bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vitamin D status among infants attending Reproductive and Child Health Centre in Arusha, Tanzania; A cross-sectional study&nbsp;
Authors: Urio Victor Zablon , Phillip Kasirye , Musiime Victor , Piloya Theresa , Swanson Stephen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Globally there is a high burden of low serum vitamin D levels, with children being more at risk, due to low intake in breastmilk, few available foods and inadequate cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D. Even in countries with abundant sunshine, Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) remains a problem. The classical clinical effect of severe vitamin D deficiency is rickets. VDD is common in developing countries and may affect developmental outcomes of children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency among infants attending the Reproductive and Child Health Clinic (RCH), in Arusha, Tanzania.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of infants aged 6 weeks to 12 months attending RCH clinic at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre (ALMC). We enrolled 304 infants from November 2018 to January 2019 after consent. A pre-coded questionnaire was used to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics of the infants. Physical examination was done for anthropometric measures and signs of rickets. Serum was drawn for assessment of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH) D),calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphate was assessed. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D less than 20ng/ml. Multivariate analysis was done to determine factors associated with VDD. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 14 version. P- value < 0.05 was significant. Results: A total of 67/ 304 infants had vitamin D deficiency. Another 50(16.5%) were found to have insufficiency level of vitamin D. Only 187(61.5%) had adequate vitamin D. Signs of rickets were observed in 11(3.6%) and hypocalcemia in 33(10.9%) infants. Factors independently associated with VDD include age < 6 months Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.56 (95% CI 1.19-4.0) p value < 0.026, presence of signs of rickets and hypocalcemia p value <0.001 and <0.002 respectively. Conclusion and Recommendation: A high prevalence of VDD (22%) was observed among infants attending RCH clinic in Arusha Tanzania. Age <6 months and the presence of the clinical sign of rickets were associated with VDD. Clinicians should actively assess for VDD and vitamin D supplementation with special emphasis infants <6 months should be implemented.
Variability of gait spatio-temporal parameters during treadmill walking
Authors: Latka Miroslaw , Kozlowska Klaudia , West Bruce J. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
During treadmill walking, the subject’s stride length (SL) and duration (ST) yield a stride speed (SS) which fluctuates over a narrow range centered on the treadmill belt’s speed. We recently demonstrated that ST and SL trends are strongly correlated and serve as control manifolds about which the corresponding gait parameters fluctuate. The fundamental problem, which has not yet been investigated, concerns the contribution of SL and ST fluctuations to SS variability. To investigate this relation, we approximate SS variance by the linear combination of SL variance and ST variance, as well as their covariance. The combination coefficients are nonlinear functions of ST and SL mean values and, consequently, depend on treadmill speed. The approximation applies to constant speed treadmill walking and walking on a treadmill whose belt speed is perturbed by strong, high-frequency noise. In the first case, up to 80% of stride speed variance comes from SL fluctuations. In the presence of perturbations, the SL contribution decreases with increasing speed, but its lowest value is still twice as large as that of either ST variance or SL-ST covariance. The presented evidence supports the hypothesis that stride length adjustments are primarily responsible for speed maintenance during walking. Such a control strategy is evolutionarily advantageous due to the weak speed dependence of the SL contribution to SS variance. The ability to maintain speed close to that of a moving cohort did increase the chance of an individual’s survival throughout most of human evolution.
Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Genetic Variations and Mutations in the COVID-19 genomic sequence: A Systematic and Meta-analysis review
Authors: Valadan Reza , Alizadeh-Navaei Reza , Golpour Monireh , Gholami Mehrdad , Zargari Mehryar , Haghshenas Mohammadreza , Mousavi Tahoora 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objectives Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The high mutation rate of RNA viruses causes genetic variation, virus evolution and it is a strategy to escape the immune system. In the present study, all researches and evidence were extracted from the available online national databases. Two researchers randomly evaluated the assessment of the research sensitivity. Finally, after quality assessment and specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, the eligible articles were entered for meta-analysis. The heterogeneity between the results of studies was measured using test statistic (Cochran's Q) and I2 index. The forest plots illustrated the point and pooled estimates with 95% confidence intervals (crossed lines). All statistical analyses were performed using Comprehensive meta-Analysis V.2 software.This meta-analysis included 13 primary studies investigating the SARS-CoV-2 genetic variations and mutations in the COVID-19 genomic sequence. According to the pooled prevalence (95% confidence interval) of mutations, the spike gene variations showed the highest non-synonymous mutation frequency (16.4%, CI: 13.6, 16.6) and the Non-structural protein (NSP) genes possess the highest mutation frequency among total mutations (31.6%, CI: 21, 44.6). Genomic mutation analysis of SARS-CoV-2 strains may provide knowledge about different biological infrequent mutations and their relationships of viral transmission, pathogenicity, infectivity, and fatality rates between SARS-CoV-2 and human cells.
Theta-burst stimulation entrains frequency-specific oscillatory responses
Authors: Solomon Ethan , Sperling Michael , Sharan Ashwini , Wanda Paul , Levy Deborah , Lyalenko Anastasia , Pedisich Isaac , Rizzuto Daniel , Kahana Michael 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Brain stimulation has emerged as a powerful tool in human neuroscience, becoming integral to next-generation psychiatric and neurologic therapeutics. Theta-burst stimulation (TBS), in which electrical pulses are delivered in rhythmic bouts of 3–8 Hz, seeks to recapitulate neural activity seen endogenously during cognitive tasks. A growing literature suggests that TBS can be used to alter or enhance cognitive processes, but little is known about how these stimulation events influence underlying neural activity. In particular, it is not understood whether TBS evokes persistent theta oscillations, whether these oscillations occur at the stimulated frequency, and whether stimulation events propagate in a manner consistent with underlying functional and structural brain architecture. To answer these questions, we recruited 20 neurosurgical patients with indwelling electrodes and delivered direct cortical TBS at varying locations and frequencies. We find that TBS rapidly evokes theta rhythms in widespread brain regions, preferentially at the stimulation frequency, and that these oscillations persist for hundreds of milliseconds post stimulation offset. Furthermore, the functional connectivity between recording and stimulation sites predicts the strength of theta response, suggesting that underlying brain architecture guides the flow of stimulation through the brain. These results show that TBS can be used to directly and predictably influence the activity of cognitively-relevant brain networks.
Genome Data of Four Pythium insidiosum Strains from the Phylogenetically-Distinct Clades I, II, and III
Authors: Krajaejun Theerapong , Kittichotirat Weerayuth , Patumcharoenpol Preecha , Rujirawat Thidarat , Lohnoo Tassanee , Yingyong Wanta 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objectives: We employed the Illumina NGS platform to sequence genomes of 4 different strains of Pythium insidiosum, an oomycete that causes a serious infection, called pythiosis, in humans and animals. These strains were isolated from humans in Thailand (n=3) and the United States (n=1), and phylogenetically classified into clade-I, -II, and -III. Our study augmented the completeness of the P. insidiosum genome database for exploration of the biology, evolution, and pathogenesis of the pathogen. Data description: Each gDNA sample from the P. insidiosum strains ATCC20026 (clade-I), Pi19 (clade-II), MCC18 (clade-II), and SIMI4763 (clade-III) was processed to prepare one paired-end library (180-bp insert) for whole-genome sequencing by Illumina HiSeq2000/HiSeq2500 NGS platform. A range of 28.4-59.4 million raw reads, accounted for 3.0-7.3 Gb, were obtained and assembled into the genome sizes of 47.1 Mb (15,153 contigs; 85% completeness; 19,329 open reading frames [ORFs]) for strain ATCC20026, 35.4 Mb (14,576 contigs; 83% completeness; 13,895 ORFs) for strain Pi19, 34.5 Mb (11,084 contigs; 84% completeness; 13,249 ORFs) for strain MCC18, and 47.1 Mb (15,162 contigs; 85% completeness; 19,340 ORFs) for strain SIMI4763. The genome data can be downloaded from the NCBI/DDBJ databases under the accessions BCFN00000000.1 (ATCC20026), BCFS00000000.1 (Pi19), BCFT00000000.1 (MCC18), and BCFU00000000.1 (SIMI4763).
Determining the Levels of Some Trace Elements and Heavy Metals (Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, CO, Pb and CD) in the Cancers of Lip and Oral Cavity
Authors: DEMİR Derya ÇAY 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Aim: The aim of the study is to determine the relationship of some trace elements and heavy metals with lip and oral cavity cancer. Materials And Methods: Blood counts of 21 individuals with lip and oral cavity cancer were compared with those in the control group consisting of 30 volunteer and healthy subjects. Levels of trace elements and heavy metals in the serum (Zn, Cu, Mg, Pb, Mn, Cd, Co and Fe) were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer method at YUU Central Research Laboratory (Spectrometer: Thermo Scientific C103500100, China). Findings: In this study, the descriptive statistics and comparison results for Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb, Cd were found to be statistically significant (p <0.05). According to these results, Zn, Fe, Mn, Mg and Cu levels which are necessary trace elements for human body were found to be significantly lower in patients than healthy control groups. Cd, Co and Pb levels which are harmful and toxic to human body were found to be significantly higher in patients than healthy control groups (p <0.05). Results: Based on these findings of this first and new study in the literature, it was concluded that, trace elements and heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Co, Pb and Cd) in the lip and oral cavity may affect the etiopathogenesis of the disease.
Data driven global weather predictions at high resolutions
Authors: Taylor John , Larraonndo Pablo , de Supinski Bronis 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Society has benefited enormously from the continuous advancement in numerical weather prediction that has occurred over many decades driven by a combination of outstanding scientific, computational and technological breakthroughs. Here we demonstrate that data driven methods are now positioned to contribute to the next wave of major advances in atmospheric science. We show that data driven models can predict important meteorological quantities of interest to society such as global high resolution precipitation fields (0.25 degrees) and can deliver accurate forecasts of the future state of the atmosphere without prior knowledge of the laws of physics and chemistry. We also show how these data driven methods can be scaled to run on super-computers with up to 1024 modern graphics processing units (GPU) and beyond resulting in rapid training of data driven models, thus supporting a cycle of rapid research and innovation. Taken together, these two results illustrate the significant potential of data driven methods to advance atmospheric science and operational weather forecasting.
Dobutamine Stress Cardiac MRI is Safe and Feasible in Pediatric Patients with Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery (AAOCA)
Authors: Doan Tam T , Molossi Silvana , Sachdeva Shagun , Wilkinson James C , Loar Robert W , Weigand Justin D , Schlingmann Tobias R , Reaves-O’Neal Dana L. , Pednekar Amol S , Masand Prakash , Noel Cory V 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Risk stratification in anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) is challenged by the lack of a reliable method to detect myocardial ischemia. We prospectively studied the safety and feasibility of Dobutamine stress-cardiac magnetic resonance (DSCMR), a test with excellent performance in adults, in pediatric patients with AAOCA. Methods: Consecutive DSCMR from 06/2014-12/2019 in patients 20 years old with AAOCA were included. Hemodynamic response and major/minor events were recorded. Image quality and spatial/temporal resolution were evaluated. Rest and stress first-pass perfusion and wall motion abnormalities (WMA) were assessed. Inter-observer agreement was assessed using kappa coefficient.Results: A total of 224 DSCMR were performed in 182 patients with AAOCA at a median age of 14 years (IQR 12, 16) and median weight of 58.0 kg (IQR 43.3, 73.0). Examinations were completed in 221/224 (98.9%), all studies were diagnostic. Heart rate and blood pressure increased significantly from baseline (p<0.001). No patient had major events and 28 (12.5%) had minor events. Inducible hypoperfusion was noted in 31/221 (14%), associated with WMA in 13/31 (42%). Inter-observer agreement for inducible hypoperfusion was very good (K= 0.87). Asymptomatic patients with inducible hypoperfusion are considered high-risk and those with a negative test are of standard risk.Conclusions: DSCMR is feasible in pediatric patients with AAOCA to assess for inducible hypoperfusion and WMA. It can be performed safely with low incidence of major/minor events. Thus, DSCMR is potentially a valuable test for detection of myocardial ischemia and helpful in the management of this patient population.
Left Ventricular Strain and Left Atrial Strain Are Impaired During Hemodialysis in Children
Authors: Doan Tam T , Sriva Poyyapakkam , Liu Asela , Wilkes J. Kevin , Idrovo Alexandra , Akcan-Arikan Ayse , Swartz Sarah , Geer Jessica , Altman Carolyn A. , Ayres Nancy A. , Loar Robert W , Pignatelli Ricardo 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
Cardiac mortality and morbidity remain significant in children on chronic hemodialysis (HD). Multiple markers by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) are predictive of cardiac events in adults, but data in children are limited; ventricular diastolic strain (Ds) and left atrial strain (LAS) have not been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate intradialytic changes in ventricular and atrial function using STE in children.
Methods
Secondary analysis of a prospective descriptive study of children with structurally normal hearts and HD vintage > 3 months, using echocardiography performed prior to, during, and after HD. STE was analyzed using GE EchoPAC. Left ventricular (LV) global longitudinal strain (GLS), strain rate (Sr), and mechanical dispersion index (MDI) were calculated as the average from 3 apical views; Ds and Sr were obtained from 4-chamber tracing; LAS and Sr were assessed during atrial contraction, reservoir, and conduit. Intradialytic changes in 2D STE markers of ventricular function and LAS and their association with blood volume (BV) removal and blood pressure (BP) change were studied.
Results
A total of 15 children were enrolled at a median age of 12 years (IQR 8, 16) and median HD vintage of 13 months (IQR 9, 25). GLS was impaired during HD (-15.8 ± 2.2% vs -19.9 ± 1.9%, p < 0.001). Post-HD GLS was associated mean BP decrease (coefficient = 0.62, p = 0.01) and not with BV removal (coefficient = 0.49, p = 0.06). LV MDI and systolic Sr did not change. LV Ds was progressively impaired (-8.4% (-9.2, -8.0) vs − 11.9% (-13.4, -10.3), p < 0.001). LAS conduit and reservoir worsened at mid-HD and returned to baseline post-HD. Changes in Ds, DSr, LAS, LASr were not associated with BV removal or BP decrease (p > 0.1).
Conclusions
Intradialytic LV strain and LAS impairment consistent with subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction were observed during HD in children. GLS impairment was associated with BP change, but changes in Ds, DSr, LAS, and LASr were not associated with BP change or BV removal. Longitudinal assessment using these novel non-invasive indices may unfold the effect of cumulative subclinical changes on long-term outcomes in children who are on chronic HD.
Arsenic removal from water by nanofiltration membrane: potentials and limitations
Authors: Worou Chabi Noël , Chen Zhong-Lin , Bacharou Taofic 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Arsenic, in addition to being a confirmed carcinogen, is one of the most toxic elements found in nature, and should therefore be removed if the concentration is greater than 10 μg/L. Nanofiltration (NF) membranes have succeeded in arsenate As (V) ions removal from water almost completely. It is reported in this review that, like reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, NF membranes have not yet performed alone arsenite As (III) ion rejection without being associated with another technology. Commercial NF membranes exhibited a rejection between 86 and 99% towards arsenate As (V) while As (V) removal reached 99.8% for synthesized NF membranes. Since commercial NF membranes have shown their limit, scientists have prepared novel NF membranes that demonstrated long-term efficiency, fouling reduction, cost reduction, an increase in separation of multivalent ions, rejection performance, or a high flux achievement, depending on the area of use. For small treatment plants, NF is a more cost-effective method. The review succinctly reported arsenic as a serious global contamination issue and focused on novel nanofiltration processes for arsenic rejection to safeguard water security. This article also developed a comparative study of nanofiltration and reverse osmosis techniques concerning arsenic removal. Finally, future trends and perspectives have been highlighted with particular emphasis on emerging synthesis techniques of NF membranes without hiding the unpleasant fouling issue that limits its competitiveness.
Geneza i początki kultu Afrodyty
Authors: Zeman-Wiśniewska Katarzyna 
Published: March 2021

Afrodyta, grecka bogini miłości i piękna, już wg. autorów starożytnych wywodzić się miała z Cypru, gdzie znajdowała się jej najstarsza znana świątynia w Palaepaphos. Domniemany proces przekształcenia lokalnego bóstwa cypryjskiego w helleńską Afrodytę jest jednak trudny do prześledzenia. Nie podważając jej cypryjskich korzeni, niniejszy artykuł koncentruje się na kwestii genezy jej obecności w greckim panteonie bóstw, dowodząc, iż Afrodyta była od początku bóstwem sensu stricto greckim (greko-cypryjskim), a nie lewantyńskim, którego kult jedynie wtórnie uległ wpływom kultu Astarte, nim ostatecznie bogini ta stała się częścią panteonu bóstw czczonych przez Greków.
The Causality Inference of Public Interest in Restaurants and Bars on Daily COVID-19 Cases in the United States: Google Trends Analysis
Authors: Asgari Mehrabadi Milad , Dutt Nikil , Rahmani Amir M 
Published: March 2021

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected virtually every region in the world. At the time of this study, the number of daily new cases in the United States was greater than that in any other country, and the trend was increasing in most states. Google Trends provides data regarding public interest in various topics during different periods. Analyzing these trends using data mining methods may provide useful insights and observations regarding the COVID-19 outbreak.

Objective
The objective of this study is to consider the predictive ability of different search terms not directly related to COVID-19 with regard to the increase of daily cases in the United States. In particular, we are concerned with searches related to dine-in restaurants and bars. Data were obtained from the Google Trends application programming interface and the COVID-19 Tracking Project.

Methods
To test the causation of one time series on another, we used the Granger causality test. We considered the causation of two different search query trends related to dine-in restaurants and bars on daily positive cases in the US states and territories with the 10 highest and 10 lowest numbers of daily new cases of COVID-19. In addition, we used Pearson correlations to measure the linear relationships between different trends.

Results
Our results showed that for states and territories with higher numbers of daily cases, the historical trends in search queries related to bars and restaurants, which mainly occurred after reopening, significantly affected the number of daily new cases on average. California, for example, showed the most searches for restaurants on June 7, 2020; this affected the number of new cases within two weeks after the peak, with a P value of .004 for the Granger causality test.

Conclusions
Although a limited number of search queries were considered, Google search trends for restaurants and bars showed a significant effect on daily new cases in US states and territories with higher numbers of daily new cases. We showed that these influential search trends can be used to provide additional information for prediction tasks regarding new cases in each region. These predictions can help health care leaders manage and control the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on society and prepare for its outcomes.