bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microcoagulation improved the performance of the UF–RO system treating the effluent from a coastal municipal wastewater treatment plant: a pilot-scale study
Authors: Yu Tong , Xu Chenlu , Chen Feng , Yin Haoshuai , Sun Hao , Cheng Lihua , Bi Xuejun 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Microcoagulation has recently been considered as a promising pretreatment for an ultrafiltration (UF) process from numerous studies. To investigate the effects of microcoagulation on the performance of the UF–reverse osmosis (RO) system treating wastewater with high and fluctuant salinity, different dosages of coagulant (poly-aluminum chloride) were added prior to the UF unit in a pilot-scale UF–RO system for a 10-week period operation. Microcoagulation obviously improved the contaminant removal and cleaning efficiencies, including water backwash, chemical enhanced backwash and cleaning in place processes. Organic fouling was dominated during the initial stage of the RO membrane fouling. The microbial communities of water samples and foulant on the RO membrane were similar to those of seawater and foulant on the RO membranes from seawater RO plants. The microbial community of the foulant on the membrane was similar to that of UF permeate and RO concentrate. These results demonstrated that microcoagulation could improve the performance of the UF–RO system treating the effluent with high and fluctuant salinity from a coastal municipal wastewater treatment plant.
Phenylbenzopyrone of Flavonoids as a Potential Scaffold to Prevent SARSCoV-2 Replication by Inhibiting its M PRO Main Protease
Authors: Potshangbam Angamba M. , Nongdam Potshangbam , Kumar A. Kiran , Rathore R.S. 
Published: January 2021

Background:
In December 2019, an outbreak of a pneumonia-like illness, Corona virus
disease 2019 (COVID-19), originating from Wuhan, China, was linked to novel coronavirus,
now termed SARS-CoV-2. Unfortunately, no effective drugs or vaccines have been reported
yet. The main protease (MPRO) remains the most validated pharmacological target for the design
and discovery of inhibitors.

Objective:
The purpose of the study was to find a prospective natural scaffold as an inhibitor for
MPRO main protease in SARS-CoV-2 and compare it with repurposed antiviral drugs lopinavir
and nelfinavir.

Methods:
Natural compound libraries were screened for potential scaffold against MPRO main
protease. Molecular dynamics simulation, MM-GBSA and principal component analyses of enzyme-
ligand complexes were carried out with the top-ranking hits and compared with the repurposed
antiviral drugs lopinavir and nelfinavir.

Results:
The structure-based virtual screening indicated phenylbenzopyrone of flavonoids as one
of the top-ranking scaffolds that have the potential to inhibit the main protease with the Oglycosidic
form, performing better than the corresponding aglyconic form. Simulation studies
indicated that glycosidic form of flavonoid is a more suitable inhibitor with compounds rutin,
procyanidin B6, baicalin and galloylquercetin, demonstrating high affinity and stability, and rutin,
emerging as one of the best candidate compounds. Interestingly, rutin was reported to have
inhibitory activity against similar protease (3Cprotease of enterovirus A71) and implicated in
lung fibrosis.

Conclusion:
The present study on flavonoids, possessing a potential scaffold for inhibiting main
protease activity for all betacoronavirus is an attempt to provide new and safe drug leads within a
reasonably short period.
Efficacy of a Chitosan-curcumin Mixture in Treating Indomethacininduced Acute Gastric Ulcer in Rats
Authors: Kuadkaew Sineenat , Ungphaiboon Suwipa , Phdoongsombut Narubodee , Kaewsuwan Sireewan , Mahattanadul Sirima 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Curcumin is claimed as a potent protectant against Gastric Ulcer (GU) induced
by strong necrotizing agents, including NSAIDs through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory
and gastroprotective activities. However, it was found to exert opposite effects to either delay ulcer
healing or exacerbate ulcer inflammation through some curative mechanisms differently modified
by curcumin dosage. Its ability to inhibit the expression of COX-2 may also delay the healing of
NSAIDs-induced GU. Recently, a topical chitosan-curcumin solution has been found to be a safe
and potential alternative agent in treating oral ulcer. Therefore, an oral chitosan-curcumin mixture
was developed and determined for its efficacy in treating NSAIDs-induced GU in the rat.

Methods:
A chitosan (150 mg)-curcumin (20 mg) mixture with optimal gastric pH was developed.
Indomethacin (30 mg/kg) was given orally to the rat and test preparations were administered orally
at 5 h later and then every 24 h for two consecutive days. The sum of all gastric ulcerated areas
(mm2) for each stomach was used as ulcer index. Gastric pro-inflammatory mediators and cytoprotective
factors were determined.

Results:
An oral administration of a chitosan-curcumin mixture exerted a superior efficacy than
curcumin, chitosan or lansoprazole (a standard antiulcer agent) in healing indomethacin-induced
GU. It was revealed that the mixture exhibited the highest anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and gastric
mucus producing activities including the high potency in down-regulating pro-inflammatory
COX-2 and iNOS expression but up-regulating cytoprotective COX-1, nNOS and eNOS expression.

Conclusion:
The present findings indicated the benefit of a chitosan-curcumin mixture as a potential
alternative agent in treating NSAIDs-induced gastric ulcers.
Usefulness of Contrast-enhanced Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Han Byoung Hee , Park Sung Bin 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can provide more improved images
of renal blood flow and much more information of both macro- and microcirculation of the
kidney as compared to Doppler US.

Objective:
To investigate the usefulness of CEUS by analyzing differences in perfusion-related parameters
among the three chronic kidney disease (CKD) subgroups and the control group.

Methods:
Thirty-eight patients with CKD and 21 controls who were age-matched (20−49 years)
were included. Included CKD patients were stratified into three groups according to their eGFR:
group I, eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (GFR category I and II); group II, 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 ≤ eGFR
< 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (GFR category III); and group III, eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 (GFR category
IV and V). Comparisons with the controls (eGFR > 90 ml/min/1.73 m2) were performed. Real-time
and dynamic renal cortex imaging was performed using CEUS. Time-intensity curves and several
bolus model quantitative perfusion parameters were created using the VueBox® quantification software.
We compared the parameters among the CKD subgroups and between the CKD and control
groups.

Results:
Eight patients were included in group I, 12 patients in group II, and 18 patients in group
III. Significant differences were noted in the wash-in and wash-out rates between the CKD and control
groups (p = 0.027 and p = 0.018, respectively), but not between those of the CKD subgroups.
There were no significant differences of other perfusion parameters among the CKD subgroups
and between the CKD and control groups.

Conclusion:
A few perfusion related CEUS parameters (WiR and WoR) can be used as markers of
renal microvascular perfusion relating renal function. CEUS can effectively and quantitatively exhibit
the renal microvascular perfusion in patients with CKD as well as normal control participants.
A Tour of Unsupervised Deep Learning for Medical Image Analysis
Authors: Raza Khalid , Singh Nripendra Kumar 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Interpretation of medical images for the diagnosis and treatment of complex
diseases from high-dimensional and heterogeneous data remains a key challenge in transforming
healthcare. In the last few years, both supervised and unsupervised deep learning achieved
promising results in the area of medical image analysis. Several reviews on supervised deep learning
are published, but hardly any rigorous review on unsupervised deep learning for medical image
analysis is available.

Objectives:
The objective of this review is to systematically present various unsupervised deep learning
models, tools, and benchmark datasets applied to medical image analysis. Some of the discussed
models are autoencoders and their variants, Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBM), Deep
Belief Networks (DBN), Deep Boltzmann Machine (DBM), and Generative Adversarial Network
(GAN). Future research opportunities and challenges of unsupervised deep learning techniques for
medical image analysis are also discussed.

Conclusion:
Currently, interpretation of medical images for diagnostic purposes is usually performed
by human experts that may be replaced by computer-aided diagnosis due to advancement
in machine learning techniques, including deep learning, and the availability of cheap computing infrastructure
through cloud computing. Both supervised and unsupervised machine learning approaches
are widely applied in medical image analysis, each of them having certain pros and cons.
Since human supervisions are not always available or are inadequate or biased, therefore, unsupervised
learning algorithms give a big hope with lots of advantages for biomedical image analysis.
Therapeutic Benefit and Biological Importance of Ginkgetin in the Medicine: Medicinal Importance, Pharmacological Activities and Analytical Aspects
Authors: Patel Kanika , Patel Dinesh Kumar 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Plants-derived bioactive compounds play an important role in traditional
and modern medicine, and some of the best examples are morphine, papaverine, vinblastine, vincristine
and ephedrine. Flavonoids are the naturally occurred phenolic compounds found to be present
in the different medicinal plants and responsible for their attractive shades in nature.
Flavonoids compounds have been well known in medicine for their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory,
anti-hyperlipidemia and anti-apoptotic activities.

Methods:
In order to know the therapeutic benefit of ginkgetin in medicine, here in the present investigation,
different scientific databases have been searched to collect the important scientific information
of ginkgetin with respect to the medicinal importance and pharmacological activities.
Different scientific databases such as Google, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar
have been searched to collect the important scientific information of the ginkgetin in the present
work. All the collected scientific information’s have been analyzed for the medicinal importance,
pharmacological activities and analytical aspects of ginkgetin.

Results:
Literature databases analysis using various scientific databases such as Google, PubMed,
Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar revealed that ginkgetin is a biflavonoids found to be
present in the Ginkgo biloba leaves and have been used in traditional and allopathic medicine.
Databases analysis signified that ginkgetin has effectiveness against inflammatory disorders, lipid
peroxidation, prostate cancer, DNA damage, renal cell carcinoma, osteosarcoma and small cell
lung cancer. Different analytical techniques for the quantification of ginkgetin have also been included
in the present investigation.

Conclusion:
Present study revealed the biological importance and therapeutic benefit of ginkgetin
in medicine, which could be used for the development of effective medicine against human disorders
and associated complications.
Cu2O-TiO2 Composite for Photocatalytic Degradation of Benzene and its Derivatives Using Visible Light
Authors: Nune Satya Vijaya Kumar , Golimidi Ravi Kumar 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Heterostructured nanocomposites have gained massive attention for their
catalytic properties lately. A wide array of different visible-light-active photocatalysts (VLAPs) have
been extensively studied over the past couple of years to fine-tune the bandgap of various stable semiconductors.

Objective:
The current investigation reports the sensitization of TiO2 nanoparticles with nano-sized
cuprous oxide, a well-studied p-type semiconductor, which has a relatively narrow bandgap ranging
between 2.1 eV & 2.6 eV, to obtain a visible light active photocatalyst.

Methods:
Visible-light-active Cu2O–TiO2 nanocomposite was synthesized using solvothermal
technique. The nanocomposite’s structure and size properties were studied using powder diffraction
(XRD), and electron microscopy (FESEM and HRTEM). Cu2O-TiO2 nanocomposite was tested on
benzene, toluene and chlorobenzene in contaminated water, under UV and under visible light, for
effective implementation in photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic contaminants.

Results:
The said nanocomposite was crystalline and found to be 40–50 nm in size. No apparent
change in the crystal lattice of TiO2 was observed due to the introduction of copper ion, and the
nanocomposite also retained a high surface area of 76.28 m2/g. The efficiency of the Cu2O-TiO2
nanoparticles degradation was studied both under UV light and under visible. Cu2O-TiO2 nanoparticles
achieved 97 – 99% degradation of benzene, 92 – 97% degradation of toluene and 95 – 98% degradation
of chlorobenzene in water.

Conclusion:
The said Cu2O–TiO2 nanocomposite is photo-active and showed an overall 95%
degradation within 2 hours of treatment under the visible region.
Relations between Health Perception and Physical Self-Concept in Adolescents
Authors: Castrillo Pedro Cantero , Villarino M de los Ángeles Fernández , Reboredo M Belén Toja , González Valeiro Miguel Ángel 
Published: January 2021

Background:Self-rated health is influenced by personal characteristics, such as gender and age. Similarly, it seems that physical self-concept can influence this perception, being positively related to healthy habits and quality of life. Adolescence is a sensitive stage in establishing the physical self-concept as well as in health-related behaviours. Therefore, it is necessary to study these relationships since the behaviours established at these ages will have a lasting impact on life.Objective:The aim of this study was to analyse the relation between physical self-concept and self-rated health in adolescents.Methods:A sample of 1697 adolescents (824 boys; 48.5% and 873 girls; 51.5%), aged between 12 and 16 years old (14.2 ±1.0) participated in the study. For data collection, a questionnaire was used. The measured variables were perception of health, physical self-concept and gender. A chi-square test was used to analyse the data and evaluate the association between the variables, and Cramer´s V was used to quantify the degree of association. A Classification and Regression Tree (CART) evaluation was applied to discover the influence of the variables that have an effect on the perception of health.Results:The results show that boys perceive to have better health and greater physical self-concept than girls. Similarly, a positive relationship has been found between the health´s perception in both genders and the physical self-concept, in each of its subdomains.Conclusion:A positive relationship has been found between health perception and physical self-concept. Therefore, an increase in the physical self-concept is presented as an opportunity to improve health self-perception, which can positively affect the health of young people.
A Research Perspective on CMOS Current Mirror Circuits: Configurations and Techniques
Authors: Rajendran Selvakumar , Chakrapani Arvind , Kannan Srihari , Ansari Abdul Quaiyum 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Immense growth in the field of VLSI technology is fuelled by its feasibility
to realize analog circuits in μm and nm technology. The current mirror (CM) is a basic building
block used to enhance performance characteristics by constructing complex analog/mixed-signal
circuits like amplifier, data converters and voltage level converters. In addition, the current mirror
finds diverse applications from biasing to current-mode signal processing.

Methods:
In this paper, the Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) technologybased
current mirror (CM) circuits are discussed with their advantages and disadvantages accompanied
by the performance analysis of different parameters. It also briefs various techniques which
are employed for improvising the current mirror performance like gain boosting and bandwidth extension.
Besides, this paper lists the CMs that use different types of MOS devices like Floating
Gate MOS, Bulk-driven MOS, and Quasi-Floating Gate MOS. As a result, the paper performs a detailed
review of CMOS Current mirrors and their techniques.

Results:
Basic CM circuits that can act as building blocks in the VLSI circuits are simulated using
0.25 μm, BSIM and Level 1 technology. In addition, various devices based CMs are investigated
and compared.

Conclusion:
The comprehensive discussion shows that the current mirror plays a significant role in
analog/mixed-signal circuits design to realize complex systems for low-power biomedical and
wireless applications.
Development and Feasibility of a Family-Based Health Behavior Intervention Using Intelligent Personal Assistants: Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Carlin Angela , Logue Caomhan , Flynn Jonathan , Murphy Marie H , Gallagher Alison M 
Published: January 2021

Background
Intelligent personal assistants such as Amazon Echo and Google Home have become increasingly integrated into the home setting and, therefore, may facilitate behavior change via novel interactions or as an adjunct to conventional interventions. However, little is currently known about their potential role in this context.

Objective
This feasibility study aims to develop the Intelligent Personal Assistant Project (IPAP) and assess the acceptability and feasibility of this technology for promoting and maintaining physical activity and other health-related behaviors in both parents and children.

Methods
This pilot feasibility study was conducted in 2 phases. For phase 1, families who were attending a community-based weight management project were invited to participate, whereas phase 2 recruited families not currently receiving any additional intervention. Families were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (received a smart speaker for use in the family home) or the control group. The IPAP intervention aimed to promote positive health behaviors in the family setting through utilization of the functions of a smart speaker and its linked intelligent personal assistant. Data were collected on recruitment, retention, outcome measures, intervention acceptability, device interactions, and usage.

Results
In total, 26 families with at least one child aged 5 to 12 years were recruited, with 23 families retained at follow-up. Across phase 1 of the intervention, families interacted with the intelligent personal assistant a total of 65 times. Although device interactions across phase 2 of the intervention were much higher (312 times), only 10.9% (34/312) of interactions were coded as relevant (related to diet, physical activity or well-being). Focus groups highlighted that the families found the devices acceptable and easy to use and felt that the prompts or reminders were useful in prompting healthier behaviors. Some further intervention refinements in relation to the timing of prompts and integrating feedback alongside the devices were suggested by families.

Conclusions
Using intelligent personal assistants to deliver health-related messages and information within the home is feasible, with high levels of engagement reported by participating families. This novel feasibility study highlights important methodological considerations that should inform future trials testing the effectiveness of intelligent personal assistants in promoting positive health-related behaviors.

Trial Registration
ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN16792534; http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16792534
Social Determinants of Health and Race Disparities in Kidney Transplant
Authors: Wesselman Hannah , Ford Christopher Graham , Leyva Yuridia , Li Xingyuan , Chang Chung-Chou H. , Dew Mary Amanda , Kendall Kellee , Croswell Emilee , Pleis John R. , Ng Yue Harn , Unruh Mark L. , Shapiro Ron , Myaskovsky Larissa 
Published: January 2021

Background and objectives
Black patients have a higher incidence of kidney failure but lower rate of deceased- and living-donor kidney transplantation compared with White patients, even after taking differences in comorbidities into account. We assessed whether social determinants of health (e.g., demographics, cultural, psychosocial, knowledge factors) could account for race differences in receiving deceased- and living-donor kidney transplantation.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

Via medical record review, we prospectively followed 1056 patients referred for kidney transplant (2010–2012), who completed an interview soon after kidney transplant evaluation, until their kidney transplant. We used multivariable competing risk models to estimate the cumulative incidence of receipt of any kidney transplant, deceased-donor transplant, or living-donor transplant, and the factors associated with each outcome.

Results
Even after accounting for social determinants of health, Black patients had a lower likelihood of kidney transplant (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.55 to 0.99) and living-donor transplant (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.26 to 0.95), but not deceased-donor transplant (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.67 to 1.26). Black race, older age, lower income, public insurance, more comorbidities, being transplanted before changes to the Kidney Allocation System, greater religiosity, less social support, less transplant knowledge, and fewer learning activities were each associated with a lower probability of any kidney transplant. Older age, more comorbidities, being transplanted before changes to the Kidney Allocation System, greater religiosity, less social support, and fewer learning activities were each associated with a lower probability of deceased-donor transplant. Black race, older age, lower income, public insurance, higher body mass index, dialysis before kidney transplant, not presenting with a potential living donor, religious objection to living-donor transplant, and less transplant knowledge were each associated with a lower probability of living-donor transplant.

Conclusions
Race and social determinants of health are associated with the likelihood of undergoing kidney transplant.
Cultural Diversity of Audit Committees and Firms' Financial Reporting Quality
Authors: Felix Robert , Pevzner Mikhail , Zhao Mengxin 
Published: January 2021

SYNOPSIS
We examine the effect of audit committees' cultural diversity, as measured through ancestral cultural diversity of audit committee members, on firms' financial reporting quality. We find that audit committee cultural diversity is associated with a lower likelihood of financial accounting restatements. Our results are driven by firms operating in more complex environments, which suggests that audit committee cultural diversity may be particularly important when the firm is inherently complex. We also find that cultural diversity is associated with a lower likelihood of restatements for companies with more powerful CEOs, suggesting that more culturally diverse audit committees are more effective in restraining CEO accounting opportunism. Additionally, we document that audit committee cultural diversity is associated with an array of other measures of higher reporting quality. Our study thus highlights the importance of cultural diversity in audit committee effectiveness.
JEL Classifications: M40; M41.