bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Silent Epidemic of Gross Congenital malformations in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia: Hospital-Based Study
Authors: Mekonen Hayelom , Berhe Yibrah , Berihu Birhane Alem , Teka Hale , Hadgu Abera , Gebregziabher Letekirstos , Berhe Etenat Halefom , Magana Tony , Mulugeta Afework 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Congenital malformations are defects of the morphogenesis of organs or body during the pregnancy period and are identifiable at pre- or postnatal. It is identified as the major cause of child mortality worldwide. There is a need to understand the prevalence of congenital malformations in Tigray in particular and Ethiopia in general as surveillance data are lacking. Hence, this study was designed to investigate the burden of gross congenital malformations in the Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted of birth outcomes diagnosed with structural malformations in the labor ward admitted to Ayder comprehensive specialized university hospital and five general hospitals namely Alamata, Lemlem Karl, Adwa, St Mary and Shul Hospitals from Tigray region between January 2018 and January 2019. Data on demographic and clinical findings of the mothers and their pregnancy outcomes were collected using a standard data collection tool. Simple descriptive statistics were used to characterize the study subjects. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square analysis and P value<0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 12225 births were recorded in the six hospitals during the study period. Of these, 383 births had gross congenital malformations of different degrees of severity and 12 of them were stillbirths. The overall occurrence of congenital malformations was 3.1 % of the total births (live births and stillbirths) examined. Central nervous system anomaly mainly Neural tube defect were found the commonest anomalies observed in this study. The maternal factors (maternal age, gravidity, abortion history, parity) and fetal factors (birth weight and gestational ages were significantly associated with the occurrence of the gross congenital malformations (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study has shown a high prevalence of gross congenital anomalies exists in the study communities. High prevalence of central nervous system-related malformations was observed in the Tigray region, given the high prevalence of nutritional deficiency and lack of periconceptional care that can impact the formation of the nervous system in the current study population. Hence, there should be an immediate food fortification with folic acid and periconceptional folic acid supplementation for all reproductive-age women in the region and the country at large.
Wear Resistivity of Al7075/6wt.%Sic Composite by using Grey-Fuzzy Optimization Technique
Authors: BHOWMIK ABHIJIT , Biswas Ajay 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Application of SiC particulate reinforcement impact greatly for making aluminium matrix composite because of its superb heat conductivity, oxidation stability and highly resistance to mechanical erosion. Present work based on dry sliding wear analysis of Al7075/6wt.%SiC composite fabricated by liquid state stir casting method. To acquire a productive wear rate, three major process parameters viz. load, sliding speed and covering sliding distance were compared four different levels. ANOVA analysis showed that the probability rate of load is less than 0.05 that revealed their significant factor. From the study, the highest GRG and GFG values are found 0.914 and 0.854 respectively for the optimal operating parameters of 10 Newton load, 2 metre/second sliding speed and 500 metre sliding distance. Finally, it is revealed that the grey-fuzzy technique effectively authenticate the decision making of wear performance characteristics rather than a plain grey relational grade.
Incorporating Contextual Information into Personalized Mobile Applications Recommendation
Authors: Zhu Ke , Xiao Yingyuan , Zheng Wenguang , Jiao Xu , Sun Chenchen , Hsu Ching-Hsien 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
With the rise of the mobile internet, the number of mobile applications (apps) has shown explosive growth, which directly leads to the apps data overload. Currently, the recommender system has become the most effective method to solve the app data overload. App has the functional exclusiveness feature, which means the target users will not reuse apps with the same function in a certain spatiotemporal information. Most of the existing recommended methods for apps ignore the functional exclusiveness feature which makes it difficult to further improve the recommendation performance of the app recommendation. To solve this problem, we aim to improve the app recommendation performance, and propose a Personalized Context-aware Mobile App Recommendation Approach, called PCMARA. PCMARA comprehensively considers the user and app contextual information, which can mine the users app usage preference effectively. Specifically, (1) PCMARA explores the contextual characteristic of app, and constructs the app contextual factors for app which represent the function of app. (2) For the app functional exclusiveness problem, PCMARA leverages the app contextual factor to design a novel app similarity model, which enable to effectively eliminate this problem. (3) PCMARA considers the contextual information of users and apps to generates a recommendation list for target users based on the target users' current time and location. We applied the PCMARA to a real-world dataset and conducted a large-scale recommendation effect experiment. The experimental results show that the recommendation effect of PCMARA is satisfactory.
Challenges to the Utilization of Community-based Health Planning and Services: the views of stakeholders in Yendi Municipality, Ghana
Authors: Bassoumah Bougangue , Andani Mohammed Adam , Adokiya Martin Nyaaba 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background The Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) is a national health reform programme that provides healthcare at the doorsteps of rural community members, particularly, women and children. It seeks to reduce health inequalities and promote equity of health outcomes. The study explored challenges of the CHPS utilization following reports by the Ghana Statistical Service of poor clinic attendance and high maternal and child morbidities and mortalities in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods This observational study employed qualitative methods to interview key informants covering relevant stakeholders. The study was guided by the systems theory. In all, 30 in-depth interviews were conducted involving 8 community health officers, 8 community volunteers, and 14 women receiving postnatal care in four (4) CHPS zones in the Yendi Municipality. The data were thematically analysed using Atlas.ti.v.7 software and manual coding system. 2 Results The study found poor clinical attendance in the form of delays in seeking health care, low antenatal and postnatal care visits, barriers affecting the utilization of the CHPS compounds to include lack of transportation and poor road network, cultural beliefs such as taboos of certain foods and proof for women's faithfulness to their husbands as challenges of health facility utilization. Besides, the absence of health workers at the CHPS compounds such as the CHOs, poor communication networks during emergencies when the ambulance service becomes inaccessible and lack of capacity by CHPS compound to sterilize some equipment. Furthermore, lack of incentives and adequate infrastructures like potable water and electricity, poor coordination of healthcare interventions and practices, lack of specialists and equipment as well as poor community engagement are major setbacks to the progress of the CHPS policy. Conclusions On clinical attendance, timing and number of antenatal and postnatal care visits, remain major concerns for the CHPS programme in the study setting. The barriers accounting for the low utilization of CHPS compounds are cost of referrals and cultural beliefs. There is an urgent need to address these challenges to improve the utilization of CHPS compounds and to contribute to achieving the sustainable development goals.
Preclinical Evaluation of a Newcastle Disease Virus-Vectored Intranasal SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine
Authors: Díaz Manolo Fernandez , Calderón Katherine , Rojas-Neyra Aldo , Vakharia Vikram N. , Choque-Guevara Ricardo , Montalvan Angela , Poma-Acevedo Astrid , Rios-Matos Dora , Arteaga Andres Agurto- , Cauti-Mendoza Maria de Grecia , Perez-Martinez Norma , Isasi-Rivas Gisela , Tataje-Lavanda Luis , Sernaque-Aguilar Yacory , Ygnacio-Aguirre Freddy , Criollo-Orozco Manuel , Huaccachi-Gonzalez Edison , Delgado-Ccancce Elmer , Villanueva-Pérez Doris , Montesinos-Millan Ricardo , Gutiérrez-Manchay Kristel , Pauyac-Antezana Katherine , Ramirez-Ortiz Ingrid , Quiñones-Garcia Stefany , Cauna-Orocollo Yudith , Vallejos-Sánchez Katherine , Rios-Angulo Angela , Núñez-Fernández Dennis , Salguedo-Bohorquez Mario I. , Ticona Julio , Fernández-Sánchez Manolo , Icochea Eliana , Guevara-Sarmiento Luis , Zimic Mirko ,   COVID-19 Working Group in Perú.
Published: April 2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed the lives of millions of people. Vaccination is a critical tool for the control of transmission; however, the recent emergence of potentially vaccine-resistant variants renders it important to have a range of vaccines types. It is desirable that vaccines are safe, effective, easy to administer and store, and inexpensive to produce. Newcastle disease virus (NDV), responsible for respiratory disease in chickens, has no pathogenic homologue in humans. We developed two types of NDV-vectored candidate vaccines, and evaluated them in a SARS-CoV-2 challenge in hamsters. Vaccinations resulted in generation of neutralizing antibodies, prevented lung damage, and reduced viral load and viability. In conclusion, our NDV-based vaccine candidate performed well in a SARS-CoV-2 challenge and warrants evaluation in a Phase I human clinical trial. This candidate represents a promising tool in the fight against COVID-19.
Investigating the presence of SARS-CoV-2 on the Surfaces, Fomites, and in Indoor Air of a referral COVID-19 Hospital in a Middle Eastern Area
Authors: Gharehchahi Ehsan , Dehghani Fatemeh , Rafiee Ata , Jamalidoust Marzieh , Hoseini Mohammad 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Coronavirus illness (COVID-19) is an immensely transmissible viral infectious disease caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This study aimed to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the indoor air, on the surfaces, and the fomites, and in the indoor air of a COVID-19 referral hospital in Shiraz, Iran. Indoor air sampling was conducted utilizing a standard midget impinger contained 15 ml of viral transfer medium (VTM) equipped with a sampling pump with a flow rate of 10 L min− 1 for 60 minutes. Surfaces and fomites were sampled using sterile polyester swabs. The RNA of SARS-CoV-2 was detected in about 41.2% of indoor air and 32% of swab samples. Four out of the six (66.7%) indoor air samples up to a distance of 2 meters from the patient’s bed in intensive care units (ICU-1, ICU-3), accident and emergency (A&E-2), and negative pressure room were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. All air samples within 2 to 5 meters from the patient’s bed were negative. This study’s results did not support the airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission; However, it showed contamination of surfaces and fomites in the studied hospital’s wards.
DL-PRS: a novel deep learning approach to polygenic risk scores
Authors: Huang Sijia , Ji Xiao , Cho Michael , Joo Jaehyun , Moore Jason 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background COPD is a complex heterogeneous disease influenced by both environmental and genetic risk factors. Traditional genome wide association studies (GWAS) have been successful in identifying many reproducible risk variants of moderate to small effect. Polygenic risk scores (PRS) were developed as way to aggregate risk alleles weighted by their effect size to produce a score which could be used in clinical practice to identify individuals at high risk of disease. A limitation of both GWAS and PRS is that they make the important assumption that the effect of each allele is independent and not modified by other genetic or environmental factors. Machine learning methods such as deep learning (DL) neural networks complement the GWAS and PRS paradigm by making fewer assumptions about the nature of the genetic effects being modeled. For example, the hidden layers of a DL model have the potential to model gene-gene interactions with non-additive effects on disease risk. The goal of the present study was to develop a DL neural network approach to GWAS and PRS and to compare it to the prevailing paradigm based on modeling independent effects. We applied our DL-PRS method to genetic association data from several GWAS studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Results We developed a DL learning algorithm for modeling the relationship between genetic variation from GWAS and risk of COPD in several population-based studies. We then developed a DL-PRS based on nodes and associated weights from the first and second layer of the DL neural network. Our DL-PRS framework has overall satisfactory performance in the prediction of COPD and provides significant contribution to prediction in addition to the current PRS methods. Moreover, regarding the clinical relevance of COPD, our DL-PRS has a consistent and closer relationship regarding individual deciles and lung functions such as FEV1/FVC and predicted FEV1%. Conclusions Not only does DL-PRS show favorable predictive performance with current benchmark PRS methods, but it also extends the ranges of PRS deciles in predicting different stages of COPD. Moreover, our DL-PRS results were replicated in an independent cohort. This study opens the door to the use of machine learning for developing risk scores from models developed using fewer assumptions about the nature of the genetic effects.
CDH1 germline mutations in a Chinese cohort with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer
Authors: Pan Zhiwen , Fu Zhixuan , Luo Cong , Bao Yejiang , Wang Mingli , Cao Wenming , Xu Xiaohong 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Purpose

Germline mutations in CDH1 are associated with hereditary diffuse gastric cancer (HDGC) and have been identified in multiple ethnicities. However, CDH1 germline mutations have seldom been documented in Chinese patients with HDGC, and their frequency remains unclear. Here, we aimed to examine the frequency of CDH1 germline mutations in Chinese patients with HDGC. In total, 285 patients who met the International Gastric Cancer Linkage Consortium 2015 testing criteria of HDGC for CDH1 germline mutations were recruited.
Methods

All 16 CDH1 exons, including neighboring intronic sequences, were amplified using polymerase chain reaction and screened using Sanger sequencing. Variants were analyzed using Mutation Surveyor V4.0, SIFT, and PolyPhen-2 software.
Results

Three nonsense and nine missense CDH1 germline mutations were identified in 21 of 285 index cases (7.4%). Two CDH1 germline mutations, N405Y (Asn405Tyr) and W409X (Trp409Ter) were identified as new variants. In addition, we found that up to 28.6% of CDH1 mutations in the 21 indicated patients identified as c.1775G > C (E551Q). The frequency of CDH1 mutations was 6.5% (7/108) in HDGC and 7.9% (14/177) in early onset diffuse gastric cancer (EODGC). The mutation detection rate of CDH1 in males and females was 6.7% (4/60) and 8.5% (10/117) in EODGC and 4.6% (3/65) and 9.3% (4/43) in HDGC, respectively.
Conclusion

These data reveal, for the first time, the type and frequency of CDH1 germline mutations in Chinese HDGC, and demonstrate that germline CDH1 mutations are a noteworthy contributor to the high frequency of HDGC in Chinese.
Investigation for Lesional Onset Site and Patellofemoral Joint Anatomy in Juvenile Femoral Trochlear Osteochondritis Dissecans : A Case Control Study
Authors: Kimura Mitsuhiro , Nakase Junsuke , Ohashi Yoshinori , Asai Kazuki , Yoshimizu Rikuto , Kitaoka Katsuhiko , Tsuchiya Hiroyuki 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Femoral trochlear osteochondritis dissecans is an uncommon disease, and its cause remains unknown. We investigated the site of osteochondritis dissecans lesions and the patellofemoral joint anatomy of femoral trochlear osteochondritis dissecans in 15 knees, and assessed the clinical outcomes of the surgical treatments. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 15 knees in 14 patients who underwent surgery. The mean age was 13.2 ± 1.0 years at the time of surgery. All patients played athletic sports and experienced no traumatic events. We determined the site of osteochondritis dissecans lesions using the modified Cahill and Berg classification on magnetic resonance imaging scans. We also evaluated the patellofemoral structures with sulcus angle, facet ratio, patellar tilt, patellar height, and tibial tubercle-trochlear groove distance. Results: We performed osteochondral autograft transplantation surgery in nine knees, internal fixation in four knees, and drilling in two knees. The mean follow-up period was 34.5 ± 14.0 months, and the period of return to sports was 6.1 ± 1 months. At the final follow-up, the mean Tegner activity scale was 7.2 ± 1.4 (preoperative score was 7.7 ± 1.0), and the Lysholm knee score was 98.5 (range, 89-100). The area of most preponderance was in the medial portion of the lateral femoral condyle in the frontal view, and in the segment superior two-thirds of the anterior region in the lateral view. There were no anatomical abnormalities in the patellofemoral structures. Conclusions: Femoral trochlear osteochondritis dissecans lesions occurred in virtually identical sites, and there were no anatomical abnormalities. This disease seemed to be related to the repetitive and persistent loading from the patella at slight knee flexion. In almost all cases, satisfactory postoperative results were obtained for osteochondritis dissecans regardless of the stage or surgical method.
5G IoT-based Geohazard Monitoring and Early Warning System and its Application
Authors: Li Zhaohua , Liu Dawei , Sun Xiaokun , Peng Wang 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
With the expansion of human production activities, geological disasters caused by slope instability are occuring more frequently. Hence, the research on effective monitoring and forecasting of the geotechnical stability of slopes is of great significance for the prevention and mitigation of slope geological disasters. In this study, a landslide monitoring and early warning system based on 5G Internet of Things (IoT) technology is introduced. The system monitors important indicators such as three-dimensional surface displacement, rainfall, and ground cracks using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment and various IoT sensors deployed on site. The key monitoring data are transmitted and displayed by 5G communication and advanced data visualization technologies. An early warning guideline is established by combining the surface deformation rate-time curve according to a four-level early warning method as well as embedded vector maps such as the topographic and geomorphological remote sensing map of the monitoring area, the geological section map, and the monitoring point distribution map. The system has the functions of accurate acquisition, rapid transmission, automatic search, and comprehensive analysis, and is applied to the study of creep slopes of the Lianhe terraces in Youxi County, Fujian Province, with remarkable results.
Presepsin Guidance Reduces the Duration of Antibiotic Treatment in Patients with Sepsis: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Trial
Authors: Xiao Hongli , Wang Guoxing , Wang Yan , Tan Zhimin , Sun Xuelian , Zhou Jie , Duan Meili , Zhi Deyuan , Tang Ziren , Hang Chenchen , Zhang Guoqiang , Li Yan , Wu Caijun , Li Fengjie , Zhang Haiyan , Wang Jing , Zhang Yun , Zhang Xinchao , Guo Wei , Qi Wenjie , Xie Miaorong , Li Chunsheng 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background: Long-term use of antibiotics for septic patients leads to antibiotic resistance. This study aimed at assessing the benefit and safety of an emerging biomarker presepsin on guiding antibiotic courses for patients with sepsis. Methods: In this multicenter prospective cohort trial, patients were assigned to the presepsin or control groups. In the presepsin group, antibiotics were ceased based on predefined cut-off ranges of presepsin concentrations. The control group stopped antibiotics according to international guidelines. The primary endpoints were the number of days without antibiotics within 28 days (superiority analysis) and mortality at 28 and 90 days (non-inferiority analysis). The margin of non-inferiority was 10%.Results: Overall, 656 out of an initial 708 patients were eligible and assigned to the presepsin group (n=327) or the control group (n=329). Patients in the presepsin group had significantly more days without antibiotics than those in the control group (14.54 days [SD 9.01] vs 11.01 days [SD 7.73]; absolute difference 3.64 days, p =0.000). Mortality in the presepsin group was non-inferior to that in the control group at days 28 (17.7% vs 18.2%; absolute difference -0∙5%, 90% CI -5.4 to 4.4) and 90 (19.9% vs 19.5%; 0.4%, -4.7 to 5.5). Patients in the presepsin group had a significantly shorter mean length of stay in the hospital and lower hospitalization costs than control subjects.Conclusions: Presepsin guidance reduces the duration of antibiotic treatment in patients with sepsis without increasing mortality. Trial registration: ChiCTR, ChiCTR1900024391. Registered 9 July 2019. Retrospectively registered.
Earthworm and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Improve Plant Hormones and Antioxidant Enzymes to Alleviate Simulated Acid Rain Stress
Authors: Wang Binglei , Wang Chong , Xue Rui , Liu Mengli , Xu Guangxia , Li Zhiyi 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Aims Acid rain is considered one of the three most serious environmental disasters worldwide, disrupting the normal physiological metabolism of plants and inhibiting their growth. As important parts of soil biota community, both earthworms and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can promote the growth of plants under adverse conditions. However, whether them can improve the stress tolerance of plants under simulated acid rain stress remains to be explored.Methods Illumina high-throughput sequencing was used to conduct a relevant redundancy analysis (RDA) of soil microbial community structure and plant growth factors, and a structural equation model (SEM) was constructed for maize biomass and a biological index to study the mechanisms by which earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi affect maize stress resistance under simulated acid rain stress. Results Earthworms promoted the absorption of soil organic matter by maize; promoted the growth of the root system; and increased the hormone levels of GA3, ABA and IAA; ultimately improving the stress resistance of maize. Mycorrhizal fungi increased the relative abundance of plant growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria, increased the levels of plant hormones and antioxidant enzymes, and improved the stress resistance of maize. Earthworms promoted infection by mycorrhizal fungi, and the interaction between earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi increased the root IAA content and the Shannon index of rhizosphere bacteria.Conclusions Both earthworms and mycorrhizal fungi can improve the stress resistance of maize through underground regulation. They interacted in increasing the root IAA content and the Shannon index of rhizosphere bacteria and alleviated the simulated acid rain stress of the aboveground part of the maize.