bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Molecular Mechanism of Action of Repurposed Drugs and Traditional Chinese Medicine Used for the Treatment of Patients Infected With COVID-19: A Systematic Scoping Review
Authors: Lem Fui Fui , Opook Fernandes , Lee Dexter Jiunn Herng , Chee Fong Tyng , Lawson Fahcina P. , Chin Su Na 
Published: February 2021

Background: The emergence of COVID-19 as a pandemic has resulted in the need for urgent development of vaccines and drugs and the conduction of clinical trials to fight the outbreak. Because of the time constraints associated with the development of vaccines and effective drugs, drug repurposing and other alternative treatment methods have been used to treat patients that have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and have acquired COVID-19.Objective: The objective of this systematic scoping review is to provide an overview of the molecular mechanism of action of repurposed drugs or alternative treatment medicines used to attenuate COVID-19 disease.Method: The research articles or gray literature, including theses, government reports, and official news online, were identified from four databases and one search engine. The full content of a total of 160 articles that fulfilled our inclusion criteria was analyzed and information about six drugs (ritonavir, lopinavir, oseltamivir, remdesivir, favipiravir, and chloroquine) and four Traditional Chinese Medicines (Shuang Huang Lian Kou Fu Ye, TCM combination of Bu Huan Jin Zheng Qi San and Da Yuan Yin, Xue Bi Jing Injection, and Qing Fei Pai Du Tang) was extracted.Results: All of the repurposed drugs and complementary medicine that have been used for the treatment of COVID-19 depend on the ability of the drug to inhibit the proliferation of the SARS-CoV-2 virus by binding to enzyme active sites, viral chain termination, or triggering of the molecular pathway, whereas Traditional Chinese Medicine plays a pivotal role in triggering the inflammation pathway, such as the neuraminidase blocker, to fight the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Effectiveness of Benralizumab in Improving the Quality of Life of Severe Eosinophilic Asthmatic Patients: Our Real-Life Experience
Authors: Scioscia Giulia , Carpagnano Giovanna Elisiana , Quarato Carla Maria Irene , Lacedonia Donato , Santamaria Sonia , Soccio Piera , Depalo Annarita , Fuso Paolo , Foschino Barbaro Maria Pia 
Published: February 2021

Background: Severe eosinophilic asthma decreases lung function and causes worsen symptoms, often forcing recurrent maintenance corticosteroid use. The aim of our real-life study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an add-on treatment with benralizumab in patients with severe eosinophilic asthma, paying particular attention to the impact on their quality of life (QoL).Materials and methods: In this prospective study, 10 outpatients with severe eosinophilic asthma were added-on with benralizumab and followed-up in our severe asthma clinic after 12 and 24 weeks. At each patient visit, pre-bronchodilator FEV1 and inflammatory markers were recorded. Variations in asthma symptoms control and QoL perception was assessed by validated questionnaires.Results: All the subjects experienced a marked reduction of nocturnal and diurnal symptoms over time and were able to stop using OCS, as documented by the improvement in Asthma control test (ACT) and Asthma Control Questionnaire score. Similarly, we recorded a statistically significant increase in patient’s QoL perception in EQ-VAS, EQ-5D-3L and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ) assessment (p &lt; 0.05). Simultaneously we recorded a significant reduction in eosinophilic inflammation, an improvement in pre-bronchodilator FEV1. These results appear to be in line with those already obtained in the previous randomized controlled trials (RCTs).Conclusion: Our 24-weeks real life experience supports the effectiveness of an add-on treatment with benralizumab in reducing eosinophilic inflammation and OCS-use, increasing lung function and improving control of nocturnal and diurnal symptoms, as well as restoring severe asthma patients to a better QoL.
Impedimetric Analysis of Trabecular Bone Based on Cole and Linear Discriminant Analysis
Authors: Wei Wenzuo , Shi Fukun , Kolb Juergen F. 
Published: February 2021

A spatially unambiguous characterization of electrical properties of osseous tissues is important for the therapy of osteopathy via electrical stimulation. Accordingly, the study aimed to characterize the highly inhomogeneous composition and structures of different anatomical regions of trabecular bone based on their electrical properties. The electrical properties of 64 porcine trabecular bone samples were analyzed in a parallel plate electrode configuration and compared with published results. Therefore, a novel method, combining traditional Cole model with a linear discriminant analysis (LDA), was developed to discriminate the different regions, i.e., femur head, greater trochanter, and femur neck. Possible mechanisms behind the distinction for different regions could be interpreted from both methods. Respective adjacent regions with similar structure and composition could be distinguished from statistically significant differences of Cole parameters, i.e., α (p &lt; 0.01) and R∞ (p &lt; 0.05). The latter was correlated especially with water content, indicating an association of individual differences in microstructures in particular with conductivity. Conversely, different regions were unambiguously discriminated with LDA based on permittivity or conductivity. Contributions to the discrimination were explicitly reflected by the coefficients of the derived LDA features. A clear distinction was obtained especially for a frequency response at 950 kHz. Moreover, predictions for the classification of unspecified samples assigned them correctly to their origin with a success of 92.9%. The combination of both methods offers the possibility for a spatially resolved and eventually patient specific discrimination and evaluation of bone tissues and their response to therapies, notably electrical stimulation.
External Counterpulsation Attenuates Hypertensive Vascular Injury Through Enhancing the Function of Endothelial Progenitor Cells
Authors: Liang Jianwen , Shi Jian , Wei Wenbin , Wu Guifu 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundVascular injury is a landmark of hypertension and enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) has been identified as a noninvasive treatment to restore the capacity of endothelial cells. However, the effect of EECP on blood pressure lowering in hypertension and the potential mechanism remain unknown.MethodsWe measured the ambulatory blood pressure (AMBP) and flow-mediated endothelial dilation (FMD) in the essential hypertensive patients who were randomly assigned to the EECP group (n = 20) or control group (n = 20). We also evaluated in vitro function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). Furthermore, multivariate analysis was performed to determine the actual correlation between EPC function and FMD.ResultsCompared with the control, EECP group exhibited decreased systolic [(133.2 ± 4.9) mmHg vs. (139.3 ± 6.4) mmHg, P &lt; 0.05] and diastolic [(83.4 ± 4.5) mmHg vs. (89.5 ± 7.6) mmHg, P &lt; 0.05] blood pressure and increased FMD value [(8.87 ± 2.46%) vs. (7.51 ± 2.32%), P &lt; 0.01]. In addition, the migration [(47.3 ± 6.4)/hpf vs. (33.4 ± 5.1) hpf, P &lt; 0.05] and adhesion [(45.1 ± 5.5)/hpf vs. (28.4 ± 3.9) hpf, P &lt; 0.05] functions of EPCs in the EECP group were improved significantly, whereas no change was observed in the control. Both migration [odds ratio (OR) = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.27–0.64, P &lt; 0.05] and adhesion (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = −0.0034 to 0.0012, P &lt; 0.05) of EPCs correlated with FMD. After multivariate analysis, the migration (β = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.67–5.33, P &lt; 0.05) and adhesion (β = 3.98, 95% CI = 1.12–6.43, P &lt; 0.05) functions still independently correlated to FMD.ConclusionThe present study demonstrates for the first time that EECP decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and increases FMD value in hypertension. The fall in endogenous EPCs repair capacity might be an important mechanism of hypertensive vascular injury and could be restored by EECP.
Aesthetically Designing Video-Call Technology With Care Home Residents: A Focus Group Study
Authors: Zamir Sonam , Allman Felicity , Hennessy Catherine Hagan , Taylor Adrian Haffner , Jones Ray Brian 
Published: February 2021

BackgroundVideo-calls have proven to be useful for older care home residents in improving socialization and reducing loneliness. Nonetheless, to facilitate the acceptability and usability of a new technological intervention, especially among people with dementia, there is a need for user-led design improvements. The current study conducted focus groups with an embedded activity with older people to allow for a person-centered design of a video-call intervention.MethodsTwenty-eight residents across four care homes in the South West of England participated in focus groups to aesthetically personalize and ‘dress-up’ the equipment used in a video-call intervention. Each care home was provided with a ‘Skype on Wheels’ (SoW) device, a wheelable ‘chassis’ comprising an iPad or tablet for access to Skype, and a telephone handset. During the focus group, residents were encouraged to participate in an activity using colorful materials to ‘dress-up’ SoW. Comments before, during and after the ‘dress up’ activity were audio recorded. Framework analysis was used to analyze the focus group data.ResultsOlder people, including seven with dementia were able to interact with and implement design changes to SoW through aesthetic personalization. Themes arising from the data included estrangement, anthropomorphism, reminiscence, personalization, need for socialization versus fear of socialization and attitudes toward technology. After this brief exposure to SoW, residents expressed the likelihood of using video-calls for socialization in the future.ConclusionCare home residents enjoy engaging with new technologies when given the opportunity to interact with it, to personalize it and to understand its purpose. Low cost aesthetic personalization of technologies can improve their acceptability, usability, and implementation within complex care environments.
Relationship Between Psychological Empowerment and the Retention Intention of Kindergarten Teachers: A Chain Intermediary Effect Analysis
Authors: Ma Lina , Zhou Fusheng , Liu Haidan 
Published: February 2021

Objective: To investigate the relationship between psychological empowerment, psychological capital, job involvement, and the retention intention of kindergarten teachers in mainland China and the internal mechanism of action.Methods: A total of 554 kindergarten teachers were investigated by scales for psychological empowerment, psychological capital, job involvement, and retention intention.Results: (1) Psychological empowerment was positively correlated with psychological capital and job involvement. Psychological capital was positively correlated with job involvement. Psychological empowerment, psychological capital, and job involvement were significantly and positively correlated with retention intention. (2) Psychological empowerment influences kindergarten teachers' retention intention mainly through three indirect effects: the single intermediary effects of psychological capital and job involvement and the chain intermediary effect of psychological capital → job involvement.Conclusion: Psychological empowerment can not only indirectly predict the retention intention of kindergarten teachers through the single intermediary effects of psychological capital and job involvement, but also indirectly predict the retention intention of kindergarten teachers through the chain intermediary effect of psychological capital and job involvement.
Kidney Exchange Program Reporting Standards: Evidence-Based Consensus From Europe
Authors: Smeulders Bart , Mankowski Michal A. , van de Klundert Joris 
Published: February 2021

Background: Kidney Exchange Programs can play an important role to increase access to the life saving and most cost-effective treatment for End Stage Renal Disease. The rise of national KEPs in Europe brings a need for standardized performance reporting to facilitate the development of an international evidence base on program practices.Methods: We systematically searched and reviewed the literature to extract kidney exchange program performance measures. Reported measures were initially categorized as structure, process, and outcome measures. Expert feedback was used to redefine categories and extend the set of measures to be considered. Using the Delphi method and a panel of 10 experts, the resulting measures were subsequently classified as mandatory (Base set), optional (Extended set), or deleted.Results: Out of the initial 1,668 articles identified by systematic literature search, 21 European publications on kidney exchange programs were included to collect performance measures, accompanied by three national program reports. The final measurement categories were Context, Population, Enrollment, Matching, Transplantation, and Outcomes. The set of performance measures resulting from the literature review was modified and classified as mandatory or optional. The resulting Base set and Extended set form the kidney exchange program reporting standard.Conclusions: The evidence-based and consensus-based kidney exchange program reporting standard can harmonize practical and scientific reporting on kidney exchange programs, thus facilitating the advancement of national programs. In addition, the kidney exchange program reporting standard can promote and align cross-national programs.
Clinical Enhancement in AI-Based Post-processed Fast-Scan Low-Dose CBCT for Head and Neck Adaptive Radiotherapy
Authors: Chen Wen , Li Yimin , Yuan Nimu , Qi Jinyi , Dyer Brandon A. , Sensoy Levent , Benedict Stanley H. , Shang Lu , Rao Shyam , Rong Yi 
Published: February 2021

Purpose: To assess image quality and uncertainty in organ-at-risk segmentation on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) enhanced by deep-learning convolutional neural network (DCNN) for head and neck cancer.Methods: An in-house DCNN was trained using forty post-operative head and neck cancer patients with their planning CT and first-fraction CBCT images. Additional fifteen patients with repeat simulation CT (rCT) and CBCT scan taken on the same day (oCBCT) were used for validation and clinical utility assessment. Enhanced CBCT (eCBCT) images were generated from the oCBCT using the in-house DCNN. Quantitative imaging quality improvement was evaluated using HU accuracy, signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR), and structural similarity index measure (SSIM). Organs-at-risk (OARs) were delineated on o/eCBCT and compared with manual structures on the same day rCT. Contour accuracy was assessed using dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), and center of mass (COM) displacement. Qualitative assessment of users’ confidence in manual segmenting OARs was performed on both eCBCT and oCBCT by visual scoring.Results: eCBCT organs-at-risk had significant improvement on mean pixel values, SNR (p &lt; 0.05), and SSIM (p &lt; 0.05) compared to oCBCT images. Mean DSC of eCBCT-to-rCT (0.83 ± 0.06) was higher than oCBCT-to-rCT (0.70 ± 0.13). Improvement was observed for mean HD of eCBCT-to-rCT (0.42 ± 0.13 cm) vs. oCBCT-to-rCT (0.72 ± 0.25 cm). Mean COM was less for eCBCT-to-rCT (0.28 ± 0.19 cm) comparing to oCBCT-to-rCT (0.44 ± 0.22 cm). Visual scores showed OAR segmentation was more accessible on eCBCT than oCBCT images.Conclusion: DCNN improved fast-scan low-dose CBCT in terms of the HU accuracy, image contrast, and OAR delineation accuracy, presenting potential of eCBCT for adaptive radiotherapy.
Pemberian Pupuk NPK dan Kompos Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit pada Pertumbuhan Bibit Kelapa Sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) di Pembibitan Awal
Authors: Halim Muhammad , Wahyudi Erfan , Putra Irwan Agusnu 
Published: February 2021

Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui efektifitas pupuk NPK dan kompos tankos kelapa sawit dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan bibit kelapa sawit (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) di pembibitan awal. Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan Rancangan Acak Kelompok (RAK) faktorial dengan dua taraf yaitu faktor pertama: pupuk NPK Mutiara 16-16-16 dengan 3 taraf yaitu P0= tanpa pupuk NPK, P1= NPK Mutiara 2 g/polybag P2= NPK Mutiara 4 g/polybag, Faktor kedua: kompos Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit dengan 4 taraf yaitu S0= subsoil, S1= subsoil + kompos TKKS 1:1, S2= subsoil + kompos TKKS 1:2, S3= subsoil + kompos TKKS 1:3. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa Pemberian pupuk NPK Mutiara 16-16-16 dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan tinggi tanaman bibit tanaman kelapa sawit di pembibitan awal. Kompos Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit (TKKS) belum dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan tinggi tanaman, luas daun, berat basah tanaman dan berat kering bibit tanaman kelapa sawit di pembibitan awal. Interaksi antara pemberian Pupuk NPK dan pemberian kompos Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit belum dapat meningkatkan pertumbuhan tinggi tanaman, luas daun, berat basah tanaman dan berat kering bibit kelapa sawit di pembibitan awal.
Life Balance of Whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Genn.) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Chili Plant (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Kurniawan Hazen Arrazie , Fitria Fitria 
Published: February 2021

Introduction: Bemisia tabaci is one of the important pests that cause direct damage by sucking plant fluids. The purpose of this study was to provide information on the life balance of the pest Bemisia tabaci in chili plant.
Materials and Methods: This research was conducted at the Laboratory in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara, Medan from January to February 2020. The plants used in this test were three-month-old chili plant of Keriting Bogor The life balance test on plants was initiated by inserting 15 individuals of B. tabaci (5 males and 10 females) into a plastic tube.
Results: The whitefly stuck in the hood from chili plant and has a long morphology of 0.2 to 0.3 mm. Eggs are inserted into plant tissue. Eggs under the leaves at the temperature of 26 to 32oC the incubation period lasts for 4 to 6 days, meanwhile at the temperature of 18 to 22oC increased to 10 until 16 days.
Production of Functional Soft Cheese and Studying its Chemical and Sensory Evaluation Properties
Authors: Ghazal Mariam M. , Al-Hilfy Nawfal A.-A. H. , Ali Haider I. 
Published: February 2021

This study design to produce of functional cheese by these parameters: (A) control using raw bovine milk (without any additive), (B) Al-mudhish skim milk powder, (C) Landoz skim milk powder, (D) Regiliat skim milk powder, (E) Spray skimmed milk and 2% inulin and 2% modified starch were added to skim milk powder. The evaluation of chemical tests were performed including estimating moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrates, ash, total acidity percentage and pH, and sensory evaluation properties during refrigerated storage at the periods (1, 7, 14, 21 and 28) days. The results showed that the functional soft cheese from Landoz milk powder with (2% inulin and 2% modified starch) was have a higher percent of moisture and carbohydrates during the last period of storage (28) days compared to the control. The production of soft cheese by using Landoz milk powder with a mixture of prebiotic and probiotic has got the highest sensory features
Modeling the Prompt Optical Emission of GRB 180325A: The Evolution of a Spike from the Optical to Gamma Rays
Authors: Becerra R. L. , De Colle F. , Cantó J. , Lizano S. , González R. F. , Granot J. , Klotz A. , Watson A. M. , Fraija N. , Araudo A. T. , Troja E. , Atteia J. L. , Lee W. H. , Turpin D. , Bloom J. S. , Boer M. , Butler N. R. , González J. J. , Kutyrev A. S. , Prochaska J. X. , Ramirez-Ruiz E. , Richer M. G. , Román-Zúñiga C. G. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The transition from prompt to afterglow emission is one of the most exciting and least understood phases in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Correlations among optical, X-ray, and gamma-ray emission in GRBs have been explored, to attempt to answer whether the earliest optical emission comes from internal and/or external shocks. We present optical photometric observations of GRB 180325A collected with the TAROT and RATIR ground-based telescopes. These observations show two strong optical flashes with separate peaks at ∼50 and ∼120 s, followed by a temporally extended optical emission. We also present X-rays and gamma-ray observations of GRB 180325A, detected by the Burst Alert Telescope and X-ray Telescope, on the Neil Gehrels Swift observatory, which both observed a narrow flash at ∼80 s. We show that the prompt gamma-ray and X-ray early emission shares similar temporal and spectral features consistent with internal dissipation within the relativistic outflow (e.g., by internal shocks or magnetic reconnection), while the early optical flashes are likely generated by the reverse shock that decelerates the ejecta as it sweeps up the external medium.
Spectral Shapes of the Lyα Emission from Galaxies. I. Blueshifted Emission and Intrinsic Invariance with Redshift*
Authors: Hayes Matthew J. , Runnholm Axel , Gronke Max , Scarlata Claudia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
We demonstrate the redshift evolution of the spectral profile of H i Lyα emission from star-forming galaxies. In this first study we pay special attention to the contribution of blueshifted emission. At redshift z = 2.9–6.6, we compile spectra of a sample of 229 Lyα-selected galaxies identified with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer at the Very Large Telescope, while at low z ( < 0.44) we use a sample of 74 ultraviolet-selected galaxies observed with the Cosmic Origin Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope. At low z, where absorption from the intergalactic medium (IGM) is negligible, we show that the ratio of Lyα luminosity blueward and redward of line center (L
B/R) increases rapidly with increasing equivalent width (W
Lyα
). This correlation does not, however, emerge at z = 3–4, and we use bootstrap simulations to demonstrate that trends in L
B/R should be suppressed by variations in IGM absorption. Our main result is that the observed blueshifted contribution evolves rapidly downward with increasing redshift: L
B/R ≈ 30% at z ≈ 0, but dropping to 15% at z ≈ 3, and to below 3% by z ≈ 6. Applying further simulations of the IGM absorption to the unabsorbed COS spectrum, we demonstrate that this decrease in the blue-wing contribution can be entirely attributed to the thickening of intervening Lyα absorbing systems, with no need for additional H i opacity from local structure, companion galaxies, or cosmic infall. We discuss our results in light of the numerical radiative transfer simulations, the evolving total Lyα and ionizing output of galaxies, and the utility of resolved Lyα spectra in the reionization epoch.
A Random Walk Model for Dark Matter Halo Concentrations
Authors: Johnson Turner , Benson Andrew J. , Grin Daniel 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
For idealized (spherical, smooth) dark matter halos described by single-parameter density profiles (such as the Navarro–Frenk–White profile), there exists a one-to-one mapping between the energy of the halo and the scale radius of its density profile. The energy therefore uniquely determines the concentration parameter of such halos. We exploit this fact to predict the concentrations of dark matter halos via a random walk in halo energy space. Given a full merger tree for a halo, the total internal energy of each halo in that tree is determined by summing the internal and orbital energies of progenitor halos. We show that, when calibrated, this model can accurately reproduce the mean of the concentration–mass relation measured in N-body simulations and reproduces more of the scatter in that relation than previous models. We further test this model by examining both the autocorrelation of scale radii across time and the correlations between halo concentration and spin, and comparing them to results measured from cosmological N-body simulations. In both cases, we find that our model closely matches the N-body results. Our model is implemented within the open-source Galacticus toolkit.