bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interlinking of Peri-Urban Lakes Based on Water Quality and Yield Using GIS for Efficient Water Management in Chennai, India
Authors: Partheeban Pachaivannan , Anuradha Baskaran , Arunbabu Elangovan , Somasundaram Krishnan , Hariharasudhan Chandarasekaran 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
This paper aims at providing a solution for augmenting the runoff water from major lakes of Chennai and Thiruvallur district of Tamilnadu. Hence an attempt was made to save surplus water from Puzhal, Ayanambakkam, Koratur, Ambattur, and Retteri lakes have been proposed. To interlink Puzhal lake with Koratur lake alignment is considered as it passes through the road network, excluding built-up areas. Water quality analysis was also done with a minimum of three samples that were collected from each lake. Samples were tested for pH, Total dissolved solids, Total suspended Solids, and Chemical oxygen demand. The linking of the lakes is proposed based on the water quality assessment of each lake. This study suggests an efficient/optimal route or canal for interlinking lakes in a GIS environment. The elevation differences, slope and dimensions of the canal, and the possible best location to link the lakes/tanks were obtained through the spatial data in the GIS. This helps in an effective and optimized management of the water supply for Chennai city.
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Protect Against Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Involvement Of Anti-Inflammatory Processes And Hematoma Clearance Via CD36
Authors: Yang Yuefan , Wang Pan , Liu Anlai , Wu Xiuquan , Yan Zedong , Dai Shuhui , Wei Jialiang , Li Xin , Luo Peng , Luo Erping 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: Intracerebral hemorrhage causes high mortality and morbidity, but its therapy methods are limited. In the present study, pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) were demonstrated to have beneficial effects on an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) model. This study explored the effects and underlying mechanism of PEMFs in a mouse model of ICH and cultured BV2 cells.Methods: PEMFs were applied 24 hours after collagenase-induced ICH and 4 hours per day for seven consecutive days. The levels of proinflammatory factors were assessed by ELISA kits and western blotting. Hematoma volume was measured by histological analysis. The effects of PEMFs on phagocytosis of the erythrocytes was observed in cultured BV2 cells.Results: Seven days after ICH, the hematoma volume was significantly reduced in PEMF-treated animals compared to nontreated mice. We found that PEMFs decreased the hematoma volume and the levels of proinflammatory factors after ICH. To evaluate the mechanisms underlying the effects of PEMFs on ICH, we analyzed the transcriptome profile three days after ICH, and we found that PEMFs reversed the changes in inflammation-related pathways and alleviated neurological deficits. Furthermore, PEMFs enhanced the erythrophagocytosis of microglia via CD36. Thus, the PEMF-mediated promotion of neurological functions may at least partly involve anti-inflammatory processes and hematoma clearance.Conclusions: These results suggest that PEMF treatment is a possible adjuvant therapy for ICH patients.
Use of An In Silico Knowledge Discovery Approach To Translate Mechanistic Studies of Silver Nanoparticles-Induced Toxicity From In Vitro To In Vivo
Authors: Mao Bin-Hsu , Luo Yi-Kai , W Bour-Jr , Cheng Fong-Yu , Lee Yu-Hsuan , Yan Shian-Jang , Wang Ying-Jan 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background: Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are considered a double-edged sword that demonstrates beneficial and harmful effects depending on their dimensions and surface coating types. However, mechanistic reports regarding size- and coating-dependent effects of AgNPs remain inadequate in vitro and in vivo. In keeping with the 3Rs principles, we adopted an in silico decision tree-based knowledge-discovery-in-databases process to offer a multilayered view of AgNPs toxicity and translate our research from cell-based phenomenological observations to further in vitro and in vivo mechanistic explorations.Results: Cell viability assessment results was used to create a tree model for predicting toxicity evoked by four AgNP types: SCS, LCS, SAS, and LAS. This model ranked toxicity-relevant parameters in the order: dose > cell type > AgNP type ≥ exposure time. As suggested by the model, we chose a less responsive cell line to conduct further investigations. LCS among others was more capable of comprising viability of this cell line and could trigger higher levels of apoptosis and autophagy at a subcytotoxic dose. Even though at a cytotoxic dose, it was yet unable to evoke necrosis. Longer exposure to a noncytotoxic dose of LCS induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and senescence rather than eliciting apoptosis and autophagy. After a single intraperitoneal injection, SCS was found to be more toxic to mice than SAS, both of which could be deposited in various target organs (e.g., spleen, liver, and kidneys). Morphological observation, together with serum biochemical and histological analyses, indicated that AgNPs could produce pancreatic toxicity, apart from leading to hepatic inflammation. Conclusions: Our integrated in vitro, in silico, and in vivo study demonstrated that AgNPs could exert toxicity in dose-, cell/organ type- and particle type-dependent manners. More importantly, a single injection of lethal-dose AgNPs (i.e., SCS and SAS) could incur severe damage to pancreas and raise blood glucose levels at the early phase of exposure.
Flow Cytometry Method for Absolute Counting and Single-Cell Phenotyping of Mycobacteria
Authors: Barr David A. , Omollo Charles , Mason Mandy , Koch Anastasia , Wilkinson Robert J. , Lalloo David G. , Meintjes Graeme , Mizrahi Valerie , Warner Digby F. , Davies Gerry 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Detection and accurate quantitation of viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis is fundamental to understanding mycobacterial pathogenicity, tuberculosis (TB) disease progression and outcomes; TB transmission; drug action, efficacy and drug resistance. Despite this importance, methods for determining numbers of viable bacilli are limited in accuracy and precision owing to inherent characteristics of mycobacterial cell biology – including the tendency to clump, and “differential” culturability – and technical challenges consequent on handling an infectious pathogen under biosafe conditions. We developed an absolute counting method for mycobacteria in liquid cultures using a bench-top flow cytometer, and the low-cost fluorescent dyes Calcein-AM (CA) and SYBR-gold (SG). During exponential growth CA + cell counts are highly correlated with CFU counts and can be used as a real-time alternative to simplify the accurate standardisation of inocula for experiments. In contrast to CFU counting, this method can detect and enumerate cell aggregates in samples, which we show are a potential source of variance and bias when using established methods. We show that CFUs comprise a sub-population of intact, metabolically active mycobacterial cells in liquid cultures, with CFU-proportion varying by growth conditions. A pharmacodynamic application of the flow cytometry method, exploring kinetics of fluorescent probe defined subpopulations compared to CFU is demonstrated. Flow cytometry derived Mycobacterium bovis BCG time-kill curves differ for rifampicin and kanamycin versus isoniazid and ethambutol, as do the relative dynamics of discrete morphologically-distinct subpopulations of bacilli revealed by this high-throughput single-cell technique.
Quantitation and Characterization of Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA in Plasma by Deep Sequencing
Authors: Daly Grant T. , Pastukh Viktor M. , Tan Yong B. , Francis C. Michael , Aggen C. Zack , Groark S. Chris , Edwards Carson , Hamo Mohammad , Simmons Jon D. , Kutcher Matthew E. , Hartsell Emily M. , Dinwiddie Darrell L. , Turpin Zachary M. , Bass Hank W. , Gillespie Mark N. , Langley Raymond J. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The presence in plasma of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments, a proinflammatory damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP), is positively associated with outcomes of multiple human disorders. Because mtDNA comprises only a small percentage of the total DNA in plasma, qPCR is typically employed as an analytic strategy. However, this method provides little insight into sequence origins or other characteristics of circulating mtDNA fragments. Here we found that target bait-capture applied to plasma mtDNA derived from severely injured patients enriched recovery by ≈ 1400-fold, thus affording depth sufficient for NextGen sequence analysis. Our method excluded nuclear mitochondrial insertions (NUMTs) using a stringent alignment and filtering strategy which calls and quantifies both NUMT in the reference genome and polymorphic NUMTs. After enrichment, we sequenced 2,000–60,000x mean coverage over the mtDNA genome. Normalization of mtDNA abundance to NUMT coverage reduced batch variability. Two massively-transfused trauma patients and two non-transfused patients displayed time-dependent increases in mtDNA DAMP coverage and decreases in the mean fragment length, which were more pronounced in massively transfused patients. Finally, our approach enabled detection of low-frequency heteroplasmic variants. Collectively, these findings suggest that our target bait-capture, deep sequencing and attendant analytic protocols could provide unprecedented characterization of cell-free plasma mtDNA and NUMTs.
Faecal Microbiota Transplantation from Patients with Depression Into Rats Modulates Mood-Related Behaviour
Authors: Sørensen Suzette , Knudsen Julie , Michaelsen Thomas , Bundgaard-Nielsen Caspar , Nielsen René Ernst , Hjerrild Simon , Leutscher Peter , Wegener Gregers 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Differences in gut microbiota composition have been observed in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) compared to healthy individuals. Here, we investigated if faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) from MDD patients into rats, could induce a depressive-like phenotype. We performed FMT from patients with MDD (FMT-MDD) and healthy individuals (FMT-Healthy) into male Flinders Sensitive Line (FSL) and Flinders Resistant Line (FRL) rats and assessed depressive-like behaviour. No behavioural differences were observed in the FSL rats. In FRL rats, the FMT-Healthy group displayed significantly lower depressive-like behaviour than the FMT-MDD group. However, there was no difference in behaviour between FMT-MDD FRL rats and negative controls, indicating that FMT-Healthy FRL rats received beneficial bacteria. We additionally found different taxa between the FMT-MDD and the FMT-Healthy FRL rats, which could be traced to the donors. Four taxa, three belonging to Ruminococcaceae and the Lachnospira genus, were significantly elevated in relative abundance in FMT-MDD rats, while Coprococcus was depleted. In this study, the FMT-MDD group was different from the FMT-Healthy group based on behaviour and intestinal taxa.
Decision-Making Analysis Based on Hesitant Fuzzy N-Soft ELECTRE-I Approach
Authors: Adeel Arooj , Akram Muhammad , Cagman Naim 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
For the formal expression of uncertain data, hesitant fuzzy set theory has established itself as a distinguished model because it has a broad use in multi-attribute decision-making problems. With the incorporation of features from N -soft sets, a useful framework referred to as hesitant fuzzy N -soft sets has acquired an even greater appeal. This model integrates and associates the hesitant environment with information regarding the existence of grades or star ratings. In this research article, we introduce a multi-attribute decision-making technique known as hesitant fuzzy N -soft ELECTRE-I, which computes the decision-maker assessments in an adjustable and formative manner. The proposed method also improves the robustness and accuracy of the decisions relying on grades or star ratings. Thus it lays a bedrock for subsequent analyses and applications. We justify the relevance and convenience of the proposed technique by testing it in actually existing scenarios. Finally, we give a comparison of this novel methodology with the HFNS-TOPSIS method.
Gender Influence on Asymptomatic Malaria Diagnosis
Authors: Meirinho Sofia , Gomes Matilde , Campos Ana , Baptista Duarte , Baptista Alberta , Sequeira Gil , Ferreira Pedro Eduardo 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
The characterisation and identification of malaria reservoirs are major challenges for the efficacy of control and elimination programs. Malaria asymptomatic infections are highly prevalent in different malaria settings worldwide and constitute a great obstacle for disease control and elimination. The monitoring of asymptomatic malaria infection requires active case detection in many cases challenging the limit of diagnostic technology detection. We evaluated diagnostic methods and analyzed the gender dimension implication for asymptomatic malaria diagnosis on a high-endemic malaria region during the dry-season.
Continuum of Maternity Care Among Rural Women in Ethiopia: Does Place and Frequency of Antenatal Care Visit Matter?
Authors: Dadi Tegene Legese , Medhin Girmay , Kasaye Habtamu Kebebe , Kassie Getnet Mitike , Jebena Mulusew Gerbaba , Gobezie Wasihun Adualem , Alemayehu Yibeltal Kifle , Teklu Alula Meresa 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction: The ministry of health (MOH) of Ethiopia recommends 4 or more focused antenatal care (ANC) visits at health centre or at a higher level of health facility. In Ethiopia, few studies investigated time dimension of maternal health continuum of care but lack data regarding place dimension and its effect on continuum of care. The aim of this study is to estimate effect of place of ANC-1 visit and adherence to MOH’s recommendations of MOH for ANC visits on continuum of care rural in Ethiopia. Method: We used data collected from 1431 eligible women included in the National Health Extension Program (HEP) assessment survey that covered 6364 households from 62 woredas in nine regions. The main outcome variable is continuum of care (CoC), which is the uptake of all recommended ANC visits, institutional delivery and postnatal care services. Following descriptive analysis of the collected data, Propensity Score Matching was used to estimate the effect of place of ANC-1 visit on completion of CoC, and Zero inflated Poisson regression was used to model the effect of adherence to MOH recommendation of ANC visits on intensity of maternal health continuum of care. Result: Only 13.9% of eligible women completed the continuum of care and place of first antenatal care (ANC) visit was not significantly associated with the completion of continuum of care (β = 0.04, 95%CI= -0.02, 0.09). Adherence of ANC visit to the MOH recommendation (at least 4 ANC visits at higher HFs than HPs) increased the likelihood of higher intensity of continuum of care (aIRR = 1.29, 95%CI: 1.26, 1.33). Moreover, the intensity of continuum of care was positively associated with being in agrarian areas (aIRR = 1.17, 95%CI: 1.06, 1.29), exposed to HEP (IRR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.16, 1.28), being informed about danger signs (aIRR = 1.14, 95%CI: 1.11, 1.18) and delivery of 2nd youngest child at HF (IRR = 1.16, 95%CI: 1.13, 1.20). Increasing age of women was negatively associated with use of services (IRR = 0.90, 95%CI: 0.87, 0.94). Conclusion: Completion of maternal health continuum of care is very low in Ethiopia, however most of the women use at least one of the services. Completion of continuum of care was not affected by place of first ANC visit. Adherence to MOH recommendation of ANC visit increased the intensity of continuum of care. Intensity of continuum of care was positively associated with residing in agrarian areas, HEP exposure, danger sign told, delivery of 2nd youngest child at health facility. To boost the uptake of all maternal health services, it is crucial to work on quality of health facilities, upgrading the infrastructures of HPs and promoting adherence to MOH recommendations of ANC visit.
Effect of a toe-walking protocol in plantar heel pain: A pilot study
Authors: Huffer Dean , Hing Wayne , Charles John , Newton Richard , Clair Mike , Canetti Elisa F. D. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Introduction/Purpose: Plantar heel pain (PHP) is one of most common disorders of the foot treated in primary care. It affects athletic and sedentary populations, with patient reports of activity-limiting pain and reduced quality of life. Recently, atrophy of the forefoot plantar intrinsic musculature was identified in patients with PHP.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess whether loading the plantar fascia strengthens the intrinsic foot musculature (IFM) and decreases PHP sufferers’ symptoms.Methods: A within-subjects experimental design assessed Foot Function Index (FFI) and IFM strength via hand-held dynamometry (HHD) in 12 patients with PHP prior to and at the end of a six-week toe-walking program.Results: After six weeks of treatment, the mean (SD) FFI score significantly decreased from 73.2 (32.4) to 43.3 (22.8) points (p = 0.010, ES = 1.1). HHD measures: Both great toe flexion and lesser toes flexion strength measures demonstrated significant force increase of 7.8N 95%CI [1.3, 14.4] (p = 0.024, ES = 1.0) and 6.6N 95%CI [1.8, 11.4] (p = 0.010, ES = 0.9), respectively.Conclusion: Results suggest toe-walking reduces PHP symptoms and increases IFM strength. There was no identified correlation between the IFM and FFI changes. Symptom reduction may potentially be due to a reduction in cortical inhibition rather than IFM strength changes. Findings provide foundation for future studies, employing imaging, to further validate the effectiveness of toe-walking in reducing symptoms of PHP patients.Trial registration: PROSPERO 2016 CRD42016036302 Registered 10 March 2016, https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42016036302
Relationship between self-rated health and depression risk among children: Promoting school–medical care cooperation for child suicide prevention
Authors: Okada Michiyo , Nakadoi Yoshihiro , Fujikawa Ai 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background

Japan is facing a markedly high incidence of adolescent suicide. This study examines the relationship between depression and self-rated health, which is a significant factor driving people toward suicide, highlighting the importance of children’s assessments of their health.
Methods

In this cross-sectional study, an original questionnaire combining text and illustrations was administered to 6,421 elementary, junior, and senior high school students. To assess children’s self-rated health, we classified the survey questions into two domains: physical and mental health. We further classified the questions based on symptom duration. Depression assessment was based on the Depression Self-Rating Scale for Children. To provide a basis for the effective use of the self-rated health assessment tool, we classified the respondents into three groups based on physical/mental conditions together with the duration of those conditions and made comparisons. The groups were Favorable Health, Temporarily Poor Health, and Persistently Poor Health, and the results were analyzed using an ANOVA.
Results

Self-rated health levels decreased, and depressive conditions worsened with age. Although most children led physically and mentally healthy school lives, the mean Depression Self-Rating Scale score was significantly higher for the Persistently Poor Health group than the other two, and the Temporarily Poor Health group scored significantly higher than the Favorable Health group for both physical and mental health (all p < 0.001).
Conclusions

As the Temporarily and Persistently Poor Health groups in the domains of physical and mental health are more likely to be depressed, timely cooperation between schools and medical institutions is imperative to prevent depression.
An Empirical Mode Decomposition Fuzzy Forecast Model for Air Quality
Authors: Chen Bo-Lun , Zhu Guo-Chang , Sheng Yi-Yun , Xie Qian , Ji Min , Yu Yong-Tao 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Air quality is related to people's health. Severe air pollution can cause respiratory diseases, while good air quality is beneficial to physical and mental health. Therefore, the prediction of air quality is very important. As an important algorithm for signal analysis, empirical mode decomposition can analyze the change trend of air quality well, smooth the complex and changeable air quality data, and get the change trend of air quality under different time scales. According to the change trend under different time scales, the extreme learning machine is used for training, and the corresponding prediction value is obtained. The adaptive fuzzy inference system is used for fitting to obtain the final air quality prediction result. The experimental results show that the signal decomposition fuzzy prediction model has a good learning ability and has good accuracy in predicting the concentration of various pollutants in air quality.
Antibody-Mediated Blockade for Galectin-3 Binding Protein in Tumor Secretome Abrogates PDAC Metastasis
Authors: Choi Yeon-Sook , kim Myung Ji , Choi Eun A , Kim Sinae , Lee Eun Ji , Kim Hyun Ji , Jung Jae Yun , Kim Hyori , Kim Kyung Kon , Kim Jin Young , Hong Seung Mo , Kim Song Cheol , Chang Suhwan 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background

One of the major challenges in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) management is a local or distant metastasis and limited targeted therapeutics to prevent the process. We aimed to identify a druggable target by screening abnormally secreted protein from PDAC and explore its therapeutic intervention.
Methods

A LC-MS/MS-based proteomics was carried out for TIF (Tumor Interstitial Fluids) obtained from patient derived xenograft (PDX) models of PDAC. To develop a blocking antibody for selected target protein, antibody phage-display technology was used.
Results

The proteomic screening of PDAC secretome identified Galectin-3 binding protein (Gal-3BP hereafter) as a top candidate. The Gal-3BP is highly expressed and secreted in PDAC tumors and primary cells. Subsequent functional tests by stable knockdown revealed the Gal-3BP is required for PDAC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. In addition, the depletion of Gal-3BP significantly abrogated in vivo tumor formation and metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistically, we found Gal-3BP enhances the galectin-3 mediated EGFR signaling, leading to the activation of cMyc and its target genes related to EMT. To examine the clinical usability of these findings, we screened a Gal-3BP-immunized chicken antibody library using phage display technique. The two isolated blocking antibody clones against Gal-3BP profoundly inhibited the metastasis of PDAC cells in vivo.
Conclusions

Altogether, our data demonstrates the Gal-3BP is an important therapeutic target in PDAC and proposed its blockade by antibody as a novel, therapeutic option for the inhibition of PDAC metastasis.