bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics, Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes of COVID-19 Positive Pregnant Mothers at a Tertiary Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Ramdin Tanusha Devi , Bandini Rossella Marina , Saggers Robin Terance , Radomsky Michael , Mulaudzi Mphelekedzeni , Bhoora Shastra Aventra , Ballot Daynia Elizabeth 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: The global spread of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) has been sudden shock to the world and resulted in many questions that remain unanswered. Limited data has been published in low-middle-income country settings (LMICS) Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and outcome of mothers and neonates delivered from COVID-19 positive mothers, and to identify the incidence of COVID-19 positive neonates.Methods: A prospective, descriptive study, from 1 August 2020 to 31 March 2021 conducted at a tertiary hospital, in JohannesburgAll neonates born to mothers that were COVID-19 positive and that required admission to the neonatal unit were included. Informed consent was obtained from mothers prior to enrolment.Results: A total of 111 COVID-19 positive pregnant women delivered neonates at the tertiary hospital. In this study, only 28 of the 111 (25%) neonates born to COVID-19 positive mothers were admitted. The majority of the COVID-19 pregnant mothers were asymptomatic or had mild symptomatic disease (80%). Two (2/111 (2%) mothers required ICU admission and three (3/111 (3%) of them demised. In relation to neonatal outcomes, the majority of the neonates were delivered at a gestational age of 35 weeks with a birth weight of 2400 grams .The most common symptom was respiratory distress (89 %). The one (3%) neonate that tested positive for COVID-19 was born moderately preterm with a low birth weight and respiratory distress syndrome. Two (2/28 (7%) neonates demised, however the cause of death was not related to COVID-19. All the remaining (26/28 (93%) neonates were discharged and were well on follow up. Conclusion: Our study has shown that the risk of neonatal transmission from pregnant COVID-19 mothers is relatively low, and the majority of neonatal disease ranged from asymptomatic to mildly symptomatic disease. Further research efforts are essential to improve neonatal care in LMICS.
Clinical Efficacy and Safety of Tranexamic Acid in Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: a Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Liu Tao , Wu Lingqin , Xue Renmin , Ding Huiru 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: Tranexamic acid, as a traditional hemostatic agent, is commonly applied in the treatment or prevention of excessive blood loss. However, the role of tranexamic acid in promoting good clinical outcomes, reducing mortality, and the risk of experiencing adverse events during the therapeutic process of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage remains unclear.Methods: In strict accordance with the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and PubMed were retrieved for randomized-controlled trials (from 1980 to 2021). Statistical analysis was performed using STATA 16.0 and RevMan 5.3. In addition, the fixed-effect model (M-H method) and effect size RR (95% CI) were used as a pooled measure to combine the heterogeneous data. We also performed post hoc sensitivity analysis and subgroup analysis to evaluate each outcome with low heterogeneity.Results: Meta-analysis revealed that although tranexamic acid was related to less rebleeding (RR = 0.72; 95% CI 0.59-0.87; P = 0.0008), it might have no effect on good clinical outcome or mortality (RR = 0.98; 95% CI 0.92-1.04; P = 0.51; RR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.88-1.15; P = 0.91). Tranexamic acid was associated with increased hydrocephalus (RR = 1.13; 95% CI 1.02-1.24; P = 0.02), delayed cerebral ischemia (RR = 1.70; 95% CI 1.34-2.16; P < 0.0001) and seizure (RR = 1.46; 95% CI 1.00-2.14; P = 0.05). The incidence of thromboembolic complications was identical in both groups (RR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.63-1.31; P = 0.62), and there were significant drug-related overall adverse events (RR = 1.21; 95% CI 1.11- 1.32; P < 0.0001).Conclusions: These findings indicate that the routine use of TXA is not suggested for patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Increased aerosol transmission for B.1.1.7 (alpha variant) over lineage A variant of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Port Julia , Yinda Claude Kwe , Avanzato Victoria , Schulz Jonathan , Holbrook Myndi , Doremalen Neeltje van , Shaia Carl , Fischer Robert , Munster Vincent 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Airborne transmission, a term combining both large droplet and aerosol transmission, is thought to be the main transmission route of SARS-CoV-2. Here we investigated the relative efficiency of aerosol transmission of two variants of SARS-CoV-2, B.1.1.7 (alpha) and lineage A, in the Syrian hamster. A novel transmission caging setup was designed and validated, which allowed the assessment of transmission efficiency at various distances. At 2 meters distance, only particles <5 µm traversed between cages. In this setup, aerosol transmission was confirmed in 8 out of 8 (N = 4 for each variant) sentinels after 24 hours of exposure as demonstrated by respiratory shedding and seroconversion. Successful transmission occurred even when exposure time was limited to one hour, highlighting the efficiency of this transmission route. Interestingly, the B.1.1.7 variant outcompeted the lineage A variant in an airborne transmission chain after mixed infection of donors. Combined, this data indicates that the infectious dose of B.1.1.7 required for successful transmission may be lower than that of lineage A virus. The experimental proof for true aerosol transmission and the increase in the aerosol transmission potential of B.1.1.7 underscore the continuous need for assessment of novel variants and the development or preemptive transmission mitigation strategies.
Quantum communications in a moderate-to-strong turbulent space
Authors: Ghalaii Masoud , Pirandola Stefano 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Since the invention of the laser in the 60s, one of the most fundamental communication channels has been the free-space optical channel. For this type of channel, a number of effects generally need to be considered, including diffraction, refraction, atmospheric extinction, pointing errors and, most importantly, turbulence. Because of all these adverse features, the free-space channel is more difficult to study than a stable fiber-based link. For the same reasons, only recently it has been possible to establish the ultimate performances achievable in quantum communications via free-space channels. Differently from previous literature, mainly focused on the regime of weak turbulence, this work considers the free-space optical channel in the more challenging regime of moderate-to-strong turbulence. This regime may occur in long-distance free-space links on the ground, in uplink to high-altitude platform systems (HAPS) and, more interestingly, in downlink from near-horizon satellites. In such a regime we rigorously investigate ultimate limits for quantum communications and show that composable keys can be extracted using continuous variable quantum key distribution. In particular, we apply our results to downlink from satellites at large zenith angles, for which not only turbulence is strong but also refraction causes non-trivial effects in terms of trajectory elongation.
A Theoretical Investigation of Decorated Novel Triazoles as DSSCs in PV Devices
Authors: Coetzee Louis-Charl Cloete , Adeyinka Adedapo , Magwa Nomampondo 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Some novel metal-free 1,2,4-triazole compounds A1-A8, based on the 3,5-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,2,4-triazole derivatives were examined for Photovoltaic properties using density functional theory (DFT) and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations for the use of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Through deductive logic, the fluorescence emission (Φf) and charge collection (ηc) efficiencies of these compounds as dyes were obtained and used to determine each dye’s incident conversion efficiency (IPCE). Furthermore, these parameters were also employed to assess the dye’s potential for photovoltaic technology. However, this technique is more suitable to predict the suitability of the dye for photovoltaic applications, and cannot measure the efficiency of DSSCs
Myeloid-derived Suppressor Cells in the Blood of Iranian COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Mortaz Esmaeil , Movasaghi Mehrnaz , Bassir Ali , K.Dezfuli Neda , Roofchayee Neda Dalil , Jamaati Hamidreza , Garssen Johan , Adcock Ian M. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: A cytokine storm and lymphopenia are reported in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Myeloid-derived suppressive cells (MDSCs) exist in two different forms, granulocyte (G-MDSCs) and monocytic (M-MDSCs) that both suppress T-cell function. Serum IL-6 and IL-8 levels seem to correlate with the number of blood MDSCs.Objective: In the current study we aimed to find MDSCs frequency in severe COVID-19 patients from Iran and their correlations with serum IL-8 levels. Methods: 37 severe (8 on ventilation, 29 without ventilation) and 13 moderate COVID-19 patients together with 8 healthy subjects were enrolled at the Masih Daneshvari Hospital, Tehran-Iran between 10th April 2020- 9th March 2021. Clinical and biochemical features, serum and whole blood were obtained. CD14, CD15, CD11b and HLA-DR expression on MDSCs was measured by flow cytometry. Results: M-MDSCs (P≤0.0001) and G-MDSCs (P≤0.0001) frequency were higher in Iranian COVID-19 patients compared to healthy subjects. M-MDSC frequency was higher in non-ventilated compared to moderate COVID-19 subjects (P=0.004). IL-8 levels were higher in patients serum with COVID-19 than in normal healthy subjects (P=0.03). IL8 level was significant difference in ventilated, non-ventilated and moderate patients (P=0.005). The frequency of G-MDSCs correlated negatively with INR (r=-0.39, P=0.02).Conclusion: Serum IL-8 levels did not correlate with the number of systemic MDSCs in COVID-19 patients. The highest levels of M-MDSCs were seen in the blood of severe non-ventilated patients. MDSC frequency in blood in the current study did not predict the survival and severity of COVID-19 patients.
Extraction, Biological Activity, Formulation, and Evaluation of Bitter Herbs as Anti-Nail-Biting Lacquers
Authors: Limmatvapirat Chutima , Limmatvapirat Sontaya , Chansatidkosol Siraprapa , Krongrawa Wantanwa , Liampipat Napasorn , Leechaiwat Sarocha , Lamaisri Patipat , Siangjong Lawan , Meetam Paranee , Tiankittumrong Kuntontip 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: Nail biting can increase the risk of infection and abnormal-looking nails. The purpose of the present investigation was to formulate and evaluate anti-nail-biting lacquers consisting of bitter herbal extracts. Methods: The hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Andrographis paniculata and Tinospora crispa were determined for phytochemical constituents, total phenolic contents, antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory activities, and cytotoxicities. Anti-nail-biting lacquers were prepared by using herbal extracts (bittering agent), shellac (film forming polymer), ethanol (volatile solvent), and other indispensable additives with continuous stirring. Thus, attempts to enhance the film property and bitterness is accomplished by using polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 as a copolymer and varying concentrations of herbal extracts. Good accepted formulations were established for drying time, pH, viscosity, smoothness of film, film strength, water resistant, and solubility in simulated saliva and then evaluated their bitterness in human volunteers.Results: Phytochemical constituents including tannins, glycosides, reducing sugars, alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids were found present in both extracts while saponins was only detected in A. paniculata extract. Although T. crispa extract exhibited a significantly higher (p < 0.05) total phenolic content and antioxidant activity than A. paniculata extract, it showed lower protein denaturation inhibition property than A. paniculata extract. Because of the potentials of both extracts without cytotoxicity, anti-nail-biting lacquers containing either A. paniculata extract or T. crispa extract were developed and evaluated. Drying time of formulations were 6-11 min with visually seen glossiness of formulation. Formulations of the nail lacquer showed good pH, viscosity, smoothness of film, film strength, water resistant, and solubility in simulated saliva. The formulations displaying no significant cytotoxicity effect on CRL-2076 cells were assessed on healthy human volunteers to compare bitterness and film characteristics. Conclusion: The optimized formulation containing A. paniculata extract could successfully achieve good film forming property and bitterness release which is considered promising for stopping nail biting.
Development and Validation of a Predictive Nomogram for Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Elderly Patients Undergoing Liver Resection
Authors: Yu Yao , Zhang Changsheng , Zhang Faqiang , Liu Chang , Li Hao , Lou Jingsheng , Xu Zhipeng , Liu Yanhong , Cao Jiangbei , Mi Weidong 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
BackgroundPostoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with poor clinical outcomes. Early identification of high-risk patients of developing postoperative AKI can optimize perioperative renal management and facilitate patient survival. The present study aims to develop and validate a nomogram to predict postoperative AKI after liver resection in elderly patients.MethodsPostoperative AKI was assessed in 850 patients undergoing liver resection in a single-center retrospective cohort between 2012 and 2019. We reviewed electronic medical records and collected patient information on perioperative variables. The data were randomly split into training and validation datasets (split ratio 0.7:0.3). Stepwise regression was applied to identify predictive factors associated with postoperative AKI based on Akaike’s information criterion, and multivariate logistic regression was applied to establish the predictive nomogram. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and calibration curve were used to evaluate the discrimination and accuracy of the prediction. The decision curve analysis (DCA) was used to assess clinical usefulness. A summary risk score was also constructed for identifying postoperative AKI patients (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT 04922866).ResultsPostoperative AKI occurred in 156 (18.3%) patients and was highly associated with in-hospital mortality (5.1% vs. 0.7%, P < 0.05). Predictors selected and assembled into the nomogram included age, preexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), preoperative direct bilirubin values, intraoperative hepatic inflow occlusion, blood loss, and transfusion. The predictive nomogram performed well in terms of discrimination with area under ROC curve (AUC) in training (0.74, 95% CI: 0.69 - 0.79) and validation (0.72, 95% CI: 0.64 - 0.80) datasets. The nomogram was well-calibrated in the validation dataset with the Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 of 8.12 (P = 0.62). DCA demonstrated a significant clinical benefit. The summary risk score was calculated as the sum of points from the seven variables (one point for each variable) and performed as well as the nomogram in identifying the risk of AKI (AUC 0.73, 95% CI: 0.68 - 0.78).ConclusionsThis nomogram and summary risk score accurately predicted postoperative AKI using seven clinically accessible variables, with potential application in facilitating the optimized perioperative renal management in elderly patients undergoing liver resection.
A Study of Claims and Qualifiers in ESL Students’ Argumentative Writing --An empirical study based on Toulmin model
Authors: yang rui 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
English argumentative writing is a difficult point in second language writing. Although there has been a lot of research on English argumentative writing at home and abroad, empirical research focusing on claims in argumentative writing is very scarce. Based on the Toulmin model, this paper studies the relationship between the types of argumentative sentences and English argumentative writing performance from the perspectives of qualifier and claim. By scoring 117 students’ timed argumentative writings, the students’ compositions are divided into high-mark group, medium-mark group and low-mark group. Through the text analysis of each argumentative writing, 23 kinds of claims are extracted and scored according to the qualifying elements of the argumentative. The research shows that the claims in the high-mark group are mostly presented by the qualifying elements in the form of words and claims(QW + C), and the claims are mainly constructed in detailed information. At the same time, it is found that there is no significant correlation between the diversity of qualifying elements in claims and argumentative writing performance.
Comparison Between 5-Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Diagnosis and Narrow- Band Imaging for Bladder Cancer Detection: A Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Hagimoto Hiroki , Makita Noriyuki , Mine Yuta , Kokubun Hidetoshi , Murata Shiori , Abe Yohei , Kubota Masashi , Tsutsumi Naofumi , Yamasaki Toshinari , Kawakita Mutsushi 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
BackgroundNo comparative studies exist between 5-aminolevulinic acid-photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) and narrow-band imaging (NBI) for the detection of urothelial carcinoma. Therefore, we compared 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated PDD with NBI for cancer detection during transurethral resection of bladder tumors.MethodsBetween June 2018 and October 2020, 114 patients and 282 lesions were included in the analysis. Patients were orally administered 5-aminolevulinic acid (20 mg/kg) 2 h before transurethral resection of bladder tumors. The bladder was inspected with white light, PDD, and NBI for each patient and all areas that were positive by at least one method were resected or biopsied. The imaging data were then compared to the pathology results.ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for detecting urothelial carcinoma were 88.1%, 47.5%, 80.9%, and 61.3% for white light; 89.6%, 22.5%, 74.5%, and 46.2% for PDD; and 76.2%, 46.3%, 78.2%, and 43.5% for NBI, respectively. PPD was significantly more sensitive than NBI for all lesions (p<0.001), including carcinoma in situ lesions (94.6% vs. 54.1%, p<0.001).ConclusionsPDD can increase the detection rate of bladder cancer compared to NBI by greater than 10%. Adding PDD to white light can detect 100% of carcinoma in situ lesions.
Mental Health Crisis in Somalia: a Review and a Way Forward
Authors: Ibrahim Mohamed , Rizwan Humayun , Afzal Muhammad , Malik Mamunur 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background: Somalia has been without an effective government since the collapse of the military regime in 1991. Years of conflict, disasters, and insecurity have all contributed to very low scores for most health indicators due to poor governance, protracted conflict, underdevelopment, economic decline, poverty, social and gender inequality, and environmental degradation. The three-decade long protracted conflict has led to widespread psychosocial trauma, social deprivation and substance abuse with devastating consequences on mental health. A WHO study showed Somalia has one of the highest rates of mental illness in the world. The main aim of this study is to assist policy makers in setting priorities for the design and delivery of interventions to promote mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in Somalia. Methods: The study uses a systematic mapping technique (from January 1991 to May 2020) and data collected from public domain, to collect, collate, and present mental health data mainly from WHO’s Global Health Observatory. Since there is no primary database for Somalia’s public health research, the bibliographic databases used for mental health in this study included Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar. Data were extracted using techniques for web data mining for public health. Results: Systematic mapping of mental health-related issues in Somalia showed that policy-related determinants and mental health services dominated (74.4%), followed by the disaster-related determinants and women’s health consequences (39.3%). The ratio of the number of beds for mental health in general hospitals (per 100,000 population) in Somalia in 2017 is 0.5 compared to the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) at 6.4 and globally at 24. One of the biggest casualties of the civil war was loss of essential human resources in healthcare as most either fled the country or were part of the victims of the war. Conclusions: The vast scale of the mental health problems in Somalia and the priority setting guidelines for interventions to address the issues outlined in this paper, prompt a dire need that the Somali government and its national/international partners should prioritize and emphasize the need to invest in the prevention and the treatment of mental illness across the country.
Comparative Analysis of Differentially Expressed miRNAs in Leaves of Three Sugarcane (Saacharum Officinarum L.) Cultivars During Salinity Stress
Authors: Mazalmazraei Tofigh , nejadsadeghi Leila , Mehdikhanlou Khosro , Ahmadi Daryoosh Nabati 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Sugarcane is an important industrial plant which cultivated in the most arid and semiarid regions. Due to climate change and anthropogenic activities, the sugarcane field damage due to salt deposition and the cultivation of sugarcane has been posed a major threat in the region. To address this issue, the identification of salinity tolerant cultivars would be a suitable strategy to minimize yield loss in the area. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating gene expression. The monitoring of the expression of miRNAs and their targeted genes could provide deeper insight into the molecular stress mechanism and screen tolerant cultivars. Our aim was to assess the expression of nine candidate miRNAs and their corresponding targeted genes among the studied sugarcane cultivars under salinity condition, leading to identify the salt-tolerant cultivar. To achieve our goal, a two-factorial experiment with three sugarcane cultivars (CP-48, CP-57, CP-69) and two salinity levels (0 and 8 ds/m) was conducted. One-way ANOVA indicated that there was a significant difference between miRNAs and targeted gene expression. The highest reduction of miRNAs expression was occurred in miR160 while the lower one was happening in miR1432. The data also indicated that the higher and the lowest of targeted genes were in miR160 and miR393 respectively. Among studied cultivars, the CP-57 showed poor performance while CP-69 expresses a superior tolerance to salt stress. Taken together, these results suggested that the screening of well adapted cultivars under salt conditions would be appropriate solutions to combat salinity stress in saline lands.
Infection with SARS-CoV-2 Causes Flares in Patients with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis in Remission or Inactive Disease on Medication
Authors: Hügle Boris , Krumrey-Langkammerer Manuela , Haas Johannes-Peter 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Background
Flares of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have been described in the context of various infections. So far, the effect of infection with SARS-CoV-2 on the course of JIA is unknown.
Findings:
The database of the German Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology was searched for patients with confirmed infection with SARS-CoV-2 and subsequent disease flare. Five patients with remission or inactive disease were identified, with flare symptoms up to four weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions
Flares can occur after infection with SARS-CoV-2 in patients with JIA in remission or inactive disease on medication. Treating physicians need to be aware of this fact, especially when counseling patients with rheumatic diseases about the respective dangers of COVID-19 disease and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.