based on Neural Network and Data Mining Algorithm
Authors: Liang Wei , Li Tingyi 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
In order to effectively evaluate personnel performance, a distributed data mining algorithm for spatial networks based on BP neural wireless network is proposed. In the cloud computing environment, an excavator is used to construct multiple input multiple output spatial network data, analyze the data structure, and perform redundant data compression of massive data through time-frequency feature extraction. Combined with adaptive matching filtering method, the characteristics of the data are matched. The spatial frequency feature extraction method is used to locate the features of the multiple-input multiple-output spatial network data. In order to improve the accuracy of data mining, the BP neural network is used to classify and identify the extracted data features to achieve the optimization of data mining. A wireless sensor network is a wireless network composed of a large number of stationary or moving sensors in a self-organizing and multi-hop manner. It cooperatively senses, collects, processes, and transmits the information of the perceived objects in the geographical area covered by the network, and finally puts these The information is sent to the owner of the network. This algorithm improves the accuracy of personnel performance evaluation, and simultaneously establishes a hierarchical analysis and quantitative evaluation model for the performance of government managers, and adjusts the results of hierarchical statistical analysis on government administrators as needed. The performance evaluation and optimization of government administrators were introduced. The empirical analysis results show that the method has higher accuracy for government managers' performance evaluation, higher efficiency of big data processing and better integration.
Orange Peel As Low-Cost Adsorbent In The Elimination Of Cd(Ii) Ions: Kinetics, Isotherm, Thermodynamic And Optimization Evaluations
Authors: Akinhanmi Fola Temilade , Ofudje Edwin Andrew , Adeogun Idowu Abideen , Peter Aina , Ilo Joseph Mayowa 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
The presence of heavy metals in polluted water is known not only to cause stern harm to marine organisms but also to terrestrial plants and animals including human beings. This research applied low-cost and environmental benign adsorbent primed from waste orange peel (OP) for the removal of Cd(II) ions from aqueous solution via batch adsorption process. The surface properties of the orange peel powder were studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray spectroscopy (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Operational conditions like temperature, contact time, sorbent dosage, solution pH and initial adsorbate concentration were investigated. The utmost uptake of Cd(II) ion was obtained at a contact time of 120 mins, initial metal concentration of 240 mg/L, adsorbent dosage of 0.04 g/L, temperature of 45 °C and solution pH of 5.5. Equilibrium results showed that the orange peel adsorbent has an adsorption capacity of 128.23 mg/g as obtained from the Langmuir isotherm. The adsorption kinetics data followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model with correlation coefficient (R2) >0.9 and low standard % error values. The adsorption process was found to be endothermic in nature with enthalpy of 0.0046 kJ mol−1 and entropy of-636.865 Jmol-1K-1 respectively. Results from the optimization study indicated that higher adsorbent dosage and lower Cd(II) ion concentration increased the percentage of Cd (II) ion removal. Thus, orange peel could be used in the removal of Cd(II) ion from aqueous solutions.
106Ruthenium eye plaque brachytherapy in the management of medium sized uveal melanoma
Authors: Jiang Ping , Purtskhvanidze Konstantine , Kandzia Gerit , Neumann Dirk , Luetzen Ulf , Siebert Frank-André , Roider Johann , Dunst Juergen 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: To evaluate 106 Ruthenium Brachytherapy in management of medium sized uveal melanoma, with emphasis on 5-year outcome and toxicity. Methods: From 2007 to 2015, 39 patients were treated with 106 Ru eye plaques brachytherapy. At the time of diagnosis, the mean tumor depth was 3.7 mm (±SD:1.6). Mean dose at the apex of the tumor was 141.4 Gy (± SD: 12.1 Gy). The mean sclera dose was 557.7 Gy (± SD: 257.3 Gy). Results: Mean follow-up was 69.5 months (± SD: 53.8 months). 34 patients (87.1%) remained free of recurrence. In 26 (66.7%) patients a total regression was achieved after a median period of 12 months (Range: 3-60 mon.). By the final examination, the visual acuity of 26 (66.7%) patients was better than 20/200. 12 (30.7%) patients had a visual acuity better than 20/40. Retinopathy was detected in 11 (28.2%) patients. After treatments only 1 (5.1%) patients had active vascular changes by the last examination. Moderate optic neuropathy was observed in 4 (10.3%) patients. Cataract development was diagnosed in 21 (53.8%) patients, although 16 (41%) of them had bilateral cataract development. Special emphasis was made on patients with larger tumors. Twelve out of the 39 patients had a tumor with a depth of 5mm or more. There was no significant difference neither in local control (75 % in tumors ≥5mm versus 92.6 % in tumors <5mm) nor in side effects between both groups. Conclusions: Our study proved 106 Ru -brachytherapy to be an excellent treatment option with regard to tumor control and preservation of the visual acuity in well-selected patients. The data suggest that this treatment is also suitable for tumors with a depth of more than 5mm.
The 2019 novel coronavirus disease with secondary ischemic stroke: two cases report
Authors: Fu Bin , Chen Yun , Li Ping 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: The 2019 novel coronavirus disease is an outbreak of respiratory illness first detected in Wuhan, China in the end of Dec, 2019. The older patients complicated with underlying diseases are reported more likely to have clinical symptoms. But its secondary lesion is rarely reported. Case presentation: We reported two cases of coronavirus infected pneumonia with acute ischemic stroke in patients at their middle-age. In both 2019 coronavirus diseases cases, neurological physical examination are normal before infection. Lymphocytopenia and high expression of cytokines and D-dimer were found from serum clinical laboratory test at admission. The dysarthria and limb muscle weakness are initial manifestations in one week after 2019 novel coronavirus infection. The head CT and head/neck arterial CTA showed small-vessel occlusion. The patients were diagnosed with coronavirus diseases with secondary acute ischemic stroke. They were treated with tirofiban and followed up with daily aspirin and atorvastatin. Conclusion: The present cases suggested that secondary ischemic stroke, which mainly manifested as small-vessel occlusion, should be considered for coronavirus disease patients with prompt diagnosis and treatment.
eRegCom – Quality Improvement Dashboard for healthcare providers and Targeted Client Communication to pregnant women using data from an electronic health registry to improve attendance and quality of antenatal care: study protocol for a multi-arm cluster randomized trial
Authors: Mørkrid Kjersti , Bogale Binyam , Abbas Eatimad , Khader Khadija Abu , Ward Itimad Abu , Attalh Amjad , Awwad Tamara , Baniode Mohammad , Frost Kimberly , Frost Michael J. , Ghanem Buthaina , Hijaz Taghreed , Isbeih Mervett , Issawi Sally , Nazzal Zaher A. S. , O’Donnell Brian , Qaddomi Sharif , Rabah Yousef , Venkateswaran Mahima , Froen J. Frederik 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
This trial evaluates interventions that utilize data entered at point-of-care in the Palestinian maternal and child eRegistry to generate Quality Improvement Dashboards (QID) for healthcare providers and Targeted Client Communication (TCC) via short message service (SMS) to clients. The aim is to assess the effectiveness of the automated communication strategies from the eRegistry on improving attendance and quality of care for pregnant women.
Methods
This four-arm cluster randomized controlled trial will be conducted in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestine, and includes 138 clusters (primary healthcare clinics) enrolling from 45 to 3000 pregnancies per year. The intervention tools are the QID and the TCC via SMS, automated from the eRegistry built on the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2) Tracker. The primary outcomes are appropriate screening and management of anemia, hypertension, and diabetes during pregnancy; and timely attendance to antenatal care. Primary analysis, at the individual-level taking the design effect of the clustering into account, will be done as intention-to-treat.
Discussion
This trial, embedded in the implementation of the eRegistry in Palestine, will inform the use of digital health interventions as a health systems strengthening approach.
Trial registration:
ISRCTN, trial registration number: 10520687, registered 18 October 2018, http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN10520687
PPAI: a web server for predicting protein-aptamer interactions
Authors: Li Jianwei , Ma Xiaoyu , Li Xichuan , Gu Junhua 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: The interactions between proteins and aptamers are prevalent in organisms and play an important role in various life activities. Thanks to the rapid accumulation of protein-aptamer interaction data, it is necessary and feasible to construct an accurate and effective computational model to predict aptamers binding to certain interested proteins and protein-aptamer interactions, which is beneficial for understanding mechanisms of protein-aptamer interactions and improving aptamer-based therapies.
Results: In this study, a novel web server named PPAI is developed to predict aptamers and protein-aptamer interactions with key sequence features of proteins/aptamers and a machine learning framework integrated adaboost and random forest. A new method for extracting several key sequence features of both proteins and aptamers is presented, where the features for proteins are extracted from amino acid composition, pseudo-amino acid composition, grouped amino acid composition, C/T/D composition and sequence-order-coupling number, while the features for aptamers are extracted from nucleotide composition, pseudo-nucleotide composition (PseKNC) and Moreau-Broto autocorrelation coefficient. On the basis of these feature sets and balanced the samples with SMOTE algorithm, we validate the performance of PPAI by the independent test set. The results demonstrate that the Area Under Curve (AUC) is 0.907 for prediction of aptamer, while the AUC reaches 0.871 for prediction of protein-aptamer interactions.
Conclusion: These results indicate that PPAI can query aptamers, predict aptamers and predict protein-aptamer interactions in batch mode precisely and efficiently, which would be a novel bioinformatics tool for the research of protein-aptamer interactions. PPAI web-server is freely available at http://39.96.85.9/PPAI.
Determinants of Macular Ganglion Cell–Inner Plexiform Layer Thickness in Normal Chinese Adults
Authors: Xu Xiaoyu , Xiao Hui , Lai Kunbei , Guo Xinxing , Luo Jingyi , Liu Xing 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
To determine the influences of multiple demographic and ocular factors on the measurements of macular ganglion cell–inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness in normal Chinese adults.
Methods
This was a retrospective study conducted on 225 normal eyes from 225 healthy Chinese adults. GCIPL thickness were obtained using Cirrus high-definition optical coherence tomography (OCT). The age, gender, laterality, spherical equivalent (SE) refractive error, intraocular pressure (IOP), axial length (AL), central cornea thickness (CCT), circumpapillary retinal nerve fibre layer (pRNFL) thickness and OCT signal strength were recorded and their respective effect on GCIPL thickness parameters were evaluated.
Results
The mean (± SD) average, minimum, superotemporal, superior, superonasal, inferonasal, inferior, and inferotemporal GCIPL thickness was (84.56 ± 5.36), (81.32 ± 5.58), (83.08 ± 5.37), (85.70 ± 5.95), (87.15 ± 6.26), (85.07 ± 6.11), (82.46 ± 5.76), and (83.88 ± 5.59) µm, respectively. Determinants of thinner GCIPL thickness were older age (P = 0.001–0.117; effects enhanced if age over 40 years), thinner pRNFL (all P < 0.001), and weaker signal strength (all P < 0.001). No significant difference was found between males and females (P = 0.069–0.842), and between right eyes and the left eyes (P = 0.160–0.875) except that of superonasal GCIPL thickness (P < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between GCIPL thickness and SE, IOP, CCT, and AL (P = 0.135–0.968).
Conclusions
Individual determinants associated with thinner GCIPL thickness were older age (particularly over 40 years of age), thinner pRNFL, and weaker OCT signal strength. This is relevant in comprehensively understanding the normative data and differentiating normal aging from abnormalities.
The Association between Depressive Symptoms and Self-Rated Health among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study in France and Japan
Authors: Ishida Mami , Montagni Ilaria , Matsuzaki Keiichi , Shimamoto Tomonari , Cariou Tanguy , Kawamura Takashi , Tzourio Christophe , Iwami Taku 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background: Depressive disorders in University students have risen dramatically in the past few decades to the extent that students’ mental health has become a current global public health priority. Obtaining information from University students about their mental health is challenging because of potential embarrassment of disclosing one’s concerns and fear of stigmatization. Self-rated health might be a good solution to evaluate mental health state by a simple and neutral indicator. The aim of the study is to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and self-rated health by sex among University students in France and Japan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by using two large cohorts of students aged ≥18 years (n=5,655 in Bordeaux, France and n=17,148 in Kyoto, Japan). Depressive symptoms (PHQ-2 scale), Likert scale of self-rated health, socio-demographic characteristics and health habits were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Multivariate logistic regression models were performed to describe the association between depressive symptoms and other variables including self-rated health, stratified by sex. Results: A high score of PHQ-2 (high depressive symptoms) was associated with poor self-rated health in both cohorts independently of all other variables (OR 2.82, 95%CI 1.99-4.01 in France, OR 7.10, 95%CI 5.76-8.74 in Japan). Although the prevalence of depressive symptoms between sexes was different in French students (males 15.4%, females 25.0%, p<0.001), it was similar in Japanese students (males 3.5%, females 3.3%, p=0.466), who reported less depressive symptoms than French students. The association between depressive symptoms and poor self-rated health was greater in Japanese females (OR 12.40, 95%CI 7.74-20.00) than in males (OR 6.30, 95%CI 4.99-7.95), whereas the strength of the association was almost similar in French students (OR 2.17, 95%CI 0.86-5.47 in males, OR 2.98, 95%CI 2.03-4.38 in females). Conclusions: Depressive symptoms were associated with self-rated health among University students in both countries with slightly differences in sex. Self-rated health would be a simple, reliable and universal indicator for healthcare professionals and University staff to identify students at risk of depression.