bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Operational Efficiency of Grassroots CDC Laboratories- A Case Study in China
Authors: Li Yuanlei , Tian Guomei , Zhang Bokai , Kang Zheng , Hao Xiaoning , Liu Zhi , Zheng Yanhui , Zhu Songmei , Zheng Yan , Wang Haixin , Zhang Ting , Zhang Hongyu 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background

Grassroots CDC laboratory efficiency can reflect and influence a country's capacity for disease control and prevention, improving the efficiency of the grassroots CDC laboratory is very important to national CDC system, this article is based on DEA method, on the basis of clearly defining the concept of efficiency, more methods to build grassroots CDC laboratory efficiency evaluation index, taking China as an example, the grassroots CDC laboratory efficiency study, discusses the current problems in the development of grassroots CDC laboratory operation efficiency.
Methods

Using data from China National Health Development Research Center, combined with some public data from National Bureau of Statistics and China Health Statistics Yearbook data, use data envelopment analysis (DEA) to analyze the operation of China's grassroots CDC disease control laboratories from 2017 to 2019 Efficiency, input-output improvement value and total factor productivity changes.
Results

From 2017 to 2019, the operational efficiency of grass-roots CDC laboratories in China showed a downward trend, and there was a serious problem of insufficient output, especially the grass-roots CDC laboratories in western China, which had the lowest operational efficiency. By analyzing the change of total factor productivity, it is found that the total factor productivity of grass-roots CDC laboratories in China generally shows a downward trend, and the technical level and management efficiency have declined to a certain extent, and the working ability of CDC laboratories has not been effectively improved.
Conclusions

The operational efficiency of grass-roots CDC laboratories is declining, and the technical level and management efficiency are declining. The unreasonable utilization of laboratory resources and unbalanced development are still outstanding, and the operational efficiency of laboratories needs to be further developed. Policymakers should pay attention to the imbalance of resource utilization and development of grass-roots CDC laboratories, give certain policy support to inferior CDC laboratories, and urge grass-roots CDC laboratories to strengthen management, improve technical level and management efficiency, increase the actual output of laboratories, and further enhance the working ability of grass-roots CDC laboratories.
Graphene Oxide and Fluorescent Aptamer Based Novel Biosensor for Detection of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3
Authors: Gupta Ritika , Kaul Sunaina , Singh Vishal , Kumar Sandeep , Singhal Nitin Kumar 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
For maintaining the healthy metabolic status, vitamin D is a beneficial metabolite stored majorly in its pre-activated form, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3). Due to its important role in bone strengthening, the study was planned to quantify 25(OH)D3 levels in our blood. Quantification techniques for 25(OH)D3 are costly thus requiring a need for a low cost, and sensitive detection methods. In this work, an economic, and sensitive sensor for the detection of 25(OH)D3 was developed using aptamer and graphene oxide (GO). Aptamer is an oligonucleotide, sensitive towards its target, whereas, GO with 2D nanosheets provides excellent quenching surface. Aptamer labeled with fluorescein (5’, 6-FAM) is adsorbed by π -π interaction on the GO sheets leading to quenching of the fluorescence due to Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). However, in the presence of 25(OH)D3, a major portion of aptamer fluorescence remains unaltered, due to its association with 25(OH)D3. However, in the absence, aptamer fluorescence gets fully quenched. Fluorescence intensity quenching was monitored using fluorescence spectrophotometer and agarose gel based system. The limit of detection of 25(OH)D3 by this method was found to be 0.15 µg/mL. Therefore, this method could come up as a new sensing method in the field of vitamin D detection.
Correlation between different anticoagulation schemes of pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves and adverse fetal/neonatal outcomes
Authors: Zhao Ziwen , Yang Xi , Su Ying , Zhang Jun , Li Yanna , Liu Giuying 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Pregnant women with mechanical prosthetic heart valves (MPHV) have adverse effects on the growth and development of the fetus. This study investigated the outcomes and correlations of MPHV pregnant women under different anticoagulation methods. Data on MPHV pregnant women and their offspring from our hospital from 2014 to 2020 were retrospectively collected. Various indicators of the offspring were analyzed, using single factor logistic regression and multi-factor Tobit regression to identify the main influencing factors of spontaneous abortion/stillbirth and malformation. There were 137 pregnancies, 96 in the warfarin group, 28 in the low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) group, and 13 in the sequential treatment group. Among these, there are 27 cases of spontaneous abortion, 3 cases of stillbirth and 56 live births. The international normalized ratio (INR, P < 0.001), prothrombin time (PT, P = 0.014), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT, P = 0.035) of the neonates in the warfarin group were increased compared with the other two groups. Multivariate Tobit regression analysis showed that the probability of spontaneous abortion/stillbirth was positively correlated with INR before delivery (OR 1.13, P = 0.009) and valve usage time (OR 1.13, P = 0.009). The probability of malformation was positively correlated with heart function level (OR 1.20, P = 0.025) and INR (OR 1.18, P = 0.011) before delivery. Conclusion: The offspring of MPHV pregnant women who continuously take warfarin have poor outcomes and a significantly higher risk of early bleeding. Prenatal consultations for MPHV women should be strengthened to avoid unplanned pregnancy.
Joint Doppler Shift and Time Delay estimation by Decovonlution of Generalized Matched Filter
Authors: LI Xuan , Ma Xiaochuan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Resolution probability is the most important indicator for signal parameter estimator, including estimating time delay, and joint Doppler shift and time delay. In order to get high resolution probability, some procedures have been suggested such as compressed sensing. Based on the signal's sparsity, compressed sensing has been used to estimate signal parameter in recent research. After solving $\ell_0$ Norm Optimization problem, the methods would achieve high resolution. These methods all require high SNR. In order to improve the performance in low SNR, a novel implementation is proposed in this paper. We give a sparsity representation for the generalized matched filter output, or ambiguity function, while the former methods utilized the sparsity representation for channel response. By deconvolving the generalized matched filter output, 2D estimation for Doppler shift and time delay would be gotten by greedy method, optimization method based on relaxation, or Bayesian method.

Simulation demonstrates our method has better performance in low SNR than the method by the channel sparsity representation.
&nbsp;Prevalence Of Vitamin B Complex Deficiencies In Women In Reproductive Age, Pregnant Or Lactating Woman In Brazil: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Protocol
Authors: Mocellin Michel Carlos , Curioni Cintia Chaves , Pereira Alessandra da Silva , Ribas Simone Augusta , Teixeira Michelle Teixeira , de Macedo Tatiane Salgado Galvão , Palermo Gabriel Mantolvão 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Complex B vitamin deficiency are involved with several outcomes in fertility and pregnancy. In Brazil, the national prevalence rates of these micronutrients deficiencies in women at reproductive age was not known. Therefore, this study aims to systematically identify, select, evaluate, analyze and report the prevalence rates of complex B vitamins deficiencies in women at reproductive age in Brazil, and identify variables that may modify the outcome rates.Methods: A systematic review will be conducted guided by the following question: “What is the prevalence of vitamin B complex deficiencies in women at reproductive age in Brazil?”. The studies will be identified and selected from a literature search using electronic databases, consultation to researchers/specialists, as well as reference lists of eligible studies and reviews on the topic. Major eligibility criteria include observational cross-sectional and cohort studies performed in women with 10-49 years old from Brazil; pregnant and lactating mothers; and which that investigated the deficiency of complex B vitamins by laboratorial test. Two reviewers independently will perform the screening and selection of studies, to subsequently perform data extraction and risk assessment of bias. For data report, a narrative approach will be used to summarize the characteristics of the included studies and the individual prevalence found for each micronutrient tested, and if the studies are sufficiently homogeneous, a quantitative synthesis (meta-analysis) will be performed.Discussion: Identify the national and regional prevalence rates of complex B vitamins deficiencies allow the policy makers discuss, plan and implement public policy to prevent and/or reduces the rates, if they are larger, or at least highlight discussions about a program of screening the vitamins deficiencies in this specific population for to know the epidemiologic scenario among the years, serving as an indirect indicator of the socioeconomic and dietary patterns of this population. Also, specifically for folates, this study allows to compare the prevalence rates of deficiency of this vitamin before and after the mandatory fortification of wheat and corn flours implemented since 2004. Nevertheless, the evidence gathered may highlight the need for population-based studies to investigate the deficiency of these vitamins.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020188474
Intelligent Radar Software Defect Classification Approach based on the Latent Dirichlet Allocation Topic Model
Authors: Liu Xi , Yin Yongfeng , Li Haifeng , Chen Jiabin , Liu Chang , Wang Shengli , Yin Rui 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Existing software intelligent defect classification approaches don’t consider radar characters and prior statistics information. Thus when applying these appaoraches into radar software testing and validation, the precision rate and recall rate of defect classification are poor and have effect on the reuse effectiveness of software defects. To solve this problem, a new intelligent defect classification approach based on the latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic model is proposed for radar software in this paper. The proposed approach includes the defect text segmentation algorithm based on the dictionary of radar domain, the modified LDA model combining radar software requirement, the top acquisition and classification approach of radar software defect based on the modified LDA model. The proposed approach is applied on the typical radar software defects to validate the effectiveness and applicability. The application results illustrate that the prediction precison rate and recall rate of the poposed approach are improved up to 15%~20% compared with the other defect classification approaches. Thus, the proposed approach can be applied in the segmentation and classification of radar software defecs effectively to improve the identifying adequacy of the defects in radar software.
The Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Zeng Jing , Chen Min , Feng Qiu , Wan Haiyan , Wang Jianbo , Yang Fan , Cao Hongyi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Introduction:Diabetic retinopathy (DR), as a serious and specific neurovascular complication of DM, remains the leading cause of vision loss and preventable blindness in adults aged 20–74 years. Several studies have indicated that chronic inflammation plays an important role in DR. Emerging evidence suggests that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) are novel potential markers of inflammatory responses. However, only a few articles have evaluated the association between these factors and DR.Patients and Methods: The study included 133 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Retinopathy was graded using the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale.Results:The mean NLR, PLR and MLR were significantly higher in patients with DR than in patients without DR (p < 0.001, p = 0.002, and p = 0.003, respectively). In the post hoc analysis, the PDR group had the highest NLR and MLR values among the three groups. Multiple logistic regression showed that the PLR was an independent risk factor for DR (odds ratio [OR]: 1.022, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.005–1.040 p = 0.013). Based on the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, the cutoff value of PLR as an indicator for DR diagnosis was projected to be 78.70 and yielded a sensitivity and specificity of 80.7% and 48.9%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.669 (95% CI: 0.572–0.765, P = 0.002).Conclusions:Our results suggest that PLR may be an independent risk factor for evaluating DR in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Pelargonium Quercetorum Agnew and Their Therapeutic Properties
Authors: ALTINSOY BERRAK DUMLUPINAR , Karatoprak Gökçe Şeker 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
AimThe synthesis of nanosilver particles (AgNPs) from Pelargonium quercetorum Agnew. (Geraniaceae) and evaluation of the antimicrobial and the cytotoxic potential of AgNPs. Materials & MethodsThe synthesized AgNPs were evaluated for antimicrobial and anticancer efficacy using the minimum inhibition concentration method and MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. ResultsThe AgNPs inhibited approximately 90% the growth of gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and gram-negative Esherichia coli and yeast Candida albicans pathogens at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. The synthesized AgNPs showed excellent toxicity in MCF-7 cells, and specifically, pq70 AgNP inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells by 52% at a concentration of 3.125 µg/mL. ConclusionIt was determined that the AgNPs, which had been synthesized from extracts that contained a high phenolic composition, were smaller in size, and showed high anticancer and antimicrobial properties.
Self-perceived Risk of Breast Cancer and Screening Behaviors of First-degree Female Relatives of Breast Cancer Patients at the Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda
Authors: Ainembabazi Provia , Abila Derrick Bary , Manyangwa Grace , Anguzu Godwin , Mutyaba Innocent , Osingada Charles Peter , Mwaka Amos Deogratius 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Introduction In Uganda, Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females globally. The majority of the patients present with advanced-stage disease at diagnoses and experience high mortality. This underscores the importance of early detection approaches based on awareness of risk factors and self-perceived risks, and symptoms of the disease to promote adoption of risk reduction behaviors and prompt health-seeking respectively. This study assessed the self-perceived risk of breast cancer, and breast cancer screening behaviours among first-degree female relatives of breast cancer patients in Uganda.Methods This was a cross-sectional study employing quantitative approaches for data collection and analyses. First-degree female relatives of patients attending care at Uganda Cancer Institute were recruited consecutively in the study. A pre-tested coded questionnaire was used to collect data on self-perceived risks, breast cancer risks, and breast cancer screening behaviours. Data were collected between March to October 2019. A modified Poisson regression model was used to evaluate factors associated with self-perceived risk of breast cancer and breast cancer risk awareness.ResultsWe enrolled 296 first-degree female relatives from 197 female breast cancer patients. The median age (IQR) was 33 (26-43) years. A majority (60.1%, 178/296) of the participants had a low self-perceived risk of breast cancer. Breast self-examination (55.7%, 165/296) was the most practiced screening method followed by clinical breast examination (n= 64/296, 21.6%), ultrasound scan of the breast (7.8%, 23/296,), and mammogram (3.7%, 11/296). Women aged 35-44 years had a higher self-perceived risk of breast cancer (adjusted Incident Rate Ratio [aIRR]: 1.75, 95%CI: 1.10-2.80), compared to women aged 18-25 years. ConclusionFirst-degree relatives reported a low self-perceived risk of breast cancer. Breast cancer health education especially targeting younger women should emphasize the increased risk of breast cancer in first-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. There is a need to increase awareness of breast cancer screening methods and their usefulness in the early detection of breast cancer among all women in Uganda.
The Nucleus Accumbens and Ventral Pallidum Exhibit Greater Dopaminergic Innervation in Humans Compared to Other Primates
Authors: Hirter Kristen , Miller Elaine N. , Stimpson Cheryl D. , Phillips Kimberley A. , Hopkins William D. , Hof Patrick R. , Sherwood Chet C. , Lovejoy C. Owen , Raghanti Mary Ann 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that increased dopaminergic signaling within the dorsal striatum played a central role in the evolution of the human brain. This increase has been linked to human pro-sociality and language in what has been described as a dopamine-dominated striatum personality style. Increased striatal dopamine is associated with an increase in ventral striatal activity and promotes externally-driven behaviors, including cooperation and social conformity. In contrast, decreased striatal dopamine is associated with increased dorsal striatal activity andfavors internally driven and goal-oriented behaviors. Previous comparative studies have focused on the dorsal striatum, measuring dopaminergic innervation in the dorsal and medial caudate nucleus and putamen. Here, we add to this knowledge by examining regions of the ventral striatum. We quantified the density of tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive axons, as a measure of dopaminergic innervation, in the nucleus accumbens and ventral pallidum of humans, great apes, platyrrhine and cercopithecid monkeys. Our data show that humans have a significantly greater dopaminergic innervation in both structures, supporting the hypothesis that selection for a prosocial neurochemistry in the human basal ganglia may have contributed to the evolution of our uniquely social behavior profile.
Acid Hydrolysis of Lignocellulosic Materials for The Production of Second Generation Ethanol
Authors: Silva Mariane Daniella , Cano João Pedro , Ernandes Fernanda Maria Pagane Guereschi , Garcia-Cruz Crispin Humberto 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Brazil is one of the countries with the largest agricultural production in the world. Therefore, it is capable of generating large amounts of agro-industrial waste that can be used as biomass for the production of biofuels. Second generation ethanol is a renewable energy alternative, capable of replacing fossil fuels. Within this context, the objective of the present work was to study the effect of diluted acid hydrolysis in different types of lignocellulosic residues and the consequent production of 2G ethanol from these hydrolysates using different fermenting microorganisms. The acid concentration that released the highest content of fermentable sugars from the acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic materials was 5.0% of sulfuric acid and the contact time with the biomass was 15 min. while heating in autoclave. The material that showed the highest sugar release after acid hydrolysis was cassava residues, with 131.09 g.L− 1 of reducing sugars. The fermentations were carried out with microorganisms alone and also in consortium. The largest production of 2G ethanol was from the hydrolyzate of soybean hulls, of 47.70 g.L− 1 of ethanol by the consortium of Zymomonasmobilis and Candida tropicalis, during 8 h of fermentation and showed productivity of 5.96 g.L− 1.h− 1.
A reliable murine model of disseminated infection induced by Talaromyces marneffei
Authors: He Juan , Li Jia-Sheng , Kuang Yi-Qun , Li Jun , Li Hong-Bin , Li Zhe , Zhou Hui-Ling , Wang Rui-Rui , Li Yu-Ye 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Talaromycosis (penicilliosis) caused by Talaromyces marneffei is one of the most important opportunistic infection diseases in tropical countries of South and Southeast Asia. Most infections occurred in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the primarily reason for the increase in the number of the cases is HIV pandemic. The pathogenesis of T. marneffei infection is unclear. There is still no ideal animal model for studying Talaromycosis. In this study, we developed a stable, safe and maneuverable murine model that mimics human T. marneffei disseminated infection using T. marneffei yeast intraperitoneal injected to BALB/c nude mice. We successfully observed symptoms similar to those seen in clinical patients in this murine model, including skin lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, pulmonary infection and mesenteric lesions. We further studied the pathological changes of various tissues and organs in the infected animals to help better understand the severity of the infection. This model may provide a good tool for studying disseminated infection induced by T. marneffei.
Fragility Estimation for Global Building Classes Using Analysis of the Cambridge Earthquake Damage Database (CEQID)
Authors: Spence Robin , Martinez-Cuevas Sandra , Baker Hannah 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This paper describes CEQID, a database of earthquake damage and casualty data assembled since the 1980s based on post-earthquake damage surveys conducted by a range of research groups. Following 2017–2019 updates, the database contains damage data for more than five million individual buildings in over 1000 survey locations following 79 severely damaging earthquakes worldwide. The building damage data for five broadly defined masonry and reinforced concrete building classes has been assembled and a uniform set of six damage levels assigned. Using estimated peak ground acceleration (PGA) for each survey location based on USGS Shakemap data, a set of lognormal fragility curves has been developed to estimate the probability of exceedance of each damage level for each class, and separate fragility curves for each of five geographical regions are presented. A revised set of fragility curves has also been prepared in which the bias in the curve resulting from the uncertainty in the ground motion parameter has been removed. The uncertainty in the fragility curves is evaluated and discussed and the curves are compared with those from other studies. A resistance index for each class of building is developed and cross-regional comparisons using this resistance index are presented.