bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Overall Knowledge and Health Behaviors Towards Hepatitis B and C Among Ever-Married Women in Pakistan: Evidence Based on Demographic and Health Survey 2017–18
Authors: Maqsood Sidra , Iqbal Sarosh , Zakar Rubeena , Zakar Muhammad Zakria , Fischer Florian 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: In 2019, around 5 million and 10 million people were affected by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) respectively in Pakistan. On World Hepatitis Day 2019, Pakistan’s Government announced the Prime Minister’s Plan to eliminate HBV and HCV from the country by 2030. In order to achieve this goal, adequate knowledge about HBV and HCV regarding mode of transmission, symptoms of the disease, and awareness about available treatments and vaccines is imperative. The present study aims to investigate the determinants related to overall knowledge about and behaviour in relation to HBV and HCV amongst married women in Pakistan.Methods: Secondary data analysis was carried out using the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017–18. A series of questions regarding women’s knowledge about how to avoid HBV and HVC and their health behaviour in relation to HBV and HCV were posed to 12,364 ever-married women of reproductive age (15–49 years). Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression was applied to examine the effects of socio-demographic characteristics and covariates on women’s overall knowledge and health behaviour regarding HBV and HCV.Results: The findings highlight that the majority of women (88.3%) have heard of HBV and HCV. Nonetheless, only 34.8% had comprehensive knowledge about how to avoid HBV and HCV. Few women (11.3%) had been tested for HBV or HCV during the year preceding the survey. Furthermore, the results indicated that women from Sindh, living in urban areas, aged 35 years and over, having more than 10 years of schooling, belonging to the richest wealth quintile and working as professionals or in clerical/sales & service jobs reported better knowledge and health behaviours regarding HBV and HCV.Conclusion: This study provides evidence that women’s socio-demographic characteristics create differences in their overall knowledge about and attitudes towards HBV and HCV. This research emphasized that there is a need to create awareness about the causes and prevention of HBV and HCV in order to achieve the goal of eliminating these diseases in Pakistan by 2030.
Changes in Emergency Department Responses Between SARS&nbsp;and COVID-19 in Taiwan
Authors: Lin Chia Wei , Lin Kuan-Ho , Shih Hong-Mo , Yang Kai-Wei , Hwang Kao-Pin , Chen Wei-Kung 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: After SARS outbreak, infectious control polices had been reformed in Taiwan, but there was no evidence to prove its effectiveness. This study compared emergency department (ED) responses to the SARS and COVID-19 epidemics and investigate how policy changes affect infection prevention.Methods: A 2003 questionnaire regarding the responses of EDs to SARS was resent to EDs during the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), implementation of infection control measures (ICMs), and difficulties in performance were compared. Data collection included hospital level, different PPE types provided and ICMs implemented, timing for using PPE and ICMs, and a difficulty rating scale for ICM implementation.Results: In total, 100 EDs responded to the questionnaire in 2003 was reviewed and compared with 131 EDs in 2020. In COVID-19 epidemic, the use of basic PPEs and ICMs was mostly significantly improved, but the percentage of preparedness in high grade PPEs was still low. Quarantine of fever patients outside of EDs was less performed in small to medium sized hospitals (p=0.008 and 0.004). All of the additional ICMs were significantly less implemented in local hospitals. The timing to use PPE and implement ICMs were simultaneously and significantly performed at early stage. Instituting a fever triage ward and restricting fever patient admission became less necessary. The closure of EDs remained the most difficult to perform in both outbreaks. Conclusion: After the policy reforms, ED responses became earlier and more consistent. However, inadequate quarantine resources at EDs in low- and middle-grade hospitals may lead to breaches in future epidemics.
WITHDRAWN: On the Modelling of Integrated AHP and CoCoSo Approach for Robust Design of Multi-objective Optimization of thinning Parameters for Maximum thinning Rate and Determine Optimum Locations for Directionally-rolled Deep-drawn Cups using Scaling Laws
Authors: Sivam Sundar , Rajendran R. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Objectives – Since parts and components are manufactured of different sizes and geometries, the fabrication of such parts of various size could be predicted the process parameters that affect the performance based on scaling laws and could be verified through experimentation. The purpose of this study is to determine optimum thinning process parameter settings of directionally rolled deep drawn copper cups at specified critical zones or regions for making miniaturized components and parts that results in better-quality products.Design/ Methodology/ Methodology - This study presents an integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Combined Compromise Solution (CoCoSo) decision making algorithm to arrive a consolidation strategy with robust Taughi’s design of experiments, primarily to increase the accuracy of prediction of process parameters that affects the thinning rate of the deep-drawn cups. The weights of the alternatives is arrived with AHP and followed by CoCoSo method to determine the general multiplication factor to rank the alternatives by decision-making process. In this work, four control factors namely, number of stages of forming, clearance, punch nose radius, and coefficient of friction between x, were considered, with each at three levels, for determining the maximum thinning-rate at three different zones or locations namely, Cup-base, cup-nose-radius, and wall.Conclusions–This study described the real situation when forming performance on multi-stage deep-drawing with Uni-directional and bi-directional processed samples. The comparisons, such as sensitivity analysis approaches, methods developed to validate the proposed model.The virtual response were compared with the results of experiments on current multi stage deep drawing processes, good agreement being found.Originality/ Value –In this work a combined model using AHP and CoCoSo was attempted to improve the robustness of the products used for manufacturing miniaturized devices, which were not widely explored, and such integrated Multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods was first proposed for engineering applications in the manufacturing field.
Fail-Safe Controller Architectures for Quadcopter with Motor Failures
Authors: Rible Gene Patrick S. , Arriola Nicolette Ann A. , Ramos Manuel C. 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
A fail-safe algorithm in case of motor failure was developed, simulated, and tested. For practical fail-safe flight, the quadcopter may fly with only three or two opposing propellers. Altitude for two-propeller architecture was maintained by a PID controller that is independent from the inner and outer controllers. A PID controller on propeller force deviations from equilibrium was augmented to the inner controller of the three-propeller architecture. Both architectures used LQR for the inner attitude controller and a damped second order outer controller that zeroes the error along the horizontal coordinates. The restrictiveness, stability, robustness, and symmetry of these architectures were investigated with respect to their output limits, initial conditions, and controller frequencies. Although the three-propeller architecture allows for distribution of propeller forces, the two-propeller architecture is more efficient, robust, and stable. The two-propeller architecture is also robust to model uncertainties. It was shown that higher yaw rate leads to greater stability when operating in fail-safe mode.
Experimental and numerical study of coal-rock bimaterial composite bodies under triaxial compression
Authors: Chen Yulong , Zuo Jianping , Liu Dejun , Li Yingjie , Wang Zhenbo 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
The paper presents experimental and numerical investigations on the response of rock-coal, coal-rock, and rock-coal-rock bimaterial composite structures under triaxial compression. The triaxial compression experiments are conducted under confining pressures in the range of 0–20 MPa. The resulting inside fracture networks are detected using X-ray-based computed tomography (CT). The experimentally observed data indicate that the mechanical parameters of the rock-coal-rock composites are superior to those of the rock-coal and coal-rock combinations. After compression failure, the coal-rock combination specimens are analyzed via X-ray CT. The results display that the failure of the coal-rock composite bodies primarily takes place within the coal. Further, the bursting proneness is reduced by increasing confining pressure. Subsequently, the corresponding numerical simulations of the experiments are carried out by exploiting the particle flow code (PFC). The numerical results reveal that coal is preferable with regard to energy storage and accumulation.
Soil moisture-atmosphere feedbacks mitigate declining water availability in drylands
Authors: Zhou Sha , Williams A. Park , Lintner Benjamin R. , Berg Alexis M. , Zhang Yao , Keenan Trevor F. , Cook Benjamin I. , Hagemann Stefan , Seneviratne Sonia I. , Gentine Pierre 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Global warming alters surface water availability (precipitation minus evapotranspiration, P-E) and hence freshwater resources. However, the influence of land-atmosphere feedbacks on future P-E changes and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we demonstrate that soil moisture (SM) strongly impacts future P-E changes, especially in drylands, by regulating evapotranspiration and atmospheric moisture inflow. Using modeling and empirical approaches, we find a consistent negative SM feedback on P-E, which may offset ~60% of the decline in dryland P-E otherwise expected in the absence of SM feedbacks. The negative feedback is not caused by atmospheric thermodynamic responses to declining SM, but rather reduced SM, in addition to limiting evapotranspiration, regulates atmospheric circulation and vertical ascent to enhance moisture transport into drylands. This SM effect is a large source of uncertainty in projected dryland P-E changes, underscoring the need to better constrain future SM changes and improve representation of SM-atmosphere processes in models.
The effects of the first and second wave of COVID-19 pandemic on public health
Authors: Coccia Mario 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
One of the current problems in the presence of COVID-19 pandemic crisis is to analyze the effects of the second wave on public health to design appropriate strategies to reduce negative effects in society. The study here analyzes first and second wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy because is one of European countries to experience a rapid increase in confirmed cases and deaths. Results reveal that the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy had a high negative effect on public health from February to May 2020 that declined with the approaching of summer season and with the health policy of lockdown and quarantine; instead, second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, from October 2020, has increasing confirmed cases but admission to ICUs is, to date, below maximum capacity and total deaths have a lower level than first wave. This study can support best practice of crisis management to design effective health policies to constrain current and future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and epidemics of similar viral agents.
Serological response and disease-specific neutralizing antibodies in kidney transplant recipients with SARS-CoV-2 infection – a case series
Authors: Speer Claudius , Schnitzler Paul , Giese Thomas , Plaszczyca Anna , Bartenschlager Ralf , Kälble Florian , Nusshag Christian , Morath Christian , Zeier Martin , Merle Uta , Sommerer Claudia 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background Since SARS-CoV-2 is a highly contagious virus without an available disease-specific medication, the hope is focused on a sustained immunity after SARS-CoV-2 infection and a near-term successful vaccination therapy. A sufficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody production with neutralizing antibodies is crucial to prevent further viral spreading and for protection against prospective reinfection. Kidney transplant recipients may have a potentially aggravated risk for COVID-19 complications as well as a reduced vaccine response due to the allograft protecting immunosuppressive therapy. However, little is known about the strength and duration of their immunological response upon SARS-CoV-2 infection.Case presentation Here we report on 4 kidney transplant recipients proven to have SARS-CoV-2 infection by positive PCR testing, focusing on their immunological response with the production of disease-specific neutralizing antibodies. All kidney transplant recipients developed a sufficient antibody response including specific neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 within 2 to 3 weeks after the first onset of symptoms that sustained during the follow-up of 15 weeks. After 6 weeks, the virus was eliminated in all patients. Most important, the serological response and viral shedding were achieved and sustained in the presence of immunosuppression. Acute kidney graft deterioration was common but reconstituted in all transplant recipients during follow-up. Conclusions Immunocompromised kidney transplant recipients showed a functional serological response with disease-specific neutralizing antibodies upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, a basic prerequisite for a prospective successful vaccination response.
The morphological changes in bitches endometrium affected by Cystic Endometrail Hyperplasia - Pyometra complex – the value of histopathological examination
Authors: Woźna-Wysocka Magdalena , Rybska Marta , Błaszak Beata , Jaśkowski Bartłomiej Maria , Kulus Magdalena , Jaśkowski Jędrzej Maria 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
Background: The cystic endometrial hyperplasia-pyometra complex (CEH-P) is one of the most common uteropathies in bitches. In diseases with mild or obscure clinical signs and normal uterine size, a diagnosis based on a clinical assessment might be incorrect. The main aim of the research was to determine the morphological variables accompanying uterine diseases in bitches in microscopic evaluation. Consequently, the obtained results can be used to create a new classification system for uterine pathological changes during the development of the CEH-P, diagnosed by microscopic examination in bitches. Material for the study consisted of the uteri of 120 female dogs, aged 1-16 years, obtained during routine ovariohysterectomies. Macroscopic observation after a longitudinal incision of the uterine horns, allowed a preliminary classification of the uteri into research groups: control group (physiological uteri), and groups GI-III uteri collected form bitches with varying degrees of endometrial pathology. These preliminary classifications were then verified by histological analysis (H&E stain).Results: The obtained results made it possible to determine and describe the prevalence (%) of pathological changes characteristic of the analyzed uterine diseases in the examined bitches. Histopathological analyses that were conducted have confirmed preliminary macroscopic evaluation for the control group, group GII (CEH), and group GIII (pyometra). In the uteri of the GI group, a severe congestion of endometrium has been observed – this is typical of inflammation – which was not confirmed during histopathological examinations. However, these examinations revealed acute endometrial haemorrhage of varying severity.Conclusions: Early reproduction disorders in bitches are, in general, not confirmed by clinical signs in the examined animals. The results show that during classification of typical morphological changes in endometrium over the development of the CEH-P complex in bitches microscopic examinations are required. The obtained results indicate a frequent lack of consistency in the macroscopic assessment and histological analysis of the endometrium, observed in the analyzed uterine diseases, which in most cases is not followed by clinical symptoms. The presented classification of uterine diseases may be useful as a diagnostic tool in reproductive disorders in bitches and in examination in the field of basic research.
Plasma purification is associated with reduced inflammation factors and down-regulation of lipid metabolic and ER stress proteins in patients with hyperlipidemia
Authors: Zhang Xiao Meng , Gu Yan Hong , Deng Hao , Xu Zheng Quan , Zhong Ze Yuan , Jin Hui Min , Yang Xiu Hong 
Published: November 2020

Abstract
BackgroundHyperlipidaemia is a strong risk factor for arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Therapy with lipid-lowering drugs often results in many side effects. The aim of our study was to investigate the potential effects of non-drug therapy with double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) on lipid metabolism-, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress- and apoptosis-related proteins in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) before and after lipid clearance in patients with hyperlipidaemia.MethodsThirty-five patients with hyperlipidaemia were selected for this study. Proteins related to lipid metabolism [CD36, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and LDL receptor], ER stress [glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), C/EBP homoiogousprotein (CHOP), activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (EIF2a)] and apoptosis (Bcl-2, BAX, and Caspase-3) were assayed by western blot, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry (FCM), and serum inflammatory factors were detected by ELISA.ResultsCompared with their pre-DFPP values, the values of most lipid metabolic parameters, such as cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, lipoprotein a [Lp(a)] and small dense LDL cholesterol (sdLDL), were reduced after DFPP. DFPP was associated with the downregulation of proteins related to lipid metabolism, ER stress and apoptosis, which also resulted in decreased ROS and serum inflammatory factor release.ConclusionDFPP has lipid-lowering activity and can also regulate lipid metabolism-, ER stress- and apoptosis-related proteins in PBMCs and reduce the levels of inflammatory factors in patients with hyperlipidaemia (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03491956).
Experimental analysis of scour under circular pier
Authors: Malik Ashish , Singh S. K. , Kumar Mohit 
Published: November 2020

AbstractFor economical design, scour around the bridge piers is required to be controlled. In the present study, an attempt has been made to minimize scour depth by placing a triangular prism on the downstream side of a circular pier (35 mm dia) with one of its noses facing the direction of flow and other facing opposite to the direction of flow. Three different bed samples collected from Ghaggar, Patialki-Rao and the Kotla super-passage have been placed in a rectangular flume. Discharge values were varied from 0.0015 to 0.0186 m3/sec. Results are compared for observed scour-depth for upstream (U/S) and downstream (D/S) piers with and without protection. Arrangement with a triangular prism of 2.5 times the diameter of the circular pier in the upstream direction of the flow is very effective in reducing scour depth. Further, it is possible to reduce the scour depth with an average efficiency of 65% for Ghaggar, 56% for Patialaki-Rao and 64% for the Kotla super-passage with respect to the circular pier. The comparison of observed values of scour-depth with computed values of Lacey's scour-depth was underestimated with a maximum of ±70%. Hence, a new site-specific relationship between scour depth, discharge intensity and silt factor has been proposed. Validation of the new proposed relationship with observed data is in a good agreement ±20%.
A renewable, sustainable and low-cost adsorbent for ibuprofen removal
Authors: Bello Olugbenga Solomon , Alao Oluwakemi Christiana , Alagbada Temitope Chris , Agboola Oluwatobi Samuel , Omotoba Omotoyosi Toheeb , Abikoye Oluwatosin Rebecca 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAdsorption efficiency of acid-modified kola nut husk (KNHA) as a non-conventional adsorbent for the sorption of Ibuprofen from aqueous media was investigated in this study. The raw and modified samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy pH, and Boehm titration techniques respectively. Adsorption parameters such as pH effect, adsorbate concentration, contact time, and solution temperature were studied. The amount of Ibuprofen uptake was observed to increase with a corresponding increase in adsorption operational parameters. The kinetic data was found to best fit the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Isotherm adsorption models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich were utilized to analyze the adsorption data. The Langmuir isotherm model showed the best fit for experimental data with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 39.22 mg/g. The values of Gibbs free energy change were negative (−164.48 to −64.045.4 kJ/mol) suggesting that the process of ibuprofen adsorption onto KNHA was spontaneous. The positive value of standard enthalpy change (+34.203 kJ/mol) suggests that the process of ibuprofen adsorption was endothermic. KNHA adsorbent was found to be efficient and viable for the uptake of ibuprofen from aqueous medium. Hence, adsorbent prepared from kola nut husk waste has proved to be effective for the adsorptive uptake of Ibuprofen from aqueous media.
Fluorescence-based Methods for the Study of Protein-Protein Interactions Modulated by Ligand Binding
Authors: Stoneman Michael R. , Raicu Naomi , Biener Gabriel , Raicu Valerică 
Published: November 2020

Background:
The growing evidence that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) not only form oligomers
but that the oligomers also may modulate the receptor function provides a promising avenue in the area of
drug design. Highly selective drugs targeting distinct oligomeric sub-states offer the potential to increase efficacy
while reducing side effects. In this regard, determining the various oligomeric configurations and geometric
sub-states of a membrane receptor is of utmost importance.

Methods:
In this report, we have reviewed two techniques that have proven to be valuable in monitoring the
quaternary structure of proteins in vivo: Fӧrster resonance energy transfer (FRET) spectrometry and fluorescence
intensity fluctuation (FIF) spectrometry. In FRET spectrometry, distributions of pixel-level FRET efficiency
are analyzed using theoretical models of various quaternary structures to determine the geometry and
stoichiometry of protein oligomers. In FIF spectrometry, spatial fluctuations of fluorescent molecule intensities
are analyzed to reveal quantitative information on the size and stability of protein oligomers.

Results:
We demonstrate the application of these techniques to a number of different fluorescence-based studies
of cells expressing fluorescently labeled membrane receptors, both in the presence and absence of various
ligands. The results show the effectiveness of using FRET spectrometry to determine detailed information regarding
the quaternary structure receptors form, as well as FIF and FRET for determining the relative abundance
of different-sized oligomers when an equilibrium forms between such structures.

Conclusion:
FRET and FIF spectrometry are valuable techniques for characterizing membrane receptor oligomers,
which are of great benefit to structure‐based drug design.