bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for Assessing Dietary Lignans Intake in Hong Kong Chinese Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer
Authors: He Yiqian , Ho Suzanne C. , Cheng Ashley , Kwok Carol , Cheung Ka Li , Lei Yuanyuan , Lee Roselle , Mo Frankie , Yeo Winnie 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background

Lignans intake has been suggested to have effects on breast cancer outcomes based on some studies from the West. However, the relationship of lignans consumption and breast cancer outcomes in Chinese population has not been investigated. The development of a culture-specific lignan food frequency questionnaire (LFFQ) is necessary in order to assess dietary lignans intake among Chinese breast cancer patients. This study was designed to validate a newly developed LFFQ to specially assess lignans intake among Chinese subjects.
Methods

The original study cohort consisted of 1,462 patients with early-stage breast cancer. 133 of these patients were recruited from the original study cohort; 103 of them completed all the assessments from 2015 to 2017 and were included in the present analysis. Two face-to-face interviews were conducted one year apart using a newly developed LFFQ (LFFQ1, LFFQ2). Twelve monthly 24-hour dietary recalls (24-h DRs) were conducted through telephone interview during the same 1-year period. Total lignans intake derived from the LFFQs and 24-h DRs, correlation coefficients and cross classification between the two LFFQs and between LFFQ and 24-h DR were examined.
Results

Median (IQR) intakes of total lignans for LFFQ1, LFFQ2 and 24-h DRs were 1.66 (1.17–2.15), 1.38 (1.01–2.01), and 0.97 (0.70–1.31) mg/day, respectively. The energy-adjusted validity between LFFQ2 and 24-h DRs was 0.67 (P < 0.001) for log-transformed lignans intake. The reproducibility between lignans intake assessed by the two LFFQs was 0.43 (P < 0.001) for energy-adjusted lignans intake after log transformation. Bland-Altman analysis showed an acceptable agreement between methods (LFFQ and 24-h DR). Correct classification of participants into the same quartiles of energy-adjusted lignans intake after log transformation between LFFQ2 and 24-h DRs and between LFFQs were 42.7% and 37.9%, respectively. Misclassification rates of participants into extreme quartiles were 1.0% and 4.9%, respectively.
Conclusion

The newly developed LFFQ has acceptable validity and reproducibility, and thus could be regarded as a reasonable and useful instrument in the assessment of dietary lignans intake among Hong Kong Chinese women with early-stage breast cancer.
Okadaic acid exposure induced neural tube defects in chicken (Gallus gallus) embryos
Authors: Jiao Yu-hu , Wang Guang , Li Da-wei , Li Hong-ye , Liu Jie-sheng , Yang Xuesong , Yang Wei-dong 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background
Okadaic acid (OA) is an important liposoluble shellfish toxin distributed worldwide, and mainly responsible for diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP) in human beings. It has a variety of toxicities, including cytotoxicity, embryonic toxicity, neurotoxicity, and even genotoxicity. The embryotoxicity of OA is due to it can cross the placental barrier, which was proven in mice. However, there is no direct evidence of its developmental toxicity in human offspring. The chicken (Gallus gallus) embryo is a classic animal model for the studies of early vertebrate embryogenesis and late organogenesis due to its multiple advantages, such as convenience for observation, similarity to mammalian embryo, easy accessibility, and manipulation, etc.
Results
OA exposure could cause NTDs and inhibit the neuronal differentiation. Immunofluorescent staining demonstrated that OA exposure promoted cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis on the developing neural tube. Besides, the down-regulation of Nrf2 and increases in ROS content and SOD activity in the OA-exposed chicken embryos indicated that OA could result in the generation of oxidative stress in early chick embryos. The inhibition of BMP4 and Shh expression in the dorsal neural tube suggested that OA could also affect the formation of dorsolateral hinge points. The expression of LBP, JUN, FOS, and CCL4 in Toll-like receptor signaling pathway was significantly increased in the OA-exposed embryos, suggesting that the NTDs induced by OA might be associated with Toll-like receptor signaling pathway.
Conclusion
OA exposure can induce NTDs in chick embryos and increase the incidences of embryo mortality and malformation. Oxidative stress in early chick embryos may be subsequently responsible for the formation of NTDs. OA exposure can affect cell proliferation and apoptosis. Toll-like receptor signaling pathway may be responsible for the NTDs induced by OA.
Selenogenome and AMPK signal insight into the protective effect of dietary Se on chronic heat-stress induced hepatic metabolic disorder in growing pigs
Authors: Liu Yan , Tang Jiayong , He Ying , Jia Gang , Liu Guangmang , Tian Gang , Chen Xiaoling , Cai Jingyi , Kang Bo , Hua Zhao 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background:Chronic heat stress (CHS) disrupts hepatic metabolic homeostasis and jeopardizes product quality of pigs. Selenium (Se) may regulate the metabolic state through affect selenoprotein. Thus, we investigate the protective effect of dietary hydroxy-4-methylselenobutanoic acid (HMSeBA) on CHS induced hepatic metabolic disorder in growing pigs, and the corresponding response of selenoprotein. Methods:Forty crossbreed growing pigs were randomly assigned to five groups: control group raised in the thermoneutral environment (22 ± 2 oC) with basal diet; four CHS groups raised in hyperthermal condition (33 ± 2 oC) with basal diet and supplied with 0.0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg Se/kg HMSeBA, respectively. The trial lasted 28 days. Results:CHS significantly increased the rectal temperature, respiration rate, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of pigs, up-regulated hepatic heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and induced lower liver weight, hepatic glucokinase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). The CHS-induced liver metabolic disorder was associated with the aberrant expression of 6 metabolism-related gene and 11 selenoprotein encoding genes, and decreased the protein abundance of GCK, GPX4 and SELENOS. HMSeBA supplementation recovered the liver weight and improved anti-oxidative capacity and metabolism function in the liver. 0.4 or 0.6 mg Se/kg HMSeBA rescue of mRNA abundance of genes related to metabolism and protein levels of GCK. HMSeBA supplementation changed expressions of 15 selenoprotein encoding genes, and enhanced protein expression of GPX1, GPX4 and SELENOS in the liver affected by CHS. CHS alone showed no impact while HMSeBA supplementation increased protein levels of p-AMPKα in the liver. Conclusions:In summary, HMSeBA supplementation beyond nutrient requirement mitigates CHS-induced hepatic metabolic disorder, and the processes are associated with the activation of AMPK signal and regulation of selenoproteins in the liver of growing pigs.
Factors influencing healthcare providers’ attitude and willingness to use information technology in diabetes management.
Authors: Seboka Binyam Tariku , Yilma Tesfahun Melese , Birhanu Abraham Yeneneh 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: The use of information technologies could help to improve communications between patients and care providers, might improve overall patient management practice. However, the potential for implementing these patient management options in Ethiopia has not been well documented. This institution-based survey aimed to describe the attitude and willingness of care providers towards the use of information technologies for managing diabetes patients, and factors influencing their interest.Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted on 423 study participants from February to March 2020 at two teaching hospitals in Northwest Ethiopia, where remote monitoring patients had not been implemented. A pretested self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the required data. Other than descriptive statistics, the binary logistic regression analysis method was used to identify factors associated with attitude. Also, the negative binomial regression method was used to identify factors associated with willingness to use information technologies.Result: A total of 406 participants (69.7%, n= 283 nurses and 30.3%, n=123 physicians) were completed survey. Overall, 64% of respondents had a favorable attitude towards remote monitoring, and the majority of them were willing to use voice call (74.4%), text message (62.1%), video conference (61.3%), e-mail (60.6%), and social media (57.4%) as a source of communication to support patients. The result of regression analysis shows that having a computer (AOR=2.3, 95% CI: [1.3, 3.8]), innovativeness (AOR=2.8, 95% CI: [1.8, 4.3]), and practice of supporting patient by electronic technologies (AOR=1.7, 95% CI: [1.1, 2.6]) were significantly associated with attitude to remote monitoring. Attitude towards remote monitoring (IRR=2.3, 95% CI: 1.1- 4.7), computer use (IRR=1.3, 95% CI: 1.162- 3.023), frequently searching health-related information (IRR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.459-6.570), gender (IRR=1.2, 95% CI: 1.0-5.1), awareness towards remote monitoring (IRR=1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-2.7) were significantly associated with willingness to use information technologies.Conclusion: Improving the intention and skill of using computers should be a major point of attention for teaching hospitals who wish to improve their care providers' attitudes to remote monitoring and willingness in using information technologies. Besides, the awareness of professionals is crucial for improving willingness.
Statistical distribution fitting to the number of COVID-19 deaths in South Africa
Authors: Chikobvu Delson , Sigauke Caston 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Background: COVID-19 first detected in Wuhan; China in December 2019, is a disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. It has presented the greatest public health challenges globally since the 1918 influenza which was called the “mother” of all pandemics. South Africa and the rest of Africa are yet to experience the devastating effects of COVID-19. Methods: In this paper, the reported COVID-19 number of deaths in South Africa, for the period 27 March 2020 to 20 May 2020, is modeled using four statistical distributions which can be grouped under the Generalised Gamma distribution. This exploratory study also uses simple additive models to capture the underlying COVID-19 death rate. Results: Empirical results show that the Gamma distribution gives the best fit to the data. The hazard rate is still increasing, and the peak number of deaths has not been reached yet despite the lockdown and other measures to try and slow down the progression of the disease. Conclusions: The exploratory data analysis done in this study is simple and meant to complement the detailed and complex modelling done which is useful in informing policy and decision making.
New opportunities in management of patients with retinopathy prematurity (literature review and analysis of own data)
Authors: Katargina L. A. , Demchenko E. N. 
Published: December 2020

Insufficient effectiveness of laser coagulation of the avascular retinal areas in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) plus-disease in zone I and aggressive posterior retinopathy of prematurity (APROP) requires new treatment approaches, based on the regulation of retinal angiogenesis and anti-VEGF drugs use. The BEAT-RAP study, which was the first major randomized study of anti-VEGF therapy in ROP, revealed a higher effectiveness of bevacizumab compared to retinal laser coagulation in stage 3 plus-disease of zone I. A prospective randomized trial, RAINBOW, demonstrated the effectiveness of ranibizumab in plus-disease stages 1, 2 and 3 in zone I and stage 3 in zone II and in APROP, so that the drug may be recommended for use in children with ROP. The demonstrated high effect of anti-VEGF therapy in ROP is consistent with our own data. Anti-VEGF therapy opens up new possibilities in the treatment of a particular class of ROP forms. The advantages of anti-VEGF therapy include higher clinical effectiveness of treatment of ROP type I with localization in the posterior pole (I and posterior II zone), absence of "blockage" of the peripheral retina, lower frequency of myopia development and degree, relative fastness of the procedure, the acceptability for patients whose fundus is difficult to visualize, and somatically burdened patients who are contraindicated for prolonged anesthesia used for retinal laser coagulation. When using anti-VEGF drugs in the post-threshold stages of the disease, one should take account of an increased risk of proliferation progression and retinal detachment development. Premature infants with retinopathy regression after anti-VEGF therapy require a longer duration of regular and frequent follow-up (up to 70 weeks of postmenstrual age) due to the risk of relapse and extraretinal proliferation in future.
Diagnostics and comprehensive recovery treatment of an astenic form of accommodative astenopia in an asteno-neurotic state of psychosomatic genesis. A clinical case
Authors: Ovechkin I. G. , Yudin V. E. , Gadzhiev I. S. , Kozhukhov A. A. , Belikova E. I. 
Published: December 2020

Rehabilitation treatment of a patient with symptoms of computer visual syndrome and concomitant asthenic form of accommodative asthenopia in an asthenic-neurotic state of psychosomatic genesis is discussed. The treatment was based on an integrated approach that takes into account diagnostic criteria (the volume of absolute accommodation, indicators of objective accommodation, the severity of asthenopia, the state of psychological adaptation) and the basic principles of medical and rehabilitation measures, including, along with traditional methods of correcting asthenic-neurotic states, sequential and staged physiotherapeutic and optical-reflex effects on the accommodative system of the eye.
Numerical study of energy dissipation and block barriers in stepped spillways
Authors: Moghadam Mehdi Karami , Amini Ata , Moghadam Ehsan Karami 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this research, the accuracy of the Flow-3D numerical model in the flow simulation in a stepped spillway was probed using data obtained from the physical model. In addition, the effects of block barriers on the energy dissipation rate were investigated. To adopt a proper turbulent model, Renormalization Group k-ε, RNG k-ε, and standard k-ε models were employed. Then, the Flow-3D was run in five discharges for nine spillways with the ratios of block length to step length (Lb/l) and block height to step height (Hb/h) as 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5. The results indicated that both turbulent models had almost similar outcomes though the run time of the RNG k-ε model was shorter. The blocks with a shorter length in low ratios of Hb/h and the lengthier blocks in high ratios of Hb/h undergo more relative energy dissipation relative to the no-block situation. For Hb/h = 0.3 and Lb/l equal to 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5, the relative energy dissipation climbed on average as 8.5, 6.5, and 4.5% respectively, compared with the no-block case. The most influence exerted on relative energy dissipation was obtained via the blocks with Hb/h = Lb/l equal to 0.3 and 0.5 with respective increases of 8.6 and 8.4%.
Optimal operation of multi-reservoir systems: comparative study of three robust metaheuristic algorithms
Authors: Akbarifard Saeid , Sharifi Mohammad Reza , Qaderi Kourosh , Madadi Mohamad Reza 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In this study, the capability of the recently introduced moth swarm algorithm (MSA) was compared with two robust metaheuristic algorithms: the harmony search (HS) algorithm and the imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA). First, the performance of these algorithms was assessed by seven benchmark functions having 2–30 dimensions. Next, they were compared for optimization of the complex problem of four-reservoir and 10-reservoir systems operation. Furthermore, the results of these algorithms were compared with nine other metaheuristic algorithms. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the appropriate values of the algorithms’ parameters. The statistical indices coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), mean square error (MSE), normalized MSE (NMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), and Willmott’s index of agreement (d) were used to compare the algorithms’ performance. The results showed that MSA was the superior algorithm for solving all benchmark functions in terms of obtaining the optimal value and saving CPU usage. ICA and HS were ranked next. When the dimensions of the problem were increased, the performance of ICA and HS dropped but MSA has still performed extremely well. In addition, the minimum CPU usage and the best solutions for the optimal operation of the four-reservoir system were obtained by MSA, with values of 269.7 seconds and 308.83, which are very close to the global optimum solution. Corresponding values for ICA were 486.73 seconds and 306.47 and for HS were 638.61 seconds and 264.61, which ranked them next. Similar results were observed for the 10-reservoir system; the CPU time and optimal value obtained by MSA were 722.5 seconds and 1,195.58 while for ICA they were 1,421.62 seconds and 1,136.22 and for HS they were 1,963.41 seconds and 1,060.76. The R2 and RMSE values achieved by MSA were 0.951 and 0.528 for the four-reservoir system and 0.985 and 0.521 for the 10-reservoir system, which demonstrated the outstanding performance of this algorithm in the optimal operation of multi-reservoir systems. In a general comparison, it was concluded that among the 12 algorithms investigated, MSA was the best, and it is recommended as a robust and promising tool in the optimal operation of multi-reservoir systems.
A Three-gene-based Type 1 Diabetes Diagnostic Signature
Authors: Wang Rongrong , Zhou Yanan , Zhang Yan , Li Shaoqing , Pan Runzhou , Zhao Yongcai 
Published: December 2020

Background::
Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disease featured by insulin deprivation
caused by pancreatic β-cell loss, followed by hyperglycaemia.

Objective:
Currently, there is no cure for this disease in clinical treatment, and patients have to accept a lifelong
injection of insulin. The exploration of potential diagnosis biomarkers through analysis of mass data by bioinformatics
tools and machine learning is important for type 1 diabetes.

Methods:
We collected two mRNA expression datasets of type 1 diabetes peripheral blood samples from GEO,
screened differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by R software, and conducted GO and KEGG pathway enrichment
using the DEGs. Moreover, the STRING database and Cytoscape were used to build PPI network and predict
hub genes. We constructed a logistic regression model by using the hub genes to assess sample type.

Results:
Bioinformatic analysis of the GEO dataset revealed 92 and 75 DEGs in GSE50098 and GSE9006 datasets,
separately, and 10 overlapping DEGs. PPI network of these 10 DEGs showed 7 hub genes, namely
EGR1, LTF, CXCL1, TNFAIP6, PGLYRP1, CHI3L1 and CAMP. We built a logistic regression model based
on these hub genes and optimized the model to 3 genes (LTF, CAMP and PGLYRP1) based logistic model.
The values of the area under the curve (AUC) of training set GSE50098 and testing set GSE9006 were 0.8452
and 0.8083, indicating the efficacy of this model.

Conclusion:
Integrated bioinformatic analysis of gene expression in type 1 diabetes and the effective logistic regression
model built in our study may provide promising diagnostic methods for type 1 diabetes.
Teratogenic Toxicity Evaluation of Bladder Cancer-Specific Oncolytic Adenovirus on Mice
Authors: Lu Keqing , Wang Fang , Ma Baoliang , Cao Wenjuan , Guo Qi , Wang Hanzhang , Rodriguez Ronald , Wang Zhiping 
Published: December 2020

Background:
In our previous studies, we had demonstrated the efficiency and specificity
of constructed bladder tissue-specific adenovirus Ad-PSCAE-UPII-E1A-AR (APU-EIA-AR) on
bladder cancer. The virus biodistribution and body toxicity in nude mice have also been investigated.
However, the safety of the bladder cancer-specific oncolytic adenovirus on fetal mice and F1
mice should be under intense investigation.

Objectives:
In order to evaluate the teratogenic toxicity of bladder cancer-specific oncolytic adenovirus
APU-EIA-AR on mice, in this study, we investigated the fetal mice weight, fetal body
length and tail length, fetal skeleton development, as well as the F1 mice weight, growth curve, and
major organ pathology. These teratogenic toxicity data of bladder tissue-specific adenovirus Ad-PSCAE-
UPII-E1A-AR (AD) would provide safe information prior to embarking on clinical trials.

Methods:
On the sixth day of being fertilized, the pregnant mice began to be intramuscularly administrated
with AD (1×107VP, 1×108VP, 1×109VP) every other day for ten days. The pregnant
mice were then divided into two groups. One group was euthanized on the seventeenth day; the fetal
mice were taken out, and the bone structure of the infants was observed. The other group was
observed until natural childbirth. The Filial Generation (F1) is fed for 30 days; the variations in the
growth progress and development were assessed. The mice were then euthanized; The tissues from
major organs were harvested and observed under the microscope.

Results:
In the process of teratogenic toxicity test, the Placenta weight, fetal mice weight, body
length, and a tail length of mice fetal in adenovirus treated group did not reveal any alteration.
Meanwhile, comparing with the PBS group, there is no obvious change in the skeleton of fetal
mice treated with adenovirus. During the development process of F1 mice treated with adenovirus,
the changes in mice weight show statistical significance. However, in the progress of the growth
curve, this difference is not very obvious. Furthermore, the pathological section showed no obvious
alteration in major organs.

Conclusion:
Our study demonstrated that bladder cancer-specific adenovirus Ad-PSCAE-UPII-
E1A-AR appears safe in pregnant mice without any discernable effects on fetal mice and F1 development.
Hence, it is relatively safe for tumor gene therapy.
Withdrawal Notice: Fabrication of Bidirectional Electrothermal Microactuator by Two-Photon Polymerization
Authors: Ertugrul Ishak , Waqar Tayyab 
Published: December 2020

The article has been withdrawn at the request of the authors of the journal Current Nanoscience.

Bentham Science apologizes to the readers of the journal for any inconvenience this may cause.

The Bentham Editorial Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at https://benthamscience.com/editorial-policies-main.php

Bentham Science Disclaimer:
It is a condition of publication that manuscripts submitted to this journal have not been published and will not be simultaneously submitted or published elsewhere. Furthermore, any data, illustration, structure or table that has been published elsewhere must be reported, and copyright permission for reproduction must be obtained. Plagiarism is strictly forbidden, and by submit-ting the article for publication the authors agree that the publishers have the legal right to take appropriate action against the authors, if plagiarism or fabricated information is discovered. By submitting a manuscript, the authors agree that the copyright of their article is transferred to the publishers if and when the article is accepted for publication.