bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shear wave elastography options in the integrated assessment of liver parenchyma in children
Authors: Pykov M. I. , Kuzmina N. E. , Rostovtsev N. M. 
Published: July 2022

Introduction. Chronic liver diseases in children are accompanied by fibrocirrhotic transformation of the organ. Modern ultrasound diagnostic procedures offer a method that can differentiate between the fibrous and unchanged tissues. The paper includes the results of a study of liver stiffness in healthy children using shear wave elastography. The method presented in the article can come to an active use in the non-invasive detection of fibrosis as part of the integrated assessment of liver in pediatric practice. Aim. To study the stiffness of unchanged liver in children of different gender and age groups.Materials and methods. Shear wave elastography was performed in 200 healthy children aged 3 to 18 years (103 girls and 97 boys) using Aixplorer apparatus (Supersonic Imagine, France), in three age subgroups: a 3- to 6-year-old group (n = 103), a 7- to 11-year-old group (n = 52), and a 12- to 18-year-old group (n = 45). The measurements were taken in different segments of the right lobe of the liver, in the area free from the vascular structures, fixing the zone of scanning at the depth of 3-5 cm from the capsule. Not less than 10 measurements were made, which enabled to calculate the mean value of liver elasticity.Results. The study identified the liver stiffness measurement normal range in a group of healthy children. Significant differences in liver stiffness were obtained by comparing the values of 3- to 6- year-old and 7- to 11-year-old groups (P = 0.001); 3- to 6-year-old and 12- to 18-year-old groups (P = 0.001); there were no statistically significant differences in the stiffness values depending on gender (P = 0.345).Conclusions. Young modulus values obtained may be used as normative. The use of shear wave elastography enhances the accuracy of the conventional ultrasound examination in identifying patients with liver disease.
Clinical effects of probiotics on the functioning of the gut-brain axis in children
Authors: Zakharova I. N. , Dmitrieva D. K. , Berezhnaya I. V. , Serikova L. S. , Sugian N. G. , Gostyukhina A. D. 
Published: July 2022

The gut microbiota is a complex collection of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, archaea, and fungi colonising the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The microbiota plays a fundamental role in keeping the body healthy and the development of various diseases, including mental ones. Clinical studies have showed that there exists a bidirectional communication between the gut, microbiota and brain within the brain-gut-microbiome axis. It is understood that gut microbes play a role in many mental disorders and may be a potential therapeutic target. The nervous system and GI tract communicate through a bidirectional signalling network that includes multiple pathways, among which are the vagus nerve, the immune system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, some transmitters, and bacterial metabolites. The available data indicate the mutual influence of the microbiota and the activation of inflammatory processes in the brain. Psychobiotics have been increasingly used for the management of the microbiota in case of injury of this pathway. The term that was used for the first time in 2013 defined psychobiotics as probiotics, which have a positive effect on mental health provided that they are taken orally at adequate doses.Afterwards they were included in the definition, given the proven benefit of prebiotics. Thus, psychobiotics are beneficial bacteria (probiotics) or auxiliary substances for such bacteria (prebiotics) that affect the communication and interactions between bacteria and the brain. Following ingestion, probiotic bacteria concentrate mainly in the intestinal epithelium, providing the host with nutrients and influencing the immune system, as well as producing neuroactive substances that act on the brain-gut axis. This review is devoted to the new interesting area that correlates the gut microbiota with nervous system diseases and its possible treatment with psychobiotics.
Bronchial asthma evolution in children within 3 years from the diagnosis
Authors: Trusova O. V. , Kamaev A. A. , Gaiduk I. M. , Kuznetsova I. V. 
Published: July 2022

Introduction. The natural history of bronchial asthma (BA) in newly diagnosed children is not well understood.Objective. To determine the trends in the course of mild BA in children over 3 years from the date of initial diagnosis.Materials and methods. A prospective controlled study included 149 children (106 boys, 43 girls) aged 5 years to 5 years 11 months with mild BA diagnosed less than 1 year ago. During a 3-year follow-up, the severity of BA, the need for basic and emergency therapy were assessed. An increase in therapy and the severity of BA was regarded as progression of the disease; the spectrum and extension of sensitization to inhaled allergens were taken into account.Results and discussion. Of 149 children with persistent asthma, 103 were sensitized to one or more household allergens, most frequently to cat (36.2% in the cohort) and dust mites (30.9%). During 3 years of follow-up, the patients did not develop a stable remission of BA with the possibility of canceling basic therapy for more than 6 months in a row. In children receiving basic therapy, it is typical (up to 71% of cases) that the need for therapy remains, or the volume of therapy increases (up to 27% of cases). In children who initially did not receive basic therapy, an increase in therapy is typical (63% of cases). Disease progression was noted over 3 years of follow-up in 70 (47%) patients, most often in the group who initially did not receive basic therapy (73.5%) as well as among children with polysensitization to household allergens (88.9%).Conclusion. Dynamic observation of preschool age patients with BA shows a tendency to persistence or progression of the disease in the first 3 years from the diagnosis.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes and neurophysiological parameters in children with congenital hyperinsulinism
Authors: Nikitina I. L. , Sarakaeva L. R. , Bairov V. G. , Sukhotskaya A. A. , Smorodin A. P. , Ryzhkova D. V. , Mitrofanova L. B. , Eftich E. A. , Melikyan M. A. , Kelmanson I. A. 
Published: July 2022

Introduction. Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rare group of genetic disorders resulting in persistent hypoglycemia which can lead to delay of neurodevelopment.Aim. To assess psychomotor development and certain neurophysiological parameters of children treated for congenital hyperin-sulinism.Materials and methods. This prospective and retrospective cohort study included 73 infants with congenital hyperinsulinism admitted to the National Almazov Research Centre from 2017 to 2021. All subjects underwent standard clinical examination including physical and neurological assessment as well as 18F-DOPA PET/CT, genetic testing, electroencephalography. Developmental screening was performed using “Ages and Stages” questionnaire in 33 subjects. Possible risk factors for neurode-velopmental sequelae due to hypoglycemia were analyzed.Results and discussion. Normal neurodevelopment in general was observed in 23 subjects (69%), 10 patients had developmental delay. Focal form of CHI had the greatest modifying effect on positive neurodevelopmental outcome in general. Individual skills such as communication, fine and gross motor, problem solving in children with a focal form of CHI were significantly better than those with a nonfocal forms. Age of manifestation and verification of the disease, the minimum level of glycemia and the maximum level of glucose utilization did not significantly affect the formation of either individual skills (with the exception of gross motor skills) or psychomotor development in general. The indicators of gross motor skills in children with a lower level of glucose utilization turned out to be significantly better. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the alpha rhythm appearance was significantly earlier in patients with a focal form of CHI and with earlier verification of the diagnosis (<28 days of life).Conclusion. The focal form of the disease has the greatest modifying effect on the positive outcome of the psychomotor development. The age-appropriate gross motor skills were observed more often in the group of children with low glucose disposal rates. The association of the early occurrence of the alpha rhythm with the focal form of congenital hyperinsulinism, as well as with the early verification of the disease, was found.
Working with local governments to increase access to WASH services: a case of WaterAid's participatory approaches in Nigeria
Authors: Yusuf Tariya Sarauta , Murray Anna , Okereke Chukwumerije 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Attempts to implement participatory processes are often complicated by realities which make objectives of participation unattainable. Hence, if participation is to mean more than good intentions, it is vital to understand the strategies deployed by international nongovernmental organisations (INGOs) in participatory development. This study employed a qualitative case-study approach to evaluate the participatory processes employed in two WASH projects implemented by WaterAid Nigeria attempting work with Local Government Areas: the Sustainable Total Sanitation project and the HSBC Water programme. WaterAid Nigeria's participatory development approach recognises the responsibility of the various tiers of government for its citizens' wellbeing, especially the need for partnership with the Local Government Area (LGA) towards the delivery of WASH services. The state, as the ‘duty bearer’, is responsible for the provision of WASH services. Thus, both projects centred on government capacity building and community empowerment through the establishment and capacity development of WASH units in LGAs, insistence on counterpart funding and the establishment of water, sanitation and hygiene committees (WASHCOMs). Despite these attempts, findings highlighted the persistence of inefficiencies within the LGA WASH system that rendered partnerships ineffective. At the community level, WASHCOMs were not sustainable. Despite the challenges of implementing partnerships between INGOs and LGAs, such partnership remains a way to improve the provision of WASH services in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries. To better work within the participatory model, WASH INGOs should explore how to better use existing LGA arrangements for service delivery. Additionally, the LGA, as a duty bearer, could foster genuine, non-discriminatory spaces for the participation of communities by taking political, socio-economic and cultural differences into account.
Development and characterization of N-substituted derivative of 2-sulfanylacetamide on Phyllanthus emblica seed coat as novel adsorbent for remediation of As(III) from water
Authors: Nayyar Madhvi , Kumar Rajeev , Chawla Jyoti 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Primary aliphatic or aromatic amino acids on Phyllanthus emblica seed coat are derivatized in the form of N-substituted 2-sulfanylacetamide derivative. Pristine P. emblica (PPE) and derivatized P. emblica (DPE) products were used for removal of trivalent arsenic from aqueous sample. Thioglycolic acid and 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimidehydrochloride (EDC) were used for the derivatization process. The carboxylic group of thioglycolic acid reacts with EDC to form an activated ester leaving group, which is displaced by nucleophilic attack of primary amino acids on seed coat. The BET surface area (0.3152±0.0081 m2/g) and Langmuir surface area (0.3571±0.0054 m2/g) of PPE are changed after modification. DPE showed high surface area compared to un-derivatized adsorbent due to presence of more modified groups on the surface (BET surface area 0.5812 m2/g, Langmuir surface area 0.6372 m2/g). Infrared and EDX studies confirmed modification of prepared material. The batch study was carried out by using 0.06 g/L of adsorbent dose at pH 7 for 120 minutes of contact time. The Langmuir qmax for PPE and DPE were observed to be 76.92 and 90.90 mg/g respectively.
Assessing the influence of treated effluent on nutrient enrichment of surface waters using water quality indices and source apportionment
Authors: Ofori Solomon , Agyeman Prince Chapman , Adotey Enoch Kwasi , Růžičková Iveta , Wanner Jiří 
Published: July 2022

AbstractDischarges from wastewater treatment plants have been cited as one of the point sources contributing to surface water quality deterioration. However, does high-quality effluent affect water quality, and contribute significantly to nutrient enrichment or the eutrophication of receiving waters? The Vltava River and a wastewater treatment plant in the Czech Republic were used in a case study, to try to answer these questions through water quality indices and source identification. Samples were collected upstream and downstream of the effluent discharge point, and analyzed for temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate and sulfate. No statistically significant difference (P &gt; 0.05) was observed between most of the upstream and downstream samples’ physicochemical characteristics. The water quality, organic pollution and eutrophication indices of the river, upstream of the effluent discharge point were 83.48, 2.05 and 2.67, respectively, but increased to 99.06, 2.87 and 3.74 downstream. Nutrient source identification using principal component analysis suggests that the increase might be due to the effluent discharge. However, the river's comprehensive ecological (quality classification) status was the same upstream as downstream, indicating that the discharged effluent did not cause nutrient enrichment of the river.
A real-time and eco-layout platform for optimization of supply/costs for water distribution systems management
Authors: Atashin Sabrine , Niksokhan Mohammad Hossein , Zahed Mohammad Ali 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
This research discusses developing a coupled system with both structural and operational aspects of the water distribution system. Operating view is provided through a real-time control scheduler (RTC), which satisfactorily attends to solve the dynamic control problem at every timestep via minimization of energy costs over the day and satisfying hydraulic reliability constraints through suggesting near-optimal pump schedules. Moreover, the network layout provides the structural view with a focus on inventing the most prosperous cost-effective topology. The modeling process was exerted by group-based machine learning techniques, a dynamic random search (DDS) algorithm and ultimately, the model performance was evaluated. In addition to providing stable hydraulic conditions, evaluating the coupled optimization platform (RTC-eco-layout) formulation on a typical day was adequate to beget an average of up to 23% daily energy savings as well as preserving the hydraulic feasibility properties in the range of up to 30% energy cost economies. The sensitivity analysis admitted that both operating and environmental variables contribute to the total uncertainty.
Study of hydraulic characteristics of trapezoidal piano key side weir using different approaches
Authors: Kilic Zeyneb , Emin Emiroglu M. 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Side weirs are widely used in hydraulic engineering applications. The studies on the subject have been generally focused on classical and labyrinth side weirs. However, the same is not true for piano key side weirs (PKSW) in a straight channel. The piano key weir (PKW) has high discharge capacity compared with classical weirs. In this study, the hydraulic characteristics of a trapezoidal piano key side weir (TPKSW) in straight channels were investigated experimentally. In all experiments, the hydraulic characteristics of nine TPKSW models were studied extensively using the De Marchi, Domínguez and Schmidt approaches in the subcritical flow regime, with Froude number range 0.12 &lt; F1 &lt; 0.87. The results show that a TPKSW provides better performance compared to traditional rectangular and triangular labyrinth side weirs. Specifically, for the 0.12 &lt; F1 &lt; 0.4 condition, the efficiencies of a TPKSW and trapezoidal labyrinth side weir are close to each other. A trapezoidal labyrinth side weir is more efficient than a TPKSW at larger Froude numbers. The discharge capacity of the TPKSW is 2.9 to 12 times higher than that of the rectangular side weir. Scatter diagrams were obtained for CPW and F1 numbers using various approaches available in the literature. The diagram generated by the De Marchi approach has much less scattering, compared to the diagrams generated by the Domínguez and Schmidt approaches. It has been determined that TPKSWs are an effective type of side weir in lateral flows. Lastly, an empirical equation was obtained for the discharge coefficient, which is in good agreement with the experimental data.
Empirical formulas for groundwater use under wheat growth conditions in the Huaibei Plain of China
Authors: Jiang Shangming , Zhang Yuliang , Ning Shaowei , Jin Juliang , Zhou Yuliang , Cui Yi , Pan Zhengwei , Xu Zhengguang 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Using groundwater for crop growth plays a key role in the sustainable management of water resources and irrigation and drainage design. Some studies did not consider the influence of different crop growth stages and the non-linear effect of the groundwater depth on groundwater use. In this study, three types of formulae for groundwater use were developed by referencing the phreatic evaporation formula without crops. According to the observation data, groundwater depth and use, and wheat evapotranspiration were fitted using these three non-linear formulae in each crop growth stage. The Accelerated Gene Algorithm (AGA) was used to optimize the parameters, and their performance indices were calculated. We observed that groundwater use increased gradually as the decrease in groundwater depth and the increase in wheat evapotranspiration; the correlation coefficients of wheat evapotranspiration and groundwater use were small (such as 0.539, 0.428) in the seedling stage and mature stage and large (such as 0.631, 0.625) in other stages. The performance of the Aviriyanover formula was the best with a correlation coefficient of 0.686 between the simulation and observation; therefore, this formula was recommended to determine groundwater use.
Kinetic evaluation of sonicated food waste in continuously stirred tank reactor
Authors: Md Sabiani Nor Habsah , Tajarudin Husnul Azan , Wan Ab Karim Ghani Wan Azlina , Idris Azni , Samsu Baharuddin Azhari 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
This work aimed to evaluate the process performance and stability of the anaerobic digestion of sonicated food waste (SFW) by determining the kinetic parameters using Monod, Contois, Modified Stover-Kincannon, and Grau second-order multicomponent substrate removal kinetic models. The anaerobic digestion was conducted on the sonicated food waste (SFW) in a 13 L continuously stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with a stepwise organic loading rate (OLR) ranging from 1.5 to 3.5 gCOD/L.day. The experimental works were carried out in two stages (start-up then followed by semi-continuous). The ultrasonic pretreatment was performed by sonicating the food waste slurry for 10 minutes at a 20 kHz frequency and specific energy input of 25,997 kJ/kg TS. The process performance, as well as acceptable stability in the SFW digester, provided satisfactory predictions with Monod, Modified Stover-Kincannon, Grau second-order multicomponent substrate removal, and Contois kinetic models. A significant relationship was seen between the predicted and experimental data with correlation coefficients (R2) ranging from 0.893 to 0.996. In this study, the Monod model with R2 = 0.996 indicates the most suitable model for understanding the kinetic parameters of the anaerobic system in the CSTR which digests the sonicated food waste (SFW) slurry.
Milovanova Developing High School Students’ Listening Skills in The Context of Multimodal English Communication by Means of a MoodleBased Training Program
Authors: Gryzunova O. V. , Gryzunov V. V. 
Published: July 2022

There are many publications about the importance of emotions in the educational process. They prove that emotions are an effective management tool, including the attention of students. However, the practical application of this tool remains outside the scope of research, that is, there are no methods for managing emotions. This article offers the experience of transferring theoretical concepts into practice using all basic emotions in the context of the main forms of studies at the university.The aim of the research is to analyze the features of the use of emotions in the educational process in higher education and to offer practical tools for managing emotions.Research methods: content analysis of specialized literature, morphological analysis of all basic emotions and basic forms of employment, descriptive analysis for presenting emotion management tools, their main advantages and disadvantages.Results: correspondence of emotions to learning goals and forms of classes was obtained, a method for managing students’ emotions was developed, a test example of applying the method was given, the capabilities and limitations of the most common tools for managing emotions were analyzed: teaching metaphor, storytelling, facilitation, and gamification.Practical use. The results allow managing the students’ emotions in the context of solving educational and methodological problems. The proposed tools are universal and can be used in teaching technical and humanitarian disciplines to increase the emotional involvement of the audience in the educational process, as a motivating component, thereby increasing the quality of mastering the material.Discussion. Since excessive emotions can block the cognitive abilities of students, lead to emotional “sticking”, methods of harmonizing the cognitive and emotional components in the educational process are needed.
Prolonged NHE Activation may be both Cause and Outcome of Cytokine Release
Syndrome in COVID-19
Authors: Cure Medine Cumhur , Cure Erkan 
Published: July 2022

Abstract:
The release of cytokines and chemokines such as IL‐1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN‐γ, CCL2, CCL3, and CXCL10 is increased in critically ill patients with COVID-19. Excessive cytokine release during COVID-19 is related to increased morbidity and mortality. Several mechanisms are put forward for cytokine release syndrome during COVID-19. Here we would mention a novel pathways. SARS-CoV-2 increases angiotensin II levels by rendering ACE2 nonfunctional. Angiotensin II causes cytokine release via AT1 and AT2 receptors. Moreover, angiotensin II potently stimulates the Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE). It is a pump found in the membranes of many cells that pumps Na+ inward and H+ outward. NHE has nine isoforms. NHE1 is the most common isoform found in endothelial cells and many cells. NHE is involved in keeping the intracellular pH within physiological limits. When the intracellular pH is acidic, NHE is activated, bringing the intracellular pH to physiological levels, then its activity ends. Sustained NHE activity is highly pathological and causes many problems. Prolonged NHE activation in COVID-19 may cause a decrease in intracellular pH through H+ ion accumulation in the extracellular area and subsequent redox reactions. The activation reduces the intracellular K+ concentration and leads to Na+ and Ca2+ overload. Increased ROS can cause intense cytokine release by stimulating NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasomes. Cytokines also cause overstimulation of NHE. As the intracellular pH decreases, SARS-CoV-2 rapidly infects new cells, increasing the viral load. This vicious circle increases morbidity and mortality in patients with COVID-19. On the other hand, SARS-CoV-2 interaction with NHE3 in intestinal tissue is different from other tissues. SARS-CoV-2 can trigger CRS via NHE3 inhibition by disrupting the intestinal microbiota. This review aimed to help develop new treatment models against SARS-CoV-2-induced CRS by revealing the possible effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the NHE.