bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
“Low Cost" Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for Acute and Chronic Wounds Healing - About 3 Cases
Authors: SIFI Nazim , BOUGUENNA Ryad , KACI Lamia 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is an alternative to standard treatment of acute wounds (such as traumatic or post-operative wounds) but also in that of chronic wounds (such as ulcers or stage 3 and 4 pressure ulcers). However, the exorbitant cost of VAC (vaccum assisted closure) devices for our limited resources health facilities, and their unavailability led us to opt for a "low cost" solution using wall suction and disposable materials readily available in all surgical departments. Materials and methods: After surgical debridement in 3 patients with both acute and chronic lesions evolving in septic environment, we replaced polyurethane foam by that from surgical scrub brushes, the tubing and its suction port by nasogastric tube, the hydrocolloid for the protection of wound edges by tulle gras (vaseline gauze), the adhesive film ensuring sealing by an incise drape, and the therapy unit by wall suction and exudates collection bottle. We cut up the foam to make it correspond to the wound, in size and depth, and then, using straight forceps, we create a tunnel in it, large enough to allow the introduction of the nasogastric tube. We then carefully place the foam in the wound. After that, we proceed to application of incise drape to cover foam dressing and connect the end of the probe to wall suction system via suction bottle. Therapy is initiated by setting vacuum gauge to a continuously delivered negative pressure of -125 mmHg.Results: The size of all wounds reduced considerably and rapidly with the installation of budding granulation tissue which appeared as early as the first dressing change enabling subsequently the best possible conditions for directed healing or coverage procedures (skin graft or flaps). The healing was obtained for all our patients.Conclusions: In this "low cost" NPWT, the negative pressure produced by wall vacuum promotes effective management of acute and chronic wounds, including complex ones, by rapidly "producing" good quality granulation leading to healing, while reducing the cost of therapy, the number of dressings and the length of hospital stay.Trial registration: Retrospectively registered
An Optimized and Hybrid Energy Aware Routing Model for Effective Detection Of Flooding Attacks in a Manet Environment
Authors: Nandi Mallikarjuna , Kannan Anusha 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Ad Hoc networks for communication have completely replaced the existing communication technologies which are dependant on infrastructure. An attractive and widely utilized field in communication systems is Mobile Ad Hoc Networks or the MANETs which are a derivative of the conventional Ad Hoc Networks. Security of information communicated through MANETs as well as the robust nature of the network is a prime issue of concern and research in recent times. Amongst various attacks prevalent on MANET environment, packet flooding is a common attack and causes a devastating effect on MANET nodes which if left undetected may lead to consequent crashing of the entire network. Floodding attacks also tend to consume enormous energy well above the prescribed energy consumption limits per node resulting in lifetime reduction. Hence, detection of these malicious nodes and their differentiation from trustworthy nodes is taken as the research objective in this paper. This paper presents feature extraction anda classification model based on ANFIS (Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System). By using ANFIS classifier, the extracted featureis trained and then classified.Further to counter the flooding cum energy preserving routing, this paper proposes a SMA integration with AODVprotocol called SMA2AODV to detect flooding attacks for MANETs. After detecting, the hybrid model ACO combined with FDR PSO for optimizing energy. ACO-FDR PSO identifies the energy-efficient routeand minimizes energy consumption in the network, toincrease node lifetime that ensures energy-efficient routing. The performance metrics like throughput, packet delivery ratio, attack detection ratio, and energy consumption areanalyzedby using the NS-2 simulator with existing benchmark methods.
Soluble Programmed Death Molecule 1 (sPD-1) As Predictor of Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Xu Li , Jiang Lichun , Nie Liuyan , Zhang Songzhao , Liu Lie , Du Yan , Xue Jing 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objective

To determine the relationship between serum soluble programmed death molecule-1 (sPD-1) levels and the development of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Methods

Blood samples were obtained from 87 patients with RA (58 with ILD and 29 without ILD) and 45 healthy controls. Serum sPD-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The pulmonary interstitial disease score was completed by a pulmonary physician and a radiologist through chest high-resolution computed tomography. Patients with RA-ILD were tested for lung function [e.g., forced vital capacity (FVC%), diffusing capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide (DLCO%)]. Associations between ILD and various markers, including sPD-1 and confounding factors, were investigated by logistic regression analysis. Diagnostic values of sPD-1 for the presence of ILD were investigated using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.
Results

Serum sPD-1 levels were higher in RA patients with ILD than in RA patients without ILD and healthy controls (185.1 ± 109.0 pg/ml vs. 119.1 ± 77.5 pg/ml vs. 52.1 ± 21.7 pg/ml, P < 0.05). Serum sPD-1 levels were positively correlated with RF titer (P = 0.02, r = 0.249), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody status (P = 0.02, r = 0.243), and serum IgG levels (P < 0.001, r = 0.368), negatively associated with FVC% (P = 0.02, r = − 0.344), forced expiratory volume (FEV1%) (P = 0.01, r = − 0.354), total lung capacity % (P = 0.046, r = − 0.302), and was independently associated with the presence of ILD in RA patients by multivariate logistic regression analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of sPD-1 levels for the detection of ILD in RA patients were 58.6% and 75.9%, respectively. The area under the curve was 0.689.
Conclusion

Serum sPD-1 levels were increased in RA patients with ILD. Increased sPD-1 may be a valuable biomarker to predict the presence of ILD in patients with RA.
Second Harmonic Generation Induced by Surface Plasma Wave on Metallic Surface in the Presence of Wiggler Magnetic Field
Authors: Dua Harleen Kaur , Kant Niti , Thakur Vishal 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Under the influence of wiggler magnetic field, the phenomenon of second harmonic generation at the metal-semiconductor interface, induced by surface plasma wave (SPW) has been investigated. Metals like Cu, Ag and Al, each with a thin layer of n-InSb over it, are considered for our study. Laser light is incident on metal layered on glass prism in attenuated total reflection Kretschmann configuration (ATR) which generates SPW. The SPW further interacts nonlinearly with the electrons of n-type semiconductor layered over the metal, leading to second harmonic generation (SHG). The presence of an external wiggler magnetic field makes the process resonant and helps in phase matching. Relatively more enhancement in the amplitude of the second harmonic is observed for Cu-InSb as compared to Ag-InSb and Al-InSb. Numerical analysis shows that the enhancement in the amplitude of SHG increases with the wiggler magnetic field.
Intraarticular Bone Grafting in Atlantoaxial Facet Joints Via a Posterior Approach: Nonstructural or Structural —A Minimum 24-month Follow-up
Authors: Zhu Jun , Wu Jian , Luo Keyu , Wang Zhong , Jin Huaijian , Jin Yufei , Wang Yingbo , Liu Mingyong , Liu Peng 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objective. To investigate the necessity of nonstructural or structural intraarticular bone grafting in atlantoaxial facet joints via a posterior approach and the influence by presence of basilar invagination (BI).Methods. From November 2016 to October 2018, patients who underwent posterior atlantoaxial or occipitocervical arthrodesis surgery at one institute were retrospectively reviewed. Operation records, preoperative and postoperative clinical status and radiological films were analyzed. Results. 33 patients (19 without BI, 14 with BI) underwent posterior facet joint release followed by intraarticular bone grafting were enrolled finally. 24 nonstructural (15 without BI, 9 with BI) and 9 structural (4 without BI, 5 with BI) grafting were performed. The average follow-up was 32.15±6.73 months (24-47 months). Among them, 1 (3.03%) implant failure occurred, 32 (96.97%) achieved satisfactory neurological outcomes, including 28 (84.85%) complete and 4 (12.12%) acceptable reductions with complete fusion within 6 months. For patients without BI, structural and nonstructural grafting showed no significant difference in terms of reduction maintenance (100% vs 73.33%, p = 0.530), while for those with BI, structural grafting significantly increased the postoperative height of the joint space (5.67±1.22 mm vs 3.43±1.78 mm, p = 0.002) and maintained it much better than nonstructural grafting (88.89% vs 20.00%, p = 0.023), contributing notably to BI correction. Conclusion. Intraarticular structural bone grafting in atlantoaxial facet joints has the advantage of maintaining anterior column height in the case of lateral mass collapse or when BI correction is needed, otherwise, nonstructural bone grafting is enough.
Design and Simulation of Pottery Kiln
Authors: Govind Kiran , PU Keerthidas , R Karthik , R Kishore 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Pottery industry is one of the small-scale industries in India. Most rural potters depend upontraditional pottery kilns for burning process by firewood or coconut husk. In order to producehigh quality pottery products better burning process is needed. The purpose of the project isto thermal analysis of burning process in a traditional furnace in order to achieve uniformtemperature inside the kiln and decrease the fuel consumption through better distribution of input heat. The traditional kilns are bonfire kilns, which involve open firing inshallow pit. These kilns suffer higher fuel consumption, poor ware strength andextensive breakage. Smokes produced during firing will serious health problems topottery workers and their family. There is lack of thermal studies on bonfire kilns. Accounting the demerits of traditional one is led to development of downdraught kiln. The thermal studies in performance of downdraught kiln by varying different parameters practically expensive and almost impossible. For this reason, the downdraught kiln is modeled and simulated on the computer by using the numerical method. By changing different parameter of the kiln like change in firewall height, Chimney height and roof geometry in simulation, substantial improvement in the performance of the kiln was detected. This modification is suggesting for the new design of improved pottery kiln.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Chronic Nonbacterial Osteomyelitis in Children: A Multicenter Case Series
Authors: Ma Le , Liu Haimei , Tang Hanyun , Zhang Zhiyong , Zou Lixia , Yu Haiguo , Sun Li , Li Xiaozhong , Tang Xuemei , Lu Meiping 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Objective The study was to evaluate demographic, clinical, laboratory, imaging, histopathology characteristics, and treatment responses of children with Chronic nonbacterial osteomyelitis (CNO). Methods Retrospective multi-center case series study of pediatric patients diagnosed with CNO treated at five tertiary centers in south China. Results Totally there were 18 patients diagnosed as CNO between 2014 and 2020. The median age of onset was 9.2 years (range 3.7-13.1) and 55.6% were female. Median delay in diagnosis was 10.9 months (range 1.0-72.0). The most frequent presenting symptoms were bone pain (100%) and fever (44.4%). Most patients had more than one lesion (median of 5, range 1-7). Most frequently affected bones were tibiofibula(88.9%) and femur (77.8%). The MRI characteristics mainly presented as bone edema and Hyperintensity in bone marrow. Bone biopsy was conducted in 11 patients (61.1%) with inflammatory cells infiltration manifested as chronic osteomyelitis, and none showed bacterial infection or tumor. In treatment, non-steroid anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDs) is used as the first-line drug followed by steriods, methotexate(MTX), salazosulfadimidine (SASP), Bisphosphonates and TNF-α inhibitor. Two refractory cases received combination therapy with Bisphosphonates and TNF-α inhibitor, and achieved good therapeutic effect. Conclusions The present study described a multicenter series of CNO from south China and highlighted the clinical features, laboratory tests, imaging characteristics and treatment outcomes. Increasing awareness of this disease is important to decrease time to diagnosis, improve access to treatment, and reduce complications.
Identification and Validation of a Hypoxia-Immune-Based Prognostic mRNA Signature for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Lv Shaohua , Li Jianhao , Piao Songlin , Li jichen 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a frequently encountered head and neck malignancy. Increasing evidence points towards an aberrant immune response and chronic cell hypoxia in the development of OSCC. However, there is a lack of a reliable hypoxia-immune-based gene signature that may serve to accurately prognosticate OSCC. Methods: The mRNA expression data of OSCC patients was extracted from the TCGA database. Hypoxia status was identified using the t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE) algorithm. Both ESTIMATE and single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) was used for further evaluation of immune status. The DEGs in different hypoxia and immune status were determined. A Machine learning method-Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression analysis allowed us to select prognostically significant hypoxia- and immune-related mRNAs in order to construct prognostic gene signature to predict the overall survival (OS) of OSCC patients. Results: A total of 773 DEGs were classified into either Hypoxia_High and Hypoxia_Low groups. Immune-associated DEG expressions were used to divide individuals into Immune_High, Immune_ Medium and Immune_Low groups. A total of 193 mRNAs which were significant in both immune function and hypoxia status were identified. With the Lasso Cox regression model, 8 signature mRNAs (FAM122C, RNF157, RANBP17, SOWAHA, KIAA1211, RIPPLY2, INSL3, and DNAH1) associated with OS were selected for further calculation of their respective risk scores. The risk score showed a significant association with age, perineural and lymphovascular invasion. In the GEO validation cohort, a better OS was observed in patients from the low-risk group in comparison to those in the high-risk group. High-risk patients also demonstrated different immune infiltration characteristics from the low-risk group. All individuals from the TCGA OSCC cohort showed similar trends in all 6 immune checkpoints, with those of the low-risk group yielding higher immune indicator scores in contrast to their high-risk counterparts. Conclusion: The hypoxia-immune-based gene signature has prognostic potential in OSCC.
Gender and Age at Enrolment: the Predictor of Advanced Heart failure in Gene-negative Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Qi Lin , Shan Zhengyi , Wei Ying , Wang Qing Yao , Zhao Peng 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) may develop concomitant advanced heart failure (HF). However, there is a paucity of data on the clinical outcomes of HCM patients without mutations who have advanced HF. Methods: A total of 1529 unrelated patients with HCM were enrolled and followed up. All patients were genotyped by whole exome or panel sequencing. Patients without mutations were studied to assess the impact of family history, clinical findings and echocardiographic parameters on advanced HF. Results: A total of 735unrelated patients with HCM were included in the study. The mean follow up duration was 3.2±2.3years. During follow-up,97 patients had advanced HF. Multivariable analysis revealed that risk factors significantly associated with advanced HF were gender [adjusted hazard ratio (HR)2.499, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.531-4.081, P<0.001]and age at enrolment (adjusted HR 1.298,95% CI 1.00-1.682, P= 0.049) during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Female and older at enrolment can increase risk of advanced HF in gene-negative patients with HCM . Early detection and treatment have an important role to play in management and prevention of disease-related complications for gene-negative patients.
Uncovering CAZyme Induction in the Thermophilic Fungus Thermoascus Aurantiacus
Authors: Gabriel Raphael , Mueller Rebecca , Floerl Lena , Hopson Cynthia , Harth Simon , Schuerg Timo , Fleissner Andre , Singer Steven W. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background: Filamentous fungi are excellent lignocellulose degraders, which they achieve through producing carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes). CAZyme production is highly orchestrated and the application of –omics methods such as RNA-Seq has greatly expanded understanding of this important biotechnological process. The thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus secretes high amounts of highly active thermostable enzymes that enable saccharifications at higher temperatures; however, the genome-wide response to CAZyme induction is not understood. Results: A fed-batch system with plant biomass-derived sugars D-xylose, L-arabinose and cellobiose established that these sugars induce CAZyme expression in T. aurantiacus. The C5 sugars induced both cellulases and hemicellulases, while cellobiose specifically induced cellulases. A minimal medium formulation was developed to enable RNA-seq studies of T. aurantiacus with these inducers. It was found that D-xylose and L-arabinose strongly induced a wide variety of CAZymes, auxiliary activity (AA) enzymes and carbohydrate esterases (CEs), while cellobiose facilitated lower expression of mostly cellulase genes. Furthermore, putative orthologues of different unfolded protein response genes were up-regulated during the C5 sugar feeding together with genes in the C5 sugar assimilation pathways. Conclusion: This work has identified two additional CAZyme inducers for T. aurantiacus, L-arabinose and cellobiose, along with D-xylose. A combination of biochemical assays and RNA-seq measurements established that C5 sugars induce a suite of cellulases and hemicellulases, providing a path to produce a broad spectrum thermotolerant enzymatic mixture for deconstruction of plant biomass.
Preventing Healthcare-Associated Infections by Avoiding Unnecessary Hospitalization: Cohort Study
Authors: Porto Ercília Evangelista , Guimarães Thais , Dias João Ítalo , Padoveze Maria Clara 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Background

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are major public health problem. The primary care is a key component of health systems, integrating the care across the care levels. Preventing unnecessary hospitalizations is one of objectives of primary care, thus avoiding exposing the patient to iatrogenic risks, such as HAI. The so-called Primary Care Sensitive Conditions (PCSC) have been used as an indicator that measures the effectiveness of primary care. This study aims at to identify whether there is an association between PCSC and HAI.
Methods

Prospective cohort with a nested case-control study. Sampling included 605 adult patients with more than 48 hours of hospitalization in public tertiary-care hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. We used structured questionnaire to characterize sociodemographic and clinical profile of participants. The information about hospitalization due to PCSC was collected from the patients’ medical record. The infection control team identified HAI cases in the routine surveillance using standard criteria. Multilevel regression model and the propensity score for case matching were used for data analysis.
Results

In our cohort, 55 (9.1%) patients were admitted due to PCSC. Overall, 32 (5.3%) of the cohort patients developed HAI. The Human Development Index of cities of patients’ origin was high, varying from 0.72 to 0.81, and the Gini index varied from 0.41 to 0.67. The average family income was around 2.5 Brazilian minimum wages (equivalent to USD 691.24 at the time of the study). We observed no relevant differences among patients with HAI or regarding individual or social indicators. The multilevel regression showed an odds ratio of 2.877 (95% CI: 0.960–8.262; p = 0.05) for potential association of HAI and PCSC, but not significant. In the analysis of the case-control study based on propensity balance, the group with PCSC had an odds ratio of 1.795 (95% CI 0.390–8.270) for the presence of HAI, but without statistical significance (p = 0.707).
Conclusion

This study did not demonstrated statistical association between HAI acquisition and PCSC. However, it is still unclear how much HAI rates are influenced by vulnerability conditions of patients that could be prevented by efficient primary care.
Enhanced RNAi stability through imperfect inverted repeats: nucleotide mismatches prevent intrinsic self-silencing of hpRNA transgenes in plants
Authors: Zhang Daai , Zhong Chengcheng , Smith Neil , Defeyter Rob , Greaves Ian , Swain Steve , Zhang Ren , Wang Ming-Bo 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Hairpin RNA (hpRNA) transgenes, with a perfect inverted-repeat (IR) DNA, have been the most successful RNA interference (RNAi) method in plants. Here we show that hpRNA transgenes were invariably methylated in the IR DNA and the adjacent promoter, causing transcriptional self-silencing and preventing the full potential of RNAi. Nucleotide substitutions in the sense sequence, which disrupts the perfect IR DNA structure, were sufficient to prevent the intrinsic DNA methylation resulting in more uniform and persistent RNAi. Substituting all cytosine (C) with thymine (T) nucleotides, in a G:U hpRNA design, prevented DNA methylation and self-silencing but still allowed for the formation of perfect hpRNA due to G:U wobble base-pairing. The G:U design induces effective RNAi in 90–96% of transgenic lines, compared to 57–65% for the traditional hpRNA design. Furthermore, while a traditional hpRNA transgene showed increasing DNA methylation and self-silencing from cotyledons to true leaves, the G:U transgenes avoided this developmental progression of self-silencing and induced RNAi throughout plant growth. The G:U and traditional hpRNA transgenes generated small interfering RNA (siRNA) with different 5’ phosphorylation, which resembled the endogenous tasiRNA and miRNA, respectively. Furthermore, our results suggest that siRNAs from the two transgene designs function differently to induce target DNA methylation, one (from traditional hpRNA) through the canonical RdDM pathway and the other (G:U hpRNA) a non-canonical pathway. Our study not only revealed a methylation-resistant RNAi transgene design but also provided new mechanistic insights into small RNA biogenesis and function in plants.