bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of Body Mass Index on Mechanical Properties in People With Obesity
Authors: Usgu Serkan , Ramazanoğlu Engin , Yakut Yavuz 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: The study was to determine influence of body mass index on muscular mechanical properties in people with obesity.Methods: A total of 300 individuals (mean age: 27.31±7.21 years) were participated. The participants were assigned in groups base on BMI classification (Group 1 (BMI=18.50-24.99 kg/m2), Group 2 (BMI=25.00-29.99 kg/m2), and Group 3 (BMI≥30 kg/m2)). The biceps brachii (BB), biceps femoris (BF) were measured bilaterally using the "MyotonPRO" device. Results: All mechanical properties of the right and left BB muscle, left BF tone and stiffness were found significantly difference between groups (p<0.05). The bilateral BB tone in Group 3 was lower than the other two groups. The right BB stiffness of Group 2 was found to be higher compared to the other two groups (p<0.05). While the right and left BB elasticity was similar in Groups 2 and 3, it was lower compared to Group 1 (p<0.05). The left BF tone and stiffness of Group 3 were found to be significantly higher than Groups 1 and 2 (p<0.05).The right BB tone showed a weak negative correlation with BMI in females, and for left side in males. A weak positive correlation was found between the right and left BB elasticity and BMI in males and females. The left-right BF tone and left BF stiffness showed a weak positive correlation in males. Conclusions: The bilateral BB tone and elasticity decreased, and the left BF stiffness increased as BMI increased. Different mechanical properties were observed in sex comparasion base on BMI clasification. The BB and BF mechanical properties were affected more in males than females.
Integrating Early Stimulation and Play at Scale: Study Protocol for “MAHAY Mikolo”, a Multi-arm Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Galasso Emanuela , Ratsifandrihamanana Lisy , Weber Ann M. , Hemlock Caitlin , Col Mathilde , Dieci Maria , Rakotomalala Norotiana , Rambeloson Valerie , Fernald Lia C. H. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: Hundreds of millions of children living in poverty worldwide are not reaching their full, developmental potential. Programs to promote nurturing and responsive caregiving, such as those in which community health workers (CHWs) conduct home visits to support optimal early child development (ECD), have been effective in small trials, but have not achieved similar success at scale. This study will explore two approaches to scale-up: converting a home-visiting model to a group-based model; and integrating the ECD curriculum into an existing government program. The objectives of the study are to: 1) Measure how the integration of ECD activities affects time and task allocation of CHWs and CHW psychosocial wellbeing; 2) Examine how the integration of ECD activities affects caregiver-child dyad participation in standard health and nutrition activities; and 3) Explore how the availability of age-appropriate play materials at home affects caregiver-child dyad participation rates in a group-based ECD program.Methods: We will randomize 75 communities in rural Madagascar into three arms: 1) [C], which is the status quo (community-based health and nutrition program); 2) [T], which is C + ECD group sessions [T]; and 3) [T+], which is T with the addition of an enhanced play materials package for home use. All children between 6-30 months old at the time of the intervention launch will be eligible to participate in group activities. The intervention will last 12 months and is comprised of fortnightly group sessions in which the CHWs provide caregiver-child dyads with information relating to ECD; CHWs will also include structured time for caregivers to practice the play and child stimulation activities they have learned about. We will administer monthly surveys to measure CHW time use and task allocation, and we will leverage administrative data to measure caregiver-child dyad participation in the group sessions.Discussion: The results from the trial will provide the evidence base required to implement an integrated package of nutrition, health and ECD promotion activities at scale in Madagascar, and findings may also be relevant in other low-income countries.Trial registration: This trial has been registered on the AEA RCT Registry (AEARCTR-0004704, https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/4704, registered on November 15, 2019).
Last mile deliveries with lockers: formulations and algorithms
Authors: Buzzega Giovanni , Novellani Stefano 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
In this paper we consider the use of lockers in parcel delivery, a recent method used in the last mile logistics. Lockers are pick up points made of several cells that are located in several points of a city where customers can collect their parcels as an alternative to home delivery. We study routing problems in which one or multiple vehicles are used to deliver parcels directly to customers or to lockers. We also study the influence of the introduction of lockers when these problems include time windows.

We propose a set of novel formulations for these problems, some valid inequalities, and a branch-and-cut algorithm. Moreover, we investigate the difference between the routing problems with lockers and the classical routing problems.
Detection and isolation of pathogenic Theileria orientalis Ikeda genotype from confined dairy cattle, in Hebei, China
Authors: Liu Junlong , Li Zhi , Liu Aihong , Wang Jinming , Guan Guiquan , Yin Hong , Luo Jianxun 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background

Theileria orientalis is a group of benign pathogenic of cattle parasites with a cosmopolitan distribution, and has been classified into 11 genotypes through MPSP gene phylogenetic analysis. In China, T. orientalis is the most prevalent Theileria species, with several genotypes, but few fatal cases have been reported. In June 2020, dairy cattle in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, showed clinical symptoms of piroplasmosis, causing many animals to die. In the present study, we confirmed the infection of T. orientalis was responsible for the disease and isolated the T. orientalis Ikeda genotype from the field blood samples.
Methods

Fifty-one blood samples were collected from ill and recovered animal. Meanwhile, 12 samples were collected from animals without any clinical symptoms. Blood smears were prepared from blood samples and detected with microscope. Genomic DNA was extracted and tested by PCR method. The MPSP gene was sequenced from the Theileria positive samples detected by both methods, to identify the T. orientalis genotypes. Parasites were isolated by inoculate the mixed positive blood samples into the experimental cattle and identified by MPSP sequence analysis.
Results

Blood smears and PCR detection results confirmed T. orientalis infection with a 66.7% positive rate of collected blood samples. The MPSP sequences analysis revealed parasite genotypes 1 (Chitose) and 2 (Ikeda). In animal experiments, only T. orientalis genotype 2 (Ikeda) was obtained, indicating that the Ikeda type was predominant and responsible for the disease.
Conclusions

The present study firstly identified pathogenic T. orientalis Ikeda in dairy cattle in China, and isolated the parasite from experimental animal. Although many T. orientalis genotypes are present in China, the possibility of T. orientalis genotype 1 and 2 infections in confined dairy cattle should considered to avoid additional economic losses.
6G Vision and Challenges: Complexity Analysis of M-MIMO Rate-less Based System with Various Pre-Coding Schemes
Authors: El-Bendary Mohsen 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Due to the expected essential role of the rate-less digital fountain codes and Massive-Multi-Input Multi-Output (M-MIMO) techniques in the 5G and 6G mobile wireless networks, this paper investigates the performance of M-MIMO enhancing system employing the Raptor code. The proposed M-MIMO-Raptor code based system has been tested over the different wireless communications channel conditions with respect to the various Frequency Doppler (FD). The various promising technologies for the beyond 5G and 6G have been presented with focusing on the advanced error control techniques. The flexible adaptive interleaved pre-code based on the channel conditions is suitable for 6G mobile wireless networks which integrates the various environments of the communications. The complexity of the advanced and fixed code rate schemes is discussed. Several computer simulation experiments are carried out for evaluating the performance of M-MIMO-rate-less code system. These experiments prove the superiority of the presented wireless rate-less system compared to the fixed rate wireless system due to the improved results of BER and the throughput values which are utilized as a performance evaluating metrics. Theoretical analysis of the M-MIMO throughput proves the enhancing of M-MIMO utilizing the rate-less Raptor code and its applicability for the next mobile wireless networks generations.
Comparative Evaluation of the Thermo Fisher TaqPath TM COVID-19 Combo Kit with the Cepheid Xpert ® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 Assay for Detecting SARS-CoV-2 in Nasopharyngeal Specimens
Authors: Granato Paul A. , Kimball Simon R. , Alkins Brenda R. , Cross Deirdre C. , Unz Melissa M. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Purpose With over 50 SARS-CoV-2 gene amplification assays that have been EUA cleared with minimal experimental validation performed, it is likely that not all of these assays are comparable in their ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in clinical specimens. Thermo Fisher Scientific is a relatively new company in the molecular diagnostics field and the purpose of this study was to compare the performance of the Thermo Fisher TaqPath™ Combo Kit with an established test, the Cepheid Xpert® Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay, for its ability to detect SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal specimens.Methods A total of 300 randomly selected nasopharyngeal specimens were evaluated and tested by the TaqPath and GeneXpert assays. Discordant test specimens were arbitrated by performing an alternative PCR assay and Sanger sequencing.Results The TaqPath assay had a 96.7% and 99.6% positive and negative agreement respectively when compared to the Xpert Xpress test. However, after test arbitration, the three discordant specimens were arbitrated in favor of the TaqPath assay producing a positive and negative percent agreement of 100% for the TaqPath Combo Kit while the Xpress SARS-CoV-2 assay had a positive and negative percent agreement of 98.3% and 99.2% respectively.Conclusions The TaqPath Combo Kit is a high complexity assay that compares favorably with the Xpert Xpress test and can be reliably used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in nasopharyngeal specimens.
Plasma Metabolomic Profiling in Workers With Noise-induced Hearing Loss: A Pilot Study
Authors: Miao Long , Wang Boshen , Zhang Juan , Yin Lihong , Pu Yuepu 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) remains a leading occupational related disease and is a serious public health problem. Hence, the identification of potential biomarkers for NIHL prevention and diagnosis has become an urgent work. To discover potential metabolic biomarkers of NIHL, plasma metabolomics analysis among 62 NIHL patients and 62 controls was performed using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS). Orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) model was applied to distinguish metabolite profile alterations in plasma samples between the two groups. The alterations in autophagy pathway were in accordance with previous published studies, therefore, three autophagy-related genes (PI3K, AKT and ATG5) were selected and mRNA levels were detected by RT-qPCR analysis in peripheral white blood cells (WBCs) samples. Compared to the control group, 20 identified plasma metabolites were significantly altered in NIHL patients. Meanwhile, a total of seven metabolic pathways were enriched, including glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchor biosynthesis, autophagy, choline metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism and linoleic acid metabolism, and retrograde endocannabinoid signaling pathway. Furthermore, the results indicated that the mRNA levels of three autophagy-related genes (PI3K, AKT and ATG5) were significantly decreased in NIHL cases compared with controls. Taken together, our current study firstly provides evidence that the identified aberrantly altered metabolites might be potential biomarkers of NIHL for noise-exposed workers. In addition, autophagy pathway may be involved in the occurrence and development of NIHL.
Assessment of Financial Development on Environmental Degradation in KSA: How Technology Effect?
Authors: Aljadani Abdussalam 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The main purpose of this research is to test the effect of financial development, real GDP, population, technology on dioxide carbon emissions as well the technology effect of financial development and environmental degradation in the Saudi Arabia (KSA) over the period 1970–2016 and the STIRPAT (Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence, and Technology) with an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model is used for the empirical inquest. These empirical findings by the Bounds cointegration tests show that the financial development and technology have a negative and significant impact on environmental degradation, firstly. Secondly, the technology effect of financial development (composite effect of technology and financial development) has an unfortunate effect on environmental mitigation. Finally, lower environmental mitigation is associated by a deepening in total population and affluence. Moreover, findings from the pairwise Granger causality test point that there is no causality running from both financial development and technology to the effect of technology among KSA. On the opposite, we looked at economic growth Granger, cause environmental quality. In addition, a unidirectional causality was seen running from environmental quality to financial development. The same, the relationship between affluence and financial development in KSA is unidirectional. Thus, various policy implications should be proposed to policymakers as enhancing the expansion of technology, especially in the industrial sector by incorporating renewable energy consumption to upgrade environmental quality.
Impulse Oscillometry May Be Useful in Evaluation of Bronchiectasis Severity and Prediction of Airway Reversibility.
Authors: Tan Cuiyan , Ma Donghai , Wang Kongqiu , Tu Changli , Chen Meizhu , Zheng Xiaobin , Liang Yingjian , Huang Yiying , Wang Zhenguo , Wu Jian , Huang Jin , Liu Jing 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
BackgroundImpulse oscillometry (IOS) can be used to evaluateairway impedance in patients with obstructive airway diseases. Previous studies have demonstrated that IOS parameters differ betweenbronchiectasis patients and healthy controls. This study aims to explore the usefulness of IOS in assessing disease severity and airway reversibility in bronchiectasis.MethodSeventy-four patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis who visited our Respiratory Medicine outpatient clinic were consecutively recruited. Spirometry, plethysmography and IOS tests were performed. Patients were stratified into mild, moderate and severe disease according to Reiff, Bhalla, BSI, FACED, and BRICS scores. Airway reversibility was measured by bronchodilation test (BDT) and the result was classified as positive or negative.. ROC curves of IOS parameters was used to assess the usefulness of IOS parameters in predicting airway reversibility. Correlations between the IOS, spirometric lung function and bronchiectasis severity parameters were analysed.ResultsMany IOS parameters, such as airway resistance at 5Hz (R5), small airways resistance (R5–R20), total airway reactance (X5), resonance frequency (Fres), total airway impedance at 5Hz (Z5), and peripheral resistance (Rp) increased with increased bronchiectasis severity according to the FACED, BSI and Reiff scores. Large airway resistance (R20) and central resistance (Rc) were not significantly different among groups with differentbronchiectasis severity. The difference between R5 and R20 (R5-R20) showed 81.0% sensitivity, and 69.8%specificity in predicting the airway reversibility in bronchiectasis with AUC of 0.794 (95%CI, 0.672-0.915).ConclusionIOS measurements are useful indicators of bronchiectasis severity and may be useful for predicting the airway reversibility.
Ask the Way From Those Who Have Walked It Before – Grandmothers’ Roles in Health-related Decision Making and HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Use Among Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Africa
Authors: Reddy Krishnaveni , Kemigisha Doreen , Chitukuta Miria , Dadabhai Sufia , Mathebula Florence , Tenza Siyanda , Palanee-Phillips Thesla , Ryan Julia , Macagna Nicole , Musara Petina , Straten Ariane van der 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: HIV acquisition among pregnant and breastfeeding women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and vertical transmission rates remain high despite established strategies for HIV prevention. Methods: We explored grandmothers’ (mothers/mothers-in-law) influence on pregnant and breastfeeding women’s health-related decisions and their potential to support use of HIV prevention products utilizing qualitative data collected from grandmothers, HIV-uninfected, currently/recently pregnant or breastfeeding women and male partners of currently/recently pregnant or breastfeeding women during the MTN-041/MAMMA study. Results: Grandmothers were described as important sources of information, playing both supportive and influencer roles, due to personal maternal experience and generational knowledge. Grandmothers expressed willingness to support pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use and agreed with other groups that this decision should be made by women themselves and/or with partners. Conclusion: With the right framing and approach, grandmothers’ supportive roles can optimise uptake and adherence to biomedical HIV prevention and reduce HIV acquisition among pregnant and breastfeeding women in these communities.
An anionic ligand snap-locks a long-range interaction in a magnesium-folded riboswitch
Authors: Yadav Rajeev , Widom Julia , Chauvier Adrien , Walter Nils 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The archetypical transcriptional crcB fluoride riboswitch from Bacillus cereus is an intricately structured non-coding RNA element enhancing gene expression in response to toxic levels of fluoride. Here, we used single molecule FRET to uncover three dynamically interconverting conformations appearing along the transcription process: two distinct undocked states and one pseudoknotted docked state. We find that the fluoride anion specifically snap-locks the magnesium-induced, dynamically docked state. The long-range, nesting, single base pair A40-U48 acts as the main linchpin, rather than the multiple base pairs comprising the pseudoknot. We observe that the proximally paused RNA polymerase further fine-tunes the free energy to promote riboswitch docking. Finally, we show that fluoride binding at short transcript lengths is an early step toward partitioning folding into the docked conformation. These results reveal how the anionic fluoride ion cooperates with the magnesium-associated RNA to govern regulation of downstream genes needed for fluoride detoxification of the cell.
Design and Analysis of the Effect of Zeonex Based Octagonal Photonic Crystal Fiber for Different Types of Communication Applications
Authors: Hossain Selim , Kamruzzaman M. M. , Sen Shuvo , Azad Mir Mohammad 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
In this present work, a novel structure of octagonal cladding with two elliptical air holes based on photonic crystal fiber (O-PCF) has been presented for the application of different types of communication areas within the terahertz (THz) wave propagation. There are five layers of octagonal design shape of circular air holes (CAH) in cladding region with elliptical design shape of two air holes in core area has been reported in this research work. This O-PCF fiber has been investigated by the perfectly matched layers (PML) with the finite element method (FEM). After the simulation process, our proposed O-PCF fiber shows a low effective material loss (EML) of 0.0162 cm −1 , the larger effective area of 5.88×10-8 m2, the core power fraction (PF) of 80%, the scattering loss of 1.22×10 -10 dB/km, and the confinement loss of 3.33×10 -14 dB/m at the controlling region of 1 terahertz (THz). Due to its excellent characteristics, this proposed O-PCF fiber gives proficient transmission of broadband terahertz waves of signals. Moreover, for different kinds of optical communication applications and biomedical signals, our suggested O-PCF fiber will be highly perfect in the terahertz (THz) regions.
Potts model solver based on hybrid physical and digital architecture
Authors: Inaba Kensuke , Inagaki Takahiro , Igarashi Koji , Utsunomiya Shoko , Honjo Toshimori , Ikuta Takuya , Enbutsu Koji , Umeki Takeshi , Kasahara Ryoichi , Inoue Kyo , Yamamoto Yoshihisa , Takesue Hiroki 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The Potts model describes Ising-model-like interacting spin systems with multivalued spin component, and ground-state search problems of the Potts model can be efficiently mapped onto various integer optimization problems thanks to the rich expression of the multivalued spins. Here, we demonstrate a solver of this model based on hybrid computation using physical and digital architectures, wherein a digital computer updates the interaction matrices in the iterative calculations of the physical Ising-model solvers. This update of interactions corresponds to learning from the Ising solutions, which allows us to save resources when embedding a problem in a physical system. We experimentally solved integer optimization problems (graph coloring and graph clustering) with this hybrid architecture in which the physical solver consisted of coupled degenerate optical parametric oscillators.
TGF-β Suppressed Succinat Dehydrogenase to Promote Osteosarcoma Chemo-Resistance Through An HIF1α Dependent Manner
Authors: Xu Yangbo , Li Yafei , Xiang Feifan , Deng Yong , Li Zhong , Yang Yunkang , Wei Daiqing 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background：Despite the widespread adoption of chemotherapy, drug resistance has been the major obstacle in tumor elimination of cancer patients. Our aim was to explore the role of TGF-β in osteosarcoma chemo-resistance. Methods：We performed cytotoxicity analysis of methotrexate (MTX) and cisplatin (CIS) in TGF-β treated osteosarcoma cells. Then a metabolite profile of the core energetic routes was analyzed by 1H-NMR in Saos-2 and MG-63 cell extracts. We detected the expression of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), STAT1, and Hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF1α) in TGF-β treated osteosarcoma cells, and further tested the effects of these molecules on the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents. In vivo, we examined the tumor growth and survival time of Saos-2 bearing mice given the combination therapy of chemotherapeutic agents and a HIF1α inhibitor. Results：Metabolic analysis revealed an enhanced succinate production of osteosarcoma cells after TGF-β treatment. We further found the decrease in SDH expression and the increase in HIF1α expression of TGF-β treated osteosarcoma cells. Consistently, blockade of SDH aggravated the resistance of Saos-2/MG-63 cells to MTX and CIS. Also, a HIF1α inhibitor significantly strengthened the anti-cancer efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in mice with osteosarcoma cancer.Conclusion：Our study demonstrated that TGF-β attenuated the expression of SDH through reducing the transcription factor STAT1. The reduction of SDH then caused the up-regulation of HIF1α, thereby rerouting the glucose metabolism and aggravating chemo-resistance in osteosarcoma cells. Linking tumor cell metabolism to the formation of chemotherapy resistance, our study may guide the development of more effective treatments of osteosarcoma.