bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Is leukopenia and lymphopenia a characteristic feature of COVID-19 in children?
Authors: Bari Attia , CH Aimen , Bano Iqbal , Saqlain Nazish 
Published: February 2021

Objectives: To analyze whether leucopenia and lymphopenia a characteristic feature of children with COVID-19 and to find out its association with the disease severity.
Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted at The Children’s Hospital Lahore from March 2020 to October 2020. All confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection and post-COVID MIS-C/Kawasaki Disease diagnosed on the basis of RT-PCR and Antibody test respectively were included. Complete blood and differential counts were performed on the day of admission.
Results: Out of a total of 83 patients 60 (72%) were diagnosed as COVID-19 and 23 (28%) as post-COVID MIS-C/KD. The mean age of children was 7.0±4.3 years (95%CI: 6.07 - 8.75) with a male preponderance 51 (61%). Twenty (24%) children had an underlying comorbidity and 7 (8%) were surgical cases. Our case fatality rate was 5 (6%) and all children who died had an underlying comorbid condition. In both, COVID and MIS-C/KD the mean leukocyte count was (14.0 ± 12.5 vs 13.6 ± 6.9 x109/L), respectively (p=0.888). The mean lymphocyte count in children with COVID was (39.1 ± 21.4%). Patients with MIS-C/KD showed significantly higher levels of neutrophil count (76.5 ± 15.0%) as compared to children with COVID (52.0 ± 22.1%), absolute lymphocyte count was (5.02±4.81 vs 2.13±0.95 x109/L) in COVID and MIS-C respectively (p=<0.001). In 60 COVID-19 patients, the mean neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in mild-moderate and severe-critical group was 2.00 and 5.08 respectively (p=0.009).
Conclusion: The blood picture of COVID-19 in children does not show leukopenia. NLR was a prognostic factor to assess the severity in COVID-19 patients. The presence of an underlying comorbid conditions is significant a risk factor for poor outcome.
doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3848
How to cite this:Bari A, Ch A, Bano I, Saqlain N. Is leukopenia and lymphopenia a characteristic feature of COVID-19 in children?. Pak J Med Sci. 2021;37(3):869-873. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.37.3.3848
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Call to Duty: Just-in-Time Scheduling in a Restaurant Chain
Authors: Kamalahmadi Masoud , Yu Qiuping , Zhou Yong-Pin 
Published: February 2021

Just-in-time scheduling has become ubiquitous in the service industries. Although effective in reducing staffing level, hence labor cost, the potential impact of just-in-time scheduling on workers’ productivity and the firm’s revenue is not well understood. Using a data set of 1,444,044 transactions from 25 stores of a full-service casual dining restaurant chain in the United States, we study how just-in-time scheduling impacts worker productivity. We consider two types of just-in-time schedules: (1) short-notice schedules that are assigned to servers shortly before the day of service (mostly two days in our data) and (2) real-time schedules that are assigned to servers on the day of service. We show that short-notice schedules do not harm server productivity overall, but real-time schedules do by 4.4%. Our analysis indicates this may be because servers reduce their up-selling and cross-selling efforts when working on real-time schedules. We then propose an analytical scheduling model that accounts for both the value of staffing flexibility created through just-in-time scheduling and its impact on server productivity to inform the firm how to use just-in-time scheduling to improve profitability. Through a case study, we demonstrate that with the 4.4% productivity loss during the real-time schedules, the managers should shift from the heavy use of real-time scheduling toward scheduling more servers with longer advance notice. Such a shift not only provides more predictable work schedules for the workers but can also improve restaurants’ expected profit by up to 1%, a significant number for the low-margin restaurant industry.This paper was accepted by Vishal Gaur, operations management.
Morpho-physiological changes of four tropical tree seedlings under aluminum stress
Authors: Pidjath Chartina , Sopandie Didy , Turjaman Maman , Budi Sri Wilarso 
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Pidjath C, Sopandie D, Turjaman M, Budi SW. 2021. Morpho-physiological changes of four tropical tree seedlings under aluminum stress. Biodiversitas 22: 1211-1220. Phytotoxicity of aluminum due to acidic soil can cause a major threat to plant survival and health in the tropical region. Woody plant species are known to be well adapted to acidic soils. The research aimed to assess the growth and physiological response of tropical tree species Calliandra calothyrsus Meisn, Samanea saman Jacq. Merr, Ochroma grandiflora Rowlee, and Calophyllum inophyllum Linn exposed to high aluminum concentration in a nutrient solution. The completely randomized design was applied in this experiment with two treatments (0 and 4.0 mM Al exposure). Each treatment consists of three replicates for each species. The results revealed that the Al concentration of 4.0 mM inhibited plant growth, and nutrient uptake of all plants tested. Chlorophyll and carotenoid contents of S. saman and C. calothyrsus were higher when exposed to 4.0 mM Al, whereas O. grandiflora and C. inophyllum were lower. Hematoxylin staining showed high Al accumulation in the root epidermal and outer cortical cells of all plants except C. inophyllum. The Al concentration of 4 mM decreased the calcium and magnesium concentrations in shoots and roots in all plants tested. There was a high increase in Al concentration in shoots of O. grandiflora. Based on various parameters studied, we concluded that C. inophyllum could be proposed as a tolerant species, whereas O. grandiflora is more vulnerable to aluminum stress.
Forest cover changes in Indonesia’s terrestrial national parks between 2012 and 2017
Authors: Dwiyahreni Asri , Fuad Habiburrachman A.H. , Sunaryo SUNARYO , Soesilo TRI EDHI BUDHI , Margules Chris , Supriatna Jatna 
Published: February 2021

Tropical rainforests are among the most important ecosystems on earth. After Brazil, Indonesia has the second largest tropical forest area in the world. Since the 1970s, Indonesia’s forests have decreased from covering 87% to 50% of its land area. With the ever increasing pressures from economic and human development it appears likely that much of the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by forest in Indonesia will only remain in conservation areas. National parks currently cover around 60% or 16 Mha of the total area of protected areas in Indonesia. Between 2012 and 2017, 42 terrestrial national parks in Indonesia lost 1.07% of their total forest cover. However, primary forest cover increased by 0.07%. National parks in the Jawa Bali bioregion, through their natural mountainous conditions and ecosystem services to the surrounding areas, as well as better management inputs, have contributed to the increase of primary forest covers and keeping total forest loss relatively low in Indonesia’s national parks.
Evaluation of the ambrosia beetles traps on Pterocarpus indicus in Indonesia
Authors: TARNO HAGUS , Setiawan Yogo , RAHARDJO BAMBANG TRI , WANG JIANGUO 
Published: February 2021

Abstract. Tarno H, Setiawan Y, Rahardjo BT, Wang J. 2021. Evaluation of the ambrosia beetles traps on Pterocarpus indicus in Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 1332-1339. Angsana, Pterocarpus indicus Willd., is a native tree of Southeast Asia. This tree is commonly planted in large numbers as an ornamental or shade plant along the roads, in parks, and in residential areas in Malang and Batu Cities of Indonesia. Ambrosia beetles Euplatypus parallelus (F.) and Treptoplatypus micrurus (Schedl.) have been reported to attack P. indicus trees in Malang and Batu Cities. Therefore, effective traps are required for early detection and monitoring of the spread of ambrosia beetles. This research aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of different traps and to investigate the diversity of ambrosia beetles on P. indicus trees in Malang and Batu Cities. This research was conducted along the roads in Malang and Batu Cities using four types of traps: funnel trap, window flight trap, bottle trap, and yellow sticky trap. Eleven ambrosia beetle species were collected in this research. The most abundant species were E. parallelus and Cryphalus laticollis (Browne). The funnel trap was the most effective for capturing ambrosia beetles, whereas the bottle trap was the least effective trap. The funnel trap captured more E. parallelus and C. laticollis individuals than other traps. The ambrosia beetles captured using different traps were categorized as having low diversity. The ambrosia beetles collected from Malang and Batu Cities were categorized as having moderate diversity.
Supplementation with milk enriched with complex lipids during pregnancy: A double-blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Albert Benjamin B. , Derraik José G. B. , Xia Yin-Yin , Norris Tom , Zhang Ting , Han Ting-Li , Chang Chen , Rowan Angela , Gallier Sophie , Souza Renato T. , Hammond Judith J. , Zhou Wei , Zhang Hua , Qi Hong-Bo , Baker Philip N. 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundGangliosides are a class of sphingolipids that are present in the cell membranes of vertebrates. Gangliosides influence a broad range of cellular processes through effects on signal transduction, being found abundantly in the brain, and having a role in neurodevelopment.ObjectiveWe aimed to assess the effects of maternal daily consumption of ganglioside-enriched milk vs non-enriched milk and a non-supplemented group of pregnant women on maternal ganglioside levels and pregnancy outcomes.DesignDouble-blind parallel randomized controlled trial.Methods1,500 women aged 20–40 years were recruited in Chongqing (China) between 11 and 14 weeks of a singleton pregnancy, and randomized into three groups: Control–received standard powdered milk formulation (≥4 mg gangliosides/day); Complex milk lipid-enhanced (CML-E) group–same formulation enriched with complex milk lipids (≥8 mg gangliosides/day) from milk fat globule membrane; Reference–received no milk. Serum ganglioside levels were measured in a randomly selected subsample of 250 women per group.ResultsCML-E milk was associated with marginally greater total gangliosides levels in maternal serum compared to Control (13.02 vs 12.69 μg/ml; p = 0.034) but not to Reference group. CML-E milk did not affect cord blood ganglioside levels. Among the 1500 women, CML-E milk consumption was associated with a lower rate of gestational diabetes mellitus than control milk [relative risk 0.80 (95% CI 0.64, 0.99)], but which was not different to the Reference group. CML-E milk supplementation had no other effects on maternal or newborn health.ConclusionsMaternal supplementation with milk fat globule membrane, as a source of gangliosides, was not associated with any adverse health outcomes, and did not increase serum gangliosides compared with the non-supplemented reference group.Trial registrationChinese Clinical Trial Register (ChiCTR-IOR-16007700).Clinical trial registrationChiCTR-IOR-16007700;www.chictr.org.cn/showprojen.aspx?proj=12972.
Multiple chemical sensitivity described in the Danish general population: Cohort characteristics and the importance of screening for functional somatic syndrome comorbidity—The DanFunD study
Authors: Dantoft Thomas Meinertz , Nordin Steven , Andersson Linus , Petersen Marie Weinreich , Skovbjerg Sine , Jørgensen Torben 
Published: February 2021

Background
Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is characterized by widespread symptoms attributed to exposure to airborne chemicals. MCS is categorized as a functional somatic syndrome (FSS), and MCS cases often meet the criteria for other types of FSS, e.g. fibromyalgia. The primary aim was to characterize MCS regarding symptom triggers, symptoms, lifestyle and describe demographics, socioeconomics and lifestyle factors associated with MCS. A secondary aim was to examine the implication of FSS comorbidity.

Methods
Data were derived from a random sample of the Danish adult population enrolled in the Danish Study of Functional Disorders (DanFunD; n = 9,656). Questionnaire data comprised information used to delimit MCS and four additional types of FSS, as well as data on demographics, socioeconomics and lifestyle. MCS cases (n = 188) was stratified into subgroups; MCS only (n = 109) and MCS with comorbid FSS (n = 73). Information regarding FSS comorbidities were missing for six MCS cases. MCS subgroups and controls without FSS comorbidities (n = 7,791) were compared by means of logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age and sex.

Results
MCS was associated with female sex, not being in occupation and low social status, but not with age or education. MCS cases reported normal dietary intake and smoking habits and lower alcohol consumption. Additional associations were found between MCS and low rate of cohabitation, sedentarism, daily physically limitations, and poor quality of sleep. However, subgroup analysis revealed that these findings were primarily associated with MCS with comorbid FSS.

Conclusions
MCS was associated with lower socioeconomic status, physically inactivity and poor quality of sleep. Subgroup analysis revealed that several associations was explained by FSS comorbidity, i.e. MCS cases with no comorbid FSS showed normal rate of cohabitation and did not report physical limitations or difficulties sleeping. Overall, our findings emphasise the importance of screening MCS cases for FSS comorbidity both in epidemiological and clinical settings.
Cardiometabolic risks and atherosclerotic disease in ApoE knockout mice: Effect of spinal cord injury and Salsalate anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy
Authors: Bigford Gregory E. , Szeto Angela , Kimball John , Herderick Edward E. , Mendez Armando J. , Nash Mark S. 
Published: February 2021

Objective
To test in mice with a double mutation of the ApoE gene (ApoE-/-) whether spinal cord injury (SCI) hastens the native trajectory of, and established component risks for, atherosclerotic disease (AD), and whether Salsalate anti-inflammatory pharmacotherapy attenuates the impact of SCI.

Methods
ApoE-/- mice were anesthetized and underwent a T9 laminectomy. Exposed spinal cords were given a contusion injury (70 k-dynes). Sham animals underwent all surgical procedures, excluding injury. Injured animals were randomized to 2 groups: SCI or SCI+Salsalate [120 mg/Kg/day i.p.]. Mice were serially sacrificed at 20-, 24-, and 28-weeks post-SCI, and body mass was recorded. At sacrifice, heart and aorta were harvested intact, fixed in 10% buffered formalin, cleaned and cut longitudinally for en face preparation. The aortic tree was stained with oil-red-O (ORO). AD lesion histomorphometry was calculated from the proportional area of ORO. Plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides and proatherogenic inflammatory cytokines (PAIC’s) were analyzed.

Results
AD lesion in the aortic arch progressively increased in ApoE-/-, significant at 24- and 28-weeks. AD in SCI is significantly greater at 24- and 28-weeks compared to time-controlled ApoE-/-. Salsalate treatment attenuates the SCI-induced increase at these time points. Body mass in all SCI groups are significantly reduced compared to time-controlled ApoE-/-. Cholesterol and triglycerides are significantly higher with SCI by 24- and 28-weeks, compared to ApoE-/-, and Salsalate reduces the SCI-induced effect on cholesterol. PAIC’s interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 5 (CCL-5) are significantly greater with SCI compared to ApoE-/- at varying timepoints. Salsalate confers a marginal reducing effect on PAIC’s by 28-weeks compared to SCI. Regression models determine that each PAIC is a significant and positive predictor of lesion. (p’s <0.05).

Conclusions
SCI accelerates aortic AD and associated risk factors, and anti-inflammatory treatment may attenuate the impact of SCI on AD outcomes. PAIC’s IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, MCP-1, and CCL-5 may be effective predictors of AD.
Defining and measuring bedtime routines in families with young children—A DELPHI process for reaching wider consensus
Authors: Kitsaras George , Goodwin Michaela , Allan Julia , Pretty Iain A. 
Published: February 2021

Introduction
Bedtime routines are one of the most common family activities. They affect children’ wellbeing, development and health. Despite their importance, there is limited evidence and agreement on what constitutes an optimal bedtime routine. This study aims to reach expert consensus on a definition of optimal bedtime routines and to propose a measurement for bedtime routines.

Method
Four-step DELPHI process completed between February and March 2020 with 59 experts from different scientific, health and social care backgrounds. The DELPHI process started with an expert discussion group and then continued with 3 formal DELPHI rounds during which different elements of the definition and measurement of bedtime routines were iteratively refined. The proposed measurement of bedtime routines was then validated against existing data following the end of the DELPHI process.

Results
At the end of the four round DELPHI process and with a consistent 70% agreement level, a holistic definition of bedtime routines for families with young children between the ages of 2 and 8 years was achieved. Additionally, two approaches for measuring bedtime routines, one static (one-off) and one dynamic (over a 7-night period) are proposed following the end of the DELPHI process. A Bland-Altman difference plot was also calculated and visually examined showing agreement between the measurements that could allow them to be used interchangeably.

Discussion
Both the definition and the proposed measurements of bedtime routines are an important, initial step towards capturing a behavioural determinant of important health and developmental outcomes in children.
Severe metabolic acidosis in critically Ill patients and its association with the outcome in North Karnataka
Authors: Biradar S. M. , Holyachi Renuka , Teja V. Ravi 
Published: February 2021

Background: Outcomes of metabolic acidosis remain unsure and needs to be explored deeply. This article presents a rational approach to diagnosis and management of metabolic acidosis. The data focusing specifically on severe metabolic acidosis (pH<7.20) is scanty. Methods: It was a prospective observational study. A total of 50 consecutive critically ill patients (APACHE II score of 18 or more) with single severe metabolic acidosis (pH<7.20) admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of Shri BM Patil Medical College, Vijayapura. Arterial blood gas analysis along with other relevant investigations was done within first 24 h of ICU admission.Results: Among 50 patients, 32 patients expired compared to 18 patients who were discharged from hospital in stable condition. Out of 29 patients, who had lactic acidosis, 21 (72%) patients died compared to 8 (28%) patients who were discharged in stable condition. Out of 22 patients who have low Strong Ion Difference (SID) 16 patients had expired (76%) remaining 6 (24%) patients are discharged at stable condition. Out of 27 patients who were put on mechanical ventilator on the first day, 22 (80%) patients expired. 18 patients required vasopressor support on admission out of which 16 (90%) patients had lactic acidosis. Conclusions: Lactic acidosis and strong ion gap are found to be associated with higher mortality. Hypotensive patients required vasopressor support on admission. Monitoring of serum pH, HCO3−, lactate levels and strong ion gap may have prognostic and therapeutic implications.
Management of displaced patella fracture with modified tension band wiring and percutaneous cannulated screws-a dilemma
Authors: Singh Vishal , Gundavarapu Avinash , Sharma Alokeshwar , Patel Tejas 
Published: February 2021

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Displaced patella fracture has seen various surgical management methods in the past among which tension band wiring (TBW) and less invasive percutaneous cannulated cancellous (CC) screw fixation are mostly preferred and debated on which is better option. The study has been designed to compare the functional outcome and various parameters of both the methods.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The study was conducted as prospective clinical study in 30 skeletally mature patients with x-ray evidence of patella fracture fulfilling inclusion and exclusion criteria, out of which 15 were done tension band wiring and rest percutaneous cancellous screw and outcome graded as excellent, good, fair and poor based on Lysholm knee score.<strong></strong></p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The comparison of the mean values of the Lysholm score in patients operated with patella TBW (92.47) were better than with percutaneous CC screw fixation (88.93). Patella TBW was responsible for all the cases of infection 2 (6.67%) and delayed non-union 1 (3.33%). Whereas stiff was nearly equal in both the techniques. The comparison of the mean values of the knee flexion in patients operated by using percutaneous CC screw (107.27) was better than patella TBW (105.67).</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Patients managed with CC screw fixation technique achieved better knee function, especially in the early postoperative period. The reported advantages of the percutaneous fixation technique include avoidance of extended incisions, preservation of the blood supply to the patella, and the possibility of a simpler removal of all hardware in the clinical setting. These results suggest that the percutaneous CC screw technique may be a superior alternative to conventional modified tension band wiring.</p>
Beyond Willingness to Speak Chinese: Case of Transferring Learning Chinese into Communication among University of Ghana Students.
Authors: Nkrumah Bright 
Published: February 2021

Willingness to communicate (WTC) has become an important role that facilitate language learning, the aim of this paper is to investigate WTC in Chinese as foreign language of motivation to transfer learning through oral communication among students learning Chinese at the university of Ghana. Second language learner’s motivation to transfer learning is grounded on effort, desire, knowledge, and skills learned in classroom and beyond the classroom to achieve the goal of learning a language. By adopting a survey approach, a quantitative data was administered for the study via questionnaires. one hundred (100) participants from level 200,300 and 400 were involved in the study to ascertain the factors that influence student’s willingness to communicate in Chinese. According to the results, personality trait, environment and teaching practice, language skills, the complexity of medium of translation, anxiety and self-confidence, were factors that contributes to students WTC.
Keywords-University of Ghana, Chinese learners, willingness to communicate