bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal Features of Pollutant Loads in the Yan River Basin, a Typical Loess hilly and Gully Watershed in the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Song Yanni , Wu Yiping , Sun Changshun , Zhao Fubo , Hu Jingyi , Chen Ji , Qiu Linjing 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Water quality is the restrictive factor for both ecosystem health and social development in the Chinese Loess Plateau, a unique area with most severe soil erosion, fragile ecology, and water shortage. Understanding the characteristics of the pollutant loads is of vital importance for the sustainability of eco-environment in the Loess Plateau. This study investigated the spatiotemporal changes of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) loads by combining the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) and regression model Load Estimator (LOADEST) in a typical loess hilly and gully watershed—the Yan River Basin (YanRB). Results showed that the model simulations of monthly streamflow and pollutant loads were in good agreement with those derived from the in-situ observations. The temporal variation analysis suggested that the pollutant loads were generally rising in the study period (2001–2018) at four of the five stations and reached the maximum in 2014, and the multi-year (i.e., 2001–2018 with 2013 being excluded due to extreme rainfall) average loads of COD, TN, and TP at the Tanjiahe station, which is close to the outlet of the basin, were 15,021 kg/d, 3,835 kg/d, and 168 kg/d, respectively. The spatial distribution of the TN and TP loads along the river seemed to be quite unique because the TP level were obviously higher at the midstream (e.g., Zhujiagou and Ganguyi) than the downstream (e.g., Tanjiahe), and the TN level decreased when the river flowed from Zhujiagou to Ganguyi. Further, the seasonal analysis indicated that the nutrient loads were the highest in summer, followed by autumn, and the loads in these two wet seasons contributed the most of the annual pollution loads—about 76% and 84% for TN and TP, respectively, indicating the higher flow, the higher pollution load, a similar point based on the inter-annual analysis. In addition, the contribution analysis of point source and non-point source pollutions demonstrated that NPS led to most of the pollutant loads at the whole watershed—87%, 85%, and 84% of the COD, TN, and TP loads, respectively. Overall, this study provided spatiotemporal distributions of the key pollutant loads in the YanRB and can be valuable for water quality protection and pollution control in this area.
Bacterial Biomass Effect on Performance Improving of Vertical Flow Constructed Wetlands for Domestic Wastewater Treatment
Authors: ZAHUI Franck Michael , Ouattara Jean-Marie Pétémanagnan , Kamagaté Mahamadou , Coulibaly Lacina 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Bacteria are frequently studied in constructed wetlands (CWs) due to their effective involvement in pollutants purification processes. In this study, aerobic, anaerobic and total bacteria densities and their vertical distribution profile within pilot-scale vertical flow CWs planted with different plant species were investigated. Five beds were planted in monoculture with Andropogon gayanus, Chrysopogon zizanioides, Echinochloa pyramidalis, Pennisetum purpureum and Tripsacum laxum, and one unplanted bed was used as control. At the end of the treatment trial, bacteria were collected by taking cores of sediment samples at the corners and the center of each bed following six layers in the vertical profile. In fact, the presence of plants on CWs improved the bacterial density and removal efficiencies in the system, with yields from 5.9 to 24.1% regardless the pollutant. However, few anaerobic bacteria were obtained in the different wetlands, and unable to reduce NO3−, excluding for beds planted with T. laxum and P. purpureum. Besides, the number of aerobic bacteria determined decreased (i.e., 17.4 106 to 0.1 106 CFU.g− 1), while that of anaerobic bacteria increased (i.e., 0.1 106 to 2.1 106 CFU.g− 1) from the upper to the bottom layers in the planted beds. Otherwise, anaerobic bacteria were more abundant in the control than in planted beds. Then, total bacteria were dominated by aerobic bacteria, and decreased from surface toward the bottom. As P purpureum promotes the best performance, CWs with this type of plant could be a cost-effective alternative method of treating wastewater.
Effect of melatonin on the clinical outcome of patients with repeated cycles after failed cycles of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Authors: Zhu Qi , Wang Kaijuan , Zhang Chao , Chen Beili , Zou Huijuan , Zou Weiwei , Xue Rufeng , Ji Dongmei , Yu Zhaojuan , Rao Bihua , Cao Yunxia , Ding Ding , Zhang Zhiguo 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: Melatonin (MT), a powerful antioxidant, can effectively ameliorate the in vitro development of animal embryos, but few studies have been performed on human embryos. Therefore, we investigated whether the application of MT in embryo cultures can improve embryonic development and clinical outcomes of patients with repeated cycles after failed in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) cycles.Methods: Human immature oocytes from controlled ovarian hyperstimulation cycles were collected for in vitro maturation culture and ICSI fertilization. The obtained embryos were cultured in vitro in medium containing 0, 10-11, 10-9, 10-7 or 10-5 M MT, and 10-9 M was determined to be the optimal concentration. Subsequently, 140 patients who experienced failed IVF/ICSI cycles underwent 140 cycles of embryo culture in vitro with medium containing 10-9 M MT. High-quality blastocysts were collected and cryopreserved for three months before vitrified-warmed embryo transfer. These culture cycles served as the experimental (10-9 M) group. The control (0 M) group comprised previous failed cycles. The patients were further divided into subgroups of 1, 2 or ≥3 failed cycles. The fertilization and embryo development statuses were compared.Results: The fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, blastocyst, and high-quality blastocyst rates of the 10-9 M group were significantly higher than those of the 0 M group (87.7% vs. 83.6%, p <0.01; 94.1% vs. 90.5%, p <0.01; 58.3% vs. 43.8%, 51.1% vs. 41.8%, 43.4% vs. 22.9%, all p <0.0001). To date, a total of 50 vitrified-warmed cycle transfers were performed in the 10-9 M group and the implantation rate, biochemical pregnancy rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher than those in the 0 M group (65.6% vs. 9.7%, p <0.0001; 64.0% vs. 12.5%, p <0.0001; 40.0% vs. 11.7%, p <0.0001). Two healthy infants were delivered successfully and the other 18 women who achieved clinical pregnancy also had good examination indexes.Conclusion: The application of MT to embryo cultures in vitro improved embryonic development in patients with repeated cycles after failed IVF/ICSI cycles and had good clinical outcomes. The optimal concentration of MT was 10-9 M.Trial registration: Name in the registry: Effect of melatonin on the clinical outcome of patients with repeated cycles after failed cycles of in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection; registration number: ChiCTR2100045552; date of registration: April 19, 2021(retrospectively registered); URL of trial registry record: www.medresman.org.cn.
A Travel Route Recommendation Algorithm based on Interest Theme and Distance Matching
Authors: Cheng Xi 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
To solve the problem of low accuracy of traditional travel route recommendation algorithm, a travel route recommendation algorithm based on interest theme and distance matching is proposed in this paper. Firstly, the real historical travel footprints of users are obtained through analysis. Then, the user's preferences of interest theme and distance matching are proposed based on the user's stay in each scenic spot. Finally, the optimal travel route calculation method is designed under the given travel time limit, starting point and end point. Experiments on the real data set of the Flickr social network showed that the proposed algorithm has a higher accuracy rate and recall rate, compared with the traditional algorithm that only considers the interest theme and the algorithm which only considers the distance matching
Novel pretreatment performance evaluation for cellulose nanofibrils extraction from Ficus natalensis barkcloth
Authors: Farooq Amjad , Li Mengmeng , Alasood Abeer , Farooq Aamir , Ashraf Muhammad , Patoary Mohammed Kayes , Liu Lifang 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Recently, nanosized cellulose materials extraction is extensively interesting from the sources of sustainable materials. Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) extraction through green bio-based materials featured as promising interest in the field of science. In this study, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was applied to examine its effectiveness in pretreating the Ficus natalensis barkcloth cellulose (FNBC) for CNF production perior to 2,2,6,6,-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) oxidation. The pretreatment performance of DMSO was evaluated based on the structural and morphological changes. DMSO pretreated FNBC attained the most dramatic morphological changes as compared to untreated cellulose samples. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) shows that there is an extentive structural disruption of FNBC during the pretreatment process, could be because of outstanding ability to eliminate non-cellulosic materials and amorphous regions from the FNBC, confirmed by the X-ray diffractometry (XRD) showing higher crystallinity values as well as higher thermal stablilites values of pretreated FNBC samples were also noted. Overall, this study revealed tremendously effective and pioneer pretreatment method for fractionating FNBC, to stimulate the successive extraction of cellulose nanofibrils. Furthermore, on the basis of the cellulose and CNF characterizations, this study showed that Ficus natalensis barkcloth could be considered as an alternative source of cellulose for potential value-added industrial applications such as food industry, paper making, and biomedicines.
Skin-skin contact: The normal-force dependence of the coefficient of friction between a bare finger and artificial skin changes randomly
Authors: Inoue Koki , Okamoto Shogo , Akiyama Yasuhiro , Yamada Yoji 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This study investigates the dependence of the coefficients of friction on the normal force produced by sliding a bare finger over different artificial skins with seven levels of hardness. The coefficient of friction was modeled as a power function of the normal force. An experimental study that involved sliding a finger over artificial skin surfaces was carried out under two conditions: the fingertip being wiped by a dry cloth or a cloth soaked in ethanol. Although the exponential term was assumed to be nearly constant for identical tribological conditions, we observed that the exponent varied randomly and could be negative, zero, or positive. This probabilistic behavior has not been explicitly analyzed in previous studies on human fingertips. The probability density function of the exponent depended on the moisture content of the finger. The exponent was either nearly zero or positive when the finger sliding on the skin surface was wiped with an alcohol-soaked cloth and dried. These findings play an important role in analyzing the frictional forces produced during skin–skin contact in terms of determining the root cause behind the random variations in the dependence of the coefficient of friction on the normal force.
Primary Abdominal Wall Clear Cell Carcinoma: Case Report and review of literature
Authors: Zhai J J , Feng H Y , Ying R B , Chen C H 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: Endometriosis occurring in a surgical scar is well recognized and occurs mainly in patients with a history of hysterectomy or Caesarean section. Scar endometriosis, as well as endometriosis at other sites, can undergo malignant change. Clear cell carcinoma of the endometrium is a very rare and highly malignant neoplasm that accounts for less than 5% of endometrial carcinoma.Case presentation: We report a very rare case of clear cell adenocarcinoma arising from endometriosis of the abdominal scar. We must pay more attention on the following points in the surgical treatment of clear cell carcinoma：(1) Extensively resect tumors as far as possible；(2) Surgical treatment of clear cell carcinoma would easily result in poor wound healing especially in the patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy because of extensive soft tissue stripping .Conclusion: The patient died only 25 months after she was first diagnosed with the cancer.Lessons: This case highlights the difficulties in preoperative diagnosis as well as the poor prognosis of these tumors .Accurate diagnosis of a lump within a scar is important to define the prognosis and treatment. These therapeutic principles are increasingly being applied to patients presenting with tumors greater than 5cm and negative lymph nodes or even smaller tumors, who are considered to have operable disease and a better outcome .Early recognition and prompt treatment can be essential to these patients' survival.
The Novel Hepatokine Ectodysplasin A Is Increased in Obesity and Reduced after Liraglutide Management
Authors: Cai Zhensheng , Deng Xia , Zhang Panpan , Zhao Zhicong , Guo Chang , Wang Chenxi , Li Lian , Li Haoxiang , Gu Tian , Yang Ling , Wang Dong , Zhao Li , Yuan Guoyue 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background Ectodysplasin A (EDA), a new hepatokine, has been recently characterized to play a role in liver lipid metabolism and insulin resistance, but its physiological role remains scarcely acquainted in obesity. This study was the first time to determine the level of serum EDA in obesity, and to assess change in the levels of EDA after weight loss in obese mice.Methods We analyzed the serum concentrations of EDA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 60 subjects including 30 normal weight and 30 obesity. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with high-fat diet and injected by liraglutide to reduce weight. AML12 cells were induced by palmitic acid and treated with liraglutide. Quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot analysis were conducted to evaluate the expression of EDA. Results Serum EDA levels were significantly higher in obesity than in normal weight subjects. It was positively correlated with body mass index (BMI). More importantly, the mRNA and protein expression of EDA reduced after liraglutide management in vivo and in vitro.Conclusions The level of EDA increased significantly in obesity and decreased significantly after weight loss. It is suggested that EDA may be a novel hepatokine associated with obesity-related metabolic diseases.
Assessment of a Website Aimed at Providing Information on Mental Health to Secondary School Students in Cantho City, Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Dat Tan , Pham Tam Thi , Wright E. Pamela , Bunders Joske 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: The stigmatization of mental health problems is a primary barrier for young people to approach mental health services when they suspect they might have a problem. Instead it is becoming common, especially for youth, to look for information on the Internet. This study explored the responses of secondary school students in Cantho city to the suckhoetre.vn website, which aimed to provide information on health and mental health, and to assess its potential relevance, appeal, accessibility, usefulness, and sustainability. Methods: A cross-sectional study included 643 secondary school students in Cantho city selected by cluster sampling. Students were introduced to the website; after two weeks they were invited to evaluate it using an anonymous questionnaire. The Chi-squared test was used to assess the significance of differences in the distribution of selected sociodemographic characteristics.Results: Most (98.6%) of the students visited the website in the two-week period, 74% once or twice a week, the others more often, up to once a day. Their activities included reading information (85.8%), seeking help (17.7%), sharing information (15.5%), giving advice to others (11.0%), and chatting or giving comments (9.8%). Most students rated the website very highly in terms of appeal, relevance, accessibility, and usefulness, and wanted to have access to the website in the future. These findings are positive signals to pursue the application of a website on mental health for secondary school students as a contribution to better mental health for adolescents in Cantho city and elsewhere.Conclusion: A website designed to provide information to secondary school students appeared to be an effective way to provide access to information on the sensitive topic of mental health. The website should be maintained and introduced more widely to students, teachers and parents, with a continuous evaluation of its effectiveness.
Perception of Telephone-assisted Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Among Emergency Medical Personnel in China: a Web-based Survey
Authors: Kang Xuqin , Lou Jing , Tian Sijia , Niu Shengmei , Zhang Luxi , Lian Huixin , Zhang Jinjun 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background: To investigate the perception of telephone-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation (T-CPR) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) among emergency medical service (EMS) providers in China.Methods: A multicentre, cross-sectional, descriptive, online questionnaire survey study was conducted on the perception among emergency centres in various regions across China from December 2018 to June 2019. Answers to questions concerning baseline characteristics of survey respondents, cognition and implementation of T-CPR, and use of automated external defibrillators were surveyed.Results: Of 1,191 questionnaires obtained from 15 provinces in China, 1,187 were valid. Among the 1,187 respondents, the mean age was 38.0±1.1 (20–60) years; 436 (36.7%) were male and 751 (63.3%) female; there were 256 dispatchers, 494 emergency doctors, 400 emergency nurses, and 37 medical emergency assistants; 960 (80.9%) had previously learned T-CPR and 227 (19.1%) had not. Of the 960 participants who knew T-CPR, 796 (82.9%) recognised CA, 714 of whom (89.7%) would further implement T-CPR. The difference in the cognition rate of T-CPR was statistically significant among EMS providers (chi-square test, 38.1; P<.001). In multivariate analysis, dispatchers had a significantly improved knowledge of T-CPR as their workload increased (P<.001; OR=1.002; 95%CI, 1.001–1.003).Conclusion: Substantial and important differences in the perception and implementation of T-CPR among EMS personnel were observed throughout China. Further professional training in T-CPR is urgently required for improvement in outcomes of OHCA countrywide.Trial registration: not applicable.
Arctigenin Inhibits Cholangiocarcinoma Progression by Regulating Cell Migration and Cell Viability via the N-cadherin and Apoptosis Pathway
Authors: Janthamala Sutthiwan , Jusakul Apinya , Kongpetch Sarinya , Kimawaha Phongsaran , Klanrit Poramate , Loilome Watcharin , Namwat Nisana , Techasen Anchalee 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Northeast Thailand has the highest incidence of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) in the world. The lack of promising diagnostic markers and appropriate therapeutic drugs are the main problem for metastatic stage CCA patients who have a poor prognosis. N-cadherin, a cell adhesion molecule, is usually upregulated in cancers and has been proposed as an important mediator in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), one of the metastasis processes. Additionally, it has been shown that arctigenin, a seed extract from Arctium lappa, can inhibit cancer cell progression via suppression of N-cadherin pathway. In this study, we investigated the protein expression of N-cadherin and its correlation with clinicopathological data of CCA patients, as well as the impact of arctigenin on KKU-213A and KKU-100 CCA cell lines and its underlying mechanisms. Immunohistochemistry results demonstrated that high expression of N-cadherin was significantly associated with severe CCA stage (p=0.027), and shorter survival time (p=0.002) of CCA patients. The mean overall survival times between low and high expression of N-cadherin were 31.6 and 14.8 months, respectively. Wound healing assays showed that arctigenin significantly inhibited CCA cell migration by downregulating N-cadherin whereas upregulating E-cadherin expression. Immunocytochemical staining revealed that arctigenin suppressed the expression of N-cadherin in both CCA cell lines. Furthermore, flow cytometry and western blot analysis revealed that arctigenin significantly reduced CCA cell viability and induced apoptosis via the Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-3 pathway. This research supports the use of N-cadherin as a prognostic marker for CCA and arctigenin as a potential alternative therapy for improving CCA treatment outcomes.
Spectroscopic Analysis of Ancient Ceramic From Agror Valley Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Authors: Zahoor Muhammad , Ullah Shakir , Abrar Muhammad , Iqbal Tahir , Hameed Abdul 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The study of material remains has been very essential to reconstruct the past human lifestyle. Archaeologists use different scientific techniques to analyze the elemental composition of the material remains to locate the raw materials, to discover production sites and to understand ancient manufacturing technologies. Of these, Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) method have been extensively used for the compositional analysis of different crystalline and non-crystalline materials of archaeological, historical and artistic interest for the last two decades. The present study was carried out to investigate the elemental composition of ceramic potsherds collected from the historic period. The present paper focuses on the major and minor elements identified through LIBS in the ceramic samples collected from different archaeological sites located in Mansehra, the easternmost district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province of Pakistan. The LIBS results show the presence of Fe, Mg, Ca, and Na as major elements in the ancient ceramic along with traces of Si, Ti, Al and K. LIBS results show differences in the concentration of each elements present in every selected ceramic potsherds which indicates the source of raw material, production strategies and time periods of these objects were related to each other.