bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Smallholder Farmers Participation in Small-Scale Irrigation: The Case of Emba Alaje District, Tigray regional state, Ethiopia
Authors: Phogella Moges Girmay , Anbaw Workie Sahlu 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The dependency on rain fed agriculture coupled with the erratic nature of rainfall is the major factors blamed for the poor performance of the agricultural sector of widespread food insecurity in the country. To solve this problem, use of the available water resources for irrigation development is the most promising option. This study was conducted to identify determinant factors of household’s participation in irrigation in the Emba Alaje district. In this study, multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 137 target respondents. The primary data were collected using an interview schedule and conducting focus group discussions and key informant interview. Various documents were reviewed to collect the secondary data. The probit model result indicates that participation in small-scale irrigation is positively and significantly influenced by livestock holding, total cultivated land size, and frequency of extension contact. Whereas, participation in small-scale irrigation is negatively influenced by age of the household head, distance to irrigation water and distance to farmer training center. participation in small-scale irrigation. To solve the problems and improve small-scale irrigation participation, the government, especially irrigation development office of the district should create awareness to farmers about utilization of irrigation scheme.
Minimally Invasive Cerclage Wiring Technique for Femoral Fracture Fixation : Technical Note and Cases Series
Authors: Hsiao Yu-Ning , Wu Tsung-Mu , Chien Chi-Sheng , Lin Sheng-Hui 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
BackgroundCerclage wiring has become less popular because of the development of minimally invasive fixation and concerns regarding neurovascular injury. However, cerclage constructs provide hoop pressure resistance, which complements plating and intramedullary nailing fixation. We developed a minimally invasive cerclage wiring technique to achieve high fixation rigidity and reliable bony union.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study enrolled 6 men and 12 women (mean age, 63.2 years) who underwent internal fixation at any time between May 2005 and May 2021 with nailing and a minimally invasive technique for wiring.ResultsWhen the nail system and minimally invasive cerclage wiring technique were applied, all patients exhibited optimal reduction and alignment of both fracture sites under intra-operative fluoroscopy. No intra-operative complications were noted. Radiography revealed proper alignment and satisfactory union of the fractures at the final follow up.ConclusionsThe minimally invasive wiring technique for spiral-, oblique-, and wedge-type femoral fracture provided satisfactory reduction, stability, and healing. It causes less soft tissue injury and periosteal stripping than does an open wiring technique. It serves as an alternative adjunct for achieving closed reduction and maintaining the reduction of difficult femoral fractures.
Association between polymorphisms in the gene encoding beta-defensin 1 and gingivitis, in children
Authors: Nelson-Filho Paulo , Azulay Marcos , Lucisano Marília Pacífico , Silva Lea Assed Bezerra da , Silva Raquel Assed Bezerra da , Vasconcelos Katia Regina , Küchler Erika Calvano 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible association between genetic polymorphisms in DEFB1 (rs1799946 and rs11362) and the development of gingivitis in children from the Amazon region of Brazil.
Methods
The study included 27 healthy children, 10–12 years old, from public schools in Manaus. For the oral examination, the parameters described in the gingival index of Löe and Silness were used to identify the presence or absence of gingivitis. The dependent variable was categorized as “Yes” for children with gingivitis (experimental group; n = 10) and “No” for children without gingivitis (control group; n = 17). Genomic DNA was extracted from saliva, the selected polymorphisms in the DEFB1 gene (rs1799946 and rs11362) were genotyped by TaqMan PCR and an endpoint analysis was performed. Genotypic and allelic distribution between groups was performed using the Fisher's exact test with an established alpha of 5%.
Results
It was found that evaluated SNPs in the DEFB1 gene (rs1799946 and rs11362) were not associated with gingivitis (p > 0.05).
Conclusion
The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of references rs1799946 and rs11362 in the DEFB1 gene had no function on gingivitis, promoting neither harmful nor beneficial effects, in children.
Altered miR-10, miR-24a, miR-124, and miR-21 Expression in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Abolghasemi Mahsa , Ashrafi Sepide Ali , Asadi Milad , Shanehbandi Dariush , Etehad Saeed Sadigh , Poursaei Elham , Nejadghaderi Seyed Aria , Shaafi Sheida 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in the autoimmune and neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS), through modulating post-transcriptional gene regulation. Accumulating evidence indicates that miR-10, miR-24a, miR-124 and miR-21 play an imperative role in MS pathogenesis. Therefore, the current research aimed to survey the potential of these miRs as diagnostic targets for MS in Iranian population. Methods and Results: Blood sample of 75 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 75 healthy individuals suffering no neurodegenerative illness was collected. Subsequently, the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed by employing Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient method. Afterward, total RNA was extracted and subjected to qRT-PCR analysis.The obtained results evidenced that the relative expression of miR-10 (P=0.0002), miR-21 (P=0.0014) and miR-124 (P=0.0091) significantly decreased in relapsing-remitting MS patients compared to healthy participants. On the contrary, no notable change was observed between the studies groups regarding miR-24a expression levels (P=0.107). Furthermore, the ROC curve analysis illustrated that miR-10, miR-124 and miR-21 could serve as promising diagnostic targets for MS. Conclusions: The change in miR-10, miR-124, and miR-21 expression patterns was implied to participate in MS development and could serve as potential novel diagnostic targets in relapsing-remitting MS.
Effect of unreinforced masonry infill walls with and without ECC layer performance of R.C framed structure
Authors: metwaly Mohamed 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Reinforced concrete infilled-frames (IF) are commonly used in buildings in the world nowadays. They are often built schools, offices, dwellings, and hospitals, and other kinds of residential and public buildings. The infilled is generally considered a nonstructural element and is ignored in design and analysis despite his strong interaction with the bounding RC frame. Recently, the engineered Cementitious Composite (ECC) layer is utilized to improve the behavior of numerous structural elements. In this research, the behavior of infilled frames are inspected through studying four frame models; bare frame (BF) as a control model, infilled-frame (IF), infilled-frame provided with a single layer of ECC (SIF), and infilled-frame provided with double layers of ECC (DIF). Verification studies are performed on one previous experimental works through nonlinear pushover analysis. The analysis showed that providing the infilled-frame models with the ECC layer increases its capacity.
Comparison of the biomechanical effects of lumbar disc degeneration on normal patients and osteoporotic patients: a finite element analysis
Authors: Zhang Xin-Ying , Han Ye 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background: With an increasing life expectancy, more and more people suffered from age-related diseases and sought more medical care. Disc degeneration and osteoporosis were typical orthopaedic diseases in this situation. And there was a lack of FE studies that predicted combined effects of the disc degeneration and osteoporosis.Methods: A normal lumbar spine finite element model (FEM) was developed based on the geometric information of a normal male subject (age 35 years; height 178 cm; weight 65 kg). This normal lumbar spine FEM was modified to build three lumbar spine degeneration models simulating mild, moderate, and severe grades of disc degeneration at L4-L5 segment. Then the degenerative lumbar spine models for osteoporotic patients were constructed on the basis of the above mentioned degeneration models. Under a 400N follower compressive load, the 7.5 Nm moment was applied on these models to simulate different motion postures. Finally, the range of motion (ROM), Mises stress in cortical (MSC1), Mises stress in endplate (MSE), Mises stress in cancellous (MSC2) and Mises stress in post (MSP) were solved and analyzed.Results: The results indicated that compared with disc degeneration patients without osteoporosis, the ROM, MSC1 and MSE of osteoporosis patients suffering from various disc degeneration decreased in all postures, while the MSC2 and MSP of disc degeneration patients with osteoporosis increased. With the increase in degree of disc degeneration, the reduction proportions of ROM and MSE in osteoporotic patients almost gradually increased, while the reduction percentages in MSC1 of osteoporotic patients almost gradually decreased. And the increase percentages of MSC2 in osteoporotic patients gradually increased. It's worth noting that, with the progressive changes of disc degeneration, the changes of MSP in osteoporosis patients were uneven.Conclusions: In summary, the effect of disc degeneration on flexibility in the two kinds of patients (osteoporosis and non-osteoporosis patients) was nearly identical. By comparing the remaining biomechanical parameters (MSC1, MSE, MSC2 and MSP), we found that osteoporosis may accelerate disc degeneration and the osteoporotic patients who suffer from disc degeneration had a higher risk of vertebral fracture.
FBPP: Software to design PCR primers and probes for nucleic acid base detection method of foodborne pathogen
Authors: Soliman Mohamed A. , Azab Mohamed , Hussein Hala A. , Roushdy Mohamed M. , el-naga Mohamed N. Abu 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Many foods have foodborne pathogens, and detection of it, is very important to serve safe supply of food, consequently reduce of foodborne diseases. Nucleic acid base detection method is one of the most rapid widely methods used in the detection of foodborne pathogens, it depends on the hybridizing between target sequence of the nucleic acid and oligonucleotide primers or probes complementary to the specific nucleic acid sequence of the targeted bacteria. Designing primers and probes for this method is a preliminary and critical step‏.‏ however, new bioinformatics tools are needed to automate, specific and improve the design sets to be used in Nucleic Acid base method. Thus, we developed Foodborne Pathogen primer prob design (FBPP), ‎an open-source Python-based application supported with SQL database for foodborne pathogen virulence factor, for (i) ‎ design primer /probe for detection purpose (ii) PCR & Gel electrophoreses Photo simulation (iii) check the specificity of primers / probe.
Performance of proportional assist ventilation plus (PAV+) after being challenged by a mechanical simulator
Authors: Matilde Isabela Naiara Evangelista , Palazzo Roberta Fittipaldi , CSV Barbas 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: In assisted mechanical ventilation, the work of breathing (WOB) should be shared by patient and ventilator. In PAV+, there is an association between respiratory muscle pressure and the pressure generated by the ventilator. There are still knowledge deficits about the influence of different types of inspiratory efforts on mechanical ventilator outputs during PAV+ assistance.Methods: A mechanical simulator (ASL-5000 Ingmar Medical®) set with Compliance of 100 mL/cmH20 and resistance of 10 cmH20-L-s) was coupled to the Medtronic 980 (Purittan-Benett ®) mechanical ventilator in the Laboratory of Mechanical Ventilation of INCOR-Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil. A sequential script of three different inspiratory efforts (-3, -7 and -11 cmH2O) and three different respective inspiratory delays (5%, 15% and 20%), pre-programmed in the ASL5000 simulator software started to run and triggered the ventilator 15 times for each of the 9 sequences, in 19 levels of PAV+ assistance (from 5% to 95%) in a total of 2.565 combinations. The measured outputs from the ventilator were: Expired Tidal Volume (ETV: mL); Inspiratory time (IT: s); Peak inspiratory flow (PIF: cmH20); Peak inspiratory pressure (PP: cmH20); and Work of breathing (WOB) that were recorded in the ASL-5000_ software and analyzed by R software for Windows, version 4.0.5.Results: A exponential significant increase in ETV (from 88.46 mL to 1095.34 mL), IT (from 0.83 to1.64 s), PIF (from 10.88 to 125.53 L/min) and PP (from 7.53 to 33.23 cmH20) were observed with the increase of both inspiratory efforts and PAV+ assistance. This increment was amplified by the addition of 5%, 10% and 15% of inspiratory delays. WOBpt was compensated by PAV+ % of assistance increment as the inspiratory effort increase. Conclusion: PAV+ responded promptly to increments of inspiratory effort and progressive increase of inspiratory assistance. Delaying the inspiratory muscle effort significantly booster PAV+ ` outputs proportionally to inspiratory efforts levels and PAV+ % of assistance.
Impact of Pharmacists’ Integrated Care (PIC) on Diastolic Performance Index (DPI) in Patients With Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Dominic Elizabath Mariya , Mehta Hiral R , A Iruthaya Shiny , J Jane Miracline , S Balaji , S Manoharan , J SAM JOHNSON UDAYA CHANDER 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Diastolic dysfunction represents a combination of impaired left ventricular (LV) relaxation, restoration forces, myocyte lengthening load and atrial function culminating in increased LV filling pressures. Current Doppler ECHO cardiographic guidelines recommend using early to late diastolic transmitral flow velocity (E/A). Although has important diagnostic and prognostic implications, they should be interpreted in the context of patients age and the rest of the echo-cardiogram to describe diastolic function and guide patient management. To investigate whether ratio of mitral peak velocity of early filling (E) to mitral peak velocity of late filling (A) can be used as a tool to check the drug’s effectiveness and outcome of any intervention. To prepare a counseling plan to educate patients with reserved ejection fraction. To measure pharmacists’ intervention using E/A ratio. This is a retrospective and prospective, open-label, parallel-arm, randomized controlled study carried out in the Cardiology Department of a 1000 bedded multispecialty tertiary care private teaching hospital in Coimbatore on 80 patients for a period of six months. After the baseline measurements were carried out, the patients were randomized into either Usual Care Group or Interventional Group. The Usual Care Group is subjected to usual care by physician. The Interventional Group were counseled by the pharmacist in addition to the usual care provided by the physician. Statistical analysis was carried out using Student’s T test and One way ANOVA.A total of 80 patients were evaluated for change in the E/A ratios during their subsequent follow-up in a period of 3 months. The Usual Care Group totaled for about of 55% male and 45% female while the Interventional Group contained 65% male and 35% female. The patients were graded according to their respective E/A ratios at the baseline and 45% of the patients had normal E/A values, 47.5% of them with impaired filling and 7.5% had pseudonormal values in the Interventional Group whereas in the Usual Care Group 60% normal, 30% impaired and 10% pseudonormal. The patients were again graded according to the respective E/A ratios at the subsequent follow up after a period of 2 months and the values were found to be 77.5% in the Interventional Group, 17.5% impaired and 5% pseudonormal in the Usual Care Group whereas 80% normal and 20% impaired in Usual Care Group. The study was not able to demonstrate a significant difference between the grading of the ratios in the first and second reviews among both the groups. But the study demonstrated a significant difference in the E/A ratios of the two reviews and was better observed in patients of the Interventional Group when compared to those of the Usual Care Group.
Physics-Informed Data-driven Model for Predicting Streamflows: A Case Study of the Voshmgir Basin, Iran
Authors: Parisouj Peiman , Mokari Esmaiil , Mohebzadeh Hamid , Goharnejad Hamid , Jun Changhyun 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Accurate rainfall-runoff modeling is crucial for water resource management. However, the available models require more field-measured data to produce accurate results, which has been a long-term issue in hydrological modeling. Machine learning (ML) models have shown superiority in the hydrological field over statistical models. The primary aim of the present study was to advance a new coupled model combining model-driven models and ML models for accurate rainfall-runoff simulation in the Voshmgir basin in northern Iran. Rainfall-runoff data from 2002 to 2007 were collected from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite and the Iran Water Resources Management Company. The findings revealed that the model-driven model could not fully describe river runoff patterns during the investigated time period. The extreme learning machine and support vector regression models showed similar performances for 1-day-ahead rainfall–runoff forecasting, while the long short-term memory (LSTM) model outperformed these two models. Our results demonstrated that the coupled physically based model and LSTM model outperformed other models, particularly for 1-day-ahead forecasting. The present results open a new avenue for the adoption of deep learning models in hydrological studies.
MYPT1-PP1β phosphatase negatively regulates both chromatin landscape and
co-activator recruitment to influence gene expression during beige adipogenesis
Authors: Takahashi Hiroki , Yang Ge , Yoneshiro Takeshi , Abe Yohei , Ito Ryo , Yang Chaoran , Nakazono Junna , Uchida Aoi , Arai Makoto , Jin Hitomi , Yamaguchi Rei , Nomura Yu , Yamada Kaito , Yasuda Satoshi , Kimura Hiroshi , Tanaka Toshiya , Wada Youichiro , Kodama Tatsuhiko , Aburatani Hiroyuki , Zhu Min-Sheng , Inagaki Takeshi , Osborne Timothy , Kawamura Takeshi , Ishihama Yasushi , Matsumura Yoshihiro , Sakai Juro 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Protein kinase A promotes beige adipogenesis downstream from β-adrenergic receptor signaling by phosphorylating proteins, including histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) demethylase JMJD1A. To ensure homeostasis, this process needs to be reversible however, this step is not well understood. We show that myosin phosphatase target subunit 1- protein phosphatase 1β (MYPT1-PP1β) phosphatase activity is inhibited via PKA-dependent phosphorylation, which increases phosphorylated JMJD1A and beige adipogenesis. Mechanistically, MYPT1-PP1β depletion resulted in JMJD1A-mediated H3K9 demethylation and activation of the Ucp1 enhancer/promoter regions. Interestingly, MYPT1-PP1β also dephosphorylates myosin light chain which regulates actomyosin tension-mediated activation of YAP/TAZ which directly stimulates Ucp1 gene expression. Preadipocyte specific Mypt1 deficiency increases cold tolerance with higher Ucp1 levels in subcutaneous white adipose tissues compared to control mice, confirming this regulatory mechanism in vivo. Thus, we have uncovered new regulatory cross-talk involved in beige adipogenesis that coordinates epigenetic regulation with direct activation of the mechano-sensitive YAP/TAZ transcriptional co-activators.
Comparison of clinical outcomes of single-incision versus multi-port laparoscopic surgery for rectosigmoid or upper rectal cancer
Authors: Tei Mitsuyoshi , Suzuki Yozo , Ohtsuka Masahisa , Iwamoto Kazuya , Naito Atsushi , Imasato Mitsunobu , Mizushima Tsunekazu , Akamatsu Hiroki 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: The clinical impact of single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for rectal cancer is unclear. However, SILS is a technically challenging procedure for novice surgeons. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of SILS for rectal cancer compared with multi-port laparoscopic surgery (MPLS).Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 357 consecutive patients with stage I–III rectal cancer located in the rectosigmoid or upper rectum who underwent SILS or MPLS between January 2012 and December 2016, using propensity score-matched analysis.Results: After propensity score-matching, we enrolled 204 patients (n=102 per group). Before matching, significant group-dependent differences were observed in tumor location (p < 0.001). After matching, preoperative clinical factors were similar between groups. SILS was successful in 73.5% of cases, an additional port was required in 23.5% and 2.9% were converted to open surgery. Compared to the MPLS group, the SILS group showed shorter operative time (192 vs. 211 min, p=0.015) and shorter postoperative hospital stay (9 vs. 11 days, p=0.038). Other operative factors and morbidity rates did not differ significantly between groups. The number of harvested lymph nodes was smaller in the SILS group (24) than in the MPLS group (27, p=0.008). Postoperative recurrence did not differ between groups before or after matching. No significant differences in 3-year disease-free, 3-year local recurrence-free or 5-year overall survival were found between groups.Conclusions: SILS is safe, feasible and offers satisfactory oncological outcomes in selected patients with rectosigmoid or upper rectal cancer.
Bullet Screen in Pre-clinical Undergraduate Pharmacology Education: A Survey Study
Authors: Chen Yaoxing , Qi Hong , Qiu Yu , Li Juan , Zhu Liang , Wang Hao , Gao Xiaoling , Jiang Gan 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background The lack of interaction in pharmacology courses, especially in terms of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, has required a fast shift to remote learning at medical schools, causing students to feel anxious and isolated. As a result, new interactive teaching approaches are required to improve pharmacology learning attention and interaction in traditional classrooms or remoting education.Methods: We introduced the bullet screen into pharmacology teaching. Then, a survey was distributed to first-, second- and third-year pre-clinical undergraduate medical and nursing students at the Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine from November 2020 to March 2022. We evaluated the essential features, instructional effectiveness, and recreational value of bullet screens. Responses to structured and open-ended questions about strengths and weaknesses of the bullet screen and overall reflections were coded and compared between medical and nursing students.Results: For the essential features, bullet screen has a high degree of acceptability among students, and this novel instructional style conveniently increased the classroom interaction. For instructional effectiveness, bullet screen might inspire students’ in-depth thinking. Meanwhile, students tended to consider bullet-screen comments as a way to express their support rather than to make additional comments or to express their opposition. For the recreational value, the process of using bullet screen was interesting. The lack of idea might lead to the relative differences between medical and nursing students, indicating that guiding the appropriate use of bullet screen is necessary.Conclusions: The bullet screen may be popularized as an auxiliary teaching approach to promote interaction between teachers and students in the curriculum as well as remote education. It's interesting and beneficial in pharmacology courses, yet there are several aspects that might be improved for popularization.