bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Fear of Childbirth and Normal Delivery Among Iranian Postpartum Women: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Mortazavi Forough , Mehrabadi Maryam 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Fear of childbirth (FOC) may contribute to postpartum depression, impaired maternal-infant relation, and preference for cesarean in future pregnancies. The mode of delivery may have a role in postpartum FOC. We aimed to investigate predictors of FOC and normal vaginal delivery (NVD) among postpartum women who had planned for NVD. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2019 on postpartum women during the first 24 hours after the delivery. A sample of 662 women, selected using convenient sampling method, filled out the questionnaire composed of socio-demographic and obstetric questions and the Wijma Delivery-Expectancy Questionnaire (W-DEQ). We used univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses to determine predictors of FOC and NVD.Results: The percentage of women with mild (scores ≤ 37), moderate (38-65), high (66-84), severe (scores 85-99) and intense (scores ≥ 100) FOC were 7.9%, 19.5%, 40.9%, 21.1%, and 10.6% respectively. Predictors of severe FOC were a low level of satisfaction with husband’s support and a low level of satisfaction with pregnancy. Predictors of intense FOC were age < 30, primiparity, low maternal satisfaction with pregnancy, and a low level of perceived marital satisfaction. Overall, 21.8% of women gave birth by cesarean. Predictors of NVD were birth weight < 4kg, spontaneous labor pain, mother’s age < 30, term pregnancy, having a doula, multiparity, satisfaction with husband's support, and satisfaction with pregnancy. FOC was not a predictor of NVD. Conclusions: The rate of severe and intense FOC among this group of postpartum women is high. Our findings highlight modifiable factors for reducing FOC and increasing NVD. In designing programs to increase the rate of NVD, the following factors should be considered: limiting induced labor, encouraging women to recruit a doula to help them at labor, facilitate husband’s attendance throughout antenatal/intrapartum and postnatal care to support his wife, consultation with couples to increase husband’s support, and other steps to make pregnancy pleasant and memorable. According to our findings, factors that can contribute to the reduction of the rate of FOC were consultation with couples to increase husband support and marital satisfaction and also finding ways to make pregnancy a pleasant experience.
Sexual dimorphism of monocyte transcriptome in individuals with chronic low-grade inflammation
Authors: So Jisun , Tai Albert K , Lichtenstein Alice H , Wu Dayong , Lamon-Fava Stefania 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in the immune system is evidenced by a higher prevalence of autoimmune diseases in women and higher susceptibility to infectious diseases in men. However, the molecular basis of these sex-based differences is not fully understood. We have characterized the transcriptome profiles of peripheral blood monocytes from males and postmenopausal females with chronic low-grade inflammation. We identified 41 sexually differentially expressed genes [adjusted p value (FDR) < 0.1], including genes involved in immune cell activation (e.g., CEACAM1 , FCGR2B , and SLAMF7 ) and antigen presentation (e.g., AIM2 , CD1E , and UBA1 ), with a higher expression in females than males. Moreover, signaling pathways of immune or inflammatory responses, including interferon (IFN) signaling [z-score=2.45, -log( p )=3.88], were found to be more upregulated in female versus male monocytes, based on a set of genes exhibiting sex-biased expression ( p < 0.03). The contribution of IFN signaling to the sexual transcriptional differences was further confirmed by direct comparisons of the monocyte sex-biased genes with IFN signature genes (ISGs) that were previously curated in mouse macrophages. ISGs showed a greater overlap with female-biased genes than male-biased genes and a higher overall expression in female than male monocytes, particularly for the genes of antiviral and inflammatory responses to IFN. Given the role of IFN in immune defense and autoimmunity, our results suggest that sexual dimorphism in immune functions may be associated with more priming of innate immune pathways in female than male monocytes. These findings highlight the role of sex on the human immune transcriptome.
Barriers and Facilitators to Immediate Insertion of the Copper IUD after Second-Trimester Medical Abortion - Process Evaluation of A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Somefun Oluwaseyi Dolapo , Constant Deborah , Endler Margit 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Introduction The availability of modern contraception including long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), is a fundamental component of post-abortion care. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) in South Africa compared immediate to interval insertion of the copper intrauterine device (IUD) after second trimester medical abortion (MA). Immediate insertion resulted in higher use at 6 weeks post-abortion, however expulsion rates were higher than interval insertion. This process evaluation sheds light on barriers and facilitators to the implementation of the study intervention.MethodsWe performed a process evaluation alongside the RCT in which we reviewed clinical records for fidelity to the RCT protocol and conducted in-depth interviews with 14 staff providing healthcare to RCT participants and 24 RCT participants. Research questions explored barriers and facilitators to implementation of immediate IUD insertion, contraceptive decision-making, and the potential impact of context and supplementary trial activities on trial findings. Interviews were recorded and transcribed, with translation into English if needed. We performed a triangulated thematic analysis at the level of the transcribed interview text.ResultsIn the RCT, there were 8 crossovers from the immediate to the delayed arm: 5 had a clinical contraindication to the IUD post-MA and 3 changed their mind about the IUD. In deviation of the RCT protocol 10 women in the delayed arm were given the 3 monthly injectable instead of oral contraceptives. Doctors and nurses were generally in favour of immediate insertion and said it could be incorporated into standard care if women wanted this. This contrasted with the need for interventions by the research team to reinforce adherence by staff to the allocated intervention over the trial duration. For women, convenience, protection from pregnancy and privacy issues were paramount and they expressed preference for engagement with staff who knew their abortion history, and with whom they had an established connection. Clinical trials registration: clinicaltrials.gov/ (ID NCT03505047), Pan African Trials Registry (www.pactr.org), ID PACTR201804003324963ConclusionsWomen and staff favour immediate IUD insertion after second trimester medical abortion, but service delivery may require structures that ensure continuity of care, communication that mitigates loss to follow up and training of staff to ensure competence.
Clonality in Invasive Alien Macrophytes in Kashmir Himalaya: A Stage Based Approach
Authors: WANI GOWHER , Khan Asgar , Afshana Afshana , Dar Mudasir , Reshi Zafar Ahmad , Husaini Amjad , Shah Manzoor Ahmad 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundThe invasion of non-native species is a major cause of the global biodiversity loss and creates enormous economic costs. What determines alien invasive species dominance over native plant species is still little known, but there is an emerging pattern that many of the world’s worst invasive plants are successful invaders due to the significant connection between their clonal traits and invasiveness. Freshwater ecosystems are relatively more prone to decline and extinction of species caused by biological invasion than terrestrial and marine ecosystems. In view of the lack of information about whether or not aquatic alien species at different stages of invasion exhibit any significant relation with clonality, the specific question addressed in this study was whether there is any relationship between clonality and invasiveness in aquatic macrophytes and how does it vary along different stages of invasion? ResultsWhile the link between clonality and species invasiveness has recently been recognized, whether and how clonality varies with different invasion-stages remains open questions. Hence, we tested the relationship between clonality and species invasiveness of Kashmir Himalayan aquatic macrophytes vis-à-vis its variability along different stages of invasion. The data on clonality, stage of invasion, and growth form was obtained through an extensive survey of literature and database like CLO-PLA (CLOnal PLAnts, version 3) and PLADIAS (Plant Diversity Analysis and Synthesis, 2014–2018) followed by evaluation of the clonal organs thorough intensive field surveys undertaken over a period of 3 years (2014-2017) in different aquatic habitats of the Kashmir valley. Our results showed that 84% of the studied species and almost 90% of the most invasive species (stage V sensu Colautti and MacIsaac 2004) are clonal. A strong positive correlation (r=0.94; p<0.05) between clonality and invasiveness was observed, which further substantiates this association at a broad geographical scale representing the whole region. From the scatter matrix and Pearson’s correlation matrix, clonality seems to have a strong positive correlation with fragments, rhizomes, runners, turions, tubers, and buds, thereby further affirming the strong nexus of clonality with species invasions.ConclusionsOur results showed strong association of clonal architecture with not only the stages of invasion but also the distribution pattern of alien species in aquatic habitats, thereby indicating the pivotal contribution of clonality to invasiveness. Future studies directed at unraveling the reasons behind clonality need to be undertaken from the genomic perspective, in order to evolve better models for proper management of alien aquatic invasive species.
A Comparative Analysis of the Adoption of Decentralized Governance in the Blockchain Through DAOs
Authors: Faqir-Rhazoui Youssef , Gallardo Javier Arroyo , Hassan Samer 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Blockchain technology has prompted new ways of governance and coordination. Such forms receive the name of Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs). DAOs typically implement decision-making systems to make possible for the community to reach agreements. As a result of the agreements the DAO automatically operates (e.g., hire people, payments, invest in financial products, etc.) by executing code on the blockchain. In the last few years, several platforms such as Aragon, DAOstack and DAOhaus, have emerged to facilitate the creation of DAOs. As a result, hundreds of this new organizations have appeared and are interacting in the blockchain. However, little is known about them. In this paper, we want to shed light on them. We will review the three main platforms (Aragon, DAOstack, DAOhaus) that make possible to create and manage a DAO. We introduce the main differences between these platforms, and we finally compare them numerically. For the comparison we retrieve data from both the main Ethereum network (mainnet) and a parallel Ethereum network (xDai). We analyze data from 72,320 users from 2,353 DAO communities to study the three ecosystems along four dimensions: growth, activity, voting system and funds. Our results show that there are notable differences among the DAO platforms in terms of growth and activity, but also interms of voting results. Still we consider that our work is only a first step and that further research is needed to better understand these communities and to help them to accomplish their aim of decentralized governance.
Sheng Jing Decoction, as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescription, Can Promote Spermatogenesis and Increase Sperm Motility
Authors: Yan Guang , Tian Fang , Liu Peng , Mao Jianmin , Sun Jianming , Han Wenjun , Mo Ran , Guo Shishuai , Yu Quanyao 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundSheng Jing Decoction (SJD), as a traditional Chinese medicine prescription, is mainly be used to treat male infertility. It has been applied in many hospitals in China, and the clinical effect of patients' reaction is satisfactory. However, pharmacological function and molecular mechanism of SJD are poorly understood. In this study, mainly investigated the function of SJD on spermatogenesis and sperm motility, and explored the potential mechanisms.MethodsThe oligozoospermia model of ICR mice was induced by injecting intraperitoneally (ip) with 60 mg/kg dose of cyclophosphamide. At the same time of modeling, high, medium and low doses of SJD were given orally for treatment respectively. Sperm vitality and motility were detected and analyzed by CASA, and sperm morphology was tested by Papanicolaou staining. Sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was tested by JC-1 staining. Sperm plasma membrane integrity was determined by SYBR-14/PI double staining. Histopathological changes of testis were analyzed by HE staining and Immunohistochemistry. Genes expression related to spermatogenesis and sperm development were detected by real-time RT-PCR.Results High, medium and low doses of SJD are effective to recover from the impairment of the whole body and testicular tissue by cyclophosphamide inducing, and to rescue the damage of testicular tissue cells including sertoli cells and germ cells by cyclophosphamide inducing. SJD can all partly restore the decrease in sperm concentration, sperm vitality, sperm motility and normal sperm morphology rate by cyclophosphamide inducing. Ki67 staining analyses confirm SJD can promoted testicular tissue cells proliferation. Real-time RT-PCR analyses reveal SJD can up-regulates the expression of proliferation-associated gene Lin28a, and differentiation-associated genes Kit, Sohlh2 and Stra8. SJD can also reduce the impairment of MMP and sperm plasma membrane integrity by cyclophosphamide inducing.ConclusionSJD is effective to support sperm quantity and quality by increasing sperm concentration, sperm vitality, sperm motility and normal sperm morphology rate. SJD can promote spermatogenesis by up-regulating the expression of the proliferation-associated gene Lin28a, and the differentiation-associated genes (Kit, Sohlh2 and Stra8). SJD can sustain MMP and sperm plasma membrane integrity to increase sperm motility.
A tissue atlas of ulcerative colitis to guide TNF inhibitor therapy
Authors: Mayer Aaron , Holman Derek , Tandon Utkarsh , Bhate Salil , Bodapati Sunil , Barlow Graham , Chang Jeff , Black Sarah , Crenshaw Erica , Boland Brigid , Streett Sarah , Sandborn William , Chang John , Gambhir Sanjiv , Nolan Garry , Schürch Christian , Rogalla Stephan 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic-relapsing inflammatory disease of the large intestine with a complex, multifactorial pathogenesis. TNF inhibitors are widely used to suppress immune-mediated tissue damage in ulcerative colitis patients; however, therapy failures are common. Predicting TNF inhibitor response requires an understanding of the architectural features that underlie mucosal inflammation and those responsible for resistance. Here, we used highly multiplexed immunofluorescence to uncover the spatially resolved tissue architectures underlying disease progression and treatment response in 42 tissue regions from 34 individuals. We created a tissue atlas and performed spatial analysis to identify cell-cell contacts and cellular neighborhoods. We observed that cellular functional states depend on cellular neighborhood and that a subset of inflammatory cell types and cellular neighborhoods in ulcerative colitis patients persisted even during treatment with TNF inhibitor, indicating resistant niches. A computer vision model, with no a priori assumptions regarding cellular architectural features, was able to predict TNF inhibitor resistance. This spatial model significantly outperformed classification models based on single-cell data alone. Our results demonstrate the value of a spatial tissue atlas as a precision medicine tool to guide treatment of patients suffering from autoimmune diseases.
The Exacerbated Prevalence of Acute Malnutrition and Growth Retardation in Roma Children Living in Camps
Authors: Giampaolo Rosaria , Marotta Rosaria , Biagiarelli Francesco Saverio , Zampa Antonella , Moramarco Stefania , Buonomo Ersilia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Child malnutrition is still a concern in marginalized groups of populations, such as immigrants living in very low socio-economic conditions. Roma children are within the most hard-to-reach populations, susceptible to undernutrition and growth retardation. In the city of Rome (Italy), the Hospital “Bambino Gesù”, in collaboration with the Catholic Association Community of Saint’Egidio, is dedicating, free services for the health and nutritional needs of vulnerable people. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on immigrant children visited at different ages (0-11 years old). Records including nutritional and growth assessment were collected from 2016 up to May 2020. Malnutrition was classified following the WHO 2006 standards. Data for Roma children living in extra-urban camps and non-Roma immigrant children living in urban areas was analyzed, odds ratios and univariate binary regressions were performed to investigate the risk of malnutrition within the two groups.Results: A sample of 414 children (57% under-five; 51.9% Roma), was included in the database. In the under-five children, underweight accounted for 7.6%, stunting for 11.7%, and wasting for 2.9%. The first year of life was the most crucial for nutritional status. Compared to the counterpart, Roma children accounted for nearly the total rate of malnutrition (wasting 4.8% vs. 1%; stunting 21.4% vs. 2%; underweight 14.2% vs. 1%). Univariate logistic regression confirmed under-five Roma children being at the highest risk of stunting at 12 months (OR: 16.1; CI 2-132; p=0.01). When considering the 176 school-aged children, undernutrition affected most Roma children (13% vs 1.9%), followed by stunting (5.8% vs 0.9%). Univariate logistic regression confirmed that Roma school-aged children were more likely to be underweight (OR: 7.8; CI 1.6-37.6; p=0.01). Conclusions: Malnutrition in immigrant children is still of high concern in Italy. Its prevalence in Roma children living in extra-urban camps exceeds that of immigrant children living in urban areas and the rates of underweight, stunting and wasting of Roma children living in the Balkans. This exacerbating condition highlights the need of better assisting this fragile population that is at most risk of poverty, food insecurity and social exclusion in Italy, particularly during this pandemic crisis.
Does Drought Show a Significant Decreasing Trend From 1961 to 2017 in Northern China?
Authors: Yu Lu , Wu Zhitao , Liu Yong , Du ZiQiang , Zhang Hong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Understanding the variation of drought is essentially important in climate change and risk assessment. Based on the monthly meteorological data at 321 stations, this study computed the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI), which was estimated using the potential evapotranspiration (PET) with the Penman–Monteith equation. The trends, affected-area, duration, and frequency of drought was determined using the piecewise linear regression method (LRM) for 1961–2017 over northern China. The results found that (1) drought displayed a wetting trend in 1961-2017 at a rate of 0.05/10a (p > 0.05), which generally occurred in winter and in most study areas, particularly in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. In contrast, an apparent drying trend occurred on the Loess Plateau. (2) The LRM identified that the turning point (TP) for trends occurred in 1990; the annual SPEI had been increasing pre-1990 and decreasing post-1990. This was especially the case in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Tibet, Gansu, and Inner Mongolia, consistent with patterns of seasonal drought at their respective TP apart from autumn. (3) From 1961 to 2017, the drought-affected area decreased at a rate of −1.69%/10a (p < 0.05). This area decreased before the TP and increased after the TP at different drought levels. The seasonal drought also showed decreasing trend, particularly in winter. (4) The highest frequency and duration of drought occurred in the Loess Plateau and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, respectively, although it decreased post-1990. These findings suggest that long-term trends in drought were not significant in northern China during 1961–2017. Although the severity, frequency, and duration of drought decreased post-1990, the recent drying trend and increase in the drought-affected area should not be dismissed.
A New Artificial Neural Network Based Failure Determination System For Electric Motors
Authors: Bicakci Sabri , Coramik Mustafa , Gunes Huseyin , Citak Hakan , Ege Yavuz 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
A new measurement system was developed for determination of failures and defining the level of failure that may occur in bearings and rotor bearings or in foot of motor in single phase capacitor start motor. In system, the vibratory operation of the motor is provided by connecting different screws on the motor’s rotor mounted flywheel or by gradually removing the nut bolts of motor foot. The VB3 vibration sensor outputs were recorded to the computer. The changing characteristics of sensor output for each experiment had more than one frequency component; therefore, FFT was performed for determining such components. It was observed that the frequency and amplitude values of first 5 harmonics could be used for determining the presence, type and level of failure but there was a nonlinear relation between each other. 2 different ANN customized separately were developed for determining the type and rate of the failure of motor. 80%, 10% and 10% of available data were reserved for training, testing and verification respectively and the ANN was trained. Accuracy degree for the ANN in the estimations following the training stage was calculated as R = 0.97-0.98. Furthermore, the results of ANN was compared with the results obtained using Sequential Minimal Optimization (SMO), Naive Bayes (NB) and J48 algorithms; and it was determined that the accuracy degree of ANN was higher.
Effect of Crystallographic Orientation on Structural Response of Silicon to Femtosecond Laser Irradiation
Authors: Zhang Xin , Zhang Liang , Mironov Sergey , Xiao Rongshi , Guo Liang , Huang Ting 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Femtosecond laser has been widely utilized for modification of crystal structure to achieve desired functions. So far, however, the effect of crystallographic orientation on the induced structure by femtosecond laser processing has yet been comprehensively studied. The present work is undertaken in an attempt to fill this gap in our knowledge. To this end, commercial-purity Si is used as a target material and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy as well as electron backscatter diffraction are applied to examine the irradiation-induced microstructural changes. The structural response of the pulsed material is found to be principally influenced by the crystallographic orientation of the target surface. Specifically, at the surface orientation close to {111}, a pronounced amorphization effect is observed whereas no disordered material is detected at the orientations close to {100}. This phenomenon could be explained by the lowest crystallization speed required by the (111) surface due to its smallest surface energy. Compared with nanosecond laser, non-thermal melting induced by femtosecond laser induces mild thermal gradient and favors recrystallization.