bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nutrition Education of Mothers and Zinc Supplementation among Children in the Rural Community, Cameroon
Authors: Nolla Nicolas Policarpe , Sop Marie Modestine Kana , Mananga Marlyne Joséphine , Gouado Inocent 
Published: March 2021

Aims: Malnutrition among children, especially stunting is a public health problem in Cameroon. This study assesses the impact of zinc supplementation of children and nutrition education of mothers on the nutritional status of the children in the Bangang rural community.
Study Design: This was a descriptive and prospective study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in the Bangang community in the Region of West Cameroon, during the period from March to December 2015.
Methodology: The children aged 6 to 48 months and mothers aged 20 to 34 years were selected after the baseline survey and enrolled. Dietary surveys were used to evaluate the frequency of foods consumed by 150 children. Zinc supplementation group of children (ZSG, n= 25) received 10 mg of zinc sulfate tablets per day for 14 days and control group (CG, n=25) was formed by children whose mothers received nutrition counseling. The nutrition education sessions organized into 4 modules were conducted quarterly for 9 months on a sample of 100 mothers. After interventions, impact of zinc supplementation and maternal education was assessed by determining height for age and weight for age indices, and biochemistry parameters.
Results: The results showed that zincemia of ZSG varied significantly (P = .0001) and not significantly (P = .23) for CG. After nutrition education, dietary diversity was improved; reduction of chronic malnutrition (10.9%) and increasing number of children with good nutritional status (6.6%) were observed. Increased for phosphoremia (3.6 ± 2.4 to 5.7 ± 1.8 mg/dl; P = .001) and albuminemia (34.8 ± 15.5 to 46.9 ± 8.9 g/l; P = .002) were significant which was not the case of calcemia, zincemia, magnesemia and serum iron.
Conclusion: This study showed positive impact of zinc supplementation and maternal education on the nutritional status of children.
Determination of Predisposing Factors in Developing Candida albicans Associated Urinary Tract Infection and Antifungal Sensitivity Profile
Authors: Lal Sham , Parkash Om , Kumar Pardeep , Malik Zulfiqar Ali , Unar Khalida , Ahmed Zuheeb , Maitlo Marvi , Unar Ayaz Ali , Sapna Sapna 
Published: March 2021

Aim: Candiduria is very common in hospitalized patients. It poses a clinical challenge for the physicians since it is usually asymptomatic. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors associated with nosocomial candiduria in urinary tract infection (UTI) suspected patients in Methodology: Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and to determine their antifungal sensitivity profile.
The urine specimens (168) were collected, microscopically screened for presence of yeast, cultured and analyzed for counting, isolation, phenotypic identification of Candida albicans. and testing antifungal resistance profile. Data regarding age, gender, use of catheter, use of antibiotics, diabetes mellitus among patients was also recorded.
Results: Out of 168 specimens, C. albicans were isolated from 69 specimens, whereas 20 specimens showed other Candida spp. Age >45 years, gender female, previous use of antibiotics, urinary catheterization, stay in ICU >1 week were found the main predisposing factors (p<0.05) responsible for developing nosocomial candiduria. All C. albicans isolates were found either susceptible or susceptible-dose dependent to fluconazole, amphotericin B and voriconazole; however, 62.32% of the isolates were resistant to itraconazole.
Conclusion: Most frequent candiduria, possible predisposing factors in ICU patients and resistance of C. albicans towards itraconazole is alarming and highlights the need of candiduria surveillance.
High Active Co/Mg1-xCex3+O Catalyst: Effects of Metal-Support Promoter Interactions on CO2 Reforming of CH4 Reaction
Authors: Al-Doghachi Faris A. Jassim , Murad Diyar M. A. , Al-Niaeem Huda S. , Al-Jaberi Salam H. H. , Mohamad Surahim , Taufiq-Yap Yun Hin 
Published: March 2021

Co/Mg1−XCe3+XO (x = 0, 0.03, 0.07, 0.15; 1 wt% cobalt each) catalysts for the dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction were prepared using the co-precipitation method with K2CO3 as precipitant. Characterization of the catalysts was achieved by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The role of several reactant and catalyst concentrations, and reaction temperatures (700–900 °C) on the catalytic performance of the DRM reaction was measured in a tubular fixed-bed reactor under atmospheric pressure at various CH4/CO2 concentration ratios (1:1 to 2:1). Using X-ray diffraction, a surface area of 19.2 m2.g−1 was exhibited by the Co/Mg0.85Ce3+0.15O catalyst and MgO phase (average crystallite size of 61.4 nm) was detected on the surface of the catalyst. H2 temperature programmed reaction revealed a reduction of CoO particles to metallic Co0 phase. The catalytic stability of the Co/Mg0.85Ce3+0.15O catalyst was achieved for 200 h on-stream at 900 °C for the 1:1 CH4:CO2 ratio with an H2/CO ratio of 1.0 and a CH4, CO2 conversions of 75% and 86%, respectively. In the present study, the conversion of CH4 was improved (75%–84%) when conducting the experiment at a lower flow of oxygen (1.25%). Finally, the deposition of carbon on the spent catalysts was analyzed using TEM and Temperature programmed oxidation-mass spectroscopy (TPO-MS) following 200 h under an oxygen stream. Better anti-coking activity of the reduced catalyst was observed by both, TEM, and TPO-MS analysis. Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Reconfigurable Flexible Electronics Driven by Origami Magnetic Membranes
Authors: Qi Zhijie , Zhou Mingxing , Li Ya , Xia Zhiqiang , Huo Wenxing , Huang Xian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDeformation of flexible electronics can lead to reconfigurable electrical properties, controllable deployment, and tunable working modes, but approaches to actuate flexible electronics are quite limited. A promising method involves using magnetic fields to yield simple displacement of magnetic membranes. However, realization of complex multiaxial bending and rotations of magnetic membranes remains challenging. Here, flexible origami magnetic membranes with programmable magnetic polarities are used to generate complex spatial deformation through coupling with an external magnetic field and interaction among intrinsic magnetism. The membranes can work as standalone flexible actuators and serve as substrates to trigger spontaneous deformation of the carrying flexible devices such as antennas, energy harvesters, and light‐emitting diode arrays. The membranes can travel on a dry surface or in a liquid environment. They also exhibit the capability to reversibly capture and release objects traveling at 326 mm s–1. Flexible devices on the membranes can offer tunable gains and frequencies as well as novel folding and releasing mechanisms determined by the complex magnetic polarities of the underneath membranes. The origami magnetic membranes can be combined to yield more complicate patterns and magnetic polarities, leading to innovative applications in surgical robots, tunable antennas, and various reconfigurable flexible electronics.
Vocal and movement responses of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) to natural loud calls from neighbors
Authors: Ceccarelli Enrico , Rangel‐Negrín Ariadna , Coyohua‐Fuentes Alejandro , Canales‐Espinosa Domingo , Dias Pedro Américo D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLoud calls (i.e., long‐range acoustic signals) regulate resource competition among neighboring groups of conspecifics in several nonhuman primate species. Ultimate explanations for primate loud calls include mate, offspring, and food defense. Additionally, loud calls may provide valuable information pertaining to the identity and health status of callers, their competitive abilities, and their spatial location. The loud calls of howler monkeys (Alouatta) have been thoroughly studied and seem to play an important function in the defense of valuable resources in a variety of socioecological contexts. Here, we examined whether the behavioral responses of mantled howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) to natural loud calls from neighbors are linked to three factors: food availability, familiarity, and distance between groups. We studied three groups of mantled howler monkeys at La Flor de Catemaco (Los Tuxtlas, Mexico) for 15 months (1817 observation hours), during which we recorded 236 neighbor loud calls. Food availability per se did not influence the behavior of groups receiving loud calls, although males produced longer vocal responses toward unfamiliar neighbors when food availability decreased. Groups vocalized quicker and both vocalized and moved for longer after loud calls from unfamiliar neighbors. Additionally, groups vocalized and moved for longer at shorter distances from unfamiliar neighbors compared with familiar neighbors. Finally, groups usually moved away from calling neighbors that were closer. These results indicate that the behavioral responses of mantled howler monkeys to loud calls from neighbor groups are associated with the integration of information pertaining to caller identity as well as to their ecological and spatial context.
Evaluation of engine performance and emission of African pear seed oil (APO) biodiesel and its prediction via multi‐input‐multi‐output artificial neural network (ANN) and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Ude Callistus Nonso , Onukwuli O Dominic , Uchegbu N Nneka , Umeuzuegbu Jonah C , Amulu Ndidi F 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe evaluation of engine performance and emission of biodiesel produced from African pear seed oil (APO) and its prediction using multi‐input‐multi‐output (MIMO) artificial neural network (ANN) technique was studied. A standard diesel test bed was used to carry out the evaluation using petrol‐diesel, biodiesel, and its blends, operating at various engine revolutions per minute. Sensitivity analysis used the connection weight method. The performance results showed that petro‐diesel blended with a small amount of APO methyl ester (B20) improved the engine efficiency and emissions better than only petrol‐diesel. The engine performance was predicted well, with the MIMO model having better correlation coefficients of 0.99779, 0.99993, and 0.99774 on training, validation, and testing, respectively, than the Multiple input Single Output (MISO) model. The desired outputs compared between their measured and simulated values exhibited a very low mean square error of 0.0000014488. The blend had the highest relative impact (62.08%) on the output variables. The MIMO model has therefore shown the potential to adopt two input variables equally in predicting the engine performance of biodiesel rather than only complex variables. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Cognitive dysfunction in Nigerian women with epilepsy on carbamazepine and levetiracetam monotherapy
Authors: Ogunjimi Luqman , Yaria Joseph , Makanjuola Akintomiwa , Alabi Akinyinka , Osalusi Bamidele , Oboh David , Olusola‐Bello Mojisola , Aderinola Adeyinka , Ogunniyi Adesola 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study aims to identify the determinants of cognitive dysfunction and compare the effect of CPZ and LTC on cognition in WWE.MethodsAn observational study involving 87 consenting adult WWE aged between 16 and 40 years on LTC or CZP monotherapy. At enrollment, an interviewer‐based questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and clinical information from participants. The diagnosis of epilepsy was mainly clinical and supported by electroencephalographic (EEG) features and classified based on recommendation by the 2017 International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE). Zung Self‐Reporting Depression Scale (ZSRDS) was used to assess the mood of participants. The Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) was used to assess various cognition domains. The National Hospital Seizure Severity Scale (NHS‐3) was used to assess disease severity.ResultsThere were statistical differences between the CZP and LTC groups in all domains of cognition assessed except for orientation. The total CSID scores of the LTC group were 59.2 (4.9) as opposed to CZP group, 57.2 (5.0); p: .005. Those with focal onset seizures had lower median total CSID score (58; IQR: 54–62) when compared to those with generalized onset seizures (62; IQR: 58–62), p: .012. There was a significant correlation between ZSRD score and NHS‐3 score; rho: 0.30, p: .007. Bivariate analysis shows statistically significant correlation between total CSID score and ZSRDS (rho: −0.65), BMI (rho: 0.22), and NHSS‐3 score (rho: −0.36), respectively. However, the effect of AED on CSID scores was lost after multivariate quantile regression with only ZSRDS retaining significance.ConclusionDepression, seizure severity, type and structural etiology were associated with cognitive impairment among WWE. However, on regression model, only depression was statistically significant. The presence of more risks for cognitive impairment in the CZP group limits possible conclusion of LTC superiority.
The impact of surface properties on photovoltaics' colour angular sensitivity: A comparison study for façade integration
Authors: Xiang Changying , Green Phil , Matusiak Barbara Szybinska 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFaçade integrated photovoltaics are a promising way to employ renewable energy technology in the built environment. The colours of façade integrated photovoltaics are essential to the overall aesthetic quality of buildings, especially in urban context. Currently, several brands of coloured photovoltaics are available in the market for architects, however, unlike traditional façade materials, the colorimetric characteristics of coloured PVs are rarely studied. To provide a foundation for further aesthetic research on façade integrated photovoltaics and to develop architectural design guidelines with façade integrated photovoltaics, a series of colour angular sensitivity experiments have been carried out on six different types of opaque coloured photovoltaics. The photovoltaic samples were measured from different distances and at different angles with a PR‐655 spectroradiometer, in a series of laboratory and outdoor experiments. The experimental results show that the surface properties including colour, texture, and surface gloss have a strong impact on the photovoltaic's colour angular sensitivity. Goniochromatic phenomena have been found in samples with a spectrally selective coating technique (Kromatix photovoltaics) and samples with anti‐reflective coatings with metallic texture (LOF metallic photovoltaics). Samples with selective filter technique and low‐gloss rough finishing (ISSOL photovoltaics) show angular insensitivity for hue in different illumination conditions. Samples with mineral coating techniques (Sunage photovoltaics) show colour angular insensitivity in overcast illumination, while matt finishing leads to larger colour angular difference than gloss finishing in direct sunlight illumination. This study also proposed basic design suggestions to integrate different coloured photovoltaics according to their colour angular sensitivity characteristic from architectural perspective.
The IL‐27/IL‐27R axis is altered in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Clénet Marie‐Laure , Laurent Cyril , Lemaitre Florent , Farzam‐kia Negar , Tastet Olivier , Devergne Odile , Lahav Boaz , Girard Marc , Duquette Pierre , Prat Alexandre , Larochelle Catherine , Arbour Nathalie 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesPro‐ and anti‐inflammatory properties have been attributed to interleukin‐27 (IL‐27). Nevertheless, the impact of this cytokine on chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) remains ill‐defined. We investigated the biology of IL‐27 and its specific receptor IL‐27Rα in MS patients.MethodsLevels of IL‐27 and its natural antagonist (IL‐27‐Rα) were measured by ELISA in biological fluids. CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes were isolated from untreated relapsing–remitting MS patients and healthy donors. Transcriptome‐wide analysis compared T‐cell subsets stimulated or not with IL‐27. Expression of the IL‐27Rα, key immune factors, STAT phosphorylation and cytokine production was assessed by flow cytometry.ResultsWe observed elevated levels of IL‐27 in the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of MS patients compared with controls. Moreover, we show that specific IL‐27‐mediated effects on T lymphocytes are reduced in MS patients including the induction of PD‐L1. IL‐27‐triggered STAT3 signalling pathway is enhanced in CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes from MS patients. Elevated IL‐27Rα levels in serum from MS patients are sufficient to impair the capacity of IL‐27 to act on immune cells. We demonstrate that shedding of IL‐27Rα by activated CD4+ T lymphocytes from MS patients contributes to the increased IL‐27Rα peripheral levels and consequently can dampen the IL‐27 responsiveness.ConclusionOur work identifies several mechanisms that are altered in the IL‐27/IL‐27R axis in MS patients, especially in T lymphocytes. Our results underline the importance of characterising the biology of cytokines in human patients prior to design new therapeutics.
The case for investigating a bidirectional association between insomnia symptoms and eating disorder pathology
Authors: Christensen Kara A. , Short Nicole A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMany people with eating disorders (EDs) report symptoms of insomnia (i.e., frequent difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or early morning wakening) and sleep problems have been linked to alterations in eating behaviors; however, mechanisms of these bidirectional associations remain poorly understood and under researched. This is a problem because higher insomnia symptom severity is a risk factor for the onset and perpetuation of anxiety, mood, trauma, and substance use disorders and, potentially, ED symptoms. Furthermore, insomnia symptoms may hinder recovery and increase relapse rates following successful psychotherapy. In this article, we describe potential mechanisms underlying bidirectional associations between insomnia and eating psychopathology that may contribute to the etiology and maintenance of both disorders. We suggest novel directions for future research to characterize the association between dysregulated sleep and ED symptoms and to evaluate impacts of insomnia symptoms on relapse and recovery for people with co‐occurring pathology. Finally, we discuss options for testing the incorporation of existing evidence‐based treatments for insomnia disorder (e.g., Cognitive‐Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia) with ED care. Overall, insomnia symptoms present a promising intervention point for ED treatment that has not been systematically tested, yet would be highly feasible to address in routine clinical care.
Bacterial inactivation via microfluidic electroporation device with insulating micropillars
Authors: Pudasaini Sanam , Perera A T K , Ng Sum Huan , Yang Chun 
Published: March 2021

AbstractElectroporation is a promising method to inactivate cells and it has wide applications in medical science, biology and environmental health. Here, we investigate the bacteria inactivation performance of two different microfluidic electroporation devices with rhombus and circular micropillars used for generating locally enhanced electric field strength. Experiments are carried out to characterize the inactivation performance (i.e., the log removal efficiency) of two types of bacteria: Escherichia coli (E. coli, gram‐negative) and Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis, gram‐positive) in these two microfluidic devices. We find that under the same applied electric field, the device with rhombus micropillars performs better than the device with circular micropillars for both E. coli and E. faecalis. Numerical simulations show that due to the corner‐induced singularity effect, the maximum electric field enhancement is higher in the device with rhombus micropillars than that in the device with circular micropillars. We also study the effects of DC and AC electric fields and flowrate. Our experiments demonstrate that the use of the DC field achieves higher log removal efficiencies than the use of AC field.
Entropy generation in Casson nanofluid flow over a surface with nonlinear thermal radiation and binary chemical reaction
Authors: Almakki Mohammed , Mondal Hiranmoy , Kameswaran Peri K. , Sibanda Precious 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe introduce a model that precisely accounts the flow of fluid of Casson nanofluid over a stretched surface with activation energy and analyze entropy generation. The model is an attempt to investigate heat transfer and entropy generation in the laminar boundary layer near a stagnation point. The modified Arrhenius function for activation energy is used. Here, the flow of the fluid is subjected to nonlinear thermal radiation, viscous disipation, binary chemical reaction, and external magnetic field. The coupled nonlinear system is further validated using the spectral lineralization method. The method is found to be accurate and convergent. The results show that the Reynolds number and Casson parameter have a significant effect in entropy generation.
Ovarian mucinous cystadenoma causing acute urinary retention
Authors: Pulvino John S. , Resnick Elena , Wax Joseph R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAcute urinary retention rarely occurs in women, and is only infrequently caused by a pelvic mass. We describe a case of acute urinary retention caused by a large ovarian mucinous cystadenoma. Point of care ultrasound characterized and localized the lesion, while computerized tomography demonstrated the anatomic distortions resulting in urinary retention. The patient's symptoms resolved immediately following a laparoscopic right salpingo‐oophorectomy with complete tumor removal.
Aortic closure signal length on doppler echocardiography differentiates aortic patient‐prosthesis mismatch from prosthetic stenosis
Authors: Ali Thara , Garshick Michael S. , Saric Muhamed , Skolnick Adam H. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to investigate the diagnostic potential of the aortic closure (A2) signal length on Doppler echocardiography in distinguishing aortic patient‐prosthesis mismatch (PPM) from prosthetic stenosis among patients with elevated gradients over bioprosthetic valves.MethodsThe A2 signal length was retrospectively measured for 150 patients with bioprosthetic aortic valves (50 with PPM, 50 with prosthetic stenosis, and 50 with normally functioning valves) from transthoracic echocardiograms performed at NYU Langone Health between 01/01/2012 and 08/01/2018.ResultsMean A2 signal length was shorter among patients with PPM (11.1 ms ± 5.2 ms), than among those with prosthetic stenosis (21.1 ms ± 6.0 ms), P < .001 and controls (21.7 ms ± 7.4 ms), P < .001. There was no difference in A2 signal length between prosthetic stenosis and controls. The A2 signal length yielded an AUC of 0.89 (95% CI 0.82‐0.95) for predicting PPM over prosthetic stenosis.ConclusionAmong patients with bioprosthetic aortic valves, the length of the A2 signal on Doppler echocardiography is shorter in PPM than in prosthetic stenosis and normally functioning valves. The A2 signal length may represent a novel metric to distinguish PPM from prosthetic stenosis.