bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Birth Companions, Health Workers Perspective: Mixed Method Study in St. Paul’s Hospital and Millennium Medical College and Its Catchment Centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Gizachew Kidist , Getinet Tewodros , Bekele Delayehu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Introduction: Birth companions have been shown to improve quality of care provided to laboring women. Various studies have shown the benefits of companion during child birth. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care providers towards the involvement of birth companions during child birth in St Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) and its selected catchment health centers. Methodology: The study used a cross-sectional study which was supplemented by qualitative study design which employed phenomenological design was conducted using in depth interview of health care providers who were on practice during the study period in SPHMMC. Result: The study included a total 58 health care providers. The finding from the study showed that great proportion of health care providers involved in the study (90 %) have positive attitude towards involvement of birth companions but majority 82.4 % didn’t allow birth companions. The commonest reasons mentioned for not involving companions include fear of breach of privacy, interference with routine medical care and risk of litigation/complaints.Conclusion and Recommendation: The findings from this study showed that majority of the health care providers are against the practice of involving birth companions. Since involvement of birth companions is one way to ensure the quality of care provided there should be an effort to increase the knowledge of health professionals on benefits of birth companions. There is also a need for improvement of the work setup. Simple measures like providing screens, providing separate rooms for laboring and post-partum women will have a significant impact on the quality of care provided.
A computer-aided mass diagnosis system based on perceptive features learned from quantitative mammography radiology report: An observer-based study
Authors: He Zilong , Li Yue , Xu Weimin , Wen Chanjuan , Ma Xiangyuan , Wei Jun , Zeng Hui , Xu Zeyuan , Wang Sina , Wu Jiefang , Feng Chenya , Ma Mengwei , Qin Genggeng , Lu Yao , Chen Weiguo 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system can provide reference to radiologists in breast mass classification. This study was to verify if a CAD model, based on perceptive features learned from quantitative BI-RADS descriptions, can help radiologists improve diagnosis performance for breast masses in mammography.Methods: A retrospective multi-reader multi-case (MRMC) study was conducted to evaluate a CAD model established on perceptive features. Digital mammograms of 416 patients with breast masses were collected from 2014 to 2017, including 231 benign and 185 malignant masses. Altogether, 214 of them (109 benign, 105 malignant) were selected randomly to train the CAD model which consisted of perceptive feature extractor and classifier. The other 202 patients were used as the test set for evaluation from which 51 patients (29 benign and 22 malignant) were selected. Six radiologists were divided into three groups (junior, middle-senior, and senior).They evaluated 51 patients without and with support from the CAD model. BI-RADS category, benign or malignant diagnosis, probability of malignancy, and diagnosis time were recorded during two evaluation sessions. Results: In the MRMC evaluation, the average AUC of six radiologists with CAD support was significantly higher than that without support (0.896 vs. 0.850, p=0.02). Both of average sensitivity and average specificity increased (p = 0.0253). More cases were assessed as BI-RADS 4 than BI-RADS 2 or 3. Five radiologists showed comparable diagnosis time per case with and without CAD support, and one radiologist showed a significant decrease when the CAD model was involved. Conclusion: The CAD model could improve radiologists’ diagnostic performance for breast masses without improving the diagnosis time.
Identification and validation of miRNA reference genes in poplar under pathogen stress
Authors: Zhang Lichun , Yang Xiaoqian , Yin Yiyi , Wang Jinxing , Wang Yanwei 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) is a common method to analyze gene expression. Due to differences in RNA quantity, quality, and reverse transcription efficiency between qRT-PCR samples, reference genes are used as internal standards to normalize gene expression. However, few universal genes especially miRNAs have been identified as reference so far. Therefore, it is essential to identify reference genes that can be used across various experimental conditions, stress treatments, or tissues. In this study, 14 microRNAs (miRNAs) and 5.8S rRNA were assessed for expression stability in poplar trees infected with canker pathogen. Using three reference gene analysis programs, we found that miR156g and miR156a exhibited stable expression throughout the infection process. miR156g and miR156a were then tested as internal standards to measure the expression of miR1447 and miR171c, and the results were compared to small RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data. We found that when miR156a was used as the reference gene, the expression of miR1447 and miR171c were consistent with the small RNA-seq expression profiles. Therefore, miR156a was the most stable miRNAs examined in this study, and could be used as a reference gene in poplar under canker pathogen stress, which should enable comprehensive comparisons of miRNAs expression and avoid the bias caused by different lenth between detected miRNAs and traditional referece genes. The present study has expanded the miRNA reference genes available for gene expression studies in trees under biotic stress.
DC-Bias Dependent Impedance and UV-Vis Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy of The Un-Doped and Nb-Doped Ba0.97La0.02TiO3 Ceramics
Authors: Jebli Marwa , Hamadoui Nejeh , rayssi chaker , Dhahri Jemai , Henda Mouna Ben , Zaidi Nadia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This report typically discusses the Voltage-Stability (V-S) of the electrical properties of a new perovskite oxide, Ba0.97La0.02Ti1-xNb4x/5O3 (noted BLT, BLT0.9Nb0.08) ceramics which have been meticulously studied. The ceramics typically exhibited a low rise in the real and imaginary parts of the complex impedance on the application of small field levels (up to 5 V). These accurate data, at a low voltage threshold, properly designate a hole-generation process which becomes active. These values considered using AC impedance spectroscopy, nonetheless, were relatively decreased with increasing Nb concentration, as well as increased by this application of a DC bias. For each sample, the complex impedance plot displayed a single impedance semicircle, identified over the high and low frequencies. The equivalent circuit configuration was typically fitted using the Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) spectra analyzer. Importantly, the electrical properties of our both compounds deduced from the complex electric modulus show a conduction process due to the short-range mobility of charge carriers. An excellent addition of Niobium to some considerable extent can inhibit the grain growth. Conspicuously, the substitution of Nb5+ ions for Ti4+ on B sites leads to the noticeable increase of a band gap. These findings supplied critical insights into the electric mechanisms in BT-based ceramics.
What is The Impact of Excessive Iodine and Semen Quality in Fertile Men of China: An Association Study
Authors: Wang Ning , Lv Fang , Yu Ge , Shi Cuige , Wang Shangming , Zhang Shucheng 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Iodine is an essential element for hormones synthesized by the human thyroid gland. Thyroid hormone deficiency affects all body tissues, including multiple endocrine changes that alter growth hormones, corticotrophin, glucocorticoids, and gonadal function. In many countries, subfertility is an important problem affecting about 10–15% of all couples trying to conceive. Male subfertile factors have accounted for 25–30% of all cases in their studies. The aim of this study was to study the correlation between urinary iodine concentration (UIC) and semen quality of fertile male in China.Methods: semen and urine samples were collected from males who attended a survey for the reproductive physiological constants of male and female in China. All participants were fertile and they should be free from diseases of male reproductive system and thyroid related diseases. We studied the correlation between UIC and semen quality parameters in fertile males and the effect of iodine concentration on male reproduction. Participants were divided into six groups based on UIC. We measured semen parameters and UIC. Semen parameters or time-to-pregnancy (TTP) were analyzed by Spearman correlation, linear regression and multivariable logistic regression. Results: 1089 men were recruited in the study. The mean and median age of participants were 27.46±0.12 and 27±3.88 years, respectively. UIC of 274 (25.16%) men was lower than the UIC of WHO recommended. UIC of 405 men located in the region of WHO recommended. 62.35% of them were not located in the optimal region. Semen concentration and total sperm count were found to decrease when UIC increases when the UIC≥100 ug/L. Conclusions: A male with deficient UIC or excessive UIC has more risk of lower semen quality such as sperm concentration and total sperm count. In addition, if a male with deficient UIC or excessive UIC, his wife has longer TTP than the males who had normal UIC. Deficient UIC associated with lower semen quality and TTP than excessive UIC.
Space-Time Cloaking Based on Reflection, Transmission and Goos-Hãnchen Shift
Authors: Ahmad Hussian , Rehman Amin Ur , Wahid Ume , bacha Bakht amin , Ramay Shahid M 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The birefringence characteristics of reflection and transmission of light pulse are explored in chiral medium driving by two probe electric and magnetic fields, while four control fields. The proposed medium show significant birefringence behaviors in reflection/transmission and Goos-Hänchen (GH) shifted beams. The birefringent GH-reflected and GH-transmitted pulses show significant contribution in the space time gap creation for secure communication and invisibility. A space-time gap has been observed in the reflection, transmission and corresponding GH-shifted reflection and transmission birefringent beams. The theoretical results may be useful for noise free secure communication in invisible radar technology.
Identifying Urban Built Environment Factors in Pregnancy Care and Maternal Mental Health Outcomes
Authors: Zhang Yiye , Tayarani Mohammad , Wang Shuojia , Liu Yifan , Sharma Mohit , Joly Rochelle , RoyChoudhury Arindam , Hermann Alison , Gao Oliver , Pathak Jyotishman 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Backgrounds: Environmental risk factors related to the built environment have been associated with women’s mental health and preventive care. This study sought to identify built environment factors that are associated with variations in prenatal care and subsequent pregnancy-related outcomes in an urban setting. Methods: In a retrospective observational study using machine learning, we characterized the types and frequency of events in prenatal care that are associated with the various built environment factors of the patients’ residing neighborhoods. We hypothesize that, in comparison to women living in high-quality built environments, women who reside in low-quality built environments experience a different pattern of clinical events that may increase the risk for adverse outcomes. Using machine learning, we performed pattern detection to characterize the variability in prenatal care with respect to encounter types, clinical problems, and medication prescriptions. Structural equation modeling was used to test the associations among built environment, prenatal care variation, and pregnancy outcome. The main outcome is postpartum depression (PPD) diagnosis within 1 year following childbirth. The exposures were the quality of the built environment in the patients’ residing neighborhoods. Electronic health records (EHR) data of pregnant women (n=8,949) who had live delivery at an urban academic medical center in 2015 to 2017 were included in the study. Results: We discovered prenatal care patterns that were summarized into three common types. Women who experienced the prenatal care pattern with the highest rates of PPD were more likely to reside in neighborhoods with homogeneous land use, lower walkability, lower air pollutant concentration, and lower accessibility to retail stores after adjusting for age, neighborhood average education level, marital status, and income inequality. Conclusions: In an urban setting, multi-purpose and walkable communities were found to be associated with a lower risk of PPD. Findings may inform urban design policies and provide awareness for care providers on the association of patients’ residing neighborhoods and healthy pregnancy.
French-Canadian Cross-Cultural Adaptation of the SWAL-QOL and the SSQ and A Preliminary Psychometric Assessment for Their Use in an Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD) Population
Authors: Côté Claudia , Fortin Julie , Brais Bernard , Youssof Sarah , Gagnon Cynthia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose. Patient-reported outcomes (PRO) assessing dysphagia are considered an essential component of clinical trials to consider how patients feel and function in response to treatments. The selected PRO needs to be translated in several languages using a systematic process ensuring its validity and equivalence for use in multicenter clinical trials. The main objective was to conduct the French-Canadian cross-cultural adaptation of the SWAL-QOL (FC SWAL-QOL) and the SSQ (FC SSQ) among an oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) population. Methods. The principles of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Task Force method were followed for the FC SWAL-QOL and the FC SSQ. Cognitive interviews were conducted with 28 participants with OPMD. Known groups validity was assessed by comparison of the FC SWAL-QOL and the FC SSQ scores between groups of participants with OPMD known to differ in dysphagia severity, according to their drinking test score (n=21). Results. Equivalence issues were addressed during the cognitive interviews. Scores on the FC SSQ differed between the two groups divided by drinking test scores suggesting good known groups validity. Only two scales of the FC SWAL-QOL showed known group validity; the difference in the mean composite score was not significant, but this could be due to the small sample size. Conclusion: The SWAL-QOL and the SSQ were successfully translated into French-Canadian and adapted to an OPMD population. Additional validation should be considered depending on the intended population. The FC SSQ was better at discriminating dysphagia severity in a small sample size of OPMD participants.
NPF genes excavation and their expression response to vernalization and nitrogen deficiency in allotetraploid rapeseed
Authors: Chao Hongbo , He Jianjie , Zhao Weiguo , Fu Hong , Hua Yingpeng , Li Maoteng , Huang Jinyong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background

The NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER FAMILY (NPF) genes, initially characterized as nitrate or peptide transporters in plants, involve in the transport of a large variety of substrates including amino acids, nitrate, auxin (IAA), jasmonates (JAs), abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellins (GAs) and glucosinolates. The evolution and expression diversification of genes determine their functional differentiation in polyploid species.
Results

Among 169 NPF genes excavated in Brassica napus, 97 B. napus NPF (BnaNPF) genes evolved from B. rapa, and 72 BnaNPF genes from B. olereaca. They unevenly distributed on B. napus genome and exhibited obvious synteny with NPF genes in Arabidopsis thaliana, B. rapa and B. olereaca. BnaNPF genes were identified to show diversified expression patterns in 90 different organs or tissues based on transcriptome profile data. Besides, they exhibited complex expression changes in the development process of leaves, silique wall and seeds, which indicated that the expression of BnaNPF genes maybe respond to altered phytohormone and secondary metabolite content through combining with promoter elements enrichment analysis. Furthermore, many BnaNPF genes were detected to response to vernalization with two different patterns and 20 BnaNPF genes responded to nitrate deficiency.
Conclusion

The evolution of BnaNPF genes and their expression pattern including response to vernalization and nitrogen deficiency were characterized and provide valuable information for further functional characterization in rapeseed.
The Diagnostic Value of Multi-Modal Ultrasound on the Ovarian Serous Surface Papillary Borderline Tumor
Authors: Xie Lijun , Liu Xinxiu , Chen Min , Li Haiying , Huang Liyan , Chen Fang , Wang Xing fu , Jiang Lei , Gan Ling 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Compared with epithelial ovarian cancer, borderline ovarian tumor has earlier onset age and better prognosis. Ovarian serous surface papillary borderline tumor (SSPBT) is a special subtype of ovarian serous borderline tumor, which is rare in clinic. It is easy to be misdiagnosed as malignant before operation. SSPBT usually occurs in women of childbearing age. The operation of preserving fertility can have a higher pregnancy rate. Therefore, preoperative ultrasound for qualitative diagnosis of SSPBT is of great significance in the selection of surgical methods and treatment. There are few reports on the imaging of SSPBT, and the multimodal ultrasound features of SSPBT combined with conventional ultrasound, two-dimensional and three-dimensional contrast-enhanced ultrasound have not been reported. The purpose of this article is to explore the multimodal ultrasonic characteristics of ovarian SSPBT, combining its clinical and pathological features.Result: The conventional ultrasound of ovarian SSPBT was characterized by large patchy substantial masses wrapped around the ovary.Large flaky dense fine anechoic areas could be seen in the parenchyma,accompanied by speckle strong echo with different degrees.Peritoneal implants were observed in 3 cases(60%)and ascites were found in 4 cases(80%).On further contrast-enhanced ultrasonography,with reference to the myometrium,the tumor on 2D-CEUS showed synchronous or delayed eccentric and inhomogeneous enhancement,and subsided earlier than the uterine wall.The tortuously running tumor trophoblast vessels from the periovarian of the affected side could be further observed clearly and stereospecially on 3D-CEUS.Angiographic rising time(RT),time to peak(TTP),peak intensity(PI),area under the curve(AUC)and half time of descending peak intensity(HT)were significantly different from those of the myometrium(P<0.05).The speckled strong echo observed by conventional ultrasound was correlated with the sand body of the fiber stalk axis in the papillary structure under pathological microscope,while the tortuosity and dilation of microvessels in the fibrous connective tissue axis was the pathological basis of their CEUS perfusion.Conclusion: There are characteristic manifestations of ovarian SSPBT on multimodal ultrasound,which are closely related to the pathological structure.Multimodal ultrasound has important reference value in the diagnosis of ovarian SSPBT.
Cell/Colony Motion of Oral Keratinocytes Determined by Non-Invasive and Quantitative Measurement Using Optical Flow Predicts Epithelial Regenerative Capacity
Authors: Hoshikawa Emi , Sato Taisuke , Haga Kenta , Suzuki Ayako , Kobayashi Ryota , Tabeta Koichi , Izumi Kenji 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Cell/colony motion determined by non-invasive, quantitative measurements using the optical flow (OF) algorithm can indicate the oral keratinocyte proliferative capacity in early-phase primary cultures. This study aimed to determine a threshold for the cell/colony motion index to detect substandard cell populations in a subsequent subculture before manufacturing a tissue-engineered oral mucosa graft and to investigate the correlation with the epithelial regenerative capacity. The distinctive proliferating pattern of first-passage (passage 1 (p1)) cells reveals the motion of p1 cells/colonies, which can be measured in a non-invasive, quantitative manner using OF with fewer full-screen imaging analyses and cell segmentations. Our results demonstrate that the motion index lower than 40 μm/hour reflects cellular damages by experimental metabolic challenges and can be used as the threshold to determine the quality of cultured cells. Because the p1 cell/colony motion index is correlated with epithelial regenerative capacity, it is a reliable index for quality control of oral keratinocytes.
Google search behavior for meningitis and its vaccines: an infodemiological study
Authors: Perez John Angelo Luigi , Espiritu Adrian , Jamora Roland Dominic 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background The internet has made significant contributions towards health education. Analyzing the pattern of online behavior regarding meningitis and vaccinations may be worthwhile. It is hypothesized that the online search patterns in meningitis are correlated with its number of cases and the search patterns of its related vaccines.Methods This was an infodemiological study which determined the relationship among online search interest in meningitis, its worldwide number of cases and its associated vaccines. Using Google Trends Search Volume Indices (SVIs), we evaluated the search queries “meningitis,” “pneumococcal vaccine,” “BCG vaccine,” “meningococcal vaccine” and “influenza vaccine” in January 2021, covering January 2008 to December 2020. Spearman rank correlation was used to determine correlations between these queries.Results The worldwide search interest in meningitis from 2008 to 2020 showed an average SVI of 46 ± 8.8. The most searched topics were symptoms, vaccines, and infectious agents with SVIs of 100, 52, and 39, respectively. The top three countries with the highest search interest were Ghana, Kazakhstan, and Kenya. There were weak, but statistically significant correlations between meningitis and the BCG (ρ = 0.369, p < 0.001) and meningococcal (ρ = 0.183, p < 0.05) vaccines. There were no statistically significant association between number of cases, influenza vaccine, and pneumococcal vaccine.Conclusion The relationships among the Google SVIs for meningitis and its related vaccines and number of cases data were inconsistent and remained unclear. Future infodemiological studies may expand their scopes to social media, semantics and big data for more robust conclusions.