bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Covid-19, the perfect time to broaden our horizons about social media use in oncology? A survey study with healthcare professionals caring for youth with cancer
Authors: Rost Michael , Espeli Vittoria , Ansari Marc , Weid Nicholas von der , Elger Bernice , Clercq Eva De 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Purpose

The study aims to explore the attitudes of Swiss healthcare professionals towards the use of social media in adolescent and young adult oncology and to examine whether the ongoing social restrictions due COVID-19 might have altered these attitudes.
Methods

This study was cross-sectional in design. The subjects were healthcare providers working in pediatric or adult oncology settings in Switzerland. We performed descriptive and inferential statistical analyses.
Results

While considered useful, only a small minority of participants actually used social media for professional reasons and considered themselves skillful in using these platforms. Although institutional guidelines were deemed crucial to improve social media use, many respondents seemed unaware of their existence. Only a minority reported an impact of Covid-19 on their attitudes towards the professional implementation of social media.
Conclusion

The global health crisis creates important challenges for young patients with cancer and their healthcare providers. In times of social restrictions, social media may be promising tools to facilitate health information provision, connectivity and patient care. Virtual mentorship and target social media training interventions might be the best way to improve familiarity with social media and with ethical guidelines for their use.
The miR-223-3p from Salivary Exosome Regulates Pyroptosis through NLRP3-Caspase 1-GSDMD signal axis in Periodontitis.
Authors: Xia Yiru , Zhou Kecong , Sun Mengjun , Shu Rong , Qian Jielei , Xie Yufeng 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Salivary exosomes contain various components and play an important role in oral diseases. We found that the expression of miR-223-3p in salivary exosomes was down regulated in inflammatory gingival tissue, and NLRP3 was the target of miR-223-3p. It has been reported that NLRP3 was involved in the formation of inflammasome and induced a type of cell death by cleaving gsdermin D (GSDMD), which is called pyroptosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of miR-223-3p in NLRP3 inflammasome activation and pyroptosis. We found that miR-223-3p down regulated the activation of NLRP3, IL-1 β and caspase-1, and then released the pyroptosis of THP-1-derived macrophages inducing by Porphyromonas gingivalis -LPS ( P. gingivalis -LPS). In addition, NLRP3, and GSDMD was highly active in inflammatory gingival tissue compared with healthy controls. In summary, we hypothesized that miR-223-3p in salivary exosomes regulates GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis by targeting NLRP3. Detection of miR-223-3p expression in salivary exosomes could be used as an important non-invasive method to diagnose and evaluate the severity of periodontitis.
Decreased Central and Limbal Epithelium Thickness After Corneal Crosslinking Evaluated by Anterior Segment Optic Coherence Tomography
Authors: GÜÇLÜ HANDE , AKARAY İRFAN , KAYA ÖZLEM 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Aim: To Investigate the central cornea, limbal epithelium thickness and stroma thickness after corneal cross-linking by Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography (AS-OCT) and Scheimpflug topography.Methods: Fifteen keratoconus patients treated with cross-linking(CXL) and fifteen untreated keratoconus patients was included to the study. Corneal central, limbal epithelial, stromal and total thickness with was analyzed by using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Topography (AS-OCT) and keratometric values ​​were analyzed by Scheimpflug topography.Results: There was a statisticallly significant difference between treated and untreated keratoconus patients according to limbal epithelial thickness (LET). Limbal epithelial thickness was 30.7 ± 5.5µm in the treated keratoconus patients and 45.6 ± 11.5µm in the untreated patients (p = 0.04). Central corneal epithelial thickness (CCET) was 38.27±3.5 in the treated group and 60.8 ± 10.9µm in the untreated group. There was a statistically signifficant difference the between two groups (p=0.01). The posterior astigmatism value was 0.7 ± 0.3D in the treated group and 0.9 ± 0.5D in untreated group by Scheimpflug topography (p=0.03).Conclusion: Our study have shown that the central corneal epithelium and limbal epithelium were significantly thinned as a result of corneal cross-linking. Corneal posterior astigmatism value decreased among the keratometric values. Epithelial thickness and limbal thickness alterations detected with Ant-OCT could be useful for monitorizing the keratoconus patients treated with crosslinking and could show the effectivity of the treatment.
Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Farm Income and Food Security among Rural Households in Africa
Authors: Abdallah Abdul-Hanan , Abdul-Rahman Awal , Issahaku Gazali 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Sustainable agriculture has been recognized in the literature as one of the important pathways to ensuring food systems and livelihoods among rural households in Africa. Using data from the ‘Intensification of Food Crops Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa (Afrint)’ project, we examine the impact of adoption of multiple sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) - zero-tillage, intercropping, residue incorporation and animal manure - on farm incomes and food security (captures as self-sufficiency in food production-SSF) among African rural households. Multinomial endogenous treatment effect (METE) method is applied to control potential selection bias. In addition, the multivalued treatment effects (MTE) model and dose-response-functions (DRFs) are also used to examine the treatment effects heterogeneity associated with SAPs adoption. The study reveals that joint adoption of SAPs is increased farm income and food security relative to the adoption of a single practice. Households obtain significantly higher farm income (FI) and food security (FS) via adoption of at least three practices relative to households adopting less than three practices. These findings reaffirm the benefits of adopting SAPs as a package rather than single practice, to enable farm households to derive significant welfare benefits.
FEBSRA: Fuzzy Trust Based Energy Aware Balanced Secure Routing Algorithm for Secured Communications in WSNs
Authors: R Anitha , R Tapas Bapu B , G Kuppusamy P , N Partheeban , N Sasikumar A 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Energy efficiency is playing major role in the design of a sensor network for improving the network lifetime and the trust is also important for providing the security to the data communication process. Delay is also major challenge today due to the enormous volume of network users. For overcoming all these issues, many researchers have been developed energy efficient security mechanisms for fulfilling the requirements. Even though, they are not able to satisfy the current requirements and users in terms of energy consumption, delay and security. For this purpose, this paper propose a new algorithm called Fuzzy Trust Based Energy Aware Balanced Secure Routing Algorithm (FEBSRA) which is able to provide the effective delay constrained secured routing algorithm which uses the fuzzy logic is a form of many-valued logic in which the truth values of variables may be any real number between 0 and 1 both inclusive for making final decision over sensor nodes with the consideration of number of hops between the source and destination nodes, energy level of the nodes and the trust scores. Moreover, a new trust model is also introduced new formulae for calculating the trust scores with the consideration of energy level of the communication delay which is calculated by using number of hops used for the specific communication. The experimental results of the proposed secured routing algorithm demonstrated that the performance in terms of energy consumption, less delay and high throughput with security is better when compared to the existing systems.
Investigation into the gas adsorption-loading coupling damage constitutive model of coal rock
Authors: Liu Zhongzhong , Wang Hanpeng , Wang Su , Xue Yang , Zhang Chong 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Coal and gas outburst is the result of comprehensive action of in-situ stress, gas and mechanical properties of coal rock. The coupling effect of loading and gas adsorption eventually leads to the coal rock failure. Based on the principle of strain equivalence and considering the coupling effect of gas adsorption and stress loading, an adsorption-loading coupling damage model is established which breaks through the bottleneck of only considering single influencing factor. Taking briquette samples with controllable properties as the research object, uniaxial compression tests of coal rock at different gas adsorption pressures are carried out, and the model is verified based on the test results. The results of model calculation and tests show that the meso damage stage of coal body can well correspond to the macroscopic deterioration phenomenon and it is in good agreement with the stress-strain curve. It is proved that the model has good applicability and can accurately describe the damage and failure process of coal rock.
Toxic Elements Contents and Associated Potential Ecological Risk in the Bottom Sediments of Hrazdan&nbsp;River Under the Impact of Yerevan City (Armenia)
Authors: Tepanosyan Gevorg , Harutyunyan Norik , Maghakyan Nairuhi , Sahakyan Lilit 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
This research aimed to assess the ecological status of the Hrazdan river section flowing through Yerevan. The distribution of toxic elements (Cr, V, As, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Mn, Pb, Ti, Mo, Fe, Ba), the bottom sediments pollution level and ecological risks, were assessed employing the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), the potential ecological risk index (RI) and geoaccumulation index (Igeo). On sampling sites, water quality parameters (turbidity, DO, conductivity (EC), salinity, TDS, pH, T°C) were measured, as well. The correlation analysis revealed a significant correlation between Zn - Cu, Pb; Cu - Pb, Mo; Co - Fe, Ti pointing out the similar sources and origination of these elements. The results have indicated that the content of the studied elements in the Hrazdan bottom sediments exceed the background content in urban soils, which is due to a set of geological and anthropogenic factors. High contents of elements were determined on sampling sites spatially confined to the residential and industrial areas. According to EF and Igeo data, the priority bottom sediment contaminants are As, Pb, Mo, Zn, V, Cu. The RI value varies from 195.9 to 316.3 with the mean of 245.9 which corresponds to the moderate-level ecological risk. On the whole, a moderate (77.8%) and considerable (22.2%) ecological risk was revealed. An essential source of Pb, Cu, Zn, Mo contents was itentified to be the surface runoffs in urban environment.
Knowledge, Psychological Impacts, and Protective Behaviors During the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic Among Chinese Immigrants with School-Age Children in Canada
Authors: Kong Yujia , Shaver Lance Garrett , Shi Fuyan , Yang Lixia , Zhang Weiguo , Wei Xiaoling , Zhan Eleen , Effiong Andem , Wang Peizhong Peter 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background : The impact of COVID-19 on the emotions and behaviors of overseas Chinese immigrants and their families living in Canada has been poorly studied. The purpose of this study was to describe the knowledge, protective behaviors, and psychological impact of COVID-19 on Chinese immigrants and determine whether having school-age children was associated with adverse psychological outcomes. Methods: Using an online survey of 757 Chinese immigrants in Canada from April 2020, data regarding the perceptions of COVID-19, psychological impact, protective behaviors, and sociodemographic characteristics were collected and analyzed. A total of 747 eligible respondents were finally included in the analysis. Most of the participants (65.8%) were female and 77.2% had a university degree or higher. Results: There were no significant differences in knowledge of COVID-19 in participants with or without children aged 16 years or under. Participants with children aged 16 years or under were more likely to perceive themselves as being at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 than those without (P=0.023). Participants with children aged 16 years and under were also more likely to feel depressed (P = 0.007) or stressed (P = 0.010). In addition, parents with children aged 16 years and under were more likely to adopt protective behaviors, for example, washing and sanitizing hands frequently or disinfecting work and living spaces. Conclusions: For the most part, Chinese immigrants with children aged 16 years and under were more prone to negative emotions, such as stress, anxiety, and fear. These findings may assist key stakeholders with the identification and implementation of policies and interventions to support the needs of parents with young children, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Enhancement of Target Normal Sheath Acceleration via Improved Fast Electron Heating in a Controlled Pre-Plasma Driven by a Femtosecond Laser Pre-Pulse
Authors: Gizzi Leonida , Boella Elisabetta , Labate Luca , Baffigi Federica , Bilbao Pablo , Brandi Fernando , Cristoforetti Gabriele , Fazzi Alberto , Fulgentini Lorenzo , Giove Dario , Koester Petra , Palla Daniele , Tomassini Paolo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The interaction of ultraintense laser pulses with solids is largely affected by the plasma gradient at the vacuum-solid interface, which modifies the absorption and ultimately, controls the energy distribution function of heated electrons. A micrometer scale-length plasma has been predicted to yield a significant enhancement of the energy and weight of the fast electron population and to play a major role in laser-driven proton acceleration with thin foils. We report on recent experimental results on proton acceleration from laser interaction with foil targets at ultra-relativistic intensities. We show a three-fold increase of the proton cut-off energy when a micrometer scale-length pre-plasma is introduced by irradiation with a low energy femtosecond pre-pulse. Our realistic numerical simulations agree with the observed gain of the proton cut-off energy and confirm the role of stochastic heating of fast electrons in the enhancement of the accelerating sheath field.
Cancer drivers and clonal dynamics in acute lymphoblastic leukaemia subtypes
Authors: Studd James , Cornish Alex , Hoang Phuc , Law Philip , Houlston Richard 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
To obtain a comprehensive picture of composite genetic drivers events and clonal dynamics in subtypes of paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) we analysed tumour-normal whole genome sequencing and expression data from 361 newly diagnosed patients. We report the identification of both novel coding and structural drivers as well as recurrent non-coding variation in promoters and cis-regulatory regions. The transcriptional profile of histone gene cluster 1 and CTCF altered tumours shared hallmarks of hyperdiploid ALL suggesting a ‘hyperdiploid like’ subtype. ALL subtypes are driven by distinct mutational processes with AID mutagenesis being confined to ETV6-RUNX1 tumours. Subclonality is a ubiquitous feature of ALL, consistent with Darwinian evolution driving selection and expansion of tumours. Driver mutations in B-cell developmental genes (IKZF1, PAX5, ZEB2) tend to be clonal and RAS/RTK mutations subclonal. In addition to identifying new avenues for therapeutic exploitation this analysis highlights that targeted therapies should take into account composite mutational profile and clonality.
Inter-observer variations of the tumor bed delineation for patients after breast conserving surgery in preoperative magnetic resonance and computed tomography scan fusion
Authors: Jiang Jie , Chen Jinhu , Li Wanhu , Li Yongqing , Chen Yiru , Zhang Zicheng , Liu Chengxin , Han Dan , Sun Hongfu , Li Baosheng , Huang Wei 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Purpose: Tumor bed (TB) delineation based on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (pre-MRI) fused with postoperative computed tomography (post-CT) were compared to post-CT only to define pre-MRI may aid in improving the accuracy of delineation. Methods and materials: The pre-MRI imaging of 10 patients underwent radiotherapy (RT) after breast conserving surgery (BCS) were reviewed. Post-CT scans were acquired in the same prone position as pre-MRI. Pre-MRI and post-CT automatically match and then manual alignment was given to enhance fusion consistency. 3 radiation oncologists and 2 radiologists delineated the clinical target volume (CTV) for CT-based. The gross target volume (GTV) of pre-MRI-based was determined by the volume of tumor acquired with 6 sequences: T1, T2, T2W-SPAIR, DWI, dyn-eTHRIVE and sdyn-eTHRIVE, expended 10 mm to form the CTV-pre-MRI. Planning target volume (PTV) for each sequence was determined by CTV extended 15 mm, trimmed to 3mm from skin and the breast-chest wall interface. The variability of the TB delineation were developed as follows: the mean volume, conformity index (CI) and dice coefficient (DC). Results: The mean volumes of CTV and PTV delineated with CT were all larger than those with pre-MRI. The lower inter-observer variability was observed from PTV, especially in sdyn-eTHRIVE in all sequences. For each sequence of pre-MRI, all DCs were larger than post-CT, and the largest DC was observed by sdyn-eTHRIVE sequence fusion to post-CT. The overlap for PTV was significantly improved in the pre-MRI-based compared with the CT-based. Conclusions: TB volumes based on pre-MRI were smaller than post-CT with CVS increased. Pre-MRI provided a more precise definition of the TB with observers performed a smaller inter-observer variability than CT. Pre-MRI, especially in sdyn-eTHRIVE sequence, should help in reducing treatment volumes with the improved accuracy of TB delineation of adjuvant RT of breast cancer. Keywords: Breast cancer, radiotherapy, tumor bed, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography
Test on Rigid-flexible Composite Anti-breaking Measure for Tunnels across Stick-slip Fault
Authors: Guang-yao Cui , Bohan Song 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In this paper, based on the F8 stick-slip fault section of Longxi Tunnel in China, the effect of the anti-breaking measure of rigid-flexible composite (reinforcement of the secondary lining & construction of the reducing dislocation layer between the primary support and the secondary lining) is studied by using the method of indoor model test in order to improve the anti-breaking performance of the tunnel across stick-slip fault in the actual tunnel engineering. The test results show that the anti-breaking effect is limited by adopting structural strengthening measures to resist the influence of stick-slip dislocation on the tunnel structure and the anti-breaking effect is obvious by adopting the measures of reducing dislocation layer only. However, the structural safety of the tunnel with stick-slip fault in the strong seismic intensity area can be greatly improved by adopting the anti-breaking measure of rigid-flexible composite, and the structural safety factor can be significantly improved. The research results of this paper can provide a reference for the anti-breaking design of the tunnel across stick-slip fault in the high seismic intensity area.
Particles and Corrected Particles of LDL and Non-HDL are Stronger Predicters of Coronary Lesion in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Li Chuang , CHEN Jingxun , Wei Siyue , Zhang Mei , Chu Yushun , Meng Fanpeng , Wang Jianyu , Tang Jie , Luo Jian , Yang Yu , Niu Xiulong , Cai Wei 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background The optimum lipid indexes, predicting the coronary lesion in postmenopausal women are not clear.Objective To find the optimum lipid predicter for coronary lesion in routine and advanced lipid tests.Method 300 postmenopausal women were enrolled and divided into coronary heart disease (CHD) Group (242), and non-CHD Group. Routine and advanced lipid indexes were measured with standard laboratory test and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The correlation and predictivities for CHD of routine and advanced lipid indexes were performed with Logistic regression, Spearman correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Results Age (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08 ~ 5.86, P = 0.03), apolipoprotein B (ApoB) (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.15 ~ 1.59, P < 0.001), corrected particles of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-p-corr) (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 ~ 1.06, P < 0.001) and corrected particles of non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL-p-corr) (HR = 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01 ~ 1.03, P < 0.001) were the risk factors of CHD. LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), LDL-p, LDL-p-corr, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C), non-HDL-p and non-HDL-p-corr were in linear correlation with Gensini score. Advanced lipid indexes LDL-p (area under curve (AUC) = 0.750, P = 0.02), LDL-p-corr (AUC = 0.759, P = 0.02), non-HDL-p (AUC = 0.693, P = 0.03) and non-HDL-p-corr (AUC = 0.699, P = 0.03) were more predictive for CHD than the routine ones (LDL-C and non-HDL-C). ConclusionIn postmenopausal women, age, ApoB, LDL-p-corr and non-HDL-p-corr were risk factors of CHD. Compared with traditional lipid items, LDL-p, LDL-p-corr, non-HDL-p and non-HDL-p-corr may be better lipid indexes for CHD in postmenopausal women.
Mitigation of Scintillation Effects in WDM-FSO System Using Homodyne Detection
Authors: Rani Neha , Singh Preeti , Kaur Pardeep 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Free Space Optics is a line of sight communication which transmits a very narrow beam width. FSO offers high bandwidth and higher data rate up to 10Gbps. FSO units are transportable, compact and are easy to redeploy. With so many advantages of FSO there exists serious limitations of atmospheric effects which makes it inefficient for long reach transmission. Environment factors act as barriers in efficient utilization of FSO technology. A major issue in FSO links is the turbulence induced fading which severely deteriorates the link performance, hence need to be alleviated for the efficient use of this rapidly emerging technology. Various researches have been carried out in FSO field to minimize the effect of turbulence induced scintillation. One such technique has been employed in this paper in which coherent based homodyne detection is utilized in conjunction with multibeam technique in WDM-FSO system with aim to reduce the scintillation effect. The performance comparison of the homodyne detection and direct detection in terms of bit error rate, Q- factor, and eye diagram has been explored for the scintillating effect.
An immunocompetent 169-day prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding patient with high neutralizing antibody
Authors: Li Li , Li Siqi , Pan Yang , Wang Xiaoli , Qin Ling , Yang Siyuan , Tan Dawei , Hu Yaling , Knoll Maria , Wang Quanyi , Wang Linghang 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Information with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding among immunocompetent patients is limited. We describe a twice repositive 169-day prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding in an immunocompetent patient and explore potential factors from clinical, immunological and genomic perspectives. We found that continuous viral replication and infectivity could exist in an immunocompetent COVID-19 patient with high neutralizing antibody.