bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dose Escalated Carbon Ion Radiotherapy for Localized Prostate Cancer in Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center: Toxicity and Efficacy Outcomes At Two Years.
Authors: Li Ping , Hong Zhengshan , Li Yongqiang , Guo Xiaomao , Fu Shen , Zhang Qing 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to prospectively analyze the safety and feasibility of spot scanning carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) for patients with localized prostate cancer.Methods: 118 localized prostate cancer patients treated with spot scanning CIRT at Shanghai Proton and Heavy Ion Center (SPHIC) were enrolled in this dose escalated study. The dose was gradually increased from 59.2GyE to 65.6GyE in 16 fractions. The primary endpoint was the acute and late toxicities. Secondary endpoints were biochemical relapse free survival (bRFS), distant metastasis free survival (DMFS), prostate cancer-specific survival (PCSS), and overall survival (OS).Results: The median follow-up time was 30.2 months (4.8-62.7 months). Acute grade 1 and 2 genitourinary (GU) toxicities were 15.3% and 18.6%, while acute grade 1 and 2 gastrointestinal (GI) toxicities were 2.5% and 0%, respectively. Late grade 1 and 2 GU toxicities were 4.2% and 1.7%, respectively. No late GI toxicity were observed. There were no cases of severe acute or late toxicity (≥grade 3). The significant association was not found between the factors and the acute GU toxicities except for CTV volume (p=0.031) on multivariate analysis. The 2-year bRFS, DMFS, PCSS, OS were 100%, 100%, 100% and 98.8%, respectively.Conclusion: The 2 years’ outcomes are encouraging, providing additional and useful information on the feasibility and safety of spot scanning CIRT for prostate cancer. Long term follow-up and prospective multi-institutional data are warranted to reinforce the role of CIRT in the management of localized prostate cancer.Trial registration: Clinicaltrial, NCT02739659. Registered 15 April 2016
Nitrous Oxide Poisoning Complicated by Syringomyelia: a Case Report
Authors: Tan Lin , Yin Changhao , Wang Zhenqi , Zhao Weina 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Nitrous oxide is a colorless, aromatic, inert organic gas with low toxicity and is currently abused in many recreational areas.Nitrous oxide abuse can lead to vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to neurological damage such as spinal neuropathy and peripheral neuropathy. Its abuse has not been associated with syringomyelia.Case presentation: We described the case of a 21-year-old young girl who presented with progressive weakness in both legs and numbness in four limbs after excessive recreational inhalation of nitrous oxide and her imaging findings were considered syringomyelia.Conclusion: Nitrous oxide abuse may be associated with syringomyelia, and that patients with nitrous oxide abuse should be further performed cervical and thoracic MRI to determine whether they have syringomyelia and give timely treatment.
Effect of The Nickel And Temperature Dependent Electrical Properties C-SiO2 -Ni Composites
Authors: Gouadria S. , Omri K. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The sol-gel method was chosen to synthesize C-SiO2/Ni nanocomposites, silica nanofillers were incorporated into a carbon based on resorcinol-formaldehyde (RF), doped with 5% nickel. During preparation process, they were subjected to a heat treatment of different pyrolysis temperatures and under an inert atmosphere for 2 h. The X- ray diffractogram presented by XRD of the samples treated at low temperatures, indicates the presence of characteristic lines of metallic nickel. FTIR analysis shows the presence of a main band located at about 1050 cm-1, which corresponds to the vibrations of Si-O-Si. From electrical characterizations, the C-SiO2-Ni5%-650 sample has a negative differential resistance‎ behavior (NDR) at low measurement temperatures. According to the I-V characterization, the C-SiO2-Ni5%-625 °C nanocomposite reveals the NDR behavior at room temperature. The conduction mechanism was fitted by two models: the hopping conduction model for the nanocomposite, treated at 650 °C, and the small polaron model for the composite treated at 675 °C.
Pleasant Stroke Touch on Human Back by a Human and a Robot
Authors: Ishikura Tomoki , Kitamura Yuki , Sato Wataru , Takamatsu Jun , Yuguchi Akishige , Cho Sung-Gwi , Ding Ming , Yoshikawa Sakiko , Ogasawara Tsukasa 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Pleasant touching is an important aspect of social interactions that is widely used as a caregiving technique. To address problems resulting from a lack of available human caregivers, previous research has attempted to develop robots that can perform this kind of pleasant touch. However, it remains unclear whether robots can provide such a pleasant touch in a manner similar to humans. To investigate this issue, we compared the effect of the speed of gentle strokes on the back between human and robot agents on the emotional responses of human participants (n = 28). A robot or a human stroked on the participants’ back at slow and medium speeds (i.e., 2.6 and 8.5 cm/s). Participants’ subjective (valence and arousal ratings) and physiological (facial electromyography (EMG) recorded from the corrugator supercilii and zygomatic major muscles, and skin conductance response) emotional reactions were measured. The subjective ratings demonstrated that the medium speed was more pleasant and arousing than the slow speed for both human and robot strokes. The corrugator supercilii EMG showed that the medium speed resulted in reduced activity in response to both human and robot strokes. These results demonstrate similar speed-dependent modulations of stroke on subjective and physiological positive emotional responses across human and robot agents and suggest that robots can provide a pleasant touch similar to that of humans.
Higher Follicular Fluid Progesterone Down-regulated HPGD and COX2 in Granulosa Cells via Suppressing NF-кB Signaling in Endometriosis
Authors: Li Jing-Yi , Chen Jian-Peng , Qian Yu-Li , Ma Jun-Yan , Ni Fei-Da , Lin Yi-Feng , Zhang Run-Ju , Wang Si-Wen , Huang Yun , Liu Juan , Tu Mi-Xue , Ying Yan-Yun , Wu Yi-Qing , Wu Xue-Chen , Wu Bing-Bing , Zhu Bo , Zhang Dan 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background: Luteinized unruptured follicular follicle syndrome (LUFS) is a special type of ovulatory dysfunction and a common cause of infertility. It is estimated that its prevalence is 13% ~ 73% in endometriosis patients. Increasing evidences prove that LUFS is one of the reasons for endometriosis-related infertility. Any alteration in FF components and GCs in endometriosis may influence the developing oocyte and ovulation. This study aimed to explore the effect of local elevated progesterone in follicular fluid (FF) on ovulation in endometriosis patients.Methods: A Prospective study with matched pairs design was conducted at a reproductive medicine center between July 2017 and January 2018 in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment (ICSI), while granulosa tumor-like cell line KGN (Bena culture collection, China) was used as in vitro cell model. Alterations in follicular and peritoneal fluid (PF) components identified with metabolomics analyses; Differentially expressed genes in GCs identified with transcriptome analysis; Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), western blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence were used to determine the expression of progesterone, NF-кB related genes, HPGD and COX-2; NF-кB binding identified with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP).Results: Patients with endometriosis exhibited a significantly higher basal serum progesterone level, higher serum level of progesterone on trigger day and higher progesterone expression level in FF and PF. GCs from endometriosis patients revealed decreased expression of HPGD, COX-2 and suppressed NF-кB signaling, as manifested by decreased expressions of IL1R1 and IRAK3. Similarly, progesterone treatment in vitro down-regulated HPGD and COX2 expression and suppressed NF-кB signaling in KGN cells in a dose dependent manner, as manifested by decreased expressions of IL1R1, IRAK3, reduced pIкBα/IкBα ratio and nucleus translocation of p65. TNF-α, by contrast, increased expression of IL1R1, IRAK3, pIкBα, p65 and HPGD in KGN cells. Furthermore, one potential p65 binding site was identified in the promoter region of HPGD by chromatin immunoprecipitation.Conclusion: Endometriosis showed repression of NF-кB pathways and down-regulation of HPGD and COX2, which play important roles in the process of ovulation by participating in the metabolism of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), in granulosa cells (GCs) due to elevated progesterone in FF.
Analysis and Prediction of Land Use/land Cover Changes and Driving Forces by Using GIS and Remote Sensing in the Coka Watershed, Southern Ethiopia
Authors: Buraka Tadele , Elias Eyasu , Lelago Alemu 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Land use and land cover (LULC) is among fundamental environmental and ecological factors for monitoring, resource management, police making, planning and facilitating the development of strategies to balance conservation, development pressures, and conflicting uses. This study aimed at analyzing LULC changes that have occurred during 1988–2018 and its prediction for 2040–2060 period in Coka watershed, southern Ethiopia. LULC changes were analyzed using geographic information system and predicted by CA-Markov model. Cultivated and rural settlement land, bare land, built up area and water body have increased at an annual rate of 23.1, 2.2, 0.8 and 1.1 ha/year but forest land, bushland and grassland have decreased at an annual rate of 14.4, 4.1 and 8.7 ha/year, respectively. It is projected that cultivated and rural settlement land, bare land, built up area and water body will expand but forest land, grassland and bushland will decrease. Expansion of agriculture and deforestation showed increasing trend on both previous and predicted LULC changes with upcoming expansion of bare land and eucalyptus tree plantation due to major driving factor of population growth. This study highlights the need for well integrated landscape planning, reliable predictions for future LULC and to reduce the deterioration of environment.
Using marker-controlled watershed transform to detect baker’s cyst in MRI images: a pilot study
Authors: Ghaderi Sadegh , Ghaderi Kayvan , Ghaznavi Hamid 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Nowadays, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has a high ability to distinguish between soft tissues because of high spatial resolution. Image processing is extensively used to extract clinical data from imaging modalities. In the medical image processing field, the knee’s cyst (especially baker) segmentation is one of the novel research areas.Material and Method: There are different methods for image segmentation. In this paper, the mathematical operation of the watershed algorithm is utilized by MATLAB software based on marker-controlled watershed segmentation for the detection of baker’s cyst in the knee’s joint MRI sagittal and axial T2-weighted images.Results: The performance of this algorithm was investigated, and the results showed that in a short time baker’s cyst can be clearly extracted from original images in axial and sagittal planes.Conclusion: The marker-controlled watershed segmentation was able to detect baker’s cyst reliable and can save time and current cost, especially in the absence of specialists it can help us for the easier diagnosis of MR images.
Farmed Turkish salmon: Toxic metals and health threat
Authors: Bat Levent , Arici Elif , Öztekin Ayşah , Şahin Fatih 
Published: September 2021

Introduction. Toxic metals in fish, even at low levels, have negative consequences for human health. Even essential metals pose a health threat if consumed in certain quantities. Mercury, cadmium, and lead are the most frequent metals containing in fish. The research objective was to inspect the quality of aquaculture fish found in most major grocery chains across Turkey.
Study objects and methods. The present research featured the quantities of Zn, Fe, Cu, Al, Pb, Hg, and Cd in Turkish salmon. The sampling took place between February and June 2019. The cumulative carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk for consumers was evaluated based on trace element levels in a prospective health risk assessment using the U.S. EPA model of lifetime exposure.
Results and discussion. Fe proved to be the most abundant element in fish fillets, followed by Zn and Cu. Other elements appeared to be far below the permissible values, namely Al ≤ 0.5, Cd ≤ 0.02, Pb, and Hg ≤ 0.05. All the trace elements detected in Turkish salmon were below the reference dose values. The percent contribution to total risk by Fe, Cu, and Zn were 34.20, 24.80, and 41.01%, respectively. The hazard index was ≤ 1. The contamination of aquaculture fish fillet proved insignificant, and the carcinogenic risk was entirely negligible.
Conclusion. The research revealed no hazardous trace elements, and their cumulative effects were not indicated in the hazardous index.
Models for predicting heavy metal concentrations in residential plumbing pipes and hot water tanks
Authors: Chowdhury Shakhawat , Kabir Fayzul , Mazumder Mohammad Abu Jafar , Alhooshani Khalid , Al-Ahmed Amir , Al-Suwaiyan M. S. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Supply water is an important source of human exposure to heavy metals through the oral pathway. Due to stagnation of water in plumbing systems, exposure concentrations of heavy metals from tap water can be higher than water distribution systems (WDS), which is often ignored by the regulatory agencies. In this study, concentrations of a few heavy metals (arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe)) and water quality parameters were monitored in WDS, plumbing pipe (PP) and hot water tanks (HWT). Multiple models were trained for predicting metal concentrations in PP and HWT, which were validated. Heavy metal concentrations in HWT were 1.2–8.1 and 1.4–6.7 times the concentrations in WDS and PP respectively. Concentrations of As, Cr, Cu, Hg and Zn were in the increasing order of WDS, PP and HWT. Concentrations of Cr and Fe were higher during summer while Cu and Zn were higher in winter. The models showed variable performances for PP and HWT (R2: PP = 0.61–0.99; HWT = 0.71–0.99). The validation data demonstrated variable correlation coefficients (r: PP = 0.45–0.99; HWT = 0.83–0.99). Few models can be used for predicting heavy metals in tap water to reduce the cost of expensive sampling and analysis.
Significado del trabajo y salud en pandemia
Authors: Pedraza-Alvarez Lilibeth Patricia , Obispo-Salazar Kelly 
Published: September 2021

El trabajo siempre ha estado inmerso en la vida del hombre, hasta el punto que distintos autores destacan la importancia de este en la vida de las personas como en el caso de Guerra, quien indican que no se puede concebir al hombre sin el trabajo o Jahoda, para quien el trabajo es la propia esencia de estar vivo o más recientemente Blanch que señala que el trabajo enmarca los diferentes aspectos de la humanidad como son: económico, social, político, cultural, urbano, moral, jurídico y psicológico por lo que estudiar el trabajo se convierte en un tema de interés para muchos y por lo tanto ha sido estudiado desde distintos contextos
Coronas implantosoportadas: una alternativa de tratamiento restaurador en paciente con bruxismo. Reporte de caso
Authors: Estevez-Avendaño Edwin Alfredo , Castillo-Pedraza Midian Clara , Rangel-Cantillo Kelly Johana 
Published: September 2021

El bruxismo es un hábito parafuncional que ocurre durante el sueño y/o la vigilia. Siendo más común el bruxismo del sueño, se presenta en el 17% de la población mundial. Por lo general, cuando es persistente provoca detrimento en la salud oral. No se ha establecido un tratamiento efectivo contra esta parafunción. El bruxismo también se ha considerado como factor de riesgo para la instalación de implantes y se ha asociado con un aumento de complicaciones mecánicas en la rehabilitación protésica. Aunque algunos autores consideran que el bruxismo no afecta la supervivencia del implante, es de suma importancia considerar todos los aspectos relacionados que contribuyan a reducir los efectos de este hábito en rehabilitación implantosoportada. En este estudio, se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 58 años, bruxista, rehabilitado sobre implantes dentales con éxito, después de dos años de instalación. Además, se exponen recomendaciones que ayuden a minimizar los efectos nocivos, cuando se diagnostique un paciente bruxista y se pretenda rehabilitar sobre implantes dentales
Potential Evaluation of PVDF/PAN Membranes for Separation of Oil from Industrial Waste
Authors: Mehta Jigesh , Panwar Deepak S. , Metre Anand , Bhakhar Mathurkumar S. 
Published: September 2021

Aim:
The aim of the experiment is to characterize the Modified Membrane from PVDF/PAN and its application in removing the Emulsified oil waste from the Industry.

Objective:
To get the maximum separation of the emulsified oil from the waste water, composite (PVDF/PAN) membrane was prepared in the laboratory.

Methods:
New PVDF/PAN blend based ultrafiltration membranes were synthesized by phase inversion method. The blend membrane was treated at room temperature with aqueous sodium hydroxide solutions.

Results:
The facile eco-friendly preparation of PVDF/PAN blended membrane has a wide potential for practical applications in emulsified wastewater remediation. The chemical functionality of the modified membranes was confirmed by IR spectra.

Conclusion:
For the separation of emulsified oily wastewater, the as-prepared composite (PVDF/PAN) membrane could effectively separate oil/ water emulsions with separation efficiency of above 99.8%. Unmodified membranes (A and B) showed 95.4-99.8% rejection. However, in the case of membranes C and D, oil rejection was higher for the modified membranes as compared to the unmodified membranes.
Developing an Asthma Self-management Intervention Through a Web-Based Design Workshop for People With Limited Health Literacy: User-Centered Design Approach
Authors: Salim Hani , Lee Ping Yein , Sharif-Ghazali Sazlina , Cheong Ai Theng , Wong Jasmine , Young Ingrid , Pinnock Hilary ,   RESPIRE Collaboration
Published: September 2021

Background
Technology, including mobile apps, has the potential to support self-management of long-term conditions and can be tailored to enhance adoption. We developed an app to support asthma self-management among people with limited health literacy in a web-based workshop (to ensure physical distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic).

Objective
The aim of this study is to develop and test a prototype asthma self-management mobile app tailored to the needs of people with limited health literacy through a web-based workshop.

Methods
We recruited participants from a primary care center in Malaysia. We adapted a design sprint methodology to a web-based workshop in five stages over 1 week. Patients with asthma and limited health literacy provided insights into real-life self-management issues in stage 1, which informed mobile app development in stages 2-4. We recruited additional patients to test the prototype in stage 5 using a qualitative research design. Participants gave feedback through a concurrent thinking-aloud process moderated by a researcher. Each interview lasted approximately 1 hour. Screen recordings of app browsing activities were performed. Interviews were audio-recorded and analyzed using a thematic approach to identify utility and usability issues.

Results
The stakeholder discussion identified four themes: individual, family, friends, and society and system levels. Five patients tested the prototype. Participants described 4 ways in which the app influenced or supported self-management (utility): offering information, providing access to an asthma action plan, motivating control of asthma through support for medication adherence, and supporting behavior change through a reward system. Specific usability issues addressed navigation, comprehension, and layout.

Conclusions
This study proved that it was possible to adapt the design sprint workshop to a web-based format with the added advantage that it allowed the development and the testing process to be done efficiently through various programs. The resultant app incorporated advice from stakeholders, including sources for information about asthma, medication and appointment reminders, accessible asthma action plans, and sources for social support. The app is now ready to move to feasibility testing.
Effectiveness of a Dyadic Buddy App for Smoking Cessation: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Schwaninger Philipp , Berli Corina , Scholz Urte , Lüscher Janina 
Published: September 2021

Background
Tobacco smoking is one of the biggest public health threats. Smartphone apps offer new promising opportunities for supporting smoking cessation in real time. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effectiveness of an app that encourages individuals to quit smoking with the help of a social network member (buddy) in daily life.

Objective
The objective of this study is to test the effectiveness of the SmokeFree buddy app compared with a control group with self-reported smoking abstinence and carbon monoxide (CO)–verified smoking abstinence as primary outcomes and self-reports of smoked cigarettes per day (CPD) as a secondary outcome.

Methods
A total of 162 adults who smoked participated in this single-blind, two-arm, parallel-group, intensive longitudinal randomized controlled trial. Around a self-set quit date (ie, 7 days before the self-set quit date and 20 days after) and 6 months later, participants of the intervention and control groups reported on daily smoking abstinence and CPD in end-of-day diaries. Daily smoking abstinence was verified via daily exhaled CO assessments. This assessment was administered via an app displaying results of exhaled CO, thus addressing self-monitoring in both groups. In addition, participants in the intervention group used the SmokeFree buddy app, a multicomponent app that facilitates social support from a buddy of choice.

Results
A significant reduction in CPD from baseline to the 6-month follow-up was observed among participants in both groups. Multilevel analyses revealed no significant intervention effect on self-reported and CO-verified daily smoking abstinence at the quit date and 3 weeks later. However, CPD was lower at the quit date and 3 weeks later in the intervention group than in the control group. No significant differences between groups were found for any outcome measures 6 months after the quit date. Overall, low app engagement and low perceived usefulness were observed.

Conclusions
Despite some encouraging short-term findings on the amount of smoking, the SmokeFree buddy app did not have beneficial effects on smoking abstinence over and above the self-monitoring control condition. Future studies should examine whether and what support processes can be effectively stimulated and how app use can be improved to better achieve this goal.

Trial Registration
ISRCTN Registry 11154315; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN11154315

International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)
RR2-10.1186/s12889-019-7723-z