bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective anti-mycobacterial treatment for BCG disease in patients with Mendelian Susceptibility to Mycobacterial Disease (MSMD)
Authors: Mahdaviani Seyed Alireza , Fallahi Mazdak , Jamee Mahnaz , Marjani Majid , Tabarsi Payam , Moniri Afshin , Farnia Parisa , Daneshmandi Zahra , Parvaneh Nima , Casanova Jean-Laurent , Bustamante Jacinta , Mansouri Davood , Velayati Ali Akbar 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background/purpose:

Post-vaccination BCG disease typically attests to underlying inborn errors of immunity (IEIs), with the highest rates of complications in patients with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease (MSMD). However, therapeutic protocols for the management of BCG-osis (disseminated) and persistent BCG-itis (localized) are still controversial.
Methods:

Twenty-four Iranian patients with MSMD (BCG-osis or BCG-itis), followed from 2009 to 2020 in Tehran, were included in the study. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed for demographics, clinical features, laboratory findings, and molecular diagnosis. The therapeutic protocol sheets were prepared to contain the types and duration of anti-mycobacterial agents.
Results:

BCG disease either as BCG-itis (33.3%) or BCG-osis (66.7%) was confirmed in all patients by positive gastric washing test (54.2%), microbial smear and culture (58.3%), or purified protein derivative (PPD) test (4.2%). The duration between BCG-osis onset and MSMD diagnosis was 21.6 months.

All except three patients were initiated on second-line anti-mycobacterial agents with either a fluoroquinolone (levofloxacin: 15 mg/kg/day, ciprofloxacin: 20 mg/kg/day, ofloxacin: 15 mg/kg/day), aminoglycoside (amikacin: 10-15 mg/kg/day, streptomycin: 15 mg/kg/day), and/or macrolide (clarithromycin: 15 mg/kg/day) along with oral rifampin (10 mg/kg/day), isoniazid (15 mg/kg/day), and ethambutol (20 mg/kg/day). Three patients showed a clinical response to rifampin, despite in vitro resistance. Fourteen (58.3%) patients received also adjuvant subcutaneous IFN-γ therapy, 50 µ/m2 every other day. At the end of survey, most patients (n=22, 91.7%) were alive and two patients died following BCG-osis and respiratory failure.
Conclusion:

We recommend the early instigation of second-line anti-mycobacterial agents in MSMD patients with BCG disease.
Insufficient Gestational Weight Gain and Infant Neurodevelopment at 12 Months of Age: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Motoki Noriko , Inaba Yuji , Shibazaki Takumi , Misawa Yuka , Ohira Satoshi , Kanai Makoto , Kurita Hiroshi , Tsukahara Teruomi , Nomiyama Tetsuo , Group The Japan Environment and Children’s Study 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
BackgroundAbnormal gestational weight gain (GWG) increases the risk of obstetric-related complications. This investigation examined the impact of GWG on infant neurodevelopmental abnormalities at 12 months of age using the data of a nationwide Japanese cohort study.MethodsQuestionnaire data were obtained from the ongoing Japan Environment and Children’s Study cohort study. GWG was subdivided as below, within, or above the reference values of the Institution of Medicine pregnancy weight guidelines. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire, third edition (ASQ-3) is a parent-reported developmental screening instrument for children across five domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem solving, and personal-social. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to identify correlations between GWG and developmental delay defined as ASQ-3 scores of less than two standard deviations below the mean.ResultsA total of 30,694 mothers with singleton live births and partners who completed the questionnaire were analyzed. The prevalence of mothers below, within, and above the GWG guidelines was 60.4% (18,527), 32.1% (9,850), and 7.5% (2,317), respectively. We recorded 10,943 infants (35.7%) who were outliers in at least one ASQ-3 domain. After controlling for covariates, GWG below established guidelines was associated with a significantly higher risk of developmental delay for the communication (odds ratio [OR] 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-1.34), gross motor (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.24), fine motor (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.04-1.24), problem solving (OR 1.09, 95% CI 1.01-1.18), and personal-social domains (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07-1.24).ConclusionThis large survey revealed a possible deleterious effect of insufficient GWG on infant neurodevelopment.The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry on 15 January 2018 (number: UMIN000030786).
Nanoparticles Prepared From Pterostilbene (PTE): A New Strategy for Reducing Blood Glucose and Improving Diabetic Complications
Authors: Zhao Xi , Shi Anhua , Ma Qiong , Yan Xueyan , Bian Ligong , Zhang Pengyue , Wu Junzi 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Aim: New envisions are put forward on the cross application of plant extracts and biomaterials, especially new conjectures are put forward on glucose lowering nanodrug delivery systems.Study design and methods: In this study, pterostilbene (PTE) was esterified with acryloyl chloride firstly, and then 3-acrylamidophenyl boric acid (AAPBA) and PTE esterified by acryloyl chloride were copolymerized into p(AAPBA-b-PTE). The characterization and structure of its polymer were examined. Additionally, p(AAPBA-b-PTE) nanoparticles and insulin loaded p(AAPBA-b-PTE) nanoparticles were prepared. The properties of pH, temperature and glucose sensitivity were investigated. And tested the drug loading and release of NPs. The nanoparticle toxicity was observed through cell and animal experiments, and the nanoparticle biodegradation process under physiological conditions was also observed. Finally, the effects of NPs on reducing blood sugar, antioxidation and improving micro inflammation were investigated in vivo.Results: Based on PTE, we successfully synthesized p(AAPBA-b-PTE) NPs. The NPs were basically round in shape with sizes between 150 and 250 nm. It has good pH and glucose sensitivity. The entrapment efficiency (EE) of insulin loaded NPs is about 56%, and the drug loading (LC) is about 13%. The highest release of insulin was 70%, and the highest release of PTE was 85%. Meanwhile, the insulin could undergo self-regulation according to the change of glucose concentration, thus achieving an effective and sustained release. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the NPs were safe and nontoxic. Under physiological conditions, it can be completely degraded within 40 days. Fourteen days after the mice were injected with p(AAPBA-b-PTE) NPs, there were no obvious abnormalities in the heart, liver, spleen, lung, and kidney. Moreover, the NPs can effectively reduce blood glucose, improve the antioxidant capacity and improve the micro inflammation status in mice.Conclusions: Using PTE as raw material, p(AAPBA-b-PTE) NPs were successfully prepared, which can effectively reduce blood glucose, improve antioxidant capacity, and reduce inflammatory response. It provided a new way for the combination of plant extracts and biomaterials to regulate and treat diseases through NPs or other dosage forms.
Characterization of Multidrug-resistant and Virulent Klebsiella Pneumoniae Strains Belonging to the High-risk CG258 Isolated from Inpatients in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Nakamura-Silva Rafael , Oliveira-Silva Mariana , Furlan João Pedro Rueda , Stehling Eliana Guedes , Miranda Carlos Eduardo Saraiva , Pitondo-Silva André 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae (hvKp) clones have become a major threat to global public health. The CG258 is considered a high-risk CG and the K. pneumoniae strains belonging to it are known to be often multi-resistant and to spread mainly in the hospital environment. This study aimed to characterize the antimicrobial resistance profile, virulence factors, and the clonal relationships among 13 K. pneumoniae strains belonging to CG258 from patients admitted to a tertiary hospital in Teresina, in the state of Piauí, northeastern Brazil. Ten strains were classified as MDR and three as extensively drug-resistant (XDR). Three different β-lactamase-encoding genes ( bla KPC , bla OXA-1- like , and bla CTX-M-Gp1) and six virulence genes ( fimH , ycfM , mrkD , entB , ybtS , and kfu ) were detected. Moreover, two hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae strains and one capsular K-type 2 were found. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed 10 different sequence types (STs) (ST14, ST17, ST20, ST29, ST45, ST101, ST268, ST1800, ST3995, and ST3996) belonging to CG258, being two (ST3995 and ST3996) described for the first time in this study.
Sexual Function Alteration in First Trimester of Pregnancy Among Vietnamese Women
Authors: Linh Hoang Dao Nhat , An Le Sy Phuc , Tam Le Minh , Huy Nguyen Vu Quoc 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Introduction: A healthy sexual life would contribute to a lasting intimate couple relationship; pregnant women were susceptible to physical, psychological and social changes leading to sexual alterations and dysfunction in pregnancy. In Vietnam, despite not being a novel domain, sexuality has not been extensively evaluated due to the influence of Eastern tradition, which creating promotes unsecured feelings of insecurity when talking about sex.Aim: To investigate the female sexual function alteration during the 1st trimester of pregnancy and some related factors among Vietnamse women.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study comprising 383 women aged from 18 years old having routine antenatal visits at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital from April 2016 to March 2017. Data were collected by interviews using is Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire.Main outcome measures: Subjects’ sexual function alteration, using the validated Vietnamese version of Female Sexual Function Index.Results: The prevalence of women with female sexual function alteration before pregnancy was 53% and in 1st trimester was 88.8%. The frequency of intercourses during 1st trimester of pregnancy is lower than before pregnancy (p<0.05). The main reasons of no sexual activity during pregnancy were fear of harming the fetus (75.1%) and prefer not to be satisfied in the short-term rather than hurt the baby (73.5%). Factors affected female sexual function were age, time of living-together, age of 1st sexual intercourse, pregnancy planning, obstetrical history, sexual initiative, religion, academic level, and jobs (p<0.05).Conclusions: Sexual function alteration among first trimester pregnant women is a problem which should be considered, and medical staff should provide counseling to them to improve the quality of their sexual life and maintain normal course of pregnancy.
Sexual Function Alteration in First Trimester of Pregnancy Among *** Women
Authors: Linh Hoang Dao Nhat , An Le Sy Phuc , Tam Le Minh , Huy Nguyen Vu Quoc 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Introduction: A healthy sexual life would contribute to a lasting intimate couple relationship; pregnant women were susceptible to physical, psychological and social changes leading to sexual alterations and dysfunction in pregnancy. In ***, despite not being a novel domain, sexuality has not been extensively evaluated due to the influence of Eastern tradition, which creating promotes unsecured feelings of insecurity when talking about sex.Aim: To investigate the female sexual function alteration during the 1st trimester of pregnancy and some related factors among *** women.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study comprising 383 women aged from 18 years old having routine antenatal visits at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, *** Hospital from April 2016 to March 2017. Data were collected by interviews using is Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) questionnaire.Main outcome measures: Subjects’ sexual function alteration, using the validated *** version of Female Sexual Function Index.Results: The prevalence of women with female sexual function alteration before pregnancy was 53% and in 1st trimester was 88.8%. The frequency of intercourses during 1st trimester of pregnancy is lower than before pregnancy (p<0.05). The main reasons of no sexual activity during pregnancy were fear of harming the fetus (75.1%) and prefer not to be satisfied in the short-term rather than hurt the baby (73.5%). Factors affected female sexual function were age, time of living-together, age of 1st sexual intercourse, pregnancy planning, obstetrical history, sexual initiative, religion, academic level, and jobs (p<0.05).Conclusions: Sexual function alteration among first trimester pregnant women is a problem which should be considered, and medical staff should provide counseling to them to improve the quality of their sexual life and maintain normal course of pregnancy.
Research on Overlying Strata Control of Longitudinal and Latitudinal Filling Mining
Authors: zhang Fuyu , Guo Zhongping , He Chengqian , Leng Chao 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Abstract: In order to solve the problem of "three unders" coal resources and respond to the national green mining policy, combining with the advantages of short wall strip filling and long wall strip filling, we propose a longitude and latitude filling mining method with high recovery ratio and simple operation,where a latitude and longitude filling network is gradually constructed behind the working face to control the subsidence of the overlying strata.This article introduces the filling system, technological process and filling pipeline layout of the latitude and longitude filling mining method, and constructs the latitude and longitude filling mechanics model by using the elastic foundation theory, and gives the calculation formula for the roof subsidence and the stress of the filling body.By means of numerical simulation,the control of the longitudinal and latitudinal filling overburden was researched.The influence of the quality of the filling, the width of the filling, the spacing of the filling on the roof subsidence and the reasonable filling parameters of the 1207 working face were determined.The roof subsidence, the stress of the filling body and the deformation of the ground surface during the mining process were monitored by means of field monitoring, and the excellent control effect of the latitude and longitude filling mining on the overlying strata is confirmed in practical applications.
Medicinal Plants Used for Malaria Treatment in Gamba Village, North Region of Cameroon: Ethnopharmacological Survey; In Vivo Antimalarial Activity of Aqueous Extracts of Khaya Senegalensis Bark.
Authors: Gouissi Davy-Hyacinthe Anguechia , Nzangue Roselyne Teponging , Kalaza Josue Haskandi , Pabo Willy , Chegaing Siméon Pierre Fodouop 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: In traditional medicine, the floral diversity permits the inhabitants of North Cameroon to use a great number of plants to fight against Malaria. The aim of this study was to identify plants used in traditional medicine to treat malaria, and to verify the scientific basis for the use of one of these plants in the locality of Gamba.Methods: An Ethnopharmacological survey was carried out on 15 traditional healers. We collected data on use of medicinal plants using questionnaires. Then in-vivo antimalarial activity of the decoctioned and macerated aqueous extracts of khaya senegalensis trunk bark was evaluated. The 4-day suppressive peters test was realised on mus musculus swiss albino mice. On day one, mice were infected with 107 plasmodium berghei parasitized red blood cells through intra-peritoneal inoculation. 2 hours after infestation, mice in batches of 6 were treated orally at a dose of 75, 150.300 mg/Kg for macerated aqueous extract and 65, 120.260 mg/Kg for decoctioned extract daily during 3 days at an administration volume of 10 ml/Kg. An extract was considered (% reduction): Highly active (between 100-90 %); moderate (between 90-50 %); weak (between 50-10 %); Inactive (between 0 %). P-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.Results: A total of 18 plant species belonging to 12 families were identified for the preparation of 12 recipes. The decocted aqueous extract of khaya senegalensis showed moderate anti-plasmodial activity (% reduction = 52.46%) at the highest dose of 260 mg/kg with p<0.001 compared to the positive control group. The aqueous macerate at doses of 150 and 300mg/kg gave respectively a percentage reduction of parasitaemia of 59.42% and 71.80% and also showed moderate anti-plasmodial activity; with p<0.001 between the different extracts and the positive control (99.18%).Conclusion: In conclusion, extracts of khaya senegalensis showed moderate anti-plasmodial activity. It would therefore be necessary to evaluate the anti-malarial activity in-vivo and the toxicity of the aqueous extracts macerated using other solvents and also test the other plants listed.
Leaf Image-based Plant Disease Identification using Color and Texture Features
Authors: Ahmed Nisar , Asif Haﬁz Muhammad Shahzad , Saleem Gulshan , Younus Muhammad Usman , Anwar Sadia , Anjum Muhammad Rizwan 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Identification of plant disease is usually done through visual inspection or during laboratory examination which causes delays resulting in yield loss by the time identification is complete. On the other hand, complex deep learning models perform the task with reasonable performance but due to their large size and high computational requirements, they are not suited to mobile and handheld devices. Our proposed approach contributes automated identification of plant diseases which follows a sequence of steps involving pre-processing, segmentation of diseased leaf area, calculation of features based on the Gray-Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM), feature selection and classification. In this study, six color features and twenty-two texture features have been calculated. Support vector machines is used to perform one-vs-one classification of plant disease. The proposed model of disease identification provides an accuracy of 98.79% with a standard deviation of 0.57 on 10-fold cross-validation. The accuracy on a self-collected dataset is 82.47% for disease identification and 91.40% for healthy and diseased classification. The reported performance measures are better or comparable to the existing approaches and highest among the feature-based methods, presenting it as the most suitable method to automated leaf-based plant disease identification. This prototype system can be extended by adding more disease categories or targeting specific crop or disease categories.
Prognostic Analysis of Different Therapeutic Regimens in Patients With Acute Cardiogenic Cerebral Embolism
Authors: Hu Lan , Duan Guangxin , Xu Yuan , Cao Yongjun 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background

Intravenous rt-PA within 4.5h can reduce the degree of disability of acute ischemic stroke at 3 months, it is limited by the time of onset, the financial burden, or the risk of bleeding that the patient and his or her family consider, rt-PA is available to a very small number of patients.In practical clinical work, anticoagulant therapy and antiplatelet therapy within the 4.5h period of acute cardiogenic cerebral embolism (CCE) are more common. Few previous studies have observed and analyzed the functional outcomes at 3-month after receiving intravenous thrombolysis, or anticoagulation, or antiplatelet therapy within 4.5h from onset of cardiogenic cerebral embolism subtype.
Methods

The purpose of our study was to analyze clinical baseline data of patients with acute cardiogenic cerebral embolism and compare 3-month prognosis after different antithrombotic therapies administered within 4.5h from event onset. Our retrospective study cohort consisted of 335 patients with CCE hospitalized at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in China from December 2011 to December 2016. Patients were assigned to a group according to early-acute treatment therapy. Baseline, clinical, and laboratory data, and 3-month prognosis were analyzed.
Results

We found that the most common cause of CCE was non-valvular atrial fibrillation (96.2%, 85.2%, and 95.3%) and the most common concomitant disease was hypertension (88.5%, 70.5%, and 78.7%) in the thrombolytic-, anticoagulant-, and antiplatelet-treated group, respectively. The overall intracranial hemorrhagic conversion rate hemorrhage in the acute phase of CCE (during hospitalization) in our cohort was high (26 cases, 7.8%), with the highest incidence in the thrombolytic group (13 cases, 16.7%),4 cases experienced extracranial (1.2%, P = 0.316).; further, 164 cases showed good prognosis at 3 months as measured using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS ≤ 2), with the majority of cases in the anticoagulant group (P = 0.018).
Conclusions

Anticoagulant therapy may be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with cardiac stroke subtype who fail to receive intravenous rtPA thrombolysis within the thrombolytic time window.
Neutrosophic Variational Inequalities with Applications in Decision-Making
Authors: Zeeshan Muhammad , Khan Madad , Iqbal Suhail 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
In this paper, we introduced some new concepts of a neutrosophic set such as neutrosophic convex set, strongly neutrosophic convex set, neutrosophic convex function, strongly neutrosophic convex function, the minimum and maximum of a function f with respect to neutrosophic set, min and max neutrosophic variational inequality, neutrosophic general convex set, neutrosophic general convex function and min, max neutrosophic general variational inequality. We introduced some basic results on these new concepts. Moreover, we discussed the application of neutrosophic set in optimization theory. We developed an algorithm using neutrosophic min and max variational inequality and identified the maximum and minimum profit of the company.
Whole exome sequencing of oral epithelial dysplasias reveals an association with new genes
Authors: Adorno-Farias Daniela , Tarquinio Sandra , González-Arriagada Wilfredo , Palominos Rodrigo Alberto Santibáñez , Martín Alberto Jesus Martín , Santos Jean Nunes dos , Fernandez-Ramires Ricardo 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Photonic Microwave and RF Channelizers using CMOS Compatible Kerr Micro-combs
Authors: Tan Mengxi , xu xingyuan , Moss David 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
We report broadband RF channelizers based on integrated optical frequency Kerr micro-combs combined with passive micro-ring resonator filters, with microcombs having channel spacings of 200GHz and 49GHz. This approach to realizing RF channelizers offers reduced complexity, size, and potential cost for a wide range of applications to microwave signal detection.
Vanishing weekly hydropeaking cycles in American and Canadian rivers
Authors: Déry Stephen J. , Hernández-Henríquez Marco A. , Stadnyk Tricia A. , Troy Tara J. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract

Sub-daily and weekly flow cycles termed ‘hydropeaking’ are common features in regulated rivers worldwide. Weekly flow periodicity arises from fluctuating hydropower demand and production tied to socioeconomic activity, typically with higher consumption during weekdays followed by reductions on weekends. Here, we propose a novel weekly hydropeaking index to quantify the 1920-2019 intensity and prevalence of weekly hydropeaking cycles at 400 sites across the United States of America and Canada. A robust weekly hydropeaking signal exists at 1.1% of sites starting in 1920, peaking at 17.0% in 1963, and diminishing to 3.2% in 2019, marking a 21st century decline in hydropeaking intensity. We propose this decline may be tied to recent, above-average precipitation, socioeconomic shifts, alternative energy production, and legislative and policy changes impacting water management in regulated systems. Vanishing weekly hydropeaking cycles may offset some of the prior deleterious ecohydrological impacts from hydropeaking in highly regulated rivers.